bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DNA metabarcoding of Neotropical ichthyoplankton: Enabling high accuracy with lower cost
Authors: Nobile André B. , Freitas-Souza Diogo , Ruiz-Ruano Francisco J. , Nobile Maria Lígia M. O. , Costa Gabriela O. , de Lima Felipe P. , Camacho Juan Pedro M. , Foresti Fausto , Oliveira Claudio
Published: September 2019

Knowledge of ichthyoplankton dynamics is extremely important for conservation management as it can provide information about preferential spawning sites, reproductive period, migratory routes and recruitment success, which can be used to guide management and conservation efforts. However, identification of the eggs and larvae of Neotropical freshwater fish is a difficult task. DNA barcodes have emerged as an alternative and highly accurate approach for species identification, but DNA barcoding can be time-consuming and costly. To solve this problem, we aimed to develop a simple protocol based on DNA metabarcoding, to investigate whether it is possible to detect and quantify all species present in a pool of organisms. To do this, 230 larvae were cut in half, one half was sequenced by the Sanger technique and the other half was used to compose six arrays with a pool of larvae that were sequenced using a next-generation technique (NGS). The results of the Sanger sequencing allowed the identification of almost all larvae at species level, and the results from NGS showed high accuracy in species detection, ranging from 83% to 100%, with an average of 95% in all samples. No false positives were detected. The frequency of organisms in the two methods was positively correlated (Pearson), with low variation among species. In conclusion, this protocol represents a considerable advance in ichthyoplankton studies, allowing a rapid, cost-effective, quali-quantitative approach that improves the accuracy of identification.
Isoetes dubsii and Isoetes santacruzensis, two new species from lowland areas in South America
Authors: Pereira Jovani B. de S. , Guimaraes José Tasso F. , Watanabe Maurício T. C.
Published: September 2019

Isoetes dubsiisp. nov. and I. santacruzensissp. nov., two new species from lowland areas in South America, are described, illustrated and compared to similar species. Isoetes dubsii can be distinguished from other species of the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands by a set of characters including leaves that are long, flexuous and trigonal in transverse section, tri-lobate stems, rudimentary velum, pustulate megaspores of 310‒390 µm diameter and laesurae of the megaspore at least four times wider than high. Isoetes santacruzensis has flexuous, filiform leaves, 0.4–0.8 mm wide at mid length and reaching up to 15 cm long, black or reddish-black sporangia, sclerified phyllopodia and sparsely verrucate megaspores of 320‒390 µm in diameter. We also include a key for species from the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands and Bolivia and spore images for all species that are discussed. Isoetes dubsii and I. santacruzensis are only known from their type localities and they may deserve special attention concerning their conservation status. However, based on our current knowledge on these species and according to IUCN Red List criteria, they are assessed here as data deficient (DD).
An updated checklist of the extant Western Palaearctic Dryininae (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae)
Authors: Guglielmino Adalgisa , Olmi Massimo , Liu Jing-xian , Contarini Mario
Published: September 2019

A checklist of 20 extant species of Dryininae (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from the Western Palaearctic subregion is presented.
Faits migratoires et récits historiques en Allemagne fédérale depuis 1945
Authors: Oltmer Jochen , Plyer Ségolène
Published: September 2019

L’Allemagne est devenue l’une des plaques tournantes des migrations européennes et internationales depuis la seconde moitié du 20 e siècle : les mouvements migratoires qu’elle a connus ont impliqué, au total, des dizaines de millions de personnes. Cet article entend dégager les traits fondamentaux de l’économie migratoire allemande, tout en montrant pourquoi et comment les historiens l’ont analysée. Il mettra l’accent sur des épisodes migratoires particulièrement importants en ce qu’ils se sont conjugués avec des débats politiques, médiatiques et scientifiques d’une intensité particulière.
Usability Evaluation of SMS-Based System: Basis for Systems Development
Authors: Maggay Jake Guabes
Published: September 2019

The objective of the study is to evaluate the usability of SMS-Based Auto-Reply Inquiry System for Grades and Accounts. This descriptive study used a three-part questionnaire which was administered by the researcher. The usability questionnaire adapted from the USE Questionnaire used a 5-point scale composed of 30 statements. Convenience sampling was used choosing the respondents from the total population of 149 students of the CICS during the second semester of school year 2018-2019. A total of 45 questionnaires were retrieved and were used in the usability analysis. The usability evaluation results yielded a grand mean of 4.54 (Strongly Agree) showing that the SMS-based inquiry system is easy to learn, easy to use, useful, and satisfying. The results of this study show that pre-coded keywords are confusing for beginners but can be learned and familiarized by the users as they continue use the system. Further investigation should be conducted to prove that ease of use, ease of learning, and usefulness have direct impacts to user satisfaction.
Security Improvisation through Node Trust Prediction Approach in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Raghavendar Raju L , Reddy C R K
Published: September 2019

 Identifying trusted nodes for safe communication is a key challenge in mobile ad-hoc networks. Node compromises a service and leads to uncertainty in node behaviour. Computing the node trust and node management will enhance the security aspect in MANETs. This paper proposes a security improvisation based on a Node Trust Prediction Approach (NTPA).  NTPA aims to prevent the interference of an  anomalous node in a MANET. There by  improving the security and data delivery output. The NTPA calculates the node trust prediction by evaluating the four most frequent actions that are performed by a node in the communication process. Node authorization is a key aspect in the evaluation of an ad hoc network’s security. In the proposed method, we monitor the valid and Invalid Authorization of a node. Data delivery reliability is measured with Success of Packet delivery and Loss or Drop of packets. In this paper, NTPA is compared with SAR(Security-Aware Routing) and AODV (Adhoc on-Demand Distance Vector), to evaluate the efficiency in an adhoc networks. The empirical results shows that there is an increase of 25% packet delivery and  a 40% reduction in  routing overhead.  
La infancia rural en César Vallejo: renovación cultural y crítica social
Authors: Josiowicz Alejandra
Published: September 2019

El artículo examina la “escena” de infancia en una selección de textos del escritor peruano César Vallejo. Se abordan los sentidos por los cuales la sensibilidad del niño campesino, indígena, emerge en Vallejo a través de una ruptura de las convenciones culturales. Con ese fin, se establecen relaciones con el modo en que las vanguardias europeas y latinoamericanas concibieron a la infancia y con los debates de una serie de intelectuales alrededor de cuestiones sociales y modelos pedagógicos en América Latina. Se argumenta que en los textos de Vallejo la infancia combina un posicionamiento político alrededor de la infancia excluida o marginada y una serie de búsquedas formales ligadas a la sensibilidad del niño marginado, excluido de la visibilidad social.
“The sense of the past”: the historical sensibility in Lionel Trilling’s literary criticism
Authors: Mello Luiza Larangeira da Silva
Published: September 2019

In this article, I intend to look into the issue of the relation of History to Literature through the works of the American literary critic Lionel Trilling (1905-1975). Therefore, I will both analyze Trilling’s argument in favor of the historicity of literature and will relate this argument to Trilling´s interest in the history of sensibilities. Finally, I intend to look into the historicity of Trilling’s own arguments. In doing so, I hope to show that Trilling becomes part of a particular branch of American literary history, alongside Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry James, which is marked by the awareness that every self is inevitably historically shaped.
La revue Fontaine
Authors: Vignale François
Published: September 2019

Fontaine, « revue de la Résistance en pleine lumière » selon l’expression de son directeur et fondateur, Max-Pol Fouchet, naît à Alger au printemps 1939. D’abord revue au tirage confidentiel, essentiellement tournée vers la promotion de la « jeune poésie », la revue ne tarde pas à s’emparer de questions telles que la place du poète dans la cité. C’est avec la défaite de juin 1940 que Fontaine prend véritablement son essor. Première des revues littéraires légales à s’opposer publiquement à l’idéologie de la Révolution nationale dès août 1940, elle devient l’un des acteurs majeurs du champ littéraire sous l’Occupation, suscitant parfois rivalités et jalousie. Louis Aragon, Paul Éluard, Pierre Emmanuel ou encore Pierre-Jean Jouve composent alors ses sommaires. Le débarquement anglo-américain en Afrique du Nord de novembre 1942 lui confère, après bien des incertitudes, le statut de « revue littéraire officielle » de la France libre. La Libération voit Fontaine s’établir à Paris à la conquête de nouvelles positions. Mais, étrangère au milieu littéraire parisien, la revue doit cesser sa parution fin 1947.Cet ouvrage retrace cette histoire mouvementée. Il contribue également à l’histoire des revues littéraires, à celle du champ littéraire au XXe siècle et à l’histoire culturelle de l’Afrique du Nord.
Facebook Communities of African Diasporas and Their U.S. Embassies
Authors: Mesbah Hesham , Cooper Lauren
Published: September 2019

This study explores how the Nigerian, Ethiopian, and Egyptian diasporas in the United States use their Facebook groups to create their imagined communities. It also draws a parallel between their use of Facebook and how the embassies of their countries of origin use the same platform in performing their official duties. Six hundred Facebook posts drawn for the groups and the embassies were content-analyzed for this study. The results show that the three African diaspora groups have more pragmatic uses of their Facebook communities, such as the exchange of services, advice and information on day-to-day living, while their embassies use the platform more for public relations objectives in planning their official communication that emphasizes nation-branding, the promotion of their various countries, and for other diplomatic chores.
Online Learning Support in a Ubiquitous Learning Environment
Authors: Mphahlele Ramashego Shila
Published: September 2019

The ubiquitous learning environment (ULE) is both an ontological and epistemological problem. For most scholars, ULE provides an interoperable, pervasive, and seamless learning architecture to connect, integrate, and share three major dimensions of learning resources: learning collaborators, learning contents, and learning services. Furthermore, ULE is described as an educational paradigm that mainly uses technology for curriculum delivery. Through reflection and exploration, this chapter argues that online learning support has a symbiotic relationship with ULE because the student, at some point, should move beyond the “text” level into concepts and conceptual organization schemes (ontologies). In line with this viewpoint, this chapter problematizes the gap created by real-world and digital-world resources—and argues that online learning support for teaching and learning processes have not yet emulated ULE as an important pedagogical resource.
Ubiquitous Learning for New Generation Learners' Expectations
Authors: Kişla Tarık , Karaoğlan Bahar
Published: September 2019

It cannot be denied that environmental influence has a great effect on the characteristics of individuals: reason why people can be profiled with their generation. Generation is a collection of lifespans which fall into a time duration when major changes have occurred. The last decades are labeled as information and technology era where the world is witnessing great changes in lifestyles that go in parallel with the speed of evolving digital technology. Young people born after 2000 are categorized as “Generation Z,” who are born into a world of IT technology and are independent, social individuals competent in using technology and mostly interested in technology-driven/enabled events and devices. Due to this fact, portable/wearable smart devices may be used to offer new opportunities for delivering education tailored according to situational needs and preferences of these people. In this chapter, after touching distinctive characteristics of the generations, concepts regarding ubiquitous learning and how it aligns with the aspirations and values of Generation Z are highlighted.
A Framework for Developing Open Distance E-Learning Curriculum for Library and Information Science (LIS) Programme in Eswatini
Authors: Tsabedze Vusi W.
Published: September 2019

The dependency by foreign countries institutions such as South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia for library and information science (LIS) training and development of staff members, to acquire higher education, has become expensive and complex for Eswatini government to handle. The expensive nature and complex situation of sending employees out of the country for training has paralysed most of the organisation due to their absence from operations in the office. This study therefore seeks to investigate, developing open distance e-learning curriculum for LIS programme in Eswatini. The University of Eswatini (UNESWA), which is one among other institution of higher learning in the country, does not offer any programme in LIS. Considering this situation in Eswatini, this chapter proposes a framework for developing the ODeL curriculum for LIS. Such a programme could be offered through the UNESWA to accommodate students within and outside the country. Thus, ensuring Eswatini becomes a player in LIS space within the African continent.
The Usability of Mobile Devices in Distance Learning
Authors: Sarsar Fırat , Kişla Tarık , Karasu Melih , Arıkan Yüksel Deniz , Kılıç Murat
Published: September 2019

Thanks to technological developments, distance education helped new techniques and strategies to emerge in the instruction field. However, these developments may cause problems about integration of the interaction between students and instructors. Communication is seen as one of the biggest problems. Instructors' online communications and their attitudes towards this process affect quality of teaching and learning processes. Other factors affecting this process are learning environment and its effective use. This study is designed to incorporate a mixed method with the aim of reflecting instructors' experiences about different communication techniques and learning environments. In scope of this research, the researchers planned a four-week process using the communication that the researchers have been establishing with Ege University Faculty of Education's instructors. The researchers will use different mobile devices and feedback methods for the process.
Applying Uses and Gratifications to Promote Cognitive and Affective Learning via Online Instructional Content
Authors: Curnalia Rebecca M. L. , Ferris Amber L.
Published: September 2019

Instructional design benefits from integration and application of communication theory to help guide practice. Uses and gratifications (U&G) is a useful approach for developing, evaluating, and selecting fully integrated, interactive course materials. U&G has assumptions related to individuals, uses, and effects that apply to a myriad of communication channels, including instructional materials. There are four considerations derived from U&G that the authors address in this chapter: user motives, platform affordances, user activity, and user outcomes.
Recognizing Curricular Infusions in Extant Online Learning Contents by Types and at Varying Scales
Authors: Hai-Jew Shalin
Published: September 2019

Online learning exists in a dynamic environment, with changing research, applicable laws and policies, pedagogical approaches, and technologies. The changing external environment necessarily informs the curriculum given the need for learning relevance. Curricular infusions (CIs) occur as a practical method of integrating new elements into extant learning: values, ethics, thinking, knowledge, worldviews, practices, tools and technologies, and other elements. These infusions may occur at the most granular level of the learning object all the way to learning disciplines and domains. The method of curricular infusion enables adaptivity to occur with online learning without having to rebuild learning from scratch, so infusions could be additive to particular learning sequences or integrated with the learning objects, and other aspects of designed online learning. This work explores some of the prior research into curricular infusions and introduces some basic ways to reverse engineer curricular infusions in extant online learning.
The Respective Roles of Broad and Deep Research in Instructional Design and Development Work
Authors: Hai-Jew Shalin
Published: September 2019

The work of instructional design (ID) requires new content learning, which often requires various types of published or secondary research as well as direct elicitations from the cooperating subject matter experts (SMEs) about the topic. For instructional design projects, both design and development, a range of information is required: who the target learners are; what content knowledge is required (as knowledge, skills, and abilities); what pedagogical designs may be most effective; what technologies will be required for the build; what learning sequences, objects, assignments, and assessments are needed; what legal and technological standards need to be abided by. This work describes research strategies for instructional design, research documentation, research citations, and applying the many acquired research insights to the instructional design and development work.
Enhancing Islamic Banking and Finance in Southeast Asia Through the Application of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Zain Nor Razinah Mohd. , Hassan Rusni , Ismail Azman
Published: September 2019

The disruption of innovations in the banking sector continues to indicate a positive trend among bankers and customers. The innovations of technology that stand with speediness and fast track transaction effectively support the spread in using banking system without barriers. Recently, the financial services industry continues to be surprised by the latest technology's innovation that is known as artificial intelligence. By looking into the ecosystem for the future sustainability of Islamic banking and finance in Southeast Asia, Islamic financial services may learn and adopt several best practices of A.I. from global banking practices. With a focus on the Islamic financial services industry in Southeast Asia, an exploration on the readiness of such industry and advantages of artificial intelligence are made. This research depends on the qualitative investigation from documentary materials. The leadership of Islamic banks shows their readiness in accepting artificial intelligence.
Financing SMEs Through the Islamic Qard al-Hasan
Authors: Sa'ad Auwal Adam , Pitchay Anwar Bin Allah
Published: September 2019

Financing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is one of the most important mechanisms to boost economic growth in both developed and developing nations. The contributions of SMEs in many countries' gross domestic product (GDP) have been overwhelming. SMEs improve job creation in all sectors of the economy and contribute to the people's economic wellbeing. However, many SMEs are not getting financing from their respective counties due to strict regulations and interest rate hike. With this kind of regulations and high interest, many brains are wasted, and many ideas are vanishing with the job opportunities attached them. Government agencies are therefore in need to innovate different ways to facilitate SME financing and support new businesses for achieving and maintaining sustainable economic growth. This chapter proposes an Islamic FinTech and its mechanisms to achieving this vital initiative using the Islamic benevolent loan “Alqard al-hasan.”
The Path to FinTech Development Research on Islamic Finance in Turkey
Authors: Gün Musa
Published: September 2019

The concept of FinTech, which is the combination of finance and technology, aims to facilitate many services offered by financial institutions. This chapter examines the development of FinTech practices in terms of Islamic finance in Turkey. The chapter assesses the viewpoints of the sector participants, including participation banks, corporate customers, and FinTech companies operating in Turkey, about Islamic finance and FinTech. In this regard, the ultimate goal of the study is to present a projection to the market actors and decision makers in order to be able to enhance the share of Islamic finance in the sector. The interview findings of the study indicate that (1) new technological products and services will dominate the banking sector and these will change the way of doing business in the near future; (2) perception, knowledge, infrastructure, service network, and campaign factors affect the Islamic banking preferences of the customers; and (3) the challenges of legal acts, confidence, competition, and human resources primarily influence the development of the financial ecosystem.
Risk Management in the Era of Blockchain
Authors: Abu Khaled Mohammed Fisal
Published: September 2019

This chapter intends to document the various ways that the nascent technology, blockchain, and other forms of distributed ledger technology (DLT) can provide both increased and decreased risk as well as offer FinTech industries a fertile environment to pursue key technological advancements that can help shape almost every facet of the financial world. Issues of trust, transparency, and privacy will be explored as it pertains to the execution of blockchain technology within financial sectors. Strengths and weakness will be explored within regulations, legal environments, risk management, and the environment. Based on the findings of a comprehensive literature review, possible solutions and recommendations will be provided for governmental agencies, regulators, and users of financial services with a special focus on Islamic FinTech. Future research directions will also be shared that can assist Islamic FinTech.
Regulating FinTech Businesses
Authors: Kunhibava Sherin Binti , Muneeza Aishath
Published: September 2019

The Malaysian finance industry is governed by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). BNM governs the banking and insurance industries and the SC regulates and develops its capital market. Both authorities have issued regulations to cater for the proliferation of fintech businesses. For example, BNM issued regulations on digital currency exchanges, electronic-know your customer requirements for fintech companies facilitating remittances, and a regulatory sandbox framework for fintech businesses. Similarly, the SC issued a digital investment management framework, another to facilitate equity crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, and digital asset exchanges, and the instrumental digital currency and digital token order. All were issued to encourage innovation in the industry, manage disruption, mitigate risks, and ensure consumer protection. This chapter will explain the steps taken by Malaysia's financial regulatory authorities in dealing with fintech-based companies, critically review the regulations, and recommend some ways forward.
Development of Algorithms for Medical Image Compression
Authors: Pandian R.
Published: September 2019

Image compression algorithms are developed mainly for reduction of storage space, easier transmission, and reception. In this chapter, many image compression algorithms have been developed based on various combinations of transforms and encoding techniques. This research work mainly deals with the selection of optimum compression algorithms, suitable for medical images, based on the performance indices like PSNR and compression ratio. In order to find the effectiveness of the developed algorithms, characterization of the CT lung images are performed, before and after compression. The diagnosis of lung cancer is an important application for various medical imaging techniques. In this work, optimal texture features are identified for classification of lung cancer have also been incorporated as a case study. The texture features are extracted from the in CT lung images. BPN is trained to classify the features into normal and cancer.
A Performance Study of Image Quality Attributes on Smoothened Image Obtained by Anisotropic Diffusion-Based Models
Authors: Malarvel Muthukumaran , Sivakumar S.
Published: September 2019

Image acquisition systems usually acquire images with distortions due to various factors associated with digitization processes. Poisson is one of the common types of noises present in the image, and it distorts the fine features. Hence, it is necessary to denoise the noisy image by smoothing it to extract the features with fine details. Among the denoising methods, anisotropic diffusion method provides more adequate results. In this chapter, the authors dealt with existing models such as Perona-Malik (PM), total variation, Tsai, Chao, Chao TFT, difference eigen value PM, adaptive PM, modified PM, and Maiseli models. The performances of the models were tested on synthetic image added with the Poisson noise. Quality metrics are used to quantify and to ensure the smoothness of the resultant images. However, in order to ensure the completeness of the denoising effect, the qualitative attributes such as sharpness, blurriness, blockiness, edge quality, and false contouring are considered on smoothened images. The analysis results are shown the completeness of the denoising effect of the models.
R-HOG Feature-Based Off-Line Odia Handwritten Character Recognition
Authors: Sethy Abhisek , Patra Prashanta Kumar
Published: September 2019

Offline handwritten recognition system for Odia characters has received attention in the last few years. Although the recent research showed that there has been lots of work reported in different language, there is limited research carried out in Odia character recognition. Most of Odia characters are round in nature, similar in orientation and size also, which increases the ambiguity among characters. This chapter has harnessed the rectangle histogram-oriented gradient (R-HOG) for feature extraction method along with the principal component analysis. This gradient-based approach has been able to produce relevant features of individual ones in to the proposed model and helps to achieve high recognition rate. After certain simulations, the respective analysis of classifier shows that SVM performed better than quadratic. Among them, SVM produces with 98.8% and QC produces 96.8%, respectively, as recognition rate. In addition to it, the authors have also performed the 10-fold cross-validation to make the system more robust.
Engaging College Students Through Hybrid Learning
Authors: Sniad Tamara , Lessa Tal Meirson , Johnston Erica V. , Rivera Ann Woodcock
Published: September 2019

In this chapter, four instructors share their perspectives transforming three existing face-to-face courses into hybrid models at a public, urban university in an effort to improve learner engagement with course content and provide flexibility for student to meet out of school life demands. The authors will provide insight into their decisions to transition to this model, experiences developing and implementing the model for the first time, and the outcomes and impact the approach has had in their work with university students.
Individual Cognitive Differences and Student Engagement in Video Lectures and E-Learning Environments
Authors: Kokoç Mehmet , Ilgaz Hale , Altun Arif
Published: September 2019

Student engagement is a research area which has been focused on for many years but gained growing interest especially in recent years. Studies in the literature indicate that there is an agreement on the relationship between learning outcomes and student engagement in school and classroom context. But, what is not yet clear is the impact of cognitive individual differences of learners on student engagement, especially when exposed to video lectures. Thus, this chapter focuses on understanding individual cognitive differences in order to improve student engagement. The rest of this chapter will be organized as follows: Firstly, student engagement is defined based on different engagement models with a special focus on video lectures. Secondly, previous research will be reviewed to discuss the relationship between student engagement and cognitive individual differences. This is followed by recommendations that can be used for further student engagement research.
E-Portfolios
Authors: Giering Judith A. , Firdyiwek Yitna B.
Published: September 2019

This chapter describes the experiences of a liberal arts college that is part of a large research university implementing e-portfolios with a focus on learning engagement. Using qualitative data collected over time and programmatic experience, the team assesses the depth of engagement their students are experiencing, to determine whether most students are using e-portfolios to engage in learning on their own, or only when prompted to do so by faculty within the confines of a single course. Too few students have taken full ownership of their e-portfolios and engaged with them as a meta-high impact practice. Implications of this finding suggest faculty using e-portfolios need to be intentional about student engagement at the meta-high impact level. Part of achieving this is developing further clarity on what it looks like when e-portfolios are designed to be used as a meta-high impact practice while applying more rigorous methods to determine when students have reached this level of engagement.
Rethinking Flipgrid and VoiceThread in the Context of Online Collaborative Learning Theory
Authors: Saçak Begüm , Kavun Natalia
Published: September 2019

In this chapter, Harasim's online collaborative learning theory (OCL) will be addressed as it explains how collaborative learning takes place in online environments via the use of online collaborative tools. Preliminary studies on using FlipGrid and VoiceThread, discussion tools which incorporate dynamic media such as audio and video, will be explained in the context of how such collaborative media tools can foster student engagement and collaboration. Implications of using these online tools and how they contribute to collaborative learning practices will be discussed in the context of OCL theory.
Language Learner Engagement in Telecollaboration Environments
Authors: Andujar Alberto
Published: September 2019

This chapter explores student engagement during telecollaboration processes as well as fundamental aspects to foster its development. In order to tackle this aim, a theoretical discussion about student engagement in technology-mediated learning processes, and particularly, telecollaboration environments is presented together with a practical case study exploring this construct. Three different types of student´s engagement (emotional, cognitive, and behavioral) are considered in a telecollaboration project between a Spanish and a North American university in which 32 students participated over four months. In addition, with regard to the analysis of students' engagement in telecollaboration projects aiming for language development, different approaches and theories are presented in order to shed light on the analysis of this construct during online virtual exchanges. Aspects such as student use of technology, engagement scales, and surveys and an analysis of the interaction are considered. Finally, further research lines regarding telecollaboration and engagement are suggested.
Three Uses of Digital Tools to Supplement Engagement and Learning in the College Classroom
Authors: Kaeppel Kristi , Reyes Marc A. , Bjorngard-Basayne Emma
Published: September 2019

Despite the widespread use of smartphones, apps, and social media in college students' and instructors' lives, there has been a slow adoption of these digital tools into the classroom. This chapter posits that individuals' online interactions account for a great deal of informal learning and that by integrating these digital tools in our classrooms, instructors can complement and extend the formal learning of their classrooms. Specifically, this chapter offers three ways that technology can assist in the classroom: to promote inclusive participation, to enhance the classroom climate, and to explore and demonstrate course material in an engaging way. To these ends, the authors explore the efficacy of social media sites, Google applications, and GIFs and memes.
Ethical Consumerism in Financial Institutions
Authors: Abdulla Yomna
Published: September 2019

There has been a rise in the concept of ethical consumerism in various sectors of the economy. This chapter examines ethical consumerism in the Bahrain banking sector by analyzing customer surveys and annual reports from seven commercial banks. The findings show limited evidence of ethical consumerism in supply and demand. This chapter also documents challenges faced by banks and customers in ethical, social, and environmental decision making and operations. Finally, the results enhance the understanding of ethical consumerism in financial institutions.
Ethical Green Consumerism of Energy in Bahrain
Authors: Naser Hanan
Published: September 2019

Since ethical green consumerism plays a vital role in stemming global warming, the vast amount of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) produced in Bahrain has started to bring several ethical and moral issues. As a developing country, the population of Bahrain has lately increased rapidly driving more consumption for energy. In addition, as a tiny economy that aims at improving human quality of life, the use of energy has also been doubled in order to boost economic growth, where the focus on energy efficiency and conservation have been neglected. To tackle this issue, this study provides a review on energy consumption behavior and GHG emissions in Bahrain including sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and particulate matters (PM). The key findings empathize that Bahrain's per capita CO2 emissions were twice the average of the high-income country, and almost five times higher than the world average. Therefore, a significant technological and mental shift towards ethical green consumerism is required.
An Empirical Note on Health Vulnerability and Health Information Digital Divide
Authors: Rani Jaya , Jha Ajeya , Kumar Jitendra , Mukherjee Samrat Kumar , Saha Saibal Kumar
Published: September 2019

Availability of healthcare information on the Internet has made it possible for patients or their relatives to search for such information. Considering the delicate nature of such information as well as its great need felt by the society, it is important to know who are these people who actively search for online healthcare information and also those who are unable to do so. In all, 754 respondents participated in the survey. The variables selected from literature survey and exploratory study are Health Information Digital Divide, Income, Having E-mail id, access to Internet, geographical location, Education, family-type, age, and gender. As the data is categorical, the significance of difference has been calculated using Chi-square test. Later discriminant analysis was conducted to predict patients who make online health information searches and the ones who do not. Using discriminant analysis, 94.5 percent of patients who make online health information searches could be correctly predicted. Prediction is 99.7% for the patients who do not indulge in online health information search.
Analysis of Social Value of TV Dramas Based on Audience Comments
Authors: Liu Xinye , Zhang Xiaotong , Wang Tao , Cheng Kun , Jiao Shangbing , Liu Diqing , Su Jia , Wang Xiaoqian
Published: September 2019

This chapter analyzes the social value of the TV drama Entrepreneurial Age through the mining of the audience's comments, so as to provide reference for the TV drama producers in topic selection, casting, and script design. Design/methodology/approach: The research is based on a three-step approach including data crawling, two-dimension data tags, and the random forest algorithm design. Findings: This chapter finds that there are three factors related to demand of TV drama:1) the appearance and acting skill of actors; 2) the closeness between TV plays and real life; 3) whether the topic of TV plays has high attention. Value: Based on the big data of audience comments, this chapter explores the factors that influence the number of TV plays. It provides an important reference for TV drama producers on how to design the plot of TV drama, how to choose actors, and how to create topics.
The Role of Digital Economies in the Development and Growth in Asian Business Models
Authors: Yousfani Kinza , Khowaja Farhana
Published: September 2019

This chapter discusses the development of information and communication technology across Asian economies. Digital technology is the presentation of information in bits that emphasize digital technology which covers all business, financial, social, and cultural events that are supported by the web and other digital communication technologies. Technology has minimized the cost of storage, and flow of information. In the last 15 years, digital technology has affected human lives and the chapter examines how digital technology changes economic activity. There are three principal segments: e-business, e-business framework, and e-commerce. The digital economy is known as the web economy because of its dependence on the network. Modern technologies, cloud computing, mobile app, and social media influence the business landscape, reshaping the idea of work, boundaries of enterprises, and the obligations of business pioneers. Thus, the digital economy features the opportunity for organizations and people to execute existing tasks on the PC more frequently than before.
The Role Of Strategic Orientation In Export Performance Of China Automobile Industry
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Abbas Jawad
Published: September 2019

During the last four years, the China automobile industry experienced a 49% drop in sales in the domestic and international markets. Company owners and the Government of China are exploring factors which could help them overcome the issues relating to sale, reputation, and brand image. Nonetheless, the investigation of company export performance factors in the automobile sector of China has largely been ignored. However, authors of this chapter conducted a literature review on factors of firm export performance. Therefore, the conceptual framework has found the factors of firm export performance such as total quality management (TQM), entrepreneurial orientation (EO), export market orientation (EMO), and brand orientation (BO) based on resource-based theory. This research believes that the proposed factors can increase the firm export performance of China automobile industry. The future studies should validate the proposed research framework empirically in the context of the Chinese automobile industry.
Sustainable Development Through Franchise Innovation in the Digital Economy
Authors: Chen Ye-Sho
Published: September 2019

Franchising has been popular as a strategy for businesses to grow and innovate. It is even more so in today's business need of developing digital solutions for sustainability. In responding to United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, using franchise innovation to replicate proven sustainable solutions in other parts of the world is an effective approach to scaling up solutions to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The essence of a successful franchise innovation lies in managing the good relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee. In this paper, we show that digital business solutions for sustainability play an important role in growing and nurturing such a good relationship. Specifically, we discuss that franchise innovation via Netchising, combining the digital power of the Internet for global demand-and-supply processes and the international franchising arrangement with local business solutions for sustainability, is an entrepreneurial approach to communities' development where economic and social aspects are mutually supportive.
Intelligent Assistance Systems for Marketing Decisions
Authors: Dogaru Mirela , Stoica Dumitru Alexandru , Vânceanu Aurelian
Published: September 2019

Today's technology has evolved greatly and influences us in different ways, more or less beneficial, depending on each user and the needs of each consumer. It has a beneficial influence on organizations, thanks to the continuous use of technologies being as innovative and topical as possible. So organizations need to keep pace and adapt to new technology requirements to thrive in their environment business and to be aware of market requirements. The role of marketing is to grasp the unfulfilled needs of people and to create new and attractive solutions.
The Aspects of Leadership Development in the Digital Economy
Authors: Essen Lavinia
Published: September 2019

The economic environment of the Digital Age, characterized by the acceleration of technology innovation, fierce competition in gaining competitive advantage, increasing consumer expectations, and emerging market pressure, leads leadership to adapt Vision and Entity Strategy to new performance standards. Thereby, Leadership is the key active force that motivates and coordinates an organization to accomplish its objectives. A leader creates a vision for the others and then directs them towards achieving that vision. To be a leader, you must have followers who have confidence in you and who give you their support and commitment to a goal. The objective of this chapter is to demonstrate the role of contemporary leader in the digital economy.
Sustainable Public Procurement as an Instrument for the Implementation of Sustainable Development in the European Union
Authors: Burchard-Dziubińska Małgorzata , Jakubiec Tomasz
Published: September 2019

The aim of the considerations is to assess the effectiveness of sustainable public procurement (SPP) as a tool for the implementation of sustainable development in the European Union. The chapter discusses the legal bases for the use of sustainable public procurement in the EU, the potential of the public sector in the implementation of sustainable development through public procurement in the EU, functioning of the market for sustainable public procurement, market potential of the public sector of the European Union in the implementation of sustainable development through public procurement, good practices and barriers related to green public procurement (GPP), and socially responsible procurement (SRPP). The chapter ends with conclusions from the research and practical recommendations regarding the use of sustainable public procurement in the European Union.
Mysteries of Unsustainable Public Finance and of Low Economic Growth
Authors: Pilipenko Olga Ivanovna , Pilipenko Andrey Igorevich
Published: September 2019

The authors structure the main functions of the state in the economic system as the “famous triad” of R. Musgrave. They are connected with allocating resources, redistributing income (equality in income distribution), and stabilizing economy (economic efficiency). The aim is to find the causes of their low efficient implementation by the state. This is manifested in the fact that society itself does not have the ability to adequately control the current activities of the state created and put over it in order to protect its interests; in the contradictory essence of the state itself, which is the regulator, which forms the rules of behavior of economic agents and at the same time acts as the economic agent participating in market transactions. To model the options for the effective resolution of the problems of the “magic triangle,” the authors formulated the Musgrave uncertainty principle by analogy with the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in physics. This makes it possible to assess the budget expenditures of the state in order to get out of its low efficiency trap.
The Value of the Company and Sustainable Development
Authors: Bąk Iwona Dorota , Szczecińska Beata
Published: September 2019

The aim of the study is to attempt to systematize the concept of economic value that takes into account elements of sustainable development. At the same time, it is the voice in the ongoing discussion on the purpose and methods of valuation of the company's value. The measure of strength of each enterprise is its value expressed in monetary units. Due to differences in the results of the valuation of enterprises made by groups of experts representing such disciplines as finance, taxes, or marketing, there was a need to identify sources and to analyze more precisely the resulting discrepancies. The values of the enterprise should include both measurable and hard to measure values, which largely differentiate economic units from each other. The need for a wider perspective on the data published by enterprises appeared along with new business models, changes in consumer trends, environmental regulations, or the impact of social media.
Mental Health Issues, Wellbeing, and Related Issues Among Caregivers of Individuals With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Maiti Tanay
Published: September 2019

Caregivers are the important and integral part in the lives of people with intellectual disability. As caregiving is extensive and mostly lifelong for this population, the associated burden, stigma, and also wellbeing of the caregivers are also equally important as these are often very directly correlated with the wellbeing of the individuals with intellectual disability. The chapter focused on the issues and impacts of caregiving, mental health problems, wellbeing, and related issues of caregivers. The authors also discuss the various facets of stigma caregivers do face and ways to deal with the stigma.
Living With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Jadeja Mansi , Firdaus Jamila
Published: September 2019

The need to understand the quality of life of people with intellectual disability is crucial as this mental disability is considered to be a major setback for any individual and his/her family. Current researches focus on creating an equal platform to understand intellectual disability in order to gain more acceptances from the masses, especially for the families who have a member suffering from intellectual disability. The age of the family member and available care taking measures are also of critical value. Models of therapy/interventions drawn from previous evidence-based practices give a bright picture.
Psychosocial Interventions for Individuals With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Sharma Rajesh Jay , Mullick Jahirul
Published: September 2019

People with intellectual disabilities are prone to various challenges in relation to self-care, emotional regulation, and decision making. Sometimes due to their cognitive and adaptive skill limitations, they display challenging behavior that further impacts on their quality of life. This chapter presents the concept of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and a discussion on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) in prevention and treatment of challenging behaviors of individuals with intellectual disability. Functional behavior analysis (FBA) and its stages are described with examples for the future practitioners. As ABA has a major contribution in the treatment of challenging behaviors in individuals with intellectual disability, research supported treatment strategies are presented. This chapter also explained strategies for improving the adaptive behaviors of individuals with intellectual disability.