Noroviruses in children seen in a hospital for acute gastroenteritis in Finland

Noroviruses (NoVs) are second only to rotaviruses (RVs) as causative agents of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children. The proportional role of NoVs is likely to increase after control of RV by vaccination. We investigated NoVs in children seen in Tampere University Hospital either treated as outpatients or hospitalized because of AGE before universal RV vaccination was implemented in Finland. This prospective study was conducted from September 2006 to August 2008. A total of 1,128 children <15 years of age with symptoms of AGE were enrolled either in the hospital clinic or in a ward, and stool samples for NoV studies were obtained from 759 children. NoVs were found in 196 (26%) cases. In the first year, NoVs were found in 116 (34%) out of 341, and in the second year, in 80 (19%) out of 418 cases. RVs were found respectively in 128 (38%) and 260 (62%) cases in these two seasons. Both RV and NoV were present in 24 cases. NoV genotype GII.4 predominated with a 96% share of the NoV cases in the first season and an 80% share in the second season. Other NoV genotypes seen infrequently were GII.7, GIIb, GI.6, GII.1, GII.2, and GIIc. The median clinical severity of NoV AGE was 14 compared to 16 for RV AGE on a 20-point scale. Conclusion: NoVs were nearly as common as RVs as causative agents of severe AGE in children seen in hospital. After implementing universal RV vaccination, the importance of NoVs will still increase further

Gata2 and Gata3 regulate the differentiation of serotonergic and glutamatergic neuron subtypes of the dorsal raphe

Peer reviewe

Gata2 is a tissue-specific post-mitotic selector gene for midbrain GABAergic neurons

Midbrain GABAergic neurons control several aspects of behavior, but regulation of their development and diversity is poorly understood. Here, we further refine the midbrain regions active in GABAergic neurogenesis and show their correlation with the expression of the transcription factor Gata2. Using tissue-specific inactivation and ectopic expression, we show that Gata2 regulates GABAergic neuron development in the mouse midbrain, but not in rhombomere 1, where it is needed in the serotonergic lineage. Without Gata2, all the precursors in the embryonic midbrain fail to activate GABAergic neuron-specific gene expression and instead switch to a glutamatergic phenotype. Surprisingly, this fate switch is also observed throughout the neonatal midbrain, except for the GABAergic neurons located in the ventral dopaminergic nuclei, suggesting a distinct developmental pathway for these neurons. These studies identify Gata2 as an essential post-mitotic selector gene of the GABAergic neurotransmitter identity and demonstrate developmental heterogeneity of GABAergic neurons in the midbrain.Midbrain GABAergic neurons control several aspects of behavior, but regulation of their development and diversity is poorly understood. Here, we further refine the midbrain regions active in GABAergic neurogenesis and show their correlation with the expression of the transcription factor Gata2. Using tissue-specific inactivation and ectopic expression, we show that Gata2 regulates GABAergic neuron development in the mouse midbrain, but not in rhombomere 1, where it is needed in the serotonergic lineage. Without Gata2, all the precursors in the embryonic midbrain fail to activate GABAergic neuron-specific gene expression and instead switch to a glutamatergic phenotype. Surprisingly, this fate switch is also observed throughout the neonatal midbrain, except for the GABAergic neurons located in the ventral dopaminergic nuclei, suggesting a distinct developmental pathway for these neurons. These studies identify Gata2 as an essential post-mitotic selector gene of the GABAergic neurotransmitter identity and demonstrate developmental heterogeneity of GABAergic neurons in the midbrain.Midbrain GABAergic neurons control several aspects of behavior, but regulation of their development and diversity is poorly understood. Here, we further refine the midbrain regions active in GABAergic neurogenesis and show their correlation with the expression of the transcription factor Gata2. Using tissue-specific inactivation and ectopic expression, we show that Gata2 regulates GABAergic neuron development in the mouse midbrain, but not in rhombomere 1, where it is needed in the serotonergic lineage. Without Gata2, all the precursors in the embryonic midbrain fail to activate GABAergic neuron-specific gene expression and instead switch to a glutamatergic phenotype. Surprisingly, this fate switch is also observed throughout the neonatal midbrain, except for the GABAergic neurons located in the ventral dopaminergic nuclei, suggesting a distinct developmental pathway for these neurons. These studies identify Gata2 as an essential post-mitotic selector gene of the GABAergic neurotransmitter identity and demonstrate developmental heterogeneity of GABAergic neurons in the midbrain.Peer reviewe

How self-efficacy beliefs are related to assessment practices : A study of experienced university teachers

Based on social cognitive theory, this study focused on how self-efficacy beliefs were related to assessment practices among experienced university teachers. The data consisted of 16 thematic interviews of university teachers from various faculties who had received awards of excellence in teaching. The thematic interviews were content analyzed both inductively and deductively. Academics' self-efficacy experiences were related in four assessment modes: assessment in general, diagnostic assessment, formative assessment and summative assessment. Sources of self-efficacy experience were identified by mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasions and physiological and affective states. The mastery experience was the most common source of self-efficacy in assessment practice, and for experienced teachers, fairness was the prominent feature in assessment.Peer reviewe

Legacy of agrochemicals in the circular food economy: Glyphosate-based herbicides introduced via manure fertilizer affect the yield and biochemistry of perennial crop plants during the following year

Conventional agricultural practices favoring the use of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) increase the risk of GBH residues ending up in animal feed, feces, and, eventually, manure. The use of poultry manure as organic fertilizer in the circular food economy increases the unintentional introduction of GBH residues into horticultural and agricultural systems, with reportedly negative effects on the growth and reproduction of crop plants. To understand the potential lasting effects of exposure to GBH residues via organic manure fertilizers, we studied strawberry (Fragaria x vescana) plant performance, yield quantity, biochemistry, folivory, phytochemistry, and soil elemental composition the year after exposure to GBH. Although plants exposed to GBH residues via manure fertilizer were, on average, 23% smaller in the year of exposure, they were able to compensate for their growth during the following growing season. Interestingly, GBH residue exposure in the previous growing season led to a trend in altered plant size preferences of folivores during the following growing season. Furthermore, the plants that had been exposed to GBH residues in the previous growing season produced 20% heavier fruits with an altered composition of phenolic compounds compared to non-exposed plants. Our results indicate that GBHs introduced via manure fertilizer following circular economy practices in one year can have effects on perennial crop plants in the following year, although GBH residues in soil have largely vanished.Legacy of agrochemicals in the circular food economy: Glyphosate-based herbicides introduced via manure fertilizer affect the yield and biochemistry of perennial crop plants during the following yearpublishedVersio

Experienced academics' emotions related to assessment

The aim of this study was to examine the emotions higher education teachers associate with assessment and the factors in their teaching environment that triggered these emotions. As a starting point, Frenzel's model of teacher emotions and Pekrun's control-value theory of achievement emotions were used. The sample consisted of 16 experienced and pedagogically advanced teachers who participated in semi-structured interviews. After abductive content analyses, both positive and negative emotions were detected corresponding to Frenzel's and Pekrun's models. The main sources of emotions were validity of assessment, assessment methods, pedagogical development and assessment culture. This preliminary study indicates that assessment evokes both positive and negative emotions, and that validity of assessment is a prominent issue in evoking these emotions. Pedagogical training should deal with emotions and their regulation in assessment to help teachers in higher education to cope with negative emotions.Peer reviewe

A network including TGFβ/Smad4, Gata2 and p57 regulates proliferation of mouse hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) is a potent inhibitor of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell proliferation. However, the precise mechanism for this effect is unknown. Here, we have identified the transcription factor Gata2, previously described as an important regulator of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function, as an early and direct target gene for TGFβ-induced Smad signaling in hematopoietic progenitor cells. We also report that Gata2 is involved in mediating a significant part of the TGFβ response in primitive hematopoietic cells. Interestingly, the cell cycle regulator and TGFβ signaling effector molecule p57 was found to be upregulated as a secondary response to TGFβ. We observed Gata2 binding upstream of the p57 genomic locus, and importantly loss of Gata2 abolished TGFβ-stimulated induction of p57 as well as the resulting growth arrest of hematopoietic progenitors. Our results connect key molecules involved in HSC self-renewal and reveal a functionally relevant network regulating proliferation of primitive hematopoietic cells

Glyphosate decreases mycorrhizal colonization and affects plant-soil feedback

Our aim was to study the effects of glyphosate, tilling practice and cultivation history on mycorrhizal colonization and growth of target (weeds) and non-target (crops) plants. Glyphosate, the world's most widely used pesticide, inhibits an enzyme found in plants but also in microbes. We examined the effects of glyphosate treatment applied in the preceding fall on growth of a perennial weed, Elymus repens (target plant) and a forage grass, Festuca pratensis (non-target plant) and their arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMP) root colonization in a field pot experiment. Nontarget plants were sown in the following spring. Furthermore, we tested if glyphosate effects depend on tillage or soil properties modulated by long cultivation history of endophyte symbiotic grass (E+ grass). AM' root colonization, plant establishment and growth, glyphosate residues in plants, and soil chemistry were measured. Glyphosate reduced the mycorrhizal colonization and growth of both target and non-target grasses. The magnitude of reduction depended on tillage and soil properties due to cultivation history of E+ grass. We detected glyphosate residues in weeds and crop plants in the growing season following the glyphosate treatment. Residues were higher in plants growing in no-till pots compared to conspecifics in tilled pots. These results demonstrate negative effects of glyphosate on non-target organisms in agricultural environments and grassland ecosystems. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Glyphosate-based herbicide has soil-mediated effects on potato glycoalkaloids and oxidative status of a potato pest

Glyphosate is the most used herbicide worldwide, targeting physiological pathways in plants. Recent studies have shown that glyphosate can also cause toxic effects in animals. We investigated the glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH)-induced changes in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plant chemistry and the effects of a GBH on the survival rate and oxidative status of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). The beetles were reared on potato plants grown in pots containing soil treated with a GBH (Roundup Gold, 450 g/l) or untreated soil (water control). The 2nd instar larvae were introduced to the potato plants and then collected in 2 phases: as 4th instar larvae and as adults. The main glycoalkaloids of the potato plants, α-solanine and α-chaconine, were measured twice during the experiment. The α-solanine was reduced in potato plants grown in GBH-treated soil, which can be detrimental to plant defenses against herbivores. GBH treatment had no effect on the survival rate or body mass of the larvae or the adult beetles. In the larvae, total glutathione (tGSH) concentration and the enzyme activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase, and glutathione-S-transferase were increased in the GBH treatment group. In the adult beetles, CAT activity and tGSH levels were affected by the interactive effect of GBH treatment and the body mass. To conclude, environmentally relevant concentrations of a GBH can affect the potato plant’s glycoalkaloid concentrations, but are not likely to directly affect the survival rate of the Colorado potato beetle, but instead, modify the antioxidant defense of the beetles via diet.</p