bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Faculty Support and Student Retention
Authors: Shelton Elisabeth N
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to explore the relationship between nursing students' perceived faculty support and nursing student retention. The 458 associate degree nursing students who participated were categorized according to their persistence- those who had persisted continuously throughout a nursing program, those who had withdrawn voluntarily at some time during a program, and those who had been required to withdraw because of academic failure. Perceived faculty support was measured by scores on the Perceived Faculty Support Scale, an instrument developed by the researcher for this study. A factor analysis of the instrument revealed two factors- psychological support, directed at promoting a sense of competency and self-worth, and functional support, directed at the achievement of tasks to reach the goals of persistence and academic success. Analysis of variance revealed persistence group differences in perceived faculty support. Students who reported greater perceived faculty support were more likely to persist throughout a nursing program than students who withdrew either voluntarily or because of academic failure. To promote retention of nursing students, faculty need to provide the caring atmosphere of a mentoring relationship and direct assistance to facilitate student learning.
Scaffolding Successful Mobile Experiences for Frontline ESL Workers: An Exploratory Study
Authors: O'Bryan Anne , Compton Lily , Gutiérrez Juan David , Payne Thais
Published: December 2019

This 10-week exploratory study investigates the use of a mobile language learning app, Babbel, by 10 ESL front-line employees and 4 managers and native English-speaking employees at a Fortune 500 company. We focused on the participants’ motivations for using the language learning app and the challenges that they faced. Three key thematic findings were convenience of access, instrumental motivation, and state communicative self-confidence, while challenges included technological literacy and accountability. Recommendations emphasize the importance of onboarding procedures for those with low technological literacy, continual support from a community of practice, and management participation.
Classez ce film que les enfants ne sauraient voir
Authors: Esquerre Arnaud
Published: December 2019

De quelle manière des personnes chargées, dans le cadre d’une commission d’État, de veiller à la « classification » des films, décident-elles de soustraire à la vue de mineurs des films au motif qu’ils contiennent des images d’actes sexuels et violents ? La plupart du temps, les travaux sur la « censure » cinématographique, s’appuyant sur des archives, ignorent les débats, couverts par le secret, pour n’en garder que l’avis final. Cette étude, qui se fonde sur une observation ethnographique exceptionnelle réalisée en France en 2017-2018, permet de montrer comment des commissaires statuent en utilisant un nombre limité de procédés argumentatifs. Le principal d’entre eux est la comparaison, largement déniée par les acteurs, au motif que chaque œuvre est unique et donc incomparable. Ce dispositif vise à imputer des effets aux images en mettant à distance les intentions du réalisateur du film, et au nom d’un spectateur mineur projeté.
The voice of propaganda
Authors: Bayly Susan
Published: December 2019

Building on ethnographic fieldwork in Vietnam’s vibrant capital Hanoi, this article asks why attempts to use moralising public iconography as talking points with research collaborators can so often have a silencing effect on otherwise voluble interlocutors. It is proposed that these are moments of agentive silence, where the muting of a vocal self can be an act of moral will, not the crushing of agency and voice. It is therefore suggested that there can be more to a silent self than the effect of a censor’s power to control or extinguish speech, especially in contexts where state propaganda can work both visually and textually to repress as well as authorise a citizen’s expressive voice.
Fascism, uncensored
Authors: Heywood Paolo
Published: December 2019

This article describes the afterlife of the 1952 Scelba Law in Italy, which forbids “apologias” for the fascist regime, and its chequered history of application. Intended to censor, amongst other things, speech directed towards the reconstitution of an Italian fascist party, fascist propaganda, and fascist demonstrations, the Scelba Law has been sparingly and inconsistently applied. This is particularly evident in the village of Predappio, Mussolini’s home town, and one of Italy’s premier sites of neo-fascist tourism. This article explores the ways in which the pointed absence of censorship in Predappio constitutes an intervention in a wider set of debates surrounding how to identify “fascism” as an object. It thus highlights the value of examining not only the productivity of censorship as a practice and vocation but also the potentially productive force of abstaining from censorship.
L’épiderme du silence
Authors: Cros Michèle , Stoichita Pedro
Published: December 2019

À partir d’images muettes, cette bande dessinée révèle l’essentiel de l’initiation en pays lobi burkinabè : l’apprentissage d’un faire-taire élémentaire et la canalisation de la parole, que celle-ci soit orale, dessinée ou photographique. Entrer dans le monde des adultes en cette terre animiste relève bien de l’éthique d’un savoir-taire. Comment maîtriser la capture photographique du rite initiatique, et la diffusion des images ? Comment respecter la nécessité de garder le secret ? Ce travail graphique à quatre mains a été élaboré à partir d’un court essai ethnographique, à retrouver en ligne sur le site de la revue, construit autour de trois images muettes auxquelles a été confrontée l’anthropologue initiée. La bande dessinée donne à voir, à la manière d’un rhombe, l’écho graphique de cet art de la retenue.
Le silence des rizières
Authors: Rappoport Dana
Published: December 2019

Avant l’arrivée des missionnaires dans les hautes terres toraja de l’île de Sulawesi en Indonésie, le cycle de la culture du riz était rythmé par un grand nombre de rituels. L’un d’entre eux consistait en un jeu chanté dans les rizières, qui mettait en interaction les femmes et les hommes. Les pieds dans l’eau, une vingtaine de femmes chantaient en polyphonie, tout en jouant avec les hommes qui passaient par là. Les paroles, la musique et le jeu de ce rituel, véritable ode au désir et à la continuité de la vie, participaient à la fertilité des cultures. Considérant qu’il menaçait les bonnes mœurs exigées par la religion protestante, les pasteurs et les autorités gouvernementales coloniales y mirent un terme. Le silence s’installa alors dans les rizières. Alors que le jeu fut interdit, le chant fut paradoxalement toléré, mais hors de son contexte initial pour différents types de représentations, locales ou régionales. En le réduisant à sa dimension formelle, ce court texte décrit comment ce qui chantait dans ce chant fut alors annihilé.
Bâillonnée d’ennui
Authors: Caisne Léonore Le
Published: December 2019

En 2007, pour comprendre l’absence de signalement d’un inceste commis par un père sur sa fille – et dont six enfants étaient nés –, Léonore Le Caisne réalise un travail d’enquête ethnographique dans le village d’Île-de-France où vivait la famille et dans la cité populaire de la ville voisine où travaillait le père. Prise par l’indifférence et la banalisation des habitants, et le dédain de leurs élus, elle décrit le mal extraordinaire qu’elle eut à conserver de l’intérêt pour cette recherche, qui se délita jour après jour. La configuration sociale particulière à laquelle elle fut confrontée et qui eut ce pouvoir de censure considérable sur son enquête fut justement celle-là même qui empêcha la dénonciation des faits à la justice.
Tiens, lis donc, et sache à quoi t’en tenir
Authors: Aymes Marc
Published: December 2019

Istanbul, milieu des années 1820. Un navire battant pavillon de Russie et franchissant les Détroits est intercepté par les autorités ottomanes. Les documents de bord sont des faux. Le pavillon, une probable contrefaçon. Les passagers, sûrement des bandits, voire des rebelles. Pourtant, l’ambassadeur de Russie conteste la saisie du navire. Et lorsque les agents du port chargés du halage orchestrent une bruyante parade au crépuscule, la discussion s’envenime. Un rapport du grand vizir adressé au palais du sultan relate toute l’affaire. L’histoire est connue : sous nos yeux s’anime le petit théâtre diplomatique de la « Question d’Orient ». Lire de près ce document permet pourtant de découvrir autre chose : se déroulent en effet sous nos yeux des opérations significatives, elles-mêmes tues et donc quasiment imperceptibles, de réduction au silence.
Pictures on paper
Authors: Hoek Lotte
Published: December 2019

The Bangladesh Film Club Act of 1980 set out to regulate and control the flourishing film society movement during the years of military dictatorship. This Act illustrates the response of the state to the social formations that were called into being around a canon of national and international art films. In this article, I explore the paperwork generated out of this Act and suggest it allows a reconsideration of film censorship as acting upon particular film texts towards an understanding of the way censorship can be used to respond to anxieties generated by the thriving of certain film cultures. A focus on the images and logos that accompanied the bureaucratic submissions to the Film Censor Board by film societies illuminates a core idea within the film society movement: that ‘good’ or art film would generate new social formations and produce political transformation. It is exactly to this threat that the Film Club Act responded, thus illustrating the efficacy of the film societies’ visual register as a mobilizing force.
The Case of Accounting Information for Infrastructural Assets Reporting
Authors: Ehalaiye Dimu , Redmayne Nives Botica , Laswad Fawzi
Published: December 2019

In a civil society, citizens require information to assist them in understanding and monitoring how public resources are managed. Accounting information produced by public managers allows such monitoring and helps citizens to participate in the political process when it comes to election or re-election of the politicians. This chapter discusses the case of investments in infrastructural assets and local government borrowing in New Zealand, with an emphasis on the role of accounting information in the context of moral hazard and fiscal accountability of local government politicians and leadership. The evidence in this chapter shows that New Zealand local governments tend to invest significantly more in visible infrastructural assets such as roads, land, and buildings. This confirms the moral hazard theory that local politicians may be prioritizing infrastructure investments that can be seen by their electorate as evidence of their performance in government, presenting a more favourable picture that leads to politicians' election or re-election on local government bodies.
Characteristics of Agro-Entrepreneurs in Southeast Europe
Authors: Leković Bojan , Petrović Miodrag
Published: December 2019

The research area of this chapter includes determinants that influence early-stage entrepreneurial activity in the agro sector in the countries of the Southeast Europe region (SEE). The research implies determinants such as national culture, individual entrepreneurial characteristics, as well as entrepreneurial aspirations (growth, innovation, and internationalization). Data for the research was provided by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor database. To form a research sample, data were collected from agrobusiness entrepreneurs in Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. In line with the theory, past research and the result of empirical research, authors propose a model consisted of determinants that influence early-stage entrepreneurial activity in the agro sector in the countries of SEE.
Diversification of Economic Activities and Sustainable Development of Rural Areas
Authors: Vuković Predrag Miroslav , Grujić Biljana
Published: December 2019

The current employment structure in rural areas of Serbia is the result of an insufficiently diversified economic structure, highly dependent on the primary sector and the exploitation of natural resources. The main problems of rural areas are: lack of employment opportunities, high dependence on agriculture, and declining quality and availability of basic services and infrastructure. These problems result in a decrease in the attractiveness and quality of rural areas as a place of work and life, demographic decline, and employment reduction in rural areas. Non-agricultural activities contribute to a higher degree of diversification of rural economy, and represent a chance for revitalization of rural areas. This chapter points out the prospects for the development of other profitable activities at Novi Sad's rural areas with a special emphasis on rural tourism in the context of the concept of sustainable development. Expectations are that such an approach would create conditions for rural areas to become attractive for the life of local residents and also for tourists.
Food, Rural Heritage, and Tourism in the Local Economy
Authors: Privitera Donatella , Štetić Snežana , Baran Tamer , Nedelcu Adrian
Published: December 2019

This chapter focuses on the manifestations of the values of the gastronomic cultural heritage in geographically and ethnically different territories in southeastern European countries such as Serbia, Romania, Turkey, and Italy. The chapter explores how the development of gastronomy and the food heritage can help to protect rural heritage values. This study used qualitative method. Case studies were used to summarize the local survey results and to consider how an entrepreneurial culture can enhance locally produced food as a value-added touristic experience. Case study surveys in the four countries enable us to get an insight into the cultural values of the gastronomic heritage in each of them, to formulate gastronomic cultural heritage marketing development paths to continue to increase the demand for these values, and hence to revitalize economic activity in the local rural communities. There is a wide variety of different practices in different regions and countries.
Next Generation Tourism Entrepreneurs in Rural Turkey
Authors: Calisir-Hovardaoglu Seda , Hovardaoglu Ozan
Published: December 2019

This chapter investigates a new tendency of local tourism entrepreneurs, who are identified as next generation entrepreneurs in this study in destinations wherein tourism has already become the main economic activity. This tendency represents the efforts of integrating the agricultural production with tourism activities by being (a) the owner of a tourism capacity and being either the owner or the organizer of an agricultural production; and (b) establishing complementary relations between tourism and agriculture. Findings show that integration between tourism and agriculture has already produced a multiplicity of integration modes including different levels of marketing, and has had a series of distinctive features which do not only depend on geographical characteristics of destinations but also on socio-economic and socio-spatial features of rural settlements including the tourist characteristics. Findings also show that an actual integration seems to be an endeavor of the entrepreneur which depends on functional solidarity between tourism and agriculture.
Online Buyer Profiles in Rural Tourism
Authors: Djokic Ines , Milicevic Nikola
Published: December 2019

The services of rural tourism are increasingly offered and sold through online channel. This chapter researches socio-demographic profile of online buyers of rural tourism services. The process of knowing and understanding buyers starts with conducting marketing research and is followed by strategic and tactical marketing steps. The profile of buyers is the result of the process of market segmentation in which various variables are used, firstly as segmentation base and later as descriptors of identified segments. Field marketing research was conducted in Serbia. There were 300 respondents. Convenience sampling was used. Several variables in regard to buyers' relation to rural tourism services were considered from the aspect of their socio-demographic characteristics. The results show that these variables are useful for describing rural tourism services' online buyers. Furthermore, the recommendations for providers of such services were provided.
A Comparative Analysis of the Organic Food Market in Turkey, EU, and US
Authors: Goktuna Bilge Ozturk , Hamzaoğlu Nazife Merve
Published: December 2019

Conventional agriculture has long been criticized about its negative externalities on issues like public health, environment, biodiversity, and all ecological systems on the planet such as environmental pollution, soil erosion, reduction of animal welfare, and negative impacts of GMOs. As an alternative production system to address these problems, organic agriculture has been developed worldwide since the 1970s. In this chapter, an overview of organic agriculture and food market is given and a comparative analysis between organic agricultural markets in EU, US, and Turkey is made after an outlook on the world organic food market. It is seen that EU and US are forthcoming leaders in the organic food market, whilst Turkey remains behind many developed countries in terms of organic production, per capita consumption, and retail sales.
Application of the Principle of Rational Approximations for Measuring Dynamic Frequency Values Generated by an IMU
Authors: Murrieta-Rico Fabian N. , Petranovskii Vitalii , Sanchez-Lopez Juan de Dios , Nieto-Hipolito Juan Ivan , Vazquez-Briseño Mabel , Antúnez-García Joel , Yocupicio-Gaxiola Rosario I. , Tyrsa Vera
Published: December 2019

In most aerial vehicles, accurate information about critical parameters like position, velocity, and altitude is critical. In these systems, such information is acquired through an inertial measurement unit. Parameters like acceleration, velocity, and position are obtained after processing data from sensors; some of them are the accelerometers. In this case, the signal generated by the accelerometer has a frequency that depends from the acceleration experienced by the sensor. Since the time available for frequency estimation is critical in an aerial device, the frequency measurement algorithm is critical. This chapter proposes the principle of rational approximations for measuring the frequency from accelerometer-generated signals. In addition, the effect of different measurement parameters is shown, discussed, and evaluated.
Digital Control Theory Application and Signal Processing in a Laser Scanning System Applied for Mobile Robotics
Authors: Reyes-Garcia Miguel , Sepulveda-Valdez Cesar , Sergiyenko Oleg , Rivas-López Moisés , Rodríguez-Quiñonez Julio Cesar , Flores-Fuentes Wendy , Hernandez-Balbuena Daniel , Nieto-Hipolito Juan-Ivan , Murrieta-Rico Fabian N. , Lindner Lars , Ivanov Mykhailo
Published: December 2019

Positioning technologies are useful in a great number of applications, which are oriented for pick and place robots, manipulation of machine tools, especially on machines oriented for artificial vision and detection systems, such as vision-guided robotic systems and object existence in a limited environment. Due to the high demand of those applications, this chapter presents digital control theory application using a laser positioner, which obtains 3D coordinates in a defined field of view. Using the LM629N-8 motion controller, representing the main digital controller for the motion task of the laser positioner as an active element, which is analyzed via modeling and simulation using Matlab-Simulink. Additionally, this chapter focuses on some of the principal sources of uncertainties that exist in a laser scanning system and mainly on the receptive part of such system, which is driven by a brushed DC motor. The processed signal will be analyzed in different environmental conditions to analyze how it is affected by the instability characteristics of this main actuator.
Obstacle Classification Based on Laser Scanner for Intelligent Vehicle Systems
Authors: Caceres Hernandez Danilo , Kurnianggoro Laksono , Filonenko Alexander , Jo Kang-Hyun
Published: December 2019

In the field of advanced driver-assistance and autonomous vehicle systems, understanding the surrounding vehicles plays a vital role to ensure a robust and safe navigation. To solve detection and classification problem, an obstacle classification strategy based on laser sensor is presented. Objects are classified according the geometry, distance range, reflectance, and disorder of each of the detected object. In order to define the best number of features that allows the algorithm to classify these objects, a feature analysis is performed. To do this, the set of features were divided into four groups based on the characteristic, distance, reflectance, and the entropy of the object. Finally, the classification task is performed using the support vector machines (SVM) and adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) algorithms. The evaluation indicates that the method proposes a feasible solution for intelligent vehicle applications, achieving a detection rate of 87.96% at 48.32 ms for the SVM and 98.19% at 79.18ms for the AdaBoost.
Internet of Things-Based Healthcare Applications
Authors: Ansari Seema , Aslam Tahniyat , Poncela Javier , Otero Pablo , Ansari Adeel
Published: December 2019

The demand for global healthcare systems for human health improvement is ever growing. Internet of things (IoT) has influenced every industry in the market. IoT-based healthcare monitoring systems have emerged using smart gateways between sensor networks and the internet. This chapter aims at focusing on the impact of IoT on healthcare and explores the difference that IoT has made in the recent years. IoT applications in healthcare have helped people keep track of their medical requirements such as reminding them of appointments, keeping a check on calorie count, variations in blood pressure, a check on exercises, and many more. In this chapter, studies of IoT-based healthcare applications are presented. The chapter begins with the introduction and history of IoT in healthcare, sharing state of the art, architecture, applications of IoT in healthcare, advantages, future concerns and challenges, and future of IoT in healthcare, followed by conclusion.
Internet of Drones-Enabled Smart Cities
Authors: Sharma Navuday , Magarini Maurizio , Alam Muhammad Mahtab
Published: December 2019

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are expected to provide data service to users as aerial base stations, as gateways to collect the data from various sensors, and as sensor-mounted aerial platforms deployed in smart cities. The study in this chapter initially starts with the air-to-ground (A2G) channel model. Due to the unavailability of channel parameters for UAVs at low altitudes, measurements were performed using a radio propagation simulator for generalized environments developed using ITU-R parameters. Further, cell coverage analysis is shown with simulation results obtained from the ray tracing. Later, an optimal replacement to UDNs was proposed to support the flash crowds and smart cites known as ultra-dense cloud drone network. This system is advantageous as it offers reduction in total cost of ownership due to its on-demand capability. Further, work is shown on implementing parameters for 5G physical layer with generalized frequency division multiplexing modulation over A2G channel on the UAV network to provide reliable and faster connectivity for ground users and sensors.
Streamlining IPv6 Functionality for Low Power Nodes
Authors: Rudra Bhawana , S. Thanmayee
Published: December 2019

The internet of things is a new paradigm where smart embedded devices are connected to the internet. In this context, wireless sensor networks (WSN) are becoming an important alternative for sensing and actuating critical applications like industrial automation, healthcare, etc. 6LoWPAN provides a means of carrying packet in the form of IPv6 over IEEE 802.15.4 and other networks. It provides end-to-end IPv6, and as such, it is able to provide direct connectivity to a huge variety of networks and to the internet. It uses an adaptation layer for fragmenting and reassembling of the IPv6 packets. Due to its low-cost communication network, it allows IoT connectivity with limited power and throughput. It can be used to overcome the challenges that are faced during the integration of WSN and IP protocols. This chapter briefly discusses IoT followed by an introduction to IPv6 and 6LoWPAN in detail along with architecture that suits IoT, 6LoWPAN mote design features and functions. It also focus on the advantages of LoWPAN with respect to IoT and its security along with smart city case studies.
Reliability and Security Challenges in Electrical/Optical On-Chip Interconnects for IoT Applications
Authors: Yahya Muhammad Rehan , Wu Ning , Ali Zain Anwar
Published: December 2019

The evolution of internet of things (IoT) applications, cloud computing, smart cities, and 4G/5G wireless communication systems have significantly increased the demands for on chip processing. Network on chip (NoC) is a viable alternative that can provide higher processing and bandwidth for increasing demands. NoC offers better performance and more flexibility with lower communication latency and higher throughput. However, use of NoC-based IoT devices have raised concerns on security and reliability of integrated chips (IC), which is used in almost every application. IoT devices share data that becomes vulnerable to attack and can be compromised during the data transfer. Keeping in view these security challenges, a detailed survey is presented that covers the security issues and challenges focusing on NoCs along with proposed countermeasures to secure on-chip communication. This study includes on-chip security issues for electrical as well as optical on-chip interconnects.
Green Material for Fused Filament Fabrication
Authors: Mohammad Taha Mastura , Jumaidin Ridhwan , Razali Nadlene M. , Abdul Kudus Syahibudil Ikhwan
Published: December 2019

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) has been developed in additive manufacturing technology as a fast and simple manufacturing process in product design. Advantage of the process such as flexibility in terms of the materials employment has attracted many researchers to develop new materials for the feed stock filament in the heat extrusion process of FFF. Green materials or bio-composites materials have been found in FFF and successfully commercialized in the market. However, a deep research should have been performed prior the application because of the unique characteristics of the material itself. The challenge for the researchers to develop bio-composite materials as the filament in FFF technology is to determine the right composition of the composites with the right thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties. Therefore, in this study, a review has been conducted to highlight the important requirements of the process and materials. Green materials such as bio-composites have a great potential in the FFF technology and could improve the sustainability impact.
Pre-Service Teachers' Digital Competencies to Support School Students' Digital Literacies
Authors: Maher Damian
Published: December 2019

The chapter has two main foci. The first focus is on the types of literacy practices needed by young people to work in a contemporary digital environment. Policies that impact on the development of digital literacy development are explored. The aspects underpinning digital literacy are examined and a sociocultural approach explained. Aspects of safety and ethics are focused on. The first half concludes by discussing digital games and ways these can be used to develop digital literacies in schools. The second focus is on the digital competencies that pre-service teachers can develop to support teaching of digital literacies. Different models for developing digital competencies are outlined. The aspect of critical understanding is then examined. This is followed by exploring digital story telling. Important considerations for developing digital competencies within and beyond university training are examined. The chapter then provides some suggestions for further research in this field.
Integrating Digital Literacy in Competency-Based Curriculum
Authors: Otieno Daniel
Published: December 2019

This chapter discusses the integration of digital literacy in competency-based curriculum (CBC). In the introduction, the authors discuss the 21st century skills and their relevance to the competency-based curriculum. The discussion funnels from global, regional, and local contexts. Theoretical perspectives in ICT and the CBC are dealt with to provide a background. Multiple approaches of integrating digital literacy within the curriculum are highlighted later in the chapter. These issues are discussed in the light of the extant literature on digital literacy and the competency-based curriculum. The discussion revolves around the trends, controversies of digital literacy in the CBC with possible solutions put forth towards the end of the chapter. Finally, recommendations and future research directions are made. The chapter concludes with a summary of the major issues discussed in the chapter and recommendations for further reading.
Strategies for Improving and Modeling Digital Technology and Literacy Integration
Authors: Glass Wykeshia W. , Hickman Desiree G.
Published: December 2019

This chapter focuses on the suggestions and strategies of technology being utilized in classroom settings. An emphasis is placed on digital technology and literacy integration. The authors explore the effectiveness of digital technology and literacy integration and identify external and internal factors limiting technology integration commonly found within a typical PreK-12th grade classroom setting. In addition to the authors discussing factors that limit school's integration, the authors provide solutions and recommendations suggesting resources throughout the chapter to improve and model digital technology and literacy integration in the classroom.
Technology Integration in Teacher Education
Authors: Limboro Charity Mukiri , Kaugi Ephantus Micheni
Published: December 2019

This study examined the availability of computers and internet in the classroom or elsewhere at teacher colleges, teacher preparation and training in technology integration, as well as trainers' use of technology in classroom instruction. A survey questionnaire was distributed randomly to 63 teacher trainers from three public and one private teacher training college in Kenya. The data was analyzed descriptively using SPSS software. The results indicated that technology integration at the classroom level was too low due to lack of computers and internet access in the classrooms. Teacher trainers were inadequately trained in information and communication technology integration and therefore poorly equipped to integrate technology in the classroom. The study concludes that teacher colleges were not adequately prepared for ICT integration in teaching and learning. It is recommended that teacher colleges' ICT infrastructure be improved and teacher trainers' capacity on ICT integration be developed for the success of the current curriculum reforms.
An Empirical Study of ISO 14001 Certification and Firm Environmental Performance
Authors: Wang Yang , Chen Yijun , Xu Qi , Wu Wenqing
Published: December 2019

ISO14001 certification is of great significance to the company's environmental performance. Through the empirical analysis of environmental certification and performance of Listed Companies in China, this chapter draws some valuable conclusions. The initial ISO14001 certification will worsen the environmental performance of the enterprises. The equity nature of the enterprise has a moderating effect on the ISO14001 certification's influence on enterprise environmental performance. The separation rate of the above-mentioned two positions has a moderating effect on the ISO14001 certification's influence on enterprise environmental performance. Based on the above conclusions, this chapter puts forward some reasonable policy suggestions.
Family violence and its psychological management at the Emergency Department: A review
Authors: Caponnetto Pasquale , Maglia Marilena , Pistritto Loredana , Ferlito Salvatore , Cannella Maria Concetta
Published: December 2019

An Emergency Department provides emergency diagnosis and interventions, first clinical instrumental and laboratory examinations, actions needed to stabilize the patient. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the state-of-the-science focused on intimate partner violence. The review search period was from 2000 to 2019. The search was not restricted by language or geographical region, and was carried out by combining an exhaustive list of terms denoting intimate partner violence, domestic violence, emergency department care of women, women victims of violence, identifying abuse among women. Databases searched included MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library.
Evaluation of the weight loss of raw beef cuts vacuumpackaged with two different techniques
Authors: Stella Simone , Garavaglia Daniela , Francini Giorgia , Viganò Valeria , Bernardi Cristian , Tirloni Erica
Published: December 2019

In the present study, 25 cuts of shank form adult cattle coming from the same slaughtering batch, were withdrawn just after manual sectioning/deboning, and each divided into two pieces (Prox and Dist) of approximately the same weight, that were vacuum packaged by using two different packaging systems: vacuum chamber machine with a bag material and a thermoforming packaging machine with top and bottom webs named BAG and THF respectively. The packed cuts were stored at 2-3°C for 20 days. The drip loss was calculated at the end of the storage as the difference between drained weight and net. Internal muscle pH and pH of the exudate present in the package and microbiological analyses (by pooling the samples) were performed at T0 and at the end of the storage. The drip loss, was significantly lower with BAG packaging: this difference was evident after 20 days of storage (average ± STD BAG vs THF = 1.04±0.36% vs 1.71±0.42%; P<0.01). The values were, in general, low for both the packaging systems, never above 2%. Moreover, shrink bag packages are characterized by better overall pack appearance and less plastic weight per pack. Forming step reduce the thickness of thermoforming material lowering the mechanical resistance and the barrier to oxygen, on the contrary after shrinking bag materials are thickened. The pH of muscles was stable, although a slight increase was evidenced after 20 (average ± STD BAG vs THF= 5.73±0.05 vs 5.78±0.09; P<0.01), due to the ageing of meat. The pH of the exudate was equal at T20 (average ± STD BAG vs THF = 5.34±0.20 vs 5.33±0.17). The drip loss didn’t influence the development of all the microflora; in particular LAB, that represented the main microbial population, showed a gradual increase from T0 (2.20±0.41 Log CFU/g) to T20 (average ± STD BAG vs THF= 4.76±0.29 Log CFU/g vs 4.75±0.0.15 Log CFU/g). Enterobacteriaceae showed an increase, if compared to the initial counts, due to the prolonged storage and the gradual growth of ephemeral microorganisms, without differences among the two series (Enterobacteriaceae: T0=<1.7 Log CFU/g to T20 average ± STD BAG vs THF = 2.83±0.77 Log CFU/g vs 3.09±0.0.70 Log CFU/g). In conclusion, the use of the BAG system demonstrated to have an effect in reducing the drip loss of beef cuts during the refrigerated storage, with only slight influence on the other characteristics of raw meat.
Occurrence and antibiogram of Listeria monocytogenes Isolates from Retail Meat Shops at Erbil City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Authors: Al-Mashhadany Dhary Alewy
Published: December 2019

Listeria monocytogenes is well-known globally as one of the most significant foodborne bacterial pathogens. Listeriosis may trigger life-threatening illness, such as severe sepsis, meningitis, sometimes resulting in lifelong harm and even death. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and antibiotic resistance pattern of L. monocytogenes in red meats sold at retail outlets in Erbil city, Kurdistan region, Iraq. Three hundred and seventy-five (375) samples were aseptically collected from retail meat shops between July and December 2018. For isolation of L. monocytogenes, samples were cultured on selective media and tested for their susceptibility to common antibiotics by disk diffusion assay. The results revealed that the overall occurrence of L. monocytogenes in red meat samples was 13.9%. Warm season was associated with increase in L. monocytogenes occurrence. The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that 98.1%, 94.2%, and 82.7% of isolates were resistant to Streptomycin, Gentamicin, and Ampicillin respectively. This resistance pattern of L. monocytogenes is critically alarming owing to the aforementioned antibiotics are the drugs of choice of treatment of listeriosis. This level of resistance requires further investigations and effective countermeasures since it may pose a public health hazard.
Occurrence of Salmonella infection and antimicrobial susceptibility for local Salmonella isolates from different sources in a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdelmalek Shaymaa , Kadry Mona , Elshafiee Esraa A. , Hamed Wafy , Moussa Ihab Mohamed , Al-Maary Khalid S. , Mubarak Ayman S. , Hemeg Hassan A. , Elbehiry Ayman
Published: December 2019

Salmonellosis is a considerable public health problem worldwide, with high economic importance in developed countries. The main purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella infection and antibiogram analysis of isolated strains in a cross-sectional study in Egypt 2016-2017. The study investigated twenty-eight Salmonella isolates from different areas in Egypt and different types of samples, such as human stool (9.3%), Egyptian cattle egrets and storks (28.5%) and grilled chicken from electric grills (36.6%). No isolates were detected from grilled chicken from charcoal grills or drinking water. The main Salmonella serotype detected in the isolates was S. typhimurium (86.5%). Molecular characterization of the invA gene by PCR was carried out and then confirmed by sequencing, and the results were submitted to GenBank. Antibiogram analysis of Egyptian isolates carried out on 9 antimicrobial discs reported that the routine regimes of treatment were not yet effective for recent new Salmonella generations in 2016-2017. The new isolates could be treated with levofloxacin, cefaperazone/sulbactam, chloramphenicol, imipenem or meropenem.
Microbiological analysis of the Robiola di Roccaverano cheese by means of traditional culturing methods
Authors: Biolcati Federica , Bottero Maria Teresa , Dalmasso Alessandra
Published: December 2019

Robiola di Roccaverano is a Protected Designation of Origin soft cheese made with goat’s milk, produced in Piedmont region (Italy). The peculiarities of this cheese are: i) the use of the raw milk, ii) the addition of a Natural Milk Starter, iii) the application of traditional techniques of production and iv) the localization of the dairies in rural area. All these aspects influence the microbial flora of final product and make interesting its investigation. Samples were collected at different moment of the cheese making process and during the different seasons. In this preliminary study, the safety and the hygiene parameters of the production were evaluated. Lactic acid bacteria, moulds and yeasts involved in cheese-making process were also enumerated. Pathogens were not found in all samples and the counts of coagulase positive staphylococci were within the standard of law. The enumeration of microorganisms of technological interest demonstrated that, nevertheless the artisanal manufacturing process applied, the dairy was able to standardize the final products.
Comparison of the Performance of Machine Learning Algorithms in Breast Cancer Screening and Detection: A Protocol
Authors: Salod Zakia , Singh Yashik
Published: December 2019

Background

Breast Cancer (BC) is a known global crisis. The World Health Organization reports a global 2.09 million incidences and 627,000 deaths in 2018 relating to BC. The traditional BC screening method in developed countries is mammography, whilst developing countries employ breast self-examination and clinical breast examination. The prominent gold standard for BC detection is triple assessment: i) clinical examination, ii) mammography and/or ultrasonography; and iii) Fine Needle Aspirate Cytology. However, the introduction of cheaper, efficient and noninvasive methods of BC screening and detection would be beneficial.

Design and methods

We propose the use of eight machine learning algorithms: i) Logistic Regression; ii) Support Vector Machine; iii) K-Nearest Neighbors; iv) Decision Tree; v) Random Forest; vi) Adaptive Boosting; vii) Gradient Boosting; viii) eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and blood test results using BC Coimbra Dataset (BCCD) from University of California Irvine online database to create models for BC prediction. To ensure the models’ robustness, we will employ: i) Stratified k-fold Cross- Validation; ii) Correlation-based Feature Selection (CFS); and iii) parameter tuning. The models will be validated on validation and test sets of BCCD for full features and reduced features. Feature reduction has an impact on algorithm performance. Seven metrics will be used for model evaluation, including accuracy.

Expected impact of the study for public health

The CFS together with highest performing model(s) can serve to identify important specific blood tests that point towards BC, which may serve as an important BC biomarker. Highest performing model(s) may eventually be used to create an Artificial Intelligence tool to assist clinicians in BC screening and detection.
Fine-needle aspiration of axillary swelling: Cytodiagnosis of an unusual presentation of filariasis
Authors: Gupta Deepika , Gupta Prajwala , Bhardwaj Minakshi
Published: December 2019

Lymphatic filariasis is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical countries. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is not routinely used for its identification. However, it has been detected incidentally, while doing FNAC for the evaluation of other lesions. We describe a presentation of occult filariasis with microfilariae (mf) in an isolated axillary swelling wherein FNAC was helpful in establishing the diagnosis.
Infrastructure and InfraReg: on rousing the international law ‘Wizards of Is’
Authors: Kingsbury Benedict
Published: December 2019

Physical, informational and now digital infrastructure features throughout Nation-State consolidation and imperial extension, in war preparedness and war logistics, in resource extraction and energy capture and transit, in each quantum step in economic globalisation, in mass migrations and religious missions, in the global scaling of finance and financialisation, in the global digital economy, in artificial intelligence (AI) and robots, in economic development strategies and in China's vast Belt and Road Initiative. International law has largely aligned with these enterprises, but has seemed not effectively to address massive anthropocenic degradation, AI, new biotech, and the human and planetary consequences of extractive capitalism. Science and technology studies, and work extending from Bruno Latour and Susan Leigh Star to governance-by-prototype and ‘new materialism’, have generated rich insights about infrastructure. These are being extended to ‘infrastructure as regulation’ (the infra-reg project). This paper explores implications for reinvigorating deliberative forward-planning international law projects to address technologically driven transformation, which follow from ‘thinking infrastructurally’.
Silencing women in the digital age
Authors: Arimatsu Louise
Published: December 2019

In this paper I explore some of the ways in which developments in new digital technologies reproduce, and often amplify, the patriarchal structures, practices and culture of contemporary life and, in doing so, operate to silence women through exclusion and through violence. I consider how international human rights law – most notably the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) – can be harnessed to counter both forms of silencing in that each is rooted in gender-based discrimination. The digital gender divide and the rise in online violence against women evidences the failure on the part of States Parties to fully commit to their legal obligations pursuant to CEDAW. Ensuring equality of access to, and use of, digital technologies cannot be anything other than the preconditions to ensuring that women can benefit from, contribute to, and influence the development of digital technologies in a meaningful manner. The digital realm may be a privatised public space that warrants a reconceptualisation of the scope and content of human rights law but the fact that much of the digital infrastructure is owned and controlled by private actors does not absolve States of their human rights responsibilities.
Exploring Junior Doctor Morale in a Uk Hospital
Authors: Singh Raunak , Kirtley Joanne , Minhas Jatinder S , Lakhani Dilesh , Carr Sue
Published: December 2019

Background

The importance of junior doctor morale is increasingly being recognised. We aimed to identify and explore the factors affecting junior doctor morale in a UK teaching hospital.

Methods

We carried out an online survey asking junior doctors to rate their morale, rank the top five factors that positively affected morale and offer free-text comments.

Results

Nine hundred and forty three junior doctors were approached, 402 (42.6%) responded. Overall morale was rated 6 [interquartile range (IQR): 5-8], and how valued 6 (IQR: 4-8), supported 7 (IQR: 6-9) and autonomous 7 (IQR: 6-8) they felt [median ratings using a scale of 0 (low)-10 (high)]. When comparing the four domains of feeling supported, feeling valued, having autonomy and overall morale, respondents felt most supported overall (n = 402, X2 = 85.6, p < 0.0001). Key themes were identified: team working and relationships, feedback, training and education, resources, wellbeing and pastoral support, staffing and workload, senior clinician support, and autonomy. The most common factors positively affecting morale were ‘feeling part of a team’ (66.4%) and ‘being recognised for good practice’ (56.7%).

Conclusion

We identified a number of diverse themes affecting junior doctor morale. Doctors felt more supported than valued or autonomous, with complex relationships between these domains.
A filosofia sistêmica de Fritjof Capra: Um olhar ecológico para a Física e para o Ensino de Física
Authors: Pigozzo Daniel , Lima Nathan Willig , Nascimento Matheus Monteiro
Published: December 2019

Neste artigo, apresentamos a Filosofia Sistêmica de Fritjof Capra. A partir de sua obra é possível distinguir a existência de dois paradigmas (entendidos como molduras filosóficas) no desenvolvimento da ciência moderna: o paradigma mecanicista, inspirado pela Física Clássica, e o novo paradigma, articulado a partir da Física Moderna. Segundo Capra, os problemas complexos do mundo contemporâneo podem ser mais bem enfrentados pelo novo paradigma. Para abordar o tema, apresentamos uma discussão sobre a visão de Capra acerca da natureza da ciência, da Filosofia da Física Clássica e da Filosofia da Física Moderna e suas repercussões em diferentes contextos culturais. Por fim, propomos uma extrapolação do pensamento de Capra indicando possíveis implicações de seu trabalho para a Educação em Ciências, para o Ensino de Física e suas respectivas áreas de pesquisa.