bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Internationalization vs. Globalization: What Can the Arab EFL Teachers Do to Assure Quality in Education?
Authors: Zayed Jihan 
Published: May 2020

Internationalization of higher education appeared as a counterattack to mitigate the impact of globalization on education. In a sense, it has entered higher education as a means for ensuring that graduates are a competitive workforce worldwide. Meanwhile, TEFL has been emphasized as the medium of instruction. The current paper investigated the roles of EFL teachers could perform at schools to prepare their students before joining internationalized higher education whether at home or abroad. Adopting a descriptive design, a quantitative data-gathering instrument, an opinionnaire, was designed to determine if EFL teachers in the Arab countries undertake their roles required for education quality assurance. The Arab EFL teachers were intentionally chosen as a community for this research due to possible curriculum-embedment of ideologies different from their national values. 86 EFL teachers from most of the Arab countries responded to the opinionnaire. Qualitative data were generated through analysis and interpretation of the numerical data of this opinionnaire to find out the extent to which those EFL teachers were aware of the internationalization process, and the challenges they face.
Assessment of Food Safety Knowledge and Compliance to Hygienic Practices among Street Food Vendors in Zanzibar Urban District
Authors: Hassan Jamila K. , Fweja Leonard W. T. 
Published: May 2020

This cross-sectional descriptive study assessed the hygienic and safety measures among street food vendors in the Urban district of Zanzibar. A total of 265 food vendors with immobile food vending units were involved. Data were gathered using a structured researcher-administered questionnaire and complemented with observation. Compliance ranks to food safety and hygiene were established based on computed compliance scores. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests (α = 0.05) were employed in data analyses. The results indicated that only a moderate fraction of the vendors have had formal training in food safety and hygiene, however the majority of whom demonstrated great awareness about food safety and hygiene. Among the surveyed vending sites 36% appeared clean, 50.2% and 42.6% vending sites had waste bin and / or refuse sites respectively, wash basin (44.9%) and soap availability (47.2%). Safe food handling practices included food covering (57.4%), adequate protection of food from flies and dust (40.8%), cold preservation of food (28.3%), saving food hot or reheated before sale (35.1%), dishing out food with appropriate gadgets (53%). Observed good food hygiene conducts included washing hands with soap before preparing food (always 63%, sometimes 34%), washing hands with soap after toilet visit (always 33.2%, sometimes 46.8%), clean finger nail (98.5%), hair protection (33.6%) and use of apron (29%). The results likewise indicate an overall compliance of 0.50 on environmental hygiene of vending site, 0.45 on food handling practices, and 0.66 on vendors’ hygiene and sanitary practices. This implies an average overall compliance with the hygiene of the vending site and food handling practices and good overall compliance with the vendors’ hygiene and sanitary practices. Chi-square analysis revealed that gender, education attainments, formal training on food safety and vending duration are influencing factors for food safety and hygiene measures.
A novel de novo RNF216 mutation associated with autosomal recessive Huntington‐like disorder
Authors: Chen Ke‐Liang , Zhao Gui‐Xian , Wang He , Wei Lei , Huang Yu‐Yuan , Chen Shi‐Dong , Lin Bi‐Ying , Dong Qiang , Cui Mei , Yu Jin‐Tai 
Published: May 2020

AbstractMutations in RNF216 have been found to be associated with autosomal recessive Huntington‐like disorder. Here, we describe a patient with Huntington‐like disorder caused by a novel de novo RNF216 mutation. The patient started to have choreatic movements of both hands, slowly progressing to head, face, and four extremities, with prominent cognitive deterioration. White matter lesions in cerebral hemispheres and brainstem, cerebellar atrophy, and low gonadotropin serum levels have been demonstrated. We have identified a homozygous deletion of exon 2 in the RNF216 gene by whole‐exome sequencing. Our findings increased genetic knowledge of autosomal recessive Huntington‐like disorder and extended the ethnic distribution of RNF216 mutations.
Pictures and repeated exposure increase perceived accuracy of news headlines
Authors: Smelter Thomas J. , Calvillo Dustin P. 
Published: May 2020

SummaryFake news, deliberately inaccurate and often biased information that is presented as accurate reporting, is perceived as a serious threat. Recent research on fake news has documented a high general susceptibility to the phenomenon and has focused on investigating potential explanatory factors. The present study examined how features of news headlines affected their perceived accuracy. Across four experiments (total N = 659), we examined the effects of pictures, perceptual clarity, and repeated exposure on the perceived accuracy of news headlines. In all experiments, participants received a set of true and false news headlines and rated their accuracy. The presence of pictures and repeated exposure increased perceived accuracy, whereas manipulations of perceptual clarity did not show the predicted effects. The effects of pictures and repeated exposure were similar for true and false headlines. These results demonstrate that accompanying pictures and repeated exposure can affect evaluations of truth of news headlines.
Copper–Oxygen Dynamics in the Tyrosinase Mechanism
Authors: Fujieda Nobutaka , Umakoshi Kyohei , Ochi Yuta , Nishikawa Yosuke , Yanagisawa Sachiko , Kubo Minoru , Kurisu Genji , Itoh Shinobu 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe dinuclear copper enzyme, tyrosinase, activates O2 to form a (μ‐η2:η2‐peroxido)dicopper(II) species, which hydroxylates phenols to catechols. However, the exact mechanism of phenolase reaction in the catalytic site of tyrosinase is still under debate. We herein report the near atomic resolution X‐ray crystal structures of the active tyrosinases with substrate l‐tyrosine. At their catalytic sites, CuA moved toward l‐tyrosine (CuA1 → CuA2), whose phenol oxygen directly coordinates to CuA2, involving the movement of CuB (CuB1 → CuB2). The crystal structures and spectroscopic analyses of the dioxygen‐bound tyrosinases demonstrated that the peroxide ligand rotated, spontaneously weakening its O−O bond. Thus, the copper migration induced by the substrate‐binding is accompanied by rearrangement of the bound peroxide species so as to provide one of the peroxide oxygen atoms with access to the phenol substrate's ϵ carbon atom.
The influence of several silicates on the fretting behavior of UHMWPE composites
Authors: Meng Zhaojie , Wang Yunxia , Xin Xiaocui , Liu Hao , Yan Yunfeng , Yan Fengyuan 
Published: May 2020

AbstractFive kinds of silicates (attapulgite, kaolin, montnorillonite, synthetic mica, and talc) reinforced ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites were prepared. The fretting performance of the composites was investigated using an oscillating reciprocating friction and wear tester in a ball‐on‐plate mode. The thermodynamic property and crystallinity of the composites were evaluated, and the worn morphology was also observed. Result shows that the heat‐resistance and the crystallinity of the composites are generally improved. The friction coefficient and mass loss of the composites reduced than those of the neat UHMWPE. Thereinto, the attapulgite/UHMWPE composite shows the best fretting resistance performance. The heat resistance of composites increases due to the reinforcement of silicates. Meantime, the friction load can be distributed by the filler in the matrix. Moreover, the different fretting resistance performance of the composites is due to the different dispersion degree and the interfacial bonding force between the fillers and the UHMWPE matrix.
Effect of polymer architecture and hard/soft segment ratio on the surface morphology and mechanical properties of polyurethane films for potential orthodontic treatment
Authors: Xiao Chunwu , Bai Yun , Pu Yuji , Luo Haiqiang , Xiao Sui , He Bin 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this study, polyurethane (PU) films are prepared by using 1,4‐butanediol and trimethylolpropane as chain extender and crosslinking agent, respectively. A series of prepolymers are synthesized by varying the feeding molar ratios of methylene diisocyanate to polytetramethylene ether glycol, which are hard and soft segments, respectively. The influence of polymer architecture, chemical composition, and artificial saliva treatment on the surface morphology and mechanical strength of PU films are studied. The crosslinking polymer architecture and higher content of hard segment correlates with enhanced tensile strength and less decrease of tensile strength in the condition of artificial saliva, but reduced elongation at break. The in vitro cytotoxicity study demonstrates that PU films have excellent cytocompatibility.
Exploring an innovative pivot: How green training can spur corporate sustainability performance
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Zhu Qiwei 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn general, studies on green innovation practices have primarily taken an innovation view to study the costs and benefits to firms. What has been less examined, however, is how green training spurs the intentions and advantages of green innovation. Thus, this paper explores how and when green training influences the likelihood of firms to achieve sustainability performance by using organizational learning theory. Using a dataset of 231 Chinese manufacturing firms, our work shows that green training is positively correlated to corporate sustainability performance via the indirect effect of green innovation behavior. We also find an increasingly positive indirect effect that is conditional on ambidextrous learning; specifically, this indirect effect is least positive for firms with lower ambidextrous learning capacity but stronger for those firms having higher ambidextrous learning capacity. We hold that the key to spurring corporate sustainability performance through green training lies mainly in advancing firms' green innovation behaviors and persistently enhancing their capacities for ambidextrous learning. Thus, this study offers not only new theoretical insights for understanding the effect of green training on corporate sustainability performance but also practical implications for improving corporate sustainability performance within a green economy context.
Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activities of OSW‐1 Analogues Bearing 2”‐O‐p‐Acylaminobenzoyl Residues†
Authors: Sun Lijun , Zhu Di , Beverborg Laura Olde Groote , Wang Ruina , Dang Yongjun , Ma Mingming , Li Wei , Yu Biao 
Published: May 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusionOSW‐1 is a well‐known natural saponin with potent antitumor activities. We have designed and prepared a small library of 22 OSW‐1 analogues with a variety of p‐acylamino‐benzoyl groups installed at C2” of the xylose residue, wherein a regioselective (1→3)‐glycosylation of arabinoside 3,4‐diol has been achieved by manipulation of the protecting groups on the imidate donors. Bioassays lead to new structure‐activity relationships as well as two applicable fluorescent probes, which are found to localize to lysosomes in HeLa cells and could be used in further antitumor mechanism studies of OSW‐1 in living cells.
Individual and population fitness consequences associated with large carnivore use of residential development
Authors: Johnson Heather E. , Lewis David L. , Breck Stewart W. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractLarge carnivores are negotiating increasingly developed landscapes, but little is known about how such behavioral plasticity influences their demographic rates and population trends. Some investigators have suggested that the ability of carnivores to behaviorally adapt to human development will enable their persistence, and yet, others have suggested that such landscapes are likely to serve as population sinks or ecological traps. To understand how plasticity in black bear (Ursus americanus) use of residential development influences their population dynamics, we conducted a 6‐yr study near Durango, Colorado, USA. Using space‐use data on individual bears, we examined the influence of use of residential development on annual measures of bear body fat, cub productivity, cub survival, and adult female survival, after accounting for variation in natural food availability and individual attributes (e.g., age). We then used our field‐based vital rate estimates to parameterize a matrix model that simulated asymptotic population growth for bears using residential development to different degrees. We found that bear use of residential development was highly variable within and across years, with bears increasing their foraging within development when natural foods were scarce. Increased bear use of development was associated with increased body fat and cub productivity, but reduced cub and adult survival. When these effects were simultaneously incorporated into a matrix model, we found that the population was projected to decline as bear use of development increased, given that the costs of reduced survival outweighed the benefits of enhanced productivity. Our results provide a mechanistic understanding of how black bear use of residential development exerts opposing effects on different bear fitness traits and a negative effect on population growth, with the magnitude of those effects mediated by variation in environmental conditions. They also highlight the importance of monitoring bear population dynamics, particularly as shifts in bear behavior are likely to drive increases in human–bear conflicts and the perception of growing bear populations. Finally, our work emphasizes the need to consider the demographic viability of large carnivore populations when promoting the coexistence of people and carnivores on shared landscapes.
Reuse of calcium carbide and water treatment residues in the bottom clay liner of a municipal solid waste landfill
Authors: Prakongwittaya Woottipong , Asavapisit Suwimol , Piyaphanuwat Rungroj 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this work, calcium carbide residue (CCR) and water treatment residue (WTR) were used in combination with clay to produce a composite bottom clay liner for sanitary landfills. The effects of these two residues on the performance of a composite bottom clay liner by means of compressive strength development and the coefficient of permeability were studied. The WTR was classified as high plasticity silt according to the Unified Soil Classification System and was used to replace clay with clay:WTR ratios of 0:100, 30:70, 50:50, 70:30, and 100:0, whereas CCR was used at 0, 10, 20, and 30 wt%. The experimental results showed that the optimum mix proportions of a composite clay liner containing clay, WTR, and CCR at 40, 40, and 20 wt% gave a 56‐day compressive strength of 2.95 MPa and a coefficient of permeability value of 6.6 × 10−8 cm/s.
Facile preparation, characterization, and formaldehyde elimination performance of MnOx/natural loofah composites
Authors: Feng Lili , Zhang Pengyi , Li Jinge , Han Xiao , Tang Siyao 
Published: May 2020

AbstractMnOx/natural loofah composites were first prepared by a facile in‐situ reduction process under ambient conditions, in which natural loofah was impregnated in potassium permanganate solution for different time. MnOx nanoparticles were loaded on both exterior and interior of the fibrous strands of loofah after impregnation from SEM observations. The crystal structure and chemical properties of MnOx in the composites were confirmed to birnessite‐type MnOx with the interplanar spacing of ~0.24 nm and Mn oxidation state of 3.6 by XRD, Raman, FTIR, TEM, and XPS. Such produced MOx/loofah composites showed excellent performance for the catalytic oxidative decomposition and adsorption of formaldehyde at room temperature. The composites prepared with longer impregnation time exhibited better catalytic performance. The decomposition mechanism of HCHO over the MOx/loofah composites involved adsorbed HCHO on the loofah was oxidized into intermediates first and further CO2 by MnOx through in‐situ DRIFTS analysis.
Fractionation of lead in lignite coal samples of Thar coalfield, Pakistan by time‐saving single‐step based on BCR sequential extraction scheme
Authors: Lashari Ayaz A. , Kazi Tasneem G. , Baig Jameel A. , Afridi Hassan I. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe toxic metals in coal have different modes of occurrence required their frequent assessment by accurate and time‐saving chemical fractionation schemes. In the current study, the conventional sequential extraction BCR (SE‐BCR) method applied to recognize the chemical fraction of lead (Pb) in coal samples of recently developed Thar coalfield. The SE‐BCR scheme modified with a time‐saving single‐step extraction (SSE) method assisted with ultrasound energy and conventional shaking devices under the same operating conditions applied for the original SE‐BCR scheme. The conventional single‐step extraction (CSS) and ultrasonic‐assisted extractions (USE) methods efficiently reduced the time expected to separate all fractions by the SE‐BCR method in 51 h to 22 and 2 h, respectively. The validity of both single‐step extraction (SSE and USE) and SE‐BCR methods were confirmed by applying certified reference material (CRM) of sediment (BCR‐701) followed by the standard addition method. The Pb observed to be highest in the organic fraction (28.9–35.2%) and lowest in the acid‐soluble fractions (1.39–2.61%) of coal samples at both blocks (X and XI) of Thar coalfield.
Determining flow resistance through vegetation canopy
Authors: Falkenstein‐Smith Ryan , McGrattan Kevin 
Published: May 2020

SummaryThis study documents the measurement of the wind resistance of different types of vegetation. The measurements are made in a wind tunnel with a 2.0 m test section and 0.5 m by 0.5 m cross‐section. Samples of vegetation have been cut into cubical volumes that span the cross‐section of the tunnel. The wind resistance is inferred via measurement of the pressure drop across the sample at wind speeds ranging from 2 to 8 m/s. The average drag coefficient of all sample configurations was determined to be 2.8 with an expanded uncertainty of 0.4. A random‐effects one‐way ANOVA was implemented on the drag coefficients of different vegetation samples. The analysis yielded a significant variation among the species. Further examination using a Tukey's test, showed only a single difference between vegetation two species. Despite the significant difference, the average drag coefficient of each species was still within the uncertainty bounds of the overall average drag coefficient, suggesting that the significant difference may not be large enough to have a practical implication.
Establishment of a Patient‐Derived Xenograft Tumor From Hepatitis C–Associated Liver Cancer and Evaluation of Imatinib Treatment Efficacy
Authors: Nazzal Mustafa , Sur Subhayan , Steele Robert , Khatun Mousumi , Patra Tapas , Phillips Nancy , Long John , Ray Ranjit , Ray Ratna B. 
Published: May 2020

Background and Aims
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major causal factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The treatment options for HCC are limited for lack of a convenient animal model for study in HCV infection and liver pathogenesis. This study aimed to develop a patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) tumor in mice by using a tumor from a patient with HCV‐associated HCC and evaluating this model’s therapeutic potential.

Approach and Results
After resection of the primary tumor from the patient liver, excess viable tumor was implanted into highly immunodeficient mice. A mouse xenograft tumor line was developed, and the tumor was successfully passaged for at least three rounds in immunodeficient mice. The patient’s primary tumor and the mouse xenografts were histologically similar. Genetic profiling by short‐tandem‐repeat analysis verified that the HCC‐PDX model was derived from the HCC clinical specimen. HCV RNA present in the patient liver specimen was undetectable after passage as xenograft tumors in mice. Human albumin, α1‐antitrypsin, glypican‐3, α–smooth muscle actin, and collagen type 1A2 markers were detected in human original tumor tissues and xenograft tumors. Both the patient primary tumor and the xenograft tumors had a significantly higher level of receptor tyrosine kinase (c‐Kit) mRNA. Treatment of HCC‐PDX xenograft tumor–bearing mice with the c‐Kit inhibitor imatinib significantly reduced tumor growth and phospho‐Akt and cyclin D1 expression, as compared with untreated control tumors.

Conclusions
Our results demonstrated establishment of an HCV‐associated HCC‐PDX model as a powerful tool for evaluating candidate drugs. Information on molecular changes in cancer‐specific gene expression facilitates efficient targeted therapies and treatment strategies.
Hierarchical parallelization of divide‐and‐conquer density functional tight‐binding molecular dynamics and metadynamics simulations
Authors: Nishimura Yoshifumi , Nakai Hiromi 
Published: May 2020

AbstractMassively parallel divide‐and‐conquer density functional tight‐binding (DC‐DFTB) molecular dynamics and metadynamics simulations are efficient approaches for describing various chemical reactions and dynamic processes of large complex systems via quantum mechanics. In this study, DC‐DFTB simulations were combined with multi‐replica techniques. Specifically, multiple walkers metadynamics, replica exchange molecular dynamics, and parallel tempering metadynamics methods were implemented hierarchically into the in‐house Dcdftbmd program. Test simulations in an aqueous phase of the internal rotation of formamide and conformational changes of dialanine showed that the newly developed extensions increase the sampling efficiency and the exploration capabilities in DC‐DFTB configuration space.
Species identification of Enterococcus spp: Whole genome sequencing compared to three biochemical test‐based systems and two Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) systems
Authors: Garza‐González Elvira , Bocanegra‐Ibarias Paola , Dinh An , Morfín‐Otero Rayo , Camacho‐Ortiz Adrián , Rojas‐Larios Fabián , Rodríguez‐Zulueta Patricia , Arias Cesar A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAimHere, we evaluated the performance of two commercial MALDI‐TOF MS systems and three biochemical‐based systems and compared them to WGS as the gold standard for identifying isolates of vancomycin‐resistant enterococci (VRE).MethodsA total of 87 VRE clinical isolates were included. The mass spectrometers were the Microflex system with Biotyper software 3.1 and the Vitek MS system. The biochemical‐based systems included the Vitek 2, Phoenix, and MicroScan WalkAway systems. WGS was performed on an Illumina MiSeq instrument using the MiSeq v3 reagent kit. Vancomycin resistance was determined according to CLSI criteria.ResultsAmong the 87 VRE, 71 and 16 were identified as Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis by WGS. All 71 E faecium were correctly identified by both mass spectrometers, as well as the Vitek 2 and Phoenix instruments. However, only 51 E faecium isolates were correctly identified by the MicroScan system. The most frequent misidentification was Enterococcus casseliflavus (n = 20). For vancomycin‐resistant E faecium, the Microflex Biotyper system had the highest sensitivity (85.54%), and all instruments (except for the Microscan) had a 100% specificity and PPV. Up to 87% of E faecalis isolates were misidentified by VITEK MS and VITEK2, 81% by Microscan and Phoenix, and 75% by Bruker biotyper.ConclusionAs the coverage of type strain‐genome sequence database continues to grow and the cost of DNA sequencing continues to decrease, genome‐based identification can be a useful tool for diagnostic laboratories, with its superior accuracy even over MALDI‐TOF and database‐driven operations.