Discussion of Issues Related to Language Assessment Literacy in Second Signed and Spoken Languages

This chapter is a joint discussion of key items related to language assessment literacy related to signed and spoken language assessment that were discussed in Chapters 11.1 and 11.2, and the implications that these issues might have on the other field. It is clear that language assessment literacy (LAL) in the context of signed languages—(S)LAL by the authors—is still in a very nascent form. Although in the field of spoken language assessment there is a tendency to discuss LAL as being a “new” development and recent scholarship suggests that issues and constructs remain undertheorized, there is a considerable body of literature on LAL oriented toward spoken language (as surveyed in the Chapter 11.1), to the extent that LAL is now a core area of research and scholarship in the field. This is in sharp contrast with the paucity addressing LAL in the context of signed languages. This chapter is the result of a collaborative process during which the two sets of authors read each other’s chapters and responded to a set of guided questions. The result is the synthesis of this dialogic process.

Factors affecting crop field use by Blackbuck in Krishnasaar Conservation Area, Nepal.

Reducing crop damage caused by wildlife in forest-agricultural land interface requires an understanding of the spatial pattern of crop field use and its drivers. We assessed factors influencing the spatial pattern of crop-field use by a generalist wild herbivore, blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), in the agriculture-dominated landscape of Krishnasaar Conservation Area (KrCA) in low land Nepal. We systematically selected 103 crop fields distributed over the entire KrCA (within both core area and community development zone) and surveyed them three times over three months, resulting in 309 sampling occasions. We found that crop use by blackbuck was highly localized inside core area (only 15% of the sampled crop fields were used) even though crop fields outside the core area were accessible and had limited mitigation measures applied. The linear mixed effect modeling showed that probability of crop field use by blackbuck increased with size of the crop field, implying the magnitude of foraging benefits affects blackbuck crop-use decisions. The presence of current mitigation measures (e.g., scare crow, vegetative fencing) did not have discernible influence on probability of crop field use, so did the types of the crops, and distance of crop fields from the center of the core area. Overall, our results suggest that generalist herbivore, blackbuck, employs low gain-low risk strategy when using crop fields in natural habitat-agricultural. Minimizing current level of crop damage by blackbuck will require working closely with farmers who owns lands close to the natural habitat (core area) to apply appropriate mitigation measures.

Analysis of optical Kerr effect on effective core area and index of refraction in single-mode dispersion shifted and dispersion flattened fibers

A new technique is presented for computing very useful propagation parameters like effective core area and effective index of refraction of mono-mode dispersion shifted and dispersion flattened fibers both in the presence and in the absence of Kerr nonlinearity. The technique involves application of accurate but simple expressions for modal fields developed by Chebyshev formalism. The study of the influence of Kerr nonlinearity on the aforementioned parameters, however, requires the application of the method of iteration. For the purpose of such investigation, in linear as well as nonlinear region, we take some typically used dispersion shifted and dispersion flattened fibers and we show that the results found by our simple formalism are in excellent agreement with those obtained by using complex finite element method. Further, the necessary evaluation by our simple method needs very less computations. Thus, our formalism generates ample opportunity for applications in many areas in the field of nonlinear optics.

Semantic peculiarities of diminutive forms of Spanish anthroponyms

The subject of this research is the polemical linguistic question on the peculiarities of the semantics of proper name. The object of this research is the diminutive forms of Spanish anthroponyms, which function mainly in the colloquial discourse. Analysis is conducted on the semantic peculiarities of such diminutive forms as Paco, Pepe, Charo, Maruja from frequent Spanish anthroponyms, such as Francisco, José, Rosario, María. The analysis of practical material relies on the theoretical provisions and methods of empirical research of the Russian linguoculturologists and psycholinguists, as well as on the data of the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, materials of explanatory dictionaries of the Spanish language, and publicistic texts. The conclusion is made that the colloquial discourse is the core area of verbalization of the diminutive. It is also revealed that the semantics of diminutive forms of Spanish anthroponyms contains additional connotative elements that covey unique ethno psycholinguistic information characteristic to a single linguistic consciousness. Namely the presence of culturally determined components of meaning substantiates the transition of diminutives to the category of appellatives. This article is first to analyze the semantics of diminutive forms of Spanish anthroponyms  as separate proper names, as well as distinguish additional nuances of the  meanings of these lexical unit, which defines the scientific novelty.

Neue Wege der Beschreibung von Rechtstermini: der semasiologisch-onomasiologische Ansatz der Begriffsbestimmung und seine Bedeutung für den Rechtsübersetzer

Within the framework of modern terminological findings, a new approach for the description of legal terms is presented which attempts to overcome the limitations posed by the traditional conceptual understanding of Wüster’s theory of terminology. The central question deals with the role of definition, which is of importance in the delimitation of legal terms, but more so and particularly in the formation of legal concepts. Viewed from the perspective of a modern conceptual understanding, legal concepts are the result, not the object of definition. Often, however , they may be formed through definitions only in the core area, but not in the marginal area important for the differentiation of legal concepts, and this means that further debate on the objects of law is required. By defining legal terms, and not legal concepts, a basic precondition is created for taking into consideration not only the subject specialist but also the linguistic context, and thus for fully taking into account the needs of the legal translator.

Seismic Behavior Experimental Study on the Joint of Circular Tubed Steel-Reinforced Concrete Columns

A new type joint of Circular Tubed Steel-Reinforced Concrete (CTSRC) columns was designed in this paper. The structural characteristics, manufacturing process, and mechanical properties of raw materials of the new joint were introduced. In order to simulate the earthquake action, two joint specimens were subjected to low-cycle cyclic loading at the end of the column. Based on the in-depth study of the failure characteristics, load-displacement hysteretic curve, skeleton curve, ductility index, load-strain hysteretic curve in the core area of the joint, energy dissipation performance, strength and stiffness degradation performance, and shear deformation in the core area of the joint during the whole loading process, the seismic behavior of this new type of joint was investigated. The results show that the new joint has reasonable failure characteristics, high bearing capacity, good ductility, excellent seismic energy dissipation performance, and strong resistance to strength and stiffness degradation, which meets the seismic design principle of “strong joint and weak component” and is suitable for the results with special requirements for seismic performance. In addition, preliminary design recommendations were put forward. The research results of this paper can provide a theoretical basis for the application of this kind of new structure.

MANAGEMENT POLICY ANALYSIS OF SIBERUT BIOSPHERE RESERVE MENTAWAI ARCHEPELAGO DISTRIC WEST SUMATERA PROVINCE

This research executed in Siberut island which has been specified Unesco as Biosphere Reserve. The purpose of research was to identify the policy which has been specified in Siberut, knows implementation of management, knows perception and participation of public and knows interaction of the parties involving in management Biosphere Reserve. Method applied is Inventory and contents analysis of policy, Indepth Interview with cross check, Open interview with descriptive qualitative and Inventory and Stakeholder analysis. Republic of Indonesia Government doesn't support expansion of Siberut Biosphere Reserve for all island. There is understanding difference and exploiting of Biosphere Reserve according to the Government with MAB-UNESCO so do with perception there are difference between publics Siberut with the Government. Local public assumes that forest Siberut is custom forest which its the domination stays at custom public according to custom Arat Sabulungan, where its the exploiting and management is done based on custom, but the Government considers to be state forest. Implementation of Siberut Biosphere Reserve Pledge based on Indicator Implementation released by Unesco, 1996 till now still uncommitting for overall of area Biosphere Reserve, except to of Core area (Siberut National Park). Implementation at core area based on Indicator Implementation (Unesco, 1996) mostly has been executed, except for Indikator 5,6,8,9 and 16. Role and influence MAB and TNS in Siberut still be low for the reason need to be improved. Keyword: Cagar Biosfer Siberut, Siberut Biosphere Reserve.

Targeted strategies for the management of wildlife diseases: the case of brucellosis in Alpine ibex

The management of infectious diseases in wildlife reservoirs is challenging and faces several limitations. However, detailed knowledge of host–pathogen systems often reveal heterogeneity among the hosts’ contribution to transmission. Management strategies targeting specific classes of individuals and/or areas, having a particular role in transmission, could be more effective and more acceptable than population-wide interventions. In the wild population of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex—a protected species) of the Bargy massif (French Alps), females transmit brucellosis (Brucella melitensis) infection in ~90% of cases, and most transmissions occur in the central spatial units (“core area”). Therefore, we expanded an individual-based model, developed in a previous study, to test whether strategies targeting females or the core area, or both, would be more effective. We simulated the relative efficacy of realistic strategies for the studied population, combining test-and-remove (euthanasia of captured animals with seropositive test results) and partial culling of unmarked animals. Targeting females or the core area was more effective than untargeted management options, and strategies targeting both were even more effective. Interestingly, the number of ibex euthanized and culled in targeted strategies were lower than in untargeted ones, thus decreasing the conservation costs while increasing the sanitary benefits. Although there was no silver bullet for the management of brucellosis in the studied population, targeted strategies offered a wide range of promising refinements to classical sanitary measures. We therefore encourage to look for heterogeneity in other wildlife diseases and to evaluate potential strategies for improving management in terms of efficacy but also acceptability.