Cultural Disadvantage Research Articles

Determinantes del entorno familiar en el fomento del hábito lector del alumnado de Educación Primaria

This research is located in the environment of relationships between the family environment and the reading habit, focusing the attention on students of Primary Education and their families. Specifi cally, the aim was analysing how the economic, cultural, labour situation and the family involvement affect the reading habit of children. A quantitative, no experimental, cross-sectional and descriptive design was used in the research, in which information was collected in nine schools from Region de Murcia, taking into consideration a sample of 403 children. The results show higher reading habit in students whose parents have better economic status, superior academic level and greater involvement in the education of their children. Finally, some recommendations were displayed as actions that should be taken from the school perspective in order to try to solve the family, economic and cultural disadvantages of the starting point. These suggestions seek encouraging families to participate directly in the proposed activities by schools, narrowing the gap between the family and school.

A Decision Tree Approach to Estimate the Microalgae Production in Open Raceway Pond

Microalgae are one of the potential biomass to produce biofuel energy. The popular cultivation method of microalgae is using open raceway pond. The open raceway pond is waterway included with paddlewheel. Cultivation microalgae in open raceway pond using water, nutrient, CO2, and maintaining the pH condition. To avoid the contamination from unwanted microalgae, the Algae Biomass and Energy System Research and Development (ABES), University of Tsukuba cultivated the polyculture microalgae to minimize the contamination that make unstable ecosystem in culture. The disadvantages of microalgae culture in open raceway pond is difficult to control the environmental parameter such as temperature and solar radiation. However, the environmental parameter is important in growing microalgae and potential to use as parameter to estimate the growth of microalgae. In This research, we proposed the growth estimation model of microalgae in Open Raceway Pond using the temperature and solar radiation parameter. The growth estimation model developed to estimate the production rate (g/m2/day) using the decision tree model using previous dataset from Minamisoma microalgae pilot plant. The result of this study indicated that decision tree algorithm able to estimate the microalgae production using the temperature and solar irradiance parameter with correlation coefficient 0.89 and RMSE 0.085.

Why have almost all efforts to reduce poverty in sub-Saharan Africa failed?

Although the narratives about Africa is changing dramatically from “a hopeless continent” to “rising Africa”, but the poverty problem becomes even more severe. Despite the decline of poverty rate in Africa from 57% in 1990 to 43% in 2012, the absolute number of poor population in Africa has increased by 1 billion in the last 20 years mainly due to the fast population growth. The poverty in Sub-Sahara Africa can be explained from different dimensions, including historical, demographical, geographical and cultural disadvantage. Some ascribe the African poverty to lack of inclusive institution and western democracy, which is a west-centered perspective. This article recognizes the diversification of each sub-Saharan African country and the risk to generalize the analysis about why efforts for African poverty fail. It divides the efforts to reduce poverty in sub-Saharan African into two periods, in which the driving forces for poverty reduction are different. From the independence of African continent in 1960s until the end of the 20th century, the development aid dominated by the United States and Europe has failed in sub-Saharan Africa. First, due to the unequal status of Western donor countries and African recipient countries, the poverty reduction driven by Western forces has ignored the local adaptability of Western institutions, ideas and experiences in the Sahara region. Second, the dependency on external aid has weakened the governance capacity of African national government and hindered their internal motivation to explore their own development paths. African countries thus failed to find home-grown paths for poverty reduction. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, the poverty in the Sahara region has shown new features that included increase without development, more poverty population, and further aggravated inequality. In the meantime, with the changing global landscape, the driving forces for the poverty reduction effort in Africa are also changing. Besides the traditional aid from the West, the African countries also have increasingly more trade and investment cooperation with emerging economies on the basis of non-interference, equality and mutual benefit. In the meantime, the internal development driver of sub-Saharan countries is also improving. From regional level to country level, sub-Saharan Africa began to cut loose the shackles of Western institutions and experience and start independent exploration for their own development paths. However, the current liberal world economic and political system is still the fundamental factor that restricted Africa to eradicate poverty. Although the new partnership between emerging economies and sub-Saharan Africa provides alternative experience and choice for poverty reduction in the region, but the presence of emerging countries has not fundamentally changed Africa’s periphery position in the current liberal world order and the world system. Moreover, due to the West’s strong voice and capacity for setting international agendas, Africa often faces the dilemma of the primary stage of economic development and high standards of ethics. This might hamper African cooperation with emerging economies in industrial capacity cooperation and technology transfer and further its integration into the global industrial chain.

Christian Cultural Defeatism in the Arts

Abstract The goal of this article is to explore the theology of cultural engagement with focus on the fine arts, and to redress a common misunderstanding, certainly in practice if not in theory as well. Looking at Cornelius Van Til’s engagement with Abraham Kuyper on the noetic effects of the fall and regeneration, I diagnose the cultural problem as one of imbalance: the subjective supervenes on the objective, so to speak, so that cultural spheres themselves succumb to the soteric status of regenerate or unregenerate image bearers. Hans Rookmaaker corroborates this account and helps clarify several ways in which this framework translates aesthetically and undermines Christian witness in the arts, cultural disadvantages caught by William Edgar as well. Borrowing from Rookmaaker, Kuyper, and Edgar, I then propose a repaired theology of culture and the artistic sphere.

Microfluidic device for primary tumor spheroid isolation

BackgroundTraditional two-dimensional (2-D) monolayer cell culture is vastly different from in vivo physiological conditions, which can lead to inaccurate or insufficient data in areas where response and efficacy within humans are being investigated, such as drug discovery, pathology studies, etc. Misleading results arise from two main disadvantages of monolayer cell culture. First, after several passages, cell lines lose many features from their original in vivo state. Second, the morphology of cells cultured in a monolayer is much different from the cell morphology in three-dimensional (3-D) in vivo conditions, thus resulting in altered cellular function. Three-dimensional multi-cellular spheroids, on the other hand, are a better representation of in vivo physiological conditions while still retaining many of the in vitro cell culture advantages. Primary spheroids freshly isolated from tissue samples are especially ideal for cell-based assays by avoiding the two problems of 2-D monolayer cell culture.MethodsIn this paper, we report a microfluidic device for primary tumor spheroid isolation. Pancreatic tumor samples from mice were used in the experiments.ResultsWe successfully isolated primary tumor spheroids from the pancreatic tumor samples and were able to maintain the spheroids in culture for up to two weeks.ConclusionsThis novel microfluidic device may promote and advance the isolation of primary tumor spheroids for future drug testing and interrogation of tumor characteristics.

Examination of images in Australian standardised writing assessments: a case for recognising social and cultural disadvantage

ABSTRACTFrom a socio-cultural perspective, individuals interpret meaning from images depending on multiple factors including life experience, values, attitudes, interests and background. As such, engagement with, preference for and interpretation of images differs amongst viewers. From this premise, it seems unlikely that one visual writing assessment prompt will effectively suit all participants. This paper offers new research into the use of image in large-scale referenced-based narrative writing assessments over a 10-year period in Australia reporting on phase one of a comparative case study. Findings identify changes in prompt design and content each year, with significant changes accompanying the introduction of the National Writing Assessment in 2008. Conclusions drawn from the analysis state that while image is a powerful communicator of meaning, providing visual representations in national assessment plan for literacy and numeracy may privilege some participants over others, and in doing so, impact on student outcomes and contribute to stratifying disadvantage.

Understanding the strategies employed to cope with increased numbers of AIDS-orphaned children in families in rural settings: a case of Mbeya Rural District, Tanzania

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to understand the strategies employed by families that adopt Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-orphaned children (Adoptive families) for coping with and mitigating the impact of AIDS in Mbeya Rural District, Tanzania. High numbers of AIDS-orphaned children aged below 18 years in Mbeya Region have led to increasing the burden of families caring for them. Understanding the coping strategies and impact mitigation activities employed by adoptive families is important in order to develop programmes to help them.MethodsThis study employed a qualitative method for data collection (one-on-one in-depth interviews). The respondents included 12 male and 8 female heads of families that provide essential care for AIDS-orphaned children in Mbeya Rural District in Tanzania. The framework approach was used to analyse the data that were collected from 15 July to 15 August 2010.ResultsThe study findings revealed that adoptive families faced several challenges including financial constraints due to increased needs for basic essentials such as health care expenses, school fees and food. Further impacts on adoptive families included shortage of work opportunities and limited time to address these challenges. To mitigate these challenges, adoptive families employed a range of coping strategies including selling family assets and renting out parts of cultivable land for extra cash. Task reallocation which involved the AIDS-orphaned children entering the labour force was also employed as a strategy to mitigate challenges and involved de-enrolling of children from schools so they could take part in income-generating activities in order to earn supplementary family income. The creation of additional income-generating activities such as poultry farming were other coping mechanisms employed, and these received support from both non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and governmental organisations, including the Isangati Agricultural Development Organization (local NGO) and the local government respectively.ConclusionsThe current study identified challenges that adoptive families as well as the AIDS-orphaned children themselves faced in Mbeya Rural District, Tanzania. Recognition of these issues highlights the need for targeted interventions to address the underlying social determinants of human immunodeficiency virus or HIV and AIDS in affected populations in order to prevent further imposition of social, cultural and economic disadvantages on families that provide care for AIDS-orphaned children and the children themselves. These findings may prove useful in provoking discussions that may lead to HIV/AIDS prevention and the development of broader mitigation strategies to alleviate the impact of this scourge on families and communities in rural Tanzania, and in similar settings across the world.

“School Readiness” and Socio-demographic Variables: The Role of the Cultural Status of the Family on the Prerequisites of Scholastic Learning

“School readiness” comprises the cognitive, social, and behavioral abilities and competences involved in school learning. Environment in which children live and grow influences “school readiness.” Social and cultural disadvantages are some of the main variables that interfere with a positive scholastic adjustment. The main goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between children’s “school readiness” and cultural status of the family. Participants were 456 Italian preschoolers aged 4 and 5 years old. School readiness and some indicators of the cultural status were assessed. Results showed that cultural level and the cultural resources are related to acquiring the basic skills that are the prerequisites of the school learning. In particular, the education of the father and the area (urban area, suburbs or rural) in which child lived influenced the prerequisites of scholastic learning. Children who lived in a village presented higher risk of developing learning difficulties compared to their peers who lived in a town. Emphasizing the role of the cultural background of the family on children’s “school readiness” is important. It might assist in identification children who present low level of the skills that are the prerequisites of the school learning, with adoption of effective measures aimed to favour the increasing of the inadequate skills. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n2p287

The impact of E-Mental Health on prevention and early detection of illness

Our current healthcare system in the United States is characterized by problems with access to timely and evidence-based care, particularly for mental disorders. Telemental health improves access to care regardless of the point-of-service or barriers involved. Its effectiveness across age, population and disorders is as good as in-person care, though adjustments for some populations in the approach is necessary. Early intervention is an example of “Cadillac” care or a best evidence-based approach that is easier to distribute via telemedicine. Cadillac care delivered via TMH has the potential to bring evidence-based early intervention modalities to very young children and their families. However, early access to care is also critical for all populations, particularly those with cultural or medical disadvantages. It appears that telemental health may be preferable or better than in-person care in some instances.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Expansion in Contact with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in a Hanging Drop Model Uncovers Disadvantages of 3D Culture.

Efficient ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells with a concomitant preservation of stemness and self-renewal potential is still an unresolved ambition. Increased numbers of methods approaching this issue using three-dimensional (3D) cultures were reported. Here, we describe a simplified 3D hanging drop model for the coculture of cord blood-derived CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). When seeded as a mixed cell suspension, MSCs segregated into tight spheroids. Despite the high expression of niche-specific extracellular matrix components by spheroid-forming MSCs, HSPCs did not migrate into the spheroids in the initial phase of coculture, indicating strong homotypic interactions of MSCs. After one week, however, HSPC attachment increased considerably, leading to spheroid collapse as demonstrated by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence staining. In terms of HSPC proliferation, the conventional 2D coculture system was superior to the hanging drop model. Furthermore, expansion of primitive hematopoietic progenitors was more favored in 2D than in 3D, as analyzed in colony-forming assays. Conclusively, our data demonstrate that MSCs, when arranged with a spread (monolayer) shape, exhibit better HSPC supportive qualities than spheroid-forming MSCs. Therefore, 3D systems are not necessarily superior to traditional 2D culture in this regard.

Maori and Pacific Islander overrepresentation in the Australian criminal justice system—what are the determinants?

ABSTRACTMaori and Pacific Islanders are heavily overrepresented in the Australian criminal justice system. Despite these circumstances, little is known about the risk factors uniquely underpinning their involvement in criminal behavior. A review of the literature discovered that acculturation stressors, widespread educational disengagement, family and cultural disintegration, job insecurity, economic disadvantage, and social service inaccessibility were prevalent issues among both young Maori and Pacific Islander offenders and their communities. The findings signal the need for culturally tailored interventions that divert young Maori and Pacific Islanders from law-breaking behaviors while reconnecting them with family, culture, education, employment, and prosocial activities. Local efforts to address this significant gap in service delivery have been made and are discussed within.

Cognitive Obstacles to Pro-Vaccination Beliefs

Two frameworks--cultural attraction theory and epistemic vigilance--predict a cultural disadvantage for counter-intuitive beliefs. We review several cognitive mechanisms that conspire to render pro-vaccination beliefs counter-intuitive. Trust and argumentation can spread counter-intuitive beliefs, but only under some conditions. We discuss the hurdles that trust and argumentation face in the case of vaccination.

Research on evaluation of enterprise project culture based on Denison model

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to build enterprise project culture evaluation model and search for the best evaluation method for Chinese enterprise project culture on the basis of studying and drawing lessons from enterprise culture evaluation theory and method at home and abroad. Design/methodology/approach: Referring to the Denison enterprise culture evaluation model, this paper optimizes it according to the difference of enterprise project culture, designs the enterprise project culture evaluation model and proves the practicability of the model through empirical. Finding: This paper finds that it`s more applicable to use the Denison model for enterprise project culture evaluation through the comparative analysis of domestic and foreign enterprise culture evaluation theory and method, the systematic project culture management framework of Chinese enterprises has not yet formed through empirical research, and four factors in enterprise project culture have important influence on project operation performance improvement. Research limitations/implications: The research on evaluation of enterprise project culture based on Denison model is a preliminary attempt, the design of evaluation index system, evaluation model and scale structure also need to be improved, but the thinking of this paper in this field provides a valuable reference for future research. Practical Implications: This paper provides the support of theory and practice for evaluating the present situation of enterprise project culture construction and analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of project culture, which contributes to the dialectical therapy of enterprise project management, enterprise management and enterprise project culture construction. Originality/value: The main contribution of this paper is the introduction of Denison enterprise culture model. Combining with the actual situation of enterprises, this paper also builds the evaluation model for enterprise project culture, which is helpful to promote the construction and development of Chinese enterprise project culture.

Invisible Violence: "Media (Re)Production of Gender Inequality in Italy

Compared to other European countries, opportunities are limited for Italian women to fully and equally participate in Italian social life. In order to better understand Italian women’s social position and the gender inequality that persists in Italy, this research applies Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of symbolic violence. Specifically, symbolic violence is used to explain depictions of women the Italian media. Because social institutions such as the media, that reach large audiences, have the ability to transmit dominant cultural representations, they also transmit representations of the roles of masculinity and femininity. This ability permits media outlets to depict images of the gendered status quo. These representations and depictions often reinforce gender domination in the form of promoting and reifying gender inequality. This research therefore illustrates how the Italian media misrepresent and stereotype women in television and news by limiting their social roles and status in these outlets, a form of symbolic violence. These limited social roles are also seen in Italy’s social reality where women are less likely to be represented in different spheres of social life, like politics. These persistent and prevalent stereotypes and images in the Italian media reify the economic, social, and cultural disadvantage of women in Italy that contribute to continued masculine dominations in all spheres of social life. The implications of symbolic violence in the Italian media and media in general are then discussed.

Exploring the importance of cultural collectivism on the efficacy of lean practices

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to assess the influence of cultural collectivism on the efficacy of lean practices. Furthermore, this study assesses whether or not potential cultural disadvantages related to the level of individualism at the national level can be compensated for at the organisational culture level.Design/methodology/approach– Hofstede’s cultural dimension of individualism is used to test whether practicing a collectivistic culture at the organisational level can fully compensate for the potential disadvantages of being geographically situated in an individualistic culture when practicing lean manufacturing.Findings– Results suggest that cultural collectivism at the national and organisational level have a significant impact on the efficacy of lean practices. Furthermore, the negative impact of being situated in an individualistic country cannot be fully compensated for through practicing a collectivistic organisational culture when practicing lean.Originality/value– This study represents a comprehensive attempt to simultaneously assess the collectivism cultural components of lean practices at the national as well as at the organisational level.

Using Reflexive Agency to Explore Students’ Access to Online Learning Resources in Resource Constrained Learning Environments

The discourse on student access to learning resources in resource-poor African environments is often steeped in the digital divide, which reinforces technological determinism. However, at historically privileged South African universities where institutionally-sanctioned networks and learning environments mediate universal on-campus access to technologies, the digital divide insufficiently accounts for variations in student access to networked resources. The persistent information asymmetries cannot be explained diametrically in terms of digital natives and digital stranger arguments. This paper employs Archer’s construction of agency as an interpretive lens for understanding how students in resource-poor contexts appropriate existing technologies, enact new practices and renegotiate access to deal with inequitable technology provision. Findings suggest that albeit strategic but complex choices that students make regarding access to educational resources, historically-induced cultural imbalances, socio-economic disadvantage and gender asymmetries continue to implicate student access to these resources. Students tended to switch strategically to mobile access when access to resources via walk-in labs proved to be a challenge. Moreover, student levels of study and gender played a moderating role in their access to educational technologies. The study recommends context-driven, social practice informed approaches to the deployment of technologies in resource-constrained environments to address challenges of accessing educational resources. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p1147

Regional cultures and health outcomes: Implications for performance measurement, public health and policy

The U.S. Medicare program now ties payment to health care providers based on their patients’ outcomes. This change comes as compilations of data on geographic variations in health outcomes and quality of care indicate patterns that appear to be deeply ingrained. This study explores whether cultural characteristics correlate with health outcomes such that quality indicators may be measuring something other than quality of care, and whether regional subcultures have a significant impact on public health. It concludes that two cultural dimensions, social capital and traditional/rational-secularism, which explain a sufficient proportion of outcome variations to cast doubt as to whether outcome measures capture provider quality. Correlations are explored between American regional subcultures identified by Joel Lieske and the variation in health outcomes. In a multidimensional analysis of Lieske's typology, results indicate that certain U.S. subpopulations have cultural advantages or disadvantages relating to health.

Critical reflections on youth and equality in the rural context

The last two decades have seen a significant growth of research studies concerned with young people living in rural places with a strong focus on social and economic inequalities. In these studies, equality has become a key organising principle in understanding young people's lives in settings that offer continuous social, economic, and cultural disadvantages. Drawing on a qualitative research study in a rural school in Victoria, Australia, this paper seeks to examine the ways in which young people make sense of and negotiate the challenges they encounter in their communities and in their post-secondary school transitions through two dominant discourses of equality: liberal egalitarianism and neoliberalism. These competing discourses conceptualise equality and approaches to addressing disadvantage differently. The former places the emphasis on a social approach underpinned by the idea of equality of opportunity, while the latter focuses on an individualised approach based on the notion of merit. I draw on a radical egalitarian critique by Iris Marion Young to reveal limitations from both positions and to show that adopting an individualised approach rather than a social one has significant implications for the way youth and institutions frame not only post-secondary school transitions and rural disadvantage but inequality as a whole.

Technological Innovation in Herbs Planting at a Planting Research Institute in Malaysia

This study seeks to explore the method of herbs planting using technological innovation by a forest research institute in Malaysia from two dimensions namely knowledge and process of learning. This study also intends to explore the advantages and disadvantages of tissue culture. In order to achieve this goal, empirical evidence for the study was derived from a field visit at a research institute in Malaysia. The main findings from the study showed a clear definition, methods and process of tissue culture and its advanced technology using RITA System and Bioreactor Technology in herbs planting.

Inclusive education and intellectual disability: a sociological engagement with Martha Nussbaum

As a result of exclusionary tactics, social, cultural or economic disadvantage or disability, vast numbers of pupils have poor educational experiences and are either marginalised or demonised due to ‘difficult differences’. In the context of Martha Nussbaum's capabilities approach, where she suggests that we ought to be who we want to be, this paper addresses intellectual disability, inclusion and inclusive education. It proposes that care, compassion, creativity and ethics are critical in understanding the education for all children and young people, rather than necessarily pedagogical process. In addition, it suggests that learning should take place within and through relationships and that these relationships are important in developing a healthy sense of self. Therefore politically, rather than following a path of blame whether it is the dysfunctional family, the deficit child or the economically deprived nation, this paper says that we require socially just practices, compassion and care as fundamental to human development, social inclusion and inclusive education. Ultimately, education is failing a large sum of children and young people and therefore needs to be radically reconsidered.