bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caracterización sociosanitarias de las familias de la localidad de Huánuco
Authors: Ruiz-Aquino Mely
Published: January 2021

Objetivo. Describir las características sociosanitarias de las familias de la localidad de Huánuco. Métodos. Fue un estudio con enfoque cuantitativo, de tipo descriptivo y de diseño transversal. La población fueron 1555 familias, siendo la muestra 373, seleccionadas probabilísticamente por estratos. Se aplicó una guía de entrevista de las características generales y de las tipologías de los estilos de vida. Se usaron las medidas de frecuencias y proporciones. Resultados. Analizando las características demográficas de las familias, se halló en mayor proporción [56,8 % (212)] que el padre es quien asume el rol de jefe de familia. El 27,9 % (104) tenía entre 40 y 49 años. Un 37,3 % (139) declaró ser casados; un 59,5 % (222) desempeñaban tareas de manejo de maquinarias y equipos; y un 28,2 % (105) tenían secundaria completa; un 70,8 % (264) eran católicos y 14,2 % (53) eran beneficiarios de algún programa social del gobierno. El tipo de familia, en un 57,1 % (213), eran familias nucleares. Al describir las características del estado de salud, el 80,2 % (299) no presentaba ningún problema de salud. El lugar donde acudían cuando se enferman [(44% (164)] era, en mayor proporción, el hospital. Respecto a la tipología del estilo de vida de las familias, el 34,9 % (130) tuvo un estilo de vida formalista. Conclusiones. Predominan las familias patriarcales y nucleares, con adultos medios como los jefes de familias, de condición casados, con secundaria completa, católicos y, en una gran proporción, no presentan ningún problema de salud. La tipología de estilo de vida predominante fue la formal.
Does happiness really happen in Andrei Platonov’s stories?
Authors: Murzin Nikolai
Published: January 2021

The theme of happiness is one of the constants of Andrei Platonov’s minor work. He reflects on it perpetually, turning it from positive to negative, and eventually concluding his ‘quest for truth’ in the idea of the world’s and human existence’ integral complexity, where happiness is interwoven with grief, emotions fuel the intensity of thought, individual life merges with the great stream of all-human fate, and romantic drive towards the unknown and uncommon comes into harmony with the deep, compassionate and accepting insight in the eternal and unchangeable nature of being.
A PROBLEM WITH PARAMETER FOR THE INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: Bakirova Elmira A. , Assanova Anar T. , Kadirbayeva Zhazira M.
Published: January 2021

The article proposes a numerically approximate method for solving a boundary value problem for an integro-differential equation with a parameter and considers its convergence, stability, and accuracy. The integro-differential equation with a parameter is approximated by a loaded differential equation with a parameter. A new general solution to the loaded differential equation with a parameter is introduced and its properties are described. The solvability of the boundary value problem for the loaded differential equation with a parameter is reduced to the solvability of a system of linear algebraic equations with respect to arbitrary vectors of the introduced general solution. The coefficients and the right-hand sides of the system are compiled through solutions of the Cauchy problems for ordinary differential equations. Algorithms are proposed for solving the boundary value problem for the loaded differential equation with a parameter. The relationship between the qualitative properties of the initial and approximate problems is established, and estimates of the differences between their solutions are given.
Decaying Orbit of the Hot Jupiter WASP-12b: Confirmation with TESS Observations
Authors: Turner Jake D. , Ridden-Harper Andrew , Jayawardhana Ray
Published: January 2021

Theory suggests that the orbits of some close-in giant planets should decay due to tidal interactions with their host stars. To date, WASP-12b is the only hot Jupiter reported to have a decaying orbit, at a rate of 29 ± 2 ms yr−1. We analyzed data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to verify that WASP-12b’s orbit is indeed changing. We find that the TESS transit and occultation data are consistent with a decaying orbit with an updated period of 1.091420090 ± 0.000000041 days and a decay rate of 32.53 ± 1.62 ms yr−1. We find an orbital decay timescale of

. If the observed decay results from tidal dissipation, the modified tidal quality factor is

, which falls at the lower end of values derived for binary star systems and hot Jupiters. Our result highlights the power of space-based photometry for investigating the orbital evolution of short-period exoplanets.
Imaging Spectroscopy of CME-associated Solar Radio Bursts using OVRO-LWA
Authors: Chhabra Sherry , Gary Dale E. , Hallinan Gregg , Anderson Marin M. , Chen Bin , Greenhill Lincoln J. , Price Danny C.
Published: January 2021

We present the first results of a solar radio event observed with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array at metric wavelengths. We examine a complex event consisting of multiple radio sources/bursts associated with a fast coronal mass ejection (CME) and an M2.1 GOES soft X-ray flare from 2015 September 20. Images of 9 s cadence are used to analyze the event over a 120 minute period, and solar emission is observed out to a distance of ≈3.5 R
⊙, with an instantaneous bandwidth covering 22 MHz within the frequency range of 40–70 MHz. We present our results from the investigation of the radio event, focusing particularly on one burst source that exhibits outward motion, which we classify as a moving type IV burst. We image the event at multiple frequencies and use the source centroids to obtain the velocity for the outward motion. Spatial and temporal comparison with observations of the CME in white light from the C2 coronagraph of the Large Angle and Spectrometric COronagraph, indicates an association of the outward motion with the core of the CME. By performing graduated-cylindrical-shell reconstruction of the CME, we constrain the density in the volume. The electron plasma frequency obtained from the density estimates do not allow us to completely dismiss plasma emission as the underlying mechanism. However, based on source height and smoothness of the emission in frequency and time, we argue that gyrosynchrotron is the more plausible mechanism. We use gyrosynchrotron spectral-fitting techniques to estimate the evolving physical conditions during the outward motion of this burst source.
Impact of a Magnetic Field on Neutrino–Matter Interactions in Core-collapse Supernovae
Authors: Kuroda Takami
Published: January 2021

We explore the impact of a magnetic field on neutrino–matter interactions in core-collapse supernovae. We first derive the modified source terms for neutrino–nucleon scattering and neutrino absorption and emission processes in the moment formalism. Then, we perform full relativistic, three-dimensional, magnetorotational core-collapse supernova simulations of a

star with spectral neutrino transport. Our simulations self-consistently treat the parity-violation effects of weak interaction in the presence of an external magnetic field. The result shows significant global asymmetry, mostly confined in the proto-neutron star, clearly reflecting the magnetic field structure. The asymmetric property arises from two factors: the angle between the neutrino flux and magnetic field, and the term that is parallel to the magnetic field and is also proportional to the deviation of the distribution function of neutrinos from thermal equilibrium. The typical correction value amounts to ∼1% relative to the total neutrino–matter interaction rate for the magnetic field strength of

G. Although these asymmetric properties do not immediately affect the explosion dynamics, our results imply that they would be significant once the neutrinos diffuse out of the proto-neutron- star core carrying those asymmetries away. We also show that, during our simulation time of ∼370 ms after bounce, our results indicate that the correction value due to the modified inelastic scattering process dominates over that of the modified neutrino absorption and emission process.
Probing the Cosmic-Ray Density in the Inner Galaxy
Authors: Peron Giada , Aharonian Felix , Casanova Sabrina , Yang Ruizhi , Zanin Roberta
Published: January 2021

The galactic diffuse γ-ray emission, as seen by Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT), shows a sharp peak in the region around 4 kpc from the Galactic center, which can be interpreted either as due to an enhanced density of cosmic-ray accelerators or to a modification of the particle diffusion in that region. Observations of γ-rays originating in molecular clouds are a unique tool to infer the cosmic-ray density point by point, in distant regions of the Galaxy. We report here the analysis of 11 yr Fermi-LAT data, obtained in the direction of nine molecular clouds located in the 1.5–4.5 kpc region. The cosmic-ray density measured at the locations of these clouds is compatible with the locally measured one. We demonstrate that the cosmic-ray density gradient inferred from the diffuse gamma-ray emission is the result of the presence of cosmic-ray accelerators rather than a global change of the sea of Galactic cosmic rays due to their propagation.
Kinematic Analysis of a Protostellar Multiple System: Measuring the Protostar Masses and Assessing Gravitational Instability in the Disks of L1448 IRS3B and L1448 IRS3A
Authors: Reynolds Nickalas K. , Tobin John J. , Sheehan Patrick , Sadavoy Sarah I. , Kratter Kaitlin M. , Li Zhi-Yun , Chandler Claire J. , Segura-Cox Dominique , Looney Leslie W. , Dunham Michael M.
Published: January 2021

We present new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations toward a compact (∼230 au separation) triple protostar system, L1448 IRS3B, at 879 μm with 011 × 005 resolution. Spiral arm structure within the circum-multiple disk is well resolved in dust continuum toward IRS3B, and we detect the known wide (∼2300 au) companion, IRS3A, also resolving possible spiral substructure. Using dense gas tracers, C17O (J = 3 

 2), H13CO+ (J = 4 

 3), and H13CN (J = 4 

 3), we resolve the Keplerian rotation for both the circum-triple disk in IRS3B and the disk around IRS3A. Furthermore, we use the molecular line kinematic data and radiative transfer modeling of the molecular line emission to confirm that the disks are in Keplerian rotation with fitted masses of

M
⊙ for IRS3B-ab and

M
⊙ for IRS3A and place an upper limit on the central protostar mass for the tertiary IRS3B-c of 0.2 M
⊙. We measure the mass of the fragmenting disk of IRS3B to be ∼0.29 M
⊙ from the dust continuum emission of the circum-multiple disk and estimate the mass of the clump surrounding IRS3B-c to be 0.07 M
⊙. We also find that the disk around IRS3A has a mass of ∼0.04 M
⊙. By analyzing the Toomre Q parameter, we find the IRS3A circumstellar disk is gravitationally stable (Q > 5), while the IRS3B disk is consistent with a gravitationally unstable disk (Q < 1) between the radii ∼200–500 au. This coincides with the location of the spiral arms and the tertiary companion IRS3B-c, supporting the hypothesis that IRS3B-c was formed in situ via fragmentation of a gravitationally unstable disk.
Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence for PTSD: Improving Treatment Delivery Through Personalization
Authors: Malgaroli Matteo , Hull Thomas Derrick , Schultebraucks Katharina
Published: January 2021

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition characterized by symptom heterogeneity and persistent avoidance patterns. These characteristics hinder the identification of candidates for early intervention and identification of treatment recommendations appropriate for an individual person's needs. Moreover, treatment barriers (particularly in areas with enduring disaster or conflict) further limit the delivery of behavioral interventions to ameliorate PTSD symptoms. To overcome these limitations, digital health approaches offer innovative ways for treatment delivery that extend beyond imitating face-to-face modalities. We discuss how digital health technologies have been increasingly used to bridge clinical needs. Another advantage of digital delivery is the automatic gathering of clinical data. We discuss how these clinical information pipelines can be analyzed using artificial intelligence to enhance prediction of PTSD, monitoring, and ad hoc treatment interventions.

[
Psychiatr Ann
. 2021;51(1):21–26.]
Precision Psychiatry Approach to Posttraumatic Stress Response
Authors: Schultebraucks Katharina , Shalev Arieh Y.
Published: January 2021

Personalized medicine has led to important discoveries and medical innovations. For the successful translation of that progress into precision psychiatry, the complexity of mental illness and its underpinning mechanisms must be considered, and data-driven approaches are needed. Computational approaches such as machine learning are important drivers of innovation and are spurred by recent advances in statistical modeling.

[
Psychiatr Ann
. 2021;51(1):7–13.]
Early Screening in the Emergency Department for Posttraumatic Sequelae After Acute Medical Events: The Potential of Prognostic Models and Computer-Aided Approaches
Authors: Schultebraucks Katharina , Bittlinger Merlin , Cato Kenrick , Chang Bernard P.
Published: January 2021

The risk of developing adverse mental health effects after acute medical emergencies such as those caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD) and leading to emergency department (ED) admission is an enduring health care challenge with significant public health implications and patient burden. CVD-induced posttraumatic stress disorder is not uncommon and has been found to increase both psychological and cardiac morbidity and mortality. To implement early targeted prevention, a risk-based approach is needed, which requires an accurate clinical prediction model. Risk prediction is best if it relies on a multifactorial model accounting for nonlinear dependencies, which requires advanced computational models. The development of scalable and automated computational prognostic models has the potential to provide clinicians with new tools for accurate and feasible risk stratification directly in the ED. We present recent advancements and discuss the benefits and challenges for the clinical use of algorithm-based risk stratification for posttraumatic aftercare and digital health applications in patients with CVD.[Psychiatr Ann. 2021;51(1):27–32.]
The Impact of
DSM-5
on the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Ferrara Rosaria , Nappo Raffaele , Ansermet Francois , Ricci Pasquale , Massoni Francesco , Carbone Gianni , Sparaci Alesandro , Nonnis Enrico , Ricci Lidia , Ricci Serafino
Published: January 2021

The study investigated whether the application of the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
, fifth edition (
DSM-5
) diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder results in different diagnostic outcomes compared with the
DSM
, fourth edition, text revision (
DSM-IV-TR
) in a cohort of Italian children with autism. To do so, both
DSM-IV-TR
and
DSM-5
diagnostic criteria were applied to children believed to have autism. In comparison with the
DSM-IV-TR
criteria,
DSM-5
criteria resulted in a lower proportion of children being diagnosed with autism. This difference in diagnostic outcome has implications about the access of children with autism to health care services as well as for their families being able to receive adequate support. We suggest that some
DSM-5
diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis of autism should be revisited.

[
Psychiatr Ann
. 2020;51(1):38–46.]
Vizualna propaganda Stadlerjevih ekumenskih prizadevanj v freskah Ivane Kobilce
Authors: Maučec Mateja
Published: January 2021

Članek se ukvarja z likovnim prispevkom slovenske slikarke Ivane Kobilce v sarajevski semeniški cerkvi sv. Cirila in Metoda. Poslikava dela cerkve je bila med prvimi naročili, ki jih je umetnica pridobila v Sarajevu, ter po obsegu tudi njeno največje delo. Umetnica je poslikala del kupole, severni steni obeh krakov transepta in štiri tonde, dva na pevskem koru ter dva na stranskih emporah. Za freske, ki združujejo jezuitsko in ekumensko ikonografijo, je ikonografski program sestavil prvi sarajevski nadškof dr. Josip Stadler, freske pa so priča njegovih neuresničenih cerkveno-političnih ambicij po združitvi vzhodne in zahodne Cerkve.
De l’expertise scientifique à la décision publique. Quel avenir pour l’OPECST ?
Authors: Tournay Virginie
Published: January 2021

Virginie Tournay, nous propose un regard complémentaire à la suite de l'événement organisé au Sénat le 4 février 2020 par le Sénat et le CNRS autour de la sortie de ce numéro consacré à l’Office d’évaluation des choix scientifiques et technologiques (OPECST). Le 4 février dernier, le numéro1 de la revue Histoire de la recherche contemporaine consacré à l’Office parlementaire de l’évaluation des choix scientifiques et technologiques (OPECST), publié en 2019, est présenté au Parlement dans le cadre d’une journée soulignant les trente ans des travaux de cette structure. Une table ronde dédiée à l’apport des sciences au débat public dresse un panorama du fonctionnement de l’Office et des tendances générales d’évolution de ces problématiques2. Amorcées juste avant l’annonce de l’actuelle pandémie et la mise en œuvre des mesures de protection déployées par les pouvoirs publics, ces réflexions font l’objet d’une mise en perspective présentée dans cette contribution.
TRACE: TRACKING RELATIONAL AXES AND COMPARATIVE EVALUATION
Authors: Sengupta Tuhin , Devaraj Ashokkumar , Karthik Varshini , Altaf Huda , Gupta Mansi
Published: January 2021

Autism is one of the developmental disorders which make major behavioral and communication changes in the individual and induce a major drawback in the walking pattern. The main aim of this study is to analyze and compare the stride patterns of an autistic patient and a healthy individual. With the help of the proposed device, the yaw, pitch and roll of the limbs can be easily measured and analyzed. These parameters will identify the lacking movement patterns and help the physiotherapists in improving the walking pattern of the autistic patients by adopting the correct approach of remedial actions/treatment. It can also be used by the people who have undergone hip replacements or knee replacements and have an abnormal gait pattern. This device is a simple accumulation of sensors and memory storage unit. Two gyroscope sensors have been used, one each for the knee and the ankle. These sensors are strapped onto the knee and ankle with the help of free-sized elastic bands. The data received by the sensors are stored in the storage device automatically and are evaluated in a specially designed Web application. However, the raw data from the gyroscope sensors have not been used directly and various filters have been used to remove the errors. The results have been compared between an autistic patient and a normal healthy subject and showed a higher degree of angle difference for the autistic patient than the normal individual.
Business Education in the USA
Authors: Zhuplev Anatoly , Blas Nataly
Published: January 2021

This chapter examines emerging trends and developments of business education in American higher education. The authors trace the genesis of U.S. business education to its medieval roots and explore its progression through historical stages and four industrial revolutions, including the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Analysis reveals eight mega drivers affecting universities and colleges and creating development opportunities and competitive pressures for change. Drivers range from stagnant enrollments to skyrocketing costs of higher education to the devastating impacts of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). In examination of implications of the 4IR and emerging socio-economic trends for B-schools, the chapter discusses developmental outlook and emerging instructional innovations such as flipped classroom, project-based learning, and others.
Critical Knowledge-Sharing Barriers and Knowledge Governance in Vietnamese Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Ta Canh Van , Zyngier Suzanne
Published: January 2021

This research reveals the Vietnamese higher education institution (HEI) environment to examine knowledge sharing issues in developing countries. It compares knowledge management (KM) governance mechanisms in HEIs in a developing country with KM governance mechanisms used widely in developed countries. The authors position this research in the contextual of management capacity, infrastructure, and training issues. This chapter considers how strategies to develop and implement knowledge transfer are both led and governed in Vietnamese HEIs. Data were analyzed and triangulated from interviews, focus groups from different universities, and government and university websites in Vietnam. Four significant factors are identified in the KM process—bureaucratic management, hierarchical governance patterns, lack of autonomy, and underdeveloped KM systems—as contributory factors. The results are compared with extant KM governance literature and finds that knowledge is managed through bureaucratic mechanisms. Vietnamese academics rarely share their knowledge critical to research and research-led teaching.
The Use of Systems Dynamics in the Analysis of Facilities Management Affecting the Quality of Higher Education in Egypt
Authors: ElHarakany Reem A. , Moscardini Alfredo , Khalifa Nermine M. , Abd Elghany Marwa M. , Abd Elghany Mona M.
Published: January 2021

In every nation, it is important that the higher education system fulfils the community expectation for perceived quality. One aspect of improving quality is to adopt a better funding strategy for the facilities that are provided by a university. This chapter focuses on the funding strategy for Egyptian universities. The chapter provides the background to the problem distinguishing between private and public universities thenceforward describes the process, employing the causal diagrams, to prioritise the six most important facility services. The budgeting for these services are individually modelled (using both the qualitative and quantitative system dynamics) and then incorporated into a combined stock and flow model. The models allow a facility service administrator to optimise spending in a particular area and also to rank the spending between the six facilities. The models for private and public universities have the same structure but differ with the data. Results of the analysis are discussed in detail.
Modeling, Analysis, and Control of Wide Distributed Large-Scale PV Power Plant Using Recent Optimization Techniques
Authors: Mohamed Rania Gamal , Ebrahim Mohamed Ahmed
Published: January 2021

Atom search optimization algorithm (ASOA) has recently been explored to develop a novel algorithm for distributed optimization and control. This chapter proposes the ASOA-based design of maximum power point tracking controllers (MPPTCs) for controlling the boost converter voltage to harvest the maximum power and enhance the damping of oscillations in the output power of the photovoltaic power plants. The proposed ASOA-based MPPTCs are PI and fractional-order PI controllers. ASOA is utilized to search for optimal controller parameters by minimizing a candidate time-domain based objective function. The performance of the proposed ASOA-based MPPTCs has been compared to the MPPTCs optimized by grey wolf optimizer (GWO) to demonstrate the superior efficiency of the ASOA-based MPPTCs. Simulation results emphasis on the better performance of the proposed MPPTCs compared to MPPTCs and GWO-based PI- FOPI controllers over a wide range of operating conditions.
Use of the Internet to Plan Tourism Trips by People With Special Needs
Authors: Carneiro Maria João , Teixeira Leonor , Eusébio Celeste , Kastenholz Elisabeth , Moura Andreia Antunes
Published: January 2021

This chapter aims to examine internet usage to plan a tourism trip by people with special needs (PwSN), particularly addressing differences in the intensity of internet usage according to their age and education level. To achieve these aims, a survey was applied to a sample of Portuguese people with special needs who have already undertaken tourism trips. Various bivariate statistical tests (chi-square, t test, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis) were used to examine differences in internet usage according to respondents' age and education level. Results obtained reveal that the internet is the most important information source used by PwSN in planning their tourism trips. However, respondents report that they are not very satisfied with the online sources used. Moreover, online sources used to plan tourism activities vary according to PwSNs' age and education level.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Technologies for Accessibility and Marketing in the Tourism Industry
Authors: Altinay Ozdemir Meltem
Published: January 2021

The study investigated the roles of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) for accessibility and marketing in tourism. Literature is reviewed in this exploratory study and examples of VR and AR for accessibility and marketing in the tourism industry are presented. The review was conducted with two perspectives: accessibility role and marketing role of VR and AR technologies in the tourism industry. As a result of reviewing, these technologies have both strengths and weaknesses for accessibility in tourism. VR has both strengths such as a secure environment, alternative access, and weaknesses such as user neglect, high cost. Similarly, AR has both strengths such as knowledge enrichment, enhancement of experience, and weaknesses such as high cost, lack of security. The high cost of both technologies restricts accessibility and marketing. Also, VR and AR have benefits as reducing strategy costs, attracting tourists with gamification strategies, ease of brand promotion, building brand loyalty, collecting data, and customized product development in tourism marketing.
Attaining Knowledge of Idiomatics in the Age of Corona and Beyond
Authors: Liontas John I.
Published: January 2021

This chapter investigates the affordances of technological processes and educational resources for attaining knowledge of idiomatics. It first explores the training practices language practitioners will need to foster a tech-driven pedagogy of the reconstructive nature of idiomatics understanding and production in English. Following a brief review of the most significant themes and concepts spanning the literature of idiomatics, the chapter then anchors its communication-of-information pedagogy in an online methodology of idiomatics teaching-and-learning. Said methodology facilitates and enhances idiomatic-figurative synergism in discursive and communicative contexts. Thereafter, the chapter highlights and examines the most critical implications in applying idiomatics resourcefully. Recommendations for idiomatics training-and-teaching are also suggested.
Augmented Reality in Language and STEM Education
Authors: Le Nhu , Dinh Hanh
Published: January 2021

Rapid advancement in technology has altered language and STEM education, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Augmented reality (AR) has emerged as one of the latest technologies offering a new way to bridge virtual and real worlds, which can enhance both teaching and learning experience. Due to the widespread proliferation of digital technology, the implementation of AR on internet-based devices and mobile devices has become a growing trend in educational settings related to language and content-based instruction. There has been an increasing number of studies exploring the design, evaluation, and applications of AR for pedagogical purposes. This chapter aims to 1) delineate AR technology and its theoretical foundations, 2) review AR-pertinent literature regarding language and STEM education, 3) discuss the potentials as well as challenges of this innovative technology, and 4) propose practical applications for ESL/EFL teachers, educators, and practitioners alike.
Accent Conversion in Computer-Assisted Pronunciation Training (CAPT)
Authors: Safavi Setareh
Published: January 2021

This study investigated a computer-assisted pronunciation training (CAPT) software that utilized automatic speech recognition (ASR) and accent conversion technology to improve pronunciation of second language learners. Such speech processing method is capable of addressing the typical shortcoming of ASR technology for L2 pronunciation training, which is providing meaningful corrective feedback. Thirty-six student participants were involved in the treatment group. For the treatment, they worked on a CAPT tool that utilized ASR and AC to provide the participants with corrective feedback. A comparison group was also used and consisted of 36 students but worked on a different type of CAPT tool. Two trained raters took part in rating each monologue completed for the pretest, posttest, and comparison data. Findings showed preliminary statistical significance in regards to improved pronunciation for the treatment group. Additional results also showed no statistical differences in the rater scores between the control group and the experimental posttest scores.
Peer Feedback Through Voki to Raise Students' Awareness of the Register in Spoken Activities
Authors: Ramirez-Avila Maria Rossana , Gaona Darwin German
Published: January 2021

Speaking is challenging in EFL students living in a Spanish-speaking country. It was the case of the participants of this study. They were teenagers of a public high school located in Ecuador. An action research was implemented. The design was quasi-experimental. Data was collected with through pre- and posttests and pre- and post-surveys. Cohen's d=3.34 indicates a large impact for improving speaking with the use of peer feedback and Voki; a p=0.000 shows statistically significant results that were due to the intervention. The instruments also collected information regarding students' perspectives towards fluency, pronunciation, peer feedback, and register. Results indicated a large change of students' opinion favoring peer feedback and register, as well as a slight change in their opinion related to fluency and pronunciation. The findings also show that this research study has implications for educators, directors, and principals of institutions who are interested in improving the English-speaking skills of their students.
UcEF for Semantic IR
Authors: Akhigbe Bernard Ijesunor
Published: January 2021

At present, keyword-based techniques allow information retrieval (IR) but are unable to capture the conceptualizations in users' information needs and contents. The response to this has been semantic search computing with commendable success. Surprisingly, it is still difficult to evaluate Semantic IR (SIR) and understand the user contexts. The absence of a standardized cognitive user-centred evaluative paradigm (CUcEP) further exacerbates these challenges. This chapter provides the state-of-the-art on IR and SIR evaluation and a systematic review of contexts. Appropriate user-centred theories and the proposed evaluative framework with its integrated-context, web analytic conception, and related data analytic technique are presented. A descriptive approach is adopted, with the conclusion that multiple contexts are essential in SIR evaluation since “searching by meaning” is a multi-dimensional cognitive conception, hence the need to consider the impact of context dynamicity. Finally, the foregrounded semantic items will be applied to standardize the CUcEP in future.
Towards Semantic Data Integration in Resource-Limited Settings for Decision Support on Gait-Related Diseases
Authors: Daramola Olawande , Moser Thomas
Published: January 2021

Resource-limited settings (RLS) are characterised by lack of access to adequate resources such as ICT infrastructure, qualified medical personnel, healthcare facilities, and affordable healthcare for common people. The potential for the application of AI and clinical decision support systems in RLS are limited due to these challenges. Towards the improvement of the status quo, this chapter presents the conceptual design of a framework for the semantic integration of health data from multiple sources to facilitate decision support for the diagnosis and treatment of gait-related diseases in RLS. The authors describe how the framework can leverage ontologies and knowledge graphs for semantic data integration to achieve this. The plausibility of the proposed framework and the general imperatives for its practical realisation are also presented.
Harnessing the Tiger of Emerging E-Learning Platforms
Authors: Neimann Theresa , Wang Viktor
Published: January 2021

This chapter explores the evolution of E-learning, defines many E-platforms and discusses the relationship between contemporary Andragogical practices, and future technology trends, which key drivers for the implementation of new technology, play a significant role. This chapter argues that online education (E-learning) has the potential for greater access and advancement of knowledge for learners across their life spans than the traditional four walled classroom. The purpose of this chapter argues how we can rely on practice and research to harness the untapped potential of increasingly diverse modalities of online education. Some of the major issues revolving around online education and adult learners in the 21 Century include: processes of learning prevalent in E-learning platforms, issues concerning policy, access and program completion, barriers to online learning adoption for adult learners and assessment of online learning in the context for the 21st Century.
Online Higher Education for Nontraditional Adult Students
Authors: Kim Junghwan , Shin Heh Youn , Smith Kim L. , Hwang Jihee
Published: January 2021

This chapter examines two U.S. four-year public universities, the Pennsylvania State University World Campus and the University of Oklahoma Outreach, that have successfully developed online adult education system/programs for adults. Using the principles of effectiveness for serving adult learners, the integrated review reveals not only how they advance online higher education environment for adults, but the types of challenges they have. Key findings highlight that, under a strong tradition of distance education, “self-assessment system,” “financial independence,” and “diverse active supports for life and career planning” play a critical role in increasing the academic engagement and retention of adult students. However, they also have several challenges: “high tuition rates and limited scholarship options,” “monitoring students' experience,” “learning outcome assessment,” and “commitment of faculty members.” The authors close with practical/academic implications and future research agendas.
A Theoretically Informed Approach to Collaborative Writing in EAP Contexts Using Web-Based Technologies
Authors: Johnston Kris Pierre , Lawrence Geoff
Published: January 2021

This chapter examines the need for a theoretically-informed approach to collaborative English for Academic Purpose (EAP) pedagogy and research. It discusses the relevance of online collaborative learning in EAP and the call for a theoretically-informed facilitative framework to guide the use of online collaborative writing tools to sustain learning communities and language learning. It establishes the importance of virtual learning communities as catalysts for online collaboration and discusses the need to examine technological affordances, adopting an ecological perspective to inform curricular design. The chapter examines the relevance of the Community of Inquiry model and its three presences: cognitive, social and teaching, as a theoretical basis to inform a facilitative framework to design online collaborative EAP writing tasks. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the interactions of these three presences, details on how they can inform online EAP collaborative writing practices and the need for future research in this area.
Instructional Design and Online Standards
Authors: Farmer Lesley S. J.
Published: January 2021

Online education has a foundation so that beneficial practices can leverage online environments effectively. Besides generic instructional design principles, models of good online instructional design are emerging. These practices and models are codified into online instructional design standards that provide research-based criteria that can be used to measure the degree to which such instructional designs meet those standards and can serve as guidelines of factors to consider when designing online instruction. This chapter provides an overview of instructional design as it applies to online teaching and learning. It also discusses how standards can help improve such instructional design in order to optimize student learning and achievement.
Edmodo in an Institute of Teacher Education
Authors: Loo Quinie Ong Kooi , Dass Kathleen
Published: January 2021

Edmodo is a free online learning platform for teachers to communicate and collaborate with students. It is a digital communication tool that has been designed to work across a range of devices, suitable for blended learning. To maximize learning and meet the challenges of the current digitalized classroom, supplemental blended learning was adopted in an English literature course in an institute of teacher education in Kedah, Malaysia. This chapter describes how Edmodo was used to manage blended learning, with the focus on online activities created in posts, small groups, assignment tool, and polling tool. The activities were planned based on the five ingredients on blended learning by Carman. The result of a poll done in Edmodo showed 74% of the students agreed that they were able to explicate Shakespeare after attending the course, and 81% opined that the course was effectively organized in Edmodo. Based on the positive feedback, Edmodo is recommended for subsequent blended learning courses.
Culture and Motivation in Globalized Open and Distance Learning Spaces
Authors: Keller John M. , Ucar Hasan , Kumtepe Alper Tolga
Published: January 2021

Culture, globalization, and evolution in information and communication technologies are three of the many factors that sway open and distance education phenomenon throughout the world. Within this field, motivation issues are regarded as the prime movers behind cultural differences. This chapter examines culture and motivation in globalized online learning spaces and their effects on learners' motivation. After exploring and explaining culture, globalization, and motivation issues, implications for designing motivational strategies for culturally diverse online learners based on Keller's ARCS-V motivation design model are presented. Further, recommendations and future research directions are proposed. Lastly, this chapter focuses on the multicultural nature of open and distance learning spaces.
Incorporating Innovative Instructional Strategies to Enhance Learner Engagement in Online College Courses
Authors: Orr Lynne , Weekley Linda , Reyes Brianna
Published: January 2021

The effectiveness of innovative college teaching in online learning can be measured by learner engagement. Online learners in a master's degree program in education have expressed and shown an increase in learner engagement through the facilitation of innovative practices in addition to a synchronized weekly Skype session to apply innovative practices. These practices have proven to increase learner engagement and decrease completion time for doctoral study candidates. The two online programs will describe how the inclusion of innovation in online instructional strategies increases learner engagement. Solutions and recommendations for effective instructional strategies will also be reviewed in relation to facilitating learner engagement.
Understanding Student Support
Authors: Rangara-Omol Tabitha
Published: January 2021

Blended learning comprises of teaching and learning formats that complement online technologies for both on-campus and off-campus students. The disposition of online learning requires the student to exercise autonomy, independence, and self-reliance, and the teacher to engage skills that facilitate, guide, and mentor students. These skills need to be developed through support systems that encourage both faculty and student participation. This chapter examines the concept of student support with the objective of providing a background and justification for its role in online learning. The chapter proposes that student support should be part of faculty training with a double-faceted benefit: 1) faculty will adopt the use of technology while learning online student support systems; 2) a well-designed support system will contribute to best practice through improved student retention and success.
Principles and Practices for Enhanced Visual Design in Virtual Learning Environments
Authors: Grant-Smith Deanna , Donnet Tim , Macaulay James , Chapman Renee
Published: January 2021

The widespread adoption of learning management systems (LMS) in higher education has been promoted as a means of modernizing learning material, improving learning outcomes, and enhancing student engagement, but has often fallen short of these goals. It has been suggested that investment in visual design has the potential to ensure the promise of LMS can be realized. Through the reflections of instructors, a learning designer, and students, this chapter explores the relationship between LMS aesthetics and usability and student engagement. It proposes visual design principles and practices which highlight the combined contribution of functional utility, visual identity, aesthetic appeal, and transactional access to enhancing student engagement and user experience in a virtual learning environment.
Using Visual Design to Improve the Online Learning Experience
Authors: Bader Jason D. , Lowenthal Patrick R.
Published: January 2021

There is an abundant amount of literature on visual design principles, graphic design theory, and media theory. Yet very little is discussed, at least in a systematic way, about the process of making online courses aesthetically pleasing. A major obstacle to gaining such knowledge is the lack of understanding of applied definitions, conceptual ideas, and methods of creating online learning interfaces. In this chapter, the authors seek to clarify the process of using visual design to improve the online learning experience. The chapter concludes with strategies on how colleges and universities can help faculty and instructional designers learn visual design skills through the creation of a design studio.
Evaluating Trends and Issues in Distance Learning
Authors: Khadimally Seda
Published: January 2021

Today's learners are intrinsically motivated in that they are apt to analyze, synthesize, internalize, rebuild, share, and disseminate knowledge not only with their instructors, but also their peers, and the greater community, including a plethora of learning communities from across the world. Web-based technologies play a key role in this learning process. Particularly online social media networks and mobile technologies, the two selected technology trends evaluated in this paper, are thriving in online learning/teaching settings, immensely helping students acquire valid learning gains. These technologies are not a fad, a myth, or talk-of-the-day in learning and teaching environments in any given discipline. With that said, there are also certain issues and challenges that accompany these media and technologies for learning and teaching practices, which will also be addressed in this paper. Finally, future implications on these trends and issues in DL will be further discussed with the hope that educational leaders can draw on them for further inquiry and development in the field.
Towards a Holistic Framework for Customer Centric Service, Customer Satisfaction, Trust, and Loyalty
Authors: Semente Efigenia Madalena Mario , Chufama Maxwell , Silva Jacinto
Published: January 2021

This study proposes RATTER-SSTL as a new framework for customer centricity. It contains nine dimensions that measure customer centricity, namely reliability, assurance, tangibles, training, empathy, responsiveness, service attainment, satisfaction, trust, and loyalty distributed along 44 items measured using a Likert scale (1 strongly disagree to strongly agree). Two hundred bank customers drawn from the city of Gweru in Zimbabwe were conveniently selected to participate in the study. The data collected from the participants was analysed using SPSS version 25. Cronbach's alpha and principal component analysis (PCA) were used as a measure of reliability and validity of the instrument. The internal consistency of the instrument has been established for all the constructs in the study. The 44 individual items used were deemed ideal to measure service quality and customer centricity since they all attained a minimum required Cronbach alpha of above 0.7. The study contributes significantly to both business practice and to the existing body of knowledge.
The Impact of Big Data on Accounting and Auditing
Authors: Balios Dimitris
Published: January 2021

Big data and big data analytics will unavoidably change the role of accountants. This paper considers the impact of big data on accounting and auditing. Financial accountants need to move beyond the book-keeping process and become key information providers to decision-makers. That upturns accountants' consulting role and their ability to think strategically, providing critical help in management decision making. The relationship between managers and management accountants becomes closer and more effective because of big data. Management accountants can use additional analytical methods to detect processes and product excellence, combined with diminishing cost. Big data and big data analytics in auditing ensure audit quality and fraud detection. Upgraded information systems and automation in business procedures diminish the need for staff participation. Inevitably, the skills of accountants and knowledge must be associated with big data and big data analytics and modern accountants must develop an analytics mindset by being familiar with data and technologies.
Multicamera Video Stitching for Multiple Human Tracking
Authors: Vasuhi S. , Samydurai A. , Vijayakumar M.
Published: January 2021

In this paper, a novel approach is proposed to track humans for video surveillance using multiple cameras and video stitching techniques. SIFT key points are extracted from all camera inputs. Using k-d tree algorithm, all the key points are matched and random sample consensus (RANSAC) is used to identify the match correspondence among all the matched points. Homography matrix is calculated using four matched robust feature correspondences, the images are warped with respect to the other images, and the human tracking is performed on the stitched image. To identify the human in the stitched video, background modeling is performed using fuzzy inference system and perform foreground extraction. After foreground extraction, the blobs are constructed around each detected human and centroid point is calculated for each blob. Finally, tracking of multiple humans is done by Kalman filter (KF) with Hungarian algorithm.
Student Perceptions of Fake News
Authors: Petrucco Corrado , Agostini Daniele
Published: January 2021

The problem of fake news has underscored the importance of stimulating critical thinking skills (i.e., information literacy) in the educational setting. Students should be trained in these competencies, which will be useful to them in their schooling, as well as in their later work and lives. The paper presents the findings of an exploratory survey of 185 third- and fourth-year upper secondary school students aged 16 to 18. The findings show students overestimate their critical skills and are overexposed to information flows from the old and new media that make fact-checking difficult. There is also strong demand for an approach that is both technological and humanistic towards educating about fake news.