Šeimų kalbų politika: latvių kalbos kaip paveldėtosios išlaikymas diasporoje

This article explores the concept of family language policy in relation to child agency and parents’ discourse strategies in the context of the Latvian diaspora. Research is based on four interviews with parents from three countries: the United Kingdom, Norway and Greece. Respondents were recruited through Saturday/Sunday schools in the diaspora, addressing Latvian speakers who work there or whose children attend these schools. Both parents of all four families analysed in this study use Latvian at home. Data were collected using the Zoom platform during spring 2023 and are part of a larger study about family language policies in the diaspora. Currently, data are also gathered using methods such as audio recordings of interactions between parents and children and online classroom observations in Latvian (Saturday) schools. The main research questions for this article are: which language ideologies underlie language practices (language choices) at home involving parents and children, and which parental discourse strategies are used in families with regard to the multilingual language practices of their children.Straipsnyje analizuojama dabartinės Latvijos diasporos šeimų kalbų politika. Siekiama nustatyti, kokios kalbinės ideologijos lemia kalbines praktikas namie, tėvų ir vaikų kalbų pasirinkimus, kokias diskurso strategijas taiko tėvai augindami dvikalbius vaikus. Naudota giluminių interviu su keturiomis latvėmis motinomis medžiaga, rinkta 2023 m. sausio–kovo mėnesiais. Informantės gyvena Jungtinėje Karalystėje (dvi šeimos), Norvegijoje (viena šeima) ir Graikijoje (viena šeima). Straipsnis yra platesnio tiriamojo projekto „Letonika“ (2022–2024) dalis. Duomenų analizė rodo, kad paveldėtosios kalbos perdavimo vaikams sėkmė labai priklauso nuo tėvų įsitikinimo, kiek jie gali veikti kalbinį vaikų elgesį, taip pat nuo vaikų noro bendradarbiauti. Be to, daug lemia konkrečios tėvų taikomos pokalbių strategijos bendraujant su vaikais, t. y. kiek tame pačiame pokalbyje laikomasi vieno kodo, kiek sugebama į tai kreipti vaikus. Analizė atskleidė, kad vaikų kalbinė raida, konkrečiau – kalbiniai jų sutrikimai gali turėti labai neigiamą poveikį kalbinėms tėvų praktikoms, perkeisti kalbines jų nuostatas, mažinti tėvų įsitikinimą, kad jie gali aktyviai prisidėti prie savo vaikų dvikalbystės su paveldėtąja kalba. Skirtingos tėvų ir vaikų kalbinės praktikos (pvz., vienos ar kitos kalbos pasirinkimas arba kodų kaita bendraujant), vyraujančios šeimose kasdienybėje, formuoja ir plečia jų kalbų politiką. Šie sudėtingi įsitikinimų, kalbų vadybos, komunikacijos modeliai ir jų sampynos reikalauja daugiau ir išsamesnio mokslinio dėmesio. Drauge paskirų šeimų kalbų politika siejasi ir yra veikiama vietos bendruomenės praktikų (pvz., mokykloje, darbe), turimų ir išreiškiamų nuostatų, taip pat nacionalinio socialinio diskurso bei šalies kalbų politikos. Kadangi kiekviena šeima yra savita sudėtinga sistema, svarbus ir individualus dėmesys kiekvienam atvejui

‘Difficulties when learning, easiness when fighting’: Why do families in Latvia choose (pre)schools with a language of instruction other than their L1?

Aims and objectives: Language debates in Latvia often focus on the role of Latvian as official and main societal language. Yet, Latvian society is highly multilingual, and families with home languages other than Latvian have to choose between different educational trajectories for their children. In this context, this paper discusses the results of two studies which addressed the question of why families with Russian as a home language choose (pre)schools with languages other than Russian as medium of instruction (MOI). The first study analyses family narratives which provide insight into attitudes and practices which lead to the decision to send children to Latvian-MOI institutions. The second study investigates language attitudes and practices by families in the international community of Riga German School. Methodology: The paper discusses data gathered during two studies: for the first, semi-structed interviews were conducted with Russian-speaking families who choose Latvian-medium schools for their children. For the second study, a survey was carried out in the community of an international school in Riga, sided by ethnographic observations and interviews with teachers and the school leadership. Data and analysis: Interviews and ethnographic observations were subjected to a discourse analysis with a focus on critical events and structures of life trajectory narratives. Survey data were processed following simple statistical analysis and qualitative content analysis. Findings/conclusions: Our data reveal that families highly embrace multilingualism and see the development of individual plurilingualism as important for integration into Latvian society as well as for educational and professional opportunities in the multilingual societies of Latvia and Europe. At the same time, multilingualism and multiculturalism, including Russian, are seen as a value in itself. In addition, our studies reflect the bidirectionality of family language policies in interplay with practices in educational institutions: family decisions influence children’s language acquisition at school, but the school also has an impact on the families’ language practices at home. In sum, we argue that educational policies should therefore pay justice to the wishes of families in Latvia to incorporate different language aspects into individual educational trajectories. Originality: Language policy is a frequent topic of investigation in the Baltic states. However, there has been a lack in research on family language policy and school choices. In this vein, our paper adds to the understanding of educational choices and language policy processes among Russian-speaking families and the international community in Latvia

How to develop the critical use of the web: A practical example

Juveniles born after the year 2000 are defined as digital natives due to the ease with which they use the Web. They have, indeed, been able to constantly relate to digital tools since birth and have reached an optimum level of technical ability. Contemporary neuroscience highlights how new media have strongly conditioned the way in which learning takes place and modifies the time taken, styles used and how we understand and analyse the phenomena. Schools have the task, not only of raising awareness, but also that of the ethical and critical use of these media. This means that every student must understand that the Internet is a powerful tool, which provides information, opinions and thoughts, broadening its range to cover the whole world. The ethical use of the Web consists of the distribution of documented and non-confidential information, which respects the privacy and dignity of each single individual. In order to develop these skills, a simple yet extremely effective study unit in the scientific subjects was planned in two countries: in Italy and in Albania. A video was shown to the Italian pupils about tumours, while Albanian children were shown a video about iron. The pupils of both countries were asked to research the topic using the ‘WebQuest’ method, also to create a digital product (video, poster) which summarized the results obtained and to present the information both in English and their native language during a “Teen Conference” attended by a group of experts, their teachers and their peers. Furthermore, they were asked to reflect on the work done. The project was evaluated by a team of teachers. The activity was efficient because it brought into play many key skills and takes advantage of multiple methods

Pathways to digital skills development for Latino workers

UpSkill America — an initiative of the Economic Opportunities Program — and the Latinos and Society Program at the Aspen Institute, with support from Google.org, launched the Digital Skills and the Latino Workforce research project to better understand the challenges and opportunities that Latino workers and Latino business owners face to succeed in the digital economy. This report presents findings from a nationwide survey and in-depth interviews with employers of Latino frontline workers and workforce development organizations. The publication also identifies promising business practices and ecosystem approaches to developing the digital skills of the Latino workforce. Finally, the report concludes with a call-to-action for employers and workforce organizations to get involved in the planning process around the Digital Equity Act programs, to start in Summer 2022

Impact of passband shift in optical wireless communication systems based on wavelength division

In this paper we investigate the impact of the passband shift (PS) phenomenon on optical wireless communication (OWC) systems based on wavelength division (WD). We first introduce the associated challenges, then we discuss the mathematical framework needed to evaluate the performance of systems based on WD when the impact of the PS phenomenon is taken into account. We introduce the concept of spectral overlap (SO) and discuss its role in the design of WD solutions. Results show that this design phase has to take the SO into account, and that its careful balance with the channel gain is essential when multiple colours are used for parallel communication in OWC

Adaptive WDMA : improving the data rate of a densely deployed LiFi network

A novel adaptive Wavelength Division Multiple Access (WDMA) scheme is presented in this paper, capable of contrasting the effect of the Passband Shift (PS) phenomenon in an indoor densely deployed LiFi network. After an overview on WDMA in an indoor Internet of Things (IoT) setting, simulation work is defined and carried out. Results show how in such settings, the loss of connection is reduced to an average of 0.72 % compared to 31.25 % when using Adaptive WDMA. Additionally, the users are served with higher average speeds and better fairness

Poverty and Service Delivery in Suburban America Framing Paper

In the United States today, contrary to popular belief, living in the suburbs is not synonymous with living the American dream. An unprecedented number of people in the suburbs are living on household incomes of less than $20,000, many on much less. Increasingly, individuals and their families need to rely on services and public benefits to meet their basic needs (Kneebone & Berube, 2013). Over the past 30 years, poverty in the suburbs has grown due to multiple factors, including job decentralization, shifts in the location of affordable and subsidized housing, and the relocation to the suburbs of lower income immigrants and minorities (Covington, Freeman, & Stoll, 2011; Frey, 2011a). The rate of growth in suburban poverty has been particularly high in the past decade, outpacing growth in both urban and rural areas. During the Great Recession (2007-2009), high rates of unemployment and underemployment and the home foreclosure crisis brought the number of people living in poverty in the suburbs to an all-time high. Today, suburban areas are home to about 40 percent of all poor people in the country, an increase from 25 percent in 1980. Furthermore, in the 100 largest metropolitan areas, more people are living in poverty in the suburbs than in urban areas (Frey, 2011b). Suburbs are now facing a range of challenges traditionally associated with cities, such as high rates of unemployment and underemployment, lower educational attainment, food insecurity, and lack of access to health care. The increase in the suburban poverty rate is straining social service providers and local governments at a time when resources are shrinking (Allard & Roth, 2010). The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeks to better understand poverty and service delivery in suburban America, including how the dynamics of suburban poverty may differ from those in rural and urban communities and whether service models may need to be tailored to meet these differences. To that end, ASPE commissioned this framing paper to review and synthesize existing research, analyze the characteristics and service needs of those living in poverty in the suburbs, and identify information and research needed to more fully understand and guide efforts to address suburban poverty. To prepare this review, we used three types of information sources: existing literature, both published and unpublished; a select number of key informant interviews; and two sources of extant U.S. Census Bureau household survey data: the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides an annual count of the number of people living below 100 percent of the federal poverty level from 1959 to 2011, and the 2009-2011 American Community Survey (ACS) Weighted 3-Year Restricted-Use Files, a household survey of a nationally representative sample of individuals. These data provide information about all suburbs, including but not limited to, the 100 largest metropolitan areas (see Appendix 1). This paper will serve to frame the discussion during the Poverty and Service Delivery in Suburban America Roundtable, to be convened in 2014. The roundtable will bring together researchers, policy 5 experts, practitioners, and federal staff to discuss the issues raised in this paper and gaps in the research, formulate new research questions, consider the implications of the research for service delivery and public benefits, and assess opportunities for HHS and broader federal engagement

Poverty and Service Delivery in Suburban America Framing Paper

In the United States today, contrary to popular belief, living in the suburbs is not synonymous with living the American dream. An unprecedented number of people in the suburbs are living on household incomes of less than $20,000, many on much less. Increasingly, individuals and their families need to rely on services and public benefits to meet their basic needs (Kneebone & Berube, 2013). Over the past 30 years, poverty in the suburbs has grown due to multiple factors, including job decentralization, shifts in the location of affordable and subsidized housing, and the relocation to the suburbs of lower income immigrants and minorities (Covington, Freeman, & Stoll, 2011; Frey, 2011a). The rate of growth in suburban poverty has been particularly high in the past decade, outpacing growth in both urban and rural areas. During the Great Recession (2007-2009), high rates of unemployment and underemployment and the home foreclosure crisis brought the number of people living in poverty in the suburbs to an all-time high. Today, suburban areas are home to about 40 percent of all poor people in the country, an increase from 25 percent in 1980. Furthermore, in the 100 largest metropolitan areas, more people are living in poverty in the suburbs than in urban areas (Frey, 2011b). Suburbs are now facing a range of challenges traditionally associated with cities, such as high rates of unemployment and underemployment, lower educational attainment, food insecurity, and lack of access to health care. The increase in the suburban poverty rate is straining social service providers and local governments at a time when resources are shrinking (Allard & Roth, 2010). The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeks to better understand poverty and service delivery in suburban America, including how the dynamics of suburban poverty may differ from those in rural and urban communities and whether service models may need to be tailored to meet these differences. To that end, ASPE commissioned this framing paper to review and synthesize existing research, analyze the characteristics and service needs of those living in poverty in the suburbs, and identify information and research needed to more fully understand and guide efforts to address suburban poverty. To prepare this review, we used three types of information sources: existing literature, both published and unpublished; a select number of key informant interviews; and two sources of extant U.S. Census Bureau household survey data: the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides an annual count of the number of people living below 100 percent of the federal poverty level from 1959 to 2011, and the 2009-2011 American Community Survey (ACS) Weighted 3-Year Restricted-Use Files, a household survey of a nationally representative sample of individuals. These data provide information about all suburbs, including but not limited to, the 100 largest metropolitan areas (see Appendix 1). This paper will serve to frame the discussion during the Poverty and Service Delivery in Suburban America Roundtable, to be convened in 2014. The roundtable will bring together researchers, policy 5 experts, practitioners, and federal staff to discuss the issues raised in this paper and gaps in the research, formulate new research questions, consider the implications of the research for service delivery and public benefits, and assess opportunities for HHS and broader federal engagement

THE PREVALENCE AND CAUSE OF NON-CONTACT INJURY MECHANISMS IN U.S. MEN’S RUGBY-7S

The aim of this study was to prospectively report non-contact injury incidence and causes in U.S. men’s Rugby-7s players (n=446) over 2010-2015, using the Rugby Injury Survey & Evaluation (RISE) methodology. Non-contact injuries (time-loss 25%; medical attention 75%) had higher rates among backs (62%; 28.4/1000ph) than forwards (38%; 23.2/1000ph; RR:1.22; p=0.05). Non-contact injuries resulted in an average of 48.7days (d) absence from sport (classic non-contact 48.1d; other non-contact 77.0d). Acute injuries (85%) were most common during attempts to elude a tackle (31%) and in running/open play (48% overall; from 35% in 2010, 41% in 2011, 52% in 2012, 43% in 2013, 46% in 2014, 70% in 2015). Most non-contact injuries (44%) occurred during the first two tournament matches. These results provide much needed data on Rugby-7s, impacting emerging countries

Trends of Phase I Clinical Trials in the Latest Ten Years across Five European Countries

Phase 1 clinical trials represent a critical phase of drug development because new candidate therapeutic agents are tested for the first time on humans. Therefore, international guidelines and local laws have been released to mitigate and control possible risks for human health in agreement with the declaration of Helsinki and the international Good Clinical Practice principles. Despite numerous scientific works characterizing the registered clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov, the main features and trends of registered phase 1 clinical trials in Europe have not been investigated. This study is aimed at assessing the features and the temporal trend of distribution of phase 1 clinical studies, carried out in the five largest European countries over a ten-year period (2012-2021), and to evaluate the impact of the Italian regulatory framework on the activation of such studies