bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systèmes d’Aide au Vote et comportement politique : tour d’horizon
Authors: Garzia Diego , Trechsel Alexander H.
Published: May 2016

Les Systèmes d’Aide au Vote (SAV) ont longtemps été considérés comme un intéressant épiphénomène. C’est seulement au cours de ces dernières années que politologues et sociologues ont commencé à étudier les SAV et leurs effets potentiels sur les utilisateurs d’un point de vue aussi bien empirique que normatif. L’objectif de cet article est de faire le point sur les principales conclusions issues des études existantes et d’établir un agenda de recherche pour mieux comprendre leur impact sur la participation et les préférences électorales. Plus particulièrement l’article expose les principales difficultés méthodologiques rencontrées à ce jour pour mesurer l’impact des SAV – principalement les problèmes de représentativité, d’auto-sélection et d’auto-évaluation – et plaide pour l’utilisation d’une approche expérimentale.
Les Systèmes d’Aide au Vote peuvent-ils être utiles pour l’étude des élections ?
Authors: Fournier Patrick , Gélineau François , Harell Allison
Published: May 2016

L’objectif de cet article est d’étudier si les Systèmes d’Aide au Vote (SAV) peuvent constituer un instrument de recherche fiable pour combler les deux grands objectifs des études électorales : à savoir (a) documenter la distribution des variables politiques d’intérêt et (b) établir les relations entre ces variables et les choix électoraux. Afin de répondre à cette question, les auteurs examinent, dans le cadre de l’élection provinciale québécoise de 2012, les différences et les similitudes entre un échantillon probabiliste par téléphone, un panel Internet non probabiliste et un Système d’Aide au Vote (la Boussole électorale ). Le principal enseignement est que les relations entre le choix électoral et ses déterminants lorsqu’elles sont analysées à l’aide des données du SAV sont très proches de celles observées dans une analyse ayant recours au panel Internet. Généralement, les mêmes facteurs explicatifs émergent des modèles multivariés, arborant des effets allant dans la même direction et de la même ampleur. Ce résultat est d’autant plus intéressant et intriguant que 1) le profil démographique des répondants du SAV s’est avéré moins représentatif ; 2) les données issues du SAV diffèrent sur la plupart des attitudes politiques examinées ; et 3) les préférences électorales exprimées dans le SAV ne correspondent pas aux résultats officiels de l’élection. Par ailleurs, la pondération sociodémographique atténue certains de ces biais, mais ne parvient pas à les faire tous disparaître.
Les Systèmes d’Aide au Vote « orientés candidats » : État des lieux et potentiels pour la recherche
Authors: Dumont Patrick , Kies Raphaël
Published: May 2016

Alors que la littérature portant sur les Systèmes d’Aide au Vote (SAV) a tendance à se focaliser sur les instruments positionnant les utilisateurs par rapport aux partis politiques, cet article invite le lecteur à s’intéresser de plus près au potentiel scientifique des SAV « orientés candidats », qui sont toujours plus nombreux et permettent aux électeurs de se positionner par rapport aux candidats. Il propose à cette fin un état de la littérature scientifique dans deux domaines. Premièrement, il s’intéresse à l’attrait que les SAV exercent sur les candidats ainsi que leur influence sur la personnalisation des campagnes électorales en analysant l’étendue de l’adoption de ces nouveaux outils au moment de leur introduction en Suisse et au Luxembourg. Deuxièmement il expose à travers des exemples concrets issus du SAV luxembourgeois (smartvote.lu) comment, grâce à la collecte massive et détaillée des positions politique des candidats, il est possible d’étudier une série de questions classiques relevant du choix électoral, de la représentation politique, de la cohésion intra-partisane ou encore de la responsabilité des élus par rapport à leurs promesses pré-électorales. Pour l’ensemble de ces questions, les SAV « orientés candidats » peuvent fournir aux politologues des données nouvelles qui ne peuvent être obtenues que très difficilement par les instruments de recherche classique. En particulier, ces SAV peuvent devenir des moyens complémentaires voire alternatifs aux enquêtes post-électorales auprès des candidats qui souffrent généralement d’un taux de réponse relativement bas.
La mesure du capital humain : nouvelles perspectives ouvertes par la chaire « capital humain » de l’université de Bordeaux
Authors: Trébucq Stéphane
Published: May 2016

Le concept de capital humain mérite d’être clarifié avant de pouvoir en envisager une mesure opérationnelle. Le présent article présente une synthèse de la littérature récente en sciences de gestion, et expose les outils développés au sein de la chaire « capital humain » de l’université de Bordeaux. L’importance de la personnalité des individus est mise en évidence, de même que les actions managériales permettant de favoriser la créativité. Un modèle stratégique de performance de type tableau de bord équilibré, centré sur la notion de capital humain, est ensuite développé. Sa déclinaison opérationnelle est alors discutée.
Informatique, numérique et système d’information : définitions, périmètres, enjeux économiques
Authors: Legrenzi Christophe
Published: May 2016

Les systèmes d’information constituent un enjeu stratégique majeur pour les organisations. Ils représentent, selon les secteurs économiques, le premier poste de dépense : de 20% à 100% du budget annuel de fonctionnement, soit 20 fois plus que le simple budget informatique. Pour autant, l’immense majorité des décideurs ignore ces montants du fait d’une comptabilité « verticalisée » construite historiquement pour mieux maîtriser les dépenses par grande fonction. Ainsi, il est devenu fondamental de définir clairement : « information », « informatique », « numérique » et « système d’information » pour mieux en comprendre les enjeux économiques et donner des éléments tangibles à nos décideurs en vue d’en optimiser leur usage et pilotage au profit de la compétitivité d’entreprise.
Efficacy of probiotics as an adjuvant agent in eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection and associated side effects
Authors: Goli Y. Dasteh , Moniri R.
Published: May 2016

The intestinal tract is a host to various types of bacteria that are essential to health. Interactions between intestinal bacteria, i.e. the normal microbiota of the host’s intestine, have been a subject of intensive research, as they may influence disease cycles. Recent studies of selected probiotic species and their therapeutic benefits have suggested a potential efficacy in treatment of several gastrointestinal illnesses, including Helicobacter pylori infection. The increasing evidence from these clinical studies supports the promising role of probiotics in improving the treatment of H. pylori by increasing eradication rates as well as decreasing the adverse effects of current medication therapy. However, many unsolved questions remain which require high quality trials on specific probiotic strains in the future. The main part of this review will focus on the effects of supplementary probiotic products during standard triple H. pylori therapy.
Crops are a main driver for species diversity and the toxigenic potential ofFusarium isolates in maize ears in China
Authors: Zhang H. , Brankovics B. , Luo W. , Xu J. , Xu J.S. , Guo C. , Guo J.G. , Jin S.L. , Chen W.Q. , Feng J. , Van Diepeningen A.D. , Van der Lee T.A.J. , Waalwijk C.
Published: May 2016

In recent years increasing demands and the relatively low-care cultivation of the crop have resulted in an enormous expansion of the acreage of maize in China. However, particularly in China,Fusariumear rot forms an important constraint to maize production. In this study, we showed that members of both theFusarium fujikuroispecies complex (FFSC) and theFusarium graminearumspecies complex are the causal agents ofFusariumear rot in the main maize producing areas in China. Fumonisin producingFusarium verticillioideswas the most prevalent species, followed by fumonisin producingFusarium proliferatumand 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol producingF. graminearum. BothFusarium temperatumandFusarium boothiiwere identified for the first time in the colder regions in China, extending their known habitats to colder environments. Mating type analysis of the different heterothallic FFSC species, showed that both types co-occur in each sampling site suggestive of the possibility of sexual recombination. Virulence tests withF. boothii(from maize) andF. graminearumfrom maize or wheat showed adaptation to the host. In addition,F. graminearumseems to outcompeteF. boothiiin wheat-maize rotations. Based on our findings and previous studies, we conclude that wheat/maize rotation selects forF. graminearum, while a wheat/rice rotation selects forF. asiaticum. In contrast,F. boothiiis selected when maize is cultivated without rotation. A higher occurrence ofF. temperatumis observed on maize in colder climatological regions in China, whileFusarium meridionaleseems restricted to mountain areas. Each of these species has their characteristic mycotoxin profile and deoxynivalenol and fumonisin are the potential threats to maize production in Northern China.
Middle Lobe Torsion after Unilateral Lung Transplant
Authors: Cox Chad S. , Decker Summer J. , Rolfe Mark , Hazelton Todd R. , Rojas Carlos A.
Published: May 2016

Lobar torsion is well documented after pneumonectomy, but is very rare after lung transplant.  To the best of our knowledge, this is the twelfth reported case of lobar torsion after lung transplant.  In our case, bronchoscopies and chest radiographs were inconclusive; however, CT scan clearly demonstrated findings consistent with right middle lobe torsion.   We review the literature and discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation, imaging features, and treatment considerations for this condition. We also propose that if a clinical picture could be secondary to torsion and bronchoscopies and chest x ray are inconclusive that a CT scan should be obtained as soon as possible since early recognition increases the likelihood of being able to successfully detorse the lung and avoid lobectomy.
Des terres morales inconnues.
Authors: Gaille Marie
Published: May 2016

L’article présente une partie des résultats d’une enquête d’éthique clinique effectuée entre 2011 et 2014. Cette enquête a cherché à éclairer comment, après l’annonce d’un diagnostic prénatal orientant vers une maladie génétique, les personnes délibèrent au sujet d’une éventuelle interruption médicale de grossesse. Cet article se concentre sur le point de vue exposé par les personnes venues consulter l’équipe médicale. Il met en lumière le processus décisionnel. Celui-ci s’appuie pour une part sur des éléments perçus comme décisifs et évoqués quelle que soit la pathologie annoncée : équilibre personnel, de couple et familial, qualité de vie de l’enfant à naître. Il repose aussi sur des éléments présentés comme formant le contexte de la décision : stigmatisation sociale du handicap, orientation religieuse ou spirituelle. L’analyse montre aussi, jusqu’à un certain point, une attention spécifique à la place occupée par la femme enceinte dans la décision. Enfin, l’article insiste sur les différentes facettes de l’épreuve traversée par ces personnes : épreuve personnelle, intime et familiale ; épreuve sociale également, dans la mesure où les personnes s’avèrent désireuses d’assumer la responsabilité d’une décision, que la loi, en contexte français, ne leur accorde pas, et sont souvent soupçonnées de faire des choix eugéniques.
Les proches au cœur des décisions médicales de fin de vie : anticiper, représenter, hésiter
Authors: Brzak Nicole , Papadaniel Yannis , Berthod Marc-Antoine
Published: May 2016

En Suisse, différentes dispositions légales sont prévues pour gérer les décisions médicales en cas de perte de capacité de discernement ou d’incapacité à s’exprimer (représentant-e thérapeutique, directives anticipées, mandat pour cause d’inaptitude). Ces outils, sur lesquels la Suisse a légiféré en 2013, redéfinissant ainsi le droit national de protection de l’adulte, ont pour but de promouvoir et de garantir l’autodétermination des patients et la solidarité familiale. Cet article revient sur les conditions d’émergence de tels outils, sur leurs fondements moraux et sur les applications concrètes qu’en font les proches de patient-e-s. Sur la base d’une recherche par entretiens, les auteurs réfléchissent sur la façon dont la place et le rôle des proches se concrétisent dans les situations de fin de vie. Si la délégation aux proches de certaines décisions participe d’une « démocratisation » de la prise de décisions, elle génère également des incertitudes susceptibles d’en remettre en question l’efficacité. Plus largement, les auteurs questionnent la place des proches dans l’institution médicale.
La famille face à la maladie en phase terminale. Ethnographie dans une maison de soins palliatifs au Piémont (Italie)
Authors: Gusman Alessandro
Published: May 2016

Les principales définitions des soins palliatifs incluent la famille parmi les destinataires du projet de soins. Par ailleurs, les proches ont souvent un rôle actif dans l’accompagnement du malade en fin de vie. L’équilibre entre ce double rôle de destinataire et de donneur de soins est souvent difficile à atteindre. S'appuyant sur les données d’une recherche ethnographique dans une maison de soins palliatifs à Turin (Italie), l’article se focalise sur les tensions familiales que génèrent les décisions à prendre concernant la fin de la vie ainsi que sur le décalage entre les désirs du malade et la capacité/possibilité de la famille de l’assister, sur les dilemmes éthiques qui apparaissent dans ces situations et sur le drame de la “feinte mutuelle” qui souvent en dérive. On examine ces questions en portant une attention particulière à la spécificité du cas italien, dans lequel la majorité des malades qui sont amenés dans les centres de soins palliatifs ne connaît pas (ou de façon incomplète) le diagnostic de sa maladie, ni son pronostic.
Les cadres de la décision de sédation en fin de vie au domicile : le point de vue des médecins de soins palliatifs
Authors: Legrand Emilie , Mino Jean-Christophe
Published: May 2016

Dans le débat public sur la fin de vie en France, le terme de « sédation » se fait de plus en plus entendre. Quels sont les enjeux concrets de cette nouvelle modalité des pratiques médicales qui consiste à endormir les patients proches de leur mort ? En France, de tels actes sont très mal connus, en particulier au domicile car ils sont très difficiles à observer voire inaccessibles. Nous avons mené une enquête qualitative par entretiens auprès de 27 médecins français formés aux soins palliatifs sur des situations de prise de décision récentes d'une sédation au domicile. Notre approche a consisté, à partir des récits de ces praticiens, à décrypter les enjeux éthiques auxquels ils se trouvent confrontés, à analyser les « cadres » du jugement médical mobilisé dans ces cas, à rendre compte de la perspective du médecin vis-à-vis du patient et de son entourage, et ainsi à mieux comprendre comment ces décisions sont prises. Cette enquête montre que la sédation est une pratique liminaire qui, pour ces praticiens, interroge certains principes des soins palliatifs.
Prolonger la vie ou envisager la mort ? Quelques enjeux de la prise de décision lors de maladies graves
Authors: Fortin Sylvie , Le Gall Josiane , Dorval Geneviève
Published: May 2016

En milieu hospitalier, la vie et la mort se côtoient de près, engageant avec elles des réflexions sur des notions centrales de qualité de vie et de mort, de choix (poursuite ou arrêt de soins actifs), de prise de décision et de légitimité des acteurs (patients, familles, soignants) dans ce processus. Dans cet article, nous proposons une réflexion sur les défis et les enjeux posés par la prise de décision lors de maladies graves, sur les interrogations qu’elle soulève et les pistes à explorer. Inspirées par nos travaux ethnographiques en milieux hospitaliers québécois et canadiens, cette réflexion s’articule autour de plusieurs dimensions dont la pluralité des acteurs intervenant dans cette prise de décision qui module le projet thérapeutique et l’incertitude comme partie prenante de ce processus. Nous interrogeons les normes et valeurs mises en acte dans ce contexte et nous montrons comment, au final, l’orientation thérapeutique devient un espace dans lequel différents mondes moraux peuvent se rencontrer.
Railway Demand Forecasting
Authors: Milenković Miloš , Bojović Nebojša
Published: May 2016

Forecasting represents an indispensable activity in railway transportation planning. Forecasting of demand levels is vital to the railway company as a whole as it provides the basic input for the planning and control of all functional areas including railway transport operations planning, marketing and finance. Demand levels and the timing of their appearance (on a day, week, month or seasonal basis) greatly effects capacity levels, financial needs and general structure of the business.Forecasting employs historical data and uses various forecasting methods to make accurate estimates of future demands. Forecasting approaches can be generally divided into two categories: econometric or causal and time series techniques. In this chapter a comprehensive review of methods belonging to these two broad classes will be made. Special emphasis will be given to the application of these techniques to railway demand modeling.
Formal Assurance of Signaling Safety
Authors: Dasgupta Pallab , Mangal Mahesh
Published: May 2016

The EN50128 guidelines recommend the use of formal methods for proving the correctness of railway signaling and interlocking systems. The potential benefit of formal safety assurance is of unquestionable importance, but the path towards implementing the recommendations is far from clear. The EN50128 document does not specify how formal assurance of railway interlocking may be achieved in practice. Moreover, the task of setting up an electronic interlocking (EI) equipment involves multiple parties, including the EI equipment vendor, the certification agency which certifies the resident EI software to be correct, and the end user (namely the railway service provider) who must configure the EI equipment. Considering the distributed nature of the development process, a feasible approach towards formal certification of the end product (post configuration) is not obvious. This chapter outlines the basics of formal verification technology and presents, from the perspective of the railways, a pragmatic roadmap for the use of formal methods in safety assurance of its signaling systems.
Consumer Behaviour in Developing Nations
Authors: Gbadamosi Ayantunji
Published: May 2016

Irrespective of the differences between us, one of the binding cords that explain our homogeneity is that we all are consumers. However, there are idiosyncratic issues that might still differentiate consumption in one society from another. These constrain the extent to which we can generalise on the existing relevant postulations. Hence, this chapter presents a critical overview of consumer behaviour with reference to developing nations to give a well-focussed discussion of the topic. It shows that the consumer in these nations is influenced by personal, social and cultural factors, and the marketing stimuli. However, it also emphasises that despite the conventional understanding that developing nations are characterised with low development in many areas; globalisation and civilisation are introducing many changes into these societies. Consumers' taste and awareness in these countries are changing. Hence, while the plans for approaching marketing activities in developing nations will have to be contextualised, they also need to be made more dynamic, and robust to keep up with the pace.
Consumption of Landed Properties in Africa
Authors: Ojo Sanya
Published: May 2016

This chapter demonstrates the impact of ethnic entombment practices on the consumption of housing market in a heterogeneous society. It illustrates the dynamics in relationships, either in inter-family interactions or exchanges between ‘the living and the dead'. This signifies an expanded traditional frontiers of stakeholders (e.g., marketers and governments) in the negotiation of consumption in the market. Particularly, the chapter analyses how circumstances of customs and belief systems impact the supply of houses and consequent deterioration of neighbourhoods (e.g., slumming). It draws on narratives gathered from in-depth interviews conducted with eleven informants/gatekeepers undertaken in a large metropolitan city in the South-West region of Nigeria. Findings reveal the interchange between culture and consumption in housing market and how the affective potentiality of a tradition initiates emotive configurations that shape a community's housing stock aesthetic exposition.
Technology Is Transforming Shopping Behavior
Authors: Nasır Süphan , Kurtuluş Bengi
Published: May 2016

The advancement of information communication technologies has been creating new opportunities for the retailers and shaping the retail landscape. The mobile device is always with shoppers and it is one of the biggest influencers of in-store shopping behavior. Technology is changing our traditional concept of in-store shopping behavior. The main purpose of this study is to discover how consumers are using mobile devices throughout their purchase journey in the store from an emerging country perspective. A survey was conducted with 593 respondents from Turkey and the findings of this study indicate the importance of in-store mobile phone usage and the high level of acceptance of this trend. In-store mobile phone usage phenomenon referred here as a “trend” will soon become an inevitable life style for whole consumers in this age of technological developments. And this new life style may either be an opportunity or an obstacle for traditional brick and mortar retailers depending on their response towards in-store technology usage.
Consumer Adoption of E-Government in South Africa
Authors: Shambare Richard
Published: May 2016

This chapter examines South African consumers' patterns of adoption of electronic governance systems. Three elements related to e-government adoption are examined. Firstly, the development of e-government in South Africa is explored. Secondly, the chapter investigates the barriers constraining the public's utilisation of e-gov. Thirdly, suggestions on how e-government initiatives could be better aligned to the Principles of Batho Pele, or people-centred governance, are proffered. To achieve the first objective, an extensive review of the literature encapsulating e-government, South African public services, information communication technologies and commerce is conducted. To achieve the second objective, a survey of 349 consumers from two South African provinces was conducted to explore barriers associated with e-gov adoption. Findings show that although the Batho Pele Principles are pronounced in public sector organisations' missions, their implementation within e-gov still remains a challenge. A plethora of challenges were observed to retard e-government adoption.
Social Media Engagement
Authors: Fletcher Kathy-Ann P. , Emmanuel-Stephen Christiana M.
Published: May 2016

Generation Y is at the forefront of the rise in consumer engagement with brands due to the participatory nature of social media. Social media is largely user generated and is instrumental in the information uprising facilitated by the internet (Kamel & Hussein, 2014). The platform of social media has changed how people interact with each other and even with brands as well as how they make consumption decisions. This transformation has led to research to determine the parameters of said influence on the consumer-decision process within the developed world. This chapter reviews this research and gives directions on future research to include developing nations within Latin America and the Caribbean. Research in this area is important due to the fact that there are limited studies addressing the developing world's use of social media to inform consumption decisions even though consumers within these markets are using these platforms similarly to their developed world counterparts.
Sales Promotional Strategies and Buying Behavior in an Emerging Market at the Post Recession Period
Authors: Nasır Süphan , Bal Esra
Published: May 2016

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of sales promotional tools on consumer buying behavior in an emerging market at the post-recession period. This study assesses consumers' proneness to sales promotions and examines the effectiveness of four promotional tools that are premium offers, coupons, buy and get promotions, and price discounts on buying behavior in terms of brand switching, stockpiling, purchase acceleration, and product trial. The findings reveal that consumers are more prone to price discount and buy and get promotions, respectively. Among the four promotional tools, price discount is the most effective to influence product acceleration, brand switching, stockpiling, and product trial behavior respectively. However, there is no statistically significance difference between the effectiveness of premium offer and buy and get deals with regard to brand switching behavior, product acceleration, and product trail responses. In contrast, coupons are the least ineffective promotional tool in terms of generating all types of consumer response.
Consumer Protection in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Madichie Nnamdi O. , Opute Abdullah Promise
Published: May 2016

This chapter explores two key areas of the text – notably “children as consumers: A focus on developing countries” and “consumerism and consumer protection in developing nations.” By integrating these two streams the chapter highlights the implications of the marketing activities undertaken by tobacco companies (i.e. Big Tobacco) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for consumer protection in these countries and especially in the case of vulnerable groups such as children. By highlighting the marketing practices of global tobacco giants exploiting the weak regulatory environment in SSA, notably Malawi, Mauritius, and Nigeria. The choice of countries is based on a BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) documentary, which highlighted the marketing practices of Big Tobacco in these countries. In terms of structure, the chapter focuses primarily on the promotion element of the traditional marketing-mix as well as the public policy implications emerging from these.
Social Class and Consumer Behaviour in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Oniku Ayodele
Published: May 2016

The development around social class evolvement in sub-Saharan African market dated back to pre-colonial era when traditional African institution operated on the basis of royalty, land ownership, subjugation of weak tribe and superiority of strong and powerful tribes. The advent of slavery and migration of white settlers and traders (slaves and goods) further entrenched social class structure in the system. The advent of colonial rule greatly impacted social class system whereby new strata were created based on the new administrative system that colonial system introduced into sub-Saharan Africa. Largely, acquisition of formal education, salary and wage-collection jobs, business opportunities, western religion, clothing styles and new roles to the traditional chiefs opened doors for new social class strata. Social class has witnessed development and improvement that has further improved marketing system and consumer understanding in the society through design of products and services for the market.
Financial Risk Management
Authors: Stoian Mirela-Madalina , Stoian Rares-Gabriel
Published: May 2016

The present paper intends to serve as an introduction into the financial risk management universe. It starts with the basic assumption that performance of an organization is inseparable from the risks it is facing. Any organization should have in place the necessary tools to identify, assess and constantly measure the risks it is exposed to. The paper focuses in defining the basic principles in creating a viable risk management framework that keeps track of three major categories of identified financial risks: market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. Emphasis is put on the models to measure these types of risks but also on the tools an organization can use in order to reduce them. The second part of the paper is dedicated to recent events that shaped and shocked financial markets and illustrate the consequences faced by organizations when risks are not properly assessed and the risk management models in place are based on dangerously unrealistic notions.
Evaluation of Institutional Management Based on Leadership Competencies in Middle School Education
Authors: Patiño Jesus Gerardo Alfaro , Muñoz Diana Patricia Skewes
Published: May 2016

In a globalized world, public policies are subject to the recommendations of international organizations that regulate and determine educational policies according to their own needs and interests. In this sense, educational skills, arising from the business world, have become the focus of curriculum design and teacher professionalism and managerial schools Basic and Secondary Education in Mexico. Specifically, the National Association of Professional Technical Education (CONALEP), has become a pillar that provides students of Media Education competent technical professional for requirements that are demanded today. Since its birth in 1978 was oriented to the formation of technical professionals, graduates of Basic Education, with the main objective job training, intersectoral linkages, community support and technological advice and assistance to businesses.
Collage Strategy
Authors: Summers Dennis
Published: May 2016

In this chapter the author analyzes and defines collage in some of its many forms and media. He introduces three terms (the gap, the seam, and contested space) necessary to characterize the unique aesthetics of collage. Via a review of specific artists and art historical movements he creates taxonomy that typifies three distinctive collage strategies. He extends this review into other media including artists' books, cinematic film, and digital media. In the second part of the chapter he describes the work of three artists (including the author) and their relevance to this theory of collage and scientific visualization. Following that, he reviews the use of digital software and the pedagogical implications of collage.
Metaphors for Dance and Programming
Authors: Ursyn Anna , al-Rifaie Mohammad Majid , Islam Md Fahimul
Published: May 2016

This chapter offers visual explanation on how to code using dance as a metaphor. This approach provides an overview of programming with ready to follow codes. It explores the implementation of restrictions and conditions in programming as compared to those ruling various dances. For those willing to learn or grasp the idea of coding for learning or acquiring better communication with co-workers, several programming languages are used to solve a similar task. Thus, similar codes are written in various languages while being related to the same topic. They delineate various dances and their rules, so the reader can compare and contrast the underlying principles for various environments. Then, exploration of invisible patterns created by movement of feet and aesthetics behind resulting patterns are presented, to highlight the dynamics behind the images generated by music, and subsequently the resulting movements of dancers according to various rules behind choreographies. The idea of randomness in coding, as compared to improvisation in dance is also investigated, when the dancers feel the music to create their own solutions to shape, space, and time, rather then following and obeying already designed rules.
Distributed Computation in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Devanaboyina Tejaswini , Pillalamarri Balakrishna , Garimella Rama Murthy
Published: May 2016

Wireless Sensor Networks are used to perform distributed sensing in various fields like health, military, home etc where the sensor nodes communicate among themselves and do distributed computation over the sensed values to identify the occurrence of an event. The architecture for distributed computation of primitive recursive functions and median is presented in this paper. This paper assumes the no memory computational model of sensor nodes; in the architecture for primary recursive functions i.e. the sensor nodes only have two registers. This assumption is not made for the computation of median. This paper also explores the applications of wireless sensor networks in building a smart, hassle free transportation system. In purview of emerging technologies like Internet of things and Vehicular Ad Hoc networks, the transport system can be made user friendly by including itinerary planning, dynamic speed boards etc. Already research is moving in the direction of making transport system efficient and user-friendly. This paper serves as a one more step in the process of achieving it.
Adaptive Aperture Aided Antenna Design for SISO-MIMO Systems using Fuzzy C-Mean Clustering
Authors: Kashyap Parismita A , Sarma Kandarpa Kumar
Published: May 2016

One of the most relevant themes of wireless communication is to achieve better spectral efficiency and provide high reliability while providing rich-content data services despite the existence of several serious challenges. A few of them are multipath fading, multi-user interference, co-channel interference (CCI), inter symbol interference (ISI) etc to name a few. Several techniques have already been developed and deployed to eliminate the fading effects. One of the less explored techniques which have been adopted and discussed in this chapter is based on the structure of the transmitting antenna. The physical dimension of the antenna is varied as per the fading condition by adopting a dynamic process which adjusts the structure to provide the best quality of service (QoS). Two types of antenna set-ups are considered - Single Input-Single Output (SISO) and Multiple Input-Multiple Output (MIMO). The transmitting antenna in this system adaptively updates its aperture to improve the system performance and at the same time optimizes the driving power of the antenna as per requirement. The system changes the effective aperture of the transmitting antenna in high data rate, time varying Rayleigh channels to adapt to a previously set Bit error Rate (BER). However, in a real time environment the BER keeps on changing based on the channel condition. It is difficult to attain a fixed value of BER and hence even more difficult to model the antenna structure for a single time instant. As a result there exist a number of effective aperture dimensions for various BER in a single time instant. Out of the various values, two specific limits of the effective aperture of the transmitting antenna needs to be decided. Fuzzy C-Mean (FCM) Clustering method being one of the most popular and efficient clustering technique is used to set two limits of the aperture within which a particular threshold of the BER is obtained at one particular instant of time. The results derived show the effectiveness of the entire system.
Parental stress and support of parents of children with spina bifida in Uganda
Authors: Bannink Femke , Idro Richard , Van Hove Geert
Published: May 2016

Background: Children with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa depend for a large part of their functioning on their parent or caregiver. This study explores parental stress and support of parents of children with spina bifida in Uganda.Objectives: The study aimed to explore perceived stress and support of parents of children with spina bifida living in Uganda and the factors that influence them.Methods: A total of 134 parents were interviewed. Focus group discussions were held with four parent support groups in four different regions within the country. The Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, Daily Functioning Subscales and Parental Stress Index Short Form (PSI/SF) were administered to measure the child’s daily functioning level and parental stress levels.Results: Parental stress was high in our study population with over half of the parents having a > 90% percentile score on the PSI/SF. Stress outcomes were related to the ability to walk (Spearman’s correlation coefficient [ρ] = −0.245), continence (ρ = −0.182), use of clean intermittent catheterisation (ρ = −0.181) and bowel management (ρ = −0.213), receiving rehabilitative care (ρ = −0.211), household income (ρ = −0.178), geographical region (ρ = −0.203) and having support from another parent in taking care of the child (ρ = −0.234). Linear regression showed parental stress was mostly explained by the child’s inability to walk (β = −0.248), practicing bowel management (β = −0.468) and having another adult to provide support in caring for the child (β = −0.228). Parents in northern Uganda had significantly higher scores compared to parents in other regions (Parental Distress, F = 5.467*; Parent–Child Dysfunctional Interaction, F = 8.815**; Difficult Child score, F = 10.489**).Conclusion: Parents of children with spina bifida experience high levels of stress. To reduce this stress, rehabilitation services should focus on improving mobility. Advocacy to reduce stigmatisation and peer support networks also need to be strengthened and developed.Keywords: Parents; Stress; Spina Bifida; Disability; Africa
Profile and anticoagulation outcomes of patients on warfarin therapy in an urban hospital in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Sonuga Babatunde O. , Hellenberg Derek A. , Cupido Clint S. , Jaeger Cilia
Published: May 2016

Background: Warfarin is the most frequently used oral anticoagulant worldwide and it is the oral anticoagulant of choice in South Africa for reducing thrombosis-related morbidity and mortality. However, the safety and efficacy of warfarin therapy depends mainly on careful monitoring and maintenance of the international normalised ratio (INR) within an optimal therapeutic range.Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the profile and the anticoagulation outcomes of patients on warfarin therapy in a major warfarin clinic in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Setting: Victoria Hospital - a district hospital in Cape Town. Methods: A cross sectional review of clinical records of patients on warfarin therapy who attended the INR clinic from 01 January 2014 to 30 June 2014 was done. Data analysis was done with STATA to generate appropriate descriptive data.Results: Our study showed that atrial fibrillation (AF) was the commonest indication for warfarin use in this study and hypertension was the commonest comorbidity among these patients. Only 48.5% achieved target therapeutic range; 51.5% were out-of-range. There was a significant association between alcohol consumption and poor anticoagulation outcomes (p-value < 0.022). Anticoagulation outcomes were better among the older age groups, male patients and in those with AF. The prevalence of thrombotic events while on warfarin treatment was 2.2%, while prevalence of haemorrhagic events was 14%. Most of the patients with bleeding events were on concurrent use of warfarin and other medications with potential drug interactions.Conclusion: In our study, patients who achieved target therapeutic control were less than the acceptable 60%.Keywords: Oral anticoagulant, anticoagulation outcomes, therapeutic control, percentage INR within target therapeutic range (%ITTR),Time in therapeutic range (TIR)
Evidence of application of the Basic Antenatal Care principles of good care and guidelines in pregnant women’s antenatal care records
Authors: Patience Ngxongo T.S. , Sibiya N.M. , Gwele N.S.
Published: May 2016

Background: Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) is an approach that is used in the public health institutions of South Africa to provide health care services to pregnant women. The approach was introduced as a quality improvement strategy based on the belief that good quality Antenatal Care (ANC) could reduce maternal and perinatal mortalities and improve maternal health.Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse pregnant women’s ANC records for evidence suggesting that the BANC principles of good care and guidelines were being applied.Setting: The study was conducted in the 12 primary health care clinics that were providing ANC services using the BANC approach in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative design was used to conduct the study. Data were collected through retrospective record review of 1200 maternity case records of the pregnant women who had attended for ANC services three or more times and was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0.Results: The majority of the processes detailed in the guidelines and principles of good care were evident in the records. However, several were missing or recorded in few reviews. These included the ANC plan, delivery plan, midwives’ counter signatures on the cards, assessment for foetal congenital abnormalities, and consent for HIV testing.Conclusion: The study identified evidence of incomplete application of the BANC principles of good care and guidelines in pregnant women’s antenatal care records which indicated that the BANC approach was not being successfully implemented. Recommendations were made with regards to policy development, institutional management and practise, nursing education, and further research to assist in successful implementation of the BANC approach in line with the guidelines and principles of good care.Keywords: antenatal care, antenatal visit, basic antenatal care, consultation, maternity case record.
The constraints and concerns regarding the size and/or shape of the second generation female condom: The narratives from the healthcare providers
Authors: Mogale Ramadimetja , Mulaudzi Fhumulani M. , Peu Mmapheko D. , Mataboge Mamakwa S. , Ngunyulu Roinah , Phiri Salaminah S.
Published: May 2016

Background: Despite the redesigning of the Reality condom (FC) to a new version of the second generation female condom commonly known as (FC2), the users are persistently constrained and concerned about the size and shape of this new version. Condom use is aligned to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 3, 5 and 6, which address gender equality, improving maternal health and preventing HIV and AIDS.Aim: To explore and describe the constraints and concerns regarding the size and/or shape of the FC2.Setting: The study was conducted at Tshwane health district in Gauteng province. Methods: A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was used. Individual in-depth interviews that yielded narratives in a designated health district in South Africa were conducted.Results: From the analysis of narratives three specific themes emerged. Firstly, the specific theme was that the size and shape of FC2 is undesirable for the health care providers, which may lead women to contract HIV and AIDS. The second theme was that the size and shape of FC2 and female genitals makes insertion complicated and predisposes women to be vulnerable in sexual relationships. The third was that the size and shape of FC2 results in pain and discomfort during coitus, exposing women to unwanted pregnancies and HIV and AIDS.Conclusions: The findings indicated the need for an evocative collaborative, interdisciplinary ‘walk the talk’ sexual health and AIDS education training programme for health care providers in primary health care facilities. Such programmes, if maintained, may assist health care providers to achieve the MDG 3, 5 and 6.
The concepts of area and perimeter: Insights and misconceptions of Grade 10 learners
Authors: Machaba France M.
Published: May 2016

This article focuses on learners’ understanding and their descriptions of the concepts of area and perimeter, how learners solve problems involving area and perimeter and the relationship between them and misconceptions, and the causes of these misconceptions as revealed by learners when solving these problems. A written test was administered to 30 learners and clinical interviews were conducted with three of these learners, selected based on their responses in the test. This article shows that learners lack a conceptual understanding of area and they do not know what a perimeter is. Learners also hold misconceptions about the relationship between area and perimeter. It appears that inadequate prior knowledge of area and perimeter is the root cause of these misconceptions. This article provides suggestions on how to deal with the concepts of area and perimeter.Keywords: area; perimeter; insights; misconceptions; Grade 10
Аппроксимации Эрмита-Паде экспоненциальных функций
Authors: Astafieva Anastasia Vladimirovna , Starovoitov Alexander Pavlovich
Published: May 2016

В работе изучаются свойства диагональных многочленов Эрмита-Паде 1-го рода
для системы экспонент $\{e^{\lambda_jz}\}_{j=0}^k$ с произвольными различными комплексными параметрами $\{\lambda_k\}_{j=0}^k$: установлена асимптотика остаточной функции, описана область локализации нулей; при действительных значениях параметров найдены асимптотики и описаны экстремальные свойства. Доказанные теоремы дополняют известные результаты П. Борвейна, Ф. Вилонского, Э. Саффа
и Р. Варги, Г. Шталя.
Библиография: 43 названия.
Регулярная гомотопность погружений графов в поверхности
Authors: Permyakov Dmitrii Alekseevich
Published: May 2016

В работе изучаются инварианты регулярных погружений графов в поверхности с точностью до регулярной гомотопии. Предлагается простой комбинаторный инвариант регулярной гомотопии, основанный на числе вращения.
Библиография: 20 названий.
Multimedia and cultural heritage: a discussion for the community involved in children's heritage edutainment and serious games in the 21st century
Authors: Haddad Naif A.
Published: May 2016

Unfortunately, heritage education and awareness remains largely undervalued, as most efforts rely on in-person experiences in formal cultural institutions. While there have been many virtual applications in the field of heritage edutainment with multimedia technology, there are still not enough to make the required and hoped-for change for the children of the digital natives’ generation. However, with the rich resources in 3D imaging and interactive programming already at our disposal, we are well prepared to do so, given a coordinated effort. This paper deals with a key topic that has an importance at the international level: the education of children through the conceptual approach of "edutainment" and "serious games" and particularly focuses on the cultural heritage, considering its tangible and intangible aspects. The paper attempts to clarify, explore and investigate how heritage edutainment multimedia, which bring enjoyment, fun, play and discovery into children’s daily lives, can make a significant contribution to their understanding, curiosity and appreciation of the cultural heritage. The paper also proposes some ideas and storylines for project development, especially for a methodological approach to serious games, which if appropriately planned, can be as entertaining as they are intellectually challenging to young children. Taking into consideration that there is a growing body of research on the effectiveness of online serious games as creative learning tools, this can only be achieved by the collaboration of a multidisciplinary pedagogical, technical and creative team, to encourage children and parents to look, explore and care for the wonders of our cultural heritage.