bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Different Pulverisation Methods for RNA Extraction in Squash Fruit: Lyophilisation, Cryogenic Mill and Mortar Grinding
Authors: Román Belén , González‐Verdejo Clara I. , Peña Francisco , Nadal Salvador , Gómez Pedro 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTIntroductionQuality and integrity of RNA are critical for transcription studies in plant molecular biology. In squash fruit and other high water content crops, the grinding of tissue with mortar and pestle in liquid nitrogen fails to produce a homogeneous and fine powered sample desirable to ensure a good penetration of the extraction reagent.ObjectiveTo develop an improved pulverisation method to facilitate the homogenisation process of squash fruit tissue prior to RNA extraction without reducing quality and yield of the extracted RNA.MethodologyThree methods of pulverisation, each followed by the same extraction protocol, were compared. The first approach consisted of the lyophilisation of the sample in order to remove the excess of water before grinding, the second one used a cryogenic mill and the control one a mortar grinding of frozen tissue. The quality of the isolated RNA was tested by carrying out a quantitative real time downstream amplification.ResultsIn the three situations considered, mean values for A260/A280 indicated minimal interference by proteins and RNA quality indicator (RQI) values were considered appropriate for quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) amplification. Successful qRT‐PCR amplifications were obtained with cDNA isolated with the three protocols.ConclusionBoth apparatus can improve and facilitate the grinding step in the RNA extraction process in zucchini, resulting in isolated RNA of high quality and integrity as revealed by qRT‐PCR downstream application. This is apparently the first time that a cryogenic mill has been used to prepare fruit samples for RNA extraction, thereby improving the sampling strategy because the fine powder obtained represents a homogeneous mix of the organ tissue. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A polar low observed over the Norwegian Sea on 3–4 March 2008: high‐resolution numerical experiments
Authors: Føre Ivan , Nordeng Thor Erik 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA polar low (PL) observed over the Norwegian Sea by the IPY‐THORPEX research aircraft campaign during 3–4 March 2008 was studied by a series of fine‐mesh (3 km) experiments using the state‐of‐the‐art Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The full‐physics experiment simulated the PL intensity, baroclinic nature, surface wind speed and track rather well compared to dropsonde observations and satellite images. Two types of sensitivity experiments were designed to analyse the physical properties of the PL. First, physical processes such as condensational heating and sensible and/or latent heat fluxes were switched off throughout the whole simulation. In the second type, these processes were turned off at later times, which minimized the modification of the polar low environment caused by the absence of one or all of them over a long time period, making it suitable to study the direct effect of the physical processes on the PL itself. These two types of sensitivity experiments suggested the following: low‐level baroclinic energy conversion was of primary importance for the PL development, while other physical processes had a minor direct impact on the PL intensity. The surface latent heat fluxes, and to a lesser extent sensible heat fluxes, played an indirect role in the sense that they set up and supported the baroclinic environment vital for the PL development. Condensational heating, however, was essential to set up the initial baroclinic environment favourable for the PL intensification, while it had a modest indirect effect thereafter. The experiments indicated that in the late mature stage, after baroclinicity vanished, surface energy fluxes (sensible and/or latent heat) might have contributed to the PL energetics. How the variability in the simulated moist convection, the thermal structure of the PL core, and surface energy fluxes in each experiment affected the PL was difficult to answer. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
LINKING RIVER MANAGEMENT TO SPECIES CONSERVATION USING DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE‐SCALE MODELS
Authors: Freeman M. C. , Buell G. R. , Hay L. E. , Hughes W. B. , Jacobson R. B. , Jones J. W. , Jones S. A. , Lafontaine J. H. , Odom K. R. , Peterson J. T. , Riley J. W. , Schindler J. S. , Shea C. , Weaver J. D. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTEfforts to conserve stream and river biota could benefit from tools that allow managers to evaluate landscape‐scale changes in species distributions in response to water management decisions. We present a framework and methods for integrating hydrology, geographic context and metapopulation processes to simulate effects of changes in streamflow on fish occupancy dynamics across a landscape of interconnected stream segments. We illustrate this approach using a 482 km2 catchment in the southeastern US supporting 50 or more stream fish species. A spatially distributed, deterministic and physically based hydrologic model is used to simulate daily streamflow for sub‐basins composing the catchment. We use geographic data to characterize stream segments with respect to channel size, confinement, position and connectedness within the stream network. Simulated streamflow dynamics are then applied to model fish metapopulation dynamics in stream segments, using hypothesized effects of streamflow magnitude and variability on population processes, conditioned by channel characteristics. The resulting time series simulate spatially explicit, annual changes in species occurrences or assemblage metrics (e.g. species richness) across the catchment as outcomes of management scenarios. Sensitivity analyses using alternative, plausible links between streamflow components and metapopulation processes, or allowing for alternative modes of fish dispersal, demonstrate large effects of ecological uncertainty on model outcomes and highlight needed research and monitoring. Nonetheless, with uncertainties explicitly acknowledged, dynamic, landscape‐scale simulations may prove useful for quantitatively comparing river management alternatives with respect to species conservation. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Investigation of a Ferrite/Silicon Nitride Composite Concept Aimed at Automotive Applications
Authors: Van Landeghem Hugo Paul , Gouné Mohamed , Redjaïmia Abdelkrim 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis paper presents the investigation of the behavior of a Fe–1.5 wt% Si thin sheet upon plasma‐assisted nitriding at 570°C. It had been confirmed that a very fine and intense precipitation of amorphous silicon nitride occurs as nitrogen diffuses into the sheet. The precipitates, the size of which is comprised between several and several tens of nanometer, display a cubic morphology in spite of their amorphous structure. These cubes adopt a particular morphology in relation to the matrix with their faces parallel to the {100} plane family. These precipitates cause a notable hardening of the alloy and it was possible to harden a 1 mm sheet across its whole thickness in under 8 h.
Are Therapeutic Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Compatible with Human Blood?
Authors: Moll Guido , Rasmusson-Duprez Ida , von Bahr Lena , Connolly-Andersen Anne-Marie , Elgue Graciela , Funke Lillemor , Hamad Osama A. , Lönnies Helena , Magnusson Peetra U. , Sanchez Javier , Teramura Yuji , Nilsson-Ekdahl Kristina , Ringdén Olle , Korsgren Olle , Nilsson Bo , Le Blanc Katarina 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are tested in numerous clinical trials. Questions have been raised concerning fate and function of these therapeutic cells after systemic infusion. We therefore asked whether culture-expanded human MSCs elicit an innate immune attack, termed instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR), which has previously been shown to compromise the survival and function of systemically infused islet cells and hepatocytes. We found that MSCs expressed hemostatic regulators similar to those produced by endothelial cells but displayed higher amounts of prothrombotic tissue/stromal factors on their surface, which triggered the IBMIR after blood exposure, as characterized by formation of blood activation markers. This process was dependent on the cell dose, the choice of MSC donor, and particularly the cell-passage number. Short-term expanded MSCs triggered only weak blood responses in vitro, whereas extended culture and coculture with activated lymphocytes increased their prothrombotic properties. After systemic infusion to patients, we found increased formation of blood activation markers, but no formation of hyperfibrinolysis marker D-dimer or acute-phase reactants with the currently applied dose of 1.0–3.0 × 106 cells per kilogram. Culture-expanded MSCs trigger the IBMIR in vitro and in vivo. Induction of IBMIR is dose-dependent and increases after prolonged ex vivo expansion. Currently applied doses of low-passage clinical-grade MSCs elicit only minor systemic effects, but higher cell doses and particularly higher passage cells should be handled with care. This deleterious reaction can compromise the survival, engraftment, and function of these therapeutic cells.
A Putative Role for the Immunoproteasome in the Maintenance of Pluripotency in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Atkinson Stuart P. , Collin Joseph , Irina Neganova , Anyfantis George , Kyung Bo Kim , Lako Majlinda , Armstrong Lyle 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe function of the proteasome is essential for maintenance of cellular homeostasis, and in pluripotent stem cells, this has been extended to the removal of nascent proteins in a manner that restricts differentiation. In this study, we show enhanced expression of genes encoding subunits of the 20S proteasome in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) coupled to their downregulation as the cells progress into differentiation. The decrease in expression is particularly marked for the alternative catalytic subunits of the 20S proteasome variant known as the immunoproteasome indicating the possibility of a hitherto unknown function for this proteasome variant in pluripotent cells. The immunoproteasome is normally associated with antigen-presenting cells where it provides peptides of an appropriate length for antibody generation; however, our data suggest that it may be involved in maintaining the pluripotency in hESCs. Selective inhibition of two immunoproteasome subunits (PSMB9 and PSMB8) results in downregulation of cell surface and transcriptional markers that characterize the pluripotent state, subtle cell accumulation in G1 at the expense of S-phase, and upregulation of various markers characterizing the differentiated primitive and definitive lineages arising from hESC. Our data also support a different function for each of these two subunits in hESC that may be linked to their selectivity in driving proteasome-mediated degradation of cell cycle regulatory components and/or differentiation inducing factors.
GABAB receptors do not internalize after baclofen treatment, possibly due to a lack of β‐arrestin association: Study with a real‐time visualizing assay
Authors: Sudo Yuka , Hojo Minoru , Ando Yuko , Takada Masafumi , Murata Hiroaki , Kurata Shinji , Nishida Noriyuki , Uezono Yasuhito 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe mechanism of agonist‐induced GABAB receptor (GABABR) internalization is not well understood. To investigate this process, we focused on the interaction of GABABR with β‐arrestins, which are key proteins in the internalization of most of the G protein‐coupled receptors, and the agonist‐induced GABABR internalization and the interaction of GABABR with β‐arrestin1 and β‐arrestin2 were investigated in real time using GABABR and β‐arrestins both of which were fluorescent protein‐tagged. We then compared these profiles with those of μ‐opioid receptors (μOR), well‐studied receptors that associate and cointernalize with β‐arrestins. When stimulated by the specific GABABR agonist baclofen, GABABR composed of GABAB1aR (GB1aR) and fluorescent protein‐tagged GABAB2R‐Venus (GB2R‐V) formed functional GABABR; they elicited G protein‐activated inwardly rectifying potassium channels as well as nontagged GABABR. In cells coexpressing GB1aR, GB2R‐V, and β‐arrestin1‐Cerulean (βarr1‐C) or β‐arrestin2‐Cerulean (βarr2‐C), real‐time imaging studies showed that baclofen treatment neither internalized GB2R‐V nor mobilized βarr1‐C or βarr2‐C to the cell surface. This happened regardless of the presence of G protein‐coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4), which forms a complex with GABABR and causes GABABR desensitization. On the other hand, in cells coexpressing μOR‐Venus, GRK2, and βarr1‐C or βarr2‐C, the μOR molecule formed μOR/βarr1 or μOR/βarr2 complexes on the cell surface, which were then internalized into the cytoplasm in a time‐dependent manner. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay also indicated scarce association of GB2R‐V and β‐arrestins‐C with or without the stimulation of baclofen, while robust association of μOR‐V with β‐arrestins‐C was detected after μOR activation. These findings suggest that GABABRs failure to undergo agonist‐induced internalization results in part from its failure to interact with β‐arrestins. Synapse 66:759–769, 2012.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Environmental argumentation as sociocultural activity
Authors: Oliveira Alandeom W. , Akerson Valarie L. , Oldfield Martha 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWhile environmental argumentation has recently received much attention from science educators, little consideration has been given to how personal identities and social relationships can either support or constrain student argumentation. This study attends to this issue by examining environmental argumentation as a sociocultural activity (how students implicitly create identities and relationships through environmental warrants and claims). By integrating rhetorical and sociocultural analysis of oral discourse, we examine argumentation about environmental dilemmas (problematic scenarios involving animals and the environment). Although students set forth a variety of warrants (social, economic, contextual, biocentric, and expertise‐based), the dilemmas led to distinct forms of argumentation. One dilemma involving a pet iguana fostered non‐adversarial argumentation wherein students identified themselves as animal lovers and cooperative discussants. By contrast, the other two dilemmas (the hypothetical encounter with a fawn in the woods and the observation of classroom lights being unnecessarily left on) led to the unexpected emergence of sexual identities, combative disagreement, and conflict resolution on social rather than rational grounds. The main implication of this study is that it highlights the need for educators to pay closer attention to specific textual elements in the design of environmental dilemmas (types of prompts used, decision‐makers' identities, statements of intentionality and outcome, moral complexity, values of nature, and social representation or cultural images of animals) in order to foster an appropriate and productive sociocultural classroom context for rational and reasoned environmental argumentation to take place without the constraints of unexpected social complications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 49: 869–897, 2012
Prevalence of tetrahydrobiopterine (BH4)‐responsive alleles among Austrian patients with PAH deficiency: comprehensive results from molecular analysis in 147 patients
Authors: Sterl Elisabeth , Paul Karl , Paschke Eduard , Zschocke Johannes , Brunner‐Krainz Michaela , Windisch Eva , Konstantopoulou Vassiliki , Möslinger Dorothea , Karall Daniela , Scholl‐Bürgi Sabine , Sperl Wolfgang , Lagler Florian , Plecko Barbara 
Published: April 2012

AbstractPhenylketonuria (PKU, MIM 261600) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene (PAH, GenBank U49897.1, RefSeq NM_000277). To date more than 560 variants of the PAH gene have been identified. In Europe there is regional distribution of specific mutations. Due to recent progress in chaperone therapy, the prevalence of BH4‐responsive alleles gained therapeutic importance. Here we report the mutational spectrum of PAH deficiency in 147 unrelated Austrian families. Overall mutation detection rate was 98.6 %. There was a total of 62 disease‐causing mutations, including five novel mutations IVS4 + 6T>A, p.H290Y, IVS8‐2A>G, p.A322V and p.I421S. The five most prevalent mutations found in patients were p.R408W, IVS12 + 1G>A, p.R261Q, p.R158Q and IVS2 + 5G>C. Neonatal phenylalanine levels before treatment were available in 114/147 patients. Prediction of BH4‐responsiveness in patients with full genotypes was exclusively made according to published data. Among the 133 patients needing dietary treatment, 28.4 % are expected to be BH4 “non‐responsive”, 4.5 % are highly likely BH4‐responsive, 35.8 % are probably BH4‐responsive while no interpretation was possible for 31.3 %. The mutation data reflect the population history of Austria and provide information on the likely proportion of Austrian PKU patients that may benefit from BH4‐therapy.
Multivariate decoding of fMRI data
Authors: Heinzle J. , Anders S. , Bode S. , Bogler C. , Chen Y. , Cichy R.M. , Hackmack K. , Kahnt T. , Kalberlah C. , Reverberi C. , Soon C.S. , Tusche A. , Weygandt M. , Haynes J.-D. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
The advent of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of brain function 20 years ago has provided a new methodology for non-in­vasive measurement of brain function that is now widely used in cognitive neurosci­ence. Traditionally, fMRI data has been an­alyzed looking for overall activity chang­es in brain regions in response to a stimu­lus or a cognitive task. Now, recent develop­ments have introduced more elaborate, con­tent-based analysis techniques. When mul­tivariate decoding is applied to the detailed patterning of regionally-specific fMRI signals, it can be used to assess the amount of infor­mation these encode about specific task-vari­ables. Here we provide an overview of sev­eral developments, spanning from applica­tions in cognitive neuroscience (perception, attention, reward, decision making, emotion­al communication) to methodology (informa­tion flow, surface-based searchlight decod­ing) and medical diagnostics.
Experimental models of spatial neglect
Authors: Wilke M. , Dechent P. , Schmidt-Samoa C. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Spatial neglect is a debilitating neuropsy­chological disorder that is characterized by an impaired or lost ability to explore the space contralateral to the lesion and to re­act to stimuli presented on this side. Lesion sites that have been implicated in spatial ne­glect form a widely distributed network con­sisting of a number of cortical (i.e., frontopa­rietal) and subcortical (i.e., thalamic) areas that are activated during attention and vi­suomotor tasks in healthy individuals. While detailed understanding of the brain circuits and mechanisms involved in spatial neglect is a prerequisite for the development of ef­fective therapies, this has proven to be dif­ficult in human patients because of the size and variability of lesion sites. Therefore, ex­perimental models where predefined brain regions can be systematically inactivated are of great advantage. Neglect models have been developed in nonhuman primates in whom it is possible to pharmacologically in­activate small brain regions and in humans by means of noninvasive stimulation/inacti­vation methods such as transcranial magnet­ic stimulation. In this article, we discuss theo­ries about the mechanisms of spatial neglect such as the hemispheric imbalance model and the supporting experimental evidence, with an emphasis on imaging experiments that have explored the effects of lesions on dynamic brain activity.
Comparison of neonatal and maternal outcomes associated with head‐pushing and head‐pulling methods for impacted fetal head extraction during cesarean delivery
Authors: Bastani Parvin , Pourabolghase Shabnam , Abbasalizadeh Fatemeh , Motvalli Leila 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the morbidity and mortality of 2 current techniques during cesarean delivery of an impacted fetal head.MethodsIn a comparative setting, 59 pregnant women with obstructed labor due to impacted fetal head were recruited. The patients were categorized into 2 groups according to method of extraction: the “push” group (n = 30) and the “pull” group (n = 29). Uterus relaxants were used before cesarean in all cases and the incision was higher and wider than routine. Maternal and neonatal morbidities were compared between the groups.ResultsMaternal complications in the push and pull groups were extension of the uterine incision (15 [50.0%] vs 5 [17.2%]); T or J incision (3 [10.0%] vs 4 [13.8%]); blood transfusion (3 [10.0%] vs 1 [3.4%]); wound infection (4 [13.3%] vs 1 [3.4%]); fever (16 [53.3%] vs 3 [10.3%]); and urinary tract infection (10 [33.3%] vs 0 [0.0%]). Incidences of extension of the uterine incision, fever, and urinary tract infection were significantly higher in the push group (P = 0.008).ConclusionOwing to a lower rate of abnormal incision and postpartum fever/infection with the pull method, this technique is preferable to the push method.
Ahab, American
Authors: McWilliams Susan 
Published: April 2012

AbstractDespite common portrayals of Ahab as beyond the pale of common humanity, Melville offers much reason inMoby-Dickto regard Ahab as a reflection of ordinary American political life. Two of Ahab's most definitive characteristics—his isolation and his desire for domination—do not differentiate him from the other characters in the book but rather underscore how much he is like them. Among thePequod's crew in particular, those traits are the rule rather than the exception, a fact that helps to explain why the crew members are so quick to adopt Ahab's way of thinking: in large measure, it is already their own. Along these lines, looking at Ahab as a representative American man makes it possible to better understand Melville's true anxieties about the prospects for democratic flourishing in the United States.
Qui seront les premiers nés du baby-boom à risque de vulnérabilité financière à la retraite? Une comparaison Québec-Ontario
Authors: Légaré Jacques , Boucher Marie-Pier Bergeron 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThe oncoming retirement of baby boomers has governments worried. Will individual baby boomers demonstrate the ability to prepare financially for their retirement? Well-being in retirement depends largely on financial preparedness during working life. Those baby boomers who are the most vulnerable at the end of their working lives are more likely to become vulnerable during retirement. This study looks at the income of the first baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1956, aged 50 to 60, according to the 2006 Canadian census. First we establish the socio-economic categories for which members are most financially vulnerable. Then, we estimate how many baby boomers are vulnerable and to what extent. This study’s preferred approach is an interprovincial comparison between Quebec and Ontario, used to analyze individual aspects of baby boomers’ financial positions.