bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiological and Bronchoscopic Findings for the Better Yield of Tissue Diagnosis in Lung Malignancy
Authors: Khunjeli Rabindra , Shrestha Sanjeet Krishna , Karki Manan , Srivastava Brajendra , Mohsin Ushab Rana
Published: August 2015

Introduction: In flexible bronchoscopy, absence of endobronchial abnormality blinds the bronchoscopist towards the location of the lung lesion. Guided techniques for bronchoscopy are not available in Nepal. Hence, diagnostic yield is very low. There is need to find the factors to improve yield. This study evaluates the radiological and bronchoscopic findings that can help in histo-pathological yield.Methods: This retrospective study included 557 bronchoscopies done for the evaluation of lung malignancy. Radiological, bronchoscopic and histo-pathological abnormalities were classified and evaluated. The study aimed at finding the radiological and bronchoscopic factors commonly associated with positive yield in histopathology.Results: Among 557 subjects, 490 had abnormal chest X-ray. Mass lesion was seen in 252(45.24%), cavity in 19(3.41%), collapse in 93(16.69%), consolidation in 81(14.54%), pleural effusion in 28(5.02%) and fibrosis in 17(3.05%) subjects. Total of 314(56.37%) abnormal bronchoscopies included: endobronchial growth 200(35.9%), narrowing 66(11.84%), obstruction 107(19.27%) and ulcer 16(2.8%). Histopathology was positive in 198(35.54%) including 179 (32.13%) lung malignancies. The diagnostic yield for getting positive histopathology for the study population was 35.54%, for mass lesion was 40.47% and for abnormal bronchoscopy was 54.78%. Significant correlation was identified among mass lesion, endobronchial abnormality and positive histo-pathology. Central mass lesion, collapse and consolidation showed significant association with lung malignancy. Significant association was also identified between histo-pathology and endobronchial growth, obstruction and ulcer. Conclusions: The diagnostic yield increases with positive endobronchial abnormality. Presence of central lung lesion, collapse and consolidation favour positive yield of histo-pathology. Endobronchial growth, obstruction and ulcer are likely to yield malignant histopathology reports.
Ocular Morbidity in Patan Community Based Rehabilitation Center
Authors: Shrestha Sabina , Manoranjan Aparajita , Shrestha Sushan Man
Published: August 2015

Introduction: Community based rehabilitation centers work for the betterment of people with disabilities within the communities. This study was conducted to find out ocular morbidity in Patan community based rehabilitation center.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Patan Community Based Rehabilitation Center, Patan at Lalitpur district of Nepal with sample size of 42, where children and adults of different age groups come on daycare basis. All patients underwent assessment of visual acuity, orthoptic evaluation, anterior segment and posterior segment evaluation and cycloplegic refraction.Results: Age ranged from 7 to 35 years (mean age 14.5 years) with 64.28% of participants within the age group 11-20 years followed by 26.19% within the age group 1-10 years. Male:Female ratio was 1:1.33. Regarding the ethnicity, 71.43% comprised of Tibeto-Burman origin and 28.57% of Indo-Aryan origin.Regarding the general morbidity, 40.48% among the participants had intellectual disability, 16.67% had autism, 14.29% had cerebral palsy, 11.90% had down syndrome, 11.90% had multiple disabilities, 2.38% had physical disability and 2.38% had visual impairment.Regarding the ocular diseases, 26.19% had refractive error only, 19.04% had strabismus only, 9.52% had refractive error and strabismus, 4.76% had cataract, 2.38% optic atrophy and 2.3% had retinitis pigmentosa.Conclusion: Refractive error and strabismus are the commonest ocular morbidities found in Patan community based rehabilitation center.
In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Tigecycline
Authors: Bhatta Sabita , Basu Babli , Chaudhary Chandrasekhar Narharrao , Praharaj Ashok Kumar
Published: August 2015

Introduction: Tigecycline is a novel glycylcycline  derivative of the tetracycline with activity against a wide range of  organisms including Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin  resistant  Enterococcus , Extended spectrum beta lactamase   producing  (Escherichia coli , Klebsiella  pneumonia)  and Acinetobacter species.  The aim of the study was to assess effectiveness of the drug against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE), ESBL producers and carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and to compare the efficacy of different methods of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for Tigecycline.Methods: A total of 250 clinical isolates were processed and identified by conventional methods. In all the 250 isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility was carried out by disc diffusion method , Minimum inhibitory test by agar dilution method (MIC) and in 30 isolates of A baumannii  MIC was also done by E test.Results: Out of 250 isolates, 236 isolates were sensitive to tigecycline by agar dilution method while only 159 were sensitive by disk diffusion method.Conclusion: Marked discordance was observed between the results of two different methods (DDT & Agar dilution method) for E coli, Klebsiella spp and A baumannii, where significant number of isolates were resistant to tigecycline by DDT as compared to AD method. But results of MIC by agar dilution method & E test were in concordance for A. baumannii.
Ahlback’s disease: Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the Knee
Authors: Joshi Amit , Kayasth Nirab , Sinha Ritesh , Singh Bharat Prasad
Published: August 2015

Ahlbäck disease is a clinical syndrome characterized by bone necrosis of a load-bearing portion of the femoral condyle, followed by subchondral fracture, subsequent segmental collapse and arthrosis. The diagnosis of the Ahlbäck disease is challenging as sometimes it mimics infection and receives treatment for long time. We report a case of 36 year old gentleman, who presented with confusing radiological picture.
Truth And Dramatic Mode In The Modern Theater: Chekhov, Pirandello, And Williams
Authors: Kernan Alvin
Published: August 2015

Announcing the arrival of tile players at Elsinore, Polonius with glib facility and pride in his academic knowledge reels off the various dramatic kinds: "tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral." Shakespeare is laughing at the pedants of his time and might find equally amusing the critics of modern drama who talk, Polonius like, of realistic, naturalistic, symbolic, epic, expressionistic, mythic, and poetic drama. But the situations are different. Where Polonius' recitation of dramatic kinds is mere sterile pedantry, since the Elizabethans had settled on and were developing the latent possibilities of a dramatic mode which both transcended and comprehended the schoolbook categories, the modern critic is forced to use and even multiply such clumsy and relatively imprecise terms as "naturalism" and "expressionism" because the modem dramatists have been unable to find a satisfactory dramatic mode. The various dramatic "isms" are not in this case the inventions of dry academicians trying to reduce living works of art to a system which can be taught without effort in the classroom, but of critics trying dcsperately to describe and understand the restless, uneasy search for a dramatic modc which has characterized the theater of the past hundred years. A few brief illustrations will have to serve here.
Theater in Stockholm
Authors: Johnson Walter
Published: August 2015

For an American who comes from a metropolitan center fairly comparable, population-wise, to Greater Stockholm with its more than a million inhabitants, the Stockholm theaters are always amazing. and delightful. For, as Theater in Sweden has made amply clear, Sweden is as Close to being a paradise for those interested in drama and theater as any country has ever been in modern times, and Stockholm, both the capital and the largest city, is the center of theatrical activity that extends throughout all of Sweden.
My Fair Lady
Authors: Bentley Eric
Published: August 2015

My Fair Lady is a very charming musical comedy and I'm told that The Chocolate Soldier was an equally charming operetta. Both are made from plays by Bernard Shaw. Neither of them was authorized by him. It can, of course, be asserted that Mr. Shaw would have authorized My Fair Lady had he had the opportunity. I doubt this, for My Fair Lady is un-Shavian in spirit and cancels out most of the points that are made in Pygmalion. The ending of the work has been changed but that's the least of it. The whole second act of the musical -and it only has two acts-is much weaker than the first one and this is because it is even less Shavian.
Climatic and geometric controls on the global distribution of surge-type glaciers: implications for a unifying model of surging
Authors: Sevestre Heïdi , Benn Douglas I.
Published: August 2015

Controls on the global distribution of surge-type glaciers hold the keys to a better understanding of surge mechanisms. We investigate correlations between the distribution of surge-type glaciers and climatic and glacier geometry variables, using a new global geodatabase of 2317 surge-type glaciers. The highest densities of surge-type glaciers occur within an optimal climatic envelope bounded by temperature and precipitation thresholds. Across all regions with both surge-type and normal glaciers, the former are larger, especially at the cold, dry end of the climatic spectrum. A species distribution model, Maxent, accurately predicts the major clusters of surge-type glaciers using a series of climatic and glacier geometry variables, but under-predicts clusters found outside the climatically optimal surge zone. We interpret the results in terms of a new enthalpy cycle model. Steady states require a balance between enthalpy gains generated by the balance flux and losses via heat conduction and meltwater discharge. This condition can be most easily satisfied in cold, dry environments (thin, low-flux glaciers, efficient conductive heat losses) and warm, humid environments (high meltwater discharges). Intermediate conditions correspond to the optimal surge zone, where neither heat conduction nor runoff can effectively discharge enthalpy gains, and dynamic cycling can result.
Historically unprecedented global glacier decline in the early 21st century
Authors: Zemp Michael , Frey Holger , Gärtner-Roer Isabelle , Nussbaumer Samuel U. , Hoelzle Martin , Paul Frank , Haeberli Wilfried , Denzinger Florian , Ahlstrøm Andreas P. , Anderson Brian , Bajracharya Samjwal , Baroni Carlo , Braun Ludwig N. , Cáceres Bolívar E. , Casassa Gino , Cobos Guillermo , Dávila Luzmila R. , Delgado Granados Hugo , Demuth Michael N. , Espizua Lydia , Fischer Andrea , Fujita Koji , Gadek Bogdan , Ghazanfar Ali , Ove Hagen Jon , Holmlund Per , Karimi Neamat , Li Zhongqin , Pelto Mauri , Pitte Pierre , Popovnin Victor V. , Portocarrero Cesar A. , Prinz Rainer , Sangewar Chandrashekhar V. , Severskiy Igor , Sigurđsson Oddur , Soruco Alvaro , Usubaliev Ryskul , Vincent Christian
Published: August 2015

Observations show that glaciers around the world are in retreat and losing mass. Internationally coordinated for over a century, glacier monitoring activities provide an unprecedented dataset of glacier observations from ground, air and space. Glacier studies generally select specific parts of these datasets to obtain optimal assessments of the mass-balance data relating to the impact that glaciers exercise on global sea-level fluctuations or on regional runoff. In this study we provide an overview and analysis of the main observational datasets compiled by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). The dataset on glacier front variations (∼42 000 since 1600) delivers clear evidence that centennial glacier retreat is a global phenomenon. Intermittent readvance periods at regional and decadal scale are normally restricted to a subsample of glaciers and have not come close to achieving the maximum positions of the Little Ice Age (or Holocene). Glaciological and geodetic observations (∼5200 since 1850) show that the rates of early 21st-century mass loss are without precedent on a global scale, at least for the time period observed and probably also for recorded history, as indicated also in reconstructions from written and illustrated documents. This strong imbalance implies that glaciers in many regions will very likely suffer further ice loss, even if climate remains stable.
La poesía de Miguel Sánchez, el Divino
Authors: De Lama Víctor
Published: August 2015

Sorprende la escasa atención de la filología hacia un poeta y dramaturgo como Miguel Sánchez que gozó de fama notable a finales del siglo XVI y principios del XVII. Autores como Rojas Villandrando, Cervantes y varios más le dedicaron sinceros elogios. Lope de Vega lo nombra varias veces con sentida admiración y en el Arte nuevo de hacer comedias le reconoce la invención de «engañar con la verdad» como recurso teatral. Tras la publicación de la monografía de Stefano Arata, empieza a ser reconocido como autor dramático en las historias del teatro del Siglo de Oro, pero hasta ahora nadie se había ocupado de reunir su poesía, editarla y estudiarla. En este trabajo se editan las escasas poesías conocidas del autor y se analizan por separado con el objeto de perfilar su original idiosincrasia y versatilidad como poeta. A la vez, algunos rasgos humorísticos de este corpus poético nos explican a las claras las razones de su éxito entre los contemporáneos y quizá los motivos íntimos de su silenciosa desaparición de la escena literaria en la primera década del siglo XVII.
Hagiografía y censura en el teatro clásico
Authors: Urzáiz Tortajada Héctor
Published: August 2015

Se estudia la censura de 24 comedias manuscritas de temática religiosa, sobre todo hagiográfica, fechadas entre 1600-1745; la mayoría son obras o autores poco conocidos: La loca del cielo, El hijo del Serafín, La aurora del sol divino, El negro del Serafín, Lo que toca al valor, El príncipe perseguido, Cegar para ver mejor, San Cayetano, San Blas, El pleito del Demonio con la Virgen, El bruto de Babilonia, La adúltera penitente, Será lo que Dios quisiere, La hija del Serafín, El José de las mujeres, Santa Catalina, El más divino remedio, El iris de las tormentas, Santa Táez, El sol de Occidente, Ángel, milagro y mujer, La conversión de la Magdalena, La gran Rosa de Viterbo y El bello iris setabitano. Casi toda la abundante información que se proporciona es inédita o complementa otras informaciones anteriores parciales o erróneas. Se aportan también numerosos ejemplos desconocidos de intervención de la Inquisición en la censura previa y de otros aspectos de la actividad de los censores: las relaciones entre ellos, los plazos y procedimientos de su trabajo, su preocupación por asuntos literarios, histórico-geográficos, teatrales, etc.
Sobre un manuscrito autógrafo de Lope: Barlaán y Josafat
Authors: Crivellari Daniele
Published: August 2015

El presente artículo da cuenta de la localización del manuscrito autógrafo de la comedia Barlaán y Josafat, de Lope de Vega, cuyos rastros se habían perdido desde los años 30 del siglo pasado, y que se encuentra hoy en día en la Fundación Bodmer (Ginebra, Suiza). El trabajo presenta ante todo una detallada descripción filológica del hológrafo lopesco, pasando luego a comentar varios loci que Montesinos no indicó en su edición de la pieza de 1935 y que podrían contribuir a arrojar luz nueva sobre el proceso de composición, por parte del Fénix, de sus comedias. La recuperación de este testimonio, además, posibilita un examen pormenorizado del reparto de actores que representó la obra, especificando unos detalles que ya se conocían y añadiendo otros nuevos.
Descripción y análisis de capas superpuestas en El castillo de Lindabridis de Calderón
Authors: Escudero Baztán Juan Manuel
Published: August 2015

Este trabajo describe y analiza los puntos más relevantes de una obra caballeresca calderoniana poco conocida como El castillo de Lindabridis: cuestiones relativas a la fecha de su escritura y sus representaciones en el siglo XVII, al manejo de las fuentes caballerescas, a la estructura unitaria, al uso de la emblemática a través de los bestiarios medievales, a los interludios musicales, a la escenificación y la repetición de temas y motivos, junto a unas consideraciones finales sobre el género. Elementos en su conjunto que indican la particular relevancia de esta comedia de gran espectáculo calderoniana.
Vila-Matas-sur-Mer o la dolce vita por las callejas del «cine-cita»
Authors: Cattaneo Simone
Published: August 2015

En el presente ensayo analizamos la forma en que Enrique Vila-Matas (Barcelona, 1948) recoge el legado modernista de la fascinación por el cine y lo reelabora, a lo largo de toda su trayectoria literaria, amalgamando su entusiasmo juvenil de director en ciernes con cierta suspicacia hacia la generalizante idea crítica de que la suya sea una generación surgida en la oscuridad de las salas cinematográficas. La voluntad de poner a punto instrumentos narrativos innovadores que le permitan tomar las distancias de otros escritores coetáneos a la hora de conjugar su afición por la gran pantalla y la literatura, lo espoleará a tantear caminos muy dispares que lo llevarán a una fusión cada vez más lograda entre cita fílmica y cita libresca, en una interacción activa entre palabras e imágenes que parece recuperar y remodelar el concepto de «cine-cita» godardiano.
Literatura periodística y dispersión: algunas colaboraciones olvidadas de Clarín en la prensa de provincias
Authors: Ezama Gil Ángeles
Published: August 2015

Con esta contribución quiero rescatar del olvido varios textos de Leopoldo Alas, Clarín, publicados en la prensa de provincias, planteando así una reflexión sobre la relación del escritor con la prensa local, en la que han ido apareciendo algunos textos que completan el panorama de su escritura periodística (El Eco del Guadalope de Alcañiz, Las Provincias de Valencia). Son en total 13 artículos de crítica, en su mayor parte literarios y solo ocasionalmente políticos. Incluyo como presentación algunas consideraciones previas sobre los distintos modos de la escritura periodística de Clarín que se identifican en los textos recogidos, así como sobre la sección «Instantáneas».
Al correr de la pluma. Confidencias epistolares de Valera a Clarín
Authors: Rubio Jiménez Jesús , Deaño Gamallo Antonio
Published: August 2015

Juan Valera y Leopoldo Alas, Clarín, mantuvieron una afectuosa correspondencia entre 1889 y 1901 en que falleció Clarín. Se editan aquí 22 cartas de Valera a Clarín, que permiten descubrir tanto el afecto que se profesaron como su intercambio de ideas acerca de la novela y el papel del escritor en la sociedad española.
The Transference between Elementary Preservice Teachers' Courses and Technology Use in Teaching
Authors: Sprague Debra R. , Katradis Maria
Published: August 2015

This mixed-method study explored a cohort of 18 preservice elementary teachers' perceptions of technology and their abilities to integrate technology in their teaching. Data sources included blog postings, a confidence survey, lessons plans and observations. Results showed a disconnect between the blog postings and confidence survey (their perceptions) and their lessons plans and observations (their abilities). Five case studies were examined, using the TPACK framework, to determine where the disconnect was occurring. Although Technical Knowledge seemed to be an issue for some, the majority of the preservice teachers struggled with Pedagogical Knowledge. Suggestions for how to address this issue are included. Implications for teacher education are discussed.
University Reading and Mathematics Clinics in the Digital Age
Authors: Vasinda Sheri , Kander Faryl , Redmond-Sanogo Adrienne
Published: August 2015

This chapter discusses the findings of an exploration to integrate iPads in a university reading and mathematics clinic impacting three groups of learners: preservice teachers enrolled in reading and mathematics practicums, the K-8 community students served by the clinic, and the teacher educators. The TPACK model was used as a conceptual framework for teacher educators to engage and support preservice teachers in a technology rich learning environment designed to enhance their literacy and mathematics content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and technology knowledge, and the complex intersections between each. The teacher educators expected their mostly digital native preservice teachers to recognize technology affordances and technology integration opportunities when provided content knowledge and pedagogical support. Although the K-8 tutees were engaged at high-levels, faculty's assumption of the digital native preservice teacher was disrupted. Teacher educators discovered that digital natives still need support in developing technological knowledge in an educational setting.
TAP (Teacher Learning and Application to Pedagogy) through Digital Video-Mediated Reflections
Authors: Arya Poonam , Christ Tanya , Chiu Ming Ming
Published: August 2015

This chapter presents relevant findings from research that explored literacy teachers' self-reflections and reflective discussions with peers that were mediated by digital video. Mixed methodological approaches were used, including statistical discourse analysis, which examines the relations between speech-turns in teachers' video discussions to provide a fine-grained view of digital video's mediating role. Findings showed that recursive viewing of videos, across different contexts or within a context facilitated shifts in purposes for discussing videos and broadened the foci of these discussions. Additionally, the situated context and multiple modes of information presented in digital videos supported literacy teachers' generation and application of ideas about reader processing and reader engagement. Teachers used certain conversation moves, such as critical thinking, hypothesizing, and challenging, as they transacted with the multimodal information in the video to support their generation of ideas for literacy instruction. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Taking Making Into the Schools
Authors: Crichton Susan E. , Carter Deb
Published: August 2015

This chapter introduces professional learning (PL) challenges in a Digital Age and makes a case for an immersive, sustained, experiential approach including diverse groups of professionals. It explores how this approach informed novice and experienced educators to incorporate design thinking and making into their current practice. After providing background on the Maker Movement, an immersive PL model is explored. This model comprises an integrated series of PL experiences designed to encourage participants to actively engage in four distinct yet related elements. Drawing on a qualitative, iterative process, initial research findings and experiences suggest that such a model may support good PL and professional development for educators designing and developing 21st century learning environments. These findings suggest this model may allow for collaborative re-thinking of established course and curricular designs, while addressing significant social issues, encouraging participants to become thoughtful contributors in an increasingly complex, globalized economy.
Context and Teaching with Technology in the Digital Age
Authors: Rosenberg Joshua M. , Koehler Matthew J.
Published: August 2015

Context is an essential aspect of educational research. In this chapter, the authors discuss how context has been avoided or has referred to different constructs among educational technology research, especially among research on the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. The authors discuss the descriptive, inferential, and practical implications of the framework for the context of teachers' TPACK advanced by Porras-Hernández and Salinas-Amescua (2013). Then, they exemplify the power of this framework by using it to guide a descriptive study conducted to determine the extent to which the publications included context. They also describe what researchers meant by context as understood through the framework for context. The authors found that context was important but often missing from research about TPACK and that the meaning of context has differed widely. They discuss these findings in relation to the TPACK literature as well as for educational technology research.
High Possibility Classrooms
Authors: Hunter Jane Louise
Published: August 2015

This chapter reports on a case study of a high school teacher from a larger study of ‘exemplary' teachers and how they conceptualized their knowledge of technology integration in education contexts (Hunter, 2013). The research was a series of purposeful case studies of teachers in classrooms in Australia. The study found that theory, creativity, public learning, life preparation and contextual accommodations are crucial. Each conception of the teachers' knowledge is underpinned by particular pedagogical themes that together form a fresh vision for technology integration known as High Possibility Classrooms or HPC. Kitty, the teacher featured in this chapter, conceptualized her knowledge of technology integration based on flexibility, experiential learning and creativity, preparation of learning, and whole school culture. This case study builds on the TPACK framework (Mishra & Koehler, 2006) and provides an important theoretical and practical exemplar of technology integration in practice for teacher education in a digital age.
Developing Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Elementary Education Programs
Authors: Polly Drew , Binns Ian C. , Putman S. Michael , Rock Tracy C. , Good Amy J.
Published: August 2015

The digital age requires teacher education programs to constantly evaluate and revise their programs and courses, particularly with reference to guiding teacher candidates towards integrating current and emerging technologies. This designed-based research study demonstrates how state-wide mandates to revise teacher education programs were used in promoting subsequent revisions influencing the course components and teacher candidates' development of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). Cases of four undergraduate elementary education courses and the advanced licensure elementary education program are described. The cross case analysis reveals the subsequent influence on the program for improving the TPACK preparation of the teacher candidates. The chapter concludes with implications for teacher educators and leaders of teacher education programs.
Evolution of a Course for Special Education Teachers on Integrating Technology into Math and Science
Authors: Lyublinskaya Irina
Published: August 2015

This chapter describes a two-year development of a graduate pedagogy course for pre-service special education teachers to integrate technology into teaching mathematics and science. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework was used for the course design. The chapter discusses the modifications made to the course from semester to semester based on the analysis of lesson plan TPACK scores and information drawn from pre-service teachers' written feedback. The challenge was to determine an optimal balance between theory and practice and between guided and independent learning that leads to higher TPACK gains. Data analysis showed that in a semester when the instructor provided extensive instructional support coupled with a large amount of work required of the pre-service teachers, they achieved the highest TPACK level; however, this design resulted in unreasonable workload. Reducing the amount of work to a reasonable level produced lower TPACK; nevertheless, the gain in TPACK was still significant.
Developing Teacher Knowledge about Gamification as an Instructional Strategy
Authors: Figg Candace , Jaipal-Jamani Kamini
Published: August 2015

There is a need for teachers and higher education faculty to develop knowledge about instructional strategies that engage digital learners and accommodate digital learning preferences in order to deliver instruction that digital learners perceive as relevant. This chapter discusses how gamification can be used in higher education as an instructional strategy to meet the needs of the digital learner. Findings from a design-based research study of how gamification was used in a Teacher Education technology methods course, to engage pre-service teachers in activities that develop Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) (knowledge about teaching with technology) (Mishra & Koehler, 2006), are discussed. The findings provide guidance for teachers and technology educators on how to design courses incorporating gamification as an instructional strategy appropriate for meeting the needs of digital learners. Issues concerning design and implementation as it influenced student engagement and learning are highlighted, and recommendations are made for course development.
Comparative Study of Incremental Learning Algorithms in Multidimensional Outlier Detection on Data Stream
Authors: Fong Simon , Han Dong , Vasilakos Athanasios V.
Published: August 2015

Multi-dimensional outlier detection (MOD) over data streams is one of the most significant data stream mining techniques. When multivariate data are streaming in high speed, outliers are to be detected efficiently and accurately. Conventional outlier detection method is based on observing the full dataset and its statistical distribution. The data is assumed stationary. However, this conventional method has an inherent limitation—it always assumes the availability of the entire dataset. In modern applications, especially those that operate in the real time environment, the data arrive in the form of live data feed; they are dynamic and ever evolving in terms of their statistical distribution and concepts. Outlier detection should no longer be done in batches, but in incremental manner. In this chapter, we investigate into this important concept of MOD. In particular, we evaluate the effectiveness of a collection of incremental learning algorithms which are the underlying pattern recognition mechanisms for MOD. Specifically, we combine incremental learning algorithms into three types of MOD - Global Analysis, Cumulative Analysis and Lightweight Analysis with Sliding Window. Different classification algorithms are put under test for performance comparison.
Advances of Applying Metaheuristics to Data Mining Techniques
Authors: Fong Simon , Li Jinyan , Gong Xueyuan , Vasilakos Athanasios V.
Published: August 2015

Metaheuristics have lately gained popularity among researchers. Their underlying designs are inspired by biological entities and their behaviors, e.g. schools of fish, colonies of insects, and other land animals etc. They have been used successfully in optimization applications ranging from financial modeling, image processing, resource allocations, job scheduling to bioinformatics. In particular, metaheuristics have been proven in many combinatorial optimization problems. So that it is not necessary to attempt all possible candidate solutions to a problem via exhaustive enumeration and evaluation which is computationally intractable. The aim of this paper is to highlight some recent research related to metaheuristics and to discuss how they can enhance the efficacy of data mining algorithms. An upmost challenge in Data Mining is combinatorial optimization that, often lead to performance degradation and scalability issues. Two case studies are presented, where metaheuristics improve the accuracy of classification and clustering by avoiding local optima.
Cancer Pathway Network Analysis Using Cellular Automata
Authors: Mahata Kalyan , Sarkar Anasua
Published: August 2015

Identification of cancer pathways is the central goal in the cancer gene expression data analysis. Data mining refers to the process analyzing huge data in order to find useful pattern. Data classification is the process of identifying common properties among a set of objects and grouping them into different classes. A cellular automaton is a discrete, dynamical system with simple uniformly interconnected cells. Cellular automata are used in data mining for reasons such as all decisions are made locally depend on the state of the cell and the states of neighboring cells. A high-speed, low-cost pattern-classifier, built around a sparse network referred to as cellular automata (ca) is implemented. Lif-stimulated gene regulatory network involved in breast cancer has been simulated using cellular automata to obtain biomarker genes. Our model outputs the desired genes among inputs with highest priority, which are analysed for their functional involvement in relevant oncological functional enrichment analysis. This approach is a novel one to discover cancer biomarkers in cellular spaces.
An Evaluation of C4.5 and Fuzzy C4.5 with Effect of Pruning Methods
Authors: Naseer Tayyeba , Asghar Sohail
Published: August 2015

Classification is a supervised learning technique in data mining classify historical data. The decision tree is easy method for inductive inference. The decision tree induction process has three major steps – first complete decision tree is constructed to classify all examples in the training data, the second is pruning this tree to decrease misclassification rate and the third is processing the pruned tree to improve the classification. In this chapter, the empirical comparison of pruning the tree created by C4.5 and the fuzzy C4.5 algorithm. C4.5 and Fuzzy C4.5 decision tree algorithms are implemented using the JAVA language in Eclipse tool. In this chapter, first decision tree is built using C4.5 and Fuzzy C4.5 and five famous pruning techniques is used to evaluate trees and the comparison is achieved between pruning methods for refining the size and accuracy of a decision tree. Cost-complexity pruning produce the smaller tree with minimum increase in error for C4.5 and Fuzzy C4.5 decision trees.
A Web Backtracking Technique for Fraud Detection in Financial Applications
Authors: Hussain Tasawar , Asghar Sohail
Published: August 2015

The web based applications are maturing and gaining the confidence of their users gradually, however, www still lacks the mechanism to stop the hackers. The implementing the adhesive security measures such as intrusion deduction systems and firewalls, are no more useful breaker for online frauds. The Web Backtracking Technique (WBT) is proposed for fraud detection in online financial applications by applying the hierarchical sessionization technique on the web log file. The web log Hierarchical Sessionization enhances the focused groups of users from web log and paves the path for in-depth visualization for knowledge discovery. User clicks are compared with user profiles for change in previous user click records. Those transactions which do not conform to business rules are stopped from business activities. The WBT analyzes suspicious behavior and will produce reports for security and risk mitigation purposes Furthermore, suspicious transactions are mined for the up-gradation of business rules from hierarchical sessionization. The proposed WBT is validated against the university web log data.
Overview of the Significance of Different Learner Characteristics in Computer-Based Language Learning Environment
Authors: Foroozesh-nia Somayeh
Published: August 2015

In this chapter the importance of different types of individual differences in various computer-based language learning situations was investigated and the findings of some research on language learners' characteristics in the context of technology-based learning were outlined. Through extensive review of research studies and articles, it attempted to determine different learner characteristics existing in learning foreign/second languages with technology. It also discovered the most effective individual differences among language learners of computer-based environments to be used by EFL teachers and materials developers to help learners' progress in language education.
Individual Differences among Student Teachers in Taking an Online Corpus Linguistics Course
Authors: Ebrahimi Alice , Marandi S. Susan
Published: August 2015

Recently, educating teachers in computer- assisted language learning (CALL) has gained much popularity. In this regard, corpus linguistics (CL), as an area related to CALL, has received great attention. Researchers, now argue strongly for the inclusion of CL in language teacher education (LTE) programs. However, there is no research on how individual and contextual differences may affect student teachers' (STs) reactions to such training. This chapter reports on a qualitative study which explored a range of variables related to STs' personal and professional backgrounds as well as group dynamics influential in the adoption and application of CL training by STs. Through analyzing the data collected using surveys, interviews, and students' written evaluations of the course, it was found that STs' years of teaching experience, characteristics and beliefs, prior experience of online communication, access to technology, and familiarity with and attitudes toward CALL play a crucial role in this regard.
The Perspectives of Iranian EFL Teachers on the Integration of ICT into their Teaching Practices
Authors: Mozafari Parivash , Wray David
Published: August 2015

This chapter reports the findings of a multiple-case study that was carried out during October-January 2013 held with 9 Iranian EFL teachers -five male, four females- from across 6 schools in the capital city of Tehran. Underpinned by a socio-cultural epistemology and utilising an interpretivist qualitative paradigm, this study aimed to explore participants' perspectives on the integration of computer and other ICT (information and communication technology) tools into their teaching. The focus was the individual and contextual factors which had influenced and shaped the perceptions and practices of these teachers. In so doing, in-depth data was collected based on a total of 36 face to face individual semi- structured interviews that were guided by 27 observations of classroom practices. Thematic analysis of the data indicated that ICT uptake by participants was seriously hampered by several interacting and interrelated areas that influenced participants' perspectives and practices.
A Qualitative Case Study on Changes in a Five-Year One-To-One Laptop Initiative
Authors: Dost Güliz Turgut
Published: August 2015

The goal of this qualitative case study is to understand the changes that happened to a laptop initiative implemented at an urban middle school with diverse student population. Different from existing studies, this study investigated the changes in the initiative beyond its establishment phase and focused specifically on English Language Learners (ELLs). Data is collected through semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. Three main changes were identified: teachers' attitudes towards and students' proficiencies in use of laptops, the nature and amount of laptops' use, and the consideration given to English Language Learners. Implications of the findings could inform national educational policies and school leaderships.
Web Based CALL
Authors: Viswanathan Revathi
Published: August 2015

Strategy training forms part of skills training and in the ESL context such training has to be given considerable importance due to individual differences in students' learning styles. In the case of teaching writing skills to students, teachers can create awareness of various strategies among students by imparting training in various strategies. The tertiary level teachers of engineering colleges in India often prepare their students for industries, which includes training them in writing skills. Most of the universities which offer professional education have now integrated technological tools with teaching and that has facilitated the teaching and learning process. In this chapter the author would discuss her action research in which she offered strategy training related to writing skills to her students with the help of Wiki.
Familiar or Unfamiliar Context?
Authors: Mashhadi Amir , Khazaie Saeed
Published: August 2015

This chapter endeavored to devise a motivating way to engage learners in L2 English learning tasks presented through the mobile game (m-game). It started on the issue of whether types of a displayed picture on m-games had any significant relationship with learners' performance in the blended mode of L2 learning. To that end, a cellphone-based form of the nonEnglish game of 'Xane Bazi', modified as didactic 'Xane Bazi' for English vocabulary learning, was grafted onto the face-to-face mode of content representation in the blended language learning module. 100 Iranian boys and girls within the age range of 10-13 were divided into two groups to learn English vocabulary items during 12 sessions of an academic semester: One group played a version of 'Xane Bazi' with learner-made paintings and the other group played a version of the game filled with photos. The results hinted at the desired effect of utilizing m-games as applying learner-made painting condition to didactic 'Xane Bazi' was proved to significantly ratchet up the participants' L2 learning.
The Impact of Individual Differences on Students' Perception of Writing Practice in Blogosphere
Authors: Nami Fatemeh
Published: August 2015

Over the past few decades, weblogs have widely made their way into English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching and learning. Despite this growing research on the educational values of weblogs, the impact of individual differences on students' perception toward blogging has been rarely explored. In an attempt to fill this gap, the present case study reports on the impact of individual differences on 28 BA level, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology major students' perceptions of English writing practice in blogosphere. Data was collected from participants' responses to a post-course written interview. Adopting qualitative and quantitative data analysis procedures, it was observed that English language proficiency significantly influenced students' perceived effectiveness of writing practice in the classroom blog. The findings of this study offer several practical implications for research on weblog-enhanced language learning.
EFL Learners' Usability Evaluation of an Educational Website
Authors: Garakani Maryam Gharib
Published: August 2015

This chapter aims to depict the perception of usability of an educational website among EFL students. Forty-two medical science students of two general English courses at Tehran University participated in the study. For one semester the students used the educational website designed to support in-class instruction to learn English as a foreign language. At the end of the course students were given a usability evaluation questionnaire to evaluate the usability of the website with respect to: content, navigation, user interface design, performance and effectiveness, general instructional objectives, the website parts, and language related objectives. Conclusively, students were roughly satisfied with the usability of the website. Further, user interface design of the website was considered to be usable while the performance and effectiveness of the website were not perceived to be very useable. Comparison of female and male participants showed that in general female students were more satisfied with the usability of the website, specifically with the user interface design of the website.
Mothers' Attitudes toward the Use of CALL for Their Children's English Learning
Authors: Hasani Masoumeh
Published: August 2015

In this chapter the attitude of mothers to the use of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) in their children's language learning was investigated. 118 Iranian mothers were selected based on convenient sampling. Their attitude towards CALL was assessed by a 12-item questionnaire. The result of data analysis revealed that generally mothers have roughly positive attitudes towards CALL. Significant differences were reported when mothers with higher education were compared with those mothers who did not have university degrees. However, gender, age, and mother's profession did not have any role in their attitudes towards CALL.
The Impact of a Learning Management System on Student Evaluation of Teaching
Authors: Rahimi Mehrak
Published: August 2015

In this chapter the impact of using a learning management system on pre-service and in-service teachers' evaluation of a teacher educator in a teacher training university was compared. Two groups of students participated in the study and for one semester experienced a blended learning where the extension of academic activities of the course Materials Evaluation and Syllabus Design was presented via a learning management system online. At the end of the course both groups' evaluation of the instructor's teaching was compared in two aspects: teaching style and student-teacher interaction. The result showed that there was a significant difference between two groups' evaluation of the educator. Pre-service teachers were found to have higher attitudes towards teaching effectiveness and they were more satisfied with both teachers' teaching style and social behavior.
The Relationship between Online Information Seeking Anxiety and English Reading Proficiency across Gender
Authors: Rahimi Mehrak , Bayat Zahra
Published: August 2015

In this chapter the relationship between Iranian EFL learners' online information seeking anxiety and reading ability is investigated. The sample included 177 high-school students of an urban area in Iran. In order to measure their reading ability, the reading section of Primary English Test (PET) was used. To assess their online information searching anxiety, Information Seeking Anxiety scale (ISAS) was used. The results of the correlational analysis showed that there is a negative relationship between ISAS (and all its components) and PET. When male and female participants were considered separately, English reading was not found to be related to anxiety among boys; while it was moderately associated with anxiety among girls. The result of regression showed that EFL reading ability is a significant predictor of online information seeking anxiety and can predict more than 7% of the variance of online information searching anxiety; however the power of reading to reduce searching anxiety was found to be much stronger (more than 18%) among females.
Internet Gaming Disorder
Authors: Lehenbauer-Baum Mario , Fohringer Martina
Published: August 2015

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) was introduced in the recent DSM-V as a condition needing more research. Therefore, this chapter contributes to this discussion by a summary of recent research findings and introduces an empirical study concerning differences between an engaged and a problematic use of games. We surveyed 577 participants (mean age 24.38 years; 77.1% male) from German speaking areas. We used a gaming addiction questionnaire and the Internet Addiction Scale (ISS-20). 93.7% are high-level player (level 85); 3.1% are addicted according to the ISS-20. We found 2 factors explaining “addiction” and “engagement”. Addicted players spend more time per week playing online with 31.31 hours/week compared to highly engaged players with 22.19 hours/week (p < .001), have higher scores in the Internet addiction scale (p < .001), and significantly lower scores in scales measuring the quality of life (p < .001). Therefore we conclude that items tapping euphoria and cognitive salience are of limited use when it comes to a classification of IGD.