151 research outputs found
Book review: standardizing diversity: the political economy of language regimes
No full textWhat explains the different language regime choices and what are the economic repercussions of these decisions? In Standardizing Diversity: The Political Economy of Language Regimes the author argues we need to pay more attention to the role that a neutral language of inter-ethnic communication plays in generating a sense of fairness, equality and inclusivity in heterogeneous multilingual societies. By focusing on Malaysia and Singapore as case studies, Medha finds this to be a highly readable book that focuses on the role and impact of lingua francas—common, link languages between speakers with different mother tongues
Usability of Access Ramps and Securement Systems on Transit Buses for Wheeled Mobility Device Users
No full textAbstract
Date Presented 3/30/2017
This study evaluated six ramp conditions and three securement devices encountered by wheeled mobility device users when using transit buses. The findings will help occupational therapists anticipate potential barriers and suggest accommodation strategies to improve community mobility outcomes for clients.
Primary Author and Speaker: Brittany Perez
Additional Authors and Speakers: Jim Lenker
Contributing Authors: Victor Paquet, Lydia Kocher, Medha Nemade</jats:p
Branding a Heritage City: A Contemporary Approach Used to Brand the Historical Identity of Ahmedabad, India
Get PDFThis thesis investigates how branding can be used to celebrate the historical identity of Ahmedabad, India. Branding a city can be a difficult task because cities are complex and constantly evolving. For a richly diverse and geographically vast country like India, it can be particularly challenging. The existing brand identity for Ahmedabad lacks an extensive, consistent visual identity system and uses stereotypical Indian motifs to represent the city. The thesis explores Ahmedabad’s colonial, pre-colonial and post-colonial heritage to find visual vernacular that is true to the region. These concentrated communication design-based studio explorations inform a larger exercise to represent the city of Ahmedabad visually. Other design research methods include photo analysis, case studies, observations and personal reflection. The thesis proposes a flexible brand identity system to capture the multiple realities of the city, its people, its tradition and cultural heritage. The final studio project is inspired by the windows of Ahmedabad. From 600-year-old monuments to residential pol houses to modernist buildings — windows have displayed a wide range of architectural heritage and played a huge role in defining what is important to Amdavadis. The research also creates a generic module that can be used to brand other Indian cities by looking at its tangible, intangible cultural heritage and its visual vernacular or graphic past
Fostering the Growth of TPACK Among International Teachers of Developing Nations Through a Cultural Exchange Program
No full textabstract: This study investigated the impact of a semester-long technology course as part of a higher education cultural exchange program for secondary school teachers of developing nations. We integrated quantitative data from surveys that evaluated participants’ technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), with qualitative evidence from participants’ technology-based lesson designs. Analysis across the 16 participants indicated that the course was effective in improving teachers’ TPACK. Teachers reported increases in all TPACK domains, with the largest growth in technological content knowledge and TPACK. However, qualitative analysis suggested greater presence of technological pedagogical knowledge. Teachers learned to consider affordances of technology in accordance with content or pedagogy, but their ability was limited due to resource constraints or students’ readiness. Results suggest that international exchange programs are a valuable way to support teachers of developing nations in building educational technology capacity at their home schools
The Impact of African Dance on Psychosocial and Educational Outcomes
Get PDFThis project intended to create conditions that are conducive to helping minority students achieve success in learning, in school, and in life. The project is a response to the rising rate of health and career disparities among minority U.S. adolescents. Based on the theoretical framework of the cultural historical activity theory, this attempt aimed to use the dance activities for teaching, training, and learning. This study draws from the empirical framework of the Girls health Enrichment Multisite Studies, conducted in other states, which implemented a culturally relevant physical regimen to reduce health disparities among minority girls. This study sought to use the activity in a different way; to facilitate student learning of research processes and also optimize associated academic and psychosocial processes, by engaging in the culturally relevant activity of African dance. The specific target population included undergraduate students, from a Historically Black University in Georgia. An African dance instructor conducted the class once a week for 75 minutes for 3 months. Ten student researchers recruited participants and evaluated the impact of African dance on learning the neuroscience of dance, learning of an Ethiopian dialect, Oromo, explored the meaning of participating in this the dance, impact on self-efficacy, racial identity, and attitudes towards and sponsorship of black businesses. Results indicated a significant effect of participating in the dance on learning the neuroscience of dance and of the dialect as well, positive meanings associated with the activity of African dance, positive self-efficacy, racial identity, and positive attitudes towards minority serving academic institutions. Through dissemination from the local to the global level, the broader impact sought by this project is to establish financially secure families by involving the workforce of tomorrow in activities that will promote positive psychosocial outcomes and STEM learning concurrently
Markkinoi kestävää investointia vihreäpesun olemassaololla
No full textThe world of sustainable investing is on the rise but is negatively affected by greenwashing. The lack of universally accepted regulatory systems and divergent ESG ratings on various platforms leave plenty of room for misinformation. Further, the information needed to invest sustainably is substantial and scattered. Hence, the sustainable investments industry has been suffering because the depth of research required by individual investors to make educated decisions seems to be overwhelming. This research explores how the theories and methodologies of entrepreneurship can be combined with brand and marketing to create a more effective communication strategy for a sustainable financial technology start-up to help them better facilitate educated decisions and establish trust among their (target) users. The research was conducted with a young financial technology start-up, “Lehti by Bankify”, and the project ended with a formulation of a set of suggestions that could be applicable to any fintech start-up seeking ways to communicate their value proposition and impact generated to their audience in a coherent and digestible manner
Dietary Practices, Lifestyle Patterns and Nutritional Status of Emerging Male Adults in Different Living Arrangements
No full textEmerging adulthood is a unique developmental period when many individuals are attending college, and their autonomy and self-sufficiency are increasing. Enrolment to higher education impacts the living arrangements of emerging adults contributing to a high-risk time for adverse health behaviours. The present study determined and compared the dietary practices, lifestyle patterns and nutritional status of emerging male adults (18-25 years) in different living arrangements. A total of 75 emerging males; 25 each living at home, in on-campus hostels, and in off-campus rented accommodations constituted the study sample. Data were gathered from the participants using an interview-cum-questionnaire schedule and a two day 24 hour diet recall method. Anthropometric measurements were also recorded. Findings revealed that higher percentage of participants living in hostels participated in outdoor games frequently, had regular meals and better mean nutrient intake as compared to participants living at home or in rented accommodations. A significant difference among the three groups was observed for the mean intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate, calcium, and riboflavin. Higher percentages of participants living at home and in rented accommodations were classified as overweight or obese as compared to those living in hostels, though the difference was not statistically significant. It could be concluded that living in hostels under some adult supervision in the form of hostel authorities provided the much needed independence as well as control in the correct dose to the emerging adults, to become responsible adults and develop healthy dietary and lifestyle practices.</jats:p
A New Modified Firefly Algorithm
Get PDFNature inspired meta-heuristic algorithms studies the emergent collective intelligence of groups of simple agents. Firefly Algorithm is one of the new such swarm-based metaheuristic algorithm inspired by the flashing behavior of fireflies. The algorithm was first proposed in 2008 and since then has been successfully used for solving various optimization problems. In this work, we intend to propose a new modified version of Firefly algorithm (MoFA) and later its performance is compared with the standard firefly algorithm along with various other meta-heuristic algorithms. Numerical studies and results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is superior to existing algorithms
Generalizing Spectral Difference Method for Multispectral Image Demosaicking and Analyzing the Role of MSFA Patterns
No full text
- …
