Mobile gaming: Industry challenges and policy implications

Mobile games are a prime example of a successful mobile application and demonstrate the increasing range of platforms for the media and entertainment industries. Against this convergent background, this paper introduces the basic features of the mobile gaming market and its industrial ecosystem together with its main actors and activities. The focus of the paper lies in the challenges ahead for the evolution of mobile applications into a potentially dominant game platform and the possible disruptions along this road. The deep personal relationships between users and their mobile devices are considered to further explore the link between mobile games, players’ strategies and pending techno-economic developments. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of some policy options to assist with the development of this domain.

Retrato, autorretrato e identidad en educación infantil

La investigación recoge una experiencia didáctica en la etapa de Educación Infantil en la que se trabaja la identidad propia y la de los compañeros a través del arte, concretamente del género del retrato y del autorretrato. Este género es fácilmente reconocible por el alumnado de Infantil que, además, le permite representar la figura humana, sus atributos, así como las emociones o relaciones personales que ellos identifican. La experiencia didáctica se ha llevado a cabo en cinco centros de la provincia de Alicante (España) en aulas de Educación Infantil. Los resultados muestran la capacidad del alumnado de reconocer las partes del cuerpo, de representarlas sobre sí mismos y sobre los demás, e incluso de mostrar las emociones o las relaciones sociales presentes en su vida.

Coordinations in business interactions between Hong Kong Chinese, Mainland Chinese and western actors

Hong Kong firms continue to play an important role in the development of mainland China trade. This paper studies the nature of coordinations in triadic interactions between Hong Kong Chinese intermediaries and mainland Chinese sellers, and buyers from the West, and their impact on relationships development. Contrary to popular belief, the results presented here identify that interactions between Hong Kong intermediaries and mainland Chinese sellers tend to include relationships based on price and authority. These interactions tend to be classical in nature, and serve to hinder the development of relationships. On the other hand, interactions between buyers from the West and Hong Kong intermediaries tend to be relational in nature. They include different forms of personal relationships, which tends to be positive for the development of relationships. A new plural form of international business relationship triad is also identified.

Attitudes towards the sexuality of adults with an intellectual disability: parents, support staff, and a community sample

Attitudes toward the sexuality of adults with intellectual disability were assessed in parents and carers of adults with intellectual disability and in a community sample. An instrument that contained items relating to eight aspects of sexuality (sexual feelings, sex education, masturbation, personal relationships, sexual intercourse, sterilisation, marriage, and parenthood) was developed and found to have good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Age was associated with attitudes, with those aged 60 and above holding more conservative attitudes. Parents and staff differed in their attitudes, with parents holding more conservative attitudes. This difference was the product of age differences between the groups; nevertheless it may produce some confusion for adults with intellectual disability unless it is addressed appropriately. Both parent and staff groups were less positive about parenthood than about other aspects of sexuality, however the community group did not differ in their views when attitudes towards parenthood were compared with the remaining items Of the scale.

Destination image, romance and place experience - an application of intimacy theory in tourism

In some forms of tourism, and perhaps particularly in the case of special interest tourism, it can be argued that tourism encounters are service relationships with emotional attachment through the special interest focus and a level of enduring involvement on the part of participants. This involvement is two-fold. First, an interest with the activity; second, a sharing with like-minded people in a social world that extends from home to tourist destination and return. Intimacies in tourism can thus be interpreted through the model of the relationship cycle that comprises the stages A. Aquaintance, B, Buildup, C, Continuation and D, Dissolution. The paper builds upon this concept by utilising ideas of other-centred and self-centredness in personal relationships, and extends the concept of other-centredness to host environments. It also suggests that, in the academic literature about place, location may be secondary in that the quality of experience is primarily determined by the intimacies that exist between people at that place, especially that existing between visitors. © 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Sexual partner preferences: evolutionary imperative, emotional attachment or hedonism?

Data are taken from a representative sample of the Australian population to determine the qualities that are desired in a sexual partner. These qualities are considered in three categories: those reflecting the perceived reproductive value of the partner (evolutionary imperative), the emotional attachment to a partner and the pure pleasure associated with having sex. Subjects completed a telephone-based survey 876 males; 908 females; aged 18-59). The qualities respondents report they most desire in a sexual partner are that the person is someone who cares about them, and whom they love. They also rank highly the criterion that their partner should enjoy sex, and much less highly that they themselves should enjoy the sex. Evolutionary imperatives are ranked fairly low as criteria sought in a sexual partner. Males and females generally expressed similar preferences in a sexual partner, as do persons in different age groups, and persons in different marital status categories. Heterosexual males appear to place a higher emphasis on the physical appearance of a partner when compared with non-heterosexuals. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

HETEROGENEIDADE EM REDE: PRESENÇA E PRÁTICAS DE USO ENTRE ESTUDANTES DA UNIVERSIDADE METODISTA DE SÃO PAULO NAS REDES SOCIAIS

As redes sociais pela internet ganham destaque nos processos comunicacionais atuais ao permitirem uma maior interação entre os conectados. Entretanto, o conceito de rede, ao contrário do senso comum e do que se convencionou no meio acadêmico, de fato não propõe uma organização simétrica, estática e homogênea. A rede é, por natureza, dinâmica e heterogênea, assim como a sociedade é. As redes sociais e as redes digitais demonstram isso. Elas aumentam e diminuem seus nós e possuem diferentes graus de conexões, e mesmo nestes graus de conexões são diversas. O presente estudo está dividido em duas partes fundamentais. A primeira visa compreender o conceito de rede, e para isso baseia-se em Milton Santos, Pierre Musso e Albert-Lásló Barabási. Na segunda parte, a partir de uma pesquisa com estudantes universitários, há a preocupação de identificar as heterogeneidades existentes nas suas presenças nas redes e suas práticas de uso, a partir de seis categorias de análise e atividades relacionadas: relações pessoais, estudo, trabalho, ativismo, entretenimento e lazer, e informações e notícias. A questão de fundo, a respeito das possibilidades das redes, é sobre os diferentes níveis de participação, ou seja, a heterogeneidade em rede. O resultado do estudo constata a heterogeneidade, na qual os estudantes, por mais que possuam semelhanças em função da idade aproximada, da condição social e pelo fato de estudarem em uma universidade particular, são diferentes entre si, em especial, se comparados pelas áreas de formação. Não só a presença nas redes sociais se dá em níveis diferentes, quanto suas práticas também são. Portanto, o conceito de redes heterogêneas contido no pensamento de Milton Santos, Pierre Musso e Albert-Lásló Barabási, é confirmado com a pesquisa aplicada aos estudantes universitários dos cursos de graduação presencial da Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, a partir da análise de suas presenças e práticas de uso.  

Os entraves para a Gestão Democrática na rede estadual de ensino de São Paulo

O presente trabalho tem a finalidade de apresentar a problemática da Gestão Democrática e Participativa na estrutura da rede estadual de ensino de São Paulo, analisando os entraves existentes entre a máquina burocrática do Estado e as relações pessoais existentes na escola. Desde a promulgação da Constituição Federal de 1988e da LDB 9394 de 1996, que trazem em seus textos o princípio da gestão democrática, espera-se a real implementação da gestão democrática nessa rede. A pesquisa de campo desenvolvida neste trabalho deu subsídios para analisar o cenário em que se encontra a rede estadual de ensino de São Paulo em relação à gestão democrática e participativa e quais os obstáculos para que ela efetivamente ocorra.

INTELIGÊNCIA EMOCIONAL, CAPITAL PSICOLÓGICO E PERCEPÇÃO DE SUPORTE ORGANIZACIONAL EM GESTORES DO SEGMENTO DE SAÚDE

O setor de saúde é fortemente impactado por diversos fatores e é considerado um dos mais importantes ramos da economia brasileira.O profissional da área é desafiado a responder pela gestão de temas para os quais não foi desenvolvido em seu processo educacional acadêmico. Considerando que pessoas emocionalmente inteligentes e ao mesmo tempo portadores de estados psicológicos positivos, que integram o capital psicológico, possuem uma estrutura psíquica que lhes possibilite atingir posições de liderança, este estudo objetivou interpretar e discutir as correlações entre inteligência emocional, capital psicológico, e percepção do suporte organizacional. Participaram do estudo 123 gestores com formação acadêmica em saúde e experiência em organizacões do segmento saúde. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de questionário eletrônico auto aplicável e os dados foram submetidos a análise descritiva e bivariada através do software SPSS em sua versão 19.0. Evidenciou-se que estes profissionais possuem em maior evidência a habilidade da inteligência emocional de autoconciencia, por outro lado apresentam limitações na disponibilidade e no estabelecimento das relações pessoais (sociabilidade) tão relevantes no processo de gestão. Já as dimensões relativas a capital psicológico, voltadas para o desempenho no trabalho, demonstraram que este profissional é confiante na sua capacidade de contribuição com os objetivos da empresa, bem como de superar os possíveis obstáculos inerentes a sua atividade laboral. Soma-se a seu capital psicológico a percepção de suporte que a organização possa lhe oferecer, quando necessitar de apoio para sentir-se bem e realizar suas tarefas.

An evaluation of child welfare inservice training: The relative effectiveness of substance abuse content in improving worker knowledge and attitudes

Given the seriousness of substance abuse as a child welfare problem, the purpose of this study was to examine the relative effectiveness of an inservice training curriculum for child welfare workers. The training was designed to improve worker knowledge and attitudes in working with substance abusing families. Seventy (70) child welfare workers from public and private agencies in two south Florida counties participated in a pretest/posttest control group design that also trained and retested the control group. The literature review supports that the general preparedness of child welfare workers for the issues presented by substance abusing families is in question. Confounding this problem is a lack of understanding of substance abuse dynamics, worker biases, and predispositions. The two research hypotheses focused on whether inservice training could increase worker knowledge and improve worker attitudes in working with this population. Training delivery was in the form of a five-day inservice focusing on an array of substance abuse knowledge and attitudinal topics. Separate knowledge and attitude instruments were developed for the research and were administered, before and after training, to a purposive sample of participants that were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The data analysis supported the research hypotheses but raised a question. Specifically, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvement in posttest scores on both instruments after receiving the training; whereas the control group, with training withheld, also demonstrated a significant improvement at posttest, but only on the knowledge instrument. Although the question was unanswered, when examined at a more critical significance level, only the experimental group remained significant. The hypotheses were reconfirmed when, after training and retesting, the control group also displayed significant improvement on both instruments. The findings support the conclusion that this substance abuse inservice was effective in improving worker knowledge and attitudes regarding working with substance abusing families. As an implication for social work practice, it suggests that similar inservice training can be a viable training resource when formal substance abuse training is unavailable. Additional research is suggested regarding to what degree increased substance abuse knowledge and improved worker attitudes correlate with improved practice.

Patronage and bribery in sixteenth-century Peru: The government of Viceroy Conde del Villar and the visita of Licentiate Alonso Fernandez de Bonilla

This dissertation deals with the nature of the political system in sixteenth-century colonial Spanish America through an analysis of the administration of Viceroy Fernando de Torres y Portugal, Conde del Villar, in Peru (1585–1590). The political conflicts surrounding his government and the accusations of bribery leveled against him and members of his household provide the documentation for a case study in a system in which prestige and authority were defined through a complex network of patronage and personal relationships with the Spanish monarch, the ultimate source of legitimate power. ^ This dissertation is conceptualized using categories presented in Max Weber's theory on the nature of political order and authority in the history of human societies and the definition of the patrimonial system as one in which the power of he king confers legitimacy and authority on the whole political structure. ^ The documentary base for this dissertation is an exceptionally detailed and complete record related to the official administrative review ( visita) ordered by Philip II in 1588 to assess the government of Viceroy Torres y Portugal. Additionally, letters as well as other primary and secondary sources are scattered in repositories on both sides of the Atlantic. ^ The study of this particular case offers an excellent opportunity to gain an understanding of a political order in which jurisdictional boundaries between institutions and authorities were not clearly defined. The legal system operating in the viceroyalty was subordinated to the personal decisions of the king, and order and equilibrium were maintained through the interaction of patronage networks that were reproduced at all levels of the colonial society. ^ The final charges against Viceroy Conde del Villar, as well as their impact on the political career of those involved in the accusations, reveal that situations today understood to constitute bribery had a different meaning in the context of a patrimonial order. ^

Qualidade de vida de pessoas com estomias intestinais

Ostomy is an open surgical origin, when it is necessary to deviate temporarily or permanently, the normal transit of food and / or deletions. The patient with ostomy disposal is faced with changes in their physiology, also emerging on the need to care collection bag. This study aimed to analyze the quality of life (QOL) of people living with ostomy Intestinal (EI), who attended the Pediatric and Adult Rehabilitation Center of Rio Grande do Norte (CRI / CRA-RN). It is an analytical study with cross-sectional design and quantitative approach, accomplished with 89 people who had EI. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (CEP / UFRN), CAAE: 19866413.3.0000.5537. Held data collection in the period January-March 2015 using two instruments: an adapted general questionnaire covering socio-demographic, clinical and self-care and a specific instrument for assessing QOL of people with stoma titled as City of Hope Quality of Life - Ostomy Questionnaire (COH-QOL-Q), validated and adapted to Portuguese in 2010, composed of four areas, namely: Welfare Body (BEF), Welfare Psychological (BEP), Welfare (BES ) and Spiritual Well-Being (BEE). The collected data were entered into a database in Microsoft Excel 2007 spreadsheet application and processed in computerized software for descriptive and inferential analysis. The results showed that 83.1% had a colostomy and ileostomy 16.9%. Sociodemographic characteristics prevailed in males (57.3%), over 50 (57.3%), mulatto (46.1%), with presence of companion / a (57.3%), retired / beneficiaries (50.5%), monthly income above the minimum wage (68.5%) and who have studied up to elementary school (67.4%). Regarding clinical aspects, it was observed that the main cause that led to the making of the stoma was the neoplasm (59.6%) followed by trauma (21.3%). The sample showed people with stoma for more than six months (79.8%) of permanently (57.3%), in use sink equipment piece drainable (68.5%) of flat base (82.0%). With respect to self-care, 93.3% emptied and washed the bag alone (care related to hygiene) and 75.3% fixed the new exchange on the skin during the exchange (care related to the stock). Patients with more than six months of ostomy and had no partner (a) had higher averages of self-care related hygiene and purse. The average of respondents QoL scores was 68.90% for General QOL; 68.03% for the BEF; 68.38% for the BEP; 66.46% for BES and 75.41% for BEE. Among the aspects that influenced QOL included: physical strength, pain, suffering and gases (physical domain); appearance, care of the stoma and adaptation to new condition (psychological domain); isolation, interference in personal relationships and social activities (social domain) and going to church or synagogue, spiritual activities and positive change after ostomy (spiritual realm). Based on these results, it is concluded that this was a predominantly adult sample / elderly (between 50 and 70 years), with low education and the cause motivating the stoma, neoplasms. However, such findings did not pass at low percentage levels on the self-care capacity to deliver even at low QOL scores.

Qualidade de vida de pessoas com estomias intestinais

Ostomy is an open surgical origin, when it is necessary to deviate temporarily or permanently, the normal transit of food and / or deletions. The patient with ostomy disposal is faced with changes in their physiology, also emerging on the need to care collection bag. This study aimed to analyze the quality of life (QOL) of people living with ostomy Intestinal (EI), who attended the Pediatric and Adult Rehabilitation Center of Rio Grande do Norte (CRI / CRA-RN). It is an analytical study with cross-sectional design and quantitative approach, accomplished with 89 people who had EI. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (CEP / UFRN), CAAE: 19866413.3.0000.5537. Held data collection in the period January-March 2015 using two instruments: an adapted general questionnaire covering socio-demographic, clinical and self-care and a specific instrument for assessing QOL of people with stoma titled as City of Hope Quality of Life - Ostomy Questionnaire (COH-QOL-Q), validated and adapted to Portuguese in 2010, composed of four areas, namely: Welfare Body (BEF), Welfare Psychological (BEP), Welfare (BES ) and Spiritual Well-Being (BEE). The collected data were entered into a database in Microsoft Excel 2007 spreadsheet application and processed in computerized software for descriptive and inferential analysis. The results showed that 83.1% had a colostomy and ileostomy 16.9%. Sociodemographic characteristics prevailed in males (57.3%), over 50 (57.3%), mulatto (46.1%), with presence of companion / a (57.3%), retired / beneficiaries (50.5%), monthly income above the minimum wage (68.5%) and who have studied up to elementary school (67.4%). Regarding clinical aspects, it was observed that the main cause that led to the making of the stoma was the neoplasm (59.6%) followed by trauma (21.3%). The sample showed people with stoma for more than six months (79.8%) of permanently (57.3%), in use sink equipment piece drainable (68.5%) of flat base (82.0%). With respect to self-care, 93.3% emptied and washed the bag alone (care related to hygiene) and 75.3% fixed the new exchange on the skin during the exchange (care related to the stock). Patients with more than six months of ostomy and had no partner (a) had higher averages of self-care related hygiene and purse. The average of respondents QoL scores was 68.90% for General QOL; 68.03% for the BEF; 68.38% for the BEP; 66.46% for BES and 75.41% for BEE. Among the aspects that influenced QOL included: physical strength, pain, suffering and gases (physical domain); appearance, care of the stoma and adaptation to new condition (psychological domain); isolation, interference in personal relationships and social activities (social domain) and going to church or synagogue, spiritual activities and positive change after ostomy (spiritual realm). Based on these results, it is concluded that this was a predominantly adult sample / elderly (between 50 and 70 years), with low education and the cause motivating the stoma, neoplasms. However, such findings did not pass at low percentage levels on the self-care capacity to deliver even at low QOL scores.

Questioning the merits and demerits of electronic communication in Social Work

This paper examines the social dynamics of electronic exchanges in the human services, particularly in social work. It focuses on the observable effects that email and texting have on the linguistic, relational and clinical rather than managerial aspects of the profession. It highlights how electronic communication is affecting professionals in their practice and learners as they become acculturated to social work. What are the gains and losses of the broad use of electronic devices in daily lay and professional, verbal and non-verbal communication? Will our current situation be seriously detrimental to the demeanor of future practitioners, their use of language, and their ability to establish close personal relationships? The paper analyzes social work linguistic and behavioral changes in light of the growth of electronic communication and offers a summary of merits and demerits viewed through a prism emerging from Baron’s (2000) analysis of human communication.

Redefinición de las TIC en el museo: del discurso invasivo al inclusivo

Las TIC son inseparables de la museografía in situ e imprescindibles en la museografía en red fija y móvil. En demasiados casos se han instalado prótesis tecnológicas para barnizar de modernidad el espacio cultural, olvidando que la tecnología debe estar al servicio de los contenidos de manera que resulte invisible y perfectamente imbricada con la museografía tradicional. Las interfaces móviles pueden fusionar museo in situ y en red y acompañar a las personas más allá del espacio físico. Esa fusión debe partir de una base de datos narrativa y abierta a obras materiales e inmateriales de otros museos de manera que no se trasladen las limitaciones del museo físico al virtual. En el museo in situ tienen sentido las instalaciones hipermedia inmersivas que faciliten experiencias culturales innovadoras. La interactividad (relaciones virtuales) debe convivir con la interacción (relaciones físicas y personales) y estar al servicio de todas las personas, partiendo de que todas, todos tenemos limitaciones. Trabajar interdisciplinarmente ayuda a comprender mejor el museo para ponerlo al servicio de las personas.