bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An efficiency analysis of basic service provision in South African local government (2006/7 to 2008/9)
Authors: Van der Westhuizen Gert , Dollery Brian , Grant Bligh
Published: June 2016

The South African local government sector has undergone changes in the post-apartheid era as policy makers have sought to improve basic services provided to disadvantaged local communities. While scholars have considered various dimensions of the reform program, little effort has been directed at evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency dimensions of the changes in service provision, with some notable exceptions (van der Westhuizen and Dollery, 2009; Krugell, et al., 2010). This article seeks to contribute to this literature by evaluating the efficiency with which municipalities have provided (Reconstruction and Development Program) RDP water, RDP sanitation RDP electricity and RDP refuse removal, using Data Envelopment Analysis techniques (DEA) applied to panel data from 2006/2007 to 2008/2009 for 231 local municipalities and 46 district municipalities.Keywords: Data warehousing, Systems thinking, Prescriptive theory, Descriptive theory, Interpretative research. Disciplines: Information technology, systems theory, data warehousing, hermeneutics
South African music learners and psychological trauma: educational solutions to a societal dilemma
Authors: Swart Inette
Published: June 2016

Emotional trauma affects a large proportion of the South African population. This article addresses its influence on music learners, including its effects on brain development, relational development, learning and music-making. The power of the educator to reshape a child’s brain by providing a nurturing and consistent environment is stressed. The effect of the environment in modulating epigenetic expression is discussed in conjunction with object relations theory as a model for human relations. Brain-damaging consequences of early attachment trauma can be reversed by healing these patterns through the educational system. Music teachers’ observations of how trauma influenced their students’ music-making, emotional expression, memory and relational patterns, students’ observed recoveries from trauma, and the influence of teachers’ own experiences on their appraisal of students’ experiences are discussed. The article also examines the advice of healthcare professionals to teachers and the latter’s legal responsibilities in terms of the reporting of abuse. This is done with reference to responsibilities regarding witnessing and referring, and the possibility of empowering learners through unlearning helplessness and fear. Treatment strategies discussed include pharmacological intervention, psychotherapeutic intervention such as Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy, hypnosis, Eye Movement Integration Therapy and Somatic Experiencing. Music can serve as an object relationship representing human experience, expressing the movement of feelings, bypassing the cortical function and expressing what words cannot. It can aid in repairing damaged communication processes and restore the sense of bodily connectedness. Suggested future directions include the incorporation of teaching modules on educational psychology in music teachers’ training curricula, providing support for students, reducing the risk of secondary traumatisation to professionals, and transdisciplinary collaboration.Keywords: Brain development, educators, epigenetic expression, integration, previously disadvantaged, traumaDisciplines: Education, music education, psychology, sociology
Town engineers in South Africa before 1910, with reference to water supply
Authors: Mäki Harri
Published: June 2016

This article looks at the town engineers in South Africa prior to Union in 1910. It briefly examines the growth in the number of municipalities and town engineers in the country in this period and investigates the background and training of these engineers; why municipalities decided to appoint an engineer; and what kind of appointment processes were followed. Finally the relations between engineers and town councils and the prevailing circumstances at the end of the engineers’ tenures is studied. The article also presents ten specific cases which have reference to the development of water supply. It emerges that most early town engineers received training via apprenticeship for the positions they held, and that there was added pressure from elected councillors in municipalities who were prone to monitor assiduously how officials were spending public money. It is also clear that engineers who did not have earlier municipal experience were bound to have problems in their interaction with town councillors.Keywords: Municipal history, civil engineering, water supply, sanitation, Cape Colony, Natal, Orange Free State, TransvaalDisciplines: History, Engineering, Public Management
The politics of performative ontology in information systems
Authors: Postma Dirk
Published: June 2016

This article argues that information systems (ISs) and information system ontologies (ISOs) are powerful devices that perform reality in profound ways. The development and use of ISOs are forms of ontological politics through which interests are promoted, identities established and resources distributed. ISOs are ideological in so far as their political nature is not recognised while serving partial interests. This happens when ISOs are seen as merely technical, inevitable and natural. A democratic politics of ISs and ISOs is needed in order to make public these political actions. This article aims to create a critical awareness of the ways in which technologies perform reality an d argues that the political agenda must be activated through the opening up of terrains of dissensus and contestation within the technical performances of reality. It provides examples of such ontological politics of technology.Keywords: Information system ontologies, performativity, technology, politics, contestation
A grammar of business rules in Information Systems
Authors: Joubert Pieter , Kroeze Jan H , De Villiers Carina
Published: June 2016

There are many situations during information system development (ISD) where there is a need to do modelling on a business level before more detailed and robust modelling are done on the technical system level. Most business level modelling uses some form of natural language constructs which are, on the one hand, easy to use by untrained users, but which are too vague and ambiguous to be used in subsequent systems level modelling by systems analysts, on the other hand. The goal of this article is to suggest a subset of morphology, syntax and semantics concepts that may be used to analyse texts containing business rules during Information Systems analysis and design. The contribution of this research is to provide a better understanding of the fundamental entities in business and ISD modelling and their relationships in order to improve informal, mostly textual, business modelling.Keywords: business rules, modelling, grammar, morphology, syntax, semanticsDisciplines: Information Systems, Information Systems Development, Information Systems Analysis and Design, Linguistics
Silencing dissent in an online discussion forum of a higher education institution
Authors: Postma Louise , Blignaut A Seugnet
Published: June 2016

In an online forum at a higher education institution in South Africa, interventions from management in order to moderate discussions, result in antagonism and the smothering of dissident discourse. Critical poststructuralist theory, the model of communicative democratic discourse as held by Iris Marion Young, and the tenets of ideal speech as held by Jürgen Habermas, inform the study while it investigates how the internal and external moderation of the forum limit and terminate essential discourse which could be instrumental in the critical construction of meaning and the exercise of freedom of speech. The methodology of grounded theory and the approach of critical discourse analysis direct the exploration of interview transcripts and forum text. In the analysis of characteristics displayed in discursive moderating strategies, the researchers are enabled to propose a form of emancipatory moderation within the discourse which could result in better understanding among opposing parties. The hegemonous and distant character as seen in the discourse concerning current moderation is subversed to allow participatory and equal moderation for the establishment of an enabling, accepting and diverse online environment.Keywords: moderation of online forum; higher education institution; freedom of speech; censorship; democratic discourse
‘Locating’ or ‘dislocating’ heritage and cultural tourism within the humanities
Authors: Hoffmann Nicole Beate
Published: June 2016

Heritage and cultural tourism (HCT) is currently one of the fastest growing fields in the tourism domain. Tourism as a composite field of study has traditionally been located within the economic and business management sector. However, due to the range of social, political and ethical issues pertaining to heritage and cultural tourism, it can be argued that it should be also located within a humanities context. After elucidating certain key concepts, the paper will consider the interdisciplinary nature of tourism theorist John Tribe. The relevance of tourism and its relationship with the humanities cluster of established disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, art, literature, history and heriatge will be discussed. It will become apparent that heritage and cultural tourism is also locating itself within the domain of the humanities, despite efforts to dislocate it. Key words: heritage and cultural tourism (HCT), economic and business management, humanities, mutlidisciplinary field, interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary researchDisciplines: anthropology, archeology, art, business ecobomics, geography, heritage, history, literature, film, socioloy
On bricolage and the creation of sustainable postgraduate learning environments
Authors: Mahlomaholo Sechaba MG
Published: June 2016

In this paper I show how bricolage as a theoretical framework is used to understand and enhance the learning of the postgraduate students and academics working as a team. Bricolage is described as a metaphor for a research approach which creates something out of nothing and uses that which is available to achieve new goals. It is about finding many and new ways to resolve real life problems using that which is present in the context. It is not linear research, but research that acknowledges and works with the contradictions and incongruences in order to weave a complex text of solutions to the problems. It uses multiple voices, different textual forms and different resources, blurring neat disciplinary boundaries. In short, it splinters the dogmatism of a single approach. This theoretical positioning provides the vocabulary to describe and understand processes and interactions among the research team of 28 PhD and 22 Masters’ students being supervised by 15 academics, across the two campuses of the University of the Free State. For example, while all the actors in this team come from diverse and sometimes contradictory theoretical origins and fields of specialisation they tend to coalesce around the theme of creating sustainable learning environments in their respective research sites. To this theme they ask different questions, hence diverse aims and objectives. They also read different literature informed by the diverse groups of participants in their respective studies. Rather than being the sole determinants of their respective research agendas, they treat the participants as co-researchers who direct and inform the direction of these studies. Their methodologies acknowledge the multiple voices of those who directly experience the problem under investigation and thus can assist in the resolution thereof. They listen to all, irrespective of their station in life and, like bricoleurs, they weave meaningful solutions out of fragments of data and materials from very diverse sources of participants with different ways of doing things.
Learner metacognition and mathematics achievement during problem-solving in a mathematics classroom
Authors: Du Toit Stephan , Du Toit Gawie
Published: June 2016

In this investigation the level of learner metacognition as well as the level of mathematics achievement during problem-solving in a mathematics classroom was investigated. Learner metacognition plays a pivotal role during the problem-solving process and when the problem-solving is successful it can be viewed as evidence of high achievement in mathematics. Data were collected from one intact Grade 11 class of 25 girls. A word problem was given to the learners to solve individually. The learners recorded their thoughts relating to the problem as well as the calculations that corresponded to their thoughts. The level of achievement of the learners were analysed by noting calculation and conceptual errors in the solving of the problem. The learners’ level of metacognition was determined by analysing the written account of their thoughts and comparing it to the items on an adapted Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI). Strong evidence was obtained from the recorded thoughts of learners that their metacognitive behaviours corresponded to the first three phases of Polya’s problem-solving model, but there was no evidence of metacognitive behaviours that corresponded with Polya’s fourth phase (Looking back) of problem-solving. It was further determined that the learners’ metacognitive awareness during the problem-solving session did not relate to the subscale Evaluation of the MAI. It was thus evident that the learners were not reflecting on the validity and correctness of their own solution. In this study a qualitative one- phase approach was used to examine the process of intervention, as well as a two-phase approach on the qualitative data which was also embedded in the quantitative methodology prior to and after the intervention phase (two-phase approach).
In search of healthy sexuality: the gap between what youth want and what teachers think they need
Authors: Beyers Christa
Published: June 2016

The fact that youth between the ages of 15 and 24 are most vulnerable to contract HIV (UNAIDS, 2011) is a clear indication that adults are failing to provide them with the necessary skills and information to make informed decisions about healthy sexuality. Adults, including teachers, have a responsibility to engage youth about sexuality, in order to challenge critical thinking with the aim of contributing towards healthy and responsible individuals. Presently, sexuality education is taught as a component of Life Orientation, and teachers are given a considerable amount of autonomy on what and how to teach. This article aims to explore the gap between what youth want from sexuality education and what teachers think they need. I pose two questions: What are the sexuality education needs of youth? What do teachers think youth need in terms of sexuality education? To answer these questions, I argue that teachers seem to have knowledge on what youth need, but do not necessarily respond to what youth require in terms of sexuality education. Using an interpretive stance, I explore potential gaps and possible opportunities in how sexuality education is taught and discuss the need for a common agreement on, or understanding for the teaching and learning of sexuality education. I conclude with direction that future research might take.
Beliefs that manifest through newspaper items in relation to peoples’ life challenges and their potential to enhance a sustainable learning environment in school science
Authors: Mamiala Thapelo L.
Published: June 2016

The paper documents beliefs that manifest themselves through newspaper items and elaborates on their potential to enhance a sustainable learning environment in a school science lesson. “Learning environment” is depicted from different angles and includes virtual and real learning environments, school environments and classroom environments. Descriptive and item analyses were conducted on sixty-eight newspaper items that were identified. The nature of problems and prescriptions/solutions was categorised for each item and the paper further provides elaboration on the types of problems and recommended solutions. The results show that the “believed” structure contents in their newspaper items to catch the attention of the “believer”. Lessons on the power of belief must be learnt by school science teachers if they are to succeed in creating a sustainable learning environment with improved performance in school science.
MDCT evaluation of sternal variations: Pictorial essay
Authors: Duraikannu Chary , Noronha Olma V , Sundarrajan Pushparajan
Published: June 2016

Sternal variations and anomalies have been identified in the past during autopsy or cadaveric studies. Recently, an increasing number of minor sternal variations have been reported with the advent of multidetector computed tomography (CT). Although there are many sternal variations that occur with varying appearance and prevalence, most of them are not recognized or are underreported during routine imaging of thorax. Identification of sternal variations is important to differentiate from pathological conditions and to prevent fatal complications prior to sternal interventions like marrow aspiration or acupuncture. This article aims to describe the minor and asymptomatic sternal variations by multidetector CT and their clinical significance.
OUTBACK catheter for treatment of superficial femoral and iliac artery chronic total occlusion: Experience from two centers
Authors: Husainy Mohammad Ali , Suresh Balla , Fang Cheng , Ammar Thoraya , Botchu Rajesh , Thava V
Published: June 2016

Purpose: The OUTBACK® catheter is a reentry device that enables reentry into a vessel lumen from the subintimal space during subintimal angioplasty. It is reserved for cases where reentry has not been possible using conventional wire and catheter techniques. We report a two-center experience in recanalization of the chronic total occlusions of the common iliac (CIA) and the superficial femoral artery (SFA) using the OUTBACK® catheter in cases where other techniques were unsuccessful. Material and Methods: All cases where recanalization was performed using the OUTBACK® reentry catheter between January 2010 to January 2015 were retrospectively identified and included in this study. 21 patients were identified. The indication for intervention in these cases included claudication and critical leg ischemia. In all cases, conventional recanalization could not be successfully achieved. Results: The OUTBACK® catheter was used to recanalize 10 SFA occlusion and 9 CIA occlusions. In 19 patients (90%), reentry into true arterial lumen was successfully achieved. 17 patients had their recanalization through the transfemoral approach whereas 2 patients had a transpopliteal artery approach. In 2 patients, reentry into the true lumen could not be achieved using the OUTBACK® catheter due to patient's intolerability for the procedure and severe atherosclerotic calcified plaques. There was 100% patency of the vessel intervened on Duplex ultrasound at 24 months of follow up. 16 patients (84%) remained asymptomatic and 2 patients (10.5%) reported worsening of their symptoms due to the development of new lesions within the arterial system. Conclusion: The OUTBACK® catheter is an effective and safe technique for reentry into the vessel lumen when conventional techniques fail.
Osteofibrous dysplasia of clavicle clinically mimicking chronic osteomyelitis
Authors: Gopinathan Nirmal Raj , Prakash Mahesh , Saibaba Balaji , Das Ashim
Published: June 2016

Osteofibrous dysplasia or ossifying fibroma is an uncommon benign fibro-osseous lesion of childhood, commonly described in the maxilla and the mandible. Among long bones, it usually presents in the tibia as a painless swelling or anterior bowing. Ossifying fibroma of clavicle has never been reported in English literature, to the best of our knowledge. Here, we would like to present an unusual case of osteofibrous dysplasia of clavicle clinically mimicking chronic osteomyelitis.
Diffusion-weighted imaging in extracranial head and neck schwannomas: A distinctive appearance
Authors: Das Abanti , Bhalla Ashu S , Sharma Raju , Kumar Atin , Thakar Alok , Goyal Ankur
Published: June 2016

Purpose: To evaluate the diffusion weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of the extracranial schwannomas of head and neck. Materials and Methods: The MRI (including DWI) of 12 patients with pathologically proven head and neck schwannomas (4 men, 8 women, with mean age of 32.6 years; age range 16–50 years) were retrospectively evaluated. Images were analyzed for signal intensity and morphology on conventional sequences followed by the qualitative evaluation of DW images (DWI) and measurement of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. Results: Majority of the tumors were located in the parapharyngeal space (8/12). All but one showed heterogeneous appearance, with 10 tumors showing scattered areas of hemorrhage. Eight out of 12 tumors showed intensely hyperintense core surrounded by intermediate signal intensity peripheral rim (reverse target sign) on T2-weighted (T2W) images. On DWI, these eight tumors showed a distinctive appearance, resembling target sign on trace DWI and reverse target on ADC map. Out of the remaining four tumors, one showed uniformly restricted diffusion whereas three showed free diffusion. Mean ADC value in the central area of free diffusion was 2.277 × 10−3 mm2/s (range of 1.790 × 10−3 to 2.605 × 10−3 mm2/s) whereas in the peripheral area was 1.117 × 10−3 mm2/s (range of 0.656 × 10−3 to 1.701 × 10−3 mm2/s). Rest of the schwannomas showing free diffusion had a mean ADC value of 1.971 × 10−3 mm2/s. Conclusion: Majority of the head and neck schwannomas showed a characteristic appearance of free diffusion in the centre and restricted diffusion in the periphery of the mass.
Ectopic goitrous submandibular thyroid with goitrous orthotopic thyroid gland
Authors: Bhardwaj Avinash Kumar , Mani Vinayaga , Dixit Rashmi , Garg Anju
Published: June 2016

Ectopic thyroid is a rare developmental anomaly with lingual thyroid accounting for majority of the cases. The presence of ectopic thyroid tissue lateral to the midline is very rare, and very few cases located in the submandibular region have been reported. The simultaneous finding of submandibular ectopic thyroid tissue and a functional orthotopic thyroid gland is even rarer. In the differential diagnosis of an ectopic submandibular thyroid, it is fundamental to exclude a metastasis from well-differentiated thyroid cancer, even when primary thyroid carcinoma is not demonstrable.
A rare case of esophageal lung in a neonate
Authors: Patil Megharanjini , Sutagatti Jagadish , Bhavikatti Mohan , Nayak Puneet V
Published: June 2016

We report a rare case of esophageal lung in a neonate who presented with repeated chest infections and respiratory distress. Chest radiograph revealed increased opacification of the right lung with reduced lung volume and air bronchograms. Further evaluation with computed tomography (CT) showed the presence of only left mainstem bronchus at the tracheal bifurcation. Right mainstem bronchus originated from distal esophagus and aerated the right lung. Nasogastric tube was inserted into the stomach with injection of small amount of dilute barium through it, which established the communication of right mainstem bronchus with esophagus. Advanced CT scan imaging by virtual bronchoscopy and volume rendering further delineated the anatomical abnormality precisely prior to surgery. Surgical findings confirmed the diagnosis.
Dual left anterior descending artery with anomalous origin of long LAD from pulmonary artery - rare coronary anomaly detected on computed tomography coronary angiography
Authors: Vohra Aditi , Narula Harneet
Published: June 2016

Dual left anterior descending artery is a rare coronary artery anomaly showing two left anterior descending arteries. Short anterior descending artery usually arises from the left coronary artery, while long anterior descending artery has anomalous origin and course. Dual left anterior descending artery with origin of long anterior descending artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a very rare coronary artery anomaly which has not been reported previously in the literature. We present the computed tomography coronary angiographic findings of this rare case in a young female patient who presented with atypical chest pain.
Effect of Trapping Methods, Weather, and Landscape on Estimates of the Culex Vector Mosquito Abundance
Authors: Karki Surendra , Hamer Gabriel L. , Anderson Tavis K. , Goldberg Tony L. , Kitron Uriel D. , Krebs Bethany L. , Walker Edward D. , Ruiz Marilyn O.
Published: June 2016

The local abundance of Culex mosquitoes is a central factor adding to the risk of West Nile virus transmission, and vector abundance data influence public health decisions. This study evaluated differences in abundance estimates from mosquitoes trapped using two common methods: CO2- baited CDC light traps and infusion-baited gravid traps in suburban, Chicago, Illinois. On a weekly basis, the two methods were modestly correlated ( r = 0.219) across 71 weeks over 4 years. Lagged weather conditions of up to four weeks were associated with the number of mosquitoes collected in light and gravid traps. Collections in light traps were higher with higher temperature in the same week, higher precipitation one, two, and four weeks before the week of trapping, and lower maximum average wind speed. Collections in gravid traps were higher with higher temperature in the same week and one week earlier, lower temperature four weeks earlier, and with higher precipitation two and four weeks earlier. Culex abundance estimates from light traps were significantly higher in semi-natural areas compared to residential areas, but abundance estimates from gravid traps did not vary by the landscape type. These results highlight the importance of the surveillance methods used in the assessment of local Culex abundance estimates. Measures of risk of exposure to West Nile virus should assess carefully how mosquito abundance has been estimated and integrated into assessments of transmission risk.
Periodic knots and Heegaard Floer correction terms
Authors: Jabuka Stanislav , Naik Swatee
Published: June 2016

We derive new obstructions to periodicity of classical knots by employing the Heegaard Floer correction terms of the finite cyclic branched covers of the knots. Applying our results to 2-fold covers, we demonstrate through numerous examples that our obstructions are successful where many existing periodicity obstructions fail.

A combination of previously known periodicity obstructions and the results presented here leads to a nearly complete (with the exception of a single knot) classification of alternating, periodic, 12-crossing knots with odd prime periods. For the case of alternating knots with 13, 14 and 15 crossings, we give a complete list of all periodic knots with odd prime periods

q > 3

.
Local profile of fully bubbling solutions to $\mathrm {SU} (n+1)$ Toda systems
Authors: Lin Chang-Shou , Wei Juncheng , Zhang Lei
Published: June 2016

In this article we prove that for locally defined singular

\mathrm {SU} (n+1)

Toda systems in

\mathbb R^2

, the profile of fully bubbling solutions near the singular source can be accurately approximated by global solutions. The main ingredients of our new approach are the classification theorem of Lin–Wei–Ye [22] and the non-degeneracy of the linearized Toda system [22], which let us overcome the difficulties that come from lack of symmetry and the singular source.
Eigenvalue Solver for Fluid and Kinetic Plasma Models in Arbitrary Magnetic Topology
Authors: Baver D. A. , Myra J. R. , Umansky M. V.
Published: June 2016

ArbiTER (Arbitrary Topology Equation Reader) is a new code for solving linear eigenvalue problems arising from a broad range of physics and geometry models. The primary application area envisioned is boundary plasma physics in magnetic confinement devices; however ArbiTER should be applicable to other science and engineering fields as well. The code permits a variable numbers of dimensions, making possible application to both fluid and kinetic models. The use of specialized equation and topology parsers permits a high degree of flexibility in specifying the physics and geometry.
Об операторных оценках в теории усреднения
Authors: Zhikov Vasilii Vasil'evich , Pastukhova Svetlana Evgenievna
Published: June 2016

В работе дано систематическое изложение двух методов получения операторных оценок: метода сдвига и спектрального метода. Эти методы сильно различаются по математической технике и физической мотивировке. Но в основных пунктах приводят к одинаковым результатам. Наряду с классической постановкой задачи усреднения рассмотрены также и другие: усреднение в перфорированных областях, случай неограниченной матрицы диффузии, эволюционные несамосопряженные уравнения, эллиптические операторы высокого порядка.
Библиография: 62 названия.
Exploring Student Attitudes to the Refugee Crisis: Songs on Migration
Authors: Hempkin Kirsten
Published: June 2016

The issue of migrants and refugees has occupied Europe for the last few months. Much of the discourse surrounding this issue has been overwhelmingly negative, lapsing at times into stereotype, prejudice and even hate speech. As language teachers at a humanities faculty, we have a responsibility to address this issue in the classroom, especially as classroom experience tells us that our students are prone to stereotypical thinking. The article presents a series of song-based activities intended for use in language development classes for future teachers and translators at the Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor.
The Language in British and Slovene Football Anthems
Authors: Križan Agata
Published: June 2016

Football is probably the world’s most popular game, with a huge number of fans. There are numerous ways in which football fans express dedication to their club and the feelings they have for their team, for example, wearing certain colours, waving banners and flags, and singing. Football anthems are nothing new for football fans, and many clubs have a long-established tradition of them. In this paper, I will address and compare the language in some popular British and Slovene football anthems, and attempt to explain its contribution to the creation of fan identity, to the fans’ sense of belonging, unity, and motivation. The linguistic analysis identities the linguistic resources used in football anthems to express attitudes, form bonds and create identities.
In Between the ‘Brows’: The Influx of Highbrow Literature into Popular Music
Authors: Ursulesku Oana
Published: June 2016

The global phenomenon of popular music from the middle of the twentieth century on played a pivotal role in the merging of what was traditionally deemed high and low cultures. Performers of popular music of different genres started including direct references to literary works from the Anglo-American literary canon, one of the most famous examples being Kate Bush’s 1989 single “The Sensual World,” in which she originally intended to quote verbatim from Molly Bloom’s soliloquy Bloom in James Joyce’s Ulysses; however, since permission from the Joyce Estate was not granted, the song did get recorded, but with lyrics that Bush wrote herself, inspired by Molly Bloom’s words on the page.This paper analyses the way ideas from the original literary work get transposed and adapted in the lyrics of the popular song, giving credit to the musicians as not only innovative creators of a new work of art, but creators of an adapted work of art that can be intertextually read in the context of the artist’s cultural heritage.
Textile designs and fashion as strategic resource tools for economic development in Nigeria
Authors: Onwuakpa Lovina Ebele
Published: June 2016

Textile designs and fashion no doubt should be a part of the culture and economy of the development of a nation like Nigeria. There is no gainsaying the fact that all of the instruments of advancement of any nation, economy is predominant. The economic drive of any nation is majorly routed on generation of income from any possible source, be it internal or external. However, as Nigeria operates a somewhat monogamous economy based on oil exportation, textile and fashion should be considered as an alternate and veritable non-oil commodity for economic development. Growing out of the above illustration, this paper explores a number of ways and ideas by which untapped economic potentials of textile design and fashion can be in other to improve the economy. The qualitative and analytical approaches were employed in this study. For there to be a more sustainable economic development, textile design and fashion in their formal and esthetic richness are hitherto the cannons to explore. The paper concludes that international channels in particular should be provided for the distribution of textile design and fashion as commodities which will earn the country foreign exchange mostly required for economic development.Keywords: Textile designs and fashion, Economic drive, Sustainable economy, International channels and Foreign exchange
Exploring pop music in Nigeria for sustainable youth empowerment and development: Uniport R’tune Music Show in perpective
Authors: Sunday-Kanu Rita Adaobi
Published: June 2016

Pop music is popularly referred to or suggested as the most acceptable music genre in contemporary societies around the world today. This perception is common amongst the youths in the contemporary society. In Nigeria, it is everyday music on media. The level of it acceptability has led to a culture of obsession among Nigerian youths, not merely as music to be enjoyed but also as window to money making venture, job creation opportunity and fame. Although, the categories of popular music in Nigeria includes highlife music, Afrobeat, Juju music, jazz, raps, hip pop, reggae, etc. The pop music on this discourse centred on the new trend of Hip pop music, Rhythm and Blues, Reggae and Rap music as prevalent in the Nigeria pop music scene today. These music genres commonly imbibe the juxtaposition of Nigerian and American pop music style which has become the trend in the twenty first century Nigerian pop music. However, it has not only put Nigerian pop stars on the face of global pop superstars but, it has also forced most Nigerian youths to search inward for potentials that could transform them into multimillionaires, million dollars’ job creators and famous artistes. Therefore, this paper examined pop music in Nigeria beyond its entertainment and enlightenment motivated, but with emphasis on its role in sustaining youth empowerment and development. Sample materials for the study includes, pop music show business in the University of Port Harcourt and its environs, young pop music artistes who depend on music skill as source of livelihood etc. Data was collected through personal observation, in-depth interviews and literature review. However, this paper observed that among other things, pop music has boosted the entrepreneurial skill for self-reliance and development amongst Nigerian youths. It has played a vital role in nation building via provision of employment, poverty alleviation and contribution to national economy.
Third-Wave Feminist Linguistics: A Discursive Approach to Female Specific Interests in Maya Angelou’s Gather Together in My Name
Authors: Ghevolor Asa John , Ekpe Stella
Published: June 2016

This paper used the Discursive Approach to Language and Gender studies to examine all-female linguistic choices and how linguistic variation amongst female interlocutors is a representation of each female’s individual and cultural identity and feminist ideology. The study revealed that linguistic variability abounds between individual women as well as amongst women as a social group and further showed that each individual woman’s talk-style reflects her linguistic idiolect and translates to her individual feminist ideology. The study also showed that the interactional style of Black American women and the use of their peculiar Black vernacular English called Ebonics identify them as a separate socio-cultural group with a separate feminist ideology different from that of their white counterparts. The study concluded that individual women’s linguistic choices and socio-cultural background militates against a universal feminist ideology but rather makes feminism multicultural / pluralist in theory and practice.Keywords: Discursive approach, Ebonics, Multicultural, Pluralist, Third-wave feminist linguistics
Testing as an inevitable instrument in today’s language learning environment
Authors: Tamunobelema Isaac
Published: June 2016

In the foregoing analysis, we have unequivocably declared that testing or assessment is an inevitable instrument in present day’s language learning environment and that testing is the other side of teaching itself. In teaching any aspect of language, learner must be tested to determine the progress made so far as well as data for other uses by the stakeholders in the education industry. This paper commenced by closely examining the issues of testing/assessment and affirms that reliability and validity are the hallmark of good assessment. The reasons for the emphasis on testing in any learning environment and the functions served by testing are highlighted in this discourse. Testing in the four main aspects of language skills namely, listening, speaking, reading and writing are tested and finally, several useful suggestions are made to improve and give credence to testing in the educational system.
Heart of the masses: Thematic trends in popular literature in South Africa and Nigeria
Authors: Okiche Ifediora
Published: June 2016

The tremendous growth of popular literature in Africa can be traced during the period of colonization; which has led to massive publication of pamphlets across South Africa and Nigeria respectively. This paper examines the various popular literature published, and its major thematic preoccupations with an insight on the tremendous but gradual developmental progress. However, not much has been done in enlightening readers and scholars alike on the various new trends that have emerged from these regions. This paper will investigate the forms of popular literature from these regions with the purpose of exposing its hybrid nature. It argues that new forms of popular literature have emerged from Nigeria in particular. The study applies New Historicism theory in the study and analysis of the texts in the paper. Popular culture and oral literature becomes the hedge or platform which gives support to pamphlet literature from these countries in Africa. This paper therefore concludes that contrary to popular research findings, popular literature has extensively increased the growth of popular literature in South African and Nigeria despite its limitations.Keywords: Popular literature, pamphlets, Obiechina, South Africa, Nigeria
The role of traditional institution in managing Ife-Modakeke conflict
Authors: Elugbaju AS
Published: June 2016

The conflict between the Ife and Modakeke appears to be a protracted and seemingly intractable intra-ethnic conflict that has continued to pit two groups of the same ethnic background against one another. This study, therefore examined the role of traditional institution in managing Ife-Modakeke conflict. The study found that the major causes of the conflict between Ife and Modakeke group include land issues, Ife-East Local Government, debate over Modakeke’s sovereignty, boundary disagreement etc. This study discovered that one of the shortcomings of the past methods of managing the Ife-Modakeke conflict is inability of bringing succour to the minds of those who records losses during the war. The role of traditional institutions in managing the conflict includes several committees comprising of chiefs of both towns inaugurated whereby chiefs of both towns meet at intervals to discuss the peace and progress of the towns and conclusions are reached on salient issues. Conflict is indeed an inevitable aspect of human interaction. There is the need to learn to manage them and deal with them in a way that prevents escalation and destruction, and to arrive at new, innovative, and creative ideas to resolve them.Keyword: Traditional Institutions, Ife-Modakeke, Conflict Management
Assessment of the impact of NUC accreditation exercise on personnel in business education programmes of universities
Authors: Umeh Ugonwa F. , Oguejiofor Chinwe S.
Published: June 2016

This is a survey research aimed at determining the impact of National Universities Commission’s accreditation exercise on personnel in the business education programmes of the universities in the South-east Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. One research question and one null hypothesis guided the study. The population comprised 66 respondents made up of 6 directors of academic planning and 60 academic staff of the departments of Business Education of the six universities in the zone. A researcher-developed instrument duly validated by three experts was used for data collection. Test re-test method was used for testing the reliability of the instrument. With the use of the Pearson Product Moment, the reliability co-efficient correlation was found to be 0.86 which was considered adequate for the study. The mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question while t-test was used to test the null hypothesis. The findings of the study indicated that NUC accreditation exercise had impacted in some aspects of minimum standards for quality of personnel in Business Education programmes to a high extent. However, the exercise had a low extent of impact on staff/student ratio of 1:30, on students understanding of departmental mission and on competent technical officers manning the computer laboratory in business education programmes. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that NUC should continue to insist on on-line registration for lecturers in business education departments to ensure that all the claims made on personnel during accreditation were actually in existence.Keywords: NUC, Accreditation and Personnel
Instruction in text-structure as a determinant of senior secondary school students’ achievement in English narrative text in Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State
Authors: Fakeye Bosede , Fakeye DO
Published: June 2016

The study determined the effectiveness of instruction in text-structure on achievement of students in English narrative text. The pretest-posttest control group quasi experimental design was adopted for the study. The participants were 120 students in intact classes from four purposively selected senior secondary schools in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State. Data were collected using English Narrative Text Achievement Test (r=0.86) and instructional guides. Three null hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance and Estimated Marginal Means. Findings revealed that treatment had significant main effect on students’ achievement in English narrative text((F(2,117)=15.725; P<.05; η2 =.107). Students exposed to instruction in text structure obtained higher posttest mean  score ( X̄ =10.68) than their counterparts in the conventional strategy group ( X̄ 2.70) groups. It is therefore recommended that the strategy should be adopted in teaching English narrative texts for better results.
Effects of cooperative and problem-solving learning strategies on students’ achievement in senior secondary school history in Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: Junaid Ikmat Olanrewaju
Published: June 2016

The increasing and fluctuating level of poor performance of students in History calls for a need to ascertain students’ learning strategies that promote achievement in the subject. This study investigated the effect of learning strategies as determinants of achievement in History. The study adopted a non-randomised pre-test posttest control group quasi-experimental design using 3x2x2 factorial design. Multi-stage sampling technique was used and data were collected from 184 SSS II History students from 18 public senior secondary schools in Oyo State. Seven hypotheses guided the study and four instruments were used for data collection with reliability coefficients of 0.74 for HAT, 0.72 for LSI, 0.75 for HIG and 0.75 for SHI. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance. Results indicated that cooperative and problem-solving learning strategies had significant main effect on students’ achievement in History, F (2,171) = 63.19 with partial eta square of 0.43; learning style has significant main effect on students’ achievement, F (1,171)= 11.84 with partial eta square of 0.07; Learning strategies, learning styles and study habit had no significant interaction effect on students’ achievement. Learning is internalised faster and better when students are given opportunity to interact with one another in small groups; when topics are structured to solve real life problems, studying becomes fun and learning is facilitated and internalised; students learn better when a problem is used as a starting point for new knowledge and adjustment of instructional strategies will enhance achievement in History.Keywords: Learning strategy, Achievement in History, Learning style and Study habit
Kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria: Implications and quest for a permanent solution
Authors: Emanemua Adebowale Bandele , Akinlosotu Toyosi Nathaniel
Published: June 2016

Kidnapping has recently become a profitable venture among youths in Nigeria. This criminal practice that started in the form of hostage taking in the Niger-Delta, region of the country in calling the attention of the government to the marginalization of the region, has seemingly become a variant of armed robbery with high level of expertise in abducting people for ransom illegally. The ascendancy of this insecurity threat is now becoming perplexing to several citizens, business people, foreign investors, law enforcement agencies and the government. Hence, this study takes a critical look at this new wave of crime as well as its implication on the nation. The study indicates that kidnapping for ransom is a criminal offence against the fundamental human right of citizens that would require proactive and prompt response of security operatives to curb. However, it was concluded that good governance still remains the key to resolving insecurity threat like kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria.Keywords: Insecurity, Kidnapping, Hostage taking, Crime, Ransom
Forced migration: The displacement of Tiv People of Central Nigeria in contemporary times
Authors: Uji Wilfred Terlumun
Published: June 2016

In recent history, the Tiv people of central Nigeria has become an endangered specie been forced out of the present homeland of Benue, Nassarawa and Taraba, often displaced, taking refuge in displacement camps. The reasons for such a force migration are not far fetch often factored on the existing political relations between the Tiv rural populations with nomadic Fulani herdsmen backed by the Hausa-Fulani-ruling class in northern Nigeria. This paper resolved the following research questions: Why has the Tiv man become a refugee in his own country? What are the forces that seek his emasculation? What is the citizenship status of the Tiv man in central Nigeria? What efforts by state and private organizations have been put in place to redress the Tiv question? In doing so, this paper employed the use of oral interviews as well as written sources in the discussion of the Tiv forced migration and displacement in central Nigeria as from the colonial to the present.