bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring student perceptions, learning outcome and gender differences in a flipped mathematics course
Authors: Chen So‐Chen , Yang Stephen J.H. , Hsiao Chia‐Chang 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe flipped classroom approach has recently gained prominence in education. However, a review of previous studies shows that the relationship associated with gender difference, student perceptions and learning outcomes has still remained unexplored, and there has been little discussion regarding flipped classroom environment. To fill this gap, this study aimed to provide a further study by developing an empirical study, extending perspectives of research for flipped classroom in education. This study was conducted to respond and investigate two main student perceptions in a flipped precalculus course, namely, situational interest and course satisfaction. By the self‐developed perception measures, situational interest contained feeling, value and topic interest (three factors), while course satisfaction contained course design, system quality, course arrangement and online assessment (four factors). To respectively determine factors on final grades, we assessed the predicting power among those factors. Students' feedback and gender differences were also evaluated to provide a holistic profile of this flipped course. Results showed that feelings predict the final grades in males, while course design predicts the final grades in females. Moreover, the result also showed that even if females and males showed different topic interest in this course, they performed equally well. Some suggestions to effectively implement a flipped course were also provided from students' feedback. The implications of the results were provided for instructors' guidance in implementing flipped classroom. Finally, the study concluded that students' perceptions may be considered as motivational strategies in teaching and learning process to involve students in academic activities for improving their grades in flipped course.
Validation of ice‐wedge isotopes at Yituli'he, northeastern China as climate proxy
Authors: Yang Sizhong , Cao Xianyong , Jin Huijun 
Published: April 2015

Inactive ice wedges are still present today at Yituli'he in the middle Da Xing'anling (Greater Hinggan) Mountains in northeastern China, which is the southernmost known site (50°37′N) with ice wedges in the Northern Hemisphere. However, it is uncertain whether the ice‐wedge isotope composition, characterized by low δ18O, δD and low deuterium excess values, is representative of the isotope signature of a broader region. In this paper, the ice‐wedge isotope compositions were examined in the context of the stable isotopes of precipitation from the nearby Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) stations. In addition, the pollen spectra from the host sediments were analysed to provide additional information on local vegetation in order to better understand the climate conditions favouring ice‐wedge formation. The pollen spectra suggest that the Yituli'he ice wedges developed during the colder and wetter period after 6000 cal. a BP. The isotopes in the Yituli'he ice wedges are consistent with the isotope background recorded in atmospheric precipitation collected at the nearby GNIP stations. When the snow‐melt froze into ice veinlets, the isotope signals did not change substantially because of the strong, cold, continental anticyclones in winter as well as a strong temperature inversion that prevail in the Da Xing'anling Mountains. As the climate pattern did not change substantially, the neoglacial cold period is unlikely to have allowed for strong secondary fractionation of isotope records during ice‐wedge formation. Thus, the annual isotope signature can be interpreted as a valid archive of climate data.
Tackling the problem of teenage pregnancy in looked‐after children: a peer mentoring approach
Authors: Mezey Gillian , Robinson Fiona , Gillard Steve , Mantovani Nadia , Meyer Deborah , White Sarah , Bonell Chris 
Published: April 2015

AbstractTeenage pregnancy is associated with adverse health and social outcomes, even after adjusting for prior disadvantage, and is recognized as a major public health issue. Rates of teenage pregnancy in the UK are among the highest in Europe. Interventions introduced in the past decade to address the problem, such as improved sex and relationships education in schools, have been accompanied by a fall in teenage pregnancy rates in the UK. However, this decline has not been mirrored among looked‐after children. In this paper, we discuss why this may be the case. We suggest that a system of peer mentoring, involving a young person, whose experience of life post‐care has been positive, may be an effective approach to tackling the problem of pregnancy in this group. Peer mentoring has the potential to assist young people in developing self‐esteem, confidence and in making choices regarding their education, personal development and relationships.
Adaptations to a diet‐based weight‐reducing programme in obese women resistant to weight loss
Authors: Tremblay A. , Lepage C. , Panahi S. , Couture C. , Drapeau V. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThe aim of this study was to assess energy intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR), appetite sensations, eating behaviours and sleep duration and quality in obese women resistant to body weight loss when subjected to a diet‐based weight‐reducing programme. A pooled cohort of obese women (n = 75; aged 39 ± 8 years; body mass index: 33 ± 4 kg m−2) participated in a 12–16‐week diet‐based weight loss programme targeting a daily energy deficit of 500–700 kcal d−1. Women were classified in tertiles a posteriori based on the response of their body weight to dietary supervision (high, moderate and low responders). Post‐intervention, mean weight loss was 3.3 ± 2.8 kg and explained by the 2.9 ± 2.6 kg reduction in fat mass. Mean weight loss was 6.2 ± 1.6, 3.4 ± 0.6 and 0.2 ± 1.4 kg in participants classified in the high, middle and low tertiles, respectively. Women in the low tertile reduced their daily energy intake and susceptibility to hunger during the programme to a lesser extent than those in the high tertile and had higher fasting hunger in response to the dietary intervention. Women in the high tertile maintained their RMR, which was in contrast to the significant decrease predicted by their weight loss. They also reported a significant improvement in sleep quality and an increase in sleep duration compared with other tertiles. The differences in the response of body weight to dietary supervision may be explained, in part, by variations in energy intake, eating behaviours, appetite sensations and sleep duration and quality.
Preschoolers use phrasal prosody online to constrain syntactic analysis
Authors: de Carvalho Alex , Dautriche Isabelle , Christophe Anne 
Published: April 2015

AbstractTwo experiments were conducted to investigate whether young children are able to take into account phrasal prosody when computing the syntactic structure of a sentence. Pairs of French noun/verb homophones were selected to create locally ambiguous sentences ([la petite ferme] [est très jolie] ‘the small farm is very nice’ vs. [la petite] [ferme la fenêtre] ‘the little girl closes the window’ – brackets indicate prosodic boundaries). Although these sentences start with the same three words, ferme is a noun (farm) in the former but a verb (to close) in the latter case. The only difference between these sentence beginnings is the prosodic structure, that reflects the syntactic structure (with a prosodic boundary just before the critical word when it is a verb, and just after it when it is a noun). Crucially, all words following the homophone were masked, such that prosodic cues were the only disambiguating information. Children successfully exploited prosodic information to assign the appropriate syntactic category to the target word, in both an oral completion task (4.5‐year‐olds, Experiment 1) and in a preferential looking paradigm with an eye‐tracker (3.5‐year‐olds and 4.5‐year‐olds, Experiment 2). These results show that both groups of children exploit the position of a word within the prosodic structure when computing its syntactic category. In other words, even younger children of 3.5 years old exploit phrasal prosody online to constrain their syntactic analysis. This ability to exploit phrasal prosody to compute syntactic structure may help children parse sentences containing unknown words, and facilitate the acquisition of word meanings.
Community‐led Housing and ‘Slow’ Opposition to Corporate Development: Citizen Participation as Common Ground?
Authors: Jarvis Helen 
Published: April 2015

AbstractCoinciding with the ideological agenda of ‘new localism’ in welfare and planning policy is popular re‐engagement with a convivial scale of participation in civil society. This is evident in a growing number and variety of community‐led housing (CLH) groups and projects. It is also evident in ‘slow’ social movements, such as Cittaslow, that emphasise ‘quality of life’ and ‘sustainability’. Paradoxically, while home and community are essential to a local sense of identity and belonging, connections have not been made between ‘slow’ opposition to the homogenizing effects of corporate development and CLH. This paper draws particular attention to groups of ordinary citizens creating new or modified forms of housing that are not available in the mainstream housing market. A view is taken of CLH that encompasses wider aspects of community organising and resilience. The paper highlights the socio‐spatial functions to citizen participation and motivations that drive CLH from the bottom–up. These need to be better understood if research and policy are to support and enable the process of growing locally driven housing solutions.
Photoluminescence Properties of Er/Pr‐Doped K0.5Na0.5NbO3 Ferroelectric Ceramics
Authors: Wu Xiao , Lau Chi Man , Kwok Kin Wing 
Published: April 2015

Er/Pr‐doped K0.5Na0.5NbO3 ceramics have been fabricated and the effects of Pr3+ on their photoluminescence properties have been investigated systematically. The visible upconversion emissions, near‐infrared and mid‐infrared downconversion emissions of Er3+ ions under the excitation of 980 nm have been studied in detail. The effects of Pr3+ on PL properties and energy‐transfer processes have also been elucidated. By selecting an appropriate excitation source, simultaneous visible downconversion emissions of Er3+ and Pr3+ ions can be realized, and the emission colors of the ceramics can be tuned via the concentration of Pr3+ ions in a wide range from yellowish green to yellow. Our results also reveal that the photoluminescence emissions of the ceramics can be enhanced by the alignment of polarization of the ferroelectric host.
Climatic drivers of trait assembly in woody plants in Japan
Authors: Shiono Takayuki , Kusumoto Buntarou , Maeshiro Ryo , Fujii Shin‐Jiro , Götzenberger Lars , de Bello Francesco , Kubota Yasuhiro 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAimA trait‐based biogeographical approach can be used to shed light on species‐sorting mechanisms that are driven by the interactions between species traits and abiotic conditions along large‐scale gradients. We tested the hypothesis that geographical patterns of woody plant assemblages are driven largely by environmental filtering, in relation to climate harshness and seasonality, acting on key functional traits.LocationJapanese archipelago.MethodsUsing a large‐scale grid‐based dataset of 773 woody species and five functional traits measured in the field, spanning the Japanese archipelago, we analysed the influence of climate harshness (absolute minimum temperature and precipitation of driest month) and climate seasonality (temperature and precipitation seasonality, and the length of period suitable for photosynthesis) on three aspects of community trait structure: community mean trait values, functional richness and functional divergence. To confirm whether the influence of climate‐based species sorting on functional structure was stronger than the impact of dispersal limitation, we used null models that did or did not account for the difference in regional species pools as a result of vicariance.ResultsWhile climate harshness and historical dispersal limitation had a some influence on trait structure, temperature seasonality played a significant role. Greater seasonality was associated with functional similarity in wood density and leaf nitrogen concentration, but also contributed to increased diversity in leaf thickness, specific leaf area and maximum height.Main conclusionsOur results demonstrate the importance of climate harshness and seasonality in shaping the geographical variation of functional trait structures in woody plant assemblages, while we found that species richness decreases with increasing climate harshness. Climate seasonality results in the convergence and divergence of co‐occurring traits across different vegetation zones. This suggests that seasonal environmental variability acts not only as a filter of species traits but also as a driver creating a greater difference in functional strategies among woody plant species.
Genetic diversity does not explain variation in extra‐pair paternity in multiple populations of a songbird
Authors: Liu I. A. , Johndrow J. E. , Abe J. , Lüpold S. , Yasukawa K. , Westneat D. F. , Nowicki S. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractMany songbirds are socially monogamous but genetically polyandrous, mating with individuals outside their pair bonds. Extra‐pair paternity (EPP) varies within and across species, but reasons for this variation remain unclear. One possible source of variation is population genetic diversity, which has been shown in interspecific meta‐analyses to correlate with EPP but which has limited support from intraspecific tests. Using eight populations of the genetically polyandrous red‐winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), including an island population, we investigated whether population‐level differences in genetic diversity led to differences in EPP. We first measured genetic diversity over 10 microsatellite loci and found, as predicted, low genetic diversity in the island population. Additional structure analyses with multilocus genotypes and mtDNA showed the island population to be distinct from the continental populations. However, the island population's EPP rate fell in the middle of the continental populations' distribution, whereas the continental populations themselves showed significant variation in EPP. This result suggests that genetic diversity by itself is not a predictor of EPP rate. We discuss reasons for the departure from previous results, including hypotheses for EPP that do not solely implicate female‐driven behaviour.
Development and cognitive functions in Saudi pre‐school children with feeding problems without underlying medical disorders
Authors: Hegazi Moustafa A , Sehlo Mohammad G , Al‐Jasir Albandari , El‐Deek Basem S 
Published: April 2015

AimThis study was conducted to assess development and cognitive functions in relation to growth in Saudi pre‐school children with feeding problems (FPs) without underlying medical disorders.MethodsThree hundred fifteen pre‐school children with FPs (221 with normal growth (FP‐N), 62 with failure to thrive (FTT) (FP‐FTT), 32 with overweight (FP‐OW)) and 100 healthy children (Ref group) underwent in‐depth assessment by anthropometric measurements, dietetic history, Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale, Denver Developmental Screening test (DDST) and Stanford Binet fifth edition intelligence scales (SB‐5).ResultsThe main FPs detected in Saudi children were picky eating in 85.5% of FP‐N group, infantile anorexia and poor eating in more than 90% of FP‐FTT group and overeating in 53% of FP‐OW group. FPs were not due to evident psychosocial factors but were mostly related to unhealthy feeding behaviours. FP‐N children were still having normal growth parameters, but they had significantly lower growth parameters than healthy children. Failed screening with DDST was only more significantly recorded in FP‐FTT children than in Ref children (P = 0.04). The overall IQ value by SB‐5 was significantly lower in FP‐FTT group compared with FP‐N group (P = 0.01), in FP‐FTT group compared with Ref group (P < 0.001) as well as in FP‐OW group compared with Ref group (P < 0.001).ConclusionsPersistent FPs resulted in significant negative impact not only on growth status but also on developmental milestones and cognitive functions of pre‐school children. Healthy feeding habits are mandatory to prevent serious consequences of FPs on growth and development of Saudi pre‐school children.
Transabdominal ultrasound measurement of rectal diameter is dependent on time to defecation in constipated children
Authors: Modin Line , Dalby Kasper , Walsted Anne‐Mette , Jakobsen Marianne 
Published: April 2015

AimTo study whether diurnal variations and time in relation to defecation has to be taken into account when measurements of rectal diameter are used to determine faecal impaction in constipated children.MethodsRepeated ultrasound measures of rectal diameter were performed in 28 children (14 constipated/14 healthy, aged between 4 and 12 years) every third hour during 24 h. After defecation, three additional scans were performed at 1‐h intervals.ResultsNo diurnal variation in rectal diameter was found in the healthy group. In the constipated group, mean rectal diameter was significantly larger at 2 pm (P = 0.038) and 5 pm (P = 0.006). There were significant differences between rectal diameter in the healthy group and the constipated group at 2 pm (P = 0.016) and 5 pm (P = 0.027). When we omitted the rectal diameter of five constipated children who had their first bowel movement after 5 pm, there were no difference between groups (2 pm (P = 0.103)/5 pm (P = 0.644) ). Only in the constipated group, rectal diameter exceeded 3 cm without the patients feeling the urge to defecate.ConclusionWe found no independent daily variation in either group without relation to defecation. There was a relation between defecation and changes in rectal diameter in both healthy children and constipated children during maintenance treatment.Asking for defecation signals before scanning should be considered a routine question, and a positive answer should cause postponement of the scan.
Feasibility study: Assessing the influence of macronutrient intakes on preterm body composition, using air displacement plethysmography
Authors: McLeod Gemma , Simmer Karen , Sherriff Jill , Nathan Elizabeth , Geddes Donna , Hartmann Peter 
Published: April 2015

AimPreterm nutrition guidelines target nutrient accretion and growth at intrauterine rates, yet at term equivalent age, the phenotype of the preterm infant differs from that of term infants. Monitoring early changes in preterm body composition (BC) in response to macronutrient intakes may facilitate our understanding of how best to meet preterm nutrition and growth targets.MethodMacronutrient intakes based on milk analysis were calculated from birth for infants born <33 weeks gestation. BC was measured in the PEA POD when infants were thermodynamically stable, free of intravenous lines and independent of respiratory support. Subsequent BC measurements were taken at least fortnightly until term age. Regression analysis was used to assess macronutrient influences on changes in BC.ResultsMedian (range) gestation and birthweight of preterm infants (n = 27) were 29 (25–32) weeks and 1395 (560–2148) g, respectively. The youngest corrected gestational and postnatal ages that infants qualified for a PEA POD measurement were 31.86 and 1.43 weeks, respectively. Fat and total energy intakes were positively associated with increasing fat mass. Protein (with carbohydrate) intake was positively associated with increasing fat‐free mass.ConclusionPreterm infants can be measured in the PEA POD as early as 31 weeks corrected gestational age and the method appears sufficiently sensitive to detect influences of macronutrient intake on changes in BC.
Complementary and alternative medicine use among paediatric emergency department patients
Authors: Taylor David McDonald , Dhir Reetika , Craig Simon S , Lammers Thalia , Gardiner Kaya , Hunter Kirrily , Joffe Paul , Krieser David , Babl Franz E 
Published: April 2015

AimTo determine the period prevalence and nature of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among paediatric emergency department (ED) patients and the perceptions of CAM among the CAM administrators.MethodsA survey was undertaken in four Victorian EDs (January to September 2013). A convenience sample of parents/carers accompanying paediatric patients completed a self‐administered questionnaire. The main outcome measures were CAM use and perceptions of CAM.ResultsThe parents/carers of 883 patients participated. Three hundred eighty‐eight (43.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 40.6–47.3) and 53 (6.0%, 95% CI 4.6–7.8) patients had taken a CAM within the previous 12 months and on the day of presentation, respectively. There were no gender differences between CAM users and non‐users (P = 0.83). The use of CAM was significantly more common among older patients (P < 0.001), those with European ethnicity (P = 0.046) and among those with chronic disease (P < 0.01). Fish oil, garlic, chamomile and acidophilus were the most commonly used CAM. Only 4.4% of CAM use was reported to the ED doctor. There were reports of potentially dangerous CAM use (St John's wort, ginseng). Parents/carers who had administered CAM were more likely to report that CAMs are safe, drug free and could prevent illness (P < 0.01). In addition, a number of this group reported that CAMs are more effective than prescription medicines and safe when taken with prescription medicines.ConclusionCAM use is common among paediatric ED patients although rarely reported to the ED doctor. Parents/carers who administer CAM have differing perceptions of CAM safety from those who do not.
Shared genetic diversity across the global invasive range of the monk parakeet suggests a common restricted geographic origin and the possibility of convergent selection
Authors: Edelaar Pim , Roques Severine , Hobson Elizabeth A. , Gonçalves da Silva Anders , Avery Michael L. , Russello Michael A. , Senar Juan C. , Wright Timothy F. , Carrete Martina , Tella José L. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWhile genetic diversity is hypothesized to be an important factor explaining invasion success, there is no consensus yet on how variation in source populations or demographic processes affects invasiveness. We used mitochondrial DNA haplotypic and microsatellite genotypic data to investigate levels of genetic variation and reconstruct the history of replicate invasions on three continents in a globally invasive bird, the monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus). We evaluated whether genetic diversity at invasive sites could be explained by (i) the native source populations from which they were derived and (ii) demographic bottlenecks during introduction. Genetic data indicated a localized source area for most sampled invasive populations, with limited evidence for admixing of native source populations. This pattern largely coincides with historical data on pet trade exports. However, the invasive populations are genetically more similar than predicted from the export data alone. The extent of bottleneck effects varied among invasive populations. The observed low genetic diversity, evidence of demographic contraction and restricted source area do not support the hypothesis that invasion is favoured by the mixing and recombining of genetic variation from multiple source populations. Instead, they suggest that reduced genetic variation through random processes may not inhibit successful establishment and invasion in this species. However, convergent selection across invasive sites could also explain the observed patterns of reduction and similarity in genetic variation and/or the restricted source area. In general, the alternative explanation of intraspecific variation in invasive potential among genotypes or geographic areas is neglected, but warrants more attention as it could inform comparative studies and management of biological invaders.