Статті в журналах з теми "E-Gov adoption"

Resumo O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a influência da confiança e da confiabilidade na intenção de adoção e uso de serviços eletrônicos do governo (e-gov). Para isso, foi proposto um modelo estrutural, considerando o relacionamento dos constructos Capacidade, Benevolência, Integridade, Experiência, Risco Percebido, Confiança no Governo e Disposição para Confiar. O modelo foi testado por meio de modelagem de equações estruturais (mínimos quadrados parciais). A coleta de dados ocorreu por intermédio de questionário na internet composto por 36 itens com escalas do tipo Likert de 11 pontos para os constructos presentes no modelo. Depois da primeira rodada de análise, foi proposto um modelo alternativo com melhor ajuste. Neste, observou-se que: 1) Capacidade, Benevolência e Integridade juntos influenciam positivamente a Confiança no Governo; 2) Confiança no Governo e Confiança na Internet influenciam positivamente a Confiança no e-gov; 3) Confiança no e-gov influencia negativamente o Risco Percebido e positivamente a Intenção de Uso de e-gov; e 5) Risco Percebido influencia negativamente a Intenção de Uso de e-gov. Considerando os resultados da pesquisa, conforme as agências governamentais aumentam os gastos para implementar e manter iniciativas de e-gov, é imprescindível que também reconheçam e tratem de questões associadas à confiança.

Advancements of information and communication technologies (ICT) have made it possible for governments to shift a vast majority of their services online, creating what is known as electronic government (e-gov). Many researchers have been studying the factors influencing users' behavioural intentions to use such services. This study methodically examines and visualizes the various relationships between variables and their overall performance by reviewing the findings of 51 publications in the context of the Arab gulf countries (known as GCC countries). The study provides a holistic diagrammatic representation of the synthesized models depicting the various types and directions of relationships between variables, followed by a weight analysis of the frequently used relationships in order to determine their overall cumulative performance. The outcomes of this review contribute to theory and practice by identifying e-gov adoption research patterns and gaps and by providing recommendations to policymakers and officials involved in developing and implementing e-gov systems.

In this paper, the authors propose and discuss a conceptual model for examining factors affecting e-government adoption in Jordan. This study evaluates existing empirical studies that examine e-government adoption in developing and under-developed countries. These studies were based on pre-existing theoretical models for explaining and guiding their research frameworks. An in-depth analysis of such models revealed that the technology acceptance model (TAM), the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) were among some of the most frequently used. As the UTAUT is a unified model based on the mapping of eight models, it was deemed appropriate to use the UTAUT as a guiding model for this research. A comprehensive analysis of all studies and constructs revealed that some external factors were also important for explaining e-gov adoption in developing countries. Hence, such external factors also considered relevant were integrated with UTAUT constructs as examining factors affecting e-gov adoption in Jordan. The theoretical and logical arguments and prior empirical validation of the constructs and their relationships allowed for the justification of the proposed integrated model and formulation of the associated hypotheses.

Abstract This study analyzed the influence of trust and trustworthiness on the intention to adopt and use e-government services. A structural model was proposed, considering the relationship among Ability, Benevolence, Integrity, Perceived Risk, Trust of the Government, Trust of the Internet and Disposition to Trust. The model was tested through structural equation modeling (partial least square method). An online questionnaire was applied, including 36 items for all the constructs presented in the model, and measured with 11-point Likert scales. After the first round of analysis, an alternative model was proposed with a better fit. Results indicated that: 1) Ability, Benevolence, and Integrity, together, positively influence Trust of the Government; 2) Trust of the Government and Trust of the Internet positively influence Trust in e-Government; 3) Trust in e-Government negatively influences Perceived Risk and positively influences Intention to Use and; 5) Perceived Risk negatively influences Intention to Use. Considering the results of this research, as government agencies increase their expenditure to implement and maintain e-gov initiatives, they must recognize and deal with trust-related issues.

Taking a number or waiting in line is a thing of the past in public services, thanks to the proliferation of secure websites and mobile apps. More people throughout the globe are benefiting from e-government services, which have made their lives easier. People's willingness to use e-government services depends heavily on their level of awareness & trust in the system. In order to have a better understanding of the factors affecting trust in e-government services, empirical study is required. When it comes to e-government, Nellore residents have a lot of trust and this article’s studies show that trust affects their desire to utilize e-government services. In order to acquire information on several trust-related aspects, such as trust in government & technology, information quality & promises of privacy & security, we employed 150 questionnaires in total. Additionally, the TAM model’s two dimensions (“perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use”) are used to predict the likelihood of using e-government utility. According to the study’s findings, all of the factors included in the analysis were significant predictors of whether or not respondents intended to utilize e-government services. Despite this, confidence in e-government was predicted by all the hypothesized factors, except for privacy and security guarantee.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and model adoption criteria of citizens for electronic-government (eGov) service at the transaction maturity stage. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical study was conducted among the citizens of Ontario, Canada who have experience of using Canadian e-Gov system. Findings – From statistical analysis through LISREL, this study revealed that ability to use and assurance to use are the critical factors for adoption of eGov at the transaction phase (GAM-T). Originality/value – The findings of this research can be considered as original as this paper concludes that eGov functional characteristics are not only different at different levels of service maturity, but adoption factors at different levels of service maturity are also potentially different. From static to interaction to transaction, citizens perceive different factors to be important for creating the behavioral attitude and intention to accept the eGov system and to use it.

Prior research has established the existence of a differential between industrialized and other countries for e-Government diffusion. It attempts to explain this divide by identifying economic and technical variables. At the same time, the role of national governance institutions in e-Government diffusion has been relatively under-theorized and under-studied. The authors posit that, the existing national governance institutions shape the diffusion and assimilation of e-Government in any country via associated institutions in three key sectors: government, private sector and non-governmental organizations. This paper develops and tests a preliminary model of e-Government diffusion using the governance institutional climate as represented via democratic practices, transparency of private sector corporate governance, corruption perception, and the free press. The results indicate that the level of development of national governance institutions can explain the level of e-Government diffusion over and above economic and technical variables. The authors’ research contributes to the literature by providing initial evidence that the existing national governance institutions influence and shape e-Gov diffusion and assimilation beyond the adoption stage.

Purpose This paper aims to systematize the contextual factors that influence the intention to use citizens and governments-initiated platforms, presenting them as non-functional requirements (NFRs), to facilitate their understanding to implementers. Design/methodology/approach A systematic mapping of the literature was done to identify the contextual factors from citizens and governments (C2G) adoption, followed by a survey applied to 938 potential users of this type of technology. The results were analyzed through logistic regression to understand the impact of the contextual factors on the intention to use C2G platforms and then those contextual factors were formalized as NFRs represented by a Softgoal Interdependence Graph. Findings Among the results, the most prominent factors were the influence of the “users perceived contribution” and the “citizens concern about the city conditions”. Finally, some strategies are suggested to help public managers and developers to optimize the factors that have shown to be significant. Practical implications This study can support e-gov policies in the implementation of C2G platforms because several municipalities need assistance in taking actions to foster greater citizens’ engagement. An example of this type of contribution is the indication of the factors of greatest impact in the adoption of use and the indication of paths to be followed if the manager and developers decide to focus on each of them. Originality/value The identification of several contextual factors which influence C2G platforms adoption and their systematization with the purpose of jointly visualizing and evaluating them.

The article presents the results of the analysis of the implementation of E-Governance and E-Democracy tools in the field of preventing political corruption in public authorities. The effective practice of Finland in using and implementing e-democracy tools is considered, as evidenced by the «Corruption Perceptions Index» rating, which is concluded annually by the international organization Transparency International on the basis of a survey of experts and business conducted by a number of international organizations. The results describe the level of e-government development in Scandinavia, and outline the prospects for developing and implementing their experience for Ukraine. The author analyzes the importance of maximum openness and accountability in the activities of public authorities and their officials, transparency and clarity of procedures for the development and adoption of administrative decisions; obligatory training of public servants for E-GOV tools was determined for the successful implementation of anti-corruption measures provided by legislation and government documents and ensuring public relations. An important aspect is the need for continuous improvement of the current legal and regulatory framework in the field of anti-corruption policy and its adaptation to the dynamic development of information and communication technologies. This approach encourages the introduction and use of new technological tools aimed at preventing corruption and political corruption in public authorities at all levels of public administration. The reform of public procurement, the introduction of the ProZorro procurement system, the automation of public services in the centers for the provision of administrative services (CPAS), electronic declarations and the receipt of services in electronic form has become an important step in the path of changes in the field of e-democracy that took place in Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity.

To cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, contact tracing applications have been proposed to limit positive cases and reinforce other measures, especially before the appearance of vaccines. A high rate of adoption by citizens is required. This study investigates the impact of trust on the adoption of tracking applications. A survey was administered in Morocco, where the authorities proposed the «Wiqaytna» application. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the hypotheses of the proposed model. The model explains 53% of the variance of the “intention to use” and 40.8% of the “actual use” of the application. The model was based on the UTAUT technology acceptance model and the GAM model of e-gov service acceptance. Our main objective was to study the impact of trust in the decision of Moroccans to use this type of application. Technology trust, government trust and social influence were important determinants of intention to use. The proposed model also shows that perceived awareness is an important antecedent of trust constructs. The impact of «perceived awareness» on the trust constructs (technology and government) is stronger than the social influence on the latter. Moreover, our model shows that «Perceived Awareness» has a more significant impact on «technology trust» than on «government trust». Due to their lack of interest (in seeking information) and attention (communications on the application), citizens lack information about the application's usefulness and the security of users' data. Even those who have had contact with the information they are looking for cannot often verify its credibility (e.g. the source code of the «Wiqaytna» application was available on Github). Therefore, cognitive and individual factors give way to social influence, and the intention to use becomes dependent on the norms and suggestions of influential people in the individual's environment. The latter construct is complex and has multiple determinants. Several factors act on the construction of trust in the authorities' quality of public services. Finally, the strongest relationship in the model is the effect of intention to use on using the Wiqaytna application. Based on these findings, suggestions are made for policymakers. First, a significant effort must be made to improve citizens' awareness of the importance of such an application for the control of the pandemic, even after the launch of the vaccination campaign and the application of social distancing measures. Indeed, a few posters here and there and a few commercials are not enough. An effective communication strategy must be built to explain to citizens the critical role these applications can play and reduce fears about citizens' privacy to increase the adoption rate of these applications. Secondly, the role of social influence is critical in adopting applications. This must be considered in communication campaigns and the involvement of opinion leaders and influencers to be more effective and increase the intention to use them.

The purpose of this research paper is to identify and understand the factors influencing extent of adoption of electronic procurement software and its impact on the performance of their supply chain postuptake of the software. The paper also tries to understand the challenges companies face with respect to the adoption of E-Procurement software solutions. A survey was floated to procurement leaders and with their responses analysis was done. Statistical tools such as Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), descriptive statistics were used. The twonew factors that got grouped were Downstream Procurement Activities and Upstream Procurement Activities where firms adopt E-Procurement software for the Procure-to-Pay and Source-to-Contract respectively. Reliability test was successfully employed to validate the data set. The descriptive statistics tells us that the Supply Chain Performance had an above average impact by E-Procurement Adoption with a considerable fluctuation. The challenges in adopting E-Procurement were determined to be of moderate extent with cost of these procurement software solutions being a major challenge for uptake. Currently not all firms are using procurement software as one size fit all solution for their procurement management and this paper helps us understand the landscape better by grouping the penetration of electronic procurement into two factors.

Purpose: This study provides important perceptions to the policy makers in Pakistan to introduce a new mode of transportation for the consumer. In this particular case, the consumers in Pakistan are still showing their interest in buying Internal combustion engine (ICE’s) over Electrical vehicles (EV’s) due to non-awareness of merits and demerits of EV’s. Methodology: Therefore to evaluate consumer’s preferences towards two wheeler electric vehicles a survey was conducted by distributing questionnaire among the people of country in different regions. About 317 respondents living in Pakistan participated. Eleven different factors related to consumer’s preference has been observed for the purchase of E-bikes. After analyzing these 11 factors, top three factors like awareness about E-bike, design and aesthetic and health and safety issues have found their preference. Similarly, three other bottom factors i.e. availability of charging facilities, mileage per charging and price factors has found main causes of low purchase of EV’s by consumers. Findings: After conducting survey it has revealed that awareness about electric vehicles should be developed among the students and other users, maximum dealership should be given to the experts, distribution network should be strong and also prices of E-bikes should be decreased in order to increase the sale. Recommendation: The study also had revealed that Govt. of Pakistan with the consultation/coordination of manufacturers within the country could prepare a policy for the installation of plants/factories of E-bikes wherein with the support of Govt. for the provision of necessary infrastructure and subsidy to the consumer.

Objective of the Study: This paper reviews the studies of e-government adoption in developing nations to come up with the factors that influence e-government adoption.Methodology/Approach: Secondary data was collected from the findings of other researches. Systematically, two reputable databases; Scopus and IEEE Explore were searched to retrieve studies of e-government adoption in developing nations.Originality/Relevance: Adoption has a key role in the successful implementation of e-government initiatives in the context of developing nations. However, minimal research has been carried out to explore determinant factors of e-government services adoption among developing nations’ citizens.Main Results: The theories and models applied in previous researches were identified. Moreover, the frequency of factors investigated in these studies was identified. The results showed that there are many studies investigated trust as an important factor of e-government adoption in developing nations, while there are other critical challenges such as security and awareness got less attention.Theoretical/Methodological Contribution: This study results may open for future research based on the gap in theories applied and the factors investigated in the context of developing nations.

The traditional payment system has got its own limitation to adopt recent developments in the commercial world. The growth of Electronic payment systems is inevitable in the Indian industrial and business scenario. Digital India movement of Indian Government also focuses move towards E-Payment systems. Technology has immense contribution to the growth and development of the banking sector. There have been massive changes in the concept of banking after the digitalization of India's banking sector. Commercial banks in India are facilitating their customers to develop a convenient platform for E- Payment system. In this present study, the researcher studied the relationship between the seven factors technological factors, security, Trust, social influence, internet connectivity, Perceived ease of use, Perceived Usefulness, and Intention to use to measure the adoption of e-payment systems in Madurai district. The study results show that Trust, Perceived Usefulness, and perceived ease of use are statistically significant, indicating that this variable has a positive effect on Intention to use e-payment.

Literature provides many success and failure stories of technology adoption in business that are often analyzed and discussed in the classrooms. However, when it comes to actual implementation, even academic institutions seem to be committing the same mistakes. This case presents the plan, action, and challenges involved in the e-learning initiative of a newly established institute of higher learning in India. The Institute under discussion partnered with a European university to bring in international standard of education. Its plan was to adopt technology for all its regular courses as well as to launch a fully online Master’s degree within the first year of its operation. A team was gathered to set up e-learning in the Institute, which worked with full enthusiasm during the initial months. However, lack of vision and top management support, absence of institutionalized agenda, skeletal team structure and coordination, weak project planning, technology infrastructure, as well as lack of faculty involvement, became the bottlenecks for the e-learning adoption. Gradually, the team got scattered and there after the whole initiative was shattered. The case brings out the critical situations and factors that a brick and mortar educational institution needs to manage when moving on to the e-learning space.

In an anecdote, a university professor, who has done research on happiness for the rest of her life, invited students to talk about happiness. She gave each one a balloon, asked them to fill them with air, write their names on them, and release them in the air. In a short moment, the whole hall was full of balloons. She then asked each one to get their balloon with their name on. After a struggle of a couple of hours, none got their balloon back. And then she asked them to get each one any balloon, read the name on it, and search for the owner, and give the balloon back to the owner. In less than five minutes, each one had got their balloon. After the exercise the professor concluded: “These balloons are like happiness. We will never find it if everyone is looking for their own. But if we care about The study aims at assessing the happiness of the academics in the higher learning institutions of Tanzania during these times of massification. Data from a total number of 116 academic Whatsapp group members in Tanzania was collected through Google Forms. With the use of the “anchoring vignette” in order to understand the major functions of the academics, the respondents assessed their levels of happiness on a five-ladder Likert scale. The descriptive statistics were used to describe the degree of happiness and the Independent Samples T-Test and the Kruskal-Wallis H Test to test the null hypotheses that gender, positions and working experience of the academics have no influence on the happiness of academics in their functions. The study reveals that the academics are generally happy, but less happy in the activities of marking assessments and exams. The study also revealed that neither gender nor academic positions and working experience significantly impacted on the academics’ unhappiness. The universities are urged to do more research on the suitable e-assessments for their students and make use of the available e-assessments technologies in order to reduce the marking pressure for the academics. The higher learning institutions are recommended to institutionalize annual happiness indices and annual education e-technologies’ use indices in order to regularly monitor happiness and education e-technologies’ use, respectively. The government of Tanzania, through the Ministry in charge of higher education and other educational stakeholders need to promote mechanisms and frameworks to promote research and the use of e-assessments. The paper contributes more knowledge about the reasons to adopt e-technologies in education, on the one hand, and it also enhances knowledge on the e-methods in data collection, on the other hand.

The road transport sector in India is on the cusp of a transition to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from internal combustion engines (ICEs). Government of India (GoI) has announced several policy measures to push the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). However, EVs involve a high capital cost but lower operating costs. Therefore, the economics of EVs vis-à-vis ICE vehicles depends on the extent of their daily use. The daily use, in turn, can vary significantly from context to context. In this paper, a model to compare the total cost of ownership (TCO) of an EV with different fuel variants (petrol, diesel, and compressed natural gas [CNG]) of their ICE counterparts is presented. It is found that, on an average, the TCO per km of electric two-wheelers (e-2Ws) and electric three-wheelers (e-3Ws) is less than their ICE counterparts at the typical average daily usage of the vehicles in Indian cities. In the case of hatchback and sedan cars, the TCO per km of electric cars (e-cars) is higher than their ICE counterparts. The TCO per km of electric bus (e-bus) is higher than diesel and CNG buses because of high initial purchase cost. Policymakers need to explore innovative business models and strategy for high vehicle utilization to improve the economic viability of EVs. Efficient planning of charging infrastructure and fast charging options will further help in accelerating the adoption of EVs in India.

Paulo usa pouquíssimas vezes o termo “povo” (lao,j - laos) e ainda menos o sintagma “povo de Deus”. Ele sempre o faz em citações vétero-testamentárias. Em Rm, ele o usa pela primeira vez em 9,24-29, ponto de partida deste artigo. Esta pesquisa pretende afirmar que a categoria “povo de Deus”, embora não sendo um “superconceito” eclesiológico, é uma importante temática no cenário da reflexão paulina sobre a Igreja. Ela dialoga com o tema teológico tipicamente paulino da filiação adotiva e com a teologia do chamado. Distanciando-se de toda eclesiologia de substituição, defende-se que Deus chama uma comunidade inclusiva (“nós”) dentre os gentios e dentre os judeus. Assim, confirma-se a irrevogabilidade da Palavra de Deus e a consciência de que os dons e o chamado de Deus são sem arrependimento, pois gentios e judeus se alimentam da mesma seiva e da mesma raiz (Rm 11,17).ABSTRACT: Paul, in his letters, very rarely uses the term ‘people’ (lao,j & laos) and even less the phrase ‘people of God’. He always has it in Old Testament references. In Romans, he uses it for the first time in 9:24-29, the departure point for this article. This investigation attempts to affirm that the category ‘people of God’, although not being an ecclesiological central concept (Oberbegriff), is an important theme in the Pauline reflection on the Church. It will dialogue with the typically Pauline theological theme of adoptive sonship and with the theology of the call. Distancing itself from all ecclesiology of substitution, it will argue that God calls an inclusive community (‘we’) within gentiles and within the Jews. So, having confirmed the irrevocability of the Word of God and the consciousness that the gifts and the call of God are without regret, it follows that gentiles and Jews are nourished from the same sap and the same root.

A very important breakthrough in saffron cultivation and production was achieved by Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) when the university developed a production system module in saffron which brought substantial increase in productivity of saffron during last two decades. The adoption of the technology was observed to have a very significant impact on the social dynamics of the saffron producing region demanding its ex-ante and ex-post evaluation vis a vis non adopters of the technology. With this in mind consumer surplus model and propensity score matching methods were employed on a sample of 447 respondents of which 286 were adopters and 161 non-adopters (control group) drawn from a population of 753 saffron growers in the saffron belt of Jammu and Kashmir producing 99% of the total saffron production in the country. The results revealed that average productivity of the spice increased from 2.57 kg.ha-1 to 6.05 kg.ha-1, with 1-2 kg.ha-1 in the first year to 10-12 kg.ha-1 in fourth year against control group, however, the investment cost estimates recorded increase of 5.9% under ex-ante and 13.6% under ex-post evaluation while adopting new technology, which however, got compensated through realizing higher productivity and increased employment to the tune of 40.6 and 28.3 per cent man-days/ha respectively under ex-ante and ex-post evaluation. The results further revealed, NPV, BCR, IRR of Rs. 399 crores, 110, 154% against Rs.249 crores, 69, 134% respectively under ex-ante and ex-post evaluation of the technology.

There have been several measures adopt to manage the increase of COVID-19 in India. To combat the COVID-19 Pandemic faced by the nation, Govt. of India has in employ gigantic amount of procedures like Lockdown, aggressive testing, infusing funds to improve the financial system, present incentives to various sectors, promoting digital dealings, e-learning, etc. The challenge remains the acceptance and adoption of these by people of India. The need will be to educate people about this epidemic and increase their knowledge in the direction of it so that extend of the same can be slowed down. Majority people have not only to change their practices but also their attitude towards life. The lifestyles are bound to be affected due to COVID-19 across India. Through this study we will try to gauge on these aspects. For this a survey on people of Tricity (Chandigarh/ Mohali/ Panchkula) was conducted. The questionnaire included 20 questions to assess the understanding of the residents on the measures adopted for the prevention of disease and what they are doing on their own to come out of this. The study is based on their confidence level, knowledge level and the practices they are adopting towards this epidemic. The study found not too high levels of knowledge scores of the respondents. However, the results showed high levels of confidence and practices followed in such situation. The results of the demographic analysis revealed the knowledge scores showed significant differences existed between the groups based on gender and age. However, no significant differences are found for attitude and practices across the groups based on gender and age.

<p><em>Technical Debt</em> (Dívida Técnica) em Tecnologia da informação (TI) é a dívida assumida pela equipe de projetos de desenvolvimento de <em>software</em> ao adotar uma solução de <em>design</em> ou abordagem fácil de implementar, o que é positivo em curto prazo, mas com impacto muito negativo em longo prazo. O objetivo com a pesquisa foi compreender como os profissionais de TI identificam, abordam, caracterizam, compreendem e tratam a Dívida Técnica. O instrumento de pesquisa desenvolvido por Lim, Taksande e Seaman (2012) foi usado para a coleta de dados mediante uma pesquisa exploratória e qualitativa por meio de entrevistas com profissionais de TI que trabalham em projetos de Governo Eletrônico no Governo do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram identificadas as percepções relacionadas às causas, sintomas e impactos da Dívida Técnica e sua relação com o custo e o tempo de gestão. Os resultados mostram que a Dívida Técnica está presente nos projetos de Governo Eletrônico analisados, principalmente, para priorizar o escopo e a duração, trazendo alguns riscos para a qualidade de sistemas, integridade de dados e disponibilidade de serviços governamentais. Mesmo que os resultados estejam relacionados a um caso particular, eles mostram a importância da redução da Dívida Técnica ao mesmo tempo que orçamento, abrangência e prazo são considerados. Especialmente em projetos de governo eletrônico, a Dívida Técnica pode comprometer alguns serviços aos cidadãos em longo prazo, exigindo esforço extra para reparos.</p><p>Palavras-chave: <em>Technical Debt</em>. Dívida Técnica. e-GOV. Projetos de TI.</p><p> </p><p align="center"><strong><em>Technical debt in Rio Grande do Sul e-government projects</em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p align="center"><em>Abstract</em></p><p> </p><p><em>Technical Debt in IT is the debt incurred by the team of software development projects by adopting a design solution or easy approach to implement, which is positive in the short term, but has very negative impact in the long-term. The goal of this research is understand how IT professionals identify, approach, characterize, understand and treat Technical Debt. The research instrument developed by Lim, Taksande e Seaman (2012) was used for the data collection through qualitative exploratory interviews with IT professionals who work on E-government Projects from the Rio Grande do Sul State Government. Perceptions related to the causes, symptoms and impacts of the Technical Debt and its relationship to the management cost and time were identified. The results show that Technical Debt is present in the e-government projects analysed mainly to prioritize the scope and term, bringing some risks to systems quality, data integrity and, to the availability of government services. Even though the results are related to a particular case, they show the importance of reducing Technical Debt as long as staying on budget, scope and term especially in E-government Projects since Technical Debt can in the long-term compromise some services to citizens, demanding extra effort for repairs. </em></p><p><em>Keywords:</em> <em>Technical Debt</em>. e-GOV. <em>IT projects</em>.</p>

Lawrence E. Harrison pins the blame forArab-Islamic underdevelopment ona set of cultural dysfunctions. Among those that interest me are “submissivecollectivism rather than individualism” and the hostility to ‘innovation,’‘change,’ and ‘dissent’; “isolationism” not just toward non-Muslims but eveninternally, placing an “emphasis on family, clan and ethnic cohesion ratherthan broader relationships”; and “clerical interpretations ... that have ... transmittedfatalistic dogma, ... permitted adoption of scientific and technologicaladvances from outside but closed the door to the liberalizing cultural forcesthat made these advances possible.”1Well, the Saudis do “believe that oil was a gift from Allah ... It was areward for their devout belief ... Ever thankful, they see no reason to deny theteachings of theKoran.”As for importing western know-howwithout the valuesthat come with it, the Saudis also believe that “God has given them oilwealth which is to be translated into money as a means by which they can modernize. But one should never interfere with the other”2 – as if one can buya television set without the manual that tells you how to use it ...

Reviewing and comparing the certifying systems for clinical laboratory scientists in some developed countries would be meaningful for us in the renovation of our current systems. Through the homepages of relevant organizations in five countries we got the information on education and certifying systems for clinical laboratory scientists. And we also e-mailed or made phone calls directly to the chairpersons for more additional data. The ladders systems in both educational and certifying were well developed in the United States compared to other countries. ln Japan and Korea, it seemed that too many competencies are required for the entry-level medical technologist requiring even competencies in the fields of histo-pathology, cytology, clinical physiology in the current medical technologist's job descriptions. Now we have to evaluate the applicants' competencies at the entry-level and establish the content outlines as a guideline for the applicants. For more reliable and efficient evaluations we might consider adopting the computerized testing like CBT or CAT.

BACKGROUND: With the adoption of multimodal neuromonitoring techniques, a large amount of high resolution neurophysiological data is generated during the treatment of patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (m-sTBI) that is available for further analysis. The Monitoring with Advanced Sensors, Transmission and E-Resuscitation in Traumatic Brain Injury (MASTER-TBI) collaborative was formed in 2020 to facilitate analysis of these data. OBJECTIVE: The MASTER-TBI collaborative curates m-sTBI patient data for the purposes of comparative effectiveness research, machine learning algorithm development, and neuro-pathophysiological phenomena analysis. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The MASTER-TBI collaborative is a multicentre longitudinal cohort study which utilises a novel hybrid cloud platform and other data science-informed techniques to collect and analyse data from patients with m-sTBI in whom both intracranial pressure monitoring and ICM+ (Cambridge Enterprise, Cambridge, UK) neuromonitoring software are utilised. MASTER-TBI enrols patients with m-sTBI from three participating Australian trauma intensive care units (ICUs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Captured outcome measures available for analysis include pathophysiological events (intracranial hypertension, cerebral perfusion pressure variations etc), surgical interventions, ICU and hospital length of stay, patient discharge status, and, where available, Glasgow Outcome Score-Extended (GOS-E) at 6 months. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: MASTER-TBI continues to develop data science-informed systems and techniques to maximise the use of captured high resolution m-sTBI patient neuromonitoring data. The highly innovative systems provide a world-class platform which aims to enhance the search for improved m-sTBI care and outcomes. This article provides an overview of the MASTER-TBI project's developed systems and techniques as well as a rationale for the approaches taken.

The research is dedicated to the coverage of a diachronic aspect’s adoption of Serbian prose in the Ukrainian literature, especially the establishment and development of translation as one of the main forms of Serbian-Ukrainian cultural exchange. The beginning of interrelation between Serbian and Ukrainian culture comes into the circle of the researcher’s attention, and in this context – the beginning of Ukrainian writer’s translation practice, the first translations of Serbian prose are investigated. The special emphasis in the article is made on the Serbian translation works in the period from the 60s of the 19th century to the end of the 80s of the 20th century. This period of time is characterized by the works of V. Đorđević, L. Lazarević, O. Voinović, N. Marinković, V. Marinović, D. Kalić, B. Nušić, I. Andrić, B. Čopić, R. Domanović, S. Sremec, E. Koš, M. Kapor, M. Selimović. The dynamics of determinatives that influenced the translation works of Serbian fiction are investigated: from the effect of ideological criteria at the beginning of the 20th century in the conditions of created USSR to poetical, substantial and esthetical factors in the 70s-80s of the 20th century. The fiction of Serbian writers that was translated during this long-lasting period because of Pleiades of Ukrainian translators’ highly-professional work became a full-sized part of the Ukrainian literature process and got further literature understanding in the works of Ukrainian Slavicists.

Abstract The notion of language in e-Learning is still not very clear from a technical as well as semantic point of view. In the era of Information Technology, it is more and more important to unify the principles of language used and its semantic meaning to be more simple and precise when taking into consideration online educational courses. During the last years, e-Learning courses have begun to be popular around the world as during an internet era, we tend to find consolidated information sources on internet rather than in traditional courses which require our physical presence. The crucial issue which makes an e- Learning course function is the language used to transmit all the information to the students in a clear and effective manner. For such language to be considered effective, it is necessary to adjust it to the general standards adopted in an international environment. The notion of a language used in e-Learning also faces some problems as it should be so concise as to be accessible for everybody regardless of gender, nationality, and intellectual level. It is hard to standardise its principles, thus over the years many scientists have tried to unify the top requirements a perfect e-Learning course should have. Nowadays, most of the population should stop considering e-Learning as an alternative form of education and focus on developing new models and structures for education and learning that fully exploit the opportunities of today’s digital revolution. With a laptop, a mobile device and Wi-Fi, you can manage your own e-Learning course, and take courses yourself, at any time and place, in any language. A typical model of an e-Learning course is based on guided self-study with a linear progression through modules consisting of recorded lectures, course literature, written assignments and multiple-choice self-tests. Technology has got an even better solution which consists of standardising the learning process and adopting it to a commonly known level of difficulty which might be expected when considering its use by an average person.

Objective: This study was conducted to find out if measuring levels of beta HCG in early 2nd trimester can accurately predict HDP occurrence. Methods: This was a prospective observational study was conducted from August 2020 to September 2021 at OPD/IPD of Gynae Unit-II of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. The tests were done at Pathology Department, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur. Beta HCG levels of total 180 pregnant females who were in their second trimester (14-20) were assessed. Results: Out of 180 study subjects, 157 cases remained normotensive and 23 patients got hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Out of these 23 patients , twelve patients had mild hypertensive disease while eleven patients had severe disease. We noticed a significantly raised serum β hCG levels in females with htn disorder of pregnancy as compared to normotensive pregnant females. Conclusion: The study indicated that pregnant women with raised beta HCG levels in early pregnancy are at an increased risk of adopting gestational hypertension and related disorders so beta HCG in second trimester can be used as a good predictive test for HDPs. Keywords: Pregnancy, Beta HCG, Hypertensive pregnancy disorders, trimester, hypertension

The purpose of the article is to define the content and determine the essence of e-court as a legal and administrative category based on the analysis of the current domestic legislation, international normative legal acts and lawyers’ opinions. Methods. The validity of theoretical provisions and recommendations for further research, as well as the reliability of the results are ensured by the use of a set of philosophical, general and special research methods. The dialectical method of scientific cognition is used as the main general research method. Formal legal and systemic structural methods are applied for studying normative legal acts regulating e-court functioning. Logical semantic method is used when formulating definition constructions. Results. It is noted that for the successful implementation of Electronic court project it is important not only to adopt relevant regulations and organizational measures, but also to develop a scientific concept within the science of administrative law. The content of the category has not got a legal definition in domestic law yet, although it has been legally formalized. The authors express the opinion that domestic legislation requires the concept formulation and consolidation at the legislative level – within the Law of Ukraine on the Judiciary and the Status of Judges. The importance of developing and adopting a separate law on distance e-justice is emphasized. It is highlighted that further introduction of e-court in Ukraine involves systematic actions. They are technical and information support of courts; development of measures and systems to ensure information security; legal regulation of responsibility in case of violations; measures to prevent cybercrime; court staff trainings; educational campaign among population, monitoring of the system effectiveness and its constant modernization, etc. All the above allows considering e-court as an administrative and legal category. Conclusions. As a result of the analysis, the authors suggest forming the awareness that e-court, as a legal and administrative category, is a component of e-government, a relatively independent and unique form of judicial administration and legal process based on information technology that provides a full cycle of documentation flow and litigation in an electronic format and has genuinely legal nature.

Arriscar a palavra no púlpito, na própria vida, na obra de uma vida. Em Vieira, dos Sermões à História do Futuro, a palavra faz um caminho. Para além de artifícios da retórica, para além de conveniências político-religiosas, ele coloca as bases da ação como resposta à palavra de Deus e em fidelidade a ela adotando como paradigma a história de Israel. História reveladora da iniciativa de Deus, sempre primeira. Reveladora também dos caminhos e descaminhos da livre resposta humana, da responsabilidade histórica que tal resposta comporta. Ao propor uma leitura do modo de agir de Deus, da sua aliança com a humanidade, Vieira alinha-se perigosamente na fileira dos que incomodam. Lembra a impossibilidade de proteger-se sob o conceito de eleição. A purificação desse conceito, bem como o de ‘ser cristão’ é inadiável. No entanto, a postura de Vieira não é isenta de problemas teológicos. O risco de sua palavra, que abre a esse debate, indica igualmente ao homem os motivos para esperar, para crer na promessa, chave da leitura do futuro.ABSTRACT: Risking the word in the pulpit, in one’s life, in the work of an entire life. According to Vieira, from the Sermons to the History of the Future, the word makes a way for itself. Besides of the rhetoric artifices and the politico-religious conveniences, Vieira establishes the action bases as response to the God’s word, and in fidelity to the same by adopting as paradigm the History of Israel, a revealing, and always the first one, History of the God’s initiative. A History that also reveals the right paths and the wrong paths of the human response, of the historic responsibility that such a response holds. When Vieira proposes the reading of the way God works, of the alliance of God with the humankind, Vieira dangerously aligns himself with the row of those who make trouble. Vieira reminds the impossibility of sheltering oneself under the concept of election. The purification of this concept, as well as the concept of ‘being Christian’ is unpostponable. Nevertheless, the Vieira’s position is not free from theological issues. The risk of his word that opens this debate equally indicates to the man the reasons for hoping and believing in the promise, the key for reading the future.

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is a system adopted by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India (formerly referred to as Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)), so as to rank all institutions. However, all things considered the NIRF results from a separate perspective this complete exercise has laid the very foundations of data-driven education and e-governance. The NIRF Ranking System is predicated on five parameters i) TLR, ii) RP, iii) GO, iv) OI and v) PR a stress on adopting an ERP framework to make sure a gentle real-time flow of the multifaceted datasets from institutions could have helped the cause during a much remarkable manner. This study is meant to analyzing the contributions made by the highest 25 Universities as ranked by NIRF within the aspects of various sub-parameters score under Research and Professional Practices key parameter. This article analyses data on three years (2019, 2020 & 2021 of India Rankings to assess its impact on performance of Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RP), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Peer Perception (PR) parameters and their sub-parameters of top 25 universities are discussed. The analysis of knowledge on four years of India Rankings, i.e. 2018 to 2021 on various performance sub-parameters of top 25 universities provides a stimulating rank and score reveal that participating institutions are improving every year and getting improved scores. The HEIs are also making tremendous efforts to enhance their performance on various parameters or sub-parameters identified by the NIRF for the ranking of universities.

PurposeGovernment e-Procurement systems are generating tender-level process event data which are not being analyzed much. The purpose of this paper is to present a data visualization tool to benchmark the government tendering process. This tool collects, collates and presents e-Procurement process data in a meaningful way that enables comparisons and benchmarking leading to insights for process improvements and identification of the best practices. This tool is accessible on the website of South Asia’s first public procurement observatory (www.procurementobservatoryup.com) founded by the authors.Design/methodology/approachThe authors started with an initial set of key performance indicators (KPIs) based on extant literature and existing practices. The authors got them verified by various relevant stakeholders through a series of formal and informal discussions. Some of them were dropped due to observed variations or their inability to offer insights to arrive at the final set of KPIs. In this paper, the authors use actual process-level data. Government of India’s National Informatics Center has implemented e-Procurement portals in various states and public enterprises (PEs) in India which provide tender-wise detailed e-tendering process data. The authors designed a web crawler that collects these data in a tabular format, which allows an easy analysis and comparison to measure and compare government tendering process performance for the last five years for the two large PEs. The authors also engaged in discussions with the procurement executives of the two PSEs to derive meaningful managerial insights from the results obtained.FindingsUsing the public procurement data visualization tool, the authors compare the procurement process of two of the largest Indian PEs, Coal India Limited and Indian Oil Corporation on the developed KPIs and draw insights. The results show significant difference in their procurement process performance due to different practices followed by them. Through interaction with the procurement managers of these two organizations, the authors identify few good procurement practices that can be applied to improve public procurement process.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper uses actual process-level data which can be used not just to identify improvement opportunities but also to gauge the impact of any process-level change. It presents a data visualization tool to generate insights from data generated by a procurement/tendering system. Such visualization and benchmarking can uncover better procurement practices and provide an impetus toward data-driven policy formulation. Apart from the two PEs as reported in this paper, this tool has also been applied on the public procurement data of eight Indian states.Practical implicationsThe KPIs presented in this paper are aligned with the various dimensions of public procurement’s objectives. The visualization tool presented in this paper is based on the Open Contract Data Standard and has a universal application.Social implicationsThe use of technology and open data sharing as the enablers of benchmarking and process improvements help in establishing a dynamic competitive environment leading to financial savings, better services to citizens and proper use of taxpayers’ money.Originality/valueThis paper presents an original work carried out under the aegis of South Asia’s first procurement observatory at IIM Lucknow. The benchmarking tool presented in this paper uses open contract data standard and can be applied in most of the public procurement processes. This paper takes the discussions on e-Procurement to the next level, where the concern is no longer restricted to only adoption and assimilation issues, but also on how to make use of the data that these e-Procurement systems generate.

SCIENCE AND RELIGION: A New Introduction, 3rd edition by Alister E. McGrath. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, 2020. 272 pages. Paperback; $28.99. ISBN: 9781119599876. *Alister McGrath is a major international scholar who is prolific in his output. He has produced many popular books and academic tomes, and as a theological educator his output also includes many textbooks for students. Science and Religion: A New Introduction is now into its third edition and is an excellent introduction to the whole field of science and religion. The restructuring and inclusion of new material is designed to be helpful to the student, and reflects comments on the previous editions. The book introduces most of the areas of interaction between these bodies of thought, and I myself have used earlier editions in my own teaching, giving students a chapter of McGrath to start with for an essay, followed by more detailed material from elsewhere. *McGrath notes that science and religion are wide categories and serious study entails narrowing them down. He describes Ian Barbour's four models for interaction followed by what he calls four ways of imagining the relationship between them. The conflict model is rightly dismissed as a late nineteenth-century myth, and areas where conflict has been perceived, notably with Galileo and Darwin, are given the more nuanced treatment they deserve, thus dispelling the myths surrounding them. McGrath also gives a broader historical overview, refuting the further myth that the scientific revolution owed nothing to the medieval period. He describes the development of the Newtonian mechanistic model of the universe and brings us to the twentieth century with the development of the Big Bang theory. Regarding this last, it would have been good to note the pioneering work of Roman Catholic priest Georges Lemaître, often dubbed the "Father of the Big Bang," who, in contrast to Alexander Friedman, regarded solutions of Einstein's equations as physically realistic and not just mathematical curiosities. *McGrath moves on to a helpful chapter on religion and the philosophy of science. Some form of realism seems predominant and, indeed, the most rational position to take. It is interesting to note the adoption of "critical realism," including not only by science-religion scholars such as John Polkinghorne and others, but also such as the biblical scholar N. T. Wright and James Dunn. McGrath moves on to the role of explanation in science, noting how in science there are different methods for different sciences, and thus different levels of explanation across the different subdisciplines. Theology too has its own methods appropriate to its own object but there are differing views on the role of explanation. He discusses an important case study, that of "non-reductive physicalism" associated with Nancey Murphy and others. He also gives criteria for drawing an "inference to the best explanation." Various perspectives on the philosophy of science--logical positivism and the criteria of verification, falsificationism, and Kuhn's paradigm shifts--are discussed. Worthy of mention here would have been Imre Lakatos whose "methodology of scientific research programmes" has been applied to theology by Philip Hefner and Nancey Murphy. *Complementing the above there follows a useful chapter on science and the philosophy of religion. McGrath describes arguments for the existence of God, beginning with Aquinas's five ways. A section on the Kalām cosmological argument notes how this has been given a new lease on life by the Big Bang theory's postulation of a temporal origin to the universe, although it would have been good to note that the existence of the universe would demand an explanation even if it were to lack a temporal origin. He gives a careful analysis of Paley's natural theology, noting neglected aspects of Paley's work such as his responses to arguments of David Hume. He examines ways in which God may act in the world given the laws of nature uncovered by science, including through miracles, where he notes Hume's critique. However, as McGrath rightly says, Hume's critique needs to be qualified, since, on the one hand, he defines miracles as violations of laws of nature and yet, on the other, has a problem with inductive generalizations from past experience--which is just what laws of nature are. McGrath rightly sees evolutionary arguments debunking religion as committing the genetic fallacy and self-defeating if human rationality is flawed, since that could equally well affect judgments in areas other than religion, notably science. There is a good section on natural theology and the role of explanation. *In the next chapter, McGrath turns to models and analogies: first, as found within the natural sciences and then, within religion. After considering what the terms mean more generally, he gives specific examples for the sciences, including the kinetic theory of gases, wave-particle duality, Galileo's analogical reasoning which led him to postulate mountains on the moon, and Darwin's metaphor of "natural selection." In the theological sphere, he considers Aquinas's notion of analogia entis whereby the creation bears a likeness to its creator, and Ian Ramsey's model of the "divine economy" utilizing the Greek concept of oikonomia. He looks at Arthur Peacocke's theological application of models as linked to "critical realism," and Sally McFague's metaphors in theology--though he could perhaps have allowed more than one sentence on Janet Soskice. He then examines specific theological examples: creation and theories of the atonement. He has a helpful section on the notion of "mystery" in science and religion before returning to Ian Barbour on models. *McGrath's final chapter considers a number of contemporary debates. Noting Hume's distinction between "ought" and "is" he critiques the idea that science, say, evolutionary biology or neuroscience, can determine ethics and moral values. That leads to a more general critique of the imperialist stance that science can answer all interesting questions or that the only reality is that disclosed by science. An interesting example is mathematics, which discovers truths that do not belong to the natural sciences. It is also utterly astonishing that mathematics is effective in describing nature and very hard to explain on an atheistic view. *An important area considered is theodicy, which is arguably made more difficult by the long process of evolution, preceding the existence of humans by hundreds of millions of years. McGrath provides an overview of the helpful contributions of Christopher Southgate and his former student Bethany Sollereder. For these scholars, there is "no other way" for God to create such a rich diversity of creatures, with whom God suffers, and for whom God will bring eschatological fulfilment. On transhumanism, McGrath describes the approaches of Philip Hefner and Ted Peters who, while recognizing the creativity of technological enhancement, are also aware that, given fallen human nature, this can also be abused. *McGrath returns to the anthropic principle and fine-tuning. He says that fine-tuning is strongly consistent with a theistic perspective, but the debate about a multiverse as a possible explanation continues. He also considers the legitimacy of teleological language and directionality in biology. Simon Conway Morris's notion of convergent evolution may be the "best explanation" of what is observed and is resonant with a religious perspective but, like cosmological fine-tuning, does not prove that God exists. *McGrath concludes with two sections on the psychology of religion, considering whether this field can "explain away" religion. Religion may be "natural," but it is debatable as to whether that has any implication at all about the existence of God. Moreover, it is a long way from primitive apprehension of some vague supernatural agent to the systematic theology of, say, Thomas Aquinas or Karl Barth. To my mind, this is not unlike the difference--to give a scientific analogy--between the discovery of fire by early humans and the modern scientific understanding of combustion. *This is an excellent introduction to the field and very well suited to its pedagogic purpose. There are a few typographical errors (e.g., "magisterial" for "magisteria"). I also noticed that British cosmologist Paul Davies is mistakenly described as American. But these and my earlier minor points should not detract from a volume that provides a vital resource to educators and their students. *Reviewed by Rodney Holder, Emeritus Course Director, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge, UK CB3 0UB.

When children only see their friends in little squares via Google Meet or Zoom, can teachers really address concepts like the importance of teamwork or how to manage conflict? This is a learning phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic and the era after it. This study aims to see the role of parents as children's learning companions in terms of mentors and motivators when online education takes place. This research using photovoice within phenomenological methodology and have been doing with thematic analysis and collecting data through interviews and observations. The participants were eight parents and one female teacher as a homeroom teacher. The research findings show that although there are many obstacles in online learning for children, learning during the COVID-19 pandemic can still run by involving the role of parents and teachers as pillars of education for preschool-age children. For further research, it is hoped that the findings will be a way in solving learning problems for children. Keywords: early childhood education, parents’ role, online learning References: Adedoyin, O. B., & Soykan, E. (2020). Covid-19 pandemic and online learning: The challenges and opportunities. In Interactive Learning Environments. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2020.1813180 Aras, S. (2016). Free play in early childhood education: A phenomenological study. Early Child Development and Care, 186(7). https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2015.1083558 Arkorful, V. (2021). The role of e-learning, advantages and disadvantages of its adoption in higher The role of e-learning, the advantages and disadvantages of its adoption in Higher Education . International Journal of Education and Research, 2(December 2014). Atiles, J. T., Almodóvar, M., Chavarría Vargas, A., Dias, M. J. A., & Zúñiga León, I. M. (2021). International responses to COVID-19: Challenges faced by early childhood professionals. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2021.1872674 Barnett, W. S., Grafwallner, R., & Weisenfeld, G. G. (2021). Corona pandemic in the United States shapes new normal for young children and their families. In European Early Childhood Education Research Journal (Vol. 29, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2021.1872670 Basham, J. D., Blackorby, J., & Marino, M. T. (2020). Opportunity in Crisis: The Role of Universal Design for Learning in Educational Redesign. In Learning Disabilities: A Contemporary Journal (Vol. 18, Issue 1). Beatriks Novianti Bunga, R. Pasifikus Christa Wijaya & Indra Yohanes Kiling (2021) Studying at Home: Experience of Parents and Their Young Children in an Underdeveloped Area of Indonesia, Journal of Research in Childhood Education, DOI: 10.1080/02568543.2021.1977436 Buheji, M., Hassani, A., Ebrahim, A., da Costa Cunha, K., Jahrami, H., Baloshi, M., & Hubail, S. (2020). Children and Coping During COVID-19: A Scoping Review of Bio-Psycho-Social Factors. International Journal of Applied Psychology, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.5923/j.ijap.20201001.02 Celik, M. Y. (2021). The dual role of nurses as mothers during the pandemic period: Qualitative study. Early Child Development and Care. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2021.1917561 Coulter, M., Britton, Ú., MacNamara, Á., Manninen, M., McGrane, B., & Belton, S. (2021). PE at Home: Keeping the ‘E’ in PE while home-schooling during a pandemic. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2021.1963425 Creswell, J. W. (2015). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (Fifth edition). Pearson. Dodd, H. F., Fitzgibbon, L., Watson, B. E., & Nesbit, R. J. (2021). Children’s play and independent mobility in 2020: Results from the british children’s play survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084334 Duran, A. (2019). A Photovoice Phenomenological Study Exploring Campus Belonging for Queer Students of Color. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/19496591.2018.1490308 Ebbeck, M., Yim, H. Y. B., Chan, Y., & Goh, M. (2016). Singaporean Parents’ Views of Their Young Children’s Access and Use of Technological Devices. Early Childhood Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-015-0695-4 Ekyana, Luluk, Fauziddin Muhammad & Arifiyanti Nurul. (2021). Parents’ Perception: Early Childhood Social Behaviour During Physical Distancing in the Covid-19 Pandemic. JPUD: Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini, Volume 15 (2),DOI: https://doi.org/10.21009/JPUD.152.04 Eslava, M., Deaño, M., Alfonso, S., Conde, Á., & García-Señorán, M. (2016). Family context and preschool learning. Journal of Family Studies, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2015.1063445 Finn, L., & Vandermaas-Peeler, M. (2013). Young children’s engagement and learning opportunities in a cooking activity with parents and older siblings. Early Childhood Research and Practice, 15(1). Gee, E., Siyahhan, S., & Cirell, A. M. (2017). Video gaming as digital media, play, and family routine: Implications for understanding video gaming and learning in family contexts. Learning, Media, and Technology, 42(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2016.1205600 Gelir, I., & Duzen, N. (2021). Children’s changing behaviours and routines, challenges and opportunities for parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Education 3-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2021.1921822 Giannini, S., Jenkins, R., & Saavedra, J. (2021). Mission: Recovering Education 2021. In UNICEF, UNESCO, and World Bank. Goodhart, F. W., Hsu, J., Baek, J. H., Coleman, A. L., Maresca, F. M., & Miller, M. B. (2006). A view through a different lens: Photovoice as a tool for student advocacy. Journal of American College Health, 55(1). https://doi.org/10.3200/JACH.55.1.53-56 Gong, S., Wang, X., Wang, Y., Qu, Y., Tang, C., Yu, Q., & Jiang, L. (2019). A descriptive qualitative study of home care experiences in parents of children with tracheostomies. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2018.12.005 Hamaidi, D. A., Arouri, Y. M., Noufa, R. K., & Aldrou, I. T. (2021). Parents’ Perceptions of Their Children’s Experiences with Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v22i2.5154 Hammersley, M., & Traianou, A. (2015). Ethics in Qualitative Research: Controversies and Contexts. In Ethics in Qualitative Research: Controversies and Contexts. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473957619 Harris, K. I. (2021). Parent Cooperative Early Childhood Settings: Empowering Family Strengths and Family Engagement for All Young Children. International Journal of Contemporary Education, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.11114/ijce.v4i1.5143 Hassinger-Das, B., Zosh, J. M., Hansen, N., Talarowski, M., Zmich, K., Golinkoff, R. M., & Hirsh-Pasek, K. (2020). Play-and-learn spaces: Leveraging library spaces to promote caregiver and child interaction. Library and Information Science Research, 42(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101002 Henter, R., & Nastasa, L. E. (2021). Parents’ Emotion Management for Personal Well-Being When Challenged by Their Online Work and Their Children’s Online School. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.751153 Houston, S. (2017). Towards a critical ecology of child development in social work: Aligning the theories of Bronfenbrenner and Bourdieu. Families, Relationships and Societies, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1332/204674315X14281321359847 Ihmeideh, F., AlFlasi, M., Al-Maadadi, F., Coughlin, C., & Al-Thani, T. (2020). Perspectives of family–school relationships in Qatar based on Epstein’s model of six types of parent involvement. Early Years, 40(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2018.1438374 Iruka, I. U., DeKraai, M., Walther, J., Sheridan, S. M., & Abdel-Monem, T. (2020). Examining how rural ecological contexts influence children’s early learning opportunities. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2019.09.005 Jiles, T. (2015). Knock, knock, may I come in? An integrative perspective on professional development concerns for home visits conducted by teachers. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1463949114567274 Kartini, K. (2021). Analisis Pembelajaran Online Anak Usia Dini Masa Pandemi COVID -19 Kota dan Perdalaman. Jurnal Obsesi : Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v6i2.880 Kurniati, E., Nur Alfaeni, D. K., & Andriani, F. (2020). Analisis Peran Orang Tua dalam Mendampingi Anak di Masa Pandemi Covid-19. Jurnal Obsesi : Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v5i1.541 La Paro, K. M., & Gloeckler, L. (2016). The Context of Child Care for Toddlers: The “Experience Expectable Environment”. Early Childhood Education Journal, 44(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-015-0699-0 Lau, E. Y. H., & Lee, K. (2021). Parents’ Views on Young Children’s Distance Learning and Screen Time During COVID-19 Class Suspension in Hong Kong. Early Education and Development, 32(6). https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2020.1843925 Lau, E. Y. H., Li, J. Bin, & Lee, K. (2021). Online Learning and Parent Satisfaction during COVID-19: Child Competence in Independent Learning as a Moderator. Early Education and Development, 32(6). https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2021.1950451 Lilawati, A. (2020). Peran Orang Tua dalam Mendukung Kegiatan Pembelajaran di Rumah pada Masa Pandemi. Jurnal Obsesi: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v5i1.630 Lim, K. F. (2020). Emergency remote teaching and learning in the time of COVID-19. Chemistry in Australia, August. Lin, X., & Li, H. (2018). Parents’ play beliefs and engagement in young children’s play at home. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 26(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2018.1441979 Michele L. Stites, Susan Sonneschein & Samantha H. Galczyk (2021) Preschool Parents’ Views of Distance Learning during COVID-19, Early Education and Development, 32:7, 923-939, DOI: 10.1080/10409289.2021.1930936 Muhdi, Nurkolis, & Yuliejantiningsih, Y. (2020). The Implementation of Online Learning in Early Childhood Education During the Covid-19 Pandemic. JPUD - Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.21009/jpud.142.04 Ortlipp, M. (2015). Keeping and Using Reflective Journals in the Qualitative Research Process. The Qualitative Report. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2008.1579 Paat, Y. F. (2013). Working with Immigrant Children and Their Families: An Application of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 23(8). https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2013.800007 Plowman, L., Stephen, C., & McPake, J. (2010). Supporting young children’s learning with technology at home and in preschool. Research Papers in Education, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/02671520802584061 Rona Novick, Suzanne Brooks & Jenny Isaacs (2021) Parental Report of Preschoolers’ Jewish Day School Engagement and Adjustment During the Covid-19 Shutdown, Journal of Jewish Education, 87:4, 301-315, DOI: 10.1080/15244113.2021.1977098 Sandi Ferdiansyah, S. S., & Angin, R. (2020). Pengalaman Mahasiswa Thailand dalam Pembelajaran Daring di Universitas di Indonesia pada Masa Pandemi COVID-19. Journal of International Students, 10(S3). Sonnenschein, S., Stites, M., & Dowling, R. (2021). Learning at home: What preschool children’s parents do and what they want to learn from their children’s teachers. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X20971321 Sri Indah Pujiastuti, Sofia Hartati & Jun Wang (2022) Socioemotional Competencies of Indonesian Preschoolers: Comparisons between the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods and among DKI Jakarta, DI Yogyakarta and West Java Provinces, Early Education and Development, DOI: 10.1080/10409289.2021.2024061 Stone, K., Burgess, C., Daniel, B., Smith, J., & Stephen, C. (2017). Nurture corners in preschool settings: Involving and nurturing children and parents. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 22(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/13632752.2017.1309791 Suzanne M. Egan & Chloé Beatty (2021) To school through the screens: the use of screen devices to support young children's education and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, Irish Educational Studies, 40:2, 275-283, DOI: 10.1080/03323315.2021.1932551 Thomson, S. (2007). Do’s and don’ts: Children’s experiences of the primary school playground. Environmental Education Research, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620701581588 Vallejo-Ruiz, M., & Torres-Soto, A. (2020). Teachers’ conceptions on the quality of the teaching and learning process in early childhood education. Revista Electronica Educare, 24(3). https://doi.org/10.15359/REE.24-3.13 Widodo, H. P. (2014). Methodological considerations in interview data transcription. International Journal of Innovation in English Language, 3(1). Wijaya, Candra., Dalimunthe, Rasyid Anwar., & Muslim. Parents’ Perspective on The Online Learning Using Zoom Application in Early Childhood Education. JPUD: Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini, Volume 15 Number 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21009/JPUD.152.06 Winship, M., Standish, H., Trawick-Smith, J., & Perry, C. (2021). Reflections on practice: Providing authentic experiences with families in early childhood teacher education. In Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education (Vol. 42, Issue 3). https://doi.org/10.1080/10901027.2020.1736695

<div><p><strong>Abstract :</strong> In general, this article intends to answer a fundamental question, whether a mystical experience can or cannot be expressed through language. If the answer is positive, what kind of language can ‘formulate’ an inner space of human experience to penetrate into the heart of the most real reality? What kind of consciousness can “bring” the light of God to the ‘empirical’ world? h en how to formulate a mystical consciousness in expressing spiritual experience that is “subjective” and therefore, has limitations? How, in fact, the status of “non-subjective phenomenal” consciousness in Islamic epistemology? h e above questions, of course, are just a small ripple for those who seek to dive into the depth of “Mystical Ocean without shore”. To give an answer, this article then presents two contemporary philosophers from the genre of analytic philosophy, but from a diff erent background from that of tradition: Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) and Mehdi Ha’iri Yazdi (1923 to 1999). h is article appears to be a “resistance” epistemic: to show the fragile philosophical structure of positivism to capture the invisible ‘realities’. h is last genre of philosophy, which is concerned mostly with the reliability of facts, the necessity correspondence between the facts and language, and glorifi es the verifi cation principles, has experienced “stutters” in every endeavor to reveal the world of meaning. h is article, also seeks reveal the way to the world of “experience” and does not stop at the world of knowledge. By adopting the approach of Analytic Philosophy, this article shows the folds of meaning and reality: empirical, meta-empirical, existential, and spiritual. For the author, the all layers of reality can only be revealed through a mystical experience, a presential knowledge (al-’ilm al-hudhūrī) in a perfect ontological state.</p><p><em>Keywords : Mystical experience, Logical-positivism, al-‘ilm al-hudhūrī, Language games, Logosentrism, Metalanguage, Perceptive</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstrak :</strong> Secara umum artikel ini ingin menjawab sebuah pertanyaan fundamental apakah pengalaman mistik (mystic experience) dapat diekspresikan melalui bahasa. Jika jawabnya positif, bahasa jenis apakah yang bisa ‘merumuskan’ sebuah pengalaman inner space manusia hingga menembus ke jantung realitas yang paling sejati? Kesadaran jenis apakah yang mampu “menghadirkan” cahaya Tuhan ke dunia ‘empiris’? Lalu bagaimana merumuskan sebuah kesadaran mistik dalam ungkapan- ungkapan pengalaman keruhanian yang bersifat “subyektif ” dan karena itu memiliki keterbatasan-keterbatasan? Bagaimana sejatinya posisi kesadaran “subyektif-non fenomenal” dalam bangunan epistemologi Islam? Deretan pertanyaan di atas, tentu hanyalah riak kecil dari gelombang tanya yang ingin menyelami kedalaman “lautan mistik” yang tak bertepi. Untuk menjawab terhadap pertanyaan di atas, artikel ini lalu menghadirkan dua fi lsuf kontemporer yang berasal dari genre fi lsafat analitik (analytic philosophy) namun dari latar belakang tradisi yang berbeda: Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) dan Mehdi Ha’iri Yazdi (1923-1999). Artikel ini hadir untuk sebuah “perlawanan” epistemik: memperlihatkan betapa gawatnya bangunan filsafat Positivisme dalam memotret ‘realitas-realitas’ yang tak kasat mata. Genre fi lsafat terakhir ini, meski berhasil memesona tradisi fi lsafat Barat yang memuja, keterandalan fakta, keharusan korespondensi antara fakta dan bahasa, dan mengagungkan verifi cation principles, tetapi ia mengalami “kegagapan” dalam setiap ikhtiar menyingkap dunia makna (meaning). artikel ini, sebaliknya, memperlihatkan pentingnya menempuh jalan ke dunia “pengalaman”(experience) dan tidak berhenti pada dunia pengetahuan (knowledge). Dengan menggunakan pendekatan Filsafat Analitik, penulis memperlihatkan lipatan makna dan realitas yang berlapis: empirik, meta-empirik, eksistensial, dan spiritual. Dan seluruh lapisan realitas tersebut hanya dapat disingkap melalui pengalaman mistik via al-‘ilm al-hudhūrī dalam sebuah ‘ketercelupan ontologis’ yang sempurna.</p><p><em>Kata kunci : Pengalaman mistik, Logika-positivistik, al-‘ilm al-hudhūrī, Permainan bahasa, Logosentrime, Metabahasa, Perseptif</em></p></div>

SCIENCE IN THEOLOGY: Encounters between Science and the Christian Tradition by Neil Messer. New York: T&T Clark, 2020. xii + 191 pages. Paperback; $22.95. ISBN: 9780567689818. *When reading this title, I confess that I wondered if we really need another book on science and theology, or another typology of the relationship between the two, or another critique of typologies. On finishing the volume, however, I believe that it does indeed make a helpful contribution to the expanding literature on the subject. *Neil Messer, professor of theology at the University of Winchester, UK, has a PhD in molecular biology and an MA in Christian ethics. Science in Theology is a well-researched, accessible treatment of the relationship between the two. The preposition in Messer's title is intentional, suggesting that we focus on what part science plays in our Christian conceptions about ourselves and our world in relation to God, rather than adopting a modern view of science and theology as separate categories. This hints at his welcome prioritizing of theology--faith seeking understanding, not faith looking for science to justify faith's veracity. Like many, he considers both the voice of the Christian tradition (incorporating the familiar quadrilateral of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience) and the scientific voice (including only the last two aspects of the quadrilateral). Messer argues that previous typologies are too broad and have difficulty accommodating the diversity and complexity of current literature in the field. *He proposes a five-fold typology, which I find appealing in its simplicity and applicability: *1. Only the scientific voice contributes; contributions from Christianity are denied or dismissed. *2. Both voices contribute, but the scientific one is dominant; Christian claims must be adjusted to fit the scientific perspective. *3. Both voices contribute equally. *4. Both voices contribute, but the Christian one dominates in shaping the encounter. *5. Only the voice of the Christian tradition contributes; scientific claims are denied or dismissed. *What is unique about Messer's work is not just his new typology, but the fact that he tests it and, in doing so, also provides a summary of the current literature in three diverse areas of the science-faith dialogue: divine action, natural evil, and the cognitive study of religion. Messer notes that his typology focuses on the approach to a topic, not on the content of the argument. Thus, two authors may use the same method but disagree with each other's conclusions. In addition, the contribution of each tradition is qualitative as well as quantitative; how much as well as what we learn from science or theology is important. *Messer acknowledges that it is easy for types to meld together: a Type 3 plan can easily slip into a Type 2, and a Type 4 approach could be similar to the concept of non-overlapping magisteria (more like Type 5). He cautions that his typology can only describe particular positions, and thus should not be used to make generalizations. He also admits that his typology focuses on cognitive aspects of faith to the exclusion of confessional and practical aspects, and that not all topics allow integration (e.g., Christ's incarnation and resurrection, eschatology). However, Messer's typology does allow for flexibility and nuance--he claims that his typology makes diversity more visible. Furthermore, each approach can be used as a critique to the others. *Messer notes that Types 1 and 5 tend to close down the dialogue but offer helpful contributions on occasion. Interestingly, he notes an example of a Christian who uses a Type 1-style argument: cognitive scientist Justin Barrett uses only empirical evidence and reason to support claims about God's existence and nature. Messer believes that Types 3 and 4 are generally the most helpful approaches. This is interesting because it is often assumed that ideal science-faith integration should allow equal contributions. But a true Type 3 approach is challenging because we all start from a particular position. If we view the world through a Christian lens, then Type 4 becomes the aim. *With respect to his first topic, divine action, Messer appropriately notes that most of the work done in this area, namely the Divine Action Project, has been of a Type 2 variety. The critique is that excess reliance on science may limit our conceptions of how God acts in the world. This was personally helpful, as I have questioned the feasibility of such a project--categorizing it helps to explain my doubts. Messer discusses the recent "theological turn" in the debate, noting that it too has problems. *On the topic of evolution and natural evil, Messer, not surprisingly, refers to his own publications, categorizing his work as Type 4. He argues that Type 2 approaches require unnecessary distancing of God from his creation, and that the "only way" or "best of all possible worlds" (Type 3) argument of Christopher Southgate inadequately accounts for suffering, and places too much weight on science as a means for understanding God's goodness. Messer instead follows Barth in viewing evil as "nothingness," a by-product of creation, and emphasizes our need to counteract evil. *I especially appreciate Messer's inclusion of scientific studies of religion as his final test case; this topic is not often considered in science-theology texts. He considers cognitive factors in religious belief, evolutionary accounts of religion, and neuroscientific studies of belief. Type 3 examples include Barrett's "confessional natural theology" and Nancey Murphy's idea of theology as secondary to experience. Barth's critique of theology that starts with human experience is used as an example of Type 4 (although Barth would not have known about scientific studies of religion). Perhaps because of the diversity of the topic, the treatment of it was less clear than in previous chapters. Works used to illustrate the typologies are often addressing quite different questions. This chapter would have benefited from a clarification of the distinctions between faith and religion, and a consideration of differing presuppositions, such as the mind-brain relationship, in the various positions. *In his conclusion, Messer interestingly considers other voices aside from science and theology, namely, philosophy and the arts. I love that he offers a nod to poetry as a nonscientific way to understand reality. Unfortunately, these discussions are very brief. I would have liked more discussion on how the arts relate to his typology, or a broader typology such as models of the relationship between culture and Christianity. *Finally, Messer offers suggestions for how to use this book, either as a means to evaluate, clarify, and categorize other works, or to write a new one. Naturally, I evaluated my own recent work on causation and discovered that although my intent was more Type 3, I ended up perhaps closer to Type 4! It will be interesting to see how others apply Messer's typology. *Although I appreciate its brevity, I would have read this book even if it were longer! I do wonder if some topics could have been addressed with greater detail, and if other topics, such as technology, creation care, or astrobiology could have been included. Nevertheless, Science in Theology offers a very helpful new framework for conceptualizing the dialogue between the two subjects as well as providing an excellent introduction to some contemporary issues, suitable for students or for the nonspecialist looking to further his/her education on the topic. *Reviewed by E. Janet Warren, Past President of the Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation.

ABSTRACT Finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L) commonly known as ragi is an important crop used for food, forage and industrial products. Finger millet has a wide ecological and geographical adaptability and resilience to various agro-climatic adversities hence, it is highly suited to drought condition and marginal land and requires low external input in cultivation.. Farmers participatory field demonstrations of ragi variety Arjun and Bhairabi were conducted at two villages ie Pedawada of Malkangiri block and MPV -1 of Kalimela block of Malkangiri district, comprising 40 farmers in cluster approach in Kharif 2018 and 2019 , by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Malkangiri , in South Eastern Ghat Zone of Odisha . Conducting front line demonstrations on farmer’s field help to identify the constraints and potential of the finger millet in the specific area as well as it helps in improving the economic and social status of the farmers. Observation on growth and yield parameters were taken and economic analysis was done. The final seed yield was recorded at the time of harvest and the gross return in (Rs ha -1) was calculated based on prevailing market prices. The results from the demonstration conclusively proved that finger millet variety Arjun (OEB-526) recorded the higher yield ( 18.8 q ha-1) , followed by Bhairabi ( 15.3 q ha-1) and farmer’s traditional variety Nali Mandia ( Dasaraberi) recorded an average yield of (8.6 q ha-1 ) . HYV Finger millet variety Arjun with proper nutrient management and plant protection measures gave 118 % higher over farmer’s practices. The technological and extension gap was 1.9 q ha-1 and 12.07 q ha-1 respectively. Similarly, technological index was 8.2 percent. The benefit cost ratio was 2.4 and 1.9 in case of Arjun and Bhairabi respectively and in case of farmer’s variety Nali Mandia it was 1.4. Hence the existing local finger millet variety can be replaced by HYV Arjun ans Bhairabi , since it fits good to the existing rainfed farming situation for higher productivity. By conducting front line demonstrations on millet on large scale in farmer’s field, yield potential of finger millet can be enhanced largely which will increase in the income level of farmers and improve the livelihood condition of the farming community. Introduction Among small millets, finger millet (Elusine coracana L,) locally known as Ragi/Mandia is the most important crop grown in tribal districts of Odisha and it is the staple food of the tribals. It was originated about 5000 years ago in east Africa (possibly Ethiopia) and was introduced into India, 3000 years ago (Upadhyaya et al., 2006) and it is highly suited to drought condition and marginal land and requires low external input in cultivation. Millet is a collective term referring to a number of small seeded annual grasses that are cultivated as grain crops, primarily on marginal lands in dry areas in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions (Baker, 1996). Nutritionally finger millet is superior to major cereal crops and rich source of micronutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron. And it has several health benefits. Finger millet grains contain higher amount of proteins, oils and minerals than the grains of rice, maize or sorghum (Reed et al., 1976). Vadivoo and Joseph (1998) mentioned finger millet grains contain 13.24% moisture, 7.6% protein, 74.36% carbohydrate, 74.36% carbon, 1.52% dietary fiber, 2.35% minerals, 1.35% fat and energy 341.6 cal/100g. (Joshi and Katoch, 1990; Ravindran, 1991). It is a rich source of micronutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. Cysteine, tyrosine, tryptophan and methionine are the right spectrum of amino acids found in finger millet protein (Rachie, 1975). The increase in global temperature leads to climate changes that directly affect crop production and increase people's hunger and malnutrition around the world.. With regard to protein (6-8%) and fat (1-2%) it is comparable to rice and with respect to mineral and micronutrient contents it is superior to rice and wheat (Babu et al., 1987). It is also known for several health benefits such as anti-diabetic, anti-tumerogenic, atherosclerogenic effects, antioxidant, which are mainly attributed due to its polyphenol and dietary fiber contents. Being indigenous minor millet it is used in the preparation of various foods both in natural and malted forms. Grains of this millet are converted into flours for preparation of products like porridge, puddings, pancakes, biscuits, roti, bread, noodles, and other snacks. Besides this, it is also used as a nourishing food for infants when malted and is regarded as wholesome food for diabetic's patients. Diversification of food production must be encouraged both at national and household level in tandem with increasing yields. Growing of traditional food crops suitable for the area is one of the possible potential successful approaches for improving household food security. Malkangiri is one of the seven districts where a flagship programme called “Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas of Odisha (hereafter, Odisha Millets Mission, (OMM)” has been launched by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, Odisha in order to revive millets in rainfed farming systems and household consumption. It was started in kharif 2017 in four blocks of the district, namely Chitrakonda, Korkunda, Mathili and Khairiput. The Government of Odisha launched Odisha Millets Mission (OMM) also known as the Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas of Odisha in 2017 to revive millets in farms and on plates. The aim was to tackle malnutrition by introducing millets in the public distribution system (PDS) and other state nutrition schemes. The focus is on reviving millets in farms and putting it on plates.” Millet, a nutritious and climate-resilient crop, has traditionally been cultivated and consumed by tribal communities in the rainfed regions of southern Odisha. Technology gap, i.e. poor knowledge about newly released crop production and protection technologies and their management practices in the farmers’ fields is a major constraint in Ragi production. So far, no systematic approach was implemented to study the technological gap existing in various components of Ragi cultivation. Awareness of scientific production technology like HYV of ragi, seed treatment with fungicide, use of insecticide and bio-fertilizers, is lacking in Malkangiri district which were a key reason for low productivity. The production potential could be increased by adopting recommended scientific and sustainable management production practices with improved high yielding varieties and timely use of other critical inputs. Objective The field experiment was undertaken to study the performance of three finger millet varieties Local Mandia (Nali Mandia), Bhairabi and Arjun in rainfed upland situation in kharif season. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the field performance of newly released finger millet varieties Arjun and Bhairabi under rainfed condition. The demonstrations were carried out in Malkangiri district covering two villages like Pedawada and MPV-6 to find out the existing technological and extension gap along with technology index with an objective to popularize the ragi varieties having higher yield potential. Material and methods The study was carried out in operational area of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Malkangiri during Kharif season in the year 2018 and 2019. The study was under taken in Malkangiri and Kalimela blocks of Malkangiri district of Odisha and the blocks were selected purposefully as Finger millet is the major cereals crop grown in large area in Kharif season. The demonstrations were conducted in two different adopted villages Pedawada and MPV-6 in cluster approach. The Front Line Demonstration (FLD) is an applied approach to accelerate the dissemination of proven technologies at farmer’s fields in a participatory mode with an objective to explore the maximum available resources of crop production and also to bridge the productivity gaps by enhancing the production in national basket.The necessary steps for selection of site and farmers and layout of demonstrations etc were followed as suggested by Choudhary (1999). Forty numbers front line demonstrations on HYV Ragi were conducted in two clusters comprising 40 numbers of farmers. All the participating farmers were trained on various aspects of Ragi production technologies and recommended agronomic practices and certified seeds of Ragi variety Arjun and Bhairabi were used for demonstration. The soil of demonstration site was slightly acidic in reaction (pH-5.0 to 5.25) with sandy loam in texture and EC was 0.134 (dS m −1). The available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was between 214 .00, 22 .00, 142 .00 (Kg ha−1) respectively with 0.48 (%) Organic Carbon. The crop was sown in under rainfed condition in the first to second week of July. The crop was raised with recommended agronomic practices and harvested within 4th week of November up to 2nd week of December. Krishi Vigyan Kendra ( KVK), Malkangiri conducted front line demonstration with HYV varieties like Bhiarabi and Arjun and farmer’ local var Dasaraberi as check Finger millet Variety Arjun (OEB-526) is having Maturity duration 110 days and average yield 20.7q/ha with moderate resistance to leaf, neck and finger blast and brown seed and Bhairabi is a HYV of Ragi with Maturity duration 110 days and average yield 17.6 q/ha. Moderate resistance to leaf, neck blast and brown seeded and protein content 81%. Local variety Dsaraberi or Nali Mandia is having 105 days duration and drought tolerant variety used as farmers variety as local check . The technologies demonstrated were as follows: Popularization of high yielding Ragi variety, Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride @ 4g kg-1 seed , Line sowing with, soil test based fertilizer application along with need based plant protection measures. The field was ploughed two times and planking was done after each plugging, Need based plant protection measures were taken; along with soil test based fertilizer application was done with fertilizer dose 40:30:60 kg. N: P2O5: K2O kg ha -1. In case of local checks existing practices being used by farmers were followed. The observations were recorded for various parameters of the crop. The farmers’ practices were maintained in case of local checks. The field observations were taken from demonstration plot and farmer’s plot as well. Parameters like Plant height, number of fingers per plant, length of finger , no of fingers per year, 1000 seed weight and seed yield were recorded at maturity stage and the gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) were calculated on the basis of prevailing market price of the produce. The extension gap, technology gap, technology index along with B: C ratio was calculated and the data were statistically analyzed applying the statistical techniques. Statistical tools such as percentage, mean score, Standard deviation, co-efficient of variation, Fisher‘s “F” test, were employed for analysis of data. The farmer’s practices (FP) plots were maintained as local check for comparison study. The data obtained from intervention practices (IP) and famers practices (FP) were analyzed for extension gap, technological gap, technological index and benefit cost ratio study as per (Samui et al., 2000) as given below. Technology gap = Pi (Potential yield) - Di (Demonstration yield) Extension gap = Di (Demonstration Yield) - Fi (Farmers yield) Technology index = X 100 Result and Discussion The results obtained from the present investigation are summarized below. The Table 1 depicts the major differences observed between demonstration package and farmer’s practices in ragi production in the study area. The major differences were observed between demonstration package and farmer’s practices were regarding recommended varieties, seed treatment, soil test based fertilizer application, keeping optimum plant population by thinning, weed management and plant protection measures. The data of Table 1 shows that under the demonstrated plot only recommended high yielding variety, proper weeding and optimum plant population maintaining by thinning and the farmers used herbicides and the farmers timely performed all the other package and practices. It was also observed that farmers were unaware about balanced fertilizer application, seed treatment, and use of fertilizers application and maintenance of plant population for enhancing the yield. Majority of the farmers in the study area were unaware about use of weed management practices. The findings are in corroborated with the findings of (Katar et al., 2011) From the Table 2 it was revealed that in the district Malkangiri the productivity of finger millet was 6.38 (q ha-1) as compare to state average productivity 8.67 (q ha-1), but there exists a gap between potential yield and farmers yield, which can be minimized by adoption High yielding varieties with improved management practices. The productivity of finger millet was very low in the district as the crop is mostly grown along the hillsides on sloppy land on light textured soil. It was also coupled with negligence in adoption of improved varieties no input like fertilizers use and no plant protection measures and improper method and time of sowing. However, there is a wide gap between the Potential and the actual production realized by the farmers due to partial adoption of recommended package of practices by the growers. Several constraints contributed to yield fluctuation on Ragi production, including: unreliable rainfall; lack of high yielding variety ,disease tolerant varieties; pests and diseases incidence; low producer prices; poor agronomic practices; and lack of institutional support (Bucheyeki et al., 2008; Okoko et al., 1998). One of the central problems of ragi production and processing in this district is due to an uncertain production environment owing to rain fed cultivation, the low resource base of smallholder farmers and processors, and no scope for post harvest management and value addition facilities and poor marketing facility. The results clearly indicated from the Table 3 that the positive effects of FLDs over the existing practices. HYV Ragi Arjun recorded higher yield 18.8(q ha-1) followed by Bhairabi 15.53 (q ha-1) which was 21 % more and the yield performance of these two HYV varieties was higher than the farmer’s variety. This is due to higher of panicle length, more number of tillers and more number of fingers per panicle in HYV of ragi as compared to local variety. The results are in conformity with the findings of (Tomar et al. , 2003). The results clearly indicated the positive effects of FLDs over the existing practices towards enhancing the productivity. It is revealed form table 4 that, as the calculated ‘F’ value at α=0.05 level was found to be larger than table value, indicating significant difference in yield between farmer’s variety and recommended varieties. There was significant difference between average yield of ragi under Farmers practice (FP) and Recommended practice (RP) in variety Arjun under this demonstration. It was concluded that the yield of these HYV ragi varieties was significantly higher as compared to farmer’s variety. The economics and B:C ratio of farmers practice and Demonstration practice has been presented in Table 6. From the table it was revealed that Benefit: Cost ratio (B:C) was recorded to be higher under demonstrations against control treatments during all the years of experimentation. The cost of cultivation in HYV variety was higher due to more labour cost involved in transplanting and also it included cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals and also net returns was higher as compared to farmer’s practice. The B: C ratio was found to be 2.4 in case of variety Arjun as compared to 1.9 in case of variety Bhairabi. The results on economic analysis indicated that HYV ragi Arjun and Bhairabi performed better than local variety Ragi. The HYV variety Arjun recorded higher gross return upto Rs 54,332 and followed by Bhairabi Rs 44,289 per ha which was significantly higher than farmers practice and it was due to higher productivity of varieties under demonstration. Conclusion The results revealed that in Malkangiri district finger millet variety Arjun rerecorded highest yield followed by Variety Bhirabi with proper package and practices under rainfed upland condition. From the above study it was concluded that use of finger millet varieties like Arjun or Bhairabi with scientific methods and technological practices of can reduce the technological gap and enhance the productivity in the district. Yield improvement in Finger Millet in the demonstration was due to use of HYV seed and scientific management practices adopted by the farmers. Yield of Finger Millet can be increased to a great extent by conducting effective front line demonstrations in larger area with proven technologies. Finger millet is one of future smart food crop of India and can be grown in the drought condition. This crop is rich in nutrient for food insecurity and within few years because of increase in population of world and depletion of area of production.. The principal reasons of lower productivity of finger millet in the district Malkangiri were lack of knowledge among the farmers about cultivation of HYV finger millet varieties and improper fertilization, late season sowing and severe weed infestation in crop at critical stages. From the above findings, it can be concluded that use of scientific methods of Finger millet cultivation can reduce the technology gap to a considerable extent thus leading to increased productivity of millets in the district. Moreover, extension agencies in the district need to provide proper technical support to the farmers through different educational and extension methods to reduce the extension gap for better production. Acknowledgments The OUAT Bhubaneswar and ICAR-ATRI Kolkata, is acknowledged for financial support to the research program. Conflicts of interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References: Babu, B. V.; Ramana, T.; Radhakrishna, T.M. Chemical composition and protein in hybrid varieties of finger millet. Indian J. Agric. Sci. 1987, 57(7), 520-522. Biplab, M.; Samajdar, T. Yield gap analysis of rapeseed-mustard through Front Line Demonstration. Agricultural Extension Review. 2010, 16-17. Bucheyeki, T. L.; Shenkalwa, E. M.; Mapunda, T. X.; Matata, L.W. On-farm evaluation of promising groundnut varieties for adaptation and adoption in Tanzania. African Journal of Agricultural Research. 2008, 3(8), 531-536. Chandra, D.; Pallavi S C.; Sharma A.K. Review of Finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn): A power house of health benefiting nutrients. Food Science and Human Wellness. 2016, 5( 3), 149-155. Choudhary, B. N. Krishi Vigyan Kendra - a guide for KVK managers. Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR, 1999, 73-78. De Onis M.; Frongillo E.A.; Blossner, M. “Is malnutrition declining? An analysis of changes in levels of child malnutrition since, 1980.” Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2000, 1222–1233. Gull, A.; Jan, R.; Nayik, G. A.; Prasad, K.; Kumar, P. Significance of Finger Millet in Nutrition, Health and Value added Products: A Review. Journal of Environmental Science, Computer Science and Engineering & Technology, JECET. 2014, 3(3), 1601-1608. Gupta, S .M.; Arora, S.; Mirza, N.; Pande, A.; Lata, C.; Puranik, ; Kumar, J.; Kumar, A. Finger Millet: A “Certain” Crop for an “Uncertain” Future and a Solution to Food Insecurity and Hidden Hunger under Stressful Environments. Frontiers on Plant Sci. 2017, 8, 643 Joshi, H. C.; Katoch, K. K. Nutritive value of millets: A comparison with cereals and pseudocereals. Himalayan Res. Dev. 1990, 9, 26-28. Kande, M.; Dhami, N B.; Subedi, N.; Shrestha, J. Arjun. Field evaluation and nutritional benefits of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) 2019. Katare, S.; Pandey, S.K.; Mustafa, M. Yield gap analysis of Rapeseed-mustard through front line demonstration. Agriculture update. 2011, 6(2), 5-7. Lupien, J.R. Sorghum and millets in human nutrition. FAO, ICRISAT. At: ao.org. 1990, 86. Mohanty, B. Odisha Millet Mission: The successes and the challenges. 2020. "Baseline Survey: Malkangiri District 2016-17, Phase-1 (Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas of Odisha or Odisha Millets Mission, OMM)," Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies, Bhubaneswar. 2019. Nigade, R. D.; Jadhav, B. S.; Bhosale, A. S. Response 0f long duration finger millet(Elusine coracana L,) variety to different levels of nitrogen under rainfed condition. J agrc Sci. 2011, 7(1), 152-155. Odisha Agriculture Statistics, Govt of Odisha. 2013-2014. Rachie, K. O. The Millets: Importance, Utilization and Outlook. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, India. 1975, 63. Ravindran, G. Studies on millets: proximate composition, mineral composition, phytate, and oxalate contents. Food Chem. 1991, 39(1), 99- 107. Ravindran G. Seed proteins of millets: amino acid composition, proteinase inhibitors and in vitro digestibility. Food Chem. 1992, 44(1), 13- 17. Reed C. F. Information summaries on 1000 economic plants. USDA, USA. 1976. Samui, S K.; Maitra, S.; Roy, D K.; Mandal, A. K.; Saha, D. Evaluation of front line demonstration on groundnut. Journal of Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research. 2000, 18(2), 180-183. Singh, J.; Kaur, R..; Singh, P. Economics and Yield gap analysis of Front Line Demonstrations regarding Scientific practices of Indian Mustard in district Amritsar. Indian Journal of Economics and Development. 2016, 12(1a), 515. Singh, P.; Raghuvanshi. R. S. Finger millet for food and nutritional security. African Journal of Food Science. 2012, 6(4), 77-84. Srivastava, P.P.; Das, H.; Prasad, S. Effect of roasting process variables on hardness of Bengal gram, maize and soybean. Food Sci. Technol. 1994, 31(1), 62-65. Tomar, L. S.; Sharma, B. P.; Joshi, K. Impact of front line demonstration of soybean in transfer of improved technology. Journal of Extension Research. 2003, 22(1), 139. Upadhyaya, H.D.; Gowdaand C.L.L.; Reddy, V.G. Morphological diversity in finger millet germplasm introduced from Southern and Eastern. African Journal of SAT Agriculture Research. 2007, 3(1). ejournal.icrisat.org. Vadivoo, A.S.; Joseph, R. Genetic variability and diversity for protein and calcium contents in finger millet (Elusine coracona (L.) Gaertn) in relation to grain color. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition Dordrecht. 1998, 52, 353-364. Department of Botany, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Deemed University, Coimbatore, TN, 641 043, India.

Mobile government system has got a worldwide attention including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government. The government is promoting the adoption of M-government services resulted from several hinderence such as trust on e-services and culture. People can be motivated to adopt this current trend through understanding the preferences. Hence, this paper presents the development of six constructs models having 30 preferences of adopting M-government services from the perception of the UAE people. The constructs are Social Influence (SI), Perceived Compatibility (PC), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Perceived Usefulness (PU), Trust in Technology (TT) and Perceived Risk (PR). These constructs were modelled using AMOS software with 263 samples collected data from people of the UAE. It was found that all the constructs achieved the fitness values which indicates there is strong relationship amongst the measuring preferences for adopting the M-government services for the people of UAE. These findings of the study will help devise strategies to promote M-government services in the UAE.

The e-payment system in India is experiencing a massive transformation. Mobile phones and e-commerce are growing rapidly and consumers are showing affinity towards digital technology. Indian government is also stepping up by launching “Digital India” initiative to accelerate the awareness, availability and adoption of digital technologies. Today Indian govt., businessman and people are exploring the possibility to move towards a cashless economy. Still these days’ cash remain main mode of transaction amongst the people. As per KPMG report 2017 and the rate of e-payment adoption is increased by approx. ten percent and expected to further increment. The purpose of the study is to analyze behavioral intentions of Indian consumer about e-payment with an application of the UTAUT2 model (unified theory of acceptance and use of technology). This study has applied UTAUT-2 model as a conceptual framework and has considered performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, and habit. For this, the study has targeted 300 respondents based on non-probability convenience sampling method. The data would be processed and analyzed using SPSS version 20 and hypotheses would be performed by applying multiple regression analysis. The biggest challenge in the growth of e-payment in Indian is skeptical mindset of people and their concern about safety and security. People scare that their device can be hacked or virus can be attacked. These serious issues should be addressed by the govt. Furthermore, India faces the challenge of limited adoption of fixed broadband. The work needs to be done in terms of improving the internet infrastructure in the country. This study is contributing to the existing body of knowledge in area of e-payment where there is a research vacuum especially in context of India. Furthermore, it helps to understand the impact of UTAUT 2 models variates on behavioral intention among Indians about e-payment which is again researched by very few people. The outcomes of this study would be beneficial to govt., policy makers, banks, online transaction facilities providers and software developers in developing strategies about e-payment acceptance and use. As this study is confined to India only, its findings may be generalized to other countries directly.

Recently,UAE has adoptedArtificial Intelligence(AI)and e-learning system in several fields including education. Together with the institutions running on conventional educational system, military colleges have also embrassed this new technology. This study assessed the current status of adoption, challenges and strategies of using AI based e-learning system in the UAE military based colleges. The study was carried out based on the perception of the teachers and students of Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC). A set of the questions was presented to the 50 teachers and 157 students for highlighting the level of agreement for each question. The questions were devided into three sections as level of adoption, challenges, and strategies in using AI based e-learning education system. The study found that for current status, AI and e-learning have got siginificant popularity in the education system due to high level of flexibility. While the challenges, the lack of human relations between teacher and student is reported as the major challenge faced in adoption of AI based e-learning system. Finally, for the strategies, the respondents indicated that the UAE is trying to develop plans and alternatives to address the discrepancy between traditional teaching and artificial intelligence methods adapted in the military college. This study provides a valuable source of information for devicing strategies to promote the uses of these modern tools and also motivate the students to get the maximum benefits of AI and e-learning technologies.

Customer Relationship Management has drastically evolved as a new marketing domain and has already been implemented in all major industries. The technological innovations through CRM systems has already proven successful in the financial and manufacturing domains. And the past one year has seen the drastic technological implementations in the healthcare sector. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the impact of CRM implementations in the hospitals and also to through light how the national e-health card mission of Govt. of India will open the doors to new era of healthcare marketing. The research discusses the benefits and factors that contribute to an increase in adoption of CRM in the hospitals. The research will be based on secondary data analysis integrated with initial primary data collection to determine the impact of CRM and national digital health mission. The study propose adoption procedure of CRM and its key benefits to the healthcare industry. The research will add significantly to the literature of technological innovations for the healthcare industry.

This research aims to determine the potential and needs of lecturers and students in PAI learning which will be applied with the blended learning strategy. This research is a descriptive research with triangulation method and data sources. Data was collected through preliminary observations, analysis of students condition got from survey results (google form online) to 21 students from 4 faculties and several study programs, and interviews (lecturers and students). As for the data analysis used by adopting models from Miles, Huberman and Saldana, namely with three steps: data reduction, data display and withdrawal of conclusion data. The results of the study state that the potential and needs based on need assessment at IAIN Samarinda are: 1) the blended learning model is indispensable for the current technological development conditions at IAIN Samarinda, and on the achievements of KKNI in implementing learning with ICT, 2) survey results through google online form states that the analysis of student needs for innovative and interesting learning is 100% and student opinions about the learning needs of blended learning at IAIN Samarinda is 81%. 3) the expectations of this assessment need are: a) the blended learning model should have been implemented at university by looking at technological developments, b) the need for a complete module on blended learning (including RPS, learning devices, e-learning and evaluation) so that the implementation can be achieved, c) pedagogical socialization of blended learning to lecturers and students, d) facilities and infrastructure, e) and policies regarding the implementation of blended learning.The implication of this research could be a reference for other researchers to develop blended learning model in higher education.

Objective: To assess the fundamental concept of Ayurveda explained in Charaka Samhita by the learning methods of Chathushka. Review Methods: Literary review methods were followed throughout the study. Mainly focussed on Charaka Samhita and its Commentaries, Articles related to Chatushka Methodology. Result and Conclusion: Ayurveda is the Upaveda of Atharva Veda and consists of Brihatrayees and Laghutrayess. They have their own textual version that follows a particular style of writing as suited to the subject. The term “Samhita'' denotes complete collection of specific valuable knowledge unavoidable for the improvement of various aspects of life. Since the Vedic literature, the word Samhita is in use. Similarly the main aim of Ayurveda is to protect all aspects of life, so got the name Samhita. Among the Samhitas, Charaka Samhita is divided into eight Sthana and embodiments of knowledge to promote positive health. In Charaka Samhita, Acharya ratified various techniques like Thantrayukti, Vadamarga etc., by adopting a unique methodology known as Chathushka Methodology. Sutra Sthana consists of thirty chapters partitioned into seven quadrants. Each quadrant deals with specific subjects. This paper highlights the influence of Chathushka methodology in identifying the pedagogy of Charaka Samhita to understand the fundamentals of Ayurveda. Data Source: This is a review article and main source of the article is Charaka Samhitha and its commentaries which were available. The main source of Charaka Samhita is the online e - Samhitha of National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage.

The main goal for structure engineer is to do safety design and make sure structures can resist seismic forces by adopting proper construction materials and structure systems. The seismic design parameters are the key factors to control the structure seismic design procedures and results. These parameters covered several items, such as seismic spectral response acceleration in 1 second (S1) and short period (SS), site classification(A~E), sites importance (Ie,), strong motion files with their pseudo-acceleration and displacement, etc. Around these parameters, different countries and regions also issued the domestic design principles correspondence. For international projects, no matter which area or country projects located in, every structure engineer should take more care about the proper seismic parameters to deploy seismic design, and the issues of seismic parameter conversion among various codes appeared a few decades ago. In this article, author focused on multiple stories hotel (RC) structure design with GB and ASCE seismic parameters controlling, demonstrate the difference of structure design principles between GB and ASCE, and applied specified seismic parameters conversion method, then deploy structure analysis based on these parameters, got series structure analysis results. In the end, author provided a few practical advice about developing strategies and decisions from consultant view. These conclusions not only can benefit developers, also strengthen the support from consultant agency, besides, the parameter screen procedures enhanced the structure designer’s driving ability on various structures which locate in different regions and countries.

Abstract Background Obstetric interventions performed during delivery do not reflect improvements in obstetric care. Several practices routinely performed during childbirth, without any scientific evidence or basis - such as Kristeller maneuver, routine episiotomy, and movement or feeding restriction - reflect a disrespectful assistance reality that, unfortunately, remains in place in Brazil. The aims of the current study are to assess the coexistence and prevalence of obstetric interventions in maternity hospitals in Belo Horizonte City, based on the Grade of Membership (GoM) method, as well as to investigate sociodemographic and obstetric factors associated with coexistence profiles generated by it. Methods Observational study, based on a cross-sectional design, carried out with data deriving from the study “Nascer em Belo Horizonte: Inquérito sobre o Parto e Nascimento” (Born in Belo Horizonte: Survey on Childbirth and Birth). The herein investigated interventions comprised practices that are clearly useful and should be encouraged; practices that are clearly harmful or ineffective and should be eliminated; and practices that are inappropriately used, in contrast to the ones recommended by the World Health Organization. The analyzed interventions comprised: providing food to parturient women, allowing them to have freedom to move, use of partogram, adopting non-pharmacological methods for pain relief, enema, perineal shaving, lying patients down for delivery, Kristeller maneuver, amniotomy, oxytocin infusion, analgesia and episiotomy. The current study has used GoM to identify the coexistence of the adopted obstetric interventions. Variables such as age, schooling, skin color, primigravida, place-of–delivery financing, number of prenatal consultations, gestational age at delivery, presence of obstetric nurse at delivery time, paid work and presence of companion during delivery were taken into consideration at the time to build patients’ profile. Results Results have highlighted two antagonistic obstetric profiles, namely: profile 1 comprised parturient women who were offered diet, freedom to move, use of partogram, using non-pharmacological methods for pain relief, giving birth in lying position, patients who were not subjected to Kristeller maneuver, episiotomy or amniotomy, women did not receive oxytocin infusion, and analgesia using. Profile 2, in its turn, comprised parturient women who were not offered diet, who were not allowed to have freedom to move, as well as who did not use the partograph or who were subjected to non-pharmacological methods for pain relief. They were subjected to enema, perineal shaving, Kristeller maneuver, amniotomy and oxytocin infusion. In addition, they underwent analgesia and episiotomy. This outcome emphasizes the persistence of an obstetric care model that is not based on scientific evidence. Based on the analysis of factors that influenced the coexistence of obstetric interventions, the presence of obstetric nurses in the healthcare practice has reduced the likelihood of parturient women to belong to profile 2. In addition, childbirth events that took place in public institutions have reduced the likelihood of parturient women to belong to profile 2. Conclusion(s) Based on the analysis of factors that influenced the coexistence of obstetric interventions, financing the hospital for childbirth has increased the likelihood of parturient women to belong to profile 2. However, the likelihood of parturient women to belong to profile 2 has decreased when hospitals had an active obstetric nurse at the delivery room. The current study has contributed to discussions about obstetric interventions, as well as to improve childbirth assistance models. In addition, it has emphasized the need of developing strategies focused on adherence to, and implementation of, assistance models based on scientific evidence.

Photo by Christian Bowen on Unsplash ABSTRACT Assisted Reproductive Technology can be a beneficial tool for couples unable to reproduce independently; however, it has historically discriminated against the LGBTQ+ community members. Given the evolution and acceptance of LGBTQ rights in recent years, discrimination and barriers to access reproductive technology and health care should be readdressed as they still exist within this community. INTRODUCTION In recent years, the LGBTQ+ community has made great strides toward attaining equal rights. This fight dates back to 1970 when Michael Baker and McConnell applied for a marriage license in Minnesota.[1] After the county courthouse denied the couple's request, they appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Baker and McConnell’s dispute reached the US Supreme Court. Baker v. Nelson[2] was the first time a same-sex couple attempted to pursue marriage through higher courts in the US.[3] Because the couple lost the case, Baker changed his name to a gender-neutral one, and McConnell adopted Baker, allowing Baker and McConnell to have legal protections like the ability to receive certain inheritances. Baker and McConnell received a marriage license from an unsuspecting clerk from Blue Earth County, where they wed on September 3, 1971.[4] BACKGROUND The Supreme Court’s decision left individual state legislatures the option to accommodate same-sex couples’ rights constitutionally. As a result, some states banned same-sex marriage, while others offered alternative options such as domestic partnerships. With many obstacles, such as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and President Bush’s efforts to limit marriage to heterosexual people, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2003.[5] Other states slowly followed. Finally, in 2015 the US Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states in Obergefell v. Hodges,[6] marking an important milestone for the LGBTQ+ community’s fight toward marriage equality. The Obergefell v. Hodges decision emphasized that members of the homosexual community are “not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization's oldest institutions,” thus granting them the right to “equal dignity in the eyes of the law.”[7] This paper argues that in the aftermath of the wide acceptance of LGBTQ rights, discrimination and barriers to access reproductive technology and health care persist nationally. Procreation also faces discrimination. Research supports that children’s overall psychological and physical welfare with same-sex parents does not differ compared to children with heterosexual parents.[8] Some others worry about the children’s developmental health and argue that same-sex male couples’ inability to breastfeed their children may be harmful; however, such parents can obtain breast milk via surrogate donation.[9] Further concerns regarding confusion in gender identity in children raised by same-sex parents are not supported by research in the field indicating that there are “no negative developmental or psychological outcomes for a child, nor does it result in differing gender identity, gender role behavior or sexual partner preference compared to opposite-sex parents.”[10] ANALYSIS l. Desire to Procreate The American perception toward same-sex unions has evolved “from pathology to deviant lifestyle to identity.”[11] In 2001, only 35 percent of Americans favored same‐sex marriage, while 62 percent favored it in 2017.[12] The “Gay marriage generation”[13] has a positive attitude toward same-sex unions, arising from the “interaction among activists, celebrities, political and religious leaders, and ordinary people, who together reconfigured Americans’ social imagination of homosexuality in a way that made gay marriage seem normal, logical, and good.”[14] Same-sex couples’ right to build a biological family and ability to do so using modern reproductive technology is unclear. The data generated by the LGBTQ Family Building Survey revealed “dramatic differences in expectations around family building between LGBTQ millennials (aged 18-35) and older generations of LGBTQ people,”[15] which may be in part attributable to recent federal rulings in favor of same-sex couples. Three important results from this survey are that 63 percent of LGBTQ millennials are considering expanding their families throughout parenthood, 48 percent of LGBTQ millennials are actively planning to grow their families, compared to 55 percent of non-LGBTQ millennials; and 63 percent of those LGBTQ people interested in building a family expect to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), foster care, or adoption to become parents.[16] There are 15.9 million Americans who identify as LGBTQ+ (6.1 million of whom are 18 to 35 years old); thus, an estimated “3.8 million LGBTQ+ millennials are considering expanding their families in the coming years, and 2.9 million are actively planning to do so.”[17] Yet access and affordability to ART, especially in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy for same-sex couples, has not been consistent at a national level. The two primary problems accessing ART for the LGBTQ community are the lack of federal law and cost. A federal law that guaranteed coverage would address both problems. ll. ART for Same-Sex Couples All same-sex male (SSM) couples and same-sex female (SSF) couples must involve third parties, including surrogates or egg or sperm donors.[18] ART involves the legal status of “up to two women (surrogate and egg donor),” the intended parents, and the child for SSM couples.[19] While sometimes necessary for heterosexual couples using ART, an egg or sperm from someone other than the intended parents or a surrogate will always be necessary for the LGBTQ people seeking ART. ART, in particular IVF, is essential for infertile couples unable to conceive on their own. Unlike other industrialized countries (such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, and Australia), the US does not heavily oversee this multibillion-dollar industry.[20] The American Society for Reproductive Medicine does provide lengthy guidelines to fertility clinics and sperm banks; however, state lawmakers have been less active as they seem to avoid the controversy surrounding controversial topics like embryo creation and abortion.[21] As a result, states “do not regulate how many children may be conceived from one donor, what types of medical information or updates must be supplied by donors, what genetic tests may be performed on embryos, how many fertilized eggs may be placed in a woman or how old a donor can be.”[22] lll. A Flawed Definition of Infertility The WHO defines the medical definition of infertility as “a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after twelve months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.”[23] This antiquated definition must be updated to include social infertility to integrate same-sex couples’ rights.[24] In the US, single individuals and LGBTQ couples interested in building a family by biological means are considered “socially infertile.”[25] If insurance coverage is allotted only to those with physical infertility, then it is exclusive to the heterosexual community. Although some states, such as New York, discussed below, have directly addressed this inequality by extending the definition of infertility and coverage of infertility treatments to include all residents regardless of sexual orientation, this is not yet the norm everywhere else. The outdated definition of infertility is one of the main issues affecting same-sex couples’ access to ART, as medical insurance companies hold on to the formal definition of infertility to deny coverage. lV. Insurance Coverage for IVF Insurance coverage varies per state and relies on the flawed definition of infertility. As of August 2020, 19 states have passed laws requiring insurance coverage for infertility, 13 of which include IVF coverage, as seen in Figure 1. Also, most states do not offer IVF coverage to low-income people through Medicaid.[26] In states that mandate IVF insurance coverage, the utilization rate was “277% of the rate when there was no coverage,”[27] which supports the likelihood that in other states, the cost is a primary barrier to access. When insurance does not cover ART, ART is reserved for wealthy individuals. One cycle of ART could cost, on average, “between $10,000 and $15,000.”[28] In addition, multiple cycles are often required as one IVF cycle only has “about a 25% to 30%” live birth success rate.[29] Altogether, the total cost of successful childbirth was estimated from $44,000 to $211,940 in 1992.[30] On February 11, 2021, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo “directed the Department of Financial Services to ensure that insurers begin covering fertility services immediately for same-sex couples who wish to start a family.”[31] New York had recently passed an IVF insurance law that required “large group insurance policies and contracts that provide medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive-type coverage and are delivered or issued for delivery in New York to cover three cycles of IVF used in the treatment of infertility.”[32] But the law fell short for same-sex couples, which were still required to “pay 6 or 12 months of out-of-pocket expenses for fertility treatments such as testing and therapeutic donor insemination procedures before qualifying for coverage.”[33] Cuomo’s subsequent order made up for gaps in the law, which defined infertility as “the inability to conceive after a certain period of unprotected intercourse or donor insemination.”[34] Cuomo’s order and the law combine to make New York an example other states can follow to broaden access to ART. V. Surrogacy Access to surrogacy also presents its own set of problems, although not exclusive to the LGBTQ community. Among states, there are differences in how and when parental rights are established. States in dark green in Figure 2 allow pre-birth orders, while the states in light green allow post-birth parentage orders. Pre-birth orders “are obtained prior to the child’s birth, and they order that the intended parent(s) will be recognized as the child’s only legal parent(s) and will be placed on the child’s birth certificate,” while post-birth parentage orders have the same intent but are obtained after the child’s birth. [35] For instance, states can require genetic testing post-birth, possibly causing a delay in establishing parentage.[36] Although preventable through the execution of a health care power of attorney, a surrogate mother could be the legal, medical decision-maker for the baby before the intended parents are legally recognized. On February 15, 2021, gestational surrogacy – the most popular type of surrogacy in which the surrogate has no biological link to the baby – was legalized in New York,[37] but it remains illegal in some states such as Nebraska, Louisiana, and Michigan.[38] In addition, the costs of surrogacy are rising, and it can cost $100,000 in the US.[39] Medicaid does not cover surrogacy costs,[40] and some health insurance policies provide supplemental surrogacy insurance with premiums of approximately $10,000 and deductibles starting at $15,000.[41] Thus, “surrogacy is really only available to those gay and lesbian couples who are upper class,”[42] leaving non-affluent couples out of options to start a family through biological means. Vl. A Right to Equality and Procreation Some argue that same-sex couples should have the right to procreate (or reproductive rights). Based on arguments stemming from equal rights and non-discrimination, same-sex couples who need to use ART to procreate should have access to it. The need to merge social infertility into the currently incomplete definition of fertility could help same-sex couples achieve access through insurance coverage. The human right of equality and non-discrimination guarantees “equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground.”[43] The United Nations later clarified that “sexual orientation is a concept which is undoubtedly covered” [44] by this protection. The right to procreate is not overtly mentioned in the US Constitution; however, the Equal Protection Clause states that “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States… without due process of law.”[45] In fact, some states have abridged the reproductive privileges of some US citizens by upholding prohibitive and intricate mechanisms that deter same-sex couples from enjoying the privileges other citizens have. The Supreme Court acknowledged procreation as a “fundamental”[46] personal right, in Skinner v. Oklahoma, mandating that the reproductive rights of individuals be upheld as the right to procreate is “one of the basic civil rights of man”[47] because “procreation [is] fundamental to the very existence and survival of the race.”[48] In Eisenstadt v. Baird, the courts also supported that “the decision whether to bear or beget a child” fundamentally affects a person.[49] I argue that this protection extends to same-sex couples seeking to procreate. Finally, Obergefell v. Hodges held that the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses ensure same-sex couples the right to marriage, as marriage “safeguards children and families, draw[ing] meaning from related rights of childrearing, procreation, and education.”[50] By implicit or explicit means, these cases align with the freedom to procreate that should not be unequally applied to different social or economic groups. Yet, the cases do not apply to accessing expensive tools to procreate. As heterosexuals and the LGBTQ community face trouble accessing expensive ART for vastly different reasons, especially IVF and surrogacy, the equal rights or discrimination argument is not as helpful. For now, it is relevant to adoption cases where religious groups can discriminate.[51] The insurance coverage level may be the best approach. While the social norms adapt and become more inclusive, the elimination of the infertility requirement or changing the definition of infertility could work. Several arguments could address the insurance coverage deficit. Under one argument, a biological or physical inability to conceive exists in the homosexual couple trying to achieve a pregnancy. Depending on the wording or a social definition, a caselaw could be developed arguing the medical definition of infertility applies to the LGBTQ community as those trying to procreate are physically unable to conceive as a couple planning to become parents. One counterargument to that approach is that it can be offensive to label people infertile (or disabled) only because of their status as part of a homosexual couple.[52] CONCLUSION In the last 50 years, there has been a notable shift in the social acceptance of homosexuality.[53] Marriage equality has opened the door for further social and legal equality, as evidenced by the increased number of same-sex couples seeking parenthood “via co-parenting, fostering, adoption or surrogacy” – colloquially referred to as the ‘Gayby Boom’.[54] However, some prejudice and disdain toward LGBTQ+ parenting remain. Equitable access to ART for all people may be attainable as new technology drives costs down, legislators face societal pressure to require broader insurance coverage, and social norms become more inclusive. [1] Eckholm, E. (2015, May 17). The same-sex couple who got a marriage license in 1971. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/us/the-same-sex-couple-who-got-a-marriage-license-in-1971.html [2] Eckholm, E. [3] A brief history of civil rights in the United States: A timeline of the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S. (2021, January 27). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/c.php?g=592919&p=4182201 [4] Eckholm, E. [5] A brief history of civil rights in the United States: A timeline of the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S. (2021, January 27). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/c.php?g=592919&p=4182201 [6] A brief history of civil rights in the United States [7] A brief history of civil rights in the United States [8] Lee, J., & Bolzendahl, C. (2019). Acceptance and Rejection: Patterns of opinion on homosexuality in the United States and the world. Sociological Forum, 34(4), 1026-1031. doi:10.1111/socf.12562 [9] Lee, J., et al. [10] Lee, J., et al. [11] Lee, J., et al. [12] Lee, et al. [13] Lee, et al. [14] Lee, et al. [15] LGBTQ family building survey. (2020, July 02). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.familyequality.org/resources/lgbtq-family-building-survey/ [16] LGBTQ family building survey. (2020, July 02). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.familyequality.org/resources/lgbtq-family-building-survey/ [17] LGBTQ family building survey. (2020, July 02). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.familyequality.org/resources/lgbtq-family-building-survey/ [18] Mackenzie, S. C., Wickins-Drazilova, D., & Wickins, J. (2020). The ethics of fertility treatment for same-sex male couples: Considerations for a modern fertility clinic. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 244, 71-75. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.11.011 [19] Mackenzie, et al. [20] Ollove, M. (2015, March 18). States not eager to regulate fertility industry. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2015/3/18/states-not-eager-to-regulate-fertility-industry [21] Ollove, M. [22] Ollove, M. [23] World Health Organization. (2020, September 14). Infertility. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility [24] Leondires, M. P. (2020, March 19). Fertility insurance Mandates & same-sex couples. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.gayparentstobe.com/gay-parenting-blog/fertility-insurance-mandates-same-sex-couples/ [25] Lo, W., & Campo-Engelstein, L. (2018). Expanding the Clinical Definition of Infertility to Include Socially Infertile Individuals and Couples. Reproductive Ethics II, 71–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89429-4_6 [26] Mohapatra, S. (2015). Assisted Reproduction Inequality and Marriage Equality. Chicago-Kent Law Review, 92(1). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4146&context=cklawreview [27] Mohapatra, S. [28] Mohapatra, S. [29] Mohapatra, S. [30] Mohapatra, S. [31] Governor Cuomo announces new actions to expand access to FERTILITY coverage for same sex couples as part of 2021 Women's Agenda. (n.d.). [32] Health Insurers FAQs: IVF and Fertility Preservation Law Q&A Guidance. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/health_insurers/ivf_fertility_preservation_law_qa_guidance [33] Governor Cuomo announces new actions to expand access to FERTILITY coverage for same sex couples as part of 2021 Women's Agenda. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-new-actions-expand-access-fertility-coverage-same-sex-couples-part#:~:text=February%2011%2C%202021-,Governor%20Cuomo%20Announces%20New%20Actions%20to%20Expand%20Access%20to%20Fertility,Part%20of%202021%20Women's%20Agenda&text=Cuomo%20today%20directed%20the%20Department,wish%20to%20start%20a%20family. [34] Leondires, M. P. [35] Assisted reproduction parentage proceedings information: Academy of Adoption and Assistive Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA). (2019, March 14). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://adoptionart.org/assisted-reproduction/parentage-proceedings/ [36] Assisted reproduction parentage proceedings information. [37] Governor Cuomo reminds surrogates and parents of their new Insurance rights and protections During Gestational Surrogacy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-reminds-surrogates-and-parents-their-new-insurance-rights-and-protections-during [38] U.S. Surrogacy Map: Surrogacy laws by state. (2020, December 23). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.creativefamilyconnections.com/us-surrogacy-law-map/ [39] Mohapatra, S. [40] Beitsch, R. (2017, June 29). As surrogacy surges, new parents seek legal protections. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2017/06/29/as-surrogacy-surges-new-parents-seek-legal-protections#:~:text=Medicaid%20does%20not%20cover%20surrogacy,and%20intended%20parents%20at%20risk. [41] Where to find surrogacy insurance? (2017, November 02). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://surrogate.com/intended-parents/surrogacy-laws-and-legal-information/where-can-i-find-surrogacy-insurance/ [42] Mohapatra, S. [43] International covenant on civil and political rights. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx [44] United Nations. (2003). Human rights in the administration of justice: a manual on human rights for judges, prosecutors and lawyers. [45] U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1. [46] Skinner v. Oklahoma, Https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/316/535.html (June 1, 1942). [47] Skinner v. Oklahoma [48] Skinner v. Oklahoma [49] Eisenstadt v. Baird, Https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/casebrief/p/casebrief-eisenstadt-v-baird (March 22, 1972). [50] Obergefell v. Hodges [51] Higgins, T. (2021, June 17). Supreme Court sides with Catholic adoption agency that refuses to work with LGBT couples. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/17/supreme-court-sides-with-catholic-adoption-agency-that-refuses-to-work-with-lgbt-couples.html. [52] Bowerman, M., May, A., & Rossman, S. (2017, April 24). Should the definition of infertility be more inclusive? USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/04/22/same-sex-couples-covered-infertility-insurance/100644092/. [53] Mackenzie, et al. [54] Mackenzie, et al.

Introduction. Covid-19 outbreak has changed human life and activity [1], Especially In urban areas forcing citizens to stay for large periods of time in lockdowns. Protective measures (social distancing and isolation) that have been globally implemented has caused the isolation of millions. Preliminary findings (Moreno et al, 2021) suggest adverse mental health effects in previously healthy people and especially in people with pre-existing mental health disorders. Extended lockdowns come at the expense of mental health, psycho-physical conditions, wellbeing, and social relations within societies (Campion et al., 2020). Before COVID-19 outbreak, city centers offered a high-quality life with a wide range of services, utilities, public and green spaces, as well as city parks (Sharifi & Khavarian-Garmsird, 2020). Living in a small apartment with a minimal private space in the city center was balanced by the high level of socialization in public spaces, outdoor activities and events, intense interactions among inhabitants, allowing them to maintain relations (Portegijs et al., 2021). With COVID-19 outbreak, this modern urban standard of living was challenged. Social distancing took place at several levels: at home and at work, and, in the city, in the street and on public transport. Everything created for urban life changed and became uncertain. Societies got used to sharing common spaces, often crowded, and everyone was cut off from everyday socialisation. The isolation forced millions of individuals and families to remain at home, causing them to change their routines, rituals, and habits (McCay, 2020). In dense urban areas, this mostly meant locking people in cramped apartments, cut off from everyday physical activity outside the home (Portegijs et al, 2021; Bil et al, 2021). Smart cities are instrumented, interconnected, and intelligent urban areas (Harrison et al., 2010) that pursue shared growth through an integrated set of technologies that shape interactions between actors (Nam & Pardo, 2011). A smart city can be defined as complex set of technology (infrastructures of hardware and software), people (creativity, diversity, and education), and institutions (governance and policy) (Nam & Pardo, 2011). Smart cities aim is to create an environment that drives innovation from a technological, managerial, and organizational point of view by fostering environmental and social wellbeing (Karvonen et al., 2018; Polese et al., 2021]. The aim of this study is the literature review of the role of technology for citizens mental health during Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in Smart Cities and to investigate if there is a relation between digital tools provided to the citizens of Pafos Municipality to use during quarantine, and their mental health status. Methodology\design\approach. A review of the literature and an additional critical review were conducted in the fields of smart cities and mental health with a focus on the latest research concerning COVID-19 influence on ICT, mental health and wellbeing. For the purposes of this article, a thorough database search has been made. The database used was mostly Google Scholar and Science Direct. Selection criteria included full-text publications and consisted of the following keywords: COVID-19, post-COVID-19, mental health, wellbeing, lockdown, isolation, anxiety, infection rates, density, smart city, digital technology, ICT and Virtual Reality. Author focused on qualitative research available until April 2022. Further than this, field research was conducted through a qualitative method in the particular case of Paphos Municipality in Cyprus, the introduction of various ICT technology solutions during the pandemic lockdowns and their impact on citizens mental health. ICT tools were briefly analyzed and their contributions towards citizens mental health was evaluated based on questionnaires distributed to the citizens before and after the use of these tools. Now the key question that needs an answer is “Did smart cities impact on citizens mental health during the pandemic?” During the pandemic, Pafos Municipality introduced to its citizens various ICT solutions that despite initially they were targeting foreign tourists visiting the district, they ended up as entertainment tools that ease the lockdown period during the quarantine phase. As part of the E.U. co-funded by European Union program “Smart Cities – Interreg: Greece – Cyprus” the municipality implemented the “Collection, Documentation and Digitization of Cultural and Tourist material, Development of Digital Tourism / Culture and Entrepreneurship Platform and Development of digital applications of e-democracy and participation in the Municipality of Pafos” project. The result of this project was the creation of 3 websites: 1. Explore Pafos https://www.explorepafos.org/ with multimedia information (text, photos, videos, 360-pictures, interactive map with points of interest etc.) about the province's major points of interest sorted by category: Culture, Environment, Tourism and Services. 2. Historical Timeline https://xronologio.explorepafos.org/ with information about the history of the city in a chronological order. 3. Electronic Participation https://diavouleusi.explorepafos.org/ offering User Registration, Consultation, Online Citizens Community (forum), Civil Council Decisions, Online Polls, News and Announcements. Further than these 2 mobile applications for iOS and Android devices were developed, Explore Pafos with various important information about the city of Pafos and Pafos AR which contain Augmented Reality representation of various significant cultural and historical sightseeing in the district. The websites and mobile applications were available in 5 languages (Greek, English, Russian, Hebrew and German). These platforms were presented to the citizens of Pafos Municipality on the 27th of February 2020, slightly earlier than the first lockdown. After the first strict lockdown, the administrators of the website reported a significant increase in the traffic of the website among local citizens compared to pre-pandemic. This led the creators of the platforms among which is the author of this article to provide online questionnaires to people using the digital platforms on their leisure time during COVID-19 lockdowns to answer various questions regarding the impact of these digital tools in their mental health status during COVID-19 lockdown. A questionnaire containing 5-point Likert scale questions and questions about qualitative and quantitative use of the ICT tools and their mental health during COVID-19 lockdowns was completed by citizens of Pafos Municipality. Due to this study objective, two main criteria were established for sample selection. First, respondents should be citizens of Pafos Municipality from various areas over at least the past 5 years. Additionally, respondents must have been present during COVID-19 outbreak and lockdowns in the city. To verify this criterion, an initial survey question asked whether respondents were staying in the city during the COVID-19 outbreak. The questionnaire was constructed in three parts. Its first one aimed at collecting descriptive variables (demographic information) of respondents’ location, and professional profile. The second part asked citizens about their mental health status before and after COVID-19 outbreak and lockdowns. Each question was assessed according to a 5-point Likert scale (1 referred to ‘not used’ and 5 denoted ‘fully used’). The last section of the questionnaire examined the adoption level of the ICT tools introduced by the Municipality as supporting tools for their mental status during the COVID-19 outbreak. For that, all 6 ICT tools were listed and evaluated based upon a similar Likert scale that ranged from 1 (not used) to 5 (fully used). Results. The online questionnaire had its link firstly sent by e-mail to 480 citizens that registered in the platform in December 2020. A follow-up message was sent two weeks later. 215 responses returned but only 206 of them were actually from citizens that met our selection criteria, which resulted in 42.9% valid response rate, For analyzing data, two distinctive procedures were carried out using the SPSS® Statistics 23 software to identify differences in levels of each characteristic related to ICT tools, device available (PC, mobile phone, tablet), and content (Cultural, Environmental, Social, Multimedia Content) when considering the degree of how they impact their mental health during COVID-19 lockdowns. Our respondents were half men and half women. Moreover, 10% are aged between 20 and 25, 34% between 26 and 35, 36% between 36 and 45, 14% in the interval of 46 till 55 and only 6% are older than 55. 36% are single, 59% being married and almost 5% under another non-defined situation. Most respondents were living in a house (56%), with their family (54%), and had 1 or more kids (44%). 75% of the respondents mentioned that they use more often their mobile/laptops to access the internet compared to before. The majority of respondents (62%) mentioned that they used ICT tools provide 1 or more times per week to remind them of their daily habits while 56% mentioned that they used the platforms to navigate at their favorite place at least once. The largest majority (82%) accessed the services from their mobile phone while the smallest percent (12% accessed the services from their PC/Laptop. Regarding COVID-19 lockdowns, 86% stated that it is very stressful to stay at home in another lockdown while 36% said they wouldn’t comply if they were forced to stay at home in another lockdown. 65% mentioned that they found the ICT tools useful to keep them mentally active and 72% mentioned that they wouldn’t be able to stay in quarantine without access to internet. 68% of the people using the platforms declared that using the platforms helped to remain mentally active during the quarantine and 70% said they would use the platforms again in case there is a new lockdown. Discussion. The present work was done having as basis 206 questionnaires applied to citizens of a Municipality in Cyprus, namely Pafos Municipality, in order to assess citizens mental health during lockdowns, and the impact of the use of ICT tools for their mental health. The survey collected data from 3 sections, namely demographics, mental health status before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and ICT tools usage during the lockdowns. The average respondents’ sample shows that our interviewees are aged between 26 and 45 years old, half are men and the other women, married, qualified with college education. Citizens living in smaller apartments accessed the platforms more times per week compared to people living in the rural areas in houses and their conceived percentage of ICT tools contribution towards their mental health was higher compared to people leaving in rural areas. Citizens' inclusion and digital literacy are relevant issues that were affecting the use of ICT tools that do not apply only to urban contexts and should be addressed to solve societal, economic, technological, and political problems worldwide. COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown increased people’s acceptance and use of ICT solutions. Other studies are in line with the above findings (Troisi et al., 2022) where their key theoretical contribution of their study is the building of a framework that detects the main psychological, rational, social, and cultural determinants that can foster or prevent the acceptance of the changes forced by the pandemic, the adhesion to digitalization, and the transactional distance processes launched in the public sectors. These results are more evident in vulnerable groups (Dai et al., 2020; Ammar et al., 2021) which will require further development and usage of e-health solutions. Finally, two other studies targeting different populations investigated the effectiveness of interventions by considering, as primary outcomes, not mental illness indicators (e.g., depression and anxiety symptoms), but positive mental health indicators (positive affect and positive mental health). Vara et al. (2020) provided us with a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial that assessed the efficacy of a low-intensity internet intervention aimed to promote positive affect in depressive patients in primary care, as an adjunct therapy to improved treatment as usual (Fonseca & Osma, 2021). Scientific value / practical value. Another report (Fonseca & Osma, 2021) highlighted the urgent need for research to help improve our understanding of the pandemic’s mental health consequences on the general public (Mahase, 2020). In order to help characterize the psychosocial effects of the COVID19 crisis as well as the moderators of these effects, a research group launched a multi-language, multi-center anonymous online survey to assess the “Effects of home Confinement on psychosocial health status and multiple Lifestyle Behaviors” during the COVID-19 outbreak. Preliminary findings from this project revealed that the COVID-19 home confinement resulted in significant negative effects on mental wellbeing and emotional status, with more people experiencing psychosocial and emotional distress compared to before the pandemic (Ammar at al. 2020; Ammar et al, 2021a; Fonseca & Osma, 2021). This research results highlight the importance of introducing ICT tools to provide a virtual tour of citizens to their favorite city spots and remain mentally active during quarantine period. Conclusions. ICT tools offer citizens the opportunity to remember their pre COVID-19 lockdown habits as highlighted in this article and they contribute towards the improvement of their mental health during quarantine. This study aimed at (i) identifying wither ICT tools use increased during COVID-19 outbreak; (ii) investigating the effect of the tools use and the impact on mental health of their users; and (iii) examining the relationship between the adoption of ICT tools and the demographics of citizens using them most during COVID-19 outbreak. Our findings provided arguments to answer these three research questions raised from existing gaps in both theory and practice.

This article explores resilience as it is experienced by refugees in the context of a relational community, visiting the notions of trauma, a thicker description of resilience and the trajectory toward positive growth through community. It calls for going beyond a Western biomedical therapeutic approach of exploration and adopting more of an emic perspective incorporating the worldview of the refugees. The challenge is for service providers working with refugees (who have experienced trauma) to move forward from a ‘harm minimisation’ model of care to recognition of a facilitative, productive community of people who are in a transitional phase between homelands. Contextualising Trauma Prior to the 1980s, the term ‘trauma’ was not widely used in literature on refugees and refugee mental health, hardly existing as a topic of inquiry until the mid-1980’s (Summerfield 422). It first gained prominence in relation to soldiers who had returned from Vietnam and in need of medical attention after being traumatised by war. The term then expanded to include victims of wars and those who had witnessed traumatic events. Seahorn and Seahorn outline that severe trauma “paralyses you with numbness and uses denial, avoidance, isolation as coping mechanisms so you don’t have to deal with your memories”, impacting a person‘s ability to risk being connected to others, detaching and withdrawing; resulting in extreme loneliness, emptiness, sadness, anxiety and depression (6). During the Civil War in the USA the impact of trauma was referred to as Irritable Heart and then World War I and II referred to it as Shell Shock, Neurosis, Combat Fatigue, or Combat Exhaustion (Seahorn & Seahorn 66, 67). During the twenty-five years following the Vietnam War, the medicalisation of trauma intensified and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) became recognised as a medical-psychiatric disorder in 1980 in the American Psychiatric Association international diagnostic tool Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM–III). An expanded description and diagnosis of PTSD appears in the DSM-IV, influenced by the writings of Harvard psychologist and scholar, Judith Herman (Scheper-Hughes 38) The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) outlines that experiencing the threat of death, injury to oneself or another or finding out about an unexpected or violent death, serious harm, or threat of the same kind to a family member or close person are considered traumatic events (Chung 11); including domestic violence, incest and rape (Scheper-Hughes 38). Another significant development in the medicalisation of trauma occurred in 1998 when the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (VFST) released an influential report titled ‘Rebuilding Shattered Lives’. This then gave clinical practice a clearer direction in helping people who had experienced war, trauma and forced migration by providing a framework for therapeutic work. The emphasis became strongly linked to personal recovery of individuals suffering trauma, using case management as the preferred intervention strategy. A whole industry soon developed around medical intervention treating people suffering from trauma related problems (Eyber). Though there was increased recognition for the medicalised discourse of trauma and post-traumatic stress, there was critique of an over-reliance of psychiatric models of trauma (Bracken, et al. 15, Summerfield 421, 423). There was also expressed concern that an overemphasis on individual recovery overlooked the socio-political aspects that amplify trauma (Bracken et al. 8). The DSM-IV criteria for PTSD model began to be questioned regarding the category of symptoms being culturally defined from a Western perspective. Weiss et al. assert that large numbers of traumatized people also did not meet the DSM-III-R criteria for PTSD (366). To categorize refugees’ experiences into recognizable, generalisable psychological conditions overlooked a more localized culturally specific understanding of trauma. The meanings given to collective experience and the healing strategies vary across different socio-cultural groupings (Eyber). For example, some people interpret suffering as a normal part of life in bringing them closer to God and in helping gain a better understanding of the level of trauma in the lives of others. Scheper-Hughes raise concern that the PTSD model is “based on a conception of human nature and human life as fundamentally vulnerable, frail, and humans as endowed with few and faulty defence mechanisms”, and underestimates the human capacity to not only survive but to thrive during and following adversity (37, 42). As a helping modality, biomedical intervention may have limitations through its lack of focus regarding people’s agency, coping strategies and local cultural understandings of distress (Eyber). The benefits of a Western therapeutic model might be minimal when some may have their own culturally relevant coping strategies that may vary to Western models. Bracken et al. document case studies where the burial rituals in Mozambique, obligations to the dead in Cambodia, shared solidarity in prison and the mending of relationships after rape in Uganda all contributed to the healing process of distress (8). Orosa et al. (1) asserts that belief systems have contributed in helping refugees deal with trauma; Brune et al. (1) points to belief systems being a protective factor against post-traumatic disorders; and Peres et al. highlight that a religious worldview gives hope, purpose and meaning within suffering. Adopting a Thicker Description of Resilience Service providers working with refugees often talk of refugees as ‘vulnerable’ or ‘at risk’ populations and strive for ‘harm minimisation’ among the population within their care. This follows a critical psychological tradition, what (Ungar, Constructionist) refers to as a positivist mode of inquiry that emphasises the predictable relationship between risk and protective factors (risk and coping strategies) being based on a ‘deficient’ outlook rather than a ‘future potential’ viewpoint and lacking reference to notions of resilience or self-empowerment (342). At-risk discourses tend to focus upon antisocial behaviours and appropriate treatment for relieving suffering rather than cultural competencies that may be developing in the midst of challenging circumstances. Mares and Newman document how the lives of many refugee advocates have been changed through the relational contribution asylum seekers have made personally to them in an Australian context (159). Individuals may find meaning in communal obligations, contributing to the lives of others and a heightened solidarity (Wilson 42, 44) in contrast to an individual striving for happiness and self-fulfilment. Early naturalistic accounts of mental health, influenced by the traditions of Western psychology, presented thin descriptions of resilience as a quality innate to individuals that made them invulnerable or strong, despite exposure to substantial risk (Ungar, Thicker 91). The interest then moved towards a non-naturalistic contextually relevant understanding of resilience viewed in the social context of people’s lives. Authors such as Benson, Tricket and Birman (qtd. in Ungar, Thicker) started focusing upon community resilience, community capacity and asset-building communities; looking at areas such as - “spending time with friends, exercising control over aspects of their lives, seeking meaningful involvement in their community, attaching to others and avoiding threats to self-esteem” (91). In so doing far more emphasis was given in developing what Ungar (Thicker) refers to as ‘a thicker description of resilience’ as it relates to the lives of refugees that considers more than an ability to survive and thrive or an internal psychological state of wellbeing (89). Ungar (Thicker) describes a thicker description of resilience as revealing “a seamless set of negotiations between individuals who take initiative, and an environment with crisscrossing resources that impact one on the other in endless and unpredictable combinations” (95). A thicker description of resilience means adopting more of what Eyber proposes as an emic approach, taking on an ‘insider perspective’, incorporating the worldview of the people experiencing the distress; in contrast to an etic perspective using a Western biomedical understanding of distress, examined from a position outside the social or cultural system in which it takes place. Drawing on a more anthropological tradition, intervention is able to be built with local resources and strategies that people can utilize with attention being given to cultural traditions within a socio-cultural understanding. Developing an emic approach is to engage in intercultural dialogue, raise dilemmas, test assumptions, document hopes and beliefs and explore their implications. Under this approach, healing is more about developing intelligibility through one’s own cultural and social matrix (Bracken, qtd. in Westoby and Ingamells 1767). This then moves beyond using a Western therapeutic approach of exploration which may draw on the rhetoric of resilience, but the coping strategies of the vulnerable are often disempowered through adopting a ‘therapy culture’ (Furedi, qtd. in Westoby and Ingamells 1769). Westoby and Ingamells point out that the danger is by using a “therapeutic gaze that interprets emotions through the prism of disease and pathology”, it then “replaces a socio-political interpretation of situations” (1769). This is not to dismiss the importance of restoring individual well-being, but to broaden the approach adopted in contextualising it within a socio-cultural frame. The Relational Aspect of Resilience Previously, the concept of the ‘resilient individual’ has been of interest within the psychological and self-help literature (Garmezy, qtd. in Wilson) giving weight to the aspect of it being an innate trait that individuals possess or harness (258). Yet there is a need to explore the relational aspect of resilience as it is embedded in the network of relationships within social settings. A person’s identity and well-being is better understood in observing their capacity to manage their responses to adverse circumstances in an interpersonal community through the networks of relationships. Brison, highlights the collective strength of individuals in social networks and the importance of social support in the process of recovery from trauma, that the self is vulnerable to be affected by violence but resilient to be reconstructed through the help of others (qtd. in Wilson 125). This calls for what Wilson refers to as a more interdisciplinary perspective drawing on cultural studies and sociology (2). It also acknowledges that although individual traits influence the action of resilience, it can be learned and developed in adverse situations through social interactions. To date, within sociology and cultural studies, there is not a well-developed perspective on the topic of resilience. Resilience involves a complex ongoing interaction between individuals and their social worlds (Wilson 16) that helps them make sense of their world and adjust to the context of resettlement. It includes developing a perspective of people drawing upon negative experiences as productive cultural resources for growth, which involves seeing themselves as agents of their own future rather than suffering from a sense of victimhood (Wilson 46, 258). Wilson further outlines the display of a resilience-related capacity to positively interpret and derive meaning from what might have been otherwise negative migration experiences (Wilson 47). Wu refers to ‘imagineering’ alternative futures, for people to see beyond the current adverse circumstances and to imagine other possibilities. People respond to and navigate their experience of trauma in unique, unexpected and productive ways (Wilson 29). Trauma can cripple individual potential and yet individuals can also learn to turn such an experience into a positive, productive resource for personal growth. Grief, despair and powerlessness can be channelled into hope for improved life opportunities. Social networks can act as protection against adversity and trauma; meaningful interpersonal relationships and a sense of belonging assist individuals in recovering from emotional strain. Wilson asserts that social capabilities assist people in turning what would otherwise be negative experiences into productive cultural resources (13). Graybeal (238) and Saleeby (297) explore resilience as a strength-based practice, where individuals, families and communities are seen in relation to their capacities, talents, competencies, possibilities, visions, values and hopes; rather than through their deficiencies, pathologies or disorders. This does not present an idea of invulnerability to adversity but points to resources for navigating adversity. Resilience is not merely an individual trait or a set of intrinsic behaviours that can be displayed in ‘resilient individuals’. Resilience, rather than being an unchanging attribute, is a complex socio-cultural phenomenon, a relational concept of a dynamic nature that is situated in interpersonal relations (Wilson 258). Positive Growth through a Community Based Approach Through migrating to another country (in the context of refugees), Falicov, points out that people often experience a profound loss of their social network and cultural roots, resulting in a sense of homelessness between two worlds, belonging to neither (qtd. in Walsh 220). In the ideological narratives of refugee movements and diasporas, the exile present may be collectively portrayed as a liminality, outside normal time and place, a passage between past and future (Eastmond 255). The concept of the ‘liminal’ was popularised by Victor Turner, who proposed that different kinds of marginalised people and communities go through phases of separation, ‘liminali’ (state of limbo) and reincorporation (qtd. in Tofighian 101). Difficulties arise when there is no closure of the liminal period (fleeing their former country and yet not being able to integrate in the country of destination). If there is no reincorporation into mainstream society then people become unsettled and feel displaced. This has implications for their sense of identity as they suffer from possible cultural destabilisation, not being able to integrate into the host society. The loss of social supports may be especially severe and long-lasting in the context of displacement. In gaining an understanding of resilience in the context of displacement, it is important to consider social settings and person-environment transactions as displaced people seek to experience a sense of community in alternative ways. Mays proposed that alternative forms of community are central to community survival and resilience. Community is a source of wellbeing for building and strengthening positive relations and networks (Mays 590). Cottrell, uses the concept of ‘community competence’, where a community provides opportunities and conditions that enable groups to navigate their problems and develop capacity and resourcefulness to cope positively with adversity (qtd. in Sonn and Fisher 4, 5). Chaskin, sees community as a resilient entity, countering adversity and promoting the well-being of its members (qtd. in Canavan 6). As a point of departure from the concept of community in the conventional sense, I am interested in what Ahmed and Fortier state as moments or sites of connection between people who would normally not have such connection (254). The participants may come together without any presumptions of ‘being in common’ or ‘being uncommon’ (Ahmed and Fortier 254). This community shows little differentiation between those who are welcome and those who are not in the demarcation of the boundaries of community. The community I refer to presents the idea as ‘common ground’ rather than commonality. Ahmed and Fortier make reference to a ‘moral community’, a “community of care and responsibility, where members readily acknowledge the ‘social obligations’ and willingness to assist the other” (Home office, qtd. in Ahmed and Fortier 253). Ahmed and Fortier note that strong communities produce caring citizens who ensure the future of caring communities (253). Community can also be referred to as the ‘soul’, something that stems out of the struggle that creates a sense of solidarity and cohesion among group members (Keil, qtd. in Sonn and Fisher 17). Often shared experiences of despair can intensify connections between people. These settings modify the impact of oppression through people maintaining positive experiences of belonging and develop a positive sense of identity. This has enabled people to hold onto and reconstruct the sociocultural supplies that have come under threat (Sonn and Fisher 17). People are able to feel valued as human beings, form positive attachments, experience community, a sense of belonging, reconstruct group identities and develop skills to cope with the outside world (Sonn and Fisher, 20). Community networks are significant in contributing to personal transformation. Walsh states that “community networks can be essential resources in trauma recovery when their strengths and potential are mobilised” (208). Walsh also points out that the suffering and struggle to recover after a traumatic experience often results in remarkable transformation and positive growth (208). Studies in post-traumatic growth (Calhoun & Tedeschi) have found positive changes such as: the emergence of new opportunities, the formation of deeper relationships and compassion for others, feelings strengthened to meet future life challenges, reordered priorities, fuller appreciation of life and a deepening spirituality (in Walsh 208). As Walsh explains “The effects of trauma depend greatly on whether those wounded can seek comfort, reassurance and safety with others. Strong connections with trust that others will be there for them when needed, counteract feelings of insecurity, hopelessness, and meaninglessness” (208). Wilson (256) developed a new paradigm in shifting the focus from an individualised approach to trauma recovery, to a community-based approach in his research of young Sudanese refugees. Rutter and Walsh, stress that mental health professionals can best foster trauma recovery by shifting from a predominantly individual pathology focus to other treatment approaches, utilising communities as a capacity for healing and resilience (qtd. in Walsh 208). Walsh highlights that “coming to terms with traumatic loss involves making meaning of the trauma experience, putting it in perspective, and weaving the experience of loss and recovery into the fabric of individual and collective identity and life passage” (210). Landau and Saul, have found that community resilience involves building community and enhancing social connectedness by strengthening the system of social support, coalition building and information and resource sharing, collective storytelling, and re-establishing the rhythms and routines of life (qtd. in Walsh 219). Bracken et al. suggest that one of the fundamental principles in recovery over time is intrinsically linked to reconstruction of social networks (15). This is not expecting resolution in some complete ‘once and for all’ getting over it, getting closure of something, or simply recovering and moving on, but tapping into a collective recovery approach, being a gradual process over time. Conclusion A focus on biomedical intervention using a biomedical understanding of distress may be limiting as a helping modality for refugees. Such an approach can undermine peoples’ agency, coping strategies and local cultural understandings of distress. Drawing on sociology and cultural studies, utilising a more emic approach, brings new insights to understanding resilience and how people respond to trauma in unique, unexpected and productive ways for positive personal growth while navigating the experience. This includes considering social settings and person-environment transactions in gaining an understanding of resilience. Although individual traits influence the action of resilience, it can be learned and developed in adverse situations through social interactions. Social networks and capabilities can act as a protection against adversity and trauma, assisting people to turn what would otherwise be negative experiences into productive cultural resources (Wilson 13) for improved life opportunities. The promotion of social competence is viewed as a preventative intervention to promote resilient outcomes, as social skill facilitates social integration (Nettles and Mason 363). As Wilson (258) asserts that resilience is not merely an individual trait or a set of intrinsic behaviours that ‘resilient individuals’ display; it is a complex, socio-cultural phenomenon that is situated in interpersonal relations within a community setting. References Ahmed, Sara, and Anne-Marie Fortier. “Re-Imagining Communities.” International of Cultural Studies 6.3 (2003): 251-59. Bracken, Patrick. J., Joan E. Giller, and Derek Summerfield. Psychological Response to War and Atrocity: The Limitations of Current Concepts. Elsevier Science, 1995. 8 Aug, 2013 ‹http://www.freedomfromtorture.org/sites/default/files/documents/Summerfield-PsychologicalResponses.pdf>. Brune, Michael, Christian Haasen, Michael Krausz, Oktay Yagdiran, Enrique Bustos and David Eisenman. “Belief Systems as Coping Factors for Traumatized Refugees: A Pilot Study.” Eur Psychiatry 17 (2002): 451-58. Canavan, John. “Resilience: Cautiously Welcoming a Contested Concept.” Child Care in Practice 14.1 (2008): 1-7. Chung, Juna. Refugee and Immigrant Survivors of Trauma: A Curriculum for Social Workers. Master’s Thesis for California State University. Long Beach, 2010. 1-29. Eastmond, Maria. “Stories of Lived Experience: Narratives in Forced Migration Research.” Journal of Refugee Studies 20.2 (2007): 248-64. Eyber, Carola “Cultural and Anthropological Studies.” In Forced Migration Online, 2002. 8 Aug, 2013. ‹http://www.forcedmigration.org/research-resources/expert-guides/psychosocial- issues/cultural-and-anthropological-studies>. Graybeal, Clay. “Strengths-Based Social Work Assessment: Transforming the Dominant Paradigm.” Families in Society 82.3 (2001): 233-42. Kleinman, Arthur. “Triumph or Pyrrhic Victory? The Inclusion of Culture in DSM-IV.” Harvard Rev Psychiatry 4 (1997): 343-44. Mares, Sarah, and Louise Newman, eds. Acting from the Heart- Australian Advocates for Asylum Seekers Tell Their Stories. Sydney: Finch Publishing, 2007. Mays, Vicki M. “Identity Development of Black Americans: The Role of History and the Importance of Ethnicity.” American Journal of Psychotherapy 40.4 (1986): 582-93. Nettles, Saundra Murray, and Michael J. Mason. “Zones of Narrative Safety: Promoting Psychosocial Resilience in Young People.” The Journal of Primary Prevention 25.3 (2004): 359-73. Orosa, Francisco J.E., Michael Brune, Katrin Julia Fischer-Ortman, and Christian Haasen. “Belief Systems as Coping Factors in Traumatized Refugees: A Prospective Study.” Traumatology 17.1 (2011); 1-7. Peres, Julio F.P., Alexander Moreira-Almeida, Antonia, G. Nasello, and Harold, G. Koenig. “Spirituality and Resilience in Trauma Victims.” J Relig Health (2006): 1-8. Saleebey, Dennis. “The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice: Extensions and Cautions.” Social Work 41.3 (1996): 296-305. Scheper-Hughes, Nancy. “A Talent for Life: Reflections on Human Vulnerability and Resilience.” Ethnos 73.1 (2008): 25-56. Seahorn, Janet, J. and Anthony E. Seahorn. Tears of a Warrior. Ft Collins, USA: Team Pursuits, 2008. Sonn, Christopher, and Adrian Fisher. “Sense of Community: Community Resilient Responses to Oppression and Change.” Unpublished article. Curtin University of Technology & Victoria University of Technology: undated. Summerfield, Derek. “Childhood, War, Refugeedom and ‘Trauma’: Three Core Questions for Medical Health Professionals.” Transcultural Psychiatry 37.3 (2000): 417-433. Tofighian, Omid. “Prolonged Liminality and Comparative Examples of Rioting Down Under”. Fear and Hope: The Art of Asylum Seekers in Australian Detention Centres Literature and Aesthetics (Special Edition) 21 (2011): 97-103. Ungar, Michael. “A Constructionist Discourse on Resilience: Multiple Contexts, Multiple Realities Among at-Risk Children and Youth.” Youth Society 35.3 (2004): 341-365. Ungar, Michael. “A Thicker Description of Resilience.” The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work 3 & 4 (2005): 85-96. Walsh, Froma. “Traumatic Loss and Major Disasters: Strengthening Family and Community Resilience.” Family Process 46.2 (2007): 207-227. Weiss, Daniel. S., Charles R. Marmar, William. E. Schlenger, John. A. Fairbank, Kathleen Jordon, Richard L. Hough, and Richard A. Kulka. “The Prevalence of Lifetime and Partial Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder in Vietnam Theater Veterans.” Journal of Traumatic Stress 5.3 (1992):365-76. Westoby, Peter, and Ann Ingamells. “A Critically Informed Perspective of Working with Resettling Refugee Groups in Australia.” British Journal of Social Work 40 (2010): 1759-76. Wilson, Michael. “Accumulating Resilience: An Investigation of the Migration and Resettlement Experiences of Young Sudanese People in the Western Sydney Area.” PHD Thesis. University of Western Sydney ( 2012): 1-297. Wu, K. M. “Hope and World Survival.” Philosophy Forum 12.1-2 (1972): 131-48.

In a TEXT essay in 2004, Philip Edmonds wrote about the publication prospects of graduates of creative writing programs. He depicted the publishing industry of the 1970s and 1980s as a field driven by small presses and literary journals, and lamented the dearth of these publications in today’s industry. Edmonds wrote that our creative writing programs as they stand today are under-performing as they do not deliver on the prime goal of most students: publication. “Ultimately,” he wrote, “creative writing programs can only operate to their full potential alongside an expanding and vibrant publishing culture” (1). As a creative writing and publishing lecturer myself, and one who teaches in the field of publishing and editing, this anxiety rings quite true. I am inherently interested in the creation of a strong and vibrant publishing industry so that promising students and graduates might get the most out of their degrees. As the popularity of creative writing programs grows, what relationships are being formed between writing programs and the broader publishing industry? Furthermore, does a role and responsibility exist for universities themselves to foster the publication of the emerging writers they train? Edmonds argued that the answer could be found not in universities, but in state writers’ centres. He advocated a policy whereby universities and the Australia Council funded the production of literary magazines through state writers’ centres, resulting in a healthier publishing marketplace for creative writing graduates (6). This paper offers a second alternative to this plan, arguing that university presses can play a role in the development of a healthier Australian publishing industry. To do so, it cites three examples of university press interactions with both the broad writing and publishing industry, and more specifically, with creative writing programs. The paper uses these examples—University of Queensland Press, University of Western Australia Press, and Giramondo Publishing (UWS)—in order to begin a broader conversation regarding the role universities can play in the writing and publishing industry. Let us begin by thinking about the university and its traditional role in the development of literature. The university can be thought of as a multi-functional literary institution. This is not a new concept: for centuries, there has been an integral link between the book trade and the university, with universities housing “stationers, scribes, parchment makers, paper makers, bookbinders, and all those associated with making books” (Clement 317). In universities today, we see similar performances of the various stages of literary production. We have students practising creative writing in both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs. We have the editing of texts and mentoring of writers through postgraduate creative writing supervision. We have the distribution of texts through sales from university bookshops, and the mass storage and loans of texts in university libraries. And we have the publication of texts through university presses.This point of literary production, the publication of texts through university presses, has traditionally been preoccupied with the publication of scholarly work. However, a number of movements within the publishing industry towards the end of the twentieth century resulted in some university presses shifting their objectives to incorporate trade publishing. The globalization of the publishing industry in the early 1990s led to a general change in the decision-making process of mainstream publishers, where increasingly, publishers looked at the commercial viability of texts rather than their cultural value. These movements, defined by the takeover of many publishing houses by media conglomerates, also placed significant financial pressure on smaller publishers, who struggled to compete with houses now backed by significantly increased fiscal strength. While it is difficult to make general statements about university presses due to their very particular nature, one can read a trend towards trade publishing by a number of university presses in an attempt to alleviate some of these financial pressures. This shift can be seen as one interaction between the university and the broader creative writing discipline. However, not all university presses waited until the financial pressures of the 1990s to move to trade publishing. For some presses, their trade lists have played a significant role in defining their relationship with literary culture. One such example in the Australian landscape is University of Queensland Press. UQP was founded in 1948, and subsisted as purely a scholarly publisher until the 1960s. Its first movements into trade publishing were largely through poetry, originally publishing traditional hardback volumes before moving into paperback, a format considered both innovative and risky at the time. David Malouf found an early home at UQP, and has talked a number of times about his relationship with the press. His desire to produce a poetry format which appealed to a new type of audience spawned the press’s interest in trade publishing. He felt that slim paperback volumes would give poetry a new mass market appeal. On a visit to Brisbane in 1969 I went to talk to Frank Thompson (general manager) at the University of Queensland Press… I told him that I did have a book but that I also had a firm idea of the kind of publication I wanted: a paperback of 64 pages that would sell for a dollar. Frank astonished me by saying … that if his people told him it was financially viable he would do it. He picked up the phone, called in his production crew … and after a quarter of an hour of argument and calculations they came up with the unit cost of, I think, twenty-three cents. ‘Okay, mate,’ Frank told me, ‘you’re on.’ I left with a firm undertaking and a deadline for delivery of the manuscript. (Malouf 72-73) That book of poetry, Bicycle and Other Poems, was Malouf’s first solo volume. It appeared in bookstores in 1970 alongside other slim volumes by Rodney Hall and Michael Dransfield, two men who would go on to become iconic Brisbane poets. Together, these three bold experiments in paperback poetry publishing sold a remarkable 7,000 copies and generated these sales without school or university adoptions, and without any Commonwealth Literary Fund assistance, either. UQP went on to publish 159 new titles of poetry between 1968 and 1996, becoming a significant player in the Australian literary landscape. Through University of Queensland Press’s poetry publishing, we see a way of how the university can interact with the broader writing and publishing industry. This level of cohesion between the publishing house and the industry became one of the distinguishing features of the press in this time. UQP garnered a reputation for fostering Australian writing talent, launching the careers of a generation of Australian authors. Elizabeth Jolley, Roger McDonald, Beverley Farmer, Thea Astley, Janette Turner Hospital, and Peter Carey all found their first home at the press. The university’s publishing house was at the forefront of Australian literary development at a time when Australia was beginning to blossom, culturally, as a nation. What this experience shows is the cultural importance and potential cultural benefit of a high level of cohesion between the university press and the broader writing and publishing industry. UQP has also sought to continue a high level of social cohesion with the local community. The press is significant in that it inhabits a physical space, the city of Brisbane, which is devoid of any other significant trade publishers. In this sense, UQP, and by association, the University of Queensland, has played a leading role in the cultural and literary development of the city. UQP continues to sponsor events such as the Brisbane Writers Festival, and publishes the winning manuscript for the Emerging Queensland Author award at the annual Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards. Another point of interest in this relationship between the press and the university at University of Queensland can be seen in the relationship between UQP and some of the staff in the university’s creative writing department. Novelist, Dr Venero Armanno, senior lecturer in the creative writing program at UQ, shifted from a major international publisher back to his employer’s publishing house in 2007. Armanno’s move to the press was coupled with the appointment at UQP of another University of Queensland creative writing senior lecturer, Dr Bronwyn Lea, as poetry editor (Lea has recently left this post). This sort of connection shapes the public face of creative writing within the university, and heightens the level of cohesion between creative writing programs and university publishing. The main product of this interaction is, perhaps, the level of cohesion between university press and creative writing faculty that the relationship outwardly projects. This interaction leads us to question whether more formal arrangements for the cohesion between creative writing departments and university presses can be put in place. Specifically, the two activities beg the question: why can’t university publishers who publish trade fiction make a commitment to publish work that comes out of their own creative writing programs, and particularly, work out of their research higher degrees? The short answer to this seems to be caught up in the differing objectives of university presses and creative writing programs. The matter is not as cut-and-dry as a press wanting to publish good manuscripts, and a creative writing program, through its research by creative practice, providing that work. A number of issues get in the way: quality of manuscripts, editorial direction of press, areas of specialisation of creative writing faculty, flow of numbers through creative writing programs, to name a few. University of Western Australia Publishing recently played with the idea of how these two elements of creative writing within the university, manuscript production and trade publishing, could work together. UWA Publishing was established in 1935 as UWA Press (the house changed its name to UWA Publishing in 2009). Like University of Queensland Press, the house provides an important literary and cultural voice in Perth, which is not a publishing hub on the scale of Sydney or Melbourne. In 2005, the press, which had a tradition as a strong scholarly publisher and emerging trade publisher, announced a plan to publish a new series of literary fiction written by students in Australian creative writing courses. This was a new idea for UWA Publishing, as the house had previously only published scholarly work, along with natural history, history and children’s books.UWA Publishing fiction series editor Terri-Ann White said that the idea behind the series was to use creative writing postgraduate degrees as a “filter” to get the best emerging writing in Australia.There’s got to be something going for a student writer working with an experienced supervisor with all of the resources of a university. There’s got to be an edge to that kind of enterprise. (In Macnamara 3) As this experiment began in 2005, the result of the press’s doctrine is still unclear. However, it could be interesting to explore the motivations behind the decision to focus fiction publishing on postgraduate student work. Many presses publish student work—N.A. Bourke’s The Bone Flute and Julienne van Loon’s Road Story come to mind as two examples of successful work produced in a creative writing program—but few houses advertise where the manuscript has come from. This is perhaps because of the negative stigma that goes along with student work, that the writing is underdeveloped or, perhaps, formulaic, somehow over-influenced by its supervisor or home institution. UWA Publishing’s decision to take fiction solely from the pool of postgraduate writers is a bold one, and can be seen perhaps as noble by those working within the walls of the university. Without making any assumptions about the sales success of the program, the decision does shape the way in which the press is seen in the broader writing and publishing industry. We can summise from the decision that the list will have a strong literary focus, that the work will be substantial and well-researched, to the point where it could contribute to the bulk of a Masters degree by research, or PhD. The program would also appear to appeal to writing students within the university, all of whom go through their various degrees being told how difficult publication can be for first time writers. Another approach to the relationship between university presses and the broader writing and publishing industry can be seen at the University of Western Sydney. UWS founded a group in 2005 called the Writing and Society Research Group. The group manages the literary journal Heat Magazine and the Giramondo book imprint. Giramondo Publishing was established in 1995 with “the aim of publishing quality creative and interpretative writing by Australian authors”. It states its objectives as seeking to “build a common ground between the academy and the marketplace; to stimulate exchange between Australian writers and readers and their counterparts overseas; and to encourage innovative and adventurous work that might not otherwise find publication because of its subtle commercial appeal” ("Giramondo History"). These objectives demonstrate an almost utopian idea of engaging with the broader writing and publishing industry—here we have a university publisher actively seeking to publish inventive and original work, the sort of work which might be overlooked by other publishers. This philosophical approach indicates the gap which university presses (in an ideal world) would fill in the publishing industry. With the financial support of the university (and, in the case of Giramondo and others, funding bodies such as the Australia Council), university presses can be in a unique position to uphold more traditional literary values. They can focus on the cultural value of books, rather than their commercial potential. In this way, the Writing and Society Research Group at UWS demonstrates a more structural approach to the university’s engagement with the publishing industry. It engages with the industry as a stakeholder of literary values, fulfilling one of the roles of the university as a multi-functional literary institution. It also seeks directly to foster the work of new and emerging writers. Not all universities and university presses will have the autonomy or capacity to act in such a way. What is necessary is constant thought, debate and action towards working out how the university press can be a dynamic and relevant industry player. References Clement, Richard. “Cataloguing Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts.” The Library Quarterly 55 (1985): 316-326. Edmonds, Philip. “Respectable or Risqué: Creative Writing Programs in the Marketplace.” TEXT 8.1 (2004). 27 Jan. 2010 < http://www.textjournal.com.au/april04/edmonds.htm >. “Giramondo History.” Giramondo Publishing. 27 Jan. 2010 < http://www.giramondopublishing.com/history >. Greco, Albert N., Clara E. Rodriguez, and Robert M. Wharton. The Culture and Commerce of Publishing in the 21st Century. Stanford: Stanford Business Books, 2007. Macnamara, Lisa. “Big Break for Student Writers.” The Australian 2 Nov. 2005: Features 3. Malouf, David. In Munro, Craig, ed. UQP: The Writer’s Press: 1948 – 1998. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 1998.

Introduction In a period marked by the pervasiveness of new mobile technologies saturating urban areas of the Asia-Pacific region, it can be easy to forget the realities of life in the rural areas. In a location such as Australia, in which 80% of the population lives in urban areas, one must be reminded of the sociotechnological realities of rural existence where often-newer mobile communication devices cease to function. This paper focuses on these black spots – and often forgotten areas – where examples of older, mediated technologies such as UHF Citizen Band (CB) radios can be found as integral to practices of everyday rural life. As Anderson notes, constructs of the nation are formed through contested notions of what individuals and communities imagine and project as a sense of place. In Australia, one of the dominant contested imageries can be found in the urban and rural divide, a divide that is not just social and cultural but technological; it is marked by a digital divide. This divide neatly corresponds to the images of Australia experienced by Australians (predominantly living in urban areas) and exported tourist images of the rugged vast rural landscapes. The remote Australia Outback is a popular destination for domestic tourists. Its sparsely populated and rough terrain attracts tourists seeking a quintessentially Australian experience. Roads are often unmade and in poor condition. Fuel and food supplies and health services are widely separated and there is almost no permanent accommodation. Apart from a small number of regional centres there is no access to mobile phones or radio broadcasts. As a consequence tourists must be largely self sufficient. While the primary roads carry significant road traffic it is possible to drive all day on secondary roads without seeing another person. Isolation and self-sufficiency are both an attraction and a challenge. Travelling in campervans, towing caravans or camper trailers and staying in caravan parks, national parks, roadside stops or alone in the bush, tourists spend extended times in areas where there are few other tourists. Many tourists deal with this isolation by equipping their vehicles with CB radios. Depending on the terrain, they are able to listen to, and participate in conversations with other CB users within a 10-20 kilometre range. In some areas where there are repeater stations, the range of radio transmissions can be extended. This paper examines the role of these CB radios in the daily life of tourists in the Australian Outback. Theoretical Issues The links between travel, the new communications technologies and the diminished spatial-time divide have been explored by John Urry. According to Urry, mobile electronic devices make it possible for people “to leave traces of their selves in informational space” (266). Using these informational traces, mobile communication technologies ‘track’ the movements of travellers, enabling them to communicate synchronously. People become ’nodes in multiple networks of communication and mobility’ (266). Another consequence of readily available communication independent of location is for the meaning of social connections. Social encounters provide tourists with the opportunity to develop and affirm understandings of their shared common occupation of unfamiliar social and cultural landscapes (Harrison). Both transitory and enduring relationships provide information, companionship and resources that allow tourists to create, share and give meaning to their experiences (Stokowski). Communication technology also enables individuals to enter and remain part of social networks while physically absent and distant from them (Johnsen; Makimoto and Manners, Urry). The result is a “nomadic intimacy” in an everyday social and physical environment characterised by extended spaces and individual freedom to move around in these spaces (Fortunati). For travellers in the Australian Outback, this “nomadic intimacy” is both literal and metaphorical. Research has shown that travellers use mobile communications services and a range of other communication strategies to maintain a “symbolic proximity” with family, friends and colleagues (Wurtzel and Turner) and to promote a sense of “presence while absent”, or ‘co-presence’ (Gergen; Lury; Short, Williams and Christie; White and White, “Keeping Connected”; White and White, “Home and Away”). Central to the original notion of co-presence was that it was contingent on those involved in a given communication both being and feeling close enough to perceive each other and to be perceived in the course of their activities (Goffman). That is, the notion of co-presence initially referred to physical presence in face-to-face contact and interactions. However, increasing use of mobile phones in particular has meant that this sense of connection can be affirmed at a distance. But what happens when travellers do not have access to mobile phones and the Internet, and as a consequence, do not have access to their networks of family, friends and colleagues? How do they deal with travel and isolation in a harsh environment? These issues are the starting point for the present paper, which examines travellers’ experience of CB radio in the remote Australian Outback. This exploration of how the CB radio has been incorporated into the daily lives of these travellers can be seen as a contribution to an understanding of the domestication of mobile communications (Haddon). Methodology People were included in the study if they used CB radios while travelling in remote parts of Western Australian and the Northern Territory. The participants were approached in caravan parks, camping grounds and at roadside stops. Most were travelling in caravans while others were using camper trailers and campervans. Twenty-four travellers were interviewed, twelve men and twelve women. All were travelling with partners or spouses, and one group of two couples was travelling together. They ranged in age from twenty five to seventy years, and all were Australian residents. The duration of their travels varied from six weeks to eleven months. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The interviews were transcribed and then thematically coded with respect to regularly articulated points of view. Where points of view were distinctive, they were noted during the coding process as contrasting instances. While the relatively small sample size limits generalizability, the issues raised by the respondents provide insights into the meaning of CB radio use in the daily life of travellers in the Australian Outback. Findings Staying Safe The primary reason given for travelling with a CB radio was personal safety. The tourists interviewed were aware of the risks associated with travelling in the Outback. Health emergencies, car accidents and problems with tyres in a harsh and hot environment without ready access to water were often mentioned. ‘If you call a May Day someone will come out and answer…” (Female, 55). Another interviewee reported that: Last year we helped some folk who were bogged in the sand right at the end of the road in the middle of nowhere. The wife just started calling the various channels explaining that they were bogged and asking whether there was anyone out there….We went and towed them out. …. It would have been a long walk for them to get help. (Female, 55) Even though most interviewees had not themselves experienced a personal emergency, many recounted stories about how CB radio had been used to come to the aid of someone in distress. Road conditions were another concern. Travellers were often rightly very concerned about hazards ahead. One traveller noted: You are always going to hear someone who gives you an insight as to what is happening up ahead on the road. If there’s an accident up ahead someone’s going to get on the radio and let people know. Or there could be road works or the road could be shitty. (Male, 50) Safety arose in another context. Tourists share the rough and often dusty roads with road trains towing up to three trailers. These vehicles can be 50 metres long. A road train creates wind turbulence when it passes a car and trailer or caravan and the dust it raises reduces visibility. Because of this car drivers and caravanners need to be extremely careful when they pass or are passed by one. Passing a road train at 100 km can take 2.5km. Interviewees reported that they communicated with road train drivers to negotiate a safe time and place to pass. One caravanner noted: Sometimes you see a road train coming up behind you. You call him up and say ” I’ll pull over for you mate and slow down and you go”. You use it a lot because it’s safer. We are not in a hurry. Road trains are working and they are in a hurry and he (sic.) is bigger, so he has the right of way. (Male, 50) As with the dominant rationale for installing and using a CB radio, Rice and Katz showed that concern about safety is the primary motive for women acquiring a mobile phone, and safety was also important for men. The social contact enabled by CB radio provided a means of tracking the movements of other travellers who were nearby. This tracking ability engendered a sense of comfort and enabled them to communicate and exchange information synchronously in a potentially dangerous environment. As a consequence, a ‘metaworld’ (Suvantola) of ‘informational traces’ (Urry) was created. Making Oneself Known All interactions entail conventions and signals that enable a conversation to commence. These conventions were also seen to apply to CB conversations. Driving in a car or truck involves being physically enclosed with the drivers and passengers being either invisible or only partially visible to other travellers. Caravanners deal with this lack of visibility in a number of ways. Many have their first names, the name of their caravan and the channel they use on the rear of their van. A typical sign was “Bill and Rose, Travelling Everywhere, Channel 18” or “Harry and Mary, Bugger Work, Gone Fishing”, Channel 18” clearly visible to anyone coming from behind. (The male partner’s name was invariably first.) A sign that identified the occupants was seen as an invitation to chat by other travellers. One traveller said that if he saw such a sign he would call up by saying: “Hello Harry and Mary”. From then on who knows where it goes. It depends on the people. If someone comes back really cheery and a bit cheeky I can be cheery and cheeky back. (Male, 50) The names of caravans were used in other more personal ways. One couple from South Africa had given their van a Zulu name and that was seen as a way of identifying their origins and encouraging a specific kind of conversation while they were on the road. This couple reported that People call us up and ask us what it means. We have lots of calls about that. We’ve had more conversations about that than anything else. (Male, 67) Another caravanner reported that he had seen a van with “Nanna and Poppa’ on the back. They used that as a cue to start a conversation about their grandchildren. But caravan names linked to their CB radio channel can have a deeper personal meaning. One couple had their first names and the number 58 on the rear of their van. (The number 58 is beyond the range of CB channels.) On further questioning the number 58 was revealed to be the football club number of a daughter who had died. The sign was an attempt to deal with their grief and its public display a way of entering into a conversation about grief and loss. It has probably backfired because it puts people back into their shell because they think “We don’t want to talk about death”. But because of the sign we’ve met people who’ve lost a child too. (Male, 50) As Featherstone notes, drivers develop competence in switching between a range of communicative modes while they are travelling. These range from body gestures to formal signalling devices on other cars. Signage on caravans designed to invite conversation was a specialised signalling device specific to the CB user. Talking Loneliness was another theme emerging from the interviews. One of the attractions of the Outback is its sparse population. As one interviewee noted ‘You can travel all day and not see another soul’ (Female, 35). But this loneliness can be a challenge. Some of these roads are pretty lonely, the radio lets you know that there’s somebody else out there. (Male, 54) Hearing other travellers talk was comforting. As with previous research showing that travellers use mobile communications services to maintain a “symbolic proximity” (Gergen; Lury; Short, Williams and Christie; White and White, “Keeping Connected”) the CB conversations enabled the travellers to feel this sense of connection. These interactions also offered them the possibility of converting mediated relationships into face-to-face encounters along the road. That is, some travellers reported that CB-based chats with people while they were driving would lead to a decision to stop along the road for a shared morning tea or lunch. Conventions governed the use of specific channels. Some of these are government regulated, while others are user generated. For instance, Channels 18 and 40, were seen as ‘working channels’. Some interviewees felt very strongly about people who ‘cluttered up’ these channels and moved to another unused channel when they wanted to have an extended conversation. One couple was unaware of the local convention and could not understand why no one was calling them up. They later discovered that they were on the ‘wrong channel’. Interviewees travelling in a convoy would use the standard channel for travellers and then agree to move to another channel of their choice. When we travelling in a convoy we go off Channel 18 and use another channel to talk. The girls love it to talk about their knitting and work out what they’ve done wrong. We sometimes tell jokes. Also we work out what we are going to do in the next town. (Male, 67) These extended conversations parallel the lengthy conversations between drivers equipped with CB radio in the United States during the 1970’s which Dannaher described as ‘as diverse as those found at a cocktail party’. They also provided a sense of the “nomadic intimacy” described by Fortunati. Eavesdropping While travellers used Channel 18 for conversations they set their radio to automatically scan all forty channels. When a conversation was located the radio would stop scanning and they could listen to what was being said. This meant that travellers would overhear conversations between strangers. We scan all the channels so you can hear anyone coming up behind, especially trucks and you can hear them say “that damn caravan” and you can say ’ that damn caravan will pull over at the first opportunity.” (Female, 44) But the act of listening in to other people’s conversations created moral dilemmas for some travellers. One interviewee described it as “voyeurism for the ears”. While she described listening to farm conversations as giving her an insight into daily life on huge cattle station she was tempted to butt into one conversation that she was listening to. On reflection she decided against entering the conversation. She said: I didn’t want them to know that we were eavesdropping on their conversation. I’d be embarrassed if a third-party knew that we were listening in. I guess that I’ve been taught that you shouldn’t listen in to other people’s conversations. It’s not good manners… (Female, 35) When travellers overheard conversations between road train or truck drivers they had mixed responses. These conversations were often sexually loaded and seen as coarse by the middle class travellers. Some were forgiving of the conversational excesses, distinguishing themselves from the rough and tumble world of the ‘truckies’. One traveller noted that the truck drivers use a lot of bad language, but you’ve got to go with that, because that’s the type of people they are. But you have to go with the flow. We know that we are ‘playing’ and the truckies are ‘working’ so you have to be considerate to them. (Female, 50) While the language of the truck drivers was often threatening to middle class travellers, overhearing their conversations was also seen as a comfort. One traveller remarked that sometimes you hear truckies talking about their families and they obviously know each other. It’s kind of nice to see how they think. (Female, 50) Travellers had similar feelings when they overheard conversations from cattle stations. Also, local cattle station workers and their families would use CB radios for their social and working communications. Travellers would often overhear these conversations. One traveller noted that when we are driving through a cattle station we work out which channel they are using, and we lock it on that one. And then we listen until they are out of range. We are city people and listening to the station chatter gives us a bit of an insight into what it must be like as a farmer working land out here. And then we talk about the farmers’ conversations. (Female, 35) Another traveller noted: If you are travelling and there’s nothing you can see you can listen to the farmer talking to his wife or the kids. It’s absolutely awesome to hear conversations on radio. (Female, 67) This empathic listening allows the travellers to imagine the lives of others in settings quite different from those with which they are familiar. Furthermore, hearing farmers talking about fixing the fence in the left paddock or rounding up strays makes ‘you feel that you’re not alone’. The networking of the travellers’ social life arising from listening in to others meant that they were able to learn about the environment in which they found themselves, as well as enabling them to feel that they continued to remain embedded or ‘co-present’ in social relationships in circumstances of considerable physical isolation. Conclusions The accounts provided by tourists illustrated the way communications technologies – in this case, CB radio – enabled people to become ’nodes in multiple networks of communication and mobility’ described by Urry and to maintain ‘co-presence’. The CB radio allowed tourists to remain part of social networks while being physically absent from them (Gergen). Their responses also demonstrated the significance of CB radio in giving meaning to the experience of travel. The CB radio was shown to be an important part of the travel experience in the remote Australian Outback. The use of CB made it possible for travellers in the Australian Outback to obtain information vital for the safe traverse of the huge distances and isolated roads. The technology enabled them to break down the atomism and frontier-like isolation of the highway. Drivers and their passengers could reach out to other travellers and avoid remaining unconnected strangers. Long hours on the road could be dealt with by listening in on others’ conversations, even though some ambivalence was expressed about this activity. Despite an awareness that they could be violating the personal boundaries of others and that their conversations could be overheard, the use of CB radio meant staying safe and enjoying guilty pleasures. Imagined or not. References Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Community. London: Verso, 1983 Dannefer, W. Dale. “The C.B. Phenomenon: A Sociological Appraisal.” Journal of Popular Culture 12 (1979): 611-19. Featherstone, Mike. “Automobilities: An Introduction.” Theory, Culture and Society 21.4/5 (2004): 1-24. Fortunati, Leopoldina. “The Mobile Phone: Towards New Categories and Social Relations.” Information, Communication and Society 5.2 (2002): 513-28. Gergen, Kenneth. “The Challenge of Absence Presence.” Perpetual Contact: Mobile Communications, Private Talk, Public Performance. Ed. James Katz. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2002. 227-54. Goffman, Erving. Behavior in Public Places: Notes on the Social Organization of Gatherings. New York: Free Press of Glencoe, 1963. Haddon, Leslie. “Domestication and Mobile Telephony.” Machines That Become Us: The Social Context of Personal Communication Technology. Ed. James E. Katz. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, 2003. 43-55. Harrison, Julia. Being a Tourist: Finding Meaning in Pleasure Travel. Vancouver: U of British Columbia P, 2003. Johnsen, Truls Erik. “The Social Context of Mobile Use of Norwegian Teens.” Machines That Become Us: The Social Context of Personal Communication Technology. Ed. James Katz. London: Transaction Publishers, 2003. 161-69. Ling, Richard. “One Can Talk about Common Manners! The Use of Mobile Telephones in Inappropiate Situations.” Communications on the Move: The Experience of Mobile Telephony in the 1990s (Report of Cost 248: The Future European Telecommunications User Mobile Workgroup). Ed. Leslie Haddon. Farsta, Sweden: Telia AB, 1997. 97-120. Lury, Celia. “The Objects of Travel.” Touring Cultures: Transformations of Travel and Theory. Eds. Chris Rojek and John Urry. London: Routledge, 1997. 75-95. Rice, Ronald E., and James E. Katz. “Comparing Internet and Mobile Phone Usage: Digital Divides of Usage, Adoption and Dropouts.” Telecommunications Policy 27 (2003): 597-623. Short, J., E. Williams, and B. Christie. The Social Psychology of Telecommunications. New York: Wiley, 1976. Stokowski, Patricia. “Social Networks and Tourist Behavior.” American Behavioural Scientist 36.2 (1992): 212-21. Suvantola, Jaakko. Tourist’s Experience of Place. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002. Urry, John. “Mobility and Proximity.” Sociology 36.2 (2002): 255-74. ———. “Social Networks, Travel and Talk.” British Journal of Sociology 54.2 (2003): 155-75. White, Naomi Rosh, and Peter B. White. “Home and Away: Tourists in a Connected World.” Annals of Tourism Research 34. 1 (2007): 88-104. White, Peter B., and Naomi Rosh White. “Keeping Connected: Travelling with the Telephone.” Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies 11.2 (2005): 102-18. Williams, Stephen, and Lynda Williams. “Space Invaders: The Negotiation of Teenage Boundaries through the Mobile Phone.” The Sociological Review 53.2 (2005): 314-31. Wurtzel, Alan H., and Colin Turner. “Latent Functions of the Telephone: What Missing the Extension Means.” The Social Impact of the Telephone. Ed. Ithiel de Sola Pool. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1977. 246-61. Citation reference for this article MLA Style White, Peter B., and Naomi White. "Staying Safe and Guilty Pleasures: Tourists and CB Radio in the Australian Outback." M/C Journal 10.1 (2007). echo date('d M. Y'); ?> <http://journal.media-culture.org.au/0703/11-white-white.php>. APA Style White, P., and N. White. (Mar. 2007) "Staying Safe and Guilty Pleasures: Tourists and CB Radio in the Australian Outback," M/C Journal, 10(1). Retrieved echo date('d M. Y'); ?> from <http://journal.media-culture.org.au/0703/11-white-white.php>.