What Matters More in Open Access Journal Publishing: Scientific Rigor or Financial Vigor?

Academics and librarians around the world are raising concern about the current state of scholarly journal publishing in that the majority of journals are under the control of five multinational commercial journal publishing companies. Some are advocating for scholars to take back control of scholarly communication, particularly because it is the academics who are supplying and managing most of the content for journals. Open access publishing is one option, but the question of sustainability in funding streams raises concerns. Also the roles of scholarly societies, academic association, and universities in looking for stability in nonprofit journal publishing are discussed.

Da Criação Literária Universitária como Contra-hegemonia ao Estado Novo: O Caso da Via Latina (1958-1962)

This article aims to evaluate the creation and literary dissemination of students from the Academic Association of Coimbra (AAC) during the period between 1958 and 1962. The chronological limits are justified by Humberto Delgado’s candidacy to the 1958 presidential elections, which brings with it the politicization of different sectors of society, and the first academic crisis, in 1962. During the period mentioned in the AAC magazine, Via Latina, many short stories and literary essays by university students were published. This production denotes a clear influence of the artistic currents that dominated the Portuguese cultural panorama at the time. Inspired by neo-realism and existentialism, as well as by democratizing political opportunities, these authors carried out a transformation of the university and Coimbra’s cultural panorama. For a richer analysis, Via Latina is compared with other academic journals of the time. This article has used interviews with members of the magazine.

Evaluation of the Level of Use of Motivational Factors in SMEs According to Selected Criteria

The research presented in this contribution is an analysis of the level of use of motivational factors in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in terms of three criteria, as selected by the authors. The primary goal was to draw conclusions on the basis of the formulated hypotheses concerning the degree of use of motivational factors by SMEs. The literature review outlines the issue of work motivation and motivational factors. The practical part of the contribution presents the course of the specific calculations and the evaluation of the hypotheses. The primary data were obtained using the SAAPM questionnaire, which was created as part of a project by the Slovak Academic Association for Personnel Management (SAAPM). The data are evaluated using the one-sample t-test statistical method. The research sample consists of a total of 610 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Czech Republic.

A Report on the Special Executive Committee Meeting of the International Association for the History of Religions in Delphi

This essay is a report on the IAHR’s Extended Executive Committee meeting in Delphi (13-15 September 2019), and a critical account of its decision, formulated prior to that meeting, to reject the IAHR’s long-standing remit to support a scientific study of religion and religions. It is also a warning that insisting the IAHR be open to considering moral, social, political, spiritual or other cultural ideals will dismantle the only academic association committed to a scientific study of religions, transforming the IAHR into a weak, international version of the American Academy of Religion.

How the Geographic Diversity of Editorial Boards Affects What Is Published in JCR-Ranked Communication Journals

This article tests whether the geographic diversity of editorial boards affects the diversity of research papers. Based on a content analysis of 84 journals listed in the Journal Citation Report, we show that diverse editorial boards are more likely to publish more diverse research articles, based on the country of origin of the first author and on where the data were collected. Our findings also indicate a negative association between (a) the impact factor and diversity of the research approach, (b) the journal’s affiliation to an academic association and diversity in the first author’s country of origin and the country of data collection, and (c) the founding year of the publication and the country of data collection. Finally, the founding year of the publication is explored as a moderator.

Facilitating the collective expression of parents of disabled children at a scientific conference

The European Academy of Childhood Disability is an academic association with over 500 members (health, social work and educational professionals working with children with disability) from some 35 different countries. The Academy wishes to put families at the heart of its agenda. Partnership with families has the potential to improve care and education outcomes and renew practice. It may also facilitate understanding between professionals and families. To this end for the annual conference in Paris a series of structured interactive group activities have been designed to facilitate the sharing of experience and expression of families and to gather their concerns. These activities designed by disability specialists in partnership with family representatives call on small group work “world café” style focus group methodology. They are structured, varied, interactive and take place in a specially organized conference session over 3 hours. Sensitive feedback is provided by experienced pediatricians in the childhood disability field. Parents provide narratives of significant experiences for their children prior to the conference. These are shared in groups of 3. Questions explored include “What matters for the happiness of your children? “Please give examples of things which have happened in your child’s life which seem to be key experiences” Relating to the concept of F-words, (Rosenbaum, Gorter, 2011) parents have also been asked to consider different dimensions of their children’s well-being such as friendship, functioning, fitness, family, fun, and future. Group discussions are noted, recorded, retranscribed and analysed allowing, the gain of insights and providing possible building blocks for professional training. Such qualitative data allows new topics and research on a joint family-professional agenda to emerge. These may be tackled at future conferences thus building bridges between specialists and families.

Development of musical documents is in the conditions of informatization

In the article the described sphere of musical work is musically-computer technologies as a result of process of informatization, that is conditioned by mushroom growth of electronic musical instruments from the simplest synthesizers to the powerful musical computers. There was the new interdisciplinary sphere of professional activity, related to creation and application of the specialized musicalhardware and softwarefacilities that require knowledge and abilities both in a musical sphere, and in area of informatics. Such basic directions of introduction of information technologies are certain in music: the use in scientific researches, organization of academic association and work with a musical inheritance. Many-sided nature, global applicability of electronic and computer music, give new, essentially, boundless possibilities of self-realization, stimulate swift development of intellect, destroying music on a new level.Compatibility of electronic music with traditional musical technologies creates terms for the succession of musical epochs and styles, their interpenetration and synthesis, strengthening interest in a musical culture on the whole. Success with the modern use of the similar systems lies in integration of all computer possibilities. Investigating history of becoming of digital music, influence of MIDI- of technologies is described, as leading direction in a computer musical studio. MIDI- technology gave possibility to recreate a voice record in any rate and in any key, vocalists and bandsmen got possibility to conduct even independent employments after accompaniment and to do the detailed analysis of piece of music, that does irreplaceable the marked technology in musical educational establishments. Also, principle of transmission of audioinformation is explained for MIDI- of protocol. The marked home achievements of modern composers are in relation to embodiment of computer technologies in a musical art. Feather orientation of work of the Ukrainian composers from withstand general stamps on the deeply personality understanding of sociocultural processes is accompanied by the search of new intellectual senses in music. Influence of digital technologies is analysed onpublishing house of notes business and distribution of electronic editions, that assists distribution of musical information from one side, and from other, requires the specification of matter of authorial law and intellectual property. Advantage of new type ofto printed preparation of musical collections above an old method is undoubted, but the most valuable is seemed by that humanity got around the decision of question of the "unheard" piece of music.

Atividades Físicas e Desportivas em Estudantes Universitários com Deficiência: Perspectiva dos Gestores da Universidade de Coimbra

This paper aims to identify barriers and facilitators of participation in physical and sports activities (AFD) by students with disabilities of the Coimbra University (UC), describing the perspective of the various sports management bodies of UC and the Coimbra Academic Association of (AAC). The perspective of the UC and AAC leaders was analysed. A qualitative methodology was used, based on semi-structured interviews and using Thematic Analysis as the methodological approach. The managers consider that the UC intends to promote the development of this area and has facilities and equipment appropriate to the existence of these AFD, although the offer is incipient. The main barriers to the development of adapted sport are linked to management processes, namely the offer / demand relationship, student registration and the existence of qualified instructors. It can be concluded that there is currently no systematic offer of any specific activity for these students, with some occasional activities offered within the scope of the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education. This does not hide the lack of a more general University strategy, which would be desirable given the recognized importance and vision of the University on this subject.