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Background: This study examines the health security of both Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees in Lebanon. It also assesses the readiness and resilience of the healthcare system in response to the multi-layered crisis that began in late 2019. Methods: A qualitative case study design was employed, utilizing 2 unstructured interviews with health experts/hospital staff, semi-structured interviews with 20 Lebanese participants and a document review. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The study found that Syrian refugees have access to health services under terms, conditions and restrictions including out-of-pocket (OOP) payment. In contrast, Lebanese citizens find traditional health guarantor systems largely ineffective, leading to high OOP costs for most healthcare services, with few exceptions. This study reveals a paradox in healthcare access within Lebanon's fragile environment. Syrian refugees have greater access to health services, with minimal out-of-pocket (OOP) costs to a certain extent, compared to Lebanese citizens themselves who remain entrenched in inadequate health support services and poor public administration. Conclusion: To address this, targeted interventions and policies are crucial for policymakers and stakeholders, including the private and public sectors, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the international community. Reforms are needed, spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), other relevant ministries, and government payers, to refinance the traditional guarantor system and restore Lebanese citizens' health security. Additionally, unifying health coverage across all government payers is vital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Successful HIV treatment programs have turned HIV into a chronic condition, but noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension jeopardize this progress. Hypertension control rates among people with HIV (PWH) are low owing to gaps in patient awareness, diagnosis, effective treatment, and management of both conditions at separate clinic visits. Integrated management, such as in our study, InterCARE, can enhance HIV-hypertension integration and blood pressure (BP) control. Methods: Our pilot study was conducted in two Botswana HIV clinics between October 2021 and November 2022. Based on our formative work, we adopted three main strategies; Health worker training on HTN/cardiovascular disease (CVD) management, adaptation of HIV Electronic Health Record (EHR) for HTN/CVD care, and use of treatment partners to support PWH with hypertension for implementation. We employed the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to assess implementation effectiveness and outcomes for BP control at baseline, 6 and 12 months. HIV viral load (VL) suppression was also measured to assess impact of integration on HIV care. Results: We enrolled 290 participants; 35 (12.1%) were lost to follow-up, leaving 255 (87.9%) at 12-months. Median age was 54 years (IQR 46–62), and 77.2% were females. Our interventions significantly improved BP control to < 140/90 mmHg (or < 130/80 mmHg if diagnosis of diabetes or chronic kidney disease), from 137/290 participants, 47.2% at baseline to 206/290 participants, 71.0%, at 12 months (p < 0.001). Among targeted providers, 94.7% received training, with an associated significant increase in counseling on exercise, diet, and medication (all p < 0.001) but EHR use for BP medication prescribing and cardiovascular risk factor evaluation showed no adoption. In the intention-to-treat analysis, HIV VL suppression at 12 months decreased (85.5% vs 93.8%, p = 0.002) due to loss to follow-up but the per protocol analysis showed no difference in VL suppression between baseline and 12 months (97.3% vs 93.3%, p = 0.060). Conclusion: The InterCARE pilot study demonstrated that low-cost practical support measures involving the integration of HIV and hypertension/CVD management could lead to improvements in BP control. These results support the need for a large implementation and effectiveness trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05414526. Registered 18th May 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, in what can be called an 'integrationist wave', standardised integration requirements for naturalisation have become increasingly common in Europe. To examine the impact of such measures, I combine original ethnographic data on institutions involved in the implementation of citizenship policies in Belgium and the UK with a qualitative meta-analysis of existing ethnographic studies of the implementation of citizenship policies. I show how, in addition to introducing new obstacles to naturalisation, standardised requirements have also reduced the discretion inscribed in earlier procedures, albeit not uniformly across different cases. The integrationist wave could thus be understood not simply as the introduction of restrictive notions of integration, but also as the systemisation of earlier evaluation practices. I further show signs of a more recent tendency for states to retreat from examining the integration of candidates to citizenship, outsourcing the evaluation directly or indirectly to private actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Achieving integration in medical curricula without redundancy in basic medical sciences disciplines is a substantial challenge. Introducing co-teaching in such curricula with active inter-disciplinary participation is believed to best utilize the teaching and learning time for instructors and students, to motivate the students, and to provide a more robust base for bridging the gap between basic and clinical medical sciences in medical schools. Additionally, including more than one student-centered activity in one session is expected to increase the students' involvement and improve the retention of knowledge. Our study aims at minimizing redundancy and improving the students' motivation in learning the topic "insulin-glucose regulation" during the Endocrine and Metabolism module taught to year three students at Galala University, Faculty of Medicine in Egypt. Methods: The authors designed a 3-hr co-teaching integrated session with 3 basic medical sciences aimed to explain the clinical terms including online accessed pre/post-tests, small student groups-created pre/post-session MCQ, with co-sharing of students in the introduction of scientific materials. Results: The students' scores in the post-test showed that they gained more knowledge compared to before. Interestingly, there was only an improvement in the students' performance in generating questions before and after the session, as well as in the integrated question in the end-of-semester exam, we suggest implementing this approach in other topics and modules in medical schools. It would also be favorable to follow up with the students taught using this approach and those taught differently to assess the effectiveness of this approach in a controlled manner. Conclusion: Integrated sessions effectively increase student awareness of medical concepts and reduce redundancy in basic medical sciences. This approach exposes students to a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, improving their comprehension and retention. It is a valuable method for educators and instructors seeking to enhance their students' learning experience in the field of medical sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Animal health surveillance systems in Kenya have undergone significant changes and faced various challenges throughout the years. Methods: In this article, we present a comprehensive overview of the Kenya animal health surveillance system (1944 to 2024), based on a review of archived documents, a scoping literature review, and an examination of past surveillance assessments and evaluation reports. Results: The review of archived documents revealed key historical events that have shaped the surveillance system. These include the establishment of the Directorate of Veterinary Services in 1895, advancements in livestock farming, the implementation of mandatory disease control interventions in 1944, the growth of veterinary services from a section to a ministry in 1954, the disruption caused by the Mau Mau insurrection from 1952 to 1954, which led to the temporary halt of agriculture in certain regions until 1955, the transition of veterinary clinical services from public to private, and the progressive privatization plan for veterinary services starting in 1976. Additionally, we highlight the development of electronic surveillance from 2003 to 2024. The scoping literature review, assessments and evaluation reports uncovered several strengths and weaknesses of the surveillance system. Among the strengths are a robust legislative framework, the adoption of technology in surveillance practices, the existence of a formal intersectoral coordination platform, the implementation of syndromic, sentinel, and community-based surveillance methods, and the presence of a feedback mechanism. On the other hand, the system's weaknesses include the inadequate implementation of strategies and enforcement of laws, the lack of standard case definitions for priority diseases, underutilization of laboratory services, the absence of formal mechanisms for data sharing across sectors, insufficient resources for surveillance and response, limited integration of surveillance and laboratory systems, inadequate involvement of private actors and communities in disease surveillance, and the absence of a direct supervisory role between the national and county veterinary services. Discussion and recommendations: To establish an effective early warning system, we propose the integration of surveillance systems and the establishment of formal data sharing mechanisms. Furthermore, we recommend enhancing technological advancements and adopting artificial intelligence in surveillance practices, as well as implementing risk-based surveillance to optimize the allocation of surveillance resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Taking into account the scarcity of research on Syrian refugees from the perspective of sociolinguistics, this research explored Syrian refugees’ reasons for dialect preferences when they communicate in various domains of life in Jordan. Methodology: The study employed a sequential mixed-methods design, which involved collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire of 20 items. Qualitative data were collected using the semi-structured interviews which were conducted with 18 Syrian refugees. While the quantitative data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, the transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were coded and analysed thematically. Findings: The results of the study showed that the majority of Syrian refugees use the Syrian Dialect with family members, Syrian friends, and colleagues at work, and Syrian neighbours. Further, the results revealed that most of the Syrian refugees prefer to use the Jordanian Dialect when they communicate with Jordanian neighbours and friends, and with Jordanians at the workplace and in educational contexts. The study revealed that the major reasons for dialect preferences among Syrian refugees are a desire for integration, close connection to their families, a sense of cultural familiarity, comfort in communication, interlocutors, and the importance of the formal context. Contributions: The findings of this research can contribute to research in sociolinguistics in terms of understanding the Syrian refugees’ dialect preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Integrating vermicompost and hydroponics in rice agriculture presents an innovative and sustainable solution for transforming organic waste into valuable resources. This review explores the possible utilization of organic waste into productive resources through vermicompost and hydroponics in rice agriculture. Method: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to investigate the potential use of vermicompost derived from organic waste for hydroponic rice agriculture. The available literature was analyzed to reveal and explore the various aspects of this application. Results: The literature review reveals that the utilization of vermicompost derived from organic waste in hydroponic rice agriculture holds the potential to evolve into effective strategies for reducing, reusing, and recycling organic waste. Vermicompost decreases used inorganic fertilizers, with studies reporting up to 30% reductions. The application of vermicompost can enhance plant growth by approximately 15% to 30% and positively impact increasing specific nutrients in plants. Using vermicompost can also increase the average crop yield by about 5% to 25% compared to other organic materials. Conclusion: This study found that integrating vermicompost and hydroponics represents a promising approach for transforming organic waste into productive resources. This integration allows organic waste to be effectively converted into nutrient-rich vermicompost and valuable growing medium in hydroponic systems. Scientific research has demonstrated the potential benefits of this approach, including improved nutrient availability, enhanced plant growth and yield, and reduced environmental impact. By combining the nutrient-rich properties of vermicompost with the precision and efficiency of hydroponic systems, farmers can achieve sustainable and resource-efficient crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the vertical strategies of home and foreign manufacturers that produce quality-differentiated products. In contrast to previous results that showed vertical separation as the dominant strategy, we find that the home manufacturer opts for vertical separation, while the foreign manufacturer chooses vertical integration under Bertrand competition. This is because the government of the importing country aims to increase consumer surplus by imposing tariffs, which allows the foreign manufacturer to export high-quality products at lower prices. Under Cournot competition, both manufacturers maintain a vertical separation strategy. However, if the quality levels of products are low, both manufacturers obtain higher profits when they choose vertical integration. This leads to a prisoner's dilemma situation for both manufacturers. In the case of a free trade policy, manufacturers always choose the separation strategy. Under Bertrand competition, integration leads to higher output levels and increases social welfare for the importing country due to the high level of importation of high-quality products, suggesting the tariff policy drive the foreign manufacturer towards integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion, exclusion, discrimination and oppression of vulnerable communities and target groups have been in the discourses for decades. Social exclusion is a multi-dimensional concept that comprises Economic, Structural, and Societal Exclusion (G. Jehoel-Gijsbers & Vrooman, 2007). Most of the studies recognize that Transgender Communities are under social exclusion. Lack of family and community support in the name of gender identity maneuvered them into social marginalization and isolation (Ayyavoo, 2022). The amendments to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of India enacted in 2019 address non-binary persons' constitutional rights, recognition of their gender identity, and non-discrimination laws across institutional spaces. However, the community faces exclusion that intersects with social and economic wellbeing domains. Sporadic efforts to mainstream have not yet converged to achieve a realistic goal. The inclusion of these minority groups and reduction in inequalities, envisaged in the country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), proffers the importance of understanding and describing the phenomenon of social exclusion as perceived by them subjectively. The current study is a qualitative examination of the social exclusion phenomenon experienced by the transgender community in Kerala. The study explored Social Exclusion from three dimensions - resource insecurity, structural exclusion and lack of social integration. The study utilized a case study method to illustrate a picture of exclusion experienced by transgender people. The descriptions of the themes advocate for transformative paradigms in knowledge and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article aims to review some milestones which, when taken as a whole, offer a picture of the failure of post-December 1989 Romania, manifested through a massive exodus of its population; to highlight certain mechanisms that motivate the transposition of the migratory experience into literature; and to reveal the turning points of a difficult path, that of integration over there, as reflected in the social novel Male a Est. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing rates of refugee and family reunion immigration have led to rising concern about integration in Europe. Previous studies point to the importance of social contacts for migrants' labour market integration but suggest that they play different roles for men and women. Yet, less attention has been paid to the potential factors shaping gender differences. Using the Swedish Level of Living Survey of foreign-born and their children, this study (1) establishes the gender-specific role of contacts at entry into employment among refugee and family reunion migrants, and (2) analyses how educational attainment and region of origin shape gender differences. Results reveal that social contacts promote entry into employment among migrant men. In contrast, contacts are not related to a shorter time to first job among migrant women. Findings further point towards gender differences in the role of social contacts by educational attainment and region of origin. In particular, migrant men appear to benefit from their contacts largely because social contacts assist low-educated men in securing work. Among women, the role of social contacts does not differ across educational attainment. Instead, educational attainment is directly associated with time to first job, suggesting that women rely more heavily on their formal education. The returns to social contacts are heterogeneous across regions of origin, and especially so among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of government policies to manage immigration has led to the emergence of an interdisciplinary literature that evaluates policy effects on immigrant integration. This review synthesizes findings from evaluations of policies regulating legal status and citizenship, the labor market, welfare, settlement, education, and cultural rights. It concludes that policies lowering immigrants' costs of adjustment to the host country are consistently more effective in promoting integration than policies incentivizing immigrant effort through withholding resources and regulating access to rights. Policy changes the behavior of both immigrants and native-born citizens through material and psychological pathways, and considering the decision making of each side and their interdependence is crucial for understanding why estimated effects of the same policy differ across contexts and for anticipating unintended consequences. For external validity and useful counterfactuals, a closer connection is needed between empirical research and theoretical models that explicitly account for the equilibrium nature of integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant rise in the number of forcibly displaced people crossing international borders, i.e., refugees, necessitates a thorough examination of the policies implemented by receiving states to manage the arrival of these vulnerable populations. This article reviews the literature on the factors that influence refugee policies, focusing on two dimensions of host state responses: admission and integration. We argue that there may be an inherent tension between refugee admissions and refugee integration policies, as countries attempt to restrict benefits when admission numbers increase. Further, we highlight how refugee policies are influenced by international and domestic constraints and priorities that can at times be conflicting or complementary. The article ultimately advocates for a systematic analysis of the endogenous relationship between refugee policies, public perception of refugees, and migration patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to investigate the future of the country’s banking management system due to the merger of banks. The research strategy in the qualitative part of the research is a library study and in the quantitative part of the research, it is a survey type. The current research in terms of practical purpose and in terms of how to collect information; it is a field. The statistical population consists of all the university and banking experts of West and East Azerbaijan province, whose number is equal to 440 people, and using Cochran’s formula, the sample size is equal to 205 people. The random sampling method is simple and in order to collect information from library resources, as well as in order to collect data and information for analysis, a questionnaire made by the researcher was used, and all analyzes were done using software SPSS software was used, which according to the results of prioritizing the opinions of the sample about the merger of banks in the future, in the banking management system of West and East Azarbaijan province, showed that the items ”culture management, stress management, human resource reconstruction, resistance to change, insecurity ”Jobs, draining talents, lack of motivation are among the challenges in merging banks in the future.” With the average (3.52) and coefficient of variation (cv=0.288), the item ”successful transfer of management depends on changing the management structure in accordance with the functional requirements after the merger and creating the necessary infrastructure based on solving the previous problems.” With the mean (3.35) and coefficient of variation (cv=0.300), the item ”In the integration process, some employees with less skill, less talent or less commitment may not be employed in the new group; ”Trying to employ them in subsidiary companies or other work environments and reducing the stress of job loss among them is another important step in managing change in bank mergers.” With the average (3.33) and coefficient of variation (cv = 0.334), respectively, they play the biggest role in the causes of bank mergers in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LGBTQ + people experience protective benefits from faith community participation, although some also experience minority stress from rejection and discrimination. Social workers, counselors, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and others can assist LGBTQ + people in looking for a faith community that fits their needs and desires. This study reveals how LGBTQ + people in this sample, most of whom identify as Christians, decided to attend their current faith community through an analysis methodology called Sort and Sift Think and Shift. Four contrasting themes were identified: welcoming versus inclusive, racial/ethnic versus LGBTQ+, inward versus outward, and role modeling versus blending. The authors explore the implications of these themes for helping professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how children comprehend text by forming links between sentences has been the focus of research for decades. Such research has consistently shown that children use anaphors and resolve ambiguities in a different manner than adults. The present study examined a less-studied anaphoric reference that arises when two numerically quantified expressions (e.g., "three cats... two cats...") are used in the text. Focusing on 249 six- to eight-year-old children and 50 adults for comparison, the study employed a picture selection task across six experiments to assess interpretative preferences in ambiguous and unambiguous discourses containing numerically quantified expressions. The findings indicate a pronounced difference in interpretative strategies: unlike adults, who predominantly adopted an anaphoric subset reading, children showed a consistent preference for the non-anaphoric reading, even in contexts explicitly disambiguated towards this interpretation. This preference persisted across various experimental manipulations, highlighting challenges in text integration and comprehension among children. Contributing to the developmental trajectory of language comprehension, this study underscores the complexity of cognitive development and linguistic interpretation, revealing significant developmental differences in processing numerically quantified expressions and anaphoric references within discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article aims to address the need for a more structured partnership between civilian and military healthcare, particularly in the context of cross-border threats in the EU. While both systems are driven by the same goal of providing high-quality healthcare services and achieving optimal patient outcomes, they operate under different national approaches and resources. Design/methodology/approach: Two recent crises are presented as examples that highlight the necessity of cooperation between civilian and military medical systems. The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Ukrainian Conflict are described based on the experience gathered by the author as a member of the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine and form the base to shape a broader perspective on the future of civil-military interaction in healthcare at the European Union level. Findings: The ability to deliver coordinated responses during crises depend on the level of interoperability, preparation and mutual understanding. To improve synergies, a structured partnership should be established, prioritizing common standards of care and shared best practices. Integrating military and civilian healthcare pathways can be especially beneficial in situations where patients are moved from the point of injury or sickness across different military and civilian structures to receive the most appropriate treatment and rehabilitation for their conditions. Originality/value: The relationship between military and civilian healthcare systems is often discussed at multinational level, but a clear focus is lacking concerning their shared mission, distinct functions and potential for cross-border collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article's main provisions are the development and application of a neural network method for helicopter turboshaft engine thermogas-dynamic parameter integrating signals. This allows you to effectively correct sensor data in real time, ensuring high accuracy and reliability of readings. A neural network has been developed that integrates closed loops for the helicopter turboshaft engine parameters, which are regulated based on the filtering method. This made achieving almost 100% (0.995 or 99.5%) accuracy possible and reduced the loss function to 0.005 (0.5%) after 280 training epochs. An algorithm has been developed for neural network training based on the errors in backpropagation for closed loops, integrating the helicopter turboshaft engine parameters regulated based on the filtering method. It combines increasing the validation set accuracy and controlling overfitting, considering error dynamics, which preserves the model generalization ability. The adaptive training rate improves adaptation to the data changes and training conditions, improving performance. It has been mathematically proven that the helicopter turboshaft engine parameters regulating neural network closed-loop integration using the filtering method, in comparison with traditional filters (median-recursive, recursive and median), significantly improve efficiency. Moreover, that enables reduction of the errors of the 1st and 2nd types: 2.11 times compared to the median-recursive filter, 2.89 times compared to the recursive filter, and 4.18 times compared to the median filter. The achieved results significantly increase the helicopter turboshaft engine sensor readings accuracy (up to 99.5%) and reliability, ensuring aircraft efficient and safe operations thanks to improved filtering methods and neural network data integration. These advances open up new prospects for the aviation industry, improving operational efficiency and overall helicopter flight safety through advanced data processing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ethiopia and Kenya have adopted the community-based integrated community case management (iCCM) of common childhood illnesses and newborn care strategy to improve access to treatment of infections in newborns and young infants since 2012 and 2018, respectively. However, the iCCM strategy implementation has not been fully integrated into the health system in both countries. This paper describes the extent of integration of iCCM program at the district/county health system level, related barriers to optimal integration and implementation of strategies. Methods From November 2020 to August 2021, Ethiopia and Kenya implemented the community-based treatment of possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) when referral to a higher facility is not possible using embedded implementation research (eIR) to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of this life-saving intervention. Both projects conducted mixed methods research from April-May 2021 to identify barriers and facilitators and inform strategies and summative evaluations from June-July 2022 to monitor the effectiveness of implementation outcomes including integration of strategies. Results Strategies identified as needed for successful implementation and sustainability of the management of PSBI integrated at the primary care level included continued coaching and support systems for frontline health workers, technical oversight from the district/county health system, and ensuring adequate supply of commodities. As a result, support and technical oversight capacity and collaborative learning were strengthened between primary care facilities and community health workers, resulting in improved bidirectional linkages. Improvement of PSBI treatment was seen with over 85% and 81% of estimated sick young infants identified and treated in Ethiopia and Kenya, respectively. However, perceived low quality of service, lack of community trust, and shortage of supplies remained barriers impeding optimal PSBI services access and delivery. Conclusion Pragmatic eIR identified shared and unique contextual challenges between and across the two countries which informed the design and implementation of strategies to optimize the integration of PSBI management into the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The eIR participatory design also strengthened ownership to operationalize the implementation of identified strategies needed to improve the health system’s capacity for PSBI treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Interazioni is the property of FrancoAngeli srl and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recent advancements in single-cell sequencing technologies have generated extensive omics data in various modalities and revolutionized cell research, especially in the single-cell RNA and ATAC data. The joint analysis across scRNA-seq data and scATAC-seq data has paved the way to comprehending the cellular heterogeneity and complex cellular regulatory networks. Multi-omics integration is gaining attention as an important step in joint analysis, and the number of computational tools in this field is growing rapidly. In this paper, we benchmarked 12 multi-omics integration methods on three integration tasks via qualitative visualization and quantitative metrics, considering six main aspects that matter in multi-omics data analysis. Overall, we found that different methods have their own advantages on different aspects, while some methods outperformed other methods in most aspects. We therefore provided guidelines for selecting appropriate methods for specific scenarios and tasks to help obtain meaningful insights from multi-omics data integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The Impact of Technology Integration in Learning on Increasing Student Engagement refers to how this technology integration can be used well in learning. With the integration of technology in learning, it will have a direct impact on students, both student involvement in using technology, as well as the impact on student activities and creativity. Purpose. This research was conducted with the aim of finding out how much impact technology integration has on increasing student engagement. Apart from that, it also aims as an explanation of how important technology is today in the learning process. Method. The method used in this research is a quantitative method. This method is a way of collecting numerical data that can be tested. Data was collected through distributing questionnaires addressed to students. Furthermore, the data that has been collected from the results of distributing the questionnaire will be accessible in Excel format which can then be processed using SPSS. Results. From the research results, it can be stated that the impact of technology integration in learning can indeed have an influence on increasing student engagement. Because basically, today's students are more interested in using technology. However, as a teacher you also need to supervise your students in learning when using this technology. This aims to ensure that students actually use technology to learn. Conclusion. From this research, it can be concluded that the impact of technology integration in learning has a very big influence on student engagement. With technology, students can be creative in how they learn, increase students' knowledge in using technology, make students more enthusiastic about learning, and make students less likely to get bored while studying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scoping review provides insight into the empirical evidence on the effects of disability-related services, health promotion, testing accommodations, social and academic integration on academic success of students with disabilities in higher education. A systematic literature search was conducted in EBSCO, ERIC, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Sociological Abstracts, Cochrane Library, and LIVIVO. Empirical studies published between 2008 and 2022, in English and German language, were included. In summary, 46 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results were categorised into four intervention groups and catalogued through a system of categories. The paper demonstrates contrasting effects of the interventions on academic success. The qualitative studies showed that students evaluated the interventions as important for adaption on campus and academic success. However, quantitative studies lacked from sufficient sample sizes and causal relationships of the variables could not be established. The interventions of disability-related services, and testing accommodations did rarely show statistically significant effects on academic success. Health promotion, and social and academic integration showed significant effects of the interventions on success outcomes. The findings of this study have practical implications for university's staff and disability services, helping to promote the academic success of students with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards require teachers to integrate engineering design into K-12 science teaching. However, many teachers have no formal preparation in engineering design and how to integrate it into science instruction. Furthermore, few models exist for preparing teachers in engineering design and how to integrate it into science teaching. Therefore, in this paper, we describe the model we have used for the past 8 years to prepare eighty-one (81) secondary pre-service science teachers in engineering design and how to integrate it into science instruction. We have also provided the outcomes and suggestions for implementing this model in science teacher education programs. We believe the model is transferable to other institutions and school districts that are involved in preparing teachers in engineering design integrated science teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration is a unique attribute of Mixed Methods Research (MMR). However, some MMR studies, published in the field of physiotherapy and other allied health professions, have illustrated a lack of understanding of the concept of integration. The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance for integrating elements of mixed methods research in order to effectively support evidence-based practice in health. The concept of integration of findings is explained with reference to the author's recent PhD study, which used a mixed methods exploratory sequential design. This article describes how the author used a narrative joint display to integrate findings from both the qualitative and survey phases of the study. Then, a step-by-step approach is introduced to guide the interpretation and integration of the findings. This four-step approach demonstrates integration of the two different datasets: Creating a joint display, linking activity, establishing relationships, and interpreting and reporting. Tables and Figures are used to support detailed description and illustration of the integration process. A joint display provides a visual representation of how the qualitative and quantitative findings in a MMR study can be integrated. In this way, interpretation of the data drawn from this process extend beyond the individual findings of each study component to facilitate a greater understanding of complex health care issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the effect of intelligent teaching in music classrooms, this paper combines the advanced music waveform iterative reconstruction algorithm to analyze the integration and reconstruction of the music curriculum. Aiming at the problem that the projection matrix occupies a large space and takes a long time to calculate in iterative reconstruction, a fast and real-time incremental method for generating a music wave matrix is proposed. The improved method avoids the judgment and comparison calculations performed by the incremental method when calculating the length and number of each voxel that the ray passes through. The research results show that the music curriculum integration and reconstruction model based on the advanced music waveform iterative reconstruction algorithm can effectively improve the teaching effect of modern music classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Plastics / Zhongguo Suliao is the property of Journal Office of CHINA PLASTICS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Serotonergic psychedelics and related substances have been explored as potential adjuncts in substance‐assisted psychotherapy (SAPT) for treating various disorders. SAPT can be divided into three phases: preparation, administration and integration. Integration is commonly defined as the comprehension and effective application of insights from psychedelic experiences into everyday life. However, there is limited research regarding the most appropriate therapeutic approach during SAPT. In this article, we discuss the current evidence for different therapeutic frameworks for integration sessions when serotonergic psychedelics and entactogens are used as adjuncts to psychotherapy. We conducted a systematised review of the literature following PRISMA guidelines and searched PsycINFO, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases. The final synthesis included 75 clinical trials, mixed‐methods investigations, treatment manuals, study protocols, quasi‐experiments, qualitative investigations, descriptive studies, opinion papers, reviews, books and book chapters, published until 11 November 2022. The effects that various therapeutic approaches for integration sessions have on therapeutic outcomes have not been investigated by means of rigorous research. Most of the available evidence we retrieved was not supported by empirical data, thus limiting any conclusive statements regarding appropriate therapeutic frameworks for integration sessions for SAPT. Current clinical studies have used a range of therapeutic frameworks with the majority drawing from the humanistic–experiential tradition. While integration is regarded as crucial for the safe application of SAPT, there is currently an insufficient evidence base to suggest that any type of therapy is effective for guiding integration sessions. A systematic investigation of different therapeutic frameworks for integration and additional therapy‐related factors is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional notion of integration as 'immigrants becoming part of something' has been widely criticised for its undesirable normative connotations. In response, scholars either discard the concept altogether, or they strive for a 'non-normative approach'. In this paper, I argue that both strategies are unsatisfactory and present a third: through ameliorative conceptual analysis, I rethink the concept such that it is useful for both the normative and analytical purposes of investigating inequalities and social boundaries that so often emerge in contexts of immigration. Building on insights from political philosophy, I argue for a conception of integration problems as a subset of relational inequality. Crucially, this framework shifts the site of the integration problem and process from 'the immigrant', and a process that 'immigrants' go through, to the relations amongst all people within a society, and a process of relational change amongst them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of shared mobility hubs, offering shared mobility and other services, have emerged in many cities across the globe. This paper provides a literature review on of the definition and categorisation of shared mobility hubs, guidance for the design of these hubs, and develops a multidimensional typology for shared mobility hubs. The typology, named the SmartHubs Integration Ladder, is based on three integration dimensions: physical, digital, and democratic. The literature review shows that digital and democratic (participation) integration dimensions, and universal design principles are typically missing in shared mobility hub concepts, definitions and planning practice. This implies that existing shared mobility hubs will not reach their full potential in terms of user and societal value. The "smarter" shared mobility hubs are physically, digitally, and democratically, the more user and societal value can potentially be created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the fundamental tenets of systems engineering are supported by a model-based approach to minimize risks and avoid design changes in late development stages. The models are used to formalize, analyze, design, optimize, and verify system development and artifacts, helping developers integrate engineering development across domains. Although model-based development is well established in specific domains, such as software, mechanical systems, and electrical systems, its role in integrated development from a system perspective is still a challenge for industry. The model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tool-chain is an emerging technique in the area of systems engineering and is expected to become a next-generation approach for supporting model integration across domains. This article presents a literature review to highlight the usage and state of the art to generally specify the current understanding of MBSE tool-chain concepts. Moreover, the results are used for identifying the usage, advantages, barriers, concerns, and trends of tool-chain development from an MBSE perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resolution and brightness are the essential figure‐of‐merits for the microdisplay development needed for AR and VR applications. In this presentation, we show our technology development toward high‐resolution FMM‐free direct R‐G‐B OLED microdisplays. We show the schematic fabrication setup and integration route to fabricate red, green, and blue OLED pixels side‐by‐side by the OLED photolithographic patterning processes. We demonstrate a 1µm line and space feature with the photoresist and transfer the pattern to an OLED stack. With the high resolution of photoresist, high aperture ratio, and high‐resolution multicolor OLED pixel arrays are demonstrated. We also investigate the possible OLED degradations induced in the photolithography process. With the innovations in the process steps, OLED stacks, process environments, and photoresists, we demonstrate a breakthrough in the reliability of photolithography patterned OLED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the urgency of better chronic disease management and the importance of making it an integral part of the recovery agenda in Europe. This paper aims to explore the shift towards digital and integrated care systems in Europe. Design/methodology/approach: In this viewpoint paper the Expert Group for Integrated Care and Digital Health Europe (EGIDE) group argues that an orchestrated shift towards integrated care holds the solution to the chronic disease pandemic. Findings: The development of integrated care cannot happen without shifting towards a digitalised healthcare system via large-scale initiatives like the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the involvement of all stakeholders. Originality/value: The EGIDE group has identified some foundational principles, which can guide the way to realise the full potential of the EHDS for integrated care and can support the involved stakeholders' thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinto's (1993) interactional model of student departure was initially developed for students in traditional academic degrees, at residential colleges in the US. This paper takes up Tinto as a fruitful starting point for a critical review of the aspects of the model which are more and less suitable for professional degrees: integration and commitment. Since nursing degrees are quite different from traditional academic degrees, particularly when it comes to the structure of the programme, this calls for a rethink of how the concepts can be used. The paper suggests that a Tinto-type model could be adjusted to offer a valuable tool with which to inform institutional work on retention and completion in nursing programmes, and potentially in other short professional degrees. While we identified limitations in how integration functions in a nursing programme, the existing model could be adapted to account for professional commitment, which in turn may counteract the fragmented integration nursing students experience. As nursing students' initial commitment is much stronger (compared to other student groups), and this is linked to professional identity, students seem less interested in developing a student identity. Institutions should therefore consider alternative integration activities, activities which build on and contribute to the professional commitment students come into the institution with. Additionally, the integration activities also need to consider teaching at several sites, as nursing students switch between their institution and various practice placements, and therefore have a more interrupted study path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets out to investigate the impact of the VUCA world (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) on the vulnerability and resilience of incoming migrants in Romania, as well as on their integration patterns. Vulnerability and resilience are conceptualized through the four elements of the VUCA world. Data was collected through 35 semi-structured, psycho-social interviews, and 4 focus groups carried out between January 2020 and November 2021 with young migrants (aged 18 to 29). Participants came from two ethnic backgrounds: young migrants of Arab and Moldovan origins. Results show that much of VUCA is generated by the lack of employment opportunities and by the bureaucratic public administration. At the same time, the challenges raised by the VUCA world for migrants can be reduced through the improvement of destination language skills and through the development of social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to present and discuss an innovative maturity model (MM) to assess supply chain quality management (SCQM). The SCQM MM can be used to guide organizations in the development and improvement of quality in their supply chains (SCs). Additionally, this paper intends to better understand that integration and its impacts on organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed MM was developed based on an exhaustive literature review of the most relevant MMs developed in the areas of quality management, supply chain management and other relevant domains. Findings: The proposed MM consists of a matrix with 100 criteria organized in five organizational dimensions and five maturity levels, embracing the most relevant SC issues and describing a progressive path towards a state of full maturity. Originality/value: It is an innovative tool useful for both academic experts and practitioners to integrate quality management across the SC, thus promoting and improving organizational performance from an integrated and sustainable perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In B2C e-commerce sales, customers expect a fast and low-cost delivery. To be able to fulfil these customer expectations, both warehouse and distribution operations have to be performed in an efficient and effective way. Ideally, these two supply chain functions should be considered simultaneously in an integrated problem since they are interrelated. In this paper, a record-to-record travel algorithm is proposed to solve the integrated order picking-vehicle routing problem (I-OP-VRP). Experiments with both small-size and large-size instances are conducted. Furthermore, the integrated approach is compared with an approach in which both problems are solved sequentially. Results show that integration leads to increased service levels, i.e. it allows to shorten the time between placing an order and receiving the goods. On top, the integrated approach leads to costs savings of on average 1.8%. Thus, integration is indispensable for a fast and cost-efficient delivery of goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a design for a charge pump DC-DC boost regulator with an integrated low-voltage control circuit. With a charge pump and feedback circuits implemented in 0.35 µm CMOS technology, the proposed DC-DC boost regulator offers an efficient device solution for low-power applications. The proposed design employs an error amplifier, oscillator, and comparator in the control circuit which is designed with a supply voltage of 1.8–3.5 V and 2 MHz frequency. Stability is obtained via a pole-zero compensation in the feedback circuit. The charge pump regulator with four pump stages and the whole regulator circuit are analyzed using the Cadence simulation tool. Measurements of the fabricated 0.35 µm CMOS regulator show that the transient time of the error amplifier is controlled within 1.0 µsec and the output voltage is accurately controlled from 7.8 V to 9.4 V with 27–38 mV ripple and 4.5 mA maximum current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an Internet of Things (IoT) technological key enabler, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are prone to different kinds of cyberattacks. WSNs have unique characteristics, and have several limitations which complicate the design of effective attack prevention and detection techniques. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles underlying cybersecurity in WSNs. In addition to current and envisioned solutions that have been studied in detail, this review primarily focuses on state-of-the-art Machine Learning (ML) and Blockchain (BC) security techniques by studying and analyzing 164 up-to-date publications highlighting security aspect in WSNs. Then, the paper discusses integrating BC and ML towards developing a lightweight security framework that consists of two lines of defence, i.e, cyberattack detection and cyberattack prevention in WSNs, emphasizing the relevant design insights and challenges. The paper concludes by presenting a proposed integrated BC and ML solution highlighting potential BC and ML algorithms underpinning a less computationally demanding solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the first to use empirical evidence to directly examine the relationship between sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and multi-dimensional processes of integration of forced migrant SGBV survivors. While it is acknowledged that forced migrants are subjected to a continuum of violence, including SGBV, during the refugee journey, little is known about the long-term impact of SGBV and how it might be mitigated. Our paper, drawing on empirical evidence from 255 interviews with migrants and stakeholders in Australia, the UK, Sweden and Turkey, documented in detail the complex interactions between SGBV and integration using the Indicators of Integration framework. By bringing together the literature on the continuum of violence, SGBV and the Indicators of Integration framework, we identify, on the one hand, the impact of SGBV on integration, and, on the other, how the indicators framework can be used to identify protective and risk factors for forced migrant survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural health monitoring is currently a crucial measure for the analysis of structural safety. As a structural asset management approach, it can provide a cost-effective measure and has been used successfully in a variety of structures. In recent years, the development of fiber optic sensing technology and vision sensing technology has led to further advances in structural health monitoring. This paper focuses on the basic principles, recent advances, and current status of applications of these two sensing technologies. It provides the reader with a broad review of the literature. It introduces the advantages, limitations, and future directions of these two sensing technologies. In addition, the main contribution of this paper is that the integration of fiber optic sensing technology and vision sensing technology is discussed. This paper demonstrates the feasibility and application potential of this integration by citing numerous examples. The conclusions show that this new integrated sensing technology can effectively utilize the advantages of both fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the development and implementation of an API to integrate external laboratory information systems with a national e-health operator using LOINC codes as a standard measurement vocabulary. The integration provides many benefits, including reduced risk of medical errors, unnecessary tests, and administrative burden on healthcare providers. Security measures were implemented to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive patient information. The "Armed eHealth" mobile application was developed to allow patients to access their lab test results directly on their mobile devices. The implementation of the universal coding system has improved communication, reduced duplications, and improved the quality of care for patients in Armenia. Overall, the integration of the universal coding system for lab tests has had a positive impact on the healthcare system in Armenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Christian Missions Agency is an organised body of Christians that are making efforts to propagate Christianity among those who have not come into contact with the faith. Christian mission activities need a diversity of thinking and experience in a leadership team. Missions' agencies also need leadership that meets a new set of societal needs and circumstances. One easy and obvious step toward diversity in such a body is incorporating women into all levels of the organisational leadership matrix, particularly in the top leadership positions. This paper is not to be construed as a campaign against male leadership; instead, it seeks to increase the equal representation of women and men as part of the mission work teams and within the leadership of a Christian missions organisation. There is a need to create a space for all voices to be heard since all are created equal in the sight of God. An effective mission organisation needs to view women and men as equal contributors to the kingdom's growth and to general social progress. It also aims to encourage women to take on different roles and ensure their skills do not go unnoticed in broader society. Leadership in missions should not in any way be gender-biased. Organisations that do not intentionally create a space for women with leadership gifts to be able to use their gifts for the good of all, will ultimately lose those women's valuable contributions. Some of the reasons commonly cited to explain why women, either married or single, cannot be considered on the same footing as their male counterparts are unwarranted. These are inter alia gender barriers that hinder them, identity challenges, and a perception that a woman is primarily responsible for only family care and thus gains cultural acceptability. The paper concludes with suggested ways of integrating women into leadership of Christian missions as a critically important addition to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When used in an informed and careful manner, the repertory grid technique offers mixed methods researchers a way to quickly gain a deeper understanding of their participants' concerns, issues, and worldviews. This paper critically assesses the potential contributions of the repertory grid technique when used in mixed methods research. After providing a background survey and description of this relatively little-known research instrument, the strengths and limitations of repertory grids are considered. This report discusses some of the ways that this technique can significantly enhance the quality of the data collected from research participants within the three core models of the mixed method design framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explain how the Slovak public perceived migrants coming to Slovakia from Ukraine after the outbreak of the war. Like other countries neighbouring Ukraine, Slovak state institutions have had to deal with issues related to the migration of Ukrainian refugees. In addition to spontaneous aid, negative attitudes towards refugees have also appeared in the public debate since the beginning of the war. Using the method of discourse analysis, this paper examines the formation of opinions on Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia since February 24, 2022. This paper confirms that, as in 2015 and 2016, during the debate on the migration situation, opinions about refugees as a potential threat to the domestic population continued to emerge. These negative messages were mainly presented by representatives of the far right and far left, who are usually characterised by a positive attitude towards Russia and a negative attitude towards the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Little is known about how design leaders foster design excellence "at scale" within large organizations. To bridge this gap, this article reports on interviews with 59 senior design leaders. Using a paradox perspective to frame the findings uncovers major challenges when leading design teams inside large organizations. It also identifies five pairs of opposing leadership behaviors that address these tensions and balance the overarching paradox of integrating design into the fabric of an organization while maintaining its distinctive character: being transformative yet affirmative; being directive yet accommodating; being proactive yet responsive; being intuitive yet systematic; and being holistic yet specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1970s, large-scale dam construction has become a trend in developing countries. During the 1960–2020 period, 235 large-scale dams were built in Indonesia. However, all of them left a negative socio-economic impact. Explicit strategies to recover project-affected communities' (PAC') livelihoods have been implemented but need to be sustained. In 2011, the pumped storage innovation was adopted, and Upper Cisokan, West Java, became the pilot. The recovery of PAC livelihoods is also designed to be sustainable by integrating a "tacit and explicit strategy". This paper aimed to determine the implementation and impact of this strategic innovation. The research was designed through a survey of 325 PAC families (975 persons) and in-depth interviews with 32 informants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and dialectics. The result revealed that strategy integration could speed up the post-resettlement livelihood recovery time and collaborate with various local institutions in the academics, businessmen, community, government, media (ABCGM) scheme. In addition, increasing the number of PAC livelihoods by 155 percent and expanding the diversity of livelihoods from agricultural domination to MSMEs and the non-agricultural sector. The involvement of women and youth in livelihood recovery has also increased by 85 percent, especially in micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the non-agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural schools encounter unique challenges including low socio-economic status, insufficient infrastructure, and inadequate funding, significantly affecting rural secondary teachers in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. This study explored the experiences of veteran secondary school teachers, deemed 'digital immigrants,' who independently integrate technology despite potentially limited exposure or training. Using purposive sampling, seven teachers were selected and data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and sharing circles. Findings revealed that digital immigrant teachers experienced: learners with greater technological knowledge and skills; technology-enhanced teaching and learning; fundamentally transformed teacher roles; shifting beliefs and perceptions about technology use; and persistent experimentation with diverse technologies. Challenges identified by teachers included a lack of training for subject-specific technology integration, limited access to technology resources, and the need to keep up with digitally-native learners while mastering new educational technologies. Therefore, the paper proposes training programs should be provided for digital immigrant teachers to enhance their technological pedagogical content knowledge, helping them adapt to the learning approaches of modern students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]