bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum chemistry and electrolyte alterations in sled dogs before and after a 1600 km race: dietary sodium and hyponatraemia
Authors: Ermon Valentina , Yazwinski Molly , Milizio Justin G. , Wakshlag Joseph J. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractSled dogs are known to develop numerous serum biochemical changes due to endurance exercise. Previous studies have suggested that mild hyponatraemia and hypokalaemia can develop during endurance racing. The aim of the present study was to determine if serum biochemical alterations are similar to previous reports, and if electrolyte alterations are still present with present feeding practices utilised by mushers. Serum chemistries were obtained from 26 Alaskan Huskies belonging to 3 different teams, before and after a 1600 km race. Meals and snacks were analysed via calculation to determine daily macronutrient and electrolyte intake. Numerous biochemical alterations were observed including significant differences in serum total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, TAG, NEFA and urea nitrogen (P < 0·05). Serum electrolyte status revealed a mild, yet significant decrease in serum sodium (P = 0·002); and serum potassium was not significantly different (P = 0·566). Further examination of the sodium intake across the three teams revealed two teams with an average daily intake of approximately 8·5 g/dog/d (700 mg/4184 kJ) and the other team consuming 11·1 g/dog/d (1200 mg/4184 kJ). Regression analysis shows a significant modest positive correlation between serum sodium decrease and sodium intake per metabolic body weight of the dogs, as well as a modest positive correlation between sodium intake and serum potassium implicating the renin–angiotensin aldosterone system as a major factor involved in sodium and potassium homoeostasis. These findings suggest that consumption of approximately 0·9 g/kg0·75(1·2 g/4184 kJ) of sodium per d may prevent exercise-induced decreases in sodium and potassium.
“You don't know what you are saying ‘Yes’ and what you are saying ‘No’ to”: hospital experiences of older people from minority ethnic communities
Authors: ELLINS JO , GLASBY JON 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTImproving responsiveness to the needs of older people from minority ethnic communities has been emphasised as a goal in England since the publication of the National Service Framework for Older People in 2001. Despite this, people from minority ethnic groups consistently give poorer ratings of their health services than ‘majority’ populations, both in England and across many other health-care systems. Language barriers have been shown to play a particularly important role, and appear to be a stronger predictor of perceived quality of care than ethnic origin per se. This paper reports findings from a larger study exploring older people's experiences of care transitions, focusing on the findings from one case study area which explored the hospital and discharge experiences of older people from minority ethnic communities. A participatory approach was adopted, with older people from the local area collaborating in the design, delivery and analysis of the research as ‘co-researchers’. Twenty-four in-depth narrative interviews were carried out with people who had experienced a recent hospital stay as a patient or a family member providing care and support. Our findings show that many aspects of the hospital experience, including the desire for personalised and humanistic approaches to care, are important to older people irrespective of ethnic background. However, older people from minority ethnic communities can also face language and cultural barriers which negatively affect the quality and experience of care. People who had limited English proficiency struggled to understand, communicate and participate in their care. Where professional services were not available or requested, interpreting was provided informally by other patients, family members, hospital staff in clinical and domestic roles, or not at all. We conclude that targeted strategies are required to ensure appropriate and effective hospital services for a multicultural population.
Thematic markers in informal written French:pour ce qui est de, au niveau (de) and en matière de
Authors: VELGHE TOM , LAHOUSSE KAREN 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThis paper studies three thematic markers (TMs) in informal written French:pour ce qui est de, au niveau (de)anden matière de. We will demonstrate that they have different syntactico-semantic and discourse-functional properties and that the exact function of the TM construction results from the interplay between the inherent properties of the TM and the specific syntactic construction it appears in. We will demonstrate that TMs do not only introduce the aboutness-topics, but that they can also establish the frame in which the main clause holds or functions.
A specific adenylyl cyclase inhibitor (DDA) and a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (H-89) block the action of equine growth hormone onin vitromaturation of equine oocytes
Authors: Pereira Gabriel Ribas , Lorenzo Pedro Luis , Carneiro Gustavo Ferrer , Bilodeau-Goeseels Sylvie , Kastelic John , Liu Irwin K. M. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThe objectives of this study were firstly to determine whether the stimulatory function of equine growth hormone (eGH) on equine oocyte maturationin vitrois mediated via cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP); and secondly if the addition of eGHin vitroinfluences oocyte nuclear maturation and if this effect is removed when GH inhibitors are added to the culture. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from follicles <25 mm in diameter and randomly allocated as follows: (i) control (no additives); and (ii) 400 ng/ml of eGH. A specific inhibitor against cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (H-89; 10−9, 10−11or 10−15M concentration) and a specific adenylate cyclase inhibitor, 2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine (DDA; 10−8, 10−10or 10−14M concentration) were used to observe whether they could block the eGH effect. After 30 h ofin vitromaturation at 38.5°C with 5% CO2in air, oocytes were stained with 10 μg/ml of Hoechst to evaluate nuclear status. More mature oocytes (P< 0.05) were detected when COCs were incubated with eGH (29 of 84; 34.5%) than in the control group (18 of 82; 21.9%). The H-89 inhibitor used at a concentration of 10−9M (4 of 29; 13.8%) decreased (P< 0.05) the number of oocytes reaching nuclear maturation when compared with eGH (11 of 29; 38%). The DDA inhibitor at a concentration of 10−8M (2 of 27; 7.4%) also reduced (P< 0.05) the number of oocytes reaching maturity when compared with the eGH group (9 of 30; 30%). Results from the present study show that H-89 and DDA can be usedin vitroto block the eGH effect on equine oocyte maturation.
Effects of oocyte donor age and embryonic stage of development on transcription of genes coding for enzymes of the prostaglandins and progesterone synthesis pathways in bovine in vitro produced embryos
Authors: Torres A. , Batista M. , Diniz P. , Silva E. , Mateus L. , Lopes-da-Costa L. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThe ability of early bovine embryos to produce prostaglandins (PGs) and progesterone (P4), and the role of these mediators in embryonic development and survival are poorly understood. In this study we tested the hypothesis that day 7 bovine embryos are able to transcribe genes coding for enzymes of the PGs (PTGS2, PGES, PGFS) and P4 (StAR, P450scc, 3β-HSD) synthesis pathways, and that transcription levels of these genes are associated with developmental progression and heifer age-related [pre-pubertal (PP) versus post-pubertal cyclic (C)] oocyte competence. Compared with C heifer oocytes, PP heifer oocytes showed a lower (P < 0.0001) in vitro blastocyst rate, but in embryos developing until day 7, heifer age had no effect on quality grade. Day 7 quality grade 1–2 embryos were selected for RNA extraction and gene transcription analysis by qRT-PCR, in a 2 × 2 factorial design [age (PP or C) × embryonic stage (compact morulae and early blastocysts, CM + EBL, or blastocysts and expanded blastocysts, BL + BEX); 15 embryos/group]. Transcription levels of PTGS2, PGES, PGFS, P450scc and 3β-HSD were not affected by heifer age but were higher (P < 0.01) in BL + BEX than in CM + EBL. In conclusion, the main limiting factor for embryo production from PP heifers is oocyte competence. Day 7 bovine embryos evidence transcription of genes coding for enzymes of PGs and P4 synthesis pathways, and transcription levels are associated with blastocyst differentiation. This prompts for an autocrine/paracrine action of PGs and P4 in early bovine embryonic development.
Toxicity of cryoprotectants agents in freshwater prawn embryos of Macrobrachium amazonicum
Authors: Ferreira Arthur Vinícius Lourenço , Castro Elias José Teles , Barbosa Mariana Silva Alves , de Sousa Míriam Luzia Nogueira Martins , de Araújo Neto Manoel Paiva , Filho Aldeney Andrade Soares , de Souza Sampaio Celia Maria 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThe process of cooling and cryopreservation of prawn embryos is a viable alternative for a continuous supply of larvae for freshwater prawn farming ponds. However, studies involving the application of those techniques as well as on toxicity of cryoprotectants in freshwater prawn embryos are scarce. Thus, this study aims to test the toxicity of methylic alcohol (MET), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethylene glycol (EG) on Macrobrachium amazonicum embryos. For the present experiment, pools of embryos were taken from 15 M. amazonicum females and were divided into three groups and tested in duplicate at concentrations of 10, 5, 3; 1, 0.5 or 0.1%. Toxicity tests were conducted for 24 h in Falcon® pipes to obtain the lethal concentration for 50% of the larvae (LC50). After the set period for testing, random samples of embryos were removed for morphological analysis under stereoscopic microscopes. Results were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test at a 5% significance level and Trimmed Spearman-Karber Analysis to determine LC50-24 h. DMSO toxicity tests revealed that 5% and 10% concentrations showed the highest toxicity and differed from the control (P ≤ 0.05), 24h-LC50 was 437.4 ± 14.4 µL. MET was less toxic among the tested cryoprotectants and concentrations did not allow the determination of its LC50-24h. For tests with EG, concentrations of 3, 5 or 10% solutions resulted in a 100% mortality to tested embryos; EG was the tested cryoprotectant with the highest toxicity, with an LC50-24h average of 81.91 ± 35.3 µl.
The cryoprotective effect of Ficoll on the rabbit spermatozoa quality
Authors: Kuliková Barbora , Di Iorio Michele , Kubovicova Elena , Kuzelova Lenka , Iaffaldano Nicolaia , Chrenek Peter 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of Ficoll 70 into the cryopreservation medium containing sucrose and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on rabbit spermatozoa characteristics following freezing/thawing. This large molecular weight polymer elevates the viscosity of medium and, therefore, could better protect spermatozoa during the freezing process. Only ejaculates of good initial motility (>80%) were used in the experiments. Heterospermic pools were diluted in a freezing medium composed of commercial diluent, 16% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and 2% sucrose (control) or in the same medium enriched with 4% Ficoll 70 (Ficoll) and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapours for 10 min before being plunged in liquid nitrogen. The quality of fresh and frozen/thawed spermatozoa samples was evaluatedin vitrousing the Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) system, fluorescent probes (peanut agglutinin (PNA)-Alexa Fluor®; annexin V-FLOUS) and by electron microscopy. Better cryoprotective effect was observed when Ficoll 70 was added, compared with the semen cryopreserved with sucrose and DMSO only. The higher values (P< 0.05) of motile and progressively moving spermatozoa immediately after thawing and at 30 min following incubation at 37°C were obtained in the Ficoll group. Moreover, the higher number (P< 0.05) of acrosome intact sperm was found in the Ficoll compared with the control group. Furthermore, no significant differences in kindling rates and number of pups born between frozen/thawed and fresh semen group were found. In conclusion, our study showed that the addition of Ficoll 70 might improve several characteristics of rabbit spermatozoa measuredin vitrofollowing freezing/thawing.
The Spanish Past in Transnational Films. The ‘Otherlands’ of Memory
Authors: Bergero Adriana J. 
Published: September 2014

Translated by Chase RaymondBased on the work of theoreticians prevalent in the field of Memory Studies (Rothberg, Nora, Radstone, Aguilar, Faber, de Diego, Gómez López-Quiñones and Labanyi), this article analyses the filmsThe Devil BackboneandPan’s Labyrinthby the Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro as examples of a memory-formation that is deeply entrenched within Spain’s current political, legal and cultural debates on the Spanish Civil War, the Francoist dictatorship and the political immunity institutionalised by the Transition’s pact of silence. At the same time, as emerging from ‘otherlands’ of memory, Del Toro’s films are good examples of how multidirectional memories react to universal/transnational concerns about traumatic pasts and violations of human rights.
An ultrafast reconfigurable nanophotonic switch using wavefront shaping of light in a nonlinear nanomaterial
Authors: Strudley Tom , Bruck Roman , Mills Ben , Muskens Otto L 
Published: September 2014

AbstractWe demonstrate a new concept for reconfigurable nanophotonic devices exploiting ultrafast nonlinear control of shaped wavefronts in a multimode nanomaterial consisting of semiconductor nanowires. Femtosecond pulsed laser excitation of the nanowire mat is shown to provide an efficient nonlinear mechanism to control both destructive and constructive interference in a shaped wavefront. Modulations of up to 63% are induced by optical pumping, due to a combination of multimode dephasing and induced transient absorption. We show that part of the nonlinear phase dynamics can be inverted to provide a dynamical revival of the wavefront into an optimized spot with up to 18% increase of the peak to background ratio caused by pulsed laser excitation. The concepts of multimode nonlinear switching demonstrated here are generally extendable to other photonic and plasmonic systems and enable new avenues for ultrafast and reconfigurable nanophotonic devices.
Quantitative High-Throughput Profiling of Environmental Chemicals and Drugs that Modulate Farnesoid X Receptor
Authors: Hsu Chia-Wen , Zhao Jinghua , Huang Ruili , Hsieh Jui-Hua , Hamm Jon , Chang Xiaoqing , Houck Keith , Xia Menghang 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe farnesoid X receptor (FXR) regulates the homeostasis of bile acids, lipids and glucose. Because endogenous chemicals bind and activate FXR, it is important to examine which xenobiotic compounds would disrupt normal receptor function. We used a cell-based human FXR β-lactamase (Bla) reporter gene assay to profile the Tox21 10K compound collection of environmental chemicals and drugs. Structure-activity relationships of FXR-active compounds revealed by this screening were then compared against the androgen receptor, estrogen receptor α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors δ and γ and the vitamin D receptor. We identified several FXR-active structural classes including anthracyclines, benzimidazoles, dihydropyridines, pyrethroids, retinoic acids and vinca alkaloids. Microtubule inhibitors potently decreased FXR reporter gene activity. Pyrethroids specifically antagonized FXR transactivation. Anthracyclines affected reporter activity in all tested assays, suggesting non-specific activity. These results provide important information to prioritize chemicals for further investigation and suggest possible modes of action of compounds in FXR signaling.
Dialectical Effects on Nasalance: A Multicenter, Cross-Continental Study
Authors: Awan Shaheen N. , Bressmann Tim , Poburka Bruce , Roy Nelson , Sharp Helen , Watts Christopher 
Published: September 2014

Purpose
This study investigated nasalance in speakers from six different dialectal regions across North America using recent versions of the Nasometer. It was hypothesized that many of the sound changes observed in regional dialects of North American English would have a significant impact on measures of nasalance.

Method

Samples of the Zoo Passage, the Rainbow Passage, and the Nasal Sentences were collected from young adult male and female speakers (
N
= 300) from six North American dialectical regions (Midland/Mid-Atlantic; Inland North Canada; Inland North; North Central; South; and Western dialects).

Results
Across the three passage types, effect sizes for dialect were moderate in strength and accounted for approximately 7%–9% of the variation in nasalance. Increased differences in nasalance tended to occur between speakers from distinctly different geographical regions, with the highest nasalance across all passages observed for speakers from the Texas South dialect region.

Conclusion
Clinicians and researchers who use perceptual and instrumental measures of speech production should be aware that dialectical and socially acquired speech patterns may influence the acoustic characteristics of speech and may also influence the interpretation of normative expectations and typical versus disordered cutoff scores for instruments such as the Nasometer.
Unpublishable research: examining and organizing the ‘file drawer’
Authors: TSOU Andrew , SCHICKORE Jutta , SUGIMOTO Cassidy R. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTIt is well known that a number of research outcomes are not reported (the so‐called ‘file drawer problem’). It is generally assumed that what is not reported are ‘negative results’. Our study approaches the issue from a new angle by exploring what researchers perceive to be ‘unpublishable’. A survey regarding ‘unpublishables’ was sent out to 2,535 faculty members at Indiana University. Forty of these individuals consented to in‐depth interviews, which more fully explored these academics' views on the issue of unpublishable work. Our results indicate that there are several types of research besides negative results that are perceived to be unpublishable yet worthy of publication. Moreover, there is a great diversity within and across disciplines as to what constitutes ‘unpublishable’ research. Respondents indicated that academic discourse would benefit from the formal dissemination of papers that included inconclusive or null results, as well as replication and refutation studies. The results of our study suggest that there is a perceived gap in scholarly communication, which is to the detriment of science. These results can be used by administrators, educators, and publishers in order to refine scholarly communication practices so as to create a more robust, accurate literature and to inform future generations of researchers.
MTide: an integrated tool for the identification of miRNA–target interaction in plants
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Jiang Li , Wang Jingjing , Gu Peizhen , Chen Ming 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Motivation: Small RNA sequencing and degradome sequencing (also known as parallel analysis of RNA ends) have provided rich information on the microRNA (miRNA) and its cleaved mRNA targets on a genome-wide scale in plants, but no computational tools have been developed to effectively and conveniently deconvolute the miRNA–target interaction (MTI).
Results: A freely available package, MTide, was developed by combining modified miRDeep2 and CleaveLand4 with some other useful scripts to explore MTI in a comprehensive way. By searching for targets of a complete miRNAs, we can facilitate large-scale identification of miRNA targets, allowing us to discover regulatory interaction networks.
Availability and implementation: http://bis.zju.edu.cn/MTide
Contact: mchen@zju.edu.cn
Green training supporting eco-innovation in three Brazilian companies: practices and levels of integration
Authors: Saturnino Neto Angelo , José Chiappetta Jabbour Charbel , Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour Ana 
Published: September 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to show results from the relationship between green/environmental training and the development of three projects of low-carbon eco-innovations in top Brazilian companies.Design/methodology/approach– This study includes three organizational projects for low-carbon eco-innovations in products (A, B and C) with the objective of reducing their impact on GHG emissions, the so-called low-carbon products. Data were collected from several sources of evidence, including in-depth interviews, document analyses and direct observations.Findings– The authors verified that the environmental training interface for mitigating climate change is relevant for the systematic development of low-carbon products in most of the cases studied.Originality/value– Low-carbon eco-innovations are a trend in the corporate world; however, there is not enough literature and practical evidence on this subject. Thus, this paper adds new evidence to the literature.
A survey on recent research in business intelligence
Authors: Aruldoss Martin , Lakshmi Travis Miranda , Prasanna Venkatesan V. 
Published: September 2014

Purpose
– Business intelligence (BI) has been applied in various domains to take better decisions and it provides different level of information to its stakeholders according to the information needs. The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on recent works in BI. The two principal aims in this survey are to identify areas lacking in recent research, thereby offering potential opportunities for investigation.

Design/methodology/approach
– To simplify the study on BI literature, it is segregated into seven categories according to the usage. Each category of work is analyzed using parameters such as purpose, domain, problem identified, solution applied, benefit and outcome.

Findings
– The BI contribution in various domains, ongoing research in BI, the convergence of BI domains, problems and solutions, results of congregated domains, core problems and key solutions. It also outlines BI and its components composition, widely applied BI solutions such as algorithm-based, architecture-based and model-based solutions. Finally, it discusses BI implementation issues and outlines the security and privacy policies adopted in BI environment.

Research limitations/implications
– In this survey BI has been discussed in theoretical perspective whereas practical contribution has been given less attention.

Originality/value
– A comprehensive survey on BI which identifies areas lacking in recent research and providing potential opportunities for investigation.