bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An overview of decision making in veterinary nursing
Authors: Fraser Mary
Published: November 2019

Decision making takes place in all aspects of veterinary care. Throughout any consultation, work up, hospitalisation or ongoing home care, decisions need to be made about the next step to be taken. Clinical decision making is influenced by many different factors including past experience, emotions, owner wishes, financial concerns and communication skills. Within the veterinary team, it is important that everyone understands the factors influencing decisions. Decision making can follow a paternalistic, guardian or shared approach, which tends to be dominant in veterinary practice. Where practices adopt standard operating procedures, the use of clinical evidence and clear non-biased decisions need to be made.
The role of infection control in the prevention of the transmission of feline viruses
Authors: Parkes Gina
Published: November 2019

Gold standard infection control should be at the top of the list of priorities for every veterinary practice. Good infection control safeguards patients, allowing them to visit and receive treatment without risk of obtaining further illness from the transmission of diseases, such as those caused by feline viruses, from other patients. The bulk of the workload of infection control is carried out by good hygiene and disinfection however, there are key points in the journey of the patient around the clinic or hospital that, if taken into consideration and actioned, can dramatically reduce the risk of transmission.
Vector-borne parasite transmission in the UK and the role of the veterinary nurse in education
Authors: Wright Ian , Richmond Philippa
Published: November 2019

Vector-borne infections account for 17% of infectious diseases globally, presenting a risk to humans. They are also a significant cause of disease in cats and dogs, which can act as reservoirs for certain zoonotic vector-borne pathogens, thus further increasing this risk. As a result of changes in climate and pet travel guidelines, there is the potential for introduction of new vectors or vector-borne parasites in the UK. The veterinary nurse plays a vital role in educating clients on the risks presented by these parasites and their associated diseases, as well as in formulating tailored parasite control plans in partnership with clients.
Assessing the reliability of the modified Gartland classification system for extension-type supracondylar humerus fractures
Authors: Teo T. L. , Schaeffer E. K. , Habib E. , Cherukupalli A. , Cooper A. P. , Aroojis A. , Sankar W. N. , Upasani V. V. , Carsen S. , Mulpuri K. , Reilly C.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The Gartland extension-type supracondylar humerus (SCH) fracture is the most common paediatric elbow fracture. Treatment options range from nonoperative treatment (taping or casting) to operative treatments (closed reduction and percutaneous pinning or open reduction). Classification variability between surgeons is a potential contributing factor to existing controversy over treatment options for type II SCH fractures. This study investigated levels of agreement in extension-type SCH fracture classification using the modified Gartland classification system.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted on 60 patients aged between two and 12 years who had sustained an extension-type SCH fracture and received operative or nonoperative treatment at a tertiary children's hospital. Baseline radiographs were provided, and surgeons were asked to classify the fractures as type I, IIA, IIB or III according to the modified Gartland classification. Respondents were then asked to complete a second round of classifications using reshuffled radiographs. Weighted kappa values were calculated to assess interobserver and intraobserver levels of agreement.

Results

In all, 21 paediatric orthopaedic surgeons responded to the survey and 15 completed a second round of ratings. Interobserver agreement for classification based on the Gartland criteria between surgeons was substantial with a kappa of 0.679 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.501 to 0.873). Intraobserver agreement was substantial with a kappa of 0.796, (95% CI 0.628 to 0.864)

Conclusion

Radiographic classification of extension-type SCH fractures demonstrated substantial agreement both between and within surgeon raters. Therefore, classification variability may not be a major contributing factor to the treatment controversy for type II SCH fractures and treatment variability may be due to differences in surgeon preferences.

Level of Evidence

III
Provokante Kommunikation
Authors: Lange Sebastian
Published: November 2019

Die militärische Terrorismusbekämpfung der letzten eineinhalb Jahrzehnte gilt heute als kontraproduktiv. Hat der »War on Terror« die dschihadistischen Bewegungen tatsächlich gestärkt und ist er der Grund für ihre wachsende Anhängerzahl? Sebastian Langes kommunikations- und organisationstheoretischen Analysen gehen den Eskalationsmechanismen im Verhältnis von transnationalem Terrorismus und staatlicher Terrorismusbekämpfung nach. Die Studie zeigt: Der Identitätskonflikt zwischen modernen Gesellschaften und fundamentalistischer Weltanschauung lässt sich nur dann entschärfen, wenn sicherheitspolitische Überreaktionen vermieden werden.
Design als Beruf: Eine Begriffsbestimmung
Authors: Zerweck Philip
Published: November 2019

Die gesamte Disziplin Design ist erst im Werden. Mit der Begriffsbestimmung Design als Beruf entwickelt der Autor einen Fundamentbegriff jenes Teils, der Design als einen Begriff verstehbar macht, welcher einen Strauch von beruflichen Betätigungen definiert. Es ist ein Ausschnitt seines aktuellen Forschungsprojektes, in dem die Bedingungen von Design als didaktische Hochschuldisziplin untersucht werden. Die Begriffsbestimmung konzentriert sich dabei auf aktuelle Strömungen und überlässt die historische Herleitung sowie die normative Kraft der Künstlersozialkasse, des Deutschen Designertags e.V. und seinen maßgeblichen Mitgliedern anderen Publikationen. Bevor sich der Beitrag dem Design als Beruf nähert, werden zunächst die unterschiedlichen Begriffe von Design als beschreibendes Verstehen der verschiedenen Ebenen, Herkünfte und Bezüge der vorgefundenen Begriffsverständnisse (also des Vorhandenen) dargelegt. Der Beitrag endet mit einem Ausblick, was Design in anderen Berufen bedeuten könnte.
Demokratisierung der Postdemokratie
Authors: Scheller David
Published: November 2019

Städtische Proteste haben Hochkonjunktur. Mieter_innen, Kunst- und Kulturschaffende, Studierende, Wohnungslose und Geflüchtete melden sich zu Wort und fordern jenseits ihrer partikularen Bedürfnisse direkte Teilhabe an politischen Entscheidungen ein. Am Beispiel der Metropolen Berlin und New York zeigt David Scheller, wie sich städtische soziale Bewegungen zwischen 2011 und 2015 konstituieren und damit dringliche Themenfelder politisieren und verbinden. Ausgehend von einer hegemonietheoretischen Diskursanalyse der vielstimmigen Protestartikulationen schlägt er eine Interpretation von Möglichkeitsräumen zur Demokratisierung in der Postdemokratie vor, die für diese neue Phase städtischen Protests ausschlaggebend sind.
The Political Economy of Cultural Memory in the Videogames Industry
Authors: Lundedal Hammar Emil
Published: November 2019

Following the materialist approaches to contemporary digital memory- making, this article explores how unequal access to memory production in videogames is determined along economic and cultural lines. Based on semi-structured qualitative interviews with different European, Asian and North American historical game developers, I make the case for how materialist and cultural aspects of videogame development reinforce existing mnemonic hegemony and in turn how this mnemonic hegemony determines access to the production of memory- making potentials that players of videogames activate and negotiate. My interview findings illustrate how individual workers do not necessarily intend to reproduce received systems of power and hegemony, and instead how certain cultural and material relations tacitly motivate and/or marginalise workers in the videogame industries to reproduce hegemonic power relations in cultural memory across race, class and gender. Finally, I develop the argument that access to cultural production networks such as the games industry constitutes important factors that need to be taken seriously in research on cultural memory and game studies. Thus, my article investigates global power relationships, political economy, colonial legacies and cultural hegemony within the videogame industry, and how these are instantiated in individual instances of game developers.
Mapping Wikipedia’s Geolinguistic Contours
Authors: Dittus Martin , Graham Mark
Published: November 2019

Wikipedia is one of the predominant ways in which internet users obtain knowledge about the world. It is also one of the most important mirrors, or augmentations, of the world: it contains representations of all manner of places. However, Wikipedia’s knowledge of the world is characterised by a linguistic inequality. Although it is written in a growing number of languages, some languages are overrepresented and contribute significantly more to Wikipedia’s body of knowledge than others. This deeply affects how the world is represented on Wikipedia, and by whom: it has been shown that for many countries in the Global South, there are more articles written in English than in their respective native languages. As a result, a significant number of people are being excluded from the collective process of knowledge production, solely on the basis of their native language. Who writes these representations of local places, and for which audiences? We present early findings from the first study of Wikipedia’s geolinguistic contours. We investigate to what extent local languages are involved in the process of creating local representations. In a large-scale quantitative analysis across the almost 300 language versions of Wikipedia, we identify regions of the world where local languages such as Armenian, Catalan or Malay are dominant sources of representation for local places, and we contrast these findings with instances where representations are significantly shaped by foreign languages. Where do, and do not, we see significant amounts of local content available in local languages? Where are the most detailed local representations largely written in foreign languages, intended for foreign audiences? And what factors can explain this?
A Escola Oficina n.º 1 de Lisboa (1905-1987) e a afirmação de um processo de inovação pedagógica em Portugal
Authors: Mogarro Maria João
Published: November 2019

A Escola Oficina n.º 1 de Lisboa (1905-1987) foi a mais emblemática das escolas novas portuguesas, tendo desenvolvido o seu projeto inovador principalmente entre 1907 e 1919. No entanto, a sua existência inscreveu-se num tempo longo, tendo funcionado durante mais de oitenta anos. O modelo pedagógico inovador que a caracterizou foi impulsionado por Adolfo Lima e inspirou-se nos ideais libertários e anarquistas, matriz a partir da qual foram interpretados os princípios da Educação Nova. Esta Escola adotou muitas das práticas inovadoras deste movimento, como o self-government escolar, a valorização dos trabalhos manuais, a educação física e a educação estética. Colocou o aluno no centro do processo pedagógico, visando a sua educação integral. Definiu rituais e normas no quotidiano escolar, assim como práticas de saúde e higiene. A partir dos anos trinta, com o regime político salazarista, perdeu o seu carácter experimental e tornou-se uma escola “normal”, igual a outras escolas oficiais.
Memórias e representações da inspeção escolar nos álbuns de fotografia de Luiz Damasco Penna (São Paulo, 1928-1959)
Authors: Souza Rosa Fátima de , Pereira Maria Aparecida Franco
Published: November 2019

O artigo analisa memórias e representações da inspeção escolar no estado de São Paulo com base em fotografias. O estudo incide sobre uma série de 566 imagens relacionadas à atuação profissional de Luiz Damasco Penna, abrangendo o período de 1928 a 1959 insertadas em 7 álbuns de fotografias de família. A primeira parte do texto trata do sistema de inspeção escolar no Estado de São Paulo assinalando as atribuições de inspetores e delegados de ensino com vistas a delinear o campo de trabalho desses agentes da inspeção escolar. Em seguida, é apresentada a trajetória profissional do professor Luiz Damasco Penna. A segunda parte do texto põe em discussão memórias e representações do serviço de inspeção escolar em imagens fotográficas, considerando três dimensões do exercício da atividade inspetora: a) Viagens de visita às escolas; b) Acompanhamento da rede escolar; c) Participação em eventos e solenidades.
A gênese da educação paraguaia: a contribuição jesuítica
Authors: Aréco Silvino
Published: November 2019

O Paraguai faz fronteira com o Brasil, porém muitos brasileiros desconhecem a cultura e a história do país vizinho. O objetivo geral desse artigo é reconstituir a gênese da educação no Paraguai e revelar a contribuição da Companhia de Jesus nesse processo. O artigo objetiva inserir a educação dentro do contexto de desenvolvimento social-histórico dessa região, tendo em vista que o território onde está localizado o Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, no período delimitado, pertencia à Província do Paraguai, sob o controle da coroa espanhola. A opção teórico-metodológica objetivou conferir historicidade à análise, buscando-se fugir das abordagens dominantes. A pesquisa foi fundamentada na coleta de dados em fontes documentais e bibliográficas. Concluímos que os processos pedagógicos e educativos desenvolvidos no Paraguai Colonial foi muito mais amplo que apenas alfabetizar e ensinar o espanhol. Foi na verdade a instituição de padrões culturais, estéticos e religiosos dos europeus aos povos originários.
As mulheres e a enologia no sul do país: a história do Colégio de Viticultura e Enologia na cidade de Bento Gonçalves-RS, Brasil (1959-2019)
Authors: Camargo Edson Carpes , Eggert Edla
Published: November 2019

Esse texto volta-se para uma narrativa da história do Colégio de Viticultura e Enologia, criado em 1959 na cidade de Bento Gonçalves, no Rio Grande do Sul e que hoje integra o Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Sul. Nosso objetivo é apresentar a história da instituição escolar pontuando recortes da história de vida de Adelina Maioli, a primeira mulher a figurar entre o corpo discente do curso Técnico em Enologia. O processo metodológico perpassou a análise documental, bem como a realização de entrevista semiestruturada. Ao admitir o ingresso da primeira estudante em 1959, a instituição despertou a curiosidade sobre outras mulheres para estudarem nessa escola técnica, abrindo caminhos e possibilitando que o olhar de quem pesquisa se tornasse menos rígido sobre as janelas da história que se abrem para as relações de gênero.
O processo de criação da Escola Nacional de Circo no Brasil: aproximações entre estado, cultura e educação
Authors: Kronbauer Gláucia Andreza , Nascimento Maria Isabel Moura
Published: November 2019

O circo tem forma diversas de organização e se configura, atualmente, como uma manifestação artística plural e que soube se adaptar às exigências da contemporaneidade. Muitas companhias têm na família elemento central, na itinerância um modo de vida, e na criança a garantia de sobrevivência. Em certo contexto, no entanto, parece que as relações intergeracionais deixaram de ser as principais responsáveis pela sobrevivência do circo e começaram a surgir instituições escolares específicas para a formação de artistas, como é o caso da Escola Nacional de Circo (ENC). As políticas para a educação e a cultura da década de 1970 no Brasil passaram a investir na formação de pessoal técnico e no direcionamento das ações culturais, minimizando a repressão dos anos de chumbo. Este texto teve o objetivo de analisar as relações entre o Circo, a educação, a cultura e o Estado brasileiro das décadas de 1970/80 que condicionaram a criação da ENC, instituição estatal e primeira do tipo na América Latina.
Resiliência à mudança climática em Comunidades de Fundo de Pasto na região semiárida do Estado da Bahia, Brasil
Authors: Bech Gaivizzo Larisa Ho , Litre Gabriela , Lopes Ferreira Julia , Gomes Pereira da Silva Romero , Nogueira Soares Daniela , Moraes Reis Rafael , Almeida Ana Claudia , Bernal Davalos Nelson Eduardo , Almeida Gonçalves Mendes Priscylla Dayse , Pereira Lindoso Diego , Michels Brito Adriane , Rodrigues-Filho Saulo , Hiroo Saito Carlos
Published: November 2019

A pesquisa realizada entre 2017 e 2018 buscou produzir conhecimentos que subsidiem ações voltadas à resiliência e à adaptação de sistemas socioecológicos na região semiárida do estado da Bahia - Semiárido Baiano, com foco nas Comunidades de Fundo de Pasto (CFP) localizadas no município de Uauá. Utilizaram-se dados secundários e primários (entrevistas semiestruturadas com tomadores de decisão e lideranças comunitárias). Para a sistematização dos dados primários no marco de capacidades adaptativas para mudanças climáticas foram selecionadas cinco dimensões de análise: territorial, sociocultural, ambiental, econômica e político-institucional. As CFP ocupam e usam o bioma Caatinga há cerca de 200 anos de forma comunal, com base em sistemas agrossilvopastoris. Os resultados indicaram o caráter resiliente das comunidades para lidar com os estresses climáticos nas dimensões territorial e sociocultural, a partir de processos de auto-organização em associações e na organização em redes, por meio das quais fluem conhecimentos e são tomadas decisões coletivas. Os resultados também indicaram os riscos climáticos aos quais as CFP estão expostas nas dimensões ambiental, econômica e político-institucional, com potencial para limitar capacidades adaptativas.
Naturaleza Predictiva de la Contabilidad y sus aplicaciones. Modelos de información contable prospectiva como evidencia
Authors: Aquistapace Mónica Inés
Published: November 2019

El objetivo de este trabajo es reflexionar acerca de la naturaleza o carácter predictivo de la contabilidad como disciplina, que utiliza el método científico para su estudio e investigación. Además, este trabajo se propone analizar la importancia de los sistemas contables predictivos y de los modelos de información contable prospectiva, para confirmar ese carácter. Para lograr el objetivo se inicia con el análisis de diferentes definiciones lo cual permite plantear hipótesis. Se trata de una investigación teórica, conceptual, que hace uso del método de la investigación jurídica (Pinto, 2011). Se reflexiona sobre el concepto de teorías en general y contables, continúa con una descripción sintética sobre la capacidad predictiva de algunas teorías, por un lado, y, por otro lado, los sistemas contables predictivos, incluido el sistema contable sugerido por el marco conceptual de las normas de información financiera (NIIF) en sus versión actual año 2018 y luego algunos modelos de contabilidad prospectivos. En el último apartado se analiza la influencia de la problemática epistemológica de la disciplina. En las conclusiones lo más destacado se refiere al reconocimiento de teorías contables verificadas y comunicadas, las que en sus aplicaciones prácticas le otorgan carácter predictivo a las informaciones producidas por los sistemas contables. Ese carácter es previo a las posibilidades de proyección. Además, no es lo mismo sistemas contables predictivos que modelos de información contable prospectiva. Ambos surgen a partir de una metodología científica. Sin embargo, el sistema del actual marco conceptual 2018 induce a reflexionar que la predicción es más que una característica, es un requerimiento que merece ser atendido con mayores especificaciones. Finalmente, la tradición empírica otorga mayor estatus epistemológico a los estudios comprobados en las organizaciones, lo cual implica nuevos desafíos para próximas investigaciones.
Aprendizaje basado en proyectos y cátedras conjuntas, una experiencia en el ámbito universitario que mostró ser eficaz para superar problemas al enseñar a evaluar inversiones de Pymes
Authors: Villanueva Rogelio Alberto , Leiva María Leticia , Osella Cesar
Published: November 2019

Se argumenta aquí que la evaluación de inversiones no puede enseñarse utilizando el enfoque tradicional basado en el concepto de jerarquía, menos aún si el futuro profesional se desempeñará en un contexto integrado mayoritariamente por pymes, donde la metodología debe adaptarse. Ignorar esta crítica llevará a los futuros egresados universitarios a experimentar problemas para desempeñarse en la temática; con el tiempo, dichos problemas contribuirán a ampliar la grieta existente entre lo que los docentes enseñamos y la importancia que esos profesionales le dan a lo aprendido. El aprendizaje basado en proyectos es una excelente herramienta para enfrentar esta problemática, pero por sí mismo no alcanza; su implementación será exitosa si se combina con el dictado de cátedras conjuntas. Este proceder es beneficioso porque permite desarrollar en los alumnos esa necesaria actitud entusiasta y espíritu crítico para formular y evaluar proyectos. También, porque permite coordinar exposiciones de distintos profesores en una misma clase, incorporar experiencias externas y generar el ambiente ideal para debatir sobre la forma de adaptar la metodología para evaluar inversiones pymes. Además, la propuesta puede visualizarse como la antesala de un ámbito de colaboración mutua entre facultades, que podrá extenderse mucho más en el futuro.
CHANGES IN BINOCULAR PUPILLOMETRY IN ATHLETES AFTER HIGH EXERCISE STRESS
Authors: Tsimbal M , Steinberg N , Khomich D , Egorov N , Tugolukov A
Published: November 2019

Aim. The article deals with studying the changes in binocular pupillometry to establish vegetative activity in athletes after high exercise stress. Materials and methods. 25 male athletes aged 19–34 years with no health limitations participated in the study. We estimated a set of the commonly accepted parameters of pupillometry (pupil diameter, pupil reaction initiation time, pupil constriction diameter, pupil constriction velocity) by measuring pupil reaction to a light stimulus with the help of a non-contact pupilometer (KVAZAR, Moscow). The examination was conducted prior to physical stress and 5, 15, and 30 minutes after. Intertrack-750 treadmill (SchillerAG, Switzerland) was used for testing. Results. The results obtained in a pupillometric study prove that there is a predominance of the sympathetic component in athletes at maximal load accompanied by emotional stress. After physical stress accompanied by fatigue and nervous system exhaustion, there is a pronounced predominance of the parasympathetic component. Conclusion. The data obtained prove that binocular pupillometry can be effectively used in sports medicine to estimate vegetative tone and regulatory mechanisms in athletes.
AUDIOVISUAL CORRECTION OF THE PSYCHOEMOTIONAL STATUS IN YOUNG BOXERS
Authors: Khaervarina A , Matveeva L , Muftakhina R , Shayakhmetova E , Ogurechnikov D
Published: November 2019

Aim. The article deals with establishing and justifying the efficiency of audiovisual stimulation for the correction of the psychoemotional status in young boxers. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the premises of Bashkir State University sports facilities during the special preparatory stage. 72 athletes aged 13–14 were examined in educational and training conditions. The diagnostics of psychodynamic characteristics in athletes was conducted every 2 days with the help of the ‘Psychophysiolog’ psychophysiological testing device. We used the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scale and Well-Being, Activity, Mood scale (V. Doskin). Results. Audiovisual stimulation in the experimental group significantly improved the indicators of situational anxiety, well-being, activity, and mood. Conclusions. The course of audiovisual stimulation improves psychophysiological resistance to physical load, relieves excessive mental stress and premature mental fatigue, improves performance and mood. The analysis of psychodynamic characteristics in boxers with different types of the nervous system allowed to establish that athletes with a weak nervous system require 6–8 sessions of audiovisual stimulation, while athletes with a strong nervous system – 10 sessions.
ENHANCEMENT OF FRESHMEN’S ADAPTATION TO HIGH SCHOOL
Authors: Nikulina A
Published: November 2019

Aim. The article deals with studying the effect of a complex selenium-containing compound and physio disease-preventing means on the enhancement of biochemical indicators in freshmen living in a selenium-deficient area. Materials and methods. We conducted 12 longitudinal studies with the students of the first and second year studying at Chuvash Universities (n = 180). Selenium concentration in blood serum was established with the help of fluorometry performed according to Golubkina’s interpretation (Fluorat-02-2M). The activity of lipid peroxidation (c.u.) and antioxidant system (c.u.) was studied using induced chemiluminescence (Biochemiluminometer БХЛ-06). Results. The use of Selenes+ together with a disease-preventing photochrome session is accompanied by antioxidant, metabolic, and hemopoietic effects manifested in the increase of antioxidant activity and selenium concentration by 31.1 and 62.5 %, respectively, and the decrease of lipid peroxidation by 4.1–19.7 % compared to control values. The use of Selenes+ together with exercises contributes to less pronounced stress in the cardiovascular system both during the study and exam periods. Conclusion. Therefore, selenium correction of body adaptation with respect to a biogeochemical specifics of a region normalizes the balance between prooxidant and antioxidant elements of the antioxidant protection system and provides an accelerated shift from short-term to long-term adaptation.
ReDesigning intercultural exchanges through the use of augmented
reality
Authors: Hadjistassou Stella , Avgousti Maria Iosifina , Louca Petros
Published: November 2019

While the debate on breakthrough technologies has focused on inept,
dexterous, and socially transforming technologies such as Artificial
Intelligence (AI) assistants and robot dexterity, in second/foreign language
learning, particular emphasis is placed on AI, Augmented Reality (AR) and
Virtual Reality (VR). This study takes a closer look at the role of three
newly developed AR applications in promoting a better understanding of
complex concepts such as the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), strategies
in dealing with disruptive students, and an immigrant’s perspective in
moving to a foreign country with no knowledge of the language(s) spoken in
that country. The AR applications were developed and implemented during
intercultural exchanges among students enrolled in academic institutions in
the UK and Cyprus. The aim was to develop AR applications that were geared
toward the learning needs of future language teachers and examine what
students could achieve through the use of these applications during
goal-driven tasks and activities.
Virtual exchange supporting language and intercultural development:
students’ perceptions
Authors: Hagley Eric , Cotter Matthew
Published: November 2019

Foreign Language (FL) classrooms should be places where, at a minimum,
communication is taking place in the foreign language being taught and
intercultural understanding is also being developed. However, in countries
where the majority of students are from a single cultural background, it is
often difficult to keep students on-task if they do not have to use the
language they are studying. Virtual Exchange (VE) ensures students interact
with their online peers in the FL, as it becomes the lingua-franca. However,
student attitudes toward such VE in the FL classroom are still not fully
understood. This paper researches students’ attitudes toward one VE, the
International Virtual Exchange Project (IVEProject). Each iteration of the
IVEProject is for eight weeks. Students interact asynchronously on Moodle
forums in text, audio, and video. More than 15,000 students from 15
countries have participated in at least one of the VE carried out since
2016. Online surveys are carried out at the end of each exchange. Results
suggest students have an overall positive attitude toward incorporating VE
into FL and intercultural classes.
Integrating Xreading into class time using post-reading tasks
Authors: Harrold Peter
Published: November 2019

The Xreading website provides students with access to an extensive
virtual library of graded readers. Teachers can then use it to keep track of
which titles the students access, the total number of words they read, their
reading speed, and also whether they have completed post-reading quizzes.
However, an overreliance on monitoring student progress entirely outside of
class using word targets or quizzes can potentially be circumnavigated by
reluctant students who dislike reading regularly. This paper will share how
the teacher integrated short creative post-reading tasks into the weekly
digital reading assignment of a compulsory English language class in an
attempt to ensure students were engaging with the stories and reading
regularly. It was found that the tasks enabled students to interact and
discuss their reading with their classmates and also helped demonstrate the
value and importance of extensive reading to students by further integrating
it into class time.
Creating collaborative digital stories to promote community
awareness
Authors: Irwin Bradley
Published: November 2019

The study presented in this paper explores the impact that a
geographically situated digital storytelling project has on community
awareness and engagement. A mixed method, exploratory case study approach
was adopted for this study. Data was collected during in-class and fieldwork
observations, with self-assessment surveys, open-ended questionnaires, and
post-project individual debriefing sessions. Eighty-three first year
undergraduate students at a rural Japanese university participated in the
project. Seventy-nine (n=79) participants completed optional and anonymous
self-assessment surveys and questionnaires. The results showed that
participants’ community awareness increased significantly after completing
the project. Results also indicated that participants believed there was a
strong likelihood that they would engage with the local community more in
the future. Regarding L2 learning outcomes, data from the self-assessment
surveys showed that students believed their English language ability
improved alongside an increase in their motivation to study
English.
Complexity and tool selection for purposeful communication in
telecollaborative encounters
Authors: Jauregi Ondarra Kristi
Published: November 2019

When organising TeleCollaboration (TC) encounters at primary or
secondary schools, especially technological and organisational complexity,
alongside pedagogical issues, plays an essential role in the degree of
success of the exchanges. Within the European TeCoLa project, pilot
experiences have been organised using innovative but ‘simple’ technologies,
like Padlet or Voki to more demanding and complex ones like 3D virtual
worlds in OpenSim. The present paper presents the experiences of three pilot
exchanges differing in complexity and reports on learners’
experiences.
Assessment of interculturality in online interactions: methodological
considerations
Authors: Kanareva-Dimitrovska Ana
Published: November 2019

In this paper, methodological issues in tracing the evidence of
Intercultural Competences (IC) in online intercultural exchanges or
telecollaboration are examined. The possibilities and limitations of methods
for analyzing IC occurrences are explored. By considering the
complementarity of methods, the study contributes to advance the
methodological reflections on identifying interculturality and intercultural
learning processes in technology-mediated interactions.
Connecting extensive reading to TOEIC performance
Authors: Lyddon Paul A. , Kramer Brandon
Published: November 2019

Although Extensive Reading (ER) has been shown to increase reading
fluency and comprehension, such benefits are generally slow to appear. The
present study investigated the possible contribution of ER to
single-semester Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
reading gains. The participants were 497 first-year students from two annual
cohorts at a tertiary institution in Japan. All took a preliminary TOEIC
before enrolling in the online ER system Xreading, which awarded them a word
count for successfully completing a short quiz on each book they read for
homework. Hierarchical linear regression analyses of end-of-semester ER
words read and TOEIC reading scores showed a consistent positive
relationship between the two. However, semester increases in the former were
not reflected by proportional gains in the latter, a finding possibly
explained by greater consistency in ER’s implementation across course
sections over time. In short, ER words read might in fact be a proxy for
general compliance in homework completion rather than a direct cause of
TOEIC reading score improvement.
Second language learning in knowledge forums: an analysis of L2
acquisition of students participating in the knowledge building
international project
Authors: Manegre Marni , Gutiérrez-Colón Mar
Published: November 2019

This study presents the results of an experiment designed to determine
whether knowledge building can facilitate foreign language acquisition. We
examined how groups of Catalan students in secondary schools worked together
on collaborative writing tasks in English, their foreign language. The
students were participating in the Knowledge Building International Project
(KBIP), which is based on the concept that students can learn while working
together in computer-assisted learning environments. The quantitative data
was collected through a pre-test and post-test. The pre- and post-tests were
divided into four sections, which were grammar, vocabulary, long answer, and
multiple-choice. The results show an increase overall in the performance of
the foreign language, English. In particular, the analysis determined that
the comprehension of the subject matter and writing abilities in the L2
showed an increase at high confidence levels, however, there are challenges
in determining whether the students have acquired new vocabulary or
developed a better understanding of grammatical rules, since it is difficult
to predict which words and sentence structures they will use when
participating in this project.
Children’s perspectives on the use of robotics for second language
learning in the early years of primary education: a pilot study
Authors: Nic Réamoinn Susan , Devitt Ann
Published: November 2019

This paper explores how floor programmable robotics can be used during
play to promote language development. This paper describes a two-day pilot
in two early years classrooms and presents data collected on children’s
perception of the Irish language and using robotics. A sample of 48 children
(age range six to seven years) took part in a robotics activity using a
bee-shaped robot, called Beebot. The activity was orientated around the
children’s second language, Irish. The children took part in a questionnaire
before and after the activity about the language and the use of the robot in
promoting their use of the language. Data was also collected through video,
photos, a focus group, and the teacher’s observations. The main finding of
the pilot study was an increase in children’s positive responses towards
using the language when integrated into a robotics play activity.
Improving the English skills of native Japanese using artificial
intelligence in a blended learning program
Authors: Obari Hiroyuki , Lambacher Stephen
Published: November 2019

A constructivist approach to language learning can motivate students by
activating their brains to create new knowledge and reflect more
consistently and deeply on their language learning experience. The present
study focused on assessing the use of the Artificial Intelligence (AI)
speakers Google Home Mini and Amazon Alexa as part of a Blended Learning
(BL) environment to improve the English skills of two groups of native
Japanese undergraduates. The participants were 47 native speakers of
Japanese, all third-year business majors at a private university in Tokyo.
Pretest and posttest Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
scores, as well as results from a post-training survey, were used in
evaluating the overall effectiveness of the program. Gains in TOEIC scores
indicated the BL program incorporating AI speakers improved the students’
overall English skills, particularly listening comprehension. The results
suggest the integration of AI, along with social media and 21st-century
skills, may be an effective way to improve the English language proficiency
of adult L2 learners.
How EFL learners react to a learning framework integrating learning
records on multiple systems
Authors: Tanaka Hiroya , Ohnishi Akio , Urano Ken , Ozawa Shinya , Nakanishi Daisuke
Published: November 2019

This paper reports on the learning framework integrating a web
e-portfolio and two mobile applications. It also reports on a preliminary
study on how learners used different systems or materials to study for
vocabulary tests in a particular general English course at a Japanese
university, and how they recognized the usefulness of each system and
material. Participants were 66 Japanese English as a Foreign Language (EFL)
students from two intact classes who completed a questionnaire survey at the
end of the course. The results of the survey revealed that, although the
participants generally evaluated the usefulness of the different systems and
materials in a similar way, one of the mobile applications was most often
used to prepare for the in-class vocabulary tests followed by the
e-portfolio and the wordlist.
Towards the design of iCALL tools for beginner mandarin chinese learners
in Ireland
Authors: Wang Hongfei , Ní Chiaráin Neasa
Published: November 2019

The teaching of spoken Chinese in the context of post-primary education
in Ireland faces several complexities. Learners of Mandarin Chinese as a
Foreign Language (CFL), including both Irish and heritage learners, have
demonstrated difficulty in learning spoken Chinese. This exploratory
research is part of a larger project which aims to develop appropriate ad
hoc intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Learning (iCALL) solutions by
providing visualised instruction and a gamified feedback system for Mandarin
tone acquisition, and using a spoken dialogue system to create a simulated
virtual environment for practising spoken Chinese. This paper presents a
qualitative needs analysis, in the form of semi-structured interviews, which
has been conducted with 12 CFL teachers with various linguistic and
sociocultural backgrounds. It aims to investigate learners’ difficulty in
learning spoken Chinese and teachers’ willingness to implement technology in
CFL curricula.
Digital stories: improving the process using smartphone
technology
Authors: White Jeremy
Published: November 2019

With smartphone saturation at 100% among Japanese university students,
educators are developing new and innovative ways to bring them to the
forefront of learning, ensuring students are as engaged with their
technology in their formal learning as they are with their informal
learning. Smartphones of today are small, portable, have high spec cameras,
microphones, and a large storage capacity. These devices also allow for
videos to be edited within applications on the smartphone itself, without
the need for a separate and expensive computer and editing software. Aspects
such as these make using smartphones to make Digital Stories (DS) one
possible way to effectively use this technology for formal learning
purposes. This paper shows the results of a paper-based survey and discusses
preliminary observations conducted with 38 Japanese university students
undertaking a short-term study abroad experience in Australia and New
Zealand.
A comparison of learner characteristics, beliefs, and usage of ASR-CALL
systems
Authors: Artieda Gemma , Clements Bindi
Published: November 2019

Wall Street English has built online activities that allow students to
record phrases and receive word-level Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR)
driven pronunciation feedback. Students in language centres in China,
Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and Italy (N=2,867) used ASR-Computer Assisted
Language Learning (CALL) activities, and some (N=482) completed a
questionnaire. A high number of students reported that ASR-CALL activities
helped them to improve their pronunciation. However, the study found
remarkable differences in usage of product features across countries, with
students from Vietnam and China using more retries than Saudi Arabia, and
students from Italy using the fewest retries. Students from China, Vietnam,
and Saudi Arabia more frequently listened to model audios than students from
Italy. A series of Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed significant group
differences between dominant L1 and students’ beliefs and perceptions using
ASR, and between age groups and students’ beliefs and perceptions using ASR.
This study points to the importance of considering regional differences, and
suggests that learner engagement may depend not only on the effectiveness of
the technology, but also on learner beliefs and perceptions.
Annotated scientific text visualizer: design, development, and
deployment
Authors: Blake John
Published: November 2019

Prototypes of an annotated scientific text visualizer were designed,
developed, and deployed. This pedagogic tool is designed to help
undergraduates draft short research articles that conform to the generic
expectations of their discourse community. This online tool enables users to
discover and explore the language features present in short research
articles. Users can select to visualize research articles in the field of
computer science. The articles are categorized into four types. Users select
to hide or reveal particular language features and their associated
explanations in text, audio, or video formats. This enables them to create
their own learning paths with this interactive tool. Students can use the
visualizer to individualize their own learning interactively at their own
pace on materials that are relevant to them.
Video assessment module: self, peer, and teacher post-performance
assessment for learning
Authors: Cotter Matthew , Hinkelman Don
Published: November 2019

Assessing student presentations can be made more reliable with
video-recording and post-performance rating. Further, self assessment and
peer assessment can aid in the learning process by students when using
specific, easy-to-understand rubrics. A ten-year action research study
involved video-recorded performance assessment tasks using a free,
open-source Moodle module developed by Sapporo Gakuin University. The Video
Assessment Module (VAM) allowed teachers to video record English
presentations and upload them to the module for students for self and peer
assessment on specific rubrics using qualitative and quantitative criteria.
When compared to paper rubrics, the VAM reduced teacher management time and
students could use out-of-class time to assess asynchronously without time
pressure. Results showed that there was a higher difference in teacher
variance for self assessment when compared to teacher variance with peer
assessment. Qualitative and quantitative results reported value in using the
tool by both students and teachers. This study also showed that students can
be trained to use online rubrics to score presentations efficiently, giving
further validity for using and developing online modules for video
assessment.
Redistribution in Theory and Practice: A Critique of Rawls and Piketty
Authors: Gissurarson Hannes H.
Published: November 2019

Rawls’ theory is about prudence rather than justice. It is about the kind of political structure on which rational people would agree if they were preparing for the worst. Other strategies, such as confining redistribution to upholding a safety net, might also be plausible. Rawls’ theory is Georgism in persons: the income from individual abilities is regarded as if it is at the disposal of the collective and could be taxed as rent. This goes against the strong moral intuition of self-ownership. However, Rawls’ question, where the worst off are as well off as they can be, is interesting. According to the Index of Economic Freedom, it actually may be under relatively unfettered capitalism. Unlike Rawls, Piketty is chiefly worried about the rich, seeking to impose confiscatory taxes on them. But the rich are not a fixed, unchangeable group of people who can effortlessly watch their capital accumulate. Capital is precarious, as is vividly illustrated in Balzac’s novel Père Goriot which Piketty quotes. Different as the approaches of Rawls and Piketty are, both of them agree that their ideal society has to be closed: It must become ‘socialism in one country.’
Study on the law of coal resistivity variation in the process of gas adsorption/desorption
Authors: Peng Chen , Shiyang Peng , Tao Yang , Xuexi Chen , Yongjie Liu , Pengfei Wang
Published: November 2019

In order to detect coal and gas outburst disasters by means of electric exploration technology, the characteristics of gas adsorption/desorption electrical response were studied. The law of resistivity variation of different coal samples was investigated under different gas pressures with the aid of a self-built real-time test system of coal resistivity during gas adsorption/desorption. In addition, the mechanism of coal resistivity variation was studied. The research results indicate that coal resistivity decreases during gas adsorption and increases during gas desorption, but generally it cannot return to the initial value. Gas influences coal resistivity through a variety of mechanisms. In the gas adsorption process, coal resistivity decreases under the combined effect of surface energy decline, skeleton expansion, free gas pressure and adsorption swelling stress. In addition, as the gas pressure rises, the resistivity varies in a wider range. The coal resistivity shares the relation of y = a + b ln(x + c) with gas pressure and the relation of y = ax + b with the content of adsorbed gas. This study lays a foundation for the application of electrical prospecting technology to gas hazard prediction and provides technical support for safe production in coal mines.
miR-183-5p regulates uterine receptivity and enhances embryo implantation
Authors: Akbar Rubab , Ullah Kamran , Rahman Tanzil Ur , Cheng Yi , Pang Hai-Yan , Jin Lu-Yang , Wang Qi-Jing , Huang He-Feng , Sheng Jian-Zhong
Published: November 2019

Receptive endometrium is a prerequisite for successful embryo implantation, and it follows that poor endometrial receptivity is a leading cause of implantation failure. miRNAs play important roles as epigenetic regulators of endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation through post-transcriptional modifications. However, the mechanisms of action of many miRNAs are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of the miR-183 family, comprising three miRNAs (miR-183-5p, miR-182-5p, and miR-96-5p) in endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. The miR-183 family shows estrogen-dependent upregulation in endometrial Ishikawa (IK) cells. The miR-183 family also has a positive role in migration and proliferation of IK cells. Furthermore, JAr spheroid attachment experiments show that attachment rates were significantly decreased after treatment of IK cells with inhibitors for miR-183-5p and miR-182-5p and increased after treatment with miR-183-5p-mimic and miR-96-5p-mimic, respectively. The downstream analysis shows that catenin alpha 2 (CTNNA2) is a potential target gene for miR-183-5p, and this was confirmed in luciferase reporter assays. An in vivo mouse pregnancy model shows that inhibition of miR-183-5p significantly decreases embryo implantation rates and increases CTNNA2 expression. Downregulation of CTNNA2 in endometrial cells by miR-183-5p may be significant in mediating estrogenic effects on endometrial receptivity. In conclusion, miR-183-5p and the CTNNA2 gene may be potential biomarkers for endometrial receptivity and may be useful diagnostic and therapeutic targets for successful embryo implantation.