bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adipokinetic hormone signaling mediates the enhanced fecundity of Diaphorina citri infected by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’
Authors: Li Jiayun , Holford Paul , Beattie George Andrew Charles , Wu Shujie , He Jielan , Tan Shijian , Wang Desen , He Yurong , Cen Yijing , Nian Xiaoge
Published: July 2024

Diaphorina citri serves as the primary vector for ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas),’ the bacterium associated with the severe Asian form of huanglongbing. CLas-positive D. citri are more fecund than their CLas-negative counterparts and require extra energy expenditure. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms linking metabolism and reproduction is of particular importance. In this study, we found adipokinetic hormone (DcAKH) and its receptor (DcAKHR) were essential for increasing lipid metabolism and fecundity in response to CLas infection in D. citri. Knockdown of DcAKH and DcAKHR not only resulted in the accumulation of triacylglycerol and a decline of glycogen, but also significantly decreased fecundity and CLas titer in ovaries. Combined in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that miR-34 suppresses DcAKHR expression by binding to its 3’ untranslated region, whilst overexpression of miR-34 resulted in a decline of DcAKHR expression and CLas titer in ovaries and caused defects that mimicked DcAKHR knockdown phenotypes. Additionally, knockdown of DcAKH and DcAKHR significantly reduced juvenile hormone (JH) titer and JH signaling pathway genes in fat bodies and ovaries, including the JH receptor, methoprene-tolerant (DcMet), and the transcription factor, Krüppel homolog 1 (DcKr-h1), that acts downstream of it, as well as the egg development related genes vitellogenin 1-like (DcVg-1-like), vitellogenin A1-like (DcVg-A1-like) and the vitellogenin receptor (DcVgR). As a result, CLas hijacks AKH/AKHR-miR-34-JH signaling to improve D. citri lipid metabolism and fecundity, while simultaneously increasing the replication of CLas, suggesting a mutualistic interaction between CLas and D. citri ovaries.
Ethnic and region-specific genetic risk variants of stroke and its comorbid conditions can define the variations in the burden of stroke and its phenotypic traits
Authors: Sukumaran Rashmi , Nair Achuthsankar S. , Banerjee Moinak
Published: July 2024

Burden of stroke differs by region, which could be attributed to differences in comorbid conditions and ethnicity. Genomewide variation acts as a proxy marker for ethnicity, and comorbid conditions. We present an integrated approach to understand this variation by considering prevalence and mortality rates of stroke and its comorbid risk for 204 countries from 2009 to 2019, and GWAS risk variant for all these conditions. Global and regional trend analysis of rates using linear regression, correlation and proportion analysis, signify ethnogeographic differences. Interestingly, the comorbid conditions that act as risk drivers for stroke differed by regions, with more of metabolic risk in America and Europe, in contrast to high SBP in Asian and African regions. GWAS risk loci of stroke and its comorbid conditions indicate distinct population stratification for each of these conditions, signifying for population specific risk. Unique and shared genetic risk variants for stroke, and its comorbid and followed up with ethnic specific variation can help in determining regional risk drivers for stroke. Unique ethnic specific risk variants and their distinct patterns of Linkage Disequilibrium further uncover the drivers for phenotypic variation. Therefore, identifying population and comorbidity specific risk variants might help in defining the threshold for risk, and aid in developing population specific prevention strategies for stroke.
CyAbrB2 is a nucleoid-associated protein in Synechocystis controlling hydrogenase expression during fermentation
Authors: Kariyazono Ryo , Osanai Takashi
Published: July 2024

The
hox
operon in
Synechocystis
sp. PCC 6803, encoding bidirectional hydrogenase responsible for H
2
production, is transcriptionally upregulated under microoxic conditions. Although several regulators for
hox
transcription have been identified, their dynamics and higher-order DNA structure of
hox
region in microoxic conditions remain elusive. We focused on key regulators for the
hox
operon: cyAbrB2, a conserved regulator in cyanobacteria, and SigE, an alternative sigma factor. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing revealed that cyAbrB2 binds to the
hox
promoter region under aerobic conditions, with its binding being flattened in microoxic conditions. Concurrently, SigE exhibited increased localization to the
hox
promoter under microoxic conditions. Genome-wide analysis revealed that cyAbrB2 binds broadly to AT-rich genome regions and represses gene expression. Moreover, we demonstrated the physical interactions of the
hox
promoter region with its distal genomic loci. Both the transition to microoxic conditions and the absence of cyAbrB2 influenced the chromosomal interaction. From these results, we propose that cyAbrB2 is a cyanobacterial nucleoid-associated protein (NAP), modulating chromosomal conformation, which blocks RNA polymerase from the
hox
promoter in aerobic conditions. We further infer that cyAbrB2, with altered localization pattern upon microoxic conditions, modifies chromosomal conformation in microoxic conditions, which allows SigE-containing RNA polymerase to access the
hox
promoter. The coordinated actions of this NAP and the alternative sigma factor are crucial for the proper
hox
expression in microoxic conditions. Our results highlight the impact of cyanobacterial chromosome conformation and NAPs on transcription, which have been insufficiently investigated.
The genetic architecture of the load linked to dominant and recessive self-incompatibility alleles in Arabidopsis halleri and A. lyrata
Authors: Le Veve Audrey , Genete Mathieu , Lepers-Blassiau Christelle , Ponitzki Chloé , Poux Céline , Vekemans Xavier , Durand Eleonore , Castric Vincent
Published: July 2024

The long-term balancing selection acting on mating-types or sex determining genes is expected to lead to the accumulation of deleterious mutations in the tightly linked chromosomal segments that are locally “sheltered” from purifying selection. However, the factors determining the extent of this accumulation are poorly understood. Here, we took advantage of variations in the intensity of balancing selection along a dominance hierarchy formed by alleles at the sporophytic self-incompatibility system of the Brassicaceae to compare the pace at which linked deleterious mutations accumulate among them. We first experimentally measured the phenotypic manifestation of the linked load at three different levels of the dominance hierarchy. We then sequenced and phased polymorphisms in the chromosomal regions linked to 126 distinct copies of
S
-alleles in two populations of
Arabidopsis halleri
and three populations of
A. lyrata
. We find that linkage to the
S
-locus locally distorts phylogenies over about 10-30kb along the chromosome. The more intense balancing selection on dominant
S
-alleles results in greater fixation of linked deleterious mutations, while recessive
S
-alleles accumulate more linked deleterious mutations that are segregating. Hence, the structure rather than the overall magnitude of the linked genetic load differs between dominant and recessive
S
-alleles. Our results have consequences for the long-term evolution of new
S
-alleles, the evolution of dominance modifiers between them, and raise the question of why the non-recombining regions of some sex and mating type chromosomes expand over evolutionary times while others, such as that the
S
-locus of the Brassicaceae, remain restricted to small chromosomal regions.
Allosteric regulation of kinase activity
Authors: Andreotti Amy H , Dötsch Volker
Published: July 2024

The articles in this special issue highlight how modern cellular, biochemical, biophysical and computational techniques are allowing deeper and more detailed studies of allosteric kinase regulation.
Presynaptic Rac1 in the hippocampus selectively regulates working memory
Authors: Kim Jaebin , Bustamante Edwin , Sotonyi Peter , Maxwell Nicholas D. , Parameswaran Pooja , Kent Julie K. , Wetsel William C. , Soderblom Erik J. , Rácz Bence , Soderling Scott H.
Published: July 2024

One of the most extensively studied members of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases, Rac1 is an intracellular signal transducer that remodels actin and phosphorylation signaling networks. Previous studies have shown that Rac1-mediated signaling is associated with hippocampal-dependent working memory and longer-term forms of learning and memory and that Rac1 can modulate forms of both pre- and postsynaptic plasticity. How these different cognitive functions and forms of plasticity mediated by Rac1 are linked, however, is unclear. Here, we show that spatial working memory is selectively impaired following the expression of a genetically encoded Rac1-inhibitor at presynaptic terminals, while longer-term cognitive processes are affected by Rac1 inhibition at postsynaptic sites. To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of this presynaptic process, we leveraged new advances in mass spectrometry to identify the proteomic and post-translational landscape of presynaptic Rac1 signaling. We identified serine/threonine kinases and phosphorylated cytoskeletal signaling and synaptic vesicle proteins enriched with active Rac1. The phosphorylated sites in these proteins are at positions likely to have regulatory effects on synaptic vesicles. Consistent with this, we also report changes in the distribution and morphology of synaptic vesicles and in postsynaptic ultrastructure following presynaptic Rac1 inhibition. Overall, this study reveals a previously unrecognized presynaptic role of Rac1 signaling in cognitive processes and provides insights into its potential regulatory mechanisms.
PDGFRα signaling regulates Srsf3 transcript binding to affect PI3K signaling and endosomal trafficking
Authors: Forman Thomas E , Sajek Marcin P , Larson Eric D , Mukherjee Neelanjan , Fantauzzo Katherine A
Published: July 2024

Signaling through the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) plays a critical role in craniofacial development, as mutations in
PDGFRA
are associated with cleft lip/palate in humans and
Pdgfra
mutant mouse models display varying degrees of facial clefting. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt is the primary effector of PDGFRα signaling during skeletal development in the mouse. We previously demonstrated that Akt phosphorylates the RNA-binding protein serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (Srsf3) downstream of PI3K-mediated PDGFRα signaling in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme (MEPM) cells, leading to its nuclear translocation. We further showed that ablation of
Srsf3
in the murine neural crest lineage results in severe midline facial clefting, due to defects in proliferation and survival of cranial neural crest cells, and widespread alternative RNA splicing (AS) changes. Here, we sought to determine the molecular mechanisms by which Srsf3 activity is regulated downstream of PDGFRα signaling to control AS of transcripts necessary for craniofacial development. We demonstrated via enhanced UV-crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (eCLIP) of MEPM cells that PDGF-AA stimulation leads to preferential binding of Srsf3 to exons and loss of binding to canonical Srsf3 CA-rich motifs. Through the analysis of complementary RNA-seq data, we showed that Srsf3 activity results in the preferential inclusion of exons with increased GC content and lower intron to exon length ratio. Moreover, we found that the subset of transcripts that are bound by Srsf3 and undergo AS upon PDGFRα signaling commonly encode regulators of PI3K signaling and early endosomal trafficking. Functional validation studies further confirmed that Srsf3 activity downstream of PDGFRα signaling leads to retention of the receptor in early endosomes and increases in downstream PI3K-mediated Akt signaling. Taken together, our findings reveal that growth factor-mediated phosphorylation of an RNA-binding protein underlies gene expression regulation necessary for mammalian craniofacial development.
A synthetic method to assay polycystin channel biophysics
Authors: Larmore Megan , Palomero Orhi Esarte , Kamat Neha P , DeCaen Paul G
Published: July 2024

Ion channels are biological transistors that control ionic flux across cell membranes to regulate electrical transmission and signal transduction. They are found in all biological membranes and their conductive states are frequently disrupted in human diseases. Organelle ion channels are among the most resistant to functional and pharmacological interrogation. Traditional channel protein reconstitution methods rely upon exogenous expression and/or purification from endogenous cellular sources which are frequently contaminated by resident ionophores. Here we describe a fully synthetic method to assay the functional properties of the polycystin subfamily of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels that natively traffic to primary cilia and endoplasmic reticulum organelles. Using this method, we characterize their membrane integration, orientation and conductance while comparing these results to their endogenous channel properties. Outcomes define a novel synthetic approach that can be applied broadly to investigate other channels resistant to biophysical analysis and pharmacological characterization.
RNA tertiary structure and conformational dynamics revealed by BASH MaP
Authors: Oleynikov Maxim , Jaffrey Samie R
Published: July 2024

The functional effects of an RNA can arise from complex three-dimensional folds known as tertiary structures. However, predicting the tertiary structure of an RNA and whether an RNA adopts distinct tertiary conformations remains challenging. To address this, we developed BASH MaP, a single-molecule dimethyl sulfate (DMS) footprinting method and DAGGER, a computational pipeline, to identify alternative tertiary structures adopted by different molecules of RNA. BASH MaP utilizes potassium borohydride to reveal the chemical accessibility of the N7 position of guanosine, a key mediator of tertiary structures. We used BASH MaP to identify diverse conformational states and dynamics of RNA G-quadruplexes, an important RNA tertiary motif, in vitro and in cells. BASH MaP and DAGGER analysis of the fluorogenic aptamer Spinach reveals that it adopts alternative tertiary conformations which determine its fluorescence states. BASH MaP thus provides an approach for structural analysis of RNA by revealing previously undetectable tertiary structures.
Intracellular Expression of a Fluorogenic DNA Aptamer Using Retron Eco2
Authors: Vibhute Mahesh A , Machatzke Corbin , Bigler Katrin , Krümpel Saskia , Summerer Daniel , Mutschler Hannes
Published: July 2024

DNA aptamers are short, single-stranded DNA molecules that bind specifically to a range of targets such as proteins, cells, and small molecules. Typically, they are utilized in the development of therapeutic agents, diagnostics, drug delivery systems, and biosensors. Although aptamers perform well in controlled extracellular environments, their intracellular use has been less explored due to challenges of expressing them in vivo. In this study, we employed the bacterial retron system Eco2, to express a DNA light-up aptamer in
Escherichia coli
. Both in vitro and in vivo assays confirm that structure-guided insertion of the aptamer domain into the non-coding region of the retron enables reverse transcription and folding of functional aptamer constructs in vivo. Notably, we find only a limited correlation between in vitro and in vivo aptamer performance, suggesting marked folding differences between the two environments. Our findings demonstrate that retrons can be used to effectively express short DNA aptamers within living cells, potentially broadening and optimizing their application in intracellular settings.
Moving Parts At the Intersections of Trafficking in Persons, Slavery, and the Slave Trade
Authors: Comrie Aimée
Published: July 2024

In this paper the author examines the relationship between trafficking in persons, slavery and the slave trade, arguing for a context-specific case-bycase assessment, especially with respect to the investigation and prosecution of the underlying conduct. The legal concepts are closely
related; in some jurisdictions they subsume the other, while in others they consist of parts of the other. While the specific ways in which these concepts are connected may be fluid and relate to multiple moving parts, this is not purely an academic reflection – there are real-life consequences
for survivors and victims, as diverse remedies are available for each. It is in the interests of justice to consider how to improve overall access to justice and especially to effective remedies for victims of all three crimes (especially considering the persistent impunity gaps, lack of accountability
for these crimes, and low conviction rates). The author reviews the relevant legal frameworks and then goes on to identify some moving parts – areas of overlap, divergence, and ambiguity, presenting a few visualizations of the relationship between the crimes before considering how these
moving parts work in practice by examining investigative challenges which are also reflected in caselaw. While trafficking in persons is often equated with slavery in contemporary discourse, the author puts forward some aspects which could help differentiate the crimes and posits that there
is value in recognizing the differences between them. The conclusion put forward by the author is that all three legal concepts must be seen as complementary and mutually reinforcing if the international community will become effective at closing the impunity gap for the heinous and exploitative
conduct that characterises all three crimes.
Detecting images generated by diffusers
Authors: Coccomini Davide Alessandro , Esuli Andrea , Falchi Fabrizio , Gennaro Claudio , Amato Giuseppe
Published: July 2024

In recent years, the field of artificial intelligence has witnessed a remarkable surge in the generation of synthetic images, driven by advancements in deep learning techniques. These synthetic images, often created through complex algorithms, closely mimic real photographs, blurring the lines between reality and artificiality. This proliferation of synthetic visuals presents a pressing challenge: how to accurately and reliably distinguish between genuine and generated images. This article, in particular, explores the task of detecting images generated by text-to-image diffusion models, highlighting the challenges and peculiarities of this field. To evaluate this, we consider images generated from captions in the MSCOCO and Wikimedia datasets using two state-of-the-art models: Stable Diffusion and GLIDE. Our experiments show that it is possible to detect the generated images using simple multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs), starting from features extracted by CLIP or RoBERTa, or using traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs). These latter models achieve remarkable performances in particular when pretrained on large datasets. We also observe that models trained on images generated by Stable Diffusion can occasionally detect images generated by GLIDE, but only on the MSCOCO dataset. However, the reverse is not true. Lastly, we find that incorporating the associated textual information with the images in some cases can lead to a better generalization capability, especially if textual features are closely related to visual ones. We also discovered that the type of subject depicted in the image can significantly impact performance. This work provides insights into the feasibility of detecting generated images and has implications for security and privacy concerns in real-world applications. The code to reproduce our results is available at:https://github.com/davide-coccomini/Detecting-Images-Generated-by-Diffusers.
The Review of Profession Developed in Early Childhood in Terms of Gender
Authors: ELMAS Merve , ŞAHİN Mine KOYUNCU
Published: July 2024

Cinsiyetler arası farklılıklar yalnızca biyolojik farklılıklara indirgenmemektedir. Aynı zamanda, sosyolojik, kültürel, ekonomik ve politik sebepler yüzünden pek çok cinsiyetler arası farklılıklar mevcuttur. İnsanın günlük aktivitelerinden
profesyonel çalışma hayatına kadar pek alanda etkili bir unsur olarak karşısına çıktığı görülmektedir. Bu farklılıklar doğrultusunda meslek seçimi ve meslek algılarında da cinsiyetler arası farklılıklar belirgin hale gelmiştir.
Kadın ve erkek cinsine özgü algılar her geçen gün daha da artarak araştırmalara konu olmaktadır. Mesleki gelişim açısından incelendiğinde ise bu farklılıkların bazı gelişim dönemlerine odaklandığı ve bu kapsamda incelendiği karşımıza
çıkmaktadır. İnsan hayatının 0-8 yaş dönemini kapsayan erken çocukluk dönemi, meslek algısı ve meslek farkındalığının oluştuğu gelişim dönemidir. Yapılan bu araştırmada, erken çocuklukta meslek algısı gelişimi ve toplumsal cinsiyet
faktörünün bu dönemde gelişen meslek algısı üzerindeki etkisi incelenmiştir. Bu amaç doğrultusunda bu çalışmada, meslek gelişim kuramları, meslek seçimini etkileyen faktörler ve bir faktör olarak toplumsal cinsiyet kavramı ele
alınmıştır. Bu kapsamda, genel bir çerçeve sunmak amacıyla alan yazın taranmış ve çocukluk dönemindeki meslek algısının cinsiyetler arası farklılıklardan nasıl etkilendiği aktarılmıştır. Araştırmanın sonucunda; meslek gelişim kuramlarının
erken çocukluk döneminde meslek seçinin önemini vurguladığı ve bu dönemde oluşan toplumsal cinsiyet algısının kişinin meslek algısını etkilediği ortaya çıkmaktadır.
Problems Faced by Teachers Working in Vocational High School
Authors: ÇALIŞKAN Gülçimen , BAYAR Adem
Published: July 2024

Son yıllarda eğitimle ilgili yapılan tartışmalardan bir tanesi de yaşam boyu öğrenme kapsamında yer alan mesleki ve teknik eğitimde yaşanan sorunlardır. Bu doğrultuda bu çalışmanın amacı, meslek lisesinde çalışan öğretmenlerin yaşadığı
sorunları belirlemek ve çözüm önerileri sunmaktır. Bu çalışma nitel araştırma yaklaşımı çerçevesinde olgubilim deseni ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmadaki katılımcılar amaçlı örneklem yöntemlerinden maksimum çeşitlilik örnekleme
tekniği ile oluşturulmuş farklı kurumlarda görev yapan 15 kişiden oluşmaktadır. Veriler araştırmacıların geliştirdiği 6 sorudan oluşan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu ile toplanıp betimsel analiz tekniği ile analiz edilmiştir.
Çalışma bulgularına göre öğretmenlerin meslek lisesine ilişkin algıları uygulamalı eğitim, sıkıntılı okul, başarısız öğrenci, kalifiye eleman, ara eleman, çok yönlü ve emek kavramları şeklinde bulunmuştur. Öğretmenlerin problemleri;
eğitim politikalarından kaynaklı, okul yönetiminden kaynaklı, öğrencilerden kaynaklı, öğretmenlerden kaynaklı ve aile kaynaklı olarak bulunmuştur. Öğretmenler problemlerin üstesinde gelinmesi için eğitim politikaları, okul yönetimi,
öğrenciler, öğretmenler ve aile açısından önerilerini belirtmişlerdir. Problemlerin çözümünde en çok Millî Eğitim Bakanlığı’nın, tüm personelin, öğretmenlerin ve okul idaresinin sorumluluğu olduğu bulunmuştur. Çalışmadaki bulgular
ilgili araştırma sonuçları yorumlanıp tartışılmış ve meslek lisesinde çalışan öğretmenlerin iletişim içerisinde olduğu her bireye sorumluluklar düştüğü ve sorumluluğun paylaşılarak hareket edilmesi sorunların giderilmesinde önemli
olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.
Social Studies Teacher Candidates’ Views about Course Books
Authors: ALTIKULAÇ Ali , SABANCI Osman
Published: July 2024

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Sosyal Bilgiler öğretmen adaylarının ortaokulda okutulan Sosyal Bilgiler ders kitaplarına ilişkin metaforlarını eleştirel bir bakış açısıyla ortaya koymaktır. Araştırma, sosyal bilgiler öğretmen adaylarının öğretim
araç ve gereçleri arasında yer alan ders kitaplarını nasıl yorumladıklarını ve “iyi bir ders kitabı”nın kriterlerini nasıl sıraladıklarını ortaya koyması açısından önemli olabilir. Araştırmada nitel araştırma desenlerinden biri
olan fenomenoloji kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu iki devlet üniversitesinin Sosyal Bilgiler öğretmenliği lisans programı 4. sınıfında öğrenim gören 82 öğretmen adayı oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada sosyal bilgiler öğretmeni
adaylarının ders kitabına ne gibi anlamlar yükledikleri tespit edilmiştir. Toplanan metaforlar, öğretmen adaylarının kullandıkları mecazlara göre sınıflandırılmıştır. Buna ek olarak, elde edilen mecazlar belirli ortak temalar etrafında
gruplandırılmıştır. Buna göre sosyal bilgiler öğretmen adayları ders kitabı kavramına ilişkin 43 metafor oluşturmuştur. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre en sık tekrarlanan metafor "rehber" metaforudur. Bunu “yol haritası”, “meşale-fener”,
“kullanma kılavuzu”, “lamba-ampul”, “çiçek bahçesi”, “hazine” ve “pusula” gibi metaforlar takip etmiştir. Bu metaforların yoğunlaştığı kategoriler “yol gösterici”, “kapsamlı”, “anlaşılır hale getiren”, “kolaylaştırıcı”, “değiştiren”,
“önemli” ve “donatıcı” olarak sıralanmıştır. Mesleğe yeni başlayan sosyal bilgiler öğretmen adaylarının ders kitabını kendilerine yol gösteren gerekli bir kaynak olarak gördükleri tespit edilmiştir. Bir başka deyişle, sosyal bilgiler
öğretmen adayların ders kitaplarına ilişkin oluşturdukları metaforlar arasındaki ortak nokta, öğrenme sürecinde öğretmenin üstlendiği rolüyle örtüşmektedir. Iki devlet üniversitesinin sosyal bilgiler alanında öğrenim gören öğretmen
adaylarının ders kitaplarıyla ilgili kullandığı mecazlarda ve oluşan kategorilerde benzerlikler görülmektedir. Katılımcılar, ders kitaplarının hem öğrenciye hem de öğretmene planlanmış bir amaca birlikte yürüme imkanı sağladığını
vurgulamışlardır. Ayrıca, ders kitabının kapağından seçilen görsellerden başlayarak öğrencide merak duygusunu harekete geçirip öğrenme sürecini başlattığını belirtmişlerdir.
The Use of Case Substitutes in the Speaking Skills of Students Learning Turkish as a Foreign Language and Completing the A2 Level
Authors: CERAN Dilek , HARMANKAYA Hacer
Published: July 2024

Bu çalışma, yabancı dil olarak Türkçe öğrenen temel seviyeyi bitirmiş ve öğrenimine devam eden yabancı uyruklu öğrencilerin konuşmalarındaki hâl eklerini kullanım durumlarını incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Çalışmada, Yabancılara Türkçe Öğretimi
kapsamında Türkiye Maarif Vakfının hazırladığı Yabancı Dil Olarak Türkçe Öğretim Programında ve Avrupa Dilleri Ortak Çerçeve Metninde yer alan dil seviyelerine göre dil bilgisi içerikleri esas alınmıştır. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden
doküman analizinin kullanıldığı çalışmanın çalışma grubunu A2 seviyesini bitirmiş ve Türkçe öğrenmeye devam eden 20 yabancı uyruklu öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmanın verilerini toplamak için program kapsamındaki kazanımlara göre
üç farklı açık uçlu sorudan oluşan form kullanılmıştır. Çalışma grubunun bu açık uçlu sorulara verdiği sözlü cevaplardaki cümleler detaylı incelenmek üzere yazılı metne aktarılmıştır. Hazırlanan sorulara sözlü olarak verilen cevaplar
programda bulunan düzeylere göre dil yapıları listesi doğrultusunda temel seviyede öğrenilen hâl ekleri dikkate alınarak değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırmadan elde edilen verilere göre A2 seviyesini bitirmiş öğrencilerin konuşmalarında
en fazla bulunma hâli ekini yanlış yerde kullandıkları tespit edilmiştir. Konuşmalarda birbiri yerine kullanılarak en çok karıştırılan hâl eklerinin yönelme ve bulunma hâli ekleri olduğu belirlenmiştir. Öğrencilerin belirtme hâli
ekini az sayıda doğru kullandığı, sıklıkla kullanması gerekirken kullanmadığı; ayrılma hâli ekini genellikle doğru kullandığı, vasıta hâlini kimi zaman hiç kullanmadıkları ama yanlış yerde de kullanmadıkları elde edilen sonuçlar
arasında olmuştur.
Adaptation of Preschool Early Numeracy Scales into Turkish
Authors: ÖZKANAT Zeliha , ÖZÇELİK Ayşe Dilek ÖĞRETİR
Published: July 2024

Bu araştırmada, Purpura ve Lonigan’ın geliştirmiş olduğu erken matematik gelişiminde temel olan beceri ve kavramları ölçmeye yarayan Erken Sayı Ölçeklerinin (2015) Türkçeye uyarlanması amaçlanmıştır. Çıkarma, toplama, problemler, miktar-sayı
eşleştirme, sayı tanıma, sıralama, grup karşılaştırma, sayı karşılaştırma, hızlı sayma, gruplara göre sayma, grup oluşturma ve birebir sayma ve kardinal olmak üzere 12 alt ölçekten oluşan 71 maddelik bir yapıdadır. Araştırmanın
yönteminde Uluslararası Test Komisyonunun (2017) yayınladığı uyarlama aşamaları temel alınmıştır. Ölçeğin kullanımı için ölçek geliştiriciden izin alınmıştır. Sonrasında Türkçeye çevirisi dil uzmanları tarafından yapılmış ve konu
alan uzmanları tarafından değerlendirilmiştir. 2017-2018 eğitim öğretim yılı bahar döneminde Erken Sayı Ölçekleri kullanılarak veri toplanmıştır. Pilot çalışmaya 18 çocuk, ana uygulamaya 363 çocuk ve test tekrar test çalışmasına
72 çocuk katılım göstermiştir. Veri toplama süreci başlamadan önce aile izni toplanmış ve ölçekleri uygulama aşamasında ise çocuklardan resim yoluyla izin alınmıştır. Sonuçları analiz etmek için doğrulayıcı faktör analizi, madde-toplam
korelasyonu, faktör yükü, KR20, test-tekrar test ve Split halfves güvenilirlik analizleri yapılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, alt ölçeklerden toplama, problemler, miktar-sayı eşleştirme, sayı tanıma, sıralama, sayı karşılaştırma,
hızlı sayma, gruplara göre sayma, grup oluşturma ve birebir sayma ve kardinalin geçerli ve güvenilir ölçme araçları olarak beş yaş grubuna uygulanabileceğini göstermiştir. Çıkarma ve grup karşılaştırma alt ölçeklerinin geçerlik
ve güvenirlik değerleri ise düşük çıkması nedeniyle araştırmalarda kullanılamayacağı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Socio-environmental Analysis and Financial Profitability of the Efficiency of Agricultural Machinery on Rice and Maize Fields in Benin
Authors: Boko Christelle Sandra Ayina , Dovonou Flavien. E. , Hounsou Mathieu H. , Lihonou Bella Bénédite
Published: July 2024

Agriculture requires sustainable mechanization in Benin to increase production. This study analyzes the socio-environmental impact and financial efficiency of mechanized agricultural equipment. We adopted a methodology that integrated bibliographic research, observations, in-depth analyses and surveys in Lalo. Data analysis indicates that agricultural mechanization improves soil permeability and reduces the greenhouse effect. Socially, it contributes to the reducing of poverty, working time and labour costs. However, constraints such as the unavailability of tools, breakdowns, and negative impacts such as soil depletion and air pollution are noted. It causes unemployment and requires significant investments. The majority (88.89%) of the machines were mainly rented, costing 70,000 FCFA for small equipment and 50,000 FCFA for heavy equipment per hectare. For rice production, the income of a producer using motorized tillers far exceeds (109,400 F) that of using traditional tools (43,632 F). An increase of 60.12% (65,768 F). The income of a producer using tractors for corn production is higher (80,700 F) than that using traditional tools (48,599 F). We observe an increase of 39.78 per cent (32,101 F). Repairs are complex. Recommendations, such as access to agricultural credit, improved access to equipment, and the training of producers, aim to promote sustainable mechanization.
EXPLORING THE SPIRITUAL FORMATION OF GENERATION Z STUDENTS IN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS: A REFLECTIVE JOURNEY
Authors:   Northwest Christian School, Yoder Amy
Published: July 2024

This reflective narrative chronicles a transformative journey of an educator’s experience teaching in a private Christian school and the subsequent pursuit of research on the spiritual formation of Generation Z students. Drawing upon Dewey’s notion of reflection and a comprehensive review of the literature and spiritual development theories, the author examines why students in Christian schools identify teachers as the primary influence in their spiritual formation. This reflection explores the complexity of spiritual development, the challenges posed by Generation Z students’ digital native characteristics, and the feelings of inadequacy among teachers in fostering spiritual formation. Guided by Greenberger’s reflective framework and Dewey’s principle of continuity, the author aims to deepen her understanding of students’ perceptions and cultivate confidence and aptitude in supporting students’ spiritual growth. The analysis highlights teachers’ multifaceted roles as trusted confidants, mentors, role models, and spiritual guides, transcending the boundaries of academic instruction. The reflective practice findings emphasize the authenticity and modeling of faith by teachers and relationship building, which creates a powerful environment where students observe and internalize the practical application of Christian principles. Additionally, the study considers the varying stages of faith among students and the need for teachers to adapt their roles and approaches accordingly. Key Words: Reflective Practice, Christian Education, Spiritual Formation, Generation Z, Westerhoff
REFLECTING ON THE IMPACTS OF STRENGTHS- BASED TEACHING ON STUDENTS’ SELF-EFFICACY IN HIGHER EDUCATION CLASSROOMS
Authors:   Spokane Community College, Anderson Amy M. , Maguire Kelly R. ,   Grand Canyon University
Published: July 2024

In this manuscript, two professors sought to reflect on personal discoveries from their recent research collaboration examining the relationship between strengths-based teaching and students’ self-efficacy. The findings of their study indicated that educators in higher education institutions who employ a strengths-based teaching approach that focuses on students’ capabilities, opportunities, and possibilities while creating a growth mindset, resiliency, and agency can improve students’ self-efficacy. As educators, we regularly engage in reflective practice to enhance and improve our teaching strategies. Through reflection, we were able to examine the revelations from our research and explore how we could effectively implement these practices in our teaching to highlight our students’ strengths and help them build a foundation for lifelong learning and improved self-efficacy. Keywords: strengths-based teaching, self-efficacy, higher education, research collaboration, reflective practice
Öğretmen Adaylarının Fen Bilimleri Eğitiminde Sanal Tasarım ve Üç Boyutlu Yazıcı Entegrasyonunun İncelenmesi
Authors: Koç Adem , Ünaldı Coral Mutlu Nisa
Published: July 2024

Fen bilimleri içeriğinde soyut kavramların oldukça yoğun olduğu bir öğrenme alanıdır. Konu ve kavramlara göre somutlaştırma işlemleri geleneksel laboratuvar ve fiziksel tasarım atölyelerinde gerçekleştirilebilse de, bu her zaman mümkün olamamakta ya da daha zor olabilmektedir. Bu sorunların üstesinden gelebilmek ve öğrenmede somutlaştırmanın önemine vurgu yapmak için, bu çalışma fen bilgisi öğretmen adaylarının katılımı ile soyut kavramların çoğunlukta olduğu Biyoloji III dersi kapsamında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Haftalık olarak ikişer ders saati şeklinde mühendislik tasarım süreci aşamalarına ve proje tabanlı öğrenme yöntemine göre gerçekleştirilen bu uygulamada üç boyutlu tasarım programı olan Tinkercad programı ve üç boyutlu yazıcı kullanılmıştır. Uygulama süreci başında öğretmen adayları araştırmacılar tarafından ayrıntılı olarak bilgilendirilerek sanal ortamda tasarıma ilişkin çalışma yaprakları sunulmuştur. Haftalık belirlenen plan çerçevesinde uygulamalar biyoloji ve bilgisayar laboratuvarlarında gerçekleştirilmiştir. 3-5’er kişilik gruplar halinde çalışan öğretmen adayları seçtikleri konuda gerçekleştirdikleri bireysel tasarımlarından sonra bir tasarıma karar verip, onu nihai tasarım olarak geliştirmişlerdir. Süreç sonunda her bir grubun nihai tasarımı üç boyutlu yazıcıda bastırılmış ve her gruptan gönüllü birer öğretmen adayı ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Gerçekleştirilen görüşmeler sonucunda elde edilen tema ve kodlar tablolaştırılarak sunulmuştur. Öğretmen adaylarının sürece ilişkin olumlu görüş belirttikleri, bu tür uygulamaların sayısının artması gerektiği ve diğer konu alanlarında da benzer uygulamaların gerçekleştirilebileceği yönünde görüş belirttikleri görülmüştür.
Discrimination, harassment, abuse, and bullying in the workplace: Contribution of workplace injustice to occupational health disparities
Authors: Okechukwu Cassandra A. , Souza Kerry , Davis Kelly D. , de Castro A. Butch
Published: June 2013

Background

This paper synthesizes research on the contribution of workplace injustices to occupational health disparities.

Methods

We conducted a broad review of research and other reports on the impact of workplace discrimination, harassment, and bullying on workers' health and on family and job outcomes.

Results

Members of demographic minority groups are more likely to be victims of workplace injustice and suffer more adverse outcomes when exposed to workplace injustice compared to demographic majority groups. A growing body of research links workplace injustice to poor psychological and physical health, and a smaller body of evidence links workplace injustice to unhealthy behaviors. Although not as well studied, studies show that workplace injustice can influence workers' health through effects on workers' family life and job‐related outcomes.

Conclusion

Injustice is a key contributor to occupational health injustice and prospective studies with oversample of disadvantaged workers and refinement of methods for characterizing workplace injustices are needed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:573–586, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exploring the validity of assessment in anatomy: Do images influence cognitive processes used in answering extended matching questions?
Authors: Vorstenbosch Marc A.T.M. , Bouter Shifra T. , van den Hurk Marianne M. , Kooloos Jan G.M. , Bolhuis Sanneke M. , Laan Roland F.J.M.
Published: June 2013

Assessment is an important aspect of medical education because it tests students' competence and motivates them to study. Various assessment methods, with and without images, are used in the study of anatomy. In this study, we investigated the use of extended matching questions (EMQs). To gain insight into the influence of images on the validity of test items, we focused on students' cognitive processes while they answered questions with and without images. Seventeen first‐year medical students answered EMQs about gross anatomy, combined with either labeled images or answer lists, while thinking aloud. The participants' verbal reports were transcribed verbatim and then coded. Initial codes were based on a task analysis and were adapted into final codes during the coding process. Results showed that students used more cues from EMQs with images and visualized more often in EMQs with answer lists. Ready knowledge and verbal reasoning were used equally often in both conditions. In conclusion, EMQs with and without images elicit different results in this think aloud experiment, indicating different cognitive processes. They seem to measure different skills, making them valid for different testing purposes. The take‐home message for anatomy teachers is that questions without images seem to test the quality of students' mental images while questions with images test their ability to interpret visual information. It makes sense to use both response formats in tests. Using images from clinical practice instead of anatomical drawings will help to improve test validity. Anat Sci Educ 7: 107–116. © 2013 American Association of Anatomists.
The posterior intercostal vein: A thermoregulatory gateway to the internal vertebral venous plexus
Authors: Hoogland P.V. , Wessels Q. , Vorster W. , Groen R.J.M. , Wettstein R. , Greyling L.M. , Kotzé S.H.
Published: June 2013

The internal vertebral venous plexus (IVVP) plays a putative role in thermoregulation of the spinal cord. Cold cutaneous venous blood may cool, while warm venous blood from muscles and brown fat areas may warm the spinal cord. The regulating mechanisms for both cooling and warming are still unknown. Warm venous blood mainly enters the IVVP via the intervertebral veins. In the thoracic area these veins are connected to the posterior intercostal veins. In this study, anatomical structures were investigated that might support the mechanisms by which warmed venous blood from the intercostal muscles and the recently described paravertebral patches of brown adipose tissue are able to drain into the vertebral venous plexus. Therefore, tissue samples from human cadavers (n = 21) containing the posterior intercostal vein and its connections to the IVVP and the azygos veins were removed and processed for histology. Serial sections revealed that the proximal parts of the posterior intercostal veins contained abundant smooth muscle fibers at their opening into the azygos vein. Furthermore, the walls of the proximal parts of the posterior intercostal veins contain plicae that allow the vessel to dilate, thereby allowing it to serve as a pressure chamber. It is suggested that a cold induced closure of the intercostal/azygos opening can result in retrograde blood flow from the proximal posterior intercostal vein towards the IVVP. This blood flow would be composed of warm blood from the paravertebral brown adipose tissue and blood containing metabolic heat from the muscles draining into the intercostal veins. Clin. Anat. 26:735–740, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The changing face of thyroid cancer in a population‐based cohort
Authors: Alok Pathak K. , Leslie William D. , Klonisch Thomas C. , Nason Richard W.
Published: June 2013

In North America, the incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing by over 6% per year. We studied the trends and factors influencing thyroid cancer incidence, its clinical presentation, and treatment outcome during 1970–2010 in a population‐based cohort of 2306 consecutive thyroid cancers in Canada, that was followed up for a median period of 10.5 years. Disease‐specific survival (DSS) and disease‐free survival were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and the independent influence of various prognostic factors was evaluated by Cox proportional hazard models. Cumulative incidence of deaths resulting from thyroid cancer was calculated by competing risk analysis. A P‐value <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. The age standardized incidence of thyroid cancer by direct method increased from 2.52/100,000 (1970) to 9.37/100,000 (2010). Age at diagnosis, gender distribution, tumor size, and initial tumor stage did not change significantly during this period. The proportion of papillary thyroid cancers increased significantly (P < 0.001) from 58% (1970–1980) to 85.9% (2000–2010) while that of anaplastic cancer fell from 5.7% to 2.1% (P < 0.001). Ten‐year DSS improved from 85.4% to 95.6%, and was adversely influenced by anaplastic histology (hazard ratio [HR] = 8.7; P < 0.001), male gender (HR = 1.8; P = 0.001), TNM stage IV (HR = 8.4; P = 0.001), incomplete surgical resection (HR = 2.4; P = 0.002), and age at diagnosis (HR = 1.05 per year; P < 0.001). There was a 373% increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer in Manitoba with a marked improvement in the thyroid cancer‐specific survival that was independent of changes in patient demographics, tumor stage, or treatment practices, and is largely attributed to the declining proportion of anaplastic thyroid cancers.
Technical challenges of atrial septal stent placement in fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and intact atrial septum
Authors: Kalish Brian T. , Tworetzky Wayne , Benson Carol B. , Wilkins‐Haug Louise , Mizrahi‐Arnaud Arielle , McElhinney Doff B. , Lock James E. , Marshall Audrey C.
Published: June 2013

Objectives

The objective of this study was to describe our single‐institution experience with prenatal atrial septal stent placement for fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and an intact atrial septum (HLHS/IAS).

Background

Infants born with HLHS/IAS are at high risk for neonatal death, despite maximal postnatal therapy. Prenatal atrial septoplasty by static balloon dilation has been effective in decompressing the left atrium (LA) in utero, but several factors have limited the size of septal defects. We attempted to overcome the limitations of balloon septoplasty using transcatheter atrial septal stents.

Methods

All records from our institution of fetuses with HLHS/IAS that underwent prenatal atrial septal stent placement were reviewed, including operative notes and echocardiograms.

Results

Nine fetuses between 24 and 31 weeks gestation with HLHS/IAS underwent attempted fetal atrial septal stent placement. A stent was deployed across the atrial septum in five fetuses, with four fetuses demonstrating flow across the stent at the time of intervention. In four cases, stent placement failed due to malposition or embolization, but in three of the four cases, atrial balloon septoplasty at the same in‐utero procedure successfully and acutely decompressed the LA. There were no maternal complications. There was one fetal demise. The remaining eight fetuses survived to delivery, but four died in the neonatal period (two of which had been stented).

Conclusions

Ultrasound‐guided atrial septal stent placement is feasible in some fetuses with HLHS/IAS. Visualization of the septum and catheter tip is critical to technical success. Additional experience is necessary to determine the clinical impact of this intervention. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Förster resonance energy transfer microscopy and spectroscopy for localizing protein–protein interactions in living cells
Authors: Sun Yuansheng , Rombola Christina , Jyothikumar Vinod , Periasamy Ammasi
Published: June 2013

The fundamental theory of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) was established in the 1940s. Its great power was only realized in the past 20 years after different techniques were developed and applied to biological experiments. This success was made possible by the availability of suitable fluorescent probes, advanced optics, detectors, microscopy instrumentation, and analytical tools. Combined with state‐of‐the‐art microscopy and spectroscopy, FRET imaging allows scientists to study a variety of phenomena that produce changes in molecular proximity, thereby leading to many significant findings in the life sciences. In this review, we outline various FRET imaging techniques and their strengths and limitations; we also provide a biological model to demonstrate how to investigate protein–protein interactions in living cells using both intensity‐ and fluorescence lifetime‐based FRET microscopy methods. © 2013 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Failed species, innominate forms, and the vain search for species limits: cryptic diversity in dusky salamanders (Desmognathus) of eastern Tennessee
Authors: Tilley Stephen G. , Bernardo Joseph , Katz Laura A. , López Lizmarie , Devon Roll J. , Eriksen Renée L. , Kratovil Justin , Bittner Noëlle K. J. , Crandall Keith A.
Published: June 2013

Cytochrome B sequences and allozymes reveal complex patterns of molecular variation in dusky salamander (Desmognathus) populations in eastern Tennessee. One group of allozymically distinctive populations, which we refer to as the Sinking Creek form (SCF), combines morphological attributes of Desmognathus fuscus with cytB sequences characteristic of Desmognathus carolinensis. This form is abruptly replaced by D. fuscus just north of Johnson City, TN with no evidence of either sympatry or gene exchange. To the south, allozymic markers indicate a broad zone of admixture with populations characterized by distinct cytB sequences and that may or may not be ultimately referable to Desmognathus conanti. A third distinctive group of populations, which we refer to as the Lemon Gap form (LGF), occurs in the foothills of the Great Smoky and southern Bald Mountains and exchanges genes with Desmognathus santeetlah along the escarpment of the Great Smokies, D. carolinensis in the southern Bald Mountains, and populations of a different haplotype clade in the Ridge and Valley. We treat all these as innominate forms that may represent “failed species,” recognizing that it may never be possible to reconcile species limits with patterns of phylogeny, morphology, and gene exchange in these salamanders.