bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Labor Market Flows on the Basis of Sectoral Employment in Europe
Authors: Savic Mirko , Zubovic Jovan
Published: October 2016

By tracking the cross-sectoral distribution of employment growth, it is possible to significantly improve the ability to understand aggregate fluctuations of labor force. Adequate model can provide information which sectors have stronger impact on unemployment-to-employment transitional probability. The main goal of this research is modeling the influence of sectoral employment on outflow rate across Europe during economic crisis. Authors argue that shifts in sectoral demand have strong influence on cyclical variation in unemployment-to-employment transition. Study also uncovers highly linear relationships of outflow rate from unemployment to employment and job flows at sectoral level. Empirical data proved a strong positive correlation between dispersion of employment growth across sectors and outflow rate in Europe. Shifts in demand from some sectors to the others are responsible for significant fraction of unemployment-to-employment transition probability. Reallocation shocks accounted for about 70 to 80 percent variability of outflow rates across Europe, during the 2008-2012.
Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approach for Choosing Business Process for the Improvement
Authors: Radosavljevic Marija , Andjelkovic Aleksandra
Published: October 2016

Dynamic and global environment, does not offer a spot for managers that improvise and make business moves without relevant information. In order to gain relevant information, it is necessary to observe processes through which value is generated. This implies adoption of process orientation and, based on it, business process management, as a way of running a business. Useful concept for operationalization of business process management is the Six Sigma. One of very important managerial decisions under the Six Sigma concept implementation concerns choosing the process for the improvement. Very often managers must take into the account subjective data, based on their opinion and experience, as personal impression. However, subjective data may become objective when adequate tools and methods for the analysis are used. Quantification is necessary for making decisions and, also, for tracking the results of their implementation. Beside statistical, significant information may provide methods from multi-criteria decision making.
Blurred Lines between Competitive Intelligence and Corporate Espionage
Authors: Chandan Harish C.
Published: October 2016

In today's globalized world, gathering Competitive Intelligence (CI) and using it strategically to gain a competitive edge has become a necessity. Integrating knowledge management and CI helps firms to respond quickly to changing business conditions. Organizational culture, ethics, and emotional intelligence influence knowledge sharing which enhances CI scanning. Employees, knowingly or unknowingly, can become the weakest link in a firm's efforts to protect business intelligence. There is reluctance in the organizations to address the issues of ethical and legal means to gather CI. Corporate espionage is a silent, enigmatic threat to the competitive position of firms and nations. Annual losses to corporate espionage are estimated to be US$300 Billion. A 3-step strategy of prevention, detection, and remediation helps to combat corporate espionage.
How Globalization Sparked Entrepreneurship in the Developing World
Authors: Dau Luis Alfonso , Moore Elizabeth M. , Soto Margaret A. , LeBlanc Cory R.
Published: October 2016

In light of globalization, the international business literature has focused on the economic impacts of interconnectedness resulting in new trade patterns, monetary and labor flows, and global governance. The political science literature has focused on the possibility of new liberal norms allowing for collective action and inter-state relations. While these two theoretical paths have been studied independently, less attention has been given to the interplay between them. Does the changing political environment impact multinational corporations, entrepreneurial activity, and firm performance? The purpose of this chapter is to understand and analyze entrepreneurship in emerging markets through the lens of intergovernmental organizations, global governance and geopolitics, and the changing nature of the over-arching political system. Through a case study of Peru, this chapter aims to provide theoretical insight to the discussion of entrepreneurship within emerging markets to better understand the global antecedents of entrepreneurial activity in order to propel economic development.
Competitiveness of Turkey in the Sectoral Transformation Process
Authors: Ay Sema , Keser Hilal Yildirir
Published: October 2016

The aim of this study is to measure the competitiveness of Turkey by making a comparative analysis between the Turkish agricultural, industrial, and services sectors involved in foreign trade and the corresponding sectors of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) nations. In addition to the determination of their relative competitiveness, assessments will be made about their competitiveness over time by analyzing the direction of the sectoral trends of the above-mentioned countries. In the study, after a brief theoretical overview, a summary of the literature related to the subject is provided, followed by a comparison of the competitiveness of the three sectors (agriculture, industry, and services) made by calculating the revealed comparative advantages (RCAs) of Turkey and the BRIC countries.
Holistic Technical Solutions to Enhance Accessible Tourism in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Authors: Piechotka Anna Pawlikowska , Lukasik Natalia , Tryzno Anna Ostrowska , Piechotka Maciej , Sawicka Karolina
Published: October 2016

The aim of this chapter is to present current accessibility to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the example of Cracow and Warsaw, the most popular historical cities in Poland. The disabled represent a significant proportion of the cultural tourism group and might have considerable importance to the development of tourist industry. However, their needs are not always met. Especially in Warsaw specific problems for tourists with disabilities include: poor information, inaccessible streets and sidewalks, only partly accessible public transport, hotels or dining places, museums and architectural relics. In Poland tourism development in the heritage sites could be a positive force for generating revenue, enhancing cultural education and helping to preserve the historic values. However, it might be done under condition of re-examining current trends of planning and introducing a universal, holistic design philosophy, innovative technologies enhancing accessibility to all tourist infrastructure, facilities and services.
Tourism Search and Metasearch Engines for Online Booking
Authors: Domínguez Trinidad , Araújo Noelia , Fraiz Jose Antonio , Alén Elisa
Published: October 2016

This chapter aims to analyze the different tourism search and metasearch engines for online booking based on supplier perspective (accommodation, flights, leisure and package deals) and taking into account the possible relations generated by the structure and content variables of web offers. A literature review is carried out to study user experience and provide greater in-depth knowledge which will, in turn, in addition to observation of online booking, trends, data, and profile and user preferences. With this information, the study establishes the main attributes of strucuture and offer content of webs focused on the user preferences. The empirical analysis is based on a representative sample of e-commerce of tourism websites, its main characteristics and possible correlations according to the structure and content of their offers. Based on this, the work identifies competitive advantages that will set the trends for the sector and future short-term strategies.
Optimizing Investment Decisions Using DCF, Decision Tree Analysis, and Real Options Analysis
Authors: Aroul Ramya Rajajagadeesan
Published: October 2016

Large scale infrastructure expansions in hotels are exposed to uncertainty. Since the costs involved in these expansion projects are high and often irreversible, hotels would benefit from analyses that incorporate uncertainty along with traditional valuation techniques like the discounted cash flow (DCF) method. Decision tree analysis (DTA) and real options analysis (ROA) have been in use for the past couple of decades to handle uncertainties and optimize investment decisions. DTA provides a distinct approach to strategic investments that quantitatively takes into account the uncertainties involved in the investments. Under uncertainty, the decision about whether to expand is analogous to the decision about whether to exercise an American call option. By using ROA to the hotel expansion scenario, managers can incorporate and quantify, flexibility and timing in their analysis. The objective of this chapter is to detail the DCF, DTA and ROA methodologies and their applications specific to hotel expansion investments.
Mastering Customer Service, Customer Experience, and Customer Orientation in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: October 2016

This chapter presents the utilization of optimization techniques in the hospitality and tourism industry; the perspectives on customer service and customer service teams; customer service and service leadership; customer service behavior in the travel industry; the overview of customer experience; customer experience, customer satisfaction, and service quality in the airline industry; customer experience and budget hotel in the hospitality industry; the issues with customer orientation; and the relationship between customer orientation and service innovation in the hotel industry. Optimization techniques are the essential approaches to many real-world problems, and can be applied to promote the performance of hospitality and tourism industry regarding customer service, customer experience, and customer orientation. The chapter argues that enhancing customer service, customer experience, and customer orientation through optimization techniques has the potential to increase organizational performance and reach strategic goals in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Minimizing the Cost of Capital in Hotel Investments
Authors: Das Prashant , Bodenmann Gabrielle
Published: October 2016

In this book chapter, we introduce the readers to typical sources of hotel financing using a hypothetical case-study. First, we provide a commentary on various types of funding sources. We provide rationale for why a particular surplus unit specifies certain constraints to an (investment) manager. A discussion is offered on various factors that may lead to a certain mix of financing. We walk the readers through various steps of the optimization process. Finally, we provide a case study on optimizing the funding sources using the SOLVER function in MS Excel.
Introduction to Tourism Security
Authors: Korstanje Maximiliano Emanuel
Published: October 2016

The present essay review explores the problem of terrorism and security in tourism fields. Certainly, plans and policies provided by guide-books are not being followed in disaster-contests simply chaos and disorder are the nature of emergencies. Beyond any protocol, crises and security are not properly defined by scholars. In this essay-review, we will not pay attention to define what tourism security means, lest by the lens of three senior scholars, Sevil Somnez, Abraham Pizam and Peter Tarlow, who have accomplished this task. They have explored not only the roots of terrorism but security over 20 years. Despite the criticism, they deserve recognition for this legacy. Based on substantial point of divergence, these specialists are concerned by the financial dependency of societies respecting to mass-media and its coverage of terrorist attacks.
Benefits and Value of Investments in Information Systems
Authors: Azevedo Paula Serdeira , Azevedo Carlos , Romão Mário
Published: October 2016

Organisations constantly have to address the problem of identifying tangible and intangible benefits that can be achieved in result of investments made in Information Systems/Information Technology (IS/IT). This paper has the objective of approaching the problem in the perspective and context of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in the Hospitality Industry. It focuses on implementation project strategies, namely in the particular and relevant aspects of their return on investment as well as benefits expected and delivered. When an organisation is confronted with the question of knowing if a certain investment in IS/IT may obtain a considered positive financial revenue, and if that investment means valuable benefits for the business, the answer is often far from being conclusive. Projects are often implemented on-time, on-budget and are technically appropriate, nevertheless the expected benefits are not achieved. This paper seeks to answer these questions in the context of ERP systems, in particular in the sector of hospitality industry, through a case study developed in Portugal. The investigation was developed on a group of hotel units, held by a Portuguese company, for which ERP meant an opportunity to harmonize and improve business processes.
Shaping and Re-Shaping Tourism Areas
Authors: Asero Vincenzo , Gozzo Simona , Tomaselli Venera
Published: October 2016

Defining the boundaries of tourism destinations has been long recognised as a problem in tourism research. The authors aim to define the spatial configuration of tourism areas including different destinations within a same region. Tourist mobility is employed as a methodological criterion to reveal the network relationships among destinations and explain how tourism areas are being shaped and reshaped. The study combines Network Analysis methods and multinomial logistic regression models, in an approach to processing the data of a sampling survey, carried out in Sicily. The results show that the network structures among destinations affect the shape and dimension of tourism areas. Useful evidence for the spatial planning of tourism regions and destination management strategies are derived.
Optimisation of Wine and Spirit Inventory Assets in Fine Dining Restaurants
Authors: Barth J. E. (Joe)
Published: October 2016

Research on profit optimisation in the travel sector of hospitality industry has been dominated by the development of effective revenue management techniques to help managers in situations where demand is variable, variable costs are low, assets are fixed and perishable. These techniques have been extended to the restaurant sector, with recognition that variable costs are a larger proportion of total costs and not fixed. In fine dining restaurants substantive wine and spirit inventories present operators with the challenge of how to optimise the sales per dollar of inventory. Theoretical foundations of yield management, retail inventory optimisation and menu engineering are reviewed with direct application to the development of the WINSPID model of wine list and wine inventory optimisation. Data from a successful fine dining restaurant are used to illustrate how the model can be used to improve the sales efficiency of the wine list and inventory. Opportunities to extend the model to spirit inventories are proposed.
Modeling Tourists' Opinions Using RIDIT Analysis
Authors: Bhattacharya Subhajit , Kumar Rohit Vishal
Published: October 2016

In this chapter we have attempted to use “Relative to an Identified Distribution” (RIDIT) algorithms based modelling for analysing real-time empirical data relating to tourists' attitude and preference for a better understanding of the tourists' motivation and behaviour. RIDIT approach for evaluating the factors that influence tourist behaviour is not a very common approach in tourism sector. This chapter on modelling tourists' opinions and perceptions with RIDIT analysis would try to guide the empirical research in the domains of hospitality, tourism and travel research and analytics process in generating Optimized research outcomes.
The Power of the Paradigm
Authors: Ling Lorraine
Published: October 2016

In this chapter, the six paradigms explored in this book—positivist, neo-positivist, interpretivist, transformative, pragmatic and supercomplexity—are described and the key elements of each paradigm are discussed. These key elements are ontology, epistemology, axiology, methodology, and outcomes. The paradigm does not pre-determine the methodology or methodologies to be used. Rather how qualitative and quantitative methodologies will be used is determined by the paradigm and thus both available methodologies can and perhaps should be used in all paradigms. The research paradigm is the focal point because awareness of the paradigm within which the research is undertaken helps to ensure consistency between elements of the research: the aim; the research question; the appropriate forms of data and data analysis; and the nature of the outcomes and the conclusions that may be reached.
Research Paradigms Underpinning SoTL Papers
Authors: Fraser Kym , Pechenkina Ekaterina
Published: October 2016

The authors investigated key paradigms driving contemporary Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoTL) research by analyzing a sample of 84 SoTL articles published in two, highly ranked education journals that publish SoTL papers. The authors identified the paradigm underpinning each article by looking at the stated or implied intent of the article's authors, the drivers of their research (axiology), the nature of the knowledge/understanding developed from their research (epistemology), the literature and methods used, and the outcomes of their work. As a result of this exercise, using the classification of research paradigms employed in this book, the neo-positivist, inductive mode emerged as the dominant paradigm in both journals, accounting for 60 percent of the papers in the combined sample. These findings are discussed in terms of their application to future SoTL research.
Investigating School Mathematics Performance and Affect
Authors: Leder Gilah C.
Published: October 2016

In this chapter research relating to school mathematics is used as an instance to critique commonly used methods and instruments employed in educational research to determine performance and single or multiple aspects of affect. Advances in technology that have enabled the adaption of previously used instruments are described. Self-report measures, administered face-to-face and on-line, and real-time and virtual observational methods are discussed in some detail. Illustrative data from specific studies are provided. Interpreting the different measurement outcomes is, it is argued, far from unproblematic. This discussion raises issues relevant to research in a range of paradigms but is particularly pertinent to educational research conducted in the neo-positivist paradigm.
Scientific Realism and the Study of Higher Education Curriculum and the Student Experience
Authors: Smith Calvin
Published: October 2016

This chapter elaborates and exemplifies the use of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in the analysis of the effects of curricula designs on student learning and experience in higher education. A brief didactic account of the origins of structural equation modelling is used to expose and explore fundamental assumptions, metaphysical and ontological commitments, and alternative views in the field. This is followed by an exemplification of the method by use of a case study of its application in studying a higher education curriculum design (work-integrated learning). The chapter argues for the adoption of a realist account of latent variables on the basis that the constructs they represent are in principle manipulable, even though experimental manipulation is not typically a feature of research on curricula in higher education.
Teachers' Ontological and Epistemological Beliefs
Authors: Kelly Mary
Published: October 2016

This chapter documents a case study of the exploration of teachers' beliefs on the nature of reality (ontology) and knowledge (epistemology) within an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at the International School of Amsterdam. The study is positioned within the constructivist-interpretive paradigm and, therefore, allows for the emergence of a holistic and contextualized understanding of teachers' beliefs and practices. The chapter includes reflection on the author's ontology and epistemology and its impact on the research undertaking. The study attempts to understand whether teachers' beliefs have identifiable impacts on their approaches to teaching within this inquiry-based teaching environment where teachers are encouraged to design their own curricula. Over the course of the research, comprehensive teacher profiles were generated for three participants, all experienced international school teachers, who teach Science, English Literature, and Spanish. The findings indicate that the participants' approaches to teaching resonate strongly with their ontological and epistemological beliefs.
Engineering Students' Approaches to Learning Mathematics
Authors: King Samuel Olugbenga
Published: October 2016

The purpose of this chapter is to reflect on the influence of the adoption of a combination of research paradigms on the design, implementation, and outcomes of a research exercise. The research question for the study was: How may students' approaches to learning (engineering) mathematics be characterized? The aim of the exercise was to characterize students' approaches to learning mathematics on an Engineering Mathematics course, based on evidence from student interviewees' transcripts. The individual student learning approach characterizations were undertaken through the adoption of an integrated framework comprising the “approaches to learning” theoretical framework and goal theory, with secondary data analysis, based on the “three worlds of mathematics” framework. The research paradigm employed was essentially interpretivist/constructivist. The neo-positivist paradigm, inductive mode, was also referenced. Qualitative research methods were employed with integration of multiple theoretical frameworks for the design, data collection and analyses, and interpretation of the results of the study.
Transnational Education Research and Development
Authors: Ling Peter
Published: October 2016

This chapter comprises reflections on a commissioned project entitled “Learning without borders: Linking development of transnational leadership roles to international and cross-cultural teaching excellence.” The project was designed to identify key issues for leadership in transnational education and in particular, the best arrangements for distributed leadership. It had both a research element and a development element. The research methods employed included observation, document analysis, surveys, focus groups and interviews. The approach to be taken was specified as action research. The paradigm in which the research element was to operate was not specified in the project proposal nor was it mentioned in the project report. The conclusion arrived at in this chapter is that the exercise is best described as falling in the pragmatic paradigm as various research approaches were adopted and a range of methods employed in order to provide a useful response to the commissioned task.
Paradigm Surfing
Authors: Lang Catherine
Published: October 2016

This chapter presents the experiences of a researcher conducting education research in the computing discipline, and in doing so provides evidence of a journey through several paradigms, hence the chapter title: paradigm surfing. A case-by-case retrospective analysis was conducted on several influential research projects with reference to the categorization of paradigms presented by Ling and Ling in Chapter 1 of this book, as well as categorizations presented by other scholars. The chapter provides an understanding of paradigm shifts influenced by the environment in which the research was conducted, the purpose of the research and the maturity of the researcher. The reflexive lens used demonstrates how these developmental research experiences have contributed to a rich understanding of the importance of paradigms and the nature of interdisciplinary educational research (epistemology). This led to a current identification with the pragmatic paradigm as the best fit for the author's axiology.
Education Research in an Intercultural Context
Authors: Giridharan Beena
Published: October 2016

This chapter presents a research framework for a study that focused on the development of a second language vocabulary acquisition model in a tertiary setting. The study was an investigation of lexical inferencing strategies specifically employed by second language (L2) learners, and of whether the explicit teaching of effective vocabulary strategies benefited learners in developing vocabulary. The framework presented here draws on theories of learning from the fields of education, applied linguistics, vocabulary development, and cognitive psychology. Several theoretical standpoints on vocabulary development, including factors such as lexical representation; theoretical constructs in reading comprehension; vocabulary processing in tertiary L2 learners; and socio-linguistics were considered in the design and inquiry process of the study, which was set in an intercultural context. The association of components of this research exercise to research paradigms is discussed.
Work-Integrated Learning Praxis
Authors: Calway Bruce
Published: October 2016

Education practices, like Work-Integrated Learning, result from a confluence of educational issues, and contextual and philosophical influences. This chapter commences with an overview of the Work-Integrated Learning philosophy, the contextual modifiers and the education issues that provide the framework for Work-Integrated Learning education practices. Issues in investigating or researching Work-Integrated Learning and research paradigm possibilities are explored. It is contended that adoption of a holistic research paradigm for future Work-Integrated Learning research projects is needed to avoid simplistic assessments of Work-Integrated Learning that fail to advance experiential learning (e.g. Dewey, 1938) in school-to-work and workforce scenarios, in any meaningful way. Selection of the neo-positivist research paradigm is argued.
Researching Supercomplexity
Authors: Barnett Ronald
Published: October 2016

A schema is proposed on which basis education research might be advanced. The approach revisits an earlier idea, that of supercomplexity, and substantially develops it into a supercomplexity mark two. The discussion is situated in the context of the university and the proposed schema situates the university on three planes. The planes hold together both ontological and ideational components (the university as institution and as idea), reveal spaces for emergence, and allow for imaginative thought and action. Two implications emerge. Firstly, education research should be conducted with an awareness of the total (tri-planar) space in which an institution such as the university moves, in all its ontological and ideational aspects. Secondly, writing becomes not an adjunct to research but takes on aspects of creativity and even poetry. In response to an enquiry about one's professional occupation, an academic should be happy to say “I am a writer.”
Sentimentos de familiares de pacientes internados na emergência psiquiátrica: um olhar sobre a família/ Feelings of relatives of patients hospitalized in the psychiatric emergency care unit: a look on the family
Authors: Andrade Ana Carla Da Silva , Cardoso Beatriz Domingos , Souza José Eduardo Atílio Pereira de , Campos Marcelo Cabrini de , Lima Graziele Zamineli de , Buriola Aline Aparecida
Published: October 2016

O presente estudo teve como objetivo compreender os sentimentos dos familiares que chegam à emergência psiquiátrica com um ente em agudização dos sintomas do transtorno mental. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva-exploratória com abordagem qualitativa. Participaram 20 familiares de pessoas com transtorno mental atendidos na Emergência Psiquiátrica de um Hospital da Rede Pública do Interior do Estado de São Paulo. Para coleta de dados,utilizou-se um roteiro de entrevista individual. As entrevistas foram áudio-gravadas e tratadas conforme análise de conteúdo temática de Bardin. Os dados resultaram em duas categorias: A internação no serviço de emergência psiquiátrica como alívio da sobrecarga familiar; e A agudização do transtorno mental como gerador de angústia e tristeza para a família. Desta forma, compreender os sentimentos predominantes nos familiares dos pacientes no ato da internação no Serviço de Emergência contribui para a elaboração de estratégias para a construção de uma atuação profissional humanística visando à inclusão da unidade familiar em todas as etapas do cuidado.
Conhecimento de mulheres sobre ist/aids: intervindo com educação em saúde/ Women’s knowledge about sti/aids: working with health education
Authors: Rufino Érika Cavalcanti , Andrade Smalyanna Sgren da Costa , Leadebal Oriana Deyze Correia Paiva , Brito Karen Krystine Gonçalves , Silva Fernanda Maria Chianca , Dos Santos Simone Helena
Published: October 2016

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o conhecimento de mulheres sobre prevenção, transmissão e percepção de vulnerabilidade em relação às Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis (IST) e Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (AIDS). Trata-se de um estudo “antes e depois”, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa, envolvendo 30 usuárias de uma Unidade de Saúde da Família Integrada de João Pessoa-PB, maiores de 18 anos, com vida sexual iniciada. A coleta dos dados foi realizada em fevereiro de 2014 por meio da abordagem de mulheres na sala de espera, que responderam à entrevista antes e após a intervenção. Os resultados foram analisados e comparados utilizando o teste Qui-Quadrado. A educação em saúde contribuiu significativamente para o aumento do conhecimento das participantes e da sua percepção de vulnerabilidade a respeito de IST/AIDS. Porém, nem sempre este conhecimento produz mudança de atitude e comportamento, fazendo-se necessário que o enfermeiro reconheça a importância das práticas educativas em seu cotidiano, não só para a redução da incidência de IST/AIDS, como também para a emancipação do indivíduo, favorecendo o desenvolvimento do sentido de responsabilidade por sua própria saúde.
Contexto escolar e hábitos miccionais: estudo transversal com escolares do Distrito Federal / School setting and voiding habits: a cross-sectional study among school-aged children from the Federal District
Authors: Salviano Cristiane Feitosa , Martins Gisele
Published: October 2016

Estudo transversal realizado em oito escolas públicas e particulares do Riacho Fundo,(Distrito Federal),com escolares deseis a 12 anos, com o objetivo de avaliar a frequência de ida e permissão para uso do toalete na escola, sob a perspectiva do escolar, assim como mensurar a taxa de ocorrência e o impacto da experiência de ter tido alguma vez na vida um evento de perda urinária no contexto escolar. A coleta de dados incluiu entrevista por meio de perguntas-chave desenvolvidas pelas pesquisadoras. A análise dos dados incluiu técnicas básicas de análise exploratória de dados como,frequência absoluta e relativa, calculadas no programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Das 86 crianças participantes da pesquisa, 73% (n=63) relataram irtodos os dias ao toalete escolar, ao passo que as que afirmam não utilizar o toalete apontaram como justificativas a falta de vontade, a falta de papel higiênico nos toaletes e a falta de privacidade ou problema com as portas. Quanto à permissão para o uso do toalete, 66% (n=57) afirmaram poder ir sempre que tivessem vontade. A experiência de perda urinária na escola foi relatada por17 (20%)  crianças e apresentou impacto altamente negativo sob a perspectiva do escolar.
 Exames realizados para o diagnóstico de tuberculose pulmonar no município de Ribeirão Preto. Brasil/ Tests performed for pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis in Ribeirao Preto city, Brazil
Authors: Ribeiro Mayara Segundo , Andrade Rubia Laine de Paula , Monroe Aline Aparecida , Netto Antônio Ruffino , Scatena Lucia Marina , Villa Tereza Cristina Scatena
Published: October 2016

Objetivou-se analisar o processo de realização de exames para o diagnóstico da tuberculose pulmonar, no município de Ribeirão Preto. Estudo epidemiológico descritivo do tipo inquérito a partir de uma abordagem quantitativa. A população de estudo foi constituída por 84 doentes de tuberculose pulmonar em tratamento (com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos, residentes em Ribeirão Preto), no período de janeiro a abril de 2009. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas e para tal utilizou-se um questionário estruturado. De forma complementar, foram levantados todos os exames realizados pelos doentes entrevistados no período do seu diagnóstico no Sistema de Controle de Pacientes com Tuberculose do Estado de São Paulo (TB-WEB). Para análise dos dados, foram utilizadas técnicas de estatística descritiva. Observou-se que a realização de exames no processo de elucidação diagnóstica da tuberculose pulmonar precisa transpor algumas barreiras organizacionais, culturais, geográficas e econômicas, visto que o acesso ao diagnóstico tem ocorrido por meio dos serviços especializados e de referência para controle da doença.
Programa de gerenciamento de doenças crônicas em um plano de saúde, São Paulo, Brasil/ Chronic disease management program in a health plan, São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Manso Maria Elisa Gonzalez , Camara Rafela , Souza Suely Alves , Maciel Talita Dias , Farina Danielle Baptista Livrari
Published: October 2016

Atualmente as doenças crônicas não transmissíveis são as principais causas de morte no mundo. Consideradas doenças multifatoriais, têm em comum fatores de riscos modificáveis tais como inatividade física, colesterol elevado, excesso de peso, tabagismo, consumo excessivo de bebidas alcoólicas e alimentação não saudável. Com o objetivo de verificar o impacto por um programa de Gerenciamento de Doenças Crônicas, após dois anos de acompanhamento, surgiu esta pesquisa. Trata-se de programa desenvolvido com um grupo de clientes de uma autogestão localizada no estado de São Paulo. É um estudo transversal realizado durante os anos de 2014-2015 com dados de prontuário eletrônico que foram comparados parâmetros clínicos e hábitos de vida de 1.509 indivíduos participantes de um programa de gerenciamento de doenças em dois momentos: na entrada ao programa e após dois anos de participação. Observaram-se resultados satisfatórios na melhora de parâmetros clínicos relacionados aos níveis pressóricos e à dosagem de glicemia em jejum, assim como diminuição do sedentarismo em indivíduos abaixo dos 60 anos.
Sensor Sticker for Detection of Fungi Spore Contamination on Bananas
Authors: Papireddy Vinayaka Poornachandra , Kahali Moghaddam Maryam , van den Driesche Sander , Blank Roland , Lang Walter , Vellekoop Michael J.
Published: October 2016

Fungi growth on bananas during transportation not only results in loss of food but it also incurs considerable transport losses. To investigate the influence of spores on the development of fungi growth on the bananas we present a sensor sticker. The sticker can be put on the banana surface for the detection of spore concentration. The designed sensor comprises of a thin layer of culture medium (PDA agarose) coated on a capacitive sensor fabricated on a polyimide foil (5 μm). As spores germinate, the capacitance of the culture medium changes which is measured by the interdigital capacitive element that contains 2 electrodes (with 428 fingers) that have a length of 3 mm, a width and a gap of 7 μm. In addition to the culture medium one of the major requirements for the fungi to grow is air. As air cannot diffuse through the sticker, air cavities are integrated in the culture medium layer to provide the necessary amount of air for fungi growth. This method was successfully applied to determine different concentrations of Fusarium Oxysporum, a major fungi species responsible for banana contamination. Measured capacitance change after a fixed time interval depends on the initial concentration of spores. The measurement takes typically 6 hours.
Multimaterial and Multiscale Rapid Prototyping of Patient-Specific Scaffold
Authors: de Acutis Aurora , de Maria Carmelo , Vozzi Giovanni
Published: October 2016

The majority of strategies used in tissue engineering (TE) employ a scaffold, which is used to guide .the proliferation, the migration and the adhesione of cell in 3D to pruduce an engineered tissue. A new trend in scaffolds’s fabrication is represented by the hybrid Rapid Prototyping technologies. This is a new multimaterial and multiscale fabrication approach which combine the common RP technologies with other micro/nanofabrication techiques to fabricate scaffold that mimick the hetereogenty and hierarchical structure typical of the native extracellular matrix. In this new contest our work present: 1) an innovative device for the fabrication of multi material scaffolds based on an open source FDM 3D printer suitably modified to integrate a multi nozzle deposition tool 2) a design proposal for a multi material and multi scale machine to allow a full control over the modulation of the building materials and of the topography in a scaffold 3) and lastly a CAD workflow to guide the fabrication of RP patient specific scaffolds. Multifunctional hydrogel-based scaffold are fabricated as a demonstration of the validity of the proposed devices. Starting from a clinical case we print a patient-specific scaffold with the aim to recover bone defects at mandibular level as a validation of the proposed CAD process.
The Role of Wearable Monitor for Healthcare
Authors: Tamura Toshiyo , Maeda Yuka , Sekine Masaki , Huang Ming
Published: October 2016

Wearable monitor for healthcare was proposed in the late 1990s. Physiological monitoring in daily life has considerable potential for preventing and predicting diseases, without significant discomfort or inconvenience to the user. Over the past 25 years, wearable monitoring systems have been developed for health monitoring in daily life. In this presentation we will 1) review the devices used in wearable monitoring, including home use and clinical practice; 2) consider the evidence for their benefit in terms of healthcare outcomes; and 3) discuss long-term data collection and analysis using Big Data techniques. Furthermore, issues relating to the popularization of these devices are discussed, including regulation and business models. There are many promising devices available for wearable healthcare monitoring, and we propose ideas to popularize these devices.
Advanced Polyester Textiles Adaptive to Ambient Conditions
Authors: Glampedaki Pelagia
Published: October 2016

The combination of polyelectrolyte microgel technology with conventional functionalisation methods to activate the surface of polyester textiles is an innovative approach towards textiles adaptive to their environment. Biopolymer microgel complexes consisting of soft synthetic pH/thermo-responsive microparticles and natural polysaccharide macromolecules in various combinations serve as a novel textile surface functionalising system. Microgel incorporation into polyester surface layers can be achieved with non-demanding techniques such as UV irradiation. The adaptivity of the functionalised textiles to ambient conditions of varying pH, temperature and relative humidity is expressed by changes in their physicochemical and water management properties. These changes occur within a physiological pH/temperature range of the human body (pH 4-8, 20-40°C), owing to the corresponding stimuli-responsive properties of the functionalising microgels, giving scope for applications in the fields of biomedicine and protective clothing. Indicatively, such changes involve a shift in polyester surface charge from positive to negative values at a pH range 5.0-6.6, following the trend of the incorporated polyelectrolytes. Below 36°C, functionalised textiles exhibit improved water wettability, whilst above 36°C they have lower moisture regain and higher water vapour transmission rates than the non-functionalised textiles. The manifestation of the imparted adaptivity to ambient conditions is also a function of the intrinsic characteristics (e.g. porosity, surface roughness) of the textile, allowing for suitable combinations of substrates and functionalizing systems with tailored properties.
The Incorporation of Phase Change Material into Soft Armour Inserts: Achieving a Level of Cooling without Compromising Ballistic Protection
Authors: Ng Ki Chun , Hunt Andrew P. , Tan Ping , Billon Horace , Ling Michael F.
Published: October 2016

In this paper we present preliminary results of ballistic testing and thermal measurement of a functional structure consisting of phase change material (PCM) and soft armour layers made of Kevlar. The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of combining thermal management with ballistic protection in a single system such that the thermal stress of dismounted combat personnel may be mitigated to an extent while wearing their body armour in hot and humid environments. Under such conditions the breathability of smart textiles will offer little to no benefit. In our study each Kevlar sheet is coated with PCM from Microtek Laboratories Inc. and bonded with normal PVA wood glue. Twenty coated layers were prepared for ballistic testing and compared with twenty pure Kevlar layers as reference. The cooling power of the soft armour insert (SAI) with PCM was measured on a heated sweating manikin. The proof of concept results show that the SAI with PCM only produced a mild cooling effect, which may lower skin temperature and provide a mild cooling sensation for a body region that would otherwise allow limited heat loss, due to the impermeability of the SAI.
Color Tuning in Electroluminescent Textiles
Authors: Lempa Evelyn , Graßmann Carsten , Rabe Maike , Kitzig Andreas , Naroska Edwin
Published: October 2016

Currently electroluminescent devices, operated by alternating current (AC-EL) on film, paper or textile are based on a capacitor with one transparent electrode and one generally non-transparent, highly conductive electrode and a light-emitting dielectric layer in-between. The light-emitting pigments are mostly based on doped zinc sulfide. Currently available commercial products contain encapsulated pigments dispersed in organic solvents. Those dispersions allow AC-EL-devices illuminating solitary in the colors white, green, blue-green, blue and orange. Blending those pigments leads to numerous new colors however, always linked to loss of brightness in the final device. In this research work the combination of fluorescent organic and inorganic dyestuffs with inorganic EL-phosphors was investigated. The AC-EL-devices were all based on textile materials; all dispersions were free of organic solvents. Special focus was directed to the concentration of dyes in an additional layer within the EL-capacitor as well as the thickness and particularly the positioning of the layer. In the result colors were achieved, which cannot be found by blending the phosphors, such as yellow and red. In addition, depending on the type of added fluorescent dyestuff layer, the brightness could be increased substantially.
Design Proposal of Space Clothes that Supports Lives in the Future Space Tourism Era
Authors: Ohkubo Masaru , Xue Mage , Yamamura Miki , Kanebako Junichi , Ishigami Lisako , Yamaguchi Syo , Nojima Takuya , Uchiyama Hiroko , Yamazaki Naoko
Published: October 2016

In a near future, many people will be able to visit and stay in the space hotels easier than now days. In this situation, a novel clothes that fit to the special environment will be required. In this paper, we describe the detail of a prototype of “space clothes”, a new clothes design that could solve the appearance and functionality conditions shown below.Conventional clothes especially skirts and loosely designed shirts are often difficult to be worn in space because it restricts wearer’s motion. On the other hand, such clothes are often preferred by women because of their elegance. The both elegance and functionality must be achieved for the clothes of the future space tourists.All the future space tourists should suffer from space sickness and sunburns by ultraviolet rays. Those issues will worsen the experience in the space. Future clothes for space tourists should be able to solve or be able to mitigate them.
Based on these conditions, we developed a prototype of clothes for future space tourists(Figure 1(a)). This clothes is carefully designed to achieve both functionality and elegance. In addition, it embedded with bio-informatics display system to share wearer’s health status among other tourists to enable early initial treatment(Figure 1(b)). We believe that this paper could be a good opportunity to initiate the discussion to clear new market of clothes in space.
Electroluminescent Textile for Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Graßmann Carsten , Lempa Evelyn , Rabe Maike , Kitzig Andreas , Naroska Edwin , Neukirch Benno
Published: October 2016

Alternating-current (AC) electroluminescent (EL) devices on fabrics with high brightness are presented. The EL-devices were fabricated via knife coating; inorganic luminous pigments are based on zinc sulfide. Effects of parameters influencing the brightness were investigated. These parameters are the AC-voltage, AC-frequency, AC-waveform, layer composition of the luminous capacitor and the fabric. Introducing a flexible reflecting dielectric layer enhances the light yield on fine woven fabrics with green luminous pigment. This can be achieved with small concentrations of reflective white pigments such as titanium dioxide, maintaining the flexibility and bendability of the textile substrate. The produced luminous textiles are investigated as a possible replacement for light boxes used in the therapy of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). A high luminous emittance and a high portion of short and energy rich wavelengths are necessary for the treatment. Contrarily to state-of-the-art light boxes a higher acceptance of light therapy is expected, because a luminous textile can be integrated easily and unremarkably into the living environment.
Soft Condensed Matter Hybrid Fiber Sensors for Vital Function Monitoring
Authors: Melnykowycz Mark , Tschudin Michael , Selle Rebecca , Maynard Kelley R. , Richards-Kortum Rebecca R. , Oden Z. Maria , Clemens Frank J.
Published: October 2016

Textile band structures with integrated soft condensed matter sensor (SCMS) can be used as a vital function monitor device to detect pulse wave and breathing on the human body. A textile an elastic band was used as a support material and the U-shaped SCMS fiber sensor was bonded on the surface with elastic band with a liquid rubber bonding material. The sensor signal and gauge factor of the textile sensor structure was investigated using tensile testing experiments. The resistivity of the sensor structure increased linearly within a strain of 10 to 50%, and a slope of 8 (kOhm/% strain) could be detected. The sensor had a gauge factor of 4-5 from 10 to 50% between strain. Using the integrated SCMS sensor textile band around the chest, it was possible to detect talking, normal breathing and coughing. In collaboration with Rice University the textile sensor was tested for proof-of-concept for use in a battery-powered monitor for apnea of premature infants.
Ripples in Graphene Sheets and Nanoribbons
Authors: Prabhakar Sanjay , Melnik Roderick
Published: October 2016

We study the influence of ripple waves on graphene sheets and graphene nanoribbons. Such waves are originating from the electromechanical effects, among other possible mechanisms. By considering variations in the in-plane and out-of-plane displacement vector, we show that the spontaneous generation of ripple waves has no preferred orientation. Intrinsic properties of ripple waves induce a large pseudopotential that in its turn is to induce large pseudomagentic fields that can be implemented into the band engineering of graphene structures.