bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Image Quality Assessment for Low-Dose-CT in Hybrid SPECT/CT Imaging
Authors: Ruf Juri , Kupitz Dennis , Czuczwara Damian , Loewenthal David , Thormann Markus , Furth Christian , Ricke Jens , Pech Maciej , Kreissl Michael , Amthauer Holger , Grosser Oliver
Published: October 2018

Objectives: Low-dose-computed tomography (LD-CT) is used in nuclear medicine hybrid imaging (e.g., SPECT/CT) for attenuation correction of emission data and anatomical correlation of findings. However, there are currently no standards for image quality (e. g., detectability) comparable to those for diagnostic CT. Therefore, the aim of this explorative study was to evaluate retrospective LDCT data in terms of CT image quality and detectability of anatomical structures. Methods: Two readers blindly scored abdominal LD-CT images (n = 40 patients) in terms of detectability (n = 20 structures/patient), image quality, and readers’ confidence in scoring the image quality for a clinically hybrid imaging protocol. Results were analysed by ANOVA to identify factors (e. g., anatomical structures) that influenced performance scores. The inter-rater agreement was evaluated by determining the chance-corrected Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. Results: Image noise was acceptable for anatomical correlation in 96.1 % of the readings with an almost perfect inter-rater agreement (KBP = 0.85). A detectability of at least 80 % was observed in 13/20 (KBP ≥ 0.7) and 90 % in 9/20 (KBP ≥ 0.85) of the structures analysed by both readers. The confidence of both readers in scoring image quality was at least sufficient in 98.8 % of the examined patients (KBP = 0.95). Conclusion: Although LD-CT protocols commonly used in hybrid imaging have a poor image quality not suitable for primary CT diagnostics, they enable detection of a variety of anatomical structures. LDCT can therefore also be referenced in the associated reports for anatomical correlation of findings from SPECT imaging.
Immunohistochemical detection of chemokine receptor 4 expression in chronic osteomyelitis confirms specific uptake in 68Ga-Pentixafor-PET/CT
Authors: Bouter Yvonne , Meller Birgit , Sahlmann Carsten , Wolf Bettina , Langer Laura , Bankstahl Jens , Wester Hans , Kropf Saskia , Meller Johannes , Bouter Caroline
Published: October 2018

Previous findings of our group showed the chemokine receptor CXCR4 as a suitable target in PET/CT-imaging of axial bone infections, early postoperative osteomyelitis and periprosthetic infections. The aim of this study was to verify specific uptake of 68Ga-Pentixafor in chronic osteomyelitis. Methods: 29 consecutive patients who underwent 68Ga-Pentixafor-PET/CT with clinically suspected osteomyelitis were evaluated retrospectively. Bone tissues of 6 patients were available and evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for CXCR4 and autoradiography with 68Ga-Pentixafor. Staining was performed with an anti-CXCR4 antibody. In order to detect lymphocytic infiltration and CXCR4-expressing lymphocytes double immunofluorescence with an anti-CD3 and anti-CXCR4 antibody was performed. Results: 68Ga-Pentixafor-PET/ CT was true positive in 16 and true negative in 13 patients. In available bone tissue samples, immunohistochemical staining of CXCR4 expression and autoradiography with 68Ga-Pentixafor was highly positive. Double immunofluorescence was able to detect CXCR4-expressing T-lymphocytes within all bone samples while a control sample of noninfected tibial bone was negative for CXCR4. Conclusion: 68Ga-Pentixafor-PET/CT specifically shows CXCR4-expressing immune cells in chronic osteomyelitis and is therefore a suitable method for imaging chronic infection of the skeleton.
Treatment of Osteochondrosis Dissecans of the Canine Stifle Using Synthetic Osteochondral Resurfacing
Authors: Murphy Susan , Jovanovik Jelena , Tucker Russell , Fitzpatrick Noel , Egan Pádraig
Published: October 2018

Objective This article aimed to describe the use and evolution of a synthetic osteochondral resurfacing (SOR) implant in the treatment of osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) of the femoral condyle and to report the clinical, radiographic, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes of this technique.

Methods Medical records of dogs that were treated with first-generation (G1) and second-generation (G2) SOR at a single institute were reviewed. Surgical reports and clinical examinations as well as the preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up radiographs, computed tomographic images and magnetic resonance imaging images were reviewed.

Results Fourteen stifles (nine dogs) were included in the study. G1-SOR implants were employed in six stifles of four dogs and G2-SOR implants in eight stifles of five dogs. Osteochondrosis dissecans of the medial femoral condyle was confirmed as the sole pathology in all dogs treated with G1-SOR. Only one of eight OCD lesions was located on the medial condyle in the G2-SOR group with the remaining seven lesions affecting the lateral femoral condyle. At 12 weeks, 13 of 14 stifles displayed implant stability, with no subchondral bone changes or evidence of lucency around any implant. Eight of nine dogs achieved a good-excellent clinical outcome. Complications included one minor surgical site infection and one infective arthritis which required implant removal.

Clinical Significance In this cohort of dogs, both G1-SOR and G2-SOR were successful and repeatable surgical procedures for dogs with OCD of the femoral condyle.
Reduction of the A-Frame Angle of Incline does not Change the Maximum Carpal Joint Extension Angle in Agility Dogs Entering the A-Frame
Authors: Glyde Mark , Hosgood Giselle , Dempsey Alasdair , Wickham Sarah , Appelgrein Carla
Published: October 2018

Objective This article aims to investigate the effect of a decrease in the A-frame angle of incline on the highest carpal extension angle in agility dogs.

Methods Kinematic gait analysis (two-dimensional) measuring carpal extension was performed on 40 dogs entering the A-frame at 3 angles of incline: 40° (standard), 35° and 30°. The highest carpal extension angle from three trials at each incline was examined for a significant effect of A-frame angle with height, body weight and velocity included as covariates.

Results There was no significant effect of A-frame angle on the highest carpal joint extension angle for the first or second limb. The adjusted mean carpal extension angle for the first limb at 40° was 64° [95% confidence interval (CI), 60–68), at 35° was 61° (95% CI, 57–65) and at 30° was 62° (95% CI, 59–65). The raw mean carpal extension angle for all dogs across all A-frame angles for the first limb was 62° (95% CI, 60–64) and the second limb was 61° (95% CI, 59–63).

Clinical Significance Decreasing the A-frame angle of incline from 40° to 30° did not result in reduced carpal extension angles. The failure to find a difference and the narrow CI of the carpal angles may indicate that the physiologic limits of carpal extension were reached at all A-frame angles.
Dust Emission in an Accretion-rate-limited Sample of z ≳ 6 Quasars
Authors: Venemans Bram P. , Decarli Roberto , Walter Fabian , Bañados Eduardo , Bertoldi Frank , Fan Xiaohui , Farina Emanuele Paolo , Mazzucchelli Chiara , Riechers Dominik , Rix Hans-Walter , Wang Ran , Yang Yujin
Published: October 2018

We present Atacama Large Millimeter Array 1 mm observations of the rest-frame far-infrared (FIR) dust continuum in 27 quasars at redshifts 6.0 ≲ z < 6.7. We detect FIR emission at ≳3σ in all quasar host galaxies with flux densities at ∼1900 GHz in the rest-frame of 0.12 < S
rest,1900 GHz < 5.9 mJy, with a median (mean) flux density of 0.88 mJy (1.59 mJy). The implied FIR luminosities range from

 = (0.27–13) × 1012

, with 74% of our quasar hosts having

 > 1012

. The estimated dust masses are

 = 107–109

. If the dust is heated only by star formation, then the star formation rates in the quasar host galaxies are between 50 and 2700

. In the framework of the host galaxy–black hole coevolution model a correlation between ongoing black hole growth and star formation in the quasar host galaxy would be expected. However, combined with results from the literature to create a luminosity-limited quasar sample, we do not find a strong correlation between quasar UV luminosity (a proxy for ongoing black hole growth) and FIR luminosity (star formation in the host galaxy). The absence of such a correlation in our data does not necessarily rule out the coevolution model, and could be due to a variety of effects (including different timescales for black hole accretion and FIR emission).
Inefficient Cosmic-Ray Diffusion around Vela X: Constraints from H.E.S.S. Observations of Very High-energy Electrons
Authors: Huang Zhi-Qiu , Fang Kun , Liu Ruo-Yu , Wang Xiang-Yu
Published: October 2018

Vela X is a nearby pulsar wind nebula (PWN) powered by a ∼104 year old pulsar. Modeling of the spectral energy distribution of the Vela X PWN has shown that accelerated electrons have largely escaped from the confinement, which is likely due to the disruption of the initially confined PWN by the supernova remnant reverse shock. The escaped electrons propagate to the Earth and contribute to the measured local cosmic-ray (CR) electron spectrum. We find that the escaped CR electrons from Vela X would hugely exceed the measured flux by High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) at ∼10 TeV if the standard diffusion coefficient for the interstellar medium (ISM) is used. We propose that the diffusion may be highly inefficient around Vela X and find that a spatially dependent diffusion can lead to CR flux that is consistent with the HESS measurement. Using a two-zone model for the diffusion around Vela X, we find that the diffusion coefficient in the inner region of a few tens of parsecs should be ≲1028 cm2 s−1 for ∼10 TeV CR electrons, which is about two orders of magnitude lower than the standard value for the ISM. Such inefficient diffusion around PWN resembles the case of the Geminga and Monogem PWNe, suggesting that inefficient diffusion may be common in the vicinity of PWNe that span a wide range of ages.
Radio Properties of Rotating Radio Transients: Single-pulse Spectral and Wait-time Analyses
Authors: Shapiro-Albert B. J. , McLaughlin M. A. , Keane E. F.
Published: October 2018

Rotating radio transients (RRATs) are a sub-class of pulsars characterized by sporadic emission and thus can generally only be studied by analysis of their single pulses. Here we present a single-pulse analysis using 11 years of timing data at 1400 MHz of three RRATs, PSRs J1819−1458, J1317−5759, and J1913+1330. We perform a spectral analysis on the single pulses of these RRATs for the first time, finding their mean spectral indices to be −1.1 ± 0.1, −0.6 ± 0.1, and −1.2 ± 0.2 respectively, within the known range of pulsar spectral indices. We find no evidence for narrowband features as seen for FRB 121102. However, we find the spread of single-pulse spectral indices for these RRATs (ranging from −7 to +4) to be larger than has been seen in other pulsars, with the exception of the Crab pulsar. We also analyze the time between detected pulses, or wait time, and find that the pulses are not random and cluster around wait times of a few pulse periods as well as ∼25 pulse periods for PSRs J1819−1458 and J1317−5759. Additionally we find that there is no correlation between the wait time and pulse flux density. Finally we find that the distribution of the pulse energy for PSRs J1317−5759 and J1913+1330 are log-normal, while that of PSR J1819−1458 is log-normal with possible evidence of an additional power-law component.
Increased dose of Dolutegravir as a Potential Rescue Therapy in Multi-Experienced Patients
Authors: Ferrari Davide , Spagnuolo Vincenzo , Manca Monica , Bigoloni Alba , Muccini Camilla , Banfi Giuseppe , Locatelli Massimo , Castagna Antonella
Published: October 2018

Background

The pilot Phase IIb VIKING study suggested that dolutegravir (DTG), an HIV integrase inhibitor (INI), is efficacious in INI-resistant patients at the 50 mg twice-daily dose. However, DTG response was most reduced in subjects carrying resistance-associated mutations at position G140 and Q148. These mutations can cause a 10–20-fold reduced susceptibility to DTG as well as a 96% lower odds of achieving HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/ml at week 24 if compared with those with no mutations at these positions.

Methods

Five multi-experienced patients harbouring the mutation complex G140-Q148, resistant to at least three drug classes, and previously exposed to DTG 50 mg twice daily, were treated with an increased dose of DTG (100 mg twice daily) in association with an optimized background regimen (OBR) based on their individual viral genotyping assays. The blood concentration of DTG was measured in order to determine whether a solubility issue is related with this high dosage.

Results

Four out of five patients attained an HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/ml at week 48 and no relevant adverse events were detected. The measured DTG blood concentration was that expected for the administered dosage, ruling out any solubility concerns.

Conclusions

For the first time 100 mg twice daily of DTG was administered to five multi-experienced patients harbouring the mutation complex G140-Q148. Although a small number of patients were tested, the results show a potential for a high-dose regimen of DTG as a rescue therapy in patients harbouring integrase strand transfer inhibitor resistant viruses.
Dernier retour sur les formalistes
Authors: Todorov Tzvetan
Published: October 2018

Cet article revient sur les circonstances de la publication de Théorie de la littérature. Textes des formalistes russes , réunis, présentés et traduits par Tzvetan Todorov, avec une préface de Roman Jakobson, en 1966. Il rappelle ensuite les trois moments de lecture critique des formalistes par Todorov : en 1965 ; en 1982, dans Critique de la critique  ; et enfin en 1997, dans une étude intitulée « Pourquoi Jakobson et Bakhtine ne se sont jamais rencontrés ».
Le « formalisme » polonais et l’héritage du formalisme russe
Authors: Mrugalski Michał , Conan Jérémie , Roussin Philippe
Published: October 2018

L’article décrit l’héritage du Cercle de Varsovie, qui fut actif durant la seconde moitié des années 1930 et qui comptait notamment parmi ses membres Stefan Żółkiewski, Kazimerz Budzyk, Franciszek Siedlecki et Dawid Hopensztand. L’article insiste notamment sur le trait le plus caractéristique du structuralisme polonais de l’entre-deux-guerres, à savoir la notion de formalisme méthodologique , qui consiste à examiner la « syntaxe logique » d’une science qui préexiste à la transmission des réseaux de notions et de données empiriques fondées sur des théories. La manière dont ce « formalisme » fonctionne est démontrée au moyen du modèle du discours indirect libre et du discours satirique de Hopensztand, au sein duquel un réseau solide de notions a priori permet d’effectuer des sauts audacieux entre les différents domaines de l’expérience humaine. Ce modèle connaît un regain d’actualité dans le contexte des études littéraires actuelles, qui s’efforcent de faire tomber les barrières entre le littéraire et le social, tout en exprimant un intérêt croissant pour les découvertes des sciences de la vie.
Monde narratif et sémiosphère
Authors: Pier John
Published: October 2018

La sémiosphère, notion développée par Jurij Lotman à partir de 1984, fournit les moyens de repenser le monde narratif dans le cadre de la sémiotique culturelle à partir de concepts comme la binarité, l’asymétrie, l’hétérogénéité, la frontière, la traductibilité, etc. La frontière est cruciale dans la génération de la sémiosphère, comme dans les différents types de récit, et donc dans la nature du monde narratif. Le texte sans sujet (où la frontière n’est pas enfreinte, comme dans le mythe d’origine) s’oppose au texte à sujet (où l’histoire est déclenchée par la violation d’un tabou, par exemple). L’article examine les notions de storyworld (David Herman) et d’ événementialité (Wolf Schmid) afin de mettre en perspective les enjeux du monde narratif tel qu’il est conçu selon les principes de la sémiosphère. Le storyworld correspond à la construction mentale du monde raconté dans l’esprit du lecteur ; l’événementialité désigne la gradualité de l’événement narratif et prend en compte les degrés de pertinence et d’imprévisibilité des changements d’état perçus par le personnage comme par le lecteur.
Identification de configurations par la méthode Fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis : illustration par la contribution de la technologie PLM au respect du temps de développement
Authors: Merminod Valéry , Rowe Frantz
Published: October 2018

Inventée par le sociologue Charles Ragin dans les années 80 pour identifier les configurations expliquant un phénomène, la méthode Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) est utilisée en sciences de gestion depuis le milieu des années 2000. La recherche en management des systèmes d’information semble faire exception, avec quelques rares articles parus récemment. Pourtant, cette méthode fondée sur la comparaison de cas présente plusieurs atouts pour explorer les phénomènes dans le champ des systèmes d’information tels que l’équifinalité (existence de plusieurs combinaisons causales pouvant expliquer le même résultat), la complexité causale (un résultat étant issu de combinaisons causales et rarement d’une seule cause), la sensibilité aux cas déviants et l’attention aux limites de l’observation. L’ambition de cet article est de présenter cette méthode pour les recherches en Management des SI ainsi que ses avantages et ses limites, à travers notamment une illustration. Celle-ci utilise la variante fuzzy set QCA (Fs QCA) fondée sur les ensembles flous et porte sur les conditions d’utilisation de la technologie Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) contribuant au respect du temps de développement dans les projets de co-développement de nouveaux produits. Fuzzy set QCA permet d’identifier les configurations de conditions nécessaires et suffisantes pour un résultat. Dans l’illustration, nous avons ainsi identifié cinq configurations possibles pour un bon respect du temps de développement. En particulier, nous avons mis en évidence une configuration où l’usage des trois sous-systèmes de la technologie PLM est suffisante pour un bon respect du temps de développement. La méthode fuzzy set QCA permet d’analyser la complexité causale et notamment l’équifinalité des configurations aussi bien pour un résultat positif que pour une résultat négatif et ainsi de traiter les problèmes de causalité dite asymétrique dans l’allocation des ressources.
Proposition d’un design de recherche pour l’analyse des processus complexes et émergents en systèmes d’information : de l’intérêt de combiner étude(s) de cas et simulation multi-agents
Authors: Habib Johanna , de Corbière François
Published: October 2018

Si la simulation connaît une popularité croissante en sciences des organisations, force est de constater que les recherches en systèmes d’information (SI) emploient encore peu fréquemment cette approche méthodologique. Après avoir mis en exergue la pertinence de la simulation pour explorer des phénomènes complexes et émergents, cet article se propose de souligner l’intérêt d’un design de recherche combinant deux approches méthodologiques : l’étude de cas et la simulation multi-agents. Deux modèles de simulation en SI sont présentés pour illustrer l’apport de ce couplage méthodologique, en particulier sur la question épineuse de la validité des résultats de simulation. En effet, à travers un processus experimentalo-abductif l’ancrage qualitatif de la simulation améliore la validité du modèle construit tout autant qu’il accroît la portée de l’interprétation des résultats de la simulation. En retour, l’ancrage simulatif permet de poser de nouvelles questions de nature plus théorique et prospective, et renforce par la même la généralisation théorique des résultats. Ce croisement méthodologique amène toutefois à revoir le positionnement de la simulation dans le design de recherche. La simulation n’occupe plus une place centrale dans la construction des connaissances scientifiques mais davantage une place complémentaire, un dépassement à l’étude de cas, permettant de renouveler les questionnements du chercheur.
The Healthcare Financing and Health Outcomes in Zambia
Authors: Syed Ali , Jabeen Urooj Afshan
Published: October 2018

This chapter aims to find out the sources of healthcare financing in Zambia to provide health facilities for protecting the people's right to receive healthcare and to know the health outcomes. The study revealed that significant progress is made in addressing the MDGs of health. But the achievement is less than the targets. The total health expenditure and the per capita health expenditure is less than other middle-income countries and the global average. The percent of government expenditure on healthcare to total government expenditure is also less than the target. The donor financing and out-of-pocket health expenditure are higher than the limit suggested by WHO. The private medical insurance and social insurance schemes are still in the initial stages of development. There is regional inequality in the healthcare facilities.
Linking Primary Healthcare Policies With Health System for Improved Health Outcomes in Nigeria
Authors: Eneanya Augustine Nduka
Published: October 2018

Quality healthcare is a fundamental right of all citizens of any nation. In Nigeria, there are disparities in terms of quality of healthcare provided to different groups in the rural and urban areas. It is this desire to ensure access to potential patients and the existence of a quality healthcare system in Nigeria that necessitates primary healthcare policy. The purpose of this chapter, therefore, is to investigate how primary healthcare policies affect health system performance and health outcomes in Nigeria. The chapter adopted qualitative research approach. Secondary data were collected from secondary sources, such as textbooks, journal articles, newspapers, WHO reports, government records, and internet. Content and secondary data analysis methods were adopted to analyze, interpret, and answer the research questions. Findings show that health outcomes remain poor because of weak health system as infant and maternal mortality are still high and universal access coverage still low. The chapter concludes that a strong health system would improve health outcomes.
Policy Value and Primary Healthcare Delivery in Rural Nigeria
Authors: Ighodalo Akhakpe
Published: October 2018

The health of a people is a major social capital to be prioritized and optimized for the growth and development of any country. Therefore, any government desirous of development should make healthcare delivery one of the cornerstones of its policy on development. In pursuance of these goals, the purpose of this chapter is to examine the dominant policy value, particularly the failure to faithfully implement government policies and achieve set goals. The method applied in the study is participant observatory method, using the basic need theory (BNT) as theoretical framework of analysis. The findings revealed that policy values frustrate the attainment of sustainable primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Challenges were highlighted such as improper monitoring and evaluation of policies, inadequate funding, program implementation, and lack of skilled professionals. The chapter concludes by suggesting opportunities to open primary healthcare delivery in the rural areas.
Marketing Reflections for Our Reform and Reset
Authors: Smith Brent
Published: October 2018

From time to time, we marketers should reflect upon what we have done for the world and to the world. We should examine the paradigms, practices, and broader impacts that have shaped our reputation. As a community of practitioners, scholars, and teachers, we have grown accustomed to common criticisms about what we do and how we do it. In calling consumerism the shame of marketing, Peter Drucker left us a prompt to consider for our reform and reset. In our ongoing journey to satisfy consumers and achieve organizational objectives, we must not lose sight of our responsibilities to create value, maximize our positive impact on society, and minimize our negative impact on society. In this brief chapter, the author presents thoughts on how we marketers might improve our discipline.
Marketing
Authors: Coelho Arnaldo
Published: October 2018

This chapter shows how universities have to change the way they deal with marketing. First, marketing matters to many other actors than their traditional students, so the way marketing is taught has to change as well as the way universities organize their offers. At the same time, marketing may help universities adapt their offers to the specific needs of the society. Universities have to get closer to their communities and help them become more entrepreneurial, more sustainable, and improve the quality of life of their citizens, therefore contributing to a better world.
IT Strategic Grid
Authors: Vugec Dalia Suša , Pejic-Bach Mirjana , Spremić Mario
Published: October 2018

Information technology (IT) plays an important role within organizations and effects their sustainability and business success. In that sense, it is important to have a clear understanding and a vision of an IT strategy and its role within a company. Following the IT Strategic Grid framework, this chapter presents the results of the multiple longitudinal case study of four companies with different ownership structure from financial sector operating in Croatia. The chapter provides a deeper understanding of the role of IT within a company presenting the way and dynamics of business progress for two observed banks and two insurance companies over the five-year period. Moreover, the chapter identifies the benefits of having a clear and well-developed IT strategy.
Management Practices at Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs)
Authors: Majetić Filip , Šimleša Dražen , Rajter Miroslav
Published: October 2018

This chapter explores management practices at work integration social enterprises (WISEs) in Croatia. WISEs are conceptualized as social mission-oriented organizations whose: 1) (financial) self-sustainability depends on success in conducting continuous commercial activities and 2) social mission is to (better) integrate vulnerable groups into the labor market (e.g., disabled people). The final sample included 23 organizations. The data was collected through in-depth interviews. The interviewees were selected purposively and included one highly ranked executive (director, owner, CEO, etc.) per each organization. The analysis revealed the following fields of management practices as the most significant: generation of business ideas, unique selling points, employee autonomy and decision-making process, division of labor, relationship with the “parent organization,” sources of funding, human resource configuration, staff development activities, and networking.
The Moderating Role of Transformational Leadership on the Relationship Between Careerism and Social Loafing Behaviors
Authors: Arda Özlem Ayaz , Yıldız Bora
Published: October 2018

The researches have mainly examined some negative consequences of careerism. Despite the importance of negative behaviors that will be harmful for organizations' wellbeing, studies regarding these behaviors' predictors are interestingly limited. This chapter proposes that careerism, as one of negative employee orientations, may play a predictor role in assessing social loafing behaviors in light of social cognitive theory. Grounded in social exchange theory, the authors also propose that transformational leadership may have a reducing effect on the careerism-social loafing behaviors. While the positive effects of transformational leadership have been worked extensively in the extant literature, its effects in diminishing the negative organizational orientations and behaviors remain relatively rare. Hence, the proposed model would create new possible avenues for future research.
Strategy Selection for Organizational Performance of Turkish Banking Sector With the Integrated Multi-Dimensional Decision-Making Approach
Authors: Dinçer Hasan , Yüksel Serhat , Çetiner İpek Tamara
Published: October 2018

The aim of this chapter is to determine the best strategy for Turkish deposit banks and rank these banks according to the performance regarding strategy development. Within this scope, four different dimensions and 12 different criteria are selected based on balanced scorecard approach and a modified multi-criteria decision-making model is implemented. By using fuzzy DEMATEL approach, it is determined that the criterion of customer expectation has the highest importance. With the help of fuzzy TOPSIS method, it is also concluded that private and foreign banks are more successful than state banks. Thus, it is recommended that Turkish deposit banks should create their strategies based on customer expectations. Within this framework, the banks firstly conduct a survey for their customers to understand their expectations.
Generating Competitive Advantages for the Polytechnic Universities in Mexico
Authors: Vargas-Cabrera Lizbeth , Muñoz-Pacheco Jesus Manuel
Published: October 2018

This chapter proposes an analytical framework to understand the trade-offs of a firm dedicated to educational services for creating and sustaining a superior performance respect to its competitors. The proposed approach focuses on polytechnic universities as the firm understudy. Based on a statistical data from Mexican government, the five forces of Porter methodology is applied to found the clients, suppliers, new entrants, substitutes, and rivalry of the Polytechnic University of Puebla (PUP). In this scenario, the existing strengths are detected and the target of the firm to get a sustainable competitive advantage is defined. Finally, the strategies to break the barriers are proposed. The authors argue that by using those strategies the wedge between willing to pay of the clients and the opportunity costs of the suppliers can be improved. Additionally, they argue that the positioning (consolidation and reputation) of the PUP is achieved by applying the proposed strategies.
Understanding University Choice Decisions of Turkish Students
Authors: Esen Selin Kucukkancabas
Published: October 2018

This chapter is designed to provide insights as to how different elements of university characteristics, campus visit, information sources, and students' personal characteristics influence their university behaviors directly and indirectly through their effects on university-related attitudes. Proposed relationships are tested with data collected from 421 respondents through structured questionnaires. This study enriches the university choice literature by investigating the effects of various university choice factors on both attitudinal and behavioral responses. As expected, it is found that while controlling other factors there is a positive relationship between students' attitudes toward university and preference for a university. Results provide evidence that some factors have a significant effect only on students' attitudinal responses, while some have a significant effect on behavioral responses. Unexpectedly, campus visit does not act as a moderator in the relationship between university perceptions and attitude toward university.
Connecting Teacher-Made Assessments to Course Learning Outcomes Through Learning Analytics
Authors: Chen Julia , Foung Dennis
Published: October 2018

This chapter explores the possibility of adopting a data-driven approach to connecting teacher-made assessments with course learning outcomes. The authors begin by describing several key concepts, such as outcome-based education, curriculum alignment, and teacher-made assessments. Then, the context of the research site and the subject in question are described and the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) in this curriculum alignment study is explained. After that, the results of these SEM analyses are presented, and the various models derived from the analyses are discussed. In particular, the authors highlight how a data-driven curriculum model can benefit from input by curriculum leaders and how SEM provides insights into course development and enhancement. The chapter concludes with recommendations for curriculum leaders and front-line teachers to improve the quality of teacher-made assessments.
The Impact of the Social Dimension on Assessing Oral Proficiency
Authors: Bucher Tahnee
Published: October 2018

In contrast to the assessment of reading, listening, or writing skills, the assessment of oral proficiency has seen a growing preference for interactive task formats as the context in which to evaluate a learner's spoken ability. Tasks that require learners to engage in authentic, meaningful interactions with their peers or the teacher, however, deserve attention due to potential benefits as well as unintended consequences. This is because in interactive tasks a learner's performance is not the sole display of individual competence, as it is the case with writing or listening tests: The presence of an interlocutor introduces a social dimension, raising issues of test validity and reliability, and ultimately impacting test design and scoring systems. Therefore, the goal of this chapter is to discuss the challenges and implications of assessing oral proficiency when a social dimension is added to the picture and to contribute to a better understanding of how a joint construction of speaking performance can impact not only test development but also students' scores.
Evaluating the Assessment Qualities of Teacher-Created Tests
Authors: Rein Lauren M.
Published: October 2018

Due to programmatic pressures and professional reasons, language teachers and program administrators are becoming more interested in the analytical side of test evaluation. Program-wide tests are often maintained by program administrators, while teacher-created tests too often remain in the classroom and are never effectively analyzed for their assessment qualities. This chapter will attempt to describe several practical and approachable methods to plan and evaluate teacher-created tests without complicated and advanced statistical measures. This chapter argues for a harmonious existence of both standardized exams and classroom assessments built around student learning outcomes. After outlining well-known assessment foundations and defining terminology, the chapter will describe the practical necessity of aligning with outcomes in order to meet programmatic standards. Finally, this chapter will provide a variety of qualitative measures to evaluate teacher-created tests, along with a small selection of basic statistical measures.
Re-Educating the Educators
Authors: Novak James I.
Published: October 2018

Given the rapid integration of 3D printing into schools and universities, educators must equip themselves with new skills, class structures, procedures, and thinking, many of which may be challenging for teachers with non-technical expertise. Training in 3D printing and computer-aided design traditionally requires extended instruction and experience, which is unlikely to be practical for school teachers. This chapter explores how effective up-skilling can occur through one-day professional development workshops, where educators from all areas of teaching work together during intensive hands-on sessions to understand the foundational principles of 3D printing, become aware of the opportunities and limitations, and develop strategies together for implementing it into their curriculums. Through examination of the literature around 3D printing adoption in Australian schools, and an analysis of peer-reviewed research into short-format professional development, this chapter will help inform researchers, teachers, and those developing higher-level curriculum directives around 3D printing in schools.
3D Printing Interdisciplinary Learning for Complex Problems
Authors: Loy Jennifer
Published: October 2018

Since the initial introduction of 3D printing as a prototyping tool for pupils studying practical technology subjects, its use has rapidly expanded over the last few years as educators have started to explore its potential as a teaching tool in diverse subjects. Yet it is possible that its potential as an educational tool lies beyond the innovative subject-specific applications currently under development, in a more expansive role as a catalyst for interdisciplinary educational practices. This chapter considers the possibility that 3D printing provides a platform for interdisciplinary educational experiences, aligned to scholarship on the development of significant learning experiences grounded in practice and the empowering of learners through changing relationships in the classroom, for engagement with complex problems across traditional subject boundaries.
Design and Evaluation of a Collaborative Learning System for 3D Model Sharing
Authors: Li Tsai-Yen , Lin I-Sheng
Published: October 2018

Due to the prevalence of 3D printers, many applications of 3D printing have been developed for education in the recent years. Although there are web sites hosting 3D models created by students and allowing them to be shared with others, these systems usually lack educational functions, especially for collaborative learning. On the other hand, most learning management systems do not provide functions needed for sharing and viewing 3D models. In this chapter, a system called 3D model co-learning space (3D MCLS), dedicated to collaborative learning, will be reported. The system allows a user to store, share, display, and discuss 3D models and allows a teacher to manage a group of students in a flexible way. Furthermore, the system can create the thumbnail of a 3D model automatically. It uses tags to organize models into groups according to their attributes or teams in a class. In addition, it provides blind assignments of peer reviews. The authors have implemented such a system and conducted a pilot study to obtain a preliminary evaluation on the usability of the system.
Collaborative Design Education Using 3D Printing
Authors: Muramatsu Kazuhiro , Wangmo Sonam
Published: October 2018

Design education is important at technical universities and colleges. In general, real product design requires collaborative work. In this chapter, the authors discuss collaborative design education. An A360 cloud platform on Autodesk's 3D computer-aided design “AutoCAD” is adopted to illustrate a collaborative design activity implemented in the Engineering Graphics class offered at the College of Science and Technology, Royal University of Bhutan. By using A360 cloud, students can share a 3D model with group members. Based on feedback received, students can modify the initial model, share it, print, and discuss the modified object with members. This collaborative work allows students to create enhanced 3D design objects while engaged in discussions and interactions. The authors also discuss some difficulties encountered during the collaborative process and offer recommendations and future research ideas.
Not a Subject but an End-Goal
Authors: Mutch Carol Anne
Published: October 2018

This chapter discusses the status of citizenship education across three periods of New Zealand history. Each period is characterized by the competing educational debates of the day. The first period (Indigenous vs. Colonial, circa 1200AD-early 1900s) describes the contestation over land, citizenship, and education between the indigenous Māori and their British colonizers. Early in the 20th century, the traditional colonial form of schooling is challenged by a liberal progressive approach (Traditional Conservative vs. Liberal Progressive, 1900s-1970s). With the economic downturn of the 1970s the third era begins (New Right vs. Liberal Left, 1970s-present). In each period of history, the nature and status of education for citizenship has been a subject of debate with the outcome in the hands of the dominant ideology of the time. The tensions have not yet been resolved and while education for citizenship has always been an end-goal, it has never reached the status of a compulsory subject.
“And Its Ghost May Be Heard”
Authors: Print Murray , Buchanan John
Published: October 2018

Civics and citizenship education is an important factor in many democracies' education programs for its young people. In Australia, civics and citizenship education has an extended history, but has achieved mixed success. This chapter investigates civics and citizenship education in Australia in the past two decades. It focuses in particular on two pivotal events in the development of Australia's civics and citizenship education: discovering democracy and the Australian curriculum civics and citizenship. It explores these initiatives in the context of some of the political developments of the time. The chapter analyzes the factors that contributed to or limited the success of these programs. It also explores implications for other jurisdictions wishing to implement similar programs and initiatives.
A Comparative Analysis of Educational Policy for Citizenship Following Political Transitions
Authors: Galegher Ericka , Park Maureen F. , Cheng Angel Oi Yee , Davidson Petrina M. , Wiseman Alexander W.
Published: October 2018

This chapter provides a comparative policy analysis of education for citizenship in Egypt, Nepal, and Hong Kong. Having undergone significant political transitions, these countries provide useful case studies for examining the policy borrowing process for citizenship education before and after significant regime change. Using comparative policy discourse analysis framed by Phillips and Ochs's policy borrowing model, the authors examine the intersections between international expectations with national policy around citizenship education in countries which experienced drastic political transitions. This comparative policy analysis seeks to answer the following questions: How has national level policy on education for citizenship changed before and after shifts in regime governance? How are the examples of Egypt, Nepal, and Hong Kong reflective of global trends in citizenship education?
Education for Citizenship in the Latin American Context
Authors: Blanch Joan Pagès , González Carolina García , Giraldo Martha Cecilia Gutiérrez
Published: October 2018

The chapter shows the situation of education for democratic citizenship in Latin America and its evolution over the last 25 years, taking as an example three countries: Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. First, the concept of citizenship in curricula is analyzed. Its role in the political and social re-democratization and its limitations are proposed as a result of a national identity concept that limits cultural, social, and political diversity. Their strengths and weaknesses are compared, considering issues like human rights, citizenship responsibilities, citizen participation, community boundaries, levels of identity, and cultural diversity. Second, the purposes of their teaching are interpreted in the curricula. It presents a curriculum focused on relevant social problems and on the formation of critical thinking and social participation and citizenship awareness. Finally, it reflects on the results of the international study on civic and citizen education in Latin America, pointing out its contradictions and the need to continue deepening in research and in teaching practice and training.
Policy and Research on Citizenship Education in the United Kingdom (1998–2018)
Authors: Sant Edda , Alvarez-Hevia David Menendez
Published: October 2018

This chapter explores citizenship education in the United Kingdom with a particular focus on the major policy and research trends of the last 20 years (1998-2018), particularly in relation to school and non-school based citizenship education. This discussion is articulated in relation to dimensions (i.e., global and national), approaches (i.e., character, social justice, and democratic education), and spaces. The last section of this chapter illuminates some key issues for citizenship education in the UK and how these can help us to understand what might happen everywhere else.
Project We Propose!
Authors: Claudino Sérgio
Published: October 2018

In 2011, the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT), University of Lisbon, launched the We Propose! project. In the subject of upper-secondary school geography, making a case study that focuses more in particular on local problems is compulsory. However, it would go against school routines. The We Propose! project was designed in order to encourage work on a case study and it has taken up the challenge of promoting young people's territorial citizenship by means of overhauling school practices and forging partnerships among universities, schools, and the community, especially the municipalities in local government. Pupils have to identify what the problems are in their own residential areas, carrying out field work on them and putting forward proposals to help solve them. Their proposals are then shared with the local community. Apart from Portugal, it has now been disseminated in Spain, Brazil, Mozambique, Colombia, and Peru.
Preparing College Students to Facilitate Action Civics Among K-12 Students
Authors: Fitzgerald Jason , Cohen Alison K. , Ferman Barbara
Published: October 2018

Recently, scholars have begun exploring the benefits and challenges of using college students to help develop Kindergarten-12th Grade (K-12) students' civic engagement capacities, specifically through action civics programs. However, much of the literature focuses on the political and social knowledge obtained by the K-12 students. By contrast, the authors explore the dispositions that college students need to effectively facilitate such learning with K-12 students, culled from grounded coding of four cases. They argue that action civics facilitator training programs should focus on action civics dispositions because dispositions underpin the knowledge and skills facilitators need to access to support complex civic work with K-12 students. Specifically, training programs should include dispositional work, valuing student-led projects, multiple perspectives, the development of relationships in contexts, and social justice. In this way, the values that drive Dewey's concept of democratic life can continue to underpin students' future civic work.
College Student Activism on Campus
Authors: Miller Michael T. , Nadler Daniel P.
Published: October 2018

This chapter provides an overview of the definition of activism, highlighting the current national context for how activism is implemented and perceived, and then exploring how colleges and universities have begun to manage student activism, primarily in the interest of learning, but also in relation to risk management. The concept of managed activism tied to learning is explored against the background of college student development, and is also tied to public and institutional policy. The chapter concludes with a preface to the remainder of the book, noting the inter-relationship between activism and the larger world both on and off campus.
Administrative Response to Activism
Authors: Borland Kenneth W.
Published: October 2018

College student activism can cripple a campus for decades, as evidenced by the tragedies of Kent State University and Jackson State University. To prepare for the engagement of students, college administrators must prepare themselves, both in plans and in mindset, for the possibility of disruptive activism, and this begins with the identification of what acceptable activism can and should include. Building on the mindset that activism can indeed be a good thing, for both students and the institution, administrators must create priorities that protect the welfare of all involved, including the institution's brand and student learning. Subsequent thinking by campus leaders must maintain a humane and liberating response for students, and ultimately, although prepared, campus leaders must have a set of priorities planned that can incorporate and ultimately value the process of students speaking out on campus.