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Jing Fan,1,2,* Shiyuan Li,3,* Yan Qiang,1,* Zhen Duan,3 Albert Wu,2 Ruiping Wang1– 3 1Clinical Research Center, Shanghai Skin Diseases Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Bloomberg School of Public Health, University of Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, USA; 3School of Public Health, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ruiping Wang, Email w19830901@126.comIntroduction: Shared decision making (SDM) is a collaborative process involving both healthcare providers and patients in making medical decisions, which gains increasing prominence in healthcare practice. But evidence on the level of SDM in medical practice and barriers as well as stimulus during the SDM implementation among aesthetic dermatologists is limited in China.Methods: From July to August 2023, 1938 dermatologists were recruited online in China. Data were collected through an electronic questionnaire covering: (1) demographic features; (2) SDM questionnaire physician version (SDM-Q-Doc); and (3) stimulus and barriers in SDM implementation. Logistic regression was applied to explore factors associated with SDM practice, barriers, and stimulus of SDM implementation, respectively.Results: The 1938 dermatologists included 1329 females (68.6%), with an average age of 35 years. The total SDM score ranged from 0 to 45, with a median value of 40 (IQR: 35– 44), and the median stimulus score and barriers scores were 28 (IQR: 24– 32) and 19 (IQR: 13– 26), respectively. The prevalence of good SDM was 27.2%, logistic regression indicated that female dermatologists (odds ratio, OR=1.21, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.96– 1.51), and dermatologists with more years of aesthetic practice had a higher proportion of good SDM practice (OR was 1.44 for 5– 9 years, 1.58 for 10– 15 years and 1.77 for over 15 years). Moreover, female dermatologists and dermatologists with higher education level and serviced in private settings had lower barrier scores; female dermatologists and dermatologists with more years of aesthetic practice had higher stimulus scores.Conclusion: Chinese aesthetic dermatologists appear to implement SDM at an active level, with more stimulus and less barriers in SDM implementation. The integration of SDM into clinical practice among dermatologists is beneficial both for patients and dermatologists. Moreover, SDM practice should be strongly promoted and enhanced during medical aesthetics, especially among male dermatologists, dermatologists with less working experience, and those who work at public institutions.Keywords: shared decision making, dermatologist, good practice, barriers, stimulus

ObjectiveShared decision-making (SDM) is a collaborative process in which patients and healthcare providers jointly make a medical decision. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the implementation status of shared decision-making among dermatologists engaging in medical esthetics in China and to identify factors associated with the good practice of SDM among them.MethodsFrom January to June 2023, a total of 1,287 dermatologists engaging in medical esthetics in China were recruited and completed the online interviews about their implementation of SDM based on the Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire for Doctors (SDM-Q-Doc). Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to explore factors associated with the higher SDM score achievement among dermatologists with medical esthetic practice.ResultsThe median value of the total SDM score was 39, and 48% (621/1278) of dermatologists with medical esthetic practice achieved at least 40 out of 45 scores. Logistic regression indicated that dermatologists aged 40–49 or ≥ 50 years and those engaging in medical esthetic practice for ≥5 years were more likely to achieve at least 40 out of 45 scores compared to dermatologists aged

Abstract Background Health and adequate access to health care are human rights. Refugees are at risk for substance abuse. Despite the known structural and personal risk factors for abuse, refugees in Germany continue to face barriers to adequate addiction prevention and care, which is a violation of the fundamental human right to health care. The question arises as to how barriers for refugees in reaching addiction services and care can be overcome. In the presented study, strategies for good practices to deconstruct these barriers were identified. Method A total of 21 experts participated in a three-round, consensus-oriented Delphi-Process. The experts represented five different fields: addiction care services, including specialized programs for women, refugee aid services, academia, policy-making and immigrants’ self-help services. Results The Delphi-Process generated 39 strategies of good practice summarized in 9 major categories: Care System, Framework Conditions, Multilingualism, Information and Education, Access, Service-Level, Employee-Level, Employee-Attitudes and Networking. Conclusion In order to guarantee human rights regarding health and adequate access to health care for refugees, institutional barriers limiting access to prevention and treatment programs for addictive disorders must be abolished. The identified good practice strategies for Germany, if widely implemented, could contribute to this aim. By opening up prevention and treatment facilities for refugees, other marginalized groups could also benefit. While some of the strategies need to be implemented at the institutional level, political steps are also required at the system level including, e.g. financing of adequate translation services.

Abstract Background People who inject drugs (PWID) in Europe are at an increased risk of HIV/AIDS, chronic viral hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), and tuberculosis (TB). We aimed to complement the evidence base on interventions optimising their care cascade with evidence from models of good practice (MoGPs) implemented in the EU/EEA and countries from the Eastern European region. Methods A model of good practice (MoGP) was defined as (a package of) interventions with proven effectiveness in certain settings that are likely to be replicable and sustainable in other settings or countries. Fifteen MoGPs, identified by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) following a call launched in 2020, have been analysed. For the 15 MoGPs, a qualitative content analysis was conducted of (i) intervention characteristics and (ii) enabling factors. Information was extracted and summarised for community-based testing, linkage to care and adherence to treatment. Results MoGPs emerged from projects implemented in Belarus, Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova, Spain, and the UK alongside the multi-country HepCare project (Ireland, Romania, Spain, the UK) targeting either HCV (6/15) or HIV/AIDS (4/15), alone or combined with HBV, and/or TB (5/15). All MoGPs used packages of interventions, with decentralisation of services (15/15), cooperation among service providers (14/15), integrated services (10/15), peer interventions (12/15), and case management (4/15) reported across all stages of the care cascade. The synthesis of enablers shows that when replicating interventions in other settings, consideration should be given to national (legal) frameworks, characteristics of and proximity between healthcare and service providers, and establishing relations of trust with PWID. Conclusion To improve the cascade of care for PWID in European settings, care structures and pathways should be simplified, based on cooperation and multidisciplinary. MoGPs can provide implementation-based evidence on interventions alongside evidence from peer-reviewed literature to optimise the care cascade among PWID.

The current study is a pilot survey of future research that seeks to record the views of Primary Education (PE) teachers with respect to the promotion of bioethics literacy in PE through the incorporation of bioethics in the syllabus of primary schools. In this study, which took place in Athens from March 10, 2020, until May 10, 2020, all the appropriate research tool refinements have been considered before its finalization. The snowball sampling method has been used for primary school teachers of various disciplines. Furthermore, the requirements of the mixed research (qualitative and quantitative – triangulation) are met. Research data have been collected through an open-ended type questionnaire comprising 10 questions pertaining to the incorporation of bioethics in the PE syllabus and the data process has been performed with the use of the Content Analysis Method. The majority of the participants showed a positive attitude towards the introduction of bioethics courses in PE and expressed their thoughts and concerns about the implementation of this endeavor. The most important finding is the perception on the importance of bioethics literacy in PE.

Purpose: The paper aims to present project No. 2020-1-SK01-KA226-VET094266 BEQUEL and partial results of the benchmarking questionnaire. Methodology/Approach: The starting point for the project solution was an analysis of the current state of ensuring the quality of e-learning in vocational training and education in the partner countries of the project (Slovakia, Greece, Spain, and Italy) and an overview of laws and regulations valid at the European level and in the world. A benchmarking survey was conducted to determine the level of e-learning quality assurance in these countries compared to good practices in the European Union. The Benchmarking Badge published monthly on the www.bequal.info portal tracks changes over time. Findings: The average standard for the four involved countries after the pandemic was the level for VET (Vocational Education and Training) providers: (1) strategy and policy for e-learning 71.6%, (2) support for trainers and trainees for e-learning 70.4, (3) infrastructure support for e-learning 74.9%, (4) program/course design and development and approval for e-learning provision 75.8%, and (5) e-learning training program evaluation procedures 67.9%. Research Limitation/Implication: On the one hand, the project was limited by the measures of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which face-to-face meetings and training were not allowed. Still, on the other hand, the VET providers recognised their weaknesses, strengths, and readiness for complete online education. Originality/Value of paper: Examples of good practice and video presentations inspire improving the quality of e-learning in VET.

Abstract Background Food-borne diseases are a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as Ethiopia. Poor food hygiene practices primarily exacerbate food-borne illness transmission. Prior studies on the food hygiene practices among food handlers in Ethiopia were inconsistent. Therefore, this meta-analysis and systematic review aimed to estimate the pooled proportion of good food hygiene practices and identify the determinants in Ethiopia. Methods The preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) instruments were used, and a systematic search was performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, POPLINE, HINARI, Science Direct, Cochrane Library databases, and Google Scholar were systematically last searched on the 24th February 2022 for relevant articles. Only the observational studies that reported the proportion of good food hygiene practices and their associated factors among food handlers were included. The quality of the included studies was assessed by two independent authors. Articles with unclear methodologies and did not report the overall proportions of good food hygiene practice were excluded. The effect estimates for pooled proportion and pooled odds ratio (POR) along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined conducting using DerSimonian–Laird's random effect model. Results Among 817 retrieved studies, 23 eligible articles with a total sample size of 7153 study participants were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled proportion of good food hygiene practices among food handlers was 50.5% [95% CI: (41.6, 59.4%]; I 2 = 98.7%, p value = 0.001]. Food handlers with formal education (POR = 4.60, 95% CI: 3.05, 6.93), good knowledge (POR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.26, 3.11), training (POR = 3.52, 95% CI: 2.35, 5.28), and a positive attitude (POR = 3.41, 95% CI: 2.52, 4.61) about food hygiene components, as well as regular medical checkups (POR = 6.75, 95% CI: 4.49) were significantly associated with good food hygiene practice. Conclusions Only half of Ethiopia's food handlers had good food hygiene practice. Implication of the study The key elements of effective food hygiene practice that will aid in the development of feasible interventions to increase food handler compliance with food hygiene components have been identified.

Modern trends in the tourism market, especially at a time when the world is affected by an epidemic of global proportions, has conditioned the return to nature, healthy lifestyles, domestic products and the need for psychophysical rest. More and more tourists are opting for shorter trips and stays in rural areas, away from the crowds that are present in popular tourist destinations. The Russian Federation is an area with significant resources for the development of rural tourism. Today, a number of Russian regions, relying on the unique nature, rich cultural and material heritage, traditions of the rural population are successfully implementing projects in the field of rural tourism. Such regions include the Kaluga, Vologda and Yaroslavl regions, the Altai Republic, Buryatia and Khakassia, and many others. According to the latest research, the potential of rural tourism in Russia in the next 10-15 years can be estimated at 50 billion rubles. The aim of this paper is to point out the possibilities of improving and developing rural tourism in the region based on this example of good practice.

In 2021, Lithuania faced the challenge of managing the crisis of new type of migration across the Belarusian border, which threatened the security of the country and its citizens. A broad set of inter-institutional collaboration strategies and methods were used among the public institutions to address this crisis. Such inter-institutional collaboration has been a multifaceted and complex process, involving both known and new good practices. The aim of this article is to provide insights into good collaborative practices between the Lithuanian national defence and internal affairs systems in managing the migrant crisis. Following the expert interview results, the study identified three good practices of inter-institutional collaboration: (i) the creation of a single dissemination channel for the crisis response services, which ensured that all actors were in the same information field; (ii) the delegation of representatives of the institutions to teams at strategic, operational and tactical levels; and (iii) inter-institutional information sharing ensured good situational awareness at an early stage of emergency management. Lessons learned from the collaboration between the institutions of the national defence and internal affairs systems can be applied to improve inter-institutional collaboration in other areas. The results of the research can be used to enhance the process of such collaboration in addressing current emergency management issues and serve as a basis for effective and smooth emergency preparedness and response where inter-institutional synergy is needed.

This article provides prospects on how English First Additional Language (FAL) teachers working in overcrowded intermediate phase classrooms can assess meaningfully. It is in response to numerous reports that highlight the poor performance in English First Additional Language by South African intermediate learners. Seeing that overcrowdedness has been singled out as one of the possible causes of this reality, this paper integrates overcrowdedness as an important variable. This work, informed by the complexity theory, was steeped in phenomenology as a research design, resulting in the use of the interpretive paradigm. Qualitative research methods were used where interviews and observations provided insight into good practice. Data were analysed mostly thematically, ultimately revealing the significance of assessment tools, the length and weight of assessments, selective approaches to assessments, informal assessments, observations and group assessment. These results illuminated the nonlinearity of the language classroom since other teachers can assess productively despite the number of learners in their classrooms. A notable issue about the insights is that it is rewarding to combine ingenuity and simplicity.

Abstract Background Aviation has used a real-time observation method to advance anonymised feedback to the front-line and improve safe practice. Using an experiential learning method, this pilot study aimed to develop an observation-based real-time learning tool for final-year medical students with potential wider use in clinical practice. Methods Using participatory action research, we collected data on medical students’ observations of real-time clinical practice. The observation data was analysed thematically and shared with a steering group of experts to agree a framework for recording observations. A sample of students (observers) and front-line clinical staff (observed) completed one-to-one interviews on their experiences. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Thirty-seven medical students identified 917 issues in wards, theatres and clinics in an acute hospital trust. These issues were grouped into the themes of human influences, work environment and systems. Aviation approaches were adapted to develop an app capable of recording real-time positive and negative clinical incidents. Five students and eleven clinical staff were interviewed and shared their views on the value of a process that helped them learn and has the potential to advance the quality of practice. Concerns were shared about how the observational process is managed. Conclusion The study developed an app (Healthcare Team Observations for Patient Safety—HTOPS), for recording good and poor clinical individual and team behaviour in acute-care practice. The process advanced medical student learning about patient safety. The tool can identify the totality of patient safety practice and illuminate strength and weakness. HTOPS offers the opportunity for collective ownership of safety concerns without blame and has been positively received by all stakeholders. The next steps will further refine the app for use in all clinical areas for capturing light noise.

This article tracks the development of the Globethics.net Foundation’s work on ethics in higher education, mainly as a focus on the University administration and good practices. Ethics in university management and organisation is a center of focus since the new strategic focus of the Foundation in 2016, paying tribute to the leadership of Globethics.net Executive Director Obiora F. Ike. Prof. Dr Ike pioneered the work and laid firm foundations for its continuation and global implementation. In addition to the Globethics.net resources of library, publications and online education through its academy, Globethics.net launched processes and tools to inspire and equip higher education institutions to reach true ethics excellence in their organisation as institutions.

The main objective of this research is to examine the use of Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) and derive the success factors of eParticipation initiatives according to the electronic government (eGovernment) content evaluation. For this purpose, an African study took place using a two-step methodological technique: ‘review of the United Nations’ eGovernment survey report; and a wide review from the existing literature. The results suggest that the tools and technologies presently applied are mainly general purpose and not exactly designed for eParticipation. In addition, the results indicated that success factors can be categorized into seven groups of factors: government commitment; usability; combination of both online and offline networks; comprehensive communication and encouraging plan; security and privacy, organizational issues; and topics complexity. A comparison with reviewed factors of eParticipation initiatives success suggests there are similarities and significant differences on ICT usage among countries. This study anticipates that its results could be of interest to practitioners as it highlights some knowledge in a practical way. Furthermore, this research could be of interest to researchers as it contributes in validating eParticipation evaluation models.

Ecological chemosensory stimuli almost always evoke responses in more than one sensory system. Moreover, any sensory processing takes place along a hierarchy of brain regions. So far, the field of chemosensory neuroimaging is dominated by studies that examine the role of brain regions in isolation. However, to completely understand neural processing of chemosensation, we must also examine interactions between regions. In general, the use of connectivity methods has increased in the neuroimaging field, providing important insights to physical sensory processing, such as vision, audition, and touch. A similar trend has been observed in chemosensory neuroimaging, however, these established techniques have largely not been rigorously applied to imaging studies on the chemical senses, leaving network insights overlooked. In this article, we first highlight some recent work in chemosensory connectomics and we summarize different connectomics techniques. Then, we outline specific challenges for chemosensory connectome neuroimaging studies. Finally, we review best practices from the general connectomics and neuroimaging fields. We recommend future studies to develop or use the following methods we perceive as key to improve chemosensory connectomics: (1) optimized study designs, (2) reporting guidelines, (3) consensus on brain parcellations, (4) consortium research, and (5) data sharing.

Background: The sale of food by street vendors is an activity of economic, sanitary, and nutritional importance, but these foods can pose a high risk to the health of consumers in inadequate conditions of preparation and storage. The aim of this study was to investigate the preparation conditions and the hygienic-sanitary quality of food sold by street vendors in the vicinity of four campuses of a University Center in Maceió, Brazil. The aim was to verify the sanitary hygienic conditions of the preparation site as well as to carry out a microbiological analysis of the commercialized foods. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the microbiological analyses were carried out on different foods following the multiple tube technique for coliforms and surface sowing method and pour-plate assay for Salmonella sp., molds, and yeasts. In addition, an observational checklist was applied involving 21 trailer tent owners in the vicinity of the four campuses of the University Center. Inclusion criterion included adult vendors selling food near four campuses at the Centro Universitário de Maceió, Brazil. Exclusion criteria consisted of street vendors due to the difficulty in locating them. Results: The findings showed high presence of microorganisms; a high degree of risk was observed in 100% of the studied places. Conclusion: Hygienic-sanitary interventions are necessary to train these vendors on the importance of good manufacturing practices, since this will probably not result in food-borne outbreaks.

The national and international literature pays increasing attention to the research of social innovation and its impacts. Among the areas to be examined, we deal with the issues of measurability within the framework of the study. The conceptualization of social innovation, the determination of the logic of the social innovation process and the definiton of its measurement levels, and modeling based on empirical research are relevant challenges. However, the different sources dealing with the topic examine these issues in a different approach. The purpose of the study is to investigate the social innovation endeavours of a district to be developed by a complex program. Nyírbátor District includes disadvantaged settlements that are facing numerous problems due to their peripheral position. The challenges of the area (migration, ageing, unemployment and scarce financial resources) mean doubly disadvantageous stigmatization for these settlements. On the one hand, they mean an external negative judgment, and on the other hand, an internal stigmatization processes of local inhabitants, which require the exact identification of local needs and the involvement of the inhabitants in decisions. One of the tools of such initiatives can be social innovation, and also the support of social innovation endeavours. Within the framework of the research, we examine social innovation as a process of creative cooperation, during which we pay special attention to the analysis of social initiatives supported by local governments. The social innovation endeavours presented in the framework of the study are multi-stakeholder initiatives based on the involvement of the local population.. Their good practice analysis makes it possible to map the process of social innovation. The purpose of this study is to present the points of focus that serve as potential activating factors for the endeavours in the case of Nyírbátor District. The examined cases play a significant role in managing the unfavourable processes of the area, and their adaptation as best practices can support the process of catching up. The study also defines the main sets of criteria which, in addition to providing a structured record of individual case studies, help to compare good practices.

An area not given enough attention by Hungarian tourism academics is accessible tourism. Some change in this respect can only be seen in the very recent years, by some researchers starting to focus on this issue. The authors of the paper, besides providing a comprehensive summary of the Hungarian literature, also give an outlook to the international literature of the topic. The issue of accessible tourism concerns approximately 10% of the total population of Europe; accordingly, in addition to the social and solidarity significance of the issue, accessible tourism concerns a mass of people that should not be neglected from an economic perspective. In order to be able to create an adequate supply, and also for the equality in the access to services it is indispensable to be aware of the expectations and special consumption habits of the people involved in accessible tourism. The actors, as experts in the Erasmus project called Peer Act, look at the relevant public policies and practices of 5 countries (Hungary, Germany, Italy, Spain and Croatia). With the collaboration of the partner organisations involved in the project, 23 good practices were collected from these countries; also, a questionnaire survey was conducted among the target group of accessible tourism. The processing and evaluation of the findings of the research is underway. This paper is primarily a comparative analysis of good practices, but the tourism habits of people with disabilities are also discussed in a few issues.

Challenges related to increasing large carnivore populations in Europe led to the establishment of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores. We present the work undertaken by the Secretariat of the Platform in analyzing case studies in large carnivore conservation and management, which reflected good practice. We focused on 10 case studies ranging from concrete damage prevention methods to broader stakeholder involvement. For these cases, we interviewed stakeholder members with direct involvement. The short listing of case studies was based on the good practice they demonstrated in terms of both conservation and positive outcomes for stakeholder interaction. Our analysis showed that we have much to learn from the unplanned side effects of the actions undertaken, which stakeholders negotiated as part of the process of working together (further referred to as "trade-offs"). We examined how stakeholders dealt with these trade-offs and how they might lead to adaptations in their future interactions. Stakeholders' responses focused in particular on the following areas: institutional backing of damage prevention and/or compensation; intergroup and in-group relations between stakeholders; instances where costs outweighed benefits; and threats posed by large carnivores. Our findings suggest a need to reconsider what we mean by good practice. In particular, "win-win" solutions may not be realistic, nor even desirable as a management goal. An overconcentration on win-win options may lead to a downplaying of the costs for particular stakeholder groups, which in the end is likely to be counterproductive. Our results indicate that good practice should not be understood as meaning an absence of obstacles but that such obstacles are effectively overcome by stakeholders to achieve desirable outcomes in a specific setting. This conceptualization of good practice has considerable implications for stakeholder engagement in participatory processes and may promote social learning.

One of the most critical moments for young people with intellectual disabilities is their transition to adulthood and employment. It is necessary to make visible the talent of young people with intellectual disabilities to increase the level of employment in this group. Supported employment is a model of inclusion in competitive employment for people with special difficulties. In our work: (1) we analyse the educational system in Wales and the Canary Islands, from the perspective of students with special educational needs; (2) we address the process of transition to employment in both regions, highlighting the main milestones and obstacles to overcome; and (3) we analyse the current situation regarding Supported Employment programmes in Wales and the Canary Islands, highlighting their good practices, such as the Engage to Change Project and the Sinpromi Programme (both programmes promote Supported Employment and are presented as examples of good practice). Although Wales has a more developed vision than the Canary Islands, regarding the transition of young people with intellectual disabilities to employment, there are certain barriers that equally hinder the transition to employment in the two regions. Support, as an element to ensure equal opportunities and to promote the development of a more inclusive and sustainable society, is discussed.

The aim of the research is to study the effect of microwave Wi-Fi radiation on humans and plants. The paper investigates national standards for permissible exposure levels to microwave radiation, measures electric field intensity and justifies the point of view regarding the safe use of microwave technologies based on multiple plant cultivation experiments at different distances from a Wi-Fi router. The results demonstrate that the radiation of Wi-Fi routers significantly impairs the growth, development, yield and unexpected drought resistance of plants at short distances from the microwave source (up to 1 m to 2 m; –33 dBm to –43 dBm; >10 V/m). Slight effects are found up to about 4.5 m from a full-power home Wi-Fi router. As a result, suggestions are made for safe and balanced use of modern wireless technologies, which can complement occupational safety and health regulations.

Health reporting provides a description of the health of the population, analyses problems and demonstrates areas in which action needs to be taken in health care provision, health promotion and disease prevention. Accordingly, it offers a rational basis for participatory processes and health policy decision-making. This edition of Good Practice in Health Reporting resulted from a revision of the first edition, which was first published in March 2017. It incorporates contributions from experts, and various institutions and associations from the German federal-state and national levels. This revised edition rose out of the need for continual development in health reporting. In some cases, a number of changes were made so that certain aspects could be defined more clearly; in other cases, changes were made to methodology, for example, in order to accommodate participatory and qualitative approaches. This publication is aimed at providing people working in health reporting with professional direction and guidance. We welcome your feedback.

The port areas are specific in terms of navigational accidents. Usually, accidents with low consequences dominate, but due to many users with contradictory needs, there is a requirement to keep the balance between business and safety. This balance is usually achieved by the Port Authority or like in Poland by Maritime Office together with Port Authority. Maritime Offices are the governmental body responsible to maintain the acceptable navigational safety level. Such an approach leads to several frictions between the users that needs are often contradictory. To ensure minimal safety level and introduce new or amended port regulations the scientific methods are demanded to support this process. The paper present methodology to adjust the port regulations of Kołobrzeg Port where the passenger ship owners moored in close vicinity of the waterway and therefore restricted it to the other users. The compromise was achieved with the application of real-time simulation method. Moreover, the paper presents the important role of harbor regulations in whole navigation risk management process within the port area. Today’s port regulations are created mostly based on good practice of pilots and experts, whereas the quantitative methods are used less frequently. The intention of the presented case study was to demonstrate how the quantitative risk assessment could be used in port policy development.

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) has been controversial in its application to improve reproductive success, reduce time-to-pregnancy, and serve the intention-to-treat. Nevertheless, many in vitro fertilization (IVF) units have already introduced the service for one reason or another. Given PGT-A is not a stand-alone technique but a clinical service involving several disciplines, this mini review discussed the factors that can influence success rates when PGT-A is applied and highlighted practical issues encountered by clinicians, embryology, and genetics laboratories involved in the provision of PGT-A service.

Abstract Public involvement in research has evolved over the last two decades in a culture dominated by the principles of evidence-based medicine. It is therefore unsurprising that some researchers have applied the same thinking to involvement, particularly to involvement in research projects. This may explain why they tend to conceptualise involvement as an intervention, seek to evaluate its impact in the same way that treatments are tested, highlight the need for an evidence-base for involvement, and use the language of research to describe its practice and report its outcomes. In this article we explore why this thinking may be unhelpful. We suggest an alternative approach that conceptualises involvement as ‘conversations that support two-way learning’. With this framing, there is no ‘method’ for involvement, but a wide range of approaches that need to be tailored to the context and the needs of the individuals involved. The quality of the interaction between researchers and the public becomes more important than the process. All parties need to be better prepared to offer and receive constructive criticism and to engage in constructive conflict that leads to the best ideas and decisions. The immediate outcomes of involvement in terms of what researchers learn are subjective (specific to the researcher) and unpredictable (because researchers don’t know what they don’t know at the start). This makes it challenging to quantify such outcomes, and to carry out comparisons of different approaches. On this basis, we believe obtaining ‘robust evidence’ of the outcomes of involvement in ways that are consistent with the values of evidence-based medicine, may not be possible or appropriate. We argue that researchers’ subjective accounts of what they learnt through involvement represent an equally valid way of knowing whether involvement has made a difference. Different approaches to evaluating and reporting involvement need to be adopted, which describe the details of what was said and learnt by whom (short term outcomes), what changes were made as a result (medium term outcomes), and the long-term, wider impacts on the research culture and agenda. Sharing researchers’ personal accounts may support wider learning about how involvement works, for whom and when.

Fish and other aquatic animals represent a significant number of species with diverse physiology, size, and housing condition needs. Anesthesia may be necessary for several husbandry procedures as well as treatment of diseases, surgery, or experimental procedures. Choice of drugs and detailed procedures for anesthesia must be adapted to the species in question—there is no “one size fits all” solution. However, there are some basic principles that apply for good anesthetic practice of all animals. These principles include the preparations of animals, personnel, facilities and equipment, monitoring animals under anesthesia, as well as post-anesthetic care to be sure that animals are not lost in the recovery phase. Good anesthesia practice also includes the competence and commitment of personnel involved. Based on professional judgement, key factors will be the focus of this text.

The national and international literature pays increasing attention to the research of social innovation and its impacts. Among the areas to be examined, we deal with the issues of measurability within the framework of the study. The conceptualization of social innovation, the determination of the logic of the social innovation process and the definiton of its measurement levels, and modeling based on empirical research are relevant challenges. However, the different sources dealing with the topic examine these issues in a different approach. The purpose of the study is to investigate the social innovation endeavours of a district to be developed by a complex program. Nyírbátor District includes disadvantaged settlements that are facing numerous problems due to their peripheral position. The challenges of the area (migration, ageing, unemployment and scarce financial resources) mean doubly disadvantageous stigmatization for these settlements. On the one hand, they mean an external negative judgment, and on the other hand, an internal stigmatization processes of local inhabitants, which require the exact identification of local needs and the involvement of the inhabitants in decisions. One of the tools of such initiatives can be social innovation, and also the support of social innovation endeavours. Within the framework of the research, we examine social innovation as a process of creative cooperation, during which we pay special attention to the analysis of social initiatives supported by local governments. The social innovation endeavours presented in the framework of the study are multi-stakeholder initiatives based on the involvement of the local population.. Their good practice analysis makes it possible to map the process of social innovation. The purpose of this study is to present the points of focus that serve as potential activating factors for the endeavours in the case of Nyírbátor District. The examined cases play a significant role in managing the unfavourable processes of the area, and their adaptation as best practices can support the process of catching up. The study also defines the main sets of criteria which, in addition to providing a structured record of individual case studies, help to compare good practices.

Alumni are more and more often perceived as the most important asset of a university, crucial for the implementation of its strategic goals. Polish economic universities, in comparison to American and many European ones, have much to catch up on in this area. The problem is not only that funds are too small in relation to the needs. There is a lack of systematised knowledge about the possible benefits of maintaining a relationship between universities and alumni, as well as the lack of developed models for this cooperation. The aim of the article is to assess the benefits of cooperation between universities of economics and their alumni taking into account the benefits for the university, its alumni and present students, and to identify good practice in this area. The research method was based on the analysis of the results of a survey conducted online from 28 universities in 19 countries. An additional source of information was the literature, websites, a diagnosis of the situation at the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) and the experience of the authors who have visited some of the foreign universities. As a result of the analysis, it was found that universities are aware of the benefits of maintaining relationships with alumni. The quality of this cooperation is not satisfactory and action is necessary to organise it better. In the case of the SGH, which has been subject to a detailed analysis, there is no clear definition of the goals for maintaining relationships with alumni. The priority should be to develop a long-term strategy leading to organising these relations and outline a desired model of cooperation.

In the article, we present an application proposal of the Moodle platform in distance learning in adult continuing education. We present a rare solution. The participants of the project themselves, partners from the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Latvia, made modules as parts of the project, learning by themselves, while acquiring competences to teach in the environments of Poles staying abroad.

Participation has been present in the Serbian legal framework in the domain of urban planning since the 1950s. Its scope and legal definition have evolved with the transition to democracy, markets and decentralised governance. In line with EU standards, Serbia introduced an additional level of participation in the form of early public inquiry in 2014. Still, participatory planning practice is often seen as a formality which lacks sufficient effect on the planning solution, and requires qualitative improvements in citizen and stakeholder involvement. The main aim of this paper is to suggest that the use of alternative methods of participation in the domains of informing, consultation and active participation may increase the effectiveness of participatory planning practice. Thus, this paper points out some examples of good practice, and argues for the importance of recognising the existing base of knowledge and expertise in order to respond to contemporary requirements in the field of urban planning. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 47014: The role and implementation of the National Spatial Plan and Regional Development Documents in Renewal of Strategic Research, Thinking and Governance in Serbia]

Abstract Background The goal of medical research is to develop interventions that are in some sense superior, with respect to patient outcome, to interventions currently in use. Similarly, the goal of research in methodological computational statistics is to develop data analysis tools that are themselves superior to the existing tools. The methodology of the evaluation of medical interventions continues to be discussed extensively in the literature and it is now well accepted that medicine should be at least partly “evidence-based”. Although we statisticians are convinced of the importance of unbiased, well-thought-out study designs and evidence-based approaches in the context of clinical research, we tend to ignore these principles when designing our own studies for evaluating statistical methods in the context of our methodological research. Main message In this paper, we draw an analogy between clinical trials and real-data-based benchmarking experiments in methodological statistical science, with datasets playing the role of patients and methods playing the role of medical interventions. Through this analogy, we suggest directions for improvement in the design and interpretation of studies which use real data to evaluate statistical methods, in particular with respect to dataset inclusion criteria and the reduction of various forms of bias. More generally, we discuss the concept of “evidence-based” statistical research, its limitations and its impact on the design and interpretation of real-data-based benchmark experiments. Conclusion We suggest that benchmark studies—a method of assessment of statistical methods using real-world datasets—might benefit from adopting (some) concepts from evidence-based medicine towards the goal of more evidence-based statistical research.

This review provides an overview of the importance of good manufacturing practices in the elaboration of artisanal products, aiming to generate a discussion about this subject. The elaboration of artisanal food has been gaining prominence in several countries of the world since these products carry the identity and culture of a place. The traditional and artisanal way of manufacturing provides the food with a variation in its characteristics, which makes it peculiar in comparison to its similar, pleasing the most diverse demands of consumers. In addition, they are considered healthier and natural foods. In the Northeast of Brazil, these products are highlighted by the significant commercialization, being sources of income generation for the region. Among the most prominent products are the coalho and butter types cheeses, bottled butter and carne de sol. Despite the economic and cultural importance of these products, the traditional way of manufacturing, without proper hygiene care, can be a limiting factor for the formal commercialization of these products. Therefore, adopting good manufacturing practices at artisanal food processing places may be the first step towards the production of higher quality products that meet the requirements of the legislation but retain their artisanal manufacturing characteristics.

Health reporting provides descriptions of the health of a population, analyses problems and demonstrates areas in which action needs to be taken in health care, health promotion and disease prevention. As such, it provides a rational basis for participatory processes and a foundation for health policy decision-making. Good Practice in Health Reporting was developed by a working group that includes representatives from all levels of health reporting with the aim of strengthening the field at the local, federal-state and national level. The document sets out guidelines and recommendations that are intended to provide professional guidance for the creation of health reports. It makes 11 recommendations that address the ethical principles behind health reporting, the necessary framework, the selection of topics (the report’s focus), the foundation of the work undertaken (data quality), data preparation, analysis, interpretation and protection, as well as communications and quality assurance. The pilot version of the document was presented at the conferences of the German Society for Epidemiology (DGEpi), the German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP) and the Federal Association of Physicians of German Public Health Departments (BVÖGD) where it was discussed and subsequently revised. After further review, the guidelines were adopted by all of these institutions. Finally, Good Practice in Health Reporting is to be strengthened and developed further as part of a comprehensive review.

Background: Crisis resolution teams (CRTs) seek to avert hospital admissions by providing intensive home treatment for people experiencing a mental health crisis. The CRT model has not been highly specified. CRT care is often experienced as ending abruptly and relapse rates following CRT discharge are high. Aims: The aims of CORE (Crisis resolution team Optimisation and RElapse prevention) workstream 1 were to specify a model of best practice for CRTs, develop a measure to assess adherence to this model and evaluate service improvement resources to help CRTs implement the model with high fidelity. The aim of CORE workstream 2 was to evaluate a peer-provided self-management programme aimed at reducing relapse following CRT support. Methods: Workstream 1 was based on a systematic review, national CRT manager survey and stakeholder qualitative interviews to develop a CRT fidelity scale through a concept mapping process with stakeholders (n = 68). This was piloted in CRTs nationwide (n = 75). A CRT service improvement programme (SIP) was then developed and evaluated in a cluster randomised trial: 15 CRTs received the SIP over 1 year; 10 teams acted as controls. The primary outcome was service user satisfaction. Secondary outcomes included CRT model fidelity, catchment area inpatient admission rates and staff well-being. Workstream 2 was a peer-provided self-management programme that was developed through an iterative process of systematic literature reviewing, stakeholder consultation and preliminary testing. This intervention was evaluated in a randomised controlled trial: 221 participants recruited from CRTs received the intervention and 220 did not. The primary outcome was re-admission to acute care at 1 year of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included time to re-admission and number of days in acute care over 1 year of follow-up and symptoms and personal recovery measured at 4 and 18 months’ follow-up. Results: Workstream 1 – a 39-item CRT fidelity scale demonstrated acceptability, face validity and promising inter-rater reliability. CRT implementation in England was highly variable. The SIP trial did not produce a positive result for patient satisfaction [median Client Satisfaction Questionnaire score of 28 in both groups at follow-up; coefficient 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) –1.02 to 2.97]. The programme achieved modest increases in model fidelity. Intervention teams achieved lower inpatient admission rates and less inpatient bed use. Qualitative evaluation suggested that the programme was generally well received. Workstream 2 – the trial yielded a statistically significant result for the primary outcome, in which rates of re-admission to acute care over 1 year of follow-up were lower in the intervention group than in the control group (odds ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.99; p = 0.044). Time to re-admission was lower and satisfaction with care was greater in the intervention group at 4 months’ follow-up. There were no other significant differences between groups in the secondary outcomes. Limitations: Limitations in workstream 1 included uncertainty regarding the representativeness of the sample for the primary outcome and lack of blinding for assessment. In workstream 2, the limitations included the complexity of the intervention, preventing clarity about which were effective elements. Conclusions: The CRT SIP did not achieve all its aims but showed potential promise as a means to increase CRT model fidelity and reduce inpatient service use. The peer-provided self-management intervention is an effective means to reduce relapse rates for people leaving CRT care. Study registration: The randomised controlled trials were registered as Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN47185233 and ISRCTN01027104. The systematic reviews were registered as PROSPERO CRD42013006415 and CRD42017043048. Funding: The National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research programme.

Brainstorm is a free, open-source Matlab and Java application for multimodal electrophysiology data analytics and source imaging [primarily MEG, EEG and depth recordings, and integration with MRI and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)]. We also provide a free, platform-independent executable version to users without a commercial Matlab license. Brainstorm has a rich and intuitive graphical user interface, which facilitates learning and augments productivity for a wider range of neuroscience users with little or no knowledge of scientific coding and scripting. Yet, it can also be used as a powerful scripting tool for reproducible and shareable batch processing of (large) data volumes. This article describes these Brainstorm interactive and scripted features via illustration through the complete analysis of group data from 16 participants in a MEG vision study.

Professional development of teachers is recognized worldwide as an important condition for high quality education. According to experimental data, pre-service and in-service training programs of preschool teachers are not always efficient, their interrelation with provisions for quality development in kindergartens is inconsistent. Developing potential of internship as a form of professional growth reduces deficiencies of programs focused on achievements of the kindergarten, on teaching technics without discussion of their worthiness and preschool values, perfunctory discussion, rigidity, organizational disadvantage. The authors discuss the criteria of effective internship. Programs work both to give specific knowledge and master pedagogical techniques, and, at the same time, to develop reflection. Programs support participants to adopt the cycle of pedagogical action. This research is aimed at selection of best practices of preschool education and analysis of their potential in internship. The research participants are Moscow teachers of 50 preschool groups. The groups, ready for internships, demonstrate significantly higher quality of education than the joint sample; however, they experience the lack of competences in work with adults and in development of their reflection. The internship programs elaborated by teachers from high quality groups show some deficiencies, namely, different topics interfere in one short-term program, the main focus is on object-spatial environment but not on interaction, participants’ outcomes are not embodied in any product. Best practices are interested in their own development as well as new sources of motivation. The authors have proposed internship to become a resource of development both for organizers and participants. Each position solves its own problems.

Honors education offers students challenging experiences and teachers a laboratory for educational innovation. Successful innovations can stimulate other teachers to experiment and improve their educational practice. This requires that innovations become known to other teachers. For this reason, a project on good practices in honors education has been started in The Netherlands, where good practices in honors education of universities were described and published on a website of the Dutch Honors Network. Until now, 19 good practices are described, 17 from The Netherlands and two from the United States. Nine are selected for this issue. In this introductory paper, the good practice project and research about good practices are described. Different views and principles about honors education are discussed. A series of keywords to bridge the different views and the principles with the nine good practices published in this issue are presented. An analysis of the collected data of the good practices is carried out, followed by conclusions, discussions, and reflections. It appears that six good practices already led to innovations elsewhere in curricula.

The implementation of inclusion policy for learners with special education needs has been a matter of interest for South African schools. This study sought to explore pockets of good practice found in the experiences of teachers in implementing inclusion of learners with special education needs (SEN). A qualitative research approach was employed and a case study design used. The study purposively sampled eight teachers and eight principals from eight selected primary schools, as well as one provincial and three district officials. Semi-structured interviews were employed as instruments of data collection, and the data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that teachers accommodate learners with SEN despite the fact that some of them do not have qualifications/training in SEN. The study also established that teachers experienced varied challenges in implementing the inclusion of learners with SEN. These challenges included lack of parental participation, heavy workload, inadequate training for teachers, multi-grade challenges, and lack of resources. Although challenges were encountered, this study concluded that there were pockets of good practice in the experiences of teachers in implementing inclusion of learners with SEN. Good practices identified by the current study included giving remedial work, the use of teaching aids, giving individual work, and informing parents of children’s challenges. The paper recommends collaborative effort among stakeholders and adequate training of teachers to ensure effective support for learners with SEN.

We are delighted to present the 2018 Special Issue – Student Engagement and Retention in Higher Education. Practitioners, researchers and scholars know that student retention arises from a complex combination of student, institutional and external factors that manifest differently for individual students. Simple performance metrics focused on student characteristics, cohorts or institutional initiatives delivered as ranking or rating systems, are unlikely to deliver improvements in performance, unless the complex contextual factors underlying the reasons students stay or leave are more widely considered.

The main aim of this article is to identify and judge realisation of coporate social responsible actions which take place in hotel industry. The system of the work has been subordinated to the aim realisation in which the CSR conception has been shown (also in hotel industry). The actions corporate social responsible in hotel industry has been shown as well in this work.

This article explains the birth, evolution and subsequent project management of a juvenile intervention in the Northern of the city of Alicante, born in 2007 and remains in effect within a specific Municipal Comprehensive Plan. A project managed by a local social organization nonprofit (Danae Cultural Association) and is formed by a group of 80 people, including students, parents or guardians, monitors and coordinators. The program is developed with the official support of the City Council of Alicante and the Generalitat Valenciana in a neighborhood context degraded and economically disadvantaged (North Zone of the city) which hosts a significant number of immigrants that in some neighborhoods, exceeds 45% and live more than 120 nationalities. It is a very socially recognized project and has been awarded by municipal and regional institutions.

Background: There is need for ‘high-quality’ teachers who are equipped to meet the needs of all learners through provision of education for an inclusive society according to equal opportunities to all. Objective: This paper investigates pockets of good practice in the adaptation of the curriculum for the inclusion of learners with special education needs (SEN) in selected primary schools in the Fort Beaufort District. Method: The study adopted a qualitative research approach and employed a case study design. Eight teachers and 10 principals from 10 selected primary schools, 4 education district officials and 1 provincial official were interviewed. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. Data were collected using document analysis and semi-structured interviews and were analysed thematically. Result: The study established that teachers use methods relating to different teaching strategies, individual work, group work and extra work. Conclusion: It was concluded that there are pockets of good practice of inclusion policy such as the use of different teaching strategies, individual work, group work and extra work for inclusion of learners with SEN in some of the selected primary schools in the poor rural context. The paper recommends adequate training for teachers in curriculum adaptation in order for all teachers to accommodate learners with SEN.

Background: Improving dementia care quality is an urgent priority nationally and internationally. Life story work (LSW) is an intervention that aims to improve individual outcomes and care for people with dementia and their carers. LSW gathers information and artefacts about the person, their history and interests, and produces a tangible output: the ‘life story’. Objective: To establish whether or not full evaluation of LSW was feasible. Design: Mixed-methods feasibility study. Methods: In-depth interviews and focus groups explored experiences of LSW and best practice with people with dementia, family members and dementia care staff. A systematic review explored best practice and theories of change for LSW. These stages helped to identify the outcomes and resources to explore in the feasibility study. A representative sample survey of health and social care dementia care providers in England established LSW practice in different settings. A survey of a self-selected sample of family members of people with dementia explored how LSW is experienced. Two small outcome studies (stepped-wedge study in six care homes and pre-test post-test study in inpatient specialist dementia care wards) explored the feasibility of full evaluation of LSW in these settings. Settings: Survey: generalist and specialist care homes; NHS dementia care settings; and community dementia services. Feasibility study: care homes and NHS inpatient dementia care wards. Participants: NHS and social care services, people with dementia, family carers, care home staff and NHS staff. Interventions: LSW. Main outcome measures: Spread of LSW and good practice, quality of life (QoL) for the person with dementia and carers, relationships between people with dementia and family carers, staff attitudes about dementia, staff burnout, resource use and costs. Review methods: Narrative review and synthesis, following Centre for Review and Dissemination guidelines. Results: Good practice in LSW is identifiable, as are theories of change about how it might affect given outcomes. Indicators of best practice were produced. LSW is spreading but practice and use vary between care settings and are not always in line with identified good practice. Two different models of LSW are evident; these are likely to be appropriate at different stages of the dementia journey. The feasibility study showed some positive changes in staff attitudes towards dementia and, for some people with dementia, improvements in QoL. These may be attributable to LSW but these potential benefits require full evaluation. The feasibility work established the likely costs of LSW and highlighted the challenges of future evaluation in care homes and inpatient dementia care settings. Limitations: There was insufficient evidence in the literature to allow estimation of outcome size. We did not carry out planned Markov chain modelling to inform decisions about carrying out future evaluation because of the dearth of outcome data in the literature; low levels of data return for people with dementia in the hospital settings; lack of detected effect for most people with dementia; and questions about implementation in the research settings. Conclusions: LSW is used across different health and social care settings in England, but in different ways, not all of which reflect ‘good practice’. This large, complex study identified a wide range of challenges for future research, but also the possibility that LSW may help to improve care staff attitudes towards dementia and QoL for some people with dementia. Future work: Full evaluation of LSW as an intervention to improve staff attitudes and care is feasible with researchers based in or very close to care settings to ensure high-quality data collection. Funding: The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

This paper is dedicated to active teaching and learning methods in education for sustainability. Active teaching methods such as case studies, simulation games, debates, and roleplaying are described in a step-by-step direction. Examples of the good practices of local communities in education for sustainability are provided in the paper. (original abstract)

In the introduction we outline some problems of mathematics education,especially the problem of instructive and constructive approaches to learning. In the second part we compare the concept of pedagogical content knowledge with the concept of didactics as school formation. We prove that Shulman’s missing paradigm is plentifully represented in Czech didactics. Further, we characterize global and partial transformations as different approaches to development of pedagogical content knowledge. The issue of understanding is discussed together with the work of Liping Ma and stresses the importance of so called “good practice”. The third part deals with the possibilities of integration of didactic and content dimensions of mathematics in teacher education.

The two great challenges for any authority are to what extent and how to intervene in thefunctioning of the society. These challenges originate both in the world of ideologies, defining the type ofstate or authority based on its propensity for regulation, and in the technical expertise of technocraticmanagement that can identify the “good practice” and “good governance” features. Both policy sources arenecessary and legitimate. The ideological sources help support a representative mandate obtained by anelected power, being validated by citizens’ vote, while the technical ones contribute to optimising theefficiency of the public option by managing it in an appropriate manner. To set a simple example, if theideological option is in favour of maintaining a company under state ownership, then the technical optionmay be to ensure a competency-based management controlled solely according to performance criteria. Ifthe ideological option promotes the privatisation of a state-owned company, then the technical option mayseek to ensure a privatisation procedure that should maximise the public benefit (through price, othercontractual terms, enhanced market competition, clauses or measures to protect consumers, etc.)

OBJECTIVES: One of the objectives of a recently held workshop in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was to advance methods for the economic evaluation of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the corporate and societal level. Drawing from that workshop, we discuss issues to consider when developing guidelines for good practice (ie, a reference case). METHODS: The Economics of Occupational Safety and Health (ECOSH) workshop was held in conjunction with the Repository of Occupational Well-being Economic Research (ROWER) initiative in the fall of 2009 and brought together researchers, employers, unions, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Through presentations, break-out sessions, and group discussions, efforts were made to develop a consensus on key elements for good practice. This manuscript integrates these efforts along with earlier contributions in this area. RESULTS: We propose some framework principles and a set of recommendations to serve as the foundations for developing a reference case. We argue that a reference case can be invaluable for the OSH field because it encourages sound principles to be consistently applied in studies. Furthermore, it can ensure that studies are more readily comparable regardless of the intervention type, jurisdiction, or sector. CONCLUSIONS: Developing guidelines for good practice in the economic evaluation of OSH interventions that meet the needs of all stakeholders requires discussion as well as time. The ECOSH/ROWER initiative has served as a good starting point for this objective.

Sri Lanka was badly affected by the tsunami that occurred on 26th December 2004. The tsunami destroyed about two-thirds of the Sri Lankan coastline and affected more than 1,000,000 people. It does not only affected the lives of the community, but also had a devastating effect on their housing and livelihoods. The overall loss of 100,000 or more houses due to the tsunami proved to be a major challenge to the emergency response teams and disaster planners. Although several major disasters of varying magnitudes have occurred in the world, the body of knowledge related to post-disaster housing reconstruction and rehabilitation appears fragmented and poorly integrated. This paper attempts to fill this theoretical gap by focusing on the extent to which good practice knowledge transfer helps in overcoming this problem for more effective and efficient delivery of post-tsunami housing in Sri Lanka. The paper applied knowledge transfer principles within the context of the two housing reconstruction strategies employed in post-tsunami housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka; namely donor-driven housing and owner driven housing. The results of this study reveal that the knowledge transfer within this context cannot be simply copied and inserted from one context without any localisation. Therefore, the paper proposes a high-level abstraction of the core principles of community engagement through participatory techniques associated with appropriate capacity and capability building techniques that will enable the various stakeholders to create a new application to suit the appropriate context of the transfer destination (post-tsunami context in Sri Lanka).

"Politik und Internet" ist ein weites Feld für praktische Anwendungsversuche wie für wissenschaftliche Begleitforschung geworden. Der Artikel untersucht, inwieweit Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT) im allgemeinen und das "World Wide Web" im besonderen in einem vom Krieg zerrissenen Land wie Bosnien-Herzegowina im Sinne von "peacebuilding" für Demokratisierung und Verständigung zwischen den (ehemaligen) Konfliktparteien eingesetzt werden können. Aus Ansätzen der Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, sowie der Informationswissenschaft werden dazu Kriterien abgeleitet, die für einen adäquaten Einsatz des Internets erfüllt sein sollten, bzw. aus denen abgeleitet werden kann, wie Internetangebote gestaltet sein sollten, damit sie entsprechend wirken können. Im empirischen Teil wird zunächst die Problematik des "Allgemeinen Zugangs" zum Internet in Bosnien-Herzegowina dargestellt, indem Daten zur Telekommunikationsinfrastruktur und zur Verbreitung und Nutzung des Internets gegeben und Projekte zur Verbesserung der Situation vorgestellt werden. Im weiteren werden die entwickelten Kriterien an ausgewählte IKT-Projekte und Internet-Homepages nationaler und internationaler Institutionen und Organisationen angelegt, die an Demokratisierung und Verständnisbildung beteiligt sind. Als Beispiel für "bad practice" wird die Homepage des "Office of the High Representative" der Vereinten Nationen dargestellt, da diese Website fast ausschliesslich in englischer Sprache gehalten und somit für bosnische Bürger nahezu unzugänglich ist. Als Beispiele für "good practice" - zumindest in bezug auf bestimmte Kriterien - können die Homepages der bosnischen Zentralbank, der "Mine Action Centers", sowie der OSZE Mission in Bosnien-Herzegowina gelten. Das im Bereich Bildung angesiedelte Projekt "D@dalos" deckt so gut wie alle entwickelten Kriterien ab; es ist konfliktlösungsorientiert und kann somit als ein echtes "Demokratisierungsprojekt" gelten, das das demokratie- und verständnisfördernde Potential des Internets konkret nutzt.