bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parents’ Perceptions of Early Interventions and Related Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alotaibi Faihan , Almalki Nabil
Published: September 2016

The present study sought to examine parents’ perceptions of early interventions and related services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Saudi Arabia. In this study a survey was distributed to a sample of 80 parents with children who have ASD. Parents also were asked open-ended questions to enable them to provide suggestions. The findings indicate that parents have varying perceptions of early interventions and related services. However, they seem to agree that these services are important in assisting their children. Accordingly, parents have suggested that the government needs to increase these services by providing more centers for children with ASD in Saudi Arabia, providing more specialists to deal with children with ASD, promoting inclusion in regular schools and providing more information on early intervention.
Effectiveness of Interactive Multimedia Based Learning Model in Engineering Mechanics
Authors: Tambunan Hamonangan , Napitupulu Efendi
Published: September 2016

Now the demand for skilled labor is urgent. Development of skilled labor has been done in various ways either through education and training. Indonesia, especially North Sumatra state nurture some vocational schools that produce graduates which are expected to be ready for working, but have not been able to meet these expectations. Therefore we face how to build a learning that is intended to establish effectively the competence of Vocational Middle School students. In this study, we propose an interactive multimedia-based learning model in teaching engineering mechanic competence. The results of empirical data showed significant evidence supports our proposition. It explores an important issue in developing the learning model of student competence in the field of engineering mechanic.
An Application Model of Reality Therapy to Develop Effective Achievement Goals in Tier Three Intervention
Authors: Sunawan Sunawan , Xiong Junmei
Published: September 2016

This article describes an application of reality therapy to developing effective achievement goals for students in tier three of a tiered response to intervention approach. The roles of teachers and school counselors, to improve effective achievement goals, are briefly discussed as a frame for applying reality therapy. The application model includes procedures for assessing students’ ineffective achievement goals, interpretation of achievement goals from a reality therapy perspective, counseling steps, and purposes of counseling. Counseling steps are based on the WDEP system, which consists of analysis of wants and needs, direction and doing, self-evaluation and planning. The purposes of reality therapy can be applied as the basis for developing and implementing students’ new effective achievement goals.
Drama-Based Science Teaching and Its Effect on Students’ Understanding of Scientific Concepts and Their Attitudes towards Science Learning
Authors: Abed Osama H.
Published: September 2016

This study investigated the effect of drama-based science teaching on students’ understanding of scientific concepts and their attitudes towards science learning. The study also aimed to examine if there is an interaction between students’ achievement level in science and drama-based instruction. The sample consisted of (87) of 7th grade students from a public male school in Amman-Jordan; (46) in the experimental group and (41) in the control group. A pre-post Scientific Concepts Test (SCT) and Attitudes towards Science Learning Scale (ATSLS) were administered. The results indicate that there were statistically significant differences between the study groups in favour of students in the experimental group on both study variables, with no interaction between the teaching method and the students’ achievement level in science. The study recommends employing drama in teaching science.
The Development and Proposal to Incorporate Multi-Integrated Instructional Strategies into Immigrant Chinese Language Classes
Authors: Cai Qiao Yu
Published: September 2016

Due to globalization and the formation of the global village, people worldwide interact in multiple languages frequently. Concurrently, there has been an increase in motivation to learn different languages for individual purposes. As well, we see that the importance of language education is also being promoted. Past language methods have merit, such as visual aids, but it is not a good idea nor appropriate for teachers to just follow suit without considering the language system of the learners, the country of origin of the learners, and the various background and culture of the learners. In view of these characteristics of immigrants as adult learners participating in Chinese language classes, which are different from adult learners of other languages, this paper tries to develop multi-integrated instructional strategies, which include supportive strategy, auxiliary strategy and core strategy. These strategies are based on theories of accelerated learning, whole brain learning, and situated learning. I propose that Chinese language teachers use these strategies in classes for immigrants. The strategies developed will have implications for immigrants, teacher educators, language program administrators, and other stakeholders in similar contexts.
Factors Affecting Gender Equity in the Choice of Science and Technology Careers among Secondary School Students in Edo State, Nigeria
Authors: Osagie Roseline O. , Alutu Azuka N.
Published: September 2016

The study investigated the factors affecting gender equity in science and technology among senior secondary school students. The study was carried out at the University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty students of average age 15 years in their penultimate year were administered the questionnaires for the study. The data for the study was collected from a survey instrument titled, “Career Determinants. Analysis of the data revealed that sex, parental, peer influences, social and cultural stereotyping were the major factors affecting gender inequity in the choice of careers in science and technology among secondary school students. Less than 40% of the girls indicated interest in science and technology subjects even though they had the ability. More than sixty-five percent of the boys indicated interest in science and technology subjects even though they were not academically prepared for them. It was therefore suggested that gender equity in science and technology could be fostered by designing a training program in science to build confidence and assertive skills in students at the junior secondary school level. Recommendations were also made that seminars should be conducted for parents and teachers in primary schools to desensitize stereotyping acquired through socialization processes and cultural practices.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Education Studies, Vol. 9, No. 10
Authors: Lee Chris
Published: September 2016

Reviewer acknowledgements for International Education Studies, Vol. 9, No. 10, 2016.
Development of Program to Enhance Strategic Leadership of Secondary School Administrators
Authors: Chatchawaphun Pimpisa , Julsuwan Suwat , Srisa-ard Boonchom
Published: September 2016

This research aimed to 1) study principles, attributes and skills needed for secondary school administrators, 2) investigate current situations, desirable conditions and needs for strategic secondary school administrators, 3) develop a strategic secondary school administrator enhancement program, and 4) explore the efficiency level of the strategic secondary school administrator enhancement program by using the developmental research process. Sampling and data collection were as follows: step one, collect data from the relevant literature, publications, online research and academic databases regarding leadership and strategic leadership. Moreover, in-depth interviews were conducted with 7 informants while the elements of strategic leadership were verified by 7 experts. Step 2, 369 directors, deputy directors and heads of the planning programs were consulted for studying current conditions of strategic leadership and needs in development of a strategic secondary school administrator enhancement program. Step 3 required 7 experts to evaluate and comment on the program. Step 4 required a group of 15 directors from 4 schools under the Office of Secondary Schools Services Area Zone 30 for efficiency assessment. Research instruments were an interview form, a questionnaire, and an evaluation form. Statistics used in data analysis and verification were percent, means, standard deviation, Modified Priority Needs Index (PNImodified) and Independent t-test. The research results showed that the strategic leadership for secondary school administrators’ enhancement program consisted of 3 modules as module 1 principles of strategic leadership, module 2 strategic leadership attributes and module 3 strategic leadership skills. The application of the program showed that the participants receiving the development for the secondary school administrators’ enhancement program had higher strategic leadership after the development than before, and managed the school more efficiently.
The Relationship between Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Group Cohesiveness and Workplace Deviance Behavior of Turkish Teachers
Authors: APAYDIN Cigdem , SIRIN Huseyin
Published: September 2016

This study aims to develop a structural model for organizational citizenship behavior, group cohesiveness and workplace deviance behavior. The study group consists of 639 Turkish teachers working in primary and secondary public schools. In the study, the “Organizational Citizenship Behavior Scale” and the “Group Cohesiveness Scale” developed by the researchers and the “Workplace Deviance Scale” developed by Bennett and Robinson (2000) were used. The hypotheses proposed were tested with structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of the study show that organizational citizenship behavior reduces workplace deviance, while it increases group cohesiveness. Conversely, workplace deviance increases group cohesiveness. The results of the study could be beneficial to those wishing to understand the relationship between organizational citizenship behavior, group cohesiveness and workplace deviance in educational settings.
Inmates’ Adult Education in Greece—A Case Study
Authors: Papaioannou Vasiliki , Anagnou Evaggelos , Vergidis Dimitris
Published: September 2016

Correctional education in Greece has been implemented since 1980’s. Second Chance Schools (SCS) in prisons were established in 2004, aiming at combating social exclusion. This study’s aim is to look into the reasons of school dropout and to interpret why inmates take part in the educational program provided by SCS, registering the motives, expectations and barriers. According to the findings, inmates dropped out particularly due to financial problems. They engage in the educational process having strong motives, primarily the beneficial calculation of the days of their sentence as well as it is a way to get out of the pains of imprisonment. Their expectations have to do with education, improvement of their vocational status, personal development and social acceptance. There were no barriers mentioned.
The Role of Advertisements in Protection of Consumer’s Right of Choice
Authors: Doborji Pari Khaledi , Hamed Abbas Qasemi
Published: September 2016

Consumer’s right of choice is the most important one of his rights. Protecting it during the period before conclusion of contract can predispose the creation of a stable legal relationship which is in conformity with the real will and purpose of the consumer. Category of advertisement is one of the most important factors that have a strong impact on the consumer’s choice. True advertisements which are in conformity with realities make the consumers evaluate selection options for purchasing or using the advertised goods or services and decide according to it and without spending time and cost. However, untrue advertisements will have a reverse role with reflection of untrue affairs. Therefore, the role of advertisements and its effectiveness on consumer’s right of choice are from the undeniable realities. That is why the organization of advertisements affair to protect Consumer’s right of choice is a necessity that different legal systems have responded to it. In this research, the legal systems of Iran and Britain have been studied in a descriptive and comparative method. So that a step to be taken to remove legal defects and deficiencies while recognizing the legal status and consumer protective tools in Iran law.
Determination of Organic Impurities in Anthraquinone Color Additives D&C Violet No. 2 and D&C Green No. 6 by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Yang H H Wendy
Published: September 2016

A new practical and time-saving ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method has been developed for determining the organic impurities in the anthraquinone color additives D&C Violet No. 2 and D&C Green No. 6. The impurities determined are p-toluidine, 1-hydroxyanthraquinone, 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone, and two subsidiary colors. The newly developed UHPLC method uses a 1.7-μ particle size C-18 column, 0.1 M ammonium acetate and acetonitrile aseluents, and photodiode array detection. For the quantification of the impurities, six-point calibration curves were used with correlation coefficients that ranged from 0.9974 to 0.9998. Recoveries of impurities ranged from 99 to 104%. Relative standard deviations ranged from 0.81 to 4.29%. The limits of detection for the impurities ranged from 0.0067% to0.216%. Samples from sixteen batches of each color additive were analyzed, and the results favorably compared with the results obtained by gravity-elution column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and isooctane extraction. Unlike with those other methods, use of the UHPLC method permits all of the impurities to be determined in a single analysis, while also reducing the amount of organic waste and saving timeand labor. The method is expected to be implemented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for analysis of color additive samples submitted for batch certification.
Literature of Acquisitions in Review, 2012–13
Authors: Dresselhaus Angela
Published: September 2016

The acquisitions literature published in 2012–13 shows a strong focus on nontraditional purchasing models, especially for electronic books (e-books). Patron Driven Acquisition (PDA) is one method that helps librarians cope with budget constraints that continue to plague library budgets. The expense of Big Deals has some libraries seeking more efficient alternatives such as Pay-Per-View or Evidence-Based Selection, however, many libraries are still reliant on the depth of coverage and perceived value of Big Deals. This review will cover these trends along with developments in Electronic Resources Management Systems (ERMSs), workflow efficiencies, and negotiation and licensing techniques.
Customizing an Open Source Discovery Layer at East Carolina University Libraries: The Cataloger’s Role in Developing a Replacement for a Traditional Online Catalog
Authors: Barber Marlena , Holden Christopher , Mayo Janet L.
Published: September 2016

Open source discovery layers offer the ability to extensively customize every aspect of the search experience for a local user population. However, discovery layers have primarily been discussed in the professional literature in terms of the installation or configuration process. In this paper, three catalogers present a case study of an open source discovery layer implementation with a focus on the problems and solutions from the cataloging perspective.
Book Review: FRBR, Before and After: A Look at Our Bibliographic Models
Authors: Leach Erin
Published: September 2016

While many in the metadata creation community are familiar with the Group 1–3 entities described in the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR), the historical context for FRBR as a bibliographic model is less familiar. In 1990, the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) sponsored the Stockholm Seminar on Cataloguing. One of the outcomes of this Seminar was the creation of the FRBR Study Group whose purpose was to identify a minimum set of data elements necessary to satisfy the needs of users. Using this element set in the creation of records would both further facilitate the sharing of bibliographic records and reduce the cost of cataloging for participating institutions. The FRBR Study Group’s final report has far reaching influence, including serving as the conceptual model upon which RDA: Resource Description and Access—the successor to the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules as the content standard used by many libraries across the world.
Accidental Technologist: How Can Libraries Improve Wikipedia?
Authors: Phetteplace Eric
Published: September 2016

Wikipedia and libraries got off to a strained start. Perhaps this is only my perception, but it appeared that Wikipedia was used as a defenseless punching bag in much information literacy instruction. The refrain was always “don’t use Wikipedia” or “don’t use Google” to the neglect of far worse research sources like Yahoo! Answers. This “traditional” stance of librarianship was that the community-edited encyclopedia failed any quality analysis due to its sketchy authority; “anyone can edit”—anonymously even!—and therefore its content cannot possibly be trusted. Instructors would even develop assignments wherein students would vandalize the encyclopedia, deliberately inserting inaccurate or incoherent content, to demonstrate its unreliability. Leaving ethics aside, such assignments are constructed to ignore the finely tuned “bots” (editing programs which constantly crawl the site looking for clear signs of mischief) and diligent editors working to remove such content.
Reference Services to Incarcerated People, Part II: Sources and Learning Outcomes
Authors: Rabina Debbie , Drabinski Emily
Published: September 2016

During the 2013/14 academic year, students taking a required general reference course in a library and information science program answered reference questions from incarcerated individuals. The assignment was designed as a service-learning project. Here we examine how well the assignment met the course and program-level learning objectives that students are expected to attain. We described the data collection and analysis, present our findings and make recommendation in ways to increase student learning outcome and ALA professional competencies from a services learning projects. Specifically we discuss the need to increase education in e-government sources since our findings indicated they are most useful for answering reference questions from incarcerated people.
From Committees of RUSA: BRASS Program: Not Elsewhere Classified: Researching New and Niche Industries
Authors: 2015 Program Committee BRASS
Published: September 2016

The Business Research and Services Section (BRASS) 2015 program was directed to business research professionals who may be stymied by researcher requests related to newer or niche industries. In a stimulating ninety-minute session, two top research professionals informed, confronted and engaged their American Library Association (ALA) audience with their well-paced array of smart search strategies and sources designed to meet industry challenges. The presentation was effective in identifying research workaround strategies and tying real industry problems with practical, on-the-job solutions.The material provided here and the bibliography of sources may serve as additional resources for emerging industry queries of library users. The BRASS program presentation is available via this ALA conference website (http://alaac15.ala.org/node/28603).
Book Review: Classroom Assessment Techniques for Librarians
Authors: Tillotson Calantha
Published: September 2016

Melissa Bowles-Terry and Cassandra Kvenild present Classroom Assessment Techniques for Librarians as a toolbox for instruction librarians seeking to create an assessment program in their academic library. Beginning by providing a basic introduction to educational assessment theory, Bowles-Terry and Kvenild build a foundation of understanding with their fellow instruction librarians regarding what assessment means and why it should be used in any library instruction program.
Book Review: Contemporary Immigration in America: A State-by-State Encyclopedia
Authors: Deutsch Anne C.
Published: September 2016

Contemporary Immigration in America distinguishes itself through its organization by state and its focus on the post-war period. The introduction explains the significance of both of these choices. The case for organizing by state is most compelling, particularly as states have taken on more authority in the arena of immigration policy beginning in the 1990’s. Further, it is not difficult to imagine diverse scenarios that would benefit from immigration information for a particular state or states. Limiting the historical period allowed the editor to compile a concise two volume set with short chapters averaging roughly twenty pages. Some authors were more successful than others in keeping within the historical parameters.
Book Review: Religion and American Cultures: Tradition, Diversity, and Popular Expression
Authors: Crawford Gregory A.
Published: September 2016

The second edition of this work has been expanded to four volumes and has increased its coverage greatly. Although the editors state clearly that the work is not meant to be comprehensive, it does provide an excellent, and general, overview of religion within American culture. Each volume, in many ways, can stand alone, but together they provide a wonderful introduction to the state of religion in the United States and its influence on American culture.
Book Review: The Sage Encyclopedia of Educational Technology
Authors: Mittenberg Valerie
Published: September 2016

The Sage Encyclopedia of Educational Technology is an intelligent attempt to update and contextualize knowledge about the multifarious world of educational technology. Editor J. Michael Spector has broadly defined educational technology as “the application of knowledge to support the development of productive, thoughtful, and responsible persons” (xxvii).
Readers' Advisory: Differing Mental Models and the Futures of Libraries, Librarians, and Readers’ Advisory
Authors: Crowley Bill
Published: September 2016

Many of us struggle with determining the best way to represent our profession in libraries. How do we maintain our relevance and the value of our degreed professionals while managing increasing expectations from patrons, tax payers, and politicians? In RUSQ 54:4, Duncan Smith provided a thoughtful conversation on the future of readers’ advisory services in his article “Readers’ Advisory: The Who, the How, and the Why.” Smith decided to write the article after reading Bill Crowley’s 2014 article “Time to Rethink Readers’ Advisory Education.” Smith and Crowley, while both highly respected professionals in the library industry, believe in two very different readers’ advisory paradigms and the role professionals and paraprofessionals play in this service. In an effort to provide insight into both mental models, Crowley agreed to provide his reflection on Smith’s article, expanding on his original article and introducing the RUSQ readership to an alternate readers’ advisory model. In particular, he wants us to ask the questions “is RA success determined by facts or perceptions?” and “is our current RA model the right model?” It’s an exciting opportunity for all of us to have two such notable professionals offering their expertise and opinion on the future of RA, providing deep reflection, solid arguments, and reflection on their differing RA paradigms.—Editor
Information Literacy and Instruction: The Future of Academic Librarianship: MOOCs and the Robot Revolution
Authors: Sanborn Lura
Published: September 2016

Many aspects of a librarian’s job require so much attention to detail that we forget to take a moment to sit back and imagine the possibilities of the information world. Lura Sanborn offers you that respite here as she ponders the future of libraries . . . with robots. She describes the features of a variety of existing technologies—including a robot currently working for a Connecticut public library—and poses many questions about how digitization and artificial intelligence might affect librarian employment in the future. She combines a refreshingly light style with copious quotes from popular and academic literature. Ultimately, she urges readers to consider possibilities, what those possibilities mean for librarians as a profession, and how our information needs might be met in the future.—Editor
From the President of RUSA: What’s in a Name? Toward a New Definition of Reference
Authors: Houston Anne
Published: September 2016

Do you refer to yourself as a reference librarian? If so, what does the word reference mean to you? RUSA’s members are less often called referencelibrarians than they were in the past, and they do work that is different from what reference work was once thought to be. Our job titles and duties have changed, and while many of us still do some traditional reference work, the way we go about it is different from it was ten or fifteen years ago. Given this, should we still be called the Reference and User Services Association and use the word “reference” to describe our scope and focus as a group? If not reference, what terminology should we use?
The Enduring Landscape of Online Subject Research Guides
Authors: Jackson Rebecca , Stacy-Bates Kristine K.
Published: September 2016

This article reports the results of two related studies: data collection on characteristics of online subject guides at academic ARL libraries, and a survey of heads of reference at the same group of libraries concerning policies and practices for writing, maintaining, and promoting subject guides. Results are compared to a similar investigation published in 2004. Observation of guides focused on numbers and types of web links included, timeliness and accuracy, and discoverability of guides from each library’s homepage. Survey questions included impact of guide quality on librarians’ evaluations, use of guide templates, and reasons for using or not using a guide management system such as LibGuides.
From Committees of RUSA: Best Historical Materials 2015
Authors: History Section Historical Materials Committee RUSA CODES
Published: September 2016

Each year, the RUSA/CODES History Section Historical Materials Committee selects an assortment of resources that reflect the best resources for historical research. The 2015 list follows. All resources received a final review on November 17, 2015.—Editor
Book Review: Club Programs for Teens: 101 Activities for the Entire Year
Authors: Tomsu Lindsey
Published: September 2016

Club Programs for Teens is a fun, informative book that provides a variety of options for librarians who are interested in creating “club” programs for their teens—programs that occur regularly and appeal to teens with common interests. The authors base the idea of clubs around the fact that some teen librarians are experiencing increasing program numbers and a lack of resources to manage those growing numbers. One valid reason for focusing on club programs is that many teens today are busy with overbooked schedules, so offering library programs that occur regularly at the same time each week or month will help them remember to attend. But the authors miss the mark when they imply that the “problem” of large program numbers can be fixed by offering more focused club programs. This is not a solution for libraries whose teens who will come to anything.
Book Review: Digital Humanities in the Library: Challenges and Opportunities for Subject Specialists
Authors: Giannetti Francesca
Published: September 2016

Abundant literature explores the nexus between academic libraries and digital humanities research and teaching, including major reports by CLIR, Ithaka S+R and OCLC, yet many aspects of the library’s role have not yet been investigated critically. Editors Arianne Hartsell-Gundy, Laura Braunstein, and Liorah Golomb have addressed this gap with this practical volume, written for the subject librarian, that covers a large spectrum of library activity in digital scholarship. Digital Humanities in the Library includes case studies, recommended readings and tools, sample course assignments, and strategies for focusing library contributions and keeping them aligned with the local mission and goals.
Book Review: Real-World Teen Services
Authors: Winterhalter Deidre
Published: September 2016

Author Jennifer Velasquez is a twenty-year veteran of teen services, a frequent speaker and consultant in the discipline, and a lecturer at San Jose State University’s School of Information. Her extensive experience working directly with teens and speaking on their behalf is clear throughout Real-World Teen Services. The book highlights barriers that teen advocates often encounter and offers clear direction on how to diplomatically yet emphatically insist on the rights of teens as library users.
Book Review: Asian American Religious Cultures
Authors: Trott Garrett
Published: September 2016

Asian American Religious Cultures (AARC) is an encyclopedic collection of essays and entries aimed at high school students, college undergraduates, and nonspecialist readers. This collection, written by a variety of experts, touches upon specific elements of Asian American religious cultures.
Information Literacy and Instruction: Embedding Information Literacy in an MFA Novel Workshop
Authors: Glover John
Published: September 2016

The rise of graduate creative writing programs in the United States during the twentieth century has been well documented. Less well documented is their connection with academic libraries, particularly in terms of their students’ acquisition of research skills. When I was asked by a faculty member to provide in-depth support for the MFA novel writing workshop at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), there were a few articles treating this topic, a few references in creative writing pedagogy books, and a couple suggestive course titles listed in MFA program curricula. In 2012–13, I served as the embedded librarian in this year-long workshop. In that role, I worked with the faculty member to develop assignments that helped students to incorporate research into their fiction-writing practice, met with students for two lengthy research workshops, and subsequently met with students individually as their research deepened.
Poor Information Literacy Skills and Practices as Barriers to Academic Performance: A Mixed Methods Study of the University of Dar es Salaam
Authors: Klomsri Tina , Tedre Matti
Published: September 2016

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is increasingly used in Tanzanian education. Knowing how to operate ICT alone is incomplete without knowing how to use it as a tool for organization, communication, research, and problem-solving. In recognition of this challenge, information literacy (IL) has been identified as a key attribute to students as they progress through their learning paths. Based on a mixed methods strategy, using questionnaires and focus group discussions, this study measured the level of IL skills among University of Dar es Salaam’s (UDSM) postgraduate students, to gain insights into the students’ perceptions and experiences with information problems. A total of 102 students from four institutions answered the online questionnaire and 22 students participated in six focus group discussions. The questionnaire scores of the students were poor in the majority of IL categories, suggesting ineffectiveness of the current IL training in imparting IL knowledge and skills. The study ends by discussing recommendations to improve current IL practices at the university.
Book Review: Modern Pathfinders: Creating Better Research Guides
Authors: Embry Allison
Published: September 2016

Many libraries offer some type of online research guides to their patrons, and large academic libraries in particular rely on online guides to make their holdings accessible to undergraduate students. In theory, online research guides have the potential to be superior instruction and outreach tools. In practice, however, many online guides do not receive much use, leading some librarians to question whether staff time and skills might be better used elsewhere. In this slim and readable work, Puckett argues that low use is most likely tied to lack of usability, and he advises librarians to simplify their guides if they want them to be helpful to students. Throughout this book, Puckett follows his own advice about simplicity, presenting his readers with succinct, well-organized chapters that define core instructional design and web usability concepts in plain language and explain how these concepts should be incorporated into research guides.
Book Review: Reconstruction: A Historical Encyclopedia of the American Mosaic
Authors: Laudicina Matthew
Published: September 2016

The Reconstruction Era is often considered to be one of the most tumultuous time periods in American History. This era, which encompasses the twelve or so years immediately following the American Civil War, was a time of great social, economic, and constitutional strife. Here to provide a concise reference work on this era is Reconstruction: A Historical Encyclopedia of the American Mosaic.
Building a sustainable future for eLife
Authors: Schekman Randy , Patterson Mark
Published: September 2016

To support the long-term growth of eLife we are going to introduce a publication fee of $2500.
Effects of power fluctuation on fast magnetic field detection using a spin-torque oscillator
Authors: Kanao Taro , Nagasawa Tazumi , Kudo Kiwamu , Suto Hirofumi , Yamagishi Michinaga , Mizushima Koichi , Sato Rie
Published: September 2016

We study the effects of power fluctuation on a high-data-transfer-rate read head with a spin-torque oscillator using a nonlinear oscillator model. By numerically solving the model under random sequences of applied pulsed magnetic fields (corresponding to stray fields from data bits), the bit-error rate is estimated. For a large damping rate of power, the bit errors are caused primarily by phase fluctuation that is enhanced by amplitude-phase coupling. In contrast, for a small damping rate of power, the bit errors are caused primarily by power fluctuation and are independent of amplitude-phase coupling.
Feeding bovine milks with low or high IgA levels is associated with altered re-establishment of murine intestinal microbiota after antibiotic treatment
Authors: Hodgkinson Alison J. , Young Wayne , Cakebread Julie A. , Haigh Brendan J.
Published: September 2016

Antibiotics are a vital and commonly used therapeutic tool, but their use also results in profound changes in the intestinal microbiota that can, in turn, have significant health consequences. Understanding how the microbiota recovers after antibiotic treatment will help to devise strategies for mitigating the adverse effects of antibiotics. Using a mouse model, we have characterized the changes occurring in the intestinal microbiota immediately after five days exposure to ampicillin, and then at three and fourteen days thereafter. During the fourteen day period of antibiotic recovery, groups of mice were fed either water, cows’ milk containing high levels of IgA, or cows’ milk containing low levels of IgA as their sole source of liquid. Effects on microbiota of feeding milks for 14 days were also assessed in groups of mice that had no ampicillin exposure. Changes in microbiota were measured by high throughput sequencing of the V4 to V6 variable regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene.

As expected, exposure to ampicillin led to profound changes to the types and abundance of bacteria present, along with a loss of diversity. At 14 days following antibiotic exposure, mice fed water had recovered microbiota compositions similar to that prior to antibiotics. However, feeding High-IgA milk to mice that has been exposed to antibiotics was associated with altered microbiota compositions, including increased relative abundance ofLactobacillusandBarnesiellacompared to the start of the study. Mice exposed to antibiotics then fed Low-IgA milk also showed increasedBarnesiellaat day 14. Mice without antibiotic perturbation, showed no change in their microbiota after 14 days of milk feeding. Overall, these findings add to a knowledge platform for optimizing intestinal function after treatment with antibiotics in the human population.
Noise pollution has limited effects on nocturnal vigilance in peahens
Authors: Yorzinski Jessica L. , Hermann Fredrick S.
Published: September 2016

Natural environments are increasingly exposed to high levels of noise pollution. Noise pollution can alter the behavior of animals but we know little about its effects on antipredator behavior. We therefore investigated the impact of noise pollution on vigilance behavior and roost selection in an avian species, peafowl (Pavo cristatus), that inhabits urban environments. Captive peahens were exposed to noise pollution at night and their vigilance levels and roost selections were monitored. The vigilance levels of peahens were unaffected by exposure to noise pollution within trials. Furthermore, the peahens exhibited no preference for roosting farther or closer to noise pollution. Interestingly, predators often avoided the experimental area during nights with noise pollution, which could explain why vigilance rates were higher overall during control compared to noise trials. The results suggest that peahens’ perception of risk is not drastically impacted by noise pollution but longer-term studies will be necessary to assess any chronic effects.
Hypernasality associated with basal ganglia dysfunction: evidence from Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease
Authors: Novotný Michal , Rusz Jan , Čmejla Roman , Růžičková Hana , Klempíř Jiří , Růžička Evžen
Published: September 2016

Background

Although increased nasality can originate from basal ganglia dysfunction, data regarding hypernasality in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Huntington’s disease (HD) are very sparse. The aim of the current study was to analyze acoustic and perceptual correlates of velopharyngeal seal closure in 37 PD and 37 HD participants in comparison to 37 healthy control speakers.

Methods

Acoustical analysis was based on sustained phonation of the vowel /i/ and perceptual analysis was based on monologue. Perceptual analysis was performed by 10 raters using The Great Ormond Street Speech Assessment ’98. Acoustic parameters related to changes in a 1/3-octave band centered on 1 kHz were proposed to reflect nasality level and behavior through utterance.

Results

Perceptual analysis showed the occurrence of mild to moderate hypernasality in 65% of PD, 89% of HD and 22% of control speakers. Based on acoustic analyses, 27% of PD, 54% of HD and 19% of control speakers showed an increased occurrence of hypernasality. In addition, 78% of HD patients demonstrated a high occurrence of intermittent hypernasality. Further results indicated relationships between the acoustic parameter representing fluctuation of nasality and perceptual assessment (r= 0.51,p< 0.001) as well as the Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale chorea composite subscore (r= 0.42,p= 0.01).

Conclusions

In conclusion the acoustic assessment showed that abnormal nasality was not a common feature of PD, whereas patients with HD manifested intermittent hypernasality associated with chorea.
Deer herbivory reduces web-building spider abundance by simplifying forest vegetation structure
Authors: Roberson Elizabeth J. , Chips Michael J. , Carson Walter P. , Rooney Thomas P.
Published: September 2016

Indirect ecological effects are a common feature of ecological systems, arising when one species affects interactions among two or more other species. We examined how browsing by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) indirectly affected the abundance and composition of a web-building spider guild through their effects on the structure of the ground and shrub layers of northern hardwood forests. We examined paired plots consisting of deer-free and control plots in the Allegheny Plateau region Pennsylvania and Northern Highlands region of Wisconsin. We recorded the abundance of seven types of webs, each corresponding to a family of web-building spiders. We quantified vegetation structure and habitat suitability for the spiders by computing a web scaffold availability index (WSAI) at 0.5 m and 1.0 m above the ground. At Northern Highlands sites, we recorded prey availability. Spider webs were twice as abundant in deer-free plots compared to control plots, while WSAI was 7–12 times greater in deerfree plots. Prey availability was lower in deer-free plots. With the exception of funnel web-builders, all spider web types were significantly more abundant in deer-free plots. Both deer exclusion and the geographic region of plots were significant predictors of spider community structure. In closed canopy forests with high browsing pressure, the low density of tree saplings and shrubs provides few locations for web-building spiders to anchor webs. Recruitment of these spiders may become coupled with forest disturbance events that increase tree and shrub recruitment. By modifying habitat structure, deer appear to indirectly modify arthropod food web interactions. As deer populations have increased in eastern North America over the past several decades, the effects of deer on web-building spiders may be widespread.
The complete chloroplast genome sequence ofGentiana lawrenceivar. farreri(Gentianaceae) and comparative analysis with its congeneric species
Authors: Fu Peng-Cheng , Zhang Yan-Zhao , Geng Hui-Min , Chen Shi-Long
Published: September 2016

Background

The chloroplast (cp) genome is useful in plant systematics, genetic diversity analysis, molecular identification and divergence dating. The genusGentianacontains 362 species, but there are only two valuable complete cp genomes. The purpose of this study is to report the characterization of complete cp genome ofG. lawrenceivar.farreri, which is endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP).

Methods

Using high throughput sequencing technology, we got the complete nucleotide sequence of theG. lawrenceivar.farrericp genome. The comparison analysis including genome difference and gene divergence was performed with its congeneric speciesG. straminea. The simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and phylogenetics were studied as well.

Results

The cp genome ofG. lawrenceivar.farreriis a circular molecule of 138,750 bp, containing a pair of 24,653 bp inverted repeats which are separated by small and large single-copy regions of 11,365 and 78,082 bp, respectively. The cp genome contains 130 known genes, including 85 protein coding genes (PCGs), eight ribosomal RNA genes and 37 tRNA genes. Comparative analyses indicated thatG. lawrenceivar.farreriis 10,241 bp shorter than its congeneric speciesG. straminea.Four large gaps were detected that are responsible for 85% of the total sequence loss. Further detailed analyses revealed that 10 PCGs were included in the four gaps that encode nine NADH dehydrogenase subunits. The cp gene content, order and orientation are similar to those of its congeneric species, but with some variation among the PCGs. Three genes,ndhB,ndhFandclpP, have high nonsynonymous to synonymous values. There are 34 SSRs in theG. lawrenceivar.farrericp genome, of which 25 are mononucleotide repeats: no dinucleotide repeats were detected. Comparison with theG. stramineacp genome indicated that five SSRs have length polymorphisms and 23 SSRs are species-specific. The phylogenetic analysis of 48 PCGs from 12 Gentianales taxa cp genomes clearly identified three clades, which indicated the potential of cp genomes in phylogenetics.

Discussion

The “missing” sequence ofG. lawrenceivar.farrerimainly consistent ofndhgenes which could be dispensable under chilling-stressed conditions in the QTP. The complete cp genome sequence ofG. lawrenceivar.farreriprovides intragenic information that will contribute to genetic and phylogenetic research in the Gentianaceae.
Ni interferes in the Cu‐regulated transcriptional switch petJ/petE in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Giner‐Lamia Joaquín , López‐Maury Luis , Florencio Francisco J.
Published: September 2016

Plastocyanin (petE) plays an essential role in photosynthesis as an electron carrier between cytochrome b6f and photosystem I, and in some cyanobacteria it can be replaced by the haem‐containing protein, cytochrome c6 (petJ). In Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, transcription of petE and petJ is activated and repressed, respectively, by Cu. Here, we show that Ni can act similarly to Cu in inducing petE and repressing petJ, thus leading to a partial switch between cytochrome c6 and plastocyanin. Transcription of these genes is only altered by Ni in Cu‐depleted medium, and none of the Ni‐dependent transcription factors described in Synechocystis, NrsR and InrS seem to be involved in this regulation. Finally, we show that plastocyanin is essential for growth under conditions of excess Ni.
The complex nature of storm‐time ion dynamics: Transport and local acceleration
Authors: Denton M. H. , Reeves G. D. , Thomsen M. F. , Henderson M. G. , Friedel R. H. W. , Larsen B. , Skoug R. M. , Funsten H. O. , Spence H. E. , Kletzing C. A.
Published: September 2016

Data from the Van Allen Probes Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron (HOPE) spectrometers reveal hitherto unresolved spatial structure and dynamics in ion populations. Complex regions of O+ dominance, at energies from a few eV to >10 keV, are observed throughout the magnetosphere. Isolated regions on the dayside that are rich in energetic O+ might easily be interpreted as strong energization of ionospheric plasma. We demonstrate, however, that both the energy spectrum and the limited magnetic local time extent of these features can be explained by energy‐dependent drift of particles injected on the nightside 24 h earlier. Particle tracing simulations show that the energetic O+ can originate in the magnetotail, not in the ionosphere. Enhanced wave activity is colocated with the heavy ion‐rich plasma, and we further conclude that the waves were not a source of free energy for accelerating ionospheric plasma but rather the consequence of the arrival of substorm‐injected plasma.
Nonresonant interactions of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves with relativistic electrons
Authors: Chen Lunjin , Thorne Richard M. , Bortnik Jacob , Zhang Xiao‐Jia
Published: September 2016

The dynamics of relativistic electrons traveling through a parallel‐propagating, monochromatic electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave in the Earth's dipole field are investigated via test particle simulations. Both resonant and nonresonant responses in electron pitch angle are considered, and the differences between the two are highlighted. Nonresonant electrons, with energies below the minimum resonant energy down to hundreds of keV, are scattered stochastically in pitch angle and can be scattered into the atmospheric loss cone. The nonresonant effect is attributed to the spatial edge associated with EMIC wave packets. A condition for effective nonresonant response is also provided. This effect is excluded from current quasi‐linear theory and can be a potentially important loss mechanism of relativistic and subrelativistic electrons in the radiation belts.