bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Proposal for the Transformation of Fossil Fuel Energy Economies to Hydrogen Economies Through Social Entrepreneurship
Authors: Baquero Jossie Esteban Garzón , Monsalve Daniela Bellon
Published: February 2021

The world is growing at an ever-increasing rate, but this growth has occurred alongside an energy model based on fossil fuels, which presents serious sustainability problems. The current study seeks to illustrate one of the new alternative energy schemes which could replace fossil fuels in the future: hydrogen. The promise of hydrogen fuel has led large nations to invest in transitioning their fossil fuel economies to a hydrogen-based model. This will result in significant social impacts, leading to the question, How should it be done? Social entrepreneurship can integrate socio-economic actors and agents and help them to devise and implement new forms of energy innovation, which will open spaces for new business models. The current study conceptualizes within a present-day context the connotations of the hydrogen economy at an international level, its implications to society, and its synergy with social entrepreneurship. The authors observed the rapid growth that these entrepreneurship initiatives are generating and how the models used to manage these undertakings play a vital role.
Open Collaborative Innovation at Colombia's National Spectrum Agency
Authors: Ramirez-Salazar María del Pilar , Salcedo-Perez Carlos , Valenzuela Sara Esperanza Castañeda
Published: February 2021

This chapter describes the implementation of the Open Collaborative Innovation Program in Colombia's National Spectrum Agency (from Spanish, ANE). Six universities participated in the program. The model implemented was based on previous models developed by Ramírez-Salazar; Chesbrough; VanGudy; and Davila, Epstein, and Shelton (2008). The objective of the implementation was to propose solutions to reduce the number of complaints related to the illegal use of the spectrum in Colombia. The innovation challenge for universities was to find answers to solve the problem previously mentioned. Three solving teams were formed. Movimiento Espectral was the winning team with its solution called “Clausula de la Cultura.” The model was validated by ANE executives who deemed it adequate to conduct external projects that provide solutions to institutional challenges.
The Transformation of Supplier-Client Relationship
Authors: Wahbe Ghassan
Published: February 2021

Industry 4.0 has affected everything around us. Today we have entered an era where we must move our focus away from traditional business relations and shift instead to solutions that support the virtual enterprise in which independent businesses align to share skills and resources to sharpen their responses to external business opportunities. Manufacturers, suppliers, and clients need to work jointly to create value and share risk instead of settings tight conditions, KPIs that are hard to implement, and start blaming each other. Business solutions are representing a new wave that is built on technology to overcome the inward-looking nature of old systems and promises a great wave of efficiency and reduced costs by streamlining the management processes of external relationships that is based on trust and governed by innovative contracts. This chapter is describing a real virtual enterprise from the business showing how digital transformation is changing the supplier-client contracting relationship.
Features and Limitations of Ontologies for Coronavirus Data Management in Libraries
Authors: Wulff Enrique
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this chapter is to follow the evolution of what has occurred over time in the ontologies published in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Correctness and completeness of ontologies on the schema and instance level are important quality criteria in their selection for an application. To help both the librarians and the users, there is a need of a framework for the comparison of different semantic data sources in the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, online services and/or applications based on ontologies or SKOS-based COVID-19 thesauri are still rare. As an emerging technology in libraries, an all-integrating ontology for coronavirus disease knowledge and data refers to the continuing development of an existing technology. In spite of using ontologies in the Semantic Web, meanings of concepts and relationships are still largely unrealized in terms of obtaining accurate and timely information about COVID-19. But the nature of causal relationships on this disease is made accessible through ontologies as the material in which its main concepts are supported.
Tackling COVID-19 Using Blockchain Technology
Authors: U. Padmavathi , Rajagopalan Narendran
Published: February 2021

In December 2019, the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease was first reported in Wuhan City, the capital of Hubei Province, China, and the virus started to exacerbate throughout the world. This new world health crisis threatens the public with its ongoing pandemic across the globe. This chapter first discusses the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, symptoms and its preventive measures. A timeline of this virus disease by World Health Organisation (WHO) is depicted in this chapter. The authors enlighten the global impact of coronavirus on healthcare systems and the need for technology-empowered solutions to control the spread of this novel virus. In particular, this chapter focuses on the pioneering blockchain technology that has the potential to mitigate and fight against this pandemic outbreak. In addition, this chapter manifests how this distributed record keeping technology and its enriched features could help the healthcare professionals to combat the crisis.
A Study on Supervised Machine Learning Technique to Detect Anomalies in Networks
Authors: Sinha Keshav
Published: February 2021

During this time, COVID-19 has affected the lifestyles of many individuals; in the meantime, an enormous amount of users are connected with the internet. This will also increase the chance of network intrusion due to congestion and overloading of the server. So, to cope with this problem, the authors proposed an automated intrusion detection system (IDS) which helps in monitoring the traffic and service request. The model is used to identify the illegal access and counterparts with static checking capabilities of the firewall. The classical KDDCup 99 dataset is used for training and testing purposes.
Using Canvas Commons to Transform Information Literacy Instruction
Authors: Farmer Katherine , Henry Jeff , Thompson Dana Statton , Vance Candace K. , Wilson Megan
Published: February 2021

As more courses are offered online, many academic librarians need to determine how to teach information literacy in a virtual environment. Starting in the Summer of 2019, a team of five librarians embarked on transforming their instruction offerings through the use of Canvas Commons. The librarians wanted to deliver online information literacy content by creating downloadable library instructional modules based on curriculum mapping at the programmatic level. The need to reconsider these practices was further exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 on higher education. When the university moved all courses online in the Spring of 2020 due to COVID-19, the team was able to quickly pivot and offer library instruction through Canvas Commons modules, replacing face-to-face instruction. In this chapter, the authors describe the implementation of information literacy modules on campus, lessons learned, and future plans for the project in light of the pandemic.
Challenges to Libraries During a Health Crisis and a Way Forward to Deal With These Challenges
Authors: Saleem Muneeba , Hameed Waseem Ul , Anwer Bushra , Niaz Shafqat Ali , Bibi Sitara , Razzaq Shazma
Published: February 2021

COVID-19 put approximately all countries on lockdown. Libraries, whether they are public or private, also face closure. Through these closings, libraries remain to deliver facilities to their people in this perplexing period. So, this chapter discussed the challenges that libraries faced during this global health crisis and also discussed the possible applications that are helpful in these challenges. Data will be primary data used for empirical investigations and collected from public libraries of Pakistan. The chapter gives the empirical results or finding on the challenges (libraries closure, social distancing, handling material, and lack of research) and helpful applications like digital service, delivery services, exerted personnel, and online article requests for libraries. This chapter suggested applying quarantine strategies on returned books policy and implementing plans to offer remote services for example e-lending, e-learning, or support to remote teaching.
A Pandemic at the Library
Authors: Ciota Rebecca E. , Barber Erika
Published: February 2021

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 crisis, Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, United States decided to close its campus and that the majority of its employees would be working remotely.  The library technology team had to work with limited time to ensure that the rest of the staff could perform their tasks remotely.  This chapter discusses how the library technology team set staff up to work remotely.  Then, the chapter gives lessons learned and best practices for setting up library staff to work remotely during the next crisis.
Opportunities and Challenges Offered by the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic Libraries
Authors: Chigwada Josiline Phiri
Published: February 2021

A study was conducted to examine the opportunities and challenges offered by COVID-19 on academic libraries during closure. Telephone interviews were conducted with 75 academic librarians to understand their reaction to library closure. The opportunities and challenges experienced were unpacked to show how academic librarians took advantage of imminent closure to continue offering services. It was discovered that physical buildings were closed, and some librarians were visiting the library to assist patrons virtually. The major opportunity was the introduction or enhancement of virtual services. The major drawback was the non-circulation of print resources and unavailability of seating space for patrons. The author recommended that institutions should provide internet connectivity for librarians to assist patrons from home.
From Bake-Alongs to Tech Talks
Authors: Seagraves Katlin , Weyand Leah
Published: February 2021

In this chapter, the authors provide a snapshot of Tulsa City-County Library's efforts to pivot to virtual programming and services during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to practical advice for other libraries that want to expand their virtual programs and services for their own patrons, but aren't sure how to start. The chapter includes practical discussion of different technologies/platforms and their use for various types of programming, as well as concrete examples of virtual programs targeted to different age groups and populations.
Investigating Entrepreneurship Among Nigerian Retired Military Veterans
Authors: Ojo Sanya
Published: February 2021

The condition of survival within the Nigerian Armed Forces, in terms of post-retirement career options, has inadvertently produced a growing number of ex-service members (veterans) who turned to entrepreneurship to earn income and remain active. However, against the alleged failure of entrepreneurship in this group, this chapter sets out to investigate the nature and characteristics of veteran entrepreneurship. Through the application of case study methodology, the study reveals that veteran entrepreneurship does not differ significantly to civilian entrepreneurship. Veteran entrepreneurs confront the same challenges as their civilian counterparts while veterans' military backgrounds and military training appear to have both facilitating and inhibiting effects on veteran entrepreneurships in Nigeria.
Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship as Innovation Source in the Defense Industry and Military
Authors: Okun Olcay , Arun Korhan
Published: February 2021

Many military-related innovation approaches can be followed, such as doctrinal, tactical changes, and innovations in the organizational structure of military units. These approaches examine innovation in its historical context and flow. Defense industries of the countries are an indicator of their power in the international arena and develop new war weapons, systems, and equipment with innovation. Innovations turn it into economic power. Militaries are the most important customers of the defense industries. From the design of the products to the feedback of the last user, the defense industry, and military are in mutual interaction. Military culture, which is shaped in the light of the experiences gained with blood on the battlefield and has its dynamics, is one of the main phenomena in the acceptance of innovations and shaping the culture of military innovation. In this chapter, the authors examine the contribution of the defense industry and military employees to innovation in these innovation processes and the organizational acceptance processes offered to the use of these innovations.
Fundamentals of Quantum Computing, Quantum Supremacy, and Quantum Machine Learning
Authors: Lakhtaria Kamaljit I. , Gadesha Vrunda
Published: February 2021

When we aim to demonstrate that a programmable quantum device can solve complex problems which cannot be addressed by classic computers, this fundamental goal is known as quantum supremacy. This concept has changed every fundamental rule of computation. In this chapter, the detailed concept of quantum computing and quantum supremacy is explained along with various open source tools and real-time applications of this technology. The major base concepts, quantum computing, the difference between classical and quantum computer on physical level, programing quantum device, and the experiment-quantum supremacy are explained conceptually. This chapter also includes an introduction of the tools Cirq and OpenFermion plus the applications like quantum simulation, error mitigation technique, quantum machine learning, and quantum optimization, which are explained with illustrations.
Post-Quantum Lattice-Based Cryptography
Authors: Dadheech Aarti
Published: February 2021

Quantum cryptography is a branch of cryptography that is a mixture of quantum mechanics and classical cryptography. The study of quantum cryptography is to design cryptographic algorithms and protocols that are against quantum computing attacks. In this chapter, the authors focus on analyzing characteristics of the quantum-proof cryptosystem and its applications in the future internet. Lattice-based cryptography provides a much stronger belief of security, in that the average-case of certain problems is equivalent to the worst-case of those problems. With the increase in cryptanalytic attacks conventional cryptographic schemes will soon become obsolete. As the reality of quantum computing approaches, these cryptosystems will need to be replaced with efficient quantum-resistant cryptosystems. We need an alternate security mechanism which is as hard as the existing number theoretic approaches. In this chapter, the authors discuss the security dimension of lattice-based cryptography whose strength lies in the hardness of lattice problems and also study its application areas.
Realizing the Benefits of Energy Harvesting for IoT
Authors: Ahmed Shakeel
Published: February 2021

Different types of energy which generally fulfill the requirements of computing are mostly from thermal, mechanical, solar, wind, acoustic, and wave. Typically, IoT devices are powered by batteries that have limited lifetime, and thus these IoT devices need to be self-powered or require supportive energy sources that uninterruptedly power IoT devices. Energy harvesting is one of the techniques that can be applied to power these devices, which is a procedure of apprehending energy from lone or more energy from renewable sources in the proximate atmosphere known as environmental energy which can be renovated into usable electrical energy. Numerous researches are being carried out to harvest energy. This chapter is the extended version of the previous work carried out and analyses the present works on the application of IoT in energy harvesting systems and extant different research works carried out by the investigators to classify them.
MPPT-Based Solar Powered Water Pumping With RMS
Authors: Mukherjee Sushri , Chattaraj Sumana , Prasad Dharmbir , Singh Rudra Pratap , Khan Md Irfan
Published: February 2021

In the present era of technology drift, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a promising technology that shows the considerable transition from enterprises to businesses. In this context, renewable energy has played critical roles in developing the agricultural sector with its functionality to generate power over distant areas and different terrain. There has been a transformation in the way we consume electricity and the way it is operated by the utilities. The smart monitoring features are an efficient way to utilize energy and minimize losses. These losses might be the transmission and distribution losses or losses by the inefficient household wiring or appliances. These losses can be minimized if they are monitored well with relevant data and analytics. This book chapter presents an application of the Internet of Energy (IoE) technology in the renewable sector. The study was carried applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) functions and corresponding Remote Monitoring System (RMS) functions. The undertaken site for Solar Water Pump (SWP) installation for irrigation is Bihar Sharif (Nalanda, Bihar). The proposed IoE based technology served maximum power output with high efficiency during operating hours. Here, the farmers may do automatic start/shut, remote start/shut from SMS/web with a health check, and self-diagnostic mechanisms for easy maintenance. Thus, the SWP system emerged as a cost-effective and environment-friendly irrigation solution for remote farmers throughout the year. The solar potential assessment of the site and circuital development were done using PVsyst 7.0 and KiCad software tools, respectively. The successful working of the developed product has been observed at the site.
Travel Instagramability
Authors: Barbosa Cecília Avelino , Magalhães Marina , Nunes Maria Rita
Published: February 2021

Digital technologies enabled the emergence of ever-broader networks of connection, communication, and sharing between users across the globe, forging new cultural, social, political, and economic scenarios. This chapter aims to investigate this transformation in the perspective of tourism communication, through a reflection on the impacts of new media on the relationship between consumers and the choice of their tourism destinations. For this, it proposes a literature review on the reconfiguration of tourism communication in the culture of participation. It develops an empirical analysis of the content among the most followed digital influencers' profiles and those with greater engagement in Portugal.
Qualitative Analysis for Visual Attention of Students by Using the Technology of ICT
Authors: Farhan Muhammad , Haider Muhammad Salar , Jhanjhi N. Z. , Latif Rana Muhammad Amir , Bilal Muhammad Yasir
Published: February 2021

ICT tools and machine learning tools are used to analyze the visual attention of the student. The student's attention score is calculated for the analysis of the visual attention of the student. For this purpose, the authors have developed a software package (i.e., Visual Attention Tool [VAT]) based on the ICT that extracts the frames from a video stream that is taken through the webcam attached to the student's laptop. Each image is converted into a grayscale image, enhanced by image processing, then face detection is performed by following eye detection. This real-time processing of video produces a dataset by tracking the faces and eyes. It measures the attention level of the student with the timestamp. A manual observer also calculates the student's attention score focusing face and eye contact and produces a dataset manually. Then a comparative analysis of both datasets is performed in statistical and machine learning tools.
Identification of Facilitators and Barriers of ICT Usage in the Education Sector of Pakistan
Authors: Adnan Kiran , Shaikh Farhan Bashir , Afzaal Rabia , Ali Adnan Bin Amanat , Ponnusamy Vasaki
Published: February 2021

Information and communication technology (ICT) integration in the education sector plays an important role in the socio-economic growth of any country. The developing countries are facing hindrances in effective implementation of ICT in the education sector. Pakistan is one of the developing countries of Asia and facing challenges in ICT integration in the education sector. This study aims to identify the challenges being faced in the implementation of ICT in the education sector of Pakistan at all levels of education. The second objective of this study is to explore the best practices to overcome the identified challenges. The PRISMA statement has been used to achieve the objectives of the study. The qualitative synthesis and descriptive analysis are used to demonstrate the findings of this systematic literature review. The findings of this study highlight the need to improve the ICT infrastructure to facilitate students with digital online resources, economical solutions, technical facilities, and self-efficacy.
Smart Public Participation
Authors: Kone Sarmada Madhulika
Published: February 2021

Systems that exist today tell us about their survival. They were the better possible outcome of their evolution in their given setup (environmental, economic, and political setup). Urbanization-led cities grew in diversity. An inclusive approach in planning through public participation, where people involved in planning process and represent their community, is suitable for such diversified planning regions. Participatory approach is a bottom up method where community planning plays a major role in addressing larger goals. Communities are a group of people with certain commonalities living together and hold equal rights to their community. Developments in ICT gave a smart approach to public participation, where people easily exercise their participation in decision making. The chapter addresses how technology is related to process and enables public participation in urban planning procedure. Addressing the case of Indonesia, the chapter explains how developing nations responds to technology interventions in urban planning.
Role of ICT for Community in Education During COVID-19
Authors: Usmani Raja Sher Afgun , Saeed Anum , Tayyab Muhammad
Published: February 2021

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a novel strain of Coronavirus. COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic on 11th March 2020, and it has impacted almost every aspect of human life. Education is crucial to individuals and society, and COVID-19 has affected educational systems worldwide. According to UNESCO monitoring, over 100 countries have implemented nationwide closures, impacting nearly 90% of the world's student population. In this chapter, the authors discuss how ICT is helping the community during COVID-19 and how it is catering to the young population's education needs. The demographics of COVID-19, along with an aging population, are explored. The authors then focus on the education sector and the challenges for education from school to universities. Furthermore, they look into how ICT facilitates education in the COVID-19 pandemic and the issues and challenges ICT faces in implementing online education. In the end, they discuss the role of ICT in developing communities and the future directions of online education for the development of smart communities.
A Case Study of Career Counseling for ICT
Authors: Latif Rana Muhammad Amir , Ferzund Javed , Farhan Muhammad , Jhanjhi N. Z. , Umer Muhammad
Published: February 2021

In the education system, the students may find counselors, but student-to-counselor ratio is higher, which forces us to implement an automated system for the guidance of the students. Career counseling can be useful for students to evaluate their careers and select the best direction for the future. This chapter aims to explore, develop, and implement the effective means of analyzing student career counseling, guidelines, and decision making. The authors have developed a realistic dataset from a different mindset of students. The research started once the student provides the machine input about the individual choices about taking admission for matriculation, intermediate, and or short course. The machine learning algorithms like logistic model tree, naïve Bayes, J48, and random forest are used to predict career options. In evaluated results, they found the best algorithm based on the accuracy of kappa statistics, mean absolute error, and correctly classified or incorrectly classified for career-related problems.
Telemedicine for Healthier Community Development in Pakistan
Authors: Hamid Bushra , Jhanjhi N. Z. , Humayun Mamoona , Qamar Farkhanda , Ponnusamy Vasaki
Published: February 2021

Providing affordable and quality healthcare is the most burning demand for humanity. It is a fact that more or less half of the world's population resides in rural areas, and a majority of these people are left without the most basic amenities, such as healthcare and education. It is considered difficult to open and manage healthcare facilities in any community using traditional healthcare models for the states with limited resources particularly for developing countries. One of the most popular substitute tools is telemedicine to improve healthcare for underprivileged groups. In telemedicine, information and communication technologies (ICTs) are employed to ensure healthcare at a distance. On the other hand, one of the main problems in developing countries is the quality and cost of healthcare. In health research, telemedicine has become a new hope for eliminating bottlenecks. In this study, the authors have examined what challenges and issues developing countries are facing in implementation of telemedicine; particularly, they examine Pakistan as a case.
Free Cash Flow and Earnings Management
Authors: Alves Sandra
Published: February 2021

This study draws on Jensen's free cash flow hypothesis to evaluate the relationship between free cash flow and earnings management. This study also examines whether the level of leverage moderate the relationship between free cash flow and earnings management. This study uses a fixed effects regression model to examine the effect of free cash flow on earnings management and to test whether leverage levels moderate that relationship for an unbalanced panel of 13,850 firms' year observations from 2011 to 2018 across five European countries. Consistent with the free cash flow hypothesis of Jensen, this study suggests that firms with high free cash flow are more likely to manage earnings. Further, the results also suggest that the positive impact of free cash flow on earnings management is attenuated in firms with high leverage levels. This study contributes to the literature by examining how free cash flow affects the extent of earnings management and by shedding light on the mediating effect of leverage on the relationship between free cash flow and earnings management.
Corporate Governance in Portugal
Authors: Teodósio João
Published: February 2021

This study provides a literature review of the research on the corporate governance mechanisms of Portuguese firms. Based on a sample of 47 articles published, between 2004 and 2019, it is documented that research is predominantly focused on corporate governance mechanisms as determinants of the performance on non-financial listed firms. Literature reports, in its majority, that board size decreases firm performance while CEO (Chief Executive Officer) non-duality promotes it; board size, board independence, and CEO non-duality improve the level of firms' information disclosure; CEO age is positively associated with an increase of CEO pay but CEO duality has an opposite effect; board independence increases firm risk-taking. These results should be of interest to national authorities in the development of future regulation related to firms' corporate governance and to national and international investors that intend to invest in Portuguese companies.
Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Firm Performance in a Young Stock Exchange
Authors: Sindambiwe Pierre , Mutarindwa Samuel
Published: February 2021

This chapter aimed at assessing the contribution of a bank's listing to its governance and performance. Using a single case study, it collected data on bank governance, performance, and stability over the period 2009-18. Findings show that listing improved I&M Bank's internal governance in particular soon after it listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange in 2008. Its board's independence, size, and ownership showed significant changes soon after it listed and listing improved its performance as well as stability through governance. A change in both the board's size and independence significantly reduced the bank's non-performing loans and increased the bank's resilience (Z-score) and lending.
Investigating Consumer Finance in Lebanon
Authors: Youssef Jamile Anwar
Published: February 2021

The chapter aims to determine three research objectives: (1) ATM service quality in Lebanon measurement based on five dimensions, using the SERVQUAL model; (2) analyze and investigate customer satisfaction and loyalty of the ATM usage, during two different periods, before and after the following situations that Lebanon encountered: foreign currency shortage, commercial banks' informal capital control, and bankruptcy; and 3) assess the intention of the Lebanese to adopt Libra virtual currency. To achieve the objectives of the study, a questionnaire was distributed among bank clients in Lebanese. The results and analysis of the study have been done by comparing the means of SERVQUAL dimensions. The findings indicate that the Lebanese perspective of the banking system changed during the two different periods; however, their intention level to adopt a virtual currency is low.
Revealing the Disintermediation Concept of Blockchain Technology
Authors: Tan Teck Ming , Salo Jari , Ahokangas Petri , Seppänen Veikko , Sandner Philipp
Published: February 2021

Typically, people have a misconception about blockchain as they associate this technology with cryptocurrency. This chapter does not focus, however, on bitcoin or cryptocurrencies that pertain to its intrinsic value. Rather, the authors focus on the disintermediation feature of blockchain technology by providing insights into how this technology could substitute for the functions and roles of the intermediary. The findings show that blockchain technology is not equipped with financing and physical distribution functions. The current research further demonstrates that most of the blockchain service providers that are listed in the Liechtenstein Blockchain Act are required to perform the traditional roles of an intermediary. Thus, blockchain technology is not found to support a full concept of disintermediation. This chapter is vital in order for existing intermediaries to gain a deeper understanding of how to analyze and optimize their existing functions and roles while adjusting their business model in the token-based economy.
Digital Banking and the Impersonalisation Barrier
Authors: Dimitrova Irina , Öhman Peter
Published: February 2021

This chapter discusses bank customer perceptions of digital banking and the impersonalisation barrier. It compares the perceptions of various groups of customers based on empirical evidence from Sweden. In 2020, a pilot-tested online questionnaire was sent to young and old, urban and rural, and high- and low-income bank customer groups and the data were statistically analysed. Overall, it is argued that the impersonalisation barrier makes the ongoing transition from traditional to digital banking difficult. All studied groups, old bank customers in particular, perceive the impersonalisation barrier as significant. This indicates that the risk of the financial exclusion of some bank customer groups must be considered in an increasingly digital environment. However, the relatively low impersonalisation concerns among young bank customers indicate that this group represents a promising market for ongoing digital banking development. This group also stands out regarding its intention to increase the use of digital banking.
Online Consumer Behaviors Trigger Drastic Distribution Changes
Authors: Hirogaki Mitsunori
Published: February 2021

In this chapter, the author investigated the characteristics of online consumer behavior regarding the grocery retail market and their impact on retailers' distribution channel strategies. It examined the impact of recent innovations and the globalization of online technology on retail strategy. To achieve these goals, this study analyzed case studies of online consumer behavior in the Japanese online grocery market. Not only has there been a dramatic increase in sales over the last decade, but there have also been significant changes in both online technology and distribution channel strategy in this market. Underlying this transformation is the influence of Japan's characteristic online consumer behavior. Based on an empirical analysis of Japanese consumers and several case studies, this chapter predicts the future features of the online grocery market.
A Re-Look Into Modified Scaled Distance Regression for Prediction of Blast-Induced Ground Vibration
Authors: Dauji Saha
Published: February 2021

Underground blasts are conducted for deep excavations, tunneling, or mining activities. Scaled distance regression analysis is performed in industry to estimate peak particle velocity from charge weight and distance. For addressing the uncertainties in estimating safe charge weight for controlled blasting, 95% confidence expression is generally used. For addressing inaccuracies arising from superimposition of blast waves in multi-hole blasting when using attenuation equation developed from single-hole blast data, a modified approach was proposed in literature. This article presents comparisons to establish that industrial practice of scaled distance regression would be as satisfactory as the proposed modified approach, when various performance measures (including parsimony) are considered together. Furthermore, industrial practice of using 95% confidence expression generated from sufficient data (say, 40 numbers) would result in safe charge weight estimation, whereas modified scaled distance approach (mean expression) could still result in few non-conservative values.
Examination of the Impact of Patient Engagement Tools on Patient Satisfaction
Authors: Clack Lesley , Nagi Bhoomica
Published: February 2021

The healthcare system has experienced a rapid advancement in technology over the past few decades, which has led to an increased focus on patient engagement and satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between patient engagement tools and the level of patient satisfaction. A secondary data analysis was conducted to determine if a relationship exists between patient satisfaction and use of patient engagement tools. Findings revealed that patient portals were equally accessible to patients (83%) regardless of the institution's patient satisfaction rating. However, more advanced engagement tools, such as online scheduling of appointments, were more commonly found in hospitals with higher patient satisfaction ratings. While the availability, knowledge, interest, and age of the patient play an important role, patient engagement tools were found to be positively linked to patient satisfaction.
Performance of Heat Exchanger with Nanofluids
Authors: Majeed Amer Hameed , Abd Yasmin Hamed
Published: February 2021

The effect of adding nanomaterial of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2) and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) in different concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 g/L to the cold fluid (water) turbulently flowing with different flow rates of 75, 100, 125, 150, and 175 L/min in tube side countercurrently to hot water flowing with a constant flow rate of 60 L/min in the shell side of shell and tube heat exchanger on the heat transfer rates and overall heat transfer coefficients are experimentally studied. It is found that the addition of nanomaterials gives rise to outlet cold (nano) fluids temperatures causing to enhancement averagely 7.74, 11.25, and 17.38 percent for ZrO2, TiO2, and Al2O3 respectively in heat transfer rate and averagely 12.72, 19.47, and 28.71 percent for ZrO2, TiO2, and Al2O3 respectively in overall heat transfer coefficients. The maximum enhancement values in heat transfer rates and in overall heat transfer coefficients are attained at a flow rate of 150 L/min of cold fluid.
Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Containing Gynostemma pentaphyllum as a Photostabilizer
Authors: Fadhil Zeyad , Adil Hadeel , Alsayed Raghda , Al-Mashhadani Mohammed H. , Jawad Ali H. , Ahmed Dina S. , Yousif Emad
Published: February 2021

Novel extracted natural stabilizer for the polymer was investigated in this study. The natural anti-aging was extracted from plants and it is demonstrated that this type of stabilizers are suitable for biodegradable polymers. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (0.01–0.03 wt%) were extracted and added to the poly(vinyl chloride) blend. The achieved polymeric films were exposed to an accelerated UV light aging process for 300 hours at ambient temperature. The efficiency of tested natural stabilizer was linked to blank PVC films. FTIR spectroscopy, weight loss, electronic microscope and scanning electron microscopy were performed. Using small amount of natural stabilizer is significantly beneficial because it does not influence the PVC properties.
Assessment of Compressive Strength for RC Building Using the Non-Destructive Test and the SonReb Method: A Case Study
Authors: Al-Helfi Mohammed , Allami Ali
Published: February 2021

Non-Destructive methods have greater advantage in assessing the homogeneity, compressive strength, corrosion of rebars in concrete etc. of damaged structures. The aim of the present study is to assess the existing building, which is 41 year old, in the Technical Institute of Amara affiliated with the Southern Technical University, Maysan, Iraq. The research focus on the assessment of the concrete strength and the inspection of the damages in the building. Besides the visual inspection, the ultrasonic pulse velocity and schmidt hammer were used as a non-destructive test method for testing of 30 columns and 15 beams for a building consisting of three floors. The concrete compressive strength was estimated by using SonReb method. The equations proposed by Gasparik, 1984, Di Leo & Pascale, 1994, Arioglu et al., 1996, Cristofaro et al. (EXP), 2020 and Cristofaro et al (PW), 2020 were used for assessment the compressive strength of oncrete. The non-destructive test results indicated that the average strength of the structural elements greater than the design compressive strength of the tested elements. Therefore, the building can be considered structurally is safe.
Breakthrough of Sublimation Drying by Liquid Phase Deposition
Authors: Sasaki Yuta , Hanawa Yousuke , Otsuji Masayuki , Fujiwara Naozumi , Kato Masahiko , Yamaguchi Yu , Takahashi Hiroaki
Published: February 2021

Damage-free drying becomes increasingly difficult with the scaling of semiconductor devices. In this work, we studied a new sublimation drying technology for 3nm node and beyond. In order to investigate the collapse factor by conventional sublimation drying, we observed the pattern with cryo-SEM and revealed that the collapse occurred when the liquid film on the substrate solidified. Based on this result, we considered that it was important to deposit a solidified film uniformly from the substrate side to suppress collapse. Two key process parameters were evaluated to achieve the uniform formation of the solidified film. One is interfacial free energy and the other is film thickness of solution just before solidification. By optimizing two key parameters, it was successfully demonstrated to suppress pattern collapse of challenging devices. In this paper, we report on a new drying method: sublimation drying by LPD (Liquid-phase deposition).
Effect of Dissolved Oxygen on Removal of Benzotriazole from Co during a Post-Co CMP Cleaning
Authors: Ryu Heon Yul , Jalalzai Palwasha , Yerriboina Nagendra Prasad , Kim Tae Gon , Hamada Satomi , Park Jin Goo
Published: February 2021

A systematic study of the adsorption of benzotriazole on Co surface and its removal in aqueous solutions was carried out for post-CMP cleaning application. Static etch rate (SER) measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed. The experimental results show that BTA adsorbed well on Co surface when it exposed to BTA solution at neutral and alkaline pH. BTA did not adsorb due to active Co dissolution at acidic pH. The effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in de-ionized (DI) water on the removal of Co-BTA complex layer was investigated. At DI water rinse process after BTA treatment, Co-BTA layer was maintained on Co surface when DO concentration of DI water was low. Interestingly, BTA was removed by DI water with high DO concentration.
Selective Ru or Co Etch for 3nm Applications
Authors: Hsu Chien Pin Sherman , Chen Polly Yi Ting
Published: February 2021

Selective Cobalt (Co) and Ruthenium (Ru) etch chemistries are developed to provide controlled etch options with various metallization, including Al, Cu, W, Co, Ru, TiN and TaN. The pH effects on Co, Cu and W etching are reported. Diluted acids, such as 1% HF and 1% HCl, demonstrate etch rate profiles suitable for selective Co vs. W etch applications. Ru etch chemistries are alkaline oxidative based and expanded to meet 3 nm and below integration needs. Versatile applications include highly boosted Ru etch rates for thermally annealed Ru layers and TiN compatible WNx or WCN selective etching at ultra-dilutions.
Effect of Surface Oxidation on the Material Loss of InGaAs in Acidic Solutions
Authors: Na Jihoon , Lim Sangwoo
Published: February 2021

Indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) is one of the candidate materials to overcome the physical limitation of Si due to its excellent electrical properties. The effect of surface oxidation on the etching characteristics of InGaAs surface in acidic solutions were investigated. InGaAs surfaces was etched in HCl/H2O2/H2O (CPM) and HNO3/H2O2/H2O (NPM), while there was no thickness change in diluted HCl or HNO3. The CPM-treated InGaAs surface had a lower etching rate than the NPM-treated one, while etching rate of oxidized layer was higher in diluted HCl than in HNO3. NaCl added in the NPM acts as an etching inhibitor for InGaAs and the etching rate was significantly suppressed. It is thought that Cl− anion inhibits the formation of hydroxyl radical (OH∙) or consumes OH∙ in acidic solution, inhibiting surface oxidation of InGaAs and suppressing its material loss.
Work Environment during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aburas Rehab
Published: February 2021

Background

COVID-19 is affecting all spheres of life. As of 8 September 2020, there have been 321,595 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,107 deaths in Saudi Arabia. The concerns regarding work from offices and contacting others is a global concern during this pandemic. Most of workers are mainly concerns about getting infected and spread it to their families. Therefore, to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, architects, urban planners, and designers have already switched their attention to visualizing the post-pandemic era; however, there are inadequate studies on how the antivirus-built environment will look. Accordingly, this study aims to reflect on perceptions of the work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Design and Methods

An online questionnaire consisting of five questions was designed to collect the data and was distributed via SurveyMonkey in August 2020. Research ethics approval was sought from the institutional review board. A total of 87 respondents participated in this study.

Results

The result shows that 57.83% of respondents were female and 42.17% were male. The majority of the respondents were from the public sector (49.40% – public sector, 43.37% – private sector, and 7.23% – other sectors). Overall, female participants were more concerned about work environments during the pandemic. Most of the participants were working in individual offices.

Conclusion

The virus does not discriminate by gender. In order to respond effectively to the crisis, we need a whole-society approach to understand its differential impact on women and men. The findings will encourage policymakers and business owners to respond to the areas highlighted in this study as causing concern such as elevators, restrooms, and common areas.
Barriers to Scholarship Integration in Professional Athletic Training Programs and Resources Needed to Overcome Barriers: A Report from the Association for Athletic Training Education Research Network
Authors: Cavallario Julie M. , Welch Bacon Cailee E. , Walker Stacy E. , Eberman Lindsey E.
Published: February 2021

Context

Athletic training program administrators have identified that it is important to incorporate a scholarship component into professional education curricula.

Objective

Explore the barriers to implementing student scholarship in professional programs and identify resources necessary to overcome the barriers.

Design

Consensual qualitative research.

Setting

Individual teleconference interview.

Patients or Other Participants

A total of 17 program directors of professional programs was interviewed. Programs reported an average of 3 ± 1 core faculty supporting 37 ± 21 students, with 3 ± 2 faculty involved in scholarship activities of their students. Data saturation guided the number of participants.

Data Collection and Analysis

Interviews occurred using a semistructured interview guide. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed by a 3 person research team and coded into themes and categories based on a consensus process. Credibility was established by using multiple researchers, an external auditor, and member checks.

Results

Two major themes emerged from the data: (1) current challenges and shortcomings and (2) resources and strategies needed to achieve scholarship. Participants noted a lack of research or scholarship culture at their current institution and a lack of faculty time and expertise to implement and guide research throughout the curriculum as current challenges. Participants further identified that a lack of clear expectations for how much scholarship was necessary and lack of buy-in from faculty, students, and preceptors made it difficult to implement scholarly projects in the curriculum. Necessary resources to overcome barriers included institutional support in the form of faculty release, support, training, or all of the aforementioned. Participants identified that collaborative research opportunities as well as publicly available examples of completed student scholarly activity would further guide them in overcoming the curricular challenge of implementing scholarship.

Conclusions

Internal institutional support, external peer collaboration, and public examples of success are necessary to overcome barriers to scholarship integration in professional athletic training curricula.
Characterizations of Hankel operators in the essential commutant of quasicontinuous Toeplitz operators
Authors: Yan Yi
Published: February 2021

This note characterizes, in terms of interpolating Blaschke products, the symbols of Hankel operators essentially commuting with all quasicontinuous Toeplitz operators on the Hardy space of the unit circle. It also shows that such symbols do not contain the complex conjugate of any nonconstant singular inner function.