Larvae of the three common North American species of Phylocentropus (Trichoptera: Dipseudopsidae)

The caddisfly genus Phylocentropus includes 7 extant species globally, of which 5 occur in eastern North America and 2 in eastern Asia. Larvae of the 3 most common North American species [Phylocentropus carolinus Carpenter, P. lucidus (Hagen), and P. placidus (Banks)] were associated with identifiable adults and diagnostic characters are described. Larvae ofthese 3 species may be distinguished by overall length of mature larvae, head color pattern, and number of spines on the hind tibiae. Larvae of other species of this genus are unknown

The Impact of a Reflective Practice Series on the Awareness Level of Six Teacher Candidates at a Public University in the Southeast

This study examined the impact of a Reflective Practice Series (RPS) on the awareness level of preservice teachers enrolled in a field experience course in a teacher education program at a university in the southeast United States. This study took place during the Fall 2016 semester with six participants, two early childhood majors, two elementary majors, and two middle level majors. Data were collected through pre- and post-questionnaires, course assignments, and field observations. The results revealed that the teacher candidates were able to make connections between theory and reflective teaching, had varying viewpoints about the process of reflection, and most profoundly, recognized that there was some impact on their students’ academic achievement when the teacher candidates participated in reflective practices

Human neural progenitors express functional lysophospholipid receptors that regulate cell growth and morphology

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lysophospholipids regulate the morphology and growth of neurons, neural cell lines, and neural progenitors. A stable human neural progenitor cell line is not currently available in which to study the role of lysophospholipids in human neural development. We recently established a stable, adherent human embryonic stem cell-derived neuroepithelial (hES-NEP) cell line which recapitulates morphological and phenotypic features of neural progenitor cells isolated from fetal tissue. The goal of this study was to determine if hES-NEP cells express functional lysophospholipid receptors, and if activation of these receptors mediates cellular responses critical for neural development.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results demonstrate that Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA) and Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors are functionally expressed in hES-NEP cells and are coupled to multiple cellular signaling pathways. We have shown that transcript levels for S1P1 receptor increased significantly in the transition from embryonic stem cell to hES-NEP. hES-NEP cells express LPA and S1P receptors coupled to G_i/oG-proteins that inhibit adenylyl cyclase and to G_q-like phospholipase C activity. LPA and S1P also induce p44/42 ERK MAP kinase phosphorylation in these cells and stimulate cell proliferation via G_i/ocoupled receptors in an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)- and ERK-dependent pathway. In contrast, LPA and S1P stimulate transient cell rounding and aggregation that is independent of EGFR and ERK, but dependent on the Rho effector p160 ROCK.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Thus, lysophospholipids regulate neural progenitor growth and morphology through distinct mechanisms. These findings establish human ES cell-derived NEP cells as a model system for studying the role of lysophospholipids in neural progenitors.</p

Implementation and Quality Improvement of a Screening and Counseling Program for Unhealthy Alcohol Use in an Academic General Internal Medicine Practice

Unhealthy alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States (U.S.). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for unhealthy alcohol use but little is known about how best to do so. We used quality improvement techniques to implement a systematic approach to screening and counseling primary care patients for unhealthy alcohol use. Components included use of validated screening and assessment instruments; an evidence-based 2-visit counseling intervention using motivational interviewing techniques for those with risky drinking behaviors who did not have an alcohol use disorder (AUD); shared decision making about treatment options for those with an AUD; support materials for providers and patients; and training in motivational interviewing for faculty and residents. Over the course of one year, we screened 52% (N=5,352) of our clinic’s patients and identified 294 with positive screens. Of those 294, appropriate screening-related assessments and interventions were documented for 168 and 72 patients, respectively. Although we successfully implemented a systematic screening program and structured processes of care, ongoing quality improvement efforts are needed to screen the rest of our patients and to improve the consistency with which we provide and document appropriate interventions

Gender, Family, Socioeconomic Status, and Work Values in China

Abstract This study examines gender differences in work values i

Plasma biochemistry RIs and age effect in European Strigiformes

Blood biochemistry and hematology are essential in the laboratorydiagnosis of disease. In Strigiformes, little information regarding reference valuesand influence of different preanalytic factors is available, while age is known to havean effect on some biochemistry analytes, especially in early life characterized by arapid growth rate and increase in body mass

Chicken and Egg: Testing the Carbon Isotopic Effects of Carnivory and Herbivory

In bone, the spacing between δ13C in collagen and bioapatite carbonate is greater in herbivores than carnivores, with implications for understanding animal dietary ecology from surviving hard tissues. Two explanations have been proposed: varying diet composition or differences in physiology between herbivores and carnivores. We measured the isotopic effects of carnivorous and herbivorous diets on a single species, to test the effect of diet composition alone. Protein δ13C and δ15N and carbonate δ13C were measured on egg and bone from hens on different diets. Herbivorous hens had a +14.3‰ spacing between egg albumen and shell δ13C, compared to +12.4‰ for omnivorous hens, and +11.5‰ for carnivorous hens. Bioapatite-collagen Δ13C spacing was measured as +6.2‰ for herbivorous hens, and calculated as +4.3‰ for omnivorous hens, and +3.4‰ for carnivorous hens – similar to observed mammalian herbivore and carnivore bioapatite-collagen Δ13C differences. We conclude that a shift in diet composition from herbivory to carnivory in a single species does alter the bioapatite-collagen carbon isotopic spacing. Our data strongly suggest that this results from differences in the Δ13Cbioapatite-diet spacing, and not that of Δ13Ccollagen-diet.TCO’C was supported by the Wellcome Trust’s BioArchaeology Fund.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Wiley via https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.1225

Biofortified red mottled beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in a maize and bean diet provide more bioavailable iron than standard red mottled beans: Studies in poultry (Gallus gallus) and an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our objective was to compare the capacities of biofortified and standard colored beans to deliver iron (Fe) for hemoglobin synthesis. Two isolines of large-seeded, red mottled Andean beans (<it>Phaseolus vulgaris </it>L.), one standard ("Low Fe") and the other biofortified ("High Fe") in Fe (49 and 71 μg Fe/g, respectively) were used. This commercial class of red mottled beans is the preferred varietal type for most of the Caribbean and Eastern and Southern Africa where almost three quarters of a million hectares are grown. Therefore it is important to know the affect of biofortification of these beans on diets that simulate human feeding studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Maize-based diets containing the beans were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements for broiler except for Fe (Fe concentrations in the 2 diets were 42.9 ± 1.2 and 54.6 ± 0.9 mg/kg). One day old chicks (<it>Gallus gallus</it>) were allocated to the experimental diets (n = 12). For 4 wk, hemoglobin, feed-consumption and body-weights were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Hemoglobin maintenance efficiencies (HME) (means ± SEM) were different between groups on days 14 and 21 of the experiment (P < 0.05). Final total body hemoglobin Fe contents were different between the standard (12.58 ± 1.0 mg {0.228 ± 0.01 μmol}) and high Fe (15.04 ± 0.65 mg {0.273 ± 0.01 μmol}) bean groups (P < 0.05). At the end of the experiment, tissue samples were collected from the intestinal duodenum and liver for further analyses. Divalent-metal-transporter-1, duodenal-cytochrome-B, and ferroportin expressions were higher and liver ferritin was lower (P < 0.05) in the standard group vs. the biofortified group. <it>In-vitro </it>analysis showed lower iron bioavailability in cells exposed to standard ("Low Fe") bean based diet.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We conclude that the <it>in-vivo </it>results support the <it>in-vitro </it>observations; biofortified colored beans contain more bioavailable-iron than standard colored beans. In addition, biofortified beans seems to be a promising vehicle for increasing intakes of bioavailable Fe in human populations that consume these beans as a dietary staple. This justifies further work on the large-seeded Andean beans which are the staple of a large-region of Africa where iron-deficiency anemia is a primary cause of infant death and poor health status.</p