Integrated Blockchain and Cloud Computing Systems: A Systematic Survey, Solutions, and Challenges

Cloud computing is a network model of on-demand access for sharing configurable computing resource pools. Compared with conventional service architectures, cloud computing introduces new security challenges in secure service management and control, privacy protection, data integrity protection in distributed databases, data backup, and synchronization. Blockchain can be leveraged to address these challenges, partly due to the underlying characteristics such as transparency, traceability, decentralization, security, immutability, and automation. We present a comprehensive survey of how blockchain is applied to provide security services in the cloud computing model and we analyze the research trends of blockchain-related techniques in current cloud computing models. During the reviewing, we also briefly investigate how cloud computing can affect blockchain, especially about the performance improvements that cloud computing can provide for the blockchain. Our contributions include the following: (i) summarizing the possible architectures and models of the integration of blockchain and cloud computing and the roles of cloud computing in blockchain; (ii) classifying and discussing recent, relevant works based on different blockchain-based security services in the cloud computing model; (iii) simply investigating what improvements cloud computing can provide for the blockchain; (iv) introducing the current development status of the industry/major cloud providers in the direction of combining cloud and blockchain; (v) analyzing the main barriers and challenges of integrated blockchain and cloud computing systems; and (vi) providing recommendations for future research and improvement on the integration of blockchain and cloud systems.

Enhancing Effective Teaching and Learning of ICT in the Schools for the Blind in Ghana.

The paper examines role of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Special Education in Ghana. Taking the relevant literature as the guiding principle, the paper addresses the opportunities, barriers and challenges posed by the integration of Assistive Technologies devices in schools for the blind and visually impaired in the teaching and learning process. The paper shows that inadequacies of teachers’ knowledge and skills in Assistive Technologies coupled with lack of these technologies are some of the greatest hindrances to effective teaching in the schools for the Blind in Ghana. Educators and policy makers acknowledge Evidence-Based Teaching as one of the most effective strategies for teaching the blind and the visually impaired.The paper highlights that effective integration of Assistive Technologies into schools will help bridge the digital gap between the blind and the sighted in Ghana

Enhancing Effective Teaching and Learning of ICT in the Schools for the Blind in Ghana

The paper examines role of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Special Education in Ghana. Taking the relevant literature as the guiding principle, the paper addresses the opportunities, barriers and challenges posed by the integration of Assistive Technologies devices in schools for the blind and visually impaired in the teaching and learning process. The paper shows that inadequacies of teachers’ knowledge and skills in Assistive Technologies coupled with lack of these technologies are some of the greatest hindrances to effective teaching in the schools for the Blind in Ghana. Educators and policy makers acknowledge Evidence-Based Teaching as one of the most effective strategies for teaching the blind and the visually impaired.The paper highlights that effective integration of Assistive Technologies into schools will help bridge the digital gap between the blind and the sighted in Ghana

INCLUSÃO DE CRIANÇAS COM SÍNDROME DE DOWN: UM ENSAIO TEÓRICO SOBRE A IMPORTÂNCIA DA RELAÇÃO FAMÍLIA-ESCOLA

Faced with the theme of inclusion, discussions about the importance of the family-school relationship are relevant with regard to the socialization of children with Down Syndrome. In this perspective, the main objective of this essay was to explore the scientific literature about the challenges faced by parents, family and teachers in the process of inclusion of children with Down syndrome. Specifically, this article sought to propose discussions on the importance of community awareness and collaboration to change the paradigm of inclusion. Therefore, scientific articles, books and academic papers found in the Google Scholar database were selected, between the period 2011 to 2021, based on the following keywords: People with disabilities; Down's syndrome; Inclusion; History of people with disabilities; Diagnosis of a child with a disability and; Family-School Relationship. Among the main factors influencing the inclusion process of children with Down's Syndrome, beliefs and stigmas of parents, family members, school professionals and society about the child's ability to deal with other people and learn, stand out. family support and the lack of support/guidance from an interdisciplinary team. The inclusion of people with disabilities still faces barriers and challenges that need to be overcome, however, through the active participation of the scientific community and political-social movements, studies on the theme of inclusion show that changes in this scenario have occurred gradually.

Trends in Blockchain Technologies

The aim of this work is to investigate emerging research trends and propose an evidence-based roadmap for encouraging further research into the management of blockchain technology. A bibliometric analysis is proposed, with a focus on intellectual property (IP) issues, in the field of blockchain technology. Then, the study highlights the main benefits that blockchain provides as well as the main difficulties, barriers, and challenges that emerge from the literature. The present study provides a reference for scientific communities to understand the current state of blockchain technology, thereby contributing to future research in the area. Moreover, it offers industrial implications and recommendations for entrepreneurs, managers, and practitioners.

Principles, Benefits, and Barriers to Community-Based Tourism

Though CBT is an attractive model for the attainment of both community development and environmental conservation, its implementation is fraught with challenges. This chapter examines the principles, forms, barriers, and challenges to CBT. The chapter further proposes a model for the achievement of sustainable CBT and draws implications from the barriers and benefits for the management of CBT. The chapter begins with an explanation of the community concept which is defined in the context of community-based tourism. It continues with a review of some models of community participation. The chapter further assesses the rationale for community participation and examines the forms of CBT. Though community participation remains a good model for tourism development at the community level, there are several limitations that make the benefits unachievable, especially in developing countries. The chapter ends by proposing a model of sustainable CBT by drawing implications for the management of CBT projects.

A Center-Based Model for Self-Directed Learning in Sustainability

An innovative platform for self-directed learning around sustainability issues in higher education is achievable via a center-based framework that uses a living lab model. This chapter identifies classroom and institutional barriers and challenges to sustainability-focused self-directed learning using interview data from undergraduate students who have contributed to real change on campus and in the community. The authors posit an alternative framework for sustainability-focused self-directed learning housed in an interdisciplinary center by providing insight on the necessary structures, resources, and processes. This chapter concludes with a discussion of how self-directed learning (1) supports emerging adults' developmental processes in navigating the borderland of adolescence to adulthood and (2) contributes to potential solutions to wicked problems.

Usefulness and effectiveness of locally available food that can improve gut health using mHealth: Audio-based Intervention for Malnourished Children living in tribal settings Rajasthan (AIM-Children) (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Child malnutrition is a major global health problem that imposes morbidity and mortality burdens. Malnutrition has long-term effects on gut health which can affect the development of children. Gut microbes play a crucial role in the absorption of nutrients in food. Improving mothers’ awareness regarding gut health is one of the many ways to strengthen against diarrheal conditions and malnutrition among children. OBJECTIVE The objectives of the present study are to design, develop and evaluate a mobile-based intervention to improve gut health through mHealth. The study will further explore the association between socio-demographic characteristics, health status, dietary pattern of child and Water and Sanitation Hygiene Practice (WASH) related knowledge, attitude, practices of a mother living in tribal of Sikar, Rajasthan. METHODS A quasi-experimental randomized trial will be conducted between November 2021 and February 2022. 150 mothers of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) children will be recruited and enrolled using a non-probability complete enumeration sampling method from the Sapera, Loharu, and Banjara community of Sikar. The study participants will be randomized into two groups: Intervention (mobile linked audio-based messages); and Control group (no-mobile linked audio-based messages). Differences in the dietary pattern of children, mothers’ WASH-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices will be measured across the group. The data will be collected for the focus group, baseline, timeline 1 (after one month of the baseline) and timeline 2 (after one month of timeline 1). The study outcomes include the change in KAP of mothers pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS The study's results will help assess the usefulness and effectiveness of the proposed design and development of a user-centered informatics platform that can deliver multimedia-driven nutrition and health educational modules tailored to facilitate healthy habits and improvement in gut health in children of tribal settings. CONCLUSIONS The study will provide insights toward the barriers and challenges leading to malnutrition and poor gut health of the children in tribal populations and the relationship between gut health and malnutrition in the children. We anticipate that the intervention group will show a significant change in improvement in gut health, dietary pattern, WASH practices, knowledge, attitude, and practice of mother. CLINICALTRIAL Ethical approval was obtained from the UREC (University Research Ethics Committee) of DIT University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India (DITU/UREC/2021/07/6).