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The village government has now entered a new section with the enactment of Law No. 6 of 2014 concerning Villages. Villages are said to be prosperous if the economy is advanced and village needs are met. The village government must have a participatory and transparent plan for the people of Pandanlandung Village. This study discusses about 1. Discussing the management of the Village Budget and Revenue in Pandanlandung Village 2. Discussing the analysis of managing the Village Budget and Revenue in the Maqasid As-Sharia Perspective.This type of research is empirical legal research with a sociological juridical approach. Research location in Pandanladung Village, Wagir District, Malang Regency, East Java. Data sources used are observation, field studies, interviews, documentation as well as with Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages.The results of this study are as follows: 1. Management of Village Revenue and Expenditure Budgets based on Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages in Pandanlandung Village has begun to be implemented 2. Management of Pandanlandung Village Revenue and Expenditure Budgets in the perspective of Maqasid As-Sharia is included in five levels . Hifzun Nasli in management always involves the community in village deliberations. Hifzul Aqli developed a village information system. Hifzul Irdi held a children's forum and women's empowerment. Hifzuddin in tolerating differences in belief. Hifzulmali in encouraging the economic development of villages with the existence of Village-Owned Enterprises. Pemerintah desa sekarang telah memasuki bagian baru dengan ditetapkannya Undang-Undang Nomor 6 tahun 2014 tentang Desa. Desa dikatakan makmur apabila ekonomi yang maju dan kebutuhan desa terpenuhi. Pemerintah desa harus memiliki perencanaan yang partisipatif dan transparan terhadap masyarakat Desa Pandanlandung. Penelitian ini membahas tentang 1.Membahas pengelolaan Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Desa di Desa Pandanlandung 2.Membahas analisis pengelolaan Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Desa dalam Perspektif Maqasid As-Syariah. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian hukum empiris dengan pendekatan yuridis sosiologis. Lokasi penlitian di Desa Pandanladung Kecamatan Wagir Kabupaten Malang Jawa Timur. Sumber data yang digunakan yaitu observasi, studi lapangan, wawancara, dokumentasi serta dengan Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Desa.Hasil penelitian ini yaitu sebagai berikut: 1.Pengelolaan Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Desa berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Desa di Desa Pandanlandung sudah mulai terlaksana 2. Pengelolaan Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Desa Pandanlandung dalam perspektif Maqasid As-Syariah termasuk dalam lima tingkatan. Hifzun Nasli dalam pengelolaan selalu melibatkan masyarakat dalam kegiatan musyawarah desa. Hifzul Aqli mengembangkan sistem informasi desa. Hifzul Irdi mengadakan forum anak dan pemberdayaan perempuan. Hifzuddin dalam bertoleransi perbedaan keyakinan. Hifzulmali dalam mendorong perkembangan ekonomi desa dengan adanya Badan Usaha Milik Desa.

2019 Spring. ; Includes bibliographical references. ; Sexual misconduct is an epidemic on college campuses. Studies show consistently that one in five women on college campuses experience sexual assault during their academic career. When a broader range of types of sexual misconduct are included, the percentage of women and other gendered students who experienced sexual misconduct increases greatly, to at times above 50%, in the literature. Additionally, racial and ethnic minorities, trans* and gender non-binary persons, lesbian, and gay, and bisexual persons all experience sexual victimization at higher rates than their dominant group peers according to research studies. Research has neglected to address how intersectional identities experience sexual misconduct. In 2013, the federal government passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization of 2013 in order, in part, to address sexual misconduct on college campuses. The bill specifically focused on prevention efforts and reporting requirements for institutions of higher education. This study utilized a critical quantitative methodology to explore the question of how students have experienced the federal policy change at 21 Missouri institutions of higher education from 2012-2016 using an intersectionality framework. Within this issue, it is important to understand how marginalized populations were or were not served by policy and if the policy change impacted the rates of sexual misconduct. The study found that the Violence Against Women's Act of 2013 impacted different intersectional social locations differently. The data indicated the potential for effective educational efforts and increased assistance when examining the whole study population. In examining all participants over the five years of the study, there was a general indication of increased experience of sexual misconduct across several categories of sexual misconduct. The data also suggested more participants sought assistance after experiencing sexual misconduct over the time period of the study for the entire population of the study. However, the participants did not indicate that the effectiveness of the assistance received after experiencing sexual misconduct increased. A general theme across many social locations was the benefit of privileged aspects of social locations such as heterosexual or White, European-American, or Caucasian participants often had a better response in the data to the VAWA 2013 policy change compared to their less privileged peers. Inequity regarding the impact of the VAWA 2013 policy change was also evident with gender and ethnicity regarding transgender participants, gender and race regarding Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants, and race and sexuality regarding lesbian, queer, and questioning participants amongst other social locations throughout the time period of the study. The complexity of the 62 different social locations provides pathways for both praxis and future research.

Xiangyi Kong,1,2,* Shun Gong,3–5,* Tao Yan,6,* Yi Yang1 1Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China; 2Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, People's Republic of China; 3Department of Neurosurgery, The General Hospital of Shenyang Military, Army Institute of Neurology, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; 4Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Institute of Neurosurgery, PLA Institute of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, People's Republic of China; 5Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 6Department of Anesthesiology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, People's Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Aim: To elucidate the clinical implication of microRNA (miRNA)-200b in the pathological grading of gliomas.Methods: We searched the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Web of Knowledge, Embase, and PubMed databases. Related articles were assessed, and ORs with 95% CIs were calculated to examine the relationship between miRNA-200b expression levels and the World Health Organization (WHO) glioma grade, patients' sex and age, tumor size, and extent of surgical resection. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and stability of the pooled results of the included studies were also analyzed. MiR-200b expression in 87 human glioma tissues (50 high grade and 37 low grade) and matched 41 non-neoplastic brain tissues was measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay.Results: Five eligible studies involving 630 patients were included in the present meta-analysis. The miRNA-200b expression in glioma tissues was negatively associated with the WHO glioma grade (OR, 0.070; 95% CI, 0.007–0.678; P=0.022). No significant correlations were found between miRNA-200b and sex (P=0.858), age (P=0.776), tumor size (P=0.134), or extent of resection (P=0.778). In our own test, compared with non-neoplastic brain tissues, the expression level of miR-200b was significantly decreased in glioma tissues (tumor vs normal: 4.29±1.90 vs 10.45±2.34, P<0.001). In addition, we found that the glioma tissues from high-grade tumors (grade III and IV) had much lower miR-200b expression than glioma tissues from low grade tumors (grade I and II).Conclusion: Our results suggest that the miRNA-200 expression level may be negatively associated with the WHO glioma grade (malignancy). MiRNA-200 might serve as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker or a helpful therapeutic target. Keywords: microRNA-200b, down-regulation, glioma, grade, meta-analysis

South African chaplains' spouses and the Border War (1966–1989): A case study of denominational pastoral care. Pastoral care of soldiers during times of war and armed conflict has been part and parcel of the Christian religion since the Council of Ratisbon officially authorised chaplains for armies in 742. However, studies in South Africa revealed that government institutions and especially the Dutch-Afrikaans denominations did not wholeheartedly adhere to this tradition during the two world wars of the twentieth century. The task of pastoral care to those affected by the war circumstances was left to civilian organisations and women. Socio-political changes invalidated this accussation during the Border War (1966–1989). This article gives a historical perspective on the pastoral care endeavours of the spouses of military chaplains as a case study of denominational support to those affected by armed conflict. Women's experiences during war circumstances have long been neglected in academic circles. During times of war, they are often the victims of human rights' abuses, but they also become beacons of hope and consolation, as is illustrated in this article. This exposition contributes to a historical understanding of the way women experience war and the support they provide during times of armed conflict. It also illustrates the value of women during times of war trauma, and provides a different perspective on the military context, which is usually mostly defined in masculine terms.In die Christelike tradisie is die pastorale versorging van soldate tydens oorlogsomstandighede en gewapende konflik 'n gegewe sedert die Konsilie van Ratisbon in 742, toe gelas is dat kapelane die leërs moet vergesel. Studie in Suid-Afrika het egter 'n versuim van owerheidsweë, en veral van die kant van die Hollands-Afrikaanse kerke in Suid-Afrika aangetoon om oorloggeaffekteerdes en oorlogbetrokkenes tydens die twee wêreldoorloë van die twintigste eeu pastoraal te versorg. Hierdie taak is in Suid- Afrika aan burgerlike organisasies en vroue oorgelaat. Tydens die Grensoorlog (1966–1989) het die prentjie egter verander. Hierdie artikel wil 'n historiese perspektief verskaf op die uitreike van die eggenotes van militêre kapelane, as 'n gevallestudie van geloofsgemeenskappe se pastorale versorging van diegene wie se lewens deur gewapende konflik geraak word. Vroue se ervarings gedurende tye van oorlog en gewapende konflik is vir 'n geruime tyd in akademiese geskiedskrywing genegeer. Vroue is dikwels gedurende oorlogsomstandighede slagoffers van menseregtevergrype, maar hulle kan ook as bakens van hoop, vertroosting en heropbou na vore tree soos hierdie artikel probeer aantoon. Hierdeur word 'n bydrae tot 'n historiese begrip van die belewenis van vroue tydens oorlogsomstandighede gemaak, asook die wyse waarop vroue ondersteuningsnetwerke kan skep in gemeenskappe wat deur gewapende konflik geraak word. Dit illustreer verder die waarde van vroue ten tye van oorlogstrauma, en dit gee 'n ander perspektief op die militêre konteks wat gewoonlik in manlike terme gedefinieer word.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is public health and human rights concern. The studies forming this thesis seek to understand healthcare worker and community attitudes and perceptions about IPV; their role in support, care and prevention of IPV, and the feasibility of introducing routine screening for IPV among women attending healthcare. Methods: Four interrelated studies were conducted in Temeke District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: 1) a content analysis of 16 in-depth interviews with healthcare workers about their experiences of meeting IPV clients, 2) a grounded theory analysis of seven focus group discussions that explore community perceptions, 3) a cross sectional study of 657 healthcare workers and students to understand their attitudes and perceptions about IPV and future roles in care and support, and 4) evaluation of a pilot intervention that introduces routine screening in an outpatient department. The pilot intervention included screening of 102 women, ten observations of healthcare worker interactions with women clients, three focus group discussions, and five narratives written by healthcare workers about their experiences with the screening tools. Results: Gender inequalities, attitudes, and poverty intersect in the explanation of IPV. Healthcare workers view low economic status among women, rigid gender norms, and stigma that influences women to stay in violent relationships. Alcohol abuse, multiple sexual partners and low levels of income among men were cited as triggers for IPV episodes. Between 20-67% of healthcare workers and students report meeting IPV clients at work. More than 9o% observed clients with unexplained feelings of sadness and/or loss of confidence. Resource and training limitations, heavy workloads and low salaries constrain services. A strong desire to make a difference in the care and support of IPV clients was present, but violence as a hidden agenda with a client resistance to disclosure was a challenge. The community study shows a transition in gender norms is making violence against women less acceptable. Conclusions and suggestions: Healthcare workers and the community strongly wish and are committed to support IPV prevention. Both groups understood the meaning, provocative factors and some IPV effects. This awareness contributes to their desire to be part of a change. At the central level, prevention of IPV should be on the governments' policy agenda and should be prioritised. Education about gender-based violence must be incorporated into the curricula of healthcare workers. At community level, advocacy is necessary for changing harmful gender norms and measures to combat women's poverty. Men should be engaged at all levels. Provision of information on the human rights perspectives of IPV should be strengthened and related to other types of violence.

Introduction. It is not always possible to trace the fate of certain museum exhibits from documents. Methods and materials. This work examines the history of movement in various collections of a gold ring with the seal of the second wife of Tsar Ivan IV, Maria Temryukovna. Analysis. After the tsarina's death, it was deposited in the Pokrovsky Suzdal monastery for the memorial of her soul. For two centuries this monastery served as a place where former tsarist wives and representatives of the highest Moscow aristocracy were tonsured. Over time, it concentrated a significant collection of women's jewelry, which came here in the form of gifts. Therefore, when in Russia in the 19th century museums devoted to national history and culture began to actively develop, interest in this collection appeared. In 1845, the ring, along with other items, was purchased with the personal money of Emperor Nicholas I for the Armory. However, it soon found itself in the State Ancient Storage, where the most important ancient documents on the history of Russia were concentrated, as well as a collection of state and personal seals. Subsequently, the ring, as part of the collection of the Ancient Storage, ended up in the Rumyantsev Museum. Ultimately, it ended up in the State Historical Museum. It is now in the State Historical Museum. However, their whereabouts are currently unknown. Results. The work analyzes all discovered references to these items. In the future, perhaps, this will help to identify them among the anonymous monuments from museum collections. Key words: Maria Temryukovna, Ivan IV, royal gifts, Pokrovsky Suzdal Monastery, State Ancient Storage.

Purpose
Given the general consensus that creativity is a crucial driving force for innovation and progress, understanding how to promote it would benefit individuals, companies, society and academia. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the independent and contingent impact of individuals' personality traits, team-member exchange (TMX) and gender on stimulating creativity.


Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a survey-sample of 639 university students (51.96% women) between the ages of 17 and 50. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) demonstrated reliability and validity of its measures. To test hypotheses, using structural equation modeling, hierarchical regression analyses were performed.


Findings
Results show that four of the five personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience) and TMX positively influence creativity. There are no significant differences between men's and women's creativity. High TMX reinforces the influence of extraversion on creativity, while low TMX harms this relationship. High extravert women are more creative than high extravert men, while low extravert men are more creative than low extravert women. Low emotionally stable women are more creative than low emotionally stable men, while high emotionally stable men are more creative than high emotionally stable women. There are differences in how women and men take advantage of their openness to experience when TMX is considered. That is, while women take advantage of openness to experience for any value of TMX, men only increase their creativity as openness to experience increases for low values of TMX.


Research limitations/implications
Like all studies, ours has some limitations that provide opportunities for future research. First, care should be taken when generalizing these findings to other contexts. We use data from Spanish individuals, specifically university students. While they are suitable for testing our hypotheses, future studies should establish whether the general tendencies that we observe hold true for other kinds of people from Spain and other countries. Even more, this paper's perspective might be biased by the authors' country of origin (south Europe) in terms of gender. According to Hofstede (2001) south European and South American countries are more masculine than other cultures (Mensa and Grow, 2022). Therefore, analyzing these questions in different cultures (countries and settings) would facilitate the generalization of the results. Second, the data we use is mainly cross-sectional so strict causality cannot be inferred. The theory we use assumes specific causal directions, but alternative causal relationships cannot be ruled out. Finally, ideally, we should have controlled for additional variables that might influence the relationships in our model.


Practical implications
This paper has practical implications, as it demonstrates that neither gender is more creative than the other. It goes a step further, explaining how men and women can leverage their personality traits to be more creative. Moreover, since TMX could reinforce the impact of personality traits on creativity, this paper could help managers better organize teams and companies that want to be more innovative by taking into account the personality traits of their employees and how to get the best out of women and men.


Social implications
Traditionally, women have considered creativity to be a man's thing. The results of this work favor society, demonstrating that women are just as creative as men and that through personality traits and TMX, both men and women can be more creative. These results help to reduce the gender gap and may favor women's place in today's society.


Originality/value
This work offers academic and practical implications. The main contributions to the creativity and gender literatures are the following: (1) Women are as creative as men. (2) High extravert and low emotionally stable women are more creative than men. (3) High open to experience women with high TMX are more creative than men at any level of TMX. For practitioners, the understanding of what personality traits have higher impact on creativity depending on the levels of TMX for women and men could help companies and politicians in hiring the most suitable people, especially for those positions where creativity is needed. This would increase the quality of their human capital, allowing them to get the most out of their human resources, from the very beginning of the employment relationship.

The article aims to analyze the activities of the Russian South government in the spheres of culture, science, education and religion; to trace the work of higher educational institutions of the Crimea; to research the activities of leading scientists of Taurida University in the conditions of Civil War of 1918-1920; to study the role of press and church in the daily life of the Crimea. Such researchers as B. M. Volfson, G. G. Gagkuevand V. Zh. Tsvetkov K. Kolontaev, G. V. Zhirkov, S. B. Filimonov and others dealt with research of peculiarities of cultural and educational policy of P. N. Wrangel in the Crimea.During the period of P. N. Wrangel's ruling, there was developed the programme to reform the school of general education. The main achievement was acknowledgement of equality of the Ukrainian and Russian languages, introduction of unified school programme, unification of programmes in women's and men's gymnasiums. The author points out striving of Wrangel's government to make education more accessible for needy classes of population, first of all, for children of front-line officers. The article notes active work of higher education institutions of the Crimea such as a branch of the Kiev University of St. Vladimir and Taurida University established on its basis. Press, which was the main source of information on foreign and home political processes in the Crimea, played an important role in its life. Active cultural and church life was conducted in the Crimea as well. While investigating, the author has analyzed the peculiarities of cultural and educational life in the Crimea.The material of the article will be of interest to the teachers of general education schools, college and university lecturers, providing the course of history of the Ukraine, literature, and world history and culture studies. For the first time comprehensive analysis of cultural, scientific and religious life in the Crimea and in the south of the Ukraine was carried out in the article.Keywords: Civil War, reforms of P. N. Wrangel's government, Taurida University, theatre, press, Orthodox Church. ; У статті аналізується діяльність уряду Півдня Росії П. М. Врангеля у царині культури, науки, освіти та релігії. Простежена робота вищих навчальних закладів Криму, зокрема показана робота провідних науковців Таврійського університету щодо збереження його матеріальної бази під час громадянської війни (1918–1920). Крім того, у статті висвітлено роль кримської преси та церкви у Криму.Ключові слова: громадянська війна, реформи уряду П. М. Врангеля, Таврійський університет, театр, преса, Православна церква. The article aims to analyze the activities of the Russian South government in the spheres of culture, science, education and religion; to trace the work of higher educational institutions of the Crimea; to research the activities of leading scientists of Taurida University in the conditions of Civil War of 1918-1920; to study the role of press and church in the daily life of the Crimea. Such researchers as B. M. Volfson, G. G. Gagkuevand V. Zh. Tsvetkov K. Kolontaev, G. V. Zhirkov, S. B. Filimonov and others dealt with research of peculiarities of cultural and educational policy of P. N. Wrangel in the Crimea.During the period of P. N. Wrangel's ruling, there was developed the programme to reform the school of general education. The main achievement was acknowledgement of equality of the Ukrainian and Russian languages, introduction of unified school programme, unification of programmes in women's and men's gymnasiums. The author points out striving of Wrangel's government to make education more accessible for needy classes of population, first of all, for children of front-line officers. The article notes active work of higher education institutions of the Crimea such as a branch of the Kiev University of St. Vladimir and Taurida University established on its basis. Press, which was the main source of information on foreign and home political processes in the Crimea, played an important role in its life. Active cultural and church life was conducted in the Crimea as well. While investigating, the author has analyzed the peculiarities of cultural and educational life in the Crimea.The material of the article will be of interest to the teachers of general education schools, college and university lecturers, providing the course of history of the Ukraine, literature, and world history and culture studies. For the first time comprehensive analysis of cultural, scientific and religious life in the Crimea and in the south of the Ukraine was carried out in the article.Keywords: Civil War, reforms of P. N. Wrangel's government, Taurida University, theatre, press, Orthodox Church.

Poverty and gender equality are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda and are key strategic areas for Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It has been often argued that poverty is gendered: at the 1995 UN World Conference on Women, 70 per cent of the world's poor was said to be female. However, that figure is not backed by sound scientific evidence. There are several challenges to examining the relationship between gender and poverty. The main one is that monetary poverty is calculated at the household level: it is not possible to distinguish the poverty status of different household members. Theoretically, it is possible to analyse poverty by gender by focusing on non-monetary dimensions, as several feminist scholars advocate. However, the most well-known indices of multidimensional poverty have the same problems as those for income poverty: they are computed at the household level. Therefore, we do not really know if – or to what extent – poverty is gendered. Recent studies conducted by IDOS researchers help fill this gap by analysing gender disparities in multidimensional poverty in more than 80 low- and middle-income countries and using individual-level indices, which encompass three dimensions: education, health and employment. This policy brief summarises the main findings of the IDOS studies and presents key policy recommendations. The research reveals the female face of poverty. In recent years, female multidimensional poverty has been higher than male multidimensional poverty almost everywhere: on average, the former is about 70 per cent higher than the latter. Depending on the specific poverty index used, women make up between 54 and 63 per cent of the impoverished population. Gender disparities vary substantially across the world: the largest disparities are visible in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and South Asia. The research also shows that from the late 1990s/early 2000s most countries experienced increased gender disparities in poverty, a process often referred to as the "feminisation of poverty". This largely occurred in Europe and Central Asia, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean. The very large gender disparities in MENA and South Asia have persisted for decades. The studies also find that the increase in gender disparities occurred especially in rural areas and was mostly driven by an increase in disparities in access to paid employment. To tackle the gendered nature of poverty, we recommend: • Incentivising women's employment and pro-moting the care economy. Care policies can partly free women from their care duties and/or recognise the economic value of care work, thereby increasing employment opportunities for women. Expanding the (professional) care sector – and more generally, the service sector – also creates job opportunities for women. • Adopting gender-responsive social protection. Cash transfers can benefit women in particular but should include clear gender-equality goals and be designed to challenge existing gender norms (rather than reinforce them). • Tackling gender norms. Eliminating discriminatory laws and regulations can help in the short term; education and awareness campaigns are critical in the long run. • Advocating for and realising the (gender) data revolution. It is necessary to invest in ad-hoc data collection focused on individual and female experiences of poverty.

This publication presents and analyzes the major conclusions of research conducted in Central and West Asia in 2006 through 2011 to ascertain the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) investments on education. It presents a critical overview of the effectiveness of ICT policies and strategies in basic education in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with shorter studies on Afghanistan, Armenia, Georgia, and Pakistan. Among its many important findings, the research shows that while the importance of ICT in education has been recognized widely, it is still in its infancy in most of the region and its role and impact have yet to be fully determined or realized. The study has determined that the digital divide between education systems in developing and developed countries is widening dramatically. It stresses that while all the participating countries consider effective teacher training in ICT skills to be among the key determining factors in its effective ICT use, most are not providing sufficient training to use ICT to best effect. In the area of budgeting, the study shows that there is an urgent need for governments to adequately fund school ICT operational costs. To help policy makers in the region, the study identifies critical gaps or issues in policies, strategies, and approaches to ICT in education; provides information on key issues to help improve decision and policy making; and gives clear recommendations arising from the research.

This publication presents and analyzes the major conclusions of research conducted in Central and West Asia in 2006 through 2011 to ascertain the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) investments on education. It presents a critical overview of the effectiveness of ICT policies and strategies in basic education in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with shorter studies on Afghanistan, Armenia, Georgia, and Pakistan. Among its many important findings, the research shows that while the importance of ICT in education has been recognized widely, it is still in its infancy in most of the region and its role and impact have yet to be fully determined or realized. The study has determined that the digital divide between education systems in developing and developed countries is widening dramatically. It stresses that while all the participating countries consider effective teacher training in ICT skills to be among the key determining factors in its effective ICT use, most are not providing sufficient training to use ICT to best effect. In the area of budgeting, the study shows that there is an urgent need for governments to adequately fund school ICT operational costs. To help policy makers in the region, the study identifies critical gaps or issues in policies, strategies, and approaches to ICT in education; provides information on key issues to help improve decision and policy making; and gives clear recommendations arising from the research.

This eloquent, streetwise book is a paean to America's Rust Belt and a compelling exploration of four milieus caught up in a great transformation of city life. With loving attention to detail and a fine sense of historical context, Carlo Rotella explores women's boxing in Erie, Pennsylvania; Buddy Guy and the blues scene in Chicago; police work and crime stories in New York City, especially as they converged in the making of the movie The French Connection; and attempts at urban renewal in the classic mill city of Brockton, Massachusetts. Navigating through accrued layers of cultural, economic, and personal history, Rotella shows how stories of city life can be found in a boxing match, a guitar solo, a chase scene in a movie, or a landscape. The stories he tells dramatize the coming of the postindustrial era in places once defined by their factories, a sweeping set of changes that has remade the form and meaning of American urbanism.A native of the Rust Belt whose own life resonates with these stories, Rotella has gone to the home turfs of his characters, hanging out in boxing gyms and blues clubs, riding along with cops and moviemakers, discussing the future of Brockton with a visionary artist and a pitbull-fancying janitor who both plan to save the city's soul. These people make culture with their hands, and hands become an expressive metaphor for Rotella as he traces the links between their individual talents and the urban scenes in which they flourish. His writing elegantly connects what happens on the street to the larger story of urban transformation, especially the shift from a way of life that demanded individuals be "good with their hands" to one that depends on the intellectual and social skills fostered by formal education and service work.Strong feelings emerge in this book about what has been lost and gained in the long, slow aging-out of the industrial city. But Rotella's journey through the streets has its ultimate reward in discovering deep-rooted instances of what he calls "truth and beauty in the Rust Belt."

How has the Japanese government persuaded its citizens to save substantial portions of their incomes? And to care for the elderly within the family? How did the public come to support legalized prostitution as in the national interest? What roles have women's groups played in Japan's "economic miracle"? What actually unites the Japanese to achieve so many economic and social goals that have eluded other polities? Here Sheldon Garon helps us to understand this mobilizing spirit as he taps into the intimate relationships everyday Japanese have with their government. To an extent inconceivable to most Westerners, state directives trickle into homes, religious groups, and even into individuals' sex lives, where they are frequently welcomed by the Japanese and reinforced by their neighbors. In a series of five compelling case studies, Garon demonstrates how average citizens have cooperated with government officials in the areas of welfare, prostitution, and household savings, and in controlling religious "cults" and promoting the political participation of women.The state's success in creating a nation of activists began before World War II, and has hinged on campaigns that mobilize the people behind various policies and encourage their involvement at the local level. For example, neighborhoods have been socially managed on a volunteer basis by small-business owners and housewives, who strive to rid their locales of indolence and to contain welfare costs. The story behind the state regulation of prostitution is a more turbulent one in which many lauded the flourishing brothels for preserving Japanese tradition and strengthening the "family system," while others condemned the sexual enslavement of young women.In each case, we see Japanese citizens working closely with the state to recreate "community" and shape the thought and behavior of fellow citizens. The policies often originate at the top, but in the hands of activists they take on added vigor. This phenomenon, which challenges the conventional dichotomy of the "state" versus the "people," is well worth exploring as Western governments consider how best to manage their own changing societies