bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantiﬁer Float, Focus, and Scope in Thai
Authors: Jenks Peter
Published: August 2016

In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt:Quantiﬁer Raising (QR) has been independently claimed to possess similar proper-ties as Q(uantifier)-float. I argue elsewhere that Q-ﬂoat and QR share these properties in Thai because Q-ﬂoat is overt QR in Thai (Jenks 2011). Here I argue that Q-ﬂoat is driven by focus on the ﬂoated quantiﬁer, following Simpson (2011). This is unsurprising, as other rightward movement phenomena such as heavy-NP shift and subject inversion are associated with focus on the rightward element.
Language Change as a Social Process: Diffusion Patterns of Lexical Innovations in Twitter
Authors: Maybaum Rebecca
Published: August 2016

In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt:The similarities between findings from language change research and innovation diffusion research suggest that language change may be explained by the same mechanisms that govern the social diffusion of non-linguistic innovations. In this paper I apply the theoretical framework of innovation diffusion research to an instance of language change. By approaching the diffusion of linguistic innovations as a social process, I hope to gain insights into the mechanisms of language change from a new perspective.
Anchored to what? An anaphoric approach to frames of reference
Authors: Barlew Jefferson
Published: August 2016

In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief exceprt:In this paper I argue that projective spatial expressions are anaphoric. I demonstrate that an anaphoric account makes better empirical predictions for projective spatial expressions in English. I then show that the anaphoric approach can be extended to account for a different type of spatial anchoring found in the meanings of non-projective spatial expres-sions in the Bantu language Mushunguli (Somalia).
The Expression of Motion Events: A Quantitative Study of Six Typologically Varied Languages
Authors: Fagard Benjamin , Zlatev Jordan , Kopecka Anetta , Cerruti Massimo , Blomberg Johan
Published: August 2016

In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt:More than two decades of intense research on motion event typology, emanating from the influential proposal of Talmy (1991, 2000) of a universal binary classification of languages into verb-framed (VF), such as French, and satellite-framed (SF), such as English, still leaves many questions unresolved. One such question is whether serial-verb languages such as Thai should be considered a third type (Zlatev and David 2003; Zlatev and Yangklang 2004), generalized by Slobin (2004) as equipollently-framed (EF). A second question is whether these two or three types should be regarded as in some sense ‘distinct’ (even if they have minor expression patterns conflicting the dominant, type-characteristic ones), or rather as forming continua with respect to certain dimensions, such as the propensity to express MANNER (Slobin 2004) or PATH (Ibarretxe-Antuñano 2009). A third and related question is whether the notion of language types (with respect to motion typology or in general) should not be abandoned, and languages rather be described as conglomerates of constructions and strategies, with complex overlaps (Kopecka 2006; Beavers, Levin & Tham 2010; Croft et al. 2010). In the research reported here, we address these questions, using an empirical approach based on elicited data from six carefully chosen languages. Two of these are the Romance languages French and Piedmontese, which can both reasonably be expected to be of the VF type. We also analyzed the Germanic languages Swedish and German and the Slavic language Polish, all three typically considered as SF. Finally, we included Thai (Tai-Kadai), classified as EF by Slobin (2004).
ANALYTICAL FORMULATION OF THE SINGLE-VISIT COMPLETENESS JOINT PROBABILITY DENSITY FUNCTION
Authors: Garrett Daniel , Savransky Dmitry
Published: August 2016

We derive an exact formulation of the multivariate integral representing the single-visit obscurational and photometric completeness joint probability density function for arbitrary distributions for planetary parameters. We present a derivation of the region of nonzero values of this function, which extends previous work, and discuss the time and computational complexity costs and benefits of the method. We present a working implementation and demonstrate excellent agreement between this approach and Monte Carlo simulation results.
Why is Viral Eradication so Important in Patients with HCV-Related Cirrhosis?
Authors: Velosa José
Published: August 2016

Approximately one-third of patients infected with chronic HCV have cirrhosis, and this is likely to increase in the near future. The risk of complications, mainly the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, depends on the presence of cirrhosis, and a significant increase in the incidence of cirrhosis-related events, including mortality, is likely in the following years. All-oral therapy with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) offers a safe and short treatment, with cure rates over 90% in compensated cirrhosis. Cirrhotic patients should be given high priority for treatment because viral clearance has a significant impact on the natural history of HCV infection, halting the progression of the disease and inducing the regression of fibrosis, as well as reducing the need for liver transplantation and improving survival. The benefit of DAAs is great in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, up until recently a population for whom no alternative therapy was available. The efficacy of all-oral therapy has been reported to improve liver function in about 50% of Child–Pugh class C patients. The regression of cirrhosis observed in more than half of patients achieving viral eradication on prior interferon-based regimens still has to be demonstrated in patients treated with DAAs, although there is reason to believe that this will happen. Advanced cirrhosis will eventually become the last boundary of antiviral therapy that will soon be conquered with new drugs currently pending approval.
Migration of legacy data to new media formats for long-time storage and maximum visibility: Modern pollen data from the Canadian Arctic (1972/1973)
Authors: Nichols Harvey , Stolze Susann
Published: August 2016

This Data Management Plan (DMP) was created using the DMPTool. It describes modern pollen data collected along a 2500 mile (~4000 km) transect in the Canadian Arctic in 1972/73 as part of an NSF funded research project (GB-33497). The project was undertaken at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado Boulder. This legacy dataset originally stored as a paper copy and on 35-mm film will be migrated to digital formats that allow upload of the dataset to an international open-access library for permanent storage and visibility. This DMP was submitted to the 2015 Best Digital Data Management Plan and Practices - Competition (https://data.colorado.edu/cudmpguidance).

The study provides a baseline pollen dataset for the interpretation of Holocene pollen diagrams from this region and for comparison with modern surface pollen samples, allowing the assessment of the effects of modern climate change on Arctic and subarctic ecosystems.
6. Corruption et clientélisme : peut-on les éradiquer ?
Authors: Cartier-Bresson Jean
Published: August 2016

L’économie politique de la corruption a commencé avec l’étude des imperfections du marché politique et de ses conséquences. Le sujet s’est élargi à la gouvernance et au clientélisme et butte actuellement sur la difficulté à trouver des stratégies crédibles pour s’attaquer aux illégalités des élites politiques et économiques.
Repositioning Study Abroad as a Rite of Passage
Authors: Starr-Glass David
Published: August 2016

Study abroad can be an exhilarating and transformative experience literally moving students to a place where globalization, internationalization, and cultural awareness are direct experiences, not simply classroom abstractions. Study abroad provides multiple social and learning benefits for students, but in addition it also adds to the vibrancy of their colleges. However, despite these benefits, study abroad still remains a missed opportunity for most US student and their institutions. This chapter advocates that study abroad should be recognized and celebrated as an important rite of passage in undergraduate life. Thus reconceptualized, students might place renewed value on the study abroad experience and colleges might be able to promote such initiatives more effectively. The chapter explores the dynamics of rites of passage, the urgent need for significant rites of passage in undergraduate life, and how study abroad experiences can be strategically repositioned to benefit both students and their colleges.
Providing Study Abroad Opportunities for Underrepresented Populations
Authors: Thrush Elizabeth Claassen , Victorino Christine
Published: August 2016

This book chapter aims to provide a detailed case study with supporting data on how the University of California, Riverside has engaged underrepresented study abroad student populations and has made progress toward increasing the number and diversity of students going abroad. It opens by reviewing the relevant literature and providing necessary context of the University and its recent history with short-term, faculty-led study abroad programs. Analyzing relevant student data collected through a survey and focus group leads into sharing a few key strategies undergirding the success and growth of participation in study abroad by underrepresented groups. This chapter focuses on low income students, but also includes a discussion of ethnic minorities, first generation students, male students, and those from STEM-related majors.
Rationale and Risk Considerations
Authors: Sia Eng Kee
Published: August 2016

This chapter attempts to categorise the international Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) based on the International Branch Campus (IBC) establishments with the application of both the Institution Distance on risk consideration as well as the Uppsala Model of internationalisation. As the establishment of an IBC involves a sequence of incremental decisions to be made by a foreign HEI, this chapter reveals such decision-making processes, especially on the rationale and risk considerations for establishing an IBC, and proposes a modified institutional distance to synergise with the Uppsala model. Much of the data have been gathered from an in depth literature search. The purpose of this chapter is to provide university leaders, economic strategists, policy makers, entrepreneurs, practitioners and decision-makers within HEIs consider the risk reduction strategies that are practiced by other HEIs before embarking on establishing an IBC in a foreign country.
Service-Learning Abroad
Authors: Soria Krista M. , Lueck Shane M. , Hanson Rebecca E. , Morrow Dale J.
Published: August 2016

The purpose of this chapter is to present the results of a multi-institutional study of undergraduates who participated in service-learning abroad. Data were derived from the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) survey, which was administered to undergraduates enrolled at 14 large, public research-extensive universities (n = 12,744) in the United States (US) during Spring 2013. The results of hierarchical linear regression analyses suggested that students who participated in service-learning abroad (11.79% of students) were significantly more likely to develop multicultural competence, global and intercultural skills, and leadership skills over their undergraduate peers who did not participate in service-learning abroad.
Beyond Borders
Authors: Hawkins Linette , Pattanayak Supriya , Martin Jennifer , Hess Lew
Published: August 2016

International social work field education placements pose considerable challenges for students, educators, universities and host communities. Students may face conceptual challenges as international placements often occur in developing countries that rely upon collective rather than individual models of practice. contextual differences require staff and students to consider their new context and appropriate ways to interact and learn. This chapter draws upon the experiences of the authors in adopting different models with students over the years and concludes that the preferred approach is the partnership model where there is close collaboration between the ‘home' and ‘host' universities. We consider educational, organisational, personal and professional factors that students face while on international placements. This is followed by identification of different exchange models, and teaching and learning issues arising from culture, language, pedagogy, critical reflection and assessment. We argue that a Relational/Equitable Model is best suited to international social work field education placements.
Teaching Practicums Abroad
Authors: Vogt Karin
Published: August 2016

European student teachers have the opportunity to complete a work placement at a partner school in a target language country. The focus of this study was on 35 undergraduate preservice teachers who completed a teaching practicum placement in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland between 2010-2014. Data from five years of reflective reports were content analysed and complemented with focus group discussions after the students' stay abroad. This chapter briefly outlines the structure of the teaching practicums, delineates data collection and analysis methods, and discusses the results in order to gauge the potential of such experiences for students' intercultural learning and overall professional development. Results indicated an interconnection of categories with the ‘professionalization' of preservice teachers featuring most prominently.
Disentangling Research on Study Abroad and Pronunciation
Authors: Nagle Charles L. , Morales-Front Alfonso , Moorman Colleen , Sanz Cristina
Published: August 2016

Despite intuitive and theoretically motivated claims that Study Abroad (SA) is an optimal environment for language development, including pronunciation gains, research on its effectiveness has produced contradictory results. Furthermore, there is little known about short-term study abroad programs, where matriculation numbers are increasing faster than ever before. This chapter analyzes pre- and post-SA oral production data from 18 advanced learners of Spanish, focusing on stop consonants (/p, t, k, b, d, g/). Development was defined in terms of voice onset time for /p, t, k/ and a 5-point lenition measure for /b, d, g/. Learners produced significantly shorter VOT values after the SA program, though there was not a similar improvement in lenition score. Therefore, the intensive, six-week SA experience yielded substantial gains in L2 pronunciation for these advanced learners of Spanish. Results are discussed in light of advances in both research methodology and study abroad program design.
Intercultural Communication between East and West
Authors: Yang Ping
Published: August 2016

This chapter examines verbal and non-verbal intercultural communication challenges faced by Australian students studying abroad in China. Using intercultural communication theories, the author analyses potential cultural shock and intercultural differences to help Australian students be aware of academic and social survival skills in their destination country. While there are many publications about international students' intercultural communication issues and intercultural adaptation difficulties within English-speaking countries, there are comparatively few works on Australian students' intercultural communication competence needed for living in China. This chapter looks at pedagogical implications of intercultural communication training for Australian students prior to their overseas studies and outbound mobility experience.
From Intermediality to Intermateriality
Authors: Seier Andrea
Published: August 2016

This chapter discusses Actor-Network Theory in the context of post-essentialist theories in Media Studies. In doing so, the similarities and differences between different models and concepts will be taken into consideration, such as dispositive, assemblage and actant networks. The chapter argues that instead of replacing models of micro-political analysis of media with ANT, it should rather be combined with such in a productive way. This argument will be put to the test by using the example of the remote control.
The Subject of Media Studies
Authors: van Loon Joost
Published: August 2016

On the basis of the banal example of the rise of “the selfie”, this chapter critically considers the issue of the Subjects of (and in) Media Studies and argues that the reason why Actor-Network Theory (ANT) has thus far not been widely accepted within this field has been its adherence to the Principles of Generalized Symmetry and Free Association. That is to say: ANT categorically refuses subsuming properties of entities to abstractions such as nature, society or technology. On the contrary, Media Studies have doggedly adhered to privileging “the Human” as its subject of analysis. On the basis of a critique of transcendental phenomenology, which has been specified by a critical discussion of McLuhan's famous edict “media are extensions of man”, the chapter exposes the empirical fallacy of granting the human subject a status of exception and instead proposes an empirical metaphysics based on ‘prehension' as an alternative. This, it is argued, will enable forms of media analyses that can be both radically empirical and politically engaged.
Applying Actor-Network Theory in Production Studies
Authors: Spöhrer Markus
Published: August 2016

This paper explores the possibilities of ANT as an approach to Production Studies. On the basis of a detailed production log written by producer Paul Lazarus, the coming-into-being of the film Barbarosa (1982) is described. By using ANT, the assemblies of the film production, the hybrid networks and interconnections, which are established by human and non-human actors alike, are dealt with. Production is not a one sided process of inscriptions by humans on non-human actors. Rather, it needs to be understood as a reciprocal process of inscribing and acting. Finally, the “effects” are discussed which are produced by approaching film with ANT and conclusions are drawn as to how the theoretical scope of Production Studies needs to be modified: Films can be understood as “epistemic things” that are produced and produce themselves in reciprocal processes. They translate themselves into other networks after postproduction and are thus constantly subject to translational processes and not endlessly stable.
“To Be as Real as Possible”
Authors: Spöhrer Markus
Published: August 2016

In this chapter an effort is made to describe the film production network of the German “HipHop film” Status YO! (Till Hastreiter, 2004) and the related attribution and production of “authenticity”. However, film production will neither be considered a process in which human entities are the sole manufacturers of a stable cultural artifact. Nor will film production be reduced to the classical triad of preproduction, shooting and postproduction. Rather, from an ANT perspective, the production of a film is a continuous process of translation, inscriptions and negotiations that exceed postproduction. Additionally, a multitude of heterogeneous actors are involved in this processual production of the film and authenticity respectively, such as academic writing, audience responses, film critical reception, historical and cultural discourses, and also other films.
The Home Console Dispositive
Authors: Waldrich Harald
Published: August 2016

This chapter focuses on the home console dispositive of the SONY Playstation in relation to digital games. The concept of the “dispositive” functions as a basis for the conceptualization of video games as an actor-network or a socio-technical arrangement respectively. This allows for an analysis and a description of various actors and their reciprocal relationships as well as the mutual process of fabrication of these actors in such video game networks. The historical development of the SONY Playstation system will serve as the primary example for these heterogenuous ensembles, whereby the main focus will be placed on one single-player game series, Grand Theft Auto, and one multiplayer game series, the soccer simulations of the FIFA series.
Talking about Associations and Descriptions or a Short Story about Associology
Authors: Ochsner Beate
Published: August 2016

In 1999, Bruno Latour advocated for “abandoning what was wrong with ANT, that is ‘actor,' ‘network,' ‘theory' without forgetting the hyphen.” However, it seems that the “hyphen,” which brings with it the operation of hyphenating or connecting, was abandoned too quickly. If one investigates what something is by asking what it is meant as well as how it emerges, by (re-)tracing the strategy in materials in situated practices and sets of relations, and, by bypassing the distinction between agency and structure, one shifts from studying “what causes what” to describing “how things happen.” This perspective not only makes it necessary for us to clarify the changing positions and displacements of human and non-human actors in the assemblage, but, also question the role (the enrolment) of the researcher him/herself: What kind of “relation” connects the researcher to his/her research and associates him/her with the subject, how to prevent (or not) his/her own involvement, and, to what degree s/he ignores the relationality of his/her writing in a “sociology of association?”
Case Study on a Maintenance and Reliability Management Model Proposal
Authors: Parra Carlos , Crespo Márquez Adolfo , González-Prida Vicente , Kristjanpoller Fredy A. , Viveros Pablo , Llort Gabriel , Aguilar Alfredo R.
Published: August 2016

The purpose of this chapter, is to provide a Maintenance and Reliability Management Model for the project: Design and Construction of the Third Set of Locks in the Panama Canal, with the approach of the process of asset management optimization. A practical vision of the maintenance and reliability management process and framework is presented with the idea of: Structuring the maintenance management process by grouping management activities within a series of so-called management building blocks; Structuring the framework grouping techniques that can be used to support decisions to be taken within each of these building block. This chapter presents not only a process but also the framework and techniques to manage and improve maintenance and reliability effectiveness and efficiency. This report will be used to assist different plant teams to elaborate the optimal strategies for maintenance and inspection for the assets, specified for the project: Third Set of Locks in the Panama Canal.
Maintenance in Critical Infrastructures
Authors: Maraña Patricia , Labaka Leire , Sarriegi Jose Mari
Published: August 2016

The increase in the frequency of disastrous events and society's dependence on Critical Infrastructures (CIs) has led to greater concern about the need to increase resilience in order to improve Critical Infrastructure Protection. CIs are basic service providers for society and they need to be effectively protected against hazards. Nowadays, CIs can be owned by private entities. However, although they can be privately owned or managed, they provide a public service that directly affects the whole society. Consequently, those activities that increase the overall resilience level of CIs need to be under the supervision of public entities. Increasing resilience requires special attention be paid to correct infrastructure and crisis response equipment maintenance. This chapter explains why effective Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are valuable for correctly maintaining CIs and illustrates examples of real situations that demonstrate the need for effective PPPs in maintenance activities.
Impact of the Knowledge Management in Maintenance Engineering
Authors: Cárcel-Carrasco Javier , Rodríguez-Méndez Manuel , Carnero María Carmen
Published: August 2016

Knowledge management has been analyzed in numerous areas of the industrial enterprise, especially in the areas of strategic management, innovation, trade, or administration. However in operational areas with technicians working mainly on the basis of its experience gained over the years, such as the departments of industrial maintenance, there are no deep analysis of the incidence of the knowledge management in these areas. The peculiarities in this type of activity on the inside of the company, knowledge of these people is strongly based on your experience (strong tacit component), difficult to measure and articulate, and however, on numerous occasions, this knowledge not transmitted, can be a high cost for the company (many times assumed as inevitable) due to the increase of production and services downtime, loss of efficiency, or time of coupling of new personnel to these areas.
Service 4.0
Authors: Castellano Eduardo , Zubizarreta Patxi X. , Pagalday Gerardo , Uribetxebarria Jone , Crespo Márquez Adolfo
Published: August 2016

In recent years, the concept of Industry 4.0 has been significantly advanced in industrial circles as an aspect that provides a competitive differential. Through the technologies involved, machines can now monitor and relay information on their operating conditions for analysis and decision-making, as well as for prompting action. These new functions generally involve the development of technological projects and significant investments. This renders it expedient to explain why certain systems should be monitored, but not others, as well as the use to be given to the data gathered as a way of generating income for a firm. This approach is especially important in certain corporate operations, such as after-sales maintenance. This article introduces a reference framework that permits the effective and efficient management of after-sales maintenance services. This framework relates after-sales service technologies with product technologies (Industry 4.0), and therefore covers the reasons and purposes of Industry 4.0 within the ambit of after-sales service.
Sensor-Based Decision Making in Uncertain Context
Authors: Villeneuve Eric , Pérès François , Beler Cedrik , González-Prida Vicente
Published: August 2016

Decision makers, whether human or computer, using sensor networks to instrument information collecting necessary for decision, often face difficulties in assessing confidence granted to signals transmitted and received in the network. Several organizational (network architecture or nature, distance between sensors ...), internal (sensor reliability or accuracy ...) or external (impact of environment ...) factors can lead to measurement errors (false alarm, non-detection by misinterpretation of the analyzed signals, false-negative …). A system-embedded intelligence is then necessary, to compare the information received for the purpose of decision aiding based on margin of errors converted in confidence intervals. In this chapter, the authors present four complementary approaches to quantify the interpretation of signals exchanged in a network of sensors in the presence of uncertainty.
Information Supporting of Decision Making for Energy Management in District Heating
Authors: Shendryk Vira , Nenia Victor , Aleksenko Olga , Parfenenko Yuliia
Published: August 2016

The chapter focuses on implementation of information technologies in energy management of district heating system. It captures the current state of energy management in district heating. The main standards of energy management are described. The specific features of district heating system and the existing tools of energy management in district heating are explored. The chapter studies the existing models, which can be applied in the decision support system for heat energy management. It describes the decision support system “HeatCAM” as a tool of energy management in district heating.
An Overview and Therapeutic Applications of Nutraceutical and Functional Foods
Authors: Keservani Raj K. , Sharma Anil K. , Kesharwani Rajesh K.
Published: August 2016

Healthy nutrition is important for human beings for good health provided by global industry. Nutraceutical and functional food provide a prospect to reduce health care costs and improve the human health. Researchers carried out plenty of work for the preparation of nutraceutical and functional food product. This article also focused on recent advances on the nutraceutical and functional foods product on health benefits and their application in prevention of disease. Here we discussed about the health benefit of recently introduced nutraceutical and functional food products. With the modernised, competitive lifestyle and ever increasing stressful conditions this product is the need of the day.
A Perspective on the Phytopharmaceuticals Responsible for the Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Joshi Rajesh K.
Published: August 2016

The word phytopharmaceutical deals with a complex mixture of compounds derived from the plant source that is used as a medicine or drug. Primitive human societies have been depending on plants and plant products for various remedies. Several plants in the different forms have been reported in traditional medicine and to find a rational for the treatment of various diseases than to isolated single compounds. Many of the single compounds isolated from the plant origin are effectively used in the medicine. The search of natural products in drug discovery has been greatly enhanced in the last few years. The impetus to use phytopharmaceutical agents for the treatment of disease, most of the plant based drugs are quite safe and have lesser adverse effects and are claimed that it works as synergistic effects.
Cosmeceuticals
Authors: Ming Long Chiau , Ang Wei Chern , Yang Quan , Thitilertdecha Premrutai , Wong Tin Wui , Khan Tahir Mehmood
Published: August 2016

Cosmeceuticals are topical cosmetic-pharmaceutical hybrids used to maintain and improve appearance and beauty of the skin. The strong demand from the consumers to constantly look youthful and flawless has driven the research and development as well as sale volume of cosmeceuticals. Present studies show that many cosmetic products, which were assumed to be inert in the past, may modulate dermatological structure or function. The key players of cosmeceuticals are anti-aging therapy along with bleaching agent, sunscreen, and hair cosmeceuticals. This book chapter aims to explore the safety, toxicity and efficacy of these cosmeceuticals. Challenges and possible advancement potentials would be discussed. As patients are increasingly seeking advice from physicians and pharmacists regarding cosmeceuticals, the authors hope to provide health care professional and pharmaceutical scientists a resource that would aid to educate patients in using evidence-based cosmeceuticals to enhance their appearance and alleviate dermatological problems.
Resealed Erythrocytes as Drug Carriers and Its Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Singh Prabhakar , Singh Sudhakar , Kesharwani Rajesh Kumar
Published: August 2016

In this pharma innovative world, there are more than 30 drug delivery systems. Today's due to lacking the target specificity, the present scenario about drug delivery is emphasizing towards targeted drug delivery systems. Erythrocytes are the most common type of blood cells travel thousands of miles from wide to narrow pathways to deliver oxygen, drugs and nutrient during their lifetime. Red blood cells have strong and targeted potential carrier capabilities for varieties of drugs. Drug-loaded carrier erythrocytes or resealed erythrocytes are promising for various passive and active targeting. Resealed erythrocyte have advantage over several drug carrier models like biocompatibility, biodegradability without toxic products, inert intracellular environment, entrapping potential for a variety of chemicals, protection of the organism against toxic effects of the drug, able to circulate throughout the body, ideal zero-order drug-release kinetics, no undesired immune response against encapsulated drug etc. Resealed erythrocytes are rapidly taken up by macrophages of the Reticuloendothelial System (RES) of the liver, lung, and spleen of the body and hence drugs also. Resealed erythrocytes method of drugs delivery is secure and effective for drugs targeting specially for a longer period of time. This chapter will explain the different method of drug loading for resealed erythrocytes, their characterization, and applications in various therapies and associated health benefits.
Preparing Teacher Candidates for Diverse Classrooms
Authors: Estes Judi Simmons
Published: August 2016

A majority of PK-12 teachers are White, middle-class woman who speak only English (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2012); many of these teachers report a lack of confidence to adequately meet the needs of a diverse classroom of students (Hollins & Torres-Guzman, 2005), particularly those with background different from that of the teachers (Helfrich & Bean, 2011). The perceived lack of preparedness to serve diverse students, whether factually based or not, has been attributed to poor training provided by teacher preparation programs (Cho & DeCastro-Ambrosetti, 2005). This chapter suggests that teacher preparation programs, regardless of geographic location and demographics of their teacher candidates, model a spirit of inclusivity and be intentional in offering an integrated approach to preparing teacher candidates to be highly-effective in working with all students regardless of diversity represented.
Teacher Education and Digital Equity
Authors: Mysore Anita Rao
Published: August 2016

For close to two decades, researchers have discussed the prevalence of digital divide in the United States. Scholars have also proposed principles to bring about digital equity. The purpose of this chapter is to examine both conceptual and empirical reviews and studies conducted in this millennium to bring about digital equity. The chapter informs teacher education programs, researchers, school administrators, policymakers, teachers, and other stakeholders about evidences and recommendations to bring about digital equity in US K-12 and teacher education.
This Is How I Learn
Authors: Burbach Jessica H. , Martin Staci B. , Arnold-Fowlkes Javonta , Sakaith Johnathan , Julius Cheyenne , Hibbs Andrew
Published: August 2016

This chapter presents research on how Culturally Responsive Mathematics Teaching (CRMT) and a critical hope framework can be used as learning tools in the alternative high school classroom. Our study shows how 12 high school students and two teachers, one in high school and one in post-secondary, can work together to nurture students' personal and collective identity, agency, and hope. We use the concept of the “six words” from the Race Card Project (Norris, 2015) to co-create spaces that question the dominant narrative, which describes students as dropouts, and that offer spaces of hope and solidarity. As researchers, we believe without student collaboration in the research process itself, their voices will be muted in the academic language describing them and the dominant narrative that disempowers them. We believe that we have not achieved a true social justice curriculum until there is action where hope can surface (Freire, 1970).
Disposition and Early Childhood Education Preservice Teachers
Authors: Thomas Ursula
Published: August 2016

This study sought to investigate the development of social justice dispositions in early childhood preservice teachers. The participants of the study included two preservice teachers assigned to a four-week prekindergarten field experience, one Black and the other White, both female. This was a qualitative study utilizing observational case study methods and open coding. Data were collected using the Cultural Fluency Survey, the annotated lesson plans of the preservice teachers, and the reflective journal the kept; as well as the recorded responses of the prekindergarten students during the literature lesson in pictorial form. The researchers found the early childhood preservice teachers who participated in this study exhibited strong social justice dispositions in development. The current study may help teacher educators consider what areas of the early childhood program could be changed to equip relevant preservice teachers with multiple opportunities and field placement.
Bridging the L1-L2 Divide
Authors: Morgan Bridget M.
Published: August 2016

This chapter engages the reality of the university classroom that includes Heritage-Learners (HL) and second-language learners (L2) of Spanish. Rather than furthering the “what if” considerations of the idealized heritage learner in a quasi-homogenous group and specialized course track, the author focuses on the very pressing question of ways in which HL and L2 populations face similar learning challenges in an intermediate-level Spanish writing course. Drawing on research about learner-centered and HL and L2 language-learning pedagogies, the author discusses how implementation of progressive assignment design and targeted learning skills development supported L2 students and transitional bilinguals in the mixed classroom. Finally, the limits of this mixed classroom model for HL and L2 learners are discussed.
Multiculturalism in Special Education
Authors: Nkabinde Zandile P.
Published: August 2016

The goal of this chapter is to explore multicultural education in the context of special education. Multicultural education as an effective intervention in urban schools is discussed. Obiakor (2007) describes this era as that of accountability where schools are challenged to leave no child behind, which makes schools more responsive to students' needs including those with special needs who are linguistically and culturally diverse. In addition, Gay (2002) defines culturally responsive teaching as using the cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and performance styles of diverse students to make learning more appropriate and effective for them; it teaches to and through the strengths of these students.
Aligning Relational Schema and OWL Ontologies with Hidden Markov Model
Authors: Pipitone Arianna , Pirrone Roberto
Published: August 2016

The problem of bridging the gap between relational schema and ontologies is actively investigated in the Semantic Web and business communities. The main motivations are the OBDA scenario, where a domain ontology allows to hidden the technical details of the db to end-users; and the persistent storage of ontologies in db for facilitating search and retrieval keeping the benefits of DBMSs such as security and integrity. In these cases, the ABox is usually stored into a db, and the TBox is maintained in an ontology; for this reason, schema alignment is a more significant problem than the instance matching one. The use of manual mappings is hard and expensive, especially for large representations. This paper proposes an innovative approach for solving this problem based on a HMM; it estimates the most likely sequence of symbols describing the structures in the relational schema corresponding to the axioms in the ontology to be aligned. The theoretical background nd the models are described in detail. Finally, the system is compared to the most widespread tools in literature.
Resource Optimization Routing and Scatternet Formation Protocols for Bluetooth Networks
Authors: Bakhsh Sheikh Tahir , Tahir Sabeen , Altalhi Abdulrahman H. , Subhan Fazli , Sheikh Muhammad Aman
Published: August 2016

Limited resources and network dynamicity are challenging issues in Bluetooth networks. Therefore, scatternet formation improvement and efficient routing algorithms are required that can efficiently construct a short route between a source and destination. As of today, many protocols have been proposed, mostly researchers focusing on simplicity and reliability, but only few of them fulfill the Bluetooth scatternet scenario. Therefore, it opens new doors for scatternet formation and inter-piconet routing for the Bluetooth scatternet. This paper presents a review of Bluetooth routing and scatternet formation protocols for inter-piconet communication. First, Bluetooth operation is explained followed by important applications and topologies are discussed. Then, inter-piconet routing and network formation protocols are critically analyzed. Finally, Bluetooth problems and open research issues are highlighted.
mLearning and Creative Practices
Authors: Antonczak Laurent , Keegan Helen , Cochrane Thomas
Published: August 2016

The ethos of open sharing of experiences and user generated content enabled by Mobile social media can be problematic in some cases (politics, gender, minorities), and it is not fully understood within the creative and academic sector. Creative people, students, and lecturers can misconceive the value and issues around open and public access to their work online, which include: professionalism, Intellectual Property (IP), collaboration (Gayeski, 2002; Londsdale, Baber, Sharples, & Arvanitis, 2003), peer esteem VS individualism, amateurism, and paranoia. Collectively the authors of this paper have accrued a wide portfolio of experiences in global educational collaboration and practice-based research and, in this position paper, they highlight some of the key ethical challenges that they have found need to be negotiated within global mobile social media education (Andrews, Dyson, Smyth, & Wallace, 2011) and mobile media production (i.e.: photography and video – Wishart & Green, 2010). In order to ground this reflective discussion, the authors use Heutagogy as the learning and teaching framework to guide the qualitative analysis of a specific case study which is built upon the scenario-based approach utilised by Andrews et al., (2013).
Mobile VR in Education
Authors: Cochrane Thomas
Published: August 2016

This paper explores the development of virtual reality (VR) use in education and the emergence of mobile VR based content creation and sharing as a platform for enabling learner-generated content and learner-generated contexts. The author argues that an ecology of resources that maps the user content creation and sharing affordances of mobile devices, social media, mobile head mounted displays and mobile VR cameras, provides an opportunity to design authentic VR learning experiences. The design of these VR learning experiences are informed by networked student-centred pedagogies. Based upon this background the paper provides a conceptual framework for implementing student-generated mobile VR embedded within a design based research methodology across three discipline contexts: paramedicine, journalism, and new media production.
Perceived burden of care and reported coping strategies and needs for family caregivers of people with mental disorders in Zimbabwe
Authors: Marimbe Bazondlile D. , Cowan Frances , Kajawu Lazarus , Muchirahondo Florence , Lund Crick
Published: August 2016

Background: Mental health service resources are inadequate in low-income countries, and families are frequently expected to provide care for their relative with a mental disorder. However, research on the consequences of care giving has been limited in low-income countries, including Zimbabwe.Objective: The study explored the perceived impact of mental illness, reported coping strategies and reported needs of family members of persons diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder or schizophrenia attending a psychiatric hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe.Methods: A purposive sample of 31 family members participated in in-depth interviews and focus group discussions using standardized study guides. Participants were also screened for Common Mental Disorders (CMD) using the 14-item Shona Symptom questionnaire (SSQ). Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 16) was used for quantitative data analysis.Results: Caregivers experienced physical, psychological, emotional, social and financial burden associated with care giving. They used both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies depending on the ill family members’ behaviours. Seeking spiritual assistance emerged as their most common way of coping. Twenty one (68%) of the caregivers were at risk of CMD and were referred to a psychiatrist for further management. Caregivers required support from health care professionals to help them cope better.Conclusion: Caregivers carry a substantial and frequently unrecognized burden of caring for a family member with mental disorder. Better support is needed from health professionals and social services to help them cope better. Further research is required to quantitatively measure caregiver burden and evaluate potential interventions in Zimbabwe.
Living with disabled children in Malawi: Challenges and rewards
Authors: Barlindhaug Grete , Umar Eric , Wazakili Margaret , Emaus Nina
Published: August 2016

Background: Rehabilitation personnel need to be sensitive to the cultural aspects that constitute the environment of a disabled child’s family life.Objectives: The aim of this study was to gain insight on how families experience parenting of disabled children and how the families experience the support provided by the rehabilitation system in Malawi.Method: An anthropological field study combining interviews and observations was conducted in a rural district of Malawi in 2011. Permission was granted to follow four families, and this study presents the stories of two families, whose children have severe disabilities. We used phenomenological and narrative analyses to make sense of the stories. Results: The findings indicate that families with disabled children invest time and emphasise care for their disabled children. They feel enriched by their experience despite challenging situations with little support from the rehabilitation services. High standards of care demonstrating positive and moral attitudes have earned these families respect in their communities. Storytelling has created an opportunity for the families to understand and interpret their challenging situation with inherent contextual meaning.Conclusion: This study shows that families with disabled children draw on cultural and structural strengths that rehabilitation professionals should be aware of in their support to mothers and other caregivers of children with disabilities.
The Holy Spirit as feminine: Early Christian testimonies and their interpretation
Authors: Van Oort Johannes
Published: August 2016

The earliest Christians – all of whom were Jews – spoke of the Holy Spirit as a feminine figure. The present article discusses the main proof texts, ranging from the ‘Gospel according to the Hebrews’ to a number of testimonies from the second century. The ancient tradition was, in particular, kept alive in East and West Syria, up to and including the fourth century Makarios and/or Symeon, who even influenced ‘modern’ Protestants such as John Wesley and the Moravian leader Count von Zinzendorf. It is concluded that, in the image of the Holy Spirit as woman and mother, one may attain a better appreciation of the fullness of the Divine.
Umfazi akangeni ebuhlanti emzini … A womanist dialogue with Black Theology of Liberation in the 21st century
Authors: Kobo Fundiswa
Published: August 2016

As reflected in the title, this article is premised by pervasive attitudes arising from a complex interplay of cultural practices, which have succeeded in dislocating black women from what is perceived to be black men’s sites, ebuhlanti (kraal), esuthwini (initiation school); locating them in culturally designated womanised sites eziko/egoqweni (kitchen and household), ekuzaleni nasekukhuliseni abantwana (child birth and rearing) in a patriarchal society. The crux of the article lies in its attempt to re-locate both men and women by its adoption of ‘a hard-line pro-black position’. Womanists acknowledge the interlocution of black men and thus suggest firstly, a shift in mind-set for both to view these sites as life giving and therefore to look for convergences. The article is thus a dialogue between a womanist and Black Theology of Liberation in the 21st century for the purpose of understanding liberation of black people for the liberation of humanity.