bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Deus criou o mundo, mas os holandeses fizeram a Holanda”: a política urbana holandesa e os impactos recentes da globalização
Authors: Nobre Eduardo Alberto Cusce
Published: January 2017

Conhecida na literatura acadêmica internacional como o “paraíso dos planejadores”, a Holanda apresentava um dos sistemas de planejamento territorial e de política urbana mais avançados do mundo até recentemente. As transformações advindas da globalização econômica e da influência do ideário neoliberal têm colocado em xeque essa situação, causando as primeiras “rachaduras no espelho”. O presente trabalho procura analisar a evolução do planejamento territorial e da política urbana nesse país, com ênfase nos últimos cinquenta anos. Em primeiro lugar será analisado o contexto sociocultural que permitiu o processo de construção territorial do país. Posteriormente será analisada a evolução do sistema de planejamento territorial e da política urbana dentro desse contexto. Por fim, serão avaliadas as transformações desse paradigma em virtude da adoção do ideário neoliberal e os impactos resultantes da crise econômica de 2008.
Habitação em municípios paulistas: construir políticas ou “rodar” programas?
Authors: Rolnik Raquel , Iacovini Rodrigo Faria Gonçalves , Klintowitz Danielle
Published: January 2017

O artigo analisa os atores, arenas e processos efetivamente envolvidos em investimentos habitacionais nos municípios do estado de São Paulo, buscando compreender se esses investimentos convergiam ou não com os processos participativos instaurados na última década. Embora a hipótese inicial de que não haveria tal convergência tenha sido confirmada, constatou-se que isso não se devia à disponibilidade reduzida de recursos próprios municipais ou à sua baixa capacidade institucional como se imaginava até então. A falta de iniciativa em se estabelecer ações autônomas, aderentes às necessidades locais e pactuadas nos âmbitos de participação instituídos, e a plena adesão municipal ao modelo do Programa Minha Casa, Minha Vida resultam, na realidade, de uma postura pragmática dos governos municipais que, com um mínimo de esforço institucional, asseguram ganhos importantes aos principais players da política.
A teoria do desenvolvimento e a problemática da urbanização na América Latina: uma primeira aproximação
Authors: Oliveira Milena Fernandes
Published: January 2017

Nos anos 1960 e 70, a teoria do desenvolvimento latino-americana passou por um processo de diversificação e sofisticação que tornou a Economia mais próxima das Ciências Sociais. A produção teórica deixou o tratamento puramente econômico do problema do desenvolvimento econômico, como a deterioração dos termos de intercâmbio, a geração do excedente e o investimento, a fim de avançar para problemáticas que contemplassem um tratamento que desvendasse a totalidade social. Nesse sentido, a interdisciplinaridade dos temas tratados, incluindo o tema clássico da industrialização, passou a ser valorizada. Ao mesmo tempo que a teoria do desenvolvimento torna-se mais próxima de uma economia política do desenvolvimento, os temas tratados ajudam a consolidar essa sofisticação, mostrando as demais facetas do subdesenvolvimento e da dependência A necessidade de explicar as raízes do subdesenvolvimento levou ao estudo da História e também a uma abordagem das relações sociais como relações de classes. Um olhar crítico sobre o papel do Estado levou a uma ampla utilização da Ciência Política e das estruturas de poder. Um estudo sobre a cultura de consumo exigiu o aporte da antropologia econômica. Nessa reconstrução da disciplina, novos temas foram contemplados, como a urbanização periférica, a estrutura de consumo, a estrutura agrária e a heterogeneidade regional.  Este trabalho pretende entender como o estudo da urbanização à periferia do sistema, dada sua especificidade e complexidade, contribuiu para reforçar esse processo de sofisticação da teoria do desenvolvimento econômico latino-americana, principalmente em seu recurso à História e às demais Ciências Sociais, como a Sociologia e a Ciência Política.
Pendularidade e vulnerabilidade na Região Metropolitana de Campinas: repercussões na estrutura e no habitar urbano
Authors: Marandola Jr. Eduardo , Ojima Ricardo
Published: January 2017

Mobilidade-vulnerabilidade é um binômio fundamental para compreendermos e analisarmos as metrópoles contemporâneas. As pessoas organizam suas rotinas diárias e suas escolhas locacionais a partir de elementos implicados nesta relação. Em vista disso, o habitar urbano nas grandes aglomerações urbanas é constituído hoje por deslocamentos e permanências, envoltos na fluidez contemporânea. Este artigo investiga essa problemática a partir da pendularidade e do status migratório das populações na Região Metropolitana de Campinas, no contexto de suas interações espaciais internas. Os resultados apontam para a importância da mobilidade e da migração para pensar a vulnerabilidade, de um lado, e a necessidade de avançar no estudo da pendularidade e dos deslocamentos cotidianos, de outro, para compreensão do habitar metropolitano, seus riscos e estruturação regional.
A BMW em Araquari/SC e o planejamento de ocasião: o Estado como agenciador da flexibilização urbana
Authors: Voos Charles Henrique , Silva Luiz Eduardo De Carvalho
Published: January 2017

Este artigo aborda as relações que envolvem a vinda da montadora de automóveis alemã BMW para a pequena cidade de Araquari, situada no Nordeste de Santa Catarina, distante cerca de 160 km da capital Florianópolis. A flexibilização da legislação urbanística, as isenções fiscais para a montadora, bem como a ruptura de preceitos estipulados pelo Estatuto das Cidades marcam o investimento de 200 milhões de euros, que tem na cidade vizinha de Joinville outros agentes econômicos interessados em aproveitar a grande especulação imobiliária envolvendo terras não-urbanizadas próximas à futura fábrica. A partir disso, o presente estudo demonstra quais as consequências que a flexibilização traz para as cidades, gerando cenários de segregação socioespacial, ilegalidades e retrocessos na gestão democrática da cidade, de acordo com a ocasião que mais foi conivente com os agentes envolvidos.
O espetáculo dos espaços públicos: vivências e expressões culturais na Zona Portuária do Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Passos Flora D’El Rei Lopes
Published: January 2017

Frente ao modelo de “cidade-espetáculo” que, recorrentemente, relaciona a cultura à concepção de grandes projetos de entretenimento voltados para o turismo e o consumo, este artigo busca descortinar as múltiplas identidades territoriais e expressões culturais presentes nos espaços públicos da Zona Portuária do Rio de Janeiro, que ressignificam a paisagem urbana e sugerem outras ideias ou projetos de cidade. Investiga-se como se redefinem os campos de gravitação da experiência urbana, relacionada a coletivos culturais, frente às ações de “valorização cultural” do atual projeto de “revitalização” urbana – Porto Maravilha; e como esses coletivos (in)corporam, produzem e reproduzem os espaços públicos, recriando constantemente identidades territoriais. Procura-se contribuir para o debate sobre participação no planejamento das cidades, reconhecendo a troca social e o conflito nas transformações urbanas. A cultura é estudada como campo de ressignificação do território e de debate sobre direitos, como o direito à cidade pensada de forma democrática, coletiva e horizontal.
Perturbation of Retinoid Homeostasis Increases Malformation Risk in Embryos Exposed to Pregestational Diabetes
Authors: Lee Leo M.Y. , Leung Maran B.W. , Kwok Rachel C.Y. , Leung Yun Chung , Wang Chi Chiu , McCaffery Peter J. , Copp Andrew J. , Shum Alisa S.W.
Published: January 2017

Pregestational diabetes is highly associated with an increased risk of birth defects. However, factors that can increase or reduce the expressivity and penetrance of malformations in pregnancies in women with diabetes remain poorly identified. All-trans retinoic acid (RA) plays crucial roles in embryogenesis. Here, we find that Cyp26a1, which encodes a key enzyme for catabolic inactivation of RA required for tight control of local RA concentrations, is significantly downregulated in embryos of diabetic mice. Embryonic tissues expressing Cyp26a1 show reduced efficiency of RA clearance. Embryos exposed to diabetes are thus sensitized to RA and more vulnerable to the deleterious effects of increased RA signaling. Susceptibility to RA teratogenesis is further potentiated in embryos with a preexisting genetic defect of RA metabolism. Increasing RA clearance efficiency using a preconditioning approach can counteract the increased susceptibility to RA teratogenesis in embryos of diabetic mice. Our findings provide new insight into gene–environment interactions that influence individual risk in the manifestation of diabetes-related birth defects and shed light on environmental risk factors and genetic variants for a stratified medicine approach to screening women with diabetes who are of childbearing age and assessing the risk of birth defects during pregnancy.
Circulating Modified Metabolites and a Risk of ESRD in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Niewczas Monika A. , Mathew Anna V. , Croall Stephanie , Byun Jaeman , Major Melissa , Sabisetti Venkatta S. , Smiles Adam , Bonventre Joseph V. , Pennathur Subramaniam , Krolewski Andrzej S.
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE

Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with impaired renal function are at increased risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although the rate of progression varies, determinants and mechanisms of this variation are unknown.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We examined serum metabolomic profiles associated with variation in renal function decline in participants with T1D (the Joslin Kidney Study prospective cohort). One hundred fifty-eight patients with proteinuria and chronic kidney disease stage 3 were followed for a median of 11 years to determine estimated glomerular filtration rate slopes from serial measurements of serum creatinine and to ascertain time to onset of ESRD. Baseline serum samples were subjected to global metabolomic profiling.

RESULTS

One hundred ten amino acids and purine and pyrimidine metabolites were detected in at least 80% of participants. Serum levels of seven modified metabolites (C-glycosyltryptophan, pseudouridine, O-sulfotyrosine, N-acetylthreonine, N-acetylserine, N6-carbamoylthreonyladenosine, and N6-acetyllysine) were associated with renal function decline and time to ESRD (P < 0.001) independent of the relevant clinical covariates. The significant metabolites correlated with one another and with the indices of tubular injury.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective cohort study in participants with T1D, proteinuria, and impaired renal function at baseline demonstrated that patients with increased circulating levels of certain modified metabolites experience faster renal function decline, leading to ESRD. Whether some of these candidate metabolites are risk factors or just prognostic biomarkers of progression to ESRD in T1D needs to be determined.
Educational Resilience of Urban Squatter Children in Kathmandu
Authors: Rai Indra Mani , Luitel Bal Chandra , Gautam Suresh , Pant Binod Prasad , Gautam Santosh
Published: January 2017

Squatters are the illegal tenants residing in public lands as immigrants due to livelihood collapse in their origins. They have been denied of public resources and urban facilities because of their identity crisis leading to a vicious circle of poverty with impoverished livelihood creating multifaceted adversities of learning for their children. In this context, this paper, based on a cyclical mixed method research design under transformative research approach, has explored the learning adversities faced by the squatter children of Kathmandu Metropolitan city, their protective and promotive strategies to cope with adversities and life-skills as learning outcomes. Squatter children are struggling against the backdrop of exposure to unhygienic settlements with low health conditions, poverty with impoverished livelihood, and illiteracy of parents, poor homely environment, and dysfunctional families. Despite such adversities, they were able to continue school education with the support of their teachers, peers, parents and families. The research study finds stronger family and community assets of the students. These assets are helpful for building educational resilience of the squatter children.
Uncovering Management Issues in Australian Classrooms Experienced by Non-English Speaking Background Teachers
Authors: Afzal Bushra , Taylor Peter Charles
Published: January 2017

Teachers from non-English-speaking background (NESB) constitute an important community of teachers in Australia, especially in Mathematics and Science discipline. During their journey of resuming teaching in Australian schools, they encounter a number of problems, including classroom management issues. Being an NESB teacher I have experienced acute classroom management problems, mostly related to students’ behaviour and have been desperate to know the reality of the issue for other teachers. In this autoethnographic research, I developed a deeper understanding of these problems and possible solutions. I held a series of ‘good conversations’ with four NESB teachers from the Indian subcontinent. I represented the conversations in the form of narratives and subsequently subjected them to scholarly interpretive analysis. The study illustrates ways in which these NESB teachers faced severe student behaviour problems, which was a source of deep frustration for them. Major factors contributing towards these problems are cultural differences, language barriers and racism. I have learned from this study that NESB teachers, including myself, could improve class management skills by undertaking behaviour management courses prior to resuming teaching in a seemingly alien culture. Class management skills of NESB teachers can also improve with experience.
Towards Inclusive, Quality ICT-Based Learning for Rural Transformation
Authors: Chinapah Vinayagum , Odero Jared O.
Published: January 2017

Information and communication technology (ICT) has emerged as a tool that can enhance flexible learning pathways. ICT has the potential to increase equitable access to quality learning, which is essential for skills development. Skills are required in technology-related nonfarm activities so as to improve livelihoods and achieve sustainable rural transformation. However, slow pace of the developing countries to utilize the benefits of the ongoing technological revolution in the North has resulted in the ‘digital divide’. Besides, it is still problematic to implement ICT programmes for educational development. The current and future challenges of providing ICT-based learning desperately call for the reengineering of education to move out of the formal structure of teaching and learning, towards building a more practical and realistic approach. By means of a literature review, this paper examines and discusses why it is important to provide inclusive, quality ICT-based learning, particularly in the rural areas of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It recommends that diverse ICT-based solutions be adopted to promote skills development and training within non-formal and informal settings. More comparative studies are also required to understand the impact of ICT-based learning in rural areas.
Human Blood CD1c+ Dendritic Cells Encompass CD5high and CD5low Subsets That Differ Significantly in Phenotype, Gene Expression, and Functions
Authors: Yin Xiangyun , Yu Haisheng , Jin Xiaoyang , Li Jingyun , Guo Hao , Shi Quanxing , Yin Zhao , Xu Yong , Wang Xuefei , Liu Rong , Wang Shouli , Zhang Liguo
Published: January 2017

There are three major dendritic cell (DC) subsets in both humans and mice, that is, plasmacytoid DCs and two types of conventional DCs (cDCs), cDC1s and cDC2s. cDC2s are important for polarizing CD4+ naive T cells into different subsets, including Th1, Th2, Th17, Th22, and regulatory T cells. In mice, cDC2s can be further divided into phenotypically and functionally distinct subgroups. However, subsets of human cDC2s have not been reported. In the present study, we showed that human blood CD1c+ cDCs (cDC2s) can be further separated into two subpopulations according to their CD5 expression status. Comparative transcriptome analyses showed that the CD5high DCs expressed higher levels of cDC2-specific genes, including IFN regulatory factor 4, which is essential for the cDC2 development and its migration to lymph nodes. In contrast, CD5low DCs preferentially expressed monocyte-related genes, including the lineage-specific transcription factor MAFB. Furthermore, compared with the CD5low subpopulation, the CD5high subpopulation showed stronger migration toward CCL21 and overrepresentation among migratory DCs in lymph nodes. Additionally, the CD5high DCs induced naive T cell proliferation more potently than did the CD5low DCs. Moreover, CD5high DCs induced higher levels of IL-10–, IL-22–, and IL-4–producing T cell formation, whereas CD5low DCs induced higher levels of IFN-γ–producing T cell formation. Thus, we show that human blood CD1c+ cDC2s encompass two subsets that differ significantly in phenotype, that is, gene expression and functions. We propose that these two subsets of human cDC2s could potentially play contrasting roles in immunity or tolerance.
Induction and Differentiation of IL-10–Producing Regulatory B Cells from Healthy Blood Donors and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: Bankó Zsuzsanna , Pozsgay Judit , Szili Dániel , Tóth Mária , Gáti Tamás , Nagy György , Rojkovich Bernadette , Sármay Gabriella
Published: January 2017

The most important feature of B cells is the production of Abs upon activation; additionally, B cells produce pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in response to certain stimuli. IL-10–producing B cells represent a major subset of regulatory B cells (Bregs) that suppress autoimmune and inflammatory responses. B cells play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of the chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, controversial data are available on IL-10– producing Bregs in RA. Our aim was to identify the optimal conditions that induce IL-10+ Bregs and, furthermore, to shed light on the signaling pathways that are responsible for their expansion. The results show that dual stimulation by CpG and CD40L for 48 h is optimal for IL-10 induction, and this can be synergistically boosted by IL-21. We identified the CD19+CD27+ memory B cell population as the major source of IL-10+ Bregs. We detected significantly fewer CD19+CD27+IL-10+ cells in RA patients compared with healthy controls, and these were functionally defective in suppressing IFN-γ production by CD4+ T cells in coculture. IL-21 drastically increased the number of IL-10+ Bregs within the CD19+CD27+ and CD19+CD27− populations; furthermore, it induced the appearance of IL-10+Blimp-1+ plasmablasts. Monitoring the phosphorylation of key signaling molecules revealed that activation of ERK, p38, and CREB is indispensable for the induction of IL-10 production, whereas phosphorylation of STAT3 further enhances IL-10 expression in human Bregs. We conclude that CREB and STAT3 are the key transcription factors responsible for the expansion and differentiation of human IL-10–producing Bregs.
NKG2D Promotes B1a Cell Development and Protection against Bacterial Infection
Authors: Lenartić Maja , Jelenčić Vedrana , Zafirova Biljana , Ožanič Mateja , Marečić Valentina , Jurković Slaven , Sexl Veronika , Šantić Marina , Wensveen Felix M. , Polić Bojan
Published: January 2017

NKG2D is a potent activating receptor that is expressed on cytotoxic immune cells such as CD8 T and NK cells, where it promotes cytotoxicity after binding stress ligands on infected or transformed cells. On NK cell precursors NKG2D modulates proliferation and maturation. Previously, we observed that NKG2D deficiency affects peripheral B cell numbers. In this study, we show that NKG2D regulates B1a cell development and function. We find that mice deficient for NKG2D have a strong reduction of B1a cell numbers. As a result, NKG2D-deficient mice produce significantly less Ag-specific IgM Abs upon immunization with T cell–independent Ags, and they are more susceptible to Gram-negative sepsis. Klrk1−/− B1a cells are also functionally impaired and they fail to provide protection against Francisella novicida upon adoptive transfer. Using mixed bone marrow chimeric mice, we show that the impact of NKG2D deficiency on B1a cell development is cell intrinsic. No changes in homeostatic turnover and homing of B cells were detectable, limiting the effects of NKG2D to modulation of the hematopoietic development of B1a cells. Using conditional ablation, we demonstrate that the effect of NKG2D on B1a cell development occurs at a developmental stage that precedes the common lymphoid progenitor. Our findings reveal an unexpected new role for NKG2D in the regulation of B1a cell development. The protective effects of this activating receptor therefore reach beyond that of cytotoxic cells, stimulating the immune system to fight bacterial infections by promoting development of innate-like B cells.
The Threshold of Protection from Liver-Stage Malaria Relies on a Fine Balance between the Number of Infected Hepatocytes and Effector CD8+ T Cells Present in the Liver
Authors: Spencer Alexandra J. , Longley Rhea J. , Gola Anita , Ulaszewska Marta , Lambe Teresa , Hill Adrian V. S.
Published: January 2017

Since the demonstration of sterile protection afforded by injection of irradiated sporozoites, CD8+ T cells have been shown to play a significant role in protection from liver-stage malaria. This is, however, dependent on the presence of an extremely high number of circulating effector cells, thought to be necessary to scan, locate, and kill infected hepatocytes in the short time that parasites are present in the liver. We used an adoptive transfer model to elucidate the kinetics of the effector CD8+ T cell response in the liver following Plasmodium berghei sporozoite challenge. Although effector CD8+ T cells require <24 h to find, locate, and kill infected hepatocytes, active migration of Ag-specific CD8+ T cells into the liver was not observed during the 2-d liver stage of infection, as divided cells were only detected from day 3 postchallenge. However, the percentage of donor cells recruited into division was shown to indicate the level of Ag presentation from infected hepatocytes. By titrating the number of transferred Ag-specific effector CD8+ T cells and sporozoites, we demonstrate that achieving protection toward liver-stage malaria is reliant on CD8+ T cells being able to locate infected hepatocytes, resulting in a protection threshold dependent on a fine balance between the number of infected hepatocytes and CD8+ T cells present in the liver. With such a fine balance determining protection, achieving a high number of CD8+ T cells will be critical to the success of a cell-mediated vaccine against liver-stage malaria.
Dysregulation of B Cell Repertoire Formation in Myasthenia Gravis Patients Revealed through Deep Sequencing
Authors: Vander Heiden Jason A. , Stathopoulos Panos , Zhou Julian Q. , Chen Luan , Gilbert Tamara J. , Bolen Christopher R. , Barohn Richard J. , Dimachkie Mazen M. , Ciafaloni Emma , Broering Teresa J. , Vigneault Francois , Nowak Richard J. , Kleinstein Steven H. , O’Connor Kevin C.
Published: January 2017

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a prototypical B cell-mediated autoimmune disease affecting 20–50 people per 100,000. The majority of patients fall into two clinically distinguishable types based on whether they produce autoantibodies targeting the acetylcholine receptor (AChR-MG) or muscle specific kinase (MuSK-MG). The autoantibodies are pathogenic, but whether their generation is associated with broader defects in the B cell repertoire is unknown. To address this question, we performed deep sequencing of the BCR repertoire of AChR-MG, MuSK-MG, and healthy subjects to generate ∼518,000 unique VH and VL sequences from sorted naive and memory B cell populations. AChR-MG and MuSK-MG subjects displayed distinct gene segment usage biases in both VH and VL sequences within the naive and memory compartments. The memory compartment of AChR-MG was further characterized by reduced positive selection of somatic mutations in the VH CDR and altered VH CDR3 physicochemical properties. The VL repertoire of MuSK-MG was specifically characterized by reduced V-J segment distance in recombined sequences, suggesting diminished VL receptor editing during B cell development. Our results identify large-scale abnormalities in both the naive and memory B cell repertoires. Particular abnormalities were unique to either AChR-MG or MuSK-MG, indicating that the repertoires reflect the distinct properties of the subtypes. These repertoire abnormalities are consistent with previously observed defects in B cell tolerance checkpoints in MG, thereby offering additional insight regarding the impact of tolerance defects on peripheral autoimmune repertoires. These collective findings point toward a deformed B cell repertoire as a fundamental component of MG.
PRMT5-Selective Inhibitors Suppress Inflammatory T Cell Responses and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Webb Lindsay M. , Amici Stephanie A. , Jablonski Kyle A. , Savardekar Himanshu , Panfil Amanda R. , Li Linsen , Zhou Wei , Peine Kevin , Karkhanis Vrajesh , Bachelder Eric M. , Ainslie Kristy M. , Green Patrick L. , Li Chenglong , Baiocchi Robert A. , Guerau-de-Arellano Mireia
Published: January 2017

In the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), expansion of pathogenic, myelin-specific Th1 cell populations drives active disease; selectively targeting this process may be the basis for a new therapeutic approach. Previous studies have hinted at a role for protein arginine methylation in immune responses, including T cell–mediated autoimmunity and EAE. However, a conclusive role for the protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) enzymes that catalyze these reactions has been lacking. PRMT5 is the main PRMT responsible for symmetric dimethylation of arginine residues of histones and other proteins. PRMT5 drives embryonic development and cancer, but its role in T cells, if any, has not been investigated. In this article, we show that PRMT5 is an important modulator of CD4+ T cell expansion. PRMT5 was transiently upregulated during maximal proliferation of mouse and human memory Th cells. PRMT5 expression was regulated upstream by the NF-κB pathway, and it promoted IL-2 production and proliferation. Blocking PRMT5 with novel, highly selective small molecule PRMT5 inhibitors severely blunted memory Th expansion, with preferential suppression of Th1 cells over Th2 cells. In vivo, PRMT5 blockade efficiently suppressed recall T cell responses and reduced inflammation in delayed-type hypersensitivity and clinical disease in EAE mouse models. These data implicate PRMT5 in the regulation of adaptive memory Th cell responses and suggest that PRMT5 inhibitors may be a novel therapeutic approach for T cell–mediated inflammatory disease.
Organizational Structure and Organization Justice in Jordanian Commercial Banks: A field study
Authors: Al-Tamimi Khaled Abdalla Moh'd
Published: January 2017

The aim of this study is to identify organizational structure and organizational justice in Jordanian Commercial banks. The study, after presenting, analyzing and testing hypothesis related to (OS) and (OJ) adopted in Jordanian commercial banks, the study revealed a set of results, among which: 1-organizational structure dimensions have no statically significant difference on employees in the organization, and this is consistent with the concept of the need for achievement of individuals, which the individual does not look forward towards its achievement ,for individuals, and that individual does not seek to satisfy as a priority whether it relates to levels of applying organizational structure dimension either centralization, formality and so on .2- Organizational structure and organizational justice dimensions, when combined together, have no statically significant effect on satisfying workers for independence and power.3- Subject educational qualification has no statistically significant effect.
Preparation of Nano-Sized Mesoporous Silica and Its Application in Immobilization of β-galactosidase from Aspergillus Oryzae
Authors: Yang Jiao , Liu Zhenzhen , Ge Huan , Sun Sufang
Published: January 2017

In alkaline conditions, monodisperse nano-sized mesoporous silica was synthesized using cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as template and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) silica as source in ethanol / water cosolvent conditions. Using method of nitrogen adsorption, specific surface area of the dried monodisperse nano-sized mesoporous silica was about 1591 m2/g and the pore size was about 3.8 nm. The field-emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs showed that the silica particles obtained were spherical with an approximate diameter of 160 nm and of good dispersion. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the carrier had an excellent cellular structure with disordered multi-channels and smooth surface. The nano-sized mesoporous silica above was employed to immobilize β-galactosidase from aspergillus oryzae for the first time. At the experimental conditions in section 2.4, the enzyme activity and the activity yield were 535.11 U/g dry carrier and 79.63%, respectively. Kinetic data of the immobilized enzyme such as optimum temperature, pH, and thermal and pH stability among other valuable results were also determined.
Teacher Practices and Students’ Preferences for Written Corrective Feedback and Their Implications on Writing Instruction
Authors: Aridah Aridah , Atmowardoyo Haryanto , Salija Kisman
Published: January 2017

The discrepancy between students’ preferences and teacher practices for feedback on writing has created difficulty on the side of teachers and confusion on the side of the students. What teachers believe and practice as effective feedback for students may not be the one that students perceive as useful and effective feedback for them. This paper investigates the types of written feedback preferred by the students and the types of feedback provided by the teachers on students’ writing. This study employed a survey design which involved 54 students and 22 teachers using convenience sampling technique. The instrument used in collecting data was a questionnaire in the form of Feedback Scale. The results showed that there were some points of compatibility between students’ preferences and teachers’ practices and some other points were incompatible. The data showed that both students and teachers preferred to have or to give direct feedback but the data also indicated that students liked to have more direct feedback than the teacher could provide. It was also found that the teachers provided more indirect feedback than the students expected to have. The students also preferred unfocused feedback to focused feedback. The findings of the study have crucial implications on writing instruction. There is a need to design writing instructions which accommodate both teachers’ practices and students’ preferences for written feddback. Based on the profile of students’ preference and teachers’ practices, a model of feedback provision in teaching writing is proposed. This model is called preference-based feedback on writing instruction.
Probing the Enactment of Reading Miscues: A Study Examining Reading Fluency
Authors: Lehner Edward
Published: January 2017

Subsequent to the National Reading Panel’s (2000) report, more researchers have been examining the role that reading fluency plays in the development of a child’s reading skills. This study investigated the efficacy of the National Reading Panel’s research claim that a child learns reading fluency skills mainly through phonics and decoding instruction. Using a methodology to track the source of reading miscues, this paper demonstrates that a student’scultural and semantic knowledge of textvitally influences the development of reading fluency skills. Specifically, the findings suggest that a child culturally enacts reading fluency both through graphophonic and semantic knowledge of words. In the process of cultural enactment, reading fluency embodies a complex interplay between graphophonic understandings and a student’s cultural domains. Lastly, this work theorizes the role that cultural and semantical influences play in the role of a student acquiring reading fluency.
The Relationship between Iranian EFL Learners’ Use and Preferences of Language Learning Strategies and Their Meta-Knowledge and Tasks of Pragmatic Competence
Authors: Najafi Khadijeh , Sadighi Firooz , Bagheri Mohammad Sadegh , Yarmohammadi Lotfollah
Published: January 2017

The present study investigated the relationship between Iranian EFL learners’ use and preferences of language learning strategies and their meta-knowledge and the tasks of pragmatic competence. Quick Oxford Placement Test, version 2 (2004) was administered and 120 upper-intermediate EFL university students majoring in English translation and TEFL were recruited from the available branches of the Islamic Azad University, Fars province. Likewise, a questionnaire entitled Iranian EFL learners’ meta-knowledge and pragmatic tasks (2016) was used to explore EFL learners’ meta-knowledge and tasks of pragmatic competence and the mean score was calculated. Then, Oxford Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (1990) was used to analyze EFL learners’ use and preferences of language learning strategies and the mean score was calculated. Also, to examine any possible relationship between EFL learners’ use and preferences of language learning strategies and their meta-knowledge and pragmatic tasks, some correlations were run. The results of data analyses showed that Iranian EFL learners were moderate in meta-knowledge and tasks of pragmatic competence and in their use of language learning strategies in general. More detailed analyses of the data ranked the order of the applications of the strategies as: social strategies, meta-cognitive strategies, cognitive strategies, memory strategies, compensation strategies and affective strategies from the most to the least frequent strategies applied by the participants of the study. There was a significant medium positive relationship between meta-knowledge and tasks of pragmatic competence and meta-cognitive strategy. However, there were slight but significant positive relationships between meta-knowledge and tasks of pragmatic competence and compensation and affective strategies and no relationships between meta-knowledge and tasks of pragmatic competence and social, affective and compensation strategies.
The Effect of Register Instruction on EFL Learners’ Writing Performance
Authors: Yousefi Osguee Mohammad , Assadi Aidinlou Nader , Zoghi Masoud
Published: January 2017

The purpose of the present study was twofold. First, it examined the effect of a register-based approach to writing instruction based on the insights gained from Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Second, it attempted to examine the perceptions of the participants toward the register-based approach to writing. To this end, 100 intermediate and advanced students were selected and assigned to two experimental groups (advanced and intermediate ones) and two control groups. Prior to any instruction, the participants of all groups were assigned a writing task as a pre-test. The experimental groups were treated with SFL-oriented register knowledge for 20 sessions while control groups were exposed to the traditional method of teaching writing. Following the treatment, a post test was administered to the groups. The results revealed that the participants in the experimental groups surpassed their counterparts in the control groups. The results of qualitative analysis also disclosed that learners held positive attitudes towards this approach as it heightened their interest in writing.
Pro-drop in Standard Arabic
Authors: Alnajadat Bashir Mostufa
Published: January 2017

The correlation between Pro-drop and the nature of verbal morphology is a universal principle. This syntactic phenomenon has been parameterized on the basis of verb inflection. Rich verbal inflection has been advocated to allow pro-drop subject. On contrast, if a language structure maintains a low level of verbal morphology, pro will not be dropped. This paper comes to show that Standard Arabic (SA) is a partial pro-drop language. It has null subject even with rich verbal inflection structure. Nonetheless, the paper shows that in some forms of imperative sentence that have poor verbal inflection, but the subject is optional. On the other side, and on the basis of minimalism, pro is asserted to have features that must be checked in the course of derivation. These features are case and agreement that can be valued at Specifier-head configuration to pro. The process of checking optimally tries to draw evidence for the minimum level of morpho-syntactic features that pro in SA carries.
How EFL Learners Fill in the Blanks of an X-test: Think-Aloud Protocol
Authors: Ashraf Hamid , Yazdi Mona Tabatabaee , Samir Aynaz
Published: January 2017

Since SLA literature remains researchers unaware of the mental processes involved in the X-Test taking (in contrast to C-Test which there are plenty of available related studies), this article aims at exploring cognitive strategies that EFL learners may use while answering an English X-test, which like the C-Test has been modified, adapted and used in many research papers. To this aim, thirty EFL respondents from Mashhad, Iran, were randomly asked to answer a reliable and valid X-test. All of them participated in introspective methods of think-aloud and retrospective interviews during and after the test administration. To analyze the data only the exact word scoring procedure was employed. The results showed participants used various cognitive strategies in taking the X-Test. It was also revealed that respondents experienced more strategies when filling out an X-Test comparing to related literature of C-test, which could be an indicator of the importance job of cognition in X-Test taking. It is hoped that the article can shed light on the underling cognitive strategies that English language learners’ use, and provide a chance for educators who want to better understand the learners’ cognitive processes in order to assist them identify problems and improve their English instruction.
The Study of Vocabulary Awareness Effect on Intermediate Language Learners’ Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge in Genuine Persian Texts
Authors: Dehjalali Masoumeh Rostami , Izadpanah Siros
Published: January 2017

Every single day, we use spoken and written words to communicate thoughts, ideas and emotions. Sometimes, we are successful in communication, and sometimes we are not quite successful. We can say what we mean by use of good vocabulary knowledge. Facing with a written text, a good vocabulary is a very important tool. By having a good knowledge of vocabulary, you will be able to choose the best appropriate word. The purpose of the present study was set out to investigate the effects of vocabulary awareness on depth of vocabulary knowledge. In order to measure the effects of vocabulary awareness instruction on students’ depth of vocabulary knowledge, a Word Associates Test (WAT) was administered to both groups in pretest and post test. After comparing the mean scores of pre test and post test results, it was revealed that vocabulary awareness instruction group outperformed the control group in reading comprehension performance, but not in depth of vocabulary knowledge, so vocabulary awareness instruction does not influence participants’ depth of vocabulary knowledge.
Computer Assisted Language Learning and EFL Teachers’ Literacy: A Case in Iran
Authors: Jamalvandi Behrouz , Sadeghi Hossein , Soleimani Hassan
Published: January 2017

Computer assisted language learning (CALL) literacy is an issue of great concern not sufficiently dealt with in the literature of language teaching and learning. This study examines CALL literacy by Iranian EFL teachers. Reviewing the literature and some models of computer, information, and technology literacy, to collect the data, a questionnaire in Likert scale composed of four sections of computer mediated communication (CMC) tools, online information literacy, multimedia literacy, and basic computer skills was utilized. Following the data analysis by SPSS package, the findings showed Iranian EFL teachers’ moderate level of CALL literacy; however, their literacy on CMC tools was below the satisfactory level. Further, there was a significant relationship between the teachers’ literacy and their academic degree, yet the relationship between their CALL literacy and their teaching experience as well as the difference between the teachers’ literacy and gender was found insignificant. The study has implications for EFL teachers in educational systems supporting CALL-based pedagogy.
A Contrastive Study of the Use of Apology Strategies by Saudi EFL Teachers and British Native Speakers of English: A Pragmatic Approach
Authors: Alsulayyi Marzouq Nasser
Published: January 2017

This study examines the apology strategies used by 30 British native speakers of English and compares them with those employed by 30 Saudi EFL teachers, using a Discourse Completion Task (DCT). The study considers expressions of regret based on gender, cultural differences and severity of the offence. It is a quantitative, descriptive research study; it relies in its data collection process on a DCT whose reliability and internal and external validity are verified. It investigates three categories of variables types: binary, nominal and ordinal. The binary variables refer to gender, i.e., male and female, the nominal category is concerned with Arabic and English languages, and ordinal variables refer to the most frequent apology strategies employed by the respondents. The present study uses a quantitative method of data analysis which employs descriptive statistics (i.e., frequency analysis and percentages) in order to address the research questions and indicate the types of apology strategies that are frequently used by the speakers of the two investigated groups. The findings show different ways of using apology strategies by the two investigated groups based on the variables considered. Finally, the study concludes with some pedagogical implications for EFL teachers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Promoting Writing Competence and Positive Attitudes among College Students in a CLIL English Course
Authors: Alrabah Sulaiman , Wu Shu-hua
Published: January 2017

The study targeted a group of 27 students at a college in Kuwait who were enrolled in a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) English course during the academic year 2015-2016. The purpose of the study was to monitor students’ assessments of their writing competence in English and to measure their attitudes toward the CLIL course. Data collection utilized a total of five focus-group interviews with the students which were recorded and transcribed, and a category system was generated to describe the commonalities in the participants’ responses. Additionally, an online survey using Google Forms was based on the categories delineated from the interview data. The Microsoft Excel program was used for counting the means, standard deviations, and percentages for each of the survey items. The results of the study indicated that the majority of the students (80%) thought that the CLIL course enhanced their writing competence both within and beyond the sentence level. Writing skills within the sentence level included the accurate use of punctuation marks and capitalization rules. Writing skills beyond the sentence level included paragraph organization, use of proper transition words, and writing cause-and-effect paragraphs. Approximately 20% of the students did not think CLIL improved their writing competence beyond the sentence level. Furthermore, the students displayed highly positive attitudes toward all aspects of the CLIL course. Implications were drawn for specialized teacher training to cope with the demands of CLIL courses, and longitudinal studies to track students’ development of writing competence over time.
Factors Influencing College-Level EFL Students’ Language Learning Strategies in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alnujaidi Sulaiman
Published: January 2017

This study investigated the factors that influence college-level EFL students’ Language Learning Strategies (LLS) in Saudi Arabia. A survey of 178 participants from different higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia was conducted. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was employed to identify the most frequently used LLS and to investigate the difference between students’ demographic variables and their use of LLS. The study’s results revealed that the majority of participants fell in the age category between (18-22) years old, were in their 4th year of college, were Saudi nationals, and majored in TESL/TEFL. The findings also showed that participants’ overall use of LLS was average (medium). The study investigated the six LLS among participants and revealed that Metacognitive Strategies were the most frequently used strategies while Affective Strategies were the least frequently used strategies. The results also indicated that there was an overall statistically significant difference in LLS based on participants’ gender. However, the findings found that age, college level, nationality, and major did not have any statistically significant effect on the six LLS.
Welvaart gemeten, verdeeld en verduurzaamd
Authors: Wolfson Dik
Published: January 2017

Measuring sustainable welfare

This paper shows how interactive governance can be helpful in dealing with information asymmetries in the design and administration of public policy. It describes the checks and balances of a properly incentivized mechanism design of contextual or situational contracting that reveals information on diversity in demand for public intervention, deals with complexity, creates commitment to the public cause and disciplines uncooperative behavior. The contractual mode, moreover, discloses the actual trade-offs between rivalling criteria of good governance such as individual freedom, efficiency, distributional concerns and sustainability, deepening our insight in who gets – or pays for – what, when, where, how and why, as the key issues of policy analysis. Evidence from early applications is combined with suggestions for rolling out this new mode of relinking public policy, implementation and external control.
Rechtscultuur en rechtsvervreemding in Nederland
Authors: Mutsaers Paul
Published: January 2017

R&D

Reflection and debate initiates academically inspired discussions on issues that are on the current policy agenda.
Lesmateriaal van de straat: wat Nederland kan leren van The Wire
Authors: Verlaan Tim
Published: January 2017

Book review

In this feature authors review recently published books on subjects of interest to readers of Beleid en Maatschappij.
‘Lekker ding wel, die Depp’
Authors: Engelen Ewald
Published: January 2017

Book review

In this feature authors review recently published books on subjects of interest to readers of Beleid en Maatschappij.
Openheid doorbreekt spiraal van geweld
Authors: Stellingwerff Jolanda
Published: January 2017

Breaking the spiral of violence. The use of ‘Eigen Kracht’-conferences in cases of violence and abuse

In the Netherlands there is a tendency to make use of the methodology of conferencing circles in case of domestic violence and abuse. The 2009 evaluation showed positive results and since then the approach has been improved, giving way to an increase of requests coming from justice (related) authorities. The underlying approach and caveats are discussed, portraying Eigen Kracht-conferences as an adequate means to unravel the complex phenemenon of domestic violence and abuse, calling upon significant others.