The role of English language and international media as agents of cultural globalisation and their impact on identity formation in Kuwait

This study examines the influence of English language usage and international media on the strength of either national or global identity. The regression analysis of 354 responses reveals that individuals who studied at universities that use English as a medium of instruction show significant differences in the extent to which they embrace a global identity. Viewing local (Kuwaiti) television programmes and the use of the Internet predict national identity. This study discusses the social entities that are important factors in mitigating the influence of globalisation on national identity. It concludes that the argument that globalisation and Westernisation are two faces of the same coin is overstated.     

Healthcare career intervention with youth in a predominantly Latinx rural community: a pilot study of a creative approach

International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance - The present study discusses a pilot intervention for youth in a predominantly Latinx rural community in the U.S. The intervention...     

A systematic review of research on cheating in online exams from 2010 to 2021

Education and Information Technologies - In recent years, online learning has received more attention than ever before. One of the most challenging aspects of online education is the students'...     

A qualitative analysis of context-aware ubiquitous learning environments using Bluetooth beacons

The use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons is becoming widespread for context-aware learning environments. This technology can be used in indoor and outdoor settings such as museums, shops, home and schools in order to identify the location of learners and their contexts. Specifically, in the constructivist view of learning, learners can use such sensing technology for constructing knowledge and experiencing learning at any time, anywhere. However, exploration of such technology has been limited in the constructivist context-aware ubiquitous learning (U-learning) literature. For this purpose, the authors evaluated two android-based U-learning applications: one was an outdoor learning environment in a garden, the other was about locating books in a library. The applications were implemented and tested with school and university students. The qualitative results are presented in this article, and show how such sensing technology is promising for both pedagogical environments.     

Using Computer Assisted Instruction to Compare the Inventive Model and the Radical Constructivist Approach to Teaching Physics

This paper introduces a new way of evaluating instructional strategies by using computers. Two basic theories, instructivism and constructivism, are discussed and critically evaluated in terms of their effectiveness in conceptual learning. Despite the current popularity of constructivism, the radical form of it is criticized in this paper. The advantages and limitations of these two approaches, especially the radical forms of constructivism, are outlined. After borrowing some ideas from other effective conceptual change models, an integrative model for conceptual learning (the Inventive Model) is introduced. Two versions of multimedia physics software are developed by the authors. The first version is based on the Inventive Model and the second version based on a radical constructivist model. The effectiveness of the Inventive Model was compared with the radical constructivist approach and conventional science instruction. Students' log files were analyzed to investigate the nature and the processes of the conceptual change. A conceptual test and a knowledge test were used to compare the groups. The quantitative results showed the superiority of the Inventive Model over the other models in conceptual learning and the superiority of conventional instruction in learning the basic knowledge. The qualitative analysis showed that only the Inventive Model lead to coherent conceptual learning. It was concluded that the process of conceptual change is gradual and continuous. Analysis of students' log files revealed no moments of dramatic change in students' conceptions.     

Local Lyapunov Exponents and characteristics of fixed／periodic points embedded within a chaotic attractor

A chaotic dynamical system is characterized by a positive averaged exponential separation of two neighboring trajectories over a chaotic attractor. Knowledge of the Largest Lyapunov Exponent λ1 of a dynamical system over a bounded attractor is necessary and sufficient for determining whether it is chaotic (λ1＞0) or not (λ1≤0). We intended in this work to elaborate the connection between Local Lyapunov Exponents and the Largest Lyapunov Exponent where an altemative method to calculate λ1has emerged. Finally, we investigated some characteristics of the fixed points and periodic orbits embedded within a chaotic attractor which led to the conclusion of the existence of chaotic attractors that may not embed in any fixed point or periodic orbit within it.     

Optimization of cultural conditions for thermostable β-1, 3-1, 4-glucanase production byBacillus subtilis ZJF-1A5

The optimization of cultural conditions for β-glucanase production byBacillus subtilis ZJF-1A5 was investigated in flask trials. Temperature had great effect on β-glucanase production which maximized at optimal temperature of 37°C and decreased significantly when temperature was over 37°C. Charge quantity affected β-glucanase production significantly. Adding oxygen vector N-dodecane or acetic ether benefited β-glucanase production, but it depended on the concentration and charge quantity. The results of fractional factorial design showed that age and size of inoculum and shaking speed were the key factors affecting β-glucanase production and the cultivation time span to reach the highest β-glucanase activity. The optimal cultural conditions for β-glucanase production obtained with CCD were as follows: inoculum age and size (16 h, 3.82% (v/v)), shaking speed 210 r/min, charge quantity of 30 mL in 250 mL flask and initial pH 7.0, cultured at 37°C for 50 h. Repeated experimental results accorded with those predicted by a second-order polynomial model. The amount of β-glucanase, α-amylase and neutral protease produced byB subtilis ZJF-1A5 was associated partially with cell growth. Those three enzymes' activities increased following the cell growth and increased significantly when cells entered the stationary phase. Project (No. B0608) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and a grant (2001121B25) from Hangzhou Science and Technology Development Project of Zhejiang Province, China     

Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of combination ofCurcumin fromCurcuma longa, Linn, and partially purified product fromAbroma augusta, Linn. in streptozotocin induced diabetes

Dietary spice components ofCurcuma longa andAbroma augusta have been screened for their protective effect against reactive oxygen species induced lipid peroxidation. They have been found to be efficient antioxidant when administered in combination. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of oral administration (300mg/Kg) of the aqueous extract of turmeric whose active ingredient isCurcumin andAbromine powder as a hypoglycemic agent mixed with diet. The effect of this aqueous extract on blood glucose, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the antioxidant defense system in rat tissues like liver, lung, kidney and brain was studied for 8 weeks in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The administration of an aqueous extract of turmeric and abromine powder resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose and an increase in total haemoglobin. The aqueous extract also resulted in decreased free radical formation in the tissues studied. The decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increase in reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) clearly showed the antioxidant property of the mixture. It is suggested that these changes initially counteract the oxidative stress in diabetes however, a gradual decrease in the antioxidative process may be one of the factors which results in chronic diabetes. These results indicate that the mixture of the two plants have shown antidiabetic activity and also reduced oxidative stress in diabetes. A combination ofAbroma augusta and Curcuma longa also restored the other general parameters in diabetic animals. The results were statistically analyzed and indicated that combination of herbal extracts showed better efficacy as compared to individual herbal plant extracts used.     

The perspective of six Malaysian students on playing video games： Beneficial or detrimental？

This study provides a glimpse into understanding the potential benefits as well as harm of playing video games from the perspective of six Malaysian secondary school students, aged 16-17 years old. The rationale of the study is to enable parents, educators, administrators and policy makers to develop a sound understanding on the impact of playing video games before making any judgment on the contemporary youth culture. Thus, further decision on the acceptance of video games as a new innovation in school or at home could be considered. Although this study is not very extensive, the findings suggest that playing video games contributes to cognitive, social, motivational and emotional development. However, potential harms do exist. Parents play an important role in guiding their children either directly or indirectly, as indicated by the respective students. Caution is advised in the interpretation of the study＇s findings as it is solely based on the perspectives of the students, as the first person＇s views. Nevertheless, each student has their very own perspective on the impact of video games on them.