Search results for "Developing"
showing 10 items of 417 documents
Understanding the use of mobile phones in the agricultural sector in rural Indonesia: using the capability approach as lens
2012
This study aims to investigate the use of mobile phones in the agricultural sector and its possible contributions to development of developing countries, with special reference to Indonesia. In our interpretive work, the capability approach is used as a lens, and the study is informed by data from interviews with various actors and field observations. The paper unearths the pattern of use of mobile phones among farmers in their professional network and shows that ownership and use of mobile phones varies, depending on the farmers' location in the network hierarchy. The study further unveils that the conversion factors play a significant role in order to realise achievement (functionings) fr…
Burst analysis tool for developing neuronal networks exhibiting highly varying action potential dynamics
2012
In this paper we propose a firing statistics based neuronal network burst detection algorithm for neuronal networks exhibiting highly variable action potential dynamics. Electrical activity of neuronal networks is generally analyzed by the occurrences of spikes and bursts both in time and space. Commonly accepted analysis tools employ burst detection algorithms based on predefined criteria. However, maturing neuronal networks, such as those originating from human embryonic stem cells (hESC), exhibit highly variable network structure and time-varying dynamics. To explore the developing burst/spike activities of such networks, we propose a burst detection algorithm which utilizes the firing s…
Vietnam as an emerging destination for offshore outsourcing of software development for finnish companies: A conceptual perspective
2009
Companies are constantly under pressure to produce software products more efficiently and within tight budgets. Offshore outsourcing has been seen as one solution to the dilemma, and lucrative outsourcing businesses have evolved in many countries, such as India, China and Russia. Vietnam is now emerging within this global outsourcing sector. This study investigates Vietnam as an offshore outsourcing destination for Finnish companies for developing their software products and related services. The research was undertaken by reviewing the literature of a) offshore outsourcing, b) offshore software production, c) information technology industry in developing countries, especially in Vietnam an…
The implementation of global ranking rules within countries in transition and their unintended perverted effects
2013
PurposeThe aim of this paper is to focus on the adverse consequences, mainly the “naturalisation” of global indicators and principles that may lead to defective national rules that may harm the local academic system, and the manipulations that might be drown up among the academic staff and public.Design/methodology/approachThe theoretical issues are illustrated by the outcomes in Romania particularly as a consequence of the application of the Educational Law since January 2011.FindingsWhen the global ranking's rules are implemented into national environments, mainly in countries under transition, some perverted effects appear and accompany the fruitful results.Originality/valueThe passage f…
Nutrition, public health, and sustainability: an overview of current challenges and future perspectives
2020
Abstract Marked changes in the lifestyle of society over the past few years, both in developed and developing countries, lead to an increase in sedentary activities and the consumption of unhealthy diets. This is the main cause of the increase of malnutrition and overweight people worldwide that, in turn, lead to chronic diseases like obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases that are of high public health concern. The aim of this chapter is to provide some advice for maintaining a healthy diet and the technologies that could be applied to achieve global food security in a sustainable way, and reducing food waste. On the other hand, the importance of bioactive compo…
An OLPC Workshop in Rural Tanzania: Preliminary Results
2013
One-to-one computing is an active and widely researched topic in educational technology. Its benefits include, for instance, easily up datable material base, anywhere-anytime learning, adaptability, and simulated experiments in science. The use of one-to-one computing in a developing country context has recently become an active research topic. However, the materialization of the educational benefits requires proper contextualization regarding the necessary pedagogical, organizational, institutional, and other types of adaptation. This paper presents preliminary results from an action research study in a primary school in rural Tanzania. In that study, the utilization of one-to-one computin…
Estimating willingness to pay for desalinated seawater: the case of Djerba Island, Tunisia
2017
AbstractWater scarcity can be a growth-limiting factor. Non-conventional water resources, such as desalinated water, represent an alternative means of guaranteeing access to water while reducing water stress. In this study, a contingent valuation survey carried out in Djerba Island, Tunisia, allows the joint modelling of two decisions: societal support for the construction of a desalination plant and households’ willingness to pay for desalinated water. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study to date has addressed this relationship. We find that although a clear majority of households are in favour of using desalinated water, far fewer are willing to pay for it. The article conclude…
Life-Cycle Land-Use Requirement for PV in Vietnam
2021
Over the last 15 years, photovoltaics (PV) in Vietnam has experienced development. The increased installed capacity of PV requires more land for installation sites as well as for manufacturing the plants’ component and waste treatment during the plants’ decommissioning. As a developing country, in which more than 80% of the population’s livelihood depends on agriculture, there are concerns about the competition of land for agriculture and solar development. This paper estimates the life-cycle land-use requirement for PV development in Vietnam, to provide the scientific-based evidence for policy makers on the quantity of land required, so that the land budget can be suitably allocated. The d…
A Mobile Healthcare System for Sub-saharan Africa
2013
The disparity between healthcare systems in developed countries and underdeveloped countries is huge, particularly due to the fact that the healthcare infrastructure of former is based on a sophisticated technological infrastructure. Efforts are being made worldwide to bridge this disparity and make healthcare services affordable even to the most remote areas of undeveloped countries. Recent growth of mobile networks in underdeveloped countries argues for building mHealth systems and applications on their basis. However, peculiarities of the area introduce difficulties into potential use cases of mobile devices, thus making the copying of mHealth services from developed countries inapplicab…
COVID-19, an opportunity for developing countries?
2020
The COVID-19 outbreak was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as global pandemic in March 2020. Considering the necessity to implement rapid response to control the pandemic and the fragility and the state of need of low income countries, it will be mandatory to develop a global approach in order to reduce the spread of infection and the creation of community viral reservoirs. So far, we could hypothesize a worst case scenario in which when the COVID-19 outbreak hits a peak in Africa and in low-income countries, the majority of such countries will be unprepared, with low resources allocated for affording the viral emergency and the consequences will be catastrophic with no lesso…