33659 research outputs found
Sort by
We Deh : Women-Loving Women, Rurality, and Creole Linguistic Potentials
No full textThis paper draws on ethnographic interviews with women-loving women (WLW) in Berbice, Guyana, South America, to interrogate the Creole linguistic term deh as a cultural heuristic device central to the visibility politics in this rural community. The linguistic concept of deh is a localized Creole (a dialect produced from the mixing of African, Indian, and Indigenous languages), which unsettles the Western image of the closet and the discourse of coming out. Deh is a double-entendre referring to a spatial location, like over there, and to a romantic or sexual relationship between two people. How might the linguistic concept of deh open up a discursive epistemological space where same-sex desires are not marginalized or relegated in rural spaces? How do women loving women (WLW) create the conditions for their existence in rural spaces? Analyzing nine interviews with WLW, this paper explores how Black and Brown women-loving women embody and express their same-sex desires through the Creole concept of deh and argues that deh exposes the colonial violence of language. Through deh, WLW offers a framework for rethinking self- making and repositioning their relationship to the broader society and the state. The colonial/modern system imposes and projects LGBTQ as a global framework for understanding human sexuality; as a transgressive linguistic and embodied sexual praxis, deh destabilizes the colonial knowledge of gender and sexual practices in Berbice. As such, this paper can be read as an act of decolonizing Western knowledge systems
Rehumanizing the language curriculum
No full textThis volume brings together work by renowned scholars in the field of foreign/second/heritage languages and literatures who employ a variety of scholarly tools to examine opportunities associated with literature as a force for rehumanizing and invigorating target language (TL) education in the 21st century. Offering viable avenues for reconciling historic differences between language pedagogues and literature educators, their work demonstrates that language pedagogy and literary studies are not divergent or competing disciplines separated by firm barriers, but rather convergent, interdependent, mutually beneficial, and genuinely complementary areas of inquiry. Each chapter foregrounds the multilayered value of target language literary education, aligning it with competencies that reside at the core of broader contemporary educational and societal priorities and aspirations. The contributors connect literature education to a wide array of goals, including not only literacy, communicative competencies, critical reading, and critical thinking, but also social engagement, global citizenship, intercultural sensitivity, and symbolic competence. Without minimizing the significant challenges facing language educators today, Rehumanizing the Language Curriculum argues in various ways for rehumanizing language education as the most effective means for overcoming pressing challenges, for addressing urgent priorities, and for approaching our full potential within the diversity of this vibrant community of scholarship and practice. Rehumanizing the Language Curriculum should be compulsory reading for educators wishing to integrate language and literature teaching. This is a welcome and much needed contribution to rehumanizing language education in the 21st century. -Werner Delanoy, University of Klagenfurt Featuring an international cast of contributors, this volume provides new insights into the role of literature in 21st century language education. Through various theoretical, ideological, and pedagogical lenses, the chapters present innovative and thought-provoking ways to reconcile the language-content divide and teach language and literature as interdependent parts of a whole. The result is a volume that encourages readers to value and embrace the range of disciplinary content and scholarly perspectives comprising language programs. -Kate Paesani, University of Minnesota This wide-ranging collection highlights the importance of literature education in the language classroom, critiquing reductionist views of language education and making insightful connections between areas such as literary reading, deep reading, language education and general educational competencies. A thoughtful and often provocative collection, it provides a variety of lenses for understanding the ways in which second language learners can engage with literature, and a clear illustration of the immense world of new possibilities that is opened up when using literature. -Amos Paran, University College London Rehumanizing the Language Curriculum is an ambitious, wide-ranging, yet readable collection of chapters which makes us rediscover the role of literature in language education. Addressing current issues such as intercultural communication, ecology, and diversity, this book proves the practicality and versatility of literature. In the gloomy educational environment in which pedagogical effects are mistakenly visualized statistically, uniformly, or even financially, the multifaceted approaches illustrated in this volume are a must for language teachers and scholars in any context. -Masayuki Teranishi, University of Hyogo, Japan
3D Sensitivity Kernels With Full Attenuation Computed by a Combination of the Strong Stability Preserving Runge-Kutta Method and the Scattering-Integral Method
No full textTo date developments of seismic attenuation models of the Earth have lagged those of velocity models. This is partly due to difficulties in isolating waveform perturbations caused by attenuation and velocity heterogeneities and partly due to different theories (e.g., ray theory, finite frequency theory) used in most previous and current studies to approximate sensitivity kernels and invert for the attenuation structure. We present in this paper a new method for computing the 3D waveform Fréchet kernels that account for full physical-dispersion and dissipation attenuation. For solving the 3D isotropic anelastic wave equation described by the generalized Maxwell body model, we extend our previously proposed full waveform modeling method in Cartesian coordinates to that in spherical coordinates, which can provide stable numerical solutions even in the presence of strong attenuation. Then, we apply the scattering-integral method for calculating 3D travel time and amplitude sensitivity kernels with respect to velocity and attenuation structures. We demonstrate the accuracy of our forward method and the effectiveness of the implementation of absorbing and free surface boundary conditions through numerical tests. Moreover, by choosing the Northwestern United States region as a realistic example, we verify the accuracy of the computed 3D sensitivity kernels through comparing the waveform measurements with predictions from the kernels. Finally, we discuss the importance of calculating full anelastic sensitivity kernels including both effects of physical dispersion and dissipation, where we specially explore the effect of scattering due to random velocity and attenuation heterogeneities on waveform measurements
Critical Online Information Evaluation (COIE): A comprehensive model for curriculum and assessment design
Get PDFThe recent evolution of technology and the Internet has transformed how individuals find and share information. Research shows that citizens of all ages and backgrounds struggle with critical online information evaluation (COIE), which could result in serious societal consequences. Although it is crucial to develop student proficiency within this key information literacy construct beginning in middle school, there is currently no interdisciplinary framework for designing COIE instruction or assessments. To address this gap, we have developed a comprehensive COIE model for curriculum developers, assessment creators, and practitioners to implement at the secondary and post-secondary level. In this paper, we provide cross-disciplinary theoretical context and empirical grounding for our model, offer guidance for its practical application in the 6-16 curriculum, and discuss metacognitive and sociocultural considerations for developing and measuring learners’ COIE proficiency
Rapid viewshed analyses: A case study with visibilities limited by trees and buildings
No full textHigh-resolution digital surface models improve the precision of viewshed analyses, but these data can be challenging to use for large study areas. We developed a 2D viewshed (2DView) approach, that uses land cover to estimate viewshed extent. We aimed to develop a practical approach to map viewing areas for \u3e1000 waterbodies spread over 6000 km2. In this paper, we present a case study in which we use the 2DView method for a viewshed analysis where trees and buildings, rather than terrain, are the primary obstacles to visibility. We evaluate the 2DView through comparison with DSM-based viewsheds. We used 30 waterbodies for our evaluation. We applied our 2DView analysis using high-resolution (i.e. 1 m) land cover and building footprint data to represent trees and buildings, respectively. For conventional 3DView, we used 1) true digital surface models and 2) bare-earth elevation models modified by adding fixed heights (i.e. 30 m) for trees and buildings. The 2DView method had good agreement with the 3DView method with average intersection-of-unions ranging from 90 to 95%. The 2DView method tends to overestimate viewshed extents; thus, it can serve as a pre-screening tool to reduce the instances when more accurate 3DView analyses are required
Deer management generally reduces densities of nymphal Ixodes scapularis, but not prevalence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto
Get PDFHuman Lyme disease–primarily caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) in North America–is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Research on risk mitigation strategies during the last three decades has emphasized methods to reduce densities of the primary vector in eastern North America, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Controlling white-tailed deer populations has been considered a potential method for reducing tick densities, as white-tailed deer are important hosts for blacklegged tick reproduction. However, the feasibility and efficacy of white-tailed deer management to impact acarological risk of encountering infected ticks (namely, density of host-seeking infected nymphs; DIN) is unclear. We investigated the effect of white-tailed deer density and management on the density of host-seeking nymphs and B. burgdorferi s.s. infection prevalence using surveillance data from eight national parks and park regions in the eastern United States from 2014–2022. We found that deer density was significantly positively correlated with the density of nymphs (nymph density increased by 49% with a 1 standard deviation increase in deer density) but was not strongly correlated with the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.s. infection in nymphal ticks. Further, while white-tailed deer reduction efforts were followed by a decrease in the density of I. scapularis nymphs in parks, deer removal had variable effects on B. burgdorferi s.s. infection prevalence, with some parks experiencing slight declines and others slight increases in prevalence. Our findings suggest that managing white-tailed deer densities alone may not be effective in reducing DIN in all situations but may be a useful tool when implemented in integrated management regimes
Visual representations in a choice experiment: valuing preferences for a local dam
Get PDFMaking decisions about future environmental alternatives such as aging dams can be complex, technical, and challenging for the public. This study uses a split sample, labeled choice experiment to examine how information delivery method—combinations of text, images, and video—affects willingness to pay (WTP) for alternative scenarios for an aging dam. The results indicate that the still image treatment leads to higher WTP across all dam modification alternatives compared to keeping the dam in its current condition. In contrast, the video treatment leads in lower WTP for most alternatives and results in different preference ranking for dam management, i.e., higher WTP to maintain the dam over removing it. Our study suggests that preferences are sensitive to how information is delivered and reinforces the need for credible and legitimate visualizations that can correctly capture the projected future alternatives
Egyptian university students’ smartphone addiction and their digital media literacy level
Get PDFThis study examined the correlation between Egyptian university students’ smartphone addiction and digital media literacy. Data were gathered from a sample of 558 students enrolled at Minia University, aged 18-22, using an online questionnaire. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between smartphone overuse and digital media literacy levels. Moreover, it was found that university students obtained higher scores on the smartphone addiction scale, and social networking applications (e.g., WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok). Also, it was found that smartphone gaming, learning, and entertainment apps increase the likelihood of smartphone addiction and boost digital media literacy levels. These findings suggest that smartphone addiction may have positive effects on young adults; so, smartphone use should be oriented to benefit mobile users
Simulating Stress–Strain Behavior by Using Individual Chains: Uniaxial Deformation of Amorphous Cis- and Trans-1,4-Polybutadiene
Get PDFThis work develops a probability-based numerical method for quantifying mechanical properties of non-Gaussian chains subject to uniaxial deformation, with the intention of being able to incorporate polymer–polymer and polymer–filler interactions. The numerical method arises from a probabilistic approach for evaluating the elastic free energy change of chain end-to-end vectors under deformation. The elastic free energy change, force, and stress computed by applying the numerical method to uniaxial deformation of an ensemble of Gaussian chains were in excellent agreement with analytical solutions that were obtained with a Gaussian chain model. Next, the method was applied to configurations of cis- and trans-1,4-polybutadiene chains of various molecular weights that were generated under unperturbed conditions over a range of temperatures with a Rotational Isomeric State (RIS) approach in previous work (Polymer 2015, 62, 129–138). Forces and stresses increased with deformation, and further dependences on chain molecular weight and temperature were confirmed. Compression forces normal to the imposed deformation were much larger than tension forces on chains. Smaller molecular weight chains represent the equivalent of a much more tightly cross-linked network, resulting in greater moduli than larger chains. Young’s moduli computed from the coarse-grained numerical model were in good agreement with experimental results