bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diversity patterns of necrocolous beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Silphidae, Trogidae) inAgave tequilanaWeber (Asparagaceae) fields of different ages
Authors: Rodríguez William D. , Navarrete-Heredia José L. , Rodríguez-Macías Ramón , Briceño-Félix Guillermo A. , Vásquez-Bolaños Miguel , Klimaszewski Jan 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe necrocolous Coleoptera (attracted to carrion) are important to maintain balance in insect communities and in the recycling of soil nutrients; however, there is scarce data on the species that occur inAgave tequilanaWeber (Asparagaceae) fields. The diversity patterns of beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Silphidae, and Trogidae) dwelling in 2–4-year-oldA. tequilanaplots were established by sampling specimens from May to November 2016. In total, 5509 individuals of 23 species were collected. The highest species diversity was found in Magdalena Municipality, followed by the Arandas and Tequila municipalities (Jalisco, Mexico), with significant differences in abundance among municipalities and crop age. The variability in Magdalena and Tequila assemblages was associated with the temperature, while in Arandas it was attributed to the precipitation. The beetle species diversity, species replacement, and dominance in different municipalities are the result of changes in habitat, the interaction of environmental variables, distribution affinities of species, and agronomic practices inA.tequilanafields.
Identification of an Intronic Regulatory Element Necessary for Tissue-Specific Expression of Foxn1 in Thymic Epithelial Cells
Authors: Larsen Brian M. , Cowan Jennifer E. , Wang Yueqiang , Tanaka Yu , Zhao Yongge , Voisin Benjamin , Constantinides Michael G. , Nagao Keisuke , Belkaid Yasmine , Awasthi Parirokh , Takahama Yousuke , Bhandoola Avinash 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The thymus is critical for the establishment of the adaptive immune system and the development of a diverse T cell repertoire. T cell development depends upon cell–cell interactions with epithelial cells in the thymus. The thymus is composed of two different types of epithelial cells: cortical and medullary epithelial cells. Both of these express and critically depend on the transcription factor Foxn1. Foxn1 is also expressed in the hair follicle, and disruption of Foxn1 function in mice results in severe thymic developmental defects and the hairless (nude) phenotype. Despite its importance, little is known about the direct regulation of Foxn1 expression. In this study, we identify a cis–regulatory element (RE) critical for expression of Foxn1 in mouse thymic epithelial cells but dispensable for expression in hair follicles. Analysis of chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, and sequence conservation identified regions within the first intron of Foxn1 that possessed the characteristics of REs. Systematic knockout of candidate regions lead us to identify a 1.6 kb region that, when deleted, results in a near total disruption of thymus development. Interestingly, Foxn1 expression and function in the hair follicle were unaffected. RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization showed a near complete loss of Foxn1 mRNA expression in the embryonic thymic bud. Our studies have identified a genomic RE with thymic-specific control of Foxn1 gene expression.
Massonia villosa (Hyacinthaceae), a new species from the Roggeveld, Northern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Manning John C. 
Published: June 2019

Background: Ongoing systematic studies in the African flora periodically reveal the existence of undescribed species.Objectives: To describe the new species.Method: Relevant literature was surveyed, and herbarium and fresh material were examined.Results: Collections of a Massonia (Hyacinthaceae) from the escarpment near Sutherland in Northern Cape with unique, softly hairy foliage represent an undescribed species.Conclusions: Massonia villosa J.C.Manning is a new species distinguished by the small, markedly convex leaves with recurved apex and pilose adaxial surface covered with soft, shaggy hairs up to 7 mm long and slender flowers without marked sigmoid coiling of the tepals.
Bilateral tests for the assessment of manipulative skills in children: development, reliability, and validity
Authors: Lovric Franjo , Jelaska Igor , Clark Cain C.T. , Eyre Emma L.J. , Miletic Durdica , Mandic Petra 
Published: June 2019

PurposeThe aim of the study was to develop bilateral tests for simultaneous quantitative and qualitative assessment of manipulative skills among 7-year-old children, and to examine the reliability and validity of the tests.MethodsA sample of 78 (35 girls) children (aged 7.34 ± 0.53 years) were tested with 3 novel bilateral tests: <i>Standing ball throwing, Bouncing the ball standing, and Dribbling the ball with the foot</i>. Subsequently, the reliability and validity of the constructed tests were investigated.ResultsVery high between-participant reliability was demonstrated through high and stable Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.94–0.98 for all tests), while relatively small coefficients of variation (0.03–0.12 for all tests) were observed. High values of correlation between expert judges’ ratings, as well as intra-class correlation, for both left and right sides indicated excellent between-rater reliability (0.84–0.99 and 0.88–0.93 across all tests, respectively).ConclusionsThe tests are reliable and valid in 7-year-old children and may be used to promote the adoption of appropriate sport and physical activities. Future research should explore the influence of further fine and gross motor skills on motor development.
Studying Soil Catena in Arid-zone Environment: Case Study for Soil Science Students
Authors: AL-Ismaily Said S. AL-Ismaily , AL-Maktoumi Ali K. 
Published: June 2019

Studing soils under their natural habitat is an important step to understand soil-landscape relationships. Combing ing field-work with laboratory analyses is an important tech- nique for learning about soils and should help students to broaden their understanding of the basic concepts of soil sci- ence and in particular of soil formation. This work provides a detailed procedure for a hands-on educational approach consisting of a field exercise combined with basic labora- tory techniques for studying a soil catena. The work involves field study of physical and morphological properties of soil pedons existing on a soil catena of Al-Batinah region, Oman. Soil samples were collected for laboratory analyses. The paper provides a package of field, laboratory, and data analysis exercise using the concept of soil catena or topose- quence for studying factors of soil formation in an arid-zone environment. Combining field work with basic laboratory analyses maximizes the benefits of studying soil-landscape relationships
Exploring Environmental Issues: Places We Live
Authors: Haines Sarah , Hermann Ronald Hermann 
Published: June 2019

The Project Learning Tree curriculum Exploring Environmental Issues: Places We Live was evaluated using a quasi-experimental research design that consisted of pre/post inter vention assessments measuring differences in self-assessed content knowledge, researcher assessed content knowledge, and attitudes. Treatment groups consisted of two randomly assigned groups, one group completed 3-lessons and the other group completed 6-lessons. Analysis indicated the 6-lesson treatment group demonstrated significant gains in all three categories, while the 3-lesson group exhibited significant gains in self-assessed content knowledge. The results suggest that the curriculum is valuable in delivering placebased educational content.
The Place of Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Teacher Education
Authors: Karaman Ayhan 
Published: June 2019

In recent studies, teacher quality is presented as one of the most important contributing factors to student learning. However, reaching a consensus about a precise definition of teacher quality is still far from actuality in the field of education. In other words, what constitutes a quality teacher and how to educate better teachers are still highly debated issues. Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) enters the scene at this moment as one of the most critical elements of improving teacher quality. This paper provides a brief description of PCK, and its value and limitations in teacher education
Impact of Performance Contracting on Public Service Delivery in the National Government Administration in Kenya: Case of Eldoret West Sub-County
Authors: Ang’anyo Michael , Mbatha Januaris 
Published: June 2019

The main aim of this study was to assess the impact of performance contracting on public service delivery, in the National Government Administration, Eldoret West Sub-County. The study examined the effect of financial stewardship, human resource management and the role of resolution of public complaints on service delivery. Two theories informed this study: The New Public Management Theory and the Principal Agent Theory. Descriptive survey research design was utilized. The target population constituted members of the public who consume public services provided by the 63 National Government Administrative officers in Eldoret West Sub-County (NGAO), 19 Heads of Departments and officials from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). A sample size of 170 respondents was selected using quota sampling technique. Both primary and secondary data were collected. Data analysis and management was done by use of SPSS Version 21 and MS Excel. The gamma measure of association between financial stewardship and service delivery was +0.5. This is a moderate strength pointing to the existence of other factors that drive service delivery. The spearman’s Rank Order measure of correlation (rs) between human resource management and service delivery was +0.67. This indicates moderate association, hence a clear pointer to a combination of other factors driving service delivery. There was minimal variability across the various dimensions of complaints handling mechanisms and their effect on improving service delivery. It was therefore recommended that National Government Administration need to continuously build capacity on both its officers and members of the public on the financial accountability framework, tie human resource management and development practices to other policies as well as engage and sensitize members of the public on performance contracting process and complaints handling mechanisms.
Advocating for the Rejuvenation of Jatra Performance
Authors: Sen Jashodhara 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The popular theater of West Bengal known as Jatra derives from devotional forms of performance going back a few centuries. In the nineteenth century, the form contributed to India's emerging independence movement, and Jatra became a significant voice for social concerns in the twentieth century. The bibek—a narrator/character who performs as a conscience—contributed to Jatra's effectiveness in advocating for social issues.
Aesthetics of Desublimation in Kate Chopin'sThe Awakening
Authors: Kang Meeyoung 
Published: June 2019

AbstractKate Chopin's The Awakening (1899) is a feminist novel in which woman's resistance against patriarchal society occurs and also a tragedy that ends with the protagonist's suicide. Keeping alive in their common sensuality and homoeroticism running counter to the ideologies of patriarchal society, the resistant power is consummated by the suicide of the female protagonist. The aesthetic dimensions of The Awakening are examined as the main means of reinforcing the feminist resistance. Specifically, the novel ultimately embodies desublimation in terms of the aesthetics of the ugly as an antithesis of Kantian aesthetics of sublime and its transcending rationality. In this process, The Awakening raises readers’ social consciousness, rather than allowing them to transcend or sublimate it, as a cultural product that represents its materiality, while concomitantly becoming a source from which new meaning is produced in both a dialectical and revolutionary way. In this context, what I ultimately assert is the possibility of a feminist aesthetics that resists the long-held aversion to realism and women's art and embraces women's realistic tragic novel.
Immediate Family: On the Consolation, Embellishment, and Distortion of Memory
Authors: Magada-Ward Mary 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACT
I advance two claims about memory. The first is that memory itself is best conceived as consisting of scenes (or images), which thus provide the raw material for the stories that we can tell about the past. The second is that these narratives can be revised in the light of new possibilities for redescription. In support of these claims, I examine the photographer Sally Mann's stunning (and controversial) 1992 series entitled “Immediate Family.” By appealing to Ian Hacking's account of how, in the latter part of the twentieth century, multiple personality became “a culturally sanctioned way of expressing distress,” I argue that both the condemnation of Mann's work and the explosion in diagnoses of multiple personality were ultimately rooted in the then-popular belief that memories of childhood abuse determined adult character.
Les interventions régulatrices en classe : un organisateur de l’activité enseignante
Authors: Clauzard Philippe 
Published: June 2019

Dans le cadre d’une analyse du travail enseignant, nous examinons les régulations qui surgissent dans la situation didactique. Nous tentons de les appréhender comme des gestes d’intervention régulatrice de la part des enseignant⋅e⋅s : des gestes fondamentaux pour piloter une conceptualisation d’objets de savoir, enjeu d’un jeu d’apprentissage. L’approche ergonomique et de didactique professionnelle permet une caractérisation de ces régulations à partir de jugements pragmatiques. Ces derniers offrent une lecture stratégique du travail enseignant, formant une base de lecture et d’orientation de l’activité du professeur. Ainsi, régulation et secondarisation nous semblent des organisateurs majeurs de l’activité enseignante, parce que la formation d’un sujet réflexif est un défi capital.
Cis autocatalytic cleavage of glycine‐linked Zika virus NS2B‐NS3 protease constructs
Authors: von Hammerstein Franziska , Lauth Luca M. , Hammerschmidt Stefan , Wagner Annika , Schirmeister Tanja , Hellmich Ute A. 
Published: June 2019

The flaviviral heterodimeric serine protease NS2B‐NS3, consisting of the NS3 protease domain and the NS2B co‐factor, is essential for ZIKA virus maturation and replication in cells. For in vitro studies a ‘linked’ construct, where a polyglycine linker connects NS2BCF and NS3pro, is often used. This construct undergoes autocatalytic cleavage. Here, we show that linked ZIKV NS2BCF‐NS3pro is cleaved in cis in the NS2BCF exclusively at position R95 and not at the previously proposed alternate cleavage site at residue R29 in the NS3pro. Cleavage neither affects protease stability nor activity, despite some observed differences in spectroscopic behavior. This minimally modified construct may thus be useful for future structural and functional studies of the flaviviral protease, for example when testing new inhibitors.
Multifunctional Synthesis Approach of In:CuCrO2 Nanoparticles for Hole Transport Layer in High‐Performance Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Yang Boping , Ouyang Dan , Huang Zhanfeng , Ren Xingang , Zhang Hong , Choy Wallace C. H. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractWhile there are very limited studies of doped ternary metal oxide based hole transport materials, a multifunctional synthesis approach of In doped CuCrO2 nanoparticles (NPs) as efficient hole transport layers (HTLs) including simplifying the synthesis requirements is proposed, enabling doping and achievement of treatment‐free HTLs. Remarkably, compared with conventional methods for synthesizing CuCrO2 NPs, the newly proposed azeotropic promoted approach dramatically reduces the reaction time by 90% and the calcination temperature by one‐third, which not only promotes high throughput production but also reduces power consumption and cost in synthesis. Equally important, indium is successfully doped into CuCrO2, which is fundamentally difficult in low temperature processes. The In doping offers less d–d transition of Cr3+ and p‐type doping characteristics for improving HTL transmittance and conductivity, respectively. Interestingly, In doped CuCrO2 HTL with these improvements can be achieved by a simple ambient‐condition process and exhibits thermal stability up to 200 °C, which allows perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to achieve a power conversion efficiency of 20.54%. Meanwhile, the devices show good repeatability and photostability. Consequently, the work contributes to establishing a simple approach to realize pristine and doped multinary oxides based HTL for the development of practical and high performing PSCs.
Fully Chiral Light Emission from CsPbX3 Perovskite Nanocrystals Enabled by Cholesteric Superstructure Stacks
Authors: Wang Chun‐Ta , Chen Keqiang , Xu Ping , Yeung Fion , Kwok Hoi‐Sing , Li Guijun 
Published: June 2019

AbstractHalide perovskites have received tremendous attention due to their fantastic optical and electrical properties. Here, circularly polarized light emission is successfully demonstrated using a simple configuration consisting of inorganic perovskite nanocrystals embedded within a predefined handedness cholesteric superstructure stack. The helical structured cholesteric liquid crystal film acts as a selective filter to transform the unpolarized light emission from perovskite nanocrystals into circularly polarized luminescence. The transformation is accompanied by an extraordinary dissymmetry factor (|glum|) up to 1.6, well‐defined handedness, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and full‐color availability. Furthermore, the circularly polarized luminescence is angular dependent and can easily be modulated by shifting the overlap of the reflection band and the emission band. The proposed method is more straightforward and powerful than the previous approaches, offering new opportunities in optoelectronic and photonic devices.
A Chitosan–Carbon Nanotube‐Modified Microelectrode for In Situ Detection of Blood Levels of the Antipsychotic Clozapine in a Finger‐Pricked Sample Volume
Authors: Shukla Rajendra P. , Ben‐Yoav Hadar 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe antipsychotic clozapine is the most effective medication available for schizophrenia and it is the only antipsychotic with a known efficacious clinical range. However, it is dramatically underutilized due to the inability to test clozapine blood levels in finger‐pricked patients' samples. This prevents obtaining immediate blood levels information, resulting in suboptimal treatment. The development of an electrochemical microsensor is presented, which enables, for the first time, clozapine detection in microliters volume whole blood. The sensor is based on a microelectrode modified with micrometer‐thick biopolymer chitosan encapsulating carbon nanotubes. The developed sensor detects clozapine oxidation current, in the presence of other electroactive species in the blood, which generate overlapping electrochemical signals. Clozapine detection, characterized in whole blood from healthy volunteers, displays a sensitivity of 32 ± 3.0 µA cm−2 µmol−1 L and a limit‐of‐detection of 0.5 ± 0.03 µmol L−1. Finally, the developed sensor displays a reproducible electrochemical signal (0.6% relative standard deviation) and high storage stability (9.8% relative standard deviation after 8 days) in serum samples and high repeatability (9% relative standard deviation for the 5th repetition) in whole blood samples. By enabling the rapid and minimally invasive clozapine detection at the point‐of‐care, an optimal schizophrenia treatment is provided.
Rejuvenated Photodynamic Therapy for Bacterial Infections
Authors: Jia Qingyan , Song Qing , Li Peng , Huang Wei 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe emergence of multidrug resistant bacterial strains has hastened the exploration of advanced microbicides and antibacterial techniques. Photodynamic antibacterial therapy (PDAT), an old‐fashioned technique, has been rejuvenated to combat “superbugs” and biofilm‐associated infections owing to its excellent characteristics of noninvasiveness and broad antibacterial spectrum. More importantly, bacteria are less likely to produce drug resistance to PDAT because it does not require specific targeting interaction between photosensitizers (PSs) and bacteria. This review mainly focuses on recent developments and future prospects of PDAT. The mechanisms of PDAT against bacteria and biofilms are briefly introduced. In addition to classical macrocyclic PSs, several innovative PSs, including non‐self‐quenching PSs, conjugated polymer–based PSs, and nano‐PSs, are summarized in detail. Numerous multifunctional PDAT systems such as in situ light‐activated PDAT, stimuli‐responsive PDAT, oxygen self‐enriching enhanced PDAT, and PDAT‐based multimodal therapy are highlighted to overcome the inherent defects of PDAT in vivo (e.g., limited penetration depth of light and hypoxic environment of infectious sites).
How to Design Hydrogen Storage Materials? Fundamentals, Synthesis, and Storage Tanks
Authors: Lai Qiwen , Sun Yahui , Wang Ting , Modi Poojan , Cazorla Claudio , Demirci Umit B. , Ares Fernandez Jose Ramon , Leardini Fabrice , Aguey‐Zinsou Kondo‐François 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAs the world shifts toward renewable energy, the need for an effective energy carrier is pressing. Hydrogen has often been touted as a universal clean energy vector and the fuel of the future. Unfortunately, mass adoption of the hydrogen economy is slow due to a lack of incentives and technical difficulties in storing hydrogen. Better materials capable of reversible hydrogen uptake/release with hydrogen capacity surpassing 5 mass% at the ambient must emerge. So far, finding such materials has been elusive; alloys capable of ambient hydrogen uptake/release have a low storage capacity while high capacity hydrides have a very high hydrogen release temperature. From metal alloys to complex hydrides, a better understanding of the behavior of hydrogen in hydrides is essential to fine‐tune their properties toward application. Herein, the latest approaches to design hydrogen storage materials based on known hydrides are reviewed with the aim to facilitate the emergence of alternative thinking toward the design of better hydrogen storage materials. Synthetic methods and conceptual approaches to achieve particular hydrogen thermodynamics and kinetics are discussed. These include metallurgical alloying, mechanochemical modification, chemical destabilization, the nanosizing approach, and theoretical modeling and machine learning techniques to guide experimental work.
Paramelaconite‐Enriched Copper‐Based Material as an Efficient and Robust Catalyst for Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction
Authors: Martić Nemanja , Reller Christian , Macauley Chandra , Löffler Mario , Schmid Bernhard , Reinisch David , Volkova Elena , Maltenberger Anna , Rucki Andreas , Mayrhofer Karl J. J. , Schmid Günter 
Published: June 2019

AbstractA copper‐oxide‐based catalyst enriched with paramelaconite (Cu4O3) is presented and investigated as an electrocatalyst for facilitating electroreduction of CO2 to ethylene and other hydrocarbons. Cu4O3 is a member of the copper‐oxide family and possesses an intriguing mixed‐valance nature, incorporating an equal number of Cu+ and Cu2+ ions in its crystal structure. The material is synthesized using a solvothermal synthesis route and its structure is confirmed via powder X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope based selected area electron diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A flow reactor equipped with a gas diffusion electrode is utilized to test a copper‐based catalyst enriched with the Cu4O3 phase under CO2 reduction conditions. The Cu4O3‐rich catalyst (PrC) shows a Faradaic efficiency for ethylene over 40% at 400 mA cm−2. At −0.64 versus reversible hydrogen electrode, the highest C2+/C1 product ratio of 4.8 is achieved, with C2+ Faradaic efficiency over 61%. Additionally, the catalyst exhibits a stable performance for 24 h at a constant current density of 200 mA cm−2.