bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peer Feedback Through Blogs: Student and teacher perceptions in an advanced German class
Authors: Dippold Doris 
Published: February 2009

AbstractRecent years have seen the emergence of Web2.0, in which users are not only passive recipients of the featured content, but actively engaged in constructing it. Sites such as ‘Facebook’ and ‘Myspace’ are typical examples of this, as are blogs that allow users to present themselves online, to write about their daily lives or even to establish themselves as an authority on a particular subject. Due to the opportunities for self-reflection and interactive learning offered by blogs, they have also become one of the emerging tools in language pedagogy and higher education. At the same time, peer feedback is a technique that is increasingly used by educators instead of, or in addition to, tutor feedback, due to its potential to develop students’ understanding of standards, to initiate peer feedback, and to engage the student in the process of learning and assessment.This paper is concerned with the question to what extent blogs can facilitate peer feedback and what issues need to be addressed for them to be a valuable tool in this process. After reviewing the recent literature on peer feedback and the specific issues emerging from providing feedback through computer mediated communication (CMC) technologies, the paper presents the results from a pedagogic research project in an advanced German language class in which blogs were used for this purpose. Drawing on students’ blogs as well as the responses given by students in questionnaires and focus groups and responses by experienced tutors in interviews, the paper argues that blogs are potentially valuable tools for peer feedback, but entail the need to address specific issues regarding the choice of CMC tool for feedback tasks, training in the use of interactive online tools and the roles of teachers and students.
Cell Adhesion under Flow
Authors: LEY KLAUS 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTCell adhesion under flow is a central function of the microcirculation during inflammation, hemostasis, and immune regulation. This special issue of Microcirculation explores the common and distinct mechanisms that myeloid cells, lymphocytes, platelets, and sickle erythrocytes use to adhere to microvascular endothelium and the underlying basement membrane structures. A common theme in these processes is the need for rapid integrin activation, often initiated by binding of ligands to their cognate G protein–coupled receptors, followed by adhesion strengthening associated with integrin redistribution and outside‐in signaling. These elements have been identified for all cells tested except sickle erythrocytes.
Infection Control Practices in Assisted Living Facilities: A Response to Hepatitis B Virus Infection Outbreaks
Authors: Patel Ami S. , White-Comstock Mary Beth , Woolard C. Diane , Perz Joseph F. 
Published: February 2009

Background.The medical needs of the approximately 1 million persons residing in assisted living facilities (ALFs) continually become more demanding. Moreover, the number of ALF residents is expected to double by 2030. ALFs are not subject to federal oversight; state regulations that govern ALF infection control are variable. In 2005, two outbreaks of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in ALFs in Virginia were associated with sharing fingerstick devices used in blood glucose monitoring.Objective.To characterize infection control practices, determine compliance with guidelines, and identify educational and policy needs in ALFs in Virginia.Methods.Following the outbreaks of HBV infection, educational packets were sent to ALFs in Virginia to inform them of infection control guidelines and recommendations regarding glucose monitoring. A follow-up survey consisting of on-site interviews was conducted in a random sample of ALFs. Differences among infection control practices, according to the size and ownership of the ALFs, were assessed.Results.Fifty of 155 ALFs in central Virginia were surveyed. Of the 45 ALFs that had used fingerstick devices, 7 (16%) had shared these devices (without cleaning) between residents. Sharing practices for glucose monitoring equipment did not differ by facility size or ownership. Of all 50 ALFs, 17 (34%) did not offer employees HBV vaccine. HBV vaccine was less frequently offered at ALFs that had fewer than 50 residents, compared with ALFs with at least 50 residents (P< .01), and HBV vaccine was less frequently offered at ALFs that were individually owned, compared with those that were not individually owned (P= .02).Conclusions.Despite outreach and long-standing recommendations, approximately 1 in 6 facilities shared fingerstick devices, and more than one-third of ALFs surveyed were considered noncompliant with federal guidelines (Occupational Safety and Health Administration Bloodborne Pathogens Standard). Public health and licensing agencies should work with ALFs to implement infection control measures and prevent disease transmission.
VANO: a volume-object image annotation system
Authors: Peng Hanchuan , Long Fuhui , Myers Eugene W. 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Volume-object annotation system (VANO) is a cross-platform image annotation system that enables one to conveniently visualize and annotate 3D volume objects including nuclei and cells. An application of VANO typically starts with an initial collection of objects produced by a segmentation computation. The objects can then be labeled, categorized, deleted, added, split, merged and redefined. VANO has been used to build high-resolution digital atlases of the nuclei of Caenorhabditis elegans at the L1 stage and the nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster's ventral nerve cord at the late embryonic stage.
Availability: Platform independent executables of VANO, a sample dataset, and a detailed description of both its design and usage are available at research.janelia.org/peng/proj/vano. VANO is open-source for co-development.
Contact: pengh@janelia.hhmi.org
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Capillary Electrophoresis as a Tool for Evaluating Lactic Acid Production from Sorghum
Authors: Schober T. J. , Bean S. R. , Wang D. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTSorghum is an underutilized resource for the production of bioindustrial chemicals like lactic acid. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was tested to monitor the fermentation process, i.e., quantify the amount of lactic acid and by‐products in the fermentation broth using phosphate buffer pH 6.25 containing the electroosmotic flow modifier cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). High levels of calcium carbonate were required during fermentation to stabilize the pH and these caused considerably prolonged migration times in CE. A 1:10 dilution of the samples with water was the best way to reduce salt load and thus conductivity in the sample plug, and thus to eliminate the problem of prolonged migration times. Further improvements were achieved by rinsing the capillary with HCl and water after each run, rather than NaOH and water. HCl might more efficiently remove Ca2+ ions from the capillary surface. The fermentation broth studied was based on liquefied sorghum inoculated with Rhizopus oryzae. The main product was lactic acid (24.60 ± 0.56 g/L) and a significant by‐product was fumaric acid (1.07 ± 0.04 g/L).
Effect of Microbial Transglutaminase on Dough Proteins of Hard and Soft (Triticum aestivium) and Durum (Triticum durum) Wheat Cultivars
Authors: Medina‐Rodríguez Concepción L. , Torres Patricia , Martínez‐Bustos Fernando , Ramirez‐Wong Benjamin , Paredes‐López Octavio , Castaño‐Tostado Eduardo 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTMicrobial transglutaminase (MTGase), a protein‐glutamine γ‐glutamyl transferase (E.C. 2.3.2.13), catalyzes acyl transfer reactions by introducing a covalent cross‐link between l‐lysine and l‐glutamine residues. The use of this enzyme has been proposed as an improver to increase dough strength. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the effect of MTGase on different fractions of dough proteins found in hard, soft, and durum wheat. Three different concentrations of the MTGase (0, 5, and 10U/g of gluten) were tested. Moisture, protein, and dry gluten contents were determined for each concentration in addition to rheological measurements done with the farinograph. Following each treatment, the dough proteins were extracted and analyzed by SE‐HPLC and RP‐HPLC. Soluble polymeric protein, gliadins, albumins, and globulins were quantified in addition to the gliadin subclasses and glutenin subunit types. The combustion procedure was used to determine the amount of insoluble polymeric protein. Differences were observed in susceptibility to MTGase catalysis among the dough proteins of the cultivars studied: the cultivar Cortazar (soft wheat) was the most susceptible. The proteins of this cultivar had a characteristically higher amount of ω and α+β gliadins when compared with the other cultivars. As reported earlier, solubility of high molecular weight glutenin subunits and ω‐gliadins was reduced because of the MTGase treatment. However, all gliadin subclasses, including the γ and α+β gliadins, also participated in cross‐linking. The proteins of the cultivar Altar (durum wheat) were the least susceptible to the effects of MTGase. Albumins and globulins did not show any reduction in solubility, implying that they did not participate in cross‐linking.
Ethylene Mediates Response and Tolerance to Potassium Deprivation inArabidopsis
Authors: Jung Ji-Yul , Shin Ryoung , Schachtman Daniel P. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractPotassium deprivation leads to large reductions in plant growth and yields. How plants sense and transduce the stress signals initiated by potassium deprivation is poorly understood. Both ethylene production and the transcription of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis increase when plants are deprived of potassium. To elucidate the role of ethylene in low potassium signaling pathways, we used both genetic and chemical approaches. Our results showed that ethylene is important in tolerance to low potassium and for changes in both root hair and primary root growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that ethylene acts upstream of reactive oxygen species in response to potassium deprivation. The expression of High-Affinity K+ Transporter5 was used as a marker of potassium deprivation and was found to be dependent on ethylene signaling. In the ethylene insensitive2-1 (ein2-1) mutant, the ethylene-mediated low potassium responses were not completely eliminated, suggesting that some potassium deprivation–induced responses are either ethylene independent or EIN2 independent. Ethylene signaling is a component of the plant's response to low potassium that stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species and is important for changes in root morphology and whole plant tolerance to low potassium conditions.
Co‐localization of inducible nitric oxide synthase and phosphorylated Akt in the lesional skins of patients with melasma
Authors: JO Ho‐Youn , KIM Chun‐Ki , SUH In‐Bum , RYU Sook‐Won , HA Kwon‐Soo , KWON Young‐Geun , KIM Young‐Myeong 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTActivation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway in keratinocytes has been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of melanogenesis. Akt activation plays an important role in the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)‐κB and subsequent elevation of iNOS expression. In the present study, we highly detected both iNOS protein and Akt phosphorylation in keratinocytes of the basal layer of the epidermis at the junction with the dermis of melasma skin biopsy specimens, but not in normal skin tissues, from nine patients using immunohistological analysis. iNOS protein and phosphorylated Akt were co‐localized in the lesional skins, and their levels were highly correlated (R2 = 0.69). Furthermore, iNOS mRNA was also detected in an additional three skin biopsy specimens, but not in normal skin, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Our results describe that iNOS expression is elevated in human melasma lesions, probably via activation of the Akt/NF‐κB pathway, indicating that NO production plays an important role in the mechanism of hyperpigmentation in human facial melasma.
Two cases of pollen‐food allergy syndrome to soy milk diagnosed by skin prick test, specific serum immunoglobulin E and microarray analysis
Authors: YAGAMI Akiko , INABA Yasuko , KUNO Yuki , SUZUKI Kayoko , TANAKA Akira , SJOLANDER Sigrid , SAITO Hirohisa , MATSUNAGA Kayoko 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTOral allergy syndrome to soy milk is classified as a phenotype of pollen‐food allergy syndrome (PFAS). As causative antigens, Gly m 4 (Bet v 1 homolog, 17 kD) and oleosin (23 kD), have been reported. In this study, we report two cases of PFAS to soy milk. Both cases showed positive reactions to soy milk in skin prick tests (SPT) and to Gly m 4 in specific serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibody. When we measured specific serum IgE antibody of soy‐related proteins using a new laboratory testing method, microarray analysis, both cases showed a positive reaction for Bet v 1. One case was weakly positive for a soybean protein, β‐conglycinin. Other results for reactivity to soy, peanut, cross‐reactive carbohydrate determinants and profilin were negative. Based on these results, we diagnosed the two cases as PFAS to Gly m 4. We also performed protein microarray analysis and found it useful as a screening test for immediate allergy, such as PFAS.
Laboratory appraisal of optimal gaseous conditions for growth of zoonotic Helicobacter felis ATCC 49179
Authors: Shiohara Mayumi , Kawakubo Masatomo , Matsumoto Takehisa , Kumagai Toshiko , Yamauchi Kazuyoshi , Oana Kozue , Ota Hiroyoshi , Kawakami Yoshiyuki 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTAn attempt was made to assess the hitherto undescribed optimal gaseous conditions for growth of zoonotic Helicobacter felis, focusing on the ratio of spiral‐forms amongst the whole cells examined. The largest mean colony diameter was obtained under the gaseous condition of O2 12% and CO2 10%. In analyzing the five day old colonies, the highest percentage of spiral forms (85.5%) was observed under the condition of O2 18% and CO2 5%. In contrast, the lowest percentage of spiral forms (2.3%) was demonstrated under the condition of O2 1% and CO2 10%. The condition of O2 12% and CO2 10% was concluded to be optimal for obtaining cells with the largest colony sizes, although colonies proliferated under such conditions definitely contain many more coccoid cells than spiral forms. In culturing H. felis strains, optimal gaseous conditions should be employed according to the purposes or preferences of study designs.
Nystatin‐induced nitric oxide production in mouse macrophage‐like cell line RAW264.7
Authors: Koide Naoki , Naiki Yoshikazu , Morikawa Akiko , Tumurkhuu Gantsetseg , Dagvadorj Jargalsaikhan , Noman Abu Shadat Mohammod , Iftekar‐E‐Khuda Imtiaz , Komatsu Takayuki , Yoshida Tomoaki , Yokochi Takashi 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTNystatin is known to deplete lipid rafts from mammalian cell membranes. Lipid rafts have been reported to be necessary for lipopolysaccharide signaling. In this study, it was unexpectedly found that lipopolysaccharide‐induced nitric oxide production was not inhibited, but rather increased in the presence of a non‐cytotoxic concentration of nystatin. Surprisingly, treatment with nystatin induced only NO production and iNOS expression in RAW264.7 cells. At the concentration used, no changes in the expression of GM1 ganglioside, a lipid raft marker on RAW264.7 cells, was seen. From studies using several kinds of inhibitors for signaling molecules, nystatin‐induced NO production seems to occur via the iκB/NF‐κB and the PI3 K/Akt pathway. Furthermore, because nystatin is known to activate the Na‐K pump, we examined whether the Na‐K pump inhibitor amiloride suppresses nystatin‐induced NO production. It was found that amiloride significantly inhibited nystatin‐induced NO production. The results suggest that a moderate concentration of nystatin induces NO production by Na‐pump activation through the PI3 kinase/Akt/NF‐κB pathway without affecting the condition of lipid rafts.
Hypoxia enhances stimulating effect of amyloid beta peptide (25–35) for interleukin 17 and T helper lymphocyte subtype 17 upregulation in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Authors: Yin YanHong , Wen ShiRong , Li GuoZhong , Wang DeSheng 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTTh17 has been demonstrated to have a key role in several autoimmune diseases. The present study was carried out to investigate changes in IL‐17 and Th17 in cultured PBMC in response to Abeta peptide (25–35) and hypoxic stimulation in vitro. PBMC were collected from adult healthy donors and cultured in normal and anaerobic conditions (hypoxia 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hr). Each group of cells was stimulated with Abeta peptide (25–35; 3, 10 nmol/ml). ELISA was used to examine IL‐17A concentrations in the supernatants, and flow cytometry for the numbers of IL‐17A secreting CD4 positive Th17 lymphocytes. Statistically significant increases in IL‐17A and Th17 concentrations were found in groups with 10 nmol/ml Abeta (25–35) and more than three hr anaerobic culture. IL‐17A and Th17 concentrations in anaerobic groups increased gradually with time and peaked at six hr. Compared with other groups, the highest concentrations were found in those treated with 10 nmol/ml Abeta and cultured for six hr (P < 0.001). This study provides the first report that IL‐17A and Th17 lymphocytes are possibly involved in the immune pathogenesis caused by Abeta peptide (25–35). Hypoxia may enhance this response independently of time.
Obesity in Turkish children and adolescents: prevalence and non‐nutritional correlates in an urban sample
Authors: Discigil G. , Tekin N. , Soylemez A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectives  The aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence and non‐nutritional correlates of childhood obesity in primary school children and adolescents living in a representative sample of an urban area in western Anatolia.Methods  The study was designed as a cross‐sectional, population‐based study. A representative sample of primary school children in Aydin was randomly selected according to age, gender and socio‐economic status. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated after weight and height measurement. Centres for Disease Control 2000 growth charts for children and adolescents were used to identify BMI percentiles. Weight and height percentiles were obtained from charts of growth curves for Turkish children.Results  The age range of children was 6–16 years. A total of 924 children and 424 adolescents were screened for obesity. Overweight and obesity prevalence in primary school children living in Aydin was 12.2% and 3.7%, respectively. High socio‐economic status was found to be associated with childhood obesity. There was no association between obesity and gender, adolescence, educational status of parents and occupation of father.Conclusion  In the present study, we focused on some of the non‐nutritional correlates of obesity in a representative population of an urban area in a developing country. Obesity prevalence rate in Turkish children living in Aydin was higher in children from a higher socio‐economic group in contrast to reports from many developed countries.
Increased prevalence of autoimmunity in Turner syndrome – influence of age
Authors: Mortensen K H , Cleemann L , Hjerrild B E , Nexo E , Locht H , Jeppesen E M , Gravholt C H 
Published: February 2009

Summary
Individuals with Turner syndrome (TS) are prone to develop autoimmune conditions such as coeliac disease (CD), thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes (T1DM). The objective of the present study was to examine TS of various karyotypes for autoantibodies and corresponding diseases. This was investigated in a prospective cross-sectional study of Danish TS patients (n = 107, median age 36·7 years, range: 6–60 years). A medical history was recorded and a blood sample was analysed for autoantibodies against gliadin, transglutaminase, adrenal cortex, intrinsic factor, anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and glutamic-acid-decarboxylase 65 (GAD-65). Autoantibodies were present in 58% (n = 61) of all patients, whereof 18% (11) had autoantibodies targeting more than one organ. Patients with autoantibodies were significantly older than those without (P = 0·001). Anti-TPO was present in 45% (48) of patients, of whom 33% (16) were hypothyroid. Overall, 18% (19) presented with CD autoantibodies, of whom 26% (five) had CD. Anti-TPO and CD autoantibodies co-existed in 9% (10). Immunoglobulin A deficiency was found in 3% (three) of patients, who all had CD autoantibodies without disease. Among four patients with anti-GAD-65 none had T1DM, but two were classified as having T2DM. One patient had adrenocortical autoantibodies but not adrenal failure. Autoantibodies against intrinsic factor were absent. Anti-GAD-65 was increased in isochromosomal karyotypes (3/23 versus 1/84, P = 0·008) with no other association found between autoantibodies and karyotype. In conclusion, TS girls and women face a high prevalence of autoimmunity and associated disease with a preponderance towards hypothyroidism and CD. Thus, health care providers dealing with this patient group should be observant and test liberally for these conditions even before clinical symptoms emerge.
The relationship between thyroid function, serum monokine induced by interferon gamma and soluble interleukin-2 receptor in thyroid autoimmune diseases
Authors: Jiskra J , Antošová M , Límanová Z , Telička Z , Lacinová Z 
Published: February 2009

Summary
Interactions between cytokines play an important role in the development of thyroid autoimmunity. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay we investigated serum concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), interferon-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, CD30, monokine induced by interferon-gamma (MIG), cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 and markers of apoptosis decoy receptor 3 and Bcl-2 in 28 patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease (GD), 24 patients with untreated Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and 15 healthy controls. TNF-α, IL-10 and sIL-2R were higher in GD compared with HT and controls (TNF-α: 8·79 in GD versus 2·54 pg/ml in HT, P = 0·01; IL-10: 10·00 versus 3·10 versus 3·10 pg/ml, P1 &lt; 0·001, P2 = 0·005; sIL-2R: 1·26 versus 0·64 versus 0·46 ng/ml, P &lt; 0·001). MIG and CD30 were higher in HT compared with controls (649·22 ± 262·55 versus 312·95 ± 143·35 pg/ml, P = 0·037, 6·57 ± 2·35 versus 3·03 ± 1·04 U/ml, P = 0·036 respectively). In GD sIL-2R decreased when the euthyroid state was achieved (1·31 ± 0·64 versus 0·260 ± 0·11, n = 12, P &lt; 0·001). sIL-2R correlated positively with free thyroxine (FT4) (R = 0·521, P = 0·000) and negatively with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (R = −0·472, P = 0·00132). MIG correlated negatively with FT4 (R = −0·573, P = 0·00234) and positively with TSH (R = 0·462, P = 0·0179). The results suggest that serum concentrations of sIL-2R and MIG are related to thyroid function rather than to activation of autoimmunity.