Being an Insider Researcher While Conducting Case Study Research

It is crucial for social researchers to clarify their researchers’ roles, especially for those utilizing qualitative methodology to make their research credible. The purpose of this paper is to examine the advantages and disadvantages of the researcher’s insider role, an instructor, occupied within case study research on the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the teaching-learning process at the School for the Handicapped (SfH) in Turkey. In this respect the author will demonstrate and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being an insider-researcher considering the researcher’s role, determining the case, the aim and research questions of the study, issues of the research design, the collection and analysis of data, ethical issues and reporting the data. Each theme is discussed concerning the advantages and disadvantages of being an insider researcher. The researcher concluded that in order to conduct valid research a researcher must overcome some of the disadvantages with the help of several preventions. The results have been discussed in the light of related literature and the whole data

Monolithically Patterned Wide-Narrow-Wide All-Graphene Devices

We investigate theoretically the performance advantages of all-graphene nanoribbon field-effect transistors (GNRFETs) whose channel and source/drain (contact) regions are patterned monolithically from a two-dimensional single sheet of graphene. In our simulated devices, the source/drain and interconnect regions are composed of wide graphene nanoribbon (GNR) sections that are semimetallic, while the channel regions consist of narrow GNR sections that open semiconducting bandgaps. Our simulation employs a fully atomistic model of the device, contact and interfacial regions using tight-binding theory. The electronic structures are coupled with a self-consistent three-dimensional Poisson's equation to capture the nontrivial contact electrostatics, along with a quantum kinetic formulation of transport based on non-equilibrium Green's functions (NEGF). Although we only consider a specific device geometry, our results establish several general performance advantages of such monolithic devices (besides those related to fabrication and patterning), namely the improved electrostatics, suppressed short-channel effects, and Ohmic contacts at the narrow-to-wide interfaces.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, 2 table

Enhancement of the wet carbonation of artificial recycled concrete aggregates in seawater

This study aimed to improve the carbonation efficiency and reduce processing time of recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs). Different liquid mediums were used for wet carbonation and compared with dry carbonation. Reaction kinetics, phase assemblage, microstructure and performance of RCAs and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) prepared with carbonated RCAs were evaluated. RCAs carbonated under seawater for 10 min achieved >9 % reduction in water absorption and 3 % increase in density, which were more efficient than dry carbonated samples. Compressive strength of RAC prepared with 1-h seawater carbonated RCAs was significantly improved. Formation of ettringite and calcite under wet carbonation increased density and strength by contributing to solid volume, also leading to improved bond strength in interfacial transition zone in RAC. Seawater presents several advantages as a medium for wet carbonation due to its abundant availability, CO2 capture capacity and accelerated hydration and carbonation, thereby enabling rapid improvement of RCA's and resulting concrete formulations' performance

Examination of Parent's Views about their 60-77 Months Old Children's Maturity of Primary School

AbstractThe concept of school readiness typically refers to the child's attainment of a certain set of emotional, behavioral and cognitive skills needed to learn, work and function successfully in school. Unfortunately, the common philosophy of “ready for school” can be understood by parents and caregivers as children's readiness for the expectations of school (Marquez, 2006). In a more constructive way school readiness concept has many aspects, for example; while attending to a school, children must cope with many new demands; they must meet new academic challenges, learn new school and teacher expectations, and gain acceptance into a new peer group. In the entrance to a school, chronological age is an important factor, but also factors like; gender, previous experience, social skills, intellegence, general health and family composition, well- being, and socioeconomic status play important role. In Turkey obligation to attend primary school age was 6-7 years old. In 2012-2013 educational year, Turkish Ministry of Education changed the compulsory education period to twelve years and the attendence of compulsory education period was changed to 5-6 years old. The aim of the study is to examine parent's views about their children's readiness and maturity attending to primary school. 60-80 months old of children attending four different primary schools took part in the study. An inquiry consisting of questions about children's basic developmental areas, academic skills and school maturity was prepared for the study. The inquiry was applied to voluntary parents. The view of parents were examined according to children's age. No significant differences were found between older and younger children's parents views

The role of brucite, ground granulated blastfurnace slag, and magnesium silicates in the carbonation and performance of MgO cements

This study focuses on the enhancement of the technical and environmental performance of MgO cements through the inclusion of brucite, GGBS, talc and serpentine as partial MgO substitutes in concrete blocks. The influence of these additives on the microstructure, hydration, carbonation, and mechanical performance of blocks cured under natural and elevated CO2 conditions is presented. An optimum replacement level was determined for each composition via unconfined compressive strength (UCS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and acid digestion. Mixes subjected to accelerated carbonation indicated up to 100% carbonation in 7 days. Results highlight the suitability of each additive in replacing MgO without compromising performance.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.07.10

Preschooler's Views About Gender Related Games and Toys

AbstractThis study aims to investigate views of preschooler's on gender related games and toys. Sixty children (29 girls; 31 boys) attending two different preschools took part in the study. Before the study, two characters –one of them was girl and the other was boy- were created and preschoolers were introduced to both of them. This study were carried out by placing these characters respectively on the drawings on acetate sheets. At the first stage, drawings of a girl and a boy accepting a gift package from an adult were shown to children. After showing each drawing, children's views about what could be in the gift package, were asked. At the second stage of the study, drawings of two girls, two boys, a girl and a boy at home, class and playground were presented and children were asked about games that children in the drawings could play together. In this study, role of gender in childr en's views of games and toys were investigated in terms of age and sex

Investigation of the properties of reactive MgO-based cements and their effect on performance

Reactive MgO cement (RMC) is a promising alternative cementitious material benefiting from a relatively low calcination temperature during its production and strength development in concrete formulations linked with its CO2 sequestering capacity. One of the main challenges with RMC is the variations in its performance in line with the significant differences observed in the properties of the main phase, MgO. To identify and analyze the effects of these properties on the performance of RMC, this study presents a detailed characterization of 9 commercial RMC powders from different sources and precursors and an investigation of their performance in terms of reaction mechanisms and strength development. The results showed that the progress of hydration was highly dependent on the reactivity of RMC, whilst the early stages of the reaction were influenced by the purity. Additionally, agglomeration ratio revealed a strong correlation with the strength after 7 days of carbonation curing and 28 days of hydration. Finally, a regression analysis was employed to propose a model for the prediction of strength based on the initial properties of the RMC powder. The results emerging from this study can serve as a guideline for the selection of most suitable RMC-based binders for various building applications.</p

Passivation of reinforcing steel in reactive MgO cement blended with Portland cement

Reactive MgO cement (RMC) has an ability to gain strength by carbonation. One of the main concerns in RMC systems is the potential corrosion of reinforcing steel in structural applications. This study evaluated the feasibility of replacing small proportions of RMC with Portland cement (PC) to promote the passivation of reinforcing steel. Reinforcing steels embedded in RMC with different proportions of PC were investigated by electrochemical measurements and microstructural analysis. Pore solutions extracted from these pastes were evaluated for their chemical compositions. Inclusion of ≥2% PC enabled the passivation of steel. Passive film forming in RMC-PC blends consisted of Fe3O4 and Mg(OH)2, which was thicker than those in pure PC mixes. The formation of passive film was mainly attributed to the increased pH of the pore solution, which reached over 12 in RMC mixes containing only 2% PC. These findings highlighted the potential of using RMC mixes in reinforced concrete applications.</p