bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender-Based Violence in Rural Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Ahmad Jaleel , Khan M. E. , Mozumdar Arupendra , Varma Deepthi S.
Published: May 2015

This study explores the prevalence of different forms of domestic violence and their impact on women’s reproductive health behavior in rural Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Data were collected as a part of a large household survey carried out in 2009-2010. A multistage stratified systematic sampling design was used. A total of 4,223 married women aged 15 to 49 years and 2,274 husbands of these women were interviewed. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. More than one third of married women in rural UP had experienced one or more forms of violence, such as verbal abuse, physical manhandling, and sexual abuse by their spouse. Nearly 47% of the women had experienced some form of violence during their last pregnancy. Significant associations were found between violence and incorrect reproductive health behaviors, pregnancy complications, poor birth preparedness, poor likelihood of institutional delivery, limited postnatal care, and limited spousal communication for family planning. After controlling for socio-economic variables in multivariate analysis, only pregnancy complications (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.40, 1.85]) and lack of delivery preparedness (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = [0.68, 0.93]) were found to be significantly associated with violence. Husband’s attitude and reporting of violence by their wives in different situations were not significantly associated. This study provides evidence of the association of violence on the reproductive health behavior of married women in rural India. The results argue for frontline health workers to identify and counsel pregnant women experiencing violence during antenatal check-up to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.
Economic Coercion and Partner Violence Against Wives in Vietnam
Authors: Yount Kathryn Mary , Krause Kathleen Helen , VanderEnde Kristin E.
Published: May 2015

Economic coercion refers to behaviors that control an intimate partner’s ability to acquire, use, and maintain economic resources. Little is known about economic coercion in Vietnam. Using survey responses from 533 married women ages 18 to 50 years, we estimated multinomial logistic regression models to compare the determinants of exposure to economic coercion only, co-occurring economic coercion, and any psychological, physical, or sexual intimate partner violence (IPV), and any IPV only, relative to no exposure. Women who, in their childhood, witnessed physical IPV against their mother had higher odds of exposure to co-occurring economic coercion and any IPV as an adult (adjusted Odds Ratio = 3.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.84, 6.83]) and any IPV only (adjust Odds Ratio = 1.75, 95% CI = [1.00, 3.06]), but not economic coercion only. Women who experienced violence as a child had higher odds of exposure to any IPV only (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.63, 95% CI = [1.04, 2.56]) but not economic coercion only. Women with more schooling had higher odds of exposure to economic coercion only (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.17, 95% CI = [1.03, 1.33]) but not other forms of violence. Overall, the estimates from the three models differed significantly. Thus, the determinants of economic coercion and common forms of IPV may differ. More research should focus on men’s perpetration of economic coercion.
Intercorporeality as a theory of social cognition
Authors: Tanaka Shogo
Published: May 2015

The main aim of this article is to revisit Merleau-Ponty’s notion of intercorporeality (intercorporéité) and elaborate it as a new theory of social cognition. As is well known, theory of mind has been the central issue in the field of social cognition for more than two decades. In reviewing the basic concepts involved in two major theories (theory theory and simulation theory), I make clear that both theories have been missing the embodied dimension because of their mind–body dualistic supposition. The notion of intercorporeality, in accordance with the recent interaction theory, stresses the role of embodied interactions between the self and the other in the process of social understanding. I develop this notion into two directions and describe the related process of social cognition: one is behavior matching and primordial empathy, the other is interactional synchrony and the sense of mutual understanding. Through these embodied interactions, intersubjective meanings are created and directly shared between the self and the other, without being mediated by mental representations.
Time-varying and anti-disturbance fault diagnosis for a class of nonlinear systems
Authors: Guo Runxia , Guo Kai , Dong Jiankang , Zhu Yi
Published: May 2015

The diagnosis algorithm of time-varying failures is considered for a class of nonlinear systems that are affected by external disturbances. By combining the adaptive control theory and the approach of state observer, an anti-disturbance fault diagnosis algorithm has been proposed. When the external disturbances and the internal failures exist simultaneously, the designed fault diagnosis algorithm is able to give specific estimated values of states and failures, respectively, rather than just give a fault warning. The asymptotical stability of the state observer in diagnosis algorithm is guaranteed by setting the adaptive adjusting law of the time-varying failure vector. In addition, a theoretically rigorous proof based on Lyapunov’s stability theory has been given. Three experiments have been implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of fault diagnosis algorithm. The experimental results have demonstrated that the performance is satisfactory in both estimation accuracy and convergence speed.
Neural network fault diagnosis of a trolling motor based on feature reduction techniques for an unmanned surface vehicle
Authors: Abed Wathiq , Sharma Sanjay , Sutton Robert
Published: May 2015

This article presents a novel approach to the diagnosis of unbalanced faults in a trolling motor under stationary operating conditions. The trolling motor being typically of that used as the propulsion system for an unmanned surface vehicle, the diagnosis approach is based on the use of discrete wavelet transforms as a feature extraction tool and a time-delayed neural network for fault classification. The time-delayed neural network classifies between healthy and faulty conditions of the trolling motor by analysing the stator current and vibration. To overcome feature redundancy, which affects diagnosis accuracy, several feature reduction methods have been tested, and the orthogonal fuzzy neighbourhood discriminant analysis approach is found to be the most effective method. Four faulty conditions were analysed under laboratory conditions, where one of the blades causing damage to the trolling motor is cut into 10%, 25%, half and then into full to simulate the effects of propeller blades being damaged partly or fully. The results obtained from the real-time simulation demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed methodology in classifying the different faults faster and accurately.
Input–output linearization minimum sliding mode error feedback control for synchronization of chaotic system
Authors: Cao Lu , Chen Xiaoqian
Published: May 2015

Under the existence of system uncertainties and external disturbances, complete synchronization of chaotic systems is achieved by introducing a novel input–output linearization minimum sliding mode error feedback control with high control precision, which is based on the input–output linearization method and sliding mode control. In the literature, the magnitudes of bounded nonlinear dynamics of synchronous error system were required in the designed sliding mode controller. In this study, this article proposed a new approach to estimate the various uncertainties and disturbances on the basis of chaotic system. To facilitate the analysis, the concept of equivalent control error is introduced, which is the key to the utilization of input–output linearization minimum sliding mode error feedback control. A cost function is formulated on the basis of the principle of minimum sliding mode covariance constraint; then, the equivalent control error is estimated and fed back to the conventional sliding mode. It is shown that the sliding mode after the input–output linearization minimum sliding mode error feedback control will approximate to the ideal sliding mode, resulting in improved control performance and quality. Finally, the chaotic gyro system and chaotic FitzHugh–Nagumo neurons system have been employed to verify the proposed controller. Sufficient conditions to guarantee stable synchronization are given and the numerical simulations of complete synchronization of the two chaotic systems are performed to verify the effectiveness of the presented schemes.
Book Review: Stephen Cross, Schopenhauer’s Encounter with Indian Thought: Representation and Will and their Indian Parallels
Authors: Pathak Krishna Mani
Published: May 2015

Stephen Cross, Schopenhauer’s Encounter and Indian Thought: Representation and Will and their Indian Parallels, 2014, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd (First Indian Edition), pp. 287, ₹ 1,195.
Towards a Conceptualization of Karma Yoga
Authors: Rastogi Ashish , Prakash Pati Surya
Published: May 2015

Individuals across organizations and roles are increasingly seeking a meaningful and fulfilling experience in their activities. Towards that, the Bhagavad Gita advises the practice of Karma Yoga. However, the conceptualization of Karma Yoga in extant management literature is shrouded in confusion with little agreement on its dimensionalities. In this article, employing qualitative method, we offer an alternative conceptualization of the construct. Accordingly, we define Karma Yoga as a persistent positive state of mind that is characterized by absorption and service consciousness. Furthermore, the findings also suggest the importance of sense control and equanimity as the necessary prerequisites for individuals to practise Karma Yoga.
Two Axiological Illnesses
Authors: Râmbu Nicolae
Published: May 2015

Axioclasm, or the tendency to destroy all values in the name of only one that eventually wins the heart of a certain person, like a demon, is the central idea contained in this essay. Unlike all other axiological illnesses, axiological blindness ( Wertblindheit) and tyranny of the values transform the affected person by turning them into an axioclast or, in other words, a destroyer of values on behalf of the one that suddenly becomes a simulacrum of divinity.
Liminality in Ontario’s long-term care facilities: Private companions’ care work in the space ‘betwixt and between’
Authors: Daly Tamara , Armstrong Pat , Lowndes Ruth
Published: May 2015

Nursing, personal care, food and cleaning are publicly funded in Ontario’s long-term care facilities, but under-staffing usually renders all but the most basic of personal preferences superfluous. This individualization of responsibility for more personalized care has resulted in more families providing more care and opting to hire private, private companion care. With direct payment of companions becoming a growing but largely invisible facet of care, exploring companion’s roles is important. Using a six site rapid ethnographic study in long-term care facilities (i.e. observations, documents and key informant interviews (n = 167)), this paper argues that private companions occupy a liminal space between policy, family and market, and their role within institutions and in private homes may be the missing link in the care work chain in the sense that it can at once be classified as formal and informal and draws on their own and others paid and unpaid labour.
Optimal Position of the Heel Following Reconstruction of the Stage II Adult-Acquired Flatfoot Deformity
Authors: Conti Matthew S. , Ellis Scott J. , Chan Jeremy Y. , Do Huong T. , Deland Jonathan T.
Published: May 2015

Background:

While previous work has demonstrated a linear relationship between the amount of medializing calcaneal osteotomy (MCO) and the change in radiographic hindfoot alignment following reconstruction, an ideal postoperative hindfoot alignment has yet to be reported. The aim of this study was to identify an optimal postoperative hindfoot alignment by correlating radiographic alignment with patient outcomes.

Methods:

Fifty-five feet in 55 patients underwent flatfoot reconstruction for stage II adult-acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD) by 2 fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons. Hindfoot alignment was determined as previously described by Saltzman and el-Khoury. 23 Changes in pre- and postoperative scores in each Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) subscale were calculated for patients in postoperative hindfoot valgus (≥0 mm valgus, n = 18), mild varus (>0 to 5 mm varus, n = 17), and moderate varus (>5 mm varus, n = 20). Analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey’s tests were used to compare the change in FAOS results between these 3 groups.

Results:

At 22 months or more postoperatively, patients corrected to mild hindfoot varus showed a significantly greater improvement in the FAOS Pain subscale compared with patients in valgus ( P = .04) and the Symptoms subscale compared with patients in moderate varus ( P = .03). Although mild hindfoot varus did not differ significantly from moderate varus or valgus in the other subscales, mild hindfoot varus did not perform worse than these alignments in any FAOS subscale. No statistically significant correlations between intraoperative MCO slide distances and FAOS subscales were found.

Conclusions:

Our study indicates that correction of hindfoot alignment to between 0 and 5 mm of varus on the hindfoot alignment view (clinically a straight heel) following stage II flatfoot reconstruction was associated with the greatest improvement in clinical outcomes following hindfoot reconstruction in stage II AAFD.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, comparative series.
Early Identification of Asymptomatic Pulmonary Embolism Proximal to the Subsegmental Arteries After Gynecologic Surgery
Authors: Okadome Masao , Saito Toshiaki , Shimamoto Kumi , Ogahara Rihoko , Akiyoshi Hiromi , Fujimoto Minoru , Shinozaki Kenji
Published: May 2015

Few studies have assessed whether cases of asymptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) in the early postoperative phase are subsegmental versus more proximal. In this study, we investigated whether asymptomatic PE occurring just after gynecologic surgery was subsegmental, and we examined the background characteristics of patients who experienced PE within 2 months postoperatively. All hospital records were reviewed, yielding a total of 2052 women who had undergone surgeries performed by the gynecologic oncology team between 2003 and 2013 in the National Kyushu Cancer Center. Asymptomatic and symptomatic postoperative PE cases diagnosed by multidetector computed tomography angiography or lung scan were identified; after excluding 2 cases of preoperative PE, there were 15 (0.73%) cases of postoperative PE among 2050 women. Of the 15 cases, 9 (60%) were diagnosed on postoperative day 1 or 2. Of the 9 women, 4 had no or minor symptoms/signs other than decreased oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (Spo2), and PE was segmental or more proximal in 3 cases. Only 1 of the 9 cases showed dyspnea. The remaining 4 cases showed dizziness or perspiration, suggesting PE. Univariate analysis showed age, operation time, hypertension, and preoperative d-dimer elevation to be associated with postoperative PE. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a high (≥1 µg/mL) preoperative d-dimer level was associated with postoperative PE (odds ratio, 6.331; 95% confidence interval, 1.567-25.589). Most asymptomatic PE cases occurring within 2 days postoperatively were segmental or more proximal. Identification of early, asymptomatic postoperative PE may be clinically significant because most of these emboli are proximal to the subsegmental arteries.
Menarche increases relapse risk in pediatric multiple sclerosis
Authors: Lulu Sabeen , Graves Jennifer , Waubant Emmanuelle
Published: May 2015

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) predominantly affects women with a sex ratio of 3:1 in contrast with a 1:1 sex ratio seen in pre-pubertal onset. Thus, puberty may influence MS risk differentially in males and females. How puberty may be associated with MS clinical features and disease course remains unknown.

Objective:

The objective of this paper is to determine the association of menarche with disease course in girls with MS.

Methods:

This is a longitudinal retrospective study from the UCSF Regional Pediatric MS Center database. We categorized patients by time of disease onset: pre-menarche, peri-menarche and post-menarche. Poisson regression models were used for within-subject relapse analyses offset by follow-up time.

Results:

Seventy-six girls were included (pre-menarche onset = 17; peri-menarche onset = 9; post-menarche onset = 50). Age of menarche was similar in all groups (Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.19). Relapse rate was the same in all three groups during the first two years of follow-up. In girls with follow-up overlapping at least two time periods, within-subject analyses showed increased relapses during the peri-menarche compared to post-menarche period (adjusted IRR = 8.5, 95% CI 2.5–28.7, p = 0.001).

Conclusion:

Pubertal status may influence MS course at least in female patients. Understanding how puberty influences MS clinical features may offer new insights into important factors regulating disease processes.
Quality versus quantity: The role of socioeconomic status on parent-reported service knowledge, service use, unmet service needs, and barriers to service use
Authors: Pickard Katherine E , Ingersoll Brooke R
Published: May 2015

Research within the autism spectrum disorder field has emphasized the role of socioeconomic status in shaping parents’ ability to access services for their child with autism spectrum disorder. However, research has yet to explore the possible mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study sought to address this research gap by examining the following questions: (1) Does parents’ service knowledge mediate the relationship between parent socioeconomic status and parents’ autism spectrum disorder service use? (2) What are parents’ reported service needs and service barriers, and do these needs vary across higher and lower socioeconomic status groups? Quantitative results from 244 parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder indicate that parents’ autism spectrum disorder service knowledge partially mediates the relationship between parent socioeconomic status and parents’ autism spectrum disorder service use. Qualitative findings helped to clarify this relationship by suggesting that both high and low socioeconomic status parents are aware of their child’s basic autism spectrum disorder needs. However, low socioeconomic status parents more often report needing more information about services and more in-home services and emphasize that a number of structural barriers impede their ability to meet their child’s autism spectrum disorder needs. On the other hand, high socioeconomic status parents more often report a need for “higher quality services,” possibly reflecting their better recognition of best practice guidelines. These results highlight the need for a multi-pronged approach to tackling unmet service needs within the autism spectrum disorder field.
Family wellbeing of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review
Authors: Tint Ami , Weiss Jonathan A
Published: May 2015

Families play an important role in supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan. Indicators of family wellbeing can help to establish benchmarks for service provision and evaluation; however, a critical first step is a clear understanding of the construct in question. The purpose of the current scoping review was to (a) summarize current conceptualizations and measurements of family wellbeing, (b) synthesize key findings, and (c) highlight gaps and limitations in the extant literature. A final review of 86 articles highlighted the difficulty of synthesizing findings of family wellbeing in the autism spectrum disorder literature due to varied measurement techniques and the limited use of a common theoretical direction. Considerations for future research are presented with an eye toward policy relevance.
How well are children with autism spectrum disorder doing academically at school? An overview of the literature
Authors: Keen Deb , Webster Amanda , Ridley Greta
Published: May 2015

The academic achievement of individuals with autism spectrum disorder has received little attention from researchers despite the importance placed on this by schools, families and students with autism spectrum disorder. Investigating factors that lead to increased academic achievement thus would appear to be very important. A review of the literature was conducted to identify factors related to the academic achievement of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. A total of 19 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria for the review. Results indicated that many individuals demonstrate specific areas of strength and weakness and there is a great deal of variability in general academic achievement across the autism spectrum. Adolescents and individuals with lower IQ scores were underrepresented, and few studies focused on environmental factors related to academic success. The importance of individualised assessments that profile the relative strengths and weaknesses of children and adolescents to aid in educational programming was highlighted. Further research on child-related and environmental factors that predict academic achievement is needed.
‘Injunctivitis’
Authors: Mills Gordon
Published: May 2015

This article considers the current use of injunctions obtained under the ‘Protection from Harassment Act 1997’ in the 21st century and their use by private organizations to control protest, predominantly animal rights and environmental issues, in the UK. The continuing and evolving use of such injunctions has led some political commentators to comment that ‘the High Court injunction has become the weapon of choice to slap down protests’ (Lewis P and Evans R (2009) High court injunctions – the weapon of choice to slap down protests. The Guardian, 27 October). Supporters of injunctions have claimed that they add clarity to what protestors are allowed to do, or more importantly not allowed to do, in protest situations. Moreover, the existence and terms of an injunction have the potential to have a major impact on the policing of protests. There is evidence that Section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 has been instrumental in controlling the excesses of protest and reducing the levels of intimidation, alarm and distress once witnessed in this country, however, some now stress that its continued broad application is anti-democratic – that the concept of ‘mixing’ the civil and criminal law is seen by some academics as a dangerous development in controlling an individual’s freedom of assembly and expression as enshrined within the European Convention of Human Rights.
African American female professors’ strategies for successful attainment of tenure and promotion at predominately White institutions: It can happen
Authors: Jones Brandolyn , Hwang Eunjin , Bustamante Rebecca M
Published: May 2015

In their pursuit of tenure and promotion, African American female faculty members continue to prevail over workplace adversities such as ridicule, marginalization, alienation, isolation, and lack of information. In this descriptive phenomenological study, the lived experiences of five African American female professors who successfully navigated the tenure and promotion process at predominantly White institutions were explored through the lens of Black feminist thought and relational-cultural theory. Data analysis through a phenomenological reduction process revealed participants’ experiences with systemic oppression, as well as the internal coping mechanisms and external supports they relied on to navigate the tenure process. Research implications and recommendations are discussed, ideally, to give hope to African American female faculty pursuing tenure and provide strategies for how higher education leaders can actively support these faculty members.
The repertoire, not the archive: The 1950 Life and Time coverage of the Korean War
Authors: Choi Suhi
Published: May 2015

Journalists plunge into a social drama in which they interact with other actors, witness an event, and translate their observations into sensible texts to communicate with audiences who are not ‘on location’. A journalist’s account is the partial representation of the very reality that he or she constructs at the moment of witnessing an event within a specific context. A journalistic text thus does not merely create the archive, but works as the repertoire that invites us to participate in a continuous meaning-making process during subsequent memory constructions. Based on media coverage of the Korean War in 1950 by Life and Time magazines, this article identifies five plausible scenarios of how US journalists performed acts of witnessing the unknown battlefield of Korea. This exploration prods readers to critically appreciate both the journalist’s role as memory agent and the journalistic text as the repertoire in our act of remembering.
Effectiveness of ultra-rapid dose titration of clozapine for treatment-resistant bipolar mania: case series
Authors: Aksoy Poyraz Cana , Turan Şenol , Demirel Ömer Faruk , Usta Sağlam Nazife Gamze , Yıldız Nazım , Duran Alaattin
Published: May 2015

Treatment of severe and refractory manic episodes in hospital settings can occasionally be very difficult. In particular, severely excited patients showing aggressive, hostile, impulsive behaviours frequently require physical restraint and seclusion, high doses of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, and sometimes, electroconvulsive therapy. Hospital stay is generally prolonged and such patients cause great emotional distress for other patients in the ward and clinical staff involved in their care.

Here we report on three patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and one patient with a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder bipolar subtype, all of whom were hospitalized for severe manic episodes with psychotic features. These patients were extremely difficult to manage in the ward as no response could be obtained in the first week of treatment despite high doses of antipsychotics and benzodiazepine administration. The introduction and rapid titration of clozapine proved remarkably effective and was well tolerated in the acute management of these patients. We observed that clozapine had a superior and fast mood stabilization effect with rapid titration and could be extremely helpful in the management of such patients.
Fundamentalism and Warranted Belief: Response to Harriet A. Harris
Authors: Shortt John
Published: May 2015

I MAKE A few brief comments in response to what Harriet Harris says so helpfully. Taking belief in God as basic is more like taking belief in other minds as basic than doing so with beliefs in everyday objects such as trees. A belief may be held as basic and, at the same time, open to criticism. Foundations may be discovered retrospectively as we walk on them rather than established first as something from which we start to build.
Traction on Reality: The Thinking behind Reformed Christian Schools
Authors: Vryhof Steven
Published: May 2015

REFORMED CHRISTIANS affirm this life, this world, this culture and seek to integrate faith and life in a seamless whole and to be culturally-engaged in a way that makes the world a better place for everyone. They therefore seek forms of schooling that enable students to radically and profoundly improve society. They ground their perspective in the idea of God's covenant with his people which requires the Christian community to bring children up in a vision of God's purpose of human and creational flourishing. Reformed education has three goals: conservation of the Christian worldview, inquiry into all aspects of life and the world and reform of culture through lives of discipleship.
From Formation to the Frontiers: The Dialectic of Christian Education
Authors: Sullivan John
Published: May 2015

This article links education with discipleship. In both, the first task is developing the human person. This task is incomplete until learners (and disciples) have been encouraged to reach out to others, especially those ‘at the margins’. Christian education essentially involves two major movements: formation and work ‘at the frontiers’. Both are necessary. Formation without work at the frontiers is inadequate to the gospel imperative to be inclusive; while work at the frontiers without sufficient attention to formation lacks the distinctiveness, specificity or ‘salt’ of Christian faith. These two movements are analysed and their dialectical relationships and reciprocal effects are explored.
The Religious and Moral Beliefs of Adolescents in St. Petersburg
Authors: Kozyrev Fedor Nikolay
Published: May 2015

Students aged 15 to 17 years in state secular and non-state Christian schools in St. Petersburg were surveyed as to their opinions of religion. The study showed an extremely small proportion of consistent atheists. On average, less than 10% of the surveyed students in state schools answered with certainty that there is no God while just 4% decisively reject religion as such. 80% proclaimed themselves believers but only 2% visit churches at least weekly and very few know the Christian Gospel. The majority of students thought that religion is a personal matter. There were significant differences between the state secular and non-state Christian schools so the survey supports the view that religious education strongly influences opinions and systems of ethical values.
A Summary Grammar for Christian Prepolitical Education
Authors: Oakley Nigel W.
Published: May 2015

This article looks at how Christians should be educated for prepolitical involvement in civil society. It does this by proposing a ‘summary grammar’ based on a reading of three theologians who have influenced Christian political thought (Augustine of Hippo, Gustavo Gutiérrez and Dietrich Bonhoeffer). The summary grammar is expressed in the form of three inter-related tensions on which all prepolitical education must rest if it is to be properly Christian. The first tension concerns the nature of God's kingdom; the second relates to the idea that that the church should be in the world but not of it; and the third is based on how the church relates to that world. I then look at how this prepolitical education could have helped the recent debate over war with Iraq.
Faith, Education and Communication Technology
Authors: Schultze Quentin J.
Published: May 2015

NEW TECHNOLOGIES SUCH as the Internet and PowerPoint are altering the communication context in which educators, school administrators, students and counselors work. This essay suggests that biblical insights and historic Christian theology can help educators to act wisely within this high-tech context. Of particular importance are: listening, being self-consciously “multimedia” persons, and attending to the role of the Holy Spirit in the non-technological mystery of human communication.
Education for Homelessness or Homemaking? The Christian College in a Postmodern Culture
Authors: Bouma-Prediger Steven , Walsh Brian
Published: May 2015

SOME POSIT TODAY that colleges and universities – small or large, public or private, Christian or secular – educate people for upward mobility, alienate people from their local habitation, and encourage the vandalism of the earth. In short, they argue that education is in many respects education for global homelessness. In this article, we examine these claims, set forth an alternative vision of education, and describe some of the implications of a biblically informed vision. In doing so, we argue that Christian higher education ought explicitly to aim at homecoming and homemaking.
Tribute to Peter Cousins (1928–2003)
Authors: Wilkins Richard
Published: May 2015

Peter Cousins, who died in September 2003, was the first Editor of Spectrum, a magazine that grew into a journal that was re-titled in 1997 as Journal of Education & Christian Belief. It can therefore be truly said that Peter Cousins was ‘our’ first editor. This tribute to ‘a giant in the land’ was written by Richard Wilkins, another former editor of Spectrum. It was first published in the Spring 2004 issue of ACT NOW, the magazine of the Association of Christian Teachers in England, and it appears here with the kind permission of the author and editor.
Is Compulsory Religious Education Justified? A Dialogue
Authors: Hand Michael , White John
Published: May 2015

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE) currently enjoys the status of a compulsory curriculum subject in state schools in England and Wales.1 There is, at present, a broad consensus among policy-makers on two distinct justifications for compulsory RE: (i) that an understanding of religious individuals and communities better equips pupils for life in a multicultural society; and (ii) that the study of religion is morally educative. The authors of the present paper agree that neither of these justifications is adequate. In his contribution to a recent volume on the school curriculum2, Hand sets out an alternative rationale for the study of religion in schools, which he calls the possibility-of-truth case (Hand, 2003). The following dialogue explores the adequacy of Hand's argument.
Preventing the Fall from the ‘Call to Teach’: Rethinking Vocation
Authors: Hartnett Sharon , Kline Frank
Published: May 2015

THIS ARTICLE EXPLORES the high rate at which teachers leave the classroom within the first three years of service, the notion of ‘calling’ in this decision to leave, an ethical call to teacher educators to counsel students out if they do not have the dispositions necessary for successful teaching, and the application of the idea of the ‘primary calling’ as distinguished from a ‘secondary calling’ (Guinness) to the profession of teaching. An examination of fulfillment, fit, and the actual tasks performed in teaching provide a realistic view of the classroom that may assist teacher educators and candidates in viewing the profession more realistically, as well as understanding the true nature of calling. This sense of fulfillment, fit, and joy in the work of teaching may result in longer and more satisfying careers as well as preventing painful exits from teaching.
The Dynamics of Ownership
Authors: Sullivan John
Published: May 2015

I EXPLORE THE intersection of different types of affiliation, commitment and ownership in religiously affiliated schools and colleges and the challenges these pose for leaders. Three types of ownership receive attention: proprietary, professional and participative. In the face of a spectrum of responses to the mission, leaders must combine zeal with political wisdom, and advocacy with restraint. They must exercise leverage in order to carry out the mandate entrusted to them but at the same time they need to show sensitivity in order to maintain a healthy, effective and harmonious working atmosphere.
Exposing Students to Intractable Problems: Christian Faith and Justice in a Course on the Middle East
Authors: Sanders Glenn E.
Published: May 2015

THIS CHAPTER DESCRIBES the planning and teaching of a course on the history of the Middle East at a Christian university, focusing in particular on the way in which a concern for spiritual growth and for engagement with issues of justice shaped the structure and pedagogy of the course. The chapter explores the “inner” and “outer” work necessary to connect justice concerns with spirituality and learning.
On Charitable Teaching
Authors: Jacobs Alan
Published: May 2015

IN EARLIER WORK on the hermeneutics of charity, the author explored the relevance of Augustine's insistence on charity in reading Scripture for interpreters of non-biblical texts. This article shows how one might bring such charitable reading into the classroom and reframe the teacher's task in its light. The article discusses some implications for our understanding of teaching “methods,” close attention to students, the nature of syllabi, and the role of attentive playfulness play in learning.
“Who is My Neighbor?” Reading World Literature through the Hermeneutics of Love
Authors: Netland John
Published: May 2015

WORLD LITERATURE COURSES reflect both the academy's and the Christian community's interest in a global education, but what theoretical assumptions inform the teaching of world literature? The oft-cited rationale for cultural diversity may prove insufficient if it leads merely to the assertion of difference as a self-justifying good. This essay claims a richer model of diversity, drawing on biblical themes as well as recent definitions of world literature and cosmopolitanism, to open up a hermeneutical space for transcultural understanding. The essay also argues that the study of world literature in the Christian classroom should be informed by a hermeneutic of charity which directs our reading toward love of God and neighbor.
How Learners Respond to the Teaching of Beliefs and Values
Authors: Hill Brian V.
Published: May 2015

DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE teaching of beliefs and values is often muddied because the two terms tend to be used interchangeably. It is argued that a preliminary stipulation of these and other terms which described various key moments in the process of teaching values, taking into account the interplay of psychological and ethical variables, will enhance the possibility of developing an effective and justifiable pedagogic model in values education.
Reimagining Excellence in Inclusive Education: Transforming Edict to Ethic
Authors: Freytag Cathy E.
Published: May 2015

THE CURRENT QUEST for educational excellence in the United States is characterized by numerous well-intentioned caveats accompanied by several challenging barriers. In the present paradigm, the curriculum is preeminent; norms of excellence are predetermined; and an individualistic, competitive, “one-size-fits-all” approach prevails. In a reimagined ethic of excellence in inclusive education, teachers are challenged to look first to the needs of students (i.e., individual students with and without disabilities, as well as the collective community of learners) and to consider how educators and students might work collaboratively to receive and express learning in a range of responsive ways. To realize such an ethic of excellence, teacher education programs at Christian colleges and universities should equip inclusive educators to be collaborative advocates and change agents characterized by love and caring service.
Transforming Faith: Teaching as a Christian Vocation in a Secular, Worldview-Diverse Culture
Authors: Cooling Trevor
Published: May 2015

THIS ARTICLE ADVOCATES the thesis that Christian teachers can and should draw on the resources of their faith in their work of leading teaching and learning. The secular approach where faith is treated as a private matter and the ‘market share’ approach where the dominance of Christian faith is sought, are both rejected. A third way which aspires to the Christian transformation of teaching and learning in the cause of both the common good and the building of God's kingdom is advanced. It is argued that this can underpin a fully professional understanding of the Christian vocation to teach.
Educating Our Desires for God's Kingdom (Review Article)
Authors: Thiessen Elmer John
Published: May 2015

THIS ARTICLE IS an extended review of James K. A. Smith's latest and much-discussed book, Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009).
“Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”: Preparing for Good Friday in a Literature and Environment Course
Authors: Bowen Deborah C.
Published: May 2015

THIS PAPER REFLECTS on a visit by Christian poet John Terpstra to the final class session (on a Maundy Thursday) of my Literature and Environment course, to read his poetry suite on making a cross for his church out of a fruit-tree in an orchard being ploughed under for construction. Terpstra plays on the Stations of the Cross by interweaving the story of his own cross-making with the narrative of Jesus' crucifixion. The quasi-liturgical event of this reading created a profound stillness in the classroom, generated an animated discussion following, and raised important issues about the relationship of liturgy to classroom and of affective to cognitive learning.
Using Music and Image to Raise Spiritual and Moral Questions in the Foreign Language Classroom: Exploring the Söhne Mannheims
Authors: Smith David I. , De Vries Herman J. , Roberts F. Corey
Published: May 2015

MUSIC OFFERS TO language teachers benefits in terms of language exposure, cultural information, and multisensory appeal. This article describes how the use of music videos offers potential for exploring spiritual and moral concerns, especially as the intersections between words, sounds, and images are explored. Exploring how (in this case) specifically German voices address faith-related questions with specific reference to their own cultural context may at the same time deepen moral, spiritual, and cultural learning. The examples described are drawn from the music videos release by the German band Söhne Mannheims.
Lessons about Education That Christianity Can Learn from a Defector
Authors: Cox William F.
Published: May 2015

HORACE MANN, FATHER of American public schools, favoured allowing only that religious content in public education that met the agreement of all its constituents. Then as well as now, Christians noticeably conflict with Mann, a defector from Christianity, in arguing that biblical world views and practices should prevail. Ironically, Mann's position better approximates the application of the biblical Golden Rule to public education. Following Mann's lead, application of the biblical Golden Rule prefigures the same implications about religion in education as proposed by C.S. Lewis fifty years ago. From out of this conflict there is a lesson for Christianity regarding a biblical view of education.
Spiritual and Moral Education in/and Cyberspace: Preliminary Reflections
Authors: Roebben Bert
Published: May 2015

THE EXPLICATION OF the hidden discourse of religiosity in the Internet can contribute to the construction of a powerful learning context for moral and spiritual education in the realm of media culture. This is an urgent task for education in Christian perspective. In this contribution we examine the idea that the Internet brings about an alternative awareness of reality (‘sensorium’) through which people may be able to develop a new religious affinity. The question is how this phenomenon should be treated in the framework of the spiritual and moral education of adolescents and young adults. Our position is that a ‘new media literacy’ should become a central theme of modern education. We offer an evaluative scheme in order to chart the boundaries and possibilities of the Internet for an effective learning process. Transethical, theological and educational considerations are substantial in this regard. Finally some concrete recommendations are made for the use of the Internet in the classroom.
A Problem-Posing Pedagogy: ‘Paths of Pleasantness and Peace’
Authors: Blomberg Doug
Published: May 2015

SCHOOLING REMAINS DOMINATED by the modernist paradigm, in which theoretical understanding is elevated above other ways of knowing, not only in respect to content but also to methodology. A Biblical wisdom perspective suggests an alternative approach, in which concrete experience is the context of learning and active engagement by learners in situations of puzzlement its motor. This hypothesis is tested in the context of philosophical and psychological explorations of related options. These contribute important insights, but are considered inadequate to the extent that they remain within the theory-practice polarity. When a variety of ways of knowing is acknowledged, the gifts of individuals can be nurtured in a cooperative environment.
Effects of a Topical Saffron (Crocus sativus L) Gel on Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetics
Authors: Mohammadzadeh-Moghadam Hossein , Nazari Seyed Mohammad , Shamsa Ali , Kamalinejad Mohammad , Esmaeeli Habibollah , Asadpour Amir Abbas , Khajavi Abdoljavad
Published: May 2015

Erectile dysfunction is a man’s persistent or recurrent inability to achieve and maintain erection for a satisfactory sexual relationship. As diabetes is a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction among diabetic men has been reported as 35% to 90%. This randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effects of a topical saffron ( Crocus sativus L) gel on erectile dysfunction in diabetic men. Patients were randomly allocated to 2 equal groups (with 25 patients each). The intervention group was treated with topical saffron, and the control received a similar treatment with placebo. The 2 groups were assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire before the intervention and 1 month after the intervention. Compared to placebo, the prepared saffron gel could significantly improve erectile dysfunction in diabetic patients ( P < .001). This preliminary evidence suggests that saffron can be considered as a treatment option for diabetic men with erectile dysfunction.
The Politics of Scheduled Tribe Status in Manipur
Authors: Haokip Thongkholal
Published: May 2015

This article critically examines the demand made by a progressively forward moving Meitei community of Manipur for Scheduled Tribe status after having been listed in the general category for the past 60 years. The calling attention motion raised by Ibohalbi in the State Assembly in February 2014 regarding this attempt to move backward raises concerns and apprehensions on the part of the ‘others’.
Archaeological Ethnography of the Battle of Aslıhanlar (29–30 August 1922): A Case Study of Public Archaeology, Visual Storytelling, and Interactive Map Design
Authors: Aksoy Can , Bayar Ziyacan
Published: May 2015

Our article seeks to determine the functions of visual communication design through the lens of modern conflict and public archaeologies. The Battle of Aslıhanlar, which took place in the triangle of the villages of Çal Köy, Allıören, and Yüğlük in Kütahya from 29 to 30 August 1922, was the focus of our experimentation. Our archaeological survey project was carried out in 2013; interviews with local people, a review of the literature available and our observations of local myths and traditions that emerged after the war constitute the basis of our article. We categorized these sources for the project design in order to form a storytelling narrative, so that the viewer could participate in the process of conflict as well as the ongoing research. We foresaw three major challenges while categorizing this complex dataset: equivalence of visual language; variable outputs of the multi-dimensional research methods; and interactivity for creating a live social platform. We responded to these challenges by developing a graphic design concept and an interactive map of the data. Our design surrounds the viewer with a historical timeline, which includes all of our research findings in one interactive interface.