bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical Cleaning of Ultrafiltration Membrane Fouled by Humic Substances: Comparison between Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Hypochlorite
Authors: Li Kai , Li Shu , Huang Tinglin , Dong Chongzhe , Li Jiawei , Zhao Bo , Zhang Shujia
Published: July 2019

Chemical cleaning is indispensable for the sustainable operation of ultrafiltration (UF) system in water and wastewater treatment. Sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is an established cleaning agent for membranes subject to organic and microbial fouling, but concerns have been raised about the generation of toxic halogenated by-products during NaClO cleaning. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a potential “green” cleaning agent that can avoid the formation of halogenated by-products. In this work, cleaning efficacy of H2O2 and NaClO for UF membrane fouled by humic substances (HS) was evaluated under a wide pH range, and change of HS’s properties due to reaction with cleaning agents was examined. The cleaning efficacy of H2O2 was lower than that of NaClO at pH 3–9, but it increased to a level (91.4%) comparable with that of NaClO at pH 11. The extents of changes in properties and fouling potential of HS due to reacting with cleaning agents were consistent with their cleaning efficacy. H2O2 treatment at pH 11 significantly increased negative charge of HS molecules, decomposed high-MW molecules, and reduced its fouling potential. Therefore, considering treatment/disposal of cleaning waste and cleaning efficacy, H2O2 cleaning under strong alkaline condition can be a good choice for HS-fouled membrane.
Reply to Comment on Maani Hessari, N.; van Schalkwyk, M.C.; Thomas, S.; Petticrew, M. Alcohol Industry CSR Organisations: What Can Their Twitter Activity Tell Us about Their Independence and Their Priorities? A Comparative Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 892
Authors: Maani Hessari Nason , van Schalkwyk May CI , Thomas Sian , Petticrew Mark
Published: July 2019

We are grateful for the opportunity to respond to the letter from the DrinkAware medical advisory panel [...]
The Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Oxidative, and Anti-Apoptotic Benefits of Stem Cells in Acute Ischemic Kidney Injury
Authors: Lee Kuo-Hua , Tseng Wei-Cheng , Yang Chih-Yu , Tarng Der-Cherng
Published: July 2019

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI). The complicated interaction between injured tubular cells, activated endothelial cells, and the immune system leads to oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, thereby exacerbating the apoptosis of renal tubular cells and impeding the process of tissue repair. Stem cell therapy is an innovative approach to ameliorate IRI due to its antioxidative, immunomodulatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the biological effects and mechanisms of action of stem cell therapy in the context of acute ischemic AKI to improve its therapeutic benefits. The recent finding that treatment with conditioned medium (CM) derived from stem cells is likely an effective alternative to conventional stem cell transplantation increases the potential for future therapeutic uses of stem cell therapy. In this review, we discuss the recent findings regarding stem cell-mediated cytoprotection, with a focus on the anti-inflammatory effects via suppression of oxidative stress and uncompromised immune responses following AKI. Stem cell-derived CM represents a favorable approach to stem cell-based therapy and may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy against acute ischemic AKI.
Current Trends in the Biosensors for Biological Warfare Agents Assay
Authors: Pohanka Miroslav
Published: July 2019

Biosensors are analytical devices combining a physical sensor with a part of biological origin providing sensitivity and selectivity toward analyte. Biological warfare agents are infectious microorganisms or toxins with the capability to harm or kill humans. They can be produced and spread by a military or misused by a terrorist group. For example, Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, Brucella sp., Yersinia pestis, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, botulinum toxin and orthopoxviruses are typical biological warfare agents. Biosensors for biological warfare agents serve as simple but reliable analytical tools for the both field and laboratory assay. There are examples of commercially available biosensors, but research and development of new types continue and their application in praxis can be expected in the future. This review summarizes the facts and role of biosensors in the biological warfare agents’ assay, and shows current commercially available devices and trends in research of the news. Survey of actual literature is provided.
Fabrication of Porous Gold Film Using Graphene Oxide as a Sacrificial Layer
Authors: Alazzam Anas , Alamoodi Nahla , Abutayeh Mohammad , Stiharu Ion , Nerguizian Vahé
Published: July 2019

An original and simple fabrication process to produce thin porous metal films on selected substrates is reported. The fabrication process includes the deposition of a thin layer of gold on a substrate, spin coating of a graphene oxide dispersion, etching the gold film through the graphene oxide layer, and removing the graphene oxide layer. The porosity of the thin gold film is controlled by varying the etching time, the thickness of the gold film, and the concentration of the graphene oxide dispersion. Images by scanning electron and metallurgical microscopes show a continuous gold film with random porosity formed on the substrate with a porosity size ranging between hundreds of nanometers to tens of micrometers. This general approach enables the fabrication of porous metal films using conventional microfabrication techniques. The proposed process is implemented to fabricate electrodes with patterned porosity that are used in a microfluidic system to manipulate living cells under dielectrophoresis. Porous electrodes are found to enhance the magnitude and spatial distribution of the dielectrophoretic force.
Costatone C—A New Halogenated Monoterpene from the New Zealand Red Alga Plocamium angustum
Authors: Bracegirdle Joe , Sohail Zaineb , Fairhurst Michael J. , Gerth Monica L. , Zuccarello Giuseppe C. , Ali Hashmi Muhammad , Keyzers Robert A.
Published: July 2019

Red algae of the genus Plocamium have been a rich source of halogenated monoterpenes. Herein, a new cyclic monoterpene, costatone C (7), was isolated from the extract of P. angustum collected in New Zealand, along with the previously reported (1E,5Z)-1,6-dichloro-2-methylhepta-1,5-dien-3-ol (8). Elucidation of the planar structure of 7 was achieved through conventional NMR and (−)-HR-APCI-MS techniques, and the absolute configuration by comparison of experimental and DFT-calculated ECD spectra. The absolute configuration of 8 was determined using Mosher’s method. Compound 7 showed mild antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis. The state of Plocamium taxonomy and its implications upon natural product distributions, especially across samples from specimens collected in different countries, is also discussed.
New Insights into Cholesterol Functions: A Friend or an Enemy?
Authors: Zampelas Antonis , Magriplis Emmanuella
Published: July 2019

Cholesterol is a sterol synthesized by animal cells and is also a component of the diet, being present in food of animal origin [...]
Video Activity Recognition: State-of-the-Art
Authors: Rodríguez-Moreno Itsaso , Martínez-Otzeta José María , Sierra Basilio , Rodriguez Igor , Jauregi Ekaitz
Published: July 2019

Video activity recognition, although being an emerging task, has been the subject of important research efforts due to the importance of its everyday applications. Surveillance by video cameras could benefit greatly by advances in this field. In the area of robotics, the tasks of autonomous navigation or social interaction could also take advantage of the knowledge extracted from live video recording. The aim of this paper is to survey the state-of-the-art techniques for video activity recognition while at the same time mentioning other techniques used for the same task that the research community has known for several years. For each of the analyzed methods, its contribution over previous works and the proposed approach performance are discussed.
Potentiality of Using Luojia1-01 Night-Time Light Imagery to Estimate Urban Community Housing Price—A Case Study in Wuhan, China
Authors: Li Chang , Zou Linqing , Wu Yijin , Xu Huimin
Published: July 2019

The first professional night-time light remote sensing satellite in China, Luojia1-01, has raised the resolution of night-time light data to 130 m, which provides a possibility for the study of small-scale night-time light. This paper is the first research on spatial analysis and quantitative modeling between night-time light intensity (NTLI) and community housing price (CHP) on a small scale by using the Luojia1-01 night-time light imagery. This paper takes Wuhan as the research area, CHP data obtained by web-crawler technology as the research object, combines Luojia1-01 data, and carries out spatial correlation analysis and quantitative modeling on a small scale for them. The experimental results show that there is a strong linear positive correlation between the NTLI and CHP based on geographically weighted regression (GWR), and the CHP data in Wuhan have obvious spatial non-stationarity. Moreover, the coupling mechanism between the NTLI and CHP is also revealed. We can conclude that there is potential for estimating the CHP by using Luojia1-01 night-time light imagery.
Studenica Marble: Significance, Use, Conservation
Authors: Debljović Ristić Nevena , Šekularac Nenad , Mijović Dušan , Ivanović Šekularac Jelena
Published: July 2019

Studenica marble is the stone used in creating the mediaeval Serbian cultural heritage. This is a historical overview of the importance and use of stone from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, when the most imposing religious architectural structures were built. The significance of Studenica marble is particularly manifested in the Virgin’s Church at the Studenica Monastery. For its marble façades and artistic architectural elements, among other things, the church was inscribed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List in 1986. Through centuries, the Virgin’s Church suffered multiple destructions. In order to restore the marble façades properly and its architectural elements, the marble deposits where the stone was once quarried had to be located anew. When the stone material characterisation had been performed, the right stone was selected for the complex conservation works on the churches in Studenica and Sopocani. A practical implementation of the research results raised the awareness of the marble deposits in the Studenica vicinity, being also part of the national heritage. The Studenica Monastery Cultural Landscape Management Plan envisions preservation of the deposits and their sustainable use for restoration purposes in the future.
Does Land Tenure Systems Affect Sustainable Agricultural Development?
Authors: Akram Nida , Akram Muhammad Waqar , Wang Hongshu , Mehmood Ayesha
Published: July 2019

The current study aims to investigate the agricultural investment differences among three kinds of land lease agreements and their effect on farmers’ decisions regarding sustainable growth in terms of soil conservation and wheat productivity, using cross-sectional data from rural households in Punjab, Pakistan. The “multivariate Tobit model” was used for the empirical analysis because it considers the possible substitution of investment choices and the tenancy status’ endogeneity. Compared to agricultural lands on lease contracts, landowners involved in agribusiness are more likely to invest in measures to improve soil and increase productivity. Moreover, the present study has also identified that the yield per hectare is much higher for landowners than sharecroppers, and thus, the Marshall’s assumption of low efficiency of tenants under sharecroppers is supported.
La acreditación y su aporte a la satisfacción estudiantil de las universidades públicas de Manabí- Ecuador
Authors: Cruz Mera Rafer Henry , Ponce Andrade Johnny
Published: July 2019

La calidad de la educación superior en Ecuador está direccionada como política de Estado, con sentido estratégico y técnico a través de los procesos de acreditación institucional, articulado en el marco legal de la Ley de Educación Superior. La presente investigación plantea el objetivo de valorar cómo la acreditación institucional aporta a la satisfacción estudiantil de las universidades públicas de Manabí. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó como herramienta una encuesta tipo escala de Likert, aplicada 373 los estudiantes de las universidades objetos de estudios, procesando los datos en el software estadístico SPSS 21, a fin de validar las hipótesis. La prueba de fiabilidad del instrumento, Alfa de Cronbach, arrojo un 0.956, significando que existe un alto nivel de confiabilidad en los datos recabados; el Chi Cuadrado en la hipótesis general es de 282,845 evidenciando que existe dependencia entre la acreditación y la satisfacción estudiantil.

 

Palabras clave: Satisfacción estudiantil, universidades, calidad, educación superior

 

ABSTRACT

 

The quality of higher education in Ecuador is addressed as a State policy, with a strategic and technical sense through the processes of institutional accreditation, articulated in the legal framework of the Law on Higher Education. The present investigation raised the objective of assessing how the institutional accreditation contributes to the student satisfaction of the public universities of Manabí. For the statistics analysis we use Likert scale surveys, 373 surveys were applied to the students of the IES under study, processing the data in the statistical software SPSS 21, in order to validate the hypotheses. The reliability test of the instrument, Alfa de Cronbach, gave a 0.956, meaning that there is a high level of reliability in the data collected; The Chi square in the general hypothesis is 282,845 evidencing that dependence exists between accreditation and student satisfaction.

 

Key words: Student satisfaction, university, quality, higher education
Contabilidad ambiental y la responsabilidad social empresarial dentro del panorama mundial del desarrollo sostenible
Authors: Avellán Herrera Nilda Alexandra
Published: July 2019

El presente artículo, tiene como finalidad realizar un análisis descriptivo de la implementación de la contabilidad ambiental nacional en Ecuador y su relación con los procesos de responsabilidad social empresarial que aportan al logro de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS). Para la elaboración de la investigación, se utilizó un nivel de investigación descriptivo y un tipo de investigación bibliográfico; entre los principales resultados del presente trabajo están un cuadro resumen con la normativa relacionada al cuidado del medio ambiente y los componentes del Sistema de Contabilidad Ambiental Nacional de Ecuador, así como los avances con respecto a la categorización y homologación de los indicadores relacionados a la protección del medio ambiente en cada uno de los ODS. Se concluye que la aplicación y el cumplimiento de los indicadores para alcanzar las metas de los ODS han representado un arduo trabajo para las entidades especializadas en cada uno de los países; para obtener información estadística de aspectos ambientales, en miras de implementar las mejores decisiones por parte de los gobiernos y sus instituciones.

 

Palabras clave: Responsabilidad social empresarial, desarrollo sostenible, comercio y medio ambiente, recursos no renovables y conservación

 

ABSTRACT

 

This article is intended to carry out a descriptive analysis of the implementation of national environmental accounting in Ecuador and their relationship with the processes of corporate social responsibility, contributing to the achievement of the objectives of sustainable development. For the development of research, we used a descriptive level of research and bibliographic research type between the main results of this work are a picture overview with the regulations related to the care of the environment and the components of the National Environmental Accounting System of Ecuador, as well as the advances with respect to categorization and approval of indicators related to the protection of the environment in each of the objectives of sustainable development. It is concluded that the implementation and enforcement of the indicators for the goals of the objectives of sustainable development have represented hard work for institutions specialized in each of the countries; for statistical information on environmental aspects, in order to implement the best decisions Governments and their institutions.

 

Key words: Corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, trade and environment, non renewable resources and conservation
Conhecimento de mulheres sobre medidas de detecção precoce do câncer de mama
Authors: Soares Lidia Santos , Valente Rayssa Goulart , Sobral Ana Paula Barbosa , Silva Maria da Anunciação , De Oliveira Renilda Andrade , Nascimento Karine Silva
Published: July 2019

As atuais políticas de saúde voltadas para o câncer de mama recomendam ações de promoção da saúde e enfatizam o diagnóstico precoce e o rastreamento da doença. O objetivo do estudo é analisar o conhecimento de mulheres usuárias de uma Unidade de Saúde acerca das medidas de detecção precoce do câncer de mama. Pesquisa descritiva que utilizou o Levantamento (Survey) A coleta de dados foi realizada no primeiro semestre de 2015 no Centro de Saúde Nova Cidade, em Rio das Ostras/RJ. Participaram do estudo 390 mulheres, usuárias do serviço. Utilizou-se um questionário com perguntas fechadas contendo variáveis socioeconômicas e de conhecimento das medidas de prevenção do câncer de mama. A partir das respostas obtidas, analises de estatística descritiva foram realizadas. Os resultados revelaram que a principal medida de detecção precoce utilizada pelas participantes foi o autoexame, mencionado por 67,4% das mulheres. Em seguida, pode-se citar o exame clínico das mamas relatado por 58,5% das mulheres e, por último, a mamografia, apontado por 47,2% delas. Neste sentido, faz-se necessário que os profissionais de saúde se sensibilizem para a detecção precoce do câncer de mama e ofereçam meios e informações às mulheres para a realização dos exames necessários. Ademais, torna-se premente que também incluam em suas agendas atividades de promoção da saúde voltadas para o câncer de mama, incentivando a adoção de hábitos alimentares saudáveis, práticas de atividade física, orientando as mulheres sobre os fatores protetores e fatores de risco da doença.
Efeito do Diabetes Mellitus tipo I na organização espacial das trabéculas ósseas: análise por meio do processo de esqueletonização
Authors: Silva Layza Maria , Venâncio Jessyca Figueira , Loures Adriano de Oliveira , Lopes Daniella Guedes de Figueiredo , Dechichi Paula , Rabelo Gustavo Davi
Published: July 2019

Introdução: Diabetes mellitus é uma doença metabólica que afeta vários órgãos-alvo, incluindo os ossos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar pelo método de esqueletonização o efeito do Diabetes mellitus tipo I (DM1) na microarquitetura de osso esponjoso. Material e Métodos: Quatorze ratos Wistar foram divididos em: Saudável (S, n=7) e Diabético (D, n=7). O DM1 foi induzido por meio de injeção endovenosa de estreptozotocina no grupo D, sendo a confirmação da condição realizada por checagem do nível glicêmico. Os animais foram sacrificados após 35 dias da indução no grupo D, juntamente com os do grupo S. As epífises femorais foram seccionadas, removidas, desmineralizadas e incluídas em parafina. Dois cortes (5 µm) foram obtidos, corados em Hematoxilina e Eosina, e analisados ao Microscópio de Luz. Foi realizada a delimitação interativa das trabéculas ósseas, seguido pelo processo de binarização utilizando threshold global, feita por dois operadores distintos.  Depois, foi realizado o processo de esqueletonização para acesso às características das trabéculas e da rede de interconexão entre elas. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: Área óssea em micrômetros quadrados (B.Ar), Índice de Modelo estrutural (SMI), Dimensão Fractal (FD), Número de trabéculas (Tb.N), Número de ramos (B.N), Número total de junções (Junc.N), Média de pontos terminais (End.p), Média de extensão de cada ramo (R.Le) e Número de junções triplas (Triple.points.N). Resultados: Houve diferença significante apenas no parâmetro SMI para os diferentes operadores (p<0,0001), sendo o mesmo retirado da análise entre diabetes vs saudável. Houve diferença significante na quantidade óssea, sendo maior no grupo S (0,46±0,09) comparado ao grupo D (0,41±0,07) (p=0,0082). Os demais parâmetros não mostraram diferença significante. Conclusão: Conclui-se que a área óssea no grupo saudável é maior em comparação ao DM1. Dentro das limitações deste estudo, parece que a distribuição espacial das trabéculas e suas características de interconexão não são alteradas no diabetes.
Sífilis: a grande imitadora
Authors: Cardieri Romeiro Pedro Henrique , Porto Hisabella Lorena Simões , Dos Reis Rafaela Barbosa
Published: July 2019

A Sífilis é uma doença de transmissão vertical ou sexual causada por uma bactéria espiroqueta anaeróbia restrita que parasita exclusivamente o homem. Esse termo foi usado pela primeira vez em 1530 mas só em 1905 foi associado ao Treponema. Desde o advento da penicilina, os casos de sífilis decresceram até que há cerca de 20 anos a incidência dessa doença voltou a aumentar. Apesar de ser uma doença com múltiplas manifestações sendo capaz de mimetizar outras comorbidades o diagnóstico e tratamento do Lues é relativamente simples e barato o que vai de encontro a elevada prevalência dessa doença até os dias de hoje. Devido às mudanças epidemiológicas caracterizadas por aumento na incidência e prevalência na última década, o objetivo desta revisão foi apresentar os aspectos relevantes para detecção da doença e aspectos do seu tratamento, levando em conta as diferentes faces da doença, prevenção e tratamento.
WhatsApp and Learn English: a Study of the Effectiveness of WhatsApp in Developing Reading and Writing Skills in English
Authors: Ahmed Sabri Saleh
Published: July 2019

This study has examined the effectiveness of using WhatsApp, as one of mobile-assisted language learning applications, in enhancing learners’ reading and writing skills in English. Twenty EFL undergraduate students of Aden University participated in a WhatsApp English medium group with the researcher where they and the researcher chat, share news articles and comment on news articles for two months. During this period, the researcher was observing their progress and then, they were given a questionnaire to report their experience about the effectiveness of WhatsApp in developing their reading and writing skills. Findings from students’ pre-test and post-test, researcher’s observations of students’ progress and students’ responses to the questionnaire revealed that WhatsApp was very effective in developing their reading and writing skills. It helped them a lot in developing their vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension and writing skills. The study concluded that WhatsApp English medium groups provide space for practising natural language, especially in written communication, keep students learn and practice English outside the classroom and motivate them to learn from each other. As per the findings, the study has recommended EFL teachers to use WhatsApp in their teaching of English and to motivate their students to create and join WhatsApp English medium groups as that will help them in developing students’ language proficiency through natural interaction and contextualized language use that can’t be provided by the classroom.
Code Switching in Pulutan Lor As The Reflection of Bilingualism
Authors: Hassani Nibros , Swastuti Maulida , Famularsih Sari
Published: July 2019

In the multilingual region or community, certain social components influence language use. Moreover, in code-switching case, people sometimes switch code within a domain or social situation including the arrival of a new person and when there is some obvious change in the situation. Pulutan Lor as one of the little region in Salatiga, Central Java has got the arrival of many students since the built of new campus although they are not nameable as the permanent resident. This study aims to observe (i) How these newcomers in Pulutan Lor can give impact to society’s choice in using language (ii) What is the language used in the code-switching by the people in Pulutan. The methodology used is qualitative. The findings show (i) English is dominantly used in the code-switching, secondly is Javanese, and the last is Bahasa Indonesia (ii) The newcomers in Pulutan give impact at how society uses language even in casual conversation which is reflecting bilingualism.
L’agroécologie en droit : état et perspective
Authors: Hermon Carole
Published: July 2019

La loi d’avenir pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et la forêt, datée du 13 octobre 2014, introduit la notion d’agroécologie dans le droit. Cette intégration est remarquable dans le sens où, en sciences agronomiques, l’agroécologie représente une véritable révolution au regard du modèle de production agricole dominant, puisqu’elle prétend produire en s’appuyant sur les fonctionnalités des écosystèmes, et non en usant d’intrants pour lutter contre les contraintes environnementales. En caractérisant ce qu’il convient d’entendre par «agroécologie » , la loi d’avenir comprend une palette d’outils de nature à inciter à une transition agroécologique. Mais, au-delà de ce premier état du droit, la notion d’agroécologie pourrait ouvrir la voie à une re-conception du droit qui régit les rapports qu’entretiennent l’environnement et l’agriculture. Et parce qu’elle recouvre un système complexe, la notion autorise, paradoxalement, une simplification du droit.
El uso y experimentación de herramientas comunicativas en un equipo universitario de investigación-acción
Authors: Alonso Olea Mª José , Arandia Loroño Maite , Castillo Prieto Laura del , Rekalde Rodríguez Itziar , Zarandona de Juan Esther
Published: July 2019

El cambio de una cultura universitaria basada en el individualismo y en el protagonismo del profesorado a otra fundamentada en la colaboración y en el valor del alumnado, no es tarea fácil. El uso de metodologías participativas por parte del profesorado, va siendo una realidad que, sin embargo, requiere formación y reflexión desde lo que es el propio contexto universitario. El objeto de este artículo no es otro que describir y analizar las herramientas utilizadas por un equipo inter-departamental de docentes universitarias que llevan desarrollando metodologías participativas en sus aulas desde hace varios años, en el marco de un proyecto de innovación docente a través de la investigación-acción. Experimentar con herramientas como las tertulias pedagógicas dialógicas, la reconstrucción, el relato espontáneo y los grupos de discusión comunicativos, ha permitido al equipo reflexionar sobre sus prácticas docentes con la finalidad de proyectar cambios en las mismas de cara a la mejora tanto personal como profesional. Cambios que propician la creación de un contexto colaborativo, donde la comunicación fluida y sincera fortalece al equipo docente y sienta las bases necesarias para avanzar en el conocimiento: se aprende más y mejor con los demás. Experimentar en propia piel técnicas y herramientas para la participación conduce a un aprendizaje más significativo. Asimismo, la participación requiere cuidado de los aspectos personales y por tanto, es fundamental la formación en dinámicas grupales para facilitar procesos de aprendizaje seguros y verdaderos.
Diseño, aplicación y evaluación de un programa de educación para la muerte dirigido a personas adultas con discapacidad intelectual
Authors: Rodríguez Herrero Pablo , Izuzquiza Gasset Dolores , Herrán Gascón Agustín de la
Published: July 2019

En este artículo se presentan los resultados de una investigación que evalúa un Programa de Educación para la Muerte diseñado para personas adultas con discapacidad intelectual, con el propósito de mejorar su calidad de vida. La evaluación del programa permite concluir que se adecua a criterios de pertinencia, viabilidad y calidad, y confirmar su contribución efectiva para la evolución en los participantes del concepto de muerte biológica y, en general, de las concepciones acerca de la muerte. En la discusión se reflexiona sobre aspectos de relevancia para impulsar la pedagogía de la muerte
Desafíos del Programa Conectar-Igualdad en Argentina
Authors: Vázquez Muriel
Published: July 2019

En este trabajo, presentamos elementos de una hermenéutica del conocimiento, que pretende orientarse hacia una mejor comprensión del sentido de la realidad educativa, en el marco de la puesta en marcha del programa Conectar-Igualdad en Argentina. El proceso de construcción del conocimiento es parte constitutiva de la educación y, en la medida en que el mismo es experiencia, puede ser analizado y descrito como fenómeno. Pero a su vez, en cuanto es algo teórico, puede ser explicado como objeto. La cuestión central de nuestro trabajo reside en el análisis de las nuevas y complejas relaciones educativas que se dan al interior del aula de la escuela secundaria de la educación pública institucionalizada en la Argentina, en las que el conocimiento es compartido, promovido y construido en forma colaborativa con la intermediación de tecnologías de la información y comunicación. Comprender la realidad educativa desde la perspectiva del conocimiento implicaría la necesidad de construir un sentido, además de criterios para esta construcción, intentando discriminar y determinar las diferentes redes de significación que la sostienen y en las cuales se enmarca. Resulta necesario, por lo tanto, relevar las interpretaciones conflictivas que de ella puedan tenerse, para trabajar sobre los supuestos históricos y culturales en los que descansa y sobre la diversidad de teorías que las fundamentan
Caracterización del daño eléctrico en geles de silicona
Authors:   , Kovalevski Laura Inés
Published: July 2019

El objetivo principal de esta Tesis es profundizar en el estudio de los mecanismos de ruptura dieléctrica en materiales dieléctricos blandos como lo son los geles de silicona. Estos polímeros son ampliamente utilizados en una gran variedad de aplicaciones eléctricas en telecomunicaciones, electrónica y en la industria automotriz. Combinan las ventajas de las propiedades eléctricas y químicas de las siliconas con las propiedades particulares de los geles. Desde el punto de vista mecánico, las características más relevantes son bajo módulo, capacidad de deformación, amortiguamiento mecánico y adherencia. En los últimos años se desarrollaron aplicaciones en las que se usan geles de silicona (o polímeros ultra-blandos) como material aislante; por ejemplo, en la unión de cables de potencia o el encapsulamiento de circuitos electrónicos de potencia como IGBTs de alto voltaje (Transistor Bipolar de Puerta Aislada), donde el material está expuesto a intensidades de campo eléctrico elevadas. Pese al uso cada vez más frecuente de este tipo de materiales en aplicaciones de aislamiento de media y alta tensión, se requiere un conocimiento aún más exhaustivo de los mecanismos de envejecimiento y propagación del daño eléctrico bajo diversas condiciones. Los geles de silicona presentan propiedades inusuales con características tanto de líquidos como de sólidos. Consisten en una red levemente reticulada de polímero de silicona, que le da al gel su característica elástica, y proporciona interesantes propiedades mecánicas, a la vez que conserva y retiene una fase líquida formada por oligómeros de silicona de bajo peso molecular. Una vez alcanzado el punto de gelificación, estos geles de silicona dejan de fluir (como lo hacían un instante anterior en el estado de aceites), incluso a alta temperatura (hasta 200 °C), y son mucho más blandos que las gomas de silicona. Los geles pueden volver a su forma original después de una gran deformación mecánica y por lo tanto poseen una capacidad de auto-recuperación importante en cuya característica se centra el objetivo de esta Tesis.
School Bond Success
Authors: Holt Carleton R. , Wendt Matthew A. , Smith Roland M.
Published: July 2019

Following two-failed school bond issues in 1995 and 1998, one mid-sized rural school district organized an effort that led to two successful school bond elections in 2001 and 2003. The school district’s strategic plan mirrored many of the recommendations for successful bond referendums published in School Bond Success: A Strategy for Building America’s Schools. Findings from this case study, utilizing a Rapid Assessment Process, illustrate many of the reasons why the school district passed two consecutive bond issues with unprecedented community support. Although the findings from this school district may not match the concerns of all communities, it provides readers with a perspective of voters’ beliefs in one rural school district.
Changing Teaching Practices in Rural Schools
Authors: Harmon Hobart L. , Gordanier Janna , Henry Lana , George Ann
Published: July 2019

This article describes the approach of a five-year initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, to improve the teaching of mathematics and science in 10 rural school districts of Missouri. Traditional challenges of improving the professional practice of teachers are addressed through a regional partnership. External project evaluation results reveal specific teacher challenges, the change strategy of the Ozark Rural Systemic Initiative (ORSI), and what teachers value most. Continuous, regional content-specific professional development; follow-up technical assistance to schools; administrative walk-throughs; assistance of lead teachers; and external evaluation reinforce that what counts most are effective teaching practices in classrooms with students. School district leadership and regional partners will be the key to continued success and long-term sustainability of the evolving learning communities and new teaching practices in schools.
A Decade’s Difference
Authors: Legutko Robert S.
Published: July 2019

This study is a quantitative descriptive research design which compared 1995 and 2005 data regarding family influence on rural Pennsylvania high school seniors’ postsecondary decisions. A chi-square analysis at p < 0.05 determined that there was (a) an increase in students planning college attendance, (b) a decrease in students not planning postsecondary education or unsure of postsecondary plans, (c) an increase in students planning college attendance who did not have parents with postsecondary schooling, (d) a decrease in students not planning postsecondary education or unsure of postsecondary plans who did not have parents with postsecondary schooling, (e) an increase in lower-middle class students planning to attend college, and (f) a decrease in lower-middle class students not planning postsecondary education or unsure of postsecondary plans. There was no significant difference in students’ postsecondary plans when siblings’ pursuit of postsecondary education was considered.
Can a Week Make a Difference? Changing Perceptions about Teaching and Living in Rural Alaska
Authors: Munsch T. R. , Boylan Colin R.
Published: July 2019

Many Alaskan schools are located in extremely remote or 'fly-in' places. These geographical extremes affect the recruitment and retention of teachers to remote rural schools. Through a partnership between the Southwest Region School District of Alaska and the Department of Education at Alaska Pacific University (APU), 14 pre-service teachers participated in a one-week remote rural practice teaching experience. These APU students lived and taught in village schools where indigenous Alaska Natives were the majority and whose language is Yup’ik. Through the use of pre and post experience questionnaires, the pre-service teachers’ views about rural teaching and seeking rural appointments were sought.
Preparing Teachers for Rural Appointments
Authors: Barley Zoe A.
Published: July 2019

Rural schools face difficulties recruiting or retaining qualified teachers. Prospective teachers need help better understanding the nature of rural teaching. Despite many pluses, collegial isolation, low salaries, multiple grade or subject teaching assignments, and lack of familiarity with rural schools and communities are challenges to new teachers in rural schools. This study examined nine mid-continent institutions for five components identified as preparing and retaining teachers to teach in rural schools. From the 120 teacher preparation institutions in the mid-continent, 17 confirmed the existence of a rural program emphasis. Nine of the 17 had three or more rural programs. Three of the nine programs offered options for teachers to receive multiple certifications. As to access, seven of the nine programs offered online courses and four offered courses at more accessible community college campuses. Four of the nine recruited students from rural communities and two programs actively sought student teaching placements in rural schools.
Wyoming’s Instructional Facilitator Program
Authors: Rush Leslie S. , Young Suzanne
Published: July 2019

In 2006, the Wyoming state government allocated monies for the Department of Education to fund the work of Instructional Facilitators, or coaches, in schools across the state (Wyoming Department of Education, 2008). In Spring 2009, after the program had been in place for two years, an ex-post facto study was designed to examine the impact of the program on teacher practice. An online survey was used to collect data from classroom teachers throughout Wyoming’s public schools. Teachers answered questions about the extent of their work with Instructional Facilitators, the activities that they worked on with Instructional Facilitators, and the impact of their work with Instructional Facilitators on their practice. Results indicate that while a large number of teachers reported spending a small amount of time working with Instructional Facilitators, a small number of teachers reported spending a great deal of time working with Instructional Facilitators. Although differences by teaching level were apparent, the majority of respondents indicated they wished to continue working with an Instructional Facilitator and that Wyoming is spending its money wisely on the program. Discussion of these findings includes implications for Instructional Facilitator workloads and the need to focus their work on specific outcomes.
Challenges and Sustainability Practices of Frontier Schools in Montana
Authors: Morton Claudette , Harmon Hobart L.
Published: July 2019

This article reports the findings of a study commissioned by the Montana Small Schools Alliance to explore the challenges and sustainability practices of frontier schools. A Montana frontier school is defined as a school district with 200 or fewer students with its attendant community located in a county with five or fewer people per square mile. The researchers surveyed teachers, administrators, and school board chairs in 141 frontier school districts and held six focus groups of community members. The top five most important challenges noted by school district personnel were low student enrollment, inadequate financial resources, unrealistic federal expectations, academically unmotivated students, and mixed grade levels of students in the classroom. School sustainability practices included operating mixed-age or multi-grade classrooms and using school facilities to serve critical community functions. Lay citizens, compared to persons employed by the school district, were more likely to view the school as necessary for maintaining a way of life associated with agriculture and related enterprises. Twelve research questions are offered for future research on issues of frontier schools.
Recommendations from the North Star State
Authors: Williams Julia M. , Nierengarten Gerry
Published: July 2019

Administrators in America’s rural school districts are uniquely challenged to meet increased achievement expectations despite decreasing resources. Mandated reform initiatives, population decline, and the complex formulas used to distribute tax-based funding have disproportionately affected rural schools. In this mixed-methods study, researchers first surveyed K-12 administrators and then conducted focus groups across six regions in Minnesota to determine the nature of the challenges specific to rural administrators and to document their perceived needs for interventions, training, and policy changes. The study identified two categories of common concern: student achievement and fiscal management. Within the category of student achievement, administrators identified four areas of need for assistance: testing and adequate yearly progress, achievement for all, staff and professional development, and data analysis. Within the category of fiscal management, needs for assistance included balancing budgets and transportation/sparsity policy. Analysis of the data gathered indicates statewide implications for professional development and policy review.
A Longitudinal Study on the Effect of the Texas Behavior Support Initiative on Rural Middle School Students
Authors: Ruiz Alberto , Ruiz Grace V. , Sherman Nestor W.
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a school wide positive behavior initiative designed to improve student behavior. Researchers analyzed the last 3 years (2005-2008) of student discipline referral data for grades 7 and 8. Implementation resulted in a significant reduction in the number of discipline referrals. Data revealed a decrease of 23% in the number (2239 vs. 1723) of discipline referrals from year one to year two and a decrease of 22% in the number (1723 vs.1340) of discipline referrals from year two to year three. Results obtained from the analysis indicate that the TBSI was effective in improving student behavior in a rural middle school.
Teaching Elementary Children with Autism
Authors: Busby Ruth , Ingram Rebecca , Bowron Rhonda , Oliver Jan , Lyons Barbara
Published: July 2019

Teachers’ perception of self-efficacy may have a significant impact on their ability to accept the challenges inherent in including children with autism in their classrooms. The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to identify perceived challenges and needs of 31 graduate students in a university course of which 14 of the 23 students were actively teaching in rural schools located in southeast Alabama. Five faculty members used the resulting NGT data to draft six recommendations for improving the teacher preparation program at Troy University.
The Benefits and Challenges of Special Education Positions in Rural Settings: Listening to the Teachers
Authors: Berry Ann B. , Gravelle Maggie
Published: July 2019

Special education teachers, through a national survey conducted in 55 rural districts, provided information on the positive and negative aspects of teaching in rural schools. The 203 special educators were asked what they liked best about their position and what they found challenging. Some of the themes identified in the analysis centered on positive features of working in rural areas. Characteristics of the rural community fostered family-like relationships with others in their school and in-depth relationships with parents and students. Half of the teachers also reported they shared the responsibility or took a team approach to delivering special education services, a factor related to teacher satisfaction. The majority of teachers were satisfied with the instructional aspects of their position but dissatisfied with non-instructional role responsibilities. Challenges of the position also included role confusion and a lack of resources. Related implications for rural administrators interested in the satisfaction of special education teachers are provided.
"I'm Not a Bystander"
Authors: Eargle Jeffrey C.
Published: July 2019

Rural teachers need ongoing, flexible professional development designed to encourage collaboration and curriculum development. Furthermore, rural school reform requires successful collaborations between schools and colleges to create leaders within schools. Therefore, this case study is a program review that investigates how social studies teachers at Timberwood High School, a rural high school in the American southeast, are emerging as teacher leaders through a school-university partnership to improve their practice, mentor pre-service teachers, and generate reform. Interviews were conducted with members of the social studies department, all of whom were involved in the project. The findings indicate that the school-university partnership encouraged experimentation with new strategies, stimulated reflective practices and teacher growth, and created a more cohesive social studies department. However, while it was evident that teacher leadership did develop through the process, traditional school norms of egalitarianism and structural hierarchy prevented teachers from fully embracing their roles as teacher leaders. Study findings suggest that rural administrators and rural school-university partnerships must focus on developing teacher leaders to initiate school reform and grow professionally.
Rural Educator Perceptions of Parent Involvement in Public Schools
Authors: Isernhagen Jody , Lin Shu-Yuan , Scherz Susan , Denner Peter R.
Published: July 2019

Rural educators in three states were surveyed regarding their perceptions of parental involvement in their schools. Significant indicators impacting student success included the expectation of parents and their attitudes toward education. Two strategies used to incorporate varying cultures and languages into the school community were creating a welcoming and open climate for parents and using parents’ home languages to communicate key information. The greatest challenge to involvement in their children’s education was parents’ work schedules. Educators participating in this study rated their schools’ level of success in engaging parents as somewhat successful.
Youth Development Program in Northern Manitoba
Authors: Brown Christopher D. , Albert Brandee
Published: July 2019

This article describes a study of the Cultural, Economic, Political, and Social Youth Leadership Development Program (CEPS), an identity-building program for disengaged youth, conducted by a community-university alliance in northern Manitoba, Canada. The study was conducted through the lens of transformative learning theory. Findings indicate participation in CEPS strengthened the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being of the quality of their lives, and provided knowledge and leadership skill development. The CEPS program also developed the participants' agency to make a difference in their lives, their families, and their communities.
Increasing Usage of ESL Instructional Practices in a Rural County Elementary School
Authors: Hoover John J. , Sarris Julia S. , Hill Raymond
Published: July 2019

The study setting is one elementary school located in a remote rural county school district in a mountain western state. Implementing a specific set of procedures, ESL Instructional Improvement Process, educators examined and increased use of research-based ESL instructional practices in the education of English learners (ELs). A key feature of the piloted process is educator self-assessment of instructional practices, resulting in the development of workshop sessions and action items, and completion of classroom observations. Researchers found that the process proved effective in increasing rural educators’ knowledge and application of ESL best practices. Self-assessment was highly effective in helping educators examine existing instructional practices, leading to relevant workshop sessions and classroom implementation of ESL action items. Numerous examples of the use of research-based ESL instructional practices as a result of this project are provided, along with suggestions for further research to improve the education of ELs in rural county schools.