bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incorporating Sustainability and Green Design Concepts into Engineering and Technology Curricula
Authors: Belu Radian G. , Chiou Richard , Cioca Lucian Ionel , Tseng Bill 
Published: May 2017

Human society is facing an uncertain future due to the present day unsustainable use of natural resources and the growing imbalance with our natural environment. Sustainability is an endeavour with uncertain outcomes requiring collaboration, teamwork, and abilities to work with respect and learn from other disciplines and professions, as well as with governments, local communities, political and civic organizations. The creation of a sustainable society is a complex and multi-stage endeavour that will dominate twenty first century. Sustainability has four basic aspects: environment, technology, economy, and societal organization. Schools with undergraduate engineering or engineering technology programs are working to include sustainability and green design concepts into their curricula. Teaching sustainability and green design has increasingly become an essential feature of the present day engineering education. It applies to all of engineering, as all engineered systems interact with the environment in complex and important ways. Our project main goals are to provide the students with multiple and comprehensive exposures, to what it mean to have a sustainable mindset and to facilitate the development of the passion and the skills to integrate sustainable practices into engineering tools and methods. In this study we are describing our approaches to incorporating sustainability and green design into our undergraduate curricula and to list a variety of existing resources that can easily be adopted or adapted by our faculty for this purpose. Our approaches are: (1) redesigning existing courses through development of new curricular materials that still meet the objectives of the original course and (2) developing upper division elective courses that address specific topics related to sustainability, green design, green manufacturing and life-cycle assessment.
Exploring the Effect of Morphological Instruction on Vocabulary Learning among Iranian EFL Learners
Authors: Khoshkhoonejad Amirali , Farid Khalifelu Seyyed , Abdipour Sahabeh 
Published: May 2017

Vocabulary knowledge plays a crucial role in academic development and therefore scholastic success (National Reading Panel, 2000). Also, students' vocabulary knowledge expands through a variety of ways. One of the most practicable strategies in vocabulary learning supported by many researchers is using affix knowledge. The purpose of present study is to investigate the effect of morphological instructions on vocabulary learning among Iranian secondary school students. Participants in this study were sixty Iranian secondary school students who were assigned to control group (30) and experimental group (30). A pre-test and post-test comprising two vocabulary tests measuring students’ morphemic analysis of general English words were administered. The data were analyzed using the Independent Sample T-test to determine if there were improvements made in the two measures within each group, and subsequently whether the magnitude of improvement between the two groups were significant. The results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group in the process of guessing the meanings of complex words depending on the morphological analysis. Furthermore, the results did not show significant differences between Morphological Relatedness Strategy and Morphological Structure Strategy in terms of students' achievements.
Effects of Reading Skills on Students’ Performance in Science and Mathematics in Public and Private Secondary Schools
Authors: A. Imam Ombra 
Published: May 2017

In the Philippine education system, reading, mathematics, and science formed part of the core areas of basic education curriculum. For the last decade, the quality of Philippine education was put into a big question due to poor performance of students in mathematics and science tests both local and abroad. The initial result of current efforts of the government by adopting K-12 curriculum didn’t do much to change the status quo. The purpose of this study is to determine the reading predictors of students’ performance in Mathematics and Science and identify its effects to such performance. A total of 660 freshmen students from public and private high schools in Cotabato City, Philippines were taken as sample. A validated and reliable 150-item test in reading comprehension skills, mathematics and science was used to get primary data to perform correlation and regression analysis. Findings showed that only making inference and getting main idea were predictors of mathematics performance of students in public school and private schools, respectively. Data analysis also revealed that two reading skills such as noting details and making inference had an influence on science performance of students in public school while skills in getting main idea and drawing conclusion influenced science performance of students in private schools. However, there was only one skill such as vocabulary in context which was predictor of overall science performance of all students. Moreover, separate effects of making inference, identifying main idea explained only 1.8 percent and 1.3 percent of students’ math performance while their combined effects provided only .1 percent or nearly zero percent. Furthermore, the study found out that separate effects of noting details contributed 3.3 percent and its combined effects with making inference explained 4.2 percent of science performance of students in public schools. In terms of effects of reading to science performance in private schools, making inference provided 1.2 percent of separate effect; making inference and drawing conclusion influenced 2.8 percent of combined effect; understanding vocabulary in context has overall one percent of separate effect.
There is More to the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics Than the Use of Local Languages: Mathematics Teacher Practices
Authors: Chitera Nancy , Kasoka Dun , Thomo E. 
Published: May 2017

In this article, we present a discussion about the type of mathematical discourse that is being produced in classrooms where the language of learning and teaching is local languages. We also further explore the tensions in the mathematical discourse being produced. The study sample was 4 mathematics teachers from a semi-urban primary school in Malawi. The methods of data collection included classroom observations, pre-observation focus group discussions and reflective interviews. The results show that even though both students and teachers were able to communicate freely in local languages in the mathematics classroom, the mathematical discourse that came was distorted. This is mainly caused by lack of a well-developed mathematical discourse in local languages, which in turn takes away the confidence of mathematics teachers in the classroom. As a result, the mathematics classrooms are still being characterized by teachers not being creative, use of word by word from books, focus more on procedural than conceptual and thus teacher centered is still dominant in these classrooms. Furthermore, it is found that there are tensions between the formal and informal mathematical language in local languages. These results in turn have promoted a more in-depth understanding to the teaching and learning of mathematics when local language is the language of learning and teaching. Therefore, this article argues for a well-balanced approach when it comes to teaching and learning of mathematics rather than just focusing on the use of local languages.
Teacher Resilience in Remote Islands Area: A Case Study in Small Pagerungan Island Sumenep Regency, Indonesia
Authors: Nurwidodo Nurwidodo , Rahardjanto Abdulkadir , Husamah Husamah , Mas'odi Mas'odi , Mufrihah Arina 
Published: May 2017

This study aims to describe resilience teacher at Elementary school III at Small Pagerungan Island. Aspects of resilience in this study are phase of resilience refers to Patterson Kelleher (2005) and the strategy of resilience refers to Diah Pradna (2012). This type of research is descriptive qualitative with case study approach. The subjects were 5 teachers (Subject I: government employee (PNS) teachers senior and immigrant from Java, Subject II: government employee (PNS) teachers senior natives, subject III: temporary teacher who has taught more than 10 years, Subject IV: new civil servant teachers a few years removed, and subject V: new no permanent teachers who teach less than 5 years). Data collected through in-depth interviews with each subject of study. Analysis of data using thematic analysis approach hybrid refers to Fereday Muir-Cochrane version. The results showed that the phase of resilience to be taken by each teacher is different. Subjects I and II has reached growing phase. Subject IV and V are still at the stage of deteriorating phase, while the subject III only at adapting phase. Subjects I and II have an optimistic view and gave rise to 7 points strategy of resilience, which is a positive attitude to face difficulties, focusing on the core value, versatile in the running for the purpose, willing to take concrete steps to face difficulties, create conditions of self and supportive environment, maintain hope and expectation is high, and develop an attitude of participation and responsibility. Subject IV and V are relatively more optimistic, but because the teaching experience is still limited cause-point strategy of resilience that appears only reached 4, which is flexible in an effort to achieve goals, create conditions of self and supportive environment, maintain hope and expectation is high, and develop an attitude of participation and responsibility. Subject III is more pessimistic and pragmatic look at the future of the profession so that a strategy of resilience that comes only three, namely flexible in an effort to achieve the goal, to create the conditions themselves and a supportive environment, and develop an attitude of participation and responsibility. Point’s resilience strategy that appears, consciously or not by the fifth subject, has been assisting survive to teach at Elementary school III Small Pagerungan Island belonging to the category of remote schools, schools with limited resources, and minimal attention from government.
The Impact of Adopting and Using Technology by Children
Authors: Mashrah Hind Talal 
Published: May 2017

Nowadays, information communication technology is becoming an essential part of our life. We find technology everywhere to facilitate teaching and learning, especially in schools and homes. It always comes along with interactive and interacting approaches to help children learn math and science and so on. This paper, however, discusses the downside effects of using technology to children from age 2 to 17 years old. There are some earlier studies with some statistics indicate the percentage of children who use different kinds of technology in their daily life. Then the paper will be demonstrated the social, cognitive, and physical impacts of using too much technology. Then it will be specified three types of technology as it is common among children: playing video games, surfing websites, and communicating via the internet. Finally, some regulations and guidance are mentioned to protect children throughout giving them better methods to use technology in proper ways and involving children in social, cognitive, and physical activities alongside.
Blended Project Based Learning: Metacognitive Awareness of Biology Education New Students
Authors: Husamah Husamah 
Published: May 2017

This study aims to analyse the difference of metacognitive awareness of treatment (using Blended Project Based Learning) and control class. This is a quasi-experimental research with Non-equivalent Control Group Design. This research was conducted at Department of Biology Education, University of Muhammadiyah Malang, in the first semester of the academic year 2014/2015. Metacognitive awareness of treatment class and control class was measured by using Metacognitive Awareness Inventory. Metacognitive awareness difference analysed with One-way ANOVA, processed with SPSS 22 for Windows. The results showed that there were difference Mean values in metacognitive awareness (knowledge about cognition and regulation of cognitive) between treatment and control. Mean value of treatment class was higher than control class. It means that Blended Project Based Learning effectively to develop and stimulation metacognitive awareness of new students (Biology teachers candidates).
Preparing STEM Teachers for Integration of NGSS: A Summer Workshop Development
Authors: Altuger-Genc Gonca , Issapour Marjaneh 
Published: May 2017

The increasing emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in United States and across the world created the demand for STEM education to start as early as elementary school. Especially in the past decade, the demand for middle schools and high schools to increase the involvement of the STEM components in their curriculum has been on the rise. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)(http://www.nextgenscience.org/) are testimonial to this demand and need. With the fast-pace the NGSS are being adopted by different states, the expectations from science, engineering, and technology teachers to develop and design their courses to reflect the new standards and meet the updated goals increased. To support teachers with the necessary resources and training, a Summer STEM training program and a set of STEM training modules have been developed by a 4-year accredited State College. This paper provides an overview of the STEM initiatives and a step-by-step approach of the design and development of the STEM modules to train K-12 teachers.
Affirmative Action Application or Black and White in South Africa Higher Education Institutions: Is it the way forward or not?
Authors: Maria van der Bank Christiena , Mphahlani Jafta , C Moloi Kholeka 
Published: May 2017

We will, demonstrate what affirmative action entails, its origin and the relationship with discrimination and equality. The paper will also highlight the implementation of affirmative action in the Higher Education sector in South Africa. Affirmative action or black and white are the additional corrective steps which must be taken in order that those who have been historically disadvantage by unfair discrimination before 1994 are able to derive full benefits from an equitable employment environment. While there has been a significant increase in the number of women appointed into management positions, the proportion in relation to the total number of women in senior posts such as those of Vice Chancellors, Deputy-Vice Chancellors and Executive Deans still remains problematic. Considerations should be taken with regard to issues of access, equity and relevance. Indeed, affirmative action should be located within a rigorous process that will ensure that those who are for example, promoted to senior positions both in private and public sectors are able to demonstrate strategic thinking and action, quality execution of tasks, efficiency and effectiveness in achieving organisational goals. This will also be followed by a brief South Africa’s case study of different entities (South African Breweries and Sowetan Newspaper). A comparison of USA’s affirmative action and whether “there is a light at the end of a tunnel – affirmative action” will be done.
Coagulation factor XI improves host defence during murine pneumonia-derived sepsis independent of factor XII activation
Authors: Stroo Ingrid , Zeerleder Sacha , Ding Chao , Luken Brenda , Roelofs Joris , de Boer Onno , Meijers Joost , Castellino Francis , van ’t Veer Cornelis , van der Poll Tom 
Published: May 2017

SummaryBacterial pneumonia, the most common cause of sepsis, is associated with activation of coagulation. Factor XI (FXI), the key component of the intrinsic pathway, can be activated via factor XII (FXII), part of the contact system, or via thrombin. To determine whether intrinsic coagulation is involved in host defence during pneumonia and whether this is dependent on FXII activation, we infected in parallel wild-type (WT), FXI knockout (KO) and FXII KO mice with two different clinically relevant pathogens, the Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, via the airways. FXI deficiency worsened survival and enhanced bacterial outgrowth in both pneumonia models. This was accompanied with enhanced inflammatory responses in FXI KO mice. FXII KO mice were comparable with WT mice in Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. On the contrary, FXII deficiency improved survival and reduced bacterial outgrowth following infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae. In both pneumonia models, local coagulation was not impaired in either FXI KO or FXII KO mice. The capacity to phagocytose bacteria was impaired in FXI KO neutrophils and in human neutrophils where activation of FXI was inhibited. Deficiency for FXII or blocking activation of FXI via FXIIa had no effect on phagocytosis. Taken together, these data suggest that FXI protects against sepsis derived from Streptococcus pneumoniae or Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia at least in part by enhancing the phagocytic capacity of neutrophils by a mechanism that is independent of activation via FXIIa.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
The Impact of Error Accounting in a Bayesian Approach to Calibrating Modeled Turbulent Fluxes in an Open-Canopy Forest
Authors: Wong Tony E. , Kleiber William , Noone David C. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractLand surface models are notorious for containing many parameters that control the exchange of heat and moisture between land and atmosphere. Properly modeling the partitioning of total evapotranspiration (ET) between transpiration and evaporation is critical for accurate hydrological modeling, but depends heavily on the treatment of turbulence within and above canopies. Previous work has constrained estimates of evapotranspiration and its partitioning using statistical approaches that calibrate land surface model parameters by assimilating in situ measurements. These studies, however, are silent on the impacts of the accounting of uncertainty within the statistical calibration framework. The present study calibrates the aerodynamic, leaf boundary layer, and stomatal resistance parameters, which partially control canopy turbulent exchange and thus the evapotranspiration flux partitioning. Using an adaptive Metropolis–Hastings algorithm to construct a Markov chain of draws from the joint posterior distribution of these resistance parameters, an ensemble of model realizations is generated, in which latent and sensible heat fluxes and top soil layer temperature are optimized. A set of five calibration experiments demonstrate that model performance is sensitive to the accounting of various sources of uncertainty in the field observations and model output and that it is critical to account for model structural uncertainty. After calibration, the modeled fluxes and top soil layer temperature are largely free from bias, and this calibration approach successfully informs and characterizes uncertainty in these parameters, which is essential for model improvement and development. The key points of this paper are 1) a Markov chain Monte Carlo calibration approach successfully improves modeled turbulent fluxes; 2) ET partitioning estimates hinge on the representation of uncertainties in the model and data; and 3) despite these inherent uncertainties, constrained posterior estimates of ET partitioning emerge.
Electrophoretic patterns post daratumumab
Authors: Sheldon Joanna , Wheeler Rachel D , Powles Ray 
Published: May 2017

Background Daratumumab (Darzalex) is a human IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody targeting CD38 that has been recently approved for the treatment of refractory multiple myeloma. As it is a monoclonal protein, it can be detected on routine serum protein electrophoresis and by immunofixation. Methods Serum samples from four patients were analysed by serum protein electrophoresis immediately pre- and post-treatment with daratumumab. Results For all four patients, daratumumab was visible on serum protein electrophoresis as an additional small band (approximately 1 g/L) in the slow gamma region. Conclusion Diagnostic laboratories should be aware that daratumumab can be detected on routine serum protein electrophoresis of myeloma patients and should liaise closely with clinicians to ensure the presence of daratumumab is not misinterpreted as development of a new monoclonal protein.
The retinal microcirculation in migraine: The Rotterdam Study
Authors: Wen Ke-xin , Mutlu Unal , Ikram M Kamran , Kavousi Maryam , Klaver Caroline CW , Tiemeier Henning , Franco Oscar H , Ikram M Arfan 
Published: May 2017

Background To explore the role of microvascular pathology in migraine, we investigated the association between migraine and retinal microvascular damage. Methods We included 3270 participants (age ≥ 45 years, 63% women) from the population-based Rotterdam Study (2006–2009). Participants with migraine were identified using a validated questionnaire based on ICHD-II criteria (n = 562). Retinopathy signs were graded on fundus photographs. Retinal arteriolar and venular caliber were measured by semi-automatic assessment of fundus photographs. Associations of migraine with retinopathy and retinal microvascular calibers were examined using logistic and linear regression models, respectively, adjusting for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors. Results Migraine was not associated with the presence of retinopathy (odds ratio (OR): 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62; 1.92). In the fully adjusted model, adjusting for the companion vessel, persons with migraine did not differ in retinal arteriolar or venular caliber compared to persons without migraine (mean difference in standardized arteriolar caliber −0.05 (95%CI −0.13; 0.03); in standardized venular caliber −0.00 (95%CI −0.09; 0.08)). Migraine subtypes, including migraine with aura, were also not associated with retinal microvascular damage. Conclusions Our findings suggest that migraine is not associated with retinopathy or difference in retinal microvascular caliber. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.
Transient Mood Elevation Associated with Antidepressant Drug Decrease*
Authors: Corral M. , Sivertz K. , Jones B.D. 
Published: May 2017

The development of hypomania, mania and transient mood elevation within 2–3 days of antidepressant discontinuation, and lasting days to several weeks has been reported in unipolar depressed patients. Imipramine and desipramine are the antidepressants most frequently associated with the above phenomena. A reported case of transient mood elevation following abrupt reduction but not discontinuation of desipramine therapy in a woman with unipolar depression is described. The phenomenon was observed and documented on two separate occasions. Mood elevation occurred despite decreased plasma levels of the drug. Relapse followed despite maintenance of dose and similar drug plasma levels. Factors which could account for the transitory improvement of mood are examined. It is suggested that the patient's improvement in mood may have occurred due to a rebound paradoxical therapeutic effect. The features of the presented case history which appear to support this hypothesis are discussed. Also the clinical implications of this phenomenon are reviewed.