bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of the Photon Path Length Probability Density Function-Simultaneous (PPDF-S) Method and Evaluation of CO2 Retrieval Performance Under Dense Aerosol Conditions
Authors: Iwasaki Chisa , Imasu Ryoichi , Bril Andrey , Oshchepkov Sergey , Yoshida Yukio , Yokota Tatsuya , Zakharov Vyacheslav , Gribanov Konstantin , Rokotyan Nikita
Published: March 2019

The photon path length probability density function-simultaneous (PPDF-S) algorithm is effective for retrieving column-averaged concentrations of carbon dioxide (XCO2) and methane (XCH4) from Greenhouse gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) spectra in Short Wavelength InfraRed (SWIR). Using this method, light-path modification attributable to light reflection/scattering by atmospheric clouds/aerosols is represented by the modification of atmospheric transmittance according to PPDF parameters. We optimized PPDF parameters for a more accurate XCO2 retrieval under aerosol dense conditions based on simulation studies for various aerosol types and surface albedos. We found a more appropriate value of PPDF parameters referring to the vertical profile of CO2 concentration as a measure of a stable solution. The results show that the constraint condition of a PPDF parameter that represents the light reflectance effect by aerosols is sufficiently weak to affect XCO2 adversely. By optimizing the constraint, it was possible to obtain a stable solution of XCO2. The new optimization was applied to retrieval analysis of the GOSAT data measured in Western Siberia. First, we assumed clear sky conditions and retrieved XCO2 from GOSAT data obtained near Yekaterinburg in the target area. The retrieved XCO2 was validated through a comparison with ground-based Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) measurements made at the Yekaterinburg observation site. The validation results showed that the retrieval accuracy was reasonable. Next, we applied the optimized method to dense aerosol conditions when biomass burning was active. The results demonstrated that optimization enabled retrieval, even under smoky conditions, and that the total number of retrieved data increased by about 70%. Furthermore, the results of the simulation studies and the GOSAT data analysis suggest that atmospheric aerosol types that affected CO2 analysis are identifiable by the PPDF parameter value. We expect that we will be able to suggest a further improved algorithm after the atmospheric aerosol types are identified.
Teachers’ Belief and Efficacy Toward Inclusive Education in Early Childhood Settings in Korea
Authors: You Sukkyung , Kim Eui Kyung , Shin Kyulee
Published: March 2019

In the literature, teacher self-efficacy has been found to increase teachers’ effective teaching strategies and students’ positive learning outcomes in inclusive education, which highlights the importance of identifying and fostering factors associated with increased self-efficacy. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine the relations between teachers’ demographic and background variables (i.e., age, teaching experience, and training experience), teachers’ beliefs toward inclusive education, and teachers’ self-efficacy. Specifically, this study aimed to test the mediating effects of teachers’ beliefs toward inclusive education on the relations between teachers’ demographic and background variables and their self-efficacy using structural equation modeling (SEM). Teacher beliefs toward inclusive education included the effectiveness of inclusive education on the social and cognitive development of children with disabilities and on non-disabled students’ understanding of the needs of children with disabilities. Results indicated that whereas teacher age and teaching and training experiences had no direct relations with teachers’ self-efficacy in inclusive education, teaching and training experiences had significant indirect relations with their self-efficacy through their beliefs toward inclusive education. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Evaluation of HVAC Design Parameters in High-Performance Hospital Operating Theatres
Authors: Sánchez-Barroso Gonzalo , García Sanz-Calcedo Justo
Published: March 2019

Unidirectional flow air-conditioning systems are suitable for achieving indoor air quality required in high-performance operating rooms (organ transplants, cardiac surgery, aorta, orthopedic, burns, etc.). This paper analyzes indoor environmental conditions and technical and hygienic requirements for the design of heating, ventilation, and air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems for high-performance operating theatres. The main standards applicable to this type of operating rooms were compiled. Standard UNE 100713:2015, ASHRAE Standard 170-2017, and the European pre-norm EN 16244 were analyzed. A case study shows the lack of uniformity in design criteria and their ranges of values, which generates different design approaches. It was concluded that using these standards applicable to high-performance operating rooms leads to very different indoor environmental conditions for patients and medical personnel—air velocity profiles, air movement pattern, temperature, relative humidity gradients, and pressure stratification. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies have been shown to detect areas of haven that favor microbiological load accumulation. In this way, it is possible to define cleaning protocols to attend these anomalies in a preventive way.
Net Zero Buildings—A Framework for an Integrated Policy in Chile
Authors: Piderit María Beatriz , Vivanco Franklin , van Moeseke Geoffrey , Attia Shady
Published: March 2019

The potential of carbon dioxide emissions mitigation in the building sector can be achieved through energy policies, progressive goals, and support systems to attain sustainable constructions that guarantee the reduction of emissions. Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) is a concept that allows moving forward to neutralize buildings’ carbon emissions. This has been demonstrated by more industrial countries which have set goals and challenges to progressively approach an energy neutrality balance for buildings. Therefore, the target of this research is to define a framework for a new standard to reach NZEB in Chile. Firstly, an exhaustive review of the energy policies, NZEB definitions, and components of an NZEB system took place. Secondly, focus group discussions with local and international professionals from the building sector were organized to define a vision, opportunities, and potential measures with a focus on policies, to implement and develop local technologies for NZEB buildings in Chile. The study identifies the need to advance public policies to achieve an integrated policy for the implementation of energy neutral concept buildings. Finally, the paper presents a NZEB standard framework, including key performance indicators and suggested performance metrics thresholds.
People Make the Difference: An Explorative Study on the Relationship between Organizational Practices, Employees’ Resources, and Organizational Behavior Enhancing the Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development
Authors: Manuti Amelia , Giancaspro Maria Luisa
Published: March 2019

The most recent developments in the field of sustainability science and the emergence of a psychology of sustainability and sustainable development have contributed to collect evidences about the fact that modern organizations need healthy and motivated employees to survive and to prosper within this fast-moving scenario. In this vein, a confirmation to these evidences came from the abundant research on HEalthy and Resilient Organizations (HERO), showing that when organizations make systematic, planned, and proactive efforts to improve employees’ subjective resources then organizational processes and outcomes benefit in turn. Moving forward from these premises, the present study aimed to explore these assumptions within the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), investigating the relationships among the organizational practices, employees’ subjective resources, and organizational behaviors. Two hundred and thirty-six participants working in SMEs located in the south of Italy took part. They were invited to fill in a questionnaire investigating their perception of organizational resources and practices (autonomy, leadership, communication, organizational mindfulness, and commitment to resilience), of their individual resources (work engagement and psychological capital), and finally, of some organizational outcomes (extra-role behavior). Results showed that psychological capital was a significant mediator of the relationship between employees’ perception of the organizational resources and practices and extra-role behaviors. Concrete implications of these conclusions in terms of human resource management (HRM) are discussed together with limitations of the study and future developments.
A Two-Step Approach to Solar Power Generation Prediction Based on Weather Data Using Machine Learning
Authors: Kim Seul-Gi , Jung Jae-Yoon , Sim Min Kyu
Published: March 2019

Photovoltaic systems have become an important source of renewable energy generation. Because solar power generation is intrinsically highly dependent on weather fluctuations, predicting power generation using weather information has several economic benefits, including reliable operation planning and proactive power trading. This study builds a model that predicts the amounts of solar power generation using weather information provided by weather agencies. This study proposes a two-step modeling process that connects unannounced weather variables with announced weather forecasts. The empirical results show that this approach improves a base approach by wide margins, regardless of types of applied machine learning algorithms. The results also show that the random forest regression algorithm performs the best for this problem, achieving an R-squared value of 70.5% in the test data. The intermediate modeling process creates four variables, which are ranked with high importance in the post-analysis. The constructed model performs realistic one-day ahead predictions.
Sustainable Urban Regeneration for Shrinking Cities: A Case from Japan
Authors: Wang Yupeng , Fukuda Hiroatsu
Published: March 2019

Population decline is leading to a shrinking city size in industrialized countries. In some developing countries, because majority of the population is concentrated in big cities, the population in undeveloped cities has begun to decline. Japan experienced rapid urban expansion surrounding industrial districts, including steeply sloped areas, between the 1950s and 1970s. In the past forty years, Japan’s population has decreased, and the average age of the population is increasing. The reduction in the size of cities, following population decreases is becoming an important issue, and the study of sustainable, concentrated urban planning to cope with shrinking city size is, therefore, necessary. We have conducted a case study using Yahatahigashi-ku to determine its redevelopment potential, based on a combination of urban geographic data. This paper (1) presents a typical case study using Geographic Information System (GIS) data to evaluate an aging and shrinking society; (2) explores the GIS design approaches configured for an aging society; and (3) evaluates the optimization of environmental performance for an urban regeneration plan. The primary factors related to this urban design case study included, a declining population, mixed urban land use, and the placement of public facilities. We developed a method involving the slope degree to evaluate land-use to model the importance of informational evaluation in the urban planning process. This method could contribute to the urban regeneration for an aging society and could also be applied to other aging and shrinking cities, in mountainous regions.
Approximations of Metric Graphs by Thick Graphs and Their Laplacians
Authors: Post Olaf
Published: March 2019

The main purpose of this article is two-fold: first, to justify the choice of Kirchhoff vertex conditions on a metric graph as they appear naturally as a limit of Neumann Laplacians on a family of open sets shrinking to the metric graph (“thick graphs”) in a self-contained presentation; second, to show that the metric graph example is close to a physically more realistic model where the edges have a thin, but positive thickness. The tool used is a generalization of norm resolvent convergence to the case when the underlying spaces vary. Finally, we give some hints about how to extend these convergence results to some mild non-linear operators.
Developing a Systematic Diagnostic Model for Integrated Agricultural Supply and Processing Systems
Authors: Shongwe Mduduzi Innocent , Bezuidenhout Carel Nicolaas , Sibomana Milindi Sylver , Workneh Tilahun Seyoum , Bodhanya Shamim , Dlamini Vukile Vinah
Published: March 2019

Despite all the innovative research in agriculture, technology adoption in integrated agricultural supply and processing systems (IASPS) remains a challenge. This is attributed to the complex nature of IASPS and the continued lack of a holistic view towards most of the interventions into the systems. To make sense of issues that affect IASPS, it is important to recognise that most issues within these systems do not exist in isolation, but are imbedded within complex interrelationships. This research developed and demonstrated a systematic diagnostic model that could be used to locate high leverage intervention points within IASPS and to make predictions about the systems behaviour. A meta-analysis was conducted to test the evidence of the interlinkages between IASPS domains and to compare the strength of these relationships. The model revealed that the collaboration, structure and information sharing domains had a higher direct leverage over the other IASPS domains as these were associated with a larger number of interlinkages. Additionally, collaboration and structure provided dynamic leverage as these domains were part of feedback loops. In terms of the potency, collaboration was highly correlated to culture compared to the other domains, viz., information sharing, coercive power and transaction costs.
An Acoustic-Based Smart Home System for People Suffering from Dementia
Authors: Boumpa Eleni , Gkogkidis Anargyros , Charalampou Ioanna , Ntaliani Argyro , Kakarountas Athanasios , Kokkinos Vasileios
Published: March 2019

Aging-in-place can reduce the progress of dementia syndrome and improve the quality of life of the sufferers and their families. Taking into consideration the fact that numerous neurological research results suggest the use of sound as a stimulus for empowering the memory of the sufferer, an innovative information home support system for people suffering from dementia is proposed. The innovation of the proposed system is found in its application, that is to integrate a home system for assisting with person recognition via a sound-based memory aid service. Furthermore, the system addresses the needs of people suffering from dementia to recognize their familiars and have better interaction and collaboration, without the need for training. The system offers a ubiquitous recognition system, using smart devices like smart-phones or smart-wristbands. When a familiar person is detected in the house, then a sound is reproduced on the smart speakers, in order to stimulate the sufferer’s memory. The system identified all users and reproduced the appropriate sound in 100% of the cases. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first system of its kind for assisting person recognition via sound ever reported in the literature.
Viral Infection of Human Natural Killer Cells
Authors: van Erp Elisabeth A. , van Kampen Mirjam R. , van Kasteren Puck B. , de Wit Jelle
Published: March 2019

Natural killer (NK) cells are essential in the early immune response against viral infections, in particular through clearance of virus-infected cells. In return, viruses have evolved multiple mechanisms to evade NK cell-mediated viral clearance. Several unrelated viruses, including influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and human immunodeficiency virus, can directly interfere with NK cell functioning through infection of these cells. Viral infection can lead to immune suppression, either by downregulation of the cytotoxic function or by triggering apoptosis, leading to depletion of NK cells. In contrast, some viruses induce proliferation or changes in the morphology of NK cells. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the viruses that have been reported to infect NK cells, we discuss their mechanisms of entry, and describe the interference with NK cell effector function and phenotype. Finally, we discuss the contribution of virus-infected NK cells to viral load. The development of specific therapeutics, such as viral entry inhibitors, could benefit from an enhanced understanding of viral infection of NK cells, opening up possibilities for the prevention of NK cell infection.
Interferon-Independent Upregulation of Interferon-Stimulated Genes during Human Cytomegalovirus Infection is Dependent on IRF3 Expression
Authors: Ashley Caroline L. , Abendroth Allison , McSharry Brian P. , Slobedman Barry
Published: March 2019

The antiviral activity of type I interferons (IFNs) is primarily mediated by interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Induction of ISG transcription is achieved when type I IFNs bind to their cognate receptor and activate the Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathways. Recently it has become clear that a number of viruses are capable of directly upregulating a subset of ISGs in the absence of type I IFN production. Using cells engineered to block either the response to, or production of type I IFN, the regulation of IFN-independent ISGs was examined in the context of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Several ISGs, including IFIT1, IFIT2, IFIT3, Mx1, Mx2, CXCL10 and ISG15 were found to be upregulated transcriptionally following HCMV infection independently of type I IFN-initiated JAK-STAT signaling, but dependent on intact IRF3 signaling. ISG15 protein regulation mirrored that of its transcript with IFNβ neutralization failing to completely inhibit ISG15 expression post HCMV infection. In addition, no detectable ISG15 protein expression was observed following HCMV infection in IRF3 knockdown CRISPR/Cas-9 clones indicating that IFN-independent control of ISG expression during HCMV infection of human fibroblasts is absolutely dependent on IRF3 expression.
Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans as Viral Decoy Receptors for Human Adenovirus Type 37
Authors: Chandra Naresh , Liu Yan , Liu Jing-Xia , Frängsmyr Lars , Wu Nian , Silva Lisete M , Lindström Mona , Chai Wengang , Pedrosa Domellöf Fatima , Feizi Ten , Arnberg Niklas
Published: March 2019

Glycans on plasma membranes and in secretions play important roles in infection by many viruses. Species D human adenovirus type 37 (HAdV-D37) is a major cause of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) and infects target cells by interacting with sialic acid (SA)-containing glycans via the fiber knob domain of the viral fiber protein. HAdV-D37 also interacts with sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), but the outcome of this interaction remains unknown. Here, we investigated the molecular requirements of HAdV-D37 fiber knob:GAG interactions using a GAG microarray and demonstrated that fiber knob interacts with a broad range of sulfated GAGs. These interactions were corroborated in cell-based assays and by surface plasmon resonance analysis. Removal of heparan sulfate (HS) and sulfate groups from human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells by heparinase III and sodium chlorate treatments, respectively, reduced HAdV-D37 binding to cells. Remarkably, removal of HS by heparinase III enhanced the virus infection. Our results suggest that interaction of HAdV-D37 with sulfated GAGs in secretions and on plasma membranes prevents/delays the virus binding to SA-containing receptors and inhibits subsequent infection. We also found abundant HS in the basement membrane of the human corneal epithelium, which may act as a barrier to sub-epithelial infection. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights into the role of GAGs as viral decoy receptors and highlight the therapeutic potential of GAGs and/or GAG-mimetics in HAdV-D37 infection.
Quantifying Levels of Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Virus in Excretions from Experimentally Infected Goats and Its Importance for Nascent PPR Eradication Programme
Authors: Parida Satya , Selvaraj M. , Gubbins S. , Pope R. , Banyard A. , Mahapatra Mana
Published: March 2019

Following the successful eradication of rinderpest, the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have set a goal to globally eradicate Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) by 2030. To support the eradication programme we have quantified the levels of PPR virus (PPRV) nucleic acid excreted in body fluids (blood, feces, saliva, nasal and eye swabs) of PPRV-infected goats to ascertain which days post-infection animals are potentially infectious, and hence direct quarantine activities. The data will also indicate optimal sample strategies to assess presence of PPR infection in the naturally infected herd. Peak PPRV nucleic acid detection in different bodily fluids was between 5 and 10 days post-infection. As such, this period must be considered the most infectious period for contact transmission, although high viral load was observed through RNA detection in nasal excretions from two days post-infection until at least two weeks post-infection. Percentage sample positivity was low both in eye swabs and saliva samples during the early stage of infection although RNA was detected as late as two weeks post-infection. From the individual animal data, PPRV was detected later post-infection in fecal material than in other body fluids and the detection was intermittent. The results from this study indicate that nasal swabs are the most appropriate to sample when considering molecular diagnosis of PPRV.
Rainwater Harvesting for Drinking Water Production: A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Solution in The Netherlands?
Authors: Hofman-Caris Roberta , Bertelkamp Cheryl , de Waal Luuk , van den Brand Tessa , Hofman Jan , van der Aa René , van der Hoek Jan Peter
Published: March 2019

An increasing number of people want to reduce their environmental footprint by using harvested rainwater as a source for drinking water. Moreover, implementing rainwater harvesting (RWH) enables protection against damage caused by increasing precipitation frequency and intensity, which is predicted for Western Europe. In this study, literature data on rainwater quality were reviewed, and based on Dutch climatological data the usable quantity of rainwater in the Netherlands was calculated. For two specific cases, (1) a densely populated city district and (2) a single house in a rural area, the total costs of ownership (TCO) for decentralized drinking water supply from harvested rainwater was calculated, and a life cycle assessment (LCA) was made. For the single house it was found that costs were very high (€60–€110/m3), and the environmental impact would not decrease. For the city district, costs would be comparable to the present costs of centralized drinking water production and supply, but the environmental benefit is negligible (≤1‰). Furthermore, it was found that the amount of rainwater that can be harvested in the city district only covers about 50% of the demand. It was concluded that the application of rainwater harvesting for drinking water production in the Netherlands is not economically feasible.
Investigating Influence of Hydrological Regime on Organic Matters Characteristic in a Korean Watershed
Authors: Baek SangSoo , Lee Hyuk , Park Jongkwan , Cho Kyung
Published: March 2019

Source tracking of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is important to manage water quality in rivers. However, it is difficult to find the source of this DOM because various DOMs can be added from the river watershed. Moreover, the DOM composition can be changed due to environmental conditions. This study investigated the change of organic matter characteristics in the Taewha River of Ulsan City, Korea, before and after rainfall. A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to simulate water flow from various sources, and dissolved organic matter characterization was conducted in terms of molecular size distribution, hydrophobicity, fluorescence excitation and emission, and molecular composition. From the results, it was found that lateral flow transported hydrophobic and large-molecule organic matter after rainfall. According to the orbitrap mass spectrometer analysis, the major molecular compound of the DOM was lignin. Coupling the SWAT model with organic matter characterization was an effective approach to find sources of DOM in river.
Flood Resilience of Critical Infrastructure: Approach and Method Applied to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Authors: de Bruijn Karin M. , Maran Carolina , Zygnerski Mike , Jurado Jennifer , Burzel Andreas , Jeuken Claire , Obeysekera Jayantha
Published: March 2019

In order to increase the flood resilience of cities (i.e., the ability to cope with flood hazards), it is also crucial to make critical infrastructure functions resilient, since these are essential for urban society. Cities are complex systems with many actors of different disciplines and many interdependent critical infrastructure networks and functions. Common flood risk analysis techniques provide useful information but are not sufficient to obtain a complete overview of the effects of flooding and potential measures to increase flood resilience related to critical infrastructure networks. Therefore, a more comprehensive approach is needed which helps accessing knowledge of actors in a structured way. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States has suffered from flood impacts, especially from disruptions in critical infrastructure. This paper shows how shared insight among different sectors and stakeholders into critical infrastructure resilience and potential resilience-enhancing measures was obtained using input from these actors. It also provides a first quantitative indication of resilience, indicated by the potential disruption due to floods and the effect of measures on resilience. The paper contributes to the existing literature on resilience specifically by considering the duration of disruption, the inclusion of critical infrastructure disruption in flood impact analysis, and the step from resilience quantification to measures.
It change management process improvement
Authors: Sousa Eduardo Da Silva , Machado Pires Carlos Eduardo , Borges Simão Monteiro Simone , Bittencourt Reis Ana Carla
Published: March 2019

IT became an indispensable structure for organizations, whether public or private. Although it is considered a support area, IT plays a strategic role in organizations, its procedures must be systematically conducted. This article addresses best practices in IT Service Change Management and compares these practices with current implementation in a court of law. The purpose of this comparison is to verify the adherence of the implemented process and to suggest adjustments that can guarantee quality of services. For that, a review of the pertinent bibliography and a case study of the processes implemented and executed by the court was carried out. The preliminary comparative analysis demonstrated that the court’s IT services change management activities have opportunities for improvement both in the process and for implementation of control mechanisms, which were suggested by the researchers.
Market Basket Analysis in a Financial Institution
Authors: Rezende Felipe , Ladeira Marcelo
Published: March 2019

This article demonstrates a study on Market Basket Analysis of a financial institution, showing rules of personal consumer association of the state of São Paulo. A concept about three association algorithms is presented, but a study with only one is performed. The paper is divided into an introduction, describing a brief account of the reason for choosing the subject. Understanding the business, where it is explained about the financial institution and the importance of the study to the institution. The way the data are handled is demonstrated in Understanding the Data, just as the Data Preparation is described in the sequence, putting all the filters and treatments that were done on the data. In the following, it is described the Modeling, which reports on algorithms of association rules and on examples of these algorithms, as well as which algorithm was chosen to be treated in the paper. Evaluation explains on the results obtained with the study and the Implementation as it was done all the analysis of the data and the results obtained. Finally, we have the Conclusion about the learning obtained with the article and what future work to do.
Classifying Descriptions of Goods with Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Di Oliveira Vinicius , Ladeira Marcelo
Published: March 2019

The present study aims to evaluate the performance of an artificial neural network in the classification of merchandise descriptions indicated in electronic bills, legal document used to record all commercial transactions in Brazil. For this, a significant sample of the actual descriptions will be used as well as a overlook about the performance of the neural network with a KNN and a GBM algorithms forecasting the category of the merchandise each description refers. This paper brings a method for classifying descriptions of goods with Artificial Neural Networks. The descriptions are small non structured texts, maximum of 120 characters, relating to goods traded in commercial transactions.
EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM “MY WAY”: TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE 9TH-12TH GRADES PUPILS’ PERCEPTIONS ABOUT PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE USE
Authors: Valantiejienė Sandra , Saveljeva Regina
Published: March 2019

Purpose – The purpose of the article is to describe the transformations in the perceptions of the consequences of the use of psychoactive substances between 9-12’th grades pupils in the context of the implementation of the psychoactive substances abuse prevention program “My Way”.

Research methodology – the authors performed a quasi-experiment and according to the methodological requirements related to the use of such scientific method in the educology studies, used an unequal control group and the primary/initial (pre-test) as well as final (post-test) measurements to achieve the aim of the research/article.

Findings – the data of the quasi-experiment research showed that as the whole after intervention the pupil’s perceptions about the use of psychoactive substances in the experimental group has changed; the pupils who were assigned to the control group assessed the effects of the use of psychoactive substances better than those who were assigned to the control group.

Research limitations – during the implementation of the program and the experiment, the activities related to the quasi-experiment were held only by social pedagogues in certain selected schools and classes (considering various factors such as the behaviour of children or their attributability to the families at social risk). Accordingly, in the next similar studies, children can be sampled evenly, without differentiating them based on their behavioural problems.

Practical implications – the results of the research could be used in practice in the following ways: (i) by motivating the schools of general education in the Republic of Lithuania to choose prevention programs as the purposeful and meaningful instrument to develop healthy life skills; (ii) to develop and expand the range of new prevention programs based on the experience of the program “My Way” which is presented and evaluated in this article.

Originality/Value – there are no similar previous educological and other educational science studies (in Lithuania) how the pupils’ attitudes change during the pre-planned and systematically implemented preventive activities in general education schools; the article presents and outlines the experience and practice of the first such Lithuanian program for the prevention of psychoactive substance abuse (“My Way”).
MODELING AND CONTROL OF HUMAN AND WHEELED ROBOTIC WALKER COUPLED DYNAMICS
Authors: Panahi Mohammad , Taghvaei Sajjad , Eghtesad Mohammad , Wang Hongbo , Kosuge Kazuhiro
Published: March 2019

The control of assistive robotic walkers are usually designed without considering the coupled dynamics of the user and the walker. This paper proposes a coupled dynamic modeling for human walking with a wheeled robotic walker and then control of this model. The 2D linear inverted pendulum mode (LIPM) is used to model human walking. The wheeled robotic walker is modeled as a simple wheeled subsystem moving on an even ground. To simulate the human arm, a parallel linear spring and damper set is then used to indicate the interaction forces. An optimal fixed final-state controller is used to control the walking model and to keep it balanced. To check whether the LIPM model walking is balanced, the zero-moment point position is calculated and checked to be in the support polygon. The results are validated with the experimental data of human walking along with a wheeled walker for three healthy subjects. The relative positions of center of mass, the absolute positions of the human and the walker, and the velocities are considered for comparison and discussion. The results for each subject is compared with the experiments through [Formula: see text] norm of the error between human and walker positions in simulation and experiments. The proposed model can be utilized in developing controllers for robotic walkers that consider the user’s dynamics.
To Move or Not to Move?
Authors: Casas Sergio , Portalés Cristina , Fernández Marcos
Published: March 2019

This chapter deals with the problem of including motion cues in VR applications. From the challenges of this technology to the latest trends in the field, the authors discuss the benefits and problems of including these particular perceptual cues. First, readers will know how motion cues are usually generated in simulators and VR applications in general. Then, the authors list the major problems of this process and the reasons why its development has not followed the pace of the rest of VR elements (mainly the display technology), reviewing the motion vs. no-motion question from several perspectives. The general answer to this discussion is that motion cues are necessary in VR applications—mostly vehicle simulators—that rely on motion, although, unlike audio-visual cues, there can be specific considerations for each particular solution that may suggest otherwise. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to analyze the requirements of each VR application before deciding upon this question.
Organizational Change and Development
Authors: Hamlin Robert G.
Published: March 2019

This chapter first discusses the complexities of change in organizations and why so many OCD programs fail and makes the case for change agents to become evidence-based in their change agency practice. The author then offers a definition of evidence-based organizational change and development (EBOCD) and outlines the types of “best evidence” that can be used to inform and shape the formulation and implementation of OCD strategies and to critically evaluate the associated processes and change agency practices. Various distinctive evidence-based initiatives for OCD are discussed and several case examples from the United Kingdom are presented. The chapter closes with a discussion of the specific merits of “design science,” “professional partnership” research, and “replication” research.
To What Extent Is Culture Change Possible Through Coaching and Mentoring?
Authors: Garvey Robert
Published: March 2019

The Human Resource (HR) world has adopted both coaching and mentoring activity as important parts of its learning and development and change strategy. Both mentoring and coaching have been employed within organizations for individuals for various purposes. There is a logic for the idea of creating a “coaching culture” or perhaps a “mentoring organization.” However, the concept of culture is as elusive and varied as coaching and mentoring! One use has been attempts at the complexities of culture change, but this is part of a managerialist discourse where simplification of complexity is a norm. Much coaching and mentoring literature focuses on individuals and only on the organization by implication, and while many claim that coaching and mentoring do enable change across organizations, this is ambiguous. Therefore, this chapter explores the issues surrounding the question, To what extent is culture change possible through coaching and mentoring?
Investigating the Role of Data-Driven Decision-Making Within School Improvement Processes
Authors: Fernandes Venesser
Published: March 2019

This chapter provides a detailed literature review exploring the importance of data-driven decision-making processes in current Australian school improvement processes within a context of evidence-based organizational change and development. An investigation into the concept of decision-making and its effect on organizational culture is conducted as change and development are considered to be the new constants in the current discourse around continuous school improvement in schools. In a close examination of literature, this chapter investigates how key factors such as collaboration, communication, and organizational trust are achieved through data-driven decision-making within continuous school improvement processes. The critical role of leadership in sustaining data cultures is also examined for its direct impact on continuous school improvement processes based on evidence-based organizational change and development practices. Future implications of data-driven decision-making to sustain continuous school improvement and accountability processes in Australian schools are discussed.
Observations on the Derailment of Organizational Change in Large Organizations
Authors: Martin Ciarán Patrick Anthony
Published: March 2019

This chapter explores key experiences of the author working within large organizations as a change leader and also as a change consultant. The focus is on five key change situations from which the author gained great insight into change and organizational development; how it is initiated, deployed, and managed; and how it can influence organizational success. The learning gained through these experiences is explored, as is how that shaped the author's thinking and practice. Additionally, and where possible and appropriate, guidance has been offered to other practitioners on key points of learning which may aid them with their professional development and, consequently, their change practice.
Leading, Managing, and Facilitating Organizational Change
Authors: Turner Paul Steven
Published: March 2019

This chapter focuses on organizational change and development and how leadership behavior impacts upon the delivery of the desired change, in terms of implementation, effectiveness, and performance. The reflective perspective seeks to explore learning insights gained via business and academic approaches within transformational change programs in two dimensions: first, the author's PhD research project investigated leadership behavioral approaches designed to deliver organizational change and increased engagement and performance; and second, the author's involvement as a business consultant and executive coach, acting for private sector companies on transformational change programs designed to deliver strategic change to drive increases in efficiency, effectiveness, and performance. The purpose of this chapter is to inform professionals involved in organizational change and development within their own or their client organizations and facilitate learning to help better understand the potential of leadership behavior in delivering successful organizational change strategies.
Better Together?
Authors: Pereira Juliano , Bittencourt João Paulo , Nova Silvia Pereira de Castro Casa , Ardichvili Alexandre
Published: March 2019

This case study focuses on a large-scale change faced by SOMOS, the largest K-12 educational platform in Brazil. In 2015, the company acquired Saraiva, a traditional family-owned publishing house with a strong portfolio of services in the K-12 sector as well as a significant share of the higher education market sector. The authors have chosen an episodic narrative to describe two relevant events within organizational change. Six episodes of change were presented, each focusing on specific and related points. They document and map the process of integration of the two organizations, describing the main challenges, critical milestones, and outcomes from each episode. They reflect on whether the evidence-based approach, used to develop the organizational change interventions, was successful in bringing people together during this critical transition.
Lessons Learned in Right-Sizing a UK Medium Size Manufacturing Site
Authors: Kibble Tim Paul
Published: March 2019

This reflective case history explores the lessons learned by a medium-sized manufacturing site in the UK from a rightsizing initiative in 2008 and another in 2016. The 2008 lessons around the softer HRM topics of employee morale, skills gaps, and survivors struggling led to a different OCD approach being used for the 2016 rightsizing exercise. The author, a principal change agent who helped facilitate both OCD initiatives, critically reflects upon the respective change agency processes from an EBP perspective.
Using Integrative Development to Create a Coaching Culture in a Professional Services Firm
Authors: Drake David B.
Published: March 2019

This reflective case history introduces integrative development (ID) as an approach for evidence-based organizational change and development initiatives. ID brings adult development and organization development into a unified theory, and it aligns three human resource development disciplines (coaching, training, organization development) into a unified set of practices. The case history outlines how narrative coaching, an ID-based methodology, was used in creating a coaching culture in a professional services firm and offers principles and recommendations for EBOCD practitioners.
Organization-Wide Culture Change in a Large Healthcare Organization
Authors: Quast Louis Neumann , Kuhn Jane M.
Published: March 2019

This reflective case history explores a large-scale organizational culture change in a private, global organization based in the United States. The organizational culture concept first emerged in the 1970s and is an influential and controversial concept in research and practice. The success rate of change initiatives is only about 30%, while success for culture-change drops to 10%. Because culture change is not easy, this case history highlights evidence-based practices, supportive factors, barriers, and recommendations for culture change.
Implementing a Reduction-in-Force
Authors: Shindell Thomas J.
Published: March 2019

The organizational change initiative presented in this reflective case history is a large reduction-in-force (RIF) in a public sector state department of K-12 education due to budget cuts in 2011. The author was on the executive team that designed and implemented the RIF. A previous RIF occurred on 2003 that had major implementation issues that negatively impacted the agency. A high-level seven step process is presented along with intended and unintended outcomes. The seven process steps presented includes 1) implement a hiring freeze, 2) design and approve process, 3) collect data, 4) determine which positions to eliminate, 5) notify directors and managers, 6) implement RIF, and 7) notify employees.
Embedding a New Health and Safety Culture Within an Indian National Gas Transmission Company
Authors: Muduli Ashutosh , Pathak Vivek
Published: March 2019

Samuel Daniels led a five-year campaign to embed a healthy and safety culture in a National Gas Transmission Company in India. He took the challenge of establishing a safety culture in the company, which was dominated by a bureaucratic mindset. Although the company had a safety management policy based on ISO-certified integrated management system, the standard operating procedures, work procedures, guidelines, and formats were confined to mere documents, and any new change invited resistance from leadership. Samuel initiated several changes but could not sustain the gain. Lack of openness, trust, sharing, two-way communication, and participative leadership has systematically killed all the efforts to effectively manage safety. OCD strategy such as conducting a “cultural audit” to understand strategy, structure, systems, style, staff, skills, and shared values of the company; improved teamwork and cooperation; effective communication; and greater consultation, flexibility, work innovation at individual and group level have been suggested.
Gezairi Transport New Horizon Transformation Project
Authors: Saliba Charles
Published: March 2019

Amidst major industry changes and challenges, and with the third generation joining the business, a family-owned shipping and transport conglomerate in Lebanon became aware of the need to transform its operating and organization models to survive. This conviction paved the way for a global organizational change and development initiative in collaboration with HR Works, a performance creation consulting firm based in Beirut since 2008.
Macro-Change in a Micro-Firm
Authors: Ropes Donald , van Kleef Han
Published: March 2019

This reflective case history is about a Dutch micro-firm in the technical sector that was grappling with social issues on the work floor. Quarrels between the brothers of this family-owned and operated firm were negatively influencing business processes, teamwork, employee relations, and other social factors, resulting in complaints from customers. The goal of this change program was to help management improve workflow coordination and teamwork, in turn increasing product quality and customer satisfaction.
Reflections on a Successful Downsizing Project Within a For-Profit Global Organization in Dubai, UAE
Authors: Dirani Khalil M.
Published: March 2019

Employment downsizing has become common practice in companies struggling to cope with financial costs, but usually this practice does not achieve the desired results. As a researcher, the author visited Global Food Company-Dubai, a Fortune 500 company in the UAE, to study the company's culture and the downsizing process. Findings showed that when companies use downsizing strategically, results turn out to be positive, and downsizing provided an opportunity to change the future of an organization. This reflective case history reveals and discusses a process for learning and changing as described by OCD books where leaders made strategic decisions based on evidence, and rooted in organizational change and development (OCD) theories that were translated into effective action.
Concluding Reflections and Presentation of an EBOCD Conceptual Process Model
Authors: Hamlin Robert G. , Jones Jenni , Ellinger Andrea D.
Published: March 2019

This chapter begins by presenting a synopsis of insights on EBOCD practice gleaned from the Section 2 chapters, and a range of extant and emergent generalized (common) insights and lessons about evidence-based initiatives for OCD that have resulted from a multiple cross-case comparative analysis of the 33 reflective case histories presented in Section 3. It then offers a response to the skepticisms expressed by McLean and Kim, the authors of Chapter 52, about the reality of EBOCD ever existing beyond what they suggest could be outlier case history examples of OCD by drawing attention to the wide range of extant best evidence that informed them. The chapter concludes with an EBOCD Conceptual Process Model which offers a pathway forward for bridging the reputed research-practice gap in the field of OCD and HRD, and for generating new bodies of best evidence and practice-to-theory research opportunities.