The Development of "Asian Academic Credits" as an Aligned Credit Transfer System in Asian Higher Education
JOURNAL OF STUDIES IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Authors: Hotta, Taiji
Abstract
During the last two decades, Asian countries have attempted to establish several aligned academic credit systems as part of the harmonization process of their higher education systems. However, these systems have not been widely used among universities in the Asian region. This article analyzes the current trends in credit-related governmental regulations and university systems in 24 Asian countries and territories. Moreover, it asserts the concept of "Asian Academic Credits," (hereafter, AACs) as a new widely effective aligned system of academic credit transfer within Asia and also with other regionally aligned credit systems in the world. AACs can serve as one of the vital components for a new era of Asian higher education that provides a regionally aligned, flexible, and innovative learning environment for students throughout the entire Asian region.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-induced milk fat depression: application of RNA-Seq technology to elucidate mammary gene regulation in dairy ewes
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Authors: Suarez-Vega, Aroa; Gutierrez-Gil, Beatriz; Toral, Pablo G.; Hervas, Gonzalo; Jose Arranz, Juan; Frutos, Pilar
Abstract
Milk fat depression (MFD) is characterized by a reduction in the content of milk fat, presumably caused by the anti-lipogenic effects of rumen biohydrogenation intermediates, such as trans-10 cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). In this study, RNA-Seq technology was used to help elucidate the mammary responses involved in CLA-induced MFD in lactating ewes. To this end, we compared the milk somatic cell transcriptome of ewes suffering from CLA-induced MFD with control ewes (i.e., those without MFD), as well as with ewes fed a diet supplemented with fish oil (FO-MFD) that we previously reported affects the mammary transcriptome. In the differential expression analysis between CLA-MFD and controls, we identified 1,524 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), whereas 653 were detected between CLA- and FO-MFD groups. Although this article focuses on lipid metabolism, CLA affected the expression of many genes related to other biological processes, especially immunity. Among the 55 genes shared by both MFD conditions, some genes linked to fatty acid synthesis, such as ACACA, AACS, ACSS2, or ACSS3, were downregulated. In addition, this study provides a list of candidate genes that are not usually considered in the nutrigenomics of MFD but that may act as key regulators of this syndrome in dairy ewes.