bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of industrial and financial indicators of JSC “NC “KTZ” as the basis of stragic development of transport and logistic infrastructure in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Turgaeva A. A. , Beysengaliev B. T. , Nurgaliyeva Zh. E. , Saimagambetova G. A.
Published: June 2021

The purpose of the article is to study the production and financial performance indicators of JSC “NC “KTZ” as the basis for the strategic development of transport and logistics infrastructure in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The method of assessment of financial coefficients of the company is studied. The official documents that regulate the activities of the national company are investigated. On the basis of statistical data and reports of the company, using the method of financial analysis conducted research activities of JSC “NC “KTZ”. The analysis of the liquidity of the balance sheet of JSC “NC “KTZ” showed that the state of financial stability of the company can be assessed as a pre-crisis state. In conclusion, the main problems and recommendations for the sustainable development of the national company are noted. Determining the financial stability of the holding on the basis of the coefficient method made it possible to establish that the autonomy coefficient, which characterizes the independence of the enterprise from borrowed funds, tends to decrease. This indicates that the company's financial strength is declining and its dependence on external creditors is increasing. The problem of insufficient focus of planning on achieving financial results can be solved by introducing mechanisms for adjusting production and sales indicators based on monitoring their effectiveness. In particular, these are: determination of key performance indicators, preliminary optimization of plans by the criterion of profit maximization, search for additional reserves to reduce fixed costs based on the analysis of indicators of competing companies, control over the implementation of plans by the criterion of achieving target performance indicators.
Economic mechanisms of agricultural production growth
Authors: Tleuberdiyeva S. S. , Moldasheva A. B. , Alpysbayeva A. K. , Oleinik L. V.
Published: June 2021

The purpose of the article is to study the economic mechanisms of agricultural production growth within one country and, in particular, Kazakhstan. The growth of agricultural products in Kazakhstan and the provision of the country with food products are complex and relevant issues, which include the problems of production, the situation in the national agricultural markets, solvency and competitiveness, the annual volume of agricultural products, the increase in annual revenue, ensuring the availability of food products to consumers, laws in the regulation of the agricultural industry, etc. The potential of agriculture is correlated with the level of food security of the country. State regulation of the agro-industrial complex is aimed at ensuring food security, stability of agricultural products entering the market, creating favorable conditions for entrepreneurs, increasing the competitiveness of domestic products, as well as improving the standard of living of the population of the regions by creating favorable conditions for the development of crop production, animal husbandry, fisheries, processing of agricultural products and the food industry, veterinary-sanitary and phytosanitary security, it is aimed at providing technical equipment and other auxiliary areas of activity, social and infrastructure development on regional territory. The authors of the article emphasize that agriculture will become an important part of the agro-industrial complex. Agriculture is an industry aimed at providing the population with food and is a raw material necessary for the economic sphere. It occupies an important place not only in the agro-industrial complex, but also in the national economy of the whole country. Agriculture is the most important part of the material production industry. Agriculture provides the country with food and industry with some raw materials.
Production capacity of food industry in Kazakhstan
Authors: Tuzubekova M. K. , Tarakbaeva R. E. , Ospanova E. O. , Li A. N.
Published: June 2021

The main purpose of the article is to describe the theoretical features of competitiveness and efficiency of production of agricultural sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan. When writing the work, economic and statistical methods, methods of comparison and analysis, synthesis and generalization were used.The article deals with the main indicators of the industry: domestic production and consumption; foreign trade and market size in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The main conclusions of the article are to determine the factors that state the competitive position of the fruit and vegetable industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as the agro-industrial complex needs to be improved, which would be based on scientifically based mechanisms and directed to the development of agricultural enterprises. In Kazakhstan, it is strategically beneficial to engage in the industrial processing of fruits and vegetables, which is due to the favorable climate, access to labor resources, growing demand from the population, and an increase in export potential. In general, the country meets the need for potatoes, fresh vegetables and melons. However, high prices, a narrow range of products, lack of proper presentation associated with the high cost of packaging and packaging, high transport costs, and a decrease in consumer demand for domestic fruits and vegetables in the domestic and foreign markets have led to their lack of competitiveness.
Issuing opportunities of the Kazakhstan stock market: unrealized gains
Authors: Adambekova A. A. , Adambekov N. T.
Published: June 2021

The Kazakhstani economy has a significant emission potential. The study reveals the issues of the restraining influence on the development of Kazakhstani companies' emission activity. Among them are the role of bank lending in financing the national economy; government discouragement of economic development; weak efficiency of administrative and tax preferences for issuers. An important factor is the doubt of Kazakhstani companies on their capital fair evaluation in the market. In particular, the study noted that over the past five years, there has been a stable trend towards a decrease in bank lending as for large, the same is for small and medium-sized businesses. Basing on the continuing low number of new registrations of prospectuses for the issue of shares, there arises an issue of finding ways to meet the needs of business entities in financing. The findings from the analysis of sources of financing the State programs in the Republic of Kazakhstan showed the amount of possible funding from the stock market instruments. The study of data over the past few years made it possible to conclude that the methods and ways of using funds allocated under these state programs actually discourage business and local governments to use the emission potential that Kazakhstani market participants currently have. Administrative and tax preferences that operate in Kazakhstan for domestic participants in the stock market are either mainly aimed at investors or rather incomprehensible and imperceptible for potential issuers. Uncertainty in achieving the planned funding levels and in a fair assessment of the company's capital cost, basing on the above factors identified as a result of the study, is the main constraining reason for the low emission activity of Kazakhstani stock market participants.
Improving the activities of the audit commission in the state audit system in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Zholayeva M. A. , Amanova G. D. , Akimova B. Zh. , Ku LI Tchon
Published: June 2021

This article analyzes the activities of the audit commission in the system of state audit in the regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan in modern conditions. Issues of effective management of budgetary funds and strengthening of financial and executive discipline, as well as the importance and necessity of conducting joint or parallel control measures by external state control bodies have been investigated. The author studied the issues of the effectiveness of the use of funds allocated from the republican budget. The organization of the effective activity of the Audit Commission, first of all, depends on the correct formation of long-term goals, as well as strategic priorities. The introduction of long-term planning is associated with the desire of the Audit Commission to fulfill its mission with the maximum benefit for the state and publicity. Long-term planning is aimed at ensuring the further development of governmental audit and financial control in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On State Audit and Financial Control”, as well as new concepts of budgetary policy. State audit in the Republic of Kazakhstan. With the gradual integration into the world community, there is a growing need to increase the competitiveness of government agencies. To protect regional interests, it is necessary to effectively manage local budgets, strengthen financial and executive discipline. Increasing the accountability of the state apparatus to the public for decisions made in the budgetary sphere will lead to the transformation of state financial control into an institution of state audit, which will make it possible to assess the existing economic mechanisms and promptly develop recommendations for the effective use of state financial control.
Financial instruments – the driving force of the capital market
Authors: Omir A.
Published: June 2021

The article considers the capital market of Kazakhstan, which is interesting for international investors looking for expanded opportunities to make a profit through capital investment. The analysis of the portfolio of companiesresidents of Kazakhstan shows a high closeness to the standards of developed countries. Nevertheless, the country needs serious reforms designed to ensure an increase in the attractiveness of various spheres of investment of finance, transparency and predictability of state policy. There is a pronounced monopoly on demand on the market of investors in Kazakhstan, who are included in the institutional category: there is only one major player, offers are little diversified, IPOs and SPOs are extremely rare. In a crisis situation, the set of financial instruments changes in accordance with the accepted directions and rules of investment. Over the course of a number of crises, traditional low-risk assets have proven the existence of residual investment attractiveness with an average level of return. The situation in the global market is undergoing noticeable changes, including due to the consequences of the pandemic, as well as past crises. In general, the stock market in Kazakhstan should be used to attract both debt financing and equity financing. The active growth of investment retail is hindered by the low investment and financial literacy of the population, and the absence of large-scale IPOs.
Comparative assessment of the effectiveness of the organizational and economic mechanism for managing integration processes in higher education institutions
Authors: Iskakova A. B. , Nurmukhanova G. Zh. , Gieze Roland
Published: June 2021

The article discusses the methodology for assessing the effectiveness of the organizational and economic mechanism for managing integration processes in universities. In modern conditions of the development of higher education, more and more attention of world science is riveted to the processes of integration in this area. The seprocesses have so strongly influenced the field of higher education that terms such as “integration”, “internationalization”, “globalization” are becoming more synonyms than concepts that differentiate essentially different processes observed in the field of higher education. In the context of globalization and internationalization of higher education, the process of implementation, measures and methods of introducing transformations that contribute to the high-quality and effective development of the university's activities not only in the field of education, but also in science are becoming significant. In this regard, it is the mechanism for the implementation of integration processes, or more precisely, the organizational and economic mechanism of management, which contributes to increasing the efficiency of higher education, the quality of education, which becomes the object of close and thorough research. The development of integration processes creates a competitive environment for universities, which allows us to consider the organizational and economic mechanism of management at a university as a business process, however, taking into account the relevant specific features that are characteristic only of a university as an educational organization.
Development	of	digitalization	in	the	management	system	of	a	logistics	complex
Authors: Dzhumadildaeva Zh. B. , Mukhiyaeva D. M. , Bekkuliyeva B. M. , Konovalova A. Yu.
Published: June 2021

The purpose of the article is to study the features of the development of digitalization in the management system of the logistics complex. The transport complex serving important sectors of the economy is considered, with special emphasis on the development of the unified transport system of the Republic of Kazakhstan, modernization and efficiency improvement of all its elements in the resolutions of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other state documents. It was also noted that the transport sector of the republic plays a special role in ensuring the further dynamic and sustainable development of the economy of Kazakhstan, the implementation of the state strategy for its integration into the world economy. The development of the transport sector should take into account the current state and prospects of economic development, as well as the best international practices in the development of transport and logistics systems. Hence, the high relevance of solving issues aimed at the development of transport and logistics, which led to the importance of choosing the author's research and research in this area as a real sector of the economy of Kazakhstan. In this article, the authors considered the stages of implementation of the state program “Digital Kazakhstan” on the basis of the basic principles, identified goals and objectives. The system nature of the design work of the intelligent transport system is shown. The solution of tasks for the implementation of the program “Roadmap for the formation of the food belt of Astana for 2017-2018” is justified. Based on the results of a study of the transport sector in the context of the modern development of the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the authors identified problematic issues and made appropriate conclusions.
Influence of the coronavirus pandemic on the financial mechanisms of Kazakhstani universities
Authors: Ashirbekova D. A. , Nurmukhanova G. Zh.
Published: June 2021

This article examines the process of transition of the higher education system to distance learning in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the uniform transition to distance learning, higher education institutions differ in the strategy of its organization. As a result, an analysis was made of the country's higher educational institutions and the measures they have taken to transfer teachers and students to online education. The analysis highlighted a number of challenges faced by higher education institutions during the transition to a new format of distance learning, including the lack of infrastructure and material and technical base, difficulties in adapting training materials to the new format, lack of staff qualifications and experience of remote work. Taking into account the above problems, the pandemic showed the need for additional budgetary funds for the development of a digital educational environment, professional development of the teaching staff, as well as for the creation of jobs at universities for students who lost their jobs during the crisis, which allowed them to pay for tuition and related costs. Thus, given all the abovementioned difficulties in the transition to distance learning, for the full functioning of higher education institutions and to prevent a potential increase in unemployment, an increase in costs is necessary. This article also discusses proposals on the need to make appropriate changes in management and financial models in the field of education.
Development tendencies of special economic zones of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Shakeyev S. S. , Nevmatulina К. A. , Baibossynov S. B.
Published: June 2021

At present, all countries of the world, including Kazakhstan, in the sphere of the global economy are solving the problem of increasing the rates of economic growth. Experience shows that special economic zones can be such “points of economic growth”. The level of economic development, geographic location, natural and climatic factors and a number of other factors, of course, distinguish Kazakhstan in terms of the existing potential for the development of special economic zones. The zones created in Kazakhstan have different specializations and, accordingly, different goals, which are solved with varying degrees of success. The real results of the functioning of SEZ in Kazakhstan are still difficult to be attributed to absolutely positive. Taking into account the ambiguous results of the activities of special economic zones, the state has been taking measures for a number of years to increase their efficiency and transform the institutional framework of their activities. The existing and new promising special economic zones are intended to contribute to the achievement of these goals. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the use of such a tool as SEZ in every possible way, to study methods to improve the efficiency of their functioning. This will make it possible to objectively assess the possible prospects for the creation and development of SEZ in the Kazakhstan’s economy.
Features of the development of light industry in foreign countries
Authors: Zhaparova R. E. , Zhunusova A. A. , Kurmankulova N. Zh. , Konovalova A. Yu.
Published: June 2021

The purpose of the article is to review the foreign practice of the development of light industry and identify its features. The head of state identified the problem of ensuring the competitiveness of domestic enterprises as the most important direction of the political strategy. The modern international policy of Kazakhstan is aimed at integrating the country into the world economic community. In the context of economic globalization, ensuring the competitiveness of enterprises is a determining factor in their security and the economic security of the state as a whole. The accession of the republic to the WTO in the near future dictates the need to develop competitive industrial production, including light industry. Light industry plays an important role in the economy of each country, since it is a serious source of budgetary funds and has significant export potential. The state of the light industry affects the economic and strategic security of the country. The socio-economic significance of this industry is determined by the fact that it plays an important role in ensuring the employment of the working-age population, especially women, and has an impact on people's health. Light industry products are used in all spheres of human activity and are second only to food products in terms of consumption. Due to this, light industry is designated in Kazakhstan as a priority industry.
Global experience of applying marketing strategies
Authors: Konyrbekov M. Zh. , Ketebayev I. , Imashev A. B. , Abayeva G. I.
Published: June 2021

The article discusses the world experience in the formation and development of a marketing strategy. The strategy is designed to ensure the most complete and efficient use of both the internal resources of the company and the possibilities of the external marketing environment. At the same time, any successful strategy is based on continuous monitoring of the market in order to promptly respond to changing conditions. Thus, in order to maintain and increase the company's share in the market, it is important not only to have a competent marketing strategy, but also to diversify it immediately when economic conditions change. The main criterion for choosing strategies for the enterprise is the use of internal capabilities, depending on the emerging external conditions. The most important role in solving the strategic tasks of the organization is played by strategic planning, which refers to the process of developing and maintaining a strategic balance between the goals and capabilities of the organization in a changing market environment. The purpose of strategic planning is to determine the most promising areas of the organization's activities that provide the highest income at the lowest cost. “Strategic planning is an integral part of the broader concept of “strategic management”. In management, four of its generalized functions are usually distinguished – planning, organization, motivation and control”.
Organization of the information system of innovative potential of enterprises
Authors: Rakhmetulina Zh. B. , Kulmaganbetova A. S.
Published: June 2021

The purpose of the article is to consider the organization of the information system of the innovative potential of enterprises. The management of innovative potential of the country is a research, development, and use of the innovative potential of each enterprise, which aims to maximize the synergistic effect of their development, meeting the objectives of the state's innovation policy. In the article, the authors have developed an information system for monitoring the level of innovation potential of the country as a system of parameters of a web service necessary for data processing, implementing the methodology for calculating the main indicators of the level of innovation potential at the macro and micro levels in the online mode. In this paper, the authors give practical recommendations for the functioning of this information system for monitoring innovation potential at the country level. The advantage of the information system is the possibility of using the method developed by the authors of the integrated assessment of the level of innovative potential of the enterprise and updating the data obtained. The mechanism of information support for monitoring the innovative potential of enterprises is formed on the basis of the data of the Passport of Innovative Development. The structure of the Passport and its content are designed to form an information base for monitoring the innovation potential in the strategic planning system of the enterprise.
Influence of innovative development and scientific research activities on the growth of Kazakhstan economy
Authors: Syzdykova A. O. , Azretbergenova G. Zh. , Ydyrys S. S.
Published: June 2021

The purpose of the article is to consider the impact of innovative development and research activities on the growth of the economy of Kazakhstan. During the period of globalization, competition between countries in the world was increasingly observed in the field of science, production and technology. In this context, research and development (R&D), effective use of information and communication technologies and the technological infrastructure of the national economy are important. In recent years, the ratio of R&D to economic growth has been an urgent problem. The article emphasizes that research work, which is the result of a new product, process, or education, is a source of technical development. This article assesses the level of innovation and R&D development that positively affect the growth of the country's economy, compares it with the indicators of other developing countries in the world, and considers recommendations for achieving success in the industry. According to the authors in order to achieve the production of innovative enterprises, the growth of the country's GDP, it is necessary to turn to the knowledge-intensive economy, for the purposeful formation of their market through state orders and it is necessary to conduct a stimulating policy. In order for the economy of Kazakhstan to be competitive, it is possible to carry out innovative activities, including by providing small enterprises with production spaces, promoting the development of entrepreneurial innovation centers, technology parks, technology support centers, providing legal, financial, marketing, economic and other services.
The impact of moderate combination exercise on HbA1c, IL-6, and TNF in type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic subjects: an interventional non-randomized clinical trial
Authors: Alharbi Bandar , Alsubaie Nawal , Sahota Tarsem S. , Taylor M. Joan
Published: June 2021

Introduction: The main causes of worldwide increase in prevalence of type 2 diabetes are the daily consumption of excessive number of calories and sedentary lifestyle. Diabetes is usually accompanied by hypertension, lipid disorders and obesity that are considered as risk factors for developing diabetes. This study is designed to assess the benefit of a combined exercise programme (cardio “aerobic” and resistance) on HbA1c and the inflammatory markers (IL-6, and TNF) in type 2 diabetic (T2D) and non-diabetic (ND) subjects. Materials and methods: This is an interventional non randomized clinical trial conducted from 2016 to 2019 at exercise physiology laboratory at De Montfort University (DMU). Our target volunteers are T2D (HbA1c > 6.4), and ND (HbA1c < 5.8) with age group from 18-60 years old who are fit and able to do exercise. No restriction on weight. HbA1c, weight, BMI, waist and lung capacity were measured at baseline and at the 12th exercise session. In each exercise session the participant performed a combined exercise program consists of 30 min of resistance exercise followed by 20 min moderate cycling to be done twice a week for 6 weeks. Results: We enrolled 17 T2D intervention group 4 female and 13 male and 8 ND control group 5 female and 3 male. In both groups there was a significant reduction in HbA1c level after 6 weeks (P= 0.000). In T2D there were a significant weight reduction that decreased from (92.0± 4.3) to (90.0±4.5), (P< 0.001), BMI reduction that decreased from (30.8± 1.0) to (30.2± 0.9), (P< 0.001). In ND, the changes in weight reduction and BMI level were not significant. In T2D the changes in IL-6 level were only significant after the last exercise session. It was increased from 1.79±0.4 to 3.88±1.9 pg/ml (P=0.002), while it was not significant in ND group. In T2D and ND subjects, the changes in TNF level were insignificant. Conclusion: Development of combination exercise programs as a non-pharmacological intervention for diabetic and non-diabetic population are essential to decrease the prevalence of diabetes worldwide. In addition to conduction of public awareness events for proper implementation.
Students Attitude towards Online Classes at Undergraduate Level
Authors: Yousaf Farzana , Rafique Sonia , Mahmood Shumaila
Published: June 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a good time to welcome the introduction of technology and its latest offerings to make educational delivery more effective and make it more productive with online learning. A sample of 100 students was selected to collect data. The sample was randomly selected. The focus of this concept was to determine whether students' attitudes towards online classes were based on their online learning experience. Student’s attitude towards online classes based on their tested experience. The attitudes of the students in the online class were also investigated. Adaptation to classroom and self-study, high cost of online classes, access to electronic exams, a well-designed curriculum, easy Internet access, easy-to-use online classroom visual display, and familiarity with the teacher in a good student experience.
Post-legislative Domestic Violence Situation and Socio-cultural Status of Women in Punjab: An Objective Hermeneutics Analysis
Authors: Butt Beenish Ijaz , Abbas Nargis , Ashiq Uzma
Published: June 2021

Violence against Women (VAW) occurs in different societies in assorted ways in the world. It can be seen from the different lens starting from family structure to the workplaces of women. In Pakistan women experience violence from their own family members even after the promulgation of legislation at national as well as at provincial level. There is variety of existing literature which explains the prevalence of violence in different countries around the globe but mere to find the literature that shows the post-legislative status of women in a country.  This paper aims at describing the status of women after filing a case under the PPWAV Act, 2016 in Punjab. To explain and describe the said issue, the following study followed descriptive analysis and was based on qualitative social research methodology, followed by narrative approach. Relying on saturation of data, thirteen interviewees were interviewed for the said study. For analyzing the narratives, the objective hermeneutics as explained by flick (2014) was used to present data analysis. Major themes derived from the data were violence bringing women from four walls of the house, filing a case of domestic violence: violation of society values and Post case filed domestic problems. It is concluded that the said law does not harmonizes with the family values prevailing in Pakistani social structure hence is unable to eliminate the problem of domestic violence from Punjab.
A Multimodal Analysis of Selected Placards from the ‘Aurat March’ 2018 of Pakistan
Authors: Memon Shumaila
Published: June 2021

This study presents a multimodal analysis of selected placards from the ‘Aurat March’ 2018 of Pakistan. For the purpose of in-depth analysis, two placards depicting two educated women have been explored. The study is exploratory and uses Royce’s framework of intersemiotic complementarity for the analysis. The findings suggest that placards are definitely more than the pieces of material resources they are constructed of. They carry in themselves various linguistic and other semiotic meanings which create a strong message in the placards.
What can you perceive? Understanding user’s information quality judgment on academic social networking sites
Authors: Zhang Ning ,   School of Information, Financial and Economic of Guizhou University, Guiyang, P.R. China, Yuan Qinjian ,   School of Information Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P.R. China, Xiang Xin ,   School of Information Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P.R. China, Chen Kuanchin ,   Computer Information Systems, Western Michigan University, USA
Published: June 2021

Introduction. Considering the overwhelming amount of scientific information available on academic social networking sites, the purpose of this paper is to explore how users perceive and judge the information quality. Method. Drawing upon the dual-process model, we theorised that the results of perception depend on the influence of both content cues and context-related cues. Analysis. We conducted two controlled experiments to verify our hypotheses. Results. Our findings indicated that, (1) higher levels of information quality can be perceived with high content value than with low content value, and there was an interaction effect between content value and question type (Experiment 1); (2) three kinds of context-related cues (authority cues, peer cues, and recommendation cues) demonstrated the significant main effect on perceived information quality, and there was an interaction effect among these three cues (Experiment 2). Conclusions. This study contributes by addressing both central and peripheral cues based on a dual-process model, different from previous research which has mainly been confined to examining the external cues' effects. Our findings not only can deepen the comprehension about how users perceive and judge the information quality in academic social networking sites, but also can inform platform developers about the design of the interface and the information system.
The cost-effectiveness of the article-processing-charge-funded model across countries in different scientific blocks: the case of Elsevier's hybrid open access journals
Authors: Estakhr Zohreh , Sotudeh Hajar ,   Shiraz University, Iran, Abbaspour Javad ,   Shiraz University, Iran
Published: June 2021

Introduction. The present study investigated the cost-effectiveness of article-processing-charge-funded model across the world countries in terms of its citation value proportional to the article processing charges. Method. Using a comparative citation analysis method at the macro level, it explored a sample of articles in forty-seven Elsevier hybrid open access journals that had been following the model since 2007. Analysis. The contributing countries' open access citation advantages were calculated based on the percentage of their open access citation surplus proportional to that of their non-open access articles. Their relative open access citation cost-effectiveness was obtained based on their open access citation counts proportional to the article processing charges, normalised by those of non-open access papers. The countries were categorised into four scientific blocks using Rand's categorization of countries' scientific development. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data in SPSS. Results. The results supported the citation advantage of the article-processing-charge-funded papers, encompassing the majority of the contributing countries in the four scientific development blocks. The articles showed relative cost-effectiveness over the years and for most countries in all the scientific development blocks. Conclusions. Publishing article-processing-charge-funded papers is relatively cost-effective, implying higher visibility and influence in exchange for the money paid.
Expert power as a constituent of opinion leadership: a conceptual analysis
Authors:   Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Finland, Savolainen Reijo
Published: June 2021

Introduction. Drawing on the typology of social power developed by French and Raven, this paper elaborates the relationships between information behaviour and power by examining how expert power appears in the characterisations of opinion leadership presented in the research literature. Method. Conceptual analysis focusing on the ways in which expert power are constitutive of the construct of opinion leadership. Analysis. The study draws on the conceptual analysis of forty-eight key studies on the above issue. Results. Expert power refers to the opinion leader’s ability to influence the thoughts, attitudes and behaviour of other people through information sharing, due to the possession of such knowledge and skills valued by others. Expert power originates from superior knowledge and skills acquired by means of active use of mass media in particular. Expert power is used in the process in which opinion leaders share their views in diverse contexts such as consumption and political discussion. The extent to which opinion leaders can use their expert power depends on their position in social networks. The findings highlight the need to rethink the traditional construct of opinion leadership because it increasingly occurs in the networked information environments characterised by growing volatility and scepticism towards authorities such as opinion leaders. Conclusion. Opinion leadership is a significant form of social influence put into effect through sharing personal views. Expert power is a key constituent of opinion leadership affecting the extent to which views shared by opinion leaders can influence the thoughts, attitudes and behaviour of opinion seekers.
Exploring the circulation of digital audiobooks: Australian library lending 2006–2017
Authors:   School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, Webber Millicent , Giblin Rebecca ,   Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne and Monash Law School at Monash University, Australia, Ding Yanfang , Petitjean-Hèche François ,   Information Technology, Monash University in Melbourne, Australia
Published: June 2021

Introduction. We investigated patterns in digital audiobook and e-book circulation through Australian libraries to identify and analyse trends in audiobook publishing and reading. Method. In partnership with four Australian library services we collated a dataset of 555,618 audiobook checkouts and 3,475,188 e-book checkouts, representing all OverDrive checkouts through these services from 2006 until July 2017. Analysis. We examined the availability and popularity of audiobook and e-book titles over time. We used bibliographic metadata and manual and automated coding to examine major publishers, sex and nationality of authors, and popular titles and genres. Results. Audiobooks and e-books have experienced substantial growth since 2006. Major publishers including the Big Five, Amazon, and Bolinda have historically been less important in audiobook publishing than in print or e-book markets, with numerous specialist audio publishers and producers prominent in the field. Audiobooks and e-books show disparities in the sex of authors. Crime, science fiction, and fantasy are the most popular audiobook genres. Conclusion. Library checkout data confirm audiobook publishing’s recent volatility. Libraries are the keepers of valuable information about new media forms like audiobooks, and collaboration between libraries, publishers, and researchers directly supports understanding of this important new space of cultural production and consumption.
Resident university students’ everyday-life information seeking behaviour in Pakistan
Authors:   Department of Information Management, University of Sargodha, Pakistan, Naveed Muhammad Asif , Batool Syeda Hina ,   Institute of Information Management, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, Anwar Mumtaz Ali
Published: June 2021

Introduction. This study seeks to investigate the everyday-life information seeking behaviour of postgraduate students living in the residence halls of the University of the Punjab, Lahore. Method. A critical incident technique, a qualitative research approach, was used in order to achieve its objectives. Face to face interviews of twenty postgraduate students, having a rural background, selected through purposive sampling, using a semi-structured interview approach were conducted. Analysis. The verbal data was organized and analysed using thematic analysis. The important data was coded and grouped for deriving themes. Results. The participants' situations were centred on health, socio-economic, cultural, technological, and legal issues. These students mainly relied on inter-personal information sources in order to resolve their everyday-life issues. The role of university libraries was non-existent in meeting the everyday-life information needs of these participants. Some participants suspected the quality and scope of information received from news and social media. These participants were mostly unsuccessful in accessing needed everyday-life information on time due to lack of information sources. Conclusions. The results have implications for both theory and practice. It extends the scope of the everyday-life information seeking model by adding a new dimension and provides insights into trans-national perspectives. If the everyday-life issues of resident postgraduate university students remained unresolved due to lack of information and institutional support, it might affect their academic achievement and research productivity. Therefore, the university administration should plan on-campus consultancy services within student affairs offices for supporting such students to overcome difficulties in light of their everyday-life information needs. The library staff should also design services to support those provided by the university administration.
Effect of Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Available Phosphorus and Growth and Yield of Sugarcane
Authors: AYE Pyone Pyone , PINJAI Pechrada , TAWORNPRUEK Saowanuch
Published: June 2021

Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can increase soil phosphorus (P) availability and improve plant growth, yield, and phosphorus content of several crops. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of PSB on soil available phosphorus, growth, and yield of sugarcane at field conditions. Kosakonia radicincitans (PSB1) and Bacillus subtilis (PSB2) were applied with two different sources of phosphorus fertilizers: Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and rock phosphate (RP). The application of PSB with phosphorus fertilizers enhanced the yield from 17.03 to 38.42 % over no application of fertilizer. It also increased the percentage of commercial cane sugar percent (CCS %) from 4.8 to 19.96 % over control. The application of PSB2 with DAP showed effective results in available phosphorus content in the soil and yield of sugarcane. The PSB population and the available phosphorus contents were higher in treatments when phosphorus was given partly through RP and DAP than the control. The application of phosphorus fertilizer and PSB increased phosphorus fractions in the soil. The addition of phosphorus fertilizer to soil increased all the inorganic phosphorus fractions in soil. The treatments with PSB resulted in statistical differences in total phosphorus concentrations in the soil. The application of PSB with RP (T6, T7, and T8) showed the highest weight among the treatment at the harvesting time. The yield of sugarcane was highest in the application of PSB2 with either DAP or RP (T4 and T7).
HIGHLIGHTS

Evaluate the effect of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) (Kosakonia radicincitans and Bacillus subtills) comminated with two different phosphorus (di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and rock phosphate (RP) fertilizers on the changes in the soil available phosphorus level and sugarcane growth at Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand
The application of P fertilizer and PSB can increase the inorganic P fractions in the soil and increased the cane yield over NPK without PSB
The PSB application either single or co-inoculation of PSBs increased the average cane more than 13 % to over control
An EOQ Model of Selling-Price-Dependent Demand for Non-Instantaneous Deteriorating Items during the Pandemic COVID-19
Authors: INDRAJITSINGHA Susanta Kumar , RAULA Padmini , SAMANTA Padmanava , MISRA Umakanta , RAJU Lakshmi Kanta
Published: June 2021

A pricing factor plays a dominant role in consumer behavior in most countries affected by the COVID19 pandemic. People have lost their job while others renegotiated for low-paying jobs during this pandemic. Thus, this article aims to develop a viable model to consider various aspects of the COVID19 pandemic. Here, we develop an optimal ordering quantity inventory model of deteriorating items, which are still in demand depending upon the selling price of the product. The items are assumed to be non-instantaneous deteriorating. The shortage is allowed in lead time and is partially backlogged. A solution procedure is presented to determine an optimal cycle, order quantity, and total average cost. A realistic numerical example is given to validate the proposed model by changing different systems of parameters, where sensitivity analysis has been carried out. The effectiveness of the system has been observed through graphical representation.
HIGHLIGHTS

The study considers the inventory model for non-instantaneous deteriorating items.
Selling price dependent demand is incorporated. The shortage is allowed in lead time and is partially backlogged.
Theoretical results have been formed to characterize the optimal solutions.
The effect of key parameters is studies rigorously.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Statistical Design for Monitoring Process Mean of a Modified EWMA Control Chart based on Autocorrelated Data
Authors: SUPHARAKONSAKUN Yadpirun
Published: June 2021

From the principles of statistical process control, the observations are assumed to be identically and independently normally distributed, although this assumption is frequently untrue in practice. Therefore, control charts have been developed for monitoring and detecting data which are autocorrelated. Recently, a modified exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control chart has been introduced that is a correction of the EWMA statistic and is very effective for detecting small and abrupt changes in independent normally distributed or autocorrelated observations. In this study, the performance of a modified EWMA chart is investigated by examining the 2 sides of the exact average run length based on an explicit formula when the observations are from a general-order moving average process with exponential white noise. A performance comparison of the EWMA and the modified EWMA control charts is also presented. In addition, the performance of the modified and EWMA control charts is contrasted using Dow Jones composite average from a real-life dataset. The findings suggest that the modified EWMA control chart is more sensitive than the EWMA control chart for almost every case of the studied smoothing parameter and constant values of the control chart.

HIGHLIGHTS

Autocorrelation data is frequency untrue of assumption practice in time series data

Modified EWMA is a new control chart that is effective for detecting change in independent normal distribution and autocorrelated observations

The efficiency of the control chart is measured by average run length

Explicit formula is easy to derive and provides the exact value of the average run length
Peak-to-Average Power Ratio reduction in Wavelet based OFDM using Modified Selective Mapping for Cognitive Radio Applications
Authors: K R Arjun , T P Surekha
Published: June 2021

The prospect of guaranteed quality of service for primary and secondary users in the expression of regulated Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) and Bit Error Rate (BER) can be increased in Cognitive Radios using Wavelet based OFDM systems which localize spectrum in realms of time and frequency. However, cutting the Gordian knot of high PAPR associated with the Multi-Carrier Modulation schemes to operate in the linear part of the power amplifier nourishing the balance between PAPR and BER is difficult. In this paper, the phase of the subcarriers is altered by a value of finite, equally spaced phase shifts. The frame of Wavelet-based OFDM (WOFDM) with minimum PAPR guarantees the minimum quality of service (QoS) in terms of Throughput. BER is then identified and transmitted. This modification is applied to various Wavelets and compared amongst WOFDM and FFT-based OFDM schemes. The novelty of this paper lies in using Hadamard and/or Toeplitz matrix to generate phase sequences in a modified SLM technique of Wavelet-based OFDM systems while maintaining the minimum required QoS in Cognitive Radios. The result shows that the proposed technique reduces the PAPR compared to unmodified SLM techniques.
HIGHLIGHTS

Wavelet based OFDM systems localize spectrum in realms of time and frequency
The sinusoid bases function in OFDM has been replaced by Wavelet bases
Selective Mapping (SLM) is a popular technique towards PAPR reduction
The primary function of the Cognitive Radio system is to identify the spectrum holes

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT