Globalization and Possibilities for Intercultural Awareness: Multimodal Arabic Culture Portfolios at a Catholic University

This case study explores the teaching and learning of Arabic at one Catholic university campus, with a focus upon the complex interactions between language and culture in a postmodern globalized context. Specifically, it examines the use of “multimodal culture portfolios” as a means to engage students both linguistically and culturally in classroom and community discourses. Through their interactions and co-construction of knowledge with other participants, these students are led to think about the multiple communicative contexts that are shaping and being shaped by them. Data collection was conducted through survey questionnaires and students\u27 responses to the assigned culture portfolio. The participants were made up of students enrolled in first year Arabic courses during the 2012 spring semester. The purpose of this exploratory case is to attempt to understand students\u27 investments in Arabic and their cultural knowledge of the Arab world pre and post their enrollment in the Arabic courses. It also seeks to understand their socialization into the culture assignment and the main challenges they faced in accessing, interacting with, and reflecting upon cultural aspects related to the Arab world. This study\u27s findings are significant for enriching the general conversation on intercultural proficiency in classroom discourse, curricular decisions, roles and challenges of teachers, and the involvement in target language communities, particularly in less commonly taught languages such as Arabic

LANGUAGE CREATIVITY: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC READING OF LINGUISTIC CHANGE IN LEBANON

Language creativity in incorporated in everyday conversations and language behaviour. It is present in everyday expression although it might sometimes be invisible, looked down on or disdained. Regardless of whether we are in favour of or against this creativity, it is worth being recognised. As far as Lebanon is concerned, Arabic (i.e. Standard Arabic) is the official language, while Lebanese Arabic, along with English and French, are the main languages used by the Lebanese. This language diversity can be explained in the light of a number of factors and sociolinguistic functions. The language use in Lebanon has many creative aspects such as nativization, code switching, word coinage, Arabizi and transliteration. This paper, therefore, aims to explore the creative innovations introduced by the speakers to meet the needs of the speech community and to fulfil certain sociolinguistic functions in a variety of domains

The Problems Facing Faculty Members at the University of Jordan and Their Impacts on Their Job Performance

This study aimed at investigating the problems confronting the faculty members at the University of Jordan, which might affect their performance. More specifically, it attempted to answer the following questions: 1. What are the problems facing the teaching staff at the University of Jordan? 2. Do these problems vary due to college, rank or years of experience? The population of the study consisted of all the (1026) teaching staff members at the University of Jordan (848 males and 177 females) for the year 2005/2006 For the purpose of this study, the researcher developed a questionnaire which was completed by (78) members out of the original (105) constituting the randomly selected sample of the study. Means, standard deviations and percentages were calculated, and t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the results which revealed that various degrees of problems confrent the teaching staff members at the University of Jordan; and these problems vary due to the college variable. However, the results revealed no statistically significant differences in the problems of staff members due to rank or years of experienc

VOLAR V-Y ADVANCEMENT FLAPS IN RECONSTRUCTING FINGERTIP INJURIES

Fingertip injuries with exposed bones and joints require immediate or early closure for the preservation of function and avoidance of complications. The ideal procedure should maintain the length of the finger and cover the defect with non-tender, well-padded skin with normal sensation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the different types of volar V-Y advancement flaps in reconstructing and resurfacing injuries of the fingertips at different levels and angles. Thirty patients (N=30) sustaining fingertip injuries of variable etiology and lost components, type III & IV according to Allen’s classification were divided into two groups (n=15) according to the extent of tissue loss.V-Y Volar flap has been used for patients of group I; Neurovascular V-Y Advancement Flap for patients of group II. All subjective complaints (tenderness, cold intolerance and incomplete extension) were resolved within six months of follow up. With respect to the complications there were no statistically significant difference in except for light touch examination. The simple V-Y volar advancement flap, with apex at DIP, and the neurovascular V-Y advancement flap, with the apex at PIP can be used in Allen III and IV types of fingertip injuries. The choice of either flap depends on the direction of injury. The former is better reserved for the dorsally-directed tissue loss. The latter is preferably used in either the volarly-slanting tissue loss or the perpendicular(guillotine) fingertip amputation

Relation between Vitamin K and Osteoporosis

Vitamin K is an essential fat-soluble vitamin. The role of vitamin K as a cofactor involved in blood coagulation is well demonstrated. In the past two decades, vitamin K has been receiving more attention due to its role in bone health and metabolism. Vitamin K plays a role in activation of vitamin K-dependent proteins, which are involved not only in blood coagulation but in bone metabolism and the inhibition of arterial calcification. Numerous studies have exhibited the importance of vitamin K in bone health. The bone mineral density (BMD) does not remain steady with age, particularly declining after menopause. Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease of reduced bone density, fragile bone, and elevated susceptibility to fracture. A greater understanding of the biological linkages between vitamin K and bone may conduce to new treatment for osteoporosis that may improve bone density and prevent the adverse outcomes of osteoporosis

Calcium transport and protein phosphorylation of human red cell membrane with reference to congenital haemolytic anaemia

Imperial Users onl

Applying YUV Color Mode in Color Image Processing by Using Java Swing

One of the most exciting new areas In computer technology is the development in color image processing field. Image processing is used to improve the visual quality of an image. Jaguar Java Software is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) software, powerful yet very simple to use, provides the means to filter color images in RGB Color space and YUV Color space, to produce high quality filtered images. YUV Color space model proved to filter images in a smooth way without loosing any data, only enhancing the image structure. Different images were applied, and satisfactory results were obtained of multi-applications objectives. Swing was used as the main programming language, which is part of the Java Foundation Classes (JFC) library. It offers much improved functionality as new components, expanded component features, better event handling