bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entreprises religieuses transnationales en Afrique de l'Ouest
Authors: Strandsbjerg Camilla
Published: May 2018

À partir d’une analyse de l’évangélisation de l’État au Bénin et de la constitution de ses réseaux évangéliques transnationaux, qui se fait à partir de dynamiques à la fois religieuses, politiques et économiques, l’article illustre l’usage et les dynamiques du discours pentecôtiste comme discours politique et inversement et s’interroge sur des nouvelles formes de liens entre l’État, les Églises et la société civile qui se créent à travers la triple appartenance (religieuse, politique et économique), des nouveaux acteurs.
Entreprises religieuses transnationales en Afrique de l'Ouest
Authors: Kadya Tall Emmanuelle
Published: May 2018

L’auteur dresse le portrait de cinq chefs de culte anti-sorcellerie ( Tron et Mami Wata ), en privilégiant la description des réseaux nationaux, inter- et transnationaux auxquels ils appartiennent. L’échantillon retenu éclaire deux dynamiques à première vue contradictoires : celle de l’ancrage dans le tissu social local et celle qui tend à élargir son horizon en prenant au pied de la lettre les discours sur la mondialisation. Néanmoins, la logique pragmatique qui marque leurs cultes rend évidente la complémentarité des deux démarches. Pour conclure, l’auteur tente, à partir de l’expérience vécue de ses informateurs, une réflexion sur le concept de transnationalisation.
Entreprises religieuses transnationales en Afrique de l'Ouest
Authors: Adeboye Olufunke A.
Published: May 2018

Ce papier analyse le caractère transnational des activités de l’Église de Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCGG) au Nigeria, au Ghana et au Bénin. La réalité des réseaux transnationaux s’inscrit dans le contexte socioculturel des pays retenus pour cette étude. Alors que la RCGG est parvenue à largement s’implanter dans son pays d’origine, le Nigeria, ses prolongements transnationaux sont encore limités. Les stratégies de développement de l’Église ont montré leur efficacité au Nigeria mais ne sont pas facilement transférables dans d’autres contextes culturels. Ainsi, l’Église est-elle moins « visible » au Bénin et au Ghana qu’elle ne l’est au Nigeria. Le contexte national demeure ainsi central dans le succès éventuel de cette Église transnationale sans toutefois remettre en question les dynamiques de globalisation du pentecôtisme.
Entreprises religieuses transnationales en Afrique de l'Ouest
Authors: Moyet Xavier
Published: May 2018

Cette étude a pour objet la stratégie missionnaire de deux Églises nigérianes dans la ville d’Accra. Leur choix d’implantation géographique, l’utilisation qu’elles font des médias et le parcours de certains de leurs dirigeants sont étudiés afin d’illustrer l’action transnationale de ces acteurs du néo-pentecôtisme nigérian que sont Mountain of Fire and Miracles et Christ Embassy . On verra aussi que l’influence de Benson Idahosa, père spirituel du mouvement, est déterminante sur la scène religieuse ghanéenne.
Telephone Support and Telemonitoring for Low-Income Older Adults
Authors: Jeong Suyong , Choi Hanna , Gwon Seok Hyun , Kim Jeongeun
Published: May 2018

The objective of the current pilot study was to determine whether nurse-led telephone counseling improves health behavior, self-care, and physiological indices for low-income older adults using a telemonitoring system. The control group (
n
= 15) was provided with weekly health education only, and the intervention group (
n
= 20) was given additional telephone support by nurses. At baseline and 8 weeks, data on health and self-care behaviors were collected using a self-reported questionnaire, and blood pressure and fasting blood glucose levels were assessed. Nurse-led telephone support had a medium effect on improving health behavior (Cohen's d = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−0.10, 1.27]), reducing systolic blood pressure (Cohen's d = −0.61, 95% CI [−1.29, 0.08]), and improving self-care behavior for hypertension (Cohen's d = 1.16, 95% CI [0.05, 2.27]). Findings support that nurse-led telephone support may be effective for improvements in health behavior, systolic blood pressure, and hypertension self-care in disadvantaged older adults under remote monitoring. Further studies are needed to obtain a powered sample size and investigate the long-term effects of personalized elements surrounding telehealth in community-based settings.

[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(4):198–206.]
Impact of Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors on Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Son Youn-Jung , Seo Eun Ji
Published: May 2018

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is more prevalent in older adults than other populations and affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, few studies have investigated HRQoL and clinical factors in older adults with AF. The aim of the current cross-sectional study was to describe HRQoL using an AF–specific QoL instrument and identify factors influencing HRQoL in Korean older adults with AF. Data from 205 patients diagnosed with AF in a tertiary hospital were analyzed. Patients' mean age was 74.24 years and 43.9% of patients were female. The total HRQoL score was 49.6 of 100. The lowest score was in the physical dimension of HRQoL. Concern about lethal complications from AF was an essential concept related to QoL. In multiple linear regression, age and gender were significant predictors for the physical dimension of HRQoL. Gender and comorbidity were significant factors for the sexual activity dimension. Health care providers should help improve the HRQoL of older adults with AF by reducing physical burdens and concerns about health-related complications.

[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(4):207–215.]
Un éloge catholique de la tolérance en 1600 : le commentaire de l’édit de Nantes par Pierre de Beloy
Authors: Cabanel Patrick
Published: May 2018

Au lendemain de l’entrée en vigueur de l’édit de
Nantes, un juriste catholique montalbanais, hostile à la Ligue, Pierre
de Beloy, publie Conférence des édits de
pacification des troubles émus au Royaume de France, par le fait de la
religion (1600). Ce commentaire du texte de l’édit, article après
article, se réjouit de la restauration du catholicisme en France mais
justifie la liberté (certes limitée) d’exercice public du culte donnée
aux protestants et leur accès aux fonctions publiques, et plaide avec
ferveur pour la paix de religion et la pluralité des confessions,
pensée comme provisoire, il est vrai, dans le royaume.
De la tolérance à la liberté de religion : les pouvoirs face à la question protestante, France, 1685-1791
Authors: Daireaux Luc
Published: May 2018

Il s’agit ici d’interroger la tolérance non dans la
seule perspective philosophique mais en termes juridiques et
politiques. La communication revient sur le point de vue des autorités
législatives et judiciaires françaises ainsi que sur le chemin,
parfois sinueux, qui conduit au triomphe de la liberté de religion,
dans le droit et la pratique, au tournant des années 1780-1790. Tout
au long du xviiie
siècle, confronté notamment à la persistance du protestantisme et à la
multiplication des mariages et des enterrements illégaux, le pouvoir
royal cherche à imaginer des solutions nouvelles, jusqu’au point de
proposer un état civil pour les non catholiques, en 1787. La
Révolution, sans épuiser le concept, renvoie cependant la tolérance au
passé, celle d’une période sans liberté et sans égalité.
Une intolérance bien légère ? Les judaïsants d'Anvers (xvie et xviie siècles)
Authors: Muchnik Natalia
Published: May 2018

Aux xvie et xviie siècles, Anvers accueille de nombreux
nouveaux-chrétiens d’origine juive exilés de la péninsule Ibérique et
que l’on désigne alors comme Portugais. L’implantation de ces
« marchands portugais », que l’on soupçonne de crypto-judaïsme,
suscite des conflits de juridiction entre les différents pouvoirs en
présence et fait apparaître les divergences existant entre les
autorités locales et les Habsbourg qui alternent répression et
privilèges. Les fluctuations des politiques à l’égard des judéoconvers
interrogent la dimension pragmatique de la tolérance dans une terre en
principe soumise à la surveillance inquisitoriale. Ce pragmatisme, et
les contradictions de l’« illusion de l’invisibilité » de la déviance,
s’expriment d’ailleurs avec force au milieu du xviie siècle dans le projet
d’établissement d’une communauté juive officielle, dans les environs
d’Anvers, alors même que le Saint-Office frappe durement les marranes
en Espagne.
Valorization of Tannery Solid Waste Materials Using Microbial Techniques
Authors: Basheer Thazeem , Umesh Mridul
Published: May 2018

This chapter describes how environmental pollution is the major problem associated with rapid industrialization, due to which the quantity of solid waste generated from the industries is increasing substantially. Solid wastes generated in leather industries are briefly classified into pre-tanned and post-tanned wastes. Although landfills, composting, anaerobic digestion and thermal incineration are available for disposal of these solid wastes, they do again pose severe environmental and financial burdens to the tanners. Microbe-mediated tannery solid waste management points to the recovery of value-added products from these wastes. Microbial valorization of tannery solid wastes for the production of saleable products would be a convincing, challenging and eco-friendly opening for its utilization when compared to that of chemical and thermal hydrolysis. Exploitation of traditional chemicals could be reduced and innovative products could be recovered, enabling sustainable solid waste management. This would ultimately alleviate the solid waste disposal problems and financial crisis faced by the tanners.
Health Literacy
Authors: Sørensen Kristine
Published: May 2018

Urbanization is one of the leading global trends of the twenty-first century impacting health. By 2050, over 70% of the world's population will live in cities facing health opportunities as well as challenges. Health literacy is a key attribute for urban settings entailing the knowledge, motivation, and competencies of citizens to access, understand, appraise, and apply information to manage health and interact with services related to health and wellbeing. Health literate citizens are an asset for communities and the cities at large and the investment in health literacy helps saving time, saving money, and saving lives. The health literacy agenda of the healthy cities network is introduced and examples are provided on how various healthy cities have implemented actions. Finally, recommendations are provided on how to create health literate settings.
Uberization of Healthcare
Authors: Alvarez Lizette
Published: May 2018

Over the years, health literacy has embodied various forms to aid healthcare decisions. For technology and health literacy to merge, the author examines and discusses how the following three elements can be applied to implement a type of technology and to what audience: 1) time, 2) cost, and 3) engagement. Through focused time, cost, and engagement efforts, healthcare can be optimized without reductions to the quality of information. Due to its rapid spread, information could to be fixed accordingly. This would positively impact the decision-making process for communities and public and private sectors. Benefits outweigh risks related to the implementation of technology and health literacy. Traditional medicine is known to have difficulties adapting to change. However, the risk is too high not to explore the use of technology and health literacy.
Healthy Thanks to Communication
Authors: Belim Célia , Vaz de Almeida Cristina
Published: May 2018

This chapter focuses on the contribution of communication competences, used by healthcare professionals in the clinical relationship with patients, to improve therapeutic adherence through a better understanding of health instructions and, hence, higher competences in health literacy. It is a main and specific goal to construct a model of communication competences that includes the interdependent use of assertiveness, clear language, and positivity by the healthcare professional, validated by a focus group of specialists. The participants of focus group validate the model and most punctuate, in assertiveness, active behavior, ability to listen, and ability to openly speak; in clarity, the simple language, utilization of verbs; and in positivity, orientation to a positive behavior of the patient. The results confirm that the assertiveness, clear language, and positivity are pivotal and strategic elements to the optimization of health literacy and clinical practices, recognized in the literature and by the participants in the focus group.
Health Literacy in School
Authors: Arafat S. M. Yasir , Majumder Md. Anwarul Azim , Kabir Russell , Papadopoulos Konstantinos , Uddin Md. Saleh
Published: May 2018

Health literacy is a core element of patient-centered healthcare. Poor health literacy is a silent epidemic across the globe as it affects every aspect of health. Schools bear an important role in increasing health literacy. Improving health literacy in adolescence is supposed to improve the later life as adolescents are used to carry their modified behavior lifelong. Various school-based interventions covering physical and mental health have been studied and found to be effective. International bodies recommend incorporation of health-related tasks into school lessons and considered that teaching the young people will be a good investment for future. Multisectoral collaborations and locally proved effective strategies are the practical challenges. This chapter aims to focus on health literacy, global scenario of health literacy, measurement tools, role of school, interventions, limitations, and challenges of health literacy.
Health Literacy
Authors: Theodosopoulou Maria , Dor Frank J. M. F. , Casanova Daniel , Baskozos Georgios , Papalois Vassilios
Published: May 2018

Organ shortage is a worldwide persisting problem, as patients on waiting lists increase while actual donors cannot meet the demand for organs. Cultural and religious concerns, gaps of information, lack of medical procedure awareness and of understanding transplant-related terminology are some reasons why people refuse to donate organs. The medical, ethical, social, cultural, religious aspects of deceased organ donation (DOD) bring out the need for a systematic agenda of lifelong learning public awareness raising and health literacy on this issue. This chapter presents findings of a comparative research project in three European countries about how people learn about DOD and their suggestions for systematically promoting health literacy. A total sample of 1309 medical students, renal patients, and hospital administrative staff participated in a survey regarding attitudes, knowledge, sources of information, and communication about DOD. In addition, 51 participants took part in focus groups elaborating on their experiences and suggestions regarding health literacy about DOD.
Sibling Disposition Towards Children With Special Needs
Authors: Mondreti Prithi Venkatesh , Malar G.
Published: May 2018

The background research leading to this chapter probed into the nature of disposition and dominant patterns of feelings displayed b typically developing siblings towards children with special needs arising out of communication disorders. The resultant findings may contribute of facilitation of constructive relationship between them. A survey type of research design was adopted for the purpose of collecting relevant data from primary caregivers of 34 children with communication disorders resulting from either sensory impairments, or neurodevelopmental disorders. An emotional-behavioral rating scale including 10 common dispositions of siblings towards children with special needs had been developed for the purpose following review of relevant literature. The caregiver-participants were to rate the frequency of manifestation of the emotions of behaviors described on a four-pointing rating scale of never, sometimes, often or always. Other relevant information like number of siblings, order of birth, gender of children with special needs, as well as educational and socio-economic status of the caregivers were collected. Analysis of the data revealed feelings of concern and care predominantly prevalent among siblings of children with special needs. Nevertheless, there is scope for further shaping the positive dispositions into constructive behaviors that support optimal development of children with special needs.
Stress and Anxiety Among Parents of Children With Communication Disorders
Authors: Naniwadekar Kadambari
Published: May 2018

Parenting is a wonderful and rewarding experience, but in the case of parents of children with communication disorder, this experience is often accompanied with high levels of stress, due to difficulties, frustrations, and challenges that these parents face in everyday life. This chapter was carried out to find the status of stress in parents of children with communication disorder and also to find the levels of stress among mothers as well as fathers, and the level of support system available. The results revealed that most of the parents experience stress and anxiety in bringing up their child with communication disorder, although the stress being more in the mothers. Gender of the child also played a crucial role in determining the levels of stress. The results highlighted the fact that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder have a higher level of stress followed by parents of children with intellectual disability, multiple disability, and hearing impairment.
Segmentation of Liver From 3D Medical Imaging Dataset for Diagnosis and Treatment Planning of Liver Disorders
Authors: Mourya Gajendra Kumar , Bhatia Dinesh , Handique Akash
Published: May 2018

CT- and MRI-based imaging modalities are non-invasive, fast, and accurate in the diagnosis of different anatomical and pathological disorders. As such, there is a pertinent requirement for segmentation of the large organs such as liver and lungs to give proper visual information on the extent of involvement of morphological and pathological changes. The aim of this chapter is to discuss and implement different liver segmentation techniques on the 3D medical data set to determine best feasible technique for the purpose. The localization and detection of liver tumor will be easier for a radiologist with the extraction of the liver margins from other adjoining organs and its localization within the anatomical segments. It is found that active contour technique provides satisfactory results and also the validation results are well outlined in the case of active contour techniques.
Development of a Text-to-Speech Scanner for Visually Impaired People
Authors: Sarma Minerva , Kumar Anuskha , Joshi Aditi , Nayak Suraj Kumar , Champaty Biswajeet
Published: May 2018

In this chapter, a low-cost, efficient, and real-time wearable text-to-speech scanner has been proposed that can enable blind persons to hear the contents of a text material. The device captures the images of the text and converts them to speech. The hardware of the device has been realized using Raspberry Pi 3, Pi camera, and an earphone. Optical character recognition (OCR) and text-to-speech synthesis (TTS) have been implemented using Raspberry Pi 3 to accomplish the working of the device. OCR technology converted the captured text images to editable text, whereas the TTS technology scanned the alphanumeric characters in the processed image and converted them to speech. The proposed technology imitates the ability of the human sensory organs and the nervous system, where the camera mimics human eye and the image processing in Raspberry Pi 3 substitutes the human brain. This proposed device can also help people suffering from diseases like dyslexia and nyctalopia, and inability to see in dim light or at night.
Analysis of ECG Signals to Investigate the Effect of a Humorous Audio-Visual Stimulus on Autonomic Nervous System and Heart of Females
Authors: Pande Karan , Subhadarshini Seemadri , Gaur Deepanjali , Nayak Suraj Kumar , Pal Kunal
Published: May 2018

This chapter is an attempt to understand the effect of audio-visual stimulus with a humorous content on the cardiac electrophysiology. Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were acquired from 11 female volunteers under the pre- and the post-stimulus conditions. Artificial neural network (ANN)-based classification of the ARMA model coefficients computed from the RR interval signals suggested significant variation in the autonomic nervous system activity. Analysis of the Gabor denoised ECG signals indicated a change in the electrical activity of the heart in the post-stimulus condition, which was confirmed by the ANN-based classification. Recurrence analysis of the RR interval suggested plausible differences of the cardiac activity amongst both the conditions. The audio-visual stimulus has resulted in significant alterations in the ANS and the cardiac physiology.
MOOC and OER
Authors: Nobre Ana , Mallmann Elena Maria , Nobre Vasco , Mazzardo Mara Denize
Published: May 2018

Open educational resources (OER) and massive open online courses (MOOC) are new and emerging issues in the international higher education context. Under the exponential growth of the supply of courses and related publications, the purpose of this chapter is to foster scientific discussion on the socio-cultural and economic impacts, as well as its technological and pedagogical implications. Supported by the methodological typology of bibliographical studies, systematized interpretative-critical analysis based on review of the concepts, and principles guiding OER and MOOC, the authors' reflections show that the enlargement terminologies without epistemological delimitation have provoked theoretical and practical mistakes. In the final considerations, the authors systematize broader problematizations around the open educational practices in universities aimed to five dimensions: spatio-time-content, theoretical models, principles of pedagogical innovation, economic aspects, and fundamentals of collaborative culture.
HCI4D Guidelines for Interactive Content
Authors: Giesteira Bruno , Pereira Eduardo
Published: May 2018

Fraunhofer AICOS, a research and development institute, and University of Porto made a joint venture with Mandela Metropolitan University and Eduardo Mondlane University in order to establish a set of guidelines based on an extensive research and experimental fieldwork to answer more efficiently to a user-centered design approach and focus on different users and different usage contexts. Those guidelines and this chapter provide recommendations to cope with cultural diversity, illiteracy, oral-based cultures, ergonomic factors, digital interface design, and social and environmental constraints, helping to understand problems and define strategic design actions in order to develop more user-centered solutions, focus on users' needs and expectations regarding their cultural, environmental, and technical contexts.
Microfinance and Entrepreneurship in Nigeria
Authors: Ayopo Babajide Abiola , Isola Lawal Adedoyin , Niyan Taiwo Joseph , Bosede Akinjare Victoria
Published: May 2018

Microfinance banks were established to provide diversified, affordable, and dependable financial services to the active poor that would enable them to undertake and develop long-term, sustainable entrepreneurial activities to create employment opportunities, increase their productivity, and thereby increase household's income and standard of living. This chapter employed ordinary least square and vector error correction estimation techniques to establish the contribution and long-run relationship of microfinance to entrepreneurship development in Nigeria for the period 1992-2015. The result shows that a positive significant relationship exists between microfinance gross loan portfolio, total deposit liability, and entrepreneurship proxied by number of newly registered business, while a negative significant relationship exists between microfinance bank asset and entrepreneurship. This therefore suggests that availability of loanable funds for micro and small-scale enterprises provided significant support for entrepreneurship development in Nigeria. The result also shows that a long-run relationship exists between microfinance variables and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that microfinance banks should improve on the quality of their asset by reducing non-performing loans.
Evaluating the Effects of Economic Imbalances on Gold Price in Turkey With MARS Method and Discussions on Microfinance
Authors: Dinçer Hasan , Hacıoğlu Ümit , Yüksel Serhat
Published: May 2018

Gold is not only an ornament but also used for an alternative financial instrument of microfinance in emerging economies. The purpose of this chapter is to determine the effects of economic imbalances on gold prices in Turkey as a case of emerging economies. Using the monthly data of eight relevant variables for the periods between 1995:7 and 2016:5, a new model is created by using MARS (multivariate adaptive regression splines) method in order to achieve this objective. The results show a negative relationship between gold prices with interest rate of TL and USD and increase in USD currency. The main results demonstrate that investors need the microfinance and the individual suppliers of finance could prefer gold for the financial investment or index their financial sources obtained from the individual investor according to the changes of gold prices. Furthermore, it also concludes that high inflation rates lead to increase in gold prices and mostly affect the microfinance possibilities.
Impacts of Microfinance Strategic Management and Social Capital on Women Entrepreneurship in Rural Mexico
Authors: Vargas-Hernández José G. , Ortiz Claudia Leticia Preciado
Published: May 2018

This chapter analyzes two types of women entrepreneurship in rural México. The first type seeks to determine the successes and failures undertaken by women at a rural business financed by a state program and the second type seeks to reflect the importance of social capital in the establishment and growth of cooperatives in Mexico, specifically the cooperative Las Chiquihuitecas, producer of cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus Costa). The research method used in both cases was totally qualitative applying the documentary analysis and the interview in depth as an instrument for the collection of the information. It is obtained that social capital has been the key element in the formation and development of women businesses. The study concludes that the practical knowledge of the entrepreneurs and the lack of social capital in these cases are not sufficient to direct the businesses to success, and that the lack of structured knowledge and adequate scientific support for this project strongly directed towards the non-permanence on the market.
Efficiency Analysis of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in India Using DEA
Authors: Jana Sebak Kumar , Karmakar Asim Kumar , Sarkar Kaveri
Published: May 2018

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are defined as organizations delivering economic services to low-income and poor families who do not have access to proper financial organizations. Many MFIs are offering financial services in different part of India, but only a few of them are performing well. The present chapter attempts to measure the efficiency level and its determinants of a sample of 25 microfinance institutions (MFIs) operating in India for 2014 by applying data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. It is found that there are wide variations of the efficiency levels of the selected MFIs and the efficiency is found to vary with age and the number of branches of these institutions.
Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions in India
Authors: Sahu Kabita Kumari
Published: May 2018

The objective of the chapter is to analyze the performance and constraints of selected occupation-related SHGs in India and examine the sustainability of SHGs providing microfinance on the basis of secondary data and primary data from Kendrapara district of Odisha, India. It is observed that majority of the SHG members are in young age group with low level of literacy, small and medium level of land holding, medium level of dependency ratio, forming experience, family encouragement, deferred gratification, risk willingness achievement motivation, and economic activities. The major variables that have contributed for enhancing the performance of SHGs are family encouragement, risk willingness, achievement motivation, extension participation, extension contact, and training programs. In order to enhance further motivation and build confidence, proper market linkage and training programs need to be established. Further, to ensure sustainable development of SHGs in future, federation of SHGs can be thought of by the implementing agency.
Managing Small Business Social Responsibility (SBSR) in Formalized Network Using a Euclidean Perspective
Authors: Corazza Laura , Cisi Maurizio
Published: May 2018

This chapter deepens the knowledge of inter-firm collaborations to address sustainability issues between SMEs in adopting small business social responsibility (SBSR) approaches. The study investigates the role of formal network contracts (FNCs), where aspects of SBSR are formalized into legal agreements between the networkers. For this purpose, the authors identify three management implications declined as sub-variables: control, consensus, and consistency. Institutional theory and, specifically, isomorphism and normative theory of CSR are used as lenses through which to analyze the results. The methodology applied is a deductive qualitative content analysis, while results are shown using an Euclidean perspective. The study discovers the use of FNCs to clearly govern consistency and consensus, more than to control and audit sustainability herein the network. In addition, it demonstrates a relation between network size and use of the tool.
Challenging the Theoretical Lenses of Internationalization
Authors: Pinto Liliana Sofia , Ribeiro Maria Manuel , Moreira António Carrizo
Published: May 2018

Internationalization involves an active behavior to compete in international markets. Several theories, as well as several entry modes, have been developed to explain why and how firms compete internationally. Nevertheless, the internationalization process is difficult to implement as it involves not only historical reasons, as well as traditional strategies that sometimes are usually not questioned by the firm. This chapter aims to depict a case study in which a firm is trying to deploy an opportunity-driven internationalization, shifting its traditional modus operandi. The firm is analyzed based on several theories, namely the Uppsala model, the network-based theory, the born globals and the born again globals, and it is possible to conclude that despite its more than 80 years of existence, neither of the four theories can be properly used to explain the firm's international behavior. Moreover, to embrace international challenges, the firm needs to reposition its traditional business behavior.
Thought Process of a New Graduate Which Leads to Behavioral Intention to Apply for a Job Vacancy
Authors: Jayasinghe Shan Anjana , Samarasinghe Galagedarage Dinesh , Suraweea Theekshana
Published: May 2018

Due to inadequacy, there is a call for more research on the thought process of job seekers. This chapter argues that employers have to communicate their company's job-seeker value proposition to new graduates to create job-seeker perceived value in their minds. Job-seeker perceived value will lead to behavioral intention. Further, the chapter proposes that a company's job-seeker value proposition has a direct positive relationship with behavioral intention and the relationship is moderated positively by voluntariness and gender. The technology acceptance model and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) were used to develop arguments related to each relationship proposed in the conceptual framework. Marketing management literature was used to label both constructs: company's job-seeker value proposition and job-seeker perceived value; and the same is employed to complement the arguments borrowed from management information system. Theoretical contribution, practical contribution, limitations, and opportunities for future research are also discussed in the chapter.
TRIM29 Negatively Regulates the Type I IFN Production in Response to RNA Virus
Authors: Xing Junji , Zhang Ao , Minze Laurie J. , Li Xian Chang , Zhang Zhiqiang
Published: May 2018

The innate immunity is critically important in protection against virus infections, and in the case of RNA viral infections, the signaling mechanisms that initiate robust protective innate immunity without triggering autoimmune inflammation remain incompletely defined. In this study, we found the E3 ligase TRIM29 was specifically expressed in poly I:C–stimulated human myeloid dendritic cells. The induced TRIM29 played a negative role in type I IFN production in response to poly I:C or dsRNA virus reovirus infection. Importantly, the challenge of wild-type mice with reovirus led to lethal infection. In contrast, deletion of TRIM29 protected the mice from this developing lethality. Additionally, TRIM29−/− mice have lower titers of reovirus in the heart, intestine, spleen, liver, and brain because of elevated production of type I IFN. Mechanistically, TRIM29 was shown to interact with MAVS and subsequently induce its K11-linked ubiquitination and degradation. Taken together, TRIM29 regulates negatively the host innate immune response to RNA virus, which could be employed by RNA viruses for viral pathogenesis.
Effective Combination Adjuvants Engage Both TLR and Inflammasome Pathways To Promote Potent Adaptive Immune Responses
Authors: Seydoux Emilie , Liang Hong , Dubois Cauwelaert Natasha , Archer Michelle , Rintala Nicholas D. , Kramer Ryan , Carter Darrick , Fox Christopher B. , Orr Mark T.
Published: May 2018

The involvement of innate receptors that recognize pathogen- and danger-associated molecular patterns is critical to programming an effective adaptive immune response to vaccination. The synthetic TLR4 agonist glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant (GLA) synergizes with the squalene oil-in-water emulsion (SE) formulation to induce strong adaptive responses. Although TLR4 signaling through MyD88 and TIR domain–containing adapter inducing IFN-β are essential for GLA-SE activity, the mechanisms underlying the synergistic activity of GLA and SE are not fully understood. In this article, we demonstrate that the inflammasome activation and the subsequent release of IL-1β are central effectors of the action of GLA-SE, as infiltration of innate cells into the draining lymph nodes and production of IFN-γ are reduced in ASC−/− animals. Importantly, the early proliferation of Ag-specific CD4+ T cells was completely ablated after immunization in ASC−/− animals. Moreover, numbers of Ag-specific CD4+ T and B cells as well as production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 and Ab titers were considerably reduced in ASC−/−, NLRP3−/−, and IL-1R−/− mice compared with wild-type mice and were completely ablated in TLR4−/− animals. Also, extracellular ATP, a known trigger of the inflammasome, augments Ag-specific CD4+ T cell responses, as hydrolyzing it with apyrase diminished adaptive responses induced by GLA-SE. These data thus demonstrate that GLA-SE adjuvanticity acts through TLR4 signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation to promote robust Th1 and B cell responses to vaccine Ags. The findings suggest that engagement of both TLR and inflammasome activators may be a general paradigm for induction of robust CD4 T cell immunity with combination adjuvants such as GLA-SE.
Genome-Wide Posttranscriptional Dysregulation by MicroRNAs in Human Asthma as Revealed by Frac-seq
Authors: Martinez-Nunez Rocio T. , Rupani Hitasha , Platé Manuela , Niranjan Mahesan , Chambers Rachel C. , Howarth Peter H. , Sanchez-Elsner Tilman
Published: May 2018

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that inhibit gene expression posttranscriptionally, implicated in virtually all biological processes. Although the effect of individual microRNAs is generally studied, the genome-wide role of multiple microRNAs is less investigated. We assessed paired genome-wide expression of microRNAs with total (cytoplasmic) and translational (polyribosome-bound) mRNA levels employing subcellular fractionation and RNA sequencing (Frac-seq) in human primary bronchoepithelium from healthy controls and severe asthmatics. Severe asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by poor response to therapy. We found genes (i.e., isoforms of a gene) and mRNA isoforms differentially expressed in asthma, with novel inflammatory and structural pathophysiological mechanisms related to bronchoepithelium disclosed solely by polyribosome-bound mRNAs (e.g., IL1A and LTB genes or ITGA6 and ITGA2 alternatively spliced isoforms). Gene expression (i.e., isoforms of a gene) and mRNA expression analysis revealed different molecular candidates and biological pathways, with differentially expressed polyribosome-bound and total mRNAs also showing little overlap. We reveal a hub of six dysregulated microRNAs accounting for ∼90% of all microRNA targeting, displaying preference for polyribosome-bound mRNAs. Transfection of this hub in bronchial epithelial cells from healthy donors mimicked asthma characteristics. Our work demonstrates extensive posttranscriptional gene dysregulation in human asthma, in which microRNAs play a central role, illustrating the feasibility and importance of assessing posttranscriptional gene expression when investigating human disease.
Co-optimized Reliability and Parasitic inductance in Small Footprint Vertical Silicon Carbide MOSFET
Authors: Montazeri M. , Seal S. , Wallace A. , Mantooth A. , Huitink D.
Published: May 2018

Increasing power density in power electronics is driving a need for improved packaging methods for co-optimized high frequency performance, thermal dissipation and reliable operation, especially at high temperatures. Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices offer great opportunity as wide bandgap semiconductor devices, which maintain stability over wide temperature ranges, especially when compared to Silicon (Si) based devices. A novel flip-chip packaging technique for SiC power devices was developed at the University of Arkansas. This new package re-orients a bare die from a lateral device to a vertical device by utilizing a copper connector that routes the drain connection to the top side of the die. This study involves an investigation of achieving a co-optimized packaging configuration for thermomechanical reliability and low parasitic inductance. By orienting this SiC switch vertically, the unique 3D drain connector dramatically reduces the ringing at aggressive switching speeds used in power electronics when compared to Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) devices. However, the design of this drain connector holds importance for high temperature operation, interconnect reliability as well as manufacturability. Effects of the packaging design, including materials, layout and solder pitch size were investigated from a thermal cycling reliability aspect. Electrical performance, such as parasitic inductances of the device, was also investigated using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation. Several drain connector architectures were evaluated for their fatigue life capability of solder interconnects under thermal cycling (according to Darveaux's model) in conjunction with the parasitic inductance using FEA simulation. Based on the simulation results, an optimized architecture was selected and fabricated for prototype demonstration, and the electrical performance under double pulse test compared with state of the art devices demonstrated improvement in switching performance by reducing overshoot of voltage across the grain-source by 36% and 77% reduction of the drain current ringing during the turn-off event while eliminating voltage overshoot during turn-on event for the testing conditions.
From Chips to Modules: Tackling the High Temperature Design Challenge
Authors: Delatte Pierre , Gradincic Zlatan
Published: May 2018

The paper discusses the challenges of high temperature electronic design and the solutions offered to designers to build reliable systems for harsh environments. First it explains why robust silicon and packaging technologies are equally important to design and manufacture reliable high temperature integrated circuits (ICs). Applying the necessary qualification procedures is also critical. Finally, understanding high temperature specific systems requirements is also important for high temperature ICs vendors in order to offer the right features and the necessary support. As an example, offering simple functions like transistors, logic gates or amplifiers could look basic but is mandatory to build systems and often neglected by large semiconductor companies. Also, supporting modules manufacturers with a bare die offer is critical because, in some cases, hybrid assemblies are the only way to reach size, temperature and reliability requirements. Finally, for more complex functions, e.g. DC-DC Converters or High Voltage Gate Drivers, offering reference designs taking into account the specificities of high temperature passive and magnetic components is mandatory to support reliable modules or systems design.
HER3 signaling and targeted therapy in cancer
Authors: Mishra Rosalin , Patel Hima , Alanazi Samar , Yuan Long , Garrett Joan T.
Published: May 2018

ERBB family members including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) also known as HER1, ERBB2/HER2/Neu, ERBB3/HER3 and ERBB4/HER4 are aberrantly activated in multiple cancers and hence serve as drug targets and biomarkers in modern precision therapy. The therapeutic potential of HER3 has long been underappreciated, due to impaired kinase activity and relatively low expression in tumors. However, HER3 has received attention in recent years as it is a crucial heterodimeric partner for other EGFR family members and has the potential to regulate EGFR/HER2-mediated resistance. Upregulation of HER3 is associated with several malignancies where it fosters tumor progression via interaction with different receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Studies also implicate HER3 contributing significantly to treatment failure, mostly through the activation of PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK and JAK/STAT pathways. Moreover, activating mutations in HER3 have highlighted the role of HER3 as a direct therapeutic target. Therapeutic targeting of HER3 includes abrogating its dimerization partners’ kinase activity using small molecule inhibitors (lapatinib, erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib, neratinib) or direct targeting of its extracellular domain. In this review, we focus on HER3-mediated signaling, its role in drug resistance and discuss the latest advances to overcome resistance by targeting HER3 using mono- and bispecific antibodies and small molecule inhibitors.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of infant feeding in the first 6 months among HIV-positive mothers at the Queen Mamohato Memorial hospital clinics, Maseru, Lesotho
Authors: Olorunfemi Stephen O. , Dudley Lilian
Published: May 2018

Background: The balance between the risks of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through breastfeeding and its life-saving benefits complicates decisions about infant feeding among HIV-positive mothers in the first 6 months.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of infant feeding among HIV-positive mothers attending the prevention of mother-to-child transmission services in Maseru, Lesotho.Method and setting: This observational cross-sectional study was done by collecting data from HIV-positive mothers attending the filter clinics of Queen Mamohato Memorial hospital in Maseru, Lesotho. HIV-positive mothers with infants below the age of 6 months attending the clinics at the time of the study were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire. We described the sociodemographic profile of the mothers, the information and education received on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) infant feeding options, the mothers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices of infant feeding, and assessed risk factors for improved knowledge, attitudes and practices. Results: The majority (96%) of the 191 HIV-positive mothers who participated in the survey knew about the PMTCT programme and related breastfeeding services. Most of the participants chose to breastfeed (89%), while only 8% formula-fed their infants. Knowledge received during the PMTCT programme was significantly associated with the decision to exclusively breastfeed their infants. Earlier infant feeding counselling and education was associated with more exclusively breastfeeding as compared to late infant feeding counselling (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study found that HIV-positive mothers attending health clinics in Maseru, Lesotho, had high knowledge, and appropriate attitudes and practices with respect to infant feeding; and that early counselling and education improved infant feeding methods among these mothers.
Enabling factors for specialist outreach in western KwaZulu-Natal
Authors: Caldwell Robert I. , Grant Merridy , Gaede Bernard , Aldous Colleen
Published: May 2018

Background: There exists a major disparity in access to specialist care between patients in urban and rural areas. Specialists are a scarce resource and are concentrated in urban areas. Specialist outreach attempts to fill the gap in service provision for patients situated remotely. While there is international evidence that multifaceted specialist outreach has achieved varying levels of success, factors that influence the effectiveness of outreach have not yet been fully elucidated in South Africa.Aim: This study attempts to uncover some of the factors that enable good multifaceted specialist outreach.Setting: The study was conducted in hospitals in western KwaZulu-Natal province. This health area is served by a tertiary hospital and 20 peripheral hospitals; three of these are regional level and the majority are district level hospitals. Specialist outreach emanates from the tertiary hospital.Methods: Specialists providing outreach services from the tertiary hospital and medical officers at seven receiving hospitals were interviewed to explore perceptions regarding factors that might enable successful specialist outreach. Framework analysis on the transcribed interviews was carried out using NVivo version 11.Results: A major positive finding concerns the relationships formed between outreach specialists and doctors at the recipient hospitals. The management of the programme with respect to structure, dependability, data management, transport provision, communication technology and public health systems was also seen as beneficial in specialist outreach.Conclusion: Specialist outreach plays an essential role in providing equality in health care. To enable effectiveness, it is important to make full use of the multifaceted nature of this intervention.
A Note About the Strong Maximum Principle on RCD Spaces
Authors: Gigli Nicola , Rigoni Chiara
Published: May 2018

We give a direct proof of the strong maximum principle on finite dimensional RCD spaces based on the Laplacian comparison of the squared distance.
The INTENT Project: Integrating Telecollaborative Networks into Foreign Language Higher Education
Authors: O'Dowd Robert
Published: May 2018

No abstract