bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Practitioners’ Perspectives on the Application of Integration Theory in the Saudi EFL Context
Authors: Almalki Mansoor S. , Soomro Abdul Fattah 
Published: May 2017

There is a close connection between reading and writing. Several studies suggest integrating reading in the instruction of teaching writing skills to English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learner. This study seeks to determine the extent Saudi EFL teachers support, apply and understand the theory of integration between reading and writing. To achieve the research objectives, the researcher compiled two lesson plans; one based on the integration theory and the other, based on a traditional model to see which lesson plan teacher-participants chose to teach writing. The data was then collected through questionnaire containing both closed and open-ended questions to determine the implications of the results in relation to the objectives of the research. The major findings of this research project were that, for the ten EFL teachers surveyed, most of the teachers indicated that they usually taught writing as a separate skill apart from reading, and the written responses from the open-ended questions that was analyzed indicated that the teachers taught writing in the traditional way. The results from the ten participants’ responses also suggested that almost none of the participants were familiar with the concept of integrating reading and writing for the purposes of teaching writing. However, most of the respondents did comment that they agree with the idea of integrating reading in the instruction of teaching the writing skills and given a choice of a lesson plan, most of the teachers choose the integrated lesson plan.
Pastoral plants for rehabilitation of degraded soil in Tunisia: the case for use of Calicotome villosa and Genista spachiana (Fabaceae)
Authors: Kaouther Mechergui , Wahbi Jaouadi , Larbi Khouja Mohamed 
Published: May 2017

Calicotome villosa and Genista spachiana are classified as vulnerable in Tunisia and they are of great interest for the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems, food for goats and camelids, and for the use of its essential oils in phytotherapy. The aim of this study was to examine the germination characteristics of both species through analysis of the effects of the salt stress and water stress on germination. We monitored and evaluated different germination characteristics (germination percentage, mean time to germination and germination speed) in the presence of the salt and water stress. Calicotome villosa and Genista spachiana can withstand salinity of up to 15 g/l of salt (31–37% germination at 15 g/l) and also tolerate large doses of PEG6000 (30–40% germination at –1.6 MPa: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a hydrophilic polymer). The tolerance of the two species to salinity and water stress allows them to be a source of food for goats and camelids during drought.
Enhanced NADH Oxidation Using Polytyramine/Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrodes for Ethanol Biosensing
Authors: Wilson Thomas A. , Musameh Mustafa , Kyratzis Ilias L. , Zhang Jie , Bond Alan M. , Hearn Milton T. W. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPolytyramine (PT) has been electro‐deposited onto multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified glassy carbon (GC) electrodes via oxidation of tyramine in 0.1 M H3PO4 by cycling the potential over the range of −400 mV to 1300 mV (versus Ag/AgCl). The reactivity of the resulting chemically‐modified electrodes was characterized using cyclic voltammetry in the presence and absence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). The modified electrodes displayed electrochemical activity due to the formation of quinone species and were catalytically active towards NADH oxidation by lowering the oxidation peak potential by 170 mV compared to the value of the MWCNT modified electrode with a peak potential of 180±10 mV (versus Ag/AgCl). The MWCNT/PT surface was further characterized using SEM and XPS methods, which indicated that a thin polymeric film had been formed on the electrode surface. The present work demonstrates the advantage of using PT as a platform that combines both the immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and the mediation of NADH oxidation at a low overpotential essential to the design of high performance ethanol biosensors, all within an easily electropolymerizable film. The resulting biosensor displayed an ethanol sensitivity of 4.28±0.06 μA mM−1 cm−2, a linear range between 0.1 mM and 0.5 mM and a detection limit of 10 μM.
“Making better use of U.S. women” Psychology, sex roles, and womanpower in post‐WWII America
Authors: Rutherford Alexandra 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe relationship between American psychology and gender ideologies in the two decades following World War II was complicated and multivalent. Although many psy‐professionals publicly contributed to the cult of domesticity that valorized women's roles as wives and mothers, other psychologists, many of them women, reimagined traditional sex roles to accommodate and deproblematize the increasing numbers of women at work, especially working mothers. In this article, I excavate and highlight the contributions of several of these psychologists, embedding their efforts in the context of the paradoxical expectations for women that colored the postwar and increasingly Cold War landscape of the United States. By arguing that conflict was inherent in the lives of both women and men, that role conflict (when it did occur) was a cultural, not intrapsychic, phenomenon, and that maternal employment itself was not damaging to children or families, these psychologists connected the work of their first‐wave, first‐generation forebears with that of the explicitly feminist psychologists who would come after them.
Recent Advances in Metal‐Containing Polymer Hydrogels
Authors: Li Hui , Yang Peng , Pageni Parasmani , Tang Chuanbing 
Published: May 2017

Metal‐containing polymer hydrogels have attracted increasing interest in recent years due to their outstanding properties such as biocompatibility, recoverability, self‐healing, and/or redox activity. In this short review, methods for the preparation of metal‐containing polymer hydrogels are introduced and an overview of these hydrogels with various functionalities is given. It is hoped that this short update can stimulate innovative ideas to promote the research of metal‐containing hydrogels in the communities.
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Air core detectors for Cerenkov‐free scintillation dosimetry of brachytherapy β‐sources
Authors: Eichmann Marion , Thomann Benedikt 
Published: May 2017

PurposePlastic scintillation detectors are used for dosimetry in small radiation fields with high dose gradients, e.g., provided by β‐emitting sources like 106Ru/106Rh eye plaques. A drawback is a background signal caused by Cerenkov radiation generated by electrons passing the optical fibers (light guides) of this dosimetry system. Common approaches to correct for the Cerenkov signal are influenced by uncertainties resulting from detector positioning and calibration procedures. A different approach to avoid any correction procedure is to suppress the Cerenkov signal by replacing the solid core optical fiber with an air core light guide, previously shown for external beam therapy. In this study, the air core concept is modified and applied to the requirements of dosimetry in brachytherapy, proving its usability for measuring water energy doses in small radiation fields.MethodsThree air core detectors with different air core lengths are constructed and their performance in dosimetry for brachytherapy β‐sources is compared with a standard two‐fiber system, which uses a second fiber for Cerenkov correction. The detector systems are calibrated with a 90Sr/90Y secondary standard and tested for their angular dependence as well as their performance in depth dose measurements of 106Ru/106Rh sources.ResultsThe signal loss relative to the standard detector increases with increasing air core length to a maximum value of 58.3%. At the same time, however, the percentage amount of Cerenkov light in the total signal is reduced from at least 12.1% to a value below 1.1%. There is a linear correlation between induced dose and measured signal current. The air core detectors determine the dose rates for 106Ru/106Rh sources without any form of correction for the Cerenkov signal.ConclusionsThe air core detectors show advantages over the standard two‐fiber system especially when measuring in radiation fields with high dose gradients. They can be used as simple one‐fiber systems and allow for an almost Cerenkov‐free scintillation dosimetry of brachytherapy β‐sources.
An efficient model approach for very high resolution orographic precipitation
Authors: Paeth Heiko , Pollinger Felix , Mächel Hermann , Figura Clarissa , Wahl Sabrina , Ohlwein Christian , Hense Andreas 
Published: May 2017

One major challenge in climate‐related issues is the lack of accurate high‐resolution precipitation data on the part of observations and climate model simulations, imposing profound constraints on various impact studies, for instance in the fields of hydrology, glaciology, agronomy and hazard assessment. Here, we present a physical model approach for orographic precipitation based on linear theory and combined with a stochastic weather generator which takes an intermediate position between computationally expensive high‐resolution regional climate models and purely statistical downscaling techniques. The model is applied to a mountainous region in central Germany and run over a decade in a 0.005° resolution (≈500 m). The resulting precipitation fields are spatially and temporally compared with station data from a very dense meteorological network and with a 6 km regional reanalysis.The spatial correlation between local station data and corresponding model grid boxes is between 0.72 and 0.80. The presented linear model also agrees well with the observed spatial pattern of day‐to‐day variability, mean intensity, weak and extreme precipitation events. It is close to the performance of the high‐resolution regional reanalysis COSMO‐REA6, yet computationally far more efficient. Combined with the weather generator, the linear model matches the statistical properties of the station data almost perfectly and offers a consistent precipitation dataset at 0.005° resolution. The model can be applied to any larger‐scale model or observational dataset, including climate change projections.
Mapping Refrigerant Gases in the New York City Skyline
Authors: Ghandehari Masoud , Aghamohamadnia Milad , Dobler Gregory , Karpf Andreas , Buckland Kerry , Qian Jun , Koonin Steven 
Published: May 2017

AbstractCities are now home to more than 50% of the world’s population and emit large quantities of pollutants from sources such as fossil fuel combustion and the leakage of refrigerants. We demonstrate the utility of persistent synoptic longwave hyperspectral imaging to study the ongoing leakage of refrigerant gases in New York City, compounds that either deplete the stratosphere ozone or have significant global warming potential. In contrast to current monitoring programs that are based on country-level reporting or aggregate measures of emissions, we present the identification of gaseous plumes with high spatial and temporal granularity in real-time over the skyline of Manhattan. The reported data highlights the emission of chemicals scheduled for phase-out. Our goal is to contribute to better understanding of the composition, sources, concentration, prevalence and patterns of emissions for the purposes of both research and policy.
The malate sensing two-component system MaeKR is a non-canonical class of sensory complex for C4-dicarboxylates
Authors: Miguel-Romero L. , Casino P. , Landete J. M. , Monedero V. , Zúñiga M. , Marina A. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractMicrobial colonization of different environments is enabled to a great extent by the plasticity of their sensory mechanisms, among them, the two-component signal transduction systems (TCS). Here, an example of TCS plasticity is presented: the regulation of L-malate catabolism via malic enzyme by MaeRK in Lactobacillales. MaeKR belongs to the citrate family of TCS as the Escherichia coli DcuSR system. We show that the Lactobacillus casei histidine-kinase MaeK is defective in autophosphorylation activity as it lacks a functional catalytic and ATP binding domain. The cognate response regulator MaeR was poorly phosphorylated at its phosphoacceptor Asp in vitro. This phosphorylation, however, enhanced MaeR binding in vitro to its target sites and it was required for induction of regulated genes in vivo. Elucidation of the MaeR structure revealed that response regulator dimerization is accomplished by the swapping of α4-β5-α5 elements between two monomers, generating a phosphoacceptor competent conformation. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that the MaeKR peculiarities are not exclusive to L. casei as they are shared by the rest of orthologous systems of Lactobacillales. Our results reveal MaeKR as a non-canonical TCS displaying distinctive features: a swapped response regulator and a sensor histidine kinase lacking ATP-dependent kinase activity.
TINCR expression is associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Tian Feng , Xu Jian , Xue Fangxi , Guan Encui , Xu Xiaoguang 
Published: May 2017

Emerging evidence are accumulating that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been identified to participate in various cellular processes. Terminal differentiation induced ncRNA (TINCR) is a newly identified lncRNA with its functional roles not fully elucidated in human malignancy. The current study aims to identify the clinical significance of TINCR in prognosis and malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TINCR expression in HCC specimens at various stages of tumorigenesis were measured by quantitative real-time RT PCR (qRT-PCR). The matched para-carcinoma tissues were used as controls. The associations of TINCR with clinicopathological characteristics, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients were further evaluated. Results revealed that high TINCR expression was significantly correlated with tumor size (P=0.005), tumor differentiation status (P=0.017), TNM stage (P=0.010), and vascular invasion (P=0.004). Moreover, Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that TINCR was correlated to both DFS and OS in HCC cohorts. Patients with high TINCR expression tended to have worse prognosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that TINCR was an independent poor prognostic indicator for DFS (HR =1.32, 95% CI: 1.00–1.57, P=0.000) and OS (HR =1.57, 95% CI: 1.30–1.86, P=0.004) in HCC. TINCR was demonstrated as a direct target of miR-137 and miR-133a, and was suppressed by miR-137/miR-133a. These results provide the first evidence that the expression of TINCR in HCC may play an oncogenic role in HCC differentiation, invasion, and metastasis. miR-137/miR-133a-TINCR pathway may serve as a promising target for tumor recurrence and prognosis of patients with HCC.
A mouse model for pain and neuroplastic changes associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Selvaraj Deepitha , Hirth Michael , Gandla Jagadeesh , Kuner Rohini 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) continues to be one of the deadliest human malignancies and is associated with excruciating pain, which is a serious complication and severely impacts the quality of life in patients. In human patients, poor survival prognosis is linked to remarkable remodeling of intrapancreatic nerves, which, in turn, is correlated to increased pain intensity. Understanding mechanisms underlying pain associated with PDAC has been hampered by the lack of animal models which replicate all germane aspects of the disease and importantly, enable analyses of pain associated with PDAC. In this study, we describe an immunocompetent orthotopic mouse model of PDAC involving intrapancreatic growth of K8484 mouse PDAC cells, which reliably exhibits a large number of key characteristics of human PDAC, including its unique histopathology and neuroplastic changes. We observed that tumor-bearing mice demonstrated significant abdominal mechanical hypersensitivity to von Frey stimuli as well as on-going pain in the conditioned place preference paradigm. Moreover, a myriad of other behavioral tests revealed that indicators of overall well-being were significantly reduced in tumor-bearing mice as compared to sham mice. Morphological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed structural remodeling in several different types of sensory and autonomic nerve fibers. Finally, perineural invasion of tumor cells, a cardinal manifestation in human PDAC, was also observed in our orthotopic mouse model. Thus, we describe a validated tumor model for quantitatively testing hypersensitivity and pain in PDAC, which lays a crucial basis for interrogating tumor-nerve interactions and the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying pain in PDAC.
Autism and healthcare
Authors: Preißmann Christine 
Published: May 2017

Purpose
Many autistic people do not have any access to healthcare services or they experience significant barriers to navigating the healthcare system. The purpose of this paper is to represent a significant concern in almost every healthcare setting, including specialized doctors and psychotherapists, outpatient medical care, access to preventive treatments (e.g. information on health and hygiene, vaccinations and early diagnostic screenings) and treatments in hospitals for emergency medical care. Therefore, it is necessary to provide professionals with guidelines and knowledge and to establish concepts for the participation of autistic people also with respect to adequate healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach
As a doctor and autistic person, the author’s training and personal experiences have provided the author with a unique perspective on this topic. It has also given the author an important opportunity to provide recommendations on ways to improve access to appropriate medical services for autistic individuals, improve communication between healthcare providers and autistic individuals and improve overall experiences within the healthcare and medical setting.

Findings
The paper provides information about the shortcoming of the healthcare system for autistic people, problems and barriers to access the healthcare system and for assessment and treatment and offers various suggestions to overcome these restrictions.

Originality/value
This paper is of special value as it is written by a medical doctor who has the diagnosis of ASD herself since she is 27. This combination of professional background on one side and person with ASD on the other side is of special value to permeate the topic.
A perspective of teachers’ appropriation of educational innovations
Authors: Ng Wei Sheng Timmy , Wilson Elaine 
Published: May 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework describing teachers’ affective and cognitive thought processes, as well as the sensemaking and decision making ongoing within them, during the various stages of the appropriation of an educational innovation.

Design/methodology/approach
The Rubicon model of action phases, borrowed from psychology, is first used as a lens to understand teachers’ will. The model is subsequently adapted to reconcile it with existing literature on teacher beliefs, teacher sensemaking, and teachers’ resistance.

Findings
The proposed framework shows that teachers’ appropriation of an educational innovation is multi-layered and multi-dimensional. This contradicts appropriation as simply a procedural implementation of research recommendations, culminating in only success or failure.

Originality/value
The paper sensitises policymakers, school leaders, and teacher educators to the complexity of the appropriation process. The proposed framework serves as a starting point for school and reform leaders, to re-examine their school’s implementation of an educational innovation from a more human relations perspective.
Voices from the dead: the uneasy case of indigenous cultural expression
Authors: Abdul Ghani Azmi Ida Madieha 
Published: May 2017

PurposeTraditional cultural expression (TCE) includes music, dance, art, designs, names, signs and symbols, performances, ceremonies, architectural forms, handicrafts and narratives or many other artistic or cultural expressions [World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO)]. To constitute TCEs, the expressions must form part of the identity and heritage of a traditional or indigenous community and need to be passed down from generation to generation (Kuprecht, 2014). This paper aims to analyse the protection of TCE in Malaysia by focusing on the Mah Meri tribe. This paper examines copyright over TCE, recordation as a means of preserving a dying tradition and customary practices and native law.
Design/methodology/approachInformation is drawn from personal discussions with the weavers and carvers of the Mah Meri tribe, and a focus group discussion with subject matter experts. As a way of comparison, a personal visit has been made to Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, Sarawak Native Courts, the Dayak Iban Association and Dayak Bidayuh Association.
FindingsThe research found that copyright law has no specific provision for the protection of TCEs. Customary practices of the indigenous people and the native law of Sarawak have limited effect outside their traditional domain. Recordation and documentation of TCEs are the prime initiatives, but the documents or the recordings do not carry any legal status.
Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited only to the Mah Meri tribe with a comparison drawn to the Dayak Iban and Dayak Bidayuh tribe.
Practical implicationsThe research examines the practical implications of copyright and recording and documentation of cultural expression in Malaysia.
Social implicationsThe research sets to unearth and highlight the ideation process in a tribal setting and how that clashes with the formal creation setting in a modern intellectual property system.
Originality/valueThis paper was presented at the IAITL Congress 2013. It also appeared in the Conference Proceedings edited by Slyvia Kieerkgard, but it has not been published in any journals.
Psychological empowerment of employees for competitive advantages
Authors: Gautam Dhruba Kumar , Bhandari Ghimire Sunita 
Published: May 2017

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the existing situation of psychological empowerment to employees and explore the relationship between psychological empowerment and competitive advantages in service sector of Nepal.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed descriptive cum exploratory research design. Data collected through structured questionnaire based on Menon’s three-component model and Wright’s four-component model used to measure psychological employment and competitive advantages from employees of banking and hospital sector.FindingsPsychological empowerment of employees in service sector is significantly different between public and private organizations. Even though the factors that are extracted are quite different than of Western practices, psychological empowerment has positive and significant impact on the competitive advantages.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is mainly based on service sector of Nepal: Banking and Hospital.Practical implicationsThis paper is useful to academicians and practitioners seeking to develop psychological empowerment to achieve competitive advantages in their organizations and help to add values in people management areas particularly in South Asian corporations.Originality/valueThis is perhaps the very first investigation of its kind in the Nepalese context.