bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dinamika Perkembangan Islam Politik di Nusantara: Dari Masa Tradisional Hingga Indonesia Modern
Authors: Armansyah Yudi
Published: January 2018

Historically, Indonesia was once a political force that counts the world. It was marked by the birth of political forces during the Hindu Buddhist kingdom until the Islamic sultanate. Ironically, the final phase of the power of political Islam, began to decline since the arrival of colonialism, especially the Dutch colonization that fundamentally colonized in 350 years. But it does not necessarily discourage Islam Politics grow and flourish in the archipelago. Even since Indonesia became independent until it changed into the period of the three Order Lama regimes, the Order Baru and Islamic political reforms remain the barometer of Indonesia's political power. This article is about to unravel the dynamics of the development of political Islam in Indonesia. Where can be classified into two phases, namely the traditional-royal phase, the modern phase. From the results of this study, there are at least two patterns of development of the political power of Islam in Indonesia, which can survive despite real “pressure” from the ruling that is on the political and cultural fields
PENGALIHFUNGSIAN HARTA WAKAF
Authors: Lendrawati Lendrawati
Published: January 2018

The greatest asset of the Islamic Ummah is actually in a worship activity of economic and social value that is "wakaf". This paper is included in the research of library (literature) with reference to the argument of the Koran, the Hadith of the Prophet's opinion of scholars and regulations (positive law) about the wakaf applicable in Indonesia. The result of the study that the alteration of wakaf land according to Hanafiyah is not permissible because the wakaf is forever and even Syafiiyah is more extreme to prohibit even though the property which is represented has been destroyed still become a waqf and he has belonged to Allah, while Malikiyah and Hanabilah allow if the initial wakaf property can not be utilized or not strategically or inconsistent with the wakaf's wakaf pledge. While Law no. 41 on Waqf in Article 41 paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) are mentioned if the wakaf property that has been represented is used for public purposes in accordance with the general plan of spatial (RUTR) based on the provisions of the prevailing laws and regulations with sharia. Implementation can only be done after obtaining written permission from the Minister upon the approval of the Waqf Board of Indonesia. Wakaf possessions that have been amended because of the provisions of the exemption as intended shall be exchanged for property whose benefits and exchange rates shall be at least equal to the original wakaf property.
Peran Strategis E-resource Perpustakaan Perguruan Tinggi dalam Menunjang Akreditasi Program Studi
Authors: Rodin Rhoni
Published: January 2018

This paper discusses the role of e-resource strategic libraries of universities in supporting the accreditation of study programs. The existence of a library is very influential for the success of the learning process in various levels of education ranging from elementary school to college. A library is a heart of a college. Therefore, the library must provide quality information resources in accordance with the expectations of academic community. One of some resources that has a strategic role in supporting the accreditation of study program is an e-resource. There are various types of e-resources that can be developed by the library of e-journals, e-books, full script databases, index databases, and so forth. All of them have a very strategic position in supporting accreditation of study programs. There is a standard library that will be assessed by the assessor team.
Literasi Informasi Digital : Sebuah Tantangan bagi Pustakawan
Authors: Daryono Daryono
Published: January 2018

Information literacy, in addition to being seen as a set of interpersonal competencies, can also be understood from the standpoint of society and human rights. The creativity of librarians in developing and improving services in the digital age is needed to pay attention. Librarians are able to take an active role in taking part in today's emerging technology era by innovating in services. In this era of technology and digital become the trend with slogan "world in our grip" so that library can no longer only build physical facilities and services which are conventional ones, but they have to be developed according to the development of time. Any intensive communication with users is an attempt to find out how digital information literacy is used and how library information literacy services can be integrated to the digital lifestyle of the users. In the world of librarianship the facts mentioned above are more appropriate if they are viewed in the context of digital information literacy that have been parts of the program in many libraries. However, it is necessary to extend the scope considering that digital phenomena are basically related to the use of media and communal capital in everyday life.
George Johnston’s Tibetan Interlude
Authors: Genoni Paul , Dalziell Tanya
Published: January 2018

In 1945 Australian war correspondent and later novelist George Johnston undertook a journey on the Tibetan Plateau with fellow American correspondent James Burke. Johnston later wrote about this adventure in his memoir Journey Through Tomorrow (1947) as part of a wider account of his travels in Asia during the Second World War. This article considers the Tibetan section of his narrative with a focus on the influence of English novelist James Hilton’s Lost Horizon, with its depiction of a Tibetan utopia in the form of the lamasery of Shangri-La. In doing so the article considers Johnston’s text as an example of the challenge faced by travel writers in negotiating the territory between myth and reality in representing the ‘truth’ of their experience, and as a narrative that avoids the worst of the orientalizing traits of many other travelers’ accounts of Tibet.
Coryat’s India and Trajectories of Cultural Mobility
Authors: Chakraborty Abin
Published: January 2018

Accounts of early European travelers show ample textual evidences of travelers oscillating between the cultural and religious biases and prejudices that obviously conditioned them and a candid sense of wonder and admiration that directly contradicted inherited stereotypes of one kind or another. In the process such travelogues, letters, and observations not only become sites of ambivalence and hybridity but also testify to processes of “cultural mobility” (Greenblatt et al. 2010) and attendant self-fashioning that did not conform to the racial and imperial constructs generated by the “White Man’s Burden” at a later date. This article examines such issues through an analysis of the descriptions and letters of Thomas Coryat, who wandered across Mughal India between 1612 to 1617. What emerges through his accounts is an interstitial perspective that fosters a vision of cultural mobility without the teleological triumphalism often associated with empire and theology.
In the Eyes of Some Britons
Authors: Sakhnini Mohammad
Published: January 2018

This article examines the travel accounts of some eighteenth-century British travelers to Aleppo. It shows how these travelers’ identities were steeped in the world of others—in the entanglement with people from different cultures and religions—with no mention recalled in their diaries that Islam and Muslims were their enemies. As this article shows, these Britons posited Aleppo as a multicultural, multireligious city in which Europeans were not only men of riches and influence but also free to pursue their cultural and religious practices. This article concludes by emphasizing that British enlightenment practices—toleration, improvement, and freedom—were pursued both within European grand cities such as Paris, Edinburgh, and London as well as in Aleppo.
Henry Miller Travels in Greece
Authors: Sotiropoulos Leonidas
Published: January 2018

Through an examination of Henry Miller’s account of his journey to Greece in 1939, as expressed in his travel book The Colossus of Maroussi, this article examines the image of this country his writing presents. Miller’s description of people, places, and environment is infused with a mystical, spiritual element, as if something magical emanates from the cultural environment of this country and tints the landscape and its inhabitants, adding an atemporal dreamlike quality. The group of literati Miller befriended during his five-month stay in Greece viewed Greek art, culture, and history in an archetypal way, which blends well with Miller’s approach. This analysis of the enchanted world Miller claims to have met and experienced during his journey could thus possibly acquire further significance through tentatively relating it to the way contemporary Greeks may experience aspects of their culture and their Greekness.
The Corpus of London
Authors: Chapman David W.
Published: January 2018

Visitors to London are often seeking an imaginary city, one defined through literary depictions and pop culture. To (dis)cover Victorian London requires the visitor to disentangle the corporeal, historical, and mythical manifestations of the city. Thus, the corpus of London is both a literary and a physical space with geographical features, architectural styles, and visual references that sometimes form the viewer’s experience and are sometimes formed by the viewer’s expectations. The corpus of London is not only an experience of recognition but also one that leads inevitably to magnification, distortion, disruption, and even erasure of the cultural artifact.
Prevention of peptic ulcer by aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos leaf in rats
Authors: Rahman Sharmin , Quader Mohammad Rezaul , Khan Md Ismail
Published: January 2018

Background and objectives: Aegle marmelos (Bael), a medicinal plant, has been widely used indigenously to treat many diseases in Bangladesh and other countries. The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of A. marmelos leaf to prevent ethanol induced gastric ulcer in a rat model.Methods: Thirty two Wister albino rats of either sex, weighing between 100-150g, were fed 200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg aqueous extract of A. marmelos leaves one hour prior to oral administration of 90% ethanol (1 ml/200 gm body weight) to induce gastric ulcer. The animals were sacrificed after one hour and ulcer scores and index were determined. The protective efficacy of A. marmelos aqueous extract was expressed as percentage protection of ulcer.Results: Aqueous extract exhibited significant (p<0.05) dose dependent protection against gastric ulcer formation by ethanol in rat stomach. Percentage protection of ulcer with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of aqueous extract of A. marmelos leave were 19.3% and 37.2% respectively compared to standard anti-peptic ulcer drug omeprazole (50.4%).Conclusion: Thus, crude extracts of A. marmelos leave have been shown to have potential ability to prevent experimentally induced peptic ulcer formation in animal model.IMC J Med Sci 2018; 12(1): 11-14
Factors associated with non-response to lactulose therapy in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy
Authors: Ahmed Shireen , Azam Md Golam , Datta Indrajit Kumar , Hoque Md Nazmul , Bhuiyan Tareq M
Published: January 2018

Background and objectives: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) impairs health related quality of life and predicts overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in cirrhotic patients. Lactulose is effective in the treatment of MHE. But the response to lactulose treatment depends on several factors. This study was aimed to find out the contributing factors to non-response to lactulose therapy.Materials and methods: The study was carried out at the BIRDEM general hospital from September, 2013 to March, 2015. Sixty patients were enrolled to assess the response of lactulose therapy in cirrhotic patients with MHE. MHE was diagnosed based on abnormal psychometric tests namely, number connection test (NCT), digit symbol test (DST) and high serum ammonia level. A daily dose of 30-60 ml of lactulose was given to all patients for one month. The response to treatment with regard to MHE was determined after one month using defined criteria. The response was graded as responder and non-responder.Results: The mean age of the study population was 57.0±10.3 years. Out of 60 cases, 46 (77%) were male and 39 (65%) had diabetes. Out of 60 enrolled MHE cases, 16 (27%) had Child-Turcotte-Pugh-A (CTP-A) score and 44 (73%) belonged to CTP-B & C category. Out of 60 MHE cases, 23 (38.3%) showed improvement in their MHE status based on normalization of psychometric tests and reduction of serum ammonia level to ≤32 μmol/L. Age, gender and diabetes were not associated with the response to lactulose therapy. Low baseline arterial pressure was significantly (p=0.003) associated with non-response to lactulose treatment. The mean baseline ammonia level was higher significantly among the nonresponders compared to the responders (83.6±21.4 μmol/L vs 58.8±19.8 μmol/L, p<0.001). Compared to responders, low serum sodium and potassium and raised serum bilirubin levels of non-responders at baseline were found significantly (p<0.05) associated with non-response to one month of lactulose treatment. Initial hemoglobulin, peripheral leucocyte and platelet counts did not have any effect on the response to lactulose treatment in MHE cases.Conclusions: The status of MHE in patients with cirrhosis improved by one-month treatment with lactulose. Baseline low arterial pressure, hyperammonemia, hypokalemia and hyponatremia were major contributors to non-response to lactulose therapy. The findings of the study would be useful in treating patients of cirrhosis with MHE.IMC J Med Sci 2018; 12(1): 15-21
Chikungunya virus and dengue virus coinfection: a case report from Bangladesh
Authors: Rahim Muhammad Abdur , Zaman Shahana , Afroze Samira Rahat , Haque Hasna Fahmima , Afroz Farhana , Samad Tabassum , Uddin Khwaja Nazim
Published: January 2018

A case of concurrent chikungunya virus and dengue virus infection is reported here. The patient presented with fever and generalized body ache. Diagnostic work-up revealed chikungunya-dengue co-infection. Dengue is endemic in Bangladesh while chikungunya is a recently emerging infection. As both the viruses are transmitted by a common vector, Aedes spp., such co-infections are likely to increase in coming years.IMC J Med Sci 2018; 12(1): 42-43
PREDICTION OF BEHAVIOUR OF PRESTRESSED SUSPENSION BRIDGE
WITH TIMBER DECK PANELS
Authors: Goremikins Vadims , Serdjuks Dmitrijs , Buka-Vaivade Karina , Pakrastins Leonids , Vatin Nikolai
Published: January 2018

Cable truss usage allows developing bridges with reduced requirements for girder stiffness, where overall
bridge rigidity is ensured by prestressing of the stabilization cable. The advantages of prestressed suspension trusses to
provide required stiffness without massive stiffness girders and the ability of cross-laminated timber to behave in both
directions are combined in the analysed structure. Prestressed cable truss with coincident (unclear meaning, difficult to
translate) in the centre point of the span main and stabilization cables and vertical suspenders only was considered as
the main load carrying system in the considered structure of suspension bridge. Two numerical models evaluated influence
of cross-laminated timber deck on the behaviour of prestressed cable truss. Two physical models of the structure
with the span equal to 2 m were developed for verification of the numerical models. The first physical model was developed
for the case, when panels of the deck are placed without clearances and behaving in the longitudinal direction in
compression so as in the transversal direction in bending. The second physical model was developed for the case when
panels of the deck are placed with clearances and are behaving in the transverse direction in bending only. The dependences
of maximum vertical displacements and horizontal support reaction of the cable truss on the intensity of vertical
load in cases of symmetric and unsymmetrical loading were obtained for both physical models. Possibility to decrease
the cable truss materials consumption by 17% by taking into accountcombined work of prestressed cable trusses and
cross-laminated timber panels was stated.
VOLUNTARY RISK TAKING BY YOUNG BICYCLISTS: A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AT MONTREAL
Authors: Amin Shohel Reza
Published: January 2018

Young bicyclists in Montreal are taking voluntary risks such as bicycling without wearing helmet and braking system of bicycle although they are aware of the presence of danger. This article analyses the behaviour of young bicyclists taking voluntary risks. The university students in Montreal are considered as the case study since they are more risk takers and the bicycle is a favorite mode of transport among them. This study reveals that half of the respondents did not use helmets. They were also spontaneously taking a risk by high speeding, violating signals, bicycling in mixed traffic, ignoring protective equipment after dark, and avoiding the bicycle designated roads. They were taking voluntary risks based on their attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control. They did not perceive the severity of risks since they experienced prelevant and unremarkable minor injuries. The attractiveness of risk and accomplishing the risk activities encouraged the young bicyclists to take voluntary risks repeatedly. Increasing feelings of vulnerability among young bicyclists reduce voluntary risks taking attitude and physical and psychological sufferings of the victims of bicycle-related accidents. Findings of this study suggest that the City of Montreal as well as other cities consider the behaviour of bicyclists particularly the young people to avoid bicycle-related accidents along with other physical measures.
REMEDIAL WORKS AND REPAIRS OF HISTORICAL BRIDGE IN PRAGUE
Authors: Broukalová Iva , Křístek Vladimír
Published: January 2018

The recent reconstruction of the historical masonry Charles Bridge in Prague was designed with respect
to original conception, materials and ancient construction techniques. The repair and remedial works were based on
analysis of the multi-decade response of the bridge, diagnosis, and assessment of damages, failures and deterioration
processes related to materials, environment, climate, structural arrangement and detailing regarding heritage, historical
and structural aspects. The gentle way of remedial works with minimal intervention in the loadbearing structure is a result
of a wide-range discussion on appropriate strategies for refurbishment, restoration, conservation and preservation
corresponding to location and significance of the historic bridge. The reconstruction increased durability and provides
a long service life of the historical bridge and protection against harmful effects for many years to come. The article outlines
historical data, consequences of the controversial reconstruction in the second half of the last century. Effects of
river flow, temperature, and moisture and their influence on needful repairs are considered. Stages of reconstruction are
presented; in the first stage, strengthening of foundations of bridge piers is described including historical background
and impact of river flow on subgrade of piers. Ways of repairs and reconstruction of the bridge deck, its draining, and
other related bridge elements are shown as a part of the second stage of reconstruction.
Monte Carlo Simulations of Photospheric Emission in Relativistic Outflows
Authors: Bhattacharya Mukul , Lu Wenbin , Kumar Pawan , Santana Rodolfo
Published: January 2018

We study the spectra of photospheric emission from highly relativistic gamma-ray burst outflows using a Monte Carlo code. We consider the Comptonization of photons with a fast-cooled synchrotron spectrum in a relativistic jet with a realistic photon-to-electron number ratio

, using mono-energetic protons that interact with thermalized electrons through Coulomb interaction. The photons, electrons, and protons are cooled adiabatically as the jet expands outward. We find that the initial energy distributions of the protons and electrons do not have any appreciable effect on the photon peak energy

and the power-law spectrum above

. The Coulomb interaction between the electrons and the protons does not affect the output photon spectrum significantly as the energy of the electrons is elevated only marginally.

and the spectral indices for the low- and high-energy power-law tails of the photon spectrum remain practically unchanged even with electron-proton coupling. Increasing the initial optical depth

results in a slightly shallower photon spectrum below

and fewer photons at the high-energy tail, although

above

and up to ∼1 MeV, independent of

. We find that

determines the peak energy and the shape of the output photon spectrum. Finally, we find that our simulation results are quite sensitive to

, for

. For almost all our simulations, we obtain an output photon spectrum with a power-law tail above

extending up to ∼1 MeV.
Using a New Infrared Si x Coronal Emission Line for Discriminating between Magnetohydrodynamic Models of the Solar Corona During the 2006 Solar Eclipse
Authors: Dima Gabriel I. , Kuhn Jeffrey R. , Mickey Don , Downs Cooper
Published: January 2018

During the 2006 March 29 total solar eclipse, coronal spectropolarimetric measurements were obtained over a 6 × 6 R
☉ field of view with a 1–2 μm spectral range. The data yielded linearly polarized measurements of the Fe xiii 1.075 μm, He i 1.083 μm, and for the first time, of the Si x 1.430 μm emission lines. To interpret the measurements, we used forward-integrated synthetic emission from two magnetohydrodynamic models for the same Carrington rotation with different heating functions and magnetic boundary conditions. Observations of the Fe xiii 1.075/Si x 1.430 line ratio allowed us to discriminate between two models of the corona, with the observations strongly favoring the warmer model. The observed polarized amplitudes for the Si x 1.430 μm line are around 7%, which is three times higher than the predicted values from available atomic models for the line. This discrepancy indicates a need for a closer look at some of the model assumptions for the collisional coefficients, as well as new polarized observations of the line to rule out any unknown systematic effect in the present data. All but two near-limb fibers show correlated bright He i 1.083 μm and H i 1.282 μm emission, which likely indicates cool prominence emission that is non-localized by the strongly defocused optics. One of the distant fibers located at 1.5 R
☉ detected a weak He i 1.083 μm intensity signal consistent with previous eclipse measurements around 3 × 10−7

B

☉

. However, given the limitations of these observations, it is not possible to completely remove contamination that is due to emission from prominence material that is not obscured by the lunar limb.
Homologous White Light Solar Flares Driven by Photospheric Shear Motions
Authors: Romano P. , Elmhamdi A. , Falco M. , Costa P. , Kordi A. S. , Al-Trabulsy H. A. , Al-Shammari R. M.
Published: January 2018

We describe the peculiarity of two recurrent white light flares that occurred on 2017 September 06, in the super active region NOAA 12673, with a time interval, between their peaks, of about 3 hr. These events of the X2.2 and X9.3 GOES classes are very important, not only for their high level of emission and for the visible effects on the lower layers of the solar atmosphere, which are discernible as clear white light ribbons, but also for the strong horizontal photospheric motions, which seemed to drive them. In fact, we observed the displacement of a negative umbra located in the main delta spot of the active region for several hours before the flare occurrence. We measured velocities of up to 0.6 km s−1. The strong and persistent shear motion of the photospheric structures, together with the high intensity of the magnetic flux involved in these events, can be considered responsible for the new energy that is continuously supplied to the magnetic system. From the timing of the emissions at different wavelengths, we were able to provide some constraints for the modeling of such events.
Overlaying Human Resources Principles to the Goal
Authors: Galli Brian J.
Published: January 2018

This article analyzes the book The Goal: A process of Ongoing Improvement by E. Goldratt and J. Cox to discuss human resource management implications. The book helped organizations increase profit margins through process management. The book focuses on a manufacturing plant that was unprofitable because of ineffective machines (bottlenecks). However, with the mentorship of a management expert (Jonah), the business turned around to become profitable. The book outlines critical messages to managers while helping break out of the conventional way of thinking and take actions towards success. Goldratt and Cox promote the theory of constraints to improve productivity and profitability in an organization, as will be discussed in this article. Also, there is a critical book analysis and how it relates to HR Management is discussed. The article also addresses the principles applied to make the plant successful as well as the role human resource played in the overall factory management.
The Event Study Method in Logistics Research
Authors: Wood Lincoln C. , Wang Jason X.
Published: January 2018

Logistics researchers often want to understand how particular management changes or external factors influence a firm. While this can be accomplished using operational or survey data, the authors outline an alternative approach using the event study method where inferences are made with the estimated magnitude and direction of abnormal returns. The calculated abnormal returns can be used as a dependent variable in a cross-sectional regression to understand which managerial decisions may affect these outcomes. As the method remains little used by logistics researchers, the authors outline key assumptions and design considerations. They review recent articles and provide suggestions for logistics researchers improve the rigor of their research designs. This article aims to provide an overview of the method for logistics and supply chain researchers with a focus on developing the capability to design an effective study and to evaluate research articles to assess methodological weaknesses that may lead to untrustworthy results.
E-marketing for SMEs
Authors: Baporikar Neeta , Fotolela Rosalia
Published: January 2018

This article describes that though there are few studies conducted on SMEs' life cycle, there are no studies specifically done around the globe with focus on electronic marketing approaches for SMEs. SMEs are flexible, so they can respond quickly to changing marketing requirements. Four approaches explain marketing role in small firms: the stages/growth model, the management style model, the management function model and the contingency model. SMEs face-marketing problems due to limited financial base, market knowledge, branding activities, expertise and over dependence on marketing ability of the owner/manager. They adopt reactive-marketing rather than planned marketing. Therefore, they face difficulties to exploit opportunities available in the market. Thus, the article aims to develop new ways of marketing approaches to every element of the-marketing mix (price, place, product and promotion). Further, as SMEs generally use a “conservative” approach to marketing, the study findings reflect that adopting electronic marketing approach can help them to offer new improved product or innovative use of existing product.
Modelling of Critical Factors for Improving Logistics Performance of India Using Interpretive Structural Modelling
Authors: Jhawar Amrita , Garg S. K.
Published: January 2018

Improving logistics performance is at the essential of policies to strengthen competitiveness and to boost trade integration. The purpose of this article is to identify the factors which will lead to improvement in the logistics performance for a developing country like India, using interpretive structural modelling (ISM). This research presents a framework and the mutual relationships among the factors identified for improving the logistics performance. The identified factors were clustered according to their driving power and dependence power. Investment by government and investment by logistics service providers are the two factors at the bottom level of the hierarchy, implying that developing countries need to focus on high investments for improving logistics performance. Improvement in logistics performance will improve the competitiveness of organizations and higher profits, leading to improvement in foreign direct investment and economic growth in the long run.
Investigating Competitive Advantage in Banking Industry Based on Porter's Generic Strategies
Authors: Abdolshah Mohammad , Moghimi Mostafa , Khatibi Seyed Amirmohammad
Published: January 2018

Main objective of this article is investigating the role of Porter's competitive strategies (differentiation, cost reduction and focus) to increase the competitiveness and eventually gain competitive advantage. This study is a cross-sectional survey that is conducted in 2017. The study population is 221 CEOs (senior managers) in 99 Branches of 4 private banks in IRANs provinces Tehran (Capital of Iran), Qazvin and Isfahan as 3 of the most monetary turnovers. The research tools are a questionnaire containing demographic and specific information. To analyze the data, an SPSS statistical software is used and several statistical tests are used in the testing of the hypothesis and research goals. Finally, the impact of each dimension of the strategy to increase competitiveness is assessed. Also, each dimension is ranked according to influence; respectively differentiation strategy, focus strategy and cost reduction strategies. Considering banks multiplicity and results, special invest on differentiation strategy reaching competitiveness advantages to escape Red-Ocean in this industry is necessary. JEL Classification Codes: M13, G24, G21, F14.
Player-Game Interaction
Authors: Ibrahim Karim
Published: January 2018

This article describes how the literature on game-based foreign language (FL) learning has demonstrated that player-game interactions have a strong potential for FL learning. However, little is known about the fine-grained dynamics of these interactions, or how they could facilitate FL learning. To address this gap, the researcher conducted a pilot case study that examined the dynamics and activities that comprised gameplay in the interactions of 2 learners of Arabic as a foreign language in the simulation-management video game Baalty. Data collected through observations, thinkaloud protocol, gaming journals, gaming walkthroughs, and debriefing interview were analyzed using discourse analysis methods. An ecological approach to FL learning was used as a theoretical framework. Data analysis and interpretation demonstrated that participants interacted with the game to develop their gameplay trajectory, and to this end, they drew on and engaged with in-game FL discourses to inform experiential learning of gameplay.
A Constructivist Approach to Game-Based Language Learning
Authors: York James , deHaan Jonathan William
Published: January 2018

This article provides information on an action research project in a low-level EFL setting in Japan. The project aims were to 1) foster spoken communication skills and 2) help students engage with their own learning. The project investigated the applicability of board games as a mediating tool for authentic communication as part of a wider TBLT approach to language development. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected from 115 first and second year Japanese university students via a questionnaire at the end of a seven-week course using the experimental methodology. Responses to the questionnaire indicated that the framework was perceived to be valuable in both fostering communicative skills and improving student engagement. Methodological improvements were also suggested. Implications applicable to teachers working in similar contexts are discussed, as well as possible improvements for future implementations.
Associations of Subjective Immersion, Immersion Subfactors, and Learning Outcomes in the Revised Game Engagement Model
Authors: Barclay Paul A , Bowers Clint
Published: January 2018

Serious Educational Video Games (SEGs) play a large role in education for both children and adults. However, the budget for SEGs is typically lower than traditional entertainment video games, bringing with it the need to optimize the learning experience. This article looks at the role game immersion plays in improving learning outcomes, using the Revised Game Engagement Model (R-GEM) to determine whether learning outcomes were associated specifically with Immersion itself, or with the various prerequisites to achieving immersion. A sample of 125 undergraduate university students which played an educational video game and were assessed on Immersion, subjective System Usability, Creative Imagination, and learning performance. Immersion and System Usability were shown to be associated with higher learning outcomes, but, after controlling for other factors, it seems that System Usability is only helpful inasmuch as it promotes Immersion. This article concludes that further study is needed to determine whether the same association can be found with different populations and with different types of learning.
Establishing an Educational Game Development Model
Authors: Lui Richard W.C. , Au Cheuk Hang
Published: January 2018

This article describes how different literatures have suggested the positive role of educational games in students' learning, but it can be hard to find an existing game for student learning. Some lecturers may try to develop a game for their courses, but there were not many effective models for educational board game development. The authors have formed a team for developing a game with the purpose of teaching Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in an undergraduate course, and observed the design meetings and the game trial sessions. They have developed a spiral educational game development model based on the observation and the game deliverable, and have provided other suggestions for developing educational games based on the students' and designers' feedback.
How Continuous Improvement Can Support Logistics
Authors: Galli Brian J.
Published: January 2018

This article introduces the basic idea of continuous improvement and its implications regarding logistics. Using a meta-analysis research methodology, the author analyzes the relationship and role that continuous improvement methods can play in the field of logistics. The study finds that the logistics field can benefit from using different forms of continuous improvement. These different methods to implement continuous improvement to logistics along with their pros and cons are discussed. Those methods include Lean, Six Sigma and PDCA cycle, which are explained in detail. Other methods are briefly introduced and reviewed. Some future ideas for further research are discussed in length. Although there are an infinite number of benefits in implementing continuous improvement to logistics, there are various limitations. Thus, this research will also explain each deficiency in depth.
Policy Narratives in Formation of Comprehensive Support System for Parenting and Child Care in Japan
Authors: Takahashi Mutsuko
Published: January 2018

This article aims to analyze the distinctive features of policy narratives by focusing on the formulation of the center of comprehensive support for child-rearing generations in Japan. There have been anticipated effects of the decline in the fertility rate and decreasing population, and the issues surrounding parenting and childcare have been re-discovered as a high priority public policy agenda. In this connection, multi-layered policy narratives have been analyzed with special attention paid to the Finnish system with its consistent support from pregnancy to preschool age. It will discuss how policy narratives have been selective in their focus on specific factors while skipping others when formulating a comprehensive system for parenting and childcare in Japan.
Ideological Construction of Environment and Its Relationship With Japanese Society, Culture, and Politics
Authors: Merviö Mika Markus
Published: January 2018

In this article, the Japanese “ideology” is critically examined and evaluated. While ideology very often is predominantly understood to cover political ideologies that the political parties and other political actors represent the more important ideology that is found in intersubjective practices is formed in everyday life and is rarely identified as ‘ideology' or politics. Japanese conservatism and nationalism are able to flourish under the cover of normalcy which social institutions support. To analyse the “ideology” of Japanese environmental thinking is far from being simple task as there is no orthodox dogma and the opinions of the elites is divided. Environmental thought and research are not particularly popular in contemporary Japan and there are, for instance, examples of universities that have scaled down their environmental studies programs. Instead, we should look to the whole society to see how much importance is given to the environment and how it is done. In fact, Japanese contemporary art and culture often register environmental concerns. However, in politics and administration there is less optimism on those concerns being resolved.
Combinatorics
Authors: Kahn Jeff , Steger Angelika , Sudakov Benjamin
Published: January 2018

Combinatorics is a fundamental mathematical discipline that focuses on the study of discrete objects and their properties. The present workshop featured research in such diverse areas as Extremal, Probabilistic and Algebraic Combinatorics, Graph Theory, Discrete Geometry, Combinatorial Optimization, Theory of Computation and Statistical Mechanics. It provided current accounts of exciting developments and challenges in these fields and a stimulating venue for a variety of fruitful interactions. This is a report on the meeting, containing abstracts of the presentations and a summary of the problem session.
Mini-Workshop: Perspectives in High-Dimensional Probability and Convexity
Authors: Prochno Joscha , Thäle Christoph , Werner Elisabeth
Published: January 2018

Understanding the geometric structure of systems involving a huge amount of parameters is a central problem in mathematics and applied sciences today. Here, geometric and analytical ideas meet in a non-trivial way and powerful probabilistic tools play a key role in many discoveries. Two essentially independent areas of mathematics concerned with high-dimensional problems are asymptotic geometric analysis and information-based complexity. In this Mini-Workshop we brought together researchers from both fields to explore the connections and form synergies to develop new perspectives.
Mathematics of Quantitative Finance
Authors: Friz Peter K. , Jacquier Antoine , Teichmann Josef
Published: January 2018

The workshop on Mathematics of Quantitative Finance, organised at the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach from 26 February to 4 March 2017, focused on cutting edge areas of mathematical finance, with an emphasis on the applicability of the new techniques and models presented by the participants.
Real Algebraic Geometry With a View Toward Moment Problems and Optimization
Authors: Henrion Didier , Infusino Maria , Kuhlmann Salma , Vinnikov Victor
Published: January 2018

Continuing the tradition initiated inMFO workshop held in 2014, the aim of this workshop was to foster the interaction between real algebraic geometry, operator theory, optimization, and algorithms for systems control. A particular emphasis was given to moment problems through an interesting dialogue between researchers working on these problems in finite and infinite dimensional settings, from which emerged new challenges and interdisciplinary applications.
Space-time Methods for Time-dependent Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Nochetto Ricardo H. , Sauter Stefan A. , Wieners Christian
Published: January 2018

Modern discretizations of time-dependent PDEs consider the full problem in the space-time cylinder and aim to overcome limitations of classical approaches such as the method of lines (first discretize in space and then solve the resulting ODE) and the Rothe method (first discretize in time and then solve the PDE). A main advantage of a holistic space-time method is the direct access to space-time adaptivity and to the backward problem (required for the dual problem in optimization or error control). Moreover, this allows for parallel solution strategies simultaneously in time and space.

Several space-time concepts where proposed (different conforming and nonconforming space-time finite elements, the parareal method, wavefront relaxation etc.) but this topic has become a rapidly growing field in numerical analysis and scientific computing. In this workshop the focus is the development of adaptive and flexible
space-time discretization methods
for solving parabolic and hyperbolic space-time partial differential equations.
Statistical Recovery of Discrete, Geometric and Invariant Structures
Authors: Bühlmann Peter , Munk Axel , Wainwright Martin , Yu Bin
Published: January 2018

The main objective of the workshop was to bring together researchers in mathematical statistics and related areas in order to discuss recent advances and problems associated with statistical recovery of geometric and invariant structures. Topics include adaptive estimation, confidence sets and testing techniques, as well as statistical algorithms for geometrical structure recovery and data analysis.
Multiscale and High-Dimensional Problems
Authors: Cohen Albert , Dahmen Wolfgang , DeVore Ronald A. , Kunoth Angela
Published: January 2018

High-dimensional problems appear naturally in various scientific areas. Two primary examples are PDEs describing complex processes in computational chemistry and physics, and stochastic/ parameter-dependent PDEs arising in uncertainty quantification and optimal control. Other highly visible examples are big data analysis including regression and classification which typically encounters high-dimensional data as input and/or output. High dimensional problems cannot be solved by traditional numerical techniques, because of the so-called curse of dimensionality. Rather, they require the development of novel theoretical and computational approaches to make them tractable and to capture fine resolutions and relevant features. Paradoxically, increasing computational power may even serve to heighten this demand, since the wealth of new computational data itself becomes a major obstruction. Extracting essential information from complex structures and developing rigorous models to quantify the quality of information in a high dimensional setting constitute challenging tasks from both theoretical and numerical perspective.

The last decade has seen the emergence of several new computational methodologies which address the obstacles to solving high dimensional problems. These include adaptive methods based on mesh refinement or sparsity, random forests, model reduction, compressed sensing, sparse grid and hyperbolic wavelet approximations, and various new tensor structures. Their common features are the nonlinearity of the solution method that prioritize variables and separate solution characteristics living on different scales. These methods have already drastically advanced the frontiers of computability for certain problem classes.

This workshop proposed to deepen the understanding of the underlying mathematical concepts that drive this new evolution of computational methods and to promote the exchange of ideas emerging in various disciplines about how to treat multiscale and high-dimensional problems.
Mini-Workshop: Adaptive Methods for Control Problems Constrained by Time-Dependent PDEs
Authors: Gunzburger Max , Kunisch Karl , Kunoth Angela
Published: January 2018

Optimization problems constrained by time-dependent PDEs (Partial Differential Equations) are challenging from a computational point of view: even in the simplest case, one needs to solve a system of PDEs coupled
globally
in time and space for the unknown solutions (the
state
, the
costate
and the
control
of the system). Typical and practically relevant examples are the control of nonlinear heat equations as they appear in laser hardening or the thermic control of flow problems (Boussinesq equations). Specifically for PDEs with a
long time horizon
, conventional time-stepping methods require an enormous storage of the respective other variables. In contrast,
adaptive methods
aim at distributing the available degrees of freedom in an a-posteriori-fashion to capture singularities and are, therefore, most promising.
Cryptography
Authors: Buchmann Johannes A. , Goldwasser Shafi
Published: January 2018

The Oberwolfach workshop Cryptography brought together scientists from cryptography with mathematicians specializing in the algorithmic problems underlying cryptographic security. The goal of the workshop was to stimulate interaction and collaboration that enables a holistic approach to designing cryptography from the mathematical foundations to practical applications. The workshop addressed fundamental research results leading to innovative cryptography for protecting security and privacy.
Emerging Developments in Interfaces and Free Boundaries
Authors: Elliott Charles M. , Giga Yoshikazu , Hinze Michael , Styles Vanessa
Published: January 2018

The field of the mathematical and numerical analysis of systems of nonlinear partial differential equations involving interfaces and free boundaries is a well established and flourishing area of research. This workshop focused on recent developments and emerging new themes. By bringing together experts in these fields we achieved progress in open questions and developed novel research directions in mathematics related to interfaces and free boundaries. This interdisciplinary workshop brought together researchers from distinct mathematical fields such as analysis, computation, optimisation and modelling to discuss emerging challenges.
Applications of Optimal Transportation in the Natural Sciences
Authors: Benamou Jean-David , Ehrlacher Virginie , Matthes Daniel
Published: January 2018

The aim of this workshop was to gather a mixed group of experts and young researchers from different areas of applied mathematics in which optimal transport plays a central role. Applications in one of the classical areas of natural sciences, like physics, chemistry and (mathematical) biology were the main focus of the workshop.
Mini-Workshop: Cluster Expansions: From Combinatorics to Analysis through Probability
Authors: Fernández Roberto , Jansen Sabine C. , Tsagkarogiannis Dimitrios
Published: January 2018

The workshop addressed the interplay between theory and applications of cluster expansions. These expansions, historically geared towards the study of systems in statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and physical chemistry, have recently found applications in different areas of current mathematical research, such as point processes, random graphs, coloring issues, logics and inverse problems in numerical analysis. The workshop developed both directions of the theory–application interplay. On the one hand, speakers presented advances in the theoretical foundations of the abstract polymer model and improved tree-graph inequalities, and explored their consequences for the theory of liquids and other applied issues. On the other hand, researchers in stochastic modelisation exposed needs and challenges brought by concrete models of liquids and liquid crystal to the theory of cluster expansions. In addition other complementary methods were discussed, such as disagrement percolation – an expansion-free approach to uniqueness and decay of correlations – and lace expansions – an expansion technique popular for its applications to random walks and percolation problems.