bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Mobile Application for Learning Style Prediction
Authors: Torres Eugenia Olaguez , Espino Piero , Garcia Jonathan
Published: December 2018

This chapter presents the development of a mobile application through the use of intelligent systems adapted to learning styles in accordance to the models of Feder-Silverman and Kolb. This development takes place in a Java programming language within the Android Studio development environment, which at the same time uses the SQLite mobile data base. The mobile application allowed the authors to identify the learning styles of students from the Mechatronics Engineering academic program that show some sort of educational backwardness in the subject of differential calculus. It was found that, according to the Felder-Silverman model, the style that predominates among students is the auditory style, while in accordance to the Kolb model, it was identified that the reflective style was the most common learning style amongst mechatronics students. It is concluded that through the use of this mobile application, students are able to identify the learning style, predict, and apply appropriate learning techniques to their learning style.
An Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics and Its Application in Microfluidics
Authors: Júnior João Lameu da Silva
Published: December 2018

The chapter aims to introduce the computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A review was provided, outlining its development and applications on chemical engineering and microfluidics. The fundamental points of the CFD, listing the advantages and precautions of this numerical technique were provided. The description of CFD methodology including the three essential stages (pre-processing, solving, and post-processing) was made. The fundamental transport equations—total mass (continuity), momentum, energy, and species mass balances—and the usual boundary conditions used in CFD were explained. The main approaches used in multicomponent single-phase flows, single-phase flow in porous media, and multiphase flows in microscale were detailed, as well as the numerical mesh types and its quality parameters. A brief introduction of finite volume method (FVM) used by most of the available CFD codes was also performed, describing the main numerical solution features. Finally, the conclusions and future prospects of CFD applications are exposed.
Analytical and Numerical Modelling of Liquid Penetration in a Closed Capillary
Authors: Bose Goutam Kumar , Ghosh Pritam , Pal Debashis
Published: December 2018

The chapter explores the dynamics of liquid penetration in a closed end vertical capillary. This model is very important for impedance spectroscopy methodology where oxidized porous silicon provides an in vitro medium, and one important criteria of this methodology is the liquid penetration depth inside the silicon pores as the impedance is greatly affected by this penetration depth. This problem is also important in order to understand how the presence of entrapped air inside a micro pore can influence the dynamics of capillary flow. For this purpose, the model is studied both analytically and numerically. In this study, different pore size (500 nm and 2 µm diameter) with equal pore depth (~10 µm) have been used. Finally, the analytical solution is compared with the numerical results. In addition, the linearization of the system is also investigated and found the critical viscosity of which demarcates the over-damped and under-damped regimes. Further, this study is extended by incorporating the dynamic contact angle effects on the meniscus dynamics.
Design Techniques for Microfluidic Devices Implementation Applicable to Chemical Analysis Systems
Authors: Rosa Reinaldo Lucas dos Santos , Seabra Antonio Carlos
Published: December 2018

This chapter provides a guide for microfluidic devices development and optimization focused on chemical analysis applications, which includes medicine, biology, chemistry, and environmental monitoring, showing high-level performance associated with a specific functionality. Examples are chemical analysis, solid phase extraction, chromatography, immunoassay analysis, protein and DNA separation, cell sorting and manipulation, cellular biology, and mass spectrometry. In this chapter, most information is related to microfluidic devices design and fabrication used to perform several steps concerning chemical analysis, process preparation of reagents, samples reaction and detection, regarding water quality monitoring. These steps are especially relevant to lab-on-chip (LOC) and micro-total-analysis-systems (μTAS). μTAS devices are developed in order to simplify analytical chemist work, incorporating several analytical procedures into flow systems. In the case of miniaturized devices, the analysis time is reduced, and small volumes (nL) can be used.
Smart Temperature Sensors
Authors: Zaher Ashraf A.
Published: December 2018

Many real-world applications depend on temperature sensing and/or control. This includes a wide range of industrial processes, chemical reactors, and SCADA systems, in addition to other physical, mechanical, and biological systems. With the advancement of technology, it became possible to produce a new generation of smart and compact temperature sensors, which are capable of providing digital outputs that are more accurate, robust, and easily interfaced and integrated into measurement and control systems. This chapter first surveys traditional analog temperature sensors, such as RTDs and thermocouples, to provide a strong motivation for the need to adopt better and smarter techniques that mainly rely on digital technology (e.g., CMOS designs). Different interfacing techniques that do not need ADCs are introduced, including the programmable Arduino microcontrollers. Different applications will be explored that include automotive accessories, weather forecast, healthcare, industrial processing, firefighting, and consumer electronics. Both wired and wireless technologies, including the IoT, will be investigated as means for transmitting the sensed data for further processing and data logging. A special case study to provide information redundancy in industrial SCADA systems will be analyzed to illustrate the advantages and limitations of smart temperature sensors. The chapter concludes with a summary of the design effort, accuracy, performance, and cost effectiveness of smart temperature sensors while highlighting future trends in this field for different applications.
Decision Making Under Uncertainty and Risks in the Face of Rapidly Advancing Technologies
Authors: Díaz Vicente González-Prida , Bonilla Jesus Pedro Zamora , Gunckel Pablo Viveros
Published: December 2018

This chapter aims to consider the effects of the new concept Industry 4.0 on decision making, particularly on the reduction of uncertainty and the risk associated with any choice between alternatives. For this purpose, this chapter begins by dealing with the concepts of risk and uncertainty and their epistemological evolution. After observing certain trends and recent studies in this regard, the authors address a more philosophical perception of risk, mainly on aspects related to engineering and social perception. The concept of human reliability will also be reviewed and how it can be improved with the application of emerging technologies, considering some methodological proposals to improve the decision making. After that, some of the possible future research directions will be briefly discussed. Finally, the chapter concludes by highlighting key aspects of the chapter as a context for other chapters in the book.
Human Perfection and Contemporary Enhancement Technologies
Authors: Parra-Sáez Jesús
Published: December 2018

Human perfection has been one of the main objectives of the human species since the appearance of Homo sapiens, but contemporary biomedical technologies represent a promise to achieve it in the near future. In view of the new possibilities offered by new technologies, a scientific-philosophical theoretical debate has emerged between those who are in favor of its use on humanity for non-therapeutic purposes (posthumanists) and those who reject it (bioconservatives). In this chapter, the so-called “enhancement technologies,” the problems derived from their use with the aim of radically altering human abilities, and some of the most recent practical cases that have transcended the theoretical debate about their legitimacy are analyzed.
Anticipation of Problems in Innovative Projects Based on OTSM-TRIZ
Authors: Nikulin Christopher , Domínguez Constanza Céspedes , Stegmaier Raul , Nino Sabrina Estefania , Viveros Pablo , Becattini Niccolò
Published: December 2018

In this chapter, an integrated proposal is described to guide analysts and developers in identifying and selecting optimal alternative solutions in innovative projects. The integration is inspired by the theory of inventive problem solving, and specifically the recent evolution of the OTSM-TRIZ with a body of knowledge of risk analysis assessment. The authors propose a solution assessment indicator based on TRIZ-resources to anticipate a lack of resources when solutions are proposed. The solution assessment considers both risk assessment logic for evaluation and TRIZ resources for parameter classification and categorization. Finally, the solution assessment indicator aims to anticipate potential uncertainty by considering both qualitative and quantitative teamwork approaches. Moreover, this chapter presents a case study that involves a group of young designers and engineers working on a gripper design project, where the designers must develop a new product for a university laboratory.
Application of MSTAM Methodology in Project Management
Authors: Ho Siu Cheung , Chuah Kong Bieng
Published: December 2018

Innovation technology development and commercialization are not new, but this is a hot topic in this decade in Hong Kong. The relevant researches are focused on two dimensions from research and development (R&D) technologist perspective (supply-side) and industry user perspective (demand-side). This is a part of the author's engineering doctorate thesis. The thesis title is “An Analysis of the Determinants of Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) R&D Projects Commercialization in Hong Kong's Logistics and Supply Chain Industries.” A pilot implementation case study has been conducted and tested, and the MSTAM methodology are workable for ITF R&D project deliverables commercialization to the industry.
Marketing and Branding Initiatives for Local Food and Tourism Identity of Terengganu, Malaysia
Authors: Jalis Mohd Hairi
Published: December 2018

This chapter focuses on Terengganu and seeks to explore its local food and tourism development as well as marketing and branding initiatives. Within the context of local food, tourism, and destination marketing and branding studies, scholars continuously contest the truth of food as the core traveling purpose among tourists to visit a particular tourist destination. It was found that, recently, many tourist destinations have utilized local food as part of marketing and branding initiatives to position and stimulate appealing image in every tourists' eyes and mind. Therefore, using the case of Terengganu in Malaysia, this chapter explores and discusses the details of local cuisine and tourism employed by Tourism Terengganu (i.e., the state tourism board – STB) to market and brand the state worldwide. Terengganu is located in between two states (i.e., Kelantan and Pahang) on the east coast region of West Malaysia. Keropok lekor, nasi dagang, satar, akok, nasi kerabu, laksam, ketupat sotong, and lempeng nyior are among local food specialties in Terengganu. These dishes are often being displayed and marketed worldwide in various tourism marketing and used as promotional tools to speak about Terengganu and its tourism identity. Results from archival documents analysis have found that Tourism Terengganu employed various types of marketing and branding initiatives to promote Terengganu's local food and tourism industry domestically and internationally. All of these create and establish local food and tourism identity of Terengganu as part of destination branding efforts.
Ecotourism in Asia
Authors: Wallace Ryan
Published: December 2018

Noting the significant impact that tourism has on ecosystems and their local communities, ecotourism has emerged as an alternative that seeks to find a “win-win” strategy for all parties involved. With growing tourism throughout Asia and active development of many ecosystems, ecotourism has the promise to mend the social and economic gap while also ensuring a positive ecological impact over time. This chapter seeks to understand how sustainability and conservation fit into the core values of the ecotourism industry, as well as, how the industry plans for the short-term and long-term effects of their actions. Two important relationships are then explored in-depth because of their significance to the current and future state of ecotourism in Asia. Working with mass media, a strong brand may be created, thus increasing tourism to a destination site and ensuring that it is sustained over time. And through key partnerships, like those of local communities, ecotourism may have the potential to mutually benefit the people and the places tourists come to visit.
From an Emperor to the Derg and Beyond
Authors: Beyene Zenebe
Published: December 2018

Music and politics form intertwined relationships in many societies. These relationships become more pronounced in societies, such as Ethiopia, where formal lines of public expression are constrained. This chapter therefore investigated the content of songs during three successive governments in the country. Textual analysis was used to determine the prevailing themes in 14 selected songs and a musical play. The analysis shows that corruption, drought, and the need for change were dominant during the imperial era, whereas the focus in the Derg era was on the brutality of the regime, drought, and an endless war. Corruption, poor governance, and ethnic politics were the themes during the EPRDF era. The songs analyzed show that the ills of Ethiopian society persist just as the musicians continue to expose them and call for social healing and national unity.
Corruption Sings Loudest
Authors: Akinro Ngozi , Nwachukwu Emmanuel O. , Duru Adaobi V.
Published: December 2018

In this chapter, the authors used framing analysis to examine the dynamics of music, social media, and politics. Based on framing and impression management theories, this study considers music as a tool to convey political messages and argues that political parties use music to spread positive narratives of their accomplishments to promote themselves and their flag-bearers while using negative narratives to vilify and attempt to delegitimize their opponents. The authors examined the lyrics of two songs, “Change Blues” and “The Truth Blues,” both viral political satires by opposing political parties, and discussed the songs' strong emphasis on corruption in Nigeria and ways in which the political parties attempted to use the songs to encourage political participation and for their image management.
Majaivana and Protest Music in Zimbabwe
Authors: Dube Vusumuzi , Ncube Bhekinkosi Jakobe
Published: December 2018

This chapter interrogates the appropriation of music by a marginalized minority tribe to challenge political authority in Zimbabwe. It examines how music is used to arouse the people's nationalistic feelings; exploit their grievances through memory, collective identity, and emotions; and spur them to action against their local colonialists. Using cultural memory and subaltern public sphere theories, it examines how Majaivana's music is utilized by the Ndebeles in post-colonial Zimbabwe to challenge authority and assert their minority, collective identity. Although this chapter does a critical discourse analysis of the IsiNdebele language protest music as a socio-political commentary and “weapon of the weak” for the Ndebeles in Zimbabwe, lessons drawn therefrom can be extrapolated to other countries in Africa where minority groups face the authoritarian force of the majority tribe in power.
Zairo-Congolese Musicians and the Sound of Assimilation in East Africa
Authors: Rosenberg Aaron Louis
Published: December 2018

This chapter investigates the phenomenon of emigrant Zairo-Congolese musicians in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania and their attempts to integrate into these societies through a variety of strategies that overtly and covertly employ political elements. Remmy Ongala, Samba Mapangala, and the members of Orchestra Maquis all spent time in one of these countries and shaped their sound and messages in these settings, politics being a significant part of their work. While political communication studies focus on structures, institutions, and the media, it is the case that in numerous African contexts music is an integral part of political understanding and participation. Drawing upon the works of scholars such as Michael Urban, Mark Mattern, and Uche Onyebadi, this chapter combines varied fields such as ethnomusicology, political communication, and cultural studies to provide a close understanding of these musical emigrants as well as an exploration of the social trajectories in their work over the course of the last half century.
Music, Political Messaging, and Nigeria's 2015 Presidential Election
Authors: Aririguzoh Stella Amara
Published: December 2018

Music and songs command public attention and generally appeal to a large number of people. During the 2015 Nigerian presidential election, some politicians and their parties virtually took over the musical space to woo voters. The message creators for incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and his challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, crafted music-laden television commercials to convey their manifestos. This chapter used a content analytical method to investigate how various pieces of musical compositions were used as communication tools in the television adverts used in the elections. Specifically, it examined the musical genre, words, context, message, and discourse. Overall, most of the political advertisements used in the election were built around music and songs in praise of the candidates or used to tarnish their image.
Innovation Contests
Authors: Hartmann Sarah , Mainka Agnes , Stock Wolfgang G.
Published: December 2018

Cities all over the world are challenged with problems evolving from increasing urbanity, population growth, and density. For example, one prominent issue that is addressed in many cities is mobility. To develop smart city solutions, governments are trying to introduce open innovation. They have started to open their governmental and city related data as well as awake the citizens' awareness on urban problems through innovation contests. Citizens are the users of the city and therefore, have a practical motivation to engage in innovation contests as for example in hackathons and app competitions. The collaboration and co-creation of civic services by means of innovation contests is a cultural development of how governments and citizens work together in an open governmental environment. A qualitative analysis of innovation contests in 24 world cities reveals this global trend. In particular, such events increase the awareness of citizens and local businesses for identifying and solving urban challenges and are helpful means to transfer the smart city idea into practicable solutions.
Deliberation With Working College Students Influencing Civic Learning, Opinion Formation and Engagement
Authors: McCarthy-Latimer Christopher
Published: December 2018

This article describes the results from the use of deliberation in the classroom where a majority of students are working. The course included college students from Framingham State University. They discussed the issue of the economic impact of a big-box store. This analysis includes a study of the deliberative polling literature; research of the data on civic learning; an examination of the data comprising net changes in the participants' opinions and gross changes in the participants' opinions; and finally a discussion of the implications for engagement. The results illustrate that the process of deliberation affects changes in attitude items at both the individual and aggregate level.
E-Government Initiatives Through Cloud Computing
Authors: Anshari Muhammad , Almunawar Mohammad Nabil
Published: December 2018

The recent development of Web 2.0, cloud computing and its related technologies are contributing towards the tendency to utilize mobile services and e-participation through Web 2.0. It offers users the ability to have greater control of information flow in public spaces, making active participation highly possible. Citizens are empowered in the sense that they control the process of interaction(s), either with the government or with other citizens. This chapter presents a model for empowerment of citizens in e-government systems to enhance e-participation in e-government business processes through the cloud. We believe cloud computing is a platform to implement e-participation using Web 2.0 as many of the existing Web 2.0 applications are deployed in the cloud. The model is derived based on contemporary literature on empowerment and participation in e-government services. This model is expected to fill the gap in identifying a strategy of citizen empowerment in e-participation systems.
Practices and Reflections on Pioneer Service Learning in Higher Education of China
Authors: Wu Bo
Published: December 2018

Service learning, as one form of experiential education derived from David Kolb's experiential learning model, integrates service with classroom instruction. It can be applied in primary, secondary and higher education setting. According to its broad definition from National Society of Experiential Education in the United States (1994): service learning is “any carefully monitored service experience in which a student has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he or she is learning throughout the experiences”. Under the rapid urbanization and economic development in China, higher education is experiencing great challenges in terms of its mission and pedagogy. I share my pioneer teaching experiences of service learning among undergraduate students at a teaching college in Guangdong, China with insufficient institutional support and community partnership. With the details of my course design, practice, and reflections on students' learning, I conclude that students benefit from service learning in their personal growth, civic learning and academic enhancement.
Interrogating and Reimagining the Virtual Public Sphere in Developing Countries
Authors: Raman Veena V.
Published: December 2018

Revisiting the concept of a virtual public sphere, this chapter interrogates the concepts of good governance, digital divide, the role of culture in identifying what constitutes common good and examines how Habermas' conceptualization of the public sphere relates to non-Western contexts where asymmetries in access to basic resources, power to leverage networks, and levels of civic competencies are the norm. Through case studies from Bangalore City, India, where information and communication technologies are being used to empower ordinary citizens to participate in local governance in the face of deep digital divides, it is argued that there is a need to avoid essentialising and privileging online venues and interactions in our discussions of the virtual public sphere and study how people strategically combine preexisting civic and communication networks with the affordances of new media technologies to participate as citizens.
Improving Urban Planning Information, Transparency and Participation in Public Administrations
Authors: Santos Beatriz
Published: December 2018

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the involvement of citizens in all public affairs that is also extended to urban planning. Spanish Public Administrations have made important changes and progress trying to get urban and spatial planning closer to the citizen. Firstly, a significant effort has been made to generate knowledge services providing citizen access to urban planning information. Secondly, administrations try to involve citizens in urban planning through participation programmes by using the new channels that information and communication technology offers. This paper analyses different instruments and web-based participation systems implemented in Spain in order to check the result of these developments concluding that there is still a long considerable way to go since information and communications technologies offers a lot of options and tools to improve these processes.
Opportunities and Challenges for Civic Engagement
Authors: Hartmann Sarah , Mainka Agnes , Stock Wolfgang G.
Published: December 2018

The population in many cities all over the world is continuously growing and with this growing number of people infrastructural, health and location-related problems increase. It is assumed that these problems could be addressed by means of open government data which many governments publish on their web portals so that it can be further processed and transformed. Since the citizens themselves know best what they need, governments encourage them to participate in open data innovation competitions and to create value added services for their city. The reuse of open urban government data during hackathons or app competitions is a new trend in knowledge societies of how governments and citizens work together. But have these events still become practice in local governments and are they helpful means to foster government-to-citizen communication and collaboration? The authors analyze innovation competitions in 24 world cities to see how they are applied and whether they have the potential to make the city “smart”.
Crowdsourcing in Local Public Administration
Authors: Sumra Kalsoom BeBe , Bing Wang
Published: December 2018

Social networks have become very popular online sources of participation in crowdsourcing. This article examines the antecedents of user participation in crowdsourcing and importance of online community involvement in local public administration. Based on data collected from local public administrators and local public through survey, the results produce evidence that importance of online platforms in crowdsourcing can have a consistent impact on services delivery system in local public administration and importance of online open sources have significantly higher level in crowdsourcing on the whole, while importance of social media have significantly lower level overall. The paper contributes with potential implications and recommendations for local public management to achieve effective services delivery in developing countries through crowdsourced work. The present study is the first study that not only shows the effect of online platforms in local public administration, but also analyses the antecedents of crowdsourcing for participation (knowledge sharing, consultation, innovative ideation and reporting).
Building Trust in Politics
Authors: Lobina Michele , Bottone Marco
Published: December 2018

This chapter studies the process of trust building in politics by using large data set on political behaviour in Latin America. The results yielded by developed models indicate specific elements as the most influential on the popular trust in institutions. These observed determinants were enclosed in five macro classes: cohesion of society; economic factors; electoral transparency; efficiency of judicial organs; and crime diffusion. The analysis of the public support in governments and parliaments revealed that certain variables have a direct impact on the stability of the Latin American democracies, while other factors merely determine the likelihood of a government's reappointment.
Israeli Representatives' Use of and Attitudes Toward Web Applications
Authors: Akirav Osnat
Published: December 2018

In the last decade, there has been a major increase in the technology that enables representatives and voters to connect with one another. Representatives can use email, their political party's website, personal websites, Facebook, e-newsletters, weblogs and Twitter simultaneously to bypass the traditional political media. The author asks, what are the usage patterns of these web applications? What are the characteristics of the representatives who use these technologies? What are their attitudes about their use? Most previous studies have concentrated on one perspective (representatives or voters) or used one research method (questionnaires, interviews, hard data). This article is unique in that it combines several research methods: interviews with representatives regarding their attitudes toward the new technology and hard data from the Israeli Knesset's website regarding the MKs' use of web applications. The findings demonstrate that the Israeli representatives are no different than their colleagues in other parliaments. Young MKs and junior MKs are more likely to use web applications than older MKs and those with more seniority. However, coalition MKs use web applications differently than opposition MKs. Furthermore, the representatives have positive attitudes toward the use of web applications and consider them useful for communicating with the voters.
Children and Youth Making Digital Media for the Social Good
Authors: Denner Jill , Martinez Jacob
Published: December 2018

This chapter describes how children and youth are using digital media to address inequity in their schools, communities, and in society. The chapter begins with a review of the historical and cultural roots of children making digital media for the social good, and situates the approach in the context of other civic and community-based movements. The next section focuses on the range of ways that children and youth are making digital media, including who is participating, and the social and institutional factors involved. The next sections describe the benefits for the participants and for society, as well as the barriers to broader participation. Two case studies highlight key strategies for engaging marginalized youth in making digital media for the social good, and ways to expand the popularity of this approach. The chapter concludes with suggestions for future research, and the broader implications for education, civic engagement, social practice and policy.
Cultural Political System
Authors: Karan Kavita
Published: December 2018

The use of popular culture of music, dance, songs, theatre, videos and films for electioneering has been part of the Indian election process. Politics has been the narrative of Indian cinema since the beginning of century where political themes, political roles and political issues were exemplified through lead roles of politicians, enactment of political scenes, political satires and songs. This chapter examines the role of film artists in politics, popular political songs in films and campaign films that have expanded the levels of traditional and new media campaigning in India. Films and songs in the films glorify the country, arouse patriotism and whenever needed expose social issues such as high prices, corruption, feudalism, and other political issues. In the process, political campaign films became a way of marketing parties and candidates. This further characterizes the future of the political cultural system and the political economy of Indian cinema.
The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on the Rise of Urban Social Movements in Poland
Authors: Grabkowska Maja , Pancewicz Łukasz , Sagan Iwona
Published: December 2018

The chapter examines the relationship between the use of Information and Communications Technology (ITC) and the emergence of social movements focused on urban agenda in Poland. The aim is to investigate how and to what extent a growing body of smaller activist groups use opportunities provided by the ITC to achieve their political objectives. The research results indicate that Web-based media have helped to raise the profile of local initiatives and increased awareness of systemic urban issues between different groups of grass-root actors. The findings of the chapter are based on the analysis of the Congress of Urban Movements (Kongres Ruchów Miejskich: KRM), a broad coalition of smaller non-governmental organizations and bottom-up activist groups, which use Internet-based tools to network. The results indicate that the Web-based tools increase the members' ability to connect and interact, consequently improving the ability to coordinate joint initiatives, expand real-life social networks, and in the result stimulate the rise of urban social movements.
Online Professional Development in Academic Service-Learning
Authors: Stirtz Geraldine E
Published: December 2018

The overall purpose of this qualitative study was to describe how a 3 credit hour, web-based, graduate-level course in service-learning pedagogy supports the theory that service-learning as a pedagogy can be taught effectively in an online format. Service-learning integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities. Content analysis of the selected case studies and evaluation of the student's reflections concludes that the students enrolled in the online class in a Midwest University were, in fact, able to learn this teaching strategy and then effectively implement this strategy with their classroom of students in their local communities. The Literature Review discusses numerous research articles supporting the value of this teaching strategy of collaboration with community partners in citizenship training for youth, children and young adults.
Civic Responsibility Development Among College Students
Authors: Kim Young K. , Carter Jennifer L. , Armstrong Cameron L.
Published: December 2018

Using a statewide college student dataset, this chapter examines how the patterns in and predictors of civic responsibility development differ by students' racial background. Findings reveal that the level of civic responsibility does vary by student race. Results showed that Asian American students reported the lowest self-assessment of civic responsibility both at the point of college entry and in their junior or senior years, whereas African American students indicated the highest levels of civic responsibility both points of time. Findings also identify unique predictors of civic responsibility development for each racial group.
Women's Political Empowerment
Authors: Ryan Roberta , Woods Ronald
Published: December 2018

Political participation by women is central to development and the empowerment of all citizens. This chapter argues for the recognition of opportunities for women in leadership, political participation, and the strengthening of democracy at the level of subnational governments. A key reason for focusing on gender equity in political life is that women constitute slightly more than half of the world's population, and they contribute to the social and economic development of all societies to a greater degree than men because of their dual roles in the productive and reproductive spheres. At the same time, their participation in formal political structures and processes, where they can contribute to decisions on the use of societal resources generated by both men and women, remains far below parity. Drawing examples from a range of national parliaments and countries, this chapter demonstrates lessons for increasing political participation by women in subnational governance.
International Service-Learning
Authors: Coryell Joellen E. , Stewart Trae , Wubbena Zane C. , Valverde-Poenie Tereza Cristina , Spencer B. J.
Published: December 2018

International Service-Learning (ISL) is a structured service-learning experience in another country where students learn from interaction, cross-cultural dialogue, and reflection. This humanistic pedagogy was utilized at the University of Canterbury after earthquakes rocked Christchurch, New Zealand (NZ) in 2010 and 2011. The present comparative-case study examined United States (US), European Union (EU), and Kiwi students' transformative learning through working together in a university-based ISL course designed around re-building Christchurch. Data were analyzed through the Kiely's (2005) Transformative Service-Learning Model. The findings of this study contribute new elements to the dimension of the model and argue that the concept of global citizenship may better explain a mixed cohort of international students' service-learning experiences in a post-disaster setting. Implications to the study's findings and recommendations for future research are briefly discussed.
Empowering Civic Responsibility
Authors: Huda Miftachul , Jasmi Kamarul Azmi , Alas Yabit , Qodriah Sari Laelatul , Dacholfany M. Ihsan , Jamsari Ezad Azraai
Published: December 2018

The engaged scholarship has been widely viewed as academic service-learning and community service, which aim to link the classroom and community through courses with a transformative experiential education. It becomes an initiative to inculcate civic responsibility among students with the goal to produce responsible citizens and active participants in the community. This chapter will critically explore the main contribution of service learning to build civic responsibility. The literature review was conducted from referred books and journals on the topic of civic responsibility and service learning. As a core guideline to give a clear understanding and insightful view on the importance of the civic responsibility, this study could contribute to the significant insights towards different aspects of engaged scholarship and civic responsibility. Putting together awareness and goodwill from the community towards the group or organization should do with building civic engagement to get involved in social events to produce responsible citizens and active participants in the community.
The Demobilizing Potential of Conflict for Web and Mobile Political Participation
Authors: Dalisay Francis , Kushin Matthew J. , Yamamoto Masahiro
Published: December 2018

In this chapter, we expand the idea that conflict avoidance (CA) inhibits online political participation. We specifically propose that CA has a direct negative link with traditional online political participation and online political expression, and an indirect negative link with these two forms of participation when mediated by political interest and internal political efficacy. We test our propositions through analyzing data from a survey of young adult college students residing in a battleground state in the U.S. Midwest conducted during the weeks prior to the 2012 U.S. presidential election. Our results showed that CA has a direct negative association with both traditional online political participation and online political expression. CA also has a negative relationship with political interest and internal political efficacy, which in turn, are positively linked with traditional online political participation and online political expression. We discussed implications.
Political-Administrative Interface at the Local Sphere of Government With Particular Reference to South Africa
Authors: Reddy Purshottama Sivanarain
Published: December 2018

The ongoing political-administrative dichotomy discourse, which is steeped in public administration history, manifests in uncertainty about how the relationship between politicians and administrative officials should be structured. South Africa was democratized in 1994 and local government has subsequently undergone a fundamental socio-political transformation. “World class” local government legislation, with an entrenched constitutional development mandate, was introduced; however, the large numbers of public protests bear ample testimony to major challenges in basic service delivery. A critical issue impacting negatively on the functionality of the post-1994 local government dispensation is the political-administrative interface. The National Development Plan has mapped out a socio-economic vision to 2030, with stabilization of the political-administrative interface a priority. Consequently, the political-administrative interface has to be critically reviewed relative to the quality of local democracy, impact on efficient and effective service delivery, and good local governance.
Social Media and Public Participation
Authors: Toscano James Patrick
Published: December 2018

This chapter presents social media as a legitimate form of citizen participation in government decision making. The chapter details the power of social media and the opportunity it presents for citizens to inform government decision making as well as for public agencies that require citizen input. The chapter also details barriers to social media legitimacy in participation, including current laws and public organization behaviors. Using Arnstein's ladder of participation as a theoretical foundation, this chapter proposes a new evaluative framework of public participation – a Social Media Participation Range. The framework offers a new evaluative tool for researchers and practitioners to analyze citizen participation via social media.
Designing a PhD Proposal in Qualitative Research
Authors: Islam M. Rezaul
Published: December 2018

This chapter looks at the main aspects of the research proposal designing in a qualitative research. The author explores a template of a research design to give a clear and well understanding about the different steps of research proposal. The author argues that there is no specific template that is universally accepted. This template includes all major aspects of a proposal in qualitative research. First, the topic provides the definitions of the main concepts such as qualitative research, research designing, and research proposal. Secondly, it provides a template that shows the key steps that a research student will follow while writing a research proposal.
Economic and Social Wellbeing of the Bangladeshi Migrant Workers in Malaysia
Authors: Reza Md Mohsin , Subramaniam Thirunaukarasu
Published: December 2018

This is a doctoral thesis proposal based on a mixed methods approach submitted to the Department of Southeast Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This proposal was written to fulfill the requirement of a doctoral candidate studying at the University of Malaya. This proposal comprises several main components of a reasonably good research proposal with the following headings: Background of the study, Statement of the problem, Research questions, Research objectives, Significance of study Literature review, Conceptual and theoretical framework, and Research methodology. This proposal also incorporates the plan of study displayed in the form of Gantt chart. This study explores the economic and social well-being of the Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia. This sample proposal would be useful to postgraduate students and researchers who are planning to conduct their research in this particular area.
Circular Supply Chain and Business Model in Apparel Industry
Authors: del Mar Alonso-Almeida María , Rodriguez-Anton José Miguel
Published: December 2018

Today, companies are trying to move from an existing linear business model of production to a circular one. This transition is not easy and demands contextual changes beyond the control of the company. Circular economy (CE) pursues closing material flows in productive systems to maximize the utilization of available resources. Thus, different circles to reduce, reuse, recycle, re-manufacture, recover, and recycle are produced along supply chain during the cycle of life of a product. Despite an innovative apparel, little is known about the companies with disruptive business models and supply chain structures that have emerged in the recent years.
An Assessment and Policy Proposals Within the Framework of the Blue Economy and Public Policies
Authors: Şeren Gamze Yıldız
Published: December 2018

Blue economy refers to economic sectors that are either directly or indirectly linked with the oceans. However, the blue economy does not only have an economic dimension. Environmental health is also an area that blue economy takes into account. This chapter draws attention to both social and economic potential to be created by blue economy and to consider and evaluate how to increase this potential through public policies in today's century, when the resources are gradually depleted and population growth continues. In order for the blue economy to be a driving force for sustainable growth, public-private partnerships emerge as a recipe for opportunities. In addition, the growth of the blue economy can be stimulated by conventional financial instruments (such as taxes and subsidies). Since the blue economy is at an intersection of environmental health and economic benefits, positive externalities that environmental health can have on generations should not be overlooked.
Economic Impacts of Closed-Loop Supply Chains
Authors: Çankaya Sibel Yıldız , Sezen Bülent
Published: December 2018

Closed-loop supply chain management has begun to gain more importance in recent years due to increased environmental concerns, reduced natural resources, and legal regulations. In addition, with the shortening of product life cycles, the rate of returning products is increasing day by day. Therefore, businesses are trying to find ways to get more value from these returning products. Here, the closed-loop supply chain (CLSC), which comes into effect at this point, refers to the design, operation, and control of the system to ensure maximum value from returning products of different breeds and quantities. Recycling these returned products by different methods will provide significant savings in terms of both the production costs by providing return of the economically valuable materials to the economy as an input and the waste disposal costs by reducing the amount of waste. This chapter investigates the concept of closed-loop supply chain and its benefits to the businesses.
The Effect of Health and Education Expenditures on Poverty
Authors: Sasmaz Mahmut Unsal , Ozturk Omer Faruk , Yayla Yunus Emre
Published: December 2018

Poverty is a phenomenon that influences and complicates the living conditions of individuals. Along with the poverty, individuals experience health problems, and educational and income levels of individuals may also be low. Countries are generally able to fight against poverty by increasing public expenditures and making some economic progresses. For that reason, analyzing the effect of health and education expenditures with a significant place in public expenditures and economic growth on poverty is highly important. In this chapter, the effect of health and education expenditures and economic growth on poverty in 2005 and 2016 period in eight Central and Eastern European countries has been analyzed using panel data analysis. As a result of the study, it has been determined that health and education expenditures and economic growth have a negative effect on poverty. In addition, a one-way causality from health and education expenditures to poverty and a two-way causality between economic growth and poverty have been detected.