bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pressure ulcer prevention practices and associated factors among nurses in public hospitals of Harari regional state and Dire Dawa city administration, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Getie Asmare , Baylie Amsalu , Bante Agegnehu , Geda Biftu , Mesfin Firehiwot
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Pressure ulcer is one of the major challenges in hospitals; which endanger patient safety, prolonging hospital stay and contributed to disability and death. Data regarding to pressure ulcer prevention practice are very important to take action. However in Ethiopia, there are limited researches that have been conducted and there is clearly paucity of information on this regard. Hence, this study aimed to assess pressure ulcer prevention practice and associated factors among nurses in public hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 422 nurses who were working in the public hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected from the 1st February to the 1st March 2018 using pretested structured self-administered questionnaire and observational checklist. The collected data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 22.0 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression with crude and adjusted odds ratios along with the 95% confidence interval was computed and interpreted accordingly. Pressure ulcer prevention was determined based on mean calculation; a result above the mean value was categorized as good pressure ulcer prevention practice, and a P-value of <0.05 was considered to declare a result as statistically significant.

Results

In this study 51.9% (95% CI: 47.1%, 56.4%) of nurses were reported that they have good pressure ulcer prevention practice. On observation 45.2% of nurses were practicing proper pressure ulcer prevention activities. Pressure ulcer prevention practice were statistically associated with nurses with bachelor degree and above qualification level (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.83), availability of pressure-relieving devices (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.34, 3.63), being satisfied with their job (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.52) and good knowledge (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.48, 3.55).

Conclusions

In this study the self-reported practice and results from observation was substantially low. Continuing education and training should be considered for nurses to enhance their practice regarding pressure ulcer prevention practice.
Imbalanced learning: Improving classification of diabetic neuropathy from magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Teh Kevin , Armitage Paul , Tesfaye Solomon , Selvarajah Dinesh , Wilkinson Iain D.
Published: December 2020

One of the fundamental challenges when dealing with medical imaging datasets is class imbalance. Class imbalance happens where an instance in the class of interest is relatively low, when compared to the rest of the data. This study aims to apply oversampling strategies in an attempt to balance the classes and improve classification performance. We evaluated four different classifiers from k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), support vector machine (SVM), multilayer perceptron (MLP) and decision trees (DT) with 73 oversampling strategies. In this work, we used imbalanced learning oversampling techniques to improve classification in datasets that are distinctively sparser and clustered. This work reports the best oversampling and classifier combinations and concludes that the usage of oversampling methods always outperforms no oversampling strategies hence improving the classification results.
How does rising housing price affect the health of middle-aged and elderly people? The complementary mediators of social status seeking and competitive saving motive
Authors: Yuan Wei , Gong Shuying , Han Yimin
Published: December 2020

Under the backdrop of China’s aging population and continuous rising housing price and base on theories pertaining to social status seeking, marriage matching and intergenerational family relationships, use the 2010 and 2014 CFPS national survey micro data, we examine the impact of rising housing price on the health of middle-aged and elderly people and the underlying mechanisms. Rising housing price has a significant negative impact on the health of middle-aged and elderly people, and this effect is also reflected in their physical health, mental acuity and emotional well-being. The internal mechanism is that social status seeking motivation plays a significant mediator role. Through further analysis, we find that competitive saving motive is another intermediate mechanism that causes rising housing price to affect the health of middle-aged and elderly people; it is complementary to the social status seeking motivation. What’s more, the mediation effect of the competitive saving motive is notably heterogeneous, as it exists only for middle-aged and elderly people with male or noncollege educated child but does not exist for those with female or college educated child.
HTrack: A new tool to facilitate public health field visits and electronic data capture
Authors: Rodríguez Dania M. , Ryff Kyle , Sánchez-Gonzalez Liliana , Rivera-Amill Vanessa , Paz-Bailey Gabriela , Adams Laura
Published: December 2020

Many applications have been developed for electronic data collection. However, offline field navigation tools incorporating secure electronic data capture and field visit tracking are currently scarce. We created an R-Shiny application, HTrack (Household Tracking), for use on encrypted Android devices in the field. The application was implemented in the Communities Organized to Prevent Arboviruses (COPA) project, a study beginning in 2018 to better understand arboviral disease incidence in 38 communities in Puerto Rico. The application was used to navigate to randomly selected structures and capture visit outcomes after conducting multiple visits for participant recruitment. It also served as a bridge to an alternate software, Epi Info, to collect participant-level questionnaire data. This application successfully captured each visit outcome and improved the logistics of field level activities for the COPA project, eliminating the use of paper maps for navigation. We show the development of HTrack and comment on the limitations and strengths of this application and further improvements.
Análise espacial dos impactos socioambientais provocados pelo rompimento de duas barragens de rejeitos de mineração: Fundão, na cidade de Mariana e Córrego do Feijão, no município de Brumadinho (Minas Gerais – Brasil)
Authors: Silva Mariza Ferreira da
Published: December 2020

O artigo tem como objetivo apresentar os resultados da pesquisa geográfica que analisa os impactos espaciais e socioambientais provocados pelo rompimento da Barragem Fundão da mineradora Samarco, na cidade de Mariana (2015) e da Barragem I da Mina Córrego do Feijão, da mineradora Vale S.A, no município de Brumadinho (2019) em Minas Gerais, Brasil. A metodologia de abordagem qualitativa e de natureza analítico-interpretativa e descritiva fundamentou-se na revisão bibliográfica sobre a temática de riscos de barragens, a partir de técnicas de leituras em fontes documentais, jornalísticas e periódicos científicos. A análise de dados estatísticos divulgados por órgãos oficiais e a transparência das ações do sistema de comando de operações e estrutura estratégica que reuniu todas as equipes envolvidas nos trabalhos de resgate, foram relevantes para a compreensão dos processos mitigadores de impactos, reabilitação e resiliência, em situações de urgência e emergência. O georreferenciamento e as pesquisas geocartográficas possibilitaram a avaliação dos impactos espaciais e socioambientais.
„It is true that a society that does not invest in its education is very short sighted” Interview with Geert Bouckaert, professor at the KU Leuven Governance Institute, President of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences
Authors: Jenei György
Published: December 2020

Geert BOUCKAERT is currently the President of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) (2013-2016-2019). He was the President of the European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) (2004-2010). He is Professor at the KU Leuven Public Governance Institute (Faculty of Social Sciences) of the KU Leuven, Belgium. From 1997 to 2012, he was the Director of its KU Leuven Public Governance Institute. His fields of research and teaching are Public Management, Public Sector reforms, Performance Management and Finance Management. He is also visiting Professor at the University of Potsdam (Germany). He is a member of many editorial boards, including PAR, JPART, and PPMR. Geert Bouckaert received several international awards in recognition to his scientific contributions in Public Administration. Professor Bouckaert published many books and articles on Public Management and Public Administration Reforms. Our birthday greetings to professor Geert Bouckaert are on the back cover.
A modern európai állam, állami szuverenitás, népszuverenitás
Authors: Jenei György
Published: December 2020

Az Európai Unióban vita folyik a nemzetállamok jelenlegi szerepéről és jövőbeni perspektívájáról. Egyesek szerint a nemzetállam elavult, képtelen a modern kihívások kezelésére. Mások szerint a nemzetállam jelenleg és a jövőben is a modern kihívások kezelésének intézménye. A két vélemény közötti ellentét kulcskérdései a nemzetállamok helye és szerepe az Európai Unióban és az állami szuverenitás és a népszuverenitás viszonya. A tanulmány a modern európai állam történetének áttekintésével, az állam és a nemzet viszonyának, valamint a szuverenitás különböző értelmezésének feltárásával kíván hozzájárulni a vitához.
A gazdasági tudnivalók oktatása Magyarországon
Authors: Papanek Gábor , Fajd Petra , Pintér Fanni , Sáfián Klaudia , Tóth Nóra
Published: December 2020

A korszerű gazdaságokban a tudás, pontosabban annak alkalmazása (az ún. innováció) a dinamikus fejlődés fő motorja. Ezért súlyos problémák forrása, ha az oktatási rendszer nagy arányban bocsájtja ki a tudásigényes munkára felkészületlen végzetteket. Cikkünkben tehát – 2016-17 téli gazdaságpolitikai vizsgájuk tapasztalatait áttekintve – 60 magyar egyetemi hallgató közgazdasági tudását értékeljük. Megállapítják, hogy néhányan igen tehetségesek és törekedtek is elsajátítani e tárgy fontosabb ismereteit, így jó eredményeket értek el a kollokviumon. Sokuk gazdasági tudása (zárthelyi eredménye) azonban lényegesen gyengébb lett a kívánatosnál, a többség pedig megbukott, mert sok éves tanulmányai ellenére még a közgazdaságtan alapjairól sem tud semmi igazán lényegeset. A továbbiakban a jelzett gond okait kerestük. Úgy találtuk, hogy a félév elején a tantárgyat választó hallgatók közül 24, a jelentkezettek 40%-a (!) egyetlen órán se jelent meg, majd 21 fő, az indulólétszám egyharmada a kollokvium letételét se kísérelte meg. Joggal feltételezhető tehát, hogy nem is próbálkoztak a tárgy tudnivalóinak a megtanulásával. Sokaknak volt továbbá súlyos tudáshiánya az alapvető piacgazdasági ismeretek körében, a gazdasági „általános műveltség” ezen, az 1990-es rendszerváltás óta a közoktatás fontos témájának tartott témában is. Mások a magyar gazdaság jellemzőiről, helyzetéről, perspektíváiról bizonyultak teljesen tájékozatlanoknak. Ez utóbbi gondok oka részben az e témák tanítását kerülő oktatás, ennél is inkább azonban a hazai társadalomnak a tudást lebecsülő felfogásmódja (az ún. értékválság). A vázoltak nyomán a szerzők azt valószínűsítették, hogy a magyar a társadalom közgazdasági ismereteinek a gazdagítása jelentősen segítené a gazdasági fejlődés gyorsítását. Az előrehaladás érdekében kívánatos lenne tehát a közoktatás hatékonyságának emelése, az iskolák gyermekbaráttá alakítása is. A felsőoktatásban pedig az egyetemi szabadság pontos tartalmát is át kellene gondolnunk.
,,Mert a miénk kezdetben nem egészen olyan volt, mint a többi egyetem.” Interjú Köves Pál professor emeritussal
Authors: Zsidi Vilmos
Published: December 2020

Köves Pál statisztikus Theiss Edénél tanulta a statisztikát, majd az egyetem elvégzése után az akadémiai ranglétrán haladva a tanársegédségtől az egyetemi tanári kinevezésig jutott. 1991-ben nyugdíjba ment, professor emeritus címet 1995-ben kapott. A statisztika általános elméletének kiválóságaként Párniczky Gáborral közösen írt, több kiadást megért „Általános statisztika” című tankönyve meghatározó szakirodalma lett a kornak. Köves Pál szűkebb szakterülete a statisztikán belül az indexszámítás volt, amely témából több jelentős publikációja és két könyve jelent meg, az egyiket több nyelvre lefordították. Köves Pál professzor a nemzetközi összehasonlítások fontos módszertani elemének tekintett és ajánlott ÉKS-indexnek egyik megalkotója. Tisztségei és díjai számosak, tagja az MTA Statisztikai Bizottságának, örökös tagja a Magyar Statisztikai Társaságnak, választott tagja a Nemzetközi Statisztikai Intézetnek (ISI), Munka Érdemrend ezüst fokozata, Felsőoktatás kiválóa dolgozója, Az egyetemért Emlékérem, egyetemi Aranyérem, KSH aranygyűrű. Apáczai Csere János-díjat, Fényes Elek Emlékérmet és Keleti Károly Emlékérmet is kiérdemelt. A 93 éves Köves Pált videóinterjúra kértük és 2018. május 13-án kerestük meg a Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem egyetemtörténeti oral history programjának keretében.
Megértés az együttműködés szolgálatában 2. rész Egy interpretatív szervezetkutatás tapasztalata - a Lupus Albus osztály esete
Authors: Vedres Tamás
Published: December 2020

A cikkben egy magyarországi újszülött intenzív osztályon az együttműködés helyi jelentésének feltárását célzó kvalitatív kutatást mutat be a szerző. Ezzel kettős célja van: egyrészről egy szervezeti jelenség megértő vizsgálata, másrészről a vizsgálati mód tapasztalaton keresztüli bemutatása. A kutatás eredménye példát ad arra, hogy hogyan jöhet létre mély megértés, ami későbbi szervezeti változás kiindulópontját jelentheti. A megértés folyamatát olyan alternatív kvalitatív kutatási eszközök is támogatták, mint például a térelemzés vagy a metafora. A tanulmány továbbá kiemeli annak fontosságát, hogy egy kórházi osztályon a helyi jelentés kutatása során a hozzátartozók bevonása is alapvető fontosságú.
EL “TERCER CINE” EN MÉXICO.
Authors: Pascual Gutiérrez Iris
Published: December 2020

Una parte de la izquierda mexicana utilizó el cine para expresar su oposición a las políticas oficiales durante la presidencia de Luis Echeverría (1970-1976). Este trabajo se propone analizar los factores que contribuyeron a la conformación de este cine de oposición, entre 1969 y 1972. Así, incidiremos en tres cuestiones principales. En primer lugar, aquellos de orden social, político e ideológico, como la represión gubernamental o el declive del movimiento estudiantil en México a partir de 1969. Seguidamente, las fuentes cinematográficas nacionales e internacionales. Entre estas últimas destacó la influencia de Fernando Solanas y Octavio Getino, lo que nos permitirá hablar de “Tercer Cine” mexicano. Por último, el nacimiento de una crítica cinematográfica interesada en esta propuesta.
DE LA EXPERTISE” AL PENSAMIENTO CRÍTICO.
Authors: Mosiewicki Francisco
Published: December 2020

Este artículo tiene por finalidad tiene por objetivo revisar el rol que el teniente general Benjamín Rattenbach ha tenido como intelectual dentro del Ejército Argentino durante los años de madurez de su trayectoria profesional (1951-1984). Enmarcado dentro del proceso de modernización autoritaria, represión estatal y radicalización social transcurrido durante la segunda mitad del siglo XX en nuestro país, la producción de Rattenbach ha sido analizada a la luz de las categorías que demarcan al teniente general como un experto y un intelectual orgánico de su campo. Dentro de un complejo entramado de intelectuales y productores de conocimiento conformado en torno a sociología militar los tratados redactados por el general surgen como espejo de la situación histórica en la que son producidos.
Advancing a social justice agenda in health professions education
Authors:   Stellenbosch University, Jacobs Cecilia , Van Schalkwyk Susan , Blitz Julia , Volschenk Mariette
Published: December 2020

Health Professions Education (HPE) curricula have a dual purpose: to deliver professionals who are clinically competent and critically conscious of the contexts and health systems they serve. This qualitative study advances a social justice agenda by exploring the range of understandings that HPE teachers have of this dual purpose of their curricula. Thirty-four respondents participated in eleven focus groups and eleven interviews. Data were analysed thematically. While participants understood this dual purpose of their curricula, some felt that clinical competence should be emphasised above critical consciousness. Implementing curricula that develop critically conscious graduates raises questions about what counts as knowledge, and about how far our responsibility extends in preparing students to become change agents. This has implications for the role and identity of the HPE teacher and points to a re-envisioning of the process of curriculum development and the role that HPE centres play in the process of curriculum development.
The influence of marketing-related mobile activities on the adoption of mobile marketing transactions: a uses and gratification perspective
Authors:   University of Venda, Donga Gift , Kadyamatimba Armstrong ,   University of Venda
Published: December 2020

There is an increasing attention being accorded to the adoption of mobile marketing transactions in recent years, as both practitioners and researchers recognise that mobile commerce (m-commerce) is poised to burst into the mainstream. This study identifies a literature gap in which there seems to be an insufficient critical mass of studies on the adoption of innovative marketing technologies within the South African context. More specifically, very few studies have been conducted regarding the contribution of mobile marketing-related activities on consumer behaviour towards m-commerce. In view of this development, guided by the uses and gratification theory, the purpose of this study is to ascertain the influence of marketing-related mobile activities on the adoption of mobile marketing transactions, specifically focusing on the South African youth consumers. To fulfil the purpose of the study, the objectives of the study are centered on examining the degree to which the following marketing-related mobile activities: (1) provide information online, (2) access content online, and (3) share content online, influence consumersâ€™ adoption of mobile marketing transactions. Following a quantitative research technique and a descriptive single cross-sectional design, data was gathered through a self-administered questionnaire, using a sample of 810 students from three selected South African universities. Three research hypotheses were advanced in line with the study objectives, and they were tested using linear regression analysis. The study findings confirm the positive significant effects of marketing-related mobile activities in driving adoption of mobile marketing transactions. Managerial implications of the findings are discussed, and limitations and future research directions are also indicated.
AN INSIGHT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MICRO-FRANCHISE BUSINESSES OPERATING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Authors:   University of Venda, Shumba Knowledge , Nkondo Livhuwani
Published: December 2020

Microfranchising is one of the new innovative business concepts that has gained traction in the past few years, and which could provide a solution to the challenges faced by micro- entrepreneurs and stimulate the growth of entrepreneurship. Microfranchising has therefore, emerged as a potential strategy meant to rapidly scale-up entrepreneurship behaviour within the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP). However, despite microfranchising being singled out as a panacea for economic growth globally, very little is known about the microfranchising business concept in South Africa. Resultantly, the latter is ignored from entrepreneurship discussion and discourse at both academic and policy levels. To address this gap, the study assessed microfranchising practices in South Africa, to profile the characteristics of microfranchise businesses in South Africa. The study used the interpretivism research paradigm to achieve the study objectives. Primary and secondary data were employed to collect data on the microfranchising practices in South Africa. Five in-depth interviews were successfully conducted with microfranchisees, while secondary data (microfranchiseesâ€™ and microfranchisorsâ€™ success stories) was employed to collect data on the former and current practices of microfranchising in South Africa. The collected data was analysed using the ATLAS.ti. The study results show that the microfranchise business exhibits traits of BoP markets, centralised inventory buying, comprehensive training of microfranchisees, decentralised inventory buying, job creation, master microfranchisee, sales orientation, self-reliance of the business, standardisation and adaptation.
The Curriculum as Cultures in Conflict: Exploring Monocultural and Multicultural Ideologies through the Case of Bilingual Education
Authors: Zhu Juanjuan , Camicia Steven P.
Published: December 2020

Curriculum contentions are cultural struggles. As an illustration, we examine contention surrounding which and how languages are taught in the curriculum. We (the authors) locate this struggle within our positionalities, as a departure for ouranalysis of competing ideologies surrounding language and curriculum. We use a dialogical methodology to examine tensions between monocultural and multicultural ideologies. An imaginary dialogue between us, Hirsch, and Bakhtin provides an illustration. Based upon the struggles located in the bodies of the authors and the imaginary dialogue of two cultural theorists, we conclude that a monological curriculum represents the domination of one cultural group over others rather than the pedagogical and social rationales provided by opponents of multilingual education.
The Challenges of Teaching and Learning English Literature in L2 Context: The Case of Junior Secondary Schools in Botswana
Authors: Adeninhun Deborah Adeninhun
Published: December 2020

Various Botswana policy documents (Republic of Botswana, 1977, 1994, 2002) and Vision 2016 (1997) have advocated for an enlightened and wellinformed society and the provision of a ten-year basic education as a fundamental human right of her citizens. It is against this background that this paper discusses the importance of English Literature in the Junior Secondary School (JSS) curriculum and examines the challenges faced by teachers and students in the teaching/learning process that can hamper the achievement of the country’s educational and social goals. Two Form One classes were chosen in two schools in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, for this study. The 35 students in each of the two classes (totaling 70 students) and their 2 teachers were used in the study by adopting simple qualitative and quantitative descriptions. The study showed that the major difficulties faced by the teachers include lack of interest/enthusiasm for learning the subject by the students, as well as their lack of basic background in English, among others. Other problems on the part of the students include difficulty in understanding and difficult vocabulary/language in texts. As a result, pertinent recommendations were made for improved teacher practices and strategies.
The Effectiveness of Correcting Grammatical Errors in Writing Classes: An EFL Teacher’s Perspective
Authors: Kim Hye-Kyung
Published: December 2020

The role of grammar instruction to help students reduce errors in L2 writing is under debate: Truscott (1996, 1999, 2007) claims that error correction is largely ineffective and harmful, whereas Ferris (1997, 1999, 2004) argues that students need feedback on their grammatical errors. Grammar correction is considered to be one of the most important forms of feedback. This paper examines the role of grammar correction in L2 writing on the basis of these controversies and discusses some pedagogical implications of error correction for teaching writing, with particular reference to my own experience of teaching EFL writing classes in South Korea.
Full Volume 1: Working Papers in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education (WPLCLE)
Authors: Coronel-­Molina Serafín M. , Zakeri Bita H.
Published: December 2020

The full issue of WPLCLE, volume 1 (2012).
The expression and conceptualization of motion through space and manner of motion in Arabic and English: A comparative analysis
Authors: AlMurshidi Ghadah
Published: December 2020

This paper is a comparative analysis of English and Arabic expressions of motion events using narratives of Chafe’s (1980) Pear Story elicited from native speakers of both languages. The native‐speaker English narratives were elicited by Feiz (2007). A discourse analytic approach is used to examine how speakers of Arabic and English indicate motion through path, manner, and ground. The data consist of 45 elicited oral narratives. The narratives are all based on Chafe’s (1990) Pear Film, which is a 6‐minute film with many characters, but no dialogue. Fifteen of these are in Arabic, fifteen in English by Arabic speakers, and fifteen in English by native English speakers. The findings of this study indicate that Arabic is a verb‐framed language (Talmy, 2007). It has a variety of path verbs such as yadheh “fall,” yamer “pass,” and yenzel “descend.” Furthermore, the stative verb is used frequently in Arabic by all the Arabic speakers to describe a static location (Feiz, 2007). The total number of uses of the stative verb in Arabic is 71 tokens. In addition, the verb yati “come” is used in Arabic to introduce newcomers, as it is in English (Feiz, 2007). However, the use of the manner verbs in Arabic, such as etkhardhaf “tumbles,” is rare. English is considered a typical satellite‐framed language. It has a large number of manner verbs (Slobin, 2003). Some deictic verbs are used with path satellites (e.g., comes along). Manner verbs are also used with path satellites (e.g., climb down and walk back). Multiple path satellites also appear in English (e.g., came down off and climbed back up in).
Exploring Metacognitive Online Reading Strategies among University Students in Four Nonnative English Speaking Countries
Authors: Lee Yoo‐Jean , Kigamwa James Chamwada , Pookcharoen Suphawat , In Vichea
Published: December 2020

In this cross‐cultural study, the researchers investigated metacognitive online reading strategies of students from four countries: Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, and Kenya. An online self‐report survey of reading strategies (OSORS) was administered to 132 university students from the four countries. The self‐report survey tool was then complemented through a think‐aloud procedure administered to eight randomly selected students. The students were instructed to “speak out” their thoughts as they navigated around an online text. ANOVAs were applied to examine whether there were significant differences in the students’ use of strategies from the different countries. The researchers also analyzed the think‐aloud outputs from each student to determine the strategies that were used. The findings show that the students from the four countries differed significantly only in their use of global online reading strategies, but not in their use of problem‐solving and support strategies.
Language policy and planning for Latinos in Indiana: A case study
Authors: Chesnut Colleen E.
Published: December 2020

In Indiana and many other areas of the Midwest, Latino populations have recently experienced quite rapid growth. This study will focus on how Indiana’s state and local institutions, including government agencies, schools, and community organizations have responded to expansion of Latino communities, examining evidence of language policy and planning in these responses. An epistemological framework outlining the parameters of language policy and planning will be provided, as well as a brief historical narrative to set the context for Latinos settling in Indiana. Demographic data and document analysis reveal both the salience of this research for a growing Latino population and the current availability of resources and information aboutpolicy around language planning for this group. Findings illustrate that English remains the primary lingua franca for Indiana, though some evidence indicates scattered efforts to reach out to Latino citizens in Spanish through a variety of means. This research contributes to a growing body of literature on experiences of Latinos in the Midwest and policymakers’ efforts to better serve the needs of these growing communities.
The World of Penguins: The Role of Peer Culture in Young Children’s Interaction in Online Games
Authors: Kargin Tolga
Published: December 2020

In this study, to be able to understand the role of the children’s interactions with each other and the role of online and offline communities on children’s play and digital literacy practices, we examined a group of children’s collaborative play within the Club Penguin virtual world while they were engaging in an after‐school setting. We had eight participants (one girl and seven boys) between 5‐8 years old. During our study, the participants worked independently, but sat side by side in the computer room as they controlled their penguin avatars in the virtual world. To answer the central research questions, we used several kinds of data collection methods. We performed participant observations, took fieldnotes, and videotaped all 6 one‐hour‐long sessions during our study. Since we focus particularly on the interactions among children and their effects on play and literacy practices, we employed Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) concept as our theoretical framework. Also, to be able to analyze the influence of children’s online and offline communities on their play and digital literacy practices, we used the second‐generation activity theory.
Distinguishing Features of Funds of Knowledge, Curriculum of Lives, Habitus, and Discourses
Authors: Rice Mary
Published: December 2020

This paper explores the affordances and limitations of several popular conceptual frameworks often used in qualitative literacy research, especially that where narratives are used as data. These frameworks are Funds of Knowledge, Curriculum of Lives, Habitus, and Discourses. The author draws on the narratology of Bal to open space for comparing these frameworks, and through a sample analysis of one narrative, exposes underlying assumptions the frameworks reveal about relationships in research, literacy, and narrative analysis.
Book Review: You Have to Be Somebody Before You Can Share Yourself: Applying You Are Not a Gadget to Education: A Manifesto, by Jaron Lanier, New York: Alfred Knopf, 2010
Authors: Rust Julie , Buchholz Beth
Published: December 2020

Review of Jaron Lanier's You Have to Be Somebody Before You Can Share Yourself: Applying You Are Not a Gadget to Education: A Manifesto, New York: Alfred Knopf, 2010.
Reflections on the SWSEEL Russian program from a sociocultural perspective: Challenges and benefits
Authors: Barnas Martina M. , Zheltoukhova Snezhana
Published: December 2020

The SWSEEL intensive language summer training program held annually at the Bloomington campus of Indiana University is one of the oldest and most popular intensive Russian language programs in the US. In this paper we reflect on our respective combined experience as a Russian course learner and a Russian course instructor to identify benefits and potential challenges from the perspective of sociocultural learning theories as developed in the field of Learning Sciences. We show the sociocultural lens is well suited for describing learning in the SWSEEL environment, and the Russian SWSEEL course is designed and taught in agreement with perspectives of learning in sociocultural learning theories. Ultimately, sociocultural instructional strategies strengthen the SWSEEL model and validate the application of sociocultural learning design in the context of intensive language programs.
Causes of Underachievement in Beginning College Students: It’s Complicated
Authors: McNabb Melissa
Published: December 2020

Underachievement in many beginning college students in American universities is a problem. In this small‐scale ethnographic study at a large Midwestern University, members of a class specifically designed for freshmen and sophomores who underachieved during their first or second year in college (defined as those who accumulated a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or less) were observed and interviewed to determine individual causes of academic underperformance. The personal explanations of these students, the rich commentary of their peer instructor and the teacher of the class, along with the researcher’s participant observation and examination of class documents allowed intimate perspectives about why college beginners academically underachieve. This qualitative, ethnographic research shines a light into the dilemma of academic underperformance and uncovers a complicated exegesis of why beginning college students struggle and achieve less than their academic potential.
The Empire Struck Back: Cross‐Cultural Communication in a Multilingual Classroom
Authors: Bumbalough Mathew
Published: December 2020

This pilot study explores language identity in the field of World Englishes as international students in a multilingual writing classroom encounter a Westerncentric teaching environment while struggling to become a part of the World English speaking community. In this instance, the students were able to bring their cultural and linguistic identities into the classroom in order to make meaning, and joined a community of practice that took into consideration their agency and L1 identities. Based on my initial classroom observations, I identified a pair of students to interview in order to triangulate and confirm my findings. By conducting semistructured interviews, analyzing paper topics, and learning about the participants” backgrounds, I was able to determine that while English was important to each of them in different ways, their identities were what was most important of all. Through an analysis of their interactions and interviews I assert that they are, in a true sense, speakers of World Englishes who are struggling to create their language identities as they bring their cultural and linguistic capital into the classroom to deal with any issues they face. As a result, there were several gaps I noticed between (western) teaching practices and the World Englishes the students speak. While this is a pilot study, I hope to further investigate my findings in a full ethnography that will expand on the issues in this paper.
Bilingual Education in Guatemala
Authors: Soto‐Corominas Adriana
Published: December 2020

Language shift is a phenomenon by which one language is lost and replaced by another one. This project focuses on the language shift process happening in Guatemala, a country where the majority language, Spanish, coexists with 24 Indigenous languages. The objective of this project was to assess the role and development of the Intercultural Bilingual Education (IBE) model, which was implemented with the aim of promoting a type of education that would integrate the cultures and languages of the country. In order to carry out this project, teachers from different schools and members of the government and of the Academy of Mayan Languages were contacted. Data were gathered by means of informal, semistructured interviews. After analyzing the data, it became clear that the IBE model was not being implemented as it was supposed to be and, therefore, the language shift process continues following its course in the country.
Demokratisierung von Technik ohne Wirtschaftsdemokratie?
Authors: Frey Philipp , Schneider Christoph , Wadephul Christian
Published: December 2020

Der vorliegende Beitrag diskutiert vor dem Hintergrund der gegenwärtigen Dominanz ökonomischer Akteure in der Entwicklung und dem Einsatz von Technik, inwiefern das Einstehen der Technikfolgenabschätzung (TA) für eine demokratische Gestaltung des technischen Wandels durch Wirtschaftsdemokratie erweitert werden könnte. Anschließend werden einige Grundlinien wirtschaftsdemokratischer Theorieansätze der Gegenwart präsentiert, um abschließend danach zu fragen, wie diese die Arbeit der TA konkret informieren und orientieren könnten.
Technokratie oder Gemeinschaftswerk?
Authors: Radtke Jörg , Drewing Emily
Published: December 2020

Maßgeblich beeinflusst durch Expertenkommissionen folgt die Energiewende bisher vornehmlich technisch-ökonomischen Logiken, während Laienperspektiven kaum Berücksichtigung finden. Dies kann zum Eindruck einer Technokratie beitragen und die gesellschaftliche Unterstützung für die Energiewende erodieren. So kommt der partizipativen Technikfolgenabschätzung besondere Bedeutung zu, um Ziele politischer Entscheiderinnen und Entscheider mit Interessen der Bürgerinnen und Bürger besser zusammenzubringen. Indes weist die partizipative TA in der Energiewende wesentliche Schwachpunkte auf. Der Beitrag umreißt die Rollen von Expertengremien und partizipativer TA in der Energiewende und diskutiert hieraus resultierende Probleme und Chancen einer stärker responsiven Governance.
CSR INITIATIVES: THE PREDICTOR OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN ENERGY SECTOR
Authors: Haudi . , Khairi Aseh , Kenny Kamal , Pathmathan P. Ravindran
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the financial performance for publicly-traded firms operating in the energy sector.  The energy sector has a unique role to play in global CSR efforts because of the size of the firms within that industry, the impact on the environment, and the operational risks that come with energy production. Previous research has been conducted on the relationship between CSR engagement and financial performancein various contexts, but this research has shown mixed outcomes– in some cases there is a positive relationship between CSR and performance while in other studies the research is non-existent or marginal. Thus, the research question for this study addresses a significant gap in the understanding of this topic by exploring the relationship between CSR and firm performance in a contextualized setting of the energy sector.    The dependent variable was a series of three financial metrics –returnon assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and EBITDA.  This study looked into convenience sampling method and the population in this study was employees who were currently employed in an energy sector company in Malaysia.
Corporate Governance: The Linkage to Firm Performance in Malaysia
Authors: Aseh Khairi , Pathmanathan P. Ravindran
Published: December 2020

This paper focuses on corporate governance applied in Malaysia and how it contributes to the success of the company. Over recent years, with corporate scandals and the global financial crisis, the new idea of corporate governance has attracted rising scrutiny in the business world. It is viewed as a legal obligation that requires the fostering of the integrity of the law and the delivery of ethical advice. Corporate governance is seen as an significant resource for corporate financial efficiency, and investor investment decisions have become a more serious issue, with the result that the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and financial performance assessment has drawn researchers ' attention in established and emerging cities over the last decade. A total of 215 firms on the KLSE (Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) were listed for this report in 2017. Results have demonstrated that corporate governance indicators have a major effect on company efficiency and business value assessment in general. Through analyzing the structure of the group, the ROA and Tobin q calculation variables had a major positive impact. In comparison, the CEO duality was positively associated with all dependent variables, and the number of board committees was found to be negatively correlated with all calculated variables, and strongly correlated with ROA. The challenges of corporate governance are addressed in the final part of the paper.
The Outcomes of Corporate Governance to Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from a Developing Country
Authors: Aseh Khairi , Pathmanathan P. Ravindran
Published: December 2020

Corporate governance has received increasing attention in the corporate world in these days. It is seen as a moral obligation and includes supporting the consistency of the law and showing ethical guidance. In this study, we attempted to examine the impact of corporate governance on corporate financial performance in Kuala Lumpur using a sample of 215 companies.Corporate governance variables have been shown to have a significant impact on corporate financial performance and market value measurement in general. The makeup of the board had a major positive impact on the ROA assessment variables, respectively. In addition, the CEO duality was positively correlated with all dependent variables, and the number of board committees was found to be negatively correlated with all measured variables, only significantly correlated with ROA.

KEYWORDS: Corporate governance, financial performance, Kuala Lumpur
Success Factors in Achieving Socio-Economic Development in Local Communities
Authors: Haudi . , Aseh Khairi , Kenny Kamal , Pathmathan P. Ravindran
Published: December 2020

Previous studies have shown that socio-economic growth of rural areas can be affecting by a complex of factors. Poverty, for instance, is not a single factor but rather is characterized by several physical and psychosocial stressors. The partnership between private and public sectors in Malaysia has demonstrated empirical success as reinforced by the needs to address the gaps and demands of the local community. However, there are many rural areas that are rich with natural resources are not fully explore and develop. Rural areas indeed have significant natural, human, economic and cultural potential to support their developments. Over the years, the importance of economic diversification and rural development has been increasing significantly and has eventually opens up new opportunity to discuss on how to using resources at the full value and in a sustainable way. These initiatives would later provide crucial information that will complement relevant literatures for the stakeholders to plan for a better socio-economic development in Malaysia, in particular for this study, Raub. Therefore, this study examines the socio-economic demands and challenges of the local population in Raub, Pahang to recommend relevant assistance and interventions required. The overall results of this study reveal the gaps faced by the community in the District of Raub in the context of social and economy. This study was carried out via a structured survey throughout the district involving 300 respondents and also complemented with a face-to-face interview carried out with key stakeholders.
The Development of the Brief Sexual Performance Anxiety Scale
Authors: Kochenour Allysha , Griffith James D.
Published: December 2020

Performance anxiety impairs attention, increases avoidant behaviors, and is associated with negative evaluations of the self. Relating to sexual experiences, performance is adversely affected by anxiety. Scales measuring the construct of anxiety specifically related to sexual performance are lacking. A series of three studies were conducted in an effort to develop a brief measure of sexual performance anxiety.  The current study (N = 530 across three samples) developed and evaluated the psychometric properties of the Brief Sexual Performance Anxiety Scale (BSPAS).  An exploratory factor analysis yielded an 8-item instrument that was shown to be a single-factor construct which accounted for 52% of the variance.  Cronbach’s alpha was assessed during each study and ranged from .87 - .90.  Acceptable test-retest reliability over a 4-week interval was also obtained.  A confirmatory factor analysis provided evidence that the unidimensional model of the scale fit the data well.  The instrument also showed reasonable convergent, discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validities.  The BSPAS was created to be an inclusive instrument that can be used to assess sexual performance anxiety in adults across gender, age, sexual orientation, and culture which may be useful to researchers, clinicians, and sex educators.
Competitiveness of Egyptian potatoes exports in the most important world markets
Authors: Shehata Gaber Ahmed Bassyouni , Elgabery Amal A. , Alskran Ali K. A.
Published: December 2020

The competitiveness of exports of potatoes was measured by calculating some of the competitiveness indicators including market share index, market penetration rate, price ratio index, virtual comparative advantage index, geographical concentration index (Gini Hirschman) and the index of instability.

The measurement of the external demand function on the quantity of Egyptian exports of potatoes in the world markets depends on the total domestic production of potatoes. It was also found that this variable explain about 39.7% of the changes in the quantity of Egyptian potato exports to the world markets.

A study of the forecast results of the selected models until 2024 shows that the value of agricultural exports of potatoes crop is expected to reach about $ 277.7 million in 2024, with an increase of about 77.4% compared to 2018.

The research, based on its findings, reached some recommendations that could benefit the Egyptian economic policy makers in this field.
The Effectiveness of Blended Learning Teaching Materials Based on Cognitive Styles to Improve Students’ Learning Outcomes in Solid State Physics Subjects
Authors: Prayekti Prayekti
Published: December 2020

The industrial revolution 4.0 forces various sectors, including the education sector, to face rapid technological innovation changes. Universitas Terbuka, as a distance learning activity management system, has made information and communication technology a fundamental requirement for implementing learning activities at UT or PTJJ. Blended learning emerges as an effective strategy that can combine the advantages of online education or technology-based learning and face-to-face learning. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of blended learning teaching materials based on cognitive styles to improve students’ learning outcomes in solid-state physics subjects. This research is quasi-experimental research conducted in 3 Universitas Terbuka; those are Universitas Terbuka of Surabaya, Malang, and Jember. In this study, Respondents were 11 students who were treated with blended learning teaching materials in solids state physics subjects. The data obtained are in the form of students’ learning outcomes, which are then analyzed using the N-gain test. Based on the N-gain test, the test result was accepted that the average N-gain of students was categorized as medium and high. In addition to learning outcomes, data on student responses, and learning activities were also obtained using blended learning teaching materials in solids state physics subjects. The majority of students respond to learning activities with a positive response, and students actively participate in all the learning activities provided. This study implies that blended learning materials based on cognitive styles effectively improve students’ learning outcomes in solid-state physics subjects.