bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breed‐specific expression of DROSHA, DICER and AGO2 is regulated by glucocorticoid‐mediated miRNAs in the liver of newborn piglets
Authors: Li Runsheng , Jia Yimin , Zou Huafeng , Zhao Ruqian 
Published: October 2014

SummaryMicroRNA (miRNA) biogenesis is determined mainly by Drosha, Dicer and Argonaute2 (Ago2). Different breeds of pigs with vast differences in serum cortisol level demonstrate distinct profiles of hepatic miRNA expression. As yet, little is known about whether glucocorticoid contributes to the breed differences in miRNA biogenesis. Here, we used newborn Large White (LW) and Erhualian (EHL) piglets to investigate the role of glucocorticoid in breed‐specific hepatic miRNA biogenesis. Erhualian piglets showing significantly higher serum cortisol level, as compared to LW, demonstrated higher hepatic expression of Drosha, Dicer and Ago2 at the protein level, but not at the mRNA level. At the post‐transcriptional level, miRNAs that are predicted to target these proteins may be involved in the regulation. Hepatic expression of miR‐15b and miR‐222 was significantly lower in EHL piglets and was associated with higher glucocorticoid receptor binding to the respective promoter regions of miR‐15b and miR‐222 genes. The inhibitory effect of glucocorticoid on miR‐15b and miR‐222 expression was further verified in HepG2 cells, in which dexamethasone significantly downregulated the expression of primary transcripts of miR‐15b and miR‐222 genes. In conclusion, the higher protein content of Drosha, Dicer and Ago2 in the liver of EHL piglets is post‐transcriptionally regulated, at least in part, by glucocorticoid‐mediated repression of miR‐15b and miR‐222.
Localised pityriasis rosea‐like eruption during radiotherapy. Report of 2 cases
Authors: Moloney Gary R , Goh Michelle SY , Mitchell Catherine , McCormack Chris J 
Published: October 2014

AbstractPityriasis rosea is a common skin condition that presents acutely with asymptomatic, scaly and oval plaques, usually in a well‐recognised distribution over the trunk. Two men developed ovoid, scaly and annular lesions limited to the radiotherapy field during treatment for pelvic malignancies and without a preceding herald patch. Other causes of the eruption were excluded on clinical and pathological grounds and the histopathological features were consistent with a pityriasis rosea‐like eruption. In both cases the lesions resolved spontaneously by 8 weeks. These are the first reported cases of a localised pityriasis rosea‐like eruption arising during radiotherapy.
Chemotactic Activity of Gestational Tissues Through Late Pregnancy, Term Labor, and RU486‐Induced Preterm Labor in Guinea Pigs
Authors: Gomez‐Lopez Nardhy , Tong Wing‐Chiu , Arenas‐Hernandez Marcia , Tanaka Satomi , Hajar Omar , Olson David M. , Taggart Michael J. , Mitchell Bryan F. 
Published: October 2014

ProblemIs increased leukocyte chemotactic activity (CA) from gestational tissues necessary for term or preterm labor in guinea pigs?Method of StudyTissue extracts were prepared from pregnant guinea pig decidua–myometrium, cervix, fetal membranes (amniochorion), and placenta during early third trimester (n = 8), term not in labor (TNL, n = 5), and term spontaneous labor (TL, n = 6), RU486‐induced preterm labor (PTL, n = 6), or controls (cPTL, n = 5). Leukocyte CA was assessed using a modified Boyden chamber assay. Extract chemokine and maternal progesterone concentrations were quantified by enzyme immunoassay.ResultsOnly the extracts from amniochorion demonstrated increased CA through late gestation and labor. In contrast, CA was decreased in extracts from amniochorion and cervix from animals after RU486‐induced PTL. Maternal progesterone concentrations remained high in all groups.ConclusionLeukocyte CA of intrauterine tissues is increased in term spontaneous labor. However, RU486‐induced preterm labor occurs in the absence of increased CA.
How to select immotile but viable spermatozoa on the day of intracytoplasmic sperm injection? An embryologist's view
Authors: Nordhoff V. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryA viable spermatozoon is the prerequisite for initiating fertilization in intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Usually motility is the primary sign used to determine a sperm's viability. However, in every in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory cases are observed in which none or only few spermatozoa are motile. This can occur in treatment cycles involving ejaculated samples but is most common in cases where surgically extracted testicular spermatozoa are used. To aid in selection, several techniques have been developed to identify viable spermatozoa from the immotile fraction. Amongst the more commonly used approaches are (i) the hypo‐osmotic swelling test (ii) chemical substances for induction of tail movements (iii) the sperm tail flexibility test and (iv) laser‐assisted immotile sperm selection. All can be used routinely in an IVF laboratory with each having both strengths and weaknesses. It is the purpose of this short review to focus on the technical issues involved in the performance of each of these techniques and to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
Characterization of reactive oxygen species in diaphragm
Authors: Zuo L. , Best T. M. , Roberts W. J. , Diaz P. T. , Wagner P. D. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractReactive oxygen species (ROS) exist as natural mediators of metabolism to maintain cellular homeostasis. However, ROS production may significantly increase in response to environmental stressors, resulting in extensive cellular damage. Although several potential sources of increased ROS have been proposed, exact mechanisms of their generation have not been completely elucidated. This is particularly true for diaphragmatic skeletal muscle, the key muscle used for respiration. Several experimental models have focused on detection of ROS generation in rodent diaphragm tissue under stressful conditions, including hypoxia, exercise, and heat, as well as ROS formation in single myofibres. Identification methods include direct detection of ROS with confocal or fluorescent microscopy and indirect detection of ROS through end product analysis. This article explores implications of ROS generation and oxidative stress, and also evaluates potential mechanisms of cellular ROS formation in diaphragmatic skeletal muscle.
Climatic characterization of forest zones across administrative boundaries improves conservation planning
Authors: Klassen Heather A. , Burton Philip J. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAimThis paper demonstrates methods to extend standardized vegetation zone descriptions and mapped distributions across political boundaries. An extended climate niche for North America's Coastal Douglas‐fir (CDF) forest zone is determined and projected to evaluate its potential distribution under a changing climate and to identify climate refugia for conservation planning.LocationPacific Northwest temperate rain forest in British Columbia (BC), CA, and nearby Washington (WA) and Oregon (OR), US.MethodsUsing a combination of ecosystem polygon mapping and ecological plot data with climate interpolation tools, forests characterized as CDF under BC's biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification system were identified in the neighbouring US. Current (baseline) limits to CDF distribution were identified and used to map its potential distribution and climate refugia under future climate conditions using ensemble Global Climate Model projections.ResultsThe extended CDF climate niche covers 76 725 km2 under baseline conditions, with the majority of the area in the Pacific Northwest US. The extended CDF forest zone includes a vegetation assemblage consistent with existing definitions of BC's CDF moist maritime subzone, but also an additional vegetation assemblage representing a drier maritime subzone. Projections of future climate suggest a northerly shift (~150 km) and a decrease (−91.5%) in overall CDF area. Climate refugia are projected for discontinuous patches of CDF forest on Vancouver Island and adjacent mainland.ConclusionsThis project combined georeferenced ecological plot data and digital maps, thereby facilitating the international mapping of ecosystem distributions in adjacent administrative areas that do not currently use the same ecosystem classification and mapping systems. This approach and the concept of climate niche definition, distribution and persistence are applicable to the management, restoration and conservation of plant communities, particularly in evaluating future ecosystem range shifts and disruptions associated with a changing climate. The potential for dramatic reductions in the range of the Coastal Douglas‐fir zone, with persistence in <15% of its current area, suggest that most of the extended CDF zone is marginally suitable for the characteristic CDF ecosystems and that slight shifts in climate or disturbance regime may greatly alter the character of the vegetation. The full climatic niche for British Columbia's Coastal Douglas‐fir forest zone is determined from its mapped distribution and georeferenced plot data in the neighbouring USA. A new subzone is characterized, and the potential distribution of the extended zone is projected under a changing climate to identify climate refugia. For sensitive ecosystems with multi‐jurisdictional distributions, this approach helps focus conservation efforts.
Mobile apps for reflection in learning: A design research in K‐12 education
Authors: Leinonen Teemu , Keune Anna , Veermans Marjaana , Toikkanen Tarmo 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThis study takes a design‐based research approach to explore how applications designed for mobile devices could support reflection in learning in K‐12 education. Use of mobile devices is increasing in schools. Most of the educational apps support single‐person use of interactive learning materials, simulations and learning games. Apps designed to correspond to collaborative learning paradigms, such as collaborative progressive inquiry or project‐based learning, are scarce. In these pedagogical approaches, reflection plays an important role. This paper presents a design‐based research study of mobile device apps, ReFlex and TeamUp, that are specifically designed for use in student‐centred and collaborative school learning, in which continuous reflection is an important part of the learning process. The design of the apps has relied on earlier research on digital tools for reflection and research about mobile devices in classroom learning. The design of the apps was accomplished as part of the qualitative design‐based research conducted with a total of 165 teachers in 13 European countries. As a characteristic for a design‐based research, the results of the study are twofold: practical and theoretical. The apps designed, ReFlex and TeamUp, are practical results of the qualitative research carried out in schools with teachers and students to understand the design challenges and opportunities in schools, to renew their pedagogical practices and to take new tools in use. To understand better the capacity of the apps to facilitate reflection, we analysed the apps in light of earlier studies concerning the levels of reflection that digital tools may support and categorisations of affordances that mobile device apps may provide for classroom learning. Our research indicates that there is potential for fostering the practice of reflection in classroom learning through the use of apps for audio‐visual recordings.
Learning Studios for Introductory Accounting
Authors: Yourstone Steven A. , Tepper Robert J. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTAlthough originally designed for science courses, learning studios have been introduced at over 100 college campuses in a variety of disciplines. Our study focuses on the differences between classrooms designed as lecture spaces versus classrooms designed as learning studios. The impetus is the growing number of learning studios and proponents’ claim of better collaboration and learning within them. Given the substantial cost of a learning studio and greater demand at the authors’ university than supply, we questioned whether the university administration should be encouraged to build more. Learning studios are classrooms in which the seating arrangement places the students in a face‐to‐face orientation with one another. Our study measures the differences between learning studios and traditional classrooms both quantitatively and qualitatively. The learning studio did not result in higher retention rates (the percentage of students completing the course during the semester) or significant differences in total points earned by students in a learning studio compared to a traditional classroom. When examined by gender, however, a significant difference in total points is apparent. For all students in the study, the ability to interact with other students as well as the instructor was greater in the learning studio.
The glutamate receptor GluN2 subunit regulates synaptic trafficking of AMPA receptors in the neonatal mouse brain
Authors: Hamada Shun , Ogawa Itone , Yamasaki Miwako , Kiyama Yuji , Kassai Hidetoshi , Watabe Ayako M. , Nakao Kazuki , Aiba Atsu , Watanabe Masahiko , Manabe Toshiya 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) plays various physiological and pathological roles in neural development, synaptic plasticity and neuronal cell death. It is composed of two GluN1 and two GluN2 subunits and, in the neonatal hippocampus, most synaptic NMDARs are GluN2B‐containing receptors, which are gradually replaced with GluN2A‐containing receptors during development. Here, we examined whether GluN2A could be substituted for GluN2B in neural development and functions by analysing knock‐in (KI) mice in which GluN2B is replaced with GluN2A. The KI mutation was neonatally lethal, although GluN2A‐containing receptors were transported to the postsynaptic membrane even without GluN2B and functional at synapses of acute hippocampal slices of postnatal day 0, indicating that GluN2A‐containing NMDARs could not be substituted for GluN2B‐containing NMDARs. Importantly, the synaptic α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) subunit GluA1 was increased, and the transmembrane AMPAR regulatory protein, which is involved in AMPAR synaptic trafficking, was increased in KI mice. Although the regulation of AMPARs by GluN2B has been reported in cultured neurons, we showed here that AMPAR‐mediated synaptic responses were increased in acute KI slices, suggesting differential roles of GluN2A and GluN2B in AMPAR expression and trafficking in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that GluN2B is essential for the survival of animals, and that the GluN2B–GluN2A switching plays a critical role in synaptic integration of AMPARs through regulation of GluA1 in the whole animal.
Mitigation of ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane emissions from manure management chains: a meta‐analysis and integrated assessment
Authors: Hou Yong , Velthof Gerard L. , Oenema Oene 
Published: October 2014

AbstractLivestock manure contributes considerably to global emissions of ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gases (GHG), especially methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Various measures have been developed to mitigate these emissions, but most of these focus on one specific gas and/or emission source. Here, we present a meta‐analysis and integrated assessment of the effects of mitigation measures on NH3, CH4 and (direct and indirect) N2O emissions from the whole manure management chain. We analysed the effects of mitigation technologies on NH3, CH4 and N2O emissions from individual sources statistically using results of 126 published studies. Whole‐chain effects on NH3 and GHG emissions were assessed through scenario analysis. Significant NH3 reduction efficiencies were observed for (i) housing via lowering the dietary crude protein (CP) content (24–65%, compared to the reference situation), for (ii) external slurry storages via acidification (83%) and covers of straw (78%) or artificial films (98%), for (iii) solid manure storages via compaction and covering (61%, compared to composting), and for (iv) manure application through band spreading (55%, compared to surface application), incorporation (70%) and injection (80%). Acidification decreased CH4 emissions from stored slurry by 87%. Significant increases in N2O emissions were found for straw‐covered slurry storages (by two orders of magnitude) and manure injection (by 26–199%). These side‐effects of straw covers and slurry injection on N2O emission were relatively small when considering the total GHG emissions from the manure chain. Lowering the CP content of feed and acidifying slurry are strategies that consistently reduce NH3 and GHG emissions in the whole chain. Other strategies may reduce emissions of a specific gas or emissions source, by which there is a risk of unwanted trade‐offs in the manure management chain. Proper farm‐scale combinations of mitigation measures are important to minimize impacts of livestock production on global emissions of NH3 and GHG.
Invited review: climate change impacts in polar regions: lessons from Antarctic moss bank archives
Authors: Royles Jessica , Griffiths Howard 
Published: October 2014

AbstractMosses are the dominant plants in polar and boreal regions, areas which are experiencing rapid impacts of regional warming. Long‐term monitoring programmes provide some records of the rate of recent climate change, but moss peat banks contain an unrivalled temporal record of past climate change on terrestrial plant Antarctic systems. We summarise the current understanding of climatic proxies and determinants of moss growth for contrasting continental and maritime Antarctic regions, as informed by 13C and 18O signals in organic material. Rates of moss accumulation are more than three times higher in the maritime Antarctic than continental Antarctica with growing season length being a critical determinant of growth rate, and high carbon isotope discrimination values reflecting optimal hydration conditions. Correlation plots of 13C and 18O values show that species (Chorisodontium aciphyllum / Polytrichum strictum) and growth form (hummock / bank) are the major determinants of measured isotope ratios. The interplay between moss growth form, photosynthetic physiology, water status and isotope composition are compared with developments of secondary proxies, such as chlorophyll fluorescence. These approaches provide a framework to consider the potential impact of climate change on terrestrial Antarctic habitats as well as having implications for future studies of temperate, boreal and Arctic peatlands. There are many urgent ecological and environmental problems in the Arctic related to mosses in a changing climate, but the geographical ranges of species and life‐forms are difficult to track individually. Our goal was to translate what we have learned from the more simple systems in Antarctica, for application to Arctic habitats.
Study of peripheral blood natural killer cells, T‐cell helper/T‐cell suppressor ratio and intercurrent infection frequency in hepatitis C seropositive prevalent hemodialysis patients
Authors: Ibrahim Mohamed A. , Mostafa Afaf A. , El‐Said Heba W. , Mohab Amr M. , Hebah Hayam A. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractHemodialysis (HD) may adversely affect the immune system. It is established that intercurrent infection rate and severity may be increased in prevalent HD patients. Moreover, hepatitis C viral infection, a common infection in many HD centers, may further inhibit the immune system. To our knowledge, no previous study in the literature has attempted to investigate the possible effects of hepatitis C seropositivity on rate and severity of intercurrent infection in prevalent HD patients. The aim of this study was to assess the peripheral blood CD16‐natural killer cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, as well as rate of intercurrent infection in hepatitis C seropositive prevalent HD patients as compared with hepatitis C seronegative prevalent HD patients. Twenty hepatitis C seropositive stable prevalent HD patients (group A), as well as another twenty hepatitis C seronegative stable prevalent HD patients (group B), were randomly selected from our HD unit and enrolled in the study. Both groups were similar in age, sex, body mass index, and duration of HD. Diabetics, smokers, and cases with advanced liver disease (Child classification stages B and C) were excluded from the study. A third group (group C) of 10 apparently healthy subjects (of similar age, sex, and body mass index), was also enrolled in the study. All subjects were investigated by complete blood count, routine chemistry, assessment of peripheral lymphocytes CD3,CD16, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio by flow cytometer, as well assessment of intercurrent infection frequency retrospectively (since the start of HD therapy and seroconversion in HD patients, and prospectively for a period of six months. Although we detected statistically significant higher frequency of intercurrent infection in both HD groups compared with the healthy group, we did not detect significant differences between hepatitis C seropositive and seronegative groups regarding frequency or severity of intercurrent infection. Moreover, we did not detect significant differences among the three studied groups regarding levels of CD16, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio in peripheral lymphocytes. It may be concluded that hepatitis C seropositive prevalent HD patients are not at increased risk of intercurrent infection as compared with hepatitis C seronegative prevalent HD patients, contrary to what is reported in hepatitis C seroconverted organ transplant candidates.
How can dialyzer designs improve solute clearances for hemodialysis patients?
Authors: Davenport Andrew 
Published: October 2014

AbstractImprovements in dialyzer technology and design have led to a reduction in both dialyzer size and cost, but also dialysis session treatment times as hemodialysis has evolved from using the cellulosic coiled drum dialyzer to the flat plate Kiil, to the current generation of hollow fiber capillary dialyzers. Newer manufacturing techniques have led to smoother, more consistent pore sizes and larger pore sizes increasing middle molecule clearances with the development of higher permeability dialyzers, and changing polymer composition to increase hydraulic permeability. Modifications to the dialyzer casing and capillary fibers can also increase the efficiency of solute clearances. Although very efficient in removing the smaller water‐soluble azotemic toxins, the current generation of dialyzers is not so effective in removing other azotemic toxins, including protein‐bound solutes, necessitating the development of newer designs.