bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Association between Sagittal Index, Canal Compromise, Loss of Vertebral Body Height, and Severity of Spinal Cord Injury in Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures
Authors: Yüksel Mehmet Onur , Gürbüz Mehmet Sabri , Gök Şevki , Karaarslan Numan , İş Merih , Berkman Mehmet Zafer
Published: December 2016

Aim: Our aim was to determine whether a combination of sagittal index (SI), canal compromise (CC), and loss of vertebral body height (LVBH) is associated with the severity of neurological injury in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures. Materials and Methods: Seventy-four patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture undergoing instrumentation between 2010 and 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The degree of neurological injury was determined using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scoring system. The association between the morphology of the fracture and the severity of neurological injury was analyzed. Results: There was a strong association between fracture morphology and the severity of neurological injury. Of the patients, 77.5% with SI ≥20°, 81.6% with CC ≥40%, and 100% with LVBH ≥50% had lesion according to ASIA. All of 7 patients with ASIA A had SI ≥20°, CC ≥40%, and LVBH ≥50%. On the other hand, 79% of the patients with ASIA E had SI <20°, 83.7% of the patients with ASIA E had CC <40%, and all of the patients with ASIA E had LVBH <50%. SI, CC, and LVBH were lower in neurologically intact patients (ASIA E), whereas they were higher in patients with neurological deficits (ASIA A, B, C, D) (P = 0.001; P < 0.01). These measurements had 100% negative predictive values and relatively high positive predictive values. Conclusion: SI, CC, and LVBH are significantly associated with the severity of neurological injury in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures. The patients with SI >25°, the patients with CC >40%, and the patients with LVBH >50% are likely to have a more severe neurological injury.
Os usos de "você" como forma de indeterminação do sujeito no discurso de falantes cultos
Authors: Durante Denise
Published: December 2016

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o emprego do pronome você em interações orais, em português. O corpus utilizado corresponde a entrevistas realizadas no programa Sem Censura, cujo tema foi “Expoentes da chamada Geração Y”. Adotaram-se os pressupostos teóricos da Análise da Conversação, em particular os estudos de Marcuschi (1986) e Barros (2013). Partimos da hipótese de que o pronome de indeterminação do sujeito você pode ser utilizado pelos falantes para a obtenção de efeitos expressivos, entre os quais se inclui o envolvimento emocional entre os interlocutores.
Ecolinguística, linguística ecossistêmica e análise do discurso ecológica (ADE)
Authors: Couto Elza Kioko Nakayama Nenoki do , Couto Hildo Honório do
Published: December 2016

O paradigma ecológico já vem sendo seguido por representantes de praticamente todas as ciências sociais. Por isso, o objetivo do ensaio é mostrar como ele tem sido aplicado no estudo dos fenômenos da linguagem, sob o nome de Ecolinguística. Começamos por uma visão de conjunto das iniciativas nesse sentido. Em seguida, apresentamos em relativo detalhe a versão da jovem disciplina chamada de Linguística Ecossistêmica, cujo nome se deve ao fato de partir da visão ecológica de mundo expressa não só na Ecologia Biológica, mas também na Social e na Filosó ca, como a Ecologia Profunda. O texto se completa com uma exposição da mais jovem ainda Análise do Discurso Ecológica (ADE) que, diferentemente das análises do discurso tradicionais, enfatiza a vida (de todas as espécies) e luta contra tudo que possa trazer sofrimento aos seres vivos. Se as ideologias são inevitáveis, a ADE subscreve a ecoideologia, não as ideologias políticas com respectivas relações de poder. Ela não ignora as últimas, mas não faz delas o item mais importante. Em vez do con ito implícito nessas ideologias, a ADE enfatiza a harmonia.
A ordenação de locuções adverbiais de tempo em cartas jesuíticas dos séculos XVI e XVII
Authors: Castanheira Dennis , Cezario Maria Maura
Published: December 2016

Neste trabalho, discutimos as tendências de ordenação das locuções adverbiais de tempo em cartas escritas por jesuítas nos séculos XVI e XVII, bem como apresentamos algumas das motivações para seu posicionamento na oração por meio de uma análise estrutural e discursivo-pragmática. Seguimos os pressupostos teóricos do funcionalismo norte-americano, considerando relevante a relação entre forma e função no discurso. Buscamos (a) veri car padrões de posicionamento na oração, (b) analisar fatores que motivam as diferentes posições dessas locuções e (c) comparar os resultados com outras sincronias do português, avaliando em que medida eles podem apontar para indícios de mudança linguística.
Responsabilidade enunciativa e representações discursivas em relatórios produzidos por estagiários do curso de Letras/Inglês
Authors: Queiroz Carvalho Jorge Luis , Queiroz Maria Eliete de , Bernardino Rosângela Alves dos Santos
Published: December 2016

Com base na Análise Textual dos Discursos, este trabalho estuda a responsabilidade enunciativa, por meio do exame das marcas de modalidades, e as representações discursivas, por meio da referenciação e da predicação, construídas no gênero relatório de estágio, produzido no curso de Letras/ Inglês. Os resultados evidenciam que o aluno: a) imputa pontos de vista (PdV) a outrem, emitindo posicionamentos de acordo e desacordo; b) formula PdV próprios, com base na experiência; e c) constrói representações discursivas positivas de objetos relacionados à sua prática docente. Observamos que o gênero analisado favoreceu a inscrição de PdV próprios e a construção dessas representações.
Substantivos em artigos científicos: o vocabulário técnico e acadêmico na perspectiva da Linguística de Corpus
Authors: Miranda Monique Vieira , Oliveira Aparecida De Araújo
Published: December 2016

Foram analisados os 30 substantivos mais recorrentes em um corpus misto de artigos acadêmicos de diferentes áreas de conhecimentos, utilizando ferramentas da Linguística de Corpus. O objetivo foi classi car esses itens lexicais como integrantes das categorias: vocabulário acadêmico, vocabulário técnico e vocabulário de uso geral. Foi realizada uma análise semântica não automática de 35.320 linhas de concordância – número correspondente à soma dos totais de ocorrências em contexto para cada um desses substantivos –, a m de se obter seus signi cados de uso mais comum. Concluiu-se que o número de lexemas de uso acadêmico é maior no corpus composto por diferentes áreas que o obtido na análise de subcorpora separados por área de conhecimento, que apresentam termos técnicos entre os substantivos mais frequentes.
O tratamento dos fenômenos semânticos homonímia e polissemia nos livros didáticos de Língua Portuguesa
Authors: Martins Lauriê Ferreira , Almeida Débora Ribeiro de , Sampaio Thais Fernandes
Published: December 2016

O presente artigo tem como objetivo a análise do tratamento dos fenômenos semânticos homonímia e polissemia em livros didáticos de Língua Portuguesa. Os estudos fundamentam essa discussão sobre a história da disciplina Português (SOARES, 2002) e sobre os conceitos homonímia e polissemia (PASCCHOALIN; SPADOTO, 2008; PERINI, 2005; PIETROFORTE; LOPES, 2005). A partir de uma análise qualitativa dos dados encontrados – conceitos, exemplos e exercícios propostos pelos livros didáticos –, além de se constatar uma enorme irregularidade no tratamento dado à homonímia e à polissemia nos livros analisados, percebeu-se ainda que o espaço reservado a questões semânticas continua sendo restrito, se comparado aquele que é dedicado a aspectos formais da linguagem.
A linguagem construindo/ constituindo/ consolidando o trabalho docente: o que revelam os modos de dizer sobre o agir do professor?
Authors: Ramos Marta Anaísa Bezerra , Silva Camilo Rosa
Published: December 2016

Tomando o trabalho docente como objeto de interesse da Linguística Aplicada, analisamos as representações de uma professora acerca de sua prática docente. Do confronto entre o plano de trabalho e sua implementação, objetivamos depreender qual a consciência que emerge sobre o seu agir. Logo, constituem parâmetros de observação a sequência didática descrita no plano de atividades elaborado pela professora e o relato de experiência destinado à avaliação de suas ações, cujos pontos contemplados incidem na escolha do tema da aula, dos instrumentos didáticos bem como nos con itos vivenciados no processo de transposição didática. Desse modo, o objeto de análise compreende o relato de experiência escrito pela professora em relação ao estudo do gênero “artigo de opinião” numa turma do 9o ano do ensino fundamental. Apoiamo-nos na visão de atividade docente defendida por Clot (2007), Amigues (2004) e Bronckart (2009). Na análise da con guração do agir, consideramos as guras de ação (BULEA; FRISTALON, 2004), o que nos permitiu identi car motivos e metas para agir, adequação de recursos e con itos enfrentados. Não obstante as di culdades reveladas pela professora, depreendemos autonomia no seu agir, ao delimitar o conteúdo conforme a necessidade da turma e ao pensar em alternativas para dinamizar o trabalho, o que re ete o conhecimento teórico- metodológico adquirido na formação. A não concretização de atividades planejadas evidencia, ainda, que o trabalho real con gura-se como uma prática enigmática.
Promovendo a autonomia sociocultural de professores de inglês em formação inicial no contexto PIBID/CAPES
Authors: Neres Fernanda Passos da Trindade Jorge , Nicolaides Christine Siqueira
Published: December 2016

A partir da observação e análise de um contexto de pesquisa do subprojeto Letras- Inglês/UFRJ do PIBIB/CAPES veri cou-se que os licenciandos, ao invés de se guiarem apenas por tarefas de nidas pelo coordenador, se responsabilizavam pelo trabalho, ocorrendo um equilíbrio no que se refere à tomada de decisões entre esses participantes do projeto. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo compreender a promoção da autonomia sociocultural (OXFORD, 2003), por parte desses licenciandos envolvidos no projeto, trazendo à tona alguns exemplos de como a condução desse Projeto PIBID se deu ao longo das reuniões pedagógicas e como esse equilíbrio na tomada de decisões se re ete, na sala de aula, quando esses licenciandos passam então a atuar como professores.
Determination nurses’ knowledge about initial drugs used during emergency management of acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Mustafa Hassanat Elbashir Mohamed , Elfaki Badria Abd Alla Mohamed
Published: December 2016

Objective: Acute myocardial infarction is a life threatening condition that influences the physical, psychological and social dimensions of the individual. The aim of this study was conducted to determine nurses’ knowledge of initial treatment during an emergency management of patients with acute myocardial infarction.Methods: A descriptive study was used. The standardized administered questionnaires were administered on 139 critical care nurses who are employed in five teaching hospitals at Khartoum state/Sudan. Data processed using the statistical package software (SPSS); version 19, Chi-Square test was used, p-value of < .05 considered statistically significant for the analysis.Results: The study results revealed that the total mean knowledge scores of the studied subjects related to the initial treatment of acute myocardium infarction was found to be low than  bench mark with t & p values (t = 6.87 at p = .000). Also, most of studied subjects had poor level of knowledge regarding thrombolytic agents specifically about characteristics of streptokinase, indications, contraindications and complications; even among trained nurses (p values = .000).Conclusions: The studied subjects had poor levels of knowledge related to the drugs used for initial management of acute myocardial infarction specifically those related to understanding the thrombolytic agents.
A Novel Approach for Detection of Microaneurysms in Diabetic Retinopathy Disease from Retinal Fundus Images
Authors: Gharaibeh Nasr Y.
Published: December 2016

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness in human beings aged between 20 to 74 years. It has a great influence on the patient and society because it normally influences humans in their most gainful years. Early detection in DR is very difficult which is not detected by human beings. Many algorithms and techniques were established to detect DR. These techniques faced the problems such as increasing sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. To overcome those problems we have to introduce an effective image processing algorithms for increasing performances and also easily identify the DR diseases. One of the most challenging tasks in screening is automatic detection of Microaneurysms (MAs). This paper presents a new approach to detect MAs. Our proposed work consists of preprocessing, blood vessel segmentation (FPCM), fovea localization, fovea elimination, feature extraction and classification (Neuro-Fuzzy). Neuro-Fuzzy is a combined version of neural networks and fuzzy logical models. Experiments are conducted using MATLAB simulation tool. Using MESSIDOR database for our experiments which provides efficient and effective results in sensitivity, specificity, correct classification and detection rate (accuracy) and precision.
The Impact of the Pattern-Growth Ordering on the Performances of Pattern Growth-Based Sequential Pattern Mining Algorithms
Authors: Kenmogne Edith Belise
Published: December 2016

Sequential Pattern Mining is an efficient technique for discovering recurring structures or patterns from very large datasetwidely addressed by the data mining community, with a very large field of applications, such as cross-marketing, DNA analysis, web log analysis,user behavior, sensor data, etc. The sequence pattern mining aims at extractinga set of attributes, shared across time among a large number of objects in a given database. Previous studies have developed two major classes of sequential pattern mining methods, namely, the candidate generation-and-test approach based on either vertical or horizontal data formats represented respectively by GSP and SPADE, and the pattern-growth approach represented by FreeSpan and PrefixSpan.In this paper, we are interested in the study of the impact of the pattern-growthordering on the performances of pattern growth-based sequential pattern mining algorithms.To this end, we introduce a class of pattern-growth orderings, called linear orderings, for which patterns are grown by making grow either the currentpattern prefix or the current pattern suffix from the same position at eachgrowth-step.We study the problem of pruning and partitioning the search space followinglinear orderings. Experimentations show that the order in which patternsgrow has a significant influence on the performances.
Exploiting Data-Parallelism on Multicore and SMT Systems for Implementing the Fractal Image Compressing Problem
Authors: Rosa Righi Rodrigo da , Rodrigues Vinicius F. , Costa Cristiano A. , Gomes Roberto Q.
Published: December 2016

This paper presents a parallel modeling of a lossy image compression method based on the fractal theory and its evaluation over two versions of dual-core processors: with and without simultaneous multithreading (SMT) support. The idea is to observe the speedup on both configurations when changing application parameters and the number of threads at operating system level. Our target application is particularly relevant in the Big Data era. Huge amounts of data often need to be sent over low/medium bandwidth networks, and/or to be saved on devices with limited store capacity, motivating efficient image compression. Especially, the fractal compression presents a CPU-bound coding method known for offering higher indexes of file reduction through highly time-consuming calculus. The structure of the problem allowed us to explore data-parallelism by implementing an embarrassingly parallel version of the algorithm. Despite its simplicity, our modeling is useful for fully exploiting and evaluating the considered architectures. When comparing performance in both processors, the results demonstrated that the SMT-based one presented gains up to 29%. Moreover, they emphasized that a large number of threads does not always represent a reduction in application time. In average, the results showed a curve in which a strong time reduction is achieved when working with 4 and 8 threads when evaluating pure and SMT dual-core processors, respectively. The trend concerns a slow growing of the execution time when enlarging the number of threads due to both task granularity and threads management.
Changes in the Motivation of Chinese ESL Learners: A Qualitative Investigation
Authors: Li Qi
Published: December 2016

This article reports on a case study that investigated changes in the motivation of Chinese ESL learners over a three month period of residence in an English-speaking environment. The participants consisted of 11 Chinese ESL learners, who were tertiary students and taking general or academic English courses in New Zealand. They took part in the present research shortly after their arrival in New Zealand. Data were collected over a period of three months using qualitative data collection instruments such as learner diaries and individual interviews. The results revealed some dynamic changes in the motivation of Chinese ESL learners over a three month period of residence in an English-speaking country. According to the similarities and differences in their motivation, they were categorized into five learner types. In general, the learners belonging to the first three types were able to maintain or increase their overall motivation. The learners in the last two types were not able to maintain their overall motivation: Their motivation decreased over the three months.
Study on the Influence Caused by Opening Different Types of Community on Surrounding Traffic
Authors: Lv Xin-Kun , Zhang Yuan-Biao , Yan Xiao-Xu , Ma Wei
Published: December 2016

In February of 2016, China formally promulgated and pointed out that the new communities should promote the block system. This new policy sparked heated debate. To demonstrate the rationality of this decision, the article studies on the problem that the influence on surrounding traffic causing by the opening of different types of community. The result shows that there is a big difference of the influence on surrounding traffic between opening different types of communities. So the decision of opening communities should fully consider the particularity of communities and adjust measures according to local conditions.
Economic Performance of U.S. Multinational Manufacturing Firms: The Linkages between Foreign Direct Investment and Firm Strategy
Authors: Garcia-Fuentes Pablo A. , Ferreira Gustavo F. C. , Kennedy P. Lynn , Perez Felipe
Published: December 2016

This research uses an unbalanced date set for a sample of U.S. multinational manufacturing firms to evaluate the effect of the relationships between firm strategic factors (i.e. firm size, marketing intensity and capital intensity) and foreign direct investment (FDI) on firm’s financial performance. Specifically, this study evaluates the direct effect of FDI activity on firm performance, the indirect effect of FDI activity on firm performance, and the moderating effect of FDI activity on the relationships between strategic factors and firm performance. The results suggest that FDI activity plays an important role on the financial strength of U.S. multinational manufacturing firms, and reveal interesting interactions between FDI and some firm strategic factors and their positive effect on financial performance.
Identified Research Gaps in Employee Engagement
Authors: Iddagoda Y. Anuradha , Opatha H.H.D.N.P.
Published: December 2016

This research paper sets out to investigate the research gaps in employee engagement for systematic empirical investigations, in order to substantiate future studies. A desk research has contributed to identify seven gaps in employee engagement. The first gap which is about the conceptual confusion, can be minimized by formulating a working definition of employee engagement. The nonexistence of theoretical arguments and empirical tests on the impact of the religiosity on employee engagement, in both the Sri Lankan and in the international contexts, has been identified as the second gap. The third gap has been identified to be the fact that the rapport between personal character and employee engagement being, neither theoretically argued nor empirically tested, in Sri Lankan and the international contexts. The fourth gap is the unavailability of studies in the Sri Lankan context as to how the high performance work practices (HPWPs) impact on employee engagement. The fifth gap identified is the shortage of empirical evidence regarding the link between employee engagement and organizational financial performance in the Sri Lankan context. Absence of empirical evidence on employee job performance to be an intervening variable for employee engagement and organizational financial performance is brought up as the sixth gap. The same absence is found in empirical evidence about religiosity, HPWPs, personal character, leadership and work life balance that significantly affect employee engagement in a nomological network in the Sri Lankan context as well as in the international context, which is the seventh Gap.
Thinking Process of Naive Problem Solvers to Solve Mathematical Problems
Authors: Mairing Jackson Pasini
Published: December 2016

Solving problem is not only a goal of mathematical learning. Students acquire ways of thinking, habits of persistence and curiosity, and confidence in unfamiliar situations by learning to solve problems. In fact, there were students who had difficulty in solving problems. The students were naive problem solvers. This research aimed to describe the thinking process of naive problem solvers based on heuristic of Polya. The researcher gave two problems to students at grade XI from one of high schools in Palangka Raya, Indonesia. The research subjects were two students with problem solving scores of 0 or 1 for both problems (naive problem solvers). The score was determined by using a holistic rubric with maximum score of 4. Each subject was interviewed by the researcher separately based on the subject’s solution. The results showed that the naive problem solvers read the problems for several times in order to understand them. The naive problem solvers could determine the known and the unknown if they were written in the problems. However, they faced difficulties when the information in the problems should be processed in their mindsto construct a mental image. The naive problem solvers were also failed to make an appropriate plan because they did not have a problem solving schema. The schema was constructed by the understanding of the problems, conceptual and procedural knowledge of the relevant concepts, knowledge of problem solving strategies, and previous experiences in solving isomorphic problems.
Peer Lecturing as Project-Based Learning: Blending Socio-Affective Influences with Self-Regulated Learning
Authors: Seroussi Dominique-Esther , Sharon Rakefet
Published: December 2016

As a contribution to the efforts to understand the influence of peer presence on self-regulated learning, this paper studies students’ reaction to a project-based activity, the final product of which was a scientific communication to peers. In this activity, peer lecturing, the students formulate a question on a topic linked to the course, search scientific information in order to answer the question, and teach the result of their investigations to their class in the form of a whole-class communication. The paper draws on the qualitative analysis of 23 interviews of first-year student teachers involved in peer lecturing in the framework of an introductory zoology course. In this study, the expressed gains in self-regulated learning described by the students are compared to the gains reported in the literature in other project-based methods and in peer teaching. Original gains in motivation (social goals), cognitive processes and self-regulation, are highlighted, while stressing differences between student types. Further development of the method is suggested.
Using a Review Book to Improve Knowledge Retention
Authors: Elmas Ridvan , Aydogdu Bulent , Saban Yakup
Published: December 2016

This study has two primary objectives. The first one is preparation of an efficient review book including a series of activities, which will help fourth grade students exercise what they learned in the elementary science course in a year. The second objective is examination of the prepared book in the framework of student and teacher opinions. In this study, 10 classroom teachers are interviewed at the initial stage. As a result of these interviews, a significant need is determined for a review book for elementary science course, particularly. In the study, qualitative research methods, such as observation, interviews, document analysis and focus group discussion, are used. Data collection tools compose of review book for elementary science course, teacher interview forms, student focus group discussion form and forms, in which students evaluate all activities in the book. The review book prepared by the researchers consists of 38 activities. This book was applied to 25 fifth grade students. These interviews are supported with data of observation and document analysis. The obtained data are analyzed with the content analysis. The review book is considered efficient by teacher and students. This is because it can be applied within a short time and contains whole elementary science topics of fourth grade. Furthermore, teacher can specify students' prior knowledge at the beginning of the academic year and adjust the level and teaching methods in the course accordingly. It can also be used effectively throughout the term.
Measuring the Efficiency of Public Universities: Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to Examine Public Universities in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alabdulmenem Fahad Mohammed
Published: December 2016

Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that allot substantial amount of government resources for education. Thus, it is important to measure how these resources are used to generate favorable academic outcomes for its nationals. In this study, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to measure the relative efficiency of 25 public universities in Saudi Arabia. Results show that although most public universities in the country are efficient, some fall behind in performance due to poor utilization of available resources. Implications of this are discussed and recommendations are provided.
Preschool Children’s School Readiness
Authors: Pekdogan Serpil , Akgul Esra
Published: December 2016

The purpose of this study is to examine preschool teachers’ perspectives about children’s school readiness. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in the study as a mixed method research. Data, in the quantitative aspects of the research, were collected through the use of “School Readiness Form” developed by Boz (2004) and “School Readiness Checklist for 5-6 Age Children” developed by the researchers; from 204 preschool teachers. In the qualitative part of the research, open-ended questions were asked for preschool teacher to determine their opinions about children’s school readiness. While findings obtained from quantitative aspect revealed that there is a relationship between the skills that children must have and their school readiness; in the qualitative part of the research participants presented an opinion that academic, social communication skills, maturity, communication with parents and the developmental areas have an effect on children’s school readiness. In the study, qualitative and quantitative findings were coincided. Some recommendations are made in terms of findings.
The Academic, Administrative, Economic, Social, and Psychological Problems Faced by Students of Textile and Clothing Major at King Abdul-Aziz University
Authors: Alsubyani Noor Abdulhadi
Published: December 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the academic, administrative, economic, social, and psychological problems faced by students of Textile and fabric major at King Abdul-Aziz University. To achieve this purpose, a questionnaire was designed and distributed to a sample of students in the Textile and fabric major, after the use of appropriate statistical methods, the study concluded that there are administrative and economic problems of a very large degree, largely academic problems, The researcher recommends that attention must be paid to the problems of students of Textile and fabric major, and the need to full or partial grants is recommended.
Relationship between Student’s Self-Directed-Learning Readiness and Academic Self-Efficacy and Achievement Motivation in Students
Authors: Saeid Nasim , Eslaminejad Tahere
Published: December 2016

Self-directed learning readiness to expand and enhance learning, This is an important goal of higher education, Besides his academic self-efficacy can be improved efficiency and Achievement Motivation, so understanding how to use these strategies by students is very important. Because the purpose this study is determination of relationship between students self-directed learning and academic self-efficacy and Achievement Motivation in Payamnoor students (2012-2013). In a correlation-descriptive study 322 bachelor students were selected from Payamnoor University of Rafsanjan (2014-2015) through a Simple random sampling. Data collection was SDL questionnaire, academic self-efficacy questionnaire and Achievement Motivation questionnaire. Data were analyzed by multiple regression, simple regression, variance analysis and T-test. The obtained findings from this research showed that there is a relation between student’s Self-directed learning readiness and academic self-efficacy and academic motivation in Students University of Payamnoor. Also Independence in learning and Study skills and problem solving has the most ability for academic self-efficacy and academic motivation prediction and there was the most correlation.According to results and that self-directed learning readiness to enhance self-efficacy and academic motivation, it is necessary to teach strategies to students.
Effect of Principal Managerial Leadership and Compensation towards Physics Teacher Performance in Senior High School in Baguala District-Ambon
Authors: Wenno Izaak Hendrik
Published: December 2016

The performance of teachers is an important factor that must be considered in efforts to improve the quality of education. Teacher’s performance is affected by many factors. Factors that affect the performance of teachers are principals’ managerial leadership and compensation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of principals’ managerial leadership and compensation to the performance of physical science teachers in senior high schools in the district Baguala Ambon city. This type of research is quantitative design. The instrument was used questionnaire. The variables studied were the principal managerial leadership (X1), compensation (X2) as independent variables and performance of science physics teachers (Y) as dependent variable. Prior to use in the true research, the validity and reliability of these instrument was done. To reveal relationships between variables, correlation analysis was performed, while to know the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable regression analysis also performed. Analysis of the validity, reliability, correlation and regression analysis was performed using SPSS program version of 18.0 for windows. The results showed that between principal managerial leadership and teacher performance there is a very high correlation. Between compensation with the performance have high correlation and the combination of principals’ managerial leadership and compensation with the performance there is a very high correlation. Regression analysis showed that the independent variables principals managerial leadership and compensation, or a combination of both contribute to or affect the performance of physical science teacher at senior high school in the district Baguala.
Some Difficulties in Understanding Negative Numbers Faced by Students: A Qualitative Study Applied at Secondary Schools in Indonesia
Authors: Fuadiah Nyiayu Fahriza , Suryadi Didi , Turmudi Turmudi
Published: December 2016

This study revealed how students’ understanding of negative numbers and identified their difficulties related with the concept of integer and its counting operation as part of identifying epistemological obstacles about negative numbers. Even though teachers have explained counting operation procedure of integer, but there was concept misunderstanding among students. The concept difference between what was comprehended by respondents in their learning process and knowledge science has resulted in wrong perceptions about the negative numbers. In this article, the authors explained how these misunderstanding in concepts occurred among students and how these ideas were expressed by the students in solving the problem which was related with counting operation of negative integer. This study was part of Didactical Design Research using qualitative approach in negative number learning by involving 96 students of 7th grade as participants in three different schools. This study showed some difficulties by the student to understanding negative numbers in terms of prerequisite knowledge, understanding concepts, procedures, principles and problem solving.
Comparison of Oral Reading Errors between Contextual Sentences and Random Words among Schoolchildren
Authors: Khalid Nursyairah Mohd , Buari Noor Halilah , Chen Ai-Hong
Published: December 2016

This paper compares the oral reading errors between the contextual sentences and random words among schoolchildren. Two sets of reading materials were developed to test the oral reading errors in 30 schoolchildren (10.00±1.44 years). Set A was comprised contextual sentences while Set B encompassed random words. The schoolchildren were asked to read both contextual sentences and random words reading charts at random order, loudly at normal reading speed. The reading errors were quantified based on the number of mistakes made during reading. The errors were classified into 6 categories; mispronunciations, substitutions, refusals, additions, omissions, and reversals. The results indicated the mean number of errors made by schoolchildren in reading sentence of Set A and Set B were 1.30±0.23 words and 2.70±0.41 words respectively. Random words, Set B, gave a significantly higher number of reading errors compared to contextual sentences, Set A, (U=287, z=-2.46, p=0.01). Reading the random words gave higher number of errors compared to reading the contextual sentences. Mispronunciations and substitutions were the most possible types of errors made when reading Set B (U=234, z=-3.60, p=<0.01 and U=325, z=-2.00, p=0.04 respectively). Schoolchildren tended to mispronounce and substitute some words during reading the random words. In comparing the number of oral reading errors made between schoolchildren and young adults, there was no significant difference. A similar pattern of the type of errors was also found in oral reading errors in both schoolchildren and young adults. Overall findings could be linked to the existence of comprehension during reading the contextual sentences compared to reading the random words.
Case Studies of the Development of Science Teachers’ Practices of Socio-Scientific Issue (SSI)-Based Teaching through a Professional Development Program
Authors: Pitiporntapin Sasithep , Srisakun Suchada
Published: December 2016

This research aimed to assess three case studies of in-service science teachers regarding their practices of socio-scientific issue (SSI)-based teaching as they participated in a specially developed professional development (PD) program. Data were collected throughout the PD program from group discussions, observations, interviews, and the review of documents, and they were analyzed using within-case and cross-case analysis methods. The findings showed that the PD program had positive impacts on the teachers’ practices of SSI-based teaching. There were some modifications that combined their old teaching styles and SSI-based teaching; however, they attempted to link the science content within a social context in a way that motivated student ownership of learning. They modified their roles as information providers to be learning facilitators. Their students were also encouraged to employ scientific evidence-based reasoning to address the issues under discussion. The three science teachers also added questions to enhance student thinking about the application of scientific knowledge in society. At the individual level, teaching confidence and teaching enthusiasm had powerful influences on their practices of SSI-based teaching. At the school level, the amount of teaching time and the lack of experts on SSI-based teaching in the school were found to be barriers to SSI-based teaching. The results of this study contribute to the growing body of knowledge about preparing science teachers to link their science lessons to the real world, and they also provide a framework for future studies.
Adaptation of ATI-R Scale to Turkish Samples: Validity and Reliability Analyses
Authors: TEZCI Erdogan
Published: December 2016

Teachers’ teaching approaches have become an important issue in the search of quality in education and teaching because of their effect on students’ learning. Improvements in teachers’ knowledge and awareness of their own teaching approaches enable them to adopt teaching process in accordance with their students’ learning styles. The Approaches to Teaching Inventory (ATI-R), which has been developed and revised in this framework, is a scale which is effectively used to define teaching approaches in different cultures. Originally written in English, the ATI-R’s validity and reliability results were very positive. The scale’s validity and reliability analyses in different languages and cultures have produced a wide range of different results. The aim of this paper is to adapt the scale in the Turkish language. Firstly, in order to handle linguistic equivalence, data collected from 40 teachers were analyzed, and then for confirmatory and reliability analyses data were collected from 485 teachers. According to the analyses, the scale has two dimensions, and under these two dimensions there are four sub-factors. Reliability and validity results in Turkish culture are also acceptable. As a result, the scale can be administered to define teachers’ teaching approaches in Turkish samples.
Taking a Step to Identify How to Create Professional Learning Communities—Report of a Case Study of a Korean Public High School on How to Create and Sustain a School-based Teacher Professional Learning Community
Authors: Ahn Joonkil
Published: December 2016

This study intends to identify some key factors in creating and sustaining school-based teacher professional learning communities (PLCs) through a case study of a South Korean public high school. To achieve this, the study identified some essential infrastructure, preparation, and necessary social organization for creating PLCs. The ideal unit and the encouraging/discouraging factors in the implementation process were also investigated. Data were gathered via classroom observations and by analysis of interview transcripts, questionnaire responses, and minutes from PLC meetings. Nineteen participants, including 16 teachers, a principal, an assistant principal, and a facilitator from a city department of education, who assisted the school reform process, completed the questionnaires. Three of the teachers who took the reform initiative participated in the in-depth interview. The study provides a detailed description of the school context before the PLC implementation, challenges that faced the teachers, and two main characteristics of their PLC initiative. The study indicates that participants perceived prepared teacher leaders, building trust and respect among faculty, and securing time for classroom observation and PLC meetings as the most necessary preparation in creating and implementing their PLC. Empowering grade level chairs, increasing teacher proximity, and employing additional administrative assistants were identified as effective administrative support. Participants recognized that each grade level had more advantage in implementing PLCs and thought positive changes of disruptive students and their own instructional practices were the most encouraging factors in overcoming implementation problems. Authoritative leadership of school administration and a city DOE that forcefully mandates PLCs were perceived as discouraging factors in PLC implementation.
Statistical Monitoring of Clinical Trials Using Brownian Bridges
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Kosorok Michael R.
Published: December 2016

The Brownian bridge is not yet used widely in the statistical monitoring of clinical trials. In this paper, we investigate properties of the Brownian bridge and formally derive monitoring rules from these results. We will present four related main methods: (1). derivation of group sequential boundaries; (2). calculation of conditional power; (3). a new alpha spending function and (4). repeated confidence intervals, all under a Brownian bridge framework. Simulation results show that the type I error rate is well controlled and power is satisfactory for the group sequential design. We apply the proposed methods to monitor the interim results from the Beta Blocker Heart Attack Trial (BHAT) and a Head and Neck cancer trial with comparisons to the commonly used monitoring tools. Overall, the proposed methods when used together as one framework are more powerful and sensitive to interim positive and negative trends that are clinically meaningful and lead to timely early stopping with potentially more savings on sample sizes, time and costs. These tools are valuable additions to the existing group sequential methods which can be utilized in trial design, routine monitoring, and to answer important questions from data monitoring committees.
Tyrosine and aurora kinase inhibitors diminish transport function of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) 4 and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)
Authors: Hardwick Rhiannon N. , Snellings Marina , Ferslew Brian C. , Lu Yang , Browuer Kim L.R.
Published: December 2016

Tyrosine and aurora kinases are important effectors in signal transduction pathways that are often involved in aberrant cancer cell growth. Tyrosine (TKI) and aurora (AKI) kinase inhibitors are anti-cancer agents specifically designed to target such signaling pathways through TKI/AKI binding to the ATP-binding pocket of kinases thereby leading to diminished kinase activity. Some TKIs have been identified as inhibitors of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters such as P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), which are commonly upregulated in malignant cells. TKI/AKIs have been investigated as ABC transporter inhibitors in order to facilitate the accumulation of concomitantly administered chemo-therapeutics within cancer cells. However, ABC transporters are prominently expressed in the liver and other eliminating organs, and their inhibition has been linked to intracellular accumulation of drugs, altered disposition, and toxicity. The potential for TKIs/AKIs to inhibit other important hepatic efflux transporters, particularly multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to compare the inhibitory potency of 20 selected TKI/AKIs against MRP4 and BCRP through the use of inverted membrane vesicle assays. Relative IC50 values were estimated by determining TKI/AKI inhibition of MRP4-mediated [3H]-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate uptake and BCRP-mediated [3H]-estrone sulfate uptake. To provide insight to the clinical relevance of TKI/AKI inhibition of ABC efflux transporters, the ratio of the steady-state maximum total plasma concentration (Css) to the IC50 for each compound was calculated with Css/IC50 ratio >0.1 deemed potentially clinically relevant. Such analysis identified several potentially clinically relevant inhibitors of MRP4: alisertib, danusertib, erlotinib, lapatinib, neratinib, nilotinib, pazopanib, sorafenib, and tozasertib. The potentially clinically relevant inhibition of BCRP was much more extensive and included alisertib, barasertib, danusertib, enzastaurin, erlotinib, gefitinib, imatinib, neratinib, nilotinib, pazopanib, selumetinib, sorafenib, sunitinib, tozasertib, and vandetanib. These findings indicate the significant potential for TKI/AKIs to inhibit multiple ABC efflux transporters. The resulting inhibition data could provide insight regarding the clinical interpretation of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic outcomes when TKI/AKIs are administered concomitantly with additional chemotherapeutic agents.
ROCK inhibitors in ocular disease
Authors: Halasz Eva , Townes-Anderson Ellen
Published: December 2016

Rho kinases (ROCKs) have a crucial role in actin-cytoskeletal reorganization and thus are involved in broad aspects of cell motility, from smooth muscle contraction to neurite outgrowth. The first marketed ROCK inhibitor, called fasudil, has been used safely for treatment of cerebral vasospasm since 1995 in Japan. During the succeeding decades ROCK inhibitors have been applied in many pathological conditions from central nervous system disorders to cardiovascular disease as potential therapeutic agents or experimental tools to help understand the underlying (patho)mechanisms. In 2014, a fasudil derivate named ripasudil was accepted for clinical use in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Since ROCK kinases are widely expressed in ocular tissues, they have been implicated in the pathology of many ocular conditions such as corneal dysfunction, glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal detachment. This paper aims to provide an overview of the most recent status/application of ROCK inhibitors in the field of eye disease.
Tissue distribution of crizotinib and gemcitabine combination in a patient-derived orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Honeywell Richard J. , Avan Amir , Giovannetti Elisa , Peters Godefridus J.
Published: December 2016

Pharmacokinetics focuses on the question whether a drug actually reaches its target in therapeutic concentrations or accumulates elsewhere, potentially causing toxicological or unpredictable side effects. We determined tissue distribution of gemcitabine, an antimetabolite, and crizotinib, a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor targeted against the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met) receptors, in a validated orthotopic mouse model for pancreatic cancer. Mice with pancreatic cancer were treated with either oral crizotinib at 25 mg/kg, gemcitabine at 100 mg/kg or with their combination. Two hours after the last gemcitabine dose mice were sacrificed and all available blood/organs/tissues were sampled. Tissue was subsequently analyzed for drug concentrations using a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique. In whole blood gemcitabine was about 1.0 µM and crizotinib 2.4 µM in the single treatment, whereas in the combination crizotinib increased the levels of gemcitabine. Crizotinib was found in all major tissues, being highest in the intestine. Comparison of crizotinib alone to the gemcitabine-crizotinib combination showed that crizotinib tissue concentrations were 3-6 fold lower in liver, lung, kidney and spleen, 30-fold lower in the skin, heart and pancreas and 200-fold lower in the brain. Tissue gemcitabine was highest in spleen and skin, being about 5-10 fold higher than in the other tissues, including brain, which still had a relatively high accumulation. In conclusion, both gemcitabine and crizotinib accumulate at clinically active but variable levels in tissues, possibly relating to the effects exerted by these drugs.