Speaking from the Inside: Challenges Faced by Communication Researchers Investigating Disease-Related Issues in a Hospital Setting.

This commentary came from within the framework of integrating the humanities in medicine and from accompanying research on disease-related issues by teams involving clinicians and researchers in medical humanities. The purpose is to reflect on the challenges faced by researchers when conducting emotionally laden research and on how they impact observations and subsequent research findings. This commentary is furthermore a call to action since it promotes the institutionalization of a supportive context for medical humanities researchers who have not been trained to cope with sensitive medical topics in research. To that end, concrete recommendations regarding training and supervision were formulated.

Marketing education, distance learning and hypermedia : teaching 'current issues in marketing' in a virtual campus

This article reports on a project at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC: The Open University of Catalonia, Barcelona) to develop an innovative package of hypermedia-based learning materials for a new course entitled 'Current Issues in Marketing'. The UOC is a distance university entirely based on a virtual campus. The learning materials project was undertaken in order to benefit from the advantages which new communication technologies offer to the teaching of marketing in distance education. The article reviews the main issues involved in incorporating new technologies in learning materials, the development of the learning materials, and their functioning within the hypermedia based virtual campus of the UOC. An empirical study is then carried out in order to evaluate the attitudes of students to the project. Finally, suggestions for improving similar projects in the future are put forward.

Temporal issues in e-learning research: A literature review

Peer-reviewed

FOSS issues in technology transfers from the University to the Industry

FOSS has always been particularly welcome in Universities. Its spirit corresponds generally with the academic state of mind, and royalty-free technologies are particularly appreciated where money is usually lacking.But at the opposite side of the spectrum, the universities�� TTO��s (Technology Transfer Officers) are supposed to ��valorize�� the production of research departments and to enable profit making cooperations with the industry. How should FOSS licensing be tackled in such context?

Legal issues in promoting FOSS in R+D projects - Policy, Organisation and Management

Creating and using FLOSS in R+D projects raises several legal issues, which need to be managed as soon as possible - preferably during the project planning stage. Challenges in the areas of project structure and policy, licenses and licensing, exploitation strategies, community management, and FLOSS-friendliness in general all have their legal aspects, which are commented here. Some recommendations are made for assisting in the use of FLOSS in R+D projects, especially in multiple party consortiums.

The Fairness of Media Coverage in Question: An Analysis of Referendum Campaigns on Welfare State Issues in Switzerland

The mass media are assigned an important role in political campaigns on popular votes. This article asks how the press communicates political issues to citizens during referendum campaigns, and whether some minimal criteria for successful public deliberation are met. The press coverage of all 24 ballot votes on welfare state issues from 1995 to 2004 in Switzerland is examined, distinguishing seven criteria to judge how news coverage compares to idealized notions of the media's role in the democratic process: coverage intensity, time for public deliberation, balance in media coverage, source independence and inclusiveness, substantive coverage, and spatial homogeneity. The results of our quantitative analysis suggest that the press does fulfil these normative requirements to a reasonable extent and that fears about biased or deceitful media treatment of ballot issues are not well-founded. However, some potential for optimizing the coverage of referendum campaigns by the Swiss press does exist

Current Issues in the Diagnosis and Classification of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphomas

Mature T-cell and T/NK-cell neoplasms are both uncommon and heterogeneous, among the broad category of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Due to the lack of specific genetic alterations in the vast majority of cases, most currently defined entities show overlapping morphologic and immunophenotypic features and therefore pose a challenge to the diagnostic pathologist. The goal of the symposium is to address current criteria for the recognition of specific subtypes of T-cell lymphoma, and to highlight new data regarding emerging immunophenotypic or molecular markers. This activity has been designed to meet the needs of practicing pathologists, and residents and fellows enrolled in training programs in anatomic and clinical pathology. It should be a particular benefit to those with an interest in hematopathology. Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to: -To be able to state the basis for the classification of mature T-cell malignancies involving nodal and extranodal sites. -To recognize and accurately diagnose the various subtypes of nodal and extranodal peripheral T-cell lymphomas. -To utilize immunohistochemical and molecular tests to characterize atypical T-cell proliferations. -To recognize and accurately diagnose T-cell lymphoproliferative lesions involving the skin and gastrointestinal tract, and be able to provide guidance regarding their clinical aggressiveness and management -To be able to utilize flow cytometric data to identify diverse functional T-cell subsets.

Entry Strategy Issues in the Ophthalmic Industry: Entry Mode, Pricing and Distribution

Maahantulostrategia asettaa yrityksen kansainv��lisi�� liiketoimintoja ohjaavat tavoitteet, p����m����r��t, resurssit ja toiminnan suuntaviivat. T��m�� diplomity�� k��sittelee yrityksen maahantulostrategian elementeist�� operaatiomuodon valintaa, hinnoittelua ja jakelua. Ty��ss�� rakennetaan teoriakehys elementteihin liittyvien p����t��sten tutkimiseksi l����keteollisuuden ominaispiirteet huomioiden. L����keteollisuudella on muihin teollisuudenaloihin verrattuna useita erityispiirteit��, joihin ty�� perehdytt����. Lis��ksi ty��n olennainen osa on selvitt���� l����keteollisuuden maakohtaisia s����d��ksi�� ja toimintamalleja. Diplomity�� on tehty silm��l��kkeit�� valmistavalle, kehitt��v��lle ja markkinoivalle Santen Oy:lle, joka suunnittelee toimintansa laajentamista Keski- ja Etel��-Euroopan markkinoille. T��ss�� laajentumisprosessissa ensimm��isen�� kohdemaana on Saksa, jonka markkinoille suuntautuvia toimenpiteit�� ty�� tutkii. Teoriakehyksen, markkinoiden ominaispiirteiden sek�� useiden erilaisten analyysien pohjalta ty��n tavoitteena on antaa operaatiomuotoa, tuotteiden hinnoittelua ja jakelua koskevia suosituksia.

Identification of the Emerging Issues in Recycled Fiber Processing

The objectives of this research work ���Identification of the Emerging Issues in Recycled Fiber processing��� are discovering of emerging research issues and presenting of new approaches to identify promising research themes in recovered paper application and production. The projected approach consists of identifying technological problems often encountered in wastepaper preparation processes and also improving the quality of recovered paper and increasing its proportion in the composition of paper and board. The source of information for the problem retrieval is scientific publications in which waste paper application and production were discussed. The study has exploited several research methods to understand the changes related to utilization of recovered paper. The all assembled data was carefully studied and categorized by applying software called RefViz and CiteSpace. Suggestions were made on the various classes of these problems that need further investigation in order to propose an emerging research trends in recovered paper.

Social competence and loneliness during the school years - Issues in assessment, interrelations and intergenerational transmission

V��it��skirjassa tarkastellaan kouluik��isten lasten ja nuorten sosiaalisen kompetenssin ja yksin��isyyden mittaamista, yhteyksi�� ja periytyvyytt�� vanhemmilta heid��n lapsilleen. Alakouluik��isten lasten tutkimusaineisto (n=985) koostuu lapsilta itselt����n, heid��n luokkatovereiltaan, opettajiltaan ja vanhemmiltaan vuosina 2000 - 2004 osana Merkityst�� etsim��ss�� ��� tutkimusprojektia (M. Vauras) ker��tyst�� aineistosta. Mukana on itse-, toveri-, opettaja- ja vanhempien arviot lasten sosiaalisesta kompetenssista, seuranta-aineisto lasten yksin��isyydest��, opettajien arviot lasten motivationaalisesta orientaatiosta, standardoiduin testisarjoin arvioidut akateemiset taidot sek�� lasten ��itien ja isien arviot omasta yksin��isyydest����n ja koetusta kyvykkyydest����n toimia vanhempana. Yl��kouluik��isten nuorten (n=386) aineisto koostuu vuosina 2006 ��� 2007 osana Sosioemotionaalinen oppiminen ja hyvinvointi yl��kouluyhteis��ss�� (P. M. Niemi) ker��tyst�� nuorten yksin��isyyden, sosiaalisen ahdistuneisuuden ja sosiaalisen fobian seuranta-aineistosta. Mitattavuutta (p����tavoite 1) tutkittiin erityisesti monitahoarviointien rakenteiden yhten��isyyksi��, subjektiivisten arvioiden ajallista pysyvyytt�� sek�� mittareiden validiteettia ja reliabiliteettia testaamalla. Sosiaalisen kompetenssin ja yksin��isyyden keskin��isten yhteyksien lis��ksi tarkasteltiin n��iden yhteytt�� alakoululaisten oppimiseen sek�� yl��kou��lulaisten psykososiaaliseen hyvinvointiin (p����tavoite 2). Kolmantena p����tavoitteena oli selvitt���� yksin��isyyden mahdollista periytymist�� vanhemmilta lapsille. Osana ensimm��ist�� p����tavoitetta kehitettiin Monitahoarviointi sosiaalisesta kompetenssista (MASK) -arviointimenetelm�� (artikkeli 1). Konfirmatorisen faktorianalyysin tulosten perusteella nelifaktorinen rakenne (prososiaalisuus sis��lt��en yhteisty��taidot ja empatiakyvyn sek�� antisosiaalisuus sis��lt��en impulsiivisuuden ja h��iritsevyyden) sopi sek�� lasten itsens��, heid��n luokkatovereidensa, opettajiensa ett�� vanhempiensa tekemiin arviointeihin. Eri tahojen arviointien v��liset korrelaatiot olivat tilastollisesti merkitsevi��, joskin suhteellisen matalia, ts. eri tahojen n��k��kulmat lapsen sosiaalisesta kompetenssista ovat toisistaan eri��vi��. T��ten eri arvioitsijatahojen k��ytt��minen on kokonaisuuden tutkimisen kannalta t��rke����. Toisena mittaamiseen liittyv��n�� tavoitteena oli validoida Hozan, Bukowskin ja Beeryn (2000) sosiaalisen ja emotionaalisen yksin��isyyden mittari suomalaisille lapsille (artikkeli 3) ja nuorille (artikkeli 4) soveltuvaksi sek�� tutkia, ovatko lasten ja nuorten arviot omasta yksin��isyydest����n ajallisesti pysyvi��. Alakoululaisten lasten osalta yksin��isyys, erityisesti sosiaalinen yksin��isyys osoittautui suhteellisen pysyv��ksi, mutta vahvistui entisest����n yl��kouluik��isten nuorten aineistoa tarkasteltaessa. Huomionarvoista sek�� ala- ett�� yl��koululaisten aineistoissa oli poikien kokema vahva emotionaalinen yksin��isyys. Molempien mittareiden osalta sek�� validiteetti ett�� reliabiliteetti todettiin hyv��ksytt��v��ksi ja niit�� voidaan suositella lasten ja nuorten sosiaalisen kompetenssin ja yksin��isyyden arviointimenetelmiksi. Toisena p����tavoitteena oli rakenneyht��l��mallinnuksen keinoin tarkastella sosiaalisen kompetenssin ja yksin��isyyden yhteyksi�� sek�� kesken����n (artikkelit 2 ja 3) ett�� suhteessa lasten oppimiseen (artikkeli 2) ja nuorten psykososiaaliseen hyvinvointiin (artikkeli 4). Alakouluik��isten lasten osalta sosiaalinen kompetenssi oli yhteydess�� pait��si yksin��isyyteen my��s opettajien oppilaistaan tekemiin motivationaalisen orientaation arvioihin sek�� standardoiduin testien arvioituihin akateemisiin taitoihin. Yl��kouluik��isten nuorten osalta yksin��isyys oli yhteydess�� sosiaaliseen ahdistuneisuuteen ja sosiaaliseen fobiaan. T��ten sosiaalisen kompetenssin voidaan katsoa olevan koululaisten hyvinvointia ja oppimista vahvistava, ja toisaalta yksin��isyyden nuorten psykososiaalista hyvinvointia heikent��v�� tekij��. Viimeisen�� p����tavoitteena mallinnettiin yksin��isyyden mahdollista periytyvyytt��. Ensimm��isess�� vaiheessa periytyvyytt�� tarkasteltiin koko perheen sis��ll��, vanhempien tai lasten sukupuolta erottelematta (artikkeli 2). T��ss�� rakenneyht��l��mallissa vanhempien kokema yksin��isyys ennusti heikompaa kyvykkyydentunnetta vanhemmuudesta, joka edelleen ennusti lapsen heikompaa toveriarvioitua sosiaalista kompetenssia koulussa ja t��t�� kautta vahvempaa yksin��isyyden kokemusta. Toisessa mallissa eroteltiin ��itien ja isien sek�� tytt��jen ja poikien aineistot, jotta periytyvyytt�� voitiin tarkastella ��iti-tyt��r, ��iti-poika, is��-tyt��r ja is��-poika dyadisuhteissa. Rakenneyht��l��mallinnuksen tulosten perusteella sek�� ��itien ett�� isien kokema yksin��isyys ennusti

HIMALDOC: A Tool for a Regional Open Repository on Sustainable Mountain Development Issues in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Poster at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

Issues in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: A critical discourse analysis

Negotiating trade agreements is an important part of government trade policies, economic planning and part of the globally operating trading system of today. European Union and the United States have been active in the formation of trade agreements in global comparison. Now these two economic giants are engaged in negotiations to form their own trade agreement, the so called Transnational Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The purpose of this thesis is to understand the reasons for making a trade agreement between two economic areas and understanding the issues it may include in the case of the TTIP. The TTIP has received a great deal of attention in the media. The opinions towards the partnership have been extreme, and the debate has been heated. The purpose of this study is to introduce the nature of the public discussion regarding the TTIP from Spring 2013 until 2014. The research problem is to find out what are the main issues in the agreement and what are the values influencing them. The study was conducted applying methods of critical discourse analysis to the chosen data. This includes gathering the issues from the data based on the attention each has received in the discussion. The underlying motives for raising different issues were analysed by investigating the authors��� position in the political, economic and social circuits. The perceived economic impacts of the TTIP are also under analysis with the same criteria. Some of the most respected economic newspapers globally were included in the research material as well as papers or reports published by the EU and global organisations. The analysis indicates a clear dichotomy of the attitudes towards the TTIP. Key problems include lack of transparency in the negotiations, the misunderstood investor-state dispute settlement, the constantly expanding regulatory issues and the risk of protectionism. The theory and data does suggest that the removal of tariffs is an effective tool for reaching economic gains in the TTIP and even more effective would be the reducing of non-tariff barriers, such as protectionism. Critics are worried over the rising influence of corporations over governments. The discourse analysis reveals that the supporters of the TTIP have values related to increasing welfare through economic growth. Critics do not deny the economic benefits but raise the question of inequality as a consequence. Overall they represent softer values such as sustainable development and democracy as a counter-attack to the corporate values of efficiency and the maximising of profits.