bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aristote et les concepts psychanalytiques de « l'effet après coup » et de la répétition
Authors: Dimitriadis Yorgos
Published: August 2012

Freud a été influencé par la pensée d’Aristote, et Lacan, encore plus. Dans cet article les concepts fondamentaux de « l’effet après coup », de la « répétition » et quelques autres sont examinés dans leur rapport avec la théorie aristotélicienne de la causalité ; les avancées récentes des neurosciences sur la mémoire plaident aussi en faveur de la causalité non-linéaire que la théorie psychanalytique soutient d’un autre point de vue. Aristote faisait déjà une place à ce type de causalité avec ses concepts d’automatisme et de fortune. Ainsi la psychanalyse et Aristote se trouvent-ils actuellement au centre de la problématique de la science.
Médée, une lecture de la haine à la lumière de la clinique mère-enfant
Authors: Vogiatzoglou Kyveli
Published: August 2012

Il s’agit dans cet article d’une lecture de la tragédie Médée à la lumière de la clinique mère-enfant. Médée illustre le dédoublement entre la position maternelle et féminine, présente le point extrême de ce que la maternité peut avoir de hors-loi et déconstruit le mythe de la maternité heureuse. Pour se venger de Jason et le châtrer, Médée tue ses enfants qui sont réduits à un statut de pur objet réel. Nous interrogeons les situations cliniques où l’on peut voir cette instrumentalisation de l’enfant et un mouvement de désubjectivation qui permet la violence et où l’enfant est l’objet d’une haine dont il n’est pas le vrai destinataire. L’enfant est méconnu dans sa réalité de sujet au profit de la représentation que la mère s’en fait.
Le regard médusé
Authors: Pardo Éléonore
Published: August 2012

En 1922, Freud cherche au travers de la tête de Méduse ce qu’il en est du féminin. Selon lui, la décapitation de la Gorgone équivaudrait à la castration. C’est à partir du mythe que dans l’article présent sont interrogées les interprétations freudiennes et lacaniennes. Car, à suivre Lacan, l’angoisse de castration suscitée par la tête de Méduse s’appréhende grâce à cet objet pulsionnel qu’est le regard. Aussi, Méduse pourrait venir figurer l’ensemble des pulsions partielles en tant qu’image qui noue ce pulsionnel.
Civilisation dans la psychanalyse ?
Authors: Cléopas Iacovos
Published: August 2012

L’auteur propose une discussion à propos de la relation entre la psychanalyse et la civilisation. On distingue deux principaux types d’approches, selon lesquels : la psychanalyse interprète le mode de constitution d’une civilisation, et, la civilisation est examinée comme une interprétation du psychisme. C'est-à-dire comme un facteur constituant du fonctionnement psychique, voire même de la psychanalyse, en tant qu’issue d’une évolution culturelle. À la base de ces considérations, on retrouve la conception d’une approche analogique entre la culture intra-subjective et la culture collective (ce qui advient chez l’un, l’est aussi par analogie chez l’autre). La considération de la psychanalyse, de sa méthode ou de son objet et de la civilisation, en une relation analogique n’est ni évidente ni pertinente si nous ne connaissons pas ce qui la rend éventuellement effective. Directement liée est la question à propos de laquelle nous proposons la discussion. La psychanalyse, qui est une relation et une praxis cliniques, constitue-t-elle une source de civilisation ? La civilisation, une source de malaise selon Freud, et spécialement la civilisation contemporaine, pourrait-elle être la source, un lieu de développement de la pensée psychanalytique ? En psychanalyse, ce qui peut être source de civilisation, l’est avant tout dans le vécu transférentiel. De même ce serait la création d’un champ transitionnel entre le psychisme et la civilisation qui pourrait permettre l’émergence de nouveaux modes d’organisation et d’évolution d’une civilisation.
Acte et Anankè
Authors: Kousouri Marina
Published: August 2012

Il s’agit dans cette brève étude de comprendre en quoi la tragédie et la psychanalyse répondent à un même besoin. Le héros tragique, confronté à un choix absolu, est contraint de passer à l’acte, mais demeure libre du chemin qu’il emprunte. C’est pourquoi la tragédie, loin d’être une spécificité grecque, est profondément contemporaine. En ce sens la psychanalyse chez Freud s’inscrit dans une logique identique à celle de la tragédie grecque : comprendre le jeu de l’Acte et de l’Anankè.
Quand Zeus joue aux dés il gagne toujours
Authors: Christaki Angélique
Published: August 2012

Ce texte est un conte psychanalytique qui relate les origines grecques de la psychanalyse à partir d’un malentendu. Ce malentendu peut être persistant, étant donné que, quand nous nous référons aux origines grecques, nous pouvons déjà nous demander de quelles origines il s’agit : d’Athènes, de Sparte, d’Épire, de Thèbes ? Origines archaïques, classiques, hellénistiques, etc. ? À partir d’un malentendu fondateur (le barbarophono ), nous proposons de suivre une vérité menteuse qui invente l’altérité à partir de l’origine barbare du citoyen athénien de l’époque classique.
La femme du démon comme figure du pousse-à-la-femme : À propos de l'Antichrist de Lars von Trier
Authors: Pinto Tereza
Published: August 2012

Cet article fait une brève analyse du film intitulé Antichrist, réalisé par Lars von Trier et présenté au Festival de Cannes en 2009. Plus précisément, nous nous penchons sur le parcours du personnage de Charlotte Gainsbourg car, tel qu’il est construit, il illustre clairement le déclenchement de la psychose et l’identification issue d’idées délirantes concernant la nature féminine chez ce personnage. Nous nous servons ainsi de la notion de pousse-à-la-femme développée par Lacan dans les années 1970.
Religion du souverain, souverain de la religion : l'invention de saint Napoléon
Authors: Petit Vincent
Published: August 2012

Résumé Après la conclusion du Concordat et l’établissement de l’Empire, la date de la fête nationale est fixée au 15 août, jour anniversaire de la naissance de l’Empereur et fête de l’Assomption. À la demande des autorités françaises, la papauté invente même un saint de toutes pièces, qu’elle inscrit dans le calendrier liturgique et qu’elle dote d’un office que doit réciter l’ensemble du clergé en y associant les fidèles. La création de cette dévotion, fondée sur le nom même du souverain régnant, illustre de manière presque caricaturale la mobilisation de la religion au service de l’État, jusque dans ce qu’elle a de plus sacré, la prière. C’est que, contrairement à la place qu’elle occupait sous l’Ancien Régime, la religion n’est plus à l’origine de la souveraineté – ce qui d’ailleurs justifiait l’intervention de la puissance publique : elle n’en constitue plus qu’un attribut. La dévotion à saint Napoléon ne parvient pas à survivre à l’Empire : plus que le mauvais vouloir d’une partie de l’Église, soucieuse de se dissocier théologiquement de l’État, il faut plutôt invoquer la mutation, sous l’effet d’un double processus de sécularisation et de politisation, de la figure traditionnelle du saint en mythe politique.
Du SER au DEP, ou la constitution d'une socio-économie de la culture et d'une prospective culturelle au service de l'action (1959-1993)
Authors: Martin Laurent
Published: August 2012

Résumé L’article étudie le fonctionnement et le rôle d’un service relativement méconnu du ministère des Affaires culturelles fondé par André Malraux, le service des Études et Recherches, ancêtre de l’actuel département des Études, de la Prospective et des Statistiques du ministère de la Culture et de la Communication. Émanation du Commissariat général au Plan, le ser , sous l’impulsion de son fondateur et directeur jusqu’au début des années 1990, Augustin Girard, a été la « tête chercheuse » de la jeune administration en charge de la politique culturelle, proposant une expertise basée sur les sciences sociales pour dresser un état des besoins en équipements culturels, aider à la décision et diffuser l’information en matière de politique publique de la culture.
From Cherry Picking to Convergence – Migrating E-Learning Delivery to an LMS (Learning Management System) – the COLeLIO Experience
Authors: Kwan Angela
Published: August 2012

The Commonwealth of Learning e-learning for International Organizations (COLeLIO) (www.col.org/colelio) Initiative engages appropriate technology to custom design and deliver just-in-time (JIT) workplace e-learning for adult learners based in field offices and headquarters of international organizations spread all over the world. To ensure reliable and easy access to learning, COLeLIO chooses appropriate technologies to underpin course design, development and delivery taking into consideration bandwidth and access issues. Responding to constantly changing learning environments and learners' needs, eLIO learning materials have evolved from print to digital over the last decade. In recent years, eLIO saw the need to streamline the delivery operation for their 1,000 learners annually, involving 40 tutors and teams of course administrators. Recognizing that the conduits supporting online learning have mushroomed in recent years and that more affordable and robust open source learning management platforms are available to support and sustain online learning for transparency, accountability and quality results, COLeLIO spent 12 months searching for and adapting a technology solution to create a one-stop access to resources, support, discussions, and records for learners, tutors and administrators. This paper captures the story of change management by eLIO and shares some key lessons learned.
Choosing a Virtual World Platform for Teaching: "VICERO" – A Scoring Model Aiding the Right Choice
Authors: Erenli Kai
Published: August 2012

When asking which Virtual World to use for educational purposes, people most often want to hear a one- sentence answer. Frequently the question leads to a discussion that can be compared to a debate about religion: you cannot be too sure which side you will choose but you are easily doomed from the beginning if you pick the wrong side (or in this case, platform). To help educators pick the right Virtual World platform we have developed a Scoring Model and Criteria Catalogue which support choosing the most suitable platform for teaching purposes. Educators can use the Scoring Model to rate the criteria based on their respective demand. The Scoring Model will then suggest a Virtual World platform from a â??long listâ? and instruct the educator how to install/use/maintain the platform. Thus educators will not be left alone with their choice and will get a motivational hint where to start and where to seek support. The â??long listâ? is monitored and updated regularly so that selections are always up-to-date.
Using Communities of Practice for the Learning of Students with Poor Vision
Authors: Takimoto Tatiana
Published: August 2012

The Graduate Program in Engineering and Knowledge Management, at Federal University of Santa Catarina, with the support from CAPES PROESP, developed a project which focus is the development of an adaptable and accessible web environment for teaching the discipline of Descriptive Geometry - WebGD. This article presents the parameters needed for social and educational inclusion of students with vision impairment and it is based on a strategy to encourage participation and interaction on communities of practice. A review of literature on distance education, situated cognition and Communities of Practice was held, concepts that support the project WebGD, and a literature review of low vision â?? vision impairment. At the end requirements needed to develop the next steps for the WebGD project are presented.
Training Virtually Virtual
Authors: Malmsköld Lennart , Örtengren Roland , Svensson Lars
Published: August 2012

This paper reports from a longitudinal study of a Swedish manufacturer in the automotive industry, where a series of studies have explored the potential and limitations of computer-based training of assembly operators. The study is focusing on two supplementing sets of target variables â?? operatorsâ?? attitudes and the quality output from operators in real production. Starting with small-scale studies where proof-of-concept for virtual training is established, the research moves on to comparative studies where different computer-based learning models are contrasted and evaluated. The research design ends with large-scale field experiments assessing the effects of computer-based training in terms of quality output. The results clearly demonstrate that computer-based training, when integrated with training of standardized work procedures, outperforms traditional methods for operator training, regardless of the content and the context of the assembly operation. The findings of the study are synthesized into a design framework for virtual training where cognitive and craftsmanship training is contrasted to the learning of product, process, sequence and finesse of assembly.
E-Learning as a Core Component of the Instructional Design Profession
Authors: Martinez Tome Raymond , Cummins Paula , Savenye Wilhelmina , Shewell Justin
Published: August 2012

Periodic assessment and evaluation is an important part of any successful program. This paper presents the findings of a needs assessment which examined the influence of e-learning and technical skill development in the area of educational technology with specific attention paid to the field of instructional design. A three-phase mixed methods approach was employed to carryout this assessment. Findings indicate that there is a strong perception among the participants that e-learning is a core component of the instructional design profession. The results of the study give a clear indication that e-learning is a significant influence on current instructional design operations. Therefore, it is necessary for students to acquire the skills required to successfully operate these programs. Recommendations were developed that can allow programs to be more responsive to current trends impacting the profession.
Waste Rice Seed in Conventional and Stripper-Head Harvested Fields in California: Implications for Wintering Waterfowl
Authors: Fleskes Joseph P. , Halstead Brian J. , Casazza Michael L. , Coates Peter S. , Kohl Jeffrey D. , Skalos Daniel A.
Published: August 2012

Waste rice seed is an important food for wintering waterfowl and current estimates of its availability are needed to determine the carrying capacity of rice fields and guide habitat conservation. We used a line-intercept method to estimate mass-density of rice seed remaining after harvest during 2010 in the Sacramento Valley (SACV) of California and compared results with estimates from previous studies in the SACV and Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). Posterior mean (95% credible interval) estimates of total waste rice seed mass-density for the SACV in 2010 were 388 (336–449) kg/ha in conventionally harvested fields and 245 (198–307) kg/ha in stripper-head harvested fields; the 2010 mass-density is nearly identical to the mid-1980s estimate for conventionally harvested fields but 36% lower than the mid-1990s estimate for stripped fields. About 18% of SACV fields were stripper-head harvested in 2010 vs. 9–15% in the mid-1990s and 0% in the mid-1980s; but due to a 50% increase in planted rice area, total mass of waste rice seed in SACV remaining after harvest in 2010 was 43% greater than in the mid-1980s. However, total mass of seed-eating waterfowl also increased 82%, and the ratio of waste rice seed to seed-eating waterfowl mass was 21% smaller in 2010 than in the mid-1980s. Mass-densities of waste rice remaining after harvest in SACV fields are within the range reported for MAV fields. However, because there is a lag between harvest and waterfowl use in the MAV but not in the SACV, seed loss is greater in the MAV and estimated waste seed mass-density available to wintering waterfowl in SACV fields is about 5–30 times recent MAV estimates. Waste rice seed remains an abundant food source for waterfowl wintering in the SACV, but increased use of stripper-head harvesters would reduce this food. To provide accurate data on carrying capacities of rice fields necessary for conservation planning, trends in planted rice area, harvest method, and postharvest field treatment should be tracked and impacts of postharvest field treatment and other farming practices on waste rice seed availability should be investigated.
Evaluation of Information Strategy Implementation
Authors: Bentley Yongmei , Clarke Steve
Published: August 2012

Information strategy is often relegated to an information technology element of corporate strategy, or worse, ignored in favour of IT operational planning. This research, conducted over a five-year period, stresses the correct framing of an information strategy and its implementation. The authors propose a framework that assists in the evaluation of such strategies, primarily those at higher education institutions, but also in a wider range of organisations seeking to improve the understanding and implementation of their information strategy.
In or Out
Authors: Wang Yinglei , Meister Darren , Gray Peter H.
Published: August 2012

The way individuals use internal and external knowledge sources influences organizational knowledge integration, an important source of competitive advantage. Drawing on research into knowledge sourcing and consumer switching behavior, the authors develop an integrated model to understand individuals’ choices between internal and external knowledge sources in contemporary work settings, where information technology has made both easily accessible. A test of the model using survey data collected from an international consulting firm yields an important new insight: satisfied individuals in knowledge reuse friendly environments are likely to use internal knowledge sources while they may also be tempted by easily accessible external knowledge sources. The implications for researchers and practitioners are also discussed.
Expert and Novice End-User Spreadsheet Debugging
Authors: Bishop Brian , McDaid Kevin
Published: August 2012

The reliability of end-user developed spreadsheets is poor. Research studies find that 94% of ‘real-world’ spreadsheets contain errors. Although some research has been conducted in the area of spreadsheet testing, little is known about the behaviour or processes of individuals during the debugging task. In this paper, the authors investigate the performance and behaviour of expert and novice end-users in the debugging of an experimental spreadsheet. To achieve this aim, a spreadsheet debugging experiment was conducted, with professional and student participants requested to debug a spreadsheet seeded with errors. The work utilises a novel approach for acquiring experimental data through the unobtrusive recording of participants’ actions using a custom built VBA tool. Based on findings from the experiment, a debugging tool is developed, and its effects on debugging performance are investigated.
A Social Capital Perspective on IT Professionals’ Work Behavior and Attitude
Authors: Zhang Lixuan , Jones Mary C.
Published: August 2012

Attracting and retaining information technology (IT) professionals is a current concern for companies. Although research has been conducted about the job behavior and attitudes of IT professionals over the past three decades, little research has explored the effect of IT professionals’ social capital. The primary research question that this study addresses is how social capital affects IT professionals’ work attitude and behavior, including job satisfaction and job performance. Data were collected from 128 IT professionals from a range of jobs, organizations and industries. Results indicate that the strength of the ties an IT professional has in his or her organization is positively related to job satisfaction. The number of ties that an IT professional has outside the organization is also positively related to job performance. Several implications for research and practice are offered based on these findings.
Antecedents of Improvisation in IT-Enabled Engineering Work
Authors: Doll William J. , Deng Xiaodong
Published: August 2012

The success of engineering work depends on the ability of individuals to improvise in response to emerging challenges and opportunities (Kappel & Rubenstein, 1999). Building on experiential learning theory (Eisenhardt & Tabrizi 1995; Kolb, 1984) and improvisation theory (Miner, Bassoff, & Moorman, 2001), this authors argue that information systems facilitate the generation of new product and process design ideas by providing richer feedback, creating shorter learning cycles, and enabling engineers to try a variety of new ideas more easily. An empirical research model of the antecedents of improvisation in IT-enabled engineering work is proposed. This model is examined using a sample of 208 individuals engaged in computer-intensive engineering design work. The multiple regression results suggest that software capability, autonomy, problem solving/decision support usage, system use for work planning, and length of use explain the extent of new product and process ideas that are generated. The practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
The Role of Computer Attitudes in Enhancing Computer Competence in Training
Authors: Downey James P. , Smith Lloyd A.
Published: August 2012

Computer competence is poorly conceptualized and inconsistently measured. This study clarifies computer competence and examines its relationship with anxiety, affect, and pessimism, along with self-efficacy and previous experience. Using a survey of 610 end users, the strengths of anxiety, affect (positive), pessimism, self-efficacy, and previous experience were compared for nine different competency measures in seven different domains, including word processing, email applications, spreadsheets, graphic programs, databases, web design, and overall computing. Results suggest that for most domains, affect and anxiety are significant predictors, as are self-efficacy and previous experience, but pessimism is not. In addition, competence in a domain was found to mediate the relationship between competence and its antecedents. These results suggest that organizations focus not only on skills training, but on ways to enhance computing attitudes during the training process.
Development of a Mesh Generation Code with a Graphical Front-End
Authors: Carver Jeffrey
Published: August 2012

Scientists and engineers are increasingly developing software to enable them to do their work. A number of characteristics differentiate the software development environment in which a scientist or engineer works from the development environment in which a more traditional business/IT software developer works. This paper describes a case study, specifically about the development of a mesh-generation code. The goal of this case study was to understand the process for developing the code and identify some lessons learned that can be of use to other similar teams. Specifically, the paper reports on lessons learned concerning: requirements evolution, programming language choice, methods of communication among teammates, and code structure.
An Analysis of Process Characteristics for Developing Scientific Software
Authors: Kelly Diane
Published: August 2012

The development of scientific software is usually carried out by a scientist who has little professional training as a software developer. Concerns exist that such development produces low-quality products, leading to low-quality science. These concerns have led to recommendations and the imposition of software engineering development processes and standards on the scientists. This paper utilizes different frameworks to investigate and map characteristics of the scientific software development environment to the assumptions made in plan-driven software development methods and agile software development methods. This mapping exposes a mismatch between the needs and goals of scientific software development and the assumptions and goals of well-known software engineering development processes.
Community of Philosophical Inquiry Online and Off
Authors: Kennedy David , Kennedy Nadia S.
Published: August 2012

This chapter addresses, in psychohistorical, philosophical, and educational terms, the emergence of and prospects for the practice of a specific form of philosophical pedagogy in an online environment. It explores a form of structured group dialogue known as “community of philosophical inquiry,” a communal critical thinking discourse that reflects the ongoing transformation of the contemporary information environment into a hybrid zone which combines the literate, the oral, and the imagistic. After a description and analysis of the structure and process of CPI as a complex system, a discussion of the distinctive pedagogical role of a CPI facilitator, and a genealogical look at the post modern information environment, the chapter explores how this “ideal speech situation,” which is also a hybrid, is challenged or enhanced through its insertion into the post modern information environment, and how it satisfies the conditions for the communicative ideal of social democracy.
From Distance Education to Communities of Inquiry
Authors: Tolu Aylin Tekiner , Evans Linda Shuford
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this chapter is to explain the role and place of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework within the history of distance education. The review of the history reveals two important factors for changes in distance education: the effect of leading learning theories of each era and technological advancements. Distance education has moved from a behavioristic, teacher–centered, correspondence study concept, first to an independent learning model, and then to the current student-centered, socio-constructivist and community-based online learning. In this latest era, the post-modernist age, the CoI framework provides online instructors with a functional framework for designing and teaching their courses more effectively. A review of literature as shared in this chapter has also shown CoI to be a robust framework for research.
Redesigning Teaching Presence in Order to Enhance Cognitive Presence
Authors: Rienties Bart , Giesbers Bas , Tempelaar Dirk , Lygo-Baker Simon
Published: August 2012

Recent findings from research into the Community of Inquiry theoretical framework indicate that teaching presence may encourage critical inquiry, integration of argumentation, and resolution of a task. Using quasi-experimental research, this chapter examines the impact of a redesign of a CMC environment, which by increased instructional design and organisation provided a more explicit scaffolding of the learning phases for learners. It was hypothesised that learners in a redesigned Optima environment would reach higher levels of cognitive presence due to clearer scaffolding. By comparing 4000 contributions to discourse using two content analyses schemes in a longitudinal perspective, the research results reveal that Optima participants contributed less to cognitive presence from the beginning of the course onwards, in particular to integration of argumentation. The main conclusion from this study is that getting the balance of teaching presence right to facilitate learners in the integration and resolution phase is a delicate and complex issue.
An Online Resource to Foster Cognitive Presence
Authors: Archibald Douglas
Published: August 2012

This chapter extends the body of research surrounding the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework and the literature on developing critical thinking in online environments. The findings from a recent multiple site study are discussed. The purpose of the study was to explore the extent to which teaching and social presence and other factors contributed to the development of cognitive presence. The project involved 189 participants in two higher education institutions, enrolled in 10 research methods and educational research courses. The participants used an innovative online resource and participated in online discussion forums to assist them in learning about educational research and developing research proposals. By exploring how participants used this resource, the researcher was able to gain insight into what strategies contributed to improving cognitive presence. Future directions for critical thinking in online environments and strategies for cognitive presence development are discussed.
Community of Inquiry Framework, Digital Technologies, and Student Assessment in Higher Education
Authors: Vaughan Norman
Published: August 2012

A number of educational researchers have stated that assessment drives learning in higher education (Biggs, 1998; Hedberg & Corrent-Agostinho, 1999; Marton & Saljo, 1984: Ramsden, 2003; Thistlethwaite, 2006). Entwistle (2000) indicates that the design of the assessment activity and the associated feedback can influence the type of learning that takes place in a course or program. For example, standardized tests with minimal feedback can lead to memorization and a surface approach to learning while collaborative group projects can encourage dialogue, richer forms of feedback, and deeper modes of learning. The purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate through a research study how the Community of Inquiry framework and digital technologies can be used to support a triad-approach to student assessment in higher education. This approach consisted of integrating self-reflection, peer feedback, and teacher assessment practices in a pre-service teacher education program at a Canadian University.
Fostering Social Presence in a Blended Learning Faculty Development Institute
Authors: Goldstein David S. , Leppa Carol , Brockhaus Andreas , Bliquez Rebecca , Porter Ian
Published: August 2012

To help faculty develop well-designed blended courses, the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework (Garrison, Anderson & Archer, 2000) was used to design and deliver a ten-week Hybrid Course Development Institute (HCDI) for faculty members from a variety of disciplines. The faculty experienced a blended format and developed courses based on the three components of the CoI framework: cognitive presence, teaching presence, and social presence, the last of which is particularly challenging to achieve. This chapter provides an overview of the HCDI structure, content, and assessment, and suggests ways to foster social presence in and beyond a blended learning institute for faculty members.
An Exploratory Study of Cross-Cultural Engagement in the Community of Inquiry
Authors: Vladimirschi Viviane
Published: August 2012

This chapter examines instructor multicultural efficacy in global online learning communities. To explore this phenomenon in the CoI framework, a two-phase study was conducted with 10 instructors from two Alberta higher education institutions. Phase one comprised creating intercultural competency indicators to test how they developed and expanded existing teaching and social presence indicators. Qualitative data revealed that in the lack of any cross-cultural design, instructors utilize facilitation and open communication strategies to foster learning and prevent conflict. Phase two involved augmenting the 34-item CoI survey instrument. Additional roles that relate to instructor cross-cultural efficacy were incorporated into both teaching and social presence elements based on qualitative findings. Quantitative data revealed that the incorporated cultural indicators correlated highly with the teaching and social indicators, indicating their usefulness to measure multicultural efficacy in the CoI framework.
Developing Communities of Inquiry in Online Courses
Authors: Matthews Daniel , Bogle Leonard , Boles Emily , Day Scott L. , Swan Karen
Published: August 2012

This chapter reports on ongoing design-based research being conducted in the fully online Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership (MTL) program at the University of Illinois Springfield. After an initial Quality Matters (QM) review and redesign, semester-to-semester implementation issues identified by the Community of Inquiry (CoI) survey form the basis for ongoing course improvements. Preliminary results from a four-semester iterative redesign of one course demonstrated the efficacy of using this design-based process for significantly improving learning outcomes. Currently, departmental faculty are collaborating on the redesign of all core courses in the MTL program using a similar process guided by an initial QM redesign followed by iterative and incremental changes driven by CoI survey results.
Design-Based Approach for the Implementation of an International Cyberlearning Community of Inquiry for Medical Education
Authors: Vovides Yianna , Korhumel Kristine
Published: August 2012

This chapter describes the conceptualization and implementation of a cyberlearning environment as a community of inquiry (CoI). This environment includes 13 medical schools from Sub-Saharan Africa and their 50-plus partners from around the world. The theoretical foundations of Communities of Inquiry provided the framework that drove the design of the web-based platform used in this project. Through an emphasis on learning from conversations, the resulting cyberlearning environment was designed to foster engagement among faculty, staff, and students of the 13 medical schools and their partners. Recognizing that generating a virtual community of inquiry framed around the cognitive, social, and teaching presence is no easy task, the approach taken for the design was based on conceptualizing the development of such a community along a continuum that addressed the depth of interaction for each presence. This type of design assumes a phased-in implementation. The chapter describes this conceptualization by addressing the core communication strategy used, which underlies the interactions to support learning from conversations. In addition, the chapter addresses key environmental constraints and how these constraints guided operational decisions during implementation. In addition, the chapter discusses challenges and solutions, as well as lessons learned.
A Cognitive Neuroscience Approach to Self and Mental Health
Authors: Sugiura Motoaki
Published: August 2012

Elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive processes related to self has been a promising approach to enhancing the scientific knowledge of mental health and mental disorders. However, relevant data from functional neuroimaging studies have not yet converged. The multi-layered model of self-processing proposed here reconciles these seemingly controversial findings by assuming there are three layers of self, including the physical self, interpersonal relationships, and social value. A schema that associates the representations of output and feedback in different cortical networks was conceptualized for each layer of self. The concepts of self-related cognition and mental disorders may be reconstructed based on this three-layer structure. The brain regions that accommodate the proposed schema are assumed to respond during the detection of error relative to a prediction; consequently, this neural response may be used for diagnosis and evaluation of mental disorders and health.
Motor Cortex Activation during Mental Imagery of Walking
Authors: Jiang Yinlai , Wang Shuoyu , Tan Renpeng , Ishida Kenji , Ando Takeshi , Fujie Masakatsu G.
Published: August 2012

The authors are developing a hybrid walking rehabilitation system to realize the early recovery of walking ability, which includes both active movement training using walking rehabilitation machines and neurorehabilitation using mental imaginary of walking. In this study, the authors compared the activation of the motor area during real walking (RW), virtual walking (VW), and walking observation (WO) using fNIRS (functional Near-InfraRed Spectroscopy). VW was a first-person perspective imagery in which the subjects were shown moving scenes and imagined that they were actually walking in the scenes. WO was a third-person perspective imagery in which the subjects were instructed to imagine that they were walking at the same pace as the person in the video being shown to the subjects. Based on four subjects, results showed that the oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in the motor area during both the VW and WO were on average higher than during the RW. This might be because it was not necessary to pay attention to the movements of the legs and feet during normal walking, whereas movement planning was required when the subjects imagined that they were walking similar to another person. There was no significant difference between the oxy-Hb during the VW and the WO. The importance of the stimulus diversity in the mental imagery of walking was suggested.
Gait Rhythm of Parkinson’s Disease Patients and an Interpersonal Synchrony Emulation System Based on Cooperative Gait
Authors: Uchitomi Hirotaka , Suzuki Kazuki , Nishi Tatsunori , Hove Michael J. , Miyake Yoshihiro , Orimo Satoshi , Wada Yoshiaki
Published: August 2012

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and basal ganglia dysfunction impair movement timing, and this impairment leads to gait instability and falls. Gait disturbances of PD can occur in numerous ways, including festinating (accelerating) gait, slow shuffling gait, or highly variable random stride-timing. The authors’ research group is studying an ambulatory assistive system that is based on the cooperative gait among human beings for locomotion rehabilitation. In this chapter, they introduce gait disturbances of PD, especially festinating gait, and they introduce an Interpersonal synchrony emulation system between a human and a virtual biped robot, which entrains the gait timings of the human and the robot in a cross-feedback manner by presenting auditory stimulation that indicates the timing of the partner’s foot contact with the ground. In a pilot study that evaluated walking with the system, the festinating gaits of the PD patients were improved, and carry-over effects were observed. These results suggested that the interpersonal interaction seems to be effective for the welfare support of locomotive ability.
Android Robots as Telepresence Media
Authors: Ogawa Kohei , Nishio Shuichi , Minato Takashi , Ishiguro Hiroshi
Published: August 2012

In this chapter, the authors describe two human-like android robots, known as Geminoid and Telenoid, which they have developed. Geminoid was developed for two reasons: (1) to explore how humans react or respond the android during face-to-face communication and (2) to investigate the advantages of the android as a communication medium compared to traditional communication media, such as the telephone or the television conference system. The authors conducted two experiments: the first was targeted to an interlocutor of Geminoid, and the second was targeted to an operator of it. The results of these experiments showed that Geminoid could emulate a human’s presence in a natural-conversation situation. Additionally, Geminoid could be as persuasive to the interlocutor as a human. The operators of Geminoid were also influenced by the android: during operation, they felt as if their bodies were one and the same with the Geminoid body. The latest challenge has been to develop Telenoid, an android with a more abstract appearance than Geminoid, which looks and behaves as a minimalistic human. At first glance, Telenoid resembles a human; however, its appearance can be interpreted as any sex or any age. Two field experiments were conducted with Telenoid. The results of these experiments showed that Telenoid could be an acceptable communication medium for both young and elderly people. In particular, physical interaction, such as a hug, positively affected the experience of communicating with Telenoid.
Visual Attention in 3-D Space while Moving Forward
Authors: Kimura Takahiko , Miura Toshiaki , Shinohara Kazumitsu , Doi Shun’ichi
Published: August 2012

One of our cognitive functions is attention, which plays an essential role in veridical behavior. In this chapter, the research on attention in 3-D space is reviewed. In particular, for ecological validity, the shift of attention in 3-D space when observers are in self-motion is discussed. Research in cognitive psychology indicates that elucidating the role of attention in 3-D space is important for understanding a driver’s behavior, in order to suitably design the interface of in-vehicle devices. Finally, future research on the connection between attention and safety in driving situations will be discussed.
The Effects of the Fixation Cue in Inhibition of Return
Authors: Li Yujie , Li Chunlin , Wu Jinglong
Published: August 2012

In experiments examining inhibition of return (IOR), an attentional effect that inhibits the returning of attention to a previously attended location or object, a second cue during the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) period is typically used. This is done to control the reorienting of attention from a peripherally cued location back to the central fixation point before the target appears. Recently, there have been numerous studies which demonstrate that fixation cues are effective in revealing IOR. Plenty of factors have been shown to influence the effects of the fixation cue in IOR, including the time onset of the fixation cue, the number of potential target locations, the attentional demands of performing the task, the modality of the fixation cue, and the condition of participants. Here, the authors review previous work that has examined the effects of the fixation cue in IOR.
Implications of NIRS Brain Signals
Authors: Haida Munetaka
Published: August 2012

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is commonly used for functional brain studies. With this method, brain signals can be easily obtained, but the interpretation of these signals still remains unclear. This chapter provides a simple model to interpret the NIRS signal, which is based on the following assumptions: 1. The NIRS signal may reflect Hb levels only in the capillaries and not in large vessels; 2. The brain has a lighter color than the other tissues, indicating that the Hb concentration in brain tissue is very low and intensity level of the NIRS signal is very high; 3. A photon that hits a large vessel is too weak to be detected in the surrounding high signal environment; 4. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) can be separated into cross-sections (the number of capillary beds) that are multiplied by the velocity. This model can explain the typical signal pattern observed during task performance, where oxy-Hb levels increase and deoxy-Hb levels slightly decrease.
Topography Estimation of Visual Evoked Potentials Using a Combination of Mathematical Models
Authors: Sugi Takenao , Goto Kazuhiko , Goto Satoru , Goto Yoshinobu , Yamasaki Takao , Tobimatsu Shozo
Published: August 2012

This study proposes a method for estimating the topographical distribution of Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) from separated power spectrum components by a combination of models. VEPs with various temporal frequencies were recorded from nine healthy adults. The original power spectrum consisted of the VEP; background activities, artifacts, and other components were then obtained. To extract the VEP components from the original power spectrum, models corresponding to background activities, especially for posterior alpha rhythm, the low-frequency component and the high-frequency component, caused due to the EMG artifact, were constructed, and the relevant parameters were estimated. Finally, VEP components were calculated by subtracting them from the original power spectrum. The topographical distribution of the first harmonic (1F) and second harmonic (2F) components of the VEP were obtained by the proposed method. The estimation of the other components, aside from the VEPs, was also investigated. The merits and usefulness of the proposed method were analyzed with a comparison to the conventional stimulus-locked averaging method. The proposed method has several advantageous points compared to the conventional averaging method. Specifically, the posterior alpha rhythm and the EMG artifact were accounted for directly in the estimation of the VEP components. Therefore, an accurate estimation of the VEP components can be performed even the measurement of the components are prone to the error.
Functional Neuroimaging of Acupuncture
Authors: Yan Bin , Lei Yu , Tong Li , Chen KeWei
Published: August 2012

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese healing methodology, is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. However, the mechanism by which acupuncture exerts its effects is not yet fully understood. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a widely used technique to observe brain activity noninvasively. In this chapter, the authors first review the existing literature on the effects of acupuncture on brain activity and connectivity. The authors next discuss some basic issues in the study of acupuncture with fMRI, including deqi, baseline and control measures, acupuncture modalities, and experimental paradigms. At the end of the chapter, future research directions in the study of acupuncture with fMRI are suggested.
Language Processing in the Human Brain of Literate and Illiterate Subjects
Authors: Li Xiujun , Lin Zhenglong , Wu Jinglong
Published: August 2012

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or positron emission tomography (PET), much knowledge has been gained in understanding how the brain is activated during controlled experiments of language tasks in educated healthy subjects and in uneducated healthy subjects. While previous studies have compared performance between alphabetic subjects, few data were about Chinese-speaking individuals. In alphabetic subjects, studies indicate that the literates surpass the illiterates, especially in tasks involving phonological processing, and that different activation regions in fMRI are located between Broca’s area and the inferior parietal cortex, as well as the posterior-mid-insula bridge between Wernicke’s and Broca’s area. In Chinese subjects, the results were shown in silent word recognition tasks (the left inferior/middle frontal gyrus and bilateral superior temporal gyri) and in silent picture-naming tasks (the bilateral inferior/middle fontal gyri and left limbic cingulated gyrus). In this study, the authors use some recent fMRI data to investigate language processing in the human brain of literate and illiterate subjects.
Sleep Management Promotes Healthy Lifestyle, Mental Health, QOL, and a Healthy Brain
Authors: Tanaka Hideki , Furutani Maki
Published: August 2012

This chapter is an overview of sleep, lifestyle, mental, and physical health, and the characteristics of insomnia among the elderly and students. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the effects of the sleep management with actual examples of public health from the community and schools. Sleep management that included short naps and exercise in the evening was effective in promoting sleep and mental health with elderly people. The interventions demonstrated that the proper awakening maintenance and keeping proper arousal level during the evening were effective in improving sleep quality. Furthermore, sleep management that included sleep education and cognitive-behavioral interventions improved sleep-related habits and the quality of sleep. In this study, a sleep educational program using minimal cognitive-behavioral modification techniques was developed. Mental and physical health were also improved along with improving sleep with the elderly and students. These results suggest that cognitive-behavioral interventions to improve the sleep practices are effective for mental health, the activity of daily living (ADL), and the quality of life (QOL)