bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Histological and morphometric study of the epididymus ofChinchilla lanigeraGrey under controlled conditions in captivity
Authors: Gramajo-Bühler M.C. , Pucci F.J. , Sanchez-Toranzo G. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryChinchilla lanigera, native to the Andean Mountains of Perú, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, is a specimen of great economic importance because of its fur. In mammals, spermatozoa originate in testes and are transported to the epididymis, where they undergo morphological and biochemical modifications known as sperm maturation, a basic step in the acquisition of their fertilizing ability. The aim of this work is the macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the epididymis ofChinchilla lanigeraGrey and its sectorization based on a histomorphological study. The epididymis presents a clear segmentation into four regions: initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda. The epithelium lining the seminiferous tubules is pseudostratified, with principal cells with stereocilia and basal, clear, apical, narrow and halo cells. The histological analysis showed that principal and basal cells are the prevailing populations in all regions, also revealing narrow cells and the absence of clear cells in the initial segment. Each segment presents its different histological and morphometric characteristics, which supports the idea of the specific behaviour of each region, giving a segment-specific character to the process of sperm maturation in this species. No significant differences were found in the morphometric measurements or in the histological evaluation of the epididymis of samples collected in April and October. The fact that no differences were found between the samples collected during the two periods when the reproductive ability in nature is different suggests the importance of external factors in the control of the reproductive cycle ofChinchilla lanigera.
Localization and quantitative analysis of Cx43 in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation
Authors: Lee Seunghoon , Hiradate Yuuki , Hoshino Yumi , Ko Yeoung-gyu , Tanemura Kentaro , Sato Eimei 
Published: July 2015

SummaryMany studies of the main gap junction protein, Cx43, have been conducted in porcine oocyte research, but they have been limited to investigations of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs). In this study, we verified Cx43 not in COCs, but in porcine oocytes during maturation, and conducted a quantitative time course analysis. The location and dynamics of Cx43 were examined by immunocytochemistry and western blotting, respectively. COCs were cultured in NCSU23 medium and processed for immunocytochemistry and western blotting at 0, 14, 28, and 42 h after denuding. A Cx43 signal was detected on oolemmas, transzonal projections and the surface of zona pellucidae. Western blotting showed that Cx43 band density increased from 0 to 14 h, and gradually decreased thereafter. Our results clarified that Cx43 is localized in the ooplasmic membrane through zona pellucidae and its level changes over time during culture in porcine oocytes.
Tight junction CLDN2 gene is a direct target of the vitamin D receptor
Authors: Zhang Yong-guo , Wu Shaoping , Lu Rong , Zhou David , Zhou Jingsong , Carmeliet Geert , Petrof Elaine , Claud Erika C. , Sun Jun 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe breakdown of the intestinal barrier is a common manifestation of many diseases. Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D and its receptor VDR may regulate intestinal barrier function. Claudin-2 is a tight junction protein that mediates paracellular water transport in intestinal epithelia, rendering them “leaky”. Using whole body VDR-/- mice, intestinal epithelial VDR conditional knockout (VDRΔIEC) mice and cultured human intestinal epithelial cells, we demonstrate here that the CLDN2 gene is a direct target of the transcription factor VDR. The Caudal-Related Homeobox (Cdx) protein family is a group of the transcription factor proteins which bind to DNA to regulate the expression of genes. Our data showed that VDR-enhances Claudin-2 promoter activity in a Cdx1 binding site-dependent manner. We further identify a functional vitamin D response element (VDRE) 5΄-AGATAACAAAGGTCA-3΄ in the Cdx1 site of the Claudin-2 promoter. It is a VDRE required for the regulation of Claudin-2 by vitamin D. Absence of VDR decreased Claudin-2 expression by abolishing VDR/promoter binding. In vivo, VDR deletion in intestinal epithelial cells led to significant decreased Claudin-2 in VDR-/- and VDRΔIEC mice. The current study reveals an important and novel mechanism for VDR by regulation of epithelial barriers.
Blockade of dual-specificity phosphatase 28 decreases chemo-resistance and migration in human pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Lee Jungwhoi , Hun Yun Jeong , Lee Jungsul , Choi Chulhee , Hoon Kim Jae 
Published: July 2015

AbstractPancreatic cancer remains one of the most deadly cancers, with a grave prognosis. Despite numerous endeavors to improve treatment of the neoplasm, limited progress has been made. In the present study, we investigated the role of dual specificity phosphatase 28 (DUSP28) in relation to anti-cancer drug sensitivity and migratory activity in human pancreatic cancer cells for the first time. Analysis using Universal exPress Codes (UPCs) with the GEO database showed significantly higher DUSP28 mRNA expression in pancreatic cancers. We found that DUSP28 was highly expressed in several human pancreatic cancer cell lines that showed resistance to anti-cancer drugs. Overexpression of DUSP28 decreased anti-cancer drug-sensitivity and enhanced cellular migration via the ERK1/2 pathway in DUSP28-negative cell lines. Knockdown of DUSP28 re-sensitized cells to anti-cancer drugs even at sublethal doses by inducing an apoptotic pathway and significantly reduced migration in DUSP28-positive human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Furthermore, DUSP28-positive cell line (Panc-1) xenograft models were more resistant to gemcitabine treatment than DUSP28-negative cell line (SNU-213) xenograft models. Collectively, these results indicate that DUSP28 plays a key role in drug resistance and migratory activity in human pancreatic cells and suggest that targeting DUSP28 might have clinical relevance in eradicating malignant pancreatic cancers.
Cortical Activation Patterns of Bodily Attention triggered by Acupuncture Stimulation
Authors: Jung Won-Mo , Lee In-Seon , Wallraven Christian , Ryu Yeon-Hee , Park Hi-Joon , Chae Younbyoung 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe investigated commonalities and differences in brain responses to enhanced bodily attention around acupuncture points with and without stimulation. Fourteen participants received acupuncture needles at both PC6 and HT7 acupoints in the left hand. To enhance bodily attention to acupoints, participants responded to the locations of stimulations in a two-alternative forced choice task. Two fMRI scans were taken in a block design: session 1 labeled with manual stimulation (genuine stimulation) and session 2 labeled with electro-acupuncture (pseudo-stimulation). To compare cortical activation patterns, data were analyzed using the Freesurfer software package. Both genuine-and pseudo-stimulation resulted in brain activations in the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, secondary somatosensory cortex, superior parietal cortex and brain deactivation in the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, inferior parietal cortex and the parahippocampus. Genuine acupuncture stimulation exhibited greater brain activation in the posterior insula, posterior operculum and the caudal part of the anterior cingulate cortex, compared with pseudo-stimulation. We demonstrated that enhanced bodily attention triggered by genuine acupuncture stimulation can activate the salience network and deactivate the default mode network regardless of the type of stimulation. The component of enhanced attention to a certain part of the body is significant in the brain response to acupuncture stimulation.
Computational Classification Approach to Profile Neuron Subtypes from Brain Activity Mapping Data
Authors: Li Meng , Zhao Fang , Lee Jason , Wang Dong , Kuang Hui , Tsien Joe Z. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe analysis of cell type-specific activity patterns during behaviors is important for better understanding of how neural circuits generate cognition, but has not been well explored from in vivo neurophysiological datasets. Here, we describe a computational approach to uncover distinct cell subpopulations from in vivo neural spike datasets. This method, termed “inter-spike-interval classification-analysis” (ISICA), is comprised of four major steps: spike pattern feature-extraction, pre-clustering analysis, clustering classification and unbiased classification-dimensionality selection. By using two key features of spike dynamic - namely, gamma distribution shape factors and a coefficient of variation of inter-spike interval - we show that this ISICA method provides invariant classification for dopaminergic neurons or CA1 pyramidal cell subtypes regardless of the brain states from which spike data were collected. Moreover, we show that these ISICA-classified neuron subtypes underlie distinct physiological functions. We demonstrate that the uncovered dopaminergic neuron subtypes encoded distinct aspects of fearful experiences such as valence or value, whereas distinct hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells responded differentially to ketamine-induced anesthesia. This ISICA method should be useful to better data mining of large-scale in vivo neural datasets, leading to novel insights into circuit dynamics associated with cognitions.
Crystal Orientation Dynamics of Collective Zn dots before Preferential Nucleation
Authors: Liu Chun-Chu , Huang Jun-Han , Ku Ching-Shun , Chiu Shang-Jui , Ghatak Jay , Brahma Sanjaya , Liu Chung-Wei , Liu Chuan-Pu , Lo Kuang-Yao 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe island nucleation in the context of heterogeneous thin film growth is often complicated by the growth kinetics involved in the subsequent thermodynamics. We show how the evolution of sputtered Zn island nucleation on Si(111) by magnetron sputtering in a large area can be completely understood as a model system by combining reflective second harmonic generation (RSHG), a 2D pole figure with synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Zn dots are then oxidized on the surfaces when exposed to the atmosphere as Zn/ZnO dots. Derived from the RSHG patterns of Zn dots at different growth times, the Zn dots grow following a unique transition from kinetic to thermodynamic control. Under kinetic-favoring growth, tiny Zn dots prefer arranging themselves with a tilted c-axis to the Si(111) substrate toward any of the sixfold in-plane Si<110> directions. Upon growth, the Zn dots subsequently evolve themselves to a metastable state with a smaller tilting angle toward selective <110> directions. As the Zn dots grow over a critical size, they become most thermodynamically stable with the c-axis vertical to the Si(111) substrate. For a system with large lattice mismatch, small volume dots take kinetic pathways with insignificant deviations in energy barriers.
A novel laminin β gene BmLanB1-w regulates wing-specific cell adhesion in silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Tong Xiaoling , He Songzhen , Chen Jun , Hu Hai , Xiang Zhonghuai , Lu Cheng , Dai Fangyin 
Published: July 2015

AbstractLaminins are important basement membrane (BM) components with crucial roles in development. The numbers of laminin isoforms in various organisms are determined by the composition of the different α, β and γ chains and their coding genes, which are variable across spieces. In insects, only two α, one β and one γ chains have been identified thus far. Here, we isolated a novel laminin β gene, BmLanB1-w, by positional cloning of the mutant (crayfish, cf) with blistered wings in silkworm. Gene structure analysis showed that a 2 bp deletion of the BmLanB1-w gene in the cf mutant caused a frame-shift in the open reading frame (ORF) and generated a premature stop codon. Knockdown of the BmLanB1-w gene produced individuals exhibiting blistered wings, indicating that this laminin gene was required for cell adhesion during wing development. We also identified laminin homologs in different species and showed that two copies of β laminin likely originated in Lepidoptera during evolution. Furthermore, phylogenetic and gene expression analyses of silkworm laminin genes revealed that the BmLanB1-w gene is newly evolved and is required for wing-specific cell adhesion. This is the first report showing the tissue specific distribution and functional differentiation of β laminin in insects.
Integrative role of KM infrastructure and KM strategy to enhance individual competence
Authors: Kushwaha Pooja , Rao M.K. 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– This paper aims to explore knowledge management (KM) literature to understand further the inter-relationship among KM infrastructure (KMI), KM strategy (KMS), KM process (KMP) and individual competence (IC), which are considered very much essential for achieving a heightened competence at an individual level. In the present scenario, knowledge intensive organizations are striving highly to manage competitiveness for their survival in the market. The role of knowledge capability is very much pivotal in ensuring the success of knowledge process implementation.Design/methodology/approach– A methodical review has been carried out of empirical and conceptual articles to justify the linkages among KMI, KMS, KMP and IC, particularly accessed through sources such as Pro Quest, EBSCO host, Google Scholar and other e-databases. This review integrates a conceptual framework to explore the relationship among the aforesaid constructs.Findings– This study provides valuable insight into the role of KMI and KMS in enabling various KM processes. It also contributes significantly to organizations by helping them to integrate KM processes so as to enhance IC.Research limitations/implications– This paper provides helpful suggestions to drive the KMPs by facilitating suitable congruence of infrastructure capabilities and KMSs within organizations. Further, this study would also be helpful in enhancing IC along with organizational competence. Study limitations are also discussed.Originality/value– This paper contributes to knowledge and competence management literature by adding the fact that KMI and KMS both precede KMP for better outcomes at an individual level.
A longitudinal investigation of the relationship between maternal mind‐mindedness and theory of mind
Authors: Kirk Elizabeth , Pine Karen , Wheatley Lisa , Howlett Neil , Schulz Joerg , Fletcher Ben (C) 
Published: July 2015

Data are presented from a longitudinal investigation examining the relationship between maternal mind‐mindedness (MM) in infancy and socio‐cognitive development in childhood. We revisited children (n = 18) who had taken part in a longitudinal study as infants. MM had been assessed at 10, 12, 16, and 20 months of age. We followed up these children at 5–6 years of age to test their higher order theory of mind (ToM) (using the strange stories task). The convergent validity, temporal stability, and predictive validity of the construct of MM were examined in a longitudinal data set. The five measures of MM were not significantly correlated. Mother's production of appropriate mind‐related comments (but no other measures) showed evidence of temporal stability throughout infancy. Thus, MM (as measured by appropriate mind‐related comments) was confirmed as a stable construct. Children's ToM at 5–6 years of age was significantly predicted by their mother's MM up to 4 years earlier, with MM accounting for 40% of the variance of the strange stories task scores. These findings identify a relationship between MM across a protracted period of infancy and socio‐cognitive development at 5–6 years of age.
Membrane turnover and receptor trafficking in regenerating axons
Authors: Hausott Barbara , Klimaschewski Lars 
Published: July 2015

AbstractPeripheral axonal regeneration requires surface‐expanding membrane addition. The continuous incorporation of new membranes into the axolemma allows the pushing force of elongating microtubules to drive axonal growth cones forwards. Hence, a constant supply of membranes and cytoskeletal building blocks is required, often for many weeks. In human peripheral nerves, axonal tips may be more than 1 m away from the neuronal cell body. Therefore, in the initial phase of regeneration, membranes are derived from pre‐existing vesicles or synthesised locally. Only later stages of axonal regeneration are supported by membranes and proteins synthesised in neuronal cell bodies, considering that the fastest anterograde transport mechanisms deliver cargo at 20 cm/day. Whereas endocytosis and exocytosis of membrane vesicles are balanced in intact axons, membrane incorporation exceeds membrane retrieval during regeneration to compensate for the loss of membranes distal to the lesion site. Physiological membrane turnover rates will not be established before the completion of target reinnervation. In this review, the current knowledge on membrane traffic in axonal outgrowth is summarised, with a focus on endosomal vesicles as the providers of membranes and carriers of growth factor receptors required for initiating signalling pathways to promote the elongation and branching of regenerating axons in lesioned peripheral nerves.
The Aims of Big History
Authors: Turnbull Paul 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBig History studies the history of humankind within the historical time scales of geological and biological history. It does so to understand how powerful forces and factors at work on these large time‐scales have shaped our history. It focuses particularly on how societies throughout the world have responded to major environmental, economic and social changes.David Christian and other practitioners of Big History hold that although we have become less constrained since the end of the Palaeolithic era by our biology, our life‐ways, forms of social organization and culture have continued to be influenced by our biology and by the play of large‐scale and long‐term natural forces, notably our planet's weather and ecological systems. In this article, I discuss Big History's particular focus on our development of social complexity and technological innovations in response to our energy needs. I also consider Big History's emphasis on our evolution of symbolic communication, drawing attention to the disinclination of practitioners of Big History to adopt rigorously Darwinian interpretations of our cultural and social evolution. The article concludes by way of brief comments on David Christian's championing of Big History as a return to universal history and some personal brief observations on teaching Big History.
The professional role of a dental hygienist in Finland – educators’ views
Authors: Virtanen JI , Pellikka E , Singh S , Widström E 
Published: July 2015

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the role and envisioned professional identity of the dental hygienist in the eyes of their educators at the Finnish training institutes and to determine the need for any changes and improvements.MethodsA cross‐sectional explorative study used as its main method interviews conducted in 2012–2013 among educators of dental hygienists in Finland. Leading representatives of dental hygienist training at all vocational health institutes, dental schools and centres of health education were asked to participate in the study. The interviews consisted of two parts: a self‐administered questionnaire and a semi‐structured interview. The qualitative data were analysed with thematic analysis. The inductive theoretical approach served to categorize the data based on emergent themes and patterns.ResultsThe educators held a general respect and appreciation for the dental hygienist profession. They felt that dental hygienists’ skills ought to see more use in orthodontics and in preventive care than is customary today, including in tobacco prevention and smoking cessation as well as in dietary instruction among adults. The traditional role of the dental hygienist and the evolving scope of dental practice seemed mismatched. Concern about the lack of clarity regarding the division of labour in clinical practice was expressed. The respondents were convinced of that the division of labour in the public sector differs from that in the private sector.ConclusionThe educators thought that the role of the dental hygienist and the evolving scope of dental practice were partly mismatched. A reassessment of stakeholder involvement in the development of training curricula is urgently needed.
Autonomy support and motivational responses across training and competition in individual and team sports
Authors: van de Pol Pepijn K. C. , Kavussanu Maria , Kompier Michiel 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis study examined: (a) whether athletes’ (N = 348) perceived autonomy support (i.e., showing interest in athletes’ input and praising autonomous behavior) differs across contexts (training vs. competition) and sport types (individual vs. team sports), and (b) whether the relationships between autonomy support and effort, enjoyment, and anxiety are affected by context and sport type. Perceived autonomy support did not vary across contexts, but interest in athletes’ input was higher in individual than in team sports. Praise for autonomous behavior was associated positively with effort only when interest in input was high, and this effect was stronger in training than in competition. Finally, praise for autonomous behavior was also positively related to enjoyment in training, while interest in input was positively associated with anxiety in individual sports.
Ontogenetic allometry and body composition of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from the U.S. mid‐Atlantic
Authors: Mallette Sarah D. , McLellan William A. , Scharf Frederick S. , Koopman Heather N. , Barco Susan G. , Wells Randall S. , Ann Pabst D. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractGrowth in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) was investigated through examination of sex‐specific, ontogenetic changes in the mass of 38 discrete body compartments, utilizing stranded dolphins in good body condition (n = 145). Ontogenetic allometry and the body composition technique were used to quantitatively describe growth patterns. Although adult males were significantly larger than adult females in total body mass (TBM) and total length, overall patterns of growth were remarkably similar between sexes. The integument, locomotor muscle, and vertebral column together represented 50%–58% of TBM across all life history categories, although their relative contributions varied ontogenetically. Young dolphins invested the greatest percentage of TBM in integument, while locomotor muscle was the single largest body component in adults. In both sexes (1) most muscle groups displayed positive allometry, (2) most skeletal elements displayed negative allometric or isometric growth, (3) most abdominal viscera associated with digestion displayed positive allometry, and (4) the brain displayed negative allometric growth. Reproductive tissues exhibited the highest rates of growth in both sexes, and increased as a percentage of TBM with maturity. This study provides an integrated view of bottlenose dolphin growth and a quantitative baseline of body composition for future monitoring of this sentinel species of ecosystem health.