bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics, sources, and reactions of nitrous acid during winter at an urban site in the Central Plains Economic Region in China
Authors: Hao Qi , Jiang Nan , Zhang Ruiqin , Yang Liuming , Li Shengli
Published: June 2020

Abstract. Nitrous acid (HONO) in the core city of the Central Plains Economic Region in China was measured using an ambient ion monitor from 9 to 31 January 2019.
Measurement time intervals were classified into the following periods in
accordance with the daily mean values of PM2.5: clean days (CDs),
polluted days (PDs), and severely polluted days (SPDs). The HONO
concentrations during CD, PD, and SPD periods were 1.2, 2.3, and 3.7 ppbv,
respectively. The contributions of the homogeneous reaction, heterogeneous
conversion, and direct emissions to HONO sources varied under different
pollution levels. The mean values of the net HONO production of the
homogeneous reaction (POH+NOnet) in CD,
PD, and SPD periods were 0.13, 0.26, and 0.56 ppbv h−1, respectively.
The average conversions of NO2 (CHONO) in CD, PD, and SPD periods
were 0.72×10-2, 0.64×10-2, and 1.54×10-2 h−1, respectively, indicating that the heterogeneous
conversion of NO2 was less important than the homogeneous reaction.
Furthermore, the net production of the homogeneous reaction may have been
the main factor in the increase of HONO under high-NOx conditions
(i.e., when the concentration of NO was higher than that of NO2) at
nighttime. Daytime HONO budget analysis showed that the mean values of the
unknown source (Punknown) during CD, PD, and SPD periods were 0.26,
0.40, and 1.83 ppbv h−1, respectively. The values of
POH+NOnet, CHONO, and Punknown
in the SPDs period were comparatively larger than those in other periods,
indicating that HONO participated in many reactions. The proportions of
nighttime HONO sources also changed during the entire sampling period.
Direct emissions and a heterogeneous reaction controlled HONO production in
the first half of the night and provided a contribution that is larger than that of
the homogeneous reaction. The proportion of homogenization gradually
increased in the second half of the night due to the steady increase in NO
concentrations. The hourly level of HONO abatement pathways, except for OH + HONO, was at least 0.22 ppbv h−1 in the SPDs period. The cumulative
frequency distribution of the HONOemission∕HONO ratio (less than
20 %) was approximately 77 %, which suggested that direct emission was
not important. The heterogeneous HONO production increased when the relative
humidity (RH) increased, but it decreased when RH increased further. The
average HONO∕NOx ratio (4.9 %) was more than twice the assumed
globally averaged value (2.0 %).
Correcting the impact of the isotope composition on the mixing ratio dependency of water vapour isotope measurements with cavity ring-down spectrometers
Authors: Weng Yongbiao , Touzeau Alexandra , Sodemann Harald
Published: June 2020

Abstract. Recent advances in laser spectroscopy enable high-frequency in situ measurements of the isotope composition of water vapour. At low water vapour mixing ratios, however, the measured stable water isotope composition can be substantially affected by a measurement artefact known as the mixing ratio dependency, which is commonly considered independent of the isotope composition. Here we systematically investigate how the mixing ratio dependency, in a range from 500 to 23 000 ppmv of three commercial cavity ring-down spectrometers, is affected by the isotope composition of water vapour. We find that the isotope composition of water vapour has a substantial and systematic impact on the mixing ratio dependency for all three analysers, particularly at mixing ratios below 4000 ppmv. This isotope composition dependency can create a deviation of ±0.5 ‰ and ±6.0 ‰ for δ18O and δD, respectively, at ∼2000 ppmv, resulting in about 2 ‰–3 ‰ deviation for the d-excess. An assessment of the robustness of our findings shows that the overall behaviour is reproducible over up to 2 years for different dry gas supplies, while being independent of the method for generating the water vapour and being the first order of the evaluation sequence. We propose replacing the univariate mixing ratio dependency corrections with a new, combined isotope composition–mixing ratio dependency correction. Using aircraft- and ship-based measurements in an Arctic environment, we illustrate a relevant application of the correction. Based on our findings, we suggest that the dependency on the isotope composition may be primarily related to spectroscopy. Repeatedly characterising the combined isotope composition–mixing ratio dependency of laser spectrometers when performing water vapour measurements at high elevations, on aircraft, or in polar regions appears critical to enable reliable data interpretation in dry environments.
Evaluation of ERA5, MERRA-2, COSMO-REA6, NEWA and AROME to simulate wind power production over France
Authors: Jourdier Bénédicte
Published: June 2020

Abstract. As variable renewable energies are developing, their impacts on the electric system are growing. To anticipate these impacts, prospective studies may use wind power production simulations in the form of 1 h or 30 min time series that are often based on reanalysis wind-speed data. The purpose of this study is to assess how several wind-speed datasets are performing when used to simulate wind-power production at the local scale, when no observation is available to use bias correction methods. The study evaluates two global reanalysis (MERRA-2 from NASA and ERA5 from ECMWF), two high-resolution models (COSMO-REA6 reanalysis from DWD, AROME NWP model from Météo-France) and the New European Wind Atlas mesoscale data.
The study is conducted over continental France. In a first part, wind-speed measurements (between 55 and 100 m above ground) at eight locations are directly compared to modelled wind speeds. In a second part, 30 min wind-power productions are simulated for every wind farm in France and compared to two open datasets of observed production published by the distribution and transmission system operators, either at the local scale in terms of annual bias, or aggregated at the regional scale, in terms of bias, correlations and diurnal cycles. ERA5 is very skilled, despite its low resolution compared to the regional models, but it underestimates wind speeds, especially in mountainous areas. AROME and COSMO-REA6 have better skills in complex areas and have generally low biases. MERRA-2 and NEWA have large biases and overestimate wind speeds especially at night. Several problems affecting diurnal cycles are detected in ERA5 and COSMO-REA6.
Particles under stress: Ultrasonication causes size and recovery rate artifacts with soil derived POM, but not with microplastics
Authors: Büks Frederick , Kayser Gilles , Zieger Antonia , Lang Friederike , Kaupenjohann Martin
Published: June 2020

Abstract. The breakdown of soil aggregates and the extraction of particulate organic matter (POM) by ultrasonication and density fractionation is a method widely used in soil organic matter (SOM) analyses. It has recently also been used for the extraction of microplastic from soil samples. However, the investigation of some POM physiochemical properties and ecological functions might be biased, if particles are comminuted during the treatment. In this work, different types of POM, which are representative for different terrestrial ecosystems and anthropogenic influences, were tested for their structural stability in face of ultrasonication in a range of 0 to 500 J ml−1. The occluded particulate organic matter (oPOM) of an agricultural and forest soil as well as pyrochar showed a significant reduction of particle size at ≥ 50 J ml−1 by an average factor of 1.37 ± 0.16 and a concurrent reduction of recovery rates by an average of 21.7 ± 10.7 % when being extracted. Our results imply that ultrasonication causes an imitated carry-over of POM to more strongly bound fractions or to the mineral-associated organic matter (MOM) due to enhanced attraction to the mineral phase, which could e.g. lead to a false estimation of physical stabilization. In contrast, neither fresh nor weathered polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) microplastics showed a reduction of particle size or the recovery rate after application of ultrasound. We conclude that ultrasonication applied to soils has no impact on microplastic size distribution and thus provides a valuable tool for the assessment of microplastics in soils and soil aggregates.
No people, no problem – narrativity, conflict, and justice in debates on deep-seabed mining
Authors: Schmidt Oscar , Rivera Manuel
Published: June 2020

Abstract. While the idea of extracting deep-seabed resources dates back to as early as
the 1960s, it remained pure fiction for decades due to limited technical
possibilities and prohibitive costs. In recent years, against the backdrop
of changing technical possibilities and a persistently high demand for raw
materials, deep-seabed mining (DSM) has returned to the international
political agenda. While numerous fact-finding missions engage in mapping
the ocean's resources and public–private partnerships prepare to make an active
engagement in mining the seabed, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is entrusted with the development of a legal framework for possible future
mining in accordance with the requirements defined under the UN Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The preparations for DSM are accompanied and ultimately shaped by a discourse on possible opportunities and risks of
mining the deep seabed. The paper at hand traces dominant discursive
positions and their narrative structures as a way of explaining the relative
success or failure of DSM proponents who speak in favor of mining the seabed
and DSM critics who warn against its striking environmental impacts and
inestimable risks. We proceed from the observation that the historic
discourse on the deep sea beyond national jurisdiction was rooted in what we
call “narratives of promise” regarding global procedural and distributive
justice, environmental health, and peaceful international cooperation. Our
findings show how in today's debates the theme of global marine justice,
which dominated the historic DSM discourse, is close to a “nonstory”. DSM is commonly narrated as a merely technocratic and
apolitical process that appears to be free of social and environmental
conflict. We conclude by arguing that to arrive at more successful critical
narratives on DSM will require more pronounced depictions of the negative
consequences in particular for humans, exposing the “politics” in DSM
policy making and developing more competitive stories on alternatives to DSM.
Operating Under Erasure: Race/Language/Identity
Authors: Ibrahim Awad
Published: June 2020

Based on a critical ethnographic research project, this paper is about the impact of becoming Black on ESL learning; that is, the interrelation between identity formation, identification, race, culture and second language learning. It contends that a group of French-speaking immigrant and refugee continental francophone African youths who are attending an urban Franco-Ontarian high school in south- western Ontario, Canada, enters, so to speak, a social imaginary, a discursive space in which they are already imagined, constructed, and thus treated as Blacks by hegemonic discourses and groups. This imaginary is directly implicated in whom they identify with (Black America), which in turn influences what and how they linguistically and culturally learn. They learn Black English as a second language (BESL), which they access in hip-hop culture and rap lyrical and linguistic styles. Conducted within an interdisciplinary framework, this critical ethnography shows that (ESL) learning is neither neutral nor without its politics and pedagogy of desire and investment.
En se basant sur un projet de recherche ethnographique critique, l'auteur considère l'effet de devenir Noir dans l'étude d'anglais comme langue seconde (ESL), c'est-à-dire la corrélation entre la formation de l'identité, l'identification, la race, la culture, et l'étude de la seconde langue. Il s'agit d'un groupe de jeunes immigrants et réfugiés francophones venant d'Afrique et allant à une école secondaire de langue française dans un centre urbain du sud-ouest de l'Ontario, Canada. L'auteur soutient que ces jeunes, pour le dire, entrent dans un espace social, décousu, imaginaire dans lequel ils se sont déjà imaginés, composés, et donc traités comme des Noirs à cause d’un discours hégémoniques. Cet espace imaginaire est directement impliqué sur ceux avec lesquels ils s'identifient notament des Afro-américains et qui, à leur tour, influencent sur ce qu'ils apprennent en langue et en culture. Ils ont appris l'anglais des Noirs comme langue seconde (BESL) qu'ils ont appris par la culture hip-hop, les paroles et l'expression linguistique du Rap. Conduit dans un cadre interdisciplinaire, cette étude ethnographique critique souligne le fait que l'apprentissage de langue (ESL) n'est ni neutre, ni indépendant des politiques et de la pédagogie du désir et de l'investissement.
Indigenous Education for Cultural Survival: The Makushi Amerindians of Guyana
Authors: Wihak Christine
Published: June 2020

The survival of Indigenous cultures is essential to a sustainable future for the planet as a whole. This paper focuses on the educational efforts being made by the Makushi people of inland Guyana to maintain their culture and language in the face of encroaching development. The paper relates the discussion of the Makushi situation and their educational responses to the development challenges in the small states of the Caribbean. Descriptive information is provided concerning the Makushi’s efforts, which include initiatives in elementary and secondary education, post-secondary training, and community education. Regardless of the venue, a collective vision of Makushi cultural survival guides their development of educational programs.
La survie des cultures indigènes est essentielle à un avenir durable pour l’ensemble de la planète. Ce travail met l’accent sur les efforts éducatifs faits par le peuple Makushi en Guyane intérieure afin de maintenir leur culture ainsi que leur langue face au développement d’empiétement. Le travail se rapporte à la discussion de la situation du peuple Makushi et leurs réponses éducatives aux défis du développement dans les petits états des Caraïbes. Les renseignements descriptifs sont fournis concernant les efforts du peuple Makushi, ce qui inclut des initiatives dans l’enseignement élémentaire, l’enseignement secondaire, la formation post-secondaire, et l’éducation communautaire. Indépendamment du lieu, une vision collective de la survie culturelle du peuple Makushi oriente leur développement des programmes éducatifs.
Culturally Responsive Communicative Teaching (CRCLT): A New Alternative for EFL Teachers in China and Other Non-English Speaking Countries
Authors: Lin Yi
Published: June 2020

This paper proposes Culturally Responsive Communicative Teaching (CRCLT) as an innovative, alternative approach to meeting the specific cultural contexts and individual students’ needs in non-English-speaking countries. The paper not only contains a comprehensive theoretical framework of the proposed approach, but also offers practical recommendations based on the author’s reading of the literature and professional experience as an EFL teacher in China. The author believes such a study will contribute to EFL teachers’ knowledge of a promising approach which can be adapted to specific cultural contexts and encourage more exploration for new alternatives in teaching EFL in non-English-speaking countries.
Cet article propose une approche éducative innovante et alternative appelée « Enseignement Communicatif Sensible au Contexte Culturel » qui cherche à répondre aux besoins contextuels et culturels spécifiques des étudiants de pays non anglophones. Il expose un cadre de référence théorique complet sur l’approche éducative proposée, tout en proposant des recommandations d’ordre pratiques basées sur les lectures et l’expérience professionnelle de l’auteur en tant que professeur d’anglais en Chine. L’auteur pense que cette étude, applicable à des contextes culturels spécifiques, contribuera au monde de l’enseignement de l’anglais et qu’il encouragera de ce fait l’exploration d’autres alternatives pour l’enseignement de l’anglais dans des pays non anglophones.
Towards Capacity Building: Rejecting Hiring Practices Based on Accent and Skin Colour
Authors: Van Deven Teresa
Published: June 2020

As Cambodia begins the process of capacity building in higher education, now becomes the crucial time to revisit language policies practiced in other parts of Asia as a way of caution to the prevailing philosophical, educational and theoretical ideologies that are so very much a part of language education. This paper looks at the hiring practices based upon accent and skin colour. It includes part of a critical ethnographical study that looks at various linguistic and pedagogical fallacies which continue to promote the dominant fiction of native-speaker authority. This paper addresses implications on language education within a system which perpetuates both prejudice and discrimination of non-native scholars. Higher education building in Cambodia means new beginnings, newly found freedom—I ask the question, to what extent can there be new beginnings if we continue to see remnants and echoes of Crusoe and Professor Higgins reverberating throughout the ELT classroom?
Comme le Cambodge commence un processus de formation en compétences dans l’éducation supérieure, il est temps de réviser les politiques linguistiques utilisées dans d’autres pays asiatiques afin d’éviter les idéologies philosophiques, théoriques et éducatives, généralement représentatives de l’éducation en langue. Cet article analysera plus spécifiquement les pratiques d’embauche basées sur l’accent et la couleur de peau. Il inclut une étude de cas ethnographique critique qui examine plusieurs erreurs linguistiques et pédagogiques qui continuent à promouvoir l’autorité des locuteurs natifs. Cet article traite des implications que cette idée entraine dans l’éducation des langues au sein d’un système qui perpétue les préjudices et la discrimination des professeurs non natifs. La formation en compétences de l’éducation supérieure au Cambodge fait référence à un nouveau commencement, à une nouvelle paix mais je me demande s’il peut vraiment y avoir un nouveau commencement si nous continuons à voir les vestiges et à entendre les échos de Crusoe et du Professeur Higgins qui résonnent dans les salles de classes d’anglais langue étrangère?
General Agreement on Trade in Services and Higher Education in China
Authors: Li Xiaobin , Zhao Linbin
Published: June 2020

The Chinese higher education system is the largest in the world. Having an understanding of the Chinese system helps to provide a better understanding of international education. This article discusses the commitments China has made under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), these commitments’ implications for Chinese higher education, and Chinese attitudes towards foreign education. It also discusses the recent development of international cooperation in Chinese higher education. Chinese are interested in learning from developed countries, the demand for higher education continues to grow in China, and most Chinese scholars believe internationalization is beneficial. Indications are Chinese higher educators will expand their cooperation with international colleagues to meet changing social needs. In internationalizing Chinese higher education, GATS may play a facilitating role.
L’éducation supérieure chinoise est la plus grande du monde. Comprendre le système chinois aide à comprendre le système international. Cet article discute les accords que la Chine a pris en signant l’Accord Général sur le Commerce des Services (AGCS), les implications pour l’éducation supérieure chinoise et les attitudes chinoises envers l’éducation étrangère. Il expose également les derniers développements de coopération internationale dans l’éducation supérieure chinoise. Les chinois sont intéressés à apprendre des pays développés. La demande d’éducation supérieure continue à croître en Chine et la plupart des intellectuels chinois pensent que l’internationalisation est positive. Les professeurs d’éducation supérieure chinoise vont donc chercher à accroître la coopération avec leurs collègues internationaux afin de répondre aux besoins sociaux actuels. L’AGCS jouera certainement un rôle majeur dans l’internationalisation de l’éducation supérieure de ce pays.
Integrating Local Cultural Knowledge as Formal and Informal Education for Young African Learners: A Ghanaian Case Study
Authors: Die George
Published: June 2020

This paper is about schooling, education and socialization in Africa with a focus on the pedagogic and instructional relevance of local cultural resource knowledge such as the teachings of Indigenous proverbs. Using Ghanaian case material, the paper examines how Indigenous cultural knowledges inform the education and socialization of youth and suggest ways for rethinking schooling and education in African contexts. Among the teachings of Indigenous proverbs highlighted are knowings about self and community, development of self-worth and character, importance of social discipline and collective social responsibility. The discussion also addresses the challenges of integrating local cultural knowledges as part of the formal education of young learners.
Cet article cherche à comprendre les processus de scolarité, d‘éducation et de socialisation en Afrique en se concentrant spécialement sur la pédagogie des connaissances culturelles locales telles que l‘enseignement des proverbes autochtones. Cet article examine comment les connaissances culturelles locales informent l‘éducation et les processus de socialisation des jeunes et suggère de ce fait une remise en question de la scolarité et de l‘éducation dans les contextes africains. Parmi les proverbes autochtones enseignés, certains font référence au développement personnel du soi et à la notion de communauté, à l‘amour propre et à la dignité, à l‘importance de la discipline sociale et à la responsabilité collective sociale. En conclusion, cet article discute également des défis auxquels il faut faire face quand il est question d‘intégrer les connaissances culturelles locales dans la formation officielle des jeunes apprenants.
Tracking the Success of English Language Learners within the Context of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
Authors: Han Han , Cheng Liying
Published: June 2020

The study tracked 8 high school English Language Learners (ELLs) from 2 Ontario secondary schools located in small Ontario cities for 3 years and closely documented their linguistic, cognitive, and socio-cultural learning experiences. Each student was visited 2-4 times per year and face-to-face interviews were used on each visit. It was found that these students‘ difficulties in academic English were the major challenge to their success in their high school subject-area courses and in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). These challenges, in turn, affected their educational goals. The findings of this study provide a rich understanding of these students‘ educational achievement as they concurrently learned English and their subject-area courses within the context of the OSSLT—a large-scale high-stakes literacy test.
Cette étude recense trois années d‘expériences d‘apprentissage linguistiques, cognitives et socio culturelles de huit allophones d‘anglais langue seconde (ALS) issus de deux écoles secondaires situées dans des petites villes de l‘Ontario. Chaque étudiant a été interviewé en face à face deux à quatre fois par an. Les résultats montrent que la difficulté majeure de ces étudiants est l‘apprentissage de l‘anglais académique et que cet apprentissage détermine leur succès dans tous les autres cours au niveau du lycée et au Test Provincial des Compétences Linguistiques (TPCL) de l‘Ontario. Ce défi affecte également leurs objectifs éducatifs. Les résultats de cette étude montrent non seulement les performances éducatives de ces étudiants en ALS mais aussi dans leurs autres cours dans le cadre du TPCL, un test à enjeux élevés.
What Is Really New in the “New” Urban Environment?
Authors: Dlamini Nombuso , Davey Natalie , Hudson Audrey , Tecle Samuel
Published: June 2020

Established in 2009, The Jean Augustine Chair in Education in the New Urban Environment presented the learning community opportunity to define new urbanism through debates, conversations and other learning encounters. As the inaugural chair, Dlamini began conversations with faculty, students and community in order to unpack the meaning of the new urban environment and its associated characteristics and encounters. This article follows ongoing conversations between, Dlamini and three graduate students from her urban education class, which tackled these and many other questions throughout the course. Following the seminar, we find ourselves continually questioning what is meant by new and if this term is only foregrounded by the understanding of what is old? This article takes these questions of newness to Education. Throughout the paper, we consider the new ways of understanding pedagogy in urban environments; meanings found in geographical spaces; the understanding of Shakespeare coupled with the newness of Hip Hop; and finally, questions of local and community based pedagogy.
Fondé en 2009, la Jean Augustine Chaire d’Éducation dans le nouvel environnement urbain a présenté à la communauté éducative, l’opportunité de définir le nouvel urbanisme, à travers des débats, des conversations et d’autres formes de rencontres éducatives. En tant que première présidente, Dlamini a entamé des discussions avec des professeurs, des étudiants et la communauté afin d’étendre la signification de ce nouvel environnement urbain, des caractéristiques et rencontres qui y sont associés. Cet article suit les récentes conversations entre Dlamini et trois étudiants diplômés de sa classe d’éducation en urbanisme, qui a abordé ces questions et bien d’autres encore tout au long du cours. Suite au séminaire, nous nous interrogeons continuellement sur ce qu’on entend par nouveau et si ce terme est seulement placé au premier plan par notre compréhension de ce qui est ancien? Cet article s’attaque donc à ces questions de nouveauté en Éducation. À travers ce document, nous considérons les nouvelles manières de appréhender la pédagogie en milieux urbains; les significations trouvées dans les espaces géographiques; le sens de Shakespeare lié à la nouveauté du Hip Hop; et finalement, les questions de pédagogie basée sur la localité et la communauté.
Shifting Aims of Aid to Education
Authors: DaSilva Christian
Published: June 2020

This paper examines the profound and steady influence of aid and aid modalities on the education agenda in Africa and argues that, ultimately, the broader intent of Education for All as advocated at Jomtien and Dakar was narrowed to an almost singular focus on Universal Primary Education. This narrowing phenomenon is attributed to donor obsession with targets and comes at the expense of true ownership while compromising quality and upstream linkages in the education systems of Tanzania and other African countries. The paper concludes with some of the lessons learned and possible future orientations of aid to education for development.
Cet article examine l’influence profonde et constante de l’aide et de ses modalités dans l’agenda éducatif en Afrique et soutient qu’en définitive, l’objectif plus général de l’Éducation pour Tous telle que préconisée à Jomtien et à Dakar a été réduit à une quasi-singulière concentration sur l’Éducation Primaire Universelle. Ce rétrécissant phénomène est attribué à l’obsession des bailleurs de fond avec des objectifs et survient au détriment d’une véritable appropriation, tout en compromettant la qualité et les liens réalisés en amont dans les systèmes éducatifs en Tanzanie et d’autres pays africains. Cet article conclue en soulignant quelques-unes des leçons apprises et les possibles orientations futures de l’aide à l’éducation pour le développement.
A Model for a Sustainable Partnership: Connecting Chinese Visiting Scholars, the University and the Community
Authors: Miller Marilyn , Blachford Dongyan
Published: June 2020

Using the case of Chinese visiting scholars at one western Canadian University, this two-phase research project explores how fostering collaboration between international visiting scholars, the host university, and the community promotes internationalization. The first phase examines the impact of the visiting scholars’ social interaction on and off campus on the satisfaction and success of their stay in Canada. Based on these findings, phase two addresses ways the community could benefit from interacting with international visitors. As a result, a partnership model is proposed which connects the interests of the university, international visitors, and the local community and emphasizes mutual benefit, shared learning, cross cultural understanding, collaboration and sustainability.
Who is Guilty and What to Do? Popular Opinion and Public Discourse of Corruption in Russian Higher Education
Authors: Osipian Ararat
Published: June 2020

Corruption in higher education in Russia is a growing problem. This paper considers scholarly and popular discourse in Russia around this corruption and the discussion examines its context within the overall corruptness of the society and reflects on measures of comprehensive educational reform. Drawing upon a theoretical framework linking popular opinion and public discourse, discussion in the scholarly and popular press between 1998 and 2011 is analyzed, and the themes of the discourse are traced. Results focus on the reasons for corruption in the higher education sector, as well as on current and potential ways to tackle corruption, including the newly introduced standardized testing. Even though the national test will not solve the problem of corruption in education, its full scale, country-wide implementation at this point appears to be inevitable.
Book Review: Miller, P. (Ed.) (2013). School leadership in the Caribbean: Perceptions, practices, paradigms.
Authors: Swapp Donna
Published: June 2020

n/a
ISL Programs and Neo-Colonialism: The Response of One Nicaraguan Village
Authors: O'Sullivan Michael , Smaller Harry
Published: June 2020

Over the past five years, through interviews and focus groups, the authors have been exploring the impact of international service learning (ISL) programs on host villages and villagers in the south. While most communities express ongoing interest, this paper focuses on one rural Nicaraguan village that decided to end their long-standing involvement in ISL, citing the North’s persistent lack of sensitivity to the interests and needs of their community.
Drawing on Basso (1996) and Gruenwald (2003), we explore the concept of place-making - drawing the individual into a collective story and focusing on discovering social meaning in and though the places they inhabit. We argue that the ISL has the potential to challenge and transform both the visitors and the host community members, but for that to happen the host community must exercise agency with respect to defining the behavioural and learning expectations of their visitors.
Le Plan d’Intervention au Canada et en Europe : Une Analyse Comparative Entre Cinq Systèmes Scolaires
Authors: Tremblay Philippe , Arapi Enkeleda , Bélanger Nathalie , Bocchi Piercarlo , Kahn Sabine , Toullec-Théry Marie
Published: June 2020

In North America, as well as in Europe, most countries have included in their educational policies the possibility of an individualized educational project for students with special needs during their compulsory schooling. The tool used for this is mainly an individualized education plan (IEP) set up for students experiencing academic or behavioural difficulties at school. The purpose of this article is to take a comparative look at individualized education plans from five school systems: Quebec, Ontario, France, Belgium (Wallonia), and Switzerland (Ticino canton). A comparative analysis was conducted on the IEP frameworks from these school systems. This comparative analysis sheds light on the terminology, definitions, characteristics, and components of IEPs used in five European and Canadian school systems for students with difficulties. The results show that the terminology used is specific to each school system, but the importance of planning, integration, collaboration, coordination, teaching interventions/arrangements is highlighted in all these definitions. The analysis reveals differences in the components of the IEPs among the five school systems studied. However, IEP patterns revolve around a common core of 11 components.
L’appropriation du changement de politiques universitaires par les étudiants en Afrique subsaharienne : le cas de la réforme Licence-Master-Doctorat au Burkina Faso
Authors: Ramdé Pascal , Lapointe Pierre , Dembélé Martial
Published: June 2020

Les universités d’Afrique subsaharienne francophone ont dû s’adapter à un environnement marqué par l’internationalisation de l’enseignement supérieur et les transferts des politiques éducatives en s’alignant sur le processus de Bologne par une nouvelle politique dite « réforme Licence-Master-Doctorat (LMD) ». Cette étude a pour objectif d’analyser et de comprendre l’appropriation de la réforme LMD par les étudiants au Burkina Faso. À partir d’une définition de l’appropriation cohérente avec la sociologie de l’action publique et de données recueillies par questionnaire auprès de 531 étudiants, nous examinons la manière dont les étudiants interprètent la réforme LMD, leur attitude et leur comportement à son égard. Les résultats montrent que les étudiants ont une connaissance limitée de la réforme, une adhésion modérée et un engagement faible pour son implantation. En outre, les indices de l’appropriation chez les étudiants sont reliés à leurs caractéristiques sociodémographiques.
The Inter-Jurisdictional Language of Quality Assurance: Comparing Theory and Practice
Authors: Lang Daniel
Published: June 2020

This is a comparative study of two reports on the assurance of quality in higher education that appeared contemporaneously in two similar and closely connected jurisdictions. Using NVivo summative content analysis software, documentary analysis, archival records, WTO submissions, and focus groups and interviews the paper identifies and compares several recurring areas in which nomenclature is at least nominally mutual, such as: the boundary line between academic support services and student services, balancing commonality and diversity, the institution versus the basic academic unit as the focus and scope of assurance, self-regulation versus system regulation, the assurance of quality versus the enhancement of quality, the role of league ranking, performance indicators, and benchmarking, aggregation. Seen in terms of theory-driven evaluation, the study suggests that finding a trans-jurisdictional common ground for quality assurance is more advanced in theory than in practice.
"Up Close and Intimate": Catharsis, the Dark Side of Sexuality, and The Dresden Dolls
Authors: Imans Logan
Published: June 2020

The Dresden Dolls are a punk-cabaret band that use their music to delve into diverse and taboo subject matter including sexual assault, abortion, and trauma. Despite the morose and grotesque imagery invoked by their lyrics, this paper advocates for the therapeutic effects of catharsis as encouraged by The Dresden Dolls. This essay provides an overview of the applications of catharsis in the arts and psychotherapy, explores how the musical elements and performance contexts of punk-cabaret elicit catharsis, and develops a contemporary theory of catharsis as it pertains to the music of The Dresden Dolls. In considering manifestations of trauma and healing in the songs “Missed Me,” “Mandy Goes to Med School,” and “Lonesome Organist Rapes Page Turner,” this paper illustrates how, despite the potential challenges of confronting trauma through music, the approach of The Dresden Dolls is ultimately effective in cultivating catharsis and encouraging healing for their listeners.
Determining Generalizability of the Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) to the Entire Canadian Kidney Cancer Population
Authors: Tajzler Camilla , Tanguay Simon , Mallick Ranjeeta , Ahrens Beau , Ly Tina Luu , Breau Rodney H. , Basappa Naveen S. , Kapoor Anil , Heng Daniel , Pouliot Frédéric , Finelli Antonio , Lavallee Luke T. , So Alan I. , Drachenberg Darrel E. , Soulieres Denis , Bjarnason Georg , Richard Patrick O. , Maloni Ranjena , Power Nicholas E. , Haan Michael , Wood Lori A.
Published: June 2020

INTRODUCTION:

The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) has prospectively collected data on patients with renal tumors since Jan 1st, 2011 from 16 sites within 14 academic centers in 6 provinces. Canadian kidney cancer experts have used CKCis data to address several research questions. The goal of this study was to determine if the CKCis cohort is representative of the entire Canadian kidney cancer population, specifically regarding demographic and geographic distributions.

METHODS:

The CKCis prospective cohort was analyzed up to Dec 31, 2018. Baseline demographics and tumor characteristics were analyzed including location of patients’ residence at the time of CKCis entry. Geographic data is presented by province, rural versus urban via postal code info (2nd digit=0) and by Canadian urban boundary files. To determine the proportion of RCC patients that CKCis captures, CKCis accruals were compared to projected Canadian Cancer Society RCC incidence in 2016-2017 and the incidence from the 2016 Canadian Cancer Registry. To determine if the CKCis baseline data is representative it was compared to Registry data and other published data when Registry data was not available.

RESULTS:

This CKCis cohort includes 10,298 eligible patients: 66.6% male, median age 62.6 years, 14.6% had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and 70.4% had clear cell carcinomas. The CKCis cohort captures about 1,250 patients per year, which represents approximately 20% of the total kidney cancer incidence. The proportion of patients captured per province did vary from 13% to 43%. Rural patients make up 17% of patients with some baseline differences between rural and urban patients. There appears to be no major differences between CKCis patient demographics and disease characteristics compared to national data sources. Canadian heat maps detailing patient location are presented.

CONCLUSIONS:

CKCis contains prospective data on >10,000 Canadian kidney cancer patients making it a valuable resource for kidney cancer research. The baseline demographic and geographic data do appear to include a broad cross section of patients and seem to be highly representative of the Canadian kidney cancer population. Moving forward, future projects will include determining if CKCis cancer outcomes are also representative of the entire Canadian kidney cancer population, and studying variations across provinces and within rural versus urban areas.
Economic efficiency of the production of fatteners fed blue lupine as a replacement for GM soybean meal
Authors: Sońta Marcin , Rekiel Anna , Więcek Justyna , Batorska Martyna
Published: June 2020

The aim of the study was to estimate the basic production parameters and economic efficiency of fattening pigs when GM soybean meal is replaced with increasing proportions of blue lupine, as a native Polish plant source of protein. The experimental material comprised 50 fatteners divided into a control group (C) and four experimental groups (E1, E2, E3 and E4), with 10 pigs per group. Basic fattening parameters, i.e. daily weight gain and feed consumption per kg of body weight gain, were very good: 1201–1272 g and 2.35–2.59 kg/kg, respectively. These parameters were slightly better in group C than in the experimental groups. Comparison of the costs incurred and revenue obtained showed that the production of fatteners was found to be unprofitable, assuming market prices for the feed materials used, including lupine seeds. The financial result was a consequence of market determinants independent of the producer. The use of unprocessed lupine seeds as a replacement for GM soybean meal in fattening pigs proved to be clearly unprofitable.
STATISTICAL MARKOV MODEL BASED NATURAL INSPIRED GLOWWORM SWARM MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT DATA DELIVERY IN MANET
Authors: Perumal Thiyagarajan
Published: June 2020

An interference and collision is a significant problem to be solved in Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET). Few techniques were developed in existing work to perform energy aware routing in MANET. But, handling both interference and collision on route path was remained open issues which increases the energy usage and reduces the throughput of MANET.  In order to overcome such limitations, Statistical Markov Model Based Natural Inspired Glowworm Multi-objective Optimization (SMM-NIGMO) technique is proposed.  The SMM-NIGMO technique contains three key processes namely interference prediction, optimal node selection, route path identification. The SMM-NIGMO technique at first proposes a Statistical Markov Model to determine the interference level of each mobile node in MANET at the time ‘ ’. After  that, SMM-NIGMO Technique designs a Natural Inspired Glowworm Swarm Multi-Objective Optimization (NIGSMO) algorithm to carry out the optimal node selection process in MANET. During this process, SMM-NIGMO Technique finds the mobile nodes with lower inferences and higher residual energy as optimal in dynamic environment. After discovering the best nodes, SMM-NIGMO Technique uses the Request-To-Send (RTS) and Clear-To-Send (CTS) mechanism for identifying the best route path in MANET. During the route path finding process, SMM-NIGMO Technique selects the mobile node to transmit the packets to destination without any collisions.   As a result, SMM-NIGMO Technique enhances the performance of energy efficient data delivery in MANET as compared to existing works. The simulation of SMM-NIGMO Technique is performed using parameters such as throughput, energy consumption, packet loss rate and end to end delay. The simulation result depicts that the SMM-NIGMO Technique is able to improve the throughput and also reduces the energy consumption of data transmission in MANET as compared to state-of-the-art works.
Feature Selection Using Improved Forest Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Xie Qi , Cheng Gengguo , Zhang Xiao , Peng Lei
Published: June 2020

Feature selection is one of the hottest topics in the field of machine learning and data mining. In 2016, the feature selection using forest optimization algorithm (FSFOA) was proposed, which had a better classification performance and dimensionality reduction ability. However, there are some shortcomings in FSFOA. Feature Selection using Improved Forest Optimization Algorithm (FSIFOA) is proposed in this article, which aims at solving the problems of FSFOA during the stages of random initialization, forming the candidate population and updating the best tree. FSIFOA uses the Pearson correlation coefficient and the L1 regularization method to replace the random initialization strategy in the initialization stage, uses the method of separating good and bad trees and filling the quantity gap between them to solve the problem of category imbalance in the candidate population generation stage, adds trees of the same precision but different dimension compared with the best tree to the forest in the update stage. In experiment, the new algorithm uses the same data and parameters as the traditional algorithm to test the small, medium and large dimensional data respectively. The results of the experiments show that the new algorithm can improve the classification accuracy of classifiers and increase the dimension reduction ratio compared with the traditional algorithms in the medium and large dimension data set.
IL10 as Cancer Biomarker
Authors: Teresa Gonzalez-Garza Maria , Elva Cruz-Vega Delia , Maldonado-Bernal Carmen
Published: June 2020

Chronic inflammation can trigger events that would induce the malignant transformation of cells and carcinogenesis. Cytokines play a crucial role and can control the development and multiplication of cancerous cells. However, clinical data present controversy about the participation of these proteins in the establishment and development of cancer. Interleukin 10 (IL-10), a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, has been the subject of multiple studies. Several studies have reported that IL-10 has pro- and antitumor effects. Elevated levels of IL-10 are associated with increased tumor growth with poor prognosis and drug resistance. However, this cytokine has both tumor-promoting and tumor-inhibiting properties. In vitro and in vivo studies report mechanisms by which IL-10 expression downregulates class I, which results in the control of the metastatic disease. IL-10 also inhibits tumorigenesis via downregulation of other cytokines. The variation observed could be the result of concentration ranges of this protein, genetic polymorphism, or both. The value obtained may serve as a biomarker indicative of tumor development and its prognosis.
A Holistic Overview of Cyberbullying across the World: Review of Theories and Models
Authors: Oblad Timothy
Published: June 2020

This chapter reviews cyberbullying research from across the world. Not only it is important to be familiar with the range of impact and risks that commonly fall upon cyber victims, but much can be learned when reviewing a myriad of research focused on the bullies themselves. In addition to that, it provides some theoretical discussion for other researchers who wish to study cyberbullying through a specific lens that may help standardize the research and better understand what is truly happening behind the screens. This chapter also explores how those involved with cyber aggressive behaviors choose to cope, whether positively or negatively. In depth, this chapter explores cyberbullies in hopes of creating more awareness of signs for parents or educators that may be able to prevent perpetration or targeting.
Conditioned Medium of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Pulsed with Theobromine Can Instruct Anti-Inflammatory Neutrophils
Authors: Abtahi Froushani Seyyed Meysam , Abbasi Ardeshir
Published: June 2020

Background: Both adenosine signaling and phosphodiesterase inhibitor agents can alter the survivability and differentiation potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). On the other hand, the crosstalk between MSCs and immunocytes like neutrophils is clear. Objectives: Here, we examined the consequence of inflammatory functions of neutrophils after co-culture with conditioned MSC Medium (CM) whose MSCs had previously been pulsed with theobromine. Methods: Mesenchymal stem cells were separated and characterized by the bone marrow of Wistar rats. These cells were primed with different concentrations of theobromine (0, 10, 50, and 100 μM) for 48 hours. Neutrophils were primed with CM for four hours and their performance was examined. Results: CM primed with theobromine at low to moderate concentrations protected the neutral red removal by neutrophils and potentiated CM potential to support neutrophils from apoptosis. CM from MSC primed with theobromine augmented the phagocytosis potential of co-cultured neutrophils. Conversely, CM isolated from MSCs pulsed with theobromine reduced the production of potentially noxious reactive oxygen species and myeloperoxidase activity more profoundly than did CM from un-pulsed MSCs. Conclusions: Conditioned medium of MSCs pulsed with theobromine can instruct anti-inflammatory neutrophils.