bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The structuration of blended learning: putting holistic design principles into practice
Authors: Stubbs Mark , Martin Ian , Endlar Lewis 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis paper considers the challenges faced by those seeking to design effective blended learning. Using a 2‐year case study involving cohorts of approximately 200 students, it demonstrates how Anthony Giddens’ structuration theory can provide a metaframework for assisting educational designers in creating coherent blended learning experiences that reinforce intended learning outcomes. It calls for educational designers to be sensitive to both their audience and the unintended and unanticipated consequences of their actions and shows how a holistic annual review framework can reinforce or suppress emergent behaviour through unit development.
‘Lesson Rainbow’: the use of multiple representations in an Internet‐based, discipline‐integrated science lesson
Authors: Hsu Ying‐Shao 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis paper presents the development and evaluation of a web‐based lesson—Lesson Rainbow. This lesson features multiple representations (MRs), which purposefully deliver concepts in relation to distinctive disciplinary subject areas through story‐based animations that are closely related to learners’ life experiences. The researchers selected 58 2nd‐year junior high school students as the participants (32 males and 26 females). A quasi‐experimental method together with semi‐structured interviews was utilised. This research project was intended to investigate students’ conceptual progress, and to evaluate the use of MRs and of situated learning components in the design of Lesson Rainbow. The statistical results indicated that: (1) students’ science concepts significantly increased (t= 3.84, p < 0.01) through the use of Lesson Rainbow, and (2) students thought that the use of MRs in this web‐based lesson was an effective pedagogical tool inasmuch as it allows for the learning of specific theoretical viewpoints in addition to the necessary background information. Lesson Rainbow employing MRs helps learners to understand the meanings of, and interrelationships between, different kinds of external representations. This kind of design facilitates their understanding of the correspondence between abstract symbolic expressions and real‐world situations.
Assessing technologies for teaching and learning: understanding the importance of technological pedagogical content knowledge
Authors: Ferdig Richard E. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractPast and present research has provided evidence to support the claim that technologies for teaching and learning must be pedagogically sound. However, educational technologies are also part of a complex process involving the people in the implementation of the innovation. In this paper, I review existing research and explain what both of those claims entail for educational technology. In the remainder of the paper, I discuss the research agenda related to the need to provide evidence that technology innovations are successful in the implementation process. Implications of this three‐part model as well as a discussion of the importance of technological pedagogical content knowledge conclude the paper.
Spelling and grammar checkers: are they intrusive?
Authors: Figueredo Lauren , Varnhagen Connie K. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractSpelling and grammar checkers help to make surface errors more apparent; do they influence the way in which people revise the content of their writing? We investigated whether the presence of checkers distracts students from making content revisions. Twenty‐five freshmen, 20 English majors and 20 graduate students revised two essays on a computer, one with the spelling and grammar checkers, and the other with a dictionary. These essays were unfamiliar to the students and rigged with content and surface errors. The checkers helped the participants to revise text for surface features but did not affect the students’ other revisions. Our findings suggest that checkers are helpful yet do not inhibit students’ ability to make content revisions.
The effect of sweeteners on the acceptability of dairy‐based espresso beverages†
Authors: BOENEKE CHARLES A , MCGREGOR JOHN U , ARYANA KAYANUSH J 
Published: January 2006

A study was performed to determine the role of product formulations on the quality of coffee‐flavoured dairy beverages. The study evaluated the effect of sweetener type on product quality. Three soft‐serve mixes varying in sweetener type were manufactured using 100% sucrose, a 50:50 blend of corn sweetener and sucrose, and 100% corn sweetener. The three mixes were used as ingredients in the manufacture of espresso‐based coffee beverages. Samples were analysed for colour, separation, composition, pH and viscosity. Sensory analysis was carried out by trained panels and consumer panels. The beverages made using soft‐serve ice cream mix sweetened solely with sucrose were sweeter and preferred by consumers. Soft‐serve ice cream mixes sweetened with sucrose were significantly more viscous and resulted in less foaming and less viscous than fresh‐blended, iced espresso beverages.
The effect of mendi (Chaerophyllum sp.) on ripening of vacuum‐packed herby cheese
Authors: TARAKCI ZEKAI , SAGUN EMRULLAH , DURMAZ HISAMETTIN 
Published: January 2006

The composition, biochemical and sensory parameters of control cheese (without herbs) and four herby cheeses at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3% herb levels (mendi, Chaerophyllum sp.) ripened at 4 ± 1°C for 90 days were compared. As herb levels increased from 0.5 to 3%, dry matter and pH value decreased significantly. However, dry matter of all cheeses showed similar changes during ripening. The salt content of samples changed from 3.44 to 5.47% during ripening. There was a tendency toward slightly higher titratable acidity in cheeses with more added herbs. Ripening index, trichloroacetic acid‐soluble nitrogen/total nitrogen, phosphotungstic acid‐soluble nitrogen/total nitrogen, and lipolysis values of the cheese samples were affected by adding herbs and by ripening time. The most acceptable sensory score was obtained with 1% added herbs.
Is there a cost of reproduction for Marsh TitsParus palustrisin a primeval forest?
Authors: TOMASZ WESOŁOWSKI , ROWIŃSKI PATRYK 
Published: January 2006

We looked for evidence of a cost of reproduction in the Marsh TitParus palustrisliving in the last fragments of primeval temperate forest (Białowieża National Park, eastern Poland). Potential nest‐holes were superabundant but the birds had to cope with a diverse set of predators, dangerous both to broods and to parents. Taking advantage of the natural variation in realized reproductive investment that this caused in terms of the loss of nests or mates, we expected to find differences in survival and future fecundity between birds which had lost broods (reduced effort), had reared young (controls) or were either provisioning young single‐handed or had laid replacement clutches (increased effort). Despite 13 years of observation, even during seasons with very strenuous conditions, we have failed to demonstrate that the observed range of variation in parental investment caused any demographic cost of reproduction. Incubating females were regularly killed on the nest, which could indicate the existence of a cost operating in the earlier stages of the breeding cycle. Overall, these results suggest that the reproductive rate in Marsh Tits is not controlled proximately by reproductive cost.
Does Date Stamping ICD‐9‐CM Codes Increase the Value of Clinical Information in Administrative Data?
Authors: Glance Laurent G. , Dick Andrew W. , Osler Turner M. , Mukamel Dana B. 
Published: January 2006

Context. Comorbidity measures are designed to exclude complications when they map International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐9‐CM) codes to diagnostic categories. The use of data fields that indicates whether each secondary diagnosis was present at the time of hospital admission may lead to the more accurate identification of preexisting conditions.Objective. To examine the rate of misclassification of ICD‐9‐CM codes into diagnostic categories by the Dartmouth–Manitoba adaptation of the Charlson index and by the Elixhauser comorbidity algorithm.Data Source. Analysis of 178,838 patients in the California State Inpatient Database (CA SID) admitted in 2000 for one of seven major medical and surgical conditions. The CA SID includes a condition present at admission (CPAA) modifier for each ICD‐9‐CM code.Study Design. The Dartmouth/Charlson index and the Elixhauser comorbidity measure were used to map the ICD‐9‐CM codes into diagnostic categories for patients in each study population. We calculated the misclassification rate for each mapping algorithm, using information from the CPAA as the “gold standard.”Principal Findings. The Dartmouth/Charlson index underestimated the prevalence of hemiplegia/paraplegia by 70 percent, cerebrovascular disease by 70 percent, myocardial infarction by 65 percent, congestive heart failure (CHF) by 45 percent, and peptic ulcer disease by 34 percent. The Elixhauser algorithm misclassified complications as preexisting conditions for 43 percent of the coagulopathies, 25 percent of the fluid and electrolyte disorders, 18 percent of the cardiac arrhythmias, 18 percent of the cardiac arrhythmias, and 9 percent of the cases of CHF.Conclusion. Adding the CPAA modifier to administrative data would significantly enhance the ability of the Dartmouth/Charlson index and of the Elixhauser algorithm to map ICD‐9‐CM codes to diagnostic categories accurately.
Automated measurement of skin prick tests: an advance towards exact calculation of wheal size
Authors: Wöhrl Stefan , Vigl Kornelia , Binder Michael , Stingl Georg , Prinz Michael 
Published: January 2006

Background:  Using the Khoros® image processing software environment, we developed a software‐based system capable of extracting wheal size from skin prick tests (SPTs) in mm2 for research and routine purposes.Methods:  At 20 min, the outlines of up to 20 wheals were marked with a pen and transferred with translucent adhesive tapes to a white paper form carrying predefined markings. The form was scanned at 200 dpi. The software automatically analysed the scanned image and calculated the sizes of the wheals. In a pilot study, serial SPTs with histamine in increasing dilutions were performed in 12 healthy volunteers in duplicate on both volar forearms. We matched the application results with a reference created from the scanned pictures.Results:  Bland–Altman analysis showed reference and software calculation reaching very high agreement. The comparison of reference/software resulted in a low centred coefficient of variation (COV) of 11.9%. This was superior to the conventional measurement of horizontal (COV 37.9%) or maximal/minimal diameter (COV 25.9%).Conclusion:  We present an accurate tool for exactly calculating SPT wheal size in mm2.
Role of microchimerism in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus
Authors: Weger W. , Bauer M. , Odell E. , Pertl B. , Cerroni L. , Kerl H. , Jakse N. , Pertl C. 
Published: January 2006

Objective:  Microchimerism of persistent fetal cells has been implicated in some cell‐mediated autoimmune diseases. This study examines the hypothesis that fetal microchimerism plays a role in the pathogenesis of lichen planus (LP) affecting the oral cavity.Study design:  Mucosal biopsies of 12 women with oral LP (OLP) were tested for the presence of both male cells and male DNA originating from prior pregnancies or prior blood transfusions. Six male patients with OLP served as a control group. Biopsies were analyzed for the presence of Y‐chromosome‐positive cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with X‐ and Y‐specific DNA probes. To confirm the FISH findings, we used fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify Y‐chromosome sequences in DNA extracted from mucosal lesions.Results:  Using FISH technology, all the 18 biopsy samples showed good hybridization results. In females, Y‐chromosome‐specific signals were not detected by FISH at any site of the lesions. PCR amplification demonstrated a single peak at the locus specific for the X‐chromosome.Conclusion:  Male DNA microchimerism was not present in any of the investigated lesions, suggesting that microchimerism because of persisting male fetal cells is unlikely to play a major role in the pathogenesis of OLP.
Neutrophil Function During Pregnancy: Is Nitric Oxide Production Correlated with Superoxide Production?
Authors: Tsukimori Kiyomi , Fukushima Kotaro , Komatsu Hajime , Nakano Hitoo 
Published: January 2006

Problem  Oxygen radical formation by neutrophils during pregnancy is not well studied.Method of study  We studied neutrophil‐derived superoxide anion (O) and nitric oxide (NO) values in 75 normal pregnant women, 12 postpartum women, and 10 non‐pregnant women. O production was measured by the superoxide dismutase‐inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c. NO production was measured by accumulation of the stable end product nitrite using a modified Griess reaction method.Results  O production of neutrophils stimulated by chemotactic peptide was significantly enhanced in the early second trimester of pregnancy. l‐arginine analogue‐inhibitable nitrite production was induced in neutrophils from pregnant women, but not from postpartum and non‐pregnant subjects. In third‐trimester subjects but not non‐pregnant subjects, neutrophils pre‐treated with l‐arginine analogues enhanced O production compared with untreated neutrophils.Conclusion  These findings indicate that O and NO production by neutrophils during pregnancy were modulated separately, whereas neutrophil‐derived NO might function as a regulator of O.
Cytokine Genotyping in Preeclampsia
Authors: Daher Silvia , Sass Nelson , Oliveira Leandro G. , Mattar Rosiane 
Published: January 2006

Problem  Considering that cytokines are involved in preeclampsia (PE) pathogenesis and that cytokine gene polymorphism may affect cytokine production, our purpose was to investigate the association of PE with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α (−308), transforming growth factor‐β1 (+10; 25), interleukin (IL)‐10 (−1082), IL‐6 (−174), and interferon‐γ (+874) polymorphisms.Method of study  Genotyping was performed in women with PE (56 White and 95 non‐White women) and in women without obstetric pathology (92 White and 97 non‐White women). Data were analyzed by the chi‐square or Fisher exact test. We performed a meta‐analysis encompassing these and results from other laboratories on the association of TNF‐α polymorphisms and PE.Results  We observed a lower frequency of the IL‐10 −1082‐G/G genotype in White women with PE (PE: 5%; Control (C): 15%, P = 0.02) and no association for all other polymorphisms, including meta‐analysis of TNF‐α results.Conclusion  Our study suggests that PE is associated with IL‐10‐(1082) polymorphism but not with TNF‐(308) polymorphism. On the basis of meta‐analysis, we confirm the need for more studies for the evaluation of cytokine genotype in disease.
Induction of IL‐1, in the Testes of Adult Mice, Following Subcutaneous Administration of Turpentine
Authors: Elhija Mahmoud Abu , Lunenfeld Eitan , Huleihel Mahmoud 
Published: January 2006

Problem  Interleukin‐1 family is present in the testicular homogenates and its cellular compartments. It has been suggested that IL‐1 is involved in physiological and pathological functions of the testicular tissues. In the present study we examined the effect of acute mostly localized inflammation, using turpentine, on the expression levels of testicular IL‐1 system.Methods of study  Mice were subcutaneously injected with steam‐distilled turpentine or saline (control). Three hours to 10 days following the injection, mice were killed and testis and spleen were homogenized and examined for interleukin (IL)‐1α, IL‐1β, and IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1ra) levels by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction.Results  Subcutaneous injection of turpentine induced mice systemic inflammation, as indicated by significant increase in serum IL‐1β levels, and IL‐1α, IL‐1β and IL‐1ra in spleen homogenates. The levels of IL‐1α, IL‐1β and IL‐1ra were significantly induced in testicular homogenates of adult mice following subcutaneous injection of turpentine. The significant induction of testicular IL‐1α was detected after 3–24 hr of turpentine injection and decreased later (after 3–10 days) to levels similar to the control. However, significant induction of testicular IL‐1β was detected only after 3–10 days of turpentine injection, and for testicular IL‐1ra levels was detected after 3 hr to 6 days of turpentine injection, and after 10 days the levels were similar to the control. These results were also confirmed by mRNA expression of these factors.Conclusion  Our results demonstrate for the first time the distant effect of acute localized inflammation on testicular IL‐1 levels. Thus, transient inflammatory response to infectious/inflammatory agents at non‐testicular sites that elicit systemic IL‐1 response should be considered during clinical treatment as a possible factor of male infertility.
DELAYED FLOWERING, an Arabidopsis Gene That Acts in the Autonomous Flowering Promotion Pathway and Is Required for Normal Development
Authors: Chen Ming‐Jie , Yuan Zheng , Huang Hai 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe control of flowering time in higher plants is one of the most important physiological processes and is critical for their reproductive success. To investigate the mechanisms controlling flowering time, we screened for Arabidopsis mutants with late‐flowering phenotypes. One mutant, designated delayed flowering (dfr) in the Landsberg erecta (Ler) ecotype, was identified with delayed flowering time. Genetic analysis revealed that dfr is a single gene recessive nuclear mutant and the mutation was mapped to a locus tightly linked to UFO on chromosome 1. To our knowledge, no gene regulating flowering time has been reported yet in this region. The dfr mutant plant showed a delayed flowering time under the different growth conditions examined, including long‐ and short‐day photoperiods and gibberellic acid GA3 treatments, suggesting that DFR is a gene involved in the autonomous flowering promotion pathway. The Arabidopsis gene FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) plays a central role in repressing flowering and its transcripts are undetectable in wild‐type Ler. However, FLC expression was upregulated in the dfr mutant, suggesting that DFR is a negative regulator of FLC. In addition, the dfr mutant plant displayed altered valve shapes of the silique and the number of trichomes and branches of each trichome were both reduced, indicating that the DRF gene is also required for normal plant development. Moreover, dfr leafy‐5 (lfy‐5) double mutant plants showed a much later flowering time than either dfr or lfy‐5 single mutants, indicating that DFR and LFY act synergistically to promote flowering in Arabidopsis.(Managing editor: Li‐Hui Zhao)
Ectopic Expression of a Phytase Gene from Medicago truncatula Barrel Medic Enhances Phosphorus Absorption in Plants
Authors: Xiao Kai , Zhang Jian‐Heng , Harrison Maria , Wang Zeng‐Yu 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIn the present study, the phosphorus‐absorption capacity of transgenic Arabidopsis plants ectopically expressing a novel phytase gene from Medicago truncatula Barrel Medic was evaluated. A full‐length cDNA encoding an extracellular form of phytase was isolated from the model legume M. truncatula. The phytase gene (MtPHY1) has an open reading frame of 1 632 bp predicted to encode 543 amino acids, including an N‐terminal signal peptide of 27 amino acids. The genomic sequence of the MtPHY1 gene is 5 151 bp, containing seven exons interrupted by six introns. Under high‐Pi (2 mmol/L) growth conditions, higher levels of MtPHY1 transcripts accumulated in the leaf and stem than in the root. The transcript level was reduced in the stem and increased in the root, with no obvious changes in the hybridization signal detected in the leaf under low‐Pi (10 μmol/L) conditions. Chimeric transgenes were constructed by placing MtPHY1 under the control of the constitutive CaMV35S promoter and the root‐specific MtPT1 promoter. Phytase activities in root apoplast of transgenic Arabidopsis were 12.3‐to 16.2‐fold of that in control plants. The phytase expressed was secreted into the rhizosphere, as demonstrated by HPLC analysis of phytate degradation by root exudates. Ectopic expression of MtPHY1 in Arabidopsis, leading to significant improvement in organic phosphorus absorption and plant growth, indicated that MtPHY1 has great potential for improving plant phosphorus absorption and phytoremediation.(Managing editor: Li‐Hui Zhao)
An Integrative Analysis of the Effects of Auxin on Jasmonic Acid Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Liu Jun , Wang Xiu‐Jie 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAuxin and jasmonic acid (JA) are two plant phytohormones that both participate in the regulation of many developmental processes. Jasmonic acid also plays important roles in plant stress response reactions. Although extensive investigations have been undertaken to study the biological functions of auxin and JA, little attention has been paid to the cross‐talk between their regulated pathways. In the few available reports examining the effects of auxin on the expression of JA or JA‐responsive genes, both synergetic and antagonistic results have been found. To further investigate the relationship between auxin and JA, we adopted an integrative method that combines microarray expression data with pathway information to study the behavior of the JA biosynthesis pathway under auxin treatment. Our results showed an overall down regulation of genes involved in JA biosynthesis, providing the first report of a relationship between auxin and the JA synthesis pathway in Arabidopsis seedlings.(Managing editor: Ya‐Qin Han)
Further Analysis of the Function of AtBHLH29 in Regulating the Iron Uptake Process in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhang Juan , Zhu Hui‐Fen , Liang Hui , Liu Kun‐Fan , Zhang Ai‐Min , Ling Hong‐Qing , Wang Dao‐Wen 
Published: January 2006

AbstractUsing T‐DNA insertion and chemical mutants, two recent studies have shown that AtBHLH29, encoding a putative basic helix‐loop‐helix (BHLH) protein, is involved in regulating the iron uptake process in Arabidopsis thaliana. Herein, we report that RNA interference (RNAi) mutants can be used to reveal more accurately the genetic function of AtBHLH29. We compared the iron deficiency responses of seven RNAi strains that contained decreasing amounts of AtBHLH29 transcripts. Under high iron conditions (50 μmol/L iron), only in the most severe RNAi strains (R101, R111, and R119) was plant growth significantly retarded. However, these mutants could still survive and produce seeds. This suggests that the function of AtBHLH29 is beneficial, but not absolutely essential, to plant growth when iron supply is not limiting. Under low iron conditions (less than 10 μmol/L iron), the R111 and R119 strains died prematurely, demonstrating that AtBHLH29 is absolutely necessary for plant survival when iron supply is restricted. The transcription of AtBHLH29 was essential for the expression of AtFRO2 (encoding the ferric chelate reductase). In contrast, the expression of AtIRT1 (encoding the high‐affinity iron transporter) was not so strongly dependent upon the transcription of AtBHLH29. By transient expression, we found that the AtBHLH29‐GUS fusion protein was targeted specifically to the nucleus in plant cells. Interestingly, the nuclear localization of AtBHLH29‐GUS was abolished when the four consecutive arginine residues located in the basic region of the putative AtBHLH29 protein were replaced by alanine residues by mutagenesis. The implications of our findings on further studies of the mechanism underlying the function of AtBHLH29 are discussed.(Managing editor: Wei Wang)