bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtual Reality Learning Activities for Multimedia Students to Enhance Spatial Ability
Authors: Molina-Carmona Rafael , Pertegal-Felices María Luisa , Jimeno-Morenilla Antonio , Mora-Mora Higinio
Published: April 2018

Virtual Reality is an incipient technology that is proving very useful for training different skills. Our hypothesis is that it is possible to design virtual reality learning activities that can help students to develop their spatial ability. To prove the hypothesis, we have conducted an experiment consisting of training the students using an on-purpose learning activity based on a virtual reality application and assessing the possible improvement of the students’ spatial ability through a widely accepted spatial visualization test. The learning activity consists of a virtual environment where some simple polyhedral shapes are shown and manipulated by moving, rotating and scaling them. The students participating in the experiment are divided into a control and an experimental group, carrying out the same learning activity with the only difference of the device used for the interaction: a traditional computer with screen, keyboard and mouse for the control group, and virtual reality goggles with a smartphone for the experimental group. To assess the experience, all the students have completed a spatial visualization test twice: just before performing the activities and four weeks later, once all the activities were performed. Specifically, we have used the well-known and widely used Purdue Spatial Visualization Test—Rotation (PSVT-R), designed to test rotational visualization ability. The results of the test show that there is an improvement in the test results for both groups, but the improvement is significantly higher in the case of the experimental group. The conclusion is that the virtual reality learning activities have shown to improve the spatial ability of the experimental group.
System Dynamic Analysis of Impacts of Government Charges on Disposal of Construction and Demolition Waste: A Hong Kong Case Study
Authors: Au Lai , Ahn Seungjun , Kim Tae
Published: April 2018

With the purpose of reducing the amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste disposed to landfills, many countries and municipalities have introduced increasingly stringent C&D waste disposal charges (CDWDC) but the level of CDWDC is often determined without a clear understanding of its broad and complex impacts. Against this background, this paper aims to propose a system dynamics (SD) model that can help predict CDWDC’s environmental implications as well as its financial implications. Specifically, the proposed model explains complex causal relationships between variables such as the level of CDWDC, the amount of C&D waste disposed to landfills, the government’s revenues from CDWDC as well as the costs of supplying and operating landfills over time. For a case study, the developed model is customized and calibrated with actual data from Hong Kong, where the remaining capacities of existing landfills are limited and the need for supplying more landfills is imminent. The simulation analysis with the model predicts that the current charging levels may not be high enough to effectively control the amount of C&D waste disposed to landfills or to compensate for the costs to the government of supplying additional landfills. The analysis also predicts how much illegal dumping may increase as the level of CDWDC increases. This case study illustrates that the proposed SD model can help policy makers to see the potential impacts of increased CDWDC on the amount of C&D waste disposed to landfills, government costs and the amount of illegal dumping of C&D waste; and can therefore help them to determine the most appropriate level of CDWDC.
Making Conventional Agriculture Environmentally Friendly: Moving beyond the Glorification of Organic Agriculture and the Demonization of Conventional Agriculture
Authors: Tal Alon
Published: April 2018

The article reviews the most recent research surrounding the potential role of organic agriculture in providing food for the planet. It challenges the claims of organic agriculture’s environmental superiority compared to well-managed, conventional agriculture. The relative advantages of these contrasting approaches to farming in areas such as aggregate land requirements, biodiversity/habitat loss, water quality, land degradation and climate change are considered. Legitimate concerns about conventional agriculture’s adverse environmental and health impacts need to be addressed and many harmful practices transformed. Nonetheless, careful, sustainably-run, conventional operations can avoid many of the pitfalls and hazards which are often associated with high-input agriculture. The higher yields provided by conventional agriculture offer a more sustainable strategy than a chemical-free agricultural system at the global level for meeting the needs of burgeoning populations and reducing agriculture’s aggregate environmental impact.
Soil Moisture Investigation Utilizing Machine Learning Approach Based Experimental Data and Landsat5-TM Images: A Case Study in the Mega City Beijing
Authors: Qu Yue , Qian Xu , Song Hongqing , Xing Yi , Li Zhengyi , Tan Jinqiang
Published: April 2018

The characteristics of soil moisture content (SMC) distribution in an area are necessarily analyzed for the design and construction of sponge cities. Combining remote sensing data with experimental data, this paper establishes a machine learning model to reveal the characteristics of SMC. Taking Beijing as an example, the SMC distribution was obtained and the characteristics were analyzed after training and validating. When comparing different machine learning methods, it can be concluded that the support vector classifier (SVC) method trained with remote sensing and grayscale data can achieve the highest accuracy (76.69%). The calculation results show that the districts with the highest and lowest SMC value are Xicheng District (19.94%) and Daxing District (11.04%), respectively, in Beijing. The mean SMC value of Beijing is 15.65%. The SMC distribution characteristic in Beijing shows that the soil in the west and north are relatively wet, while the soil in the east and south are relatively dry. Therefore, it is suggested that the timely monitoring of the SMC of vegetation covered areas at the north and west should be carried out. Water conservation facilities also need to be established with the development of city constructions in the south and east areas.
Expiation, par Rome, de prodiges survenus dans des cités alliées du nomen Latinum ou des cités alliées italiennes non-latines
Authors: Berthelet Yann
Published: April 2018

Cette étude est construite en contrepoint de l’article de M. Christopher J. Dart, «The Address of Italian Portents by Rome and the Ager publicus » . Le refus des autorités romaines de prendre en charge, en 169 av. J.-C., le prodige survenu dans la colonie latine de Frégelles ne doit pas être compris comme l’application d’une prétendue règle juridique préexistante, mais comme un avertissement adressé aux Frégellans, diplomatiquement maquillé derrière un prétexte juridique. La démonstration d’une telle interprétation nécessite de revenir sur les expressions «ager Romanus » et «ager peregrinus » , souvent employées par M. Christopher J. Dart, afin de justifier leur évacuation du débat ; de repréciser le statut de certaines cités qu’il évoque ; de prouver que la plupart des prodiges des cités alliées latines et italiennes ne peuvent pas s’être produits in agro publico populi Romani ; de rappeler le contexte socio-économique et politique du refus de prise en charge du prodige frégellan.
Le « parti » d’Auguste et son action religieuse en Italie : quelques pistes de réflexion (20 av. J.-C.- 30 ap. J.-C.)
Authors: Rey Sarah
Published: April 2018

The “ Augustan Party” and its Religious Action in Italy (30s BC-20s AD) – Historiography has long neglected the religious behaviour of the “ Augustan aristocracy”, despite the significant role that social group actually played in sacred matters at the time. Under Augustus, religion was not the monopoly of one autocrat allowing no initiatives from the principes uiri. Among those who built the imperial cult’s first sanctuaries, the most notable were thus P. Vedius Pollio, closely related to the emperor, and L. Volusius Saturninus, suffect consul in 3 AD. High ranking provincial administrators also contributed to the assertion of the imperial cult, as was the case with P. Rubrius Barbarus in Casinum or of Q. Octavius Sagitta, a figure of equestrian rank in Superaequum. The liberti, particularly those who came directly from the imperial house, also clearly appeared as potential dedicators.
Evaluating Event Effectiveness Across Alternate Platforms
Authors: Malek Kristin , Tanford Sarah , Baloglu Seyhmus
Published: April 2018

Organizations are rapidly adopting new technologies and have justified their return on investment by examining new attendee rates, "click throughs" on links, and company-specific metrics. Despite advances in technology and growing consumer dependence on electronics, the meeting and
events industry has been slow to adopt IT advances for fear of cannibalization. The purpose of this study was to gather foundational knowledge of how various event platforms, such as face to face and online, can affect overall event effectiveness. Variables examined include attendee satisfaction,
loyalty, and content retention. This research used a multimethod approach in which one experimental study and one field study were conducted. The researchers analyzed three meeting platforms in each study: face to face, online, and online with moderator. The findings suggest that meetings
with more difficult content should utilize in-person or online with moderator sessions to increase attendee satisfaction, loyalty, and content retention. For meetings with less difficult content, the findings suggest that it is not cost effective to pay for a moderator in the online session.
This research has important implications for improving the quality of meeting attendees' experiences while achieving an organization's set objective. Additionally, this study has implications for event-related areas to include exhibitors, sponsors, and audio-visual providers.
Remembering Together: The Importance of Shared Emotional Memory in Event Experiences
Authors: Wood Emma H. , Kenyon Alexandra J.
Published: April 2018

Drawing on the wider literature in the psychology and sociology of emotions and memory this study provides new insights into the formation and role of shared emotion in the memory of event experiences. The methodology draws together several data collection methods in order to capture
the complexity of emotional response. Thick data are gathered from a single case study friendship pair using a combination of short surveys, physiological measures, photo elicitation, and paired interviews to provide a detailed understanding of the experience from anticipation to recollection
and reflection to response. The longitudinal data show that what was felt at the time changes considerably in recollection often becoming more intense as time passes and it is the act of sharing these memories that appears to intensify and alter them. This suggests that the often flawed and
certainly mediated memory of the experience has a more influential role to play in attitude formation than previously thought. Furthermore, it is the desire for a feeling of emotional congruity that creates and strengthens this emotional response in remembering. Therefore, the mediated memory
of the attendee experience has more influence on behavior than the reality of the experience. It is recommended that event marketers use this understanding to design opportunities, beyond the experience, in which memories can be created and shared.
Understanding Brand Associations of Preferred Minor Hockey Tournaments From the Parents' Perspective
Authors: Wigfield Daniel , Chard Chris
Published: April 2018

Hosting tournaments and other hockey-related activities have been hailed as important drivers of tourist dollars for many regions across Canada. The competition to attract teams to participate in tournaments, which benefit the tournament organizers and the communities in which they
reside, is considerable. Consequently, the purpose of the study was to identify the characteristics of a preferred tournament experience from the perspective of representative (rep) hockey parents from Ontario's Greater Golden Horseshoe Region. Specifically, these characteristics were considered
through a brand management lens by focusing on brand associations related to tournament offerings. To investigate the current study, 30 interviews were conducted using a laddering interview technique. Findings indicate that there are four attributes that influence a tournament brand including:
competition, tournament operations, accommodations, and travel requirements. Further, six benefits derived from these attributes emerged: bonding, fun, parity, value, life skills, and time management.
Fantrepreneurs in the Sharing Economy: Cocreating Neotribal Events
Authors: Lundberg Christine , Ziakas Vassilios
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this article is to explore fan event organizers' (i.e., fantrepreneurs) cocreation processes linked to their fandom and neotribal characteristics as enacted within the sharing economy. In so doing, the article introduces the conceptual frameworks for understanding fantrepreneurs
and subsequent cocreation of neotribal events. The article combines conceptual research methods with an analysis of empirical data collected through interviews with fantrepreneurs to enhance the explanatory power of the proposed frameworks. Findings show that there is a strong relationship
between the collaborative consumption of fantrepreneurs and their neotribal lifestyle characteristics, which can be leveraged to enhance collaborative and cocreation patterns. This relationship is moderated by the factors of authenticity, nostalgia, autonomy, and anticommercialization that
fantrepreneurs exhibit through the cocreation of (and within) neotribal fandom events. This integrated perspective marks fantrepreneurship as an emerging phenomenon within the sharing economy by shedding light on the cocreation patterns, moderating factors, and their interaction effects that
explain the relationship between collaborative consumption and neotribalism characterizing the behavior of fantrepreneurs. The article conceptualizes the emergence of fantrepreneurs and cocreation of neotribal events providing an interdisciplinary foundation for future research that integrates
literature on fandom, cocreation, and neotribalism. The resulting frameworks contribute to the understanding of fantrepreneurship as a manifestation of the sharing economy, which brings forward new fan patterns and practices in events.
INNOVATIVE CLASSIFICATION OF METHODS OF THE FUTURE-ORIENTED TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS
Authors: HALICKA Katarzyna
Published: April 2018

In the era characterized by significant dynamics of the environment traditional methods of anticipating the future, assuming the immutability of the factors affecting the forecasted phenomenon, may be in the long term ineffective. The modern approach of predicting the future of technology, taking into account the multidimensionality of the environment, is, among other things, the Future-Oriented Technology Analysis (FTA). Designing the FTA research procedure is a complex process, both in organizational and methodological terms. The catalogue of methods that can be used in this process is extensive and constantly open. However, in the source literature the rules for the selection of methods appropriate for the type of research were not specified. The ways of combining methods in the research process were also missing. The main aim of this article was to present the author’s classification of methods of future-oriented technology analysis and indicate the possibilities of its application. In the text, using statistical methods and artificial neural networks, the classification of methods with the potential of exploitation in prospective technology analysis was carried out. Each of the received classes was analysed, the characteristics of particular groups of methods were selected, and authorial names characterizing the given classes were chosen. According to the author, the application of the proposed classification of methods of future-oriented technology analysis facilitates the design of the FTA research process. It will contribute to the systematization and standardization of the manner of selection of research methods. It will also allow for the selection of complementary methods.
A Tractable Estimate for the Dissipation Range Onset Wavenumber Throughout the Heliosphere
Authors: Engelbrecht N. Eugene , Strauss R. Du Toit
Published: April 2018

The modulation of low-energy electrons in the heliosphere is extremely sensitive to the behavior of the dissipation range slab turbulence. The present study derives approximate expressions for the wavenumber at which the dissipation range on the slab turbulence power spectrum commences, by assuming that this onset occurs when dispersive waves propagating parallel to the background magnetic field gyroresonate with thermal plasma particles. This assumption yields results in reasonable agreement with existing spacecraft observations. These expressions are functions of the solar wind proton and electron temperatures, which are here modeled throughout the region where the solar wind is supersonic using a two-component turbulence transport model. The results so acquired are compared with extrapolations of existing models for the dissipation range onset wavenumber, and conclusions are drawn therefrom.
Energy Levels and Spectral Lines of Li Atoms in White Dwarf Strength Magnetic Fields
Authors: Zhao L. B.
Published: April 2018

A theoretical approach based on B-splines has been developed to calculate atomic structures and discrete spectra of Li atoms in a strong magnetic field typical of magnetic white dwarf stars. Energy levels are presented for 20 electronic states with the symmetries 20+, 20−, 2(−1)+, 2(−1)−, and 2(−2)+. The magnetic field strengths involved range from 0 to 2350 MG. The wavelengths and oscillator strengths for the electric dipole transitions relevant to these magnetized atomic states are reported. The current results are compared to the limited theoretical data in the literature. A good agreement has been found for the lower energy levels, but a significant discrepancy is clearly visible for the higher energy levels. The existing discrepancies of the wavelengths and oscillator strengths are also discussed. Our investigation shows that the spectrum data of magnetized Li atoms previously published are obviously far from meeting requirements of analyzing discrete atomic spectra of magnetic white dwarfs with lithium atmospheres.
Weakened Magnetization and Onset of Large-scale Turbulence in the Young Solar Wind—Comparisons of Remote Sensing Observations with Simulation
Authors: Chhiber Rohit , Usmanov Arcadi V. , DeForest Craig E. , Matthaeus William H. , Parashar Tulasi N. , Goldstein Melvyn L.
Published: April 2018

Recent analysis of Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) imaging observations have described the early stages of the development of turbulence in the young solar wind in solar minimum conditions. Here we extend this analysis to a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of the corona and solar wind based on inner boundary conditions, either dipole or magnetogram type, that emulate solar minimum. The simulations have been calibrated using Ulysses and 1 au observations, and allow, within a well-understood context, a precise determination of the location of the Alfvén critical surfaces and the first plasma beta equals unity surfaces. The compatibility of the the STEREO observations and the simulations is revealed by direct comparisons. Computation of the radial evolution of second-order magnetic field structure functions in the simulations indicates a shift toward more isotropic conditions at scales of a few Gm, as seen in the STEREO observations in the range 40–60 R
⊙. We affirm that the isotropization occurs in the vicinity of the first beta unity surface. The interpretation based on early stages of in situ solar wind turbulence evolution is further elaborated, emphasizing the relationship of the observed length scales to the much smaller scales that eventually become the familiar turbulence inertial range cascade. We argue that the observed dynamics is the very early manifestation of large-scale in situ nonlinear couplings that drive turbulence and heating in the solar wind.
Hesperidin Attenuates Influenza a virus (H1N1) Induced Lung Injury in Rats through its Anti-Inflammatory Effect
Authors: Ding Zhen , Sun Gengyun , Zhu Zhongming
Published: April 2018

Background

Influenza A viruses (IAV) can cause pandemics and are big threats to human health. Inflammation is the main pathological process in the lungs after IAV infection. We aimed to investigate whether hesperidin, a well-known anti-inflammatory compound, could be effective in improving IAV-induced lung injury.

Methods

We generated a rat model using H1N1 virus infection, and intraperitoneally injected different doses of hesperidin for 5 days. Pulmonary function was analysed. Local inflammatory state was profiled by immune cells and cytokines. Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were isolated from rats and used to test the effects of hesperidin in vitro.

Results

Hesperidin showed efficacy in improving H1N1-induced impairment of pulmonary function in a dose-dependent manner. Local numbers of immune cells and concentrations of cytokines were significantly limited by hesperidin. However, we found that hesperidin neither inhibited virus replication, nor rescued infected pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Rather, we observed that hesperidin reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production by suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathways.

Conclusions

Hesperidin could alleviate H1N1-induced impairment of pulmonary function by inhibiting cytokine production in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells through MAPK signalling pathways.
Clinique de l’exil : de la nostalgie du migrant
Authors: Barry Aboubacar
Published: April 2018

Ce texte rend compte du travail psychique que devait effectuer le migrant africain qui se retrouvait en Europe dans les années 1980. Une attention portée à sa décision de partir de chez lui montre que le sentiment d’étrangeté avait généralement précédé l’exil. En général, ceux qui arrivent à bien s’intégrer – voire à s’assimiler – à la culture du pays d’accueil se sentaient, depuis l’enfance, exclus des parties communes des espaces de la mémoire dans leur culture d’origine.
L’Accord de partenariat économique entre l’Union européenne et l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Leçons d’une négociation
Authors: Koné Salif
Published: April 2018

Lancée officiellement le 6 octobre 2003, la négociation APE Union Européenne et Afrique de l’Ouest n’a abouti à un accord qu’en janvier 2014. Déjà conclu, déjà contesté par la société civile, partie prenante, l’accord APE UE-AO n’est pas encore signé par le Nigeria, poids lourd de la région. Sa mise en œuvre est donc menacée si l’on tient compte en plus du processus de l’intégration régionale ouest-africaine. Cet article cherche à expliquer la longue durée de la négociation APE UE-AO, mais surtout les difficultés de la mise en œuvre de l’accord auquel il a abouti. Cet article conclut à l’importance du contexte de négociation et à l’approche adoptée. Il tire également plusieurs leçons des analyses menées.
Application de l’analyse en composantes principales à la prédiction des faillites chez les PME belges ?
Authors: Cultrera Loredana , Croquet Mélanie , Jospin Jérémy
Published: April 2018

L’objectif de cet article est d’établir, au moyen d’une méthodologie novatrice, un modèle de prédiction de la faillite applicable aux PME belges. En se basant sur un échantillon de 1860 entreprises belges issues du logiciel Belfirst et fournies par le Bureau van Dijk, nos principaux résultats montrent, au moyen des méthodes d’analyse en composantes principales, de Ward et des centres mobiles, qu’une correcte discrimination entre les entreprises défaillantes et les entreprises non-défaillantes n’était pas réalisable pour notre échantillon. Par contre, nos résultats concernant la régression logistique montrent que les variables employées possèdent effectivement un pouvoir discriminant significativement fort, permettant de prédire la faillite d’une entreprise.
Effet d’une mauvaise qualité de service sur le comportement déviant des usagers : le cas du secteur hospitalier
Authors: Dargachi Safa , Ben Lallouna Hafsia Hajer
Published: April 2018

Le comportement déviant des consommateurs devient un phénomène préoccupant pour plusieurs organisations. Cependant, très peu de recherches ont essayé de l’expliquer. L’objectif de cette recherche consiste à déterminer l’effet d’une mauvaise qualité de service sur le comportement déviant des patients dans le secteur hospitalier. Se basant sur une étude quantitative auprès de 259 patients des hôpitaux, les résultats ont montré qu’une mauvaise qualité de service dans les dimensions : environnementale, technique et interpersonnelle avait un effet négatif sur le consommateur causant un comportement déviant. Cela dit, la mauvaise qualité de service sur le plan administratif ne semble pas exercer d’effets sur le comportement déviant.
Les senteurs d’ambiance comme marqueur des expériences de fréquentation d’un point de vente : une approche par la valeur
Authors: Daghrir Rabiaa , Frikha Azza
Published: April 2018

Cette recherche s’inscrit dans le cadre du marketing sensoriel et expérientiel. Elle tend à clarifier le rôle de l’empreinte olfactive d’une enseigne dans la création d’une expérience de fréquentation d’un point de vente et les évaluations de cette expérience à travers le concept de la valeur. Les résultats d’une expérimentation menée dans un terrain réel auprès de 475 clients ont montré qu’une signature olfactive influence positivement la valeur perçue des expériences de fréquentation et ce, via les émotions ressenties dans le point de vente.
Travailler à l’articulation soins premiers et second recours : Pourquoi, Comment ?
Authors: Bourgueil Yann , Kanhonou Nicolas
Published: April 2018

Analyser collectivement le fonctionnement des relations médecine générale – médecine spécialisée : une méthode participative à partir de l’analyse et de la discussion de cas types. L’objet de cet article, principalement méthodologique, est de présenter le contexte, les objectifs, la méthode adoptée et les résultats de travaux menés dans le cadre d’un groupe de travail initié par le Haut conseil pour l’avenir de l’assurance maladie (HCAAM) pour analyser les fonctionnements des relations médecins de second recours et médecins de premier recours. Ces travaux ont nourri plusieurs notes du Haut conseil visant à proposer des pistes pour orienter l’action publique 1 .
Alcool : la culture ou la santé
Authors: Basset Bernard
Published: April 2018

Alors que les dommages sanitaires et sociaux de la consommation d’alcool dans notre pays sont parfaitement établis et considérables, aucune politique cohérente et efficace ne peut être mise en œuvre. En effet, les groupes d’intérêts liés au secteur économique de l’alcool sont non seulement puissants, mais ils ont réussi à placer le débat sur le champ de la défense de la culture, relativisant ainsi les risques et les dommages. Les moyens d’une politique efficace sont connus. Tout l’enjeu pour les acteurs de santé publique est de revenir à la question qui se pose vraiment : comment replacer au premier rang les enjeux de santé publique ?
Le remboursement des frais dentaires
Authors: Yeni Isabelle , Eslous Laurence , Delavelle Frédérique Simon , Nizri Daniel
Published: April 2018

Bien que les soins dentaires soient des soins médicaux, leur prise en charge par la sécurité sociale reste à l’écart des principes de cette dernière. Les patients financent 63 % de la dépense totale de soins dentaires à travers ce qui reste à leur charge ou leur cotisation à une complémentaire. Ils en sont les premiers financeurs. Du fait du renoncement aux soins, dû notamment aux dépassements d’honoraires perçus par les chirurgiens-dentistes, cette charge réagit sur l’état de santé bucco-dentaire. Ces conditions de prise en charge, sont antiredistributives et favorisent les inégalités territoriales et sociales. Elles sont en outre inefficaces au regard de la santé publique puisque l’état de santé bucco-dentaire en France est considéré comme médiocre. Tous les acteurs à l’exception des patients, ont laissé s’installer cette situation. Ainsi, serait-il souhaitable que les soins bucco-dentaires bénéficient, comme tous les soins médicaux, à nouveau du régime de droit commun de la protection sociale contre le risque maladie pour qu’un meilleur état de santé bucco-dentaire de la population puisse concourir à l’amélioration de l’état de santé général.
Knowledge management as a tool for improving business processes: an action research approach
Authors: Martínez-Martínez Aurora , Cerdá Suárez Luis Manuel , Sánchez Montero Roberto , Asensio del Arco Eva
Published: April 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the importance of Knowledge Management as a tool for improving business processes in a different context from the industrial organizations, as an archaeological museum.Design/methodology/approach: Using data collected from the National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman in Muscat, a methodology for analysis and improvement of processes (the Business Cycle Management Process, CMP) is designed and validated. This application is described as an eight phases process based on Six Sigma DMAIC. The model has a characteristic "P" shape.Findings: As the results obtained by the process improvement initiative show, we highlight the relevance of the improvement in all aspects regarding the security in showcases in that context.Research limitations/implications: The complexity of implementing indicators and the partial vision of the project as data were only obtained from a part of one of the companies involved in the construction of the museum. An important implication of this paper is in order to present a methodology to improve the museum processes focusing on the reduction of errors and also adding value for the visitors.Practical implications: The relevance to intervene on certain relevant variables at different levels of management performance is verified.Social implications: Improving the quality of leisure services in order to the identification of certain challenges regarding the nature and competitiveness of cultural services.Originality/value: The current work has served as a repository of knowledge applicable to new similar projects, in which to take into account the peculiarities of each case and in particular the level of quality demanded by the client in a cultural context. It is important to take into account the degree of avoidable dissatisfaction (number of solvable problems that would lead to dissatisfaction), the opportunity for improvement, the reduction of operational waste and the need for coordination.
Formative assessment framework proposal for transversal competencies: Application to analysis and problem-solving competence
Authors: Gómez-Gasquet Pedro , Verdecho Mª José , Rodriguez-Rodriguez Raúl , Alfaro-Saiz Juan José
Published: April 2018

Purpose: In the last years, there is an increasing interest in the manner that transversal competences (TC) are introduced in the curricula. Transversal competences are generic and relevant skills that students have to develop through the several stages of the educational degrees. This paper analyses TCs in the context of the learning process of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The main aim of this paper is to propose a framework to improve results. The framework facilities the student's training and one of the important pieces is undoubtedly that he has constant feedback from his assessments that allowing to improve the learning. An applying in the analysis and problem solving competence in the context of Master Degree in Advanced Engineering Production, Logistics and Supply Chain at the UPV is carried out.Design/methodology/approach: The work is the result of several years of professional experience in the application of the concept of transversal competence in the UPV with undergraduate and graduate students. As a result of this work and various educational innovation projects, a team of experts has been created, which has been discussing some aspects relevant to the improvement of the teaching-learning process. One of these areas of work has been in relation to the integration of various proposals on the application and deployment of transversal competences. With respect to this work, a conceptual proposal is proposed that has subsequently been empirically validated through the analysis of the results of several groups of students in a degree.Findings: The main result that is offered in the work is a framework that allows identifying the elements that are part of the learning process in the area of transversal competences. Likewise, the different items that are part of the framework are linked to the student's life cycle, and a temporal scope is established for their deployment.Practical implications: One of the most noteworthy practical implications is that the proposed framework includes a tool that allows a clear measurement of the student's evolution throughout his / her formative life cycle. In this way the student has a more consistent and robust vision of his / her training and the academic directors of the titles can have a vision of the impact of the decisions on the learning processes.Originality/value: The analysis of transversal competences is usually presented in the context of a subject. In this paper we propose an approach to cross-curricular competences but in the scope of the student's complete life cycle. The consideration of the entire formative process as well as the identification of the relevant elements that are part of this process are the most original aspects of the work.
A Model to align the organizational culture to Lean
Authors: Taherimashhadi Mehrsa , Ribas Imma
Published: April 2018

Purpose: Since the emergence of Lean Manufacturing many organizations strived to implement it. Nonetheless, sustainable Lean transformation is not as easy as to be simply achieved. Several aspects need to be taken into account before Lean implementation which national and organizational culture are important. By considering influences of national culture on the organizational culture, this paper aims at proposing an evaluation model to determine the cultural weaknesses of an organization and give some recommendations to manage people before implementing Lean.Design/methodology/approach: This research has been conducted based on literature review survey and semi-structured interviews. Research papers, conference proceedings, books, and official websites regarding Lean philosophy were reviewed to find the influence of national culture in Lean implementation. Different databases were scrutinized, from 2015 to 2017, containing Scopus and Web of Science with the time period of 1996-2016. A set of key terms and their combinations were used including: Toyota Production system, Lean production, Lean manufacturing, Lean management, Transformation, Implementation, Barriers/ Impediments/Challenges/Difficulties, Human resources, Success factors, Organizational culture, and National culture.Findings: The proposed evaluation model is a guide for organizations to determine cultural misalignments between the corporate culture and the Lean culture before its implementation and gives some managerial recommendations to correct them.Originality/value: This study is the first attempt to integrate the national models   with Lean culture to provide an evaluation model and some recommendations to help the organization to align its culture to Lean culture before its implementation.
Analyzing the effects of applying IoT to a metal-mechanical company
Authors: Cañizares Eduardo , Alarcón Valero Faustino
Published: April 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to show the improvements obtained through the application of IoT in a company of the metal-mechanical sector.Design/methodology/approach: The methodology used has been the collection of data before and after the application of the IoT in the process to manufacture tool-machines.Findings: Improvements obtained in some aspects of the process are very high (above 30%), making it a process that is more efficient allowing reduce costs.Research limitations/implications: Some aspects or details are difficult to quantify because there are no measurable parameters.Practical implications: Technological advances and new technologies applied to the industry, allows significant improvements in production.Social implications: Improvements obtained in the process can improve the conditions of workers.Originality/value: Originality of the paper is very high, because there are no publications of study or practical cases in the sector, due to the confidentiality and competitiveness of the sector.
Nueva metodología empírica para la estimación del desgaste de los cortadores de una tuneladora
Authors: Laín C. , Llamas B. , Pous J. , Laín R.
Published: April 2018

El objetivo de este artículo es crear una nueva metodología más sencilla, rápida y barata de las que existen en la actualidad para estimar el desgaste de los cortadores de una tuneladora operando en roca dura, utilizando para ello un desarrollo estadístico que ha permitido establecer una fórmula empírica.

Se han identificado y asignando valores a las diferentes propiedades de las rocas que influyen principalmente en el desgaste de los discos, obteniendo el índice CLH, que estima el desgaste de los cortadores de la cabeza de corte de una tuneladora TBM, pudiendo así prever la duración de los mismos.

Se ha realizado un profundo estudio estadístico de los resultados para demostrar la fiabilidad del método, así como una cuantificación de los posibles errores que se puedan cometer y niveles de confianza.
Reducing Stigma in Mental Health Through Digital Storytelling
Authors: Davidson Tatiana , Moreland Angela , Bunnell Brian E. , Winkelmann Jennifer , Hamblen Jessica L. , Ruggiero Kenneth J.
Published: April 2018

The authors present the use of digital storytelling with two populations that have been consistently shown to be at increased risk for developing mental health disorders: veterans and firefighters. Despite efforts to increase access to evidence-based mental health programs, stigma remains a major barrier to care. AboutFace and Firefighters Helping Firefighters are two DST resources designed to help recognize the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related mental health symptoms, and to encourage help-seeking. These web-based video galleries introduce the viewer to 70+ peers who have experienced PTSD and have received formal treatment. These sites use the shared bonds of service to educate and help normalize common reactions that they may have due to the stressful nature of their occupations. Visitors to the site can “meet” peers and hear how mental illness has affected them through unscripted, authentic personal stories and can learn about common symptoms, struggles regarding decisions to seek care, and detailed descriptions of what treatment was like.
Real-Life and Virtual News Sources Can Be Flat-Out Wrong
Authors: Blom Robin
Published: April 2018

Eyewitnesses play a very important role in news coverage. Yet, scholarly research on eyewitness misidentification and memory distortion is virtually absent in scholarly work in journalism and related academic fields. This chapter emphasizes the need for such a research agenda by analyzing the amount of mistakes student journalists made in a news report they wrote during a 20-minute classroom exercise. Each of the stories about a staged bar fight, except for one, contained pieces of misinformation because the students often blindly trusted eyewitnesses and messages on social media accounts. The results indicated that there is a need for more advanced information and media literacy modules in journalism curricula to avoid inaccurate information from eyewitnesses to be disseminated to the public.
Movement Intellectuals in Popular Music
Authors: Razzante Robert John
Published: April 2018

Institutions of higher education continue to face the pressing values of neoliberalism. As such, colleges and universities seek to produce human capital. Critical media literacy offers one means of education to challenge neoliberal assumptions. However, current research lacks a conceptual understanding of how musical artists can serve as critical pedagogues through their music. The current chapter seeks to understand the role of movement intellectuals in popular music among educators. More specifically, this chapter proposes the following definition of a movement intellectual in popular music: an artist who observes, collects and disseminates warranted counter-narratives through the medium of their music. Ultimately, through exploring germinal and contemporary literature, this chapter attempts to offer a language for talking about critical music literacy as a means to challenge nihilism within the environment of a neoliberal higher education.
Factors Influencing Patients' Satisfaction
Authors: Oueida Soraia , Kadry Seifedine , Ionescu Sorin
Published: April 2018

In complex systems, such as healthcare, patient satisfaction is identified as the patient experience of care and has been referred to as the “indispensable outcome.” The main goals of ED practitioners are the patient satisfaction along with maintaining optimal outcomes. Patient satisfaction has become a very important outcome measure when assessing healthcare systems performance. Nevertheless, it is a complex confusing concept. Some providers suggest several activities in order to enhance the satisfaction without being sure if these actions really improve satisfaction or no. Also, patient satisfaction enhancement activities should not conflict with cost efficacy. Several factors fall under patient satisfaction. Interviews with physicians prove that patients have specific expectations during a clinical encounter; being aware of these expectations, physicians can fulfill patient satisfaction. The goal of this chapter is to determine the contribution and effect of these factors in influencing patient satisfaction.
Extending the Apprenticeship Model of Music Instruction in Higher Education With Facebook Groups
Authors: Meredith Tamara R. , Warren Scott J.
Published: April 2018

Although faculty may not believe that they are legitimately “teaching” while engaging with students via Facebook, results of interviews and publicly available Facebook data clearly document intentional music faculty activities that fit the description of teaching through enculturation. This situates the phenomenon of Facebook groups firmly within the larger apprenticeship model in use in music departments; the process of enculturation through Facebook is used to teach new apprentices how to become functional members of their musical communities. Recommendations generated from the research and discussed in this chapter include addressing faculty concerns about personal and professional risk, departmental development of guidelines for Facebook group use and management that is based in enculturation theory, and training for music faculty in the use of social media channels as opportunities for teaching and learning.
Enzyme Replacement Therapy
Authors: Khelfi Abderrezak
Published: April 2018

Enzyme replacement therapy is a therapeutic approach in which the specific enzyme that is absent or inactive in affected individuals is replaced with a functional enzyme molecule derived from biological sources or produced by biotechnology. A large number and variety of enzyme defects have been identified in humans. Over 40 hereditary deficiency diseases were reported. The common feature is that enzyme deficiency leads to the accumulation of undegraded molecules and lysosomal storage, resulting in organ dysfunction. Crude enzyme preparations are often unsuitable for therapeutic uses because of their potential contamination and antigenicity. Advances in gene identification and cloning led to the subsequent production and demonstration of equal efficacy of recombinant human enzyme. The adverse events recorded range from boxed warnings for severe allergic reactions. This chapter summarizes therapeutic enzymes used in clinical practice, with particular reference to those obtained from biological sources and biotechnology processes.
Therapeutic Enzymes Used for the Treatment of Non-Deficiency Diseases
Authors: Khelfi Abderrezak
Published: April 2018

Therapeutic enzymes have a broad variety of specific uses and clinical applications, particularly as antineoplasic agents, wound debridement therapeutics, and anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. These enzymes can elicit immune response, contributing allergic reactions. Newer drugs with improved stability and less antigenicity have been developed. Covalent modification of enzymes is used to circumvent this immunogenicity. Advancements in drug delivery have revolutionized enzyme therapy. Microencapsulation and artificial liposomal entrapment are some of the techniques used to increment the stability and half-life of enzyme drugs. Several enzymes are now used as prodrug that metabolizes inactive substances into active metabolites through bioactivation process. This approach comprises a suit of techniques that allow activation of drugs locally and at the site of action. This chapter gives an outline of clinical uses of therapeutic enzymes used in non-deficiency diseases. Developments of these enzymes are reviewed with a particular focus on bioengineering applied to the native proteins.
The Use of Liposomes in Enzymes and Drug Design
Authors: Balbaa Mahmoud , Awad Doaa
Published: April 2018

Liposomes are phospholipid vesicles that share many of membranes properties. Liposomes can be easily prepared in a range of sizes. They are able to improve the unfavorable properties of many free drugs such as increasing the amount of drugs delivered to various diseased sites in addition to decreasing the drug toxicities. Encapsulation of enzymes and food ingredients, as well as antioxidants in liposomes also received a lot of awareness. Moreover, an increase for drugs delivered to various diseased tissues was achieved by encapsulating drugs in the liposomes. The topics of encapsulation of enzymes and food ingredients as well as antioxidants in liposomes were highly investigated.
Enzyme-Triggered Hydrogels for Pharmaceutical and Food Applications
Authors: Upadrasta Lakshmishri , Garlapati Vijay Kumar , Lakdawala Nafisa , Banerjee Rintu
Published: April 2018

Enzyme-mediated polymeric hydrogels are drawing considerable attention in pharmaceutical and food sectors owing to their superior biocompatibility and process controllability under physiological conditions. Enzymes play a significant role in polymeric hydrogel formation through different mechanisms. Oxidases (e.g., horseradish peroxidase and tyrosinase) have demonstrated to drive the crosslinking of gel precursors by oxidizing the phenolic or acrylic moieties to free radicals. Transferases and hydrolases catalyze elongation of biopolymer chains which gradually self-assemble into hydrogels. Still more certain enzymes also participate in hydrogel formation by releasing gelation factors. Enhancement of the desired properties of certain hydrogels through the interior and exterior post-modifications has also been demonstrated by certain enzymes. Hence, in this chapter, the authors explore the different mechanisms of enzyme-mediated hydrogels preparations and its fabrication towards pharmaceutical and food sectors along with the discussion of recent trends and further prospects.