bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovative Technologies to Manage Educational Process in Higher Educational Institutions
Authors: Olena Glushchenko , Liudmyla Sorokina , Maryna Romaniukha
Published: July 2018

The paper deals with one of modern effective pedagogical technologies in relation to management of the educational process with students of higher educational institutions. The authors discuss the concept of virtual excursion, formulate its advantages over traditional technologies, clarify the principles of modern pedagogical activity through a virtual excursion for the teachers and students.

The paper presents one of the lecture plans devoted to a virtual tour using Internet resources. Relying on live resources, the authors argue that a virtual excursion brings students closer to their professional tasks, teach them to associate theoretical material with practice. As for an instructor, the effective use of modern innovative, computer training technology can improve the efficiency of teaching different subjects, streamline learning activities, optimize the processes of understanding and memorizing learning material.
Problems of Distance Education
Authors: Fojtík Rostislav
Published: July 2018

Distance learning and e-learning have significantly developed in recent years. It is also due to changing educational requirements, especially for adults. The article aims to show the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning. Examples of the 20-year use of the distance learning form of computer science describe the difficulties associated with the implementation and implementation of this form of teaching. The results of students in the full-time and distance form of teaching in the bachelor’s study of computer science are compared. Long-term findings show that distant students have significantly lower scores in the first years of study than full-time bachelor students. In the following years of study, the differences diminish, and students’ results are comparable. The article describes the possibilities of improving the quality of distance learning.
Analysis of Situation of Integrating Information and Communication Technology in Indian Higher Education
Authors: Verma Chaman , Stoffová Veronika , Illés Zoltán
Published: July 2018

India is a growing ICT country in the world. In the most recent research findings ICT provides us several ways of learning and it also affects teachers by providing alternative teaching styles. With the use of the latest technology, teachers can grasp the significance of technology. To use it efficiently and creatively, the teacher should have right and positive attitude. By keeping this thing in view, the concerned study describing the attitude of Indian teachers towards ICT in education in relation to their affiliation with the University is conducted. More than three hundred teachers from different faculties of six universities located in two states of India have participated in the academic year 2015. The statistical test like Z-test and T-test at 5% confidence level proves that University affiliation did not affect the teachers’ attitude towards ICT in higher education.
Interactive Material for Mathematics Instruction
Authors: Prextová Tatiana , Knyblová Alena
Published: July 2018

The education area is developing constantly, with innovative approaches to instruction emerging all the time. Digital technology, programs, software and all kinds of applications are used on a daily basis not only in informatics instruction, but also in humanities subjects such as history, foreign language, etc. Since working with modern technology comes naturally for today’s students, they find instruction which uses interactive elements more attractive as it is more active, dynamic and visual. The paper is aimed at interactive study materials which could be used in upper primary school mathematics instruction. The created interactive study materials should make instruction more effective and encourage students to be more active in class. Our proposals are based on the 7th grade curriculum. The created materials will be based on the key didactic principles, curriculum and teachers’ ideas and requirements. Moreover, the created materials will be implemented into instruction. Afterward, the materials will be evaluated by both teachers and students through a questionnaire survey.
Value Creation by Support Organizations Through the Prism of Conflicting Institutional Logics
Authors: Markiewicz Joanna
Published: July 2018

The article sets out to explore how conflicting institutional logics of support organizations influence their value creation. Value creation undertaken by support organizations does not directly reflect their missions. Even though one can generalize that all support organizations should adjust their offer according to the idea of helping companies (especially small- and medium-sized enterprises [SMEs]) in their development, support organizations very often struggle with the conflict between mission delivery and survival needs, which affects value proposition of services. Moreover, support organizations are also shaped by institutional logics, which, embedded in social systems, govern all social agents. Therefore, the study explains the challenge of value creation from the perspective of the conflict of competing institutional logics that govern support organizations. The study also has its academic impact by contributing to existing literature on value creation by support organizations through the use of institutional logic theory. To gain this knowledge, discourse analysis is utilized in the study.
Proposal for Brand’s Communication Strategy Developed on Customer Segmentation Based on Psychological Factors and Decision-Making Speed in Purchasing: Case of the Automotive Industry
Authors: Kicova Eva , Kral Pavol , Janoskova Katarína
Published: July 2018

Customers are key in the brand-building process. Many times, this term is applied very broadly, especially in segmentation and planning. Knowing the customer buying behaviour and customer decision-making process is important for brands, especially today, when customers are informed much better and get information over the Internet faster. In this paper, we present theory that deals with the purchasing behaviour of customers and emphasize the analysis of the sales cycle of the individual phases in the current conditions, when segmentation based on socio-demographic data is not enough. It is much better to define the psychological factors, which influence the customer and motivate him to buy in combination with the buyer’s decision-making speed. Thus, the article discusses the basic four types of customers according to the major research work carried out by Eisenberg brothers. Based on this analysis, we can determine the percentage of individual customers. The article offers a survey that was conducted to find the most important factors in the decision-making process when buying a car. In addition to the criteria, we also asked our respondents about the importance of these factors. We have used the multiple criteria decision analysis as it is one of the methods of complex evaluation and it minimizes the degree of subjectivity in choosing a suitable variant. Based on our survey, we have used analysis to estimate trends that brands operate in automotive sector could use to communicate in order to address the type of customer that belongs to their target audience. The primary aim of the paper is to prove that there is a growing trend of humanistic customers through study about their preferences and criteria during the decision-making process that leads them to buy a new car. Moreover, we determinate communication strategies for all four types of customers based on theory provided by Eisenbergs.
The Analysis of the Implementation of municipal Cooperation and Merger Strategies: Case Study for Slovenia
Authors: Pevcin Primoz
Published: July 2018

Slovenia has only one tier of sub-national government, that is, municipalities. Currently, there are 212 municipalities, and they exhibit the same responsibilities they need to provide to their residents, regardless of their size, and these differences in size are even in the range 1:100. The new national strategy for the development of local self-government has, therefore, stressed the necessity to promote cooperation among municipalities and even potential mergers, not just to ensure cost-effectiveness but also to increase the capacity of municipalities to perform various developmental tasks. Consequently, the aim of the article is to analyse the evolution and factors driving inter-municipal cooperation and municipal mergers, where Slovenia is taken as an example, and case study approach is used in this manner. The results of the analysis indicate that territorial fragmentation at the local level has been accompanied by the increase in the inter-municipal cooperation, although some time lag can be observed. Moreover, the increase in the cooperation can be observed in particular with the onset of economic slowdown and fiscal stress emergence. The results also portray that substantial territorial rescaling cannot be expected in the near future, as suggested by the analysis of driving factors that should contribute to this process, as well as by rather weak ability of central government to promote the process. Consequently, from the practical perspective, we might expect larger role of more in-depth trans-scaling strategies as a mechanism to overcome the problem of sub-optimal size of municipalities in Slovenia.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Selected Slovak Brands on the Principle of DEA Models with the Possibility to Optimise them
Authors: Moravcikova Dominika , Krizanova Anna , Svabova Lucia
Published: July 2018

Nowadays, when marketing and branding change, companies are trying to find new ways to evaluate the effectiveness of their marketing activities as they impact on current and future business results. The main objective of the contribution is to evaluate the effectiveness of decision making unit (DMU) production units in the form of selected Slovak brands through the non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) method. The sample size consists of 10 Slovak brands (Slovenská sporiteľňa, VÚB banka, Tatra banka, ESET, Slovnaft, Matador, Rajec, Sygic, Sedita and Zlatý bažant). Through DEA, we have gained a portfolio of effective and portfolio of ineffective brands operating in Slovakia. Depending on the choice of the DEA model, effective brands included Slovenská sporiteľňa, Sygic, Zlatý Bažant, Rajec and Sedita. Other brands were classified as ineffective. The result for ineffective brands is the creation of archetypal characters that we propose in Results section. The part of Results section is the focus of the businesses of the brands in question on the use of social media, to a larger extent, create a social media voice so that the personality of the brand is reflected in contributions in social media communicating on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. In contribution, deduction, induction, analysis and marketing research methods were used.
The Concept of Gamification and its Use in Software Companies in the Republic of Macedonia
Authors: Kiselicki Martin , Kirovska Zanina , Josimovski Saso , Pulevska Lidija
Published: July 2018

Gamification represents a relatively new term that has become massively popular in recent years. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the various definitions regarding gamification, to present a unified process of designing a gamified system and to research the use of gamification on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. Gamification focuses on the internal motivators of employees, which are much more powerful and longer-lasting than the external motivators traditionally used in human resource management. Since this concept relies on video games, data demonstrated makes it clear that they are prevalent in each age group and there is no inclination of one sex over the other. The research done through a questionnaire on SMEs in the IT industry on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia was focused on researching the gamification trends in the country and generally gave positive results regarding the level of use and the readiness of the Macedonian managers for gamification. A high percentage of the companies surveyed are using or are in the process of implementing gamified systems and consider that they could bring a number of benefits. The main disadvantages are the lack of understanding by employees and insufficient technical knowledge. The paper contributes in clarifying the gamification concept and distinguishing it from other similar concepts. From a practical standpoint, the presented process for designing a gamified process can be utilized by companies in the IT industry in the future, regardless of the country of origin.
Engaged Humanities. New Perspectives of Experience-Oriented Humanities
Authors: Muca Klaudia
Published: July 2018

The term engagement was used in critical cultural studies as a term that name an attitude of scholars, and a feature of cultural and scientific texts, that are based on the experience of an individual or a group of people. In the recent two decades, many of Polish academic narrations on the field of cultural production focused on the issue of engagement. In the article, a phenomenon of engagement in the context of disability studies is considered. The main objective of the article is the analysis of disability studies as a new model of experience- oriented discipline. What is particularly interesting is a possibility to relabel experiences of the disabled as a significant report on the status of modern narrations, which should include different minority bodies. The main aim of disability studies is to present a project of engaged attitudes towards social sustainability that is not based on exclusions of any social groups of people. Studies on disability are also introduced as an experience-oriented discipline in the field of engaged humanities. This article aims at presenting critical narrations on the issue of engagement in other to connect disability studies to the engaged humanities. Promoting engagement in many areas of culture and social life seems to be a way of introducing more open politics towards difference, and social sphere of life that is equally accessible for everyone.
Communicative Functions of Hashtags
Authors: Laucuka Aleksandra
Published: July 2018

Despite the initial function of hashtags as tools for sorting and aggregating information according to topics, the social media currently witness a diversity of uses diverging from the initial purpose. The aim of this article is to investigate the communicative functions of hashtags through a combined approach of literature review, field study and case study. Different uses of hashtags were subjected to semantic analysis in order to disclose generalizable trends. As a result, ten communicative functions were identified: topic-marking, aggregation, socializing, excuse, irony, providing metadata, expressing attitudes, initiating movements, propaganda and brand marketing. These findings would help to better understand modern online discourse and to prove that hashtags are to be considered as a meaningful part of the message. A limitation of this study is its restricted volume.
The Work Contents of the Personnel Specialist in Latvia
Authors: Lazda Reinis , Kalnins Armands
Published: July 2018

The contents in the work of personnel specialist differ in organizations from one field to another. It continues to evolve with an emergence of new technologies and business methods, as well as with structural changes in the economy, both at a global and national level. However, the existing professional regulations of particular professions in Latvia has not been changed for almost 10 years, while the economy as well as the workforce appears to have changed. The aim of the paper is to illustrate what currently forms the contents of work of personnel specialist in Latvia. To achieve this, a study on trends in the work of personnel specialists has been conducted with an informative support of Latvian Association for People Management. The topics of daily activities and tasks, as well as individual features of personnel in various fields, including building, banking, manufacturing, IT, retail company, and public service companies have been included in the study. Overall, 18 personnel specialists from public and private sectors were interviewed. The results show that the classical model of human resource management is still popular, although some of the industries have adapted many or most of the cutting-edge approaches in the field, including flexible jobs and continuous employee support. Therefore, it is advised to update the existing documentation, including the professional regulation and university curricula, to meet the needs of the contemporary companies employing personnel specialists.
Culture as a Tool for School Improvement: The Case of Children’s Socialisation Centres
Authors: Bieliune Simona
Published: July 2018

The concern for delinquent children’s social and emotional development in closed institutions is a significant topic in educational research. This shows the need to improve the existing re-socialisation practice. Despite the fact that school effectiveness and school improvement researches theoretically have different general purposes and value bases, educational effectiveness and improvement paradigm involves both trends, which are combined by the same aspects: scientific approach and empirical data based on educational settings; knowledge of how to improve the school practice; and use of this knowledge for social purposes. In this context, the concept of the school culture is one of the main variables that allow us to answer how to address the needs of all children and improve their academic or social outcomes. The aim of this article is to illustrate the cultural characteristics of children’s socialisation centres as specific schools and to identify the guidelines for improving their performance. The mission of children’s socialisation centres is to re-socialise delinquent behaviour of children and to help them to integrate into the society. Quantitative data for measuring the school culture is obtained from the survey that was conducted using the School Culture Inventory (Maslowski, 2001). This instrument is based on the Competing Values Framework (Cameron, Quinn, 2011) consisting of four dimensions, which are labelled by human relations, open systems, rational goal and internal process orientation. The theoretical value of the survey is the analysis of school culture in terms of successful re-socialisation. The cultural profiles of these schools showed the priorities that require practical changes.
Searching for Key Factors in Enterprise Bankrupt Prediction: A Case Study in Slovak Republic
Authors: Podhorska Ivana , Kovacova Maria , Valaskova Katarina
Published: July 2018

The issue of enterprise in bankrupt or financial health as a whole is still very actual topic not only in Slovakia but also in abroad. Works dealing with the enterprise in bankruptcy have already appeared in the 1930s of the 20th century. Bankrupt of enterprise affect all subject in relationship with this enterprise. Financial experts were looking for the ways for enterprise bankrupt prediction. This article is based on the searching for key factors that could indicate the enterprise in bankrupt in Slovak conditions. This article tries to work with financial variables from the area of financial health assessment of enterprise and works with the sample of Slovak enterprises. This sample includes 8,522 financial statements of enterprises in 2016. According to several relevant decisions rules, for example, the value of equity or equity debt ratio, enterprises are divided into two categories – bankrupt enterprises and creditworthy enterprises. Subsequently, this article tries to find statistically significant financial variables that could indicate involving enterprises in these two categories and works with several statistical methods for searching significant relationship between variables and the tightness of relations between them. As a main statistical method, Pearson´s correlation coefficient is used, which is supported by correlation matrices. In addition, it is necessary to test an existence of outliers in the sample of enterprises. Existence of outliers is tested by the Grubbs test of outliers.
Prediction of Default of Small Companies in the Slovak Republic
Authors: Svabova Lucia , Durica Marek , Podhorska Ivana
Published: July 2018

From the time of Altman and the first bankruptcy prediction models, the prediction of default of companies is in the centre of interest of many economists and scientists all over the world. For companies, early detection of the possible threat of imminent financial difficulties or even bankruptcy is a very important part of financial analysis. Over the last few years, many predictive models have been created in the world. However, it has been shown that these models are not very well transferable to the conditions of the economy of another country and their prediction or rating power in another country is lower. Therefore, it is best to create a specific predictive model in the country that takes into account the situation of companies on the basis of real data on their financial situation. This paper is focused on creating a model of failure prediction of small companies in Slovakia using a well-known and widely used method of multivariate discriminant analysis. Discriminant analysis is one of the oldest multivariate statistical methods and sometimes it is difficult to fulfil certain assumptions for data. However, its results are easily interpretable and can be used to classify a company to the group of companies with risk of financial difficulties or, on the contrary, between well-prosperous companies. Prediction model is created based on real data on Slovak enterprises and has a strong classification ability in the specific conditions of the Slovak Republic.
Sensory Marketing from the Perspective of a Support Tool for Building Brand Value
Authors: Nadanyiova Margareta , Kliestikova Jana , Kolencik Juraj
Published: July 2018

A brand is one way to distinguish products from each other, while simplifying consumers’ decisions in choosing an appropriate product. Brand building is not just about design but also strategy, which is even more important in the process. The result of brand building is the potential to represent a certain value for the company. However, sustaining and improving a brand’s position in the market is not a simple process in the current competitive environment. Therefore, there is scope for application of new marketing strategies such as sensory marketing. Sensory marketing represents a way for companies to influence consumers’ senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste) and evoke the emotions affecting their buying behaviour and perceptions of the product or brand. The aim of the article is to provide a literature review on the issue from several foreign and domestic authors. It discusses the essence of a brand, brand value, sensory marketing and also analyses its use as a support tool for building brand value in practice through secondary research data. Based on this, in conclusion, the authors highlight the benefits of using sensory marketing for building brand value, including ensuring loyalty of standing customers as well as gaining new ones, building a successful brand and positive perception of the brand and product by users.
Predictive Ability of Chosen Bankruptcy Models: A Case Study of Slovak Republic
Authors: Siekelova Anna , Kliestik Tomas , Adamko Peter
Published: July 2018

Bankruptcy models are used to assess credit risk and predict financial situation to indicate the probable bankruptcy of the company. Contribution deals with the application of chosen bankruptcy models in analysing and predicting the financial health of selected companies. Most of the models have been developed abroad. In case of Slovak Republic, its application and correctness of the results can be problematic; therefore, we have focused primarily on those that have emerged in countries with a similar economy. We have calculated the selected prediction models in a sample of 500 Slovak enterprises. Predictive ability lower than 64% is considered as unfavourable. As part of the contribution, based on expert literature and relevant legislation, we have defined the criteria that allow to divide businesses into two groups: prosperous and non-prosperous. In the end, we compared the results of the selected models with the inclusion of enterprises in a prosperous and non- prosperous group based on the criteria set by us. We also dealt with examining of error types I (when an enterprise in bad financial condition is included in a non-bankruptcy group) and II (when an enterprise in good financial condition is included in a bankruptcy group). The aim is to analyse the predictive ability of the selected bankruptcy models.
The Analysis and Assesstment of International Capital Flows in the Form of Foreign Direct Investments and Foreign Direct Divestments: The Cases of Latvia and Poland
Authors: Zak Katarzyna
Published: July 2018

Decisions to invest, withdraw, or transfer capital in different foreign markets have become a fixed part of management pragmatics in contemporary companies. The results of the 2017 Global Corporate Divestment Study show that multinational enterprises (MNEs) from particular parts of the world tend to see the main reasons behind their decisions on FDI (foreign direct investment) and FD (foreign direct divestment) in a slightly different manner. Insofar as internationalization processes and FDI have been relatively thoroughly studied and discussed in world and Polish literature, the concept of de-internationalization pursued through the prism of divestment still requires further analysis and consideration. The article aims to present the general framework of the process involving FDI, FD, and the major factors behind it in Poland and Latvia. Theoretical considerations are supplemented with the analysis of statistical data coming from the UNCTAD database as well as the database of Poland’s and Latvia’s central banks, illustrating foreign investment flows. The article uses the method of critical analysis of world and Polish literature, analysis of reports on relevant issues, and desk research analysis.
Enterprises Communication in e-Environment: Case Study of Latvia and Kazakhstan
Authors: Stige-Skuskovnika Vita , Milevica Inga , Civzele Olga , Nurmagambetova Armiyash
Published: July 2018

The performed scientific studies show that proper and skilful use of modern technologies can contribute to significant development of companies. Growth of technologies occurs rapidly, and the electronic environment continuously develops and improves along with it. The electronic environment now already offers companies practically all necessary marketing and communication tools for ensuring company development by creating competitive advantages; nevertheless, not all companies can employ the opportunities rendered by the e- environment, in order to increase company competitiveness and productivity. (Ščeulovs, Gaile-Sarkane 2014). The aim of the paper is to study and compare the enterprises communication in e-environment in two countries – Latvia and Kazakhstan. Study material – 130 enterprises of Latvia, 100 enterprises of Kazakhstan; method – survey. The study was conducted within the Erasmus+ project ‘Mobility between programme and partner countries (KA107)’. Using previous researches and scientific studies, as well as survey of enterprises representatives in Latvia and Kazakhstan, in this paper, the authors a) give an overview of the main trends of enterprise communication in e-environment and b) compare the experience of the two countries.
Different Dynamics of Sensory-Motor Development and Behavior During the Transitional Period in Puppies: Preliminary Results
Authors: Pirrone Federica , Pierantoni Ludovica , Albizzati Valerio , Albertini Mariangela
Published: July 2018

Many studies have analyzed the behavior of puppies during their socialization period, while little attention has been paid to the transitional period, when vision and hearing develop. Here, we compared the average age of sensory and motor development, and the behavior among a total of 25 puppies. Each litter was videotaped during 1-hour daily sessions on postnatal days 10-21 and coded for the following mutually exclusive behavioral categories: sleeping, suckling and moving. The moving category included side-to-side head swinging, exploring, rolling and allogrooming. The opening of the eyelids, appearance of the startle response and ability to stand up with either the front or hind legs were identified. The duration and frequency of puppy behaviors varied significantly with breed and season of birth. Breed and gender differences in gross motor and sensory development were also observed. These findings may turn out to be crucial to enhance the welfare, standards of rearing, and behavioral interventions aimed at improving adaptability to novel stimuli in pet dogs.
Barriers to the Effective Implementation of Behavioural Strategies by Principals of State Secondary Schools in Mauritius
Authors: Jinot Belle Louis
Published: July 2018

One of the leadership role of the secondary school principal is learner discipline management. However, in the context of Mauritius, the behavioural strategies that they implement are found to be ineffective due to various barriers. This study examines the current barriers that are imbedded into the education system and which are obstacles to effective learner discipline management. A qualitative research approach was adopted in order to collect data on the barriers among principals, educators, parents, superintendents and learners. It was found that political interference of parents, the universal free transport system, too much bureaucracy when reporting cases of indiscipline to the Ministry of Education, a lack of collaboration between educators, the school superintendent and the principal, and a lack of parental involvement in learner discipline management in schools are the main barriers to the effective implementation of behavioural strategies by principals in the state secondary schools in Mauritius. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the Ministry of Education rethink about the educational policies in terms of free transport for learners and that the school principal, along with the parents, educators, learners and superintendent, sets up a school discipline plan that would adopt a collaborative management of the problem of learner discipline.
Guidelines to Strengthen Positive Attitudes Towards Study at University Education
Authors: Mendoza Derling José , Mendoza Derling Isaac , Mendoza Enderson José
Published: July 2018

This study focuses on the importance of implementing guidelines to strengthen positive attitudes towards the study among students at Universidad Iberoamericana del Ecuador (UNIB.E). The teaching action-research was used to respond to the situation detected. Twenty-two students were the key informants. The information was also collected through the observation and survey process, which revealed technical difficulties in maintaining interest in the study. In this order of ideas, they are considered necessary the different processes framed in the planning and execution of diverse strategies that project the motivation towards the study. In the development of the different actions applied, it is carried out an evaluation to measure the achievements obtained in order to give greater objectivity and productivity in the fulfillment of the objectives proposed in the present study. Therefore, it is clear that the apathy of students for academic activities is due to the lack of appropriate strategies because these are not meaningful to them. That means, they do not awaken the motivation to generate the necessary interest to develop positive attitudes towards the study.
Information Security Practices in Public Organizations in Albania
Authors: Kuka Elda , Bahiti Rovena , Barolli Ezmolda
Published: July 2018

Nowadays real time communication is defining and conditioning our everyday life. Increased communication constitutes an added value to economic and social development of the country, but, at the same time, it exposes it to the risk of cyber nature with state and non-state actors. This is the reason why information security has become an important and crucial issue. In this paper we examine Information Security practices among IT departments in public institutions in Albania, using a survey and interviews conducted with IT staff.
Impacts of Aid for Innovation on Economic Growth in the Sub-Saharan African Countries
Authors: Udvari Beáta , Ampah Isaac Kwesi
Published: July 2018

For several years, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries continue to struggle with poverty, hunger, epidemics, access to proper sanitation and potable water etc. even though the continent is considered to be endowed with half of the world’s natural resources. Low value-added products continue to be the primary export of countries in the continent since it lacks the technical know-how to manage its resources for sustainable growth and development it envisages. This paper examines the effectiveness of aid for innovation in enhancing growth and innovative performance of SSA using the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) and fixed effect models for the period 2002 to 2015. The empirical results revealed that growth and innovation in the continent could be improved significantly if aid is more advanced to innovation and research. Also, the paper noticed that aid for innovation have more impacts in countries with the lower level of innovation and technological advancement.
Schumpeterian Behavior in a CPR Game: Experimental Evidence from Colombian Fisheries Under TURF’s Management
Authors: Arroyo-Mina José Santiago , Guerrero Daniel
Published: July 2018

This paper studies the behavior of Pacific-Colombian fishermen in a Common-Pool Resource game. The results show that decision-making depends on fishermen’s schooling, sex and last round payoffs. Focusing on individual information, we observe that human capital, measured in years of schooling, has a significant effect on decision-making. Specifically, players with higher schooling adjust their decisions towards on lower levels of harvest, leading closer to the cooperative solution. This behavior could be explained by the better-educated subjects’ improved understanding of the information available to them and possible coordination of efforts due to TURF-based management in the zone.
The Effects of the SPACE Learning Model on Learning Achievement and Innovation & Learning Skills in Higher Education
Authors: Pradubthong Napatcha , Petsangsri Sirirat , Pimdee Paitoon
Published: July 2018

The objectives of this research were to develop a flipped classroom design, and to investigate the learning achievements and the innovation and learning skills of undergraduate students who had registered on a software engineering course which used the flipped classroom design. The suitability of flipped classroom lesson plans was evaluated by nine experts. The sample comprised 63 undergraduate students –33 students in the experimental group and 30 students in the control group - who had registered on the software engineering course in the first semester in 2017. The samples were selected by using the cluster random sampling method. The research instruments used were: (1) the flipped classroom lesson plans; (2) a multiple-choice learning achievement test, and (3) an evaluation form for learning and innovation skills rubric scoring. Mean (x̄), standard deviation, and one-way MANOVA were used to analyze data. The results found that: 1) The suitability of the flipped classroom lesson plans was at a high level (x̄ = 4.45, SD = 0.73). 2)The learning achievement results and the innovation and learning skills of undergraduate students who studied software engineering by the use of the flipped classroom design were higher than those of undergraduate students in a normal classroom, with a level of significance of 0.05.
The Fiesta of the Patios: A Heritage Tourism Resource in the City of Cordoba, Spain
Authors: de la Torre Mª Genoveva Millán Vázquez , Naranjo Leonor Mª Pérez , Rojas Ricardo David Hernandez
Published: July 2018

The patio houses of Cordoba, Spain, are the expression of a traditional form of life and conviviality. Since the designation of the Fiesta of the Patios as Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2012 by the UNESCO, the patios have become an important tourism resource with a significant economic impact on the city. This article analyzes the Fiesta of the Patios from the viewpoint of the people that reside in the patio houses. A survey was carried out among the patio owners and managers to determine their opinion on various aspects related to the festival. The results show that despite the wealth generated in the city by the Fiesta of the Patios, the event has a scarce economic impact on the owners and managers of the patios. Moreover, important issues must be addressed such as the lack of coordination between the stakeholders involved in the management and organization of the festival. Without a doubt, it is necessary to better rationalize resources in benefit of the patio residents, since the festival would not be possible without them.
Analysis of Competitive Learning at University Level in Mexico via Item Response Theory
Authors: Coronado Semei , Sandoval-Bravo Salvador , Celso-Arellano Pedro Luis , Torres-Mata Ana
Published: July 2018

This paper presents a study of the multiple choice test from the eleventh knowledge tournament for Statistics I, in order to determine whether it instills competitive learning in university students. This research uses Item Response Theory (IRT). The results obtained show that only 27 students (13.43% of the total number of participants) have an acceptable level of ability (1.03 to 2.58), while the level of ability of the rest of the students is not satisfactory (-1.68 to 0.76). The participants are not a group of students seeking to test their knowledge of the subject or looking for an academic challenge. Better strategies for motivating students in terms of competitive learning must be found.
Juridical Implication of Otoritas Jasa Keuangan Authority in Banking Supervision in Indonesia
Authors:   Ratnaningsih, Khoidin Mohammad , Susanti Dyah Ochtorina
Published: July 2018

The law number 21 of 2011 on Otoritas Jasa Keuangan is the beginning of a new system implication on regulating and supervising the financial services sector in Indonesia. Initially, Indonesia implemented a model of supervision by several institutions to be an integrated supervision by single institution, i.e., Otoritas Jasa Keuangan. The application of Law of Otoritas Jasa Kauangan divides the authority of banking supervision into two ways, i.e., microprudential which is the authority of Otoritas Jasa Keuangan and macrprudential which is the authority of Bank Indonesia. The law does not give clear limits on the scope of the divisions, whereas both microprudetial and macroprudential are closely related. This division of authority may complicate Bank Indonesia to to carry out its duties as a central bank, therefore it need a synergy between Otoritas Jasa Keuangan and Bank Indonesia in Banking Supervision. This research aims at giving prescriptions on synergy model between Otoritas Jasa Keuangan and Bank Indonesia that can meet the principle of justice, legal certainty and expediency. The method used is normative juridical research by examining various laws and regulations and other literature studies. This research shows the needs of synchronization between the Law of Otoritas Jasa Keuangan and other related laws to omit overlaps of authority between Otoritas Jasa Keuangan and Bank Indonesia.
Growing Trends of Using Mobile in English Language Learning
Authors: Aziz Asma Abdul , Hassan Mehmood Ul , Dzakiria Hisham , Mahmood Qaisar
Published: July 2018

The study explores growing trends of using mobile in English language learning among higher secondary school learners in Pakistan. A survey is conducted to collect data from randomly selected students in district Okara (Punjab), Pakistan. Questionnaire based on five likert scale used to collect quantitative data. Analysis done on SPSS, to acquire mean score and frequency analysis reveals that higher secondary school students of English have great tendency for using mobile to learn English. Besides Students’ perception as obtained from survey prove that using mobile for English language learning makes their job easy and they are able to develop their listening and communicative habits. Findings of this study also reveal that using mobile for English language learning makes the students, independent and self-evaluator.
The International Energy Strategies Ruling the Middle East for a Century Re-appear and Determine the Destiny of the Whole Eastern Mediterranean Region
Authors: Alobeid Aref , Vidakis Ioannis , Baltos Georgios , Balodis Janis
Published: July 2018

This paper examines the involvement of Western powers in the politics of Caucasus and Mesopotamia regions around the beginning of the 20th century. It attempts to identify the ideological background of the respective historical events whirled around the geopolitical and geo-economics aspirations of the super powers of that era. The motives of the relevant tremendous investments and campaigns undertaken do not always coincide with the rhetoric and the rationale provided by politicians and spokesmen favoring the expeditions. On one hand scholars were metaphorically reviving the clash of civilizations or the crusades re-launch, while on the other hand politicians and businessmen were taking advantage of the cultural stereotypes in order to facilitate colonial interests and energy resources acquisition. All the way from the early British interventions in the Middle East to the causes of the “fragile” Treaty of the Sèvres, this study emphasizes on the industrial countries’ needs for oil along with the rivalry among the Great Powers for the resources control in the region. In addition, the analysis ends at the present time with a focus on the periodicity of the events taking place in repetition under similar patterns. The projection to the present times involves newly designed energy strategies for the Eastern Mediterranean basin, involving Cyprus in an alternative way to transfer energy toward Southern Europe.
Potentials for demographic dividend and rapid economic growth in Mali: What policy scenario would yield the greatest dividend?
Authors: Odimegwu Clifford O. , Olamijuwon Emmanuel O.
Published: July 2018

The demographic changes occurring in Mali, evident in high fertility but declining mortality rates have raised optimism about the prospects of reaping demographic dividend. However, it remains unclear how soon and what policy scenario would yield the largest demographic dividend in the country. We used a demographic-economic model “DemDiv” to assess the prospects of reaping a demographic dividend in Mali by 2050. We illuminate this further by examining the cost and implications of different combination of education, family planning and economic policies. The results show that by increasing access to education, family planning services coupled with strong economic reforms, Mali’s GDP per capita will be $27,044 by 2050. This high per capita GDP is almost thrice the benefit of prioritising only economic reforms. Mali would also have a GDP of $977 billion. These findings highlight the need for sound demographic and market-oriented economic policies for Mali to reap a large demographic dividend by 2050.
Preliminary outcomes in transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation use in patients with dysphagia
Authors: Sarafoleanu Codrut , Enache Raluca
Published: July 2018

Dysphagia is a common disorder associated with a large number of etiologies like aging, stroke, traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, structural changes or congenital abnormalities. The type of the treatment and its results depend on the type, severity and the cause of dysphagia. The primary goal of dysphagia treatment is to improve the swallowing process and decrease the risk of aspiration.

Along with the existing rehabilitation swallowing treatments, new adjunctive therapy options developed, one of them being the neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).

The authors present the principles of NMES, a small literature review about the results of this therapy and their experience in using transcutaneous NMES in dysphagia patients.
Farmers’ Markets as a Business Model Encouraging Sustainable Production and Consumption
Authors: Arabska Ekaterina
Published: July 2018

The current study discusses the role and the importance of alternative food networks, farmers’ markets in particular, for sustainable rural development through the example of Bulgaria. Farmers’ markets are considered as a sustainable business model of networking which encourages production and consumption of local food of healthy origin adhering to high standards for quality and safety, building society and trust and encouraging development of rural regions. The case of Bulgaria is scrutinized in the context of the support for local food and short supply chains anticipated under the national rural development programme for the period 2014–2020 and the current state-of-art and capacities of available farmers’ markets. Some good practices are analyzed and presented establishing a new type of relationships between producers and consumers of farm products proving that farmers’ markets could be efficient incubators of local businesses and new relationships with end-users. Conclusions are made on nature, objectives and functioning of farmers’ markets, challenges and problems in their promotion, support and encouragement.
Innovations Connected to Methanol in the Service of Blue Economy
Authors: Toth Judit , Szlovák Sandor , Magda Robert
Published: July 2018

The model of Blue Economy by G. Pauli is inspired by nature. Its main task is to develop innovative methods based on the use of available resources and the use of nature-based solutions. The principle of Blue Economy requires close cooperation of research and development and business activities; and it seeks implementation options in the structure of local economies. Based on the theory known as ‘blue economy’, in order to overcome certain problems of mankind – for example, energy production and consumption –, we must recognize and use some methods given to us by nature. This may be provided to us by new innovations that think according to system theory, that is, occupy the exceptionally effective self-regulating processes of nature in the economy. Methanol may play a key role in succeeding sustainability regarding nature, economy and society. Methanol economy can contribute to reducing human impacts on Earth’s climate by reversing atmospheric carbon dioxide, and it provides the opportunity to get rid of our dependence on dwindling oil and gas resources.
Regional Differences in Land Use in Hungary
Authors: Bozsik Norbert , Koncz Gábor
Published: July 2018

In the last decades, the area of agricultural land has been declined permanently in Hungary. Despite the diminishing production area, Hungary is among the leaders in terms of the proportion of agricultural land to the total area in the European Union. There are several reasons of using the arable land. As other economic sectors have gained a greater role in the production of GDP and employment, they have taken a larger area from agriculture. Real estate and infrastructure developments were justified by raising the standard of living of the population. The soil, nature, landscape and water protection aspects were also involved. In Hungary, the arable land is the most important natural resource, so it is very important to protect it. In our study, we examine the changes of arable land and uncultivated area in Hungary based on secondary databases of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office and departments of the Ministry of Agriculture. In the course of the research we focused on regional disparities.