Direction In Regard Research Articles

Manifestations of Academic Untouchability in India: Exclusionary Practices that Subvert Reservations in Admissions in Higher Education

The notions of ritual purity and pollution hierarchically grades people according to their castes, and this hierarchy is socially expressed in terms of unequal rights to space, and the idea of ‘untouchability’ is socially realized either in terms of a complete denial or the most inferior participation. As a corrective measure of the historical injustices to certain sections of the society, the state and union governments in India have enacted reservation policies in education and employment. Nevertheless, the administrators of several institutions show reluctance in implementing reservations in letter and spirit, despite the fact that the University Grants Commission has emphasized about proper implementation of reservations at various points in time. The demand for proper implementation of Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, subsequently amended in 2012, in Pondicherry University exposes how an ambiguity inherent in the act’s amended version has been used to justify the systematic exclusion of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe doctoral aspirants in several departments of the university. Based on interactions with the university administration, the essay attempts to understand the politics behind the method of implementing reservations in admissions in higher education. It emphasizes that the bodies governing higher education should provide proper directions in regard to the implementation of the act. It further calls for the establishment of administrative mechanisms, directly under the apex regulatory bodies, to oversee implementation of reservation policies in all the government educational institutions.

Use of Machine Learning in Stock Market Prediction

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine and determine future directions in regard to future machine learning techniques based on the review of the current literature.
 Methodology: A systematic review has been used to review the current trends from the peer-reviewed journal articles in the past twenty years. For this study, four categories have been categorized, the use of neural networks, support vector machines, the use of a genetic algorithm, and the combination of hybrid techniques. Studies in each of these categorize have been evaluated.
 Finding: Firstly, there is a strong link between machine learning methods and the prediction problems they are associated with. The second conclusion that we can conclude from this review is that past studies need to improve its generalizability results. Most of the studies that have been reviewed in this analysis has only used the machine learning systems through the use of one market or during only a one time period without taking into consideration whether the system would be adaptable in other situations and conditions. Limitations, future trends, as well as policy implications have been defined.

Yemeni EFL Learners’ Future Self-Images and Their Relationship to The English Language Proficiency: التصورات الذاتية المستقبلية لدى طلبة اللغة الانجليزية اليمنيين وعلاقتها بالكفاءة في اللغة الإنجليزية

This exploratory correlational study addresses the issue of Yemeni EFL Learners’ Future Self-images, Ideal Self-images and Ought-to Self-image and their relationship to the English language proficiency, mainly, speaking and writing --fourth level students, Department of English Sana’a University of the academic year of 2017-2018. It also aims at exploring which of the two Future Self-images addressed is more evident amongst Yemeni EFL learners. In addition, the study attempts to ascertain the role of gender on Future Self-images. Data gathering instruments were all set and validated for the purpose of the study; which were Future Self-images questionnaire (12 Ideal Self-image items & 12 Ought-to Self-image items), English proficiency (speaking & and writing) tests and two Scoring Scales. Fifty two Students (12 males and 40 females (the sample) took both the Future Self-images questionnaire and the English proficiency tests in the academic year 2017-2018. and two Data gathering instruments were all set and validated for the purpose of the study; which were Future Self-images questionnaire (12 Ideal Self-image items & 12 Ought-to Self-image items), English proficiency (speaking & and writing) tests and two Scoring Scales. Fifty two Students (12 males and 40 females (the sample) took both the Future Self-images questionnaire and the English proficiency tests in the academic year 2017-2018. Descriptive analyses— frequencies, and, t-test for independent groups, and Pearson-product moment correlation— were utilized to analyze the data. Results show that Yemeni EFL students have higher Ought-to Self-image mean scores (3.6) than Ideal Self-image mean scores (3.04) Further, each of the two Future Self-images, Ideal Self-image and Ought-to Self-image has a bipolar direction in regard to male and female students. While, female students have higher mean Ideal Self-image scores (2.6) toward learning English, their counterpart male students have higher mean Ought-to Self-image scores (3.15). Furthermore results revealed a significant and strong relationship between Yemeni EFL learners’ ---Ideal Self-images—Ought-to Self-image-- and speaking and writing proficiency respectively and uniquely. This article ends with some recommendations and suggestions for future research.

Necessary and sufficient conditions for reaching and maintaining critical state

SummaryAccording to classical critical state theory (CST) of granular mechanics, two analytical conditions on the ratio of stress invariants and the void ratio are postulated to be necessary and sufficient for reaching and maintaining critical state (CS). The present work investigates the sufficiency of these two conditions based on the results of a virtual three‐dimensional discrete element method experiment, which imposes continuous rotation of the principal axes of stress with fixed stress principal values at CS. Even though the fixity of the stress principal values satisfies the two analytical CST conditions at the initiation of rotation, contraction and abandonment of CS occur, which proves that these conditions may be necessary but are not sufficient to maintain CS. But if fixity of stress and strain rate directions in regard to the sample is considered at CS, the two analytical conditions of CST remain both necessary and sufficient. The recently proposed anisotropic critical state theory (ACST) turned this qualitative requirement of fixity into an analytical condition related to the CS value of a fabric anisotropy variable A defined in terms of an evolving fabric tensor and the plastic strain rate direction, thus, enhancing the two CST conditions by a third. In this way, the three analytical conditions of ACST become both necessary and sufficient for reaching and maintaining CS. In addition, the use of A explains the observed results by relating the stress‐strain response, in particular the dilatancy, to the evolution of fabric by means of the relevant equations of ACST.

Jadal and Qiyās in the Fifth/Eleventh Century


 
 
 In an exchange preserved in al-Subkī’s (d . 771/1370) Ṭabaqāt al-shāfiʿiyya, the jurists al-Juwaynī (d . 478/1085) and al-Shīrāzī (d . 476/1083) debate equating prayer time to prayer direction in regard to the validity of prayer, and the adult virgin to the adult nonvirgin in regard to consent . While the dispute between the two scholars is on seemingly innocuous legal issues, it reveals that despite adherence to the same Shāfiʿī legal school, the two hold contrasting positions on the specifics of analogical reasoning (qiyās) . By examining the differences in their doctrines on qiyās and their approaches to dialectics (jadal), this article demonstrates that al-Juwaynī is more willing to use qiyās, especially its weaker forms, and make nontextual legal arguments, while al-Shīrāzī is more wary in his use of qiyās, leading him to reject its weaker forms and nontextual arguments . By tracing the differences in their qiyās doctrines through their works on jadal and exploring the differing dialectics used in the two debates, this article examines the connection between qiyās and jadal, intra-school jadal, and the various approaches to qiyās in the fifth/eleventh century .
 
 

A probit model approach to know the effect of Arogyasri scheme, NHM indicator and knowledge of new borne care on utilization of PHCs, Hanwada mandalam, Telangana

Background: The utilization of primary health care centre have prime importance in a country like India where most people lived in rural, allocation of budget is according to the disease situation is most likely in the country Therefor the study like this give policy makers, public health planner a direction in regard to proper utilization of fund. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from the 1st Feb to 28th Feb 2017. A simple random technique was used with a sample size 210 (169+41 (Health worker)). Analysis done using SPSS version 24. The descriptive statistics in percentages, probit method was used to identify the utilization of primary health care services.Results: There are total 56.20% of male participant while female participant constituted 43.80% and after using probit regression model it is found that the indicators like -access to skilled obstetric care (0.002), access to skilled birth attendance (0.0013), institutional delivery service facility (0.0001), access to comprehensive abortion care (0.0015), essential newborn care and referral (0.0025) and demographic variable like age, income, out of pocket expenditure, female respondent*health worker knowledge, income*cost of medical care have significant impact on utilization of PHC also in selection of hospital under Aarogyasri 15-29 age group, male respondent, illiterate, literate and income more than 5000 have significant impact. Conclusions: The primary health care centre services have a high impact in reducing the disease burden in rural area like Hanwada, So if there is an improvement in some of the basic services it can greatly impact in overall utilization rate.

Transition from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic state of laser textured stainless steel surface and its effect on corrosion resistance

This work investigates the evolution from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic surface state on corrosion behaviour of SS316L produced by Nd:YAG nanosecond direct laser texturing (DLT). Results confirm perfect correlation among wettability and corrosion, hence superhydrophobic surface with a contact angle of 168±3.0° reflects in enhanced passivity, lower anodic dissolution and corrosion current reduction. Characterization of the corrosion attack by 3D microscopy reveals high sensitivity of superhydrophilic surfaces on corrosion propagation direction in regard to the laser beam passage (90°/0°). However, this trend completely diminishes with superhydrophobic development. Further, DLT also completely prohibits intergranular corrosion detected with the non-processed sample.

Formulation of Anisotropic Strength Criteria for Cohesionless Granular Materials

AbstractGranular materials deposited under gravity usually exhibit inherent fabric anisotropy, which leads to profoundly varying strength under different loading directions in regard to the bedding...

Scoring Analysis of the 2015 World Wrestling Championships

ABSTRACTThe videos of all matches from the 2015 Senior World Championships were analyzed for scoring and technique. The world championship in a pre-Olympic year, is also the first opportunity for the athletes to qualify the weight class (attained by finishing in the top 6) for their country for the Olympic Games. Countries and qualified weight classes are presented. Attack efficacy, represented by points scored per minute, is presented for the style as a whole, for the top countries and for the weight class champions. The technical structure of the champions, with scoring by type of technique, is also presented. This was done for all three styles-Men’s Freestyle, Women’s Freestyle and Greco-Roman. All three styles moved in a positive direction in regard to increased activity and scoring as a result of the most recent rules changes. However, Greco-Roman must explore ways to make larger strides in the variety of scoring, especially techniques from the standing position.

Childhood Stress in Healthcare Settings: Awareness and Suggested Interventions

Pivotal to healthy adulthood is a supportive and nurturing environment that enables successful progression through the developmental tasks of childhood and adolescence. For many children there are events that disrupt this development. Illness, injury, painful medical interventions, and hospitalization have been reported by children and families as causing medical trauma and psychological stress. Frequently pediatric health professionals focus primarily on achieving positive physical treatment outcomes. Creating an environment that will support the developmental tasks of childhood and limit the trauma and distress associated with illness and treatment is also required. Strategies and practices to deliver holistic and comprehensive pediatric care are well established in many Western settings. Opportunity exists to broaden the focus of pediatric care in developing healthcare systems such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to encompass psychological well-being. The study focused on two key objectives, firstly to assess healthcare professionals’ awareness of the stressful and potentially traumatic nature of healthcare settings and treatment for children. Second the study explored the views of healthcare participants regarding possible strategies to minimize medically induced stress and trauma for children and adolescents in UAE healthcare settings. The study utilized a mixed methods design in which participants views were examined through administration of a survey comprised of close-ended questions that were analyzed quantitatively and open-ended questions analyzed qualitatively. One hundred and seventeen healthcare professionals from a range of disciplines in two government hospitals completed the survey. Data revealed that one third of the participating healthcare professionals were unaware of or did not think that their healthcare settings could provoke stress for pediatric patients. Respondents suggested three main strategies to minimize stress for children and parents while receiving treatments, specifically; providing focused information for both children and healthcare providers, adapting the environment and systems to fit children’s needs, and, improving the interpersonal skills and attitudes of healthcare professionals. The findings from this study could inform the development of standards for pediatric services and policy directions in regard to post-graduate training for health professionals working in pediatric healthcare settings.

Our Policy Directions in Regard to Renewable Energy

Our Policy Directions in Regard to Renewable Energy

Development of the Learning Analytics Dashboard to Support Students' Learning Performance

The Learning Analytics Dashboard (LAD) is an application to show students' online behavior patterns in a virtual learning environment. This supporting tool works by tracking students' log-files, mining massive amounts of data to find meaning, and visualizing the results so they can be comprehended at a glance. This paper reviews previously developed applications to analyze their features. Based on the implications from the review of previous studies as well as a preliminary investigation on the need for such tools, an early version of the LAD was designed and developed. Also, in order to improve the LAD, a usability test incorporating a stimulus recall interview was conducted with 38 college students in two blended learning classes. Evaluation of this tool was performed in an experimental research setting with a control group and additional surveys were conducted asking students' about perceived usefulness, conformity, level of understanding of graphs, and their behavioral changes. The results indicated that this newly developed learning analytics tool did not significantly impact on their learning achievement. However, lessons learned from the usability and pilot tests support that visualized information impacts on students' understanding level; and the overall satisfaction with dashboard plays as a covariant that impacts on both the degree of understanding and students' perceived change of behavior. Taking in the results of the tests and students' open- ended responses, a scaffolding strategy to help them understand the meaning of the information displayed was included in each sub section of the dashboard. Finally, this paper discusses future directions in regard to improving LAD so that it better supports students' learning performance, which might be helpful for those who develop learning analytics applications for students.

Solar Power Opportunities in Northern Cities (Case Study of Saint-Petersburg)

With the purpose to ensure extra solar power for buildings and improve quality of urban environment solar power has appeared to be sought-after in the majority of southern countries. In the case of the Northwest Region of Russia estimation of existing regional power reserves for construction sector is the fundamental factor when an issue of achieving possible ways to supply buildings with solar-based power is considered. The article deals with the methods and calculations made to obtain the data on solar radiation effects on sloping surfaces oriented in different cardinal directions in regard to Saint-Petersburg weather-related conditions. Electric power generation using solar photovoltaic modules (PV modules) has been defined under actual operating conditions.

Compressive properties of lotus-type porous iron

Lotus-type porous materials exhibit some unique anisotropic mechanical and thermal properties which are very useful for a number of industrial applications. This paper evaluates several computational models for determining the compressive engineering elastic modulus and engineering yield stress of lotus-type iron in transversal and longitudinal direction in regard to pore orientation with parametric nonlinear finite element computational simulations for porosities ranging from 0 to 0.65. The considered pore topologies of evaluated computational models are either regular (indirectly reconstructed) or irregular (directly reconstructed). Comparison of computational results, experimental tests and analytical estimations shows good correlation of some evaluated computational models. The simplified porous model with π/4 rotated aligned regular pores can be recommended for fast computational estimation of lotus-type material behaviour under mechanical loading, when some material parameters for homogenised lotus-type material modelling have to be determined.

Creating a “values” chain for sustainable development in developing nations: where Maslow meets Porter

This paper serves to establish an appropriate framework for prioritizing policy related to sustainable development by combining elements of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory with Porter’s value chain theory. An appropriate balance of social sustainability, economic sustainability, and environmental sustainability is defined so that policy makers may be provided some direction in regard to appropriate and socially just resource priorities. The model that forms the basis for this framework is then tested through hierarchal regression analysis using data from 45 developing countries. Using these results, the values chain framework has been refined to consider that self-actualization and sustainable development are one and the same and that the satisfaction of society’s physiological needs through the prioritization of policies related to environmental sustainability is the principle motivator for moving on to the attainment of higher-order needs such as increased levels of sustainable development.

소실점을 이용한 Depth-map 생성에 관한 연구

증강현실에서 다양한 미디어의 결합으로 보다 향상된 현실감 있는 멀티미디어 데이터가 요구되고 있다. 기존의 미디어 정보에 텍스트 및 음성과 비디오 등 다양한 미디어를 결합한 멀티미디어 정보에 대한 첨단 기술이 미디어 산업 전반에 주도적인 위치를 점하고 있다. 특히 인터넷에서의 다양한 의사전달 수단 및 시각화에 대한 관심과 가상공간에서의 의사 표현을 위한 실시간 상호작용 시스템 구축 및 3차원 콘텐츠, 증강현실 기술에 대한 서비스 요구가 증가되고 있다. 이러한 서비스들은 기존 콘텐츠에서 입체감 형성을 위한 3차원 공간구조의 복원에 필요한 깊이 값 생성에 어려움이 있다. 그러므로 2차원 영상을 이용하여 효율적인 Depth-map 생성에 관한 연구가 필요하다. 본 논문에서는 2차원 영상을 이용하여 3차원 공간구조 복원에 필요한 Depth-map 생성기법의 단점을 보완하여, 기존 알고리즘에서 정의 되지 않은 영상 내 소실점 위치에 따른 갚아 방향의 정의를 통한 개선된 Depth-map 생성 기법을 제안하였다. Recent augmentation reality demands more realistic multimedia data with the mixture of various media. High-technology for multimedia data which combines existing media data with various media such as audio and video dominates entire media industries. In particular, there is a growing need to serve augmentation reality, 3-dimensional contents and realtime interaction system development which are communication method and visualization tool in Internet. The existing services do not correspond to generate depth value for 3-dimensional space structure recovery which is to form solidity in existing contents. Therefore, it requires research for effective depth-map generation using 2-dimensional video. Complementing shortcomings of existing depth-map generation method using 2-dimensional video, this paper proposes an enhanced depth-map generation method that defines the depth direction in regard to loss location in a video in which none of existing algorithms has defined.

An assessment of convention tourism's potential contribution to environmentally sustainable growth

The tourism literature contains substantial discussions on how increasing numbers of attendees and conventions at a destination contributes to the local economy, but there is limited research on the environmental impact of the concomitant increases in air and other travel, and other activity increases in energy and other resource use. This research assesses the current environmental position of the convention industry in the United States and formulates suggestions for future direction in regard to “green” concepts by examining and comparing the perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of three groups of convention stakeholders: convention attendees, meeting planners, and convention suppliers. This empirical study recognizes the critical problem of inadequate understanding of the environmental impact of convention activities and the lack of knowledge regarding ecological convention practices. It shows that the perception of environmental impact among the three groups varies depending on which environmentally friendly practices are available to each group. It discusses the background to – and the implications of – the emotional formation of decisions and self-motivation based on positive attitudes and the strong intention to adopt green management practices agreed to by convention stakeholders.

Aboriginal Students and the Delivery of Citizenship Education

Aboriginal people, one of Canada’s most significant ethnic groups in regard to population and growth, are in crisis. This crisis can be characterized as one of social positioning where conditions of poverty, lack of opportunity, and other elements of marginalization are symptoms. Aboriginals and non-Aboriginal scholars have engaged in numerous discussions regarding what can be described as a struggle for a state of dignity in Canada. Citizenship education, an aspect of contemporary schooling that embraces such notions as equality, tolerance, and social justice, is reputed to provide some direction in regard to how all Canadians can develop and prosper regardless of ethnic or cultural background. This article will explore citizenship education and its possible implications for Aboriginal students in Canada. Aboriginal people, one of Canada’s most significant ethnic groups in regard to population and growth, are in crisis. This crisis can be characterized as one of social positioning where conditions of poverty, lack of opportunity, and other elements of marginalization are symptoms. Aboriginals and non-Aboriginal scholars have engaged in numerous discussions regarding what can be described as a struggle for a state of dignity in Canada. Citizenship education, an aspect of contemporary schooling that embraces such notions as equality, tolerance, and social justice, is reputed to provide some direction in regard to how all Canadians can develop and prosper regardless of ethnic or cultural background. This article will explore citizenship education and its possible implications for Aboriginal students in Canada.

Stories, Pictures, and Reality: Two Children Tell (review)

Reviewed by: Stories, Pictures, and Reality: Two Children Tell Adriana L. Medina (bio) Stories, Pictures, and Reality: Two Children Tell. By Virginia Lowe. New York: Routledge, 2007. Stories, Pictures, and Reality: Two Children Tell is written by an Australian parent-observer who studied her own two children’s reactions to books, from birth to age eight, in an attempt to chronicle the point in development at which children’s responses to books indicate their understanding of the reality status of stories. The childrsen, Rebecca and Ralph, were born three years and two months apart (December 1971 and February 1975, respectfully) into what Lowe describes as “a bookish, middle-class, educated home, with devoted parents who were committed book people” (13). Both parents were librarians, and thus books were common items in the home. Her children’s reading journey was the basis for Lowe’s doctoral dissertation, begun at the time that when Ralph was eighteen years old, and for this book, which was completed fourteen years later. Criticisms of this study are anticipated by Lowe and addressed in the first chapter. The reader is asked to trust that Lowe accurately captured and attributed the correct meaning (since a recorder was not used and she was usually the only observer of the events) to what the children said and did before, during, or after books were read to them. For the most part, this assumption is easily made by the reader; however, there are occasions to question Lowe’s interpretations and points where the reader wonders what the children must have thought or meant by their words and actions. In the afterword Rebecca, thirty-six years old at the time of the book’s publication, recalls a couple of events from her perspective and provides an interpretation of those events that differs from her mother’s. Four published studies by parent-observers related to children’s book encounters are used as comparisons throughout the book. In some cases, these other studies buttress Lowe’s interpretations, but more often than not they are stand in contrast and illustrate the uniqueness of Lowe’s study. Lowe’s study is distinct in that one of her subjects is a male, she chronicles both siblings’ responses to literature, and their exposure to books is from birth. Since there were minimal verbal responses from the children from birth to age two, Lowe documents behaviors and interprets what she believes the infants were thinking based on their [End Page 331] behavior and her motherly expertise (developed through interaction with and constant observation of her children). She believes that before the age of two, children have the beginnings of an understanding the reality status of stories. She stresses that children’s abilities and understanding during this age should not be underestimated. Overall, Lowe examines how children understand illustrations, the illustrator, the author, and the characters in stories. In reference to what is real and what is pretend, the author surmises that children do experience difficulty in expressing the difference between the two but not necessarily in distinguishing the difference. To demonstrate that children can grasp the concepts of reality, especially when given the words and an adult to mediate the differences, Lowe offers many convincing dialogical examples of how her two children tried to reconcile what they read to what they knew. Throughout the book, theories of cognitive psychology are offered as explanation and support for the themes identified by Lowe. Most chapters open with a brief overview of cognitive theory as it relates to the chapter’s focus. There are instances, however, where Lowe provides examples that challenge theories of child cognitive psychology. All references are provided as well as a bibliography of the children’s books to which her two children were exposed, many of which may be familiar to Australian readers. In reference to illustrations in books and how they relate to reality, Lowe’s examples focus on picture conventions such as perspective, missing parts, direction of regard, and point of view. She surmises that the children’s knowledge of the world (experiential knowledge or knowledge acquired through other books or by discussion with adults or adult explanation) influenced how the children related the pictures...

Recovering the proceeds of corruption

PurposeUntil very recently there was little real concern in governments and inter‐governmental organisations to address the problems and issues of corruption in the context of sustainable development and stability. This article aims to focus on the present situation with regard to asset recovery in the domestic and international arena.Design/methodology/approachThe article takes the form of an analysis and discussion of the present situation.FindingsThe new United Nations Convention on Corruption represents a significant achievement in the on going fight against those who seek to corrupt societies. It does not and cannot provide a panacea. There are numerous compromises, fudges and lacuna. However, it does point in the right direction in regard to many issues and provide a vehicle for those pursuing the fight against corruption.Originality/valueThe article provides some pointers for the interdiction and recovery of the proceeds of corruption.