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Although the goals of consensus‐based decision‐making (CBDM) and the academic theological classroom are quite distinct (most notably that in the classroom, there is no need to come to a group decision), both share the aim of honoring all voices and perspectives and ensuring that marginalized voices and experiences are elevated. It is an important tool for all to consider, particularly due to its benefits for students from different cultural backgrounds who may experience various forms of systemic inequality. This paper considers the strengths as well as limitations of CBDM‐related practices for facilitating conversation in a theological studies classroom, with specific emphasis on the speakers' list—a common CBDM tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low‐carbon future demands more affordable batteries utilizing abundant elements with sustainable end‐of‐life battery management. Despite the economic and environmental advantages of Li‐MnO2 batteries, their application so far has been largely constrained to primary batteries. Here, we demonstrate that one of the major limiting factors preventing the stable cycling of Li‐MnO2 batteries, Mn dissolution, can be effectively mitigated by employing a common ether electrolyte, 1 mol/L lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) in 1,3‐dioxane (DOL)/1,2‐dimethoxyethane (DME). We discover that the suppression of this dissolution enables highly reversible cycling of the MnO2 cathode regardless of the synthesized phase and morphology. Moreover, we find that both the LiPF6 salt and carbonate solvents present in conventional electrolytes are responsible for previous cycling challenges. The ether electrolyte, paired with MnO2 cathodes is able to demonstrate stable cycling performance at various rates, even at elevated temperature such as 60°C. Our discovery not only represents a defining step in Li‐MnO2 batteries with extended life but provides design criteria of electrolytes for vast manganese‐based cathodes in rechargeable batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Interpreters play an important role in the criminal justice system, yet little is known about the way interpreters are used. This survey of U.S. law enforcement (N = 299) assessed practices and perceptions regarding interpreter use during interviews with nonnative English speakers. Investigators reported using colleagues more often than professional interpreters, using interpreters more often with suspects and in certain crimes (e.g., domestic violence), and that interpreters are usually at least partially informed about case facts prior to translating. Investigators responded to experimental vignettes, and results indicated they were more likely to seek and obtain interpreters when an interviewee has lived in the United States for fewer years; however, the language spoken and the interviewee's role (e.g., witness vs. suspect) did not affect decisions to request an interpreter. Several avenues for future experimental research are identified and discussed, including interpreting over the phone and interpreter susceptibility to biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several jurisdictions mandate the presence of an independent support person during police interviews with vulnerable people. The current study investigated police officers’ experiences and perceptions of these volunteers during interviews with people with intellectual disability(ies) (ID). Methods: The sample comprised 229 police officers who attended a mandatory firearms training course in Melbourne, Australia, in 2010. Results: Participants commonly reported utilizing independent support persons and displayed a fair understanding of their role. Overall, volunteers were engaged more frequently than family/friends; police considered the volunteers to be more impartial during interviews, whereas family/friends provided a greater level of emotional support to interviewees. Conclusions: Independent support persons need to demonstrate two quite different types of support to people with intellectual disability(ies) during police interviews; these require quite different skill sets and suggest the need for more tailored training and support for these volunteers. Implications for future research and policy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study was aimed at investigating the antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity of Musa paradisiaca‐based diets in alloxan‐induced diabetic mellitus rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w) in 48 randomly selected rats. The rats were randomly grouped into four as follows: normal rats fed Dioscorea rotundata‐based diet, diabetic control rats fed D. rotundata‐based diet, diabetic rats fed D. rotundata‐based diet and administered metformin (14.2 mg/kg body weight) orally per day, and diabetic rats fed M. paradisiaca‐based diet. Body weight and fasting blood glucose level were monitored, on 28th days the rats were sacrificed, liver was excised. Thereafter, the hyperglycemic and dyslipidemic statii of the induced diabetic animals were determined. The M. paradisiaca‐based diet significantly (p < .05) reversed the levels of fasting blood glucose, with significant (p < .05) increase in insulin and glycogen concentrations. The diet also increased the activity of hexokinase with significant reduction (p < .05) in glucose‐6‐phosphatase and fructose‐1‐6‐diphosphatase activities. M. paradisiaca‐based diet demonstrated significant reduction (p < .05) in cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TG), very low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and significant increase (p < .05) in high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) compared with those of diabetic control group. Also, M. paradisiaca‐based diet significantly (p < .05) reversed the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase when compared with diabetic control animals. The consumption of this diet may be useful in ameliorating hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Previous research on foreign language classroom participation has shown that oral production has a privileged status compared to less salient forms of participation, such as mental involvement and engagement in class activities. This mixed-methods study presents an alternative look at classroom participation by investigating the relationship between second language (L2) thoughts and L2 speech in German as a foreign language learners in a language program in the United States. At four points during an academic semester, 16 students answered an in-class survey that aimed at recording students' estimations of how much of their thoughts had been formulated in the L2 and how much of their speech had been articulated in the L2. A small subset of these students participated in individual stimulated recall interviews to gather their own reflections on their thought processes and L2 speech production. Results show that students' L2 speech production is conditioned by a complex interplay of variables, which results in a mismatch between self-reported L2 thoughts and L2 speech. Several explanations derived from interview data are offered to account for this divergence, such as motivational tendencies, misperceptions of L2 use, the production of rehearsed speech, metalinguistic thoughts in the first language, and conceptions of silence as a valid form of participation. Pedagogical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the perception and reasons for Korean students' silence and low levels of oral participation in U.S. graduate programs. It analyzes a case study conducted with two Korean students currently attending graduate school in urban settings. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with the participants, using a constant comparisons method for data analysis. The study shows that the participants perceived themselves to be the quietest members of their classes. Reasons for silence included poor command of the English terms relevant for their discipline, influence of Korean classroom mannerisms, and face saving. However, the participants had a strong desire to contribute, which was revealed when they actively worked on an online discussion board. This implies the need for pedagogical tools to encourage and help these students actively speak up in U.S. classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the genetic structure of a red deer ( Cervus elaphus) population in 8 woodlands of northeastern Poland and 1 in western Belarus and compared it with the documented history of the population in the region. Red deer nearly went extinct in the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the mid-19th century, reintroductions began and continued until the mid-1960s. Animals were translocated from various sites in Poland and other European countries. We genotyped 303 individuals using 14 microsatellite loci and sequenced 253 individuals for a fragment of the control region (mitochondrial DNA [mtDNA]). The microsatellite analyses demonstrate that 3 genetically separate subpopulations exist, but 4 according to mtDNA. All haplotypes found in northeastern Poland are closely related to haplotypes from northern and northwestern Europe. The only individuals that could have originated from autochthonous red deer populations, rather than introductions, were found in Napiwoda Forest. The present regional genetic structure of the species is consistent with the known history of red deer translocations. Current patterns of genetic diversity in these populations are determined by the interaction of past human management and contemporary natural migrations. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell envelopes (CEs) are insoluble, chemically and mechanically tough structures formed during terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. providing skin with a protective barrier against the environment. They are 15 to 20 nm thick structures beneath the plasma membrane and continuous with desmosomal attachment plaques. Sequential deposition of several proteins including involucrin and loricrin leads to a gradual increase in envelope thickness and rigidity. Cross-linking of desmosomal components to other CE-proteins has been demonstrated and desmosomes in the cornified cells have been regarded as a part of CEs. Our previous immunoelectron microscopy studies showed that desmosomaI areas granular cells were loricrin-positive, but those in cornified cells were negative. We asked whether this is due to epitope masking and applied trypsin digest ion of the electron microscopy sections to retrieve the possibly masked epitopes. Since this treatment made desmosomal structures obscure, one side of the sections was stained with anti-desmoglein antibody as an indicator of desmosomes. Trypsin was applied on the other side followed by immunolabeling with anti-loricrin antibody. Trypsin digestion indeed unmasked the loricrin epitopes in the desmoglein-positive desmosomal areas of CEs. It seems therefore that loricrin is first accumulated at the desmosomes before the CE-assembly and cross-linking of loricrin occurs at the desmosomal areas of CEs as well as at the non-desmosomal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have cloned and sequenced the gene for a type-III Fc receptor from a Streptococcus dysgalactiae strain isolated from bovine mastitis and report here the complete sequence of the gene. The 1992-nucleotides-long open reading frame codes for a protein of 664 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 72 kDa (including the signal peptide). The C-terminal part of the protein is very similar to other streptococcal type-III receptors but contains five homologous IgG-binding domains compared to two or three in earlier reported Fc receptors of this type. Upstream of the IgG-binding domains, there is a unique sequence containing short repeated motifs. Subcloning different parts of the gene and expressing them as maltose-binding fusion proteins revealed that the upstream part is mediating binding to the plasma proteinase inhibitor α2-macroglobulin after its complex formation with proteases. In contrast to earlier described type-III Fc receptors, this molecule does not bind human serum albumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]