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In K-12 education, Computational Thinking (CT) has been a trendy issue in mathematics education, but the approach and results of CT + Math are not yet clear enough. This paper systematically reviewed 22 SSCI journal papers from three perspectives: the current status, outcomes, and implications of mathematics and CT integration. Results indicate that: (1) The empirical studies were more inclined to be carried out in primary school; (2) The sample size inversely proportional to the duration, the same as the duration and the learning phase; (3) the integration of mathematics and CT were gradually emerging in kindergartens, while the empirical studies in junior and senior high schools still needs to be improved; (4) The experimental type prioritizes case studies and lacks mixed research; (5) Most research designs employ a variety of measuring instruments but limited in multimodal data; (6) Through the teaching model of plug-in programming, the integration of mathematics and CT was centred on the field of geometry and number operations; and (7) The CT skills involved are mainly Problem decomposition, Pattern recognition, Abstraction, Algorithm design and Debugging. The limitations and future directions are also discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores integrating blockchain technology into the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) to address security and privacy challenges. Blockchain's transparency, confidentiality, and decentralization offer significant potential benefits in the healthcare domain. The research examines various blockchain components, layers, and protocols, highlighting their role in IoMT. It also explores IoMT applications, security challenges, and methods for integrating blockchain to enhance security. Blockchain integration can be vital in securing and managing this data while preserving patient privacy. It also opens up new possibilities in healthcare, medical research, and data management. The results provide a practical approach to handling a large amount of data from IoMT devices. This strategy makes effective use of data resource fragmentation and encryption techniques. It is essential to have well-defined standards and norms, especially in the healthcare sector, where upholding safety and protecting the confidentiality of information are critical. These results illustrate that it is essential to follow standards like HIPAA, and blockchain technology can help ensure these criteria are met. Furthermore, the study explores the potential benefits of blockchain technology for enhancing inter-system communication in the healthcare industry while maintaining patient privacy protection. The results highlight the effectiveness of blockchain's consistency and cryptographic techniques in combining identity management and healthcare data protection, protecting patient privacy and data integrity. Blockchain is an unchangeable distributed ledger system. In short, the paper provides important insights into how blockchain technology may transform the healthcare industry by effectively addressing significant challenges and generating legal, safe, and interoperable solutions. Researchers, doctors, and graduate students are the audience for our paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization brings benefits and burdens to both humans and nature. Cities are key systems for integrated social-ecological research and the interdisciplinary journal of Ambio has published ground-breaking contributions in this field. This reflection piece identifies and discusses integration of the human and natural spheres in urban social-ecological research using the following foundational papers as important milestones: Folke et al. (1997), Ernstson et al. (2010) and Andersson et al. (2014). These papers each take unique approaches that aim to uncover core properties—processes, structures, and actors—of urban systems and set them into mutual relationship. This piece will end with a forward-looking vision for the coming 50 years of urban sustainability and resilience study in Ambio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have elaborated on how different types of integration can support teachers' learning and build their capacity to teach for the enhancement of students' STEM competence. Teaching in a STEM education context requires mathematics teachers to be able to effectively choose, design and implement appropriate tasks in their classes. Given the important role of teachers and tasks as vehicles for STEM education, this paper reviews literature on STEM teacher education programs associated with STEM tasks for preservice and in-service secondary mathematics teachers. After searching for and reviewing the 14 relevant articles, the analytical results indicated that (a) teachers' STEM knowledge and practices have not been commonly assessed as the outcomes of STEM teacher education programs, although they are explicitly counted as the goals of STEM teacher education programs; (b) the approach of multi-disciplinary concepts integrated with uni-disciplinary practice is mostly adopted as the approach to STEM integration; (c) task design features identified from the articles can be classified by elements of task design (i.e., goals, principles and instructional focus) and task design factors (i.e., disciplinary knowledge, cognition and metacognition, affect); and (d) most programs provide both acquisition and participation approaches to developing mathematics teachers' knowledge in STEM education. The review results shed light on the design and implementation of STEM tasks and STEM teacher education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, some scholars have not only written against the concept of immigrant integration but have called for its rejection and abandonment. Critics argue that the concept is normative, objectifies others, mirrors outmoded imaginary of society, orients towards methodological nationalism, and a narrow emphasis on immigrants in the forces defining integration progression. Nonetheless, the concept continues to receive academic and policy attention. Against the backdrop of this polarized view, this paper raises an important question relating to the benefit or otherwise of writing against the concept of integration in the field of integration studies. Specifically, the paper asks: Is it appropriate to write against and reject the concept of integration? The paper responds to this question from a provocative conceptual perspective. Here, the paper argues that when the concept is purged of its inherent criticisms and rather reconceptualize as a wicked concept, it still offers a unique analytical spectrum with which scholars can approach several substantive critical questions regarding immigrants' integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically examines the evolution of integration as a concept in coastal zone planning through an analysis of Norwegian municipal coastal zone plans spanning a 35-year period. By drawing on the framework of governmentality, we show how the coastal zone and the activities taking place there are being subject to problematizations, rationalizations and technologies for promoting integration. This illustrates how previous spatial dispositions themselves become problematized at later points, giving rise to new rationalizations and new technologies of governing, revealing a dynamic redefinition of integration in response to complex coastal governance challenges. What integration entails is not a given. Instead, it’s a fluid concept, evolving over time in meaning and intent. The paper also shows how ambitions for integrated or comprehensive planning can obscure the purpose of planning and increase complexity. With integration being framed as an undisputed answer to conflicts in the coastal zone, the difficulty of managing the multitude of coastal activities does not lead to a critical discussion on whether ‘integration’ is a fruitful ambition. Instead, it becomes an argument for yet more integrative efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While German migration policies aim to provide temporary protection and integrate Ukrainian refugees into German society as early as possible, the procedures and ideas of integration might be perceived differently by the beneficiaries. The feeling of "permanent temporariness" has been persistent among Ukrainians since March 2022. In this situation, some of the refugees renounce their agency and put responsibility on decision-making onto the state, while others oppose the idea of "being integrated" since they see their time in Germany as temporary, and their future in Ukraine as soon as the security situation allows them to return. Drawing on the experiences of single Ukrainian women who received protection in Germany, the paper presents an anthropological perspective on person–state interactions in the context of refugees' future-planning. How do German policies for supporting Ukrainian refugees impact their "stay or return" decision-making? Do the policies address their needs now and allow them to make investments for the future, or, on the contrary, contribute to their decision to return to Ukraine, which appears to be "simpler" and "more predictable"? How does the experience of going through bureaucratic procedures contribute to the sense of having agency and being capable of shaping their today and tomorrow? To answer these questions, I am going to present the reasonings and emotions concerning bureaucratic procedures that are closely intertwined with the planning of their future by Ukrainian refugees in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By aligning Saudi Vision 2030 with the UN's SDGs, this study highlights the significant role of integrating sustainable environmental design knowledge into architectural education in Saudi Arabia. Viewing this integration as a moral obligation, it emphasizes equipping future architects with the skills to create environmentally responsible and resource-efficient buildings, fostering a sustainable and resilient built environment. This paper aims to examine the degree of integration of sustainability knowledge and assess the structural models incorporated into the architectural programs of six Saudi Arabian universities. Adopting a quantitative approach with qualitative insights, this research focuses on universities certified by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or accredited by recognized national and international bodies. This study is limited to the meso-level (curricular management) and includes structural models, course descriptions, learning outcomes, course sequences, and alignment with program visions and missions. A comprehensive review was conducted on all courses related to sustainability, collecting data from program websites. The main variables analyzed included sustainable environmental knowledge, total contact hours dedicated to sustainability courses, distribution across various course types, and patterns over a 5-year period. The units of analysis encompass program plans, vision and mission statements, learning outcomes, course syllabi, and descriptions. The findings reveal significant disparities in sustainability emphasis among programs, with Imam Abdul Rahman Al-Faisal University dedicating 42% of contact hours to sustainability, compared to 25 to 11% at other universities. This study highlights the need for integrating sustainability across design studio levels to provide students with practical skills across disciplines. Most programs use a "linear/parallel" or "partially integrated" model, requiring sustainability principles in graduation projects. However, elective sustainability courses are unpopular and do not adequately address curriculum gaps. This study highlights the necessity of further investigating the effectiveness of incorporating sustainability knowledge in architectural programs. Exploring specific areas for future research to enhance the integration of sustainability in architectural education is also recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous expansion of spatiotemporal applications, spatiotemporal data has been widely used in various fields. Because XML (eXtensible Markup Language) has been the de-facto standard for representing and exchanging data on the Web, and fuzziness is an inherent feature of most spatiotemporal applications, researches on fuzzy spatiotemporal XML data have received increasing attention. Although XML has been employed to represent and query fuzzy spatiotemporal data, relatively little work has been carried out to integrate heterogeneous fuzzy spatiotemporal data. More importantly, current efforts do not take global and local cases into account when representing and querying heterogeneous fuzzy spatiotemporal XML data. In this paper, after presenting fuzzy spatiotemporal data based on XML, we propose an integration model for fuzzy spatiotemporal XML data. Then, feature expression and field mapping table are used to decompose the query, and the local data sources that do not exist in the query results are excluded to improve the query efficiency. Then, using the information in the feature expression, the XQuery query language is transformed into the query language corresponding to the local data source. After getting the results of each local data source, the semantic heterogeneity is eliminated by using field mapping table, and the query results are uniformly described as data source views by using XML Schema. Finally, the query results are screened and combined by using the query conditions stored in the query decomposition process. This query process shields the semantic heterogeneity and structural heterogeneity of the underlying data source, and ensures the transparency of user query. Finally, the presented instance show that our approach is correct, and the experimental results show the performance advantages of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical evidence shows a significant increase in the number of high-skilled mobile workers in the EU. Yet, little is known about the experience of unemployed female high-skilled intra-EU mobile jobseekers regarding the search for employment and wellbeing as part of labour market integration. This paper uses qualitative data collected between 2014 and 2015 (via an online survey) to explore female experience considering the challenges and opportunities on the path to employment. Findings underlined two main features: first, the inadequate availability, relevant information and access to support services for high-skilled workers; and second, a deficit of wellbeing and satisfaction by respondents amid their intra-EU mobility path, linked to circumstances of unemployment and aspirations before movement. The paper draws on these findings to advocate for the creation of work-placement programs as a "path to employment" tailored to female high-skilled intra-EU mobile jobseekers and the inclusion of psycho-social assistance through counselling and peer-support groups within standing employment services for jobseekers. These two measures are relevant in promoting female high-skilled EU mobile workers' participation in the labour market, thus preventing loss of talent, long-term unemployment, deskilling, and encouraging better matching schemes, averting social isolation and loss of wellbeing. Persistent unemployment and deskilling can have an impact on social welfare, in particular costs related to healthcare (i.e. mental health). According to the author, wherever possible, wellbeing is to be considered, when making a cost-benefit analysis of the experiences of high-skilled mobile workers. [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 examines the integration and unification of the philosophy and psychology of well-being. For the most part, these disciplines investigate well-being without reference to each other. In recent years, however, with the maturing of each discipline, there have been a growing number of calls to integrate the two. While such calls are welcome, what it means to integrate well-being philosophy and psychology can vary greatly depending on one’s theoretical and practical ends. The aim of this paper is to provide a novel conceptual framework for thinking about integrating well-being philosophy and psychology that systematically categorizes different kinds of integration projects. We divide existing attempts in the literature into three broad categories according to the perspective from which the integration takes place: (1) top-down meta-theoretical unification; (2) psychological integration within philosophy; and (3) philosophical integration within psychology. These categories are then broken down into various further subcategories. Our aim in providing this framework is both to facilitate the assessment and comparison of existing integration attempts and to provide a roadmap for future integration attempts. For each category, we discuss one or two representative examples of the approaches. By doing so, we hope to generate interest in the wide variety of existing integration projects, as well as to generate discussion concerning the benefits and pitfalls of different approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient-focused healthcare applications are important to patients because they offer a range of advantages that add value and improve the overall healthcare experience. The 5G networks, along with Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), can greatly transform healthcare applications, which in turn improves patient care. MEC plays an important role in the healthcare of patients by bringing computing resources to the edge of the network. It becomes part of an IoT system within healthcare that brings data closer to the core, speeds up decision-making, lowers latency, and improves the overall quality of care. While the usage of MEC and 5G networks is beneficial for healthcare purposes, there are some issues and difficulties that should be solved for the efficient introduction of this technological pair into healthcare. One of the critical issues that blockchain technology can help to overcome is the challenge faced by MEC in realizing the most potential applications involving IoT medical devices. This article presents a comprehensive literature review on IoT-based healthcare devices, which provide real-time solutions to patients, and discusses some major contributions made by MEC and 5G in the healthcare industry. The paper also discusses some of the limitations that 5G and MEC networks have in the IoT medical devices area, especially in the field of decentralized computing solutions. For this reason, the readership intended for this article is not only researchers but also graduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a three-dimensional (3D) modeling method for sequentially and spatially understanding situations in unknown environments from an image sequence acquired from a camera. The proposed method chronologically divides the image sequence into sub-image sequences by the number of images, generates local 3D models from the sub-image sequences by the Structure from Motion and Multi-View Stereo (SfM–MVS), and integrates the models. Images in each sub-image sequence partially overlap with previous and subsequent sub-image sequences. The local 3D models are integrated into a 3D model using transformation parameters computed from camera trajectories estimated by the SfM–MVS. In our experiment, we quantitatively compared the quality of integrated models with a 3D model generated from all images in a batch and the computational time to obtain these models using three real data sets acquired from a camera. Consequently, the proposed method can generate a quality integrated model that is compared with a 3D model using all images in a batch by the SfM–MVS and reduce the computational time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fog computing concept was proposed to help cloud computing for the data processing of Internet of Things (IoT) applications. However, fog computing faces several challenges such as security, privacy, and storage. One way to address these challenges is to integrate blockchain with fog computing. There are several applications of blockchain-fog computing integration that have been proposed, recently, due to their lucrative benefits such as enhancing security and privacy. There is a need to systematically review and synthesize the literature on this topic of blockchain-fog computing integration. The purposes of integrating blockchain and fog computing were determined using a systematic literature review approach and tailored search criteria established from the research questions. In this research, 181 relevant papers were found and reviewed. The results showed that the authors proposed the combination of blockchain and fog computing for several purposes such as security, privacy, access control, and trust management. A lack of standards and laws may make it difficult for blockchain and fog computing to be integrated in the future, particularly in light of newly developed technologies like quantum computing and artificial intelligence. The findings of this paper serve as a resource for researchers and practitioners of blockchain-fog computing integration for future research and designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the role of Child Well-Being (CWB) in the integration processes of migrant and refugee minors. Through the co-creative development of a new child-centered system of indicators about the integration of migrant and refugee children in Europe the authors discuss a) the prominent role of well-being in this set of indicators, and b) how reappraising these indicators from a well-being approach can contribute to delving into which aspects of CWB are connected to the integration of migrant children. The contributions of this paper open new research paths: on the one hand, the methodology presented provides a reference for future research that can replicate the procedure to build child-centered indicators in disciplines different than migration studies; on the other hand, the results presented suggest not only that well-being has a prominent role in migrant children integration experiences, but also, that reappraising dimensions of migrant children's integration from a well-being approach hints at blurry borders between both concepts. This suggests promising research opportunities to underpin the relationship between integration and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite investing heavily in data-related technology and human resources, enterprises are still struggling to derive value from data. To foster data value creation and move toward a data-driven enterprise, adequate data management and data governance practices are fundamental. To support these practices, organizations are building (meta)data management landscapes by combining different tools. Data catalogs are a central part of these landscapes as they enable an overview of available data assets and their characteristics. To deliver their highest value, data catalogs need to be integrated with existing data sources and other data management tools. However, enterprises struggle with data catalog integration because (a) not all data catalog application types foster enterprise-wide data management and data governance alike, and (b) several technical characteristics of data catalog integration remain unclear. These include the supported data sources, data catalog federation, and ways to provision data access. To tackle these challenges, this paper first develops a typology of data catalog applications in the enterprise context. Based on a review of the academic literature and an analysis of data catalog offerings, it identifies four enterprise-internal and three cross-enterprise classes of data catalog applications. Second, an in-depth analysis of 51 data catalog offerings that foster enterprise-wide metadata management examines key characteristics of the technical integration of data catalogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance management and risk management in the public sector have undergone significant improvements; however, few empirical studies have conceptualised the integration of performance management and risk management. This study aimed to understand why it fails in practice and turns into disintegration. To do this, we analyse the role of different actors involved in the integration between performance management and risk management. We have conducted our analysis at the organisational level in a regional context, adopting two different research methods, documentary analysis and collections of interviews. This paper contributes to the theoretical debate with interesting new insights about organisational practices in the public sector. In this research, we adopted the disintegration framework, broadly used as a research methodology in the ontological and social paradigm as reported (Täubig in Totale Institution Asyl, Juventa Verlag, Munich, 2009) for analysing the integration and disintegration between performance management and risk management. This approach presumes the collective engagement of researchers and practitioners, which can help bring to the surface the knowledge embedded in practice and transform it into actionable knowledge to produce practice changes. This study contributes to the public accounting literature by providing empirical evidence about organisational practices in the public sector. It offers a practical and general understanding of performance management and risk management practices functioning in public government. It shows the fundamental role played by key actors when performance management and risk management practices are implemented. This empirical research also has practical implications, creating the basis for the implementation of an integrated system of performance management and risk management in regional governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper inventories the number, type, location, and characteristics of refugee resettlement agencies and refugee third sector organizations (RTSOs) in creating opportunities for placemaking and longer-term integration via refugee-centered farming programs in the USA. Using an ArcGIS StoryMap and accompanying database, we map how resettlement organizations engage in farming programs and provide insight into the various actors implementing refugee resettlement and integration policy in the USA, while also highlighting the role of place and placemaking in that process. Findings indicate that there are 40 total organizations involved in 30 states, with 100 farm sites scattered across 48 cities, primarily found in nontraditional sites of resettlement. Using Ager and Strang's (Journal of Refugee Studies, 21(2):166–191, 2008) integration model as a theoretical starting point, we use a two-cycle content analysis to illustrate that organizations have diverse goals focusing on employment, social connections, health, safety and security, and placemaking. Sponsored activities and community projects concentrate on workforce training and community-supported agriculture. This interactive visualization and analysis of existing programs nationwide allow the organizations involved, policymakers, scholars, and members of the public to explore the locations of programs with pertinent information about each organization. The research also illustrates that refugee-centered farming organizations should continue to emphasize their efforts on placemaking as a beneficial strategy for the longer-term integration of resettled refugees. Additionally, this research contributes to larger debates and theoretical understandings of longer-term integration by extending Ager and Strang's (Journal of Refugee Studies, 21(2):166–191, 2008) integration model and embedding place and placemaking as underpinning elements in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

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]

In many Western countries, the host society expects immigrants to learn the official language and often reacts in severe ways if they do not. One of the normative questions that arise in this context is whether immigrants have a moral duty to learn the host society's language. The paper evaluates the four most promising arguments for why immigrants might have such a duty: respect towards the host society; the unavoidability of communication situations involving duties; the duty to avoid becoming reliant on assistance from the welfare system; and a contract between the host society and immigrants. The paper argues that only the third and the fourth arguments support a moral obligation, and that they do so subject to several conditions and only for particular groups of immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are widespread concerns about a shortage of nurses in society, making it vital to educate and retain as many nursing students as possible. This paper interrogates the fit and relevance of established models for student retention, particularly Tinto's model of student departure and its central notion of 'integration'. Early social and academic integration of students is generally important to promote persistence and prevent early departure. We consider how integration plays out in degrees with extensive practice placements in clinical settings and large degree programme cohorts, investigating the challenges for persistence. Additionally, we question how well Tinto's understanding of integration fits with the structure and format of the nursing programme. Building on comparative interviews with 2nd and 3rd year nursing students in Norway and England, we argue that common understandings about how students are integrated into degree programmes are unlikely to fit the case of nursing. As this programme takes place at multiple sites, the integration process is often experienced as fragmented or interrupted. We find many nursing students describe a prolonged liminal state of disrupted integration, posing challenges for motivation, and greater risk of leaving. We suggest this is driven by shifts between practice and academic sites, combined with institutional practices which encourage frequent changes of peer group, physical location and academic network, all of which interrupt integration processes. Finally, the paper offers suggestions of institutional scope to promote integration within nursing degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating blockchain technology with artificial intelligence (AI) i.e., blockchain Intelligence makes an extremely powerful tool that solves many multidimensional problems in several domains. Blockchain technology has the potential to provide links to shared data, transactions, and records in a decentralized, safe, and reliable manner, including the information and decision-making capability of AI which makes machines similar as capable as humans. This study is intended to present an updated systematic review of the integration of Blockchain and AI in various application areas. We have studied and summarized more than 100 research papers to present an updated version of the review. We also discuss the future of Blockchain technologies with AI. By integrating these two technologies results increases the security, efficiency, and productivity of the applications. Past works feature a few possible advantages of integration of Blockchain and AI, yet just give a restricted hypothetical system to depict forthcoming certifiable combination instances of the two advances. We survey and orchestrate surviving exploration on the integration of AI and Blockchain are other ways around to thoroughly build up a future research plan on the fusion of the two innovations. We also proposed an agenda to develop a secure system of cyber threat intelligence information exchange by using features of blockchain and artificial intelligence. This paper mainly focusses on explaining how collaboration of blockchain and AI gives immense boost in latest domains like Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Supply Chain Management, Finance and Banking and Social Media Analytics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Labour policy can be considered the most crucial means with which to promote the effective integration of migrants. In this policy field, best practices circulate widely among policymakers, above all at the local level, to devise solutions to facilitate the integration of migrants. However, best practices tend to fail when they are transferred to other countries. In the light of the policy analysis literature on the transfer of best practices, the paper discusses three cases of local practices. It describes the network of actors, and it focuses on the reasons for the success of labour-integration policies for migrants during the implementation phase at the local level. The paper tests the following dimensions: the centrality of the users/migrants; the complexity and density of the networks of actors; and the mechanisms triggered. The hypothesis is that the activation of social mechanisms within an actors' network can achieve a higher level of migrant integration in countries affected by strong migratory flows, and direct more attention to the needs of end-users and their relationship with stakeholders at the local level. The paper analyses the case studies in order to detect the mechanisms that may positively affect implementation of labour policy. Moreover, it is important to determine whether local actors can play a positive role in increasing the effectiveness of migrants' integration into the labour market. An empirical analysis of the three cases is needed to identify the main success factors and to highlight the main findings of the empirical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of refugee resettlement in the United States has been altered significantly by the policies of the Trump administration, which were driven by white nationalist and neoliberal ideologies that view refugees as a burden to the state's welfare system and pose a security threat to the country's citizens. Using the case of refugee resettlement agencies that serve refugees from Somalia in the Midwestern cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota and Garden City in Kansas, the paper seeks to understand how refugee resettlement agencies have been affected by, and responded to the challenges posed by the policies of the Trump administration. The paper argues that the policies have created a hostile environment within which to resettle refugees, with devastating impacts on refugee resettlement into the local communities. With their survival under threat, refugee resettlement agencies have turned to local communities for support in order to survive the challenging times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie ( KZfSS) is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Background: The European Green Deal does not consider the issue of migrant inclusion, nor are there specific data on the risk of migrants falling into energy poverty, social exclusion, and other data that could help create an effective policy that would be applied in this area. The main objective of this study is to assess the current status of the migrant population when it comes to risk from poverty (including energy poverty) and social exclusion in four (4) EU countries with the most significant influx of migrants. Results: An analysis included two main indicators aimed to describe level of risk of migrants to fall into energy poverty: (a) persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion by group of citizenship (population aged 18 and over, male and female); and (b) Migrant Integration Policy Index. The results revealed that foreign-born citizens have greater poverty or social exclusion risk. In 2020, citizens of Sweden that were not born in the EU28 had more than 360% greater chance than national citizens of being at risk of poverty (including energy poverty) or social exclusion. In France, foreign citizens were 340% more likely to be exposed to poverty than national citizens, while Germany records the highest rate: 250% in 2020. The United Kingdom rates demonstrate an increased 10% (2014–2018) difference in the risk of poverty (including energy poverty) or social exclusion for foreign citizens. In addition, results obtained by using the Migrant Integration Policy Index showed highest level of Anti-discrimination score is highest in Sweden, and lowest in Albania. On the other hand, Labor market mobility score is highest in Sweden, and lowest in Slovenia. Conclusions: Bearing in mind the results of the research, the primary recommendations elaborated in the paper are as follows: (a) up-to-date collection and innovation of data for the migrant population (including data on energy poverty); (b) creation of conditions for more efficient employment of migrants; (c) adoption of special measures to protect migrants from energy poverty, and (d) strengthening of cooperation between the EU and to non-EU countries on the migrant route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence and intensity of some natural hazards (e.g. hydro-meteorological) increase due to climate change, with growing exposure and socio-economic vulnerability, leading to mounting risks. In response, Disaster Risk Reduction policy and practice emphasize people-centred Early Warning Systems (EWS). Global policies stress the need for including local knowledge and increasing the literature on integrating local and scientific knowledge for EWS. In this paper, we present a review to understand and outline how local and scientific knowledge integration is framed in EWS, namely: (1) existing integration approaches, (2) where in the EWS integration happens, (3) outcomes, (4) challenges, and (5) enablers. The objective is to critically evaluate integration and highlight critical questions about assumptions, goals, outcomes, and processes. In particular, we unpack the impact of power and knowledges as plural. We find a spectrum of integration between knowledges in EWS, mainly with dichotomy at the start: focus on people or technology. The most popular integration approaches are participatory methods such as 'GIS mapping' (technology) and methods that focus on 'triangulation' (people). We find that critical analysis of power relations and social interaction is either missed or framed as a challenge within integration processes. Knowledge is often seen as binary, embedded in the concept of 'integration'. It is important to know what different knowledges can and cannot do in different contexts and acknowledge the hybrid reality of knowledge used for EWS. We argue that how we approach different knowledges in EWS has fundamental implications for the approaches to integration and its meaning. To this end, attention to the social processes, power dynamics, and context is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we address the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Italy with regard to the integration of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees (MRAs) in the labour market. The paper analyses the role played by CSOs in practice, looking at the dynamics of demand and offer of services through the perspective of both the CSOs and MRAs. To achieve this, we combine qualitative data from semi-structured interviews to CSO representatives as well as MRAs. Our findings point out that the fragmentation of the policy framework in terms of employment and integration, and an unfavourable legislation (above all, migration law) shape the kind of prevalent activities of CSOs and negatively impact the potential for integration of MRAs in the labour market. In general, much is left to the single CSO to fill in the needs of MRAs beyond minimal provisions established by law, with just asylum seekers and refugees having better opportunities and support. Furthermore, we can also observe how economic migrants generally tend to be less supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, international or migrant faculty researchers have explored the work roles, academic experiences, and identities of this community, while a new body of research has begun to draw on insights from migration studies to investigate to what extent and how they are integrated on campus. This paper seeks to extend these discussions by considering on-campus support for international faculty, their integration into the host society, and the relationship between these factors. Focusing on Japan and drawing on both a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews of recipients of the prestigious Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Post-Doctoral Fellowship, this study reveals that on-campus support is associated with higher levels of integration in Japanese society, but there are notable deficiencies in the linguistic and social support offered by universities. These findings indicate that universities seeking to attract and retain international talent should initially invest in language learning support services and reflect on the intermediary role they play between international faculty members and the local community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers science teaching and learning as may be understood through the integration of indigenous artefacts into physics curriculum in Zimbabwean schools. It comments significance of and elaborates on the issues raised in Nadaraj Govender and Edson Mudzamiri's paper entitled: Incorporating indigenous artefacts in developing an integrated indigenous-pedagogical model in high school physics curriculum: views of elders, teachers and learners. At the outset, I examine the study's conceptualisation of the terms indigenous knowledge (IK) and school science. Then, I offer an alternative view on the findings in light of the ubuntu theoretical framework, as used in other studies. The article foregrounds theoretical and methodological arguments put forward by Govender and Mudzamiri for the incorporation of IK artefacts with physics education in schools. After that, I analyse the applicability of the article's proposed integrated indigenous physics pedagogical model in the school curriculum. The paper ends with the contention that school science should be taught as a cultural way of knowing rather mere facts divorced from learners' culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the era of Palestinian migration to France is relatively recent, and began in the 1970s, Palestinians have significantly integrated into French society. The social, economic, and political situations in their homeland have played an essential role in Palestinian migration from that homeland or, in some cases, from the refugee camps of Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Palestinian migrants/refugees have integrated into French society despite their economic classes or categories. As this paper analyses, students and businessmen were the types of Palestinian migrants with the highest level of integration in French society. They are the two main categories making up the Palestinian community in France. Marriage also plays a significant role as a crucial integration mechanism for both women and men. Despite the fact that the French Jacobin system obliges all migrants/refugees to assimilate into French society, this has not affected the understanding of original Palestinian identity. These migrants/refugees still introduce themselves as Palestinians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major challenges for modern western societies is the reduction of prejudice in order to achieve a sufficient level of integration of immigrants and especially refugees. The current literature thus presents a multitude of approaches to understand and reduce prejudices. Therefore, the following paper investigates the relationships between ethnic identity, acculturation attitudes, intercultural competence, and prejudice and how contact experiences shape these relationships for students in Germany with and without migration background. The results show that there is a significant relationship between prejudice and the social identity, cultural intelligence, and acculturation strategies. Furthermore, the results indicate that the experienced contact quality and quantity to refugees moderate the effect of acculturation strategies on overt prejudice and xenophobia. However, the relationship between acculturation strategies and covert prejudice is only moderated by contact quantity. Because of the relatively weak manifestations of the dependent variables in the study at hand, alternative instruments should be used for investigation. Based on the obtained results, this paper finally tries to give some guidance for the facilitation of diversity and reduction of prejudice at higher education institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over several generations of evolutionary and developmental biologists, ever since Olson and Miller's pioneering work of the 1950's, the concept of "morphological integration" as applied to Gaussian representations N (μ , Σ) of morphometric data has been a focus equally of methodological innovation and methodological perplexity. Reanalysis of a century-old example from Sewall Wright shows how some fallacies of distance analysis by correlations can be avoided by careful matching of the distance rosters involved to a different multivariate approach, factor analysis. I reinterpret his example by restoring the information (means and variances) ignored by the correlation matrix, while confirming what Wright called "special size factors" by a different technique, inspection of the concentration matrix Σ - 1. In geometric morphometrics (GMM), data accrue instead as Cartesian coordinates of labelled points; nevertheless, just as in the Wright example, statistical manipulations do better when they reconsider the normalizations that went into the generation of those coordinates. Here information about both μ and Σ , the means and the variances/covariances, can be preserved via the Boas coordinates (Procrustes shape coordinates without the size adjustment) that protect the role of size per se as an essential explanatory factor while permitting the analyst to acknowledge the realities of animal anatomy and its trajectories over time or size in the course of an analysis. A descriptive quantity for this purpose is suggested, the correlation of vectorized μ against the first eigenvector of Σ for the Boas coordinates. The paper reanalyzes two GMM data sets from this point of view. In one, the classic Vilmann rodent neurocranial growth data, a description of integration can be aligned with the purposes of evolutionary and developmental biology by a graphical exegesis based mainly in the loadings of the first Boas principal component. There results a multiplicity of morphometric patterns, some homogeneous and others characterized by gradients. In the other, a Vienna data set comprising human midsagittal skull sections mostly sampled along curves, a further integrated feature emerges, thickening of the calvaria, that requires a reparametrization and a modified thin plate spline graphic distinct from the digitized configurations per se. This new GMM protocol fulfills the original thrust of Olson & Miller's (Evolution 5:325–338, 1951) " ρ F-groups," the alignment of statistical and biological explanatory guidance, while respecting the enormously greater range of morphological descriptors afforded by well-designed landmark/semilandmark configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing is an important part of building a new life for people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. However, relatively little is known about how housing and neighbourhood experiences affect resettlement and integration. This paper explored experiences of housing and neighbourhood for refugees and asylum seekers in South Australia, Australia. A survey was completed by 423 participants, recruited through service providers, community networks and snowball sampling. Data was analysed using frequencies, chi-square analyses and multivariate logistic regression. The study identified aspects of housing and neighbourhood that were important to participants, as well as highlighting key problems. Housing satisfaction and neighbourhood satisfaction were positively associated, but housing satisfaction was lower than neighbourhood satisfaction. Both were significantly associated with overall satisfaction with life in Australia, although only neighbourhood satisfaction remained significant in the final multivariate model (alongside region of origin, visa and financial situation). Overall, the findings suggest that where housing is situated may be more important for resettlement satisfaction and integration than the housing itself. Policy and practice implications of the findings are discussed, alongside considerations for conceptualising integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the individual and group motivations that have encouraged the onward migration of Italian-Pakistanis and Italian-Bangladeshis to the North of England after obtaining Italian citizenship because the reasons for moving again to the current destination are under-researched. It appears that there has been a design-driven form of intentionality in their complex migrations attributable to the influence of European and Italian policies. Gender and ethnic differences among these groups are identified, as well as the level of their integration in the new host country. A qualitative research approach is adopted utilizing six focus group discussions with 48 participants, and the data collected were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings revealed that aspects of education and qualifications, religion, social identity, and culture along with welfare, security, and employment were the motivations for the participants' onward migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is traditionally thought that integration in cognitive science requires combining different perspectives, elements, and insights into an integrated model or theory of the target phenomenon. In this paper I argue that this type of integration is frequently not possible in cognitive science due to our reliance on using different idealizing and simplifying assumptions in our models and theories. Despite this, I argue that we can still have integration in cognitive science and attain all the benefits that integrated models would provide, without the need for their construction. Models which make incompatible idealizing assumptions about the target phenomenon can still be integrated by understanding how to draw coherent and compatible inferences across them. I discuss how this is possible, and demonstrate how this supports a different kind of integration. This sense of integration allows us to use collections of contradictory models to develop a consistent, comprehensive and non-contradictory understanding of a single unified phenomenon without the need for a single integrated model or theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of integration through classification provides a unified representation of diverse data sources in Big data. The main challenges of big data analysis are due to the various granularities, irreconcilable data models, and multipart interdependencies between data content. Previously designed models were facing problems in integrating and analyzing big data due to highly complex and dynamic multi-source and heterogeneous information variation and also in processing and classifying the association among the attributes in a schema. In this paper, we propose an integration and classification approach through designing a Probabilistic Semantic Association (PSA) method to generate the feature pattern for the sources of big data. The PSA approach is trained to understand the data association and dependency pattern between the data class and incoming data to map the data objects accurately. It initially builds a data integration mechanism by transforming data into structured and learn to utilize the trained knowledge to classify the probabilistic association among the data and knowledge patterns. Later it builds a data analysis mechanism to analyze the mapped data through PSA to evaluate the integration efficiency. An experimental evaluation is performed over a real-time crime dataset generated from multiple locations having various events classes. The analysis of results confined that the utilization of knowledge patterns of accurate classification to enhance the integration of multiple source data is appropriate. The measure of precision, recall, fall-out rate, and F-measure approve the efficiency of the proposed PSA method. Even in comparison with the state-of-art classification method and with SC-LDA algorithm shows an improvisation in the prediction accuracy and enhance the data integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration experiences of migrants are intricately connected to their quality of life and influence their settlement decisions. This paper goes beyond the conventional research by investigating the distinct roles of integration dimensions and their interactions in determining settlement intention, using a sample of 12,252 migrants collected from eight districts/cities in China. It is revealed that economic integration, cultural adaptation, social engagement, and psychological identification positively influence settlement intention, but with different effects. Among these integration domains, social engagement and psychological identification play dominant roles, whereas cultural adaptation is the least influential. Furthermore, the level of cultural adaptation remains consistent for rural migrants regardless of their economic status or level of social engagement. Psychological identification mediates the relationship between economic integration/social engagement and settlement intention, resulting in two trajectories: "Economic integration → Psychological identification → Settlement intention" and "Social engagement → Psychological identification → Settlement intention". These findings underscore the importance of fostering a migrant-friendly society to improve quality of life for rural migrants and promote their settlement intention, particularly within the context of China's new-type urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last two decades, immigrant and refugee integration service agencies in Canada have been incorporating a focus on resiliency in their work and hold "fostering resilience" as a primary goal of services. These agencies focus on helping their clients enhance resilience in response to their integration challenges. Refugee and immigrant youth (RIY) face intersectional vulnerabilities during their resettlement process. These challenges make the concept of resilience vital to their success. However, resettlement service providers associate RIY's resilience with their assimilation into the Western culture such as integrating into the dominant culture. This definition is insensitive to cultural and social factors that contextualize RIY's definition of resilience. Drawing from in-depth interviews of Refugees and Immigrant youths in Montreal, and using Resilience as a conceptual framework, the research study investigated the barriers to the integration of RIY and their conceptualization of resilience. The study found social isolation, cultural differences between the host and home communities, racism, hostility, aggression, and language to be barriers to RIY's integration. The youth conceptualized resilience as a form of adaptability to any situation; as the ability to integrate into a new society while remaining deeply rooted in one's culture and past experiences; and overcoming marginalization. The paper contributes to a nuanced critical understanding in the field of refugee and migration studies and further throws light on a growing triangular interrelationship between social and economic integration of refugees, cultural factors of host communities, and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on inhabited silence among unaccompanied female minors in Sweden. Silence among unaccompanied minors has often been explained by experienced trauma. Conversely, research also explains silence as a natural way of establishing autonomy during adolescence. By analyzing the narratives of 11 unaccompanied female minors, we aim to problematize and broaden the understanding of silence as a lack of communication. By using Bourdieu's concept of linguistic capital, we analyze how hegemonic narratives on migration and integration influence how the girls in this study use silence in their everyday interactions. Our findings suggest that silence can be understood as both a rejection of these narratives and a strategy to preserve the girls' integrity. We also demonstrate how these girls negotiate their linguistic capital in relation to embodiment and othering, thereby pushing boundaries of identity and what it means to be seen as Swedish. The paper concludes that silence itself speaks and shows that what is often perceived as a lack of communication can also be understood as a failure to listen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal-oriented requirements engineering aims to describe both stakeholders and system goals and their relationships using goal models. Large goal models for complex systems are often constructed from sub-models describing various stakeholders' views and context-related aspects. These goal-oriented sub-models, also called views, may exhibit overlaps and present discrepancies. Hence, integrating such views is considered a significant barrier to the construction of a unified goal model. Current approaches to merging goal models require intensive human intervention. This paper proposes an approach and a prototype tool, called GRLMerger, to integrate two GRL (Goal-oriented Requirement Language) models into one consolidated model that is correct, complete, and free from any conflict that may arise during the merging process. GRLMerger considers both syntactic and semantic aspects of the GRL models and allows analysts to merge them either interactively or in a fully automated mode. GRLMerger employs natural language processing (NLP) techniques to match intentional elements based on their semantic similarity. The proposed GRLMerger approach and tool have been validated using 12 experimental tasks derived from two case studies, exhibiting very promising performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of green and low-carbon circular (GLC) development economic system is conducive to the promotion of "carbon peaking and carbon neutral." The level of GLC development in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region is related to the realization of the ambitious goal of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" in the region. This paper use principal component analysis (PCA) to process GLC development level of 41 cities in the YRD from 2008 to 2020. Then, we constructed panel Tobit model and threshold model from the perspective of industrial co-agglomeration and Internet utilization and empirically tested the influence of the two key variables on GLC development of the YRD. We found that (1) the YRD's level of GLC development showed a dynamic evolution trend of "fluctuation, convergence, and rise." The four provincial-level administrative regions of the YRD are in the order of GLC development level: Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui. (2) There is an inverted "U" Kuznets curve (KC) between industrial co-agglomeration and the development of GLC of the YRD. In the left segment of KC, the industrial co-agglomeration promotes GLC development of the YRD. In the right segment of KC, the industrial co-agglomeration inhibits GLC development of the YRD. Internet utilization enhances GLC development of the YRD. And the interaction of industrial co-agglomeration and Internet utilization cannot significantly enhance GLC development. (3) Double-threshold effect of opening-up is manifested as follows: industrial co-agglomeration on GLC development of the YRD goes through an insignificant-inhibited-improved evolutionary trajectory. Single-threshold effect of government intervention is manifested as follows: the impact of Internet utilization on GLC development of the YRD shifts from insignificant role to significant enhancement. In addition, there is an inverted-N type KC effect between industrialization and GLC development. Based on the above findings, we proposed suggestions in terms of industrial co-agglomeration, Internet-like digital technology application, anti-monopoly, and rational industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Scientific experiments involve complex interactions between geographically distributed researchers, who act as units and require a substantial volume of data and services. This scenario categorizes a Scientific Software Ecosystem, which involves researchers and scientists working together, using scientific software and related services through scientific workflows. However, to develop scientific workflows, users need suitable platforms to comply with experiment requirements. This paper describes two services designed on top of an open-source E-science Software Ecosystem (E-SECO) platform to support researchers’ activities during the scientific workflow life cycle. Such services focus on data integration and provenance data to support experiment reuse. We conducted two different case studies in a Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. Our results show that the proposed platform facilitates the reuse of scientific experiments through data integration in an agriculture context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a descriptive historical analysis of the planning and writing of the Australian Curriculum: The Arts which occurred from 2009 to 2013. This process involved extensive consultation across a range of stakeholders, including curriculum research, background reading and analysis that preceded the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority's writing process. The curriculum itself was underpinned by a range of democratic principles, including the importance of developing a socially just curriculum. This necessitated extensive discussion which interrogated the terms excellence and equity to ensure a high-quality arts education was accessible for all students, regardless of their background. The implementation of these principles is then explored through the perspective of the Drama writing team, including the importance of the subject Drama in developing a sense of inquiry and empathy in students by exploring their own and others' stories and points of view. The final curriculum document for the Arts, and specifically for Drama exemplifies the importance of these social justice principles in responding to the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (2008) which advocates for equity and excellence in Australian schooling and for all young Australians to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent changes in world politics and economy, along with the breakup of the Iron Curtain, directly influenced the foreign trade structure of the Eurasian countries. The foreign trade relations, controlled by the central planning during the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) era, began to be formed according to free-market conditions. In this paper, empirical gravity models, covering data of 86 countries for the 1994–2018 period, are used to determine factors affecting the international integration process of the Eurasian countries. For these purposes, we estimated the classical and augmented gravity models to scrutinize the effects of border, infrastructure, trade policies, and institutions, along with the main factors. Based on the estimation results, we concluded that the Eurasian countries during the analysis period were 35% less integrated with the world trade system than the predicted potential level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bob Dylan once sang that he contained multitudes. So too does integration. More integrated planning of coasts and oceans has long been hailed as a goal and is seen as a pathway towards a more legitimate, cost-effective, equitable and sustainable planning of marine space. However, a reading of the literature indicates that many integration efforts have seemingly failed to reach their potential, and there is no clear understanding of what integration means or how we should best go about achieving it. The paper claims that this uncertainty partially stems from a unnuanced and static treatment of the concept, and a lack of recognition of the multitudes of integration. The paper argues firstly that fragmentation should not uncritically be seen as the antithesis to integration and as a negative property to be avoided. Secondly, there needs to be greater recognition of both the varying degrees of integration and the contextually dependent necessity of different degrees of integration. Lastly, it is more fruitful to see the multitude of nodes in the expanding ‘network of planning’ not as fragmentation, but as differentiation. Such an approach allows us to see integration as a mean towards more sustainable planning of coastal and marine areas, not end in and of itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban open-air markets are indispensable institutions in the global South. Yet they are most often confronted with formidable environmental problems such as improper solid waste management (SWM). Accordingly, when research is initiated into the complex world of urban market environmental management (UMEM), the focus tends to be on either SWM technological interventions or the performances of formal or informal SWM actors. Whereas city authorities have desired to understand how to regulate the burgeoning number of informal SWM actors, research priorities have been to advocate for the formalisation and integration of informal systems of SWM with formal systems. Consequently, attention is rarely paid to informal actors' perceptions of SWM integration and formalisation pathways. This paper presents insights into how the integration of informal SWM actors is being approached in Ghana, and how this process is being experienced by the informal actors in Accra's open-air markets. The informal actors' critiques generally related to the formalisation processes, enforcement of legitimate expectations, and limited SWM infrastructure. The biggest obstacle related to the narrow conception of integration as formalisation through public and private sector, as this was perceived by informal SWM workers as an exclusionary, exploitative, and restrictive measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]