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Unsustainable harvesting of orchid species is a critical, global threat to orchid diversity and abundance, fueled by domestic and global demand. However, drivers of demand continue to be under‐explored, despite opportunities for proactive engagement and/or behavior change strategies with and/or directed at orchid collectors. In this study, we surveyed self‐identified Vietnamese orchid collectors, some of whom were also known to engage in wild harvesting of endangered species, to understand sociological dimensions including motivations, knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and conservation ethos. We found that knowledge about domestic and international regulations was low, and that orchid collectors were likely to believe that Vietnam has plenty of orchids left in the wild. Orchid collectors were highly willing to share their expertise and collections with international NGOs, and receive advice on propagation of orchid species. Through Bayesian logistic regression, we found no statistically significant influence of demographic attributes on the behavior of harvesting from the wild; however, having access to propagation equipment and supplies increased the likelihood of wild harvest. Accurate knowledge (awareness) is a key first step in the behavior change process. We suggest the implementation of awareness‐raising campaigns targeted at Vietnamese orchid collectors, which communicate domestic and international restrictions about orchid harvest and trade, as well as the known status of orchid species in the wild. Additionally, we suggest that an opportunity exists to recruit Vietnamese orchid collectors into a formal network for knowledge‐sharing and the co‐creation of sustainable guidelines around keeping and propagating orchids. Abstract in Vietnamese is available with online material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afghanistan, as one of the world's largest producers of narcotics, faces significant social, economic, and health challenges. Despite numerous efforts to combat the cultivation and consumption of narcotics, the issue remains a major problem in many local communities. However, some of these communities have succeeded in achieving remarkable progress in reducing narcotics cultivation and consumption through participatory programs and alternative economic development. This research aims to identify and analyze the successful experiences in narcotics eradication in local Afghan communities and to evaluate the factors contributing to these successes. A qualitative methodology was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with local community members, experts, and government officials. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings of the research indicate that educational programs, awareness-raising initiatives, the development of alternative economic opportunities, and active community participation have played a crucial role in reducing narcotics cultivation and consumption. Nevertheless, challenges such as financial constraints, administrative corruption, and cultural resistance remain significant barriers to the successful implementation of these programs. The study concludes that with increased international support, administrative transparency, and strengthened educational and economic programs, the dependency of local communities on narcotics cultivation can be significantly reduced. This research provides a foundation for the development of effective national policies in the fight against narcotics in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores three different forms of negotiation implemented by environmentalist engineers between their professional work and their environmental activism. These engineers, members of environmentalist organizations, appropriate in different ways this conceptual professional boundary that separates and opposes the social worlds of engineering and activism. The article draws from narrative interviews with 50 environmentalist engineers that focused on the dynamics of these negotiations and their effects on biographical trajectories. The process of conforming, shifting or overstepping the boundary between profession and activism is linked to the framing of environmental causes. The precarious balances these engineers strike between work and activism thus depend on three factors: the emergence (or not) of a professional reflexivity, the adoption (or not) of a political interpretation and the reaction of hierarchical superiors and company management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the current aspects of internet fraud in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war. The increased use of the Internet during quarantine and wartime creates new opportunities for scammers, who exploit this situation to deceive people. Emotional instability, financial problems, and the spread of misinformation also contribute to the growth of fraud online. The article analyzes the legislative approach to combating fraud in Ukraine and identifies the specifics of this type of criminal offense. Due to the accessibility of the Internet, scammers quickly adapt their schemes to the digital environment, making network users more vulnerable. The explores the diversity of methods and types of internet fraud, including phishing, cryptocurrency fraud, social engineering, and other schemes. The authors provide data from the «Data Breach and Incident Response» (DBIR) report. Methods such as phishing, farming, fraud through social media and email, as well as manipulations with ICOs and crypto investment funds, are examined in detail. Special attention is paid to fraud in wartime, mentioning fundraising for military purposes, deceptive schemes with family announcements, and fake evacuation messages. The level of vulnerability of users, geographical features, and the age category most often targeted by internet fraud are evaluated. The article also discusses the aspect of computer equipment, mobile devices, and other means of accessing the Internet used by criminals to carry out fraudulent activities. The authors emphasize the prevalence of internet fraud, where perpetrators attempt to hack websites of government organizations, banks, or media to obtain confidential information or spread fake news. Measures to combat this phenomenon are proposed. Various types of internet fraud and methods of prevention are examined in detail, including software updates, installation of antivirus software, use of strong passwords, and twofactor authentication. It is noted that awareness and a responsible approach to protection on the Internet are key to preventing fraud. Additionally, the criminal liability for fraud in Ukraine and the possibility of strengthening this liability in wartime are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Electrónica Interuniversitaria De Formación del Profesorado is the property of Asociacion Universitaria de Formacion del Profesorado (AUFOP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Migraciones is the property of Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Instituto Universitario de Estudios sobre Migraciones and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Effective teaching of reading comprehension has been a great concern for language teachers, leading to the emergence of strategies in developing students’ reading skill. This study examined the effects of raising text structure awareness (TSA) through face-to-face and computer-based reading instruction (CBI) on students’ reading comprehension. The participants included 87 undergraduate students of Humanities from Guilan, Iran who were at the upper-intermediate level concerning their foreign language proficiency and took part in the pretest and the posttest of reading comprehension that were taken from sample IELTS. They were randomly assigned into one control and two experimental groups. The first experimental group received instruction on text structure within face-to-face classes (TSA) and the second experimental group worked through computer-based instruction (TSA+CBI) while the control group benefited from their routine conventional reading activities. The results of the one-way ANCOVA indicated that the second experimental group that received instruction on text structure awareness through CBI outperformed the first experimental group that simply practiced text structure awareness in face-to-face classes and the control group. In addition, the difference between the two treatment groups was statistically significant. The results verified the effectiveness of text structure awareness in improving the students’ reading comprehension in TSA+CBI groups. Language teachers can benefit from providing students with text structure awareness and facilitating their reading comprehension through applying technology.

Introduction: Alcohol‐related brain damage (ARBD) is an umbrella term referring to the neurocognitive impairments caused by excessive and prolonged alcohol use and the associated nutritional deficiencies. This study evaluated the outcomes of an online research‐informed training program for ARBD which aimed to improve client outcomes by promoting support staff's awareness and confidence in working with clients who may have (or who are at risk of developing) the condition. Methods: Staff working within a large non‐governmental non‐profit housing organisation (n = 883) enrolled in the training program. Questionnaires were used pre‐ and post‐training to collect self‐reported awareness of ARBD and confidence in supporting individuals with the condition. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 27 staff members approximately 10 weeks post‐completion of the program. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed by employing qualitative content analysis. Results: Findings from the questionnaires indicated a significant increase in all measures after completing the training program. Three main themes were developed based on the interview data: changes to awareness and understanding; professional practice; and training‐specific characteristics. Participants reported changes in their ability to identify potential service users with ARBD and confidence in doing so. Discussion and Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that online training programs can be effective in improving support staff's ability to identify ARBD, potentially leading an increase in signposting service users to relevant services. The research‐informed nature of the training demonstrates that translating research findings directly to frontline workers can have a substantial impact and may improve outcomes for this client group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reported the design and implementation of a 16-week graduate seminar on second language (L2) pragmatics offered for 14 graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) who were teaching various target languages as teachers of record at a US public university. Grounded in the explicit awareness-raising approach, the seminar was designed to increase the GTAs' pragmatic knowledge, promote their cross-cultural pragmatic awareness, and facilitate their teaching and researching of pragmatics. Specifically, the training comprised four modules: key concepts in pragmatics, cross-cultural pragmatics, L2 pragmatics, and instructional pragmatics. With the recent advances in technology, the guidelines and practices for effectively designing web-based pragmatic materials were also incorporated. One of the GTAs, who was a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese and taught the language in the program, was observed as a focal participant to track the development of her pragmatic knowledge and application. Overall, the participants' positive evaluation ratings and comments on the seminar, as well as the focal Chinese GTA's demonstrated knowledge and application in pragmatics over time, suggest that the pragmatics-focused training is beneficial to cultivate the GTAs' professional knowledge and qualities in delivering pragmatics instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2009, the Dolomites have been inscribed in the World Heritage List as a serial property for criteria VII and VIII. In recent years, the Dolomites have become an even much more attractive destination for visitors. Many of them do not know how to behave appropriately in this sensitive environment. The Covid19 pandemic has further accelerated these phenomena. With the project "Respect the mountain" (DE: Achtsam am Berg; IT Rispetta la montagna), an awareness-raising process is being implemented since 2021 in South Tyrol, addressing visitors, locals, and tourism professionals in the area of the Dolomites WHS. It aims to raise awareness of environmentally friendly behavior, with focus on water saving and waste reduction. The project is a cooperation between the Department of Nature, Landscape and Spatial Development of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol - Coordination Office Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage, IDM South Tyrol and the Agency for Environment and Climate Protection of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol. Tourism associations oversee the implementation.

The increasing use of English as a global language has challenged many the fundamental assumptions underpinning English langugae teaching (ELT). The Global Englishes (GE) paradigm acknowledges linguistic diversity associated with English use today, highlighting the need for this diverse profile of English to be reflected in language classrooms. This article reports on the effect of raising Thai English learners' awareness of GE on their perceptions of English language learning and use. Findings revealed a positive influence of GE awareness raising on students' perceptions of various aspects related to language learning and use, including gaining more self-confidence in language use, developing respectful attitudes toward English varieties and speakers, redefining language learning purposes and goals, and reconceptualizing the ideal instructional model. The study maintains that it is crucial for current ELT to continue to expose learners to the plurality of Englishes in order to prepare them for the complexity of English encounters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective teaching of reading comprehension has been a great concern for language teachers, leading to the emergence of strategies in developing students' reading skill. This study examined the effects of raising text structure awareness (TSA) through face-to-face and computer-based reading instruction (CBI) on students' reading comprehension. The participants included 87 undergraduate students of Humanities from Guilan, Iran who were at the upper-intermediate level concerning their foreign language proficiency and took part in the pretest and the posttest of reading comprehension that were taken from sample IELTS. They were randomly assigned into one control and two experimental groups. The first experimental group received instruction on text structure within face-to-face classes (TSA) and the second experimental group worked through computer-based instruction (TSA+CBI) while the control group benefited from their routine conventional reading activities. The results of the one-way ANCOVA indicated that the second experimental group that received instruction on text structure awareness through CBI outperformed the first experimental group that simply practiced text structure awareness in face-to-face classes and the control group. In addition, the difference between the two treatment groups was statistically significant. The results verified the effectiveness of text structure awareness in improving the students' reading comprehension in TSA+CBI groups. Language teachers can benefit from providing students with text structure awareness and facilitating their reading comprehension through applying technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Human Review is the property of Eagora Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Safer Internet Centre project aims to promote initiatives to make the Internet a better and more secure space for youths. Across the nation, schools were involved in activities aimed at raising awareness throughout a full school year. The first goal of this study is to analyze whether the project was effective, based on three aspects: (a) students' awareness of online risks; (b) students' perception of the schools' policy both on ICTs risk prevention and incidents; and (c) cyberbullying involvement. The second aim is related to the evaluation of the moderating role of intervention dosage on the outcomes. Two trials of intervention were carried out, one for each goal. In the first, we involved students from control schools (N = 675) and experimental schools (N = 775). In the second, we compared two experimental groups: Higher (N = 251, online and face-toface components) and Lower (N = 315, only the online component) dosage of intervention. Using pre/post-intervention design, we found a significant increase over time in the experimental group on the schools' commitment to preventing and dealing with online risks. While the students in experimental schools felt themselves significantly more aware of online risks, no significant decrease over time was found in the involvement in cyberbullying. Besides, no dosage effect was found, showing that face-toface component in our project did not have additional benefits. Implications for future implementations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates the strategy approved in 2000 for managing the geological heritage of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park (PNZVG). The conservation of geodiversity and geological heritage provides a foundation for the conservation of other types of heritage, for example, in the fields of forestry, agriculture, industry, and urban development. The human imprint on this natural Park is significant, and most of the land it contains is privately owned and is commercially productive. Consequently, the management of its volcanic strata is a highly complex affair as preservation must be compatible with the types of land use that dominate in this protected area. The PNZVG's strategy for managing its geological heritage stems from the need to promote the efficient conservation of its values based on knowledge and greater awareness of this volcanic field. Quaternary volcanic fields such as this one—which may have experienced volcanic activity in the Holocene—are characterised by their excellent state of conservation, which ensures that their volcanic morphologies and the geological processes that have created them are fully visible. In 2000, the natural Park became one of the first protected areas in the world to put into practice a strategy for preserving the geological heritage of its volcanoes. Twenty years later, an accurate evaluation of this process will help other volcanic zones design their own strategies for preserving their geological heritage. To sum up, both challenges and objectives are necessary for ensuring good management of a protected area such as this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Safer Internet Centre project aims to promote initiatives to make the Internet a better and more secure space for youths. Across the nation, schools were involved in activities aimed at raising awareness throughout a full school year. The first goal of this study is to analyze whether the project was effective, based on three aspects: (a) students’ awareness of online risks; (b) students’ perception of the schools’ policy both on ICTs risk prevention and incidents; and (c) cyberbullying involvement. The second aim is related to the evaluation of the moderating role of intervention dosage on the outcomes. Two trials of intervention were carried out, one for each goal. In the first, we involved students from control schools (N = 675) and experimental schools (N = 775). In the second, we compared two experimental groups: Higher (N = 251, online and face-to-face components) and Lower (N = 315, only the online component) dosage of intervention. Using pre/post-intervention design, we found a significant increase over time in the experimental group on the schools’ commitment to preventing and dealing with online risks. While the students in experimental schools felt themselves significantly more aware of online risks, no significant decrease over time was found in the involvement in cyberbullying. Besides, no dosage effect was found, showing that face-to-face component in our project did not have additional benefits. Implications for future implementations are discussed.

Many protected areas conduct awareness-raising activities to increase local knowledge and support conservation programmes, but the effectiveness of such activities is rarely assessed. Public awareness-raising has been carried out since the early 2000s around Bawangling National Nature Reserve, Hainan, China, to improve conservation knowledge about the Critically Endangered Hainan gibbon Nomascus hainanus, one of the rarest mammals. We conducted 207 interviews in 25 villages around Bawangling National Nature Reserve to evaluate the outcome of previous conservation education, through comparison of variation in local respondent knowledge and attitudes, and specific enquiries about sources of knowledge acquisition. Likelihood of accurate responses to most of our questions regarding the species was positively correlated with local exposure to gibbon-themed billboards and murals, and respondents exhibited greater knowledge about several key conservation indices for gibbons compared to their knowledge about sympatrically occurring rhesus macaques Macaca mulatta. Many respondents specifically reported they knew about local existence, population size, conservation status, and threats to gibbons from past awareness-raising activities, with village education sessions and billboards widely identified as key sources of information. However, other known awareness-raising approaches have had little detectable effect on shaping local conservation awareness. Although educational activities have improved awareness about gibbons and their conservation requirements in relative terms, overall levels of knowledge remain low in many important areas and ongoing improvement of local awareness is still needed, in particular around poorly-understood topics such as gibbon conservation status, rarity and threats, and for socio-demographic groups possessing less conservation knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2009, the Dolomites have been inscribed in the World Heritage List as a serial property for criteria VII and VIII. In recent years, the Dolomites have become an even much more attractive destination for visitors. Many of them do not know how to behave appropriately in this sensitive environment. The Covid19 pandemic has further accelerated these phenomena. With the project "Respect the mountain" (DE: Achtsam am Berg; IT Rispetta la montagna), an awareness-raising process is being implemented since 2021 in South Tyrol, addressing visitors, locals, and tourism professionals in the area of the Dolomites WHS. It aims to raise awareness of environmentally friendly behavior, with focus on water saving and waste reduction. The project is a cooperation between the Department of Nature, Landscape and Spatial Development of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol - Coordination Office Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage, IDM South Tyrol and the Agency for Environment and Climate Protection of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol. Tourism associations oversee the implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed at investigating the role of scientific research in the development of the local community from the point of view of the faculty members in the Palestinian Universities. To achieve this objective, a convenient sample of (244) faculty members from the universities of northern Palestine: Al-Quds Open University (Tulkarm), An-Najah National (Nablus), Technical Palestine - Khadouri (Tulkarem), and Arab American (Jenin). The results of the study showed that the participants' assessment of the importance of the role of scientific research in community development was medium in the overall instrument and two dimensions: applied research and scientific consultancy, but their assessment of awareness-raising was high. On the other hand, the results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the level of the role of practical research in the development of the community attributed to the gender variable in favor of males on the overall instrument and three dimensions, while there were no statistically significant differences in the level of participants' assessment attributed to the variable of specialization. The differences were in favor of the disciplines of educational sciences and applied sciences. There were also statistically significant differences in the level of their assessment attributed to the qualification variable on the overall instrument and the three dimensions in favor of PhD holders.

Using the right collocations in a foreign language is often a challenge for language learners who may not be familiar with their use and characteristics. After presenting the types of collocations and the importance they have in the acquisition of a foreign language, the paper draws attention to the necessity of raising students’ awareness of collocations, and at the same time it reflects on possible ways of teaching them. Focusing especially on verb-noun collocations, the paper examines the learning materials used in the EFL classes at Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Miercurea Ciuc, with special regard to the exercises on these constructions. In line with construction grammar theories (Goldberg 1995, 1997, 2006), it is assumed that collocations are to be treated as constructions, pairings of form and meaning, including patterns with different degrees of predictability. Collocations, consisting of both predictable (e. g. read a book, blue sky) and non-predictable forms (e. g. run a program, safe and sound) can be more easily remembered if regarded as constructions where all the constituent elements contribute to the meaning of the construction as a whole (but whose meaning is more than the sum of the constituent elements). In order to gain a better understanding of collocations, the use of electronic corpora and electronic databases as well as additional materials on collocations that would complement the language materials used in class is highly encouraged. By making use of these resources, students can see examples of everyday language use and become more aware of the use of collocations as well as the similarities and differences between them in different languages.

Self-access learning centres (SALCs) are spaces in which learners are provided with access to resources that can assist them in achieving their goals. Within the SALC at Kanda University of International Studies, there is a wide range of resources available to students. However, a prior in-house study (Yarwood, Lorentzen, Wallingford, & Wongsarnpigoon, 2019) indicated that the resources were not being fully utilised by the students. The aim of our intervention study was to explore how targeted discussion topics could be used in classroom settings to assist non-English major students in feeling supported in their autonomous use of English within the SALC context. Data were collected in the form of a post-intervention survey, and focus group interviews. The data were then analysed using Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT), a sub-theory within Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 1987). Our findings suggest that the intervention fostered feelings of competence in both students’ English abilities, and their ability for self-reflection. Feelings of competence combined with support from peers motivated a portion of students to increase their use of English within the SALC. While many students felt that the intervention had helped them to increase their use of English in the SALC, the majority of students were uncertain about the effectiveness of the intervention. We will present several possible reasons for these findings.

The transformation of the tourism industry to ensure more sustainable consumption and production practices also requires the transformation of tourists. Tourism is assumed to possess the potential for cathartic experiences that can positively influence individual transformation. This individual transformation is often overlooked in the sustainability debate. As tourists can accelerate system transformation and contribute to the fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, more research is needed to understand individual transformation. This conceptual paper puts tourists into the spotlight and adopts a sociopsychological lens to explore how experience-based reflexivity can contribute to individual transformation towards sustainable travel. We argue that two interrelated perspectives are needed as analytical tools, i.e. process and systemic perspectives, and propose two models: The Reflected-Self-Model and the Reflexive-Agent-Model. We suggest that reflection needs to be understood as a critical component in building awareness and changing attitudes, actions, and practices that translate into individual transformation. With the limitations of this conceptual paper in mind, several thought-provoking avenues for future research are proposed. We argue that more research is needed that investigates intermediate stages in the attitude–behaviour gap, bridges individual and system transformation, integrates experiences in travel and home environments, and explores individual resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years, governmental agencies have developed a diverse repertoire of migration‐management measures to steer migration flows and discipline unwanted migration. Migration‐information campaigns have become a prominent tool aimed at communicating directly to migration aspirations of the targeted population in transit and sending countries. Through these information campaigns the geographical locus of control is shifted toward where the receiving state seeks to steer migration flows. This review paper is a research synthesis on literature engaging with migration‐information campaigns. The study is based on 17 peer‐reviewed journal articles from the years 2010–2020. Articles were coded based on discipline, type of research, research perspective, geographic origin and focus of the campaigns, objectives and rationale of the campaigns, tools and methods used in those campaigns, campaign funding, actor constellations, and a general assessment of each article. Findings from this study identify prominent trends as well as blind spots in the current research and indicate that there is still little research available on information campaigns concerning irregular migration, and even fewer studies report on their effectiveness. By implication future research is advised to focus on empirical studies on the impact of information campaigns on migrants' aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a summary of research undertaken to investigate public awareness and understanding of human trafficking in Great Britain, Hungary and Ukraine. Responding to the lack of reliable empirical data on this issue, the research relies on representative national opinion surveys to assess the extent of public awareness of what constitutes human trafficking, the sources of knowledge underpinning this awareness, and respondents’ attitudes towards key dimensions of human trafficking as embedded in international and respective national legal and policy frameworks and discourses. Conceptually, this article reinforces recent calls for policy and media paradigm shifts from understanding human trafficking as a phenomenon of crime and victimhood, to, above all, a human rights concern linked to the broader issues of sustainable development and social justice. Methodologically, the study highlights the role of opinion surveys as a measure of effectiveness and impact of anti-trafficking awareness campaigns. In practical terms, the article presents a set of data which can be useful for policy-makers, anti-trafficking activists, and national media in designing impactful awareness-raising campaigns and interventions.

In recent years, digital games have emerged as a new tool in human trafficking awareness-raising. These games reflect a trend towards ‘virtual humanitarianism’, utilising digital technologies to convey narratives of suffering with the aim of raising awareness about humanitarian issues. The creation of these games raises questions about whether new technologies will depict humanitarian problems in new ways, or simply perpetuate problematic stereotypes. This article examines three online games released in the last five years for the purpose of raising awareness about human trafficking. In analysing these games, we argue that the persistent tropes of ideal victims lacking in agency continue to dominate the narrative, with a focus on individualised problems rather than structural causes of human trafficking. However, the differing approaches taken by the games demonstrate the potential for complexity and nuance in storytelling through digital games.

Purpose – Climate analogues have been extensively used in ecological studies to assess the shift of ecoregions due to climate change and the associated impacts on species survival and displacement, but they have hardly been applied to urban areas and their climate shift. This paper aims to use climate analogues to characterize the climate shift of cities and to explore its implications as well as potential applications of this approach. Design/methodology/approach – The authors propose a methodology to match the current climate of cities with the future climate of other locations and to characterize cities’ climate shift velocity. Employing a sample of 90 European cities, the authors demonstrate the applicability of this method and characterize their climate shift from 1951 to 2100. Findings – Results show that cities’ climate shift follows rather strictly north-to-south transects over the European continent and that the average southward velocity is expected to double throughout the twenty-first century. These rapid shifts will have direct implications for urban infrastructure, risk management and public health services. Originality/value – These findings appear to be potentially useful for raising awareness of stakeholders and urban dwellers about the pace, magnitude and dynamics of climate change, supporting identification of the future climate impacts and vulnerabilities and implementation of readily available adaptation options, and strengthening cities’ cooperation within climate-related networks.

Copyright of Turkish Studies - Language & Literature is the property of Electronic Turkish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Peru, the communities located along the Andes Mountains at more than 3000 meters above sea level, have a behavior highly susceptible to any type of research activity on the mountain areas, mainly due to the past wrong management of mountain resources by mining companies for many decades, without an eco-efficient or optimal mineral extraction process from an environmental point of view. The biggest problem in conducting research activities in these areas is demonstrating to communities that research activities are of great common benefit and not of private interest. Here are strategies for awareness-raising work in mountain communities, prior to the execution of a research project. The study case was taken on the project to install a monitoring system over high danger Arhuaycocha glacier lake at Río Blanco-Santa Cruz Subbasin, Ancash, Peru, where the Santa Cruz district is located on the alluvial path. Awarenessraising activities were carried out, identification of actors, analysis of the social situation and perspectives of the inhabitants for the project. It was concluded that all research activities must be carried out with a high degree of sense of belonging on the part of the communities, showing direct benefits, and reach agreements with local authorities. A key point was the inclusion of the residents in the project activities, making it transparent and making it clear that science activities are carried out within their community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revija Šport is the property of Sport: Revija Za Teoreticna in Praticna Vprasanja Sporta and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study investigated the interface between explicit instruction and computer-assisted language learning (CALL) in an effort to reduce plural marking errors among Japanese EFL learners. The instruction involved raising contrastive awareness of cross-linguistic and conceptual features, and was delivered via an online medium. A total of 180 students from a university in Western Japan participated in the study, in which two points of enquiry were examined: (1) the extent to which such an instructional composite would affect Japanese learners' ability to (a) recognize plural omission errors in L2 reading, and (b) produce obligatory plural forms in L2 writing; and (2) the extent to which online instruction would be sufficient to facilitate change in subsequent performance related to plural accuracy. In contrast with the control condition, the findings from the experimental condition indicated that positive learning outcomes had taken place with regard to both error recognition and plural production, and that web-based instruction was therefore effective in this instance. Theoretical reflections, practical implications, and future avenues of research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal for Quality Assurance in Higher Education is the property of University of Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research shows that gestures help L2 learners compensate for shortcomings in their second language, aid in the language learning process, and facilitate successful classroom communication between teachers and students. Despite this, there has been little research into whether L2 learners can benefit from classroom activities to raise their awareness of gesture use in a second language. The current study tests this hypothesis. An experimental group of 13 students and a control group of 10 students were recorded in pairs completing three separate tasks, received instruction on the tasks, and finally completed a second recording. The experimental group's classroom activities included a focus on gesture, while the control group's did not. Overall, compared to the control group, the experimental group gestured more frequently and expressively on the post-test. Moreover, students in the experimental group had a positive attitude towards the gesture awareness raising activities. The results of the study suggest that gesture awareness raising activities can improve L2 learners' gesture use in a second language, offering implications for L2 learners, language instructors, and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-access learning centres (SALCs) are spaces in which learners are provided with access to resources that can assist them in achieving their goals. Within the SALC at Kanda University of International Studies, there is a wide range of resources available to students. However, a prior in-house study (Yarwood, Lorentzen, Wallingford, & Wongsarnpigoon, 2019) indicated that the resources were not being fully utilised by the students. The aim of our intervention study was to explore how targeted discussion topics could be used in classroom settings to assist non-English major students in feeling supported in their autonomous use of English within the SALC context. Data were collected in the form of a post-intervention survey, and focus group interviews. The data were then analysed using Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT), a sub-theory within Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 1987). Our findings suggest that the intervention fostered feelings of competence in both students' English abilities, and their ability for selfreflection. Feelings of competence combined with support from peers motivated a portion of students to increase their use of English within the SALC. While many students felt that the intervention had helped them to increase their use of English in the SALC, the majority of students were uncertain about the effectiveness of the intervention. We will present several possible reasons for these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the role of gender in reading comprehension of short stories taught through awareness-raising among Iranian EFL learners. In so doing, twelve male and eighteen female learners with lower intermediate English proficiency were selected as the research sample. Next, they were randomly divided into two fifteen-member groups (i.e., a control group and an experimental group). The control group followed the conventional methods and the experimental group was taught the same short stories using awareness-raising activities. Consequently, an independent sample t-test was run. The obtained results indicate the experimental group demonstrates a better performance than the control one. According to the means, the female learners in both groups outperformed the male ones.

This paper explores institutional and normative developments in the area of anti-corruption efforts in three Chinese-speaking countries/territories with the latest emphasis on fostering all-encompassing corruption-intolerable environment. Hong Kong’s experience is often regarded as the high standard in establishing efficient anti-corruption institutions in inhospitable conditions. Over relatively short period of time – Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established in 1974 – the city made great strides against official corruption and has upheld its clean reputation ever since. ICAC’s former Deputy Commissioner and Head of Operations cites the 2000 public opinion poll in which Hong Kong residents named ICAC’s establishment the 6th most important event in the city’s 1 50-year history. ICAC is an example of a successful reactive approach to anti-corruption. Taiwan has its own success story. The Control Yuan – part of a unique five-branch government structure – combines watchdog and ombudsman functions which nowadays are considered prerequisite for successful fight against corruption and even more important for preventive efforts. This institution – supported by legitimacy of tradition – has a potential to become a coordinating center for comprehensive anti-corruption policy with more specialized agencies handling various aspects of corruption and economic crimes. Lately the Control Yuan’s role in Taiwan’s political structure has been debated, but it remains an example of effective proactive approach to fighting malfeasance. China’s anti-corruption strategy for 2013-17 aims to put forth a “dense net” of regulations, institutions and ethic norms towards country-wide corruption-intolerable environment. Preventive measures that include citizens’ awareness-raising and increasing ethical requirements of government workers warrant additional attention.

The present study was an attempt to investigate the effect of meta-cognitive strategy (planning, self-monitoring) awareness raising instruction on reading comprehension of Iranian ESP learners. Participants of three groups each comprising of 21 Iranian male students studying “Civil Engineering” in “Islamic Azad University of Buin Zahra” were selected and assigned to three groups: two experimental groups (group A, and B) and one control group (group C). To meet the aim of the study, two reading comprehension tests were administered to the participants in three groups. In the first phase, a reading comprehension was administered as a pre-test. In the second phase, two experimental groups received five sessions of instruction on planning and self-monitoring awareness raising strategies on the Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach (CALLA) and control group received no training. In the third phase, after completion of the instruction, a reading comprehension test as a post-test was administered to the groups. The findings indicated that the participants in two experimental groups outperformed the control group in the post-test of reading comprehension. It is concluded that the instruction of planning and self-monitoring metacognitive strategies as learning aids can lead to the improvement of students’ reading comprehension performance.

In recent years, digital games have emerged as a new tool in human trafficking awareness-raising. These games reflect a trend towards 'virtual humanitarianism', utilising digital technologies to convey narratives of suffering with the aim of raising awareness about humanitarian issues. The creation of these games raises questions about whether new technologies will depict humanitarian problems in new ways, or simply perpetuate problematic stereotypes. This article examines three online games released in the last five years for the purpose of raising awareness about human trafficking. In analysing these games, we argue that the persistent tropes of ideal victims lacking in agency continue to dominate the narrative, with a focus on individualised problems rather than structural causes of human trafficking. However, the differing approaches taken by the games demonstrate the potential for complexity and nuance in storytelling through digital games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]