bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Investigations of Water Balances of a Dune-Interdune Landscape during the Growing Season in the Horqin Sandy Land, Northeastern China
Authors: Zhou Xueya , Guan Dexin , Wu Jiabing , Yang Tingting , Yuan Fenghui , Musa Ala , Jin Changjie , Wang Anzhi , Zhang Yushu
Published: June 2017

Dune-interdune is the main landscape pattern of desert areas, such as the Horqin sandy land of Northeastern China. Exploring the temporal and spatial variation of the water balance is crucial for efficient vegetation restoration at the micro-landform scale. The SWMS-2D model was used to estimate the seasonal variations of the water balance including evapotranspiration, soil water storage changes, lateral flow and drainage, and to examine the effects of micro-landforms (i.e., the top, upper, down, and bottom positions of the dune slope, and the interdune lowland area) on these components from May to October 2013 and 2015. Results showed that the soil water content was sensitive to rainfall pulses, particularly large precipitation events. Over 70% of the total evapotranspiration occurred from June to August, with a maximum daily value of 6.56 mm. At a monthly scale, evapotranspiration was not synchronous with precipitation. The ratio of evapotranspiration to precipitation was 1.84, 0.39, 2.49, 0.93, 2.26, and 1.14 in May, June, July, August, September, and October 2013 (a wet year), respectively; and 2.40, 1.11, 0.69, 2.14, 1.07, and 1.11 in 2015 (a dry year), respectively. The components of the water balance were significantly different among different micro-landforms. Evapotranspiration of a lowland area was greater than that in other micro-landforms, and the value in the wet year (2013) was significantly greater than that in the dry year (2015). However, water consumption in the lowland area was similar in both years. At the top, upper, down, and bottom positions of the dune slope, the ratio of evapotranspiration to precipitation in the wet year (2013) was 96%, 97%, 86%, and 96%, respectively; while in the dry year (2015), the ratio was 103%, 103%, 88%, and 104%. Therefore, in the dry year, evapotranspiration was generally larger than precipitation, indicating that almost all water from precipitation was evaporated. The lateral flow of the root zone from top to bottom accounted for only a small portion of water budget at the growing season scale. The results could be generalized to other similar region with corresponding model calibration, and would help to reveal seasonal variations of water balance components under the local topography, climate, soil, and vegetation conditions.
Identifying Clusters of Complex Urban–Rural Issues as Part of Policy Making Process Using a Network Analysis Approach: A Case Study in Bahía de Los Ángeles, Mexico
Authors: Sandoval Javier , Castañón-Puga Manuel , Gaxiola-Pacheco Carelia , Suarez Eugenio
Published: June 2017

Improving human settlements diagnosis is a key factor in effective urban planning and the design of efficient policy making. In this paper, we illustrate how network theory concepts can be applied to reveal the topological structure of functional relationships in a network of heterogeneous urban–rural issues. This mapping is done using clustering algorithms and centrality value techniques. By analyzing emergent groups of urban–rural related issues, our methodology was applied to a rural community, considering in this exercise environmental matters and real estate interests as a way to better understand the structure of salient issues in the context of its urban development program design. Results show clusters that arrange themselves not by an obvious similarity in their constituent components, but by relations observed in urban–rural settings that hint on the issues that the urban development program must focus. Due to its complex nature, the classification of these emerging clusters and how they must be treated in traditional planning instruments is a new challenge that this novel methodology reveals.
A Novel Kernel-Based Regularization Technique for PET Image Reconstruction
Authors: Boudjelal Abdelwahhab , Messali Zoubeida , Elmoataz Abderrahim
Published: June 2017

Positron emission tomography (PET) is an imaging technique that generates 3D detail of physiological processes at the cellular level. The technique requires a radioactive tracer, which decays and releases a positron that collides with an electron; consequently, annihilation photons are emitted, which can be measured. The purpose of PET is to use the measurement of photons to reconstruct the distribution of radioisotopes in the body. Currently, PET is undergoing a revamp, with advancements in data measurement instruments and the computing methods used to create the images. These computer methods are required to solve the inverse problem of “image reconstruction from projection”. This paper proposes a novel kernel-based regularization technique for maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization ( κ -MLEM) to reconstruct the image. Compared to standard MLEM, the proposed algorithm is more robust and is more effective in removing background noise, whilst preserving the edges; this suppresses image artifacts, such as out-of-focus slice blur.
Monopole-Based Scenarios of Confinement and Deconfinement in 3D and 4D
Authors: Antonov Dmitry
Published: June 2017

This review discusses confinement, as well as the topological and critical phenomena, in the gauge theories which provide the condensation of magnetic monopoles. These theories include the 3D SU(N) Georgi-Glashow model, the 4D [U(1)] N - 1 -invariant compact QED , and the [U(1)] N - 1 -invariant dual Abelian Higgs model. After a general introduction to the string models of confinement, an analytic description of this penomenon is provided at the example of the 3D SU(N) Georgi-Glashow model, with a special emphasis placed on the so-called Casimir scaling of k-string tensions in that model. We further discuss the string representation of the 3D [U(1)] N - 1 -invariant compact QED, as well as of its 4D generalization with the inclusion of the Θ -term. We compare topological effects, which appear in the latter case, with those that take place in the 3D QED extended by the Chern-Simons term. We further discuss the string representation of the ’t Hooft-loop average in the [U(1)] N - 1 -invariant dual Abelian Higgs model extended by the Θ -term, along with the topological effects caused by this term. These topological effects are compared with those occurring in the 3D dual Abelian Higgs model (i.e., the dual Landau-Ginzburg theory) extended by the Chern-Simons term. In the second part of the review, we discuss critical properties of the weakly-coupled 3D confining theories. These theories include the 3D compact QED, along with its fermionic extension, and the 3D Georgi-Glashow model.
Advancing Water Footprint Assessment Research: Challenges in Monitoring Progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6
Authors: Hoekstra Arjen , Chapagain Ashok , Van Oel Pieter
Published: June 2017

This special issue is a collection of recent papers in the field of Water Footprint Assessment (WFA), an emerging area of research focused on the analysis of freshwater use, scarcity, and pollution in relation to consumption, production, and trade. As increasing freshwater scarcity forms a major risk to the global economy, sustainable management of water resources is a prerequisite to development. We introduce the papers in this special issue by relating them to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 of the United Nations, the goal on water. We will particularly articulate how each paper drives the understanding needed to achieve target 6.3 on water quality and pollution and target 6.4 on water-use efficiency and water scarcity. Regarding SDG 6, we conclude that it lacks any target on using green water more efficiently, and while addressing efficiency and sustainability of water use, it lacks a target on equitable sharing of water. The latter issue is receiving limited attention in research as well. By primarily focusing on water-use efficiency in farming and industries at the local level, to a lesser extent to using water sustainably at the level of total water systems (like drainage basins, aquifers), and largely ignoring issues around equitable water use, understanding of our water problems and proposed solutions will likely remain unbalanced.
Runoff Effect Evaluation of LID through SWMM in Typical Mountainous, Low-Lying Urban Areas: A Case Study in China
Authors: Luan Qinghua , Fu Xiaoran , Song Cuiping , Wang Haichao , Liu Jiahong , Wang Ying
Published: June 2017

Urban flooding occurs frequently in many regions of China. To reduce the losses caused by urban flooding, sponge city (SPC) and low-impact development (LID) have been carried out in many Chinese cities. However, urban flooding is influenced by various factors, such as climate, land cover characteristics and nearby river networks, so it is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of LID measures. In this study, the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) was adopted to simulate historical urban storm processes in the mountainous Fragrance Hills region of Beijing, China. Subsequently, numerical simulations were performed to evaluate how various LID measures (concave greenbelt, permeable pavement, bio-retention, vegetative swales, and comprehensive measures) influenced urban runoff reduction. The results showed that the LID measures are effective in controlling the surface runoff of the storm events with return periods shorter than five years, in particular, for one-year events. Furthermore, the effectiveness on traffic congestion mitigation of several LID measures (concave greenbelt, vegetative swales, and comprehensive measures) was evaluated. However, the effective return periods of storm events are shorter than two years if the effectiveness on traffic congestion relief is considered. In all evaluated aspects, comprehensive measures and concave greenbelts are the most effective, and vegetative swale is the least effective. This indicated that LID measures are less effective for removing ponding from most storm events in a mountainous, low-lying and backward pipeline infrastructure region with pressures from interval flooding and urban waterlogging. The engineering measures including water conservancy projects and pipeline infrastructure construction combined with the non-engineering measures were suggested to effectively control severe urban storms.
Methodology for Analyzing and Predicting the Runoff and Sediment into a Reservoir
Authors: Hao Chun-Feng , Qiu Jun , Li Fang-Fang
Published: June 2017

With the rapid economic growth in China, a large number of hydropower projects have been planned and constructed. The sediment deposition of the reservoirs is one of the most important disputes during the construction and operation, because there are many heavy sediment-laden rivers. The analysis and prediction of the runoff and sediment into a reservoir is of great significance for reservoir operation. With knowledge of the incoming runoff and sediment characteristics, the regulator can adjust the reservoir discharge to guarantee the water supply, and flush more sediment at appropriate times. In this study, the long-term characteristics of runoff and sediment, including trend, jump point, and change cycle, are analyzed using various statistical approaches, such as accumulated anomaly analysis, the Fisher ordered clustering method, and Maximum Entropy Spectral Analysis (MESA). Based on the characteristics, a prediction model is established using the Auto-Regressive Moving Average (ARIMA) method. The whole analysis and prediction system is applied to The Three Gorges Project (TGP), one of the biggest hydropower-complex projects in the world. Taking hydrologic series from 1955 to 2010 as the research objectives, the results show that both the runoff and the sediment are decreasing, and the reduction rate of sediment is much higher. Runoff and sediment into the TGP display cyclic variations over time, with a cycle of about a decade, but catastrophe points for runoff and sediment appear in 1991 and 2001, respectively. Prediction models are thus built based on monthly average hydrologic series from 2003 to 2010. ARIMA (1, 1, 1) × (1, 1, 1)12 and ARIMA (0, 1, 1) × (0, 1, 1)12 are selected for the runoff and sediment predictions, respectively, and the parameters of the models are also calibrated. The analysis of autocorrelation coefficients and partial autocorrelation coefficients of the residuals indicates that the models built in this study are feasible for representing and predicting the runoff and sediment inflow into the TGP with a high accuracy.
Spectroscopic Observation and Analysis of H ii Regions in M33 with MMT: Temperatures and Oxygen Abundances
Authors: Lin Zesen , Hu Ning , Kong Xu , Gao Yulong , Zou Hu , Wang Enci , Cheng Fuzhen , Fang Guanwen , Lin Lin , Wang Jing
Published: June 2017

The spectra of 413 star-forming (or H ii) regions in M33 (NGC 598) were observed using the multifiber spectrograph of Hectospec at the 6.5 m Multiple Mirror Telescope. Using this homogeneous spectra sample, we measured the intensities of emission lines and some physical parameters, such as electron temperatures, electron densities, and metallicities. Oxygen abundances were derived via the direct method (when available) and two empirical strong-line methods, namely, O3N2 and N2. At the high-metallicity end, oxygen abundances derived from the O3N2 calibration were higher than those derived from the N2 index, indicating an inconsistency between O3N2 and N2 calibrations. We present a detailed analysis of the spatial distribution of gas-phase oxygen abundances in M33 and confirm the existence of the axisymmetric global metallicity distribution that is widely assumed in the literature. Local variations were also observed and subsequently associated with spiral structures to provide evidence of radial migration driven by arms. Our O/H gradient fitted out to 1.1 R
25 resulted in slopes of −0.17 ± 0.03, −0.19 ± 0.01, and −0.16 ± 0.17 dex

, utilizing abundances from O3N2, N2 diagnostics, and a direct method, respectively.
Optical Variability of Narrow-line and Broad-line Seyfert 1 Galaxies
Authors: Rakshit Suvendu , Stalin C. S.
Published: June 2017

We studied the optical variability (OV) of a large sample of narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1) and broad-line Seyfert 1 (BLSy1) galaxies with z < 0.8 to investigate any differences in their OV properties. Using archival optical V-band light curves from the Catalina Real Time Transient Survey that span 5–9 years and modeling them using damped random walk, we estimated the amplitude of variability. We found that NLSy1 galaxies as a class show lower amplitude of variability than their broad-line counterparts. In the sample of both NLSy1 and BLSy1 galaxies, radio-loud sources are found to have higher variability amplitude than radio-quiet sources. Considering only sources that are detected in the X-ray band, NLSy1 galaxies are less optically variable than BLSy1 galaxies. The amplitude of variability in the sample of both NLSy1 and BLSy1 galaxies is found to be anti-correlated with Fe ii strength but correlated with the width of the Hβ line. The well-known anti-correlation of variability–luminosity and the variability–Eddington ratio is present in our data. Among the radio-loud sample, variability amplitude is found to be correlated with radio-loudness and radio-power, suggesting that jets also play an important role in the OV in radio-loud objects, in addition to the Eddington ratio, which is the main driving factor of OV in radio-quiet sources.
Galaxy Evolution in the Radio Band: The Role of Star-forming Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei
Authors: Mancuso C. , Lapi A. , Prandoni I. , Obi I. , Gonzalez-Nuevo J. , Perrotta F. , Bressan A. , Celotti A. , Danese L.
Published: June 2017

We investigate the astrophysics of radio-emitting star-forming galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and elucidate their statistical properties in the radio band, including luminosity functions, redshift distributions, and number counts at sub-mJy flux levels, which will be crucially probed by next-generation radio continuum surveys. Specifically, we exploit the model-independent approach by Mancuso et al. to compute the star formation rate functions, the AGN duty cycles, and the conditional probability of a star-forming galaxy to host an AGN with given bolometric luminosity. Coupling these ingredients with the radio emission properties associated with star formation and nuclear activity, we compute relevant statistics at different radio frequencies and disentangle the relative contribution of star-forming galaxies and AGNs in different radio luminosity, radio flux, and redshift ranges. Finally, we highlight that radio-emitting star-forming galaxies and AGNs are expected to host supermassive black holes accreting with different Eddington ratio distributions and to occupy different loci in the galaxy main-sequence diagrams. These specific predictions are consistent with current data sets but need to be tested with larger statistics via future radio data with multiband coverage on wide areas, as will become routinely achievable with the advent of the Square Kilometre Array and its precursors.
Predictive Value of Tracheal Rapid Ultrasound Exam Performed in the Emergency Department for Verification of Tracheal Intubation
Authors: Masoumi Babak Babak , Azizkhani Reza , Emam Gilava Hedayati , Asgarzadeh Morteza , Kharazi Behrouz Zagar
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND: Verification of the correct placement of the endotracheal tube (ETT) has been one of the most challenging issues of airway management in the field of emergency medicine. Early detection of oesophagal intubation through a reliable method is important for emergency physicians.AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of tracheal rapid ultrasound exam (TRUE) to assess endotracheal tube misplacement during emergency intubation.METHODS: This was an observational prospective study performed in the emergency department of the major tertiary referral hospital in the city. We included a consecutive selection of 100 patients. TRUE was performed for all these patients, and subsequently, quantitative waveform capnography was done. The later test is considered as the gold standard.RESULTS: From our total 100 eligible patients, 93 (93%) participants had positive TRUE results (tracheal intubation) and 7 (7%) patients have negative TRUE results (esophageal intubation). Quantitative waveform capnography report of all 93 (100%) patients who had positive TRUE was positive (appropriate tracheal placement). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of TRUE for detecting appropriate tracheal placement of ETT were 98.9% (95% CI, 93.3% to 99.8%), 100% (95% CI, 51.6% to 100%), 100% (95% CI, 95.1% to 100%) and 85.7% (95% CI, 42% to 99.2%) respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Performing TRUE is convenient and feasible in many emergency departments and pre-hospital settings. We would recommend emergency units explore the possibility of using TRUE as a method in the assessment of proper ETT placement.
Online Monitoring of Manufacturing Process Based on autoCEP
Authors: Lei Qu Jing , Bo Li Shao , Kun Chen Jing
Published: June 2017

Complex Event Processing (CEP), which can identify patterns of interest from a large number of continuous data steam, is becoming more and more popular in manufacturing process monitoring. CEP rules are specified manually by domain expert, which is a limiting factor for its application in manufacturing enterprises. How to analysis historical data and automatically generate CEP rules is becoming a challenge research. This paper proposed a model of autoCEP for online monitoring in product manufacturing, which can automatically generate CEP rules based on association rules mining in key processes. First, the key quality factors in manufacturing process were extracted by grey entropy correlation analysis. Then, association rules mining method based on product process constraints was used to find the association rules between key factors and product quality. At last, the extracted rules are algorithmically transformed into CEP rules. The experimental results show the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method.
Real-time Resource Positioning System based on Wireless Sensor Network in Manufacturing Workshop
Authors: Shaobo Li , Jinglei Qu , Chenglong Zhang
Published: June 2017

Discrete manufacturing enterprise has a complex and varied production process, which causes manufacturing resources have dynamic characteristics. Aiming at the efficient collect and management of manufacturing resource information, improve the enterprise’ intellectualization, a real-time resource positioning system based on wireless sensor network was proposed. Firstly, a perceptual model for resource positioning was designed, which can collect and analysis real-time resources information in the workshop. Meanwhile, the architectural structure of real-time resources positioning system was designed based on wireless sensor network and the resources positioning flow was illustrated. Aiming at the low positioning accuracy caused by electromagnetic interference and obstacle in manufacturing workshop environment, a multi-sensor positioning data fusion algorithm based on fuzzy evidence theory was proposed. Finally, a prototype system is implemented to demonstrate the validity of the method in practice.
Sem sombra para descansar: etnografia de funerais na África do Sul contemporânea
Authors: Borges Antonádia
Published: June 2017

Este texto, ancorado em um trabalho etnográfico levado a cabo na África do Sul desde 2006, traz à tona o engajamento de farm dwellers da região de Kwazulu-Natal para que os funerais de seus parentes se realizem no interior de fazendas onde residem, mas que pertencem a fazendeiros brancos. Em um primeiro momento, apresentamos brevemente peças de legislação chamadas acts, que abrem o caminho para um entendimento mais nuançado dos quatro casos etnográficos trabalhados em seguida. Por fim, concluímos com algumas reflexões sobre o que os funerais e os ancestrais nos ensinam sobre o valor da terra como propriedade intelectual.
Descubriendo la naturaleza. Derecho natural y ordenamiento territorial indigena en la Amazonia colombiana
Authors: Cayón Luis
Published: June 2017

Este artigo analisa uma proposta de Ordenamento Territorial Indígena apresentada ao Estado colombiano por ACIYA (Asociación de Capitanes Indígenas del Yaigojé-Apaporis), uma organização indígena local da Amazônia, no ano 2000. A proposta faz parte de um processo que visa consolidar os novos direitos dados aos índios pela Constituição de 1991 -como a autonomia dos seus territórios, formas de organização e de vida-, mas ao mesmo tempo está enquadrada na perspectiva do desenvolvimento sustentável. Os índios misturam categorias nativas e ocidentais para validar às suas reivindicações, em especial às de Direito Natural e “manejo do mundo”. Focando nestas duas categorias, se examina seu uso e concluise que a proposta opera como uma forma de “colonização da consciência” que pode levar aos indígenas a descobrir a noção ocidental de natureza.
O que nos une
Authors: Velho Otávio
Published: June 2017

A Conferência trata da importância da América Latina e do pensamento crítico latino-americano para a antropologia do Brasil. Pretende também homenagear Roberto Cardoso de Oliveira por seu pioneirismo na atenção concedida a esta região e esse pensamento. Para isso busca mostrar os traços dessa influência em sua trajetória. Mostra ainda a relação entre o pensamento latino-americano e outras tendências contemporâneas, como a crítica ao eurocentrismo (representada na antropologia por Jack Goody), acentuando a sua originalidade
Violência homicida no nordeste brasileiro: uma refutação às explicações baseadas na desigualdade e na pobreza
Authors: Jr José Maria Nóbrega , Zaverucha Jorge
Published: June 2017

A violência homicida é crescente no Nordeste. De 1996 a 2008 o impacto percentual foi na ordem de 106% nos números absolutos, num crescimento linear na série histórica. O Nordeste é conhecido pela desigualdade e pela pobreza. O objetivo central deste trabalho é avaliar o grau de relação da desigualdade e da pobreza com a violência homicida. Os dados utilizados foram resgatados do Sistema de Informação de Mortalidade (SIM/SUS) e do IBGE/IPEADATA.No confronto dos dados de homicídios com as macrovariatas socioeconômicas utilizadas como proxy para desigualdade e pobreza, concluímos que não há relação entre as variáveis, ou seja, refutamos que, no Nordeste em geral, e em Pernambuco em particular, a violência homicida seja explicada (ou causada) pela desigualdade/pobreza.
O regime tutelar na formação do índio: aspectos da sobrevivência e da sociabilidade dos Avá-canoeiro sob um programa do indigenismo empresarial
Authors: Silva Cristhian Teófilo da
Published: June 2017

O problema da permanência dos Avá-canoeiro, em seus próprios termos, apesar do regime tutelar que visa intermediar suas relações com o mundo externo, nos obriga a questionar: quais são as formas cotidianas pelas quais os Avá-canoeiro podem sustentar sua visão de mundo considerando que sua sociedade foi violentamente destruída? Este artigo apreende a mudança das relações interétnicas entre os Avá-canoeiro sobreviventes no alto rio Tocantins e os brancos, reconhecendo que, por mais que o genocídio tenha tido consequências específicas sobre a vida social dos Avá-canoeiro, ela não limitou a possibilidade de eles recriarem a tradição nos moldes de uma sociabilidade tutelada. O artigo será desenvolvido através de uma comparação controlada entre o padrão das relações interétnicas na Terra Indígena Avá-Canoeiro e o tipo ideal das interações sociais estabelecidas no interior das instituições totais.
Eleições na aldeia ou o Alto Xingu contra o Estado?
Authors: Vanzolini Marina
Published: June 2017

O artigo propõe uma releitura da noção de sociedade contra o Estado, de Pierre Clastres, a partir da análise de algumas dinâmicas observadas na vida política dos Aweti, povo tupi do Alto Xingu (MT). A história de uma eleição municipal na qual concorreram ao cargo de vereador alguns candidatos indígenas, bem como a saga de um chefe aweti “nomeado” e “deposto” num intervalo de quinze anos, servem de ponto de partida para a descrição de aspectos centrais da chefia xinguana, que dizem respeito a como se faz um chefe, o que ele faz, e como pode ser desfeito. Num primeiro momento, é problematizada a questão da transmissão hereditária de posto ou status, aspecto que tem sido usado como indicativo de que o Alto Xingu apresenta uma estrutura política que poderia ter evoluído para formas “complexas” (internamente diferenciada em termos de classes), fato que invalidaria a tese de Clastres sobre uma lógica indígena anti-centralização. Em seguida, são enfocados tantos o processo de constituição mútua entre um chefe e sua comunidade, quanto os mecanismos internos à chefia que marcariam o limite do poder de um líder representativo. O argumento central do trabalho é que devemos seguir as oposições internas aos grupos locais – e não entre grupos locais, como por vezes insistia Clastres – para identificar o mecanismo (ou um mecanismo) contra o Estado na vida política xinguana.
Violence Against Children in Botswana
Authors: Jankey Odireleng Mildred , Maundeni Tapologo
Published: June 2017

Violence against children is a profound violation of human rights that has far-reaching consequences for children's well-being. Experiences of violence can lead to lasting physical, mental, and emotional harm, regardless of whether a child is a direct victim or witness. Violence against children cuts across geographic boundaries, culture, race, class, religion, educational and socio-economic backgrounds. Yet, it is under- researched in the context of developing countries such as Botswana. Most research on interpersonal violence in developing countries has been conducted on women. This chapter analyses the complex and multifaceted issue of violence against children (VaC) in Botswana. It discusses the types and contexts of violence that children are exposed to; the effects of violence on children; the risk factors for VaC; and the existing approaches to addressing the issue. The chapter uses documents as source materials. It concludes by charting the way forward for research, practice, and policy.
The Socioeconomic Status Label Associated With Mathematics
Authors: Feza Nosisi Nellie
Published: June 2017

The socioeconomic status of learners has implications for research and the provision of mathematics education. Literature has shown that learners from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background begin their education with a gap. Hence, a lot of research advocates for quality early childhood stimulation, aiming to close such gaps. The South African government-commissioned reviews which discovered that the challenges faced by ECD provision are inequities and poor quality education in some schools. Furthermore, mathematics assessment studies' results point to poor foundational knowledge of learners, especially those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. However, little is known about the level of numeracy knowledge possessed by these learners before they enter the reception class. Interviews with 26 reception class learners conducted at the beginning of the year revealed that they demonstrate numeracy knowledge and skills that are above the curriculum expectations which shows a challenge to the kind of educator these learners are exposed to as they do not have formal teacher training.
Words Were All We Had
Authors: Goulette Elizabeth
Published: June 2017

Language and identity are inextricably intertwined. Over the years, countless Hispanic students have been categorized dichotomously in schools in ways that marginalize their language practices and restrict their evolving identities. American public schools often unjustly force Hispanic students to deny who they are, stripping them of the ability to retain their self-claimed identity and linguistic freedom. This common practice in American schools is nothing short of social injustice. Therefore, the overall purpose of this study was to illuminate and more deeply understand Hispanic youth's experiences in schools and to examine closely through analysis of classroom discourse and interaction the identities and ideologies that come into play in FLL-HLL mixed classrooms. The analysis presented in this chapter reveals critical information about how these diverse students see themselves, information that might otherwise be constrained by schooling practices (i.e. labeling and categorization), which marginalize rather than empower diverse students.
Giving to the Visual Arts
Authors: Glazer Lauren
Published: June 2017

This chapter examines various reasons for individuals to donate to the arts, focusing on both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Materials from organizations such as the Knight Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts are included to illustrate who sponsors the arts apart from individuals. A variety of donors' interviews are included in this examination to further understand who gives to the arts and what motivates them including reasons such as civic duty, providing education, and other personal reasons.
Assessing Engagement During the Online Assessment of Real-World Skills
Authors: Harmes J. Christine , Wise Steven L.
Published: June 2017

The assessment of real-world skills will often require complex and innovative types of computer-based test items to provide more authentic assessment. Having information about how students remain engaged with the various innovative elements during an assessment is useful in both assessing the utility of different types of innovative test items and assessing the validity of the inferences made about the test scores of individual students. This chapter introduces the Item Engagement Index (IEI) and the Student Engagement Index (SEI) and demonstrates their use with a variety of innovative items that were pilot tested for a nursing licensure exam. The IEI provided useful information about the amount of student effort each innovative item received, while the SEI was found useful in identifying disengaged test takers.
Saving Face in Online Learning
Authors: Kushnir Lena Paulo , Berry Kenneth
Published: June 2017

Advancements in technology and innovations in education allow universities to entertain new ways of teaching and learning. This chapter presents quasi-experimental data of how various online tools and teaching strategies impact student learning outcomes, satisfaction, and engagement. Specific variables impacting social presence, affect, cognition, etc., were tested to determine their impact on different student outcomes such as grades, feelings of isolation, student engagement, and perceived authenticity of course materials in a second-year Introductory Psychology course. Findings suggest that, despite the literature, only some factors had a significant impact on student outcomes and that while some course activities transferred well online, others did not; peer activities and participation in some course components particularly were hindered online. Considered here are students' experiences with online learning, including hybrid and inverted courses, and teaching strategies that help meet challenges in different higher-education learning contexts.
Challenge-Based Learning Using iPad Technology in the Middle School
Authors: Bledsoe Christie , Pilgrim Jodi
Published: June 2017

Instructional models such as Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) reflect changes in traditional methods of teaching. CBL, developed by Apple, promotes problem-based learning, where collaboration and hands-on learning are key elements in the process (Larmer, Ross, & Mergendoller, 2009). Today's learners must develop information literacy and media literacy skills to communicate by way of 21st century tools, and new instructional models reflect these changes. The integration of technology in the classroom has affected education models in elementary and secondary schools across the nation. This chapter presents a mixed-methods study of a middle school involved in a one-to-one iPad initiative. In order to promote student-centered instruction through the use of technology, the middle school adopted a CBL model of instruction. This examination of teachers' concerns with pedagogy and technology depicts readiness for integration and implications of new innovations. The process of change and technology integration is addressed in this chapter.
Active Student Engagement Through the Use of WebEx, MindTap, and a Residency Component to Teach a Masters Online Group Counseling Course
Authors: Dames Levette S. , Royal Chadwick , Sawyer-Kurian Kyla M.
Published: June 2017

Group counseling is one of the core counseling courses which students need in order to receive their degrees. As group counseling is an experiential course, counselor educators must think strategically and creatively when developing this course to be delivered online to ensure that positive outcomes are achieved. Hence, this chapter explores the development, implantations and lessons learned from such a course. We will specifically discuss the integration of WebEx, MindTap/Coursemate, and a residency component that enhances the delivery of this master's level group counseling online course and by encouraging active engagement of both the students and instructor alike. The development and implementation of the online group course is guided by Bandura's theory. An informal evaluation from a previous online group counseling course using these modes will also be discussed. Implications for instructors and students will be included.
Optimized Energy Consumption and Demand Side Management in Smart Grid
Authors: Ahmad Sadiq , Ahmad Ayaz , Yaqub Raziq
Published: June 2017

This chapter reviews prevailing methodologies and future techniques to optimize energy consumption. It discerns that smart grid provides better tools and equipment to control and monitor the consumer load, and optimize the energy consumption. Smart grid is essentially composed of smart energy equipment, advance metering infrastructure and Phasor Measurement Units (Synchrophaors) that helps to achieve optimized energy consumption. The chapter also places focus on demand side management and optimized energy consumption scheduling; and establishes that both, the utilities, as well as the users can play a vital role in intelligent energy consumption and optimization. The literature review also reveals smart protection, self-healing systems and off-peak operation result in minimizing transmission and distribution losses, as well as optimizing the energy consumption.
Assessing the Utilization of Automata in Representing Players' Behaviors in Game Theory
Authors: Suwais Khaled
Published: June 2017

Representing players' strategies in game theory has a direct impact on the players' performance. The state of art shows that automata are one of the primary techniques used for representing players' strategies and behaviors. In this paper, the author will identify different types of automata and assess their utilization in the field of game theory. Is has been found that finite automata, adaptive automata, and cellular automata are widely adopted in game theory. The utilization of finite automata is found to be limited to represent simpler players' behavior. On the other hand, adaptive automata and cellular automata are intensively applied in complex environments, where the number of interacted players is large and therefore, representing complex behaviors are needed.
Services of Mobile Commerce
Authors: Sharma Mukta
Published: June 2017

Mobile phones have been coined by Martin Cooper with a thought of staying connected anytime anywhere. With the development of mobile phones in 1973 and its commercialization later; has proliferated not only the big business houses but also small businesses and individuals. Mobile phones have come a long way from talking on a mobile phone, texting a message to efficiently using internet. These days mobile commerce is the booming technology which has enhanced industries visibility and the way of conducting business. The customers are getting benefited by using these Apps they can shop anytime, anywhere; they get good discounts, companies are offering good return policies for better CRM and above all the customers have a provision to compare the cost before ordering and can pay COD. The study will focus on the concept of mobile phone, mobile commerce, characteristics of M-Commerce, Drivers affecting the mobile commerce, various services offered on mobile. The chapter focuses on potential of mobile commerce, how the customer is benefited from these services.
User Acceptance and Mobile Payment Security
Authors: Urmetzer Florian , Walinski Isabelle
Published: June 2017

There have been multiple studies detailing mobile payment and its market potential. There is a gap in the literature when it comes to the study of acceptance factors focusing on security and trust. The researchers asked which qualities of security have an influence on the acceptance of a mobile payment service provider. Therefore this study will focus on distinguishing security in two dimensions: objective and subjective security. Objective security represents the user's perception of existing technical safety mechanisms. Subjective security is intangible, based on the user's feelings and perception towards security (trust). The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was the theoretical model used in the study. About three hundred responses were collected using an online questionnaire. The study showed that despite the financial crisis banks are still the preferred providers for mobile payment services, where over 80% of the respondents would like to receive the service from a bank. In contrast, only 20% would like to receive such a service from a mobile phone producer. Additionally objective security does not substantially increase subjective security; hence the user trusts the provider rather than the technology itself.
The Impact of E-Commerce on the Clothing Retailers
Authors: Ge Tianlong , Liu Zheng , Ma Lei
Published: June 2017

In the past 10 years, e-commerce has developed rapidly in the clothing industry. Many companies seek strategies to expand, innovate, and restructure, and the traditional impact from manufacturing is gradually replaced by customer relationship. E-commerce provides opportunities for both large clothing companies and small retailers. In China, the largest emerging country, there is also a trend for clothing companies to market and establish customer relationship online. This chapter focuses on how Chinese clothing retailers compete through e-commerce platform. It starts with an introduction of clothing industry, supply chain and e-commerce practice from literature perspectives. Then, there are industry review and cases studies into five Chinese clothing companies with a highlight on their management in the context of e-commerce and customer relationship. Discussion will be made to address the critical issues, followed by a summary of the chapter.
Cross-Cultural Study of Online User Behavior in Fashion E-Commerce
Authors: Peng Fanke , An Ni , Vecchi Alessandra
Published: June 2017

Adopting the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) – perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use (Davis, Bagozzi, & Waeshaw, 1989) and Customer Buying Decision Process (Engel, Kollat, & Blackwell, 1968), this research examines the role of culture in influencing online shopping use, comparing differences across two continents and countries: Britain and China. Qualitative data obtained through the semi-structured focus group interviews was analysed using content analysis, which involves examining the accumulated data for ideas and constructs that have been pre-determined. The TAM held for the U.K. This project also explores whether the relationships hold for the emerging Chinese market.
An Empirical Study of the Factors Affecting Mobile Shopping in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Yi-Fen , Lan Yu-Chen
Published: June 2017

Mobile commerce has already become one of the trends in future developments. Therefore, mobile shopping in application of mobile commerce will become one of the services with a vast development potential. A technology acceptance model (TAM) with trust is utilized to explore influence of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness in mobile shopping on customers' attitudes and behavioral intention to use, mobility, convenience and information richness, characterized by mobile commerce. An online survey was performed on a sample of 600 mobile users in Taiwan. Structural equation models (SEM) are used to examine hypotheses within the theoretical framework.
How Can E-Vendors Create Trust in B2C and C2C Contexts?
Authors: San-Martín Sonia , Camarero Carmen
Published: June 2017

One of the most important and the most difficult challenges in the context of an online as opposed to an offline purchase is how to generate consumer trust. It is likely that the signals that generate trust will differ in online C2C auctions from online B2C purchasing through other Websites. This chapter follows signaling theory and presents a model that attempts to capture the effects of Website signals and perceived risk on consumer trust and draws comparisons between C2C and B2C online contexts using multigroup analysis. Using information collected from a sample of online buyers, results show that vendors should stress the quality of information given to the client on C2C Websites, the offer of a wide variety of competitive prices, and the guarantee of meeting deadlines, whereas in the case of B2C sites there seem to be a series of factors that create trust in a balanced way.
Navigating Through Choppy Waters of PCI DSS Compliance
Authors: Nanda Amrita , Popat Priyal , Vimalkumar Deepak
Published: June 2017

PCI Data Security Standard is increasingly becoming one of the major compliance requirements all organizations are concerned about. This chapter taking a holistic approach, provides an overview of various components of PCI DSS. We discuss various versions of PCI DSS and the industries affected by this standard, the scope and requirements to comply and hesitation on part of most companies to imbibe it. We also look at the high-profile credit card breaches which have occurred recently and their impact on concerned industries. Additionally, we focus on the challenges faced by financial institutions to effectively meet PCI DSS requirements. Based on our analysis of different requirements of PCI DSS, challenges faced by organizations and recent security breaches of companies which were PCI DSS complaint at the time of breach, we propose recommendations to help organizations secure their cardholder data beyond the achieved compliance in place.
Guidelines Based on Need-Findings Study and Communication Types to Design Interactions for MOOCs
Authors: Jiménez-González Sandra G. , Mendoza-González Ricardo , Luna-García Huizilopoztli
Published: June 2017

Experts affirm that interaction in learning settings represent a necessary process for knowledge acquisition and cognitive development. In this vein, is crucial to ensure effective interaction and communication through the user interface of MOOCs. This work proposes a set of design guidelines as starting point for developers to integrate a set of interactive elements into the MOOCs' user interface oriented to foster the four basic types for communication in distance education. The design guidelines were conformed through a need-findings process (observing people-interviewing), in which 35 participants provided their user experience perceptions after using MOOCs from edX; Coursera; and Udacity. Obtained results suggest a particular set of interactive communication elements that should be incorporated in every MOOC's user interface.
Enhancing Learning Opportunities Through Development of Open and Distance Education in Africa
Authors: Pande Suresh Kumar
Published: June 2017

Africa's success in today's information-based world economy will require an accelerated demographic transition to a flexible, educated, and healthy workforce. An analysis presented in the World Bank's “Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?” states that African economies will need to replace reliance on natural resources with skilled labour in order to halt the erosion of its share in world trade and to achieve a reduction in poverty (World Bank, 2001). Tilak (2009) submits that only between 6 and 7% of those qualified to obtain tertiary education do get placement in African universities. As a result of this shortage of places in African universities, many qualified candidates turned their search towards open and distance learning institutions. The growth of information and communication technologies has facilitated the expansion of open and distance mode of education. On the African Continent where resources are scarce and higher education provision is poor, ODL has been accepted as a viable, cost effective means of expanding provision without costly outlay in infrastructure.
Cooperation and Competition Among Regions
Authors: Santana Arminda Almeida , Gil Sergio Moreno
Published: June 2017

Many brands exist within the tourism industry. Territorial brands exist at local, regional, national, and supranational level where they overlap and are interrelated. Therefore, it is necessary that tourist destinations develop and manage their brands to obtain a strong differentiated position in the competitive market. This study analyzed relationships between destinations in the new global scenario. It aimed to improve brand architecture and increase tourist loyalty. A comprehensive analysis considering 6,964 tourists from 17 countries was applied. The study offered recommendations to destinations in order to expand the design of marketing activities, improve coopetition strategies, and advance competitiveness. The results confirmed that the destinations must adapt their promotional strategies to the new global landscape of interconnected business. In addition, they need to develop strategies for horizontal loyalty between destinations.