bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cutting Edge: Lymphotoxin Signaling Is Essential for Clearance of Salmonella from the Gut Lumen and Generation of Anti-Salmonella Protective Immunity
Authors: Wroblewska Joanna A. , Zhang Yuan , Tang Haidong , Guo Xiaohuan , Nagler Cathryn , Fu Yang-Xin
Published: December 2016

The immunological components that control resolution of Salmonella infection and successful vaccination are poorly defined. In a model of chronic gastrointestinal infection, we observed that the lymphotoxin (LT) pathway is essential for the clearance and resolution of primary infection of attenuated Salmonella enterica Typhimurium strain SL3261 ΔaroA. Using gnotobiotic mice, we show that LTβ receptor (LTβR) signaling and the microbiota are required to promote clearance of attenuated S. enterica Typhimurium from the gut lumen. We also found that LTβR signaling was required for successful immunization and subsequent protection upon challenge with a virulent strain of S. enterica Typhimurium. LTβR signaling promoted the development of specific IgG recognizing S. enterica Typhimurium during infection, as well as Ag-driven IFN-γ responses. B cell– and type 3 innate lymphoid cell–derived LT signaling, but not T cell–derived LT, contributes to anti–S. enterica Typhimurium protective responses. Collectively, our results suggest that LT signaling is essential for multiple steps of anti–S. enterica Typhimurium immune responses.
Chemorepellent Semaphorin 3E Negatively Regulates Neutrophil Migration In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Movassagh Hesam , Saati Abeer , Nandagopal Saravanan , Mohammed Ashfaque , Tatari Nazanin , Shan Lianyu , Duke-Cohan Jonathan S. , Fowke Keith R. , Lin Francis , Gounni Abdelilah S.
Published: December 2016

Neutrophil migration is an essential step in leukocyte trafficking during inflammatory responses. Semaphorins, originally discovered as axon guidance cues in neural development, have been shown to regulate cell migration beyond the nervous system. However, the potential contribution of semaphorins in the regulation of neutrophil migration is not well understood. This study examines the possible role of a secreted chemorepellent, Semaphorin 3E (Sema3E), in neutrophil migration. In this study, we demonstrated that human neutrophils constitutively express Sema3E high-affinity receptor, PlexinD1. Sema3E displayed a potent ability to inhibit CXCL8/IL-8–induced neutrophil migration as determined using a microfluidic device coupled to real-time microscopy and a transwell system in vitro. The antimigratory effect of Sema3E on human neutrophil migration was associated with suppression of CXCL8/IL-8–mediated Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 GTPase activity and actin polymerization. We further addressed the regulatory role of Sema3E in the regulation of neutrophil migration in vivo. Allergen airway exposure induced higher neutrophil recruitment into the lungs of Sema3e−/− mice compared with wild-type controls. Administration of exogenous recombinant Sema3E markedly reduced allergen-induced neutrophil recruitment into the lungs, which was associated with alleviation of allergic airway inflammation and improvement of lung function. Our data suggest that Sema3E could be considered an essential regulatory mediator involved in modulation of neutrophil migration throughout the course of neutrophilic inflammation.
Adaptive NKG2C+ NK Cell Response and the Risk of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Redondo-Pachón Dolores , Crespo Marta , Yélamos Jose , Muntasell Aura , Pérez-Sáez María José , Pérez-Fernández Silvia , Vila Joan , Vilches Carlos , Pascual Julio , López-Botet Miguel
Published: December 2016

CMV infection in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) has been associated with an increased risk for graft loss and reduced host survival. CMV promotes persistent expansions of NK cells expressing the CD94/NKG2C receptor. The NKG2C (KLRC2) gene is frequently deleted, and copy number influences the adaptive response of NKG2C+ NK cells. The distribution of NKG2C+ NK cells and NKG2C genotypes (NKG2C+/+, NKG2C+/del, NKG2Cdel/del) were studied in cross-sectional (n = 253) and prospective (n = 122) KTR cohorts. Assessment of CMV viremia was restricted to symptomatic cases in the retrospective study, but was regularly monitored in the prospective cohort. Overall, the proportions of NKG2C+ NK cells were significantly higher in KTRs who had suffered posttransplant symptomatic CMV infection in the cross-sectional study. Yet, along the prospective follow-up (3, 6, 12, and 24 mo), posttransplant NKG2C+ NK cell expansions were not observed in every patient with detectable viremia who received preemptive antiviral therapy, suggesting that the adaptive NK cell response may be inversely related with the degree of CMV control. Remarkably, the incidence of posttransplant viremia was reduced among cases with high pretransplant levels of NKG2C+ NK cells. The NKG2C genotype distribution was comparable in KTR and healthy controls, and greater proportions of NKG2C+ cells were detected in NKG2C+/+ than in NKG2C+/del patients. Yet, a trend toward increased NKG2C+/del and reduced NKG2C+/+ frequencies associated with symptomatic infection was appreciated in both cohorts. Altogether, our results indirectly support that adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells are involved in the control of CMV in KTRs.
Making the case for biodiversity in South Africa: Re-framing biodiversity communications
Authors: Maze Kristal , Barnett Mandy , Botts Emily A. , Stephens Anthea , Freedman Mike , Guenther Lars
Published: December 2016

Background: Biodiversity education and public awareness do not always contain the motivational messages that inspire action amongst decision-makers. Traditional messages from the biodiversity sector are often framed around threat, with a generally pessimistic tone. Aspects of social marketing can be used to support positive messaging that is more likely to inspire action amongst the target audience.Objectives: The South African biodiversity sector embarked on a market research process to better understand the target audiences for its messages and develop a communications strategy that would reposition biodiversity as integral to the development trajectory of South Africa.Method: The market research process combined stakeholder analysis, market research, engagement and facilitated dialogue. Eight concept messages were developed that framed biodiversity communications in different ways. These messages were tested with the target audience to assess which were most relevant in a developing-world context.Results: The communications message that received the highest ranking in the market research process was the concept of biodiversity as a ‘national asset’. This frame places biodiversity as an equivalent national priority to other economic and social imperatives. Other messages that ranked highly were the emotional message of biodiversity as ‘our children’s legacy’ and the action-based ‘practical solutions’.Conclusion: Based on the findings, a communications strategy known as ‘Making the case for biodiversity’ was developed that re-framed the economic, emotional and practical value propositions for biodiversity. The communications strategy has already resulted in greater political and economic attention towards biodiversity in South Africa.
Notes on a remotely operated vehicle survey to describe reef ichthyofauna and habitats – Agulhas Bank, South Africa
Authors: Makwela Mapula S. , Kerwath Sven E. , Götz Albrecht , Sink Kerry , Samaai Toufiek , Wilke Christopher G
Published: December 2016

Background: Despite their ecological and economic importance, reef habitats on the central Agulhas Bank, off the southern tip of Africa, remain poorly studied. The ichthyofauna of these habitats cannot be surveyed using trawl gear.Objective: Preliminary assessment of the use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to investigate the ichthyofauna associated with deep reef habitats on the central Agulhas Bank.Method: Underwater visual surveys were carried out during ROV dives (maximum duration 60 minutes; area covered approximately 800 m2; maximum dive depth 100 m).Results discussion: The number of detected fish species (36) compares well with that reported from fishing surveys and commercial fisher data. Most (68%) fishes appeared to be undisturbed by the ROV. Species saturation was reached after a maximum of 135 minutes survey time, but species numbers increased and saturation times shortened (34 minutes minimum) with the introduction of bait.Conclusion:  ROV surveys may represent a non-extractive alternative to assess demersal ichthyofaunal diversity in relation to habitat structure and benthic cover on temperate reefs around South Africa.
Grasslands feeling the heat: The effects of elevated temperatures on a subtropical grassland
Authors: Buhrmann Rowan D. , Ramdhani Syd , Pammenter Norman W. , Naidoo Sershen
Published: December 2016

Background: Tropical and subtropical Africa is predicted to experience a rise in temperature. The effects of rising temperatures on temperate grasslands have been studied using open-top chambers (OTCs) but reports for tropical/subtropical grasslands are scarce. This study used OTCs to investigate the effects of elevated temperatures on a threatened subtropical grassland type, namely KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld (KZNSS).Objectives: To assess the effects of OTCs on selected abiotic parameters and plant productivity within KZNSS.Methods: Five OTC and control plots were randomly distributed at the same altitude within a patch of KZNSS. Air and soil temperature, relative humidity (RH), soil moisture content and light intensity were monitored in all plots in spring, summer, autumn and winter. Biomass production and plant density were measured in each season, for each life form (graminoid, forb and shrub), separately and combined.Results: The OTCs resulted in a rise in average, maximum and minimum day and night, air and soil temperatures. This increase, the degree of which differed across seasons, was accompanied by a decline in RH and soil moisture content. Elevated temperatures led to a significant increase in combined, graminoid and shrub above-ground productivity (AGP) and a decrease in forb density, but in certain seasons only. Below-ground biomass production was unaffected by elevated temperatures.Conclusions: OTCs can simulate realistic increases of air temperature in subtropical grasslands. Graminoids and shrubs appear to benefit from elevated temperatures whilst forbs decrease in abundance, possibly through competition and/or direct physiological effects.
Evaluating the outcomes and processes of a research-action partnership: The need for continuous reflective evaluation
Authors: Taylor Chantal , Cockburn Jessica , Rouget Mathieu , Ray-Mukherjee Jayanti , Mukherjee Shomen , Slotow Rob , Roberts Debra , Boon Richard , O’Donoghue Sean , Douwes Errol
Published: December 2016

Background: The KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld (KZNSS) Research Programme is part of a collaborative, transdisciplinary research partnership between the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the eThekwini Municipality (EM), aimed at bridging the science-policy-practice gap. The research programme focuses on generating knowledge and capacity to support local land-use planning, management and policy development related to biodiversity and climate change issues. Objectives: The objectives were (1) to describe how a continuous reflective evaluation approach helped to better understand the research programme and its outcomes; and (2) to assess research outputs and outcomes, relevance of outcomes to the requirements of EM, and participants’ perceptions of the programme (both the outcomes and the process). Methods: The evaluation took a mixed methods approach, combining various quantitative and qualitative methods such as anonymous individual questionnaires, reflective exercises and group reflections. Results: The KZNSS programme was successful in capacity building and establishing a long-term partnership, but had lower scientific publication output and practice uptake than expected. Participants’ perceptions changed over time, with a decrease in the perceived success of addressing tangible research outcomes, and an increase in the perceived success of collaborative relationships in the partnership. Conclusion: Transdisciplinary partnerships can be a means of integrating research into policy and practice through knowledge exchange. An important lesson in the early stages of this partnership was to pay attention to the process and not only the outputs. The study highlights the importance of continuous participatory reflection and evaluation in such partnerships.
Diversity in the ministry of chaplaincy in the South African Department of Correctional Services
Authors: Masango Maake J. , Mkhathini Maxwell
Published: December 2016

This article gives an overview of diversity in the South African Department of Correctional Services and how it challenges the ministry of chaplains. The diversity is manifest in the religious affiliations of inmates, crime categories, various categories of offenders, and programmes and services as unpacked in this article. This article precisely aims to shed light on how the chaplaincy functions within the framework of corrections in South Africa and how the diversity of the inmates’ population impacts on its theory and praxis. The Authors delineate the role that chaplains have to play to remain relevant to the correctional environment and accentuate the required empathic and non-judgmental stance by spiritual care personnel. Religious flexibility and adaptability is essential, as chaplains are managers of all religious activities. The article provides solid insights into what being a correctional chaplain in South Africa entails.
‘The idea of the University’ and the ‘Pretoria Model’ Apologia pro statu Facultatis Theologicae Universitatis Pretoriensis ad secundum saeculum</>
Authors: Buitendag Johan
Published: December 2016

The article is authored by the Dean of Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria, celebrating the Faculty’s centenary in 2017. The exposition of the argument is unfolded on the basis of Ricoeur’s threefold mimesis of prefiguration, configuration and reconfiguration. The earliest decisive statement with regard to the nature of the Faculty, and which is eagerly pursued, was made by the Rev. M.J. Goddefroy in 1888, epitomising theological training as of academic deference, that is as a Faculty at a university and not a seminary. This has been the fibre of Theology at the University of Pretoria and intellectual inquiry is an uncompromised value. The article is a critical reflection on the past century and an orientation towards the next hundred years, identifying the essence of what a real Pretoria Model could and should be and looking ahead to the next century. ‘History is not a destination, but an orientation’, sounds like a refrain in the article. The enterprise is contextual with regard to time and space. The assessment is subsequently done in terms of this continent and this century, that is Africa and the 21st century. The conclusion of the article is that the Pretoria Model fills a unique niche in theological inquiry at public universities competing for a position among the top 500 on the ranking of world universities.
The pre-history of the incarnation of Jesus Christ in the Christology of T.F. Torrance
Authors: Davis Martin M.
Published: December 2016

T.F. Torrance is widely known for his dialogue between theology and the natural sciences. His Christology, however, merits greater attention in the academic literature, particularly in regard to his important discussion of the prehistory of Jesus Christ’s incarnation in the nation of Israel. The purpose of this article is to address this inadequacy. The present article provides an overview of Torrance’s discussion of the mediation of revelation and reconciliation in Israel and relates it to Jesus Christ’s incarnation. Content is based on a review of the primary literature published over a span of more than 40 years, as well as a review of the relatively few secondary resources that include an extensive discussion of this subject matter. Torrance’s discussion of the prehistory of the incarnation in Israel provides the biblical-historical background for his Christology. For Torrance, divine self-disclosure and human response in the context of God’s covenant interaction with Israel constitute a two-fold but unitary movement of mediation in Israel that is ultimately embodied and enacted in the person and life of Jesus Christ. As Torrance argues, Jesus Christ incorporates in his incarnate person, life, death and resurrection the prehistory of the mediation of revelation and reconciliation in Israel. Torrance’s discussion of the prehistory of the incarnation in Israel provides a helpful hermeneutical framework for understanding the purpose, meaning and goal of God’s covenant interaction with Old Testament Israel as a preparation for the advent of Jesus Christ.
A consideration of the impeccability of Christ
Authors: Kanniah Lazarus E. , Coetzee Carel F.C.
Published: December 2016

The following study seeks to investigate the impeccability of Christ from a historical-theological point of view. Two camps emerge on either side of the debate. The one camp is those who hold to the posse non peccare view, which is to say the ability not to sin, otherwise known as the peccability view. The other camp holds to the non posse peccare view which is to say inability to sin, otherwise known as the impeccability view. While both camps affirm the sinless perfection of Christ they oppose each other about whether he could have sinned if he had wanted to. It boils down to a case of ‘could have but did not’ or ‘did not because He could not have’. It is the view of this article that the non posse peccare view squares with historical theology. By surveying church councils up to the present time, we aim in the introduction to prove that the history of this issue matters in that it establishes the relationship between Christology and history in relation to the origin of sin. In the first section of the main body we survey and evaluate the position from a peccability viewpoint while, at the same time, proposing and validating our points of departure. In the second section we assess and acknowledge the argument for impeccability by proving the necessity of it for the exoneration of Christ’s Person.
Revisiting C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters of 1941 and exploring their relation to ‘Screwtape proposes a toast’
Authors: Potgieter Raymond M.
Published: December 2016

According to the Bible, human history unfolds with the overarching presence of God and the limited presence of the devil. Though the fall of humankind into sin resulted in lasting consequences the Judeao-Christian tradition has had little trouble in identifying this distinction. But it is when the devil (and his followers) seek to challenge God’s dominion that the role of God becomes sullied through the seeming victories of the devil. C.S. Lewis was signally aware of spiritual warfare. He explored this in many of his writings, but it was especially The Screwtape Letters that fired the imagination of personal spiritual warfare. These were in story-like fashion from the perspective of demons in conversation with one another in the attempt to corrupt, dominate and destroy particular human subjects. The wider applicatory value of these letters is manifested in Lewis’s final letter from Screwtape: it is this letter that addresses the education system and shows how, from the devil’s perspective, matters such as the desensitisation of evil, normalising of forms of violence and deceit all bear evidence of the shifting moral adjustments Lewis identified in the education system of his day. The consequence of this has taken on the semblance of normality so that this normalisation constantly adjusts to the on- going progression towards still weirder and deeper forms of evil.
Proportional reasoning ability of school leavers aspiring to higher education in South Africa
Authors: Frith Vera , Lloyd Pam
Published: December 2016

The ability to reason about numbers in relative terms is essential for quantitative literacy, which is necessary for studying academic disciplines and for critical citizenship. However, the ability to reason with proportions is known to be difficult to learn and to take a long time to develop. To determine how well higher education applicants can reason with proportions, questions requiring proportional reasoning were included in one version of the National Benchmark Test as unscored items. This version of the National Benchmark Test was taken in June 2014 by 5 444 learners countrywide who were intending to apply to higher education institutions. The multiple choice questions varied in terms of the structure of the problem, the context in which they were situated and complexity of the numbers, but all involved only positive whole numbers. The percentage of candidates who answered any particular question correctly varied from 25% to 82%. Problem context and structure affected the performance, as expected. In addition, problems in which the answer was presented as a mathematical expression, or as a sentence in which the reasoning about the relative sizes of fractions was explained, were generally found to be the most difficult. The performance on those questions in which the answer was a number or a category (chosen as a result of reasoning about the relative sizes of fractions) was better. These results indicate that in learning about ratio and proportion there should be a focus on reasoning in various contexts and not only on calculating answers algorithmically.
An analysis of the Grade 3 Department of Basic Education workbooks as curriculum tools
Authors: Hoadley Ursula , Galant Jaamia
Published: December 2016

Since 2011, the Department of Basic Education (DBE), has provided all Grade 1 to 6 learners in public schools with literacy/language, numeracy/mathematics and life skills workbooks. This study provides an assessment of the purpose to which the workbooks are best suited by analysing the Grade 3 Mathematics and Home Language English workbooks for 2015 in the light of the DBE’s intentions for the workbooks. The study considers alignment of the workbooks with the official national curriculum, the Curriculum and Assessment Policy (CAPS), as well as ‘conceptual signalling’ and progression in the content of the workbooks. We then evaluate the kind of ‘curriculum tool’ the workbooks in their current format conform to. We explore three possibilities in the light of the DBE’s proposals for the workbook use: a practice tool; an assessment tool; and a monitoring tool. We also reflect on the workbooks as a teaching tool. Our analysis suggests that, in line with the DBE’s intended purpose for the workbooks, that the workbooks best represent a practice curriculum tool. We highlight the significance of the high level of curriculum compliance of the workbook, and indicate that this would render them an effective monitoring tool for assessing the quantitative coverage of the curriculum at a systemic level.
Disentangling the language effect in South African schools: Measuring the impact of ‘language of assessment’ in grade 3 literacy and numeracy
Authors: Spaull Nicholas
Published: December 2016

The aim of this article is to exploit an unusual occurrence whereby a large group of South African grade 3 students were tested twice, 1 month apart, on the same test in different languages. Using a simplified difference-in-difference methodology, it becomes possible to identify the causal impact of writing a test in English when English is not a student’s home language for 3402 students. The article aims to address the extent to which language factors (relative to non- language factors) can explain the high levels of underperformance in reading and mathematics in South Africa. I find that the language of assessment effect is between 0.3 and 0.7 standard deviations in literacy and 0 and 0.3 standard deviations in numeracy. This is approximately 1–2 years worth of learning in literacy and 0–1 year worth of learning in numeracy. By contrast, the size of the composite effect of home background and school quality is roughly 4 years worth of learning for both numeracy (1.2 standard deviations) and literacy (1.15 standard deviations). These results clearly show that the ‘language effect’ should be seen within the broader context of a generally dysfunctional schooling system. They further stress the importance of the quality of instruction, not only the language of learning and assessment. The fact that the literacy and numeracy achievement of South African children is so low in grade 3 (prior to any language switch to English in grade 4) should give pause to those who argue that language is the most important factor in determining achievement, or lack thereof, in South Africa.
What is history? Views from a primary school teacher education programme
Authors: Godsell Sarah
Published: December 2016

This article focuses on how history as a concept is understood by first-year BA Education students. Students were asked to respond to the following questions: ‘what is history?’, ‘what is history to you?’ and ‘who writes history?’ Verbal and written consent was obtained from the students to participate in the study. Their answers demonstrated a concept of history that is imbued with a spatial and temporal as well as ideological and moral position. This article argues that, through the data, it seems that for these students the concept of history emerges as an object that is given a moral value, rather than history being seen as having value as a knowledge or skill set. I draw parallels between my findings and Donovan and Bransford’s work on how history is learnt by primary school students in the United States. There are clear similarities between the primary school understandings recorded in Donovan and Bransford, and first-year university understandings that emerged in the data of this study. This article argues that if history is understood as moral, as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, critical thinking and analytic skills which learning history can imbue are vastly diminished. Furthermore, this article uses Lauren Berlant’s concept of ‘cruel optimism’ to consider the implications of how the participating students understand what history is.
African indigenous care-giving practices: Stimulating early childhood development and education in Kenya
Authors: Wadende Pamela , Oburu Paul O. , Morara Abel
Published: December 2016

The indigenous communities in Africa, specifically Kenya, which is the focus of this article, had their own well-developed motivational systems that positively enhanced teaching and learning programmes in the community. These motivational systems were manifested in behaviours that were presented as sequential cultural tasks that demanded active engagement from children at every stage of development. The philosophical tenets of African indigenous education underscored education as preparation for life. This was a culturally based education that addressed the physical, emotional, mental and social aspects of a child’s successful development. It offered the child an opportunity to participate in practical, productive and responsible livelihood activities. This article suggests that a concert of research into these indigenous motivational care-giving practices and community participation in the activities of early childhood education may offer important insights into transitioning children from life in the home environment to that of the school and its accompanying academic tasks. When these motivational care-giving practices are incorporated in the process of transitioning children to formal schooling, then their chances of success in these new educational programmes could be enhanced.
From Song to Visual Art: Exploring Sehnsucht in the lived experiences of visual artists
Authors: Cupido Conroy A.
Published: December 2016

This article explored the experiences shared by four artists during their processes of creating an art work which represented a specific art song or Lied. During 2015, South African artists Marna de Wet, Kevin du Plessis, Jean Lampen and Eljana van der Merwe collaborated with the pianist Tinus Botha and baritone Conroy Cupido. The essence of the poetry and music of Vaughan Williams, Quilter, Schumann, Strauss and Brahms presented in this project conveyed a feeling known as Sehnsucht. The purpose of this article was to understand the experiences of these artists during their creative processes. Their processes entailed ascribing meaning and communicating their interpretation of the elements of Sehnsucht from the music and poetry to visual art. This was achieved through interpretative phenomenological analysis. The artists used various media including, charcoal on paper, oil paint on sourced objects, oil on canvas and photography to portray their interpretations. Through their artistic processes, the artists uncovered melancholy, Wanderlust, homo-eroticism, longing and the desire for love in the music and poetry. One of the artists discovered how her own concept of idealised love had evolved through her artistic process. The artists used both music and narrative content to visualise Sehnsucht; however, due to the non-referential nature of music, the artists were not always able to verbalise how the music influenced their work. The article includes images of some of the art works.
On the Roughness of Quasinilpotency Property of One-parameter Semigroups
Authors: Preda Ciprian
Published: December 2016

Let S := {S(t)}t≥0 be a C0-semigroup of quasinilpotent operators (i.e., σ(S(t)) = {0} for eacht> 0). In dynamical systems theory the above quasinilpotency property is equivalent to a very strong concept of stability for the solutions of autonomous systems. This concept is frequently called superstability and weakens the classical ûnite time extinction property (roughly speaking, disappearing solutions). We show that under some assumptions, the quasinilpotency, or equivalently, the superstability property of a C0-semigroup is preserved under the perturbations of its infinitesimal generator.
О существовании периодических решений у ОДУ в банаховом пространстве с высокочастотными слагаемыми
Authors: Sazonov Leonid Ivanovich
Published: December 2016

Рассматривается вопрос о существовании периодических решений
у линейных ОДУ в банаховом пространстве
с высокочастотными слагаемыми.
Библиография: 5 названий.
О коротких суммах Клоостермана по простому модулю
Authors: Korolev Maxim Aleksandrovich
Published: December 2016

В статье с помощью метода А. А. Карацубы получены новые оценки
сумм Клоостермана по простому модулю,
которые при некоторых ограничениях на число слагаемых являются
более точными, чем аналогичные оценки, найденные ранее.
Библиография: 13 названий.
О квадратах во множестве элементов конечного поля с ограничениями на коэффициенты при разложении по базису
Authors: Gabdullin Mikhail Rashidovich
Published: December 2016

Усилены недавние результаты С. Дартиж, С. Модюи, А. Шаркози
в задаче о количестве квадратов среди элементов конечного поля
с ограничениями на коэффициенты при разложении по базису.
Библиография: 15 названий.
Емкость рационального прообраза компакта
Authors: Buslaev Viktor Ivanovich
Published: December 2016

В статье показано, что хорошо известная формула
для емкости прообраза компакта при полиномиальном отображении
имеет место и для случая рационального отображения,
если стандартную емкость прообраза заменить его емкостью
во внешнем поле, определяемом лежащими в $\mathbb C$ полюсами
рациональной функции, задающей отображение.
Библиография: 12 названий.
Преобразование Мутара двумерных операторов Дирака и конформная геометрия поверхностей в четырехмерном пространстве
Authors: Matuev R M , Taimanov Iskander Asanovich
Published: December 2016

Построено преобразование Мутара для двумерного оператора Дирака
с комплекснозначным потенциалом. Показано, что это
преобразование связывает потенциалы представлений Вейерштрасса
поверхностей, связанных композицией инверсии и отражения
относительно оси. Аналитически описан явный пример такого
преобразования, которое приводит к появлению на спектральной
кривой оператора Дирака двойных точек.
Библиография: 12 названий.
О приближении решений двумерного волнового уравнения c переменной скоростью и локализованной правой частью с помощью некоторых "простых" решений
Authors: Dobrokhotov Sergey Yur'evich , Anikin Anatolii Yur'evich
Published: December 2016

В работе сравниваются основанные на характеристиках
и модифицированном каноническом операторе Маслова
асимптотические решения двумерного волнового уравнения с переменными
коэффициентами и правой частью, отвечающей:
а) мгновенному источнику; б) быстро действующему, но
"размазанному по времени" источнику. Предлагается алгоритм
приближения (более сложного) решения задачи б) линейными
комбинациями производных от (более простого) решения задачи а).
Приводятся численные расчеты, демонстрирующие точность
данного приближения. Замена решений б) на решения типа а)
становится особенно важной в том случае, когда волновое
уравнение рассматривается в области с границей, на которой
скорость волнового уравнения обращается в нуль. Тогда
характеристики задачи становятся особыми (нестандартными)
и решения типа а) обобщаются на такой случай существенно
проще и эффективнее, чем решения типа б). Такая ситуация
возникает в задачах о набеге длинных волн (например, волн
цунами) на пологий берег.
Библиография: 17 названий.
Об "операторах рождения" в задаче о локализованных решениях линеаризованных уравнений мелкой воды с регулярными и особыми характеристиками
Authors: Sergeev Sergey Andreevich , Tolchennikov Anton Aleksandrovich
Published: December 2016

Рассматривается волновая часть локализованного решения
линейной системы уравнений мелкой воды. Найдена связь
между решениями при условии, что задана связь
между начальными условиями.
Библиография: 13 названий.
Задача Коши для волнового уравнения на однородном дереве
Authors: Tsvetkova Anna Valerievna , Shafarevich Andrei Igorevich
Published: December 2016

Изучается волновое уравнение на бесконечном однородном дереве.
В качестве условий согласования для оператора Лапласа
в вершинах берутся условия Кирхгофа. Получено решение задачи Коши,
а также описано поведение энергии волны при стремлении времени
к бесконечности. Показано, что часть энергии не уходит
на бесконечность, а остается на ребрах дерева. Доля энергии,
остающейся на ребрах, зависит от числа ветвления.
Библиография: 10 названий.
An Assessment of Critical Factors Affecting Quality Performance of Government Financed Construction Projects: Evidence from Tanzania
Authors: Raphael Gwahula , Phillip Augustine Wittonde
Published: December 2016

The study objective was “An assessment of critical factors affecting quality performance of government financed construction projects in Tanzania”. The study was initiated as much of government financed construction projects are executed with variations on delivering time, cost and quality. The study identified factors if not considered can lead to poor quality performance of projects. Closed end questionnaire consisting of 20 performance factors were issued to 80 respondents dealing with construction related activities, they were required to rank them on a 5 point Likert scale. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16 (SPSS). The findings revealed that the critical factors that have direct impact on quality performance of government financed construction projects are; project financing processes, experience of contractors in construction industry, project technology, availability of plant and equipment, procurement system and processes as well as the project manager knowledge and skills. A multiple regression model developed showed a positive linear relationship between project quality performance and the critical quality performance factors. All the critical quality performance factors had positive coefficients with an acceptable level of significance. The study recommends further studies on the economic and social factors that hinder women participation in construction relation activities and how training and learning opportunities for continuous improvement will have positive impact on the performance of construction projects.
Risks and Barriers Associated with Mobile Money Transactions in Tanzania
Authors: Raphael Gwahula
Published: December 2016

The study was about Risks and Barriers Associated with Mobile Money Transactions in Tanzania. The focal point of the study was to spot and reveal risks and barriers experienced by mobile money users in mobile money transactions (MMT) and the frequencies of their incidences. It also assesses the level of users' understanding and how they can avoid themselves from barriers and risks exposing environment. The research was based on primary data which was collected in a survey done in Ilala district through questionnaires. Data analysis was based on descriptive statistics and interpretation based on positivist assumptions in which the results were quantitative and independent from the researcher. The research findings reveal that while the most likely experienced risks are a loss of password, fake transaction request, and fake money, the barriers are a poor network, agent lack liquidity, and lack of identity card. However, the rate of incidence of risks and barriers in MMT are moderates. The study, therefore, recommend that the regulatory authority should guarantee the security of mobile money users by improving MMT rules and regulations, they should also stress mobile companies to create MMT awareness in risks, rules and regulations to mobile money users to encourage their participation in this industry and finally the mobile company should improve mobile money network infrastructures and application platforms.
The Impact of Corporate Governance Characteristics on the of Financial Distress
Authors: Filsaraei Mahdi , Moghaddam Reza Jarrahi
Published: December 2016

Given the importance of corporate governance for increasing the monitoring of company operations, i.e., reducing information asymmetry and increasing control over operations, in this study, we investigate some indicators of corporate governance and financial distress as one of the most important criteria in the decisions of the users of financial statements. Corporate governance Indicators that have been mentioned in this study, including the independence of the board of directors (the ratio of non-executive members), institutional investors and duality of CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. This study is applied research and the required information is gathered from financial statements of listed companies on the TSE. Using a sample of 82 company stock during the period 2010-2014 and multivariate regression analysis, the results of the analysis of information gathered indicates that institutional ownership reduces the financial distress. However, there was no significant relationship between board independence (proportion of outside board members) and the duality of CEO and Chairman of the Board with the financial distress. The results also indicate that financial leverage and a qualified audit opinion increases financial distress and firm size and management performance reduces it.
Does Teacher Licensure Matter? Basic Education Reform in the Philippine Education System
Authors: Acosta Alexander S. , Acosta Imee Colonia
Published: December 2016

The Philippine government is currently investing on education reform through the Enhanced
Basic Education Program or the K-12 Curriculum. The recent basic education program does
not only call for academic excellence but also on higher teacher qualification. The purpose of
this study is to determine whether or not teacher licensure matters in the implementation of
the basic education reform in the Philippine Education system. Qualitative in orientation, this
study utilized Phenomenology as its research design to capture the lebenswelt of college
teachers who are distraught by the implementation of the new K-12 curriculum. Data were
gathered through interviews and the analysis of data was empirically observed using the
following steps: transcribing, coding, theming, verifying, and analyzing. The analysis of data
in this phenomenological inquiry yielded three essential themes based on the respondents’
major statements pertaining to eligibility that makes the college teacher qualified to teach in
the Senior High School of the new K-12 program, namely: full eligibility, provisionary
eligibility, and temporary eligibility. The college teachers in this study accept and favor the
Department of Education’s teaching licensure requirement. They believe that passing the
Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) is an important requirement before entering the
classroom. The shared experiences of the participants of the study serve as a primordial
source to raise awareness about the value and importance of teacher licensure to meet the
high quality standards set by the profession and the hiring standard recognized by the
government and public schools as an assurance of competence and quality.
Use of Educational Animation and Academic Performance of Business Studies Students in Akwa Ibom State
Authors: Etim Paulinus J. , Itighise Atim Edet , Ema Iniobong Bassey
Published: December 2016

The Study examines the use of slow-motion educational animation and academic performance of Business studies students in Akwa Ibom State. Quasi experimental non-randomized pre-test post-test design was adopted for the study. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. 88 Business    education students from two schools were purposively sampled from 5146 in 13 public secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State-Nigeria. The subject were divided into experimental and control groups. Experimental group were treated with slow-motion educational animation while control group were taught using expository teaching method. Data were collected using Business Studies performance test (BSPT). The instrument was face and content validated by two experts, one in educational Technology and another in Measurement and Evaluation all from Faculty of Education, University of Uyo, Uyo. The instrument had reliability co-efficient of .81. The treatment was done within four weeks.  The result revealed that the use of slow-motion educational animation enhance academic performance of JS 3 Business Studies students when compared to expository teaching method. It was recommended among others that teachers should use slow-motion educational animation in presentation of their lesson content for students’ high academic performance and teaching effectiveness.
A Study of the Difficulties in Learning of English Faced by Hindi and Urdu Speaking Students in India and Indian Expatriates in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hashmi Qudsia Iqbal
Published: December 2016

Main aim of the study was to explore and analyze the learning difficulties faced by Hindi and Urdu speaking-students in India and Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia. It is generally felt that learning of English varies in different context. Learners having background of Urdu, Hindi differ on account of learning achievements. Similarly those who enjoy more English learning environment may perform better than their counterparts. In order to carry out the study, three types of subjects were purpose. The study, though was descriptive-qualitative in nature, quantification was used to arrive at statistical inferences. The results indicated that most of the learner’s problems arose due to L1 interference on second language learning process.
The Relationship between English Language Learners’ Perceptions towards Classroom Oral Error Corrections and Their Pronunciation Accuracy
Authors: Beiranvand Afshin Peerdadeh , Entezamara Ali
Published: December 2016

Inevitably, language learners make mistakes, and teachers correct them. It is, also, crystal clear that language learners have different attitudes towards error and error correction strategies. Needless to say, language teachers’ awareness of language learners’ perceptions towards error and error correction strategies can heighten the quality and the quantity of language teaching and learning process. This study based on the findings of a questionnaire and a test given to 82 male and female English language learners in Iran Language Institute (ILI) investigates: 1) whether ILI English language learners have positive or negative attitudes towards classroom oral error corrections; 2) whether there is a relationship between ILI English language learners’ perceptions towards classroom oral error corrections and their pronunciation accuracy; 3) if there is a relationship between ILI learners’ gender and their attitudes towards classroom oral error corrections. The findings of this study show that ILI English language learners have absolutely positive attitudes towards classroom oral error corrections, which means they want to be corrected. The findings, also, show that there is not any significant relationship between ILI English language learners’ perceptions towards classroom oral error corrections and their pronunciation accuracy. The findings, also, show that there is not any significant relationship between ILI English language learners’ perceptions towards classroom oral error corrections and their gender.
A Survey on the Effectiveness of Mother Tongue on Learning L2 Vocabulary by Iranian Pre-intermediate EFL Learners
Authors: Khodareza Mohammadreza , Kaviani Maryam
Published: December 2016

This study investigated the role of mother tongue on learning English vocabulary by Iranian pre-intermediate EFL learners. For this purpose, 30 female pre-intermediate learners were chosen. After administering a Nelson test participants were selected from the intact classes at Foreign Language Institute in Babol. These 30 partners were randomly allocated to 2 gatherings (one laboratory and the other control) each comprising of 15 partners. The participants received a pre-test comprising 70 English words to ensure that they did not have previous information of objective structures. Experimental group received their instruction, meaning of each target word, and translation of target words with their mother tongue (Persian). But control group just received target language (English) for all activities or instructions. Both teacher and students in this group didn’t allow using Persian. After the treatment, the same pre-test was given to the participants as a post-test to measure the effectiveness of therapy gained. After collecting the data, to respond the research proposal, a t-test was conducted. The results indicated that first language had significant effect on learning English words. The findings of this study are considered to be useful in methodology issue.