bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Budget Impact Analysis of the Change in Peritoneal Dialysis Use Rate in Korea
Authors: Kim Jimin , Lee Na Rae , Son Soo Kyung , Lee Jung Pyo , Park Jung Tak , Kim Yun Jung , Ryu Dong-Ryeol
Published: July 2019

Background

While the number of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients has decreased by 14.4% from 2006 to 2016, the number of hemodialysis (HD) patients has sharply increased, by 237.2%, in the same period, leading to an increase in the total medical cost. We analyzed the effects of the changes in PD use rates for dialysis patients in Korea on the healthcare budget using budget impact analysis (BIA).

Methods

The analysis modeled the influence of the increase in dialysis for the target population, changes in modality use rate, and/or changes in costs per patient-year on total medical cost for patients on dialysis, using the National Health Insurance Service (NHI) claims data. We developed 8 scenarios according to the changing PD use rate.

Results

In scenarios 1 – 4 (increase in PD patients by 6%, 13%, 20%, and 50% of non-diabetic prevalent HD patients under 65), 5-year budget savings ranged from $47 million to $394 million (0.9% – 7.3% of the end-stage renal disease [ESRD] budget). In scenarios 5 – 8 (increase in incident PD patients by 20%, 50%, 70%, and 100% of non-diabetic patients under 65), 5-year savings ranged from $25 million to $74 million (0.5% – 1.4% of the ESRD budget). In all scenarios, budget savings were higher as PD patients increased, showing a gradually growing trend.

Conclusion

In all scenarios from the payer's perspective, savings could be achieved through an increase in PD use. Selecting PD for ESRD patients without different expected clinical outcomes between HD and PD would be beneficial to the NHI budget.
Randomized Controlled Trial on Adjunctive Lavage for Severe Peritonitis
Authors: Wong Steve S. , Lau Wai-Yan , Tse Yim-Yuk , Chan Ping-Kwan , Wan Ching-Kit , Cheng Yuk-Lun , Yu Alex W.
Published: July 2019

Background

In severe peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis, patients’ response to antibiotic can be poor. We postulated that adjunctive lavage may improve the outcome in severe cases by enhancing the removal of bacteria and inflammatory cells from the peritoneum.

Methods

Severe PD peritonitis was defined as poor clinical response to empirical cefazolin/ceftazidime and a PD effluent (PDE) leukocyte count > 1,090/mm3 on day 3. Enrolled patients were randomized into either the lavage group ( n = 20) or control group ( n = 20). In the lavage group, continuous lavage by an automated PD machine from day 3 to 5 or 6 was performed, whereas the usual PD schedule was maintained in the control group. The primary outcome was treatment success. Post hoc analysis was also performed to compare the outcome between subgroups with different severity.

Results

Baseline parameters were similar in the lavage and control groups, including PDE leukocyte count on day 3 (4,871/mm3 vs 4,143/mm3, p = 0.46). Treatment success rates were high in both groups (75% vs 70%, p = 0.72). C-reactive protein (CRP) on day 3 was found to be the only predictor of treatment failure and was used to stratify all patients into tertiles of severity. Whilst a significant decline in treatment success was evident across the tertiles of increasing CRP in the control group (100% vs 85.7% vs 28.6%, p = 0.005), treatment success was relatively maintained in the lavage group (85.7% vs 71.4% vs 66.7%, p = 0.43).

Conclusions

Adjunctive lavage did not improve the overall outcome, although it may be beneficial for the more severe peritonitis patients who have high CRP.
Functional panchromatic BODIPY dyes with near-infrared absorption: design, synthesis, characterization and use in dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Huaulmé Quentin , Aumaitre Cyril , Kontkanen Outi Vilhelmiina , Beljonne David , Sutter Alexandra , Ulrich Gilles , Demadrille Renaud , Leclerc Nicolas
Published: July 2019

We report two novel functional dyes based on a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) core displaying a panchromatic absorption with an extension to the near-infrared (NIR) range. An innovative synthetic approach for preparing the 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-BODIPY unit is disclosed, and a versatile way to further functionalize this unit has been developed. The optoelectronic properties of the two dyes were computed by density functional theory modelling (DFT) and characterized through UV–vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. Finally, we report preliminary results obtained using these functional dyes as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
On the Coronal Mass Ejection Detection Rate during Solar Cycles 23 and 24
Authors: Michalek Grzegorz , Gopalswamy Nat , Yashiro Seiji
Published: July 2019

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission’s white light coronagraphs have observed more than 25,000 coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from 1996 January to the end of 2015 July. This period of time covers almost two solar cycles (23 and 24). The basic attributes of CMEs, reported in the SOHO/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) catalog, during these solar cycles were statistically analyzed. The question of the CME detection rate and its connection to the solar cycles was considered in detail. Based on the properties and detection rate, CMEs can be divided into two categories: regular and specific events. The regular events are pronounced and follow the pattern of sunspot number. On the other hand, the special events are poorer and more correlated with the general conditions of heliosphere and corona. Nevertheless, both groups of CMEs are the result of the same physical phenomenon, viz. release of magnetic energy from closed field regions. It was demonstrated that the enhanced CME rate, since the solar cycle 23 polar-field reversal, is due to a significant decrease of total (magnetic and plasma) heliospheric pressure as well as the changed magnetic pattern of solar corona. CMEs expel free magnetic energy and helicity from the Sun; therefore, they are related to complex solar magnetic field structure. It is also worth emphasizing that the CMEs listed in the SOHO/LASCO catalog are real ejections (not false identification). Their detection rate reflects the global evolution of the magnetic field on the Sun, and not only changes in the magnetic structures associated with sunspots.
Relativistic Tearing Mode in Pair Plasmas and Application to Magnetic Giant Flares
Authors: Yang S. D.
Published: July 2019

Relativistic magnetic reconnection is an important process in plasmas where relativity enters through large magnetization and relativistic temperature, and the tearing mode plays a significant role in the initial phase of spontaneous reconnection. Starting from general steady equilibrium, parallel as well as oblique tearing modes for relativistic pair plasmas are analyzed in this paper, including resistivity and thermal inertia (the generalization of the nonrelativistic electron inertia). A dispersion relation for arbitrary values of the tearing instability index Δ′ is derived, containing both the large-Δ′ regime and the small-Δ′ regime, where the different limits are discussed with their implications for the tearing mode growth rate. It is found that in relativistic tearing mode, the parallel Lundquist number, electron skin-depth, and α that encodes the structure of the resonant surface all play roles in determining the tearing growth rate, where the parallel Lundquist number is defined with respect to the parallel magnetization σ
∥ as well as the perpendicular magnetization σ
⊥, and the electron skin-depth assumes the relativistic form for pair plasmas. These results hold for both pressure balance and force-free equilibrium. As an application, tearing instability is hypothesized as a possible mechanism for triggering fast gamma-ray burst. This work is important for understanding tearing modes in relativistic pair plasmas, and it serves as a basis for an analysis of relativistic plasmoid instability and relevant problems.
Aprica: a new genus and life history for the pteridivore Xanthia patula Druce, 1898 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)
Authors: Goldstein Paul Z. , Janzen Daniel , Hallwachs Winnie
Published: July 2019

Aprica Goldstein, gen. nov. is described to accommodate Xanthiapatula Druce, 1898. Recent discovery of its larva, which has been recorded eating foliage of species in six families of leptosporangiate ferns, suggest a possible subfamily assignment within the Eriopinae, but this cannot be substantiated based on adult morphology. This species has no obvious close relatives either among the core noctuid pteridivore genera currently recognized in the Eriopinae (e.g., Callopistria Hübner, [1821]), nor among genera more recently discovered to be fern-feeders but which remain incertae sedis with respect to subfamily (e.g., Leucosigma Druce, 1908, Lophomyra Schaus, 1911). The recorded foodplant profile is similar to that of another ambiguously placed Nearctic species Fagitanalittera (Guenée, 1852) (Noctuidae: Noctuinae: Xylenini, incertae sedis) with which it shares no obvious synapomorphies.
La collégialité concourt-elle à l’instruction ? Regard sur la séance d’instruction
Authors: Peton Nolwenn
Published: July 2019

La collégialité est une règle fondamentale du système juridictionnel français même si elle n’a pas une valeur constitutionnelle. Ce travail d’équipe que la collégialité suppose concourt à l’instruction. Contrairement à ce que le code de justice administrative prévoit pour le Conseil d’Etat, la séance d’instruction n’est qu’une faculté pour les tribunaux administratifs et les cours administratives d’appel. C’est pourtant le cadre dans lequel la collégialité peut s’exprimer. Elle permet de continuer à instruire, dans le prolongement du travail déjà accompli par le rapporteur. La séance d’instruction doit donc être vue comme une étape supplémentaire de l’instruction. Et parce qu’elle impose un débat interne à la juridiction autant qu’elle en renforce l’impartialité, la séance d’instruction apparaît comme un gage de sécurité pour l’instruction.
La notion d’imminence en droit administratif
Authors: Froment-Maire Anne
Published: July 2019

L’imminence est une notion souvent employée en droit administratif. Pour autant, elle demeure cependant absente des index des manuels de la matière, contrairement à la notion d’urgence. Aussi, la présente analyse suggère une définition fonctionnelle de cette notion, correspondant à la survenance certaine, dans un délai bref, d’un évènement, et dont la certitude de sa survenance peut être établie par toute preuve matérielle objective. Ainsi, la reconnaissance de son unité théorique et pratique contribuerait à renforcer sa normativité, et permettrait de résoudre l’ambiguïté des effets qu’elle emporte. A cet égard, la notion d’imminence s’inscrit pleinement dans la spécificité du droit administratif, dans la mesure où elle conditionne assurément l’action administrative et l’appréciation du juge, suivant le régime juridique dont elle procède. Pour la caractériser, deux aspects de la notion sont toutefois indispensables : sa temporalité et sa matérialité. Plus concrètement, l’évènement doit être sur le point de survenir. En ce sens, il en devient immédiat. Celui-ci doit être également présumé - ou plus précisément établi -, c’est-à-dire que la preuve de la survenance de l’évènement doit pouvoir être alors constatée. Une fois établis, ces critères se retrouvent dans un large panel des décisions du Conseil d’Etat, et ce, dans un grand nombre de domaines afférent au droit administratif. Ces critères qui s’imposent naturellement aux acteurs du droit administratif ont des incidences à un double égard. En premier lieu, il apparaît que la notion d’imminence oblige l’administration dans son action, la transformant en compétence liée et l’administration n’a pas la faculté de renoncer à ses prérogatives. L’évènement devient un élément de référence qui s’impose alors à l’administration. Plus encore, les pouvoirs de l’administration peuvent être élargis, voire provoquer des transferts de compétences au sein même de l’administration. En second lieu, la notion d’imminence permet au juge de développer une analyse exhaustive des circonstances à prendre en compte dans de nombreux domaines tels que l’environnement, la domanialité ou encore la sécurité. Cependant et en dépit d’une synthèse qui suggère une interprétation qui a le mérite de pouvoir se décliner dans l’ensemble des champs du droit administratif, il faut constater que l’autonomie de la notion d’imminence est afférente à son intensité. Et qu’à cet égard, la notion d’imminence ne peut être appréciée sans être associée à celle de gravité. Le Conseil d’Etat exige encore le maintien de cette parenté, jugée nécessaire. Au même titre que les études relatives à l’urgence, la notion d’imminence mérite sa place et sa reconnaissance apparaît pertinente afin d’offrir une meilleure lisibilité de sa définition et de répondre aux spécificités de l’action administrative. A la lecture de la doctrine, une clarification est néanmoins attendue entre les notions d’urgence, d’urgence absolue ou d’imminence, dès lors que l’on souhaitera caractériser une situation permettant l’octroi d’une dérogation à la règle juridique classique.
Les routes de la soie agricoles : quelle place pour la Méditerranée ?
Authors: Chaumet Jean-Marc
Published: July 2019

La Chine fait face à une dépendance alimentaire croissante qui l’a obligée à revoir sa politique agricole. Sa nouvelle stratégie repose sur l’arrêt de la logique productiviste, pour ménager l’environnement, sur une montée en gamme des productions et sur une sécurisation des importations agricoles, reconnues comme nécessaires. À travers l’initiative des nouvelles routes de la soie, la Chine cherche notamment à mettre en place le volet international de cette nouvelle politique. Si le pourtour méditerranéen n’est pas pris en considération tel un ensemble homogène par la diplomatie et acteurs économiques chinois, les pays sont ciblés en fonction de leur potentiel agricole et de leur situation économique. La Chine privilégie la présence commerciale et affiche encore un excédent agricole avec la majorité des pays bordant la Méditerranée, mais commence à développer une coopération agricole qui lui permet de renforcer ses liens politiques et son image tout en espérant réduire les tensions sur les marchés internationaux. À l’inverse, avec la France, l’Espagne et l’Italie, la Chine trouve une source d’approvisionnement et de savoir-faire qui comble une partie de ses manques. La deuxième économie mondiale ne néglige donc aucun pays dans cette région du monde et tente de tirer parti de chacune de leur caractéristique pour satisfaire ses objectifs agricoles.
Probiotics maintain intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A levels in healthy formula-fed infants: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Authors: Xiao L. , Gong C. , Ding Y. , Ding G. , Xu X. , Deng C. , Ze X. , Malard P. , Ben X.
Published: July 2019

Formula-fed infants are more susceptible to infectious diseases because they lack the maternal immune factors transferred from breast milk, while their own immune system is still immature. As timely probiotic administration was suggested to promote immune system development in formula-fed infants, this study aimed at assessing the safety and the effects of a probiotic supplement (Bifidobacterium infantis R0033, Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071, and Lactobacillus helveticus R0052) on mucosal immune competence and digestive function in formula-fed infants. Healthy infants (3.5-6 months old) were randomised to receive either probiotic- (n=66) or placebo-supplemented (n=66) formula once a day for four weeks. In the probiotics group, faecal secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels remained similar between visit 2 (baseline; V2) and visit 3 (end-of-treatment; V3), but decreased in the placebo group. Changes in SIgA levels following treatment (log10ΔV3-V2 [95%CI]) between the probiotic and placebo groups were statistically significant (23 ng/dl [-57;102] and -137 ng/dl [-212;-62], respectively (P=0.0044; ANCOVA)). While log10ΔV3-V2 [95%CI] for salivary SIgA levels increased in both groups, this trend was more pronounced in the probiotics than in the placebo group with an increase of 123 ng/dl [9;236] and 37 ng/dL [-72;147], respectively (P=0.2829; ANCOVA). The weekly average number of stools/day was significantly higher in the probiotics group compared to placebo during the last week of treatment for the per protocol population. There was no difference in microbiota composition or anthropometric parameters between groups. No serious adverse event was reported, and all adverse events were mild and unrelated to the product or study. Our results show that formula-fed infants receiving probiotics maintained higher faecal SIgA levels at the end of the four-week treatment period, suggesting a positive effect of probiotics on SIgA production. This study demonstrates the safety of this probiotic formulation in infants. Formula-fed infants may benefit from probiotics supplementation to sustain the development of mucosal immunity.
Fusarium head blight and mycotoxins in wheat: prevention and control strategies across the food chain
Authors: Torres A.M. , Palacios S.A. , Yerkovich N. , Palazzini J.M. , Battilani P. , Leslie J.F. , Logrieco A.F. , Chulze S.N.
Published: July 2019

With 744 million metric tons produced in 2017/2018, bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and durum wheat (Triticum durum) are the second most widely produced cereal on a global basis. Prevention or control of wheat diseases may have an enormous impact on global food security and safety.Fusariumhead blight is an economically debilitating disease of wheat that reduces the quantity and quality of grain harvested, and may lead to contamination with the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, which affects the health of humans and domesticated animals. Current climate change scenarios predict an increase in the number of epidemics caused by this disease. Multiple strategies are available for managing the disease including cultural practices, planting less-susceptible cultivars, crop rotation, and chemical and biological controls. None of these strategies, however, is completely effective by itself, and an integrated approach incorporating multiple controls simultaneously is the only effective strategy to limit the disease and reduce deoxynivalenol contamination in human food and animal feed chains. This review identifies the available tools and strategies for mitigating the damage that can result fromFusariumhead blight.
Student Academic Performance Prediction using Supervised Learning Techniques
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Latif Shahzad , Mehmood Danish , Shah Muhammad Saqlain
Published: July 2019

Automatic Student performance prediction is a crucial job due to the large volume of data in educational databases. This job is being addressed by educational data mining (EDM). EDM develop methods for discovering data that is derived from educational environment. These methods are used for understanding student and their learning environment. The educational institutions are often curious that how many students will be pass/fail for necessary arrangements. In previous studies, it has been observed that many researchers have intension on the selection of appropriate algorithm for just classification and ignores the solutions of the problems which comes during data mining phases such as data high dimensionality ,class imbalance and classification error etc. Such types of problems reduced the accuracy of the model.

Several well-known classification algorithms are applied in this domain but this paper proposed a student performance prediction model based on supervised learning decision tree classifier. In addition, an ensemble method is applied to improve the performance of the classifier. Ensemble methods approach is designed to solve classification, predictions problems.

This study proves the importance of data preprocessing and algorithms fine-tuning tasks to resolve the data quality issues. The experimental dataset used in this work belongs to Alentejo region of Portugal which is obtained from UCI Machine Learning Repository. Three supervised learning algorithms (J48, NNge and MLP) are employed in this study for experimental purposes. The results showed that J48 achieved highest accuracy 95.78% among others.
Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Simulation Technology in Nursing Education
Authors: Awad Mohammad Salih , Abdullah Mohanned Khalil , Ibrahim Radhwan Hussein , Abdulla Razgar Khalil
Published: July 2019

This paper investigates the usefulness of simulation technology on nursing edu-cation from the point of view of student themselves. A quantitative descriptive modes of enquiry, the authors attempt to illuminate the attitudes of the Nursing students towards using simulation in nursing education as a dependent variable. Participants were recruited from three nursing grads, covering six semesters. Twenty percent of the whole students in each Course and semester were random-ly selected, the initial sample consisted of 150 students. The student of grad one (141 student) were excluded because they were not used the simulation in their curricula. This study was conducted in a College of Nursing in the University of Mosul during January 2019 to March 2019. KidSIM ATTITUDES questionnaire was used as a tool to evaluate student’s attitudes toward using of simulation technology in Nursing Education. Data management and analysis were per-formed using SPSS 25. Statistical significance was analyzed using analysis of variance and t-tests as appropriate. Significance levels were set at the 1% level using the student t-test. The study finding reveals that most student show their positive attitudes towards using simulation technology in Nursing education (42%-48.9%) expressed about their (agreed-strongly agreed regarding Relevance of Simulation in nursing. This study has found that generally, Mosul Nursing students has positive attitudes towards using simulation in their teaching and training
OPTIMIZING WINDOW TO WALL RATIO FOR CONSERVING ENERGY IN OFFICE BUILDINGS FOR COOLING DOMINANT CLIMATES WITH AND WITHOUT DAYLIGHT UTILIZATION
Authors: Altaf Madeeha , Hill Frances
Published: July 2019

The construction of fully glazed commercial building facades responsible for high energy consumption has become a common architectural practice worldwide irrespective of the climate. This paper presents the methodology to optimize the Window to Wall Ratio (WWR) with and without daylight utilization to reduce energy consumption in office buildings for the climate of Lahore, Pakistan, using a simulation tool COMFEN. The impacts of solar heat and daylight entering through the building façade with reference to different WWR and orientation were explored for the selection of optimum WWR. The optimum WWR was selected on the basis of least energy consumption whilst achieving a threshold lighting level. When daylight is not utilized, the energy demand is minimized by the lowest possible WWR. With daylight utilization, energy demand is optimized by use of WWRs of 13% to 30% according to orientation. Optimum WWR with daylight utilization offered a more balanced solution. The methodology used in this study can be applied to any location around the world to find optimum WWR for any glazing type.
MEASURING UP: A CASE FOR REDRAWING THE SYSTEM BOUNDARIES OF SUSTAINABILITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
Authors: Sturlaugson Brent , Radtke Rebekah , Lee-Post Anita
Published: July 2019

The primary goal of this paper is to examine the role that sustainability assessment and reporting plays in creating a sustainable campus for academic excellence. A prototype sustainability assessment and reporting system is developed for triple bottom line impact analysis of the built environment of the newly expanded and renovated Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky. The prototype system utilizes a toolkit to collect environmental, social, and economic data of the building's built environment for sustainable design performance analyses. The system also employs a comprehensive set of sustainability metrics to measure and report the building's triple bottom line impacts on academic success. In sum, our study succeeds in (1) expanding the definition and evaluation of campus buildings' sustainability to include environmental, social, and economic factors, (2) providing campus stakeholders with a toolkit for assessing the sustainability of campus buildings, and (3) creating a comprehensive sustainability metric for benchmarking and tracking campus buildings' triple bottom line impacts on academic success.
LOW-COST AND NON-INVASIVE ENERGY RECOVERY TECHNIQUES FOR PUBLIC RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS MADE WITH GREAT PANEL STRUCTURES IN ITALY
Authors: Bazzocchi Frida , Ticci Sara , Di Naso Vincenzo , Rocchetti Andrea
Published: July 2019

In Italy, a large stock of public housing was built during the 1970s and 1980s with industrialized/prefabricated techniques. These buildings have envelopes characterized by the presence of many thermal bridges and low transmittance values. In addition, they feature inefficient single heating systems in residential units and no cooling/ventilation systems. As a result, these buildings require urgent energy retrofitting actions, and it is therefore necessary to define procedures that will guarantee effective results. The possible interventions must be compatible with building construction techniques as well as be minimally invasive and inexpensive. There are only a limited number of technical solutions, considering that residents should not have to move out during the renovations. In most Italian climatic zones, current interventions are usually linked to external insulation and window replacement, leading to an improvement in energy performance and comfort only during winter. Internal comfort conditions tend to worsen in summer months because seasonal temperatures tend to increase by a few degrees. Therefore, solutions should be proposed that will improve both summer and winter conditions. This work proposes an energy recovery procedure applied to a representative building from the abovementioned period located in the Florence area and constructed with an industrialized system named the “tunnel system” (great panels structure). The procedure used in this study provides for the redevelopment of the envelope and the application of a simple mechanical ventilation system to achieve substantial energy savings and improved indoor comfort conditions.
Fundamentals of Electronic Word of Mouth
Authors: Akbıyık Adem , Uğur Naciye Güliz
Published: July 2019

The assistance of advancing information technology leads consumers to freely share their experiences and positive or negative opinions on consumer-generated media (CGM) platforms, including various forms of online communications such as customer review sites, blogs, social network sites, and discussion forums. This new electronic form of traditional word of mouth (e-WOM) is becoming increasingly powerful for its creation and worldwide propagation of consumer comments. Such comments are valued as trustworthy by potential customers. This chapter adopts a descriptive approach to present fundamental research on the framework and the theoretical perspective of e-WOM and provides valuable insight to practitioners.
Be or Not Be Online Engaged
Authors: Loureiro Sandra Maria Correia , Bilro Ricardo Godinho
Published: July 2019

Relationship marketing is a field of knowledge that emerged in the 1980s. The relationship between online consumers and brands is embedded in the same relationship marketing paradigm but become a significant issue for companies in the 21st century with the proliferation of Web 2.0. In order to give insights about online engagement and the process behind, this chapter aims (1) to conduct a systematic literature review on online stimuli experience, adaptability, e-WOM, positive/negative emotions, memory, and online engagement; (2) to present a comprehensive framework exposing the flow from stimuli to e-WOM on online retail consumers. Findings allow the authors propose online retailer recommendations and suggestions for further research.
The Role of the Electronic Word-of-Mouth in the Hotel Industry
Authors: Gabbianelli Linda , Pencarelli Tonino
Published: July 2019

In the digital age, electronic word-of-mouth plays a role extremely important for the hospitality industry. Due to the intangibility of the tourism product, travelers need to seek information in order to reduce the perceived risk. They usually compare different options and search for accurate and reliable information to make choices, such as user-generated contents. Moreover, tourists pay much more attention to digital platforms that foster interaction and information exchange between users. This study aims to investigate, through an online questionnaire, the managerial behavior of 103 hotels of the province of Rimini towards the electronic word-of-mouth phenomenon. The findings highlight the proactive attitude of hotels towards the phenomenon, to increase the booking and to improve the service quality. The study conducted provides hints of originality because it filled some gaps emerging in the literature regarding the dealing with responses, the stimulation of generating comments, and the impact of online reviews on hotel performance.
The Role of WOM in Affecting the Intention to Purchase Online
Authors: Confente Ilenia , Vigolo Vania , Brunetti Federico
Published: July 2019

Recent studies have focused on the influence of online word-of-mouth (WOM) on tourist behavior. However, the role of traditional versus online WOM on travel decisions remains to be expanded. This chapter addresses this research gap by empirically investigating the impact of offline and online WOM on travel decisions across four different cohorts: Generation Y, Generation X, the Baby Boomers, and the Silent Generation. In addition, it explores generational differences with regard to online booking intentions. Findings reveal that traditional WOM affects travel decisions by all cohorts, with a higher impact for the Baby Boomers and the Silent Generations. Online WOM has a higher influence for younger cohorts, who also show a higher intention to purchase online than older generations. Still, the results show that senior individuals are well aware of the possibilities offered by the Internet as both an information source and a purchase channel.
How Consumers Respond to Editorial Communication Strategies
Authors: Brandão Amélia Maria Pinto da Cunha , Machado Sara Monteiro
Published: July 2019

With the advent of Web 2.0 and the fact that brands can now communicate directly with consumers, it has been suggested that content marketing is replacing publicity. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no previous study has supported this relationship. The purpose of this chapter is to explore this theory, drawing a comparative study on how consumers respond to both approaches. The effects of content marketing and publicity on message credibility, attitude toward the brand and purchase intention are analyzed, as well as the impact of consumers' antecedents on these indicators. The findings indicate that publicity is still relevant and is not being replaced by content marketing. This chapter illustrates the power of content in influencing customer decision making and provides relevant insights into how content must be used to serve consumers' needs more effectively, allowing a 360º view.
Waste Management System for Smart City Using IoT
Authors: Golden Julie E.
Published: July 2019

In the present scenario, sensors place a major role for implementing smart devices. Internet of Things (IoT) is an advancement of sensors which can communicate with non-communicate things (devices). Many of the developed counties are using smartness in creating and communicating devices using IoT. In India, major challenges focus on how and where to implement smartness. Hence, authors found some different areas like healthcare, education, transport, water, energy, communication, security & safety, citizen services, and so on. All these areas are covered by a smart way using recent technology (IoT) in smart cities concepts. Various technologies like IoT, Big Data, and cloud computing are used for constructing smartness in the form of devices. In this Chapter, authors focus on a smart waste management system using IoT. They provide various smart bin construction technology, advantages, standards and challenges in detail. It is very useful to the reader to understand the various method of waste management in smart cities development using IoT.
Smarter Phone
Authors: Dave Rushit , Chowdhury Brinta , Sowells-Boone Evelyn R.
Published: July 2019

Over the last two decades, the evolution of mobile technologies has led to an unprecedented adoption of cellphones in mainstream society. Consumers have moved from having the ability to make telephone calls from anywhere at any time using the traditional cellphones to having an all-access pass to cyberspace using today's smartphones. This portable device has become a reliable support system for the user because of the accessibility and flexibility it offers to maintain the users' daily routine. Authors in this chapter have chosen software optimization techniques to increase battery efficiency because these techniques are more robust. This chapter introduces a novel idea of an automated system for smartphones that prioritize application access based on the owner's usage patterns and daily routine to conserve battery life. This system will serve two purposes: save battery power and improve the smartphone's artificial intelligence.
Smart Homes and Offices
Authors: Jain Nikita , Jain Rachna , Kumar Vaibhav
Published: July 2019

Smart Homes and Offices (SHO) are composed of interlinked components with constant data transfer and services targeted at increasing the lifestyle of the people. This chapter describes about the smart components and how SHO are direct implementation of Internet of Things (IOT). The major paradigm in this chapter is appliances supporting smart aspects of SHO, their applications and change in technology in context of smart Homes and Offices. Here we have also discussed the standardization and personalization of gadgets and how it has been increasing our standard of living. Finally, the chapter focuses on privacy preserving mechanisms, its essence over smart cities, strong architecture related to privacy, preserving mechanism, and various approaches available that can retaliate these issues in a smart city environment.
Exploring IoT-Enabled Smart Transportation System
Authors: Mishra Sushruta , Patel Shikha , Panda Amiya Ranjan Ranjan , Mishra Brojo Kishore
Published: July 2019

Internet of Things (IoT) is a platform that makes a device smart such that every day communication becomes more informative. A Smart Transportation system basically consists of three components which include smart roads, smart vehicles and a smart parking system. Smart roads are used to describe roads that use sensors and IoT technology which makes driving safer and greener. Smart parking system involves an automated system model that can assist the drivers in selecting the suitable parking spot for them. The data that the system collects will be sent for some analysis. It provides real time information to drivers about various aspects of transportation like weather conditions, traffic scenario, road safety, parking space, and many other things. A well-built Smart Transportation system reduces the risk of accidents, improves safety, increases capacity, reduces fuel consumption, and enhances overall comfort and performance for drivers. Our chapter deals with the in-depth discussion of these various aspects of a smart transportation system enabled with IoT technology.
Smart Agricultural Practice for India
Authors: Goyal Dinesh , Rajput Ravindra Singh
Published: July 2019

The rapid growth of food needs due to the increasing worldwide population is raising the requirement for smart agriculture. Smart agriculture employs superior technologies such as decision support system, expert system, IoT, GPS, machine learning, robotics, and application of connected devices. Smart agriculture supports an automated farming system that includes a collection of data related to the farming area, and then analyzes the data so that the farmer can make the right decisions in order to grow high-quality products. In smart agriculture, farming-related data are collected using some unusual instruments like sensors, cameras, microcontrollers, and actuators. Then the collected data of farming areas are transferred via the internet to the farmer for decision making. This chapter is aimed to discuss critical topics for the implementation of smart agriculture in India.
Medical Reports Analysis Using Natural Language Processing for Disease Classification
Authors: Sumathi S.  , Indumathi S.  , Rajkumar S.
Published: July 2019

Text classification in medical domain could result in an easier way of handling large volumes of medical data. They can be segregated depending on the type of diseases, which can be determined by extracting the decisive key texts from the original document. Due to various nuances present in understanding language in general, a requirement of large volumes of text-based data is required for algorithms to learn patterns properly. The problem with existing systems such as MedScape, MedLinePlus, Wrappin, and MedHunt is that they involve human interaction and high time consumption in handling a large volume of data. By employing automation in this proposed field, the large involvement of manpower could be removed which in turn speeds up the process of classification of the medical documents by which the shortage of medical technicians in third world countries are addressed.
Privacy Preserving Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Asok Divya , Chitra P.  , Muthurajan Bharathiraja
Published: July 2019

In the past years, the usage of internet and quantity of digital data generated by large organizations, firms, and governments have paved the way for the researchers to focus on security issues of private data. This collected data is usually related to a definite necessity. For example, in the medical field, health record systems are used for the exchange of medical data. In addition to services based on users' current location, many potential services rely on users' location history or their spatial-temporal provenance. However, most of the collected data contain data identifying individual which is sensitive. With the increase of machine learning applications around every corner of the society, it could significantly contribute to the preservation of privacy of both individuals and institutions. This chapter gives a wider perspective on the current literature on privacy ML and deep learning techniques, along with the non-cryptographic differential privacy approach for ensuring sensitive data privacy.
Programming Language Support for Implementing Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Anitha Elavarasi S.  , Jayanthi J.
Published: July 2019

Machine learning provides the system to automatically learn without human intervention and improve their performance with the help of previous experience. It can access the data and use it for learning by itself. Even though many algorithms are developed to solve machine learning issues, it is difficult to handle all kinds of inputs data in-order to arrive at accurate decisions. The domain knowledge of statistical science, probability, logic, mathematical optimization, reinforcement learning, and control theory plays a major role in developing machine learning based algorithms. The key consideration in selecting a suitable programming language for implementing machine learning algorithm includes performance, concurrence, application development, learning curve. This chapter deals with few of the top programming languages used for developing machine learning applications. They are Python, R, and Java. Top three programming languages preferred by data scientist are (1) Python more than 57%, (2) R more than 31%, and (3) Java used by 17% of the data scientists.
Improving Classroom Management and Teacher Retention
Authors: Stefaniak Jill , Reynolds Jilian L. , Luo Tian
Published: July 2019

This case explores how a needs assessment was conducted at a middle school experiencing high rates of teacher turnover. Pamela Frost, an experienced instructional designer, was assigned to assess the situation and identify opportunities to improve professional development opportunities for the teachers. As a part of a needs assessment, Pamela gathered data to address needs pertaining to classroom management challenges, teacher attrition rates, and establishing relations with the local community. This case explores how Pamela gathered data and triangulated her findings to determine what interventions were needed.
Management Accounting
Authors: Cokins Gary , Căpușneanu Sorinel
Published: July 2019

This chapter illustrates some aspects of sustainability balanced scorecard and its implementation within an economic entity in the aluminum industry. The main objectives of this chapter are to present balanced scorecard and integrate the fifth pillar into sustainability balanced scorecard, including some of its considerations and challenges. The authors identify the causes of SBSC appearance and its conceptual-evolving treatments, some considerations stemming from the practical experience of specialists, but also some current and future challenges. The focus is on the implementation of the SBSC within an economic entity in the aluminum industry by presenting an original case study. It highlights the steps taken in designing and presenting the SBSC, including the architecture of the strategic sustainability map used to translate the strategic objectives of the entity and the performance indicators. Through the authors' contribution, a new conceptual-empirical framework is created to consider debate and aspects of sustainability encountered in the business environment around the world.
Circular Economy and Circular Business Models in the Actual Global Ecological Context
Authors: Constantin Dana Maria (Oprea) , Căpușneanu Sorinel , Topor Dan Ioan , Aslam Hassan Danial
Published: July 2019

This chapter aims to synthesize some of the current issues of the circular economy and circular business models. Based on the international literature, the chapter highlights aspects such as the conceptual theoretical approaches of the circular economy and circular business models, interconnecting the principles of the circular economy, the difference between the linear and the circular economy, the circular economy and the sustainable development, the supply chain within the circular economy, possible business models of the circular economy, advantages and limitations in the successful implementation of the circular economy and supporting sustainability, other aspects of the circular economy and sustainability. The covered topics are based on the studies conducted by specialists and also present some author opinions on the sustainable development and circular economy. The chapter ends with the authors' conclusions on the impact of the circular economy and circular business models in the actual ecological context, launching possible future research topics for specialists.
Importance of Ethics and Education to Understand the Audit Mission
Authors: Fülöp Melinda Timea , Cordoș George Silviu , Măgdaș Nicolae
Published: July 2019

The chapter brings forward the discussion of how the level of accounting and audit knowledge has an impact on how stakeholders understand the audit mission, the auditor's responsibilities, and the message conveyed by the audit report, even when considering the new and extended reports. The preliminary results of this analysis indicate that audit education influences the audit expectation gap (the reasonableness gap), and if measures would be taken to upsurge the stakeholder's levels of education in auditing and accounting, combined with new and revised standards, the audit expectation gap can be reduced. In this sense, the International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB) is an independent standard-setting body that serves the public interest by establishing standards in the field of professional accounting education that prescribe technical competence and professional skills, values, ethics, and attitudes.
Creative Accounting and Its Impact on Financial Statements
Authors: Oncioiu Gabriela Claudia , Stanciu Alina
Published: July 2019

Creative accounting responds to the same issue faced by the management, but the answer lies at the boundary between the legal and de facto recording of the economic event, leaving accountants to create the entity's economic reality. The manager of the entity can choose from the multitude of accounting treatments and policies, the one that is most convenient and responds best to their own interests, which implies that the outcome may be convenient and not necessarily true. This chapter presents the implications and challenges of creative accounting on financial statements. The results show that the main controversy raised by the standards refers to the need for periodic reassessments and the possibility of choosing a method of measuring the value, which creates premises for the practice of creative accounting.
Technology Adoption for Teaching
Authors: Adetimirin Airen
Published: July 2019

Lecturers use technology for teaching to make learning more interactive and meet the different learning needs of students to promote their learning outcomes. The use of technology by lecturers will achieve the global trend of student-centered learning, where the course curriculum, pedagogy and type of technology should be focused on the needs of the students. To achieve meeting the needs of the students in a class, lecturers adopt technology such as interactive boards, learning management systems, videos, webcam to deliver their course content. However, the appropriate technology must be adopted for the topics in each course and used based on the rules and regulation referred to as ethics. Lecturers must use technology appropriately to avoid unethical acts such as copyright infringement and plagiarism in the retrieval of information resources from electronic sources such as the internet. Literature has revealed that lecturers are involved in unethical acts and need to be educated on ethical use of technology. This chapter examines the use of technology by lecturers for teaching, ethical behavior and recommended that regular ethical education should be provided to the lecturers through information literacy programs for them to become knowledgeable in the ethics of using technology and avoid unethical acts.
Role of Cloud Computing in School Education
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Bhardwaj Aashish
Published: July 2019

Government and non-government organizations throughout the world are investing a lot in education because it is a primary tool to reduce poverty and crime in society. Still, the drop-out rates in primary as well as K12 education creates big worries for upcoming demands. This requires new strategies to make education motivating and improve student's commitment in learning. Student learning needs to be more flexible in time and place with interesting assignments and engagements. Technology can play a vital role in this and can enrich the student leaning in many ways. However, with the advent of new educational tools, their affordability and access has become a significant concern for the schools. The cost factor for adopting technology in education can be addressed by cloud computing technology. School education on cloud computing platform will facilitate the low-cost technology access with inherent features like flexibility, privacy, scalability, provisioning, reliability, and security. Cloud computing-based school education infrastructure will inculcate the participation and self-evaluation skills in the students. This chapter reviews the educational attainment and educational challenges in indifferent countries including the choice of subjects in K12 education for students as well as the technology options available for the students. It then outlines the school education improvement strategy with integration of cloud computing benefits in the school education system.