bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technology-Enabled Self-Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease With or Without Asynchronous Remote Monitoring: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Stamenova Vess , Liang Kyle , Yang Rebecca , Engel Katrina , van Lieshout Florence , Lalingo Elizabeth , Cheung Angelica , Erwood Adam , Radina Maria , Greenwald Allen , Agarwal Payal , Sidhu Aman , Bhatia R Sacha , Shaw James , Shafai Roshan , Bhattacharyya Onil
Published: June 2020

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality and leads to frequent hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) visits. COPD exacerbations are an important patient outcome, and reducing their frequency would result in significant cost savings. Remote monitoring and self-monitoring could both help patients manage their symptoms and reduce the frequency of exacerbations, but they have different resource implications and have not been directly compared.

Objective

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of implementing a technology-enabled self-monitoring program versus a technology-enabled remote monitoring program in patients with COPD compared with a standard care group.

Methods

We conducted a 3-arm randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a remote monitoring and a self-monitoring program relative to standard care. Patients with COPD were recruited from outpatient clinics and a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Patients in both interventions used a Bluetooth-enabled device kit to monitor oxygen saturation, blood pressure, temperature, weight, and symptoms, but only patients in the remote monitoring group were monitored by a respiratory therapist. All patients were assessed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after program initiation. Outcomes included self-management skills, as measured by the Partners in Health (PIH) Scale; patient symptoms measured with the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ); and the Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ). Patients were also asked to self-report on health system use, and data on health use were collected from the hospital.

Results

A total of 122 patients participated in the study: 40 in the standard care, 41 in the self-monitoring, and 41 in the remote monitoring groups. Although all 3 groups improved in PIH scores, BCKQ scores, and SGRQ impact scores, there were no significant differences among any of the groups. No effects were observed on the SGRQ activity or symptom scores or on hospitalizations, ED visits, or clinic visits.

Conclusions

Despite regular use of the technology, patients with COPD assigned to remote monitoring or self-monitoring did not have any improvement in patient outcomes such as self-management skills, knowledge, or symptoms, or in health care use compared with each other or with a standard care group. This may be owing to low health care use at baseline, the lack of structured educational components in the intervention groups, and the lack of integration of the action plan with the technology.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03741855; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ NCT03741855
Using Information Technology to Manage the COVID-19 Pandemic: Development of a Technical Framework Based on Practical Experience in China
Authors: Ye Qing , Zhou Jin , Wu Hong
Published: May 2020

Background

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic poses an enormous challenge to the global health system, and governments have taken active preventive and control measures. The health informatics community in China has actively taken action to leverage health information technologies for epidemic monitoring, detection, early warning, prevention and control, and other tasks.

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop a technical framework to respond to the COVID-19 epidemic from a health informatics perspective.

Methods

In this study, we collected health information technology–related information to understand the actions taken by the health informatics community in China during the COVID-19 outbreak and developed a health information technology framework for epidemic response based on health information technology–related measures and methods.

Results

Based on the framework, we review specific health information technology practices for managing the outbreak in China, describe the highlights of their application in detail, and discuss critical issues to consider when using health information technology. Technologies employed include mobile and web-based services such as Internet hospitals and Wechat, big data analyses (including digital contact tracing through QR codes or epidemic prediction), cloud computing, Internet of things, Artificial Intelligence (including the use of drones, robots, and intelligent diagnoses), 5G telemedicine, and clinical information systems to facilitate clinical management for COVID-19.

Conclusions

Practical experience in China shows that health information technologies play a pivotal role in responding to the COVID-19 epidemic.
Telemedicine Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude, and Skills of Health Care Workers in a Low-Resource Country During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Elhadi Muhammed , Elhadi Ahmed , Bouhuwaish Ahmad , Bin Alshiteewi Fatimah , Elmabrouk Amna , Alsuyihili Ali , Alhashimi Ayiman , Khel Samer , Elgherwi Alsafa , Alsoufi Ahmed , Albakoush Ahmed , Abdulmalik Abdulmuez
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several health care programs intended to provide telemedicine services have been introduced in Libya. Many physicians have used these services to provide care and advice to their patients remotely.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to provide an overview of physicians’ awareness, knowledge, attitude, and skill in using telehealth services in Libya.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we administered a web-based survey to health care workers in Libya in May 2020. The questionnaire collected information on physicians’ general demographic characteristics, ability to use a computer, and telemedicine awareness, knowledge, attitude, and skills.

RESULTS

Among 673 health care workers who responded to the survey, 377 (56%) and 248 (36.8%) reported high awareness and high computer skill scores, respectively, for telemedicine. Furthermore, 582 (86.5%) and 566 (82.6%) health care workers reported high knowledge and high attitude scores, respectively. We observed no significant differences in awareness, knowledge, attitude, and skill scores among physicians employed at public, private, or both types of hospitals. We observed significant differences in the mean awareness (P<.001), attitude (P=.001), and computer skill scores (P<.001) , where the score distribution of the groups based on the ability to use computers was not similar. Knowledge scores did not significantly differ among the three groups (P=.37). Respondents with professional computer skills had significantly higher awareness (χ23=14.5; P<.001) and attitude (χ23=13.5; P=.001) scores than those without professional computer skills. We observed significant differences in the mean computer skill scores of the groups (χ23=199.6; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to persist for a long time. Hence, policy programs such as telemedicine services, which aim to address the obstacles to medical treatment owing to physical distancing measures, will likely continue for a long time. Therefore, there is a need to train and support health care workers and initiate government programs that provide adequate and supportive health care services to patients in transitional countries.
Gaps in Team Communication About Service Statistics Among Health Extension Workers in Ethiopia: Secondary Data Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Lee Seohyun , Kim Eunji , Desta Tekaligne Birhane
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

In Ethiopia, health extension workers (HEWs) are deployed across the country by the government to meet public health needs. Team communication is important for effective teamwork, but community health workers in low-resource settings like Ethiopia may face challenges in carrying out team meetings to compile service statistics. This is due to the nature of their outreach activities, which requires extensive travel.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify gaps in team communication about service statistics among HEWs in Ethiopia. Considering mobile communication and data collection as tools for bridging these gaps, we examined disparities in access to electricity, which has been identified as one of the major barriers to this approach.

METHODS

Data from the most recent Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 service delivery point survey were used for our analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify disparities in team communication on service statistics for family planning, which is a major component of the HEW’s job. Disparities were examined across health facilities with different levels of HEW integration in their staffing structure (ie, no HEWs, at least one HEW, or only HEWs). Additionally, a chi-square test was conducted to examine disparities in access to electricity to explore the potential of mobile communication and data collection integration.

RESULTS

In total, 427 health facilities of four different types (ie, hospitals, health centers, health posts, and health clinics) were included in our analysis. At most health posts (84/95, 88%), only HEWs were employed; none of the health clinics integrated the HEW model into their staffing structure. Among the 84 health posts, the odds of having team meetings on family planning service statistics in the past 12 months were 0.48 times the odds of those without HEWs (P=.02). No statistically significant differences were found between HEW-only facilities and facilities with at least one HEW. Most health facilities (69/83, 83.13%) with HEWs as the only staff had no electricity at the time of the survey while 71.25% (57/80) had intermittent access (ie, service disruption lasting 2 or more hours that day). There were statistically significant differences in electricity access among health facilities with different levels of HEW integration (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Facilities employing only HEWs were less likely to have regular team meetings to discuss service statistics. Since their responsibilities involve extensive outreach activities, travel, and paper-based recordkeeping, empowering HEWs with mobile communication and data collection can be a workable solution. The empirical evidence regarding disparities in electricity access also supports the need for and the feasibility of this approach.
Clinical Application of Computer-Aided Diagnosis According to S-Detect in Category 4 Breast Lesions: Prospective Single-Center Study (Preprint)
Authors: Sun Pengfei , Chen Chen , Wang Weiqi , Liang Lei , Luo Dan , Guo Jun
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) is a useful tool that can provide a reference for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesion. Previous studies have demonstrated that CAD can improve the diagnostic performance. However, conventional ultrasound (US) combined with CAD were used to adjust the classification of category 4 lesions has been few assessed.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to evaluate the diagnosis performance of conventional ultrasound combined with a CAD system S-Detect in the category of BI-RADS 4 breast lesions.

METHODS

Between December 2018 and May 2020, we enrolled patients in this study who received conventional ultrasound and S-Detect before US-guided biopsy or surgical excision. The diagnostic performance was compared between US findings only and the combined use of US findings with S-Detect, which were correlated with pathology results.

RESULTS

A total of 98 patients (mean age 51.06 years, range 22-81, SD16.25) with 110 breast masses (mean size1.97±1.38cm, range0.6-8.5cm) were included in this study. Of the 110 breast masses, 64/110 (58.2%) were benign, 46/110 (41.8%) were malignant. Compared with conventional ultrasound, a significant increase in specificity (0% to 53.12%, P<.001), accuracy (41.81% to70.19%, P<.001) were noted, with no statistically significant decrease on sensitivity (100% to 95.65%, P=.48). According to S-Detect-guided US BI-RADS re-classification, 30 out of 110 (27.3%) breast lesions underwent a correct change in clinical management, 74of 110 (67.3%) breast lesions underwent no change and 6 of 110 (5.5%) breast lesions underwent an incorrect change in clinical management. The biopsy rate decreased from 100.0% to 67.3 % (P<.001).Benign masses among subcategory 4a had higher rates of possibly benign assessment on S-Detect for the US only (60.0% to 0.0%, P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

S-Detect can be used as an additional diagnostic tool to improve the specificity and accuracy in clinical practice. S-Detect have the potential to be used in downgrading benign masses misclassified as BI-RADS category 4 on US by radiologist, and may reduce unnecessary breast biopsy.

CLINICALTRIAL

None
Estimating the number of cases during COVID-19 pandemics using a web-based tool: first week results of “COVID-19 TRENDS” social media project in the Araba-Alava province in Basque country, Spain. (Preprint)
Authors: Garitano Ignacio , Linares Manuel , Santos Laura , Gil Ruth , Lapuente Elena , Ramos Jose M.
Published: June 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

On 28th February a case of COVID-19 was declared in Araba-Álava province, Spain. In Spain, a confinement and movement restrictions were established by Spanish Government at 14th March 2020. We implemented a web-based tool to estimate number of cases during the pandemic. We present the results in Áraba-Álava province. We reached a response rate of 10,3% out a 331.549 population. We found that 22,4 % fulfilled the case definition. This tool rendered useful to inform public health action.
A scoping review of patients’ perception of electronic medical record implementation in the emergency department (Preprint)
Authors: Ding Mingshuang
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Providing a satisfactory patient experience in the hospital environment is an important component of quality, patient-centred healthcare. The Emergency Department (ED) is a unique clinical environment characterised by a high workload, high cognitive load, tight time constraints and a lack of prolonged clinician–patient relationship development. In this environment, it is often a challenge for clinicians to maintain effective patient communication, which may impact negatively upon patients’ experiences of healthcare. The increasing adoption of electronic medical records (EMR) throughout EDs is changing clinical workflows and, as such, also has the potential to impact patient perceptions of healthcare.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this scoping review was to explore patients’ perceptions of EMR implementation in EDs nationally and internationally.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley framework. Examination of databases including: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Cochrane library and PsycINFO using a string of search terms around EMR and patient perception/satisfaction initially revealed 3858 articles for screening.

RESULTS

Only 2 studies met the inclusion criteria of examining an aspect of patient perception of EMRs in EDs. These showed mixed impacts of EMR implementation on patient experience. Broadening the frame of the scoping review to include other areas in hospitals did, however, reveal additional studies exploring patient perceptions of EMRs which can be used as a framework for further research in the ED.

CONCLUSIONS

We proposed further investigation into patients’ perceptions of implementation and clinician use of EMRs in EDs is essential to ensure quality patient experience of care delivery.

CLINICALTRIAL

N/A
Trayectorias de habitabilidad en contextos de segregación socio-espacial: una aproximación teórico-metodológica desde las sensibilidades
Authors: Cervio Ana Lucía
Published: May 2020

En el trabajo se exponen algunas conexiones teóricas entre segregación socioespacial, biografías y experiencias del habitar, identificadas desde los estudios de las sensibilidades. Con base en una investigación con residentes de villas de emergencia y asentamientos informales de la ciudad de La Plata, Argentina, se delimitan los conceptos experiencias del habitar y trayectorias de habitabilidad, utilizadosen el estudio; se establecen correspondencias analíticas para la observación de la estructuración socio-espacial vigente; asimismo, se argumenta una propuesta teórico-metodológica para el abordaje de las trayectorias de habitabilidad, reflexionando sobre los límites y las potencialidades del método biográfico para la indagación de la segregación urbana desde las experiencias individuales.
Analisis Kualitas Layanan Pasien Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) Mandiri di Instalasi Rawat Jalan Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah (RSUD) Sekayu Tahun 2019
Authors: Ratnasari Desi , Misnaniarti Misnaniarti , Windusari Yuanita
Published: May 2020

Latar Belakang: RSUD Sekayu merupakan bagian dari fasilitas layanan kesehatan yang berkewajiban memberikan pelayanan berkualitas sesuai dengan harapan pasien. Penilaian IKM RSUD Sekayu saat ini belum spesifik menggambarkan kualiatas pelayanan dari sisi harapan dan kenyataan layanan pasien JKN Mandiri serta belum dapat memperlihatkan prioritas kategori pelayanan yang akan  ditingkatkan/diperbaiki. Tujuan: Menganalisis kualitas, terutama layanan rawat jalan berdasarkan 5 dimensi mutu pelayanan (service quality) terhadap peserta JKN Mandiri. Metode: Metode yang digunakan yaitu cross sectional dengan 151 responden. Teknik pengumpulan data dengan kuesioner berskala likert. Data dianalisis berdasarkan Importance Performance Analiysis dan Gap Analysis. Hasil: Rendahnya tingkat kepuasan pasien pada pelayanan Rawat Jalan (47,7%) dengan tingkat kesesuaian rata-rata 76,89% dan gap rata-rata -1. Pasien cenderung kurang puas terhadap pelayanan berorientasi pada proses (Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance dan Empathy) dan cenderung puas pada dimensi yang berorientasi pada hasil (Tangible). Diagram kartesius memetakan 10 atribut pada kuadran A, 11 atribut pada kuadran B, 6 atribut pada kuadran C dan 10 atribut pada kuadran D. Kesimpulan: Secara umum kualitas layanan pasien JKN Mandiri di RSUD Sekayu cukup baik pada dimensi Tangible, Responsivenes dan Assurance, sedangkan dimensi Empathy dan Reliability masih dinilai kurang. Perlu ada upaya perbaikan mutu layanan dari semua dimensi mengingat keterkaitan antara dimensi pelayanan.
Pengaruh Kebisingan terhadap Tekanan Darah, dengan Stres Kerja sebagai Variabel Mediator
Authors: Sumardiyono Sumardiyono , Wijayanti Reni , Hartono Hartono , Sri Budiastuti Maria Theresia
Published: May 2020

Latar Belakang: Kebisingan lingkungan kerja merupakan stresor penyebab stres kerja pada tenaga kerja. Stres kerja menyebabkan kenaikan tekanan darah yang menjadi penyebab hipertensi.Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh tidak langsung antara kebisingan terhadap tekanan darah melalui variabel mediator stres kerja.Metode: Penelitian dilakukan secara observasional analitik melalui pendekatan cross-sectional, pada populasi pekerja perempuan yang terpapar kebisingan lingkungan kerja di industri tekstil. Jumlah subjek penelitian sebanyak 139 orang yang diambil secara random. Uji statistik menggunakan model analisis jalur yang dihitung menggunakan software AMOS versi 22.Hasil: Rerata skor variabel stres kerja = 22,1 point, tekanan darah sistolik = 131,7 mmHg dan diastolik = 88,1 mmHg. Pada model analisis jalur dihasilkan ada hubungan langsung antara kebisingan dengan stres kerja (kenaikan 1 point kebisingan meningkatkan 0,5 point skor stres kerja), dan ada hubungan tidak langsung antara kebisingan dengan tekanan darah melalui variabel mediator stres kerja (kenaikan kebisingan 1 point secara tidak langsung meningkatkan tekanan darah, masing-masing adalah sistolik sebesar 1,8 point dan diastolik sebesar 0,8 point).Kesimpulan: Ada hubungan positif secara tidak langsung antara kebisingan dengan tekanan darah sistolik dan diastolik melalui stres kerja sebagai variabel mediator.
Efektivitas Music Therapy terhadap Pengurangan Nyeri Persalinan: Systematic Review
Authors: Rahayu Nova Avianti , Kurniawati Herlin Fitriana
Published: May 2020

Latar belakang: Nyeri pada persalinan merupakan suatu hal yang normal, tetapi nyeri persalinan juga dapat meningkatan katekolamin. Hal ini dapat mengganggu kontraksi uterus sehingga dapat menyebabkan inersia uteri, partus lama, oksigenasi pada janin tidak adekuat hingga distress janin, serta kematian ibu dan atau janin apabila nyeri persalinan tidak ditangani. Oleh karena itu, penanganan nyeri penting bagi ibu selama persalinan.Tujuan: Untuk mencari evidence based tentang efektifitas terapi musik terhadap pengurangan nyeri persalinan.Metode: Ada delapan tahap yang digunakan dalam ulasan ini yaitu mengidentifikasi permasalahan kebidanan, prioritas masalah dan pertanyaan penelitian, framework data primer dan sekunder, identifikasi studi yang relevan, prisma flow diagram, critical appraisal, analisa data dan ekstrasi data. Review ini menggunakan 2 databased dengan jangka waktu dari 2010-2020.Hasil: Total artikel yang didapatkan adalah 698 artikel, 11 artikel terpilih untuk di-review. Beberapa artikel membandingkan nyeri persalinan pada kelompok terapi musik dan tanpa terapi musik didapatkan hasil terapi musik menjadi salah satu manajemen nyeri non farmakologis yang efektif untuk mengurangi nyeri persalinan.Kesimpulan: Terapi musik efektif untuk mengurangi nyeri selama persalinan pada fase laten, perlu diteliti lebih lanjut terkait efektifitas dan jenis musik untuk dapat mengurangi nyeri persalinan fase aktif.
Bridging the Gap
Authors: Suöa Rene , Borak Bistra , Poglajen Manca
Published: May 2020

The main argument of the following article is that the neo-colonial nature of international relations between the North and the South contributes to delayed or sometimes even reversed progress in the process of human development everywhere in the world and especially in the so-called South. Whether the conduct of Fair Trade movement measures up to expanding human freedoms, or is it merely one of the most inconspicuous and sophisticated tools of neo-colonial oppression is what the authorís research. Senís criteria for human development and Brundtlandtís definition of sustainable development are taken as ones that the Fair Trade movement should fulfil in order to label it as a means to bridge the infamous North South gap. Only as such the Fair Trade movement can substitute the neo-colonialism.
Solving Refugees' Problems or Solving the Problem of Refugees?
Authors: Poggiali Lisa
Published: May 2020

In the following paper I argue that in our contemporary global political climate - which is characterized by gross power differentials between the global North and South - the "international humanitarian regime" conceptualizes refugees as a "problem" to be "solved". It is through this conceptualization that repatriation has become the preferred "durable solution" to refugees' plight. Rather than solving refugees' problems, however, I contend that repatriation today serves to solve the problem of refugees. As such, I argue that repatriation is not only far from a durable solution, but far from a solution at all. I suggest that if we wish to truly help refugees find durable solutions to their problems we must first interrogate the unequal global power dynamics that produce refugee situations.
Understanding The Post 9/11 Transatlantic Security Community
Authors: MacLeod Michael R.
Published: May 2020

Is there an emerging fundamental divide between the United States and Europe in the post 9/11 world? This article examines the transatlantic relationship from a constructivist theoretical approach, emphasizing a security community underlying the North Atlantic region. Constructivists have emphasized how a transnational collective identity develops and builds stable expectations of peaceful relations amongst states, but they have not had much to say about how security communities become de-constructed, i.e. how they break down. To what extent do conflicts in values and norms undermine the collective identity? What I ask here is whether there is a widening difference in the European and American political-strategic cultures that is undermining the security community? My argument is, yes, there is, and the emerging post 9/11 transatlantic security community may look quite different from its predecessor.
Does The Transatlantic Alliance Have A Future?
Authors: Hakki Murat Metin
Published: May 2020

No doubt the early progress in European integration was supported by the pax Americana, the stability of the Bretton Woods system and the ideological front formed by the Western world against the Soviet Union (USSR). An increasingly united Europe was also seen as necessary to avoid yet another world war. Long considered America’s most important alliance and a benchmark by which a president’s foreign policy skill is measured, the US-European relationship has been shaken over a series of disputes that culminated during George W. Bush’s presidency. While the years 2004 and 2005 witnessed a gradual recovery of transatlantic relations, the future remains uncertain. Have these problems arisen because of Bush’s presidential style? Or are there other deeper factors underlying transatlantic tensions? What does the future hold for the political and military alliance that bonded Europe and America for over half a century?
Untitled
Authors: Anghelea Ana Maria
Published: May 2020

When at the end of the 1980s the EU launched a number of policies aimed to creating a European identity, the member states responded by incorporating into the Maastricht Treaty a clause stating that the European Union should respect the member states’ respective national identities (article F, point1). This reaction, along with the introduction of principle of subsidiary and the rejection of the word “federal”, revealed that many member states considered the creation of a European identity as a potential threat to their own national identities and their citizen’s national loyalties (Hojelid, 2001).
Untitled
Authors: Kapidzic Damir
Published: May 2020

From a geographical point of view, Europe isn't a continent at all without the (far greater) Asian part and all too often the question arises: where does Europe start and where does it end? As a space open towards all inhabited areas of the world, Europe was the place where for centuries the most different cultures met each other, mixed, and waged wars. A society characterised by peaceful co-existence and harsh conflicts was forged, where religion, culture, ethnic groups, ideology, race and mentality created differences between the peoples.
Euro-Centrism vs. International Thinking
Authors: Fersterer Stefan
Published: May 2020

If European people are asked to answer the question, “Which of your different identities has the highest rank in your personal sense: the local, the national or the European?”, a high percentage rate would definitely still report to the two former and only a minority would define themselves primarily as an European citizen. This is no surprise. On the one hand, one defines its identity through that origin, with which he or she has the strongest relation. On the other hand it is extremely difficult for a huge and often aloof entity like the European Union to develop a common European identity that evokes those impressions and sentiments that people combine with their familiar environment.
What next for the Peaceful Power?
Authors: Kissane Dylan Matthew
Published: May 2020

It would be impossible for the great powers of Europe to come together in peaceful association after centuries of conflict. The French would not trust the Germans, the Poles would never agree to a demilitarised western border and anyway, without a common language the whole experiment would be doomed to failure from the start. But half a century later the dream has become reality. It is today impossible to imagine the German army contemplating the conquest of Belgium or the French attempting to once again take the British crown. Europe has enjoyed more peace for more people for longer than at any point in the past 500 years and Fins, Maltese, Portuguese and Latvians find themselves committed to a common project of understanding and positive cross-cultural interaction.
The European Union a stepping stone to further integration or rather a Eurocentric fortress?
Authors: Kraushaar Maren
Published: May 2020

The European Union a stepping stone to further integration or rather a Eurocentric fortress? Still with the memory of the destructive national power of the Second World War, the main initiators of the European integration stirred this project with the objective of preventing further conflicts through economic integration. Closer economic ties, spilling over to more countries and more policy areas lead to the development of an ever closer union which has become a powerful actor in international affairs. This essay will explore the question to what extent the European Union can be characterized as Eurocentric regionalism, rather focused on internal integration and enforcing outside borders than on global understanding. In order to shed light on this question several policy areas will be analysed, such as the European aid and trade policy, as well as the agricultural policy as these are areas where the European Union is directly confronted with external politics and international interests.
Euro-Centrism vs. International Thinking
Authors: Liebl Josephine
Published: May 2020

The idea of a united Europe is generally believed to be something positive, especially as it represents values like democracy and tolerance. The practical construct resulting from this idea, the former European Economic Community (EEC), has been created in reaction to the moral, political and economic destruction Europe went through during the Second World War and therefore embodies the “concept of a long-lasting peace (Wallström, 2004). As the EEC has developed from a unity based on economical cooperation into the European Union (EU), a political construct with growing influence on national politics, the question arises whether it is legitimate at all (Obradovic, 1996, p.191).
New tendencies in EU governance and the future of the EU governance model
Authors: Gjoreska Aleksandra
Published: May 2020

The explanation of the EU governance model as inter-governmental or federal entity have been today superseded by the multilevel governance model. Multilevel governance gives a valuable account of the way the EU functions from the perspective of the organisation of its public administration institutions. However, its present organisation is the result of the pressure of tendencies that have been present informally or tacitly on subnational and global level since the 1970-1980 and that, in the case of the EU, have been turned into institutional principles of governance.
The Development of a New Water Code in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Genina Mariya
Published: May 2020

The new Water Code (WC), adopted in the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) in 2003, has not been sufficiently enforced. This has led to the water quality degradation and shortages. This paper identifies the factors leading up to the development of the WC and reasons for its weak enforcement. Using open-ended interviews and a an analysis of archival information, this paper examines the reduction of financing and a weakening institutional capacity of the water organizations as main reasons for water quality degradation. These factors, plus unfamiliarity with the international terminology and inconsistency with other legislative acts are presented as key causes for the poor WC enforcement. The future of the water resources in Kazakhstan depends upon the effectiveness of future capacity building efforts.
Expanding the UN’s Collective Security System
Authors: Charron Andrea
Published: May 2020

The United Nations’ 60th anniversary has prompted discussion and debate as to how best to improve this weakened organization. These discussions have included the adoption of two new doctrines to the existing collective security system. The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and Duty to Prevent, however, are not necessarily compatible with the ideals of the system as envisioned by the framers of the Charter. In striving to improve the legitimacy of the organization, the R2P and most certainly, the Duty to Prevent may undermine the very organization they seek to strengthen.
International System
Authors: Murafa Corina
Published: May 2020

The article claims that the international system is emerging out of an interlude of unipolarity – characterized by US dominance – , and entering an age of so-called “diffuse multipolarity”, i.e. a situation in which less clear-cut regional entities challenge the pre-eminence enjoyed by the US. Neorealism – with Kenneth N. Waltz’s theories about self-help and balancing – represents the main theoretical frame that supports my conjecture. This theory is enriched on the one hand by a broader view on systemic approach to the international system, and on the other hand by relevant information extracted out of international society theory (Conway W. Henderson) and out of declinism (Paul Kennedy). Together, they support data collected out of recent UN studies and publications such as The Economist.
Clash or alliance
Authors: Glonnegger Nina-Birke
Published: May 2020

Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" theory gained new topicality through actual events in the political world climate against the background of 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with those conflicts, Huntington's theses seem to be more current than ever before and became the focus of the public discourse, in which - it seems - the gap between supporters and adversaries gets bigger every day. This article aims to evaluate his theory within the context of actual political events in the field of international relations. The empirical attempt of this study will be the presentation and evaluation of conflict statistics regarding the conflict climate in the years 2000 and 2006 in order to confirm or disprove several aspects of the clash of civilizations hypothesis.
Minority rights in world politics
Authors: Rebegea Corina
Published: May 2020

Minority rights are a very sensitive issue for the international community in the context of the recognition and protection afforded to human rights. As the only internationally recognized rights-holders are the states, the recognition of minority groups as rights-holders would challenge the established principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and statehood. Consequently, minority rights are constructed through international and regional documents from an individualistic perspective in order to project a certain notion of citizenship, sovereignty, nationhood or autonomy. International and regional documents deal with the rights of persons belonging to minorities, rather than with minorities as such, a concept still in search of a clear-cut definition.
Valuing Freedom and History in the Middle East
Authors: Kalb Zep
Published: May 2020

This paper qualitatively compares Mazinani’s model for the measurement of freedom, the called Full Freedom model, with the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Freedom of the World Index (FWI) and examines the advantages and disadvantages of using this model for the measurement of freedom in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The particularity of historical trajectories in the MENA will be held against the HDI and FWI. Then, shortcomings in Mazinani’s model for the measurement of freedom will be assessed in relation to this model’s dependency on its two competitors.
CSDP-NATO
Authors: Rodríguez Barriocanal Alexandre
Published: May 2020

In the 21st century, we are living a new age of international community where different allies are playing a fundamental role in the international equilibrium. The young CSDP in Europe has to mediate and rise in this new scenario where NATO has traditionally been the big defence leader in the European community. In fact CSDP has found different issues over which to provide security to Europe.
The Role of Afghanistan in the Uighur Separatist Movement
Authors: Ainuvee Kristina
Published: May 2020

As with the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in the end of 2014, there is no obvious replacement for the place of peace guarantor in the country and in the region. The most apparent successor is the People’s Republic of China for a number of reasons. First, Afghan extremists are considered to be connected with the rebels from China’s province Xinjiang. Not only they undermine internal stability in China, but they also engage in illegal drug trade and are a very important point in heroine trade route across Central Asia up to Central Europe. Although the Chinese law enforcers are addressing this issue, there is no clear success in the near future. That being said, in order to deter the flourishing illegal drug trade, the revenues from which are used to finance the uprisings, China needs to step up as a replacement of the U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan after 2014.
Lefkowitz, Disobedience and Political Authority
Authors: Davis Shannon
Published: May 2020

This paper examines political philosopher David Lefkowitiz’s (2007) framework of public disobedience and argues that the acts of civil disobedience employed in the nonviolent Moral Monday protests held at the State Legislative building in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina (United States) during the summer of 2013, are consistent with his account.  By definition, public disobedience is a “suitably constrained form of civil disobedience,” compatible with political authority, or a legitimate state's right to rule, because citizens are recognized as holding a moral right to engage in such acts. Specifically, I argue that North Carolina's Moral Mondays activism is a paradigmatic instance of civil, nonviolent resistance by demonstrating how the protests satisfy three necessary conditions of civil disobedience that are also present in Lefkowitz's framework. In my final analysis, I conclude that Moral Mondays are distinguishable from forthright, lawless acts of dissidence that undermine rather than safeguard political authority.
Sticky Rationality
Authors: Rusinek Hans
Published: May 2020

This essay explores the assumption of rationality in Foreign Policy Analysis. Two approaches, neoclassical realism and schema theory, will be highlighted and it will be examined how they incorporate the notion of rationality. Neoclassical realism reacts to the suboptimal outcomes, which realism fails to explain, by adding the domestic level though leaving the assumption of rationality untouched. Schema theory as a part of the cognitive school seemingly “bounds” rationality but then opens a backdoor through which rational agency can be reintegrated in the model. The case study of the sanctions regime on Iraq illustrates that the assumption of rationality can not only lead to unintended but also dangerous policy outcomes. This essay claims that it is almost tragic how those theories hold on to rationality and it offers an underlying explanation for the “stickiness” of rationality assumptions in Foreign Policy Analysis by using Quines concept of confirmation holism.
The Institutionalisation of Power
Authors: Solís Delgadillo Diego
Published: May 2020

Existing studies such as those of Pastor and Wise (2005) argue that the democratic period in Mexico has been characterised by serious governability problems derived from divided governments. Nevertheless, the empirical data shows this period has been the most productive in the history of Mexico, but at the same time a series of relevant reforms have been rejected or watered down. This paper focuses on the role played by interest groups in the legislative process, especially labour unions; the hypothesis is that the more powerful the groups, the more likely the legislative process will reflect the interest of that group. To establish how powerful a union is it follows the work of Acemoglu and Robinson (2006) and established indicators to measure the concept “de facto political power” then it proceeds to compare this explanation vis-à-vis other hypotheses for the legislative result such as divided governments, fragmentation and polarisation of the party system.
Water Scarcity and Regional Fragmentation in the Middle East
Authors: Tinti Alessandro
Published: May 2020

The turmoil in the Middle East takes its roots in the sharp incongruence between collective identities and territorial boundaries, but the severe and growing water scarcity significantly affects both the interstate relations and the socio-economic stability of the domestic regimes. Consequently, the access, supply, management and control of water flows are a long-standing source of contention and regional polarization. Nevertheless, the sharing of water resources commands the signing of mutual agreements to determine the parties’ grade of exploitation, thus gradually opening to the institutionalization of a cooperative regime or patterns of joint governance. This article aims to provide a quantitative evaluation of the strategic water-related interactions at the interstate level across the Levant. The assessment provides an overview of the regional transboundary water relations  with the purpose of determining whether the Middle East is currently moving toward an increased regionalization or exacerbating the existing rivalries.
Humanitarian Intervention and the Changing Concepts of Sovereignty
Authors: Švarc Dominika
Published: May 2020

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan recently observed that "state sovereignty, in its most basic sense, is being redefined ... by the forces of globalisation and international cooperation." The article deals with the question of how much this is an accurate observation in the context of humanitarian intervention. Within the theories of classical international law, the principle of nonintervention involves the prohibition to intervene in the internal affairs of a sovereign State. Even though there have always existed exemptions to this principle, there was never an exemption of humanitarian intervention mentioned, neither in the UN Charter or any other international legal instrument, nor in the customary law. In the article the possibility of new international legal norms evolving in this field is discussed, to justify intervention in the name of protecting fundamental human rights that are today one of the leading concepts of international legal order, tightly connected to the protection of international peace and security in a highly interdependent international community. To clarify the concept, some basic elements and dimensions of humanitarian intervention are outlined, together with some possible features of the future development of the humanitarian intervention concept. The aim of the article is to discover, what is, both in the legal sense and in practice, the relationship between the sovereignty of states and their responsibility to fulfil their obligations under the international law, including the obligation to respect and protect human life and dignity, as well as other fundamental human rights.
Institutional Trust In The Context Of Post-communist Democratic Consolidation
Authors: Arpad Todor
Published: May 2020

Trust in institutions represents an indispensable ingredient for their legitimacy. The major post-communist social reshaping process is inextricably related with countries’ institutional modernization capacity. Using data from Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia, this article approaches two different levels of this issue. The first relates to the societal and institutional legacies that influence the contemporary sources of institutional distrust. Informality, corruption and lack of efficiency not only that self-reinforce but they also create behavioral expectations from the mass-public. The second discussion approaches the individual level, studying the influence of social capital, different types of trust, personal experience and subjective wellbeing on individuals’ predisposition to trust and act accordingly toward institutions. While experience and people’s socio-economical situation has a minimal influence, subjective factors explain the bulk of variation.
The Private Housing Market Cyclical Price Dynamics
Authors: Jingbo SUN, , Hin / David HO, Kim
Published: May 2020

Two types of heterogeneous investors (momentum and disposition) form a unique difference model to interpret housing price dynamics. Three parameters are crucial: auto-correlation, the rate of mean reversion and the contemporaneous adjustment towards long-term equilibrium price. For Singapore, we examine the dynamic structures that oscillate and/or diverge from equilibrium. Disposition investors predominate although the interaction between momentum and disposition investors acts as a key determinant of private housing price dynamics for a given time in a specific market. Key implication is that Singapore’s private housing market is low risk, offering stable returns owing to virtually no divergence even in the speculative 1990s. The best way to invest is to consider the momentum strategy and avoid the herd behavior for profit sustainability. For policy-makers, the Singapore private housing market is over-damped in the long run. Predominating disposition investors contribute to the market mechanism, which automatically adjusts private housing market prices. It is imperative to relax government intervention in Singapore’s private housing market to enhance its efficiency.
СРАВНЕНИЕ ПРОПУСКНОЙ СПОСОБНОСТИ СИСТЕМ АВТОМАТИЧЕСКОГО ЗАВИСИМОГО НАБЛЮДЕНИЯ-ВЕЩАНИЯ
Authors: Мирошниченко А. , Татарчук И. , Фальков Э. , Шаврин С.
Published: June 2020

Выполнен анализ пропускной способности систем автоматического зависимого наблюдения-вещания, используемых для передачи данных о местоположении и скорости воздушных судов, а также сведений о погоде и другой служебной информации. Основной критерий эффективности таких систем – количество информации, которое можно передать в системе при заданном трафике воздушных судов.
ЭЛЕКТРОМАГНИТНАЯ ЗАЩИТА ПОРТОВ ОБОРУДОВАНИЯ С ИНТЕРФЕЙСАМИ 100/1000BASE-T. ЧАСТЬ 3
Authors: Терентьев Д.
Published: June 2020

Статья в определенной мере является продолжением цикла публикаций "Аварии на объектах связи. Причина – опасные электромагнитные влияния" и обобщает опыт разработки и эксплуатации оборудования (и устройств защиты для него) для проводного и беспроводного ШПД, систем IP-видеонаблюдения, использующих интерфейсы Ethernet и работающих в условиях воздействия электромагнитных помех.