Search

This supplement issue of Applied Medical Informatics is dedicated to the 1st Conference of the Romanian Society of Medical Informatics (RSMI) RoMedINF dedicated to the entry levels researchers on digital health technical solutions. The jRoMedINF first edition is organized as a hybrid event by RSMI in association and hosted by the West University of Timişoara. “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Politehnica University of Timişoara are also co-organizers. Healthcare digital ecosystems represent a promising frontier in the pursuit of better health outcomes and enhanced healthcare delivery focus of precision medicine. By embracing hypotheses-driven research, leveraging innovative methods, and harnessing the potential of digital technologies, the landscape of healthcare face new possibilities, with expected more accessible, efficient, and patient-centric healthcare worldwide. Digital ecosystems could reshape the landscape of disease preventions, patient care, medical research, and operational efficiency. The integration of digital technologies into healthcare systems need appropriate evaluation as per short and long term sustainability of the system. New hypotheses are born, innovative methods are applied and need validation, while impact of new technologies on healthcare outcomes and costs need validation. Nowadays, digital health stands out as a frontier ripe with opportunities and challenges. As freshmen entering this dynamic multidisciplinary field, we feel that a dedicated scientific conference tailored to address the unique needs and aspirations of newcomers is needed. jRoMedINF event serves as an open-minded non-discriminating environment tailored to open-discussion and constructive debates for digital health solution and methods, a pivotal platform for ideas and knowledge exchange, skill development, and networking, aiming to catalyze the growth and innovation essential for advancing digital health. jRoMedINF scientific conference provides an opportunity to interact with experts in healthcare innovation, ethics and its role in artificial intelligence, and opinion of what digital health done right means. The active attendees had the opportunity to present their ideas, hypothesis and results and to receive constructive feedback from the audience. The passive attendees had the opportunity to be in touch with the new researches in the digital healthcare and to interact actively with the researches in the field. Our conference serves as a catalyst for skill development and capacity building among aspiring digital health professionals. Moreover, jRoMedINF scientific conference fosters a vibrant ecosystem of collaboration and networking, essential for fostering interdisciplinary partnerships and driving collective progress. Attendees interact with peers, mentors, and experts, forging connections that transcend disciplinary boundaries and feed collaborative initiatives. The interactions facilitate knowledge sharing and inspire creativity, innovation, and the cross-pollination of ideas, laying the groundwork for future collaborations and breakthroughs. The jRoMedINF scientific conference dedicated to freshmen in digital health is a strategic investment in the future of healthcare innovation. By providing a platform for ideas and knowledge exchange, skill development, and networking, this event empowers newcomers to navigate the complexities of the digital health landscape with confidence and purpose, driving forward a future where technology transforms healthcare for the better.

Latin American and Caribbean countries face complex challenges to improve brain health and reduce the impact of dementia. Regional hubs devoted to research, capacity building, implementation science, and education are critically needed. The Latin American Brain Health Institute represent an important step to address many of these needs.

The European Plant Science Retreat (EPSR) is an annual event that brings together early career plant scientists to develop their scientific network. This year, the EPSR took place at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, with close to 70 PhD candidates from nine different countries participating. The event included poster presentations, talks, workshops, and excursions, covering a wide range of research areas in plant science. Topics discussed included plant development, responses to abiotic stresses, evolutionary biology, genetics, biophysics, and biotechnology. The retreat also addressed important issues such as scientific integrity and the well-being of graduate students. The organizers of the EPSR expressed their satisfaction with the event and look forward to the next edition in Paris in 2024. [Extracted from the article]

he article discusses the issues of intersectoral interaction both in Ukraine and in the world to determine the prospects for its development in the context of the network economy. It is proved that the level of development of the entertainment industry is an important indicator of the socioeconomic situation. It is found that there is a traditional approach to determining the composition of participants in the entertainment industry, according to which it includes enterprises whose main activity is aimed at meeting human needs in entertainment, impressive events, sports and cultural-educational institutions. However, this approach does not take into account the close relationship between the entertainment industry and other sectors of the economy, because there is a certain interdependence between their development. The current trends in the development of the entertainment industry in Ukraine and in the world are considered. The major ones are globalization, digitalization and intersectoral cooperation. The circumstances influencing the creation of network organizational structures in the sphere of entertainment are analyzed, namely: active development of information technologies; growth in the pace of sales of products and services; dynamism of the external environment, etc. The article indicates relevance of inquiries with the help of modern means of collecting and analyzing information related to the entertainment industry in times of crisis. The relevance of the entertainment sector for Ukrainian society with slight deviations in seasonality and a significant decline in activity at the beginning of the full-scale military invasion is proved. Based on the results of the study, a classification of models of relationships according to the level of impact on the entertainment industry has been developed. Three main levels have been identified: the level of the entertainment industry, the level of the creative economy, and the level of the service sector in general. On their basis, three models of intersectoral interaction in the field of entertainment have been developed: integrated, network and outsourcing models. The results of this study are the creation of the subject field of the entertainment industry, as well as the development on its basis of models of intersectoral interaction in the entertainment sector. In addition, further directions of research in the entertainment industry are outlined for a future more detailed analysis of the effectiveness of the presented models in the development of the entertainment industry.

One of the specific areas of the global digital transformation in education is the continuing professional training of teachers. In this formal adult training that has taken place alongside work in the last 30 years, the impact of digital transformation can be considered a process suitable for general conclusions. About 25,000 students have graduated from the teacher leadership training program of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) in the past three decades. This paper presents the content and organizational development process of this training program from the point of view of digitization transformation .The analysis of the theoretical and practical connections of the process analyzes the new kind of adult education characteristics of the function realized between 1993-2023 in parallel with the Digital Transformation. One aspect was based on a comparative study with international trends analysis), which resulted in the developing a new distance education model. From a methodological point of view, our innovation being described was essentially action research. Network structures were significantly created: teachers working in small and development groups comprising senior consultants."Distance education," which initially used classic correspondence solutions, was significantly transformed after the turn of the millennium precisely due to Digital Transformation. Learning Management Systems (LMS) and online solutions that make network communication continuous were developed between 2006-2018. This form of training proves with data that ways and opportunities can be created for quality training alongside work within the lifelong learning framework. The continuously detectable high level of student satisfaction indicates that, in addition to the many tensions of our current way of life and the confinement caused by the pandemic between 2020 and 2022 in the last few years, the prominence of online communication solutions can give a realistic chance of realizing the adult education goals by networking.

Considering several fundamental needs of network performance, the Routing and Media Access Control (MAC) layers are crucially checked out for their operations. Sometimes, MAC protocol faces difficulties in modifying the situations over underwater communication which are specifically considered to be dynamic. The nodes in water tend to remain unstable and network fluctuations are made depending upon the number of competitors. The existing hybrid MAC protocol does not possess dynamic network loads. It also involves a lack of modification in access control approaches which provide variations in network loads. Finally, it leads to delayed network performance. The routing layer focus on some difficult parameters like increased packet loss, restricted bandwidth with substantial energy incursion, reduced network lifetime, increased propagation delay, less remaining energy, consistent data transfer, and energy organization which are considered to be the most important research issues in Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks (UWASNs). In MAC and routing layers, a Cross-layer approach involves some techniques which are discussed and implemented using Ns3 simulation to obtain the performance report. It is also proposed to compare the algorithm with existing techniques to provide accurate results. Reinforcement Learning (RL) in the MAC layer for SINR-based time slot allocation and Integrated Artificial Fish Swarm with Bacterial Foraging Algorithm (IAFSBFA) for energy-aware QoS reliable routing in the network layer are used in this system. In this cross-layer approach, load balancing in the MAC layer and efficient routing using a hybrid algorithm gives out better performance in the underwater network.

State observation networks of the state of environment include a complex of stationary, route and sub torch observation posts. Stationary observation posts are a fairly expensive structure that used equipment of a certain accuracy. Modern technological development allows to create devices of small dimensions with a unified output interface, having a measurement error comparable to the error of equipment used in stationary observation posts or less. Therefore, this paper proposes the concept of creating a device, which, in particular, may be converted into an atmospheric air monitoring device. Currently, environmental and emission control issues remain relevant. The purpose of the study, the facet of which is revealed in this work, is to organize a monitoring network for the analysis of atmospheric air pollution. The work contains a list of priorities for the organization of the device, its main functions. The result is a structural diagram of the central component of the device, called “Heart” and an additional component - “Expansion Board”, that describes the main necessary nodes for the operating of the device. The working element of the instrument is sensors of substances with different operating principle. In addition, there are described a way to ensure nonvolatile device and organization of a unite interface of data transmission within it. A short list of tasks for which the proposed device is directed is presented.

Active learning is a paradigm where students take a more active role in their learning process. In this paper, two team-based evaluation activities are established for students according to the principles of active learning in order to assess their knowledge, skills and attitudes. These activities were based on scenarios related to network administration issues, and at a later stage, each team had to make a pitch presentation about what they did and how they did it to address them. Each presentation was rated by all students with a specific construct on a peer review basis, which had previously been validated by a panel of experts. The results obtained revealed quite high values with low variability and an acceptable reliability. Additionally, the level of motivation was also assessed, indicating a high level of motivation while undertaking the activities.

Considering several fundamental needs of network performance, the Routing and Media Access Control (MAC) layers are crucially checked out for their operations. Sometimes, MAC protocol faces difficulties in modifying the situations over underwater communication which are specifically considered to be dynamic. The nodes in water tend to remain unstable and network fluctuations are made depending upon the number of competitors. The existing hybrid MAC protocol does not possess dynamic network loads. It also involves a lack of modification in access control approaches which provide variations in network loads. Finally, it leads to delayed network performance. The routing layer focus on some difficult parameters like increased packet loss, restricted bandwidth with substantial energy incursion, reduced network lifetime, increased propagation delay, less remaining energy, consistent data transfer, and energy organization which are considered to be the most important research issues in Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks (UWASNs). In MAC and routing layers, a Cross-layer approach involves some techniques which are discussed and implemented using Ns3 simulation to obtain the performance report. It is also proposed to compare the algorithm with existing techniques to provide accurate results. Reinforcement Learning (RL) in the MAC layer for SINR-based time slot allocation and Integrated Artificial Fish Swarm with Bacterial Foraging Algorithm (IAFSBFA) for energy-aware QoS reliable routing in the network layer are used in this system. In this cross-layer approach, load balancing in the MAC layer and efficient routing using a hybrid algorithm gives out better performance in the underwater network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vigilante groups in Indonesia are changing. These actors and activities are not only connected with conventional international vigilantes (i.e. extremism organizations) but also the local extremism organizations that recently emerged and perpetrated violence extremism and intolerant activities at the international, national, and local levels. These activities organizations have, for instance, encouraged the formalization of religious teachings and the elimination of things deemed incompatible with religion—including the ongoing secularization of the public sphere. Responding to religious and theological issues in the public sphere, these organizations aim to erase or replace those they perceive as hindering their plans. Diverse organizations, through their local, national, and international networks, have been able to operate at the local level. This article aims to analyze vigilante groups after Indonesia's 2019 general election by paying attention to vigilante actors, activities, agencies, and networks. This study uses networking and political mobilization theories, as well as the political sociology perspective. This study uses data collected through big data and bibliometrics, covering 200 articles published between April 2019 and May 2021, then analyzes it was using Nvivo-12 Plus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study assesses a course re-designed to scaffold a semester-long networking opportunity and experiential learning project. The course occurred online twice using Microsoft Teams in the spring and fall of 2021 and later in person once in the spring of 2023. I present quantitative student course evaluation data from all three semesters and compare them to the department, school, and university. I also address open comments from students, pedagogy, media coverage, and our fashion industry partner's perspective. Findings suggest that the course design was successful across modalities. Students rated the course highly compared to others on campus, even while online, and ratings improved over time. Student comments praised the course for offering valuable career preparation. Our industry partner also derived professional and personal value by interacting with and mentoring students. The case study concludes by encouraging educators to implement experiential learning in any modality, offering guidance, and addressing obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Pakistan, female entrepreneurs and earning women encounter considerable challenges when trying to enter male-dominated job markets. Many turn to women-only social media groups as a forum to discuss these obstacles and share strategies for overcoming them. Unlike conventional, more bureaucratic networking avenues such as chambers of commerce, these online platforms offer flexibility and continuous connectivity. This proves especially beneficial for women during significant life events like maternity or caregiving breaks. In Muslim-majority countries, these groups also serve as platforms for exchanging culturally and religiously relevant business practices, including discussions on halal investments and Sharia-compliant entrepreneurship. This study employs online ethnography and interviews with key stakeholders in some of Pakistan's most prominent women-focused online networking groups. While one might assume that the primary aim of such professional networks is to discuss business growth, cutting-edge research or technology, these groups actually thrive on a common language, shared challenges and shared values. The article begins by exploring the concept of professionalism and the role of community and networking in career advancement. It then delves into the specific challenges that make networking difficult for women in Pakistan but paradoxically act as a glue binding them together in these online spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media has impacted all aspects of our professional lives and education, and peer interaction is no exception to this rule. Orthodontic residents, the future of our specialty, and their social media interactions are indicative of what probably augurs for the near foreseeable future. Three hundred and sixty one orthodontic residents from around the world participated in an online cross-sectional survey. Seventy two percent of the residents stated that Instagram was their preferred platform, while 12 % preferred Facebook. "Treatment Techniques" and "before-and-after" pictures were the most viewed. Sixty nine percent stated that they occasionally adopted new clinical techniques after observing them on social media, and 66 % even reported improving their record-keeping and treatment quality through social media influences. Though journals were not popularly followed on social media, 84 % of respondents stated that they learned about conferences through social media interactions. The majority of residents did not participate in social media groups. Orthodontic residents were more optimistic about the reliability of orthodontic information on social media compared to the accuracy assessments found in the literature. The findings of this survey indicate that social media is an important instrument for dental public health awareness and communication and an educational resource for orthodontic residents. The need for regulation of orthodontic information disseminated on social media is an important discourse for the future of our specialty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the first systematic examination of the proposition that politicians can foster their careers through affiliations with transnational elite clubs. Focusing on the Euro-Atlantic Bilderberg Group, I provide preliminary evidence in support of the proposition. I argue that politicians invited to the exclusive meetings gain valuable contacts, insider information and probably some backing. Still, most politicians who participated at Bilderberg conferences were never later elevated. But 133 were and sometimes even shortly after their appearance at the gatherings. Of these mainly European politicians, 42 became prime ministers, presidents, or top representatives of international organizations like EU, NATO, IMF. However, I mostly found correlation, not causation. Only in several cases, there are additional indicia which suggest that "factor Bilderberg" was really one of the reasons for career advancements. On the other hand, the suspicion of the Bilderberg Group's direct influence on personnel policy cannot be confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large corporations and media companies can form corporate networks through directors who hold positions on multiple boards, potentially enabling business elites to influence the media. This article investigates the relationship between corporate networks and media capture in two Latin American countries. We performed a network analysis of interlocking directorates to uncover these corporate networks, and conducted in-depth interviews with elites to identify two varieties of media capture: coordinated and competitive. Our findings indicate that media companies embedded in cohesive corporate networks are subject to coordinated media capture, whereas media outlets in fragmented corporate networks experience competitive media capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerospace surveying and mapping has become the main method of global earth observation. It can be divided into the geodetic; observation satellites and the; topographic surveying satellites according to the disciplines. In this paper, the; geodetic satellites and photographic; satellites arc; introduced respectively. Them, the; existing problems in Chinese; earth observation satellites an; analyzed, and the; comprehensive satellite; with integrated payloads, the; intensive; microsatcllitc constellation and the; intelligent observation satellite arc; proposer! as three; different development ideas for the; future; earth observation satellites. The; possibility of the; three ideas is discussed in c!c;tail, as well as the; relater! key technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a prevalent and debilitating complication of diabetes, imposing a significant burden on individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the global research landscape in DN, aiming to provide scientists, funders, and decision-makers with valuable insights into the current state of research and future directions. Methods: Through a systematic review of published articles, key trends in DN research, including epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment strategies, and gaps in knowledge, are identified and discussed. Results: The analysis reveals an increasing prevalence of DN alongside the rising incidence of diabetes, emphasizing the urgent need for effective prevention and management strategies. Furthermore, the study highlights the geographical imbalance in research activity, with a majority of studies originating from highincome countries. Discussion: This study underscores the importance of fostering international collaboration to address the global impact of DN. Key challenges and limitations in DN research are also discussed, including the need for standardized diagnostic criteria, reliable biomarkers, and innovative treatment approaches. By addressing these gaps, promoting collaboration, and increasing research funding, we can pave the way for advancements in DN research and ultimately improve the lives of individuals affected by this debilitating condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, an exponential surge in technological advancements has significantly transformed various aspects of daily life. The proliferation of indispensable objects such as smartphones and computers underscores the pervasive influence of technology. This trend extends to the domains of the healthcare, automotive, and industrial sectors, with the emergence of remote-operating capabilities and self-learning models. Notably, the automotive industry has integrated numerous remote access points like Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth, 4G/5G, and OBD-II interfaces into vehicles, amplifying the exposure of the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus to external threats. With a recognition of the susceptibility of the CAN bus to external attacks, there is an urgent need to develop robust security systems that are capable of detecting potential intrusions and malfunctions. This study aims to leverage fingerprinting techniques and neural networks on cost-effective embedded systems to construct an anomaly detection system for identifying abnormal behavior in the CAN bus. The research is structured into three parts, encompassing the application of fingerprinting techniques for data acquisition and neural network training, the design of an anomaly detection algorithm based on neural network results, and the simulation of typical CAN attack scenarios. Additionally, a thermal test was conducted to evaluate the algorithm's resilience under varying temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most promising solutions to deal with huge data traffic demands in large communication networks is given by flexible optical networking, in particular the flexible grid (flexgrid) technology specified in the ITU-T standard G.694.1. In this specification, the frequency spectrum of an optical fiber link is divided into narrow frequency slots. Any sequence of consecutive slots can be used as a simple channel, and such a channel can be switched in the network nodes to create a lightpath. In this kind of networks, the problem of establishing lightpaths for a set of end-to-end demands that compete for spectrum resources is called the routing and spectrum allocation problem (RSA). Due to its relevance, RSA has been intensively studied in the last years. It has been shown to be NP-hard and different solution approaches have been proposed for this problem. In this paper we present several families of valid inequalities, valid equations, and optimality cuts for a natural integer programming formulation of RSA and, based on these results, we develop a branch-and-cut algorithm for this problem. Our computational experiments suggest that such an approach is effective at tackling this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethical networks are an emerging form of social alliance based on collaboration between organizations that share a common ethical commitment. Grounded in a theoretical framework of virtue-based business ethics and focusing on nonprofit alliances, this study investigates the virtuousness of ethical networks; that is, how they trigger virtuous practices in their member nonprofit organizations. Adopting a qualitative grounded theory approach, the study focuses on one of the largest Italian ethical networks of nonprofit organizations operating in the social care sector. The findings show that shared ethical values and religious beliefs are positively associated with ethical network building. Based on these findings, a circular model of virtuousness is proposed in which ethical networks foster virtuous practices among their members at four levels: (1) the strategic orientation level, (2) the institutional level, (3) the organizational level, and (4) the relational level. At each of these levels, ethical networks foster a habituation to virtues and the propagation of virtuous behaviors among their members. Theoretical, practical, and social implications of the research findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early information and support in dementia (FIDEM) is a cross-sectoral, general practitioner-centered network model for the improvement of community-based care of people with dementia and their caregivers by systematically assigning them to non-physician healthcare providers. Objective: To describe the implementation of FIDEM in Göttingen, Germany and to exploratorily evaluate satisfaction and relief vs. additional workload. Material and methods: FIDEM was established in Göttingen in 2017. Community-based and district-based networks consisted of medical (general practitioners) and non-medical cooperation partners (occupational therapists, care counselling, other non-medical care providers) and were instructed to efficiently share information. During biannual network meetings from August 2017 to October 2019, a self-developed questionnaire for quality management and evaluation of the aspects of the project described above was filled out by participants attending the meetings. Results: Consecutive recruitment resulted in 7 networks by October 2019, with participation of 29 general practitioners and 46 non-medical care providers, serving as cooperation partners. Quantitative evaluation of 80 FIDEM cooperation partners revealed high satisfaction ratings with all aspects of the model (M from 7.22 to 7.87 out of possible „10"), with partially higher ratings on the part of primary care physicians. Furthermore, all participants reported a reduction in workload due to participation, which was significantly higher for primary care physicians across all scales (all p-values < 0.001). Conclusion: FIDEM has been implemented in Göttingen beyond a funded pilot project phase. High satisfaction ratings and considerable relief in workload suggest the continuation of FIDEM along with a full evaluation and, provided positive results, its consolidation of and transfer to other regions in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to explore connectivity and networking in Late Bronze Age (LBA)/Early Iron Age (EIA) Greece and the Balkans using morphological biodistance analysis and test the potentiality of newly introduced statistical tests, which were designed for challenging datasets, in this particular cultural area. Cranial non-metric traits were recorded in ten skeletal collections, spanning from East Crete to Romania. We followed an experimental statistical approach encompassing two different measures of divergence, the conventional and well-tested mean measure of divergence (MMD) and the newly introduced untransformed measure of divergence (UMD). Though different, results based on these two measures are mutually supporting and show that biodistances in our regional case studies mainly follow the isolation by distance model. This cautiously confirms our main hypothesis that during the LBA and EIA periods in Greece and the Balkans, personal mobility was a slow process characterized by integration, rather than displacement or transformation. The current study is the first one to infer biological affinities using cranial non-metric analysis combined with artifactual evidence, in LBA/EIA Greece and the Balkans. Building a larger dataset through future non-metric analyses will better enable exploring networking and mobility to further complement ongoing bioarchaeological, genetic, and material culture studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal is the property of World Health Organization 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.)

The next step following acceptance of an abstract submitted for a scientific meeting is to create the poster. Poster presentations provide an avenue for dissemination of research findings as well as the opportunity to highlight the work and network with other clinicians. Requirements for poster presentations vary among scientific meetings. Therefore, it is important to follow instructions set forth by the specific conference at which the work will be presented. Important considerations for poster design include the elements it should contain, font type and size, use of tables and figures, and poster size. Research indicates visual appeal has a greater influence in attracting attention than content. In addition to creating the poster, preparing for presentation is an essential step in the process. Practicing the presentation prior to the meeting, anticipating questions, and being familiar with the poster content are principal factors in preparing for the presentation. Oral presentations for posters are typically brief and should only focus on the key points. The purpose of this paper is to review poster design and provide general guidelines for presenting an abstract at a scientific meeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes how a national collaborative of pediatric nurse scientists has leveraged the expertise of their membership and strategic networking to guide the development of the evolving hospital-based nurse scientist role and influence centers of nursing research. Members' narratives illustrate how their networking across the collaborative has resulted in increased clarity and understanding of the hospital-based nurse scientist role, consistency in job responsibilities and expectations, title changes that more accurately reflect the nature of the role, establishment or expansion of centers of nursing research, success in talent recruitment, diversification of center team members, reporting structure alterations, and dedicated nursing research funding mechanisms. These tangible outcomes enable pediatric nurse scientists to become more effective in their roles and transform the care of pediatric patients and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alignment of higher education with the skill needs of employers and industry at large is a topic of active debate, particularly for engineering education. Formal and informal content developed by companies, technology‐specific associations, consulting firms, and individuals forms a body of knowledge that might fast‐track careers toward very specific opportunities. By contrast, academic courseware is known for its pedagogical rigor while being slow to adapt to the fast‐paced changes in technology, particularly information technologies, and reliance on expensive course materials that burden students. This paper explores the drivers for integrating industry‐developed courseware in an existing, higher‐ed course on Scripting for Information Technology in the Department of Technology Systems at East Carolina University and the implications of such integration. We hypothesize that industry courseware is a streamlined, cost‐effective way to provide students with the knowledge they need in the workforce. Students were exposed to the two types of content and their scholarly performance was analyzed. Student perception of the two types of content was assessed through a postclass survey. The student results and the feedback they provided suggest that a hybrid approach is more suitable to address the learning preferences and predispositions of students. This case study concludes that textbook and industry‐generated content can be integrated into existing courses and improving them in terms student outcomes and in terms of alignment with industry's hiring expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This bibliometric review analyzes the trends in research related to networking and negotiating skills in the digital era. The study found that keywords like innovation, leadership, and network were interconnected, and networking and negotiating were popular topics in certain countries. The article emphasizes the importance of effective communication and negotiation skills in various contexts, such as business and career development. It also discusses the steps of the negotiation process and provides tips for improving negotiating skills. The document is a list of academic journal articles covering topics such as intra-firm trade, corporate price planning, and business network strategy in Islamic microfinance institutions, which may be useful for researchers in these areas. [Extracted from the article]

The increasing impact of catastrophic disasters has inspired a strong network of cooperative disaster resiliency programmes focussing on protection and response for heritage collections and sites around the world. A dedicated community of professionals has developed successful partnership organisations that form a collaboration of institutions, first responders, local community groups and volunteers. At the core in the United States is a consortium of governmental and private organisations. Advocating for and safeguarding cultural heritage against risks draws on conventions, policy frameworks and guidance, becoming an imperative part of effective collection and site management. This article outlines the history, missions, interrelationship and expanded programming of this resolute, primarily volunteer community. The evolution of strategic disaster resilience in North America is non-linear, as are the histories of the organisations and individuals who have contributed to the nascent specialty. Key people and agencies are dedicated to protecting cultural assets and progressively improving and professionalising disaster resilience and recovery. The strategic, physical and psychological needs of disaster-affected communities are now standard management protocols for cultural heritage collections. Tangible documentation of these changes and interconnections are spread between professional repositories and personal archives, with minimal finding aids and dependence on individual memories. This information is gathered, regularly shared and updated as part of experiential training but seldom published in historical or scholarly articles. This article is intended to bridge the gap between a literature review and a record of experiences that have moved the profession of cultural heritage responder and their support organisations forward in time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneously acquiring broad clinical knowledge and scientific expertise is a major challenge for young clinical scientists. Female researchers may face additional hurdles in their career, for example, due to unconscious bias. We aimed to address clinical, research, and gender‐related challenges among young female clinical neuroscientists. We implemented a peer‐led networking group dedicated to increasing clinical and scientific knowledge, improve soft skills, and encourage exchange between fellow residents. In monthly meetings, two participants hold short presentations on a clinical topic or scientific method, followed by a discussion and feedback to the presenter. Afterwards, participants network and discuss challenges they face in their daily experience. Nine neurology residents at a Swiss University Hospital with ≤3 years of training participated in the Connecting Women in Neurosciences project from August 2020 to June 2021. In a qualitative evaluation, participants reported they felt empowered by these meetings and profited from their new network. We identified several challenges in combining clinical and research activities, some of which participants perceived to be gender‐related. In addition to women‐only meetings, we will promote events addressing all interested researchers. Peer‐to‐peer networking is an easy and low‐budget intervention to encourage female residents to engage in research activities, profit from each other's expertise, and promote interdisciplinary teamwork. It can provide a protected environment to discuss and overcome in particular gender‐related challenges. We encourage young colleagues to regularly engage in structured networking activities with their local peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To include, sustain, and retain HIV-focused early career faculty from groups historically excluded from biomedical research, the Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) conducted focus groups and individual interviews with early and mid-career faculty to discern their needs. Methods: We conducted focus groups and interviews with 15 faculty at institutions affiliated with Providence/Boston CFAR from groups underrepresented in biomedical research. The discussion was guided using the domains of an Asset Bundle Model encompassing scientific human capital, social capital, and financial capital. Result: Participants' identities, including their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and being a parent affected their vision of themselves as scientists. Participants reported confusion or limited training on or access to resources for professional development, hiring staff, meeting NIH reporting requirements, international research, support for working parents, sabbaticals, and addressing workplace conflict or unsupportive work environments. Some described feeling like they were a burden on their mentors who seemed overextended. They identified attributes of effective mentors, such as believing in and investing in the mentee; having the requisite content area expertise and self-confidence; being able to identify mentees needs and meet them where they are; and being consistent, communicative, respectful, and kind. They described a need for additional education and support preresearch and postresearch grant award management. Conclusions: To learn how to equitably serve all interested in HIV research, CFARs should engage and include perspectives from scientists who have historically been excluded from biomedical research. Our future work will test, implement, and disseminate the ideas generated by these focus group discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored the role and effectiveness of conferences in developing outreach and the difficulties in participating in conferences through the teacher's and students' views. University graduates need to make themselves apprised of the isolation of a university to enrich themselves with innovative research ideas. The conferences offer valuable networking opportunities by bringing together individuals from various backgrounds and promoting collaboration. The mixed methods approach was used to conduct this research. The questionnaire was conducted among 300 graduates conveniently from graduate students of various departments. Moreover, the 10 teachers and 15 students with purposive sampling were contacted from different departments of the university and were interviewed to get their in-depth perceptions. Data showed that all the participants appreciated the role of conferences in building up outreach as conferences serve as platforms for experts, researchers, and professionals to share knowledge, and discuss innovative ideas. The majority of the participants agreed that conferences are valuable for both teachers and students. Data revealed that conferences the students and teachers agreed that conferences focus on specific areas of interest within a country provide innovative ideas, and the opportunity to build networks. Although the organization of conferences comes up with challenges of budget, security issues, high expenses, cost of internet, digital equipment, and traveling. It is found that new and low-budget universities cannot afford and conduct conferences easily despite their worth. The study recommended that universities should organize conferences despite low budgets and should reduce the limitations to the development of teachers' and students' outreach and networking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hessische Blätter für Volksbildung is the property of wbv Media GmbH & Co. KG 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.)

With the spread of communication technologies in recent years and their growing influence on everyday life, social networks have grown to play a vital role, especially in public diplomacy and cyber diplomacy. Among these networks, Twitter has emerged as a pivotal platform, featuring its own unique set of dynamics and advantages as a public diplomacy tool. This study aims to evaluate the performance of two accounts on Twitter, namely, the Chinese Ambassador in Tehran and the Persian Account of the US State Department, toward the Islamic Republic of Iran, via two defined indicators, namely, network proximity and networking capacity. The research investigates these indicators to analyze and compare the accounts' engagement in interactions and networking on Twitter. The findings of this study demonstrate that in terms of the specified indicators, the account of the Chinese Ambassador in Tehran has outperformed the Persian Account of the US State Department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Automotive Digest is the property of Automotive Digest Editorial Office 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.)

Non-research visibility of academic staff in institutions of higher learning were investigated with a view to ascertaining the causes, consequences, challenges, benefits and solutions. Various literature materials were consulted and information therein were used for most of the studies. The paper defined research visibility as the ability and capability of a researcher to make high quality, influential and substantive contributions to the researcher's discipline which makes a great impact to the larger community especially for solving global problems. The outcome of the findings showed that most academic staff are not aware of academic social networking platforms such as research gate, linkedin, Blog, Googles scholar etc for dissemination of their research outcomes and as a result their works are not consulted, no feedback and collaboration, there is lack of online identity and impact metrics, with no academic reputation as some of the consequences. From the findings, some of the challenges include among others:-lack of computer literacy, high cost of publishing in high impact journals, no institutional e-mails, inability to track their impact metrics are factors responsible for non visibility. The outcome of the research indicated good opportunity for feedback, good collaboration among colleagues, increased research reputation, new job opportunities and job promotion as well as good career advancement as benefits of research visibility. Moreso, solutions to non research visibility include the use of social networking platforms, publishing on high impact journals, effective collaboration among colleagues, engaging with public lectures, publishing on widely read journals as well as maintaining a steady online identify and scholarly impact metrics as solutions. The paper therefore concluded that academic staff should strive to use the academic social networking platforms for knowledge dissemination and recommended the need to reduce the cost implications of publishing in high impact journals and public awareness on the use of social networking platforms for sharing research finding among academic staff in institutions of higher learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food and wine are part of our history and local identity that nowadays give floor to alternative forms of tourism achieving local sustainable development in rural areas and strategic partnerships. One tool available for rural destinations, bringing together a constellation of stakeholders, is the creation of wine routes. The purpose of the paper is to research collaborations between different stakeholders and evaluate the shared benefits of the creation of a wine route in the region of Drama, one of the most famous winemaking regions in Northern Greece. Using a qualitative research, and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders from the wine tourism ecosystem, such as local winemakers, representatives of rural tourism HORECA, experts from wine and tourism organizations and local development agencies, the paper tries to shed light to causes for non-participation in the wine route and the partnership managing the wine route, as well as to shared benefits from wine tourism in the area, perceived by those experts. From the results we see that people need to put on the table much more than just wine. They need to put trust, culture of cooperation, time, and resources for their strategic partnership to work towards inclusive, local and sustainable development. This is especially true in the post-covid-19 era, which is expected to give alternative forms of tourism and especially wine tourism, a promising future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many successful researchers in the biomedical sciences have benefitted from mentors and networks earlier in their career. However, early-career researchers from minoritized and underrepresented groups do not have the same access to potential mentors and networks as many of their peers. In this article we describe how ‘cold emails’ and social media platforms – notably Twitter/X and LinkedIn – can be used to build virtual networks, and stress the need to invest in maintaining networks once they have been established.

Goal: The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Leadership Development Special Interest Group (LD SIG) held a one-hour “Virtual Think Tank” (VTT) interactive session in 2020 for pharmacy educators interested in leadership development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of this VTT. Methods: VTT attendees worked together in small groups created based on pre-selected common interest areas related to leadership development to create collaborative leadership initiative plans (CLIPs), which were ideas for new collaborative scholarly or programmatic initiatives. Principal findings: Quantitative outcomes of this VTT included statistically significant increases in positive perceptions toward the organization hosting the VTT regarding networking, scholarly collaboration, educational collaboration, and professional service opportunities, as well as significant improvements in attitudes regarding engagement with the sponsoring organization. Additionally, 18.4% of VTT attendees continued communicating with CLIP groups post-VTT and 13.2% of respondents indicated that they successfully implemented the CLIP ideas that were generated during the VTT. Qualitative outcomes included findings that the two most commonly encountered barriers were insufficient traction of the initial idea and lack of time (41.9% (n = 13) for both). Other barriers included lack of alignment with priorities at 12.9% (n = 4). Practical applications: This leadership VTT for pharmacy academicians led to development and implementation of important scholarly and programmatic outcomes, and fostered cross-institutional partnerships. Findings from this study evaluating a VTT provide a framework of expectations for other organizations seeking to implement a similar initiative.

The global transition towards renewable energy sources necessitates the internationalization of renewable energy businesses to effectively address the growing demand and capitalize on emerging market opportunities. However, lacking a robust operational model tailored specifically to this field poses considerable challenges. Addressing these gaps, this study presents a powerful framework that combines networking and collaborative competition strategies to facilitate the international expansion of renewable energy businesses.Through a questionnaire survey of 70 managers from energy companies with export experience, the collected data was analyzed using the partial least squares test. The findings demonstrate the significant impact of networking and collaborative competition on key factors such as entrepreneurial opportunity, competition motivation, and existing renewable energy technologies. Moreover, the model highlights the significance of partnerships, alliances, and cooperative ventures in fostering cross-border collaboration and overcoming market entry barriers. The implications of this research contribute to the theoretical understanding of internationalization strategies in the renewable energy domain and provide practical guidance for renewable energy entrepreneurs and policy-makers seeking to navigate the complex dynamics of the global marketplace. Ultimately, this model offers a comprehensive framework that enables renewable energy-based businesses to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and competitive international landscape.

The research interest in the field of green marketing and waste management can be demonstrated through the published literature on the topic. However, there is a paucity of extensive and systematic research focusing on the evolution of this discipline in terms of its citation work. The main objective of this study is to explore the status of scholarly works on green marketing and waste management through a bibliometric citation and networking analysis of papers published from 2012 to 2021. The data was extracted from the Web of Science (WOS) utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysed (PRISMA) review process. The VOSviewer software was used to visualize the networking linkages. The findings of descriptive analysis showed that publications and citations related to green marketing and waste management are highest in 2021. Likewise, the networking analysis showed that the Science of the Total Environment journal has the highest citation counts, while Wan Yinfeng, Wang Junshi, Xu Guoping and Yi Huang are the authors with the highest citation counts, respectively. The findings also uncovered Sinosteel Wuhan Safety & Environmental Protection Research Institute (WSEPRI) as the most cited institution. Co-authorship and co-occurrence analysis were also found to provide significant discoveries. This study offers future scholars’ knowledge on the analysis of cited journals, papers, authors, institutions, and countries in the same field. Overall, the study serves as a guide for journal editorial boards on the growth among authors and networking opportunities in the field of green marketing and waste management, especially at the international level.