Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of the Mpala Research Centre and environs, Laikipia District, Kenya

The dung beetle fauna of the subfamily Aphodiinae occurring in the Laikipia District of Kenya was surveyed. In total, 14 genera and 29 species were found and these taxa are placed in identification keys. Known generic distributions are provided and species collection data listed

Integrating Culture and Understanding of Science through Traditional Fairy Tale Format

Success in science results from a variety of experiences and characteristics. Some come from within the individual while others are in the environment. ~ For Native American Indians, achievement in science based upon traditional Western education and national testing traditions does not reflect American Indian knowledge of science or natural events around them. Over the centuries, American Indian cultures have exhibited a closeness with nature, even to the point of considering their relationship spiritual. Cajete (1986) reported that expressions of the science thought process are abundant in historical and traditional American Indian cultures. He indicated those processes have ranged from simple practical technologies developed to survive in a given environment to highly complex and elaborate technologies developed by many of the high civilizations of the world. Unfortunately, traditional school testing has been unable to elicit this knowledge or those qualities. Possibly, the way science is presented in text and lesson has something to do with it. Only recently have children examining any science textbook been able to see brown and black faces in print. Beyond the cosmetics of publishing a socially sensitive textbook, however, science is still presented to teachers and children in a manner that conveys the impression that its roots are in the European culture

A Multi-Generational Study of Aspiring African American Female Superintendents in Texas

Only 8 of the 1,247 public school districts served by the Texas Education Agency are headed by African American female superintendents. In order for African American women to be considered for the superintendency in Texas, they must understand the barriers marked by intersectional misconceptions. The narrative methodology focuses on accounts derived from experiences expressed in a form of storytelling. This correlates the conceptual framework with the variables of critical race theory (CRT), glass ceiling theory, and generational theory. This process was vital to understanding generational differences of African American women on the journey to the superintendency. This research focused on 22 African American women who were completing requirements for the superintendency, assigned to two separate groups for two methods of data collection. Through snowball sampling, six women were interviewed face to face. Through stratified sampling, 22 women completed an online survey consisting of open-ended questions. Research questions were developed from an exploratory question: In what ways does generation membership impact African American women’ leadership development? This research addressed five research questions regarding the differences in experiences of aspiring African American female superintendents related generational membership regarding racism, career mentorship, leadership, motivation to aspire to the position, and the work environment with other African American women in other generations. The research produced five emergent themes: (a) Racial Awareness: Legal Blinders, (b) African American Women Role Models: The Matriarch, (c) Diverse Leadership Styles: Mindset Shift, (d) Career Perspective: Change x Confidence, and (e) Guidance: Professional Expression. Five subthemes emerged: (a) Diverse Teaching Experience: Partition, (b) Early Leadership Development: School Favored, (c) Diverse Mentors: We Are Both American, (d) Awareness of Intersectionality: Sexism and Ageism, and (e) Admiration: Paying Respect. Although African American women reported similarities in their experiences, the differences across generational memberships were affected by societal influence on the African American community within education. This study supports the need for preparation of young African American women in future generations to enter the field of education with the skills necessary for advancement in educational leadership

A Multi-Generational Study of Aspiring African American Female Superintendents in Texas

Only 8 of the 1,247 public school districts served by the Texas Education Agency are headed by African American female superintendents. In order for African American women to be considered for the superintendency in Texas, they must understand the barriers marked by intersectional misconceptions. The narrative methodology focuses on accounts derived from experiences expressed in a form of storytelling. This correlates the conceptual framework with the variables of critical race theory (CRT), glass ceiling theory, and generational theory. This process was vital to understanding generational differences of African American women on the journey to the superintendency. This research focused on 22 African American women who were completing requirements for the superintendency, assigned to two separate groups for two methods of data collection. Through snowball sampling, six women were interviewed face to face. Through stratified sampling, 22 women completed an online survey consisting of open-ended questions. Research questions were developed from an exploratory question: In what ways does generation membership impact African American women’ leadership development? This research addressed five research questions regarding the differences in experiences of aspiring African American female superintendents related generational membership regarding racism, career mentorship, leadership, motivation to aspire to the position, and the work environment with other African American women in other generations. The research produced five emergent themes: (a) Racial Awareness: Legal Blinders, (b) African American Women Role Models: The Matriarch, (c) Diverse Leadership Styles: Mindset Shift, (d) Career Perspective: Change x Confidence, and (e) Guidance: Professional Expression. Five subthemes emerged: (a) Diverse Teaching Experience: Partition, (b) Early Leadership Development: School Favored, (c) Diverse Mentors: We Are Both American, (d) Awareness of Intersectionality: Sexism and Ageism, and (e) Admiration: Paying Respect. Although African American women reported similarities in their experiences, the differences across generational memberships were affected by societal influence on the African American community within education. This study supports the need for preparation of young African American women in future generations to enter the field of education with the skills necessary for advancement in educational leadership

Interview with Gladys Hillman Senti

An interview with Gladys Senti regarding her experiences in a one-room school house.https://scholars.fhsu.edu/ors/1176/thumbnail.jp

Next-Generation Beneficial Microbes : The Case of Akkermansia muciniphila

Metabolic disorders associated with obesity and cardiometabolic disorders are worldwide epidemic. Among the different environmental factors, the gut microbiota is now considered as a key player interfering with energy metabolism and host susceptibility to several non-communicable diseases. Among the next-generation beneficial microbes that have been identified, Akkermansia muciniphila is a promising candidate. Indeed, A. muciniphila is inversely associated with obesity, diabetes, cardiometabolic diseases and low-grade inflammation. Besides the numerous correlations observed, a large body of evidence has demonstrated the causal beneficial impact of this bacterium in a variety of preclinical models. Translating these exciting observations to human would be the next logic step and it now appears that several obstacles that would prevent the use of A. muciniphila administration in humans have been overcome. Moreover, several lines of evidence indicate that pasteurization of A. muciniphila not only increases its stability but more importantly increases its efficacy. This strongly positions A. muciniphila in the forefront of next-generation candidates for developing novel food or pharma supplements with beneficial effects. Finally, a specific protein present on the outer membrane of A. muciniphila, termed Amuc_1100, could be strong candidate for future drug development. In conclusion, as plants and its related knowledge, known as pharmacognosy, have been the source for designing drugs over the last century, we propose that microbes and microbiomegnosy, or knowledge of our gut microbiome, can become a novel source of future therapies.Peer reviewe

Utilizing the O-C Method to Determine Third-Body Existence in Eclipsing Binary Systems

Previous studies on the subject of eclipsing binaries (EBs) within the Kepler field have been adequately determined the period, distance, and other stellar parameters of these systems (Borkovits, et al. 2015). Additionally, with the use of Observed-minus-Calculated (O-C) plots, variation in the timing of timing of eclipses can be easily detected. The eclipse timing shifts may be caused by dynamical effects or by light-travel time effects (LTTE) caused by the existence of a third body. The following research was conducted on ten binaries within the Kepler “K2” Campaign 5 field whose light curves (LCs) showed evidence of eclipses with periods shorter than ten days. The timings of the eclipses were then investigated using the O-C method to search for variations and, if so, to deduce the cause of such variations and to determine the parameters of the binary

Hydrocarbon generation in relation to thrusting in the sub Andean zone from 18 to 22°S, Bolivia

Formation of the Bolivian eastern cordillera started at the end of the Oligocene and continues to the present day with thrusting affecting the Sub Andean Zone since late Miocene. The "classical" source rock is the Devonian, but the Silurian interval has some potential. Their initial original potential is not high but they are thick (700 m, Los Monos Fm) and may be thicker still due to stacking in thrust duplexes. The three phases of sedimentation during the Tertiary each start with conglomeratic deposits and are discordant over the previous one. Seismic data allow us to correlate these steps with three periods of tectonic accretion : Late Miocene (Tariquia Fm), Pliocene (Guandacay Fm) and Plio-Quaternary (Emborozu Fm). Modelling demonstrates two phases of hydrocarbon generation. A first phase from Devonian to Carboniferous is due to the deepening of the Palaeozoic basin. The second phase of maturation is due to the Tertiary deposits in the foreland and under the piggyback basins. The central aera (Santa Cruz) has never been more deeply buried than during the Palaeozoic and has been a high during the Tertiary. (Résumé d'auteur