bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Considering Social Presence in the Designing of Ubiquitous Learning Environments
Authors: İzmirli Serkan
Published: September 2019

Ubiquitous learning is an emerging research area in which learning occurs at the right time, in the right place, with the help of various technologies. Since ubiquitous learning helps to improve learning, motivation, and creativity, effective ubiquitous learning environments should be designed. Theories, models, and strategies should be considered to design these environments. One of these models is the community of inquiry approach, which has three elements: social presence, teaching presence, and cognitive presence. In this study, social presence is selected as a focus. In this context, the purpose of the study is to present techniques for establishing social presence in ubiquitous learning environments. In line with this purpose, first, ubiquitous learning and social presence are explained. Then, techniques to establish social presence in ubiquitous learning environments are expressed. Following on, a sample ubiquitous learning environment (a ubiquitous history museum) is designed and presented, considering social presence as a specific element.
Adoption of Financial Technology in Islamic Crowd-Funding
Authors: Md Husin Maizaitulaidawati , Haron Razali , Aziz Shahab
Published: September 2019

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the factors that influence small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) intentions to use the investment account platform (IAP) based on technology acceptance model (TAM). The central hypothesis for this chapter was that SMEs' intentions to use IAP were a result of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. This chapter also suggested that perceived ease of use and intention was mediated by perceived usefulness of the IAP. Using primary data collection method, 163 questionnaires were collected from SMEs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using the purposive sampling technique. The data were analysed using SPSS and SmartPLS. The chapter found that perceived ease of use had significant influences on SMEs intention to use the IAP while perceived ease of use significantly affected perceived usefulness and the relationship between perceived ease of use and intention was mediated by perceived usefulness of the IAP. The results of this chapter suggested strategies to promote the platform as a fund seeking platform for SMEs.
Impact of Crypto-Asset Trade on Financial Stability
Authors: Trabelsi Nader
Published: September 2019

The chapter attempts to test the hypothesis that cryptocurrencies are real independent financial instruments that pose no danger to global financial system stability. For the empirical analysis, the authors use data related to bitcoin and widely traded asset classes. They also utilize the copula approach as well as the CoVaR model. The results show a significant role of crypto-asset market in the stability of global markets. Precisely, they find a dependence between bitcoin and oil prices defined by a normal copula model. The empirical results regarding the systemic risk show that extreme changes in bitcoin prices may have an adverse effect on equity and gold markets. There are positive and significant effects of EUR, JPY, and WTI markets when bitcoin goes down. The authors have also shown that after 2016 the virtual market sudden changes are more likely to raise the whole regular financial system losses, except the energy market. These results are important for policymakers and investors.
Central Bank Digital Currency and Financial Stability in a Dual Banking System
Authors: Hamza Hichem , Ben Jedidia Khoutem
Published: September 2019

The digitization of payment and the development of private digital currencies have constrained central banks to examine the issuance of their own central bank digital currency (CBDC) in order to face the competition of the new peer-to-peer payment system and the decline of cash use. This chapter addresses the topic of CBDC and places the discussion within the context of dual banking intermediation and financial stability. The design of CBDC in term of accessibility, anonymity, interest rate, and payment mechanism depends on the cryptocurrency use and money characteristics regarding the use of cash and deposit. The CBDC Sharia compliant, free of interest or PLS-based, fulfilling money value stability might be a solution. The effects of CBDC on banking intermediation and financial stability depend importantly on the CBDC design and switch significance of banks deposit to CBDC but remain an open question given the pros and cons arguments. In a dual banking system, Islamic banks could limit the disintermediation effect and maintain financial stability under Sharia compliance.
Using Video-Enhanced Performance Feedback for Student and Instructor Reflection and Evaluation
Authors: Kaczorowski Tara L. , Hashey Andrew I.
Published: September 2019

Reflection is an essential component of experiential learning. Traditional means of reflection rely on memory of experiences, which can be incomplete or even faulty. Video-enhanced performance feedback (VPF)—the use of video to as supporting evidence in the reflective process—has the potential to transform reflective practice. In this chapter, the authors describe how VPF has been utilized by 13 instructors across two higher education institutions for the purposes of noticing, self-reflection, and evaluation/feedback. Results of an exploratory case study on perceptions of using VPF to support reflection indicate approximately 90% of students found Vosaic, the technology used at these institutions for VPF, easy to use and helpful to notice strengths and areas for improvement in their professional practice. Implications and considerations for incorporating VPF across disciplines are also addressed.
Student Perceptions of Learning Digital Literacy Online in a Leadership Program
Authors: Bai Hua
Published: September 2019

This chapter presents a study that examined student perceptions of taking a digital literacy class online and its effects on the development of leadership skills in relation to the use of technology. It was found that, in general, the participants tended to be satisfied with this online class. Their perceptions of different types of interactions were discussed. The participants tended to perceive that this class was effective in developing their knowledge and skills in using technology to enact leadership practice. The results have implications in online teaching and learning, group projects and technology learning in leadership development.
The Implications of Unethical and Illegal Behavior in the World of E-Commerce
Authors: Al-Alawi Adel Ismail , Mehrotra Arpita Anshu , Elias Hala , Safdar Hina S. M. , Al-Bassam Sara Abdulrahman
Published: September 2019

The main focus of this chapter is to identify the behaviors of the consumers and sellers of e-commerce in Bahrain. It also seeks to understand the ethical and legal issues faced by the users of e-commerce and the various reasons for such behavior. The perception of the consumers regarding online retailers discussed through appropriate measures and research data. The chapter clearly explains the historical development of e-commerce in Bahrain and the processes and procedures of setting up an online business in the country. The common legal and ethical issues faced by the consumers discussed in detail and supported by different models to understand user behavior. The research onion method used to gather quantitative and qualitative data. The primary data collected through questionnaires and interviews whereas the secondary data collected through literature. The data analysis shows the results of the mixed method supported by different graphs and models. The different recommendations provided to solve the most prevalent problems confronted by the buyers and the sellers of e-commerce.
Study of Technology-Based Innovations in Supply Chain Management Function of Indian Firms
Authors: Bhattacharyya Som Sekhar , Laik Bibhash , Jaiswal Raunak
Published: September 2019

Supply Chain Management (SCM) has gained importance in recent years. Innovation and technological interventions in SCM would be required to remove inefficiencies. It has become imperative for firms to undertake new innovations in SCM to remain competitive. This chapter focuses on physical and digital innovation in Indian market context in the context of SCM . The authors explore the strategic imperative of technology-based SCM innovation by performing detailed literature review regarding new automated technological innovations in SCM to understand the new set of business gains to be incurred from SCM. The authors then carried out, through a semi-structured questionnaire, in-depth personal interviews of the 24 SCM experts in the study. Thematic content analysis was done. The main finding of the study was that physical innovation in SCM has occurred at a slower pace as compared to digital innovation. Digital innovation was perceived to be helping firms more than physical innovation in SCM. The major challenge has been the integration of the new system with the existing SCM system.
Crime Hotspot Prediction Using Big Data in China
Authors: Xu Chunfa , Hu Xiaoyang , Yang Anqi , Zhang Yimin , Zhang Cailing , Xia Yufei , Cao Yanan
Published: September 2019

This chapter proves that utilizing big data and machine learning to predict crime is feasible in China. Researchers introduce five new machine learning algorithms into the field of crime prediction and compare them with four methods widely used in previous research. Using a weekly dataset in 213 street-level cells of Shanghai from April 2017 to March 2018, the researchers find new methods work better in predicting whether a specific cell will be a crime hotspot in next week. Five among nine methods can predict crime with more than 90 percent accuracy. These findings provide a scientific reference for urban safety protection. The research adds some significant evidence to a theoretical literature emphasizing that big data can predict crime.
The Sharing Economy in South Africa's Tourism Industry
Authors: Henama Unathi Sonwabile
Published: September 2019

Disruptive technology has created radical change in the tourism industry, just like the emergence of the Internet. The cost of doing business has decreased, leading to more competition for customers and lowering of the barriers of entry. Customers have been the biggest winners, as competition has transferred more power into the hands of cunsumers, creating a consumer culture. The sharing economy has developed as a result of the Internet where consumers have become active players in the provision of services in the sharing economy against established businesses. The sharing economy created by technology platforms make it possible for a reduction in the costs of doing business, by lowering the barriers of entry and causing disruption in markets with low competition. The technology platform provided by sharing economy companies matches those that want to offer services and those that seek services, and Uber (taxi services) and Airbnb (accommodation) are the leading pioneers.
Tax Advice
Authors: Calotă Traian Ovidiu , Ristache Mihaela , Tănase Alin Eliodor
Published: September 2019

This chapter investigates the impact of taxation on the online business environment in Romania. In the last 30 to 35 years, the world economy has been marked by a rapid development of the services sector, especially in economically-developed countries, with the degree of internationalization being a major feature of no doubt. The contribution of tax consultancy to the development of the economy has been remarkable in most areas of activity. The results asserted the research hypothesis: Romanian firms' strategies were influenced by the phenomenon of corruption reported, in particular, to tax evasion. Governments around the world are trying to respond to growing budgetary pressures by trying to introduce measures to combat tax evasion. Among them is Romania, which has lately changed its legislation on identifying undeclared revenues to tax. Continuous improvement of the strategy to identify and develop new processes leads to increased performance, efficiency of skills, and harmonization of results.
Cyberaccounting for the Leaders of the Future
Authors: Stanciu Alina , Petrescu Marius , Petrescu Anca Gabriela , Bîlcan Florentina Raluca
Published: September 2019

The new volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous economic context generates the evolution of a global, integrated, and permanently connected world, in which territoriality and temporality have almost disappeared. Fluctuations and changes in economic power poles, past financial crises, but also signs of new recession periods, rising capital, multiplying variables, and cause-effect factors outline the current economic environment. Simultaneity and interconnection of Industrial Revolution 4.0, Globalization 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Data Revolution, and Digital Enterprise have determined the emergence of new concepts such as: Digital Ecosystems, Cyber counting, Cybersecurity, Platform Architecture for Financial, Digital Interface, concepts directly related to business performance in the new economic environment: Digital Economy.
Sustainable Economic Intelligence
Authors: Aurelian Ionescu Constantin , Coman Mihaela Denisa , Paschia Liliana , Nicolau Nicoleta Luminita Gudanescu , Stanescu Sorina Geanina
Published: September 2019

Sustainable economic intelligence, as a form of superior manifestation of an economy based on knowledge and innovation requires the management, quantification, monitoring, and reporting of non-financial information by economic entities (environmental issues, social and personnel aspects, respect the human rights and combating corruption) defined in relation to the average number of employees, total balance sheet, and net turnover. These elements, combined in the non-financial statements of economic entities, are decisive in achieving the transition to a sustainable global economy, combining profitability with social responsibility and environmental protection. The purpose of this scientific research is to achieve a systematization of the main non-financial performance indicators relevant to the activity of economic entities in Romania in order to favor sustainable economic growth and ensure transparency for stakeholders.
Benchmarking
Authors: Ifrim Ana Maria , Stanciu Alina , Sürgün Monika Brigitte , Ungureanu Hrisanta Cristina
Published: September 2019

Benchmarking is the process of comparing your own organization, operations, or processes with other organizations in the same industry or a wider market. This chapter intends to analyze the perspective of benchmarking in Romanian SMEs from the perspective of quality, cost, effectiveness, and customer satisfaction. The results show that for many Romanian organizations, benchmarking is still a little overlooked, on the one hand because of the lack of necessary financial resources, on the other hand, of a poor awareness of the importance of these investments in the medium and long term.
Importance of Information Security and Strategies to Prevent Data Breaches in Mobile Devices
Authors: Desai Maulik , Jaiswal Swati
Published: September 2019

Mobile devices have upgraded from normal java-based phones whose basic functionality was calling, messaging, and storing contact information to a more adaptive operating system like Symbian, iOS, and Android, which have smart features like e-mail, audio player, camera, etc. Gradually, everyone started relying more and more on these mobile devices. This led to an increase in the number of cell phone hackers. Common ways that a hacker gets access to your phone is via phishing, shoulder surfing, piggybacking, etc. There are countermeasures to this like bookmarking your most visited sites, using VPN, using encryption algorithms. Data theft and identity theft are a new concern for today's user; this chapter is to educate the end user of different ways in which their privacy can be invaded via a mobile phone. This chapter will help the researchers to know the mindset of a cell phone hacker and what are the potential damages that can be caused by them and strategies to prevent them.
Investment Appraisal of Sustainability Projects
Authors: Sinha Ria , Datta Manipadma
Published: September 2019

This chapter is an attempt to review the existing approaches in appraising sustainability projects using the conventional approaches of net present value (NPV) and introduce the modified forms of NPV (i.e., net present sustainable value [NPSV]). The chapter also elucidates on the prominent characteristics of sustainability projects and the inadequacy of traditional financial tools in appraising the same. Consequently, the need to transition from using only time value of money as in payback period approach to include opportunity costs as in NPV and furthering this approach to broaden the capital theory of sustainability by including both the time value of money and the opportunity costs has been strongly advocated. In addition to controlling the time value of money, risk-adjusted NPV measures are effective in evaluating sustainability projects. For assessment of renewable energy projects, real option analysis is suggested as an effective measure.
Impact of Green Taxes on the Public Financial System
Authors: Filipiak Beata Zofia , Wyszkowska Dorota
Published: September 2019

The EU has become a promoter of the idea of sustainable development and a defender of the global climate, which in many sectors results in ever higher and more ambitious ecological and efficiency requirements. State wants to protect the environment use various intervention instruments, including environmental taxes: “green taxes.” In addition to the fiscal function, they are to stimulate various types of entities to undertake specific actions conducive to reducing pressure on the environment. The aim of the considerations (discussion) is to present changes in the approach to the use of “green taxes,” as an important instrument of the public sector environmental policy in the impact on reducing pollution on the environment conducive to sustainable development. The research aims to verify the hypothesis and assumes the impact of environmental taxes on the public system of financing expenditure on environmental protection. The authors will also look for an answer to the question whether the policy of “green taxes” can contribute to the sustainable public financial system.
Public-Private Partnership and Financing the Development of National Infrastructure
Authors: Vaslavskaya Irina Yurievna
Published: September 2019

The chapter contains a methodology for formalized evaluation of the model of replacement of budget funds by private investment in the public infrastructure PPP projects for the purpose to ensure public finance sustainability. It can manifest itself only if the state could create appropriate conditions for private investors, including institutional players as its partners. The latter means primarily the stable formal institutional conditions for private investors, low transactional costs, attractive financial parameters, that could bring the ratio of budget and private financing of public infrastructure PPP projects to more than 1 to 1. It has become evident that accelerated development of many public infrastructure PPP projects is hampered by two factors: (1) inadequate institutional support for the design process itself and (2) absence of state-prepared acceptable financial models of public infrastructure PPP projects regarding the division of risks of infrastructure projects and delegating the proprietary rights of the state to private investors.
Mental Health Challenges in Children With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Mathew Nisha Elizabeth , Walter Amelia , Eapen Valsamma
Published: September 2019

There is limited evidence base regarding mental health issues in people with intellectual disability (ID), and hence, findings from the general population are often applied to ID groups. Available evidence suggests that individuals with ID experience higher rates of mental health disorders than the general population, although findings are mixed with regard to the determinants of this increased prevalence. Further, the consequences of this comorbidity for individuals, families, and the wider community are often overlooked including the multiple challenges in identifying and managing these concerns. Accurate diagnosis and effective intervention are currently hindered by factors including the applicability of standardized psychiatric classification systems, gaps in service delivery models and access to such services, as well as unmet training needs. It is critical that further research is carried out to examine the specific challenges facing individuals with ID along with facilitating appropriate mental health services to individuals with ID.
School Bullying Among Students With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Wright Michelle F.
Published: September 2019

School bullying research began in the 1970s through seminal research conducted on these experiences among Norwegian boys. From this initial research, multiple studies have been conducted over the past 40 years, revealing the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of school bullying. More recent investigations have also focused on cyberbullying, bullying using information and communication technologies (e.g., cell phones). Little attention has been given to school bullying involvement among students with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual disabilities. The handful of studies on this topic suggest that these students experience internalizing (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness) and externalizing (e.g., aggression, antisocial behaviors) difficulties associated with their involvement in school bullying. The aim of this chapter is to review multidisciplinary research concerning school bullying among students with intellectual disabilities and to make recommendations for public policy and prevention programs as well as future research.
Struggles of a Child with ID and Their Family Members
Authors: Hashim Aili Hanim , Sachdev Manveen Kaur , Bahar Norharlina , Ismail Wan Salwina Wan
Published: September 2019

There are many children with intellectual disability (ID) in recent years. The increase in numbers reflects the knowledge regarding the issue, thus creating awareness and increased detection for children for any developmental delay. Consequently, medical services are seeing and treating younger cohorts. Their disability may be mild to moderate, making it difficult even for medical professionals to identify these children. Invariably all parents want to have healthy, intelligent, and capable children who can achieve independence and a successful life. The reality is that parents having children with ID often struggle to understand what is happening with their child, what more how to cope with and help their child. Added to their distress is that even professionals dealing with the children and their family have various ideas and beliefs regarding this issue. Identifying families who are struggling and offering them the appropriate advice is essential as these families need proper guidance and services for their child.
Role of Stress and Age in Resilience Among Parents of the Children with Intellectual Disability
Authors: Rajan Santhosh Kareepadath
Published: September 2019

Parents of children with intellectual disability face various stressful situations. However, many of them show resilience even in the midst of challenges and are able to meaningfully contribute to the life of the child. In the present study, the factors of stress that hinder resilience are assessed in a sample of 50 parents of intellectually disabled children. Stress scale for parents of mentally challenged (SPMC) developed by Rejitha, Biji, and Jayan was used to measure the stress of the parents. Resilience was measured using the Bharathiar University resilience scale, developed by Annalakshmi. Results showed extra-familial stress as a significant inverse predictor of resilience. Older parents are relatively more resilient when compared to the younger.
Awareness Towards Intervention for Individuals With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Upadhyay Palak , Mishra Jyoti
Published: September 2019

Intellectual disability is sub-average intellectual functioning with impaired adaptive functioning. The limitations in their adaptive skill hampers the ability to cope with stressful life events. There are many issues which require attention while dealing with them like parental level, peer groups, schools, presence of comorbid conditions, etc. Interventions at right stage under efficient supervision can lead to healthy and smooth functioning of cases with ID and with good outcomes. Difficulties like lack of human resources, quality training of clinical psychologists in India, scarcity of effective clinical guidelines, conflicts among the team approach, acceptance in the family and society requires attention in current scenario. There are many things that can be offered but what we need is their acceptance in our society and awareness towards Intervention. This chapter aims at acknowledging these issues to create awareness amongst the responsible caregivers. Timely recognition of treatable causes of intellectual disability can be very rewarding and prevent a lifelong disability.
Attitude of General Public, Family Members, and Health Professionals Towards People With Intellectual Disabilities (PWID)
Authors: Hazarika Mythili , Choudhury Sandamita
Published: September 2019

Attitude defines one's behavior towards the people with intellectual disability (PWID). History on PWID indicates influence of psycho-social, biological, religious, and educational factors for the existence of stereotypical attitudes. But since the early part of the 21st century efforts have been reported across countries in integrating the PWID in the community at large. Families of PWID undergo high levels of stress and emotional reactions which call for intervention. Families often adopt strategies to hide the existence of a disability, which delays the treatment and rehabilitation of PWID. Also, stakeholder attitudes towards them highly influences their rehabilitation and integration in the mainstream society. Hence, this chapter is an attempt to focus on the importance of attitude towards individuals with intellectual disability by general public, family members, teachers, students, employers, and health professionals and its implications and further recommendations for the betterment of their condition.
RDMTk
Authors: Gavirangaswamy Vinay , Gupta Aakash , Terwilliger Mark , Gupta Ajay
Published: September 2019

Research into risky decision making (RDM) has become a multidisciplinary effort. Conversations cut across fields such as psychology, economics, insurance, and marketing. This broad interest highlights the necessity for collaborative investigation of RDM to understand and manipulate the situations within which it manifests. A holistic understanding of RDM has been impeded by the independent development of diverse RDM research methodologies across different fields. There is no software specific to RDM that combines paradigms and analytical tools based on recent developments in high-performance computing technologies. This paper presents a toolkit called RDMTk, developed specifically for the study of risky decision making. RDMTk provides a free environment that can be used to manage globally-based experiments while fostering collaborative research. The incorporation of machine learning and high-performance computing (HPC) technologies in the toolkit further open additional possibilities such as scalable algorithms and big data problems arising from global scale experiments.
Distributed Technical Object Model Synthesis Based on Monitoring Data
Authors: Tianxing Man , Osipov Vasily , Vodyaho Alexander I. , Lebedev Sergey , Zhukova Nataly
Published: September 2019

Practically all human activities depend on technical systems, which consists of a multitude of dynamically distributed objects. In order to control these systems, it is necessary to build and periodically rebuild models of objects, which consist of elements and connections between them and describes the object's state in time and space. Due to a large amount of monitoring data, the problem of automation of object model synthesis arises. By now the most work is done by experts. Analysis of the works from the related areas has shown that methods for the automated synthesis of object models based on link discovering do not exist. An approach for the automated synthesis of object models based on content extracted from messages received from monitoring systems is proposed. A context describing synthesis process conditions is supposed to be considered. The approach is illustrated with an example.
Web-Enabled Micro Engagement and Improving Linguistically Diverse Community College Student Writing
Authors: Lehner Edward , Ziegler John R.
Published: September 2019

In debates on institutional approaches to community college developmental instruction, this research examines one form of web-enabled formative assessments and presents a case study conducted in a linguistically-diverse urban community college. The study was designed to examine the multivariate associations between final class average, total user activity, total user activity in hours, and quiz average as measures of formative assessment and college writing achievement. The results of Pearson correlation analysis indicated 6 significant associations between micro engagement, formative assessment, and college writing achievement. Further, micro engagement, time on task, and formative assessment predicted 61% of college writing achievements. This study contributes to the conversation on community college writing instruction by demonstrating that employing multiple risk-free formative assessments provides one path toward college writing achievements.
Six Shades of Grey: Identifying Drinking Culture and Potentially Risky Drinking Behaviour in the Grey Zone between Work and Leisure. the Wirus Culture Study
Authors: Sagvaag Hildegunn , Rimstad Silje Lill , Kinn Liv Grethe , Aas Randi Wågø
Published: September 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore drinking culture and drinking situations that employers and employees encounter in the grey zone between work and leisure, and identify what might affect employees’ risky drinking behaviour.

Methods

We used eight focus groups to interview 61 core company informants from eight Norwegian companies (private and public sector) participating in the WIRUS – Workplace-based interventions preventing risky alcohol use and sick leave – project. The informants represented employers and employees with a diversity of roles at multiple organisational levels. The transcribed interviews were analysed by applying a phenomenological hermeneutical approach.

Results

The analysis revealed six dimensions of drinking culture representing potentially risky drinking behaviour in situations that fall in the grey zone between work and leisure: (1) “Who invited me?” (Degree of obligation towards inviter), (2) “Do I have to participate?” (Degree of participation volunteerism), (3) “To drink or not to drink?” (Degree of drinking volunteerism), (4) “Work talk or small talk?” (Degree of work-related conversation), (5) “Are there any drinking rules to follow?” (Degree of regulation), and (6) “The influence of being away from home” (degree of distance to home).

Conclusions

The findings reveal that employers and employees’ experience of drinking culture can be categorised as six different “shades of grey”. The grey zone is shaded from light to dark grey, indicating how risky the informants perceive the grey zone to be. The findings may be useful when designing workplace health promotion programmes and alcohol regulations in the workplace.
Online Media Scans: Applying Systematic Review Techniques to Assess Statewide Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Activities
Authors: Groene Emily A. , Mohammed Inari , Horvath Keith , Basta Nicole E. , Yared Nicholas , Kulasingam Shalini
Published: September 2019

Background

Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been approved for use in adolescents in the US for over a decade, vaccination uptake remains low. Of concern, HPV vaccine coverage is below the national average in Minnesota, USA. To understand the reach of current HPV programming and research, we use an online media scan; this method may be applied to other jurisdictions to gain insight about various public health issues.

Design and Methods

This online media scan describes the nature and scope of ongoing activities to increase HPV vaccination in Minnesota. The media scan included: a) structured internet searches of HPV vaccine health education/promotion activities ongoing in Minnesota since 2013, and b) searches in research databases of the published literature on HPV vaccination in Minnesota from 2013 to 2018.

Results

Searches resulted in 880 online and 142 research article matches, with 40 and 36 meeting selection criteria. Results were categorized by activities focusing on race/ethnicity, sex, health providers, parents, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) populations, geographic location, catchup vaccination, and insurance status. Most activities were statewide (52% health education/promotion and 35% research), followed by activities located in entirely urban areas (15% health education/promotion and 41% research) with only 6% of health education/promotion activities and 2% of research activities carried out in entirely rural areas.

Conclusions

A range of local and statewide HPV vaccine health education/promotion and research activities were identified in Minnesota. Several efforts partnered with American Indian and Somali/Somali-American communities, but fewer activities focused on HPV vaccination among LGBTQ youth and HPV vaccination in rural areas.
MEDICINAL PLANTS AND HEALTH IN HUMAN HISTORY: FROM EMPIRICAL USE TO MODERN PHYTOTHERAPY
Authors: Miraldi Elisabetta , Baini Giulia
Published: September 2019

Phytotherapy is the science that deals with the treatment and prevention of diseases through medicinal plants and herbal products. The use of herbs as medicine is the oldest form of healthcare known to humanity and has been used in all cultures throughout history. It is known that even today over 80% of the world population depends on herbal medicines. The quality of herbal medicines is believed to be directly related to its active principles, but herbal medicines can be variable in their composition. Therefore, it is necessary to use an extract that is well defined in its chemical composition and in the quantity of specific active principles; and actually, to obtain constant efficacy and safety, standardized medicinal plant extracts are being used. Clinically confirmed efficacy and best tolerability and safety of standardized or quantified medicinal plant extracts are the key for a successful phytotherapic approach.
INTESTINAL FLORA AFFECTS GUT-BRAIN AXIS
Authors: Orzi F.
Published: September 2019

Extreme changes of the gut microbiota affect brain function and behaviour, as measured in animal models. A question arises as to the potential clinical relevance of these findings, especially when one considers the influence of dietary habits on the gut flora diversity. The issue attracts public awareness and media attention, causing perhaps diffusion of more interpretations than solid data. A growing body of knowledge, however, supports a role for different gut bacteria, or dietary antigens, in affecting the immune system function, causing potential changes in clinically relevant susceptibility to noxious stimuli.
Toda maps, cocycles, and canonical systems
Authors: Remling Christian
Published: September 2019

I present a discussion of the hierarchy of Toda flows that gives center stage to the associated cocycles and the maps they induce on the

m

functions. In the second part, these ideas are then applied to canonical systems; an important feature of this discussion will be my proposal that the role of the shift on Jacobi matrices should now be taken over by the more general class of twisted shifts.
Sustainability and the Social Fabric
Authors: Padovani Clio , Whittaker Paul
Published: September 2019

While the topic of sustainability in textile manufacture has been the subject of considerable research, much of this is limited to a focus on materials and practices and their ecological impact. Padovani and Whittaker offer a unique exploration of the textile industry in Europe from the perspective of social sustainability, shifting the focus from the materiality of textile production to the industry’s relationships with the communities from which the products originate.

Featuring six in-depth case studies from design entrepreneurs, artisans and textile businesses around Europe, from Harris Tweed in Scotland to luxury woollen mills in Italy, Sustainability and the Social Fabric explores how new centres of textile manufacturing have emerged from the economic decline in 2008, responding creatively and producing socially inclusive approaches to textile production. Case studies each represent a different approach to social sustainability and are supported by interviews with industry leaders and comparisons to the global textile industry. Demonstrating how some companies are rebuilding the local social fabric to encourage consumer participation through education, enterprise, health and wellbeing, the book suggests innovative business models that are economically successful and also, in turn, support wider societal issues.

Essential reading for students of textiles, fashion, design and related subjects, this book will demonstrate how a business ecosystem that focuses on inclusive growth and social innovation can lead to sustained mutual benefit for textile industries and their local communities.
Dichloroacetate ameliorates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via regulating autophagy and glucose homeostasis
Authors: Li Shuo , Xie Boqia , Zhang Wenqian , Li Tong
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Autophagy occurs in response to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and plays both a protective and detrimental role in this pathological process. Dichloroacetate (DCA) has a protective role during myocardial I/R injury, but its effects on autophagy induction are less well understood. We established a rat myocardial I/R injury model and investigated the effects of DCA on autophagy induction.

Material and methods

Healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to establish a myocardial I/R model. The effect of DCA on cardiac infarct size, cardiac function, and serum levels of serum creatine kinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) during I/R injury were assessed. Using cultured rat cardiac myocytes, we investigated the functional implications of DCA and explored the relevant mechanism(s) of DCA protection during I/R injury.

Results

DCA significantly decreases infarct size and arrhythmia scores, increases heart rate (HR), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), the maximal rate of pressure rise (+dp/dtmax) and coronary flow (CF), and reduces the levels of CK, LDH and cTnI after I/R. DCA treatment enhanced myocardial cell viability and alleviated apoptosis assessed through TUNEL assays and Bcl-2/Bax expression. Notably, the levels of the autophagy biomarkers Beclin-1, LC3II and reactive oxygen species (ROS) significantly decreased following DCA treatment. When Bcl-2 was silenced, Beclin-1 expression significantly decreased following DCA treatment, suggesting that DCA confers a protective role during I/R injury through autophagy regulation. Moreover, DCA was found to regulate glucose homeostasis through increasing the expression of Glut-1 and Glut-4.

Conclusions

DCA contributes to I/R injury protection through the regulation of autophagy and glucose homeostasis.
Systemic lupus erythematosus, hypoparathyroidism, and hemolytic anemia in a patient with Wilson’s disease
Authors: Mageed Sarah , Rawla Prashanth , Mahmoud Mariam , Shahba Abeer
Published: September 2019

The authors report a female case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that was diagnosed as Wilson’s disease (WD) when neurological manifestations were evident three years after the first admission. The brain imaging studies showed bilateral symmetrical basal ganglia involvement, slit lamp examination revealed Kayser-Fleischer ring of the cornea, and 24-hour urinary copper and serum ceruloplasmin also confirmed the diagnosis. The patient also had hemolytic anemia and hypoparathyroidism, which are rare presenting features of WD. SLE may be associated with WD, and presence of neurological, behavioral, or liver function abnormalities should raise the suspicion, even without apparent features of WD.
The Politics of Succession in Charismatic Movements: Routinization versus Revival in Argentina, Venezuela, and Peru
Authors: Andrews-Lee Caitlin
Published: September 2019

Scholars suggest that charismatic movements must institutionalize to survive beyond the death of the founder. Yet charismatic movements around the world that have maintained their personalistic nature have persisted or reemerged. This article investigates the conditions under which
politicians can use their predecessors' charismatic legacies to revive these movements and consolidate power. I argue that three conditions - the mode of leadership selection, the presence of a crisis, and the ability to conform to the founder's personalistic nature - shape successors' capacity
to pick up their forefather's mantle and restore the movement to political predominance. To demonstrate my theory, I trace the process through which some leaders succeeded while others failed to embody the founder's legacy across three charismatic movements: Argentine Peronism, Venezuelan
Chavismo, and Peruvian Fujimorismo. Alexander Lee, Incumbency, Parties, and Legislatures: Theory and Evidence from India Incumbent legislators in some developing countries are often thought to face an electoral disadvantage relative to challengers. This article traces this effect to high levels
of centralization within the political parties and governments of these countries. In political systems dominated by party leaders, legislators face substantial formal and informal constraints on their ability to influence policy, stake positions, and control patronage, which in turn reduce
their ability to build up personal votes. This theory is tested on a dataset of Indian national elections since 1977, using a regression discontinuity design to measure the effects of incumbency. Candidates less affected by centralization - those from less-centralized political parties and
from parties not affected by restrictions on free parliamentary voting - have a low or non-existent incumbency disadvantage.
Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms: un sistema integral de fitorremediación y bioenergía
Authors: Carreño-Sayago Uriel F. , Rodríguez-Parra Camila
Published: September 2019

Introducción: Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms es una planta acuática que se reproduce rápidamente en aguas contaminadas. Debido a la alta capacidad de adsorción de metales pesados, la planta se utiliza como agente fitorremediador; su biomasa también puede ser usada para la producción de biocombustibles. 
Objetivo: Recopilar el estado del arte sobre los procesos de tratamiento de aguas y producción de biocombustibles con E. crassipes para diseñar un proceso integral de producción de biohidrógeno y bioetanol con la biomasa de la planta.
Materiales y métodos: Se revisó la literatura disponible sobre E. crassipes para analizar los diseños y proponer un sistema integrado de fitorremediación y bioenergía. 
Resultados y discusión: El diseño propuesto se puede ajustar a las condiciones de escala industrial. Este diseño abarca un sistema de fitorremediación, un biorreactor para generar hidrólisis, un biorreactor para la generación de bioetanol y, por último, un biorreactor para generar hidrógeno. 
Conclusiones: A través de la consulta del estado del arte de los diseños propuestos es posible crear y construir, a gran escala, un sistema de producción de bioetanol y biohidrógeno a partir de biomasa de E. crassipes (cargada o no con metales pesados). De esta manera, la biomasa de la planta no se desperdicia como ocurre en la actualidad.
Biocontrol de Trichoderma harzianum Rifai sobre Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O´Donnell en plántulas de Pinus greggii Engelm. ex Parl. en tres sustratos
Authors: García-Díaz Silvia E. , Aldrete Arnulfo , Alvarado-Rosales Dionicio , Cibrián-Tovar David , Méndez-Montiel José T.
Published: September 2019

Introducción: El damping-off, secadera o chupadera, es una enfermedad frecuente en los viveros forestales que ocasiona pérdidas económicas significativas a nivel mundial. 
Objetivo: Evaluar la patogenicidad e incidencia de Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O´Donnell en plántulas de Pinus greggii Engelm. ex Parl., y el uso de Trichoderma harzianum Rifai como biocontrol en tres sustratos. 
Materiales y métodos: El hongo fitopatógeno F. circinatum (cepa SF5) y el antagonista T. harzianum (cepa comercial T-22 KRL-AG2) se inocularon en P. greggii.  Se utilizaron tres sustratos a base de turba de musgo, aserrín y corteza de pino. Se evaluaron la incidencia de la enfermedad y los índices morfológicos de la planta (diámetro del tallo, altura, relación peso seco aéreo/peso seco radical, índice de esbeltez e índice de calidad de Dickson). Los datos se sometieron a un análisis de varianza (procedimiento GLM de SAS versión 9.0) y comparación de medias de Tukey (P ≤ 0.05). 
Resultados y discusión: La patogenicidad se comprobó mediante los postulados de Koch. La incidencia de la enfermedad fue alta (> 93 %) en los sustratos a base de turba de musgo y corteza de pino, y fue menor en el sustrato a base de aserrín (78 %). Trichoderma harzianum y el sustrato a base de aserrín redujeron la incidencia a 66 %. La calidad de la planta, con base en los índices morfológicos, fue mayor en el sustrato de turba de musgo.
Conclusión: Fusarium circinatum es patogénico en P. greggii; el sustrato a base de aserrín y T. harzianum redujeron la incidencia de la enfermedad en las plántulas.
La rehabilitación forestal y su papel en la conservación avifaunística en El Porvenir, Hidalgo, México
Authors: Montoya-Reyes Francisco , Plascencia-Escalante Francisca O. , Ugalde-Lezama Saúl , Tarango-Arámbula Luis A. , García-Osorio María T. , Beltrán-Rodríguez Leonardo A.
Published: September 2019

Introducción: Conservar los ecosistemas terrestres en buen estado es un desafío a nivel global. En México, la rehabilitación forestal es una práctica utilizada ampliamente para el logro de tal encomienda. 
Objetivo: Analizar el efecto de la rehabilitación forestal sobre los parámetros de la avifauna (riqueza, abundancia y diversidad) y la estructura vegetal.
Materiales y métodos: El estudio se realizó en El Porvenir, Hidalgo, México, en áreas bajo rehabilitación forestal con Pinus greggii Engelm. ex Parl. con edades de 5(R5), 12(R12) y 14(R14) años, y en un bosque de Pinus cembroides Zucc. como sitio de referencia (SR). El muestreo se hizo mediante un diseño sistemático en cuadrícula. La presencia avifaunística se monitoreó bajo dos esquemas: recuento en punto con radio fijo y captura mediante redes de niebla con esfuerzo constante. La estructura arbórea se caracterizó mediante cuadrantes con punto centrado. Las diferencias entre condiciones se probaron con un análisis multivariado de permutación de varianza (PERMANOVA). 
Resultados y discusión: El SR presentó la mayor riqueza de aves (34) y mostró diferencias significativas (P = 0.0003) con las condiciones de rehabilitación. La distribución de la abundancia en R5 y R14 se ajustó a un modelo geométrico, R12 al logarítmico y SR a normal-logarítmico, presentando diferencias significativas entre sí (P = 0.033). La diversidad avifaunística presentó diferencias entre condiciones (P = 0.005); la máxima semejanza fue entre R14 y SR. A mayor edad de rehabilitación forestal, la estructura vegetal y los parámetros avifaunísticos incrementaron.
Conclusión: Las áreas bajo rehabilitación forestal funcionan como reservorios para el mantenimiento y conservación de la avifauna en ambientes perturbados.