Temple University

About: Temple University is a education organization based out in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 32154 authors who have published 64375 publications receiving 2219828 citations.

Imagined Communities, Identity, and English Language Learning

Abstract: This chapter introduces the notion of imagined communities as a way to better understand the relationship between second language learning and identity. It is argued that language learners’ actual and desired memberships in imagined communities affect their learning trajectories, influencing their agency, motivation, investment, and resistance in the learning of English. These influences are exemplified with regard to five identity clusters: postcolonial, global, ethnic, multilingual, and gendered identities. During the course of this discussion, we consider the relevance of imagined communities for classroom practice in English education.

School Delinquency and the School Social Bond

Abstract: Using data from a sample of 754 middle school students in Grades 7 and 8, this article examines the independent effects of the four components of the school social bond—school commitment, attachment to school, school involvement, and belief in school rules—on school crime, school misconduct, and school nonattendance. The results suggest that personal background, family involvement in schooling, and ability grouping have differential effects on the school bond components. Also, an examination of the independent effects of the four components of the school social bond suggests that certain components are more important than others in controlling different types of school delinquency. These results suggest that the school social bond is an important intervening mechanism that helps to explain the effects of certain predictor variables on school crime, school misconduct, and nonattendance in middle schools.

A Robust and Efficient Algorithm for Coprime Array Adaptive Beamforming

Abstract: Coprime array offers a larger array aperture than uniform linear array with the same number of physical sensors, and has a better spatial resolution with increased degrees of freedom However, when it comes to the problem of adaptive beamforming, the existing adaptive beamforming algorithms designed for the general array cannot take full advantage of coprime feature offered by the coprime array In this paper, we propose a novel coprime array adaptive beamforming algorithm, where both robustness and efficiency are well balanced Specifically, we first decompose the coprime array into a pair of sparse uniform linear subarrays and process their received signals separately According to the property of coprime integers, the direction-of-arrival (DOA) can be uniquely estimated for each source by matching the super-resolution spatial spectra of the pair of sparse uniform linear subarrays Further, a joint covariance matrix optimization problem is formulated to estimate the power of each source The estimated DOAs and their corresponding power are utilized to reconstruct the interference-plus-noise covariance matrix and estimate the signal steering vector Theoretical analyses are presented in terms of robustness and efficiency, and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed coprime array adaptive beamforming algorithm

MNEs as Border-Crossing Multi-location Enterprises: The Role of Discontinuities in Geographic Space

Abstract: Spurred by the classic work of Dunning, MNE location has become the focus of a growing body of research in the field. In this paper we argue that international business (IB) research examining the spatial dimension has serious weaknesses, stemming from its traditional assumption of the country as the location unit of analysis. While border-crossing remains the key research context of IB, placing it within a general spatial framework that recognizes both international and subnational spatial heterogeneity opens up vast new vistas for research. Analyzing MNEs as border-crossing multi-location enterprises allows the researcher to distinguish between (discrete) border effects and (continuous) distance effects and undertake a more fine-grained analysis of location. Within such analysis national borders may appear as qualitative discontinuities in space, that is, points at which spatial heterogeneity changes abruptly. However, subnational spatial heterogeneity is often the characteristic that drives firm strategy as MNEs decide to locate in particular agglomerations and not at random locations within a country. The complex firms that IB scholars study typically include multiple units within the same country, so that a complete analysis requires considering both subnational distance effects as well as international border effects.

Effects of stress and social supports on mother-child interactions in single- and two-parent families

Abstract: Social networks, coping abilities, life stresses, and mother-child interaction were studied in 28 mother-child pairs--14 single mothers and their preschool children and 14 matched married women and children. Questionnaires were used to measure the mothers' social network, coping abilities, and life stress; a mother-child interaction situation was used to measure maternal control, maternal maturity demands, maternal nurturance, mother-child communication, and child compliance. Single parents tended to be more socially isolated than married parents. They worked longer hours and received less emotional and less parental support. They tended to have less stable social networks and experience more potentially stressful life changes. Only in the household area did single mothers report more difficulties coping than 2-parent mothers. No significant differences were found in any of the 5 mother-child interaction variables. Different variables predicted mother-child interaction in the 2 samples. Predicting optimal mother-child interaction in single-parent families were fewer stressful life events, reduced social contact, increased parenting support, and hours maternal employment. Predicting optimal interaction in 2-parent families were fewer stressful life events, satisfaction with emotional support, and the availability of household help. Social contacts, household help, and employment differentially predicted mother-child interactions in the 2 groups. Implications of these differences for descriptions of the effect of social networks and maternal adjustment on child development are considered, as are implications for intervention.