bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur from the Upper Jurassic (Early Tithonian) Kimmeridge Clay of Dorset, UK, with implications for Late Jurassic ichthyosaur diversity
Authors: Jacobs Megan L. , Martill David M.
Published: December 2020

A new ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur,Thalassodraco etchesigen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay Formation of Dorset, UK is described. The specimen, a partial, articulated skull and anterior thorax in the Etches Collection of Kimmeridge, Dorset, is exceptionally well preserved on a slab of laminated coccolith limestone and has been expertly prepared. It comprises a near complete skull in articulation with associated anterior vertebral column and dorsal ribs, complete pectoral girdle, fully exposed left forelimb, and some elements of the right forelimb. Other elements present, including an ischiopubis are preserved on separate slabs. Presumed rapid burial of the anterior portion of the specimen in the coccolith substrate has preserved a number of ossified ligaments lying across the vertebral column and associated ribs as well as stomach contents and decayed internal organs. Aspects of the dentition, skull roof bones and the forelimb configuration distinguishes the new specimen from previously described Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs. Autopmorphies forT.etchesiinclude a large rounded protuberance on the supratemporal bone; a thin L-shaped lachrymal, with a steeply curved posterior border; ~ 70 teeth on the upper tooth row, and deep anterior dorsal ribs. A well resolved phylogenetic analysis showsT.etchesias a member of a basal clade within Ophthalmosauridae comprisingNannopterygius,Gengasaurus,ParaophthalmosaurusandThalassodraco. The new specimen adds to the diversity of the Ichthyopterygia of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation and emphasises the important contribution of amateur collectors in palaeontology.
Hand hygiene intervention to optimize helminth infection control: Design and baseline results of Mikono Safi–An ongoing school-based cluster-randomised controlled trial in NW Tanzania
Authors: Makata Kenneth , Kinung’hi Safari , Hansen Christian , Ayieko Philip , Sichalwe Simon , Mcharo Onike , Ensink Jeroen , Dreibelbis Robert , Rockowitz Sarah , Okello Elialilia , Grosskurth Heiner , Kapiga Saidi
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Soil transmitted helminths (STH) can affect over 50% of children in some parts of Tanzania. Control measures involve annual deworming campaigns in schools, but re-infection is rapid. This paper presents the design and baseline survey results of an ongoing school-based cluster-randomised controlled trial in Kagera region, NW Tanzania. The trial aims to determine whether the effect of routine deworming on the prevalence ofAscaris lumbricoidesandTrichuris trichiurainfections among school aged children can be sustained when combined with a behaviour change intervention promoting handwashing with water and soap.

Methods

As part of the trial, a total of 16 schools were randomised to receive the intervention (N = 8) or as controls (N = 8). Randomisation was stratified per district and restricted to ensure pre-trial STH prevalence was balanced between study arms. The combination intervention to be tested comprises class-room based teacher-led health education, improvement of handwash stations, coloured nudges to facilitate handwashing and parental engagement sessions. The impact evaluation involves two cross-sectional surveys conducted at baseline and endline. The objectives of the baseline survey were: (i) to confirm whether the deworming campaign was successful, and identify and treat students still infected about 2 weeks after deworming, (ii) to document any baseline differences in STH prevalence between trial arms, and (iii) to assess handwashing behaviours, and access to water and sanitation at school and home. We randomly sampled 35 students per class in Grades 1–6 (an average of 200 children per school), stratified to ensure equal representation between genders. Assenting students were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and asked to provide a stool specimen.

Results

Results of the baseline survey conducted about 2 weeks after deworming shows balanced demographic and STH prevalence data across trial arms. We observed a low prevalence of ascariasis (< 5%) as expected; however, the prevalence of trichuriasis was still about 35% in both arms.

Conclusion

The randomisation procedure was successful in achieving a balanced distribution of demographic characteristics and helminth infections between trial arms. The intervention is being rolled out. The current deworming treatment regimen may need to be revised with regards to the treatment of trichuriasis.
Ocean warming affected faunal dynamics of benthic invertebrate assemblages across the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event in the Iberian Basin (Spain)
Authors: Piazza Veronica , Ullmann Clemens V. , Aberhan Martin
Published: December 2020

The Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (TOAE; Early Jurassic, ca. 182 Ma ago) represents one of the major environmental disturbances of the Mesozoic and is associated with global warming, widespread anoxia, and a severe perturbation of the global carbon cycle. Warming-related dysoxia-anoxia has long been considered the main cause of elevated marine extinction rates, although extinctions have been recorded also in environments without evidence for deoxygenation. We addressed the role of warming and disturbance of the carbon cycle in an oxygenated habitat in the Iberian Basin, Spain, by correlating high resolution quantitative faunal occurrences of early Toarcian benthic marine invertebrates with geochemical proxy data (δ18O and δ13C). We find that temperature, as derived from the δ18O record of shells, is significantly correlated with taxonomic and functional diversity and ecological composition, whereas we find no evidence to link carbon cycle variations to the faunal patterns. The local faunal assemblages before and after the TOAE are taxonomically and ecologically distinct. Most ecological change occurred at the onset of the TOAE, synchronous with an increase in water temperatures, and involved declines in multiple diversity metrics, abundance, and biomass. The TOAE interval experienced a complete turnover of brachiopods and a predominance of opportunistic species, which underscores the generality of this pattern recorded elsewhere in the western Tethys Ocean. Ecological instability during the TOAE is indicated by distinct fluctuations in diversity and in the relative abundance of individual modes of life. Local recovery to ecologically stable and diverse post-TOAE faunal assemblages occurred rapidly at the end of the TOAE, synchronous with decreasing water temperatures. Because oxygen-depleted conditions prevailed in many other regions during the TOAE, this study demonstrates that multiple mechanisms can be operating simultaneously with different relative contributions in different parts of the ocean.
Tracing mobility patterns through the 6th-5th millennia BC in the Carpathian Basin with strontium and oxygen stable isotope analyses
Authors: Depaermentier Margaux L. C. , Kempf Michael , Bánffy Eszter , Alt Kurt W.
Published: December 2020

The complexity of Neolithic population movements and their interpretation through material culture have been the subject of archaeological research for decades. One of the dominant narratives proposes that groups from the Starčevo-Körös-Criş complex spread from the central towards the northern Balkans in the Early Neolithic and eventually brought the Neolithic lifestyle into present-day Hungary. Broad geographical migrations were considered to shape the continuous expansion of Neolithic groups and individuals. However, recent archaeological research, aDNA, and isotope analyses challenged the synchronous appearance of specific material culture distributions and human movement dynamics through emphasizing communication networks and socio-cultural transformation processes. This paper seeks to retrace the complexity of Neolithic mobility patterns across Hungary by means of strontium and oxygen stable isotope analyses, which were performed on a total of 718 human dental enamel samples from 55 Neolithic sites spanning the period from the Starčevo to the Balaton-Lasinja culture in Transdanubia and from the Körös to the Tiszapolgár cultural groups on the Great Hungarian Plain (Alföld). This study presents the largest strontium and oxygen isotope sample size for the Neolithic Carpathian Basin and discusses human mobility patterns on various geographical scales and throughout archaeological cultures, chronological periods, and sex and gender categories in a multiproxy analysis. Based on our results, we discuss the main stages of the Neolithisation processes and particularly trace individual movement behaviour such as exogamy patterns within extensive social networks. Furthermore, this paper presents an innovative differentiation between mobility patterns on small, micro-regional, and supra-regional scales, which provides new insights into the complex organisation of Neolithic communities.
Impact of advance care planning on dying in hospital: Evidence from urgent care records
Authors: Orlovic Martina , Callender Tom , Riley Julia , Darzi Ara , Droney Joanne
Published: December 2020

Place of death is an important outcome of end-of-life care. Many people do not have the opportunity to express their wishes and die in their preferred place of death. Advance care planning (ACP) involves discussion, decisions and documentation about how an individual contemplates their future death. Recording end-of-life preferences gives patients a sense of control over their future. Coordinate My Care (CMC) is London’s largest electronic palliative care register designed to provide effective ACP, with information being shared with urgent care providers. The aim of this study is to explore determinants of dying in hospital. Understanding advance plans and their outcomes can help in understanding the potential effects that implementation of electronic palliative care registers can have on the end-of-life care provided. Retrospective observational cohort analysis included 21,231 individuals aged 18 or older with a Coordinate My Care plan who had died between March 2011 and July 2019 with recorded place of death. Logistic regression was used to explore demographic and end-of-life preference factors associated with hospital deaths. 22% of individuals died in hospital and 73% have achieved preferred place of death. Demographic characteristics and end-of-life preferences have impact on dying in hospital, with the latter having the strongest influence. The likelihood of in-hospital death is substantially higher in patients without documented preferred place of death (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.26–1.62, p<0.001), in those who prefer to die in hospital (OR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.60–3.30, p<0.001) and who prefer to be cared in hospital (OR = 2.77, 95% CI 1.94–3.96, p<0.001). “Not for resuscitation” individuals (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.37–0.50, p<0.001) and who preferred symptomatic treatment (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.33–0.40, p<0.001) had a lower likelihood of in-hospital death. Effective advance care planning is necessary for improved end-of-life outcomes and should be included in routine clinical care. Electronic palliative care registers could empower patients by embedding patients’ wishes and personal circumstances in their care plans that are accessible by urgent care providers.
Development and validation of a new microplate assay that utilises optical density to quantify the antibacterial activity of honeys including Jarrah, Marri and Manuka
Authors: Green Kathryn J. , Dods Kenneth , Hammer Katherine A.
Published: December 2020

The phenol equivalence assay is the current industry-adopted test used to quantify the antibacterial activity of honeys in Australia and New Zealand. Activity is measured based on the diffusion of honey through agar and resulting zone of growth inhibition. Due to differences in the aqueous solubilities of antibacterial compounds found in honeys, this method may not be optimal for quantifying activity. Therefore, a new method was developed based on the existing broth microdilution assay that is widely used for determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). It utilises the four organisms Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and an optical density endpoint to quantify bacterial growth. Decreases in bacterial growth in the presence of honey, relative to the positive growth control, are then used to derive a single value to represent the overall antibacterial activity of each honey. Antibacterial activity was quantified for a total of 77 honeys using the new method, the phenol equivalence assay and the standard broth microdilution assay. This included 69 honeys with undisclosed floral sources and the comparators Manuka, Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), Marri (Corymbia calophylla), artificial and multifloral honey. For the 69 honey samples, phenol equivalence values ranged from 0–48.5 with a mean of 34 (% w/v phenol). Mean MICs, determined as the average of the MICs obtained for each of the four organisms for each honey ranged from 7–24% (w/v honey). Using the new assay, values for the 69 honeys ranged from 368 to 669 activity units, with a mean of 596. These new antibacterial activity values correlated closely with mean MICs (R2 = 0.949) whereas the relationship with phenol equivalence values was weaker (R2 = 0.649). Limit of detection, limit of quantitation, measuring interval, limit of reporting, sensitivity, selectivity, repeatability, reproducibility, and ruggedness were also investigated and showed that the new assay was both robust and reproducible.
Free energy calculations of the functional selectivity of 5-HT2B G protein-coupled receptor
Authors: Peters Brandon L. , Deng Jinxia , Ferguson Andrew L.
Published: December 2020

G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) mediate intracellular signaling in response to extracellular ligand binding and are the target of one-third of approved drugs. Ligand binding modulates the GPCR molecular free energy landscape by preferentially stabilizing active or inactive conformations that dictate intracellular protein recruitment and downstream signaling. We perform enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations to recover the free energy surfaces of a thermostable mutant of the GPCR serotonin receptor 5-HT2B in the unliganded form and bound to a lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) agonist and lisuride antagonist. LSD binding imparts a ∼110 kJ/mol driving force for conformational rearrangement into an active state. The lisuride-bound form is structurally similar to the apo form and only ∼24 kJ/mol more stable. This work quantifies ligand-induced conformational specificity and functional selectivity of 5-HT2B and presents a platform for high-throughput virtual screening of ligands and rational engineering of the ligand-bound molecular free energy landscape.
The local stability of a modified multi-strain SIR model for emerging viral strains
Authors: Fudolig Miguel , Howard Reka
Published: December 2020

We study a novel multi-strain SIR epidemic model with selective immunity by vaccination. A newer strain is made to emerge in the population when a preexisting strain has reached equilbrium. We assume that this newer strain does not exhibit cross-immunity with the original strain, hence those who are vaccinated and recovered from the original strain become susceptible to the newer strain. Recent events involving the COVID-19 virus shows that it is possible for a viral strain to emerge from a population at a time when the influenza virus, a well-known virus with a vaccine readily available, is active in a population. We solved for four different equilibrium points and investigated the conditions for existence and local stability. The reproduction number was also determined for the epidemiological model and found to be consistent with the local stability condition for the disease-free equilibrium.
Prevalence, socio-demographic and environmental determinants of asthma in 4621 Ghanaian adults: Evidence from Wave 2 of the World Health Organization’s study on global AGEing and adult health
Authors: Aheto Justice Moses K. , Udofia Emilia A. , Kallson Eugene , Mensah George , Nadia Minicuci , Nirmala Naidoo , Chatterji Somnath , Kowal Paul , Biritwum Richard , Yawson Alfred E.
Published: December 2020

Background

A previous multi-site study involving lower- and middle-income countries demonstrated that asthma in older adults is associated with long-term exposure to particulate matter, male gender and smoking. However, variations may occur within individual countries, which are relevant to inform health promoting policies as populations live longer. The present study estimates asthma prevalence and examines the sociodemographic characteristics and environmental determinants associated with asthma in older adults in Ghana.

Methods

This study utilised data from the nationally representative World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Ghana Wave 2. A final sample of 4621 individuals residing in 3970 households was used in analytical modelling. Factors associated with asthma were investigated using single level and multilevel binary logistic regression models.

Results

Asthma was reported by 102 (2.2%) respondents. Factors associated with asthma in the univariate model were: those aged 60–69 (OR = 5.22, 95% CI: 1.24, 21.95) and 70 or more (OR = 5.56, 95% CI: 1.33, 23.26) years, Ga-Adangbe dialect group (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.71), no religion (OR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.77, 7.28), having moderate (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.75) and bad/very bad (OR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.58, 4.80) health state, and severe/extreme difficulty with self-care (OR = 3.49, 95% CI: 1.23, 9.88) and non-flush toilet facility (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.99). Factors independently associated with asthma in the adjusted models were: those aged 60–69 (OR = 4.49, 95% CI: 1.03, 19.55) years, father with primary education or less (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.94), no religion (OR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.18, 5.41), and households with non-flush toilet facility (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.96). Significant residual household-level variation in asthma was observed. Over 40% of variance in asthma episodes could be attributable to residual household-level variations.

Conclusion

Individual as well as household factors were seen to influence the prevalence of asthma in this national survey. Clinical management of these patients in health facilities should consider household factors in addition to individual level factors.
Minecraft en el aprendizaje de habilidades sociales para personas con trastorno del espectro del autismo
Authors: Villén De Arribas Mayca
Published: December 2020

Los videojuegos, hoy en día, suponen la forma de entretenimiento más extendida de la sociedad actual. Partir de este interés general para elaborar nuevas terapias y nuevos enfoques que aprovechen al máximo nuestras capacidades, por diferentes que sean, es la base de esta investigación.

Este artículo presenta una descripción científica y analiza la mejora de las habilidades sociales que presentan un grupo de personas con trastorno del espectro del autismo gracias a la creación de un club basado en el videojuego Minecraft. Los participantes fueron 27 usuarios y sus familiares, con edades comprendidas entre los 8 y los 20 años. Utilizamos un diseño cuasiexperimental con metodología cualitativa. El desarrollo se ha basado en tres dimensiones e indicadores atendiendo a diferentes instrumentos. Para analizar los objetivos de las dimensiones aplicamos la prueba de Wilcoxon a los test presentados a los socios del club, análisis de las interacciones y grupo de discusión de los profesionales que han intervenido en el estudio, además del análisis del Cuestionario de Evaluación sobre el Club Minecraft (cecm), que ha contado con la participación de las familias.

Concluimos que los usuarios muestran una motivación por el videojuego que favorece el aprendizaje de habilidades nuevas, además de ser divertido, por lo que se demuestra que el uso de Minecraft presenta una eficacia terapéutica para el aprendizaje de habilidades sociales en personas con tea.
Vocavere eam preterea multis nominibus: a boccacciói Ops nyomában
Authors: Molnár Annamária
Published: December 2020

Ops istennő már az ókori irodalmi hagyományban is – mind névalakjait, mind a hozzá társított funkciókat tekintve – rendkívül komplex istennőként van jelen. A bőség, a gazdagság, a termékenység és a Föld istenségeként számos néven említik őt (többek között Opis, Rhea, Tellus vagy leginkább Cybelé), és ezzel párhuzamosan különféle szerepeket tulajdonítanak neki, amelyek között egyértelmű distinkció nem születik, sem az antikvitásban, sem a középkorban. Tanulmányomban azt kívánom bemutatni, hogyan értelmezi mindezeket az Opshoz köthető, antik irodalmi elemeket a középkori hagyomány szűrőjén keresztül Boccaccio. Milyen attribútumok és interpretációk jutnak el hozzá, és forrásai alapján hogyan alkotja meg az istennőről szóló leírásait a De mulieribus claris és a Genealogia deorum gentilium soraiban? Milyen ellentmondásokba keveredik a filológus és a narrátor Boccaccio és ezek vajon feloldhatók-e? Ops alakja Boccaccio interpretációjában tehát szemléletes példája lehet annak, milyen kihívásokkal találja magát szemben a filológia hajnalán egy, az elődeitől származó ismeretek feldolgozására törekvő szerző.
Harmadik csapás
Authors: Polónyi István
Published: December 2020

Az írás a hazai felsőoktatási felvételi tendenciáit és annak néhány összefüggését mutatja be a 2020. évi felvételi – sokak által meglepőnek vélt – alakulásával kapcsolatban. A tanulmány először a 2020-as általános felvételi eljárás során tapasztalt radikális jelentkezőlétszám – s nyomában felvett létszám - visszaesés okait elemzi. Az elemzés rámutat, hogy a visszaesés alapvetően az emelt szintű érettség kötelezővé tételének a következménye. Megvizsgálja a visszaesés szakirányokra és intézményekre gyakorolt hatását, feltárva, hogy az leginkább a vidéki intézmények szenvedik meg, s ezzel együtt a társadalom alsóbb rétegei. A tanulmány elemzi a 2008-as és a 2013-as jelentkező létszámvisszaesést is, bemutatva hogy az előző egy tandíj-bevezetési kísérlet következménye volt, s a 2013-as is a felsőoktatási költségmegosztás tervezett változása nyomán következett be. Befejezésül az írás rámutat, hogy a 2013-as és a 2020-as jelentkezési és felvett létszámvisszaesés a munkaalapú államot megvalósító konzervatív kormány tudatos felsőoktatás-politikájának következménye.
A inserção\permanência masculina na docência da Educação Infantil
Authors: Chaves Sueli Almeida
Published: December 2020

O livro de Joaquim Ramos possibilita aos/às pesquisadores/as e interessados/as nas questões de gênero nesse nível educativo apurar as diferentes formas de como os educadores infantis são percebidos pela comunidade escolar e pelas crianças destas instituições de ensino, além de proporcionar reflexões referentes às construções identitárias dos mesmos. Nesse sentido, o autor afirma que a referida pesquisa possibilitou “compreender, sob a perspectiva das relações de gênero, a forma como professores do sexo masculino constroem, ou não, suas identidades profissionais em instituições públicas municipais de educação infantil” (p. 29).
Trabajo y escritura en Boca de lobo de Chejfec y La mendiga de Aira
Authors: Guerra Juan José
Published: December 2020

Este trabajo analiza las representaciones del trabajo industrial en Boca de lobo de Sergio Chejfec y La mendiga de César Aira. Pero además, las dos novelas exhiben sus respectivos procesos de construcción del relato a través de ciertas escenas de escritura. Estas no solo ponen el acento sobre la dimensión de la escritura como trabajo sino que reenvían a la poética de cada autor. Si, por un lado, la circularidad, la iteración y el carácter conjetural de la trabajada frase son en Chejfec la expresión formal del vínculo entre escritura y melancolía, por otro, el descuido estilístico, la precipitación y los trazos gruesos de la ficción airiana son las señas de una estética de lo malogrado que se presenta al modo de un no–trabajo.
Narrativa de las diferencias en la recomposición de un archivo
Authors: Álvarez Verónica
Published: December 2020

El siguiente cuerpo textual forma parte de un proyecto de investigación doctoral en el que se propone una revisión de las prácticas discursivas literarias y críticas de la literatura venezolana de la primera mitad del siglo XX, a partir de la autoría monstruosa como categoría de lectura e interpretación. Una concepción que vuelve a la reflexión sobre la noción de autor, a la cual desplaza y problematiza. Se trata de una forma de autoría en donde no solamente importa el producto estético elaborado, sino que también es relevante la propia actitud vital del productor hacia y dentro del territorio literario dentro del cual emerge y contra el cual lucha. Estas constelaciones autorales desenmascaran una propuesta «anti–literaria» poco revisada y por lo tanto excluida, que devela las fisuras de una narrativa oficial de la Historia de la Literatura Venezolana. Congregar y analizar estas autorías singulares y excéntricas, en cualquier campo cultural dado, bosqueja trazos definitivos para la posible elaboración de una contrahistoria de la literatura venezolana que dialogue y complete los discursos oficiales narrados desde la noción hegemónica de lo literario.
Del «insilio» del pensador contemporáneo al escritor expuesto.
Authors: Denis Janis
Published: December 2020

En el diario transgenérico del escritor venezolano contemporáneo Ricardo Ramírez Requena se logra recuperar la precariedad, la enfermedad y la ruina desde el punto de vista del intelectual–caminante que elabora una cartografía de relaciones conceptuales, vitales y sociales intrínsecas a su necesidad de supervivencia como pensador. En este diario el intelectual asume, con todo el peso de su cuerpo, su razón y su inconsciente, su destino, que es la escritura en tiempos posautonómicos. Lo interesante es observar cómo el mismo proceso de caminar y hacer un diario deja entrever las contradicciones y movimientos vertiginosos del placer y del goce, eso que va desde los afectos nostálgicos por una República moderna «saqueada», hasta los delirios necesarios de experimentar un país que definitivamente desaparece «del mapa», arrastrando también a sus intelectuales hacia lo desconocido. Nuestra aproximación trata de atravesar este diario sin limpiar o matizar dichas contradicciones, pues a partir de ellas entenderemos cómo se anudan la ficción y lo real. Finalmente, veremos cómo el transgenérico propone, sobre la mesa de la escritura literaria contemporánea, un formato que libera la multiplicidad de sentidos racionales e intensidades barbáricas, que atraviesa la Venezuela actual.
Formas, temas, verbos: encarnaciones de la poesía en Los detectives salvajes, de Roberto Bolaño
Authors: Benavides Oriele
Published: December 2020

El trabajo describe y analiza la consistencia intensamente corpórea que cobra la presencia de la poesía, en la primera parte de la novela Los detectives salvajes, del escritor Roberto Bolaño, a partir de tres ejes: la escenificación del falso diario del joven poeta García Madero, en el que se replican escenas también ocurrentes en la poesía que Bolaño escribía para la época, en un registro, por el contrario, vitalizado. Segundo, la temática aludida de los poemas que él junto a sus colegas realvisceralistas escriben, y, por último, el efecto (visceral, escatológico, urgente) que la lectura y la escritura de esos poemas parecen tener en los personajes que los leen. Así, se propone un ejercicio de Close Reading en el que se exhiben las peripecias alrededor de García Madero, en diálogo con otros momentos de la narrativa y de la poesía del mismo Bolaño, en su calidad de alegoría del poeta como cuerpo viviente, del cual emanará una poesía también viva.
Aproximación sociolingüística a las fórmulas de tratamiento nominales en el contexto comunicativo juvenil
Authors: Mahecha Ovalle Andrés
Published: December 2020

Este artículo describe las fórmulas de tratamiento nominales empleadas por los jóvenes con edades comprendidas entre 13 y 17 años residentes en la localidad de Kennedy (Bogotá D.C.) en tres ámbitos comunicativos: amistad, familiar, social. La recolección de datos se realizó a través de dos instrumentos: la grabación espontánea y del cuestionario. Para la selección de los informantes, se empleó la técnica de muestreo selectivo efecto bola de nieve. El corpus se constituyó de 30 grabaciones espontáneas y de los datos recolectados de la aplicación de 70 cuestionarios. Los resultados demuestran que las comunidades juveniles codifican en las fórmulas de tratamientos nominales aspectos como la distancia social, las relaciones de poder, la cortesía lingüística y la resemantización de ítems léxicos. Asimismo, se evidencia una variación en el tratamiento de acuerdo con el contexto y los participantes que intervengan en el acto comunicativo, lo cual contribuye al cambio o adaptación del comportamiento lingüístico del joven. Los hallazgos permiten inferir que el tratamiento nominal es una estrategia conversacional del joven en sus interacciones cotidianas.
Potencia del lenguaje en tiempos de pandemias
Authors: Rodríguez Luna María Elvira
Published: December 2020

La escuela entró abruptamente en una nueva normalidad que puede prolongarse; esto demanda acercamientos a lo que ha ocurrido, está ocurriendo y ocurrirá. Por ello, en el presente artículo se proponen estrategias que incentiven en nuestros estudiantes su deseo de registrar, interpretar o recrear esta manera inédita de vivir. Las funciones y actividades del lenguaje tanto en la vida cotidiana como en variadas obras literarias, cuyos temas son las pestes, señalan su rol en la superación de situaciones pasmosas, bien sea para resistir ante lo desconocido, recrear una realidad que se vuelve insoportable o proyectar un después que siempre sobreviene.
Olor a escuela
Authors: Bombini Gustavo , Fernández Mirta Gloria
Published: December 2020

La frase estereotípica “dar clase” es insuficiente para aludir a nuestra modalidad pedagógica en el aula que se vincula más bien con el interactuar, el construir, el colaborar, el orientar más que con el otorgar, el proporcionar, el brindar, el donar. La pandemia nos puso frente a cuerpos diluidos y mosaicos de caras congeladas. ¿Cómo hacerles saber a estos alumnos desconocidos quiénes somos? ¿Nos reconocen? ¿Saben que estamos ahí acompañándolos, aunque se hayan diluido los cuerpos? ¿Cómo explicarlo sin los cuerpos, sin los gestos? El siguiente trabajo pretende reflexionar sobre los recursos, siempre insuficientes, que nos brinda la virtualidad en tiempos de pandemia, prestando especial atención a la palabra, como sustituta de los cuerpos y a la importancia del aspecto sensorial en un aula. Evidentemente, en el contexto educativo “dar clase” implica mucho más que la palabra.
Land Use Change and Commodity Frontiers
Authors: Cáceres Daniel M. , Tapella Esteban , Cabrol Diego A. , Estigarribia Lucrecia
Published: December 2020

Argentina is experiencing an expansion of soya and maize cultivation that is pushing the agricultural frontier over areas formerly occupied by native Chaco forest. Subsistance farmers use this dry forest to raise goats and cattle and to obtain a broad range of goods and services. Thus, two very different and non-compatible land uses are in dispute. On the one hand subsistance farmers fostering an extensive and diversified forest use, on the other hand, large-scale producers who need to clear out the forest to sow annual crops in order to appropriate soil fertility. First, the paper looks at how these social actors perceive Chaco forest, what their interests are, and what kind of values they attach to it. Second, we analyze the social-environmental conflicts that arise among actors in order to appropriate forest’s benefits. Special attention is paid to the role played by the government in relation to: (a) how does it respond to the demands of the different sectors; and (b) how it deals with the management recommendations produced by scientists carrying out social and ecological research. To put these ideas at test we focus on a case study located in Western Córdoba (Argentina), where industrial agriculture is expanding at a fast pace, and where social actors’ interests are generating a series of disputes and conflicts. Drawing upon field work, the paper shows how power alliances between economic and political powers, use the institutional framework of the State in their own benefit, disregarding wider environmental and social costs.
Comportamiento de compra en el comercio móvil: la importancia de los rasgos de personalidad
Authors: Camoiras-Rodríguez Zaira , Varela-Neira Concepción
Published: December 2020

Las ventajas que el comercio móvil proporciona han atraído la atención de empresas y consumidores. A pesar de sus potenciales beneficios, la investigación sobre los factores que influyen en su frecuencia de uso y compra es todavía escasa. Este estudio contribuye a alcanzar un mayor conocimiento y comprensión sobre los factores que influyen en la frecuencia de compra en el comercio móvil al vincular el Modelo de Aceptación de Tecnología (TAM) con la literatura de los rasgos de personalidad. Esta investigación emplea una muestra de 200 individuos que poseen dispositivos móviles con acceso a Internet. La técnica utilizada para contrastar las hipótesis es el análisis path. Los resultados muestran el efecto indirecto de la necesidad de recursos materiales y de la orientación a la tarea sobre la frecuencia de compra en el comercio móvil. Además, los resultados reflejan el importante papel mediador que tiene la tendencia a la compra impulsiva en el nivel de frecuencia de compra.
Continuidad del negocio: conceptualización y metodologías de evaluación
Authors: Rodríguez Rojas Yuber Liliana
Published: December 2020

La continuidad del negocio es el reto actual de las organizaciones, puesto que cada vez deben afrontar mayores exigencias en entornos dinámicos. Las empresas están expuestas a diferentes situaciones como fallas, desastres naturales, ataques, crisis económicas, entre otras, por lo que resulta necesario contar con un enfoque proactivo para proteger el negocio de dichos efectos. En este contexto, se han creado estrategias como la business continuity management (BCM), considerada una forma de integrar el proceso de recuperación dentro del marco preventivo de evaluación de riesgos de la organización (Timms, 2018; Zeng y Zio, 2017). Desde la óptica de la Organización Internacional para la Normalización (ISO, por su sigla en inglés), la continuidad del negocio es la capacidad que tienen las organizaciones de sostenerse ante riesgos internos y externos que puedan afectar su permanencia en el mercado y continuar con su oferta dentro de un periodo de tiempo definido sin interrupción (International Organization for Standardization, 2019).
Estrategias para el fortalecimiento de la cultura organizacional de la Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos
Authors: Ochoa Vivas Ingrid Astrid , Castro Mora Ángela Mónica
Published: December 2020

El objetivo de esta investigación es caracterizar la cultura organizacional de la Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos mediante la metodología propuesta por Cameron y Quinn (1999), que se basa en el modelo de valores por competencia. Con un enfoque mixto, se recopilaron datos de diferentes dimensiones de la cultura organizacional a través del cuestionario de cultura organizacional Organizational Cultural Assessment Instrument (OCAI), diseñado y validado estadísticamente por estos autores. La población de estudio estuvo conformada por un total de 220 colaboradores de todos los niveles de la Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos. A partir de los datos obtenidos, se determinó la cultura actual, la cultura deseada y la cultura requerida con base en cuatro clases de culturas genéricas: clan/colaboración, jerárquica/control, adhocracia/creación y mercado/competitividad. Las diferencias y similitudes encontradas entre los tipos de cultura evidenciaron las brechas respecto a la cultura requerida y la cultura deseada.
Engaging Stakeholders: The First Step to Increasing Digital Inclusion
Authors: Siefer Angela
Published: December 2020

This paper is intended to help local leadership striving to create cohesive 21st century communities learn from the digital inclusion stakeholder engagement experiences of Rhode Island. Broadband Rhode Island’s (BBRI’s) public policy engagement process carefully engaged stakeholders from a variety of sectors, kept them engaged through a facilitated and well-planned process and is now implementing recommendations defined during the process.
Modeling Social Inclusion Systems
Authors: Akhras Fabio Nauras
Published: December 2020

Research on sustainability science has been concerned with pointing the way towards a sustainable society. On a global scale, sustainability is seen as depending on three systems: the global system, the human system and the social system. In the social system, the need to address issues of social sustainability, including literacy, education, malnutrition, child mortality, and gender empowerment, as well as its connections with human and global sustainability, has given rise to the eight Millennium Development Goals, which break down into twenty one quantifiable targets that are measured by sixty indicators. Therefore, it is clear that the problems and issues associated with the achievement of these goals are very complex to be addressed by a single discipline and that community informatics (CI) may have an important role to play in interdisciplinary efforts to address these goals. Against this backdrop, one of the first challenges is to put the notion of a social inclusion system (a system to promote social sustainability) in more precise terms. In this direction, the purpose of this paper is to discuss and present an initial ontology to describe social inclusion systems. While ontological development in sustainability science has emphasized a problem-solution approach, we believe that the issues of social inclusion will be more naturally addressed by a situation-transformation approach, which is the focus of our ontology.
Contributions from Visitor Research to CI and ICT4D Theory and Research Methodology
Authors: Alexander Patricia M , Gelderblom Helene Gelderblom , De Kock Estelle
Published: December 2020

Abstract The case study involved the evaluation of a single science centre exhibit in a number of different science centres in a developing country. This illustrates the lessons that Community Informatics and ICT for Development researchers can learn from “Visitor Research” theory and methods. The three contexts identified in The Contextual Model of Learning are seen to shed light on the research process as well as to its original purpose, free-choice learning. A multi-methodological research approach was used and each science centre was described separately so that the different levels of context could be taken into account.
ICT and Online Social Movements for Good Governance in Nigeria
Authors: Ojedokun Usman Adekunle
Published: December 2020

In Nigeria, the availability of different Internet-enabled social media has led to the emergence of online social movements advocating the principle of good governance in the affairs of the state. In view of this, this paper examined the evolution of online social movements in Nigeria, and the role of ICT in their mobilization for good governance. Resource mobilization theory was employed as the explanatory framework. The paper contends that though online social movements in Nigeria are generally in their embryonic stage, they are, nonetheless, increasingly influencing the three organs of government and shaping public policies in the country.
Open Data Intermediaries in Developing Countries
Authors: Van Schalkwyk Francois , Canares Michael , Chattapdhyay Sumandro , Andrason Alexander
Published: December 2020

This paper offers a more socially nuanced approach to open data intermediaries using the theoretical framework of Bourdieu’s social model, particularly his species of capital. Secondary data on intermediaries from Emerging Impacts of Open Data in Developing Countries research was analysed according to a working definition of an open data intermediary presented in this paper, and with a focus on how intermediaries are able to linking agents in an open data supply chain, including to grassroots communities. The study found that open data supply chains may comprise multiple intermediaries and that multiple forms of capital may be required to connect the supply and use of open data. The effectiveness of intermediaries can be attributed to their proximity to data suppliers or users, and proximity can be expressed as a function of the type of capital that an intermediary possesses. However, because no single intermediary necessarily has all the capital available to link effectively to all sources of power in a field, multiple intermediaries with complementary configurations of capital are more likely to connect between power nexuses. This study concludes that consideration needs to be given to the presence of multiple intermediaries in an open data ecosystem, each of whom may possess different forms of capital to enable the use of open data.
Researching the emerging impacts of open data: revisiting the ODDC conceptual framework
Authors: Davies Tim , Perini Fernando
Published: December 2020

Open data has rapidly moved from being a niche interest, to being part of the global policy mainstream. Government-led open data initiatives have spread across the globe, and civil society or technologist experiments using data to improve governance have been spreading organically, from budget monitoring in Nigeria, to court transparency projects in Argentina. It is increasingly seen as enabler of a “data revolution” in the process of decision-making and accountability.  However, understanding how experience of open data will vary from country to country and context to context, and, understanding the common features of open data that are shaping its implementation in these diverse settings, requires broad-based research framework. It requires research that can engage with both existing realities of decision-making in sectors, acknowledging the growing complexity of this process in an increasingly networked society. In this paper we have reviewed the framework of the “Open Data in Developing Countries”(ODDC) project, the largest research project on the impact of open data in developing countries to date.  The framework was designed to help explore the link between openness in the data ecosystem, decentralized changes in decision-making, and positive and negative emerging impacts such as transparency and accountability, inclusion and empowerment as well as innovation and economic development.  It was tested to generate cross-learning from 17 in-depth cases studies in 14 countries, as well as generate policy-relevant findings.  This paper reviews and updates the original framework based on the findings and reflections developed during the research project.
“Happy, just talking, talking, talking”: Community strengthening through mobile phone based peer support among refugee women
Authors: Wollersheim Dennis , Koh Lee , Walker Rae , Liamputtong Pranee
Published: December 2020

Resettled refugees face lack of information and support, due to disrupted community and cultural mismatch. In this context, we provided 111 refugee women peer support training and a restricted-dial unlimited-call mobile phone in Melbourne, Australia. We gathered demographic, phone call, pre and post intervention questionnaires, and interview data.The provided resources synergised with existing resources such as social capital and information demand, resulting in changes to resource allocation and social processes, such as economic resource reallocation, information sharing, personal agency, and social support. These changes impacted areas such as employment, education, transportation and domestic violence, leading to improved individual lives and community functioning.
The Geoweb for community-based organizations: Tool development, implementation, and sustainability in an era of Google Maps
Authors: Johnson Peter A , Sieber Renee E
Published: December 2020

Recent advances in web-based geospatial tools (the Geoweb) show promise as low-cost and easy-to-use methods to support citizen participation. This research presents two case studies of Geoweb implementation set in community-based organizations in rural Quebec, Canada. When comparing the development and sustainability of each Geoweb tool, the implementation time frame plays a key role. Two implementation time frames are defined; a discrete, or ‘one-off’ time frame associated with lower resource requirements, and a continuous, or ongoing time frame, that has a higher total resource cost, but can fulfill a different set of goals than a discrete implementation.
Platform communities: a new frontier for Community Informatics?
Authors: Villanueva-Mansilla Eduardo
Published: December 2020

Editorial for issue 13(2).
Contested histories, participatory movements and the making of memories in Bangladesh
Authors: Guhathakurta Meghna
Published: December 2020

This is the text of the Keynote presentation for the 2016 CIRN Conference, at Prato, Italy.
Critical Incidents Analysis: mismatching expectations and reconciling visions in intercultural encounters
Authors: Vannini Sara , Nemer David , Halabi Ammar , Sabiescu Amalia Georgiana , David Cumbula Salomao
Published: December 2020

Conflicts among stakeholders are common in Community Informatics (CI) research. They often derive from mismatches of expectations and are exacerbated by communication and intercultural issues. Such mismatches are breaking points that might compromise the relationship of trust among project stakeholders and, ultimately, project outcomes. In CI, reflecting on moments of conflict and mismatch might help researchers attend to assumptions and interpret aspects of the cultural context of the communities they work with, as well as their own. This reflection should, then, contribute to a closer connection among stakeholders and sustainable project outcomes. In this paper, we present the Critical Incidents Analysis (CIA) Framework (Brunello, 2015), a tool that was conceived within the Community and Development Informatics field with the aim to reflect upon incidents and misunderstandings among stakeholders, their different cultural perspectives, and – eventually – deal with project breakdowns. We apply the framework to our own research where we analyse conflicts and mismatches of expectations that arose during the fieldwork conducted by two of the authors. We conclude that the CIA framework, applied “a posteriori” to our cases, was a useful tool to better analyse and report on our research, and to recast incidents as opportunities to enable a deeper understanding and – in some cases – build trust among stakeholders.