bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding students' conceptions of plant reproduction to better teach plant biology in schools
Authors: Lampert Peter , Scheuch Martin , Pany Peter , Müllner Bernhard , Kiehn Michael 
Published: July 2019

Societal Impact StatementIt is critical that people understand the importance of plants to all life on Earth, and this must be taught in an understandable and engaging way at an early age. Plant reproduction provides useful real‐life examples for teaching students about the biology of plants. However, what do students actually know about this process? We asked students to complete one of three writing tasks to ascertain their understanding of plant reproduction. Their responses provide useful insight into their conceptions of plant reproduction. Ultimately, better knowledge of students' conceptions of topics like plant reproduction can provide educators with important insights to help guide and improve teaching of plant biology in schools.
Summary

Teaching botany is a challenge due to the phenomenon of “plant blindness” and students' general lack of interest in plants. The reproduction of flowering plants can serve as a useful topic for teaching botany by providing a real‐life context to aid learning. However, research has shown that students have difficulties in understanding how the stages of plant reproduction are connected. This study aims to examine students' conceptions of the processes of plant reproduction.

Students' conceptions were analyzed in a multi‐method approach. A total of 724 students from fifth to 12th grade (aged 10–18 years) were assessed using three different types of writing and drawing tasks. Students' conceptions were analyzed in a qualitative content analysis.

Results show that students struggle to differentiate between pollination and seed dispersal. Moreover, students have better knowledge about the function of seeds than about the function of pollen. Students are most familiar with seed dispersal by wind and pollination by bees.

Better knowledge of students' conceptions can greatly aid teaching. Students' awareness of the function of seeds can be used as a starting point for teaching plant reproduction. The writing and drawing tasks of the study can be used in class to assess students' conceptions in an easy way to make conceptions and their development visible to both students and teachers. Knowledge about students' conceptions of plant reproduction can serve as a basis for deeper understanding and improve how plant biology is taught in schools.
Airway symptoms and atopy in young children prescribed asthma medications: A large‐scale cohort study
Authors: Mikalsen Ingvild Bruun , Dalen Ingvild , Karlstad Øystein , Eide Geir Egil , Magnus Maria , Nystad Wenche , Øymar Knut 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDiagnosing asthma and deciding treatment are difficult in young children. An inappropriate and too high prescription rate of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is suggested, but how airway symptoms are associated with prescriptions of asthma medication is less known. We studied how strongly wheeze, lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), and atopic diseases are associated with dispensing of asthma medications during early childhood.We used data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study and the Norwegian Prescription Database at four age‐intervals (0‐6, 6‐18, 18‐36 months, and 3‐7 years). Primary outcomes were dispensed asthma medications (no medication, short‐acting β‐2 agonist, or ICS). Relative risks (RRs) and average attributable fractions (AAFs) were estimated.Both wheeze and LRTI were positively associated with both medication groups (0‐6 months: no data on wheeze). The RRs and AAFs were higher for wheeze than LRTI. For ICS, the AAFs (95% CI) for wheeze vs LRTI were: 6 to 18 months: 69.2 (67.2, 71.2)% vs 10.4 (9.0, 11.8)%, 18 to 36 months: 33.0 (30.5, 35.5)% vs 10.0 (8.0, 12.0)%, and 3 to 7 years: 33.7 (31.0, 36.5)% vs 1.2 (0.5, 1.9)%. Except at 3 to 7 years of age, the AAFs were lower for atopic diseases than for LRTI and wheeze. Atopic diseases modified the associations between wheeze and ICS at 18 to 36 months and between LRTI or wheeze and ICS at 3 to 7 years.In conclusion, both wheeze and LRTI were associated with prescriptions of asthma medications in young children, with the strongest associations seen for wheeze. Atopic diseases contributed to these associations only in the oldest age groups.
Enterohepatic circulation of glucuronide metabolites of drugs in dog
Authors: Zhou Xin , Cassidy Kenneth C. , Hudson Loyd , Mohutsky Michael A. , Sawada Geri A. , Hao Junliang 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe enterohepatic circulation (EHC) of drugs is often the result of the direct glucuronidation, excretion of the metabolite into bile, followed by hydrolysis to the aglycone by the gut microbiome and finally reabsorption of drug into the systemic circulation. The aim of present study to identify key factors in determining the EHC in dog for canagliflozin and DPTQ, two compounds cleared by UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) mediated O‐alkyl glucuronidation and cytochrome P450 (P450) mediated oxidation. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the drugs were compared between bile duct cannulated (BDC) and intact beagle dogs after a single intravenous administration. A long terminal elimination phase was observed for DPTQ but not for canagliflozin in intact dogs, while this long terminal half‐life was not seen in BDC animals, suggesting the EHC of DPTQ. Quantification of parent drugs and glucuronide metabolites in bile, urine and feces indicated low recovery of parent in bile and urine and low recovery of conjugated metabolites in urine for both drugs, while biliary excretion of these glucuronide metabolites in BDC dog were low for canagliflozin but much higher for DPTQ. The increased fecal recovery of parent drug in intact dog and the lack of glucuronide metabolites suggested the hydrolysis of DPTQ‐glucuronides by gut microbiome. Subsequent characterization of in vitro hepatic metabolism and permeability properties indicated the hepatic fraction metabolized by UGT, hydrolysis of metabolites, and reabsorption of the aglycone were key factors in determining the EHC of DPTQ.
Synchronization of singular switched complex networks via impulsive control with all nonsynchronized subnetworks
Authors: Zhan Tao , Ma Shuping , Liu Xinzhi 
Published: July 2019

SummaryThis paper studies impulsive synchronization of a class of nonlinear singular switched complex networks (SSCNs). With the aid of discretized Lyapunov function method and the matrix generalized inverse technique, an impulsive controller is designed, which works on both the slow and the fast state variables to synchronize SSCNs at impulsive instant. Based on the designed controller, it is shown that the synchronization of SSCNs is achieved in two cases: all subnetworks that are not self‐synchronized and all subnetworks that are self‐synchronized. Moreover, an example is given to validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Evaluation of sustainable supply chain management performance: Dimensions and aspects
Authors: Narimissa Omid , Kangarani‐Farahani Ali , Molla‐Alizadeh‐Zavardehi Saber 
Published: July 2019

AbstractOver the past 10 years, it is figured out by the firms that effective strategies are needed for increasing the competitiveness of their supply chains. Therefore, the supply chain's traditional view has been developed to sustainable supply chain perspective. Organizations that emphasize on the importance of sustainability will benefit from improved performance. For categorizing the supply chain indicators, sustainability deployment is necessary to identify the second layer or dimensions and aspects of sustainability in addition to the main sustainability dimensions such as the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Literature has shown that in the important paradigm of sustainability, careful attention is not paid to the distinction between dimensions and aspects of sustainability. Therefore, for smoothing implementation and assessment of sustainability, consideration of the role and effect of dimensions and aspects of sustainability is essential. This paper is conducted by two fundamental and practical objectives. First, the dimensions and aspects of sustainability have been investigated and identified highlighting the lacks of conflicts in the literature. Second, the most important dimensions and aspects of sustainability are identified in one of the supply chains of Iran's oil companies using experts' opinions. The results of this research is beneficial for the researchers to consider the sustainability aspects and improve the related measures of their industries.
Oxalic Acid Enabled Emission Enhancement and Continuous Extraction of Chloride from Cesium Lead Chloride/Bromide Perovskite Nanocrystals
Authors: Wang Shixun , Shen Xinyu , Zhang Yu , Zhuang Xingwei , Xue Dingke , Zhang Xiangtong , Wu Jinlei , Zhu Jinyang , Shi Zhifeng , Kershaw Stephen V. , Yu William W. , Rogach Andrey L. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAll‐inorganic cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have demonstrated excellent optical properties and an encouraging potential for optoelectronic applications; however, mixed‐halide perovskites, especially CsPb(Cl/Br)3 NCs, still show lower photoluminescence quantum yields (PL QY) than the corresponding single‐halide materials. Herein, anhydrous oxalic acid is used to post‐treat CsPb(Cl/Br)3 NCs in order to initially remove surface defects and halide vacancies, and thus, to improve their PL QY from 11% to 89% for the emission of 451 nm. Furthermore, due to the continuous chelating reaction with the oxalate ion, chloride anions from the mixed‐halide CsPb(Cl/Br)3 perovskite NCs could be extracted, and green emitting CsPbBr3 NCs with PL QY of 85% at 511 nm emission are obtained. Besides being useful to improve the emission of CsPb(Cl/Br)3 NCs, the oxalic acid treatment strategy introduced here provides a further tool to adjust the distribution of halide anions in mixed‐halide perovskites without using any halide additives.
Disinfection of Infected Root Canals: Nanosilver Has Good Potential
Authors: Yin Wei , Zheng Zhong , Liu Yaoli , Wang Lina , Shi Chun , Zhang Lianlian , Liu Shuo , Niu Weidong , Ting Kang , Bian Zhuan 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBacterial elimination is the key to the treatment of periapical periodontitis. However, existing root canal disinfectants have not fully met this requirement. Here, a new disinfectant candidate, nanosilver, is provided and its efficacy against root canal infection is analyzed. Compared to calcium hydroxide, the nanosilver, which is evenly loaded into the poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) carrier, shows excellent bactericidal activity against free‐living Enterococcus faecalis, stable‐phase E. faecalis biofilm, and starved‐phase E. faecalis biofilm, which is difficult to eliminate through root canal therapy at present. Nanosilver also exhibits great biocompatibility as it does not affect the proliferation of primary pulp cells. In lipopolysaccharide‐triggered periapical periodontitis, the application of nanosilver significantly inhibits the expression of several inflammation‐related factors, including TLR4, Caspase‐1, and Caspase‐11. Furthermore, nanosilver also has a great anti‐inflammatory effect on inhibiting the progression of canine chronic periapical periodontitis. The quantity of E. faecalis in canals and the shadow area around the apex significantly decrease after application of 1% and 2% nanosilver for 4 weeks. It is demonstrated that 1% and 2% nanosilver has a superior ability to resist periapical periodontitis in vivo and in vitro.
Belt‐and‐Road Initiative: Driving the need to understand intellectual capital in Chinese multinational enterprises
Authors: Kong Eric , Wei William X. , Swallow Phillip , Thomson S. Bruce 
Published: July 2019

AbstractChina's Belt‐and‐Road Initiative (BRI) is one of the most ambitious trade and development projects in history which intends to link Chinese multinational enterprises (CMNEs) to the Asian subcontinent, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe through two trade routes, land and sea. The project involves infrastructure development, human knowledge, and international relations to develop trade relationships. Increased competition along the two routes will see other governments taking initiatives to protect the business community in their nations; thus, adding barriers that must be overcome by CMNEs. The success of CMNEs in the BRI relies on the three components—structural, human, and relational—which are the three components of intellectual capital (IC). Through the use of IC CMNEs can assess their strengths and weaknesses. It will be the understanding of these strengths and weaknesses which will drive the success or failure of CMNEs.
Computation of exact probabilities associated with overlapping pattern occurrences
Authors: Martin Donald E. K. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSearching for patterns in data is important because it can lead to the discovery of sequence segments that play a functional role. The complexity of pattern statistics that are used in data analysis and the need of the sampling distribution of those statistics for inference renders efficient computation methods as paramount. This article gives an overview of the main methods used to compute distributions of statistics of overlapping pattern occurrences, specifically, generating functions, correlation functions, the Goulden‐Jackson cluster method, recursive equations, and Markov chain embedding. The underlying data sequence will be assumed to be higher‐order Markovian, which includes sparse Markov models and variable length Markov chains as special cases. Also considered will be recent developments for extending the computational capabilities of the Markov chain‐based method through an algorithm for minimizing the size of the chain's state space, as well as improved data modeling capabilities through sparse Markov models. An application to compute a distribution used as a test statistic in sequence alignment will serve to illustrate the usefulness of the methodology.This article is categorized under:
Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Pattern Recognition
Data: Types and Structure > Categorical Data
Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Modeling Methods and Algorithms
Less invasive monitoring of cougars in Colorado's front range
Authors: Alldredge Mat W. , Blecha Tasha , Lewis Jonathan H. 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTFrom 2014 to 2016, in the Front Range of Colorado, USA, we assessed noninvasive approaches to sampling cougar (Puma concolor) populations in an attempt to provide a new method that would be less field intensive, less expensive, and could be applied over large spatial extents compared with current methods. We assessed the use of predator calls to lure cougars to a site with remote camera traps for detection and also evaluated hair snags at sites to noninvasively identify individual animals. Predator calls effectively attracted cougars to specific sites with an average of 82 unique photographic detections of cougars per survey year (0.03 detections/trap‐night). However, obtaining hair samples from these animals was less effective because animals did not always pass through hair snags and ability to uniquely identify individuals by genotype was poor. We evaluated different approaches to estimating cougar density and found mark–resight to be a viable option in our study system. Mark–resight density estimate after correcting for partial use of the sampling area by cougars was 4.1 cougars/100 km2 (95% CI = 2.4, 5.8). Our results indicate that combining methods of noninvasive genetic sampling and auditory calls to monitor cougar populations can provide reliable density estimates over large geographic areas and areas with significant amounts of inaccessible private lands. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
High-speed tracking based on multi-CF filters and attention mechanism
Authors: Fan Songyuan , Wang Rui , Wu Zhihao , Rho Seungmin , Liu Shaohui , Xiong Jiaxin , Fu Sen , Jiang Feng 
Published: July 2019

AbstractRecently, correlation filters and deep convolutional network show good performance for visual tracking. Many real-time and high accuracy tracking algorithms are realized; however, there are still some challenges to build a robust tracker. In this paper, we present a novel tracking framework named multi-attention filter (MAF) to solve some challenges for tracking like object drift in a long time, lack of training samples and fast motion.
Our framework consists of two components, a basic CNN network to extract feature maps and a set of classifiers to distinguish between the target and the background. First, to solve the problem of object drift in a long time, a simple but effective evaluation mechanism is proposed to the framework, the evaluation mechanism checks the tracking results and corrects it when needed. In addition, the results from different classifiers are fused to predict the object location according to intersection over union. Second, to overcome the lack of training samples, MAF stores some positive and negative samples in two queues, one named long-term queue and another named short-term queue. Third, to deal with fast motion of the target, attention mechanisms including channel attention and location attention are added to the tracker. In our experiments on the popular benchmarks including OTB-2013 and OTB-2015. MFA achieves state of the art among trackers, and as a correlation filter framework, MAF is very flexible and has great rooms for improvement and generalization.
Mental accounts and the marginal propensity to give
Authors: Clingingsmith David 
Published: July 2019

AbstractNeoclassical theory holds that different sources of income are fungible at the margin. In contrast, mental accounting holds that appropriate uses for income vary by source, making them infungible. This study investigates which theory better describes giving at the margin when income may have multiple sources. Dictators accrue differing amounts of (1) earned income from a real-effort task, (2) windfall income, or (3) both. I find that dictators treat marginal earned and windfall income as partially infungible, supporting mental accounting. Dictators who had a single income source gave 14% of a marginal windfall token and 5% of a marginal earned token. Strikingly, dictators who had income from both sources were sharply less generous with each, giving only 2% and 1%, respectively. Multiple accounts enabled greater selfishness at the margin. A follow-up experiment shows that two accounts must be qualitatively different, not just multiple in number, to produce this effect.
A framework for integrated terminal airspace design
Authors: Granberg T.A. , Polishchuk T. , Polishchuk V. , Schmidt C. 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTRoute planning and airspace sectorisation are two central tasks in air traffic management.
Traditionally, the routing and sectorisation problems were considered separately, with aircraft trajectories serving as input to the sectorisation problem and, reciprocally, sectors being part of the input to the path finding algorithms.In this paper we propose a simultaneous design of routes and sectors for a transition airspace. We compare two approaches for this integrated design: one based on mixed integer programming, and one Voronoi-based model that separates potential “hotspots” of controller activity resulting from the terminal routes.We apply our two approaches to the design of Stockholm Terminal Maneuvering Area.
Evaluating the Effects of Performance-Focused Swimming Training on People with Cerebral Palsy Who Have High Support Needs – A Study Protocol Using Single-Case Experimental Design
Authors: Dutia I. M. , Connick M. J. , Beckman E. M. , Johnston L. M. , Wilson P. J. , Macaro A. , Tweedy S. M. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackground:People with cerebral palsy (CP) are less physically active than the general population and, consequently, are at increased risk of preventable disease. Evidence indicates that low-moderate doses of physical activity can reduce disease risk and improve fitness and function in people with CP. Para athletes with CP typically engage in ‘performance-focused’ sports training, which is undertaken for the sole purpose of enhancing sports performance. Anecdotally, many Para athletes report that participation in performance-focused sports training confers meaningful clinical benefits which exceed those reported in the literature; however, supporting scientific evidence is lacking. The aim of this paper is to describe the protocol for an 18-month study evaluating the clinical effects of a performance-focused swimming training programme for people with CP who have high support needs.Methods:This study will use a concurrent multiple-baseline, single-case experimental design across three participants with CP who have high support needs. Each participant will complete a five-phase trial comprising: baseline (A1); training phase 1 (B1); maintenance phase 1 (A2); training phase 2 (B2); and maintenance phase 2 (A3). For each participant, measurement of swim velocity, health-related quality of life and gross motor functioning will be carried out a minimum of five times in each of the five phases.Discussion:The study described will produce Level II evidence regarding the effects of performance-focused swimming training on clinical outcomes in people with CP who have high support needs. Findings are expected to provide an indication of the potential for sport to augment outcomes in neurological rehabilitation.
A Nineteenth-Century New England Exegete Abroad: Adoniram Judson and the Burmese Bible
Authors: deJong John 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAdoniram Judson’s life and work have long been the subject of popular and scholarly interest, but the intellectual and exegetical background for his Burmese Bible translation has not been closely studied. This background was the biblical studies movement in New England, which began in the early nineteenth century and flourished before declining and eventually disappearing by about 1870. The opposing New England orthodox Calvinist and liberal Unitarian schools were equally involved in the movement. Judson was an early product of Andover Theological Seminary, the center for orthodox Calvinism in New England. From 1816 to 1840 Judson translated the Bible into Burmese and his references to the scholarly works he used, along with the text-critical and interpretive decisions in his Bible translation, identify him as an ongoing participant in the New England biblical studies movement. This scholarly background helps us understand interpretive decisions in the Judson Bible, which is still the main Burmese version used by Protestants in Myanmar.