1,681 research outputs found
The Ghost of Patrick Geddes: Civics As Applied Sociology
No full textIn 1904 and 1905 Patrick Geddes (1905, 1906) read his famed, but today little-read, two-part paper, \'Civics: as Applied Sociology\', to the first meetings of the British Sociological Society. Geddes is often thought of as a \'pioneer of sociology\' (Mairet, 1957; Meller, 1990) and for some (eg Devine, 1999: 296) as \'a seminal influence on sociology\'. However, little of substance has been written to critically assess Geddes\'s intellectual legacy as a sociologist. His work is largely forgotten by sociologists in Britain (Abrams, 1968; Halliday, 1968; Evans, 1986). Few have been prepared to follow Geddes\'s ambition to bridge the chasm between nature and culture, environment and society, geography, biology and sociology. His conception of \'sociology\', oriented towards social action from a standpoint explicitly informed by evolutionary theory. A re-appraisal of the contemporary relevance of Geddes\'s thinking on civics as applied sociology has to venture into the knotted problem of evolutionary sociology. It also requires giving some cogency to Geddes\'s often fragmentary and inconsistent mode of address. Although part of a post-positivist, \'larger modernism\' Geddes remained mired in nineteenth century evolutionary thought and fought shy of dealing with larger issues of social class or the breakthrough work of early twentieth century sociology of Simmel, Weber and Durkheim. His apolitical notion of \'civics\' limits its relevance to academic sociology today.History of Sociology, Civics, Patrick Geddes, Scottish Generalism, Urban Sociology
Loss of nervous system complexity – Morphological analyses shed light on the neuronal evolution in Myzostomida (Annelida)
No full textThe anatomy and development of the nervous system in Magelonidae (Annelida) – insights into the evolution of the annelid brain
No full textAbstract Background The annelid anterior central nervous system is often described to consist of a dorsal prostomial brain, consisting of several commissures and connected to the ventral ganglionic nerve cord via circumesophageal connectives. In the light of current molecular phylogenies, our assumptions on the primary design of the nervous system in Annelida has to be reconsidered. For that purpose we provide a detailed investigation of the adult nervous system of Magelonidae – a putatively basally branching annelid family - and studied early stages of the development of the latter. Results Our comparative investigation using an integrative morphological approach shows that the nervous system of Magelonidae is located inside the epidermis. The brain is composed of an anterior compact neuropil and posteriorly encircles the prostomial coelomic cavities. From the brain two lateral medullary cords branch off which fuse caudally. Prominent brain structures such as nuchal organs, ganglia or mushroom bodies are absent and the entire nervous system is medullary. Our investigations also contradict previous investigations and present an updated view on established assumptions and descriptions. Conclusion The comprehensive dataset presented herein enables a detailed investigation of the magelonid anterior central nervous system for the first time. The data reveal that early in annelid evolution complexity of brains and anterior sensory structures rises. Polymorphic neurons in clusters and distinct brain parts, as well as lateral organs - all of which are not present in outgroup taxa and in the putative magelonid sister group Oweniidae - already evolved in Magelonidae. Commissures inside the brain, ganglia and nuchal organs, however, most likely evolved in the stem lineage of Amphinomidae + Sipuncula and Pleistoannelida (Errantia+ Sedentaria). The investigation demonstrates the necessity to continuously question established descriptions and interpretations of earlier publications and the need for transparent datasets. Our results also hint towards a stronger inclusion of larval morphology and developmental investigations in order to understand adult morphological features, not only in Annelida
Loss of complexity from larval towards adult nervous systems in Chaetopteridae (Chaetopteriformia, Annelida) unveils evolutionary patterns in Annelida
No full textAbstract Chaetopteridae — the parchment worms — comprise a group of early branching annelids with a scarcely investigated neuroanatomy and neurogenesis. Due to their phylogenetic position in the annelid tree, studying them is nevertheless inevitable for our understanding of character evolution in segmented worms. Therefore, we investigated several adult und larval chaetopterids using a broad set of morphological methods — including serial azan-stained histological sections as well as ultrastructural and immunohistochemical approaches. Our investigations shows that the chaetopterid nervous system consists of a medullary and intraepidermal anterior brain without major commissures and only one neuron type. Nuchal organs and complex cup-shaped eyes are absent in adult specimens. The developmental investigations reveal an antero-posterior origin of the larval nervous system, which is in line with previous investigations and supports this character as being plesiomorphic at least for Annelida. Furthermore, the reduction of neuronal complexity during ontogenesis hints towards the necessity of developmental examinations to understand the evolutionary scenarios behind nervous system diversity not only in annelid taxa. Our detailed investigations will help to deepen our knowledge in terms of annelid character evolution and will build up a basis for further detailed examinations dealing with this fascinating group of segmented worms.Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftGeorg-August-Universität Göttingen 50110000338
Languages and international virtual exchange
No full textIntroduction to a special edition of the journal. The article briefly reviews new developments in virtual exchange on a policy level, and then provides a short summary of each of the articles in this special edition. The author of this introduction was co-editor of this special edition of the journal
Herausforderungen für die Klassifikation historischer Buchillustrationen. Überlegungen am Beispiel retrodigitalisierter Kinder- und Jugendsachbücher des 19. Jahrhunderts
No full textHelm W, Im C, Mandl T, Schmideler S. Herausforderungen für die Klassifikation historischer Buchillustrationen. Überlegungen am Beispiel retrodigitalisierter Kinder- und Jugendsachbücher des 19. Jahrhunderts. In: Sahle P, ed. DHd 2019: Digital Humanities: multimedial & multimodal: Konferenzabstracts, Universitäten zu Mainz und Frankfurt: 25. bis 29. März 2019: 6. Tagung des Verbandes Digital Humanities im deutschsprachigen Raum e.V. . Frankfurt/Main; Mainz: Verband Digital Humanities im deutschsprachigen Raum e.V.; 2019: 300-304
Cwbr Author Interview: This Vast Southern Empire: Slaveholders At The Helm Of American Foreign Policy
No full textInterview with Matthew Karp, author of This Vast Southern Empire: Slaveholders at the Helm of American Foreign Policy Interviewed by Tom Barber Civil War Book Review (CWBR): Today the Civil War Book Review is happy to speak with Matthew Karp, Assistant Professor of History at Princeton Uni...
Palps across the tree - the neuronal innervation and development of sensory head appendages in Annelida
No full textPolychaetes inhabit a wide variety of habitats and show a great morphological diversity. In this context, a key morphological structure for adapting to their individual lifestyles and ecological niches are the prominent head appendages. In the last years more and more studies focused on the mainly sensory annelid head appendages - namely the antennae, palps, buccal lips and cirri - to unravel the evolutionary origin and phylogeny of Annelida. Unfortunately, comparable data for most of the polychaete families are lacking so far, especially when it comes to features of the larval anterior nervous system and the related innervation and potential homology of these head appendages. In this study, we therefore use an integrative morphological approach including immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy in combination with histological serial sections and 3D-visualizations. With special focus on the palp-like appendages, our data provides a closer look into the development of the larval anterior nervous system and the related sensory structures of three polychaete families representing major groups of the annelid tree of life. Hence, we investigate members of the palaeoannelid Magelonidae as well as basally-branching Amphinomidae, and the pleistoannelid Spionidae forming a taxon deeply nested within Sedentaria. Our comparative data of larval and adult neuronal features support the homology of feeding-palps across the annelid tree. Furthermore, our observations show that larval palps gradually transform into the adult ones while keeping a very similar neuronal innervation pattern. Solely for Amphinomidae a loss of larval palps during ontogenesis has to be assumed. Therefore, our investigations uncover important and so far unknown details in terms of structural homology across Annelida and provide important results necessary for our understanding of annelid evolution.Open-Access-Publikationsfonds 202
A Dialogic Model for Telecollaboration
No full textIn language learning contexts, telecollaboration is understood to be internet-based intercultural exchange between people of different cultural/national backgrounds set up in an institutional context with the aim of developing both language skills and intercultural communicative competence. Generally students interact with one another on 'safe' topics and subsequently reflect on and discuss their interactions with teachers and peers. This paper presents a dialogic model of telecollaboration which breaks from this tradition as it entails interaction on topics which are seen as divisive through dialogue in groups led by trained facilitators, the Soliya Connect Program (SCP). The differences between this model of telecollaboration and traditional models are illustrated, and then the author presents the results of a survey study which looks at participants' evaluation of this program, what they perceive to be the role of the facilitators and their personal learning outcomes.Nell'apprendimento linguistico, 'telecollaboration' significa scambio interculturale online tra persone di diverse culture, organizzato a livello istituzionale, con l'obiettivo di sviluppare sia competenze linguistiche che interculturali attraverso attività strutturate. Solitamente, partecipanti discutono su argomenti 'sicuri' e poi riflettono sulle interazioni in classe con il docente. Questo articolo presenta un nuovo modello di telecollaboration, Soliya Connect Program, che si differenzia da questa tradizione in quanto partecipanti discutono argomenti contenziosi sotto la guida di facilitatori esperti. Vengono illustrate le differenze tra questi diversi modelli di telecollaboration e in seguito sono presentati i risultati di uno studio che indaga la valutazione di questo progetto da parte dei partecipanti, il ruolo dei facilitatori e i risultati di apprendimento percepiti dai partecipanti.En contextos de aprendizaje de idiomas, telecolaboración se entiende como el intercambio intercultural, facilitado vía Internet, entre las personas de diferentes orígenes culturales / nacionales. La interacción es construida en un contexto institucional con el objetivo de desarrollar tanto las habilidades lingüísticas como las competencias comunicativas e interculturales. En general, los estudiantes interactúan entre sí sobre temas "seguros" y, posteriormente, reflexionan y discuten sobre sus interacciones con los profesores y compañeros. En este trabajo se presenta un modelo dialógico de telecolaboración que rompe con esta tradición, ya que implica la interacción sobre temas que se consideran de división o conflictivos, a través del diálogo en grupos dirigidos por mediadores capacitados (dentro del Programa Connect Soliya). Se ilustran las diferencias entre este modelo de telecolaboración y los modelos tradicionales. La autora presenta los resultados de un estudio de investigación que analiza la evaluación de los participantes de este programa, como perciben el papel de los mediadores y los resultados personales de aprendizaje
Technology and Language Learning. What the Learners Say
No full textThis paper, based on a plenary talk given at UNAM in Mexico in 2006 gives a brief overview of some recent research reports and surveys on technology and learning, particularly learner attitudes to ICT, including a survey carried out by the author at the University of Padova. It looks at some of the possible implications of research results for the use of technology in language learning, with particular reference to the self access context. Finally, the paper explores some ways in which self access centres can use technology to take into account current social-constructivist approaches to language learning, to foster learner autonomy and meet the needs of students who have to become effective language users in the information and communication society we now live in
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