bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brushless Motor and Wireless Recharge System for Electric Vehicle Design Modeling and Control
Authors: Naoui Mohamed , Aymen Flah , Mouna Ben Hamed , Sbita Lassaad
Published: January 2021

This chapter deals with the problem of energy storage inside an electric vehicle. The main source of energy is based on a wireless system. This recharge tool regroups inside several components as the storage system, which consists of an ensemble of batteries and serving as the main power source, a special electronic converter that is based on the buck-boost principle and a coil receiver placed undo the vehicle. From the other side, one or more than coil transmitters are placed on the road, where the vehicle is. Modeling all of these components and expressing their mathematical models seems interesting for defining the possible control method that can guarantee a high autonomy when the vehicle is moving. So, taking into account if the care is driving or stopped, this recharge system is studied for verifying the effectiveness of this recharge system and showing the relationship between the vehicle situation and the quantity of received power. Using the platform Matlab/Simulink the results were shown and discussed.
Smart and Accessible Cities?
Authors: Rucci Ana Clara , Porto Natalia , Darcy Simon , Becka Leandro
Published: January 2021

This chapter aims to discuss disability, aging, and accessibility and their relationship with technology trends, taking into account a world full of different kind of constraints, taking Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Sydney (Australia) as study cases. Moreover, the authors also study how a hypothetically smart and accessible city could set the basis for making it touristic for all. Particularly, this chapter focuses on how cities that are being designed and planned under the smart city/destination model do not always consider people with disabilities and seniors in their models. So, these models that leave out more than the 30% of the world's population are not only inappropriate but also ineffective and inefficient, and consequently challenge the underlining sustainability of such projects.
An Empirical Investigation of the Accessibility of Official European Tourism Websites
Authors: Kous Katja , Polančič Gregor
Published: January 2021

This chapter presents an investigation into the accessibility of official tourism websites of 26 EU member states. It is divided into two main parts. The first part is focused on the theoretical background of web accessibility, where the definition of accessibility, accessibility laws, accessibility recommendations, accessibility automatic tools, and related research are presented. The second part includes an empirical investigation with the main focus being on evaluating the compliance of tourism websites with web content accessibility guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) and the identification of the most commonly violated WCAG 2.1 success criteria. The results, which are based on automatic tool multiguideline accessibility usability validation environment (MAUVE), show that all investigated websites included at least one error. The most frequently identified errors were related to success criteria (1) reflow; (2) name, role, value; (3) link purpose (in context); and (4) purpose identification. Based on the acquired knowledge, the recommendations for improving web accessibility are presented.
Instagram as a Tool for Professional Learning
Authors: Aghayi Amir Allan , Christison MaryAnn
Published: January 2021

The purpose of the current research is to investigate the potential of a social media tool, known as Instagram, for teacher professional learning. The chapter describes a three-year research project, which used Instagram, to investigate the perceptions and beliefs of 1,500 practicing English language teachers relative to their professional development experiences on Instagram. Six research questions (RQs) framed the study and determined how we viewed and analyzed the data. Qualitative data from six types of activity feeds were analyzed through the processes of open and axial coding. The results indicated that teachers' perceptions and beliefs about Instagram as a tool for professional learning were positive. The professional learning provided teachers with extensive opportunities to work with multimodal texts, create networks and connections with other teachers, and develop their reflective skills.
Exploring Electronic Portfolio Assessment With Secondary Emergent Bi/Multilingual Students
Authors: Cho Hyesun
Published: January 2021

This chapter explores the possibilities of electronic portfolio assessment for emergent bilingual or multilingual students in high school classrooms in the United States. In a three-year federally funded program designed to improve academic performance among culturally and linguistically diverse students at an urban high school in Honolulu, Hawaii, the author implemented electronic portfolio assessment (EPA) into academic English and heritage language classrooms in collaboration with curriculum and technology specialists. This chapter delineates how EPA was developed and implemented to enhance the academic and linguistic abilities of adolescent emergent bi/multilingual students while embracing their multifaceted and hybrid identities as heritage language speakers. It also presents both challenges and benefits that teachers and students experienced in the process of EPA. It concludes with suggestions for developing and implementing EPA for English language learners in similar contexts.
L2 Gamers' Use of Learning and Communication Strategies in Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs)
Authors: Dixon Daniel H. , Christison MaryAnn
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this chapter is twofold: (1) to review the benefits of digital game-based language learning (DGBLL), specifically massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), and (2) to present research investigating the design elements of MMOs that can be beneficial for second language acquisition (SLA). Data were gathered from volunteer ESL learners playing the MMO Guild Wars 2 over the course of four weeks. The findings from the research indicate that MMOs with design elements like Guild Wars 2 are beneficial to SLA primarily because they provide opportunities for interaction in the target language through participation in collaborative problem-solving gaming tasks. The results of the research presented in this chapter show (1) that the requirements of input and output for successful gaming allow for a type of interaction in which the focus on language form leads to modified-output, (2) that players have opportunities to negotiate input as a means of completing in-game tasks, and (3) that in-game tasks resemble well-designed classroom instructional tasks believed to be beneficial for SLA.
Integrating Semantic Acquaintance for Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Gupta Neha , Agrawal Rashmi
Published: January 2021

The use of emerging digital information has become significant and exponential, as well as the boom of social media (forms, blogs, and social networks). Sentiment analysis concerns the statistical analysis of the views expressed in written texts. In appropriate evaluations of the emotional context, semantics plays an important role. The analysis is generally done from two viewpoints: how semantics are coded in sentimental instruments, such as lexicon, corporate, and ontological, and how automated systems determine feelings on social data. Two approaches to evaluate sentiments are commonly adopted (i.e., approaches focused on machine learning algorithms and semantic approaches). The precise testing in this area was increased by the already advanced semantic technology. This chapter focuses on semantic guidance-based sentiment analysis approaches. The Twitter/Facebook data will provide a semantically enhanced technique for annotation of sentiment polarity.
A Framework to Data Integration for an Internet of Things Supporting Manufacturing Supply Chain Operation
Authors: Pal Kamalendu
Published: January 2021

With the usage of the technologies like the internet of things (IoT) and Semantic Web service spanning across the spectrum of manufacturing, production, and distribution, typical supply chain management (SCM) systems depend on a multitude of services for operation purpose. The unprecedented growth of valuable data produced by decentralised information systems along the global manufacturing supply chain has led to a persuasive appeal for a semantic approach to integrating distributed data facilities in the field of collaborating logistic services. This technology combines a set of new mechanisms with grounded knowledge representation techniques to address the needs of formal information modelling and reasoning for web-based services. This chapter describes a framework, apparel business decentralised data integration (ABDDI), which exploits knowledge representation techniques and languages (e.g., description logics – DLs) to annotate relevant business activities. Finally, a simple business case is presented to demonstrate the framework's semantic similarity assessment functionality.
Designing Online Courses as a Team
Authors: Abdous M'hammed
Published: January 2021

Unlike the traditional “lone ranger” method for online course design—a method that hinges on individual faculty efforts, expertise, and knowledge—a team-based approach (TBA) harnesses the collective intelligence of several experts to design effective online learning experiences. Using learning design (LD) as a conceptual framework, this article describes the experience of a public institution in using a team-based approach to produce a large number of online courses for degree programs. After establishing the relevance of a team-based approach, the author discusses the premises that underpin the model, in terms of process, faculty relationship, and quality assurance. Building on these premises, a cyclical backward design process is described which is intended to (1) clarify course-learning outcomes and align course content, (2) determine acceptable evidence of students' learning, and (3) plan the learning experience. The article is concluded with a few insights and lessons learned from the institutional experience.
K-12 Online Student Engagement
Authors: Anderson Elizabeth A.
Published: January 2021

Student engagement has been shown to be essential to improving academic achievement, increasing high school graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and in the development of research-based best practices for K-12 education. It has been defined and measured in numerous ways. This chapter explores student engagement in the K-12 online learning environment and examines how student engagement is similar to but also very different from student engagement in a traditional K-12 brick-and-mortar environment.
Communication as a Retention Factor in Online Course Delivery
Authors: Estes Judi Simmons
Published: January 2021

Online courses have become an integrated aspect of course delivery for institutions of higher education. However, the attrition that occurs in online courses is substantially higher than in face-to-face courses. This chapter considers the influence of student communication factors in both course and degree program retention. An argument is presented related to the role of being intentional in planning and implementing communication strategies within courses and degree programs as a conduit for positively influencing completion. A second argument is that while all college/university personnel have a role in student attention, the role of faculty is significant and requires on-going professional development.
Reflections on Best Practices for a Successful Online Doctoral Program
Authors: Amaro Johanna , Mason Charlene
Published: January 2021

The popularity, convenience, and professional acceptance of attaining online degrees account for an increase in enrollment in online courses from undergraduate through doctoral levels. This chapter includes discussion of how the option of choosing a digital doctoral degree experience may enhance or diminish the progress of completing a terminal degree. Additionally, this chapter contains a brief description of the structure and organization of the Educational Technology Leadership doctoral program at New Jersey City University (NJCU), focusing on the challenges and best practices related to the classes and the coursework and how the professors interact with the students. The main thrust of the chapter will be a discussion of the best practices within this program as well as suggestions for improvement. Finally, the authors, members of this program's first cohort, provide recommendations for a successful online doctoral program that meets the needs of all students.
Online Instructional Strategies for Enhancing Teachers' TPACK
Authors: Niess Margaret L. , Gillow-Wiles Henry
Published: January 2021

This chapter provides a rich description of how scaffolding discourse and critical reflection with K-12 in-service teachers' online learning experiences enhanced their technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) for teaching with technologies. The experiences modeled learning through inquiry tasks that merged content, technology, and pedagogy as envisioned in TPACK. The participants connected with the experiences as students learning about and with digital image and video technologies. Reflections on the experiences as teachers combined with the discourse interactions among the communities to influence their resulting individual critical reflections. A major theme was the recognition of the importance of shared knowledge as expanding individual knowledge. Four TPACK components revealed that the collection of the experiences, discourse, and critical reflection enhanced the participants' TPACK leading to recommendations for the design of online in-service teacher learning experiences for enhancing teachers' TPACK.
A Framework for Student Engagement
Authors: Caldwell Desiree' , Cresswell-Yeager Tiffany J. , Aucoin Jennifer , Budenz Danielle
Published: January 2021

When teaching online, many instructors are provided with a master course that contains the learning materials, discussion forums, assignments, and assessments. With more higher education institutions opting to offer master course shells, it can be difficult for instructors to know how to incorporate their personality, experiences, and insights into a pre-designed course. Faculty who teach online may be searching for ideas on how to personalize their master course and increase student engagement. Many faculty express concerns about students who are disconnected. Personalization of master courses increases student engagement while allowing students and instructors to feel more connected during the course. The authors will explore best practices to increase student engagement and provide a framework to implement these strategies that assist online instructors in demonstrating their personalities and expertise in master courses.
A Framework for the Redesign Principles That Improved Engagement in an Online Graduate Class
Authors: Lemanski Laura , Van Deventer Megan McDonald
Published: January 2021

At a large, Midwest university, the authors taught an online course to graduate students in an educational reading methods course. While the course covered compelling content, the user experience frustrated students as they struggled to navigate an outmoded online learning management system (LMS), which inhibited their ability to engage with course content. Recognizing that the course could be a powerful and relevant learning experience for students, the chapter authors drew on engagement theory, technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), and the triple E framework to redesign the course. While maintaining the valuable course content, the chapter authors developed a framework to create an engaging and positive online learning experience. This chapter describes the framework and details how the course was redesigned, articulates the rationale for the course changes, and explores the positive impact it had on teaching and learning.
Creating Authentic Assessments for Online Music Courses
Authors: Johnson Carol , Lamothe Virginia Christy
Published: January 2021

The need for identifying authentic assessments, or learning tasks, in online music courses is becoming integral as the rate of online music course offerings has been exponentially increasing. Supportive research also suggests that instructors teaching in higher education may require a paradigm shift in their pedagogical approach as they develop social-constructivist based authentic assessments for music subjects taught in an online environment. To assist with the understanding of both why and how to generate authentic assessment for a Bachelor's-level online music course, the chapter explores the nature of authentic assessment for music and Koh's Criteria for Authenticity in Authentic Assessment. Finally, to provide a practical exemplar of how online discussions can be used as an authentic learning tool in the online music class, an online discussion task for a songwriting class is identified and examined through the lens of Koh's characteristics.
Adaptive Online Learning Technology
Authors: Huda Miftachul , Ulfatmi  , Luthfi Muhammad Ja'far , Jasmi Kamarul Azmi , Basiron Bushrah , Mustari Mohd Ismail , Safar Ajmain , Embong Wan Hassan Wan , Mohamad Ahmad Marzuki , Mohamed Ahmad Kilani
Published: January 2021

The current trend of technology advancement with digital devices such as smart phones, tablets, and laptops has shifted the way of societal life including teaching and learning. This initiative might also contribute to the typical approach of information and communication technology (ICT) to increasingly enhance the achievement through utilizing it in the education setting in the higher education context. Adopting social media in network data massively within the big data trends, the extraction of the particular means in providing structured data from enterprise resources data and sources of unstructured data from audio and video can begin with providing the value from information space such as message, conversation, transaction, and other sources. This chapter attempts to explore the design of adaptive learning technology in big data approach. Attempts to achieve particular advantage of big data with analytic process could provide the innovative environment of adaptive online technology to enhance pedagogy and technology skill to support the initiative way of teaching and learning process in the higher education (HE) context.
Learning Styles and Online Tools
Authors: Khan Md. Shahadat Hossain , Shamim Md. Rashedul Huq , Nambobi Mutwalibi
Published: January 2021

Very few studies in the existing literature elaborated about the learners learning preference and their preferred ICT tools while they were engaging in an online course. In order to fill this gap, this chapter presents different learning styles, which are exhibited by the learners in an online environment. It identifies myriad ICT (information and communication technology) tools and shows association between learning styles and respective ICT tools. It has four main broad areas to discuss: provides general importance of incorporating ICT tools in an online environment; presents four types of learners in an online context, which are characterized by following previous theoretical framework; identifies different learning activities, which are preferred by the four learners; and provides ICT tools along with their web address that are linked with online activities. This chapter shows possible implication towards online education and practices.
Location Tracking Prediction of Network Users Based on Online Learning Method With Python
Authors: Xu Xin , Lu Hui
Published: January 2021

Aiming at the problem that the precision and recall rate of traditional prediction methods are low and its low prediction efficiency, a Python-based trajectory tracking prediction method of online learning network user location is proposed. First, troubleshooting terminal programs of online learning network user by programming in Python (computer programming language) structure, the location trajectory data of online learning network user is spatially processed. In this way, features of time-related, spatial correlation, social relationship correlation, and user preference characteristics are extracted respectively to realize feature normalization processing. Second, on this basis, the cosine similarity is used to calculate the similarity of user behavior trajectory. According to K-MEANS (hard clustering algorithm), the time dimension is considered. Finally, the clustering result of users' behavior trajectory based on the sign-in data is compared with a preset threshold to predict the online user location trajectory. The experimental results show that the proposed method normalizes the user's trajectory, combines the time segment, and compares it with the preset threshold, which does not only improve the prediction efficiency but also obtains higher and more feasible precision and recall rate.
Development of Attitudes Towards Assessment and Evaluation Course
Authors: Filiz Bijen
Published: January 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Brain Breaks® videos on preservice teachers' attitudes towards an Assessment and Evaluation course. The experimental group consisted of 47 preservice teachers of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Teacher. The control group consisted of 55 preservice teachers of the Department of Preschool Education. Pre-test-posttest control group experimental method was used. Data were collected using the attitude scale towards Assessment and Evaluation Course in Education. The experimental group watched Brain Breaks® videos and performed physical activity in the Assessment and Evaluation course for 12 weeks. Brain Breaks® videos improved the experimental group participants' cognitive levels and attitudes towards the Assessment and Evaluation course. However, there was a slight negative shift in the control group participants' attitudes towards the Assessment and Evaluation course. Results indicate that Brain Breaks® videos improve students' attitudes towards academic courses.
Adult Learning
Authors: Monyai Reginald Botshabeng
Published: January 2021

This chapter attempts to provide solutions on how to convert theoretical work into practical work in an online classroom. An analysis of various researchers provides quantitative statistics on how to put theoretical work into practice. The use of digital tools such as social media and the internet have been critically analyzed to provide a bridge between theoretical and practical work in an online classroom. The use of digital tools in linking theory to practice clearly shows the relevance of the topic.
Taking Responsibility for the Future
Authors: Linton Jayme Nixon , Journell Wayne
Published: January 2021

Although K–12 online education is becoming more common in the United States, there is still much we do not know about how K–12 online teachers are being prepared. Given that few teacher education programs include online pedagogy in their teacher training efforts, it becomes incumbent on states to find alternative ways to prepare teachers for virtual instruction. This chapter analyzes a nine-week orientation session that is part of an established, state-run induction program for prospective K–12 online instructors. Although the findings are specific to the program being studied, the authors believe they can serve as a model for educators in other states wishing to develop similar types of induction programs to meet the rising demand for K–12 online instruction in the United States.
Strategies and Reflections on Teaching Diversity in Digital Learning Space(s)
Authors: Montelongo Ricardo , Eaton Paul William
Published: January 2021

This chapter aims to introduce readers to critical theoretical orientations necessary for online pedagogues, including feminist pedagogies, praxis pedagogy, culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogy, and embodied practices. These critical theoretical orientations undergird a critical digital pedagogy in an online master's course, Diverse College Students. Critical digital pedagogical strategies employed by the authors, such as high context communication, community and relationship building, and visual and audio pedagogies, are discussed. The authors conclude the chapter by engaging in a self-reflexive activity, opening space for insights about the role of current political events, personal student successes, and an engaged community beyond the classroom. Recommendations for faculty wishing to engage a critical digital pedagogy are offered, as are recommendations for future research.
Advancing Retention and Engagement Strategies Through Effective Online Mediums
Authors: Eakins Amanda , Eakins Sheldon L.
Published: January 2021

Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the USA continue to play a pivotal role in educating students within the African diaspora as they provide a practical and resourceful platform for students to develop a sense of belonging through community and organizational outreach activities on campus. However, the student population in higher education as we used to know has changed, and adult learners now make up a large majority of the enrolled population. This chapter aims to review the history of online education and will provide a conceptual framework for incorporating online learning in an institution's student success plan for both their traditional and non-traditional students. The author will also review the needs of the adult learners and provide an overview of how the development and integration of online learning programs and collaborative efforts with other institutions through dual enrollment and degree MOU programs can foster growth at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Online Instruction
Authors: Nkabinde Zandile P.
Published: January 2021

The goal of this chapter is to explore the benefits, limitations, and opportunities of online instruction in higher education. Steiner and Hyman (2010) posit that online courses have become an increasingly popular means for teaching university students and an alternative to face-to-face classroom instruction. In addition, Serlin (2005) believed that some learning activities can be done better, or more extensively, in an online setting. According to Serlin (2005), this is partly because students feel a significant amount of anonymity, which makes them less inhibited about participating in discussion, and in other online activities.
Best Practice to Support Online Student Engagement
Authors: Cook-Benjamin Lorie
Published: January 2021

A best practice is a technique or methodology that, through experience and research, has proven to reliably lead to a desired result (Rouse, 2007). This chapter explores a best practice that aimed to increase the engagement of online students in a teacher education course. The best practice is related to the Community of Inquiry (CoI; Anderson, & Archer, 2000), a framework that provides an understanding of the development of online learning communities (Swan & Ice, 2010). The chapter includes a brief review of the literature on the factors that foster student engagement; online student engagement is also discussed. A description is provided of a course assignment that was modified to increase the engagement of online students. The results of this assignment's modification were positively perceived by the online students. The chapter concludes with recommended technology tools to foster engagement of online students.
Cultural Diversity and Its Implications in Online Networked Learning Spaces
Authors: Bozkurt Aras , Yazıcı Müjgan , Aydın İrem Erdem
Published: January 2021

The open nature of online networked spaces enables diverse participation from all around the globe, raising cultural diversity as a paramount issue within the learning perspective. In this context, the purpose of this research is to examine participation and engagement patterns in online networked learning spaces in terms of cultural dimensions. The findings of this research have demonstrated that there is diversity in both time and space. The geographical distribution demonstrates that most of the participation originates from developed, Western, Anglo-Saxon cultures. Diversity in time creates its own loop, in which interactions were fed continuously and terms, such as day and night, sync and async have blurred borders. The English language is dominant over other languages and learners predominantly participate from those countries where English is spoken as a native or official language. In terms of cultural perspectives, the findings indicate that there is cultural dominancy as well as cultural diversity in online networked learning spaces.
A New Approach for Language Learning and Changing the Teacher's Role in Online Education
Authors: Kai Masumi
Published: January 2021

Many online educational tools along with computer-assisted language learning (CALL) systems for language learning have sprouted up in the past several decades. Online learning meets the needs of students who have grown up in a world with rapidly changing technology. Online education can provide technology-enhanced and learner-centered instruction to students. Yet, there is a persistent myth that e-learning is not effective, particularly regarding language education. This chapter verifies that this is indeed only a myth. The author suggests that success or failure of online language learning is not necessarily due solely to online education itself. The chapter analyzes learners' motivations and their achievements. The chapter further discusses the teacher's role in online education.
The Effects of Organisational Culture on Service Delivery in Public Institutions in Namibia
Authors: Semente Efigenia Madalena , Muronga Immanuel Jacob
Published: January 2021

This study examined the effects of organisational culture on service delivery at public institutions in Namibia. The organisational culture assessment instrument (OCAI) was used to identify the organisational culture type. The study found hierarchy culture to be the dominant culture type. Further, a customer satisfaction survey based on the SERVQUAL metrics was used to measure the client's perception of the reliability, assurance, empathy, tangibles, and responsiveness of the chosen public institution. In total, 106 staff and clients participated in this study. Most of the clients felt that the chosen institution's empathy and assurance in service delivery were unsatisfactory suggesting that the institution's employees neither display a caring attitude nor politeness when dealing with the clients. The study concluded that lack of assurance and empathy from this hierarchical public institution culture type is the possible cause of poor service delivery among public institutions in Namibia since the study found strong relationship between organisational culture and service delivery.
Plurilingualism and STEAM
Authors: Pearce Daniel Roy , Oyama Mayo , Moore Danièle , Irisawa Kana
Published: January 2021

This contribution attempts to clarify the relationship between the practice of plurilingual education and STEAM (interdisciplinary pedagogy that incorporates science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) through the lens of peace learning at an elementary school in Japan. Japan has a rich history of peace education, although it has received limited focus in the international literature, whereas plurilingual education remains relatively unknown in the country. Within this context, the article examines a teacher-initiated plurilingual and intercultural project focused on a multidisciplinary approach to peace learning. Analyses of multimodal data, including video recordings, photographs, researchers' field notes, learners' journals, and semi-structured reflective interviews, will demonstrate how even within a highly homogenous context, practitioners can promote transferable skills and nurture a deeper awareness of language and openness to diversity, foster reflexivity, and encourage multidisciplinary engagement through plurilingual education, dialogue, and storying.
The Role of Significant Digits of Fractal Dimension for the Measurement of Texture in SAR Images
Authors: Pant Triloki
Published: January 2021

The present work deals with fractal-based texture measurement of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Various land classes have been identified by classifying SAR images, and the fractal dimension is estimated for differentiating the classes. Three types of SAR images, viz., synthetic images, simulated SAR images, and satellite SAR images, have been used in the study. An issue with fractal dimension-based measurement is how many digits after decimal point should be considered for estimating fractal dimension? Since fractal dimension is calculated as a ratio, the major challenge is the decidability of significant digits for land classes. The issue has been overcome by discussing the feasibility of fractal dimension for the land classes defined by USGS and the calculated ratio for 200×200 values. As an achievement of the work, it is concluded that two digits of the decimal are sufficient to represent the fractal dimension of land classes.
The Use of ICT in an English Classroom
Authors: Smajla Tilen
Published: January 2021

The paper presents the results of a study on the attitudes of young Slovenian foreign language learners. The survey was conducted in five public elementary schools from different regions of the Republic of Slovenia. Four hundred six pupils aged 7 to 12 years (grades 2 to 4) declared their willingness to participate. One hundred thirty-eight of them or 34% (4th grade) were asked whether they used ICT during English lessons, homework, and vocabulary study. A quantitative research paradigm using crosstabs was conducted. In the case of gender, the results of the Chi-square test show a statistically significant difference in attitudes towards the use of mobile phones during English lessons and homework, while no statistically significant differences were found for the variable age. Such results should motivate language teachers and policymakers to adapt their teaching methods and allow for a careful use of ICT in language teaching.
Topical Use of Plant Extract-Based Oil Blend in Relieving the Symptoms of Primary Dysmenorrhea
Authors: Bahl Amul S
Published: January 2021

A high occurrence of primary dysmenorrhea denotes a considerable female health concern. The objective of this study has been to evaluate the efficacy of topical application of a synergistic blend of plant-extracts oil in relieving the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain, pain duration, and menstrual flow). The study design was randomized, double-blind, multi-phasic and was a placebo-controlled cross-over study. Participants were females, 18-20 years old with regular cycles and suffering from symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea. Sixty-four participants were randomly allocated to apply either the test oil or the placebo for first phase of the study. For the second phase, the interventions were switched. It was assessed that topical application of the oil significantly and efficiently reduced 1) menstrual pain within 30 minutes during the first three days of menstruation, 2) duration of menstrual pain during the first three days of menstruation, and 3) amount of menstrual flow as compared to the placebo.
A Prospect on an Intelligent Recommender System
Authors: Pooja  , Bhatnagar Vishal
Published: January 2021

User satisfaction is the principle component in the prosperity of a recommender system to provide an exact recommendation within a rational amount of time. The recommendation system is an intelligent system that analyzes the large quantity of online data to predict the patterns. In this paper, various recommendation techniques are described as a literature survey and their classifications are explained based upon the attributes and characteristics required for the recommendation process. The categorization of the recommendation system hinge on the analysis of the research papers and identifies the areas of the future for the development of an intelligent system.
Implementing Sustainable Procurement Strategy in the Oil and Gas Sector
Authors: AlHashmi Mohammed Hasan , Khan Mehmood M. , Ajmal Mian M.
Published: January 2021

The considerable environmental concerns and limited resources have prompted oil and gas companies to incorporate effective sustainable practices into their procurement strategy. This study aims to assess and prioritise critical internal and external organisational factors, and innovative capabilities, and their respective sub-criteria for the implementation of sustainable procurement (SP). Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is employed to prioritise the main factors and subfactors that can critically affect the implementation of SP strategies in the context of the UAE's oil and gas companies. Data were collected through a survey wherein 10 senior executives in procurement departments of two oil and gas companies reveal the internal factors are the highest and innovation capability is the lowest ranked criterion. Leadership is the highest ranked sub-criteria of internal factors, while ethical and ecological environment as the most prioritised one in external factors. Technology adoption is to be the most important sub-criteria amongst innovation capabilities.
An Integrated Swara and QFD Approach to Minimize Mental Stress of Indian Farmers
Authors: Chauhan Hullash , Satapathy Suchismita , Sahoo Ashok K.
Published: January 2021

Farmers are dependent upon various exceptional work-related stressors, a significant number of which have been exasperated as of late by changes in cultivating practice and by other factors. The present was based on in-depth review of literature and analysis of works based on the mental workloads and stresses of framers. The risks associated with the Indian agricultural sectors were identified. And then SWARA method was used for calculating the weights and corresponding ranking of the criterion/parameter along with sub-criteria/sub-parameters were done accordingly. Then, the QFD technique was used to suggest the design parameters so as to minimize the work stress on farmers.
Improving the Lifetime of Phase Change Memory by Shadow Dynamic Random Access Memory
Authors: Priya Bhukya Krishna , Ramasubramanian N.
Published: January 2021

Emerging NVM are replacing the conventional memory technologies due to their huge cell density and low energy consumption. Restricted writes is one of the major drawbacks to adopt PCM memories in real-time environments. The non-uniform writes and process variations can damage the memory cell with intensive writes, as PCM memory cells are having restricted write endurance. To prolong the lifetime of a PCM, an extra DRAM shadow memory has been added to store the writes that comes to the PCM and to level out the wearing that occurs on the PCM. An extra address directory will store the address of data written to the DRAM and a counter is used to count the number of times the blocks are written into. Based upon the counter values, the data will be written from DRAM to the PCM. The data is written to the DRAM from the PCM, based on the data requirement. Experimental results show the reduction in overall writes in a PCM, which in turn improves the lifetime of a PCM by 5% with less hardware and power overhead.
Thermal Performance of the Alkali Activated Binder Developed from Rice Husk Ash and Bottom Ash
Authors: Khan Khan Asudullah , Raut Ashwin , Chandrudu C. Rama , Sashidhara C.
Published: January 2021

Currently, construction industry is unsustainable in nature due to the over dependency on the energy consumptive materials. Thus, to transform the industry from unsustainable to sustainable focus is on innovative materials developed from locally available waste. In this research, focus is on development of alkali activated binder using combination of fly ash (FA), rice husk ash (RHA) and bottom ash (BA) as an alumina silicate source material. Further, thermal performance of the developed material has been studied to understand its impact on the heat transfer and insulation characteristic s of the material. The alkali activated binder developed from bottom ash shows better performance than rice husk ash (RHA) based binder. However, the thermal performance of the rice husk ash binder is more suited for the insulation due to its low thermal characteristics. The lowest thermal conductivity for the developed binder was having value of 0.31 W/m2K for rice husk ash (RHA) based binder.
Study on Effect of Different Compaction Methods of Aeolian Sand in Taklimakan Desert by Content of Powder Clay
Authors: Ning Jin Chang
Published: January 2021

The wind-blown sand in Taklimakan Desert was mixed with powder and clay particles to carry out heavy compaction and surface vibration compaction tests. The results show that the surface vibration compaction effect of aeolian sand is better when the water content is extremely low or saturated, but the effect is worse when the water content is about 2% ~ 4%, but it is still better than heavy compaction. With the increase of silt content, the surface vibration compaction effect decreases little in a wide range, but at and near the boundary where the dry compaction effect changes from obvious to inconspicuous, the surface vibration compaction effect decreases rapidly, which is soon lower than that of heavy compaction. In addition, with the increase of silt content, the reduction degree of surface vibration compaction effect is also affected by water content: the reduction is smaller when the water content is extremely low, followed by the reduction when saturated or optimal water content, and the reduction is the largest when the water content is about 2% ~ 4%. The research results are beneficial to the popularization and application of surface vibration compaction, especially in the dry compaction technology of aeolian sand subgrade.
Study on the Magnetic Abrasive Finishing Process Using an Alternating Magnetic Field - Discussion on the Application of Full-Wave Rectifier Current -
Authors: Xie Hui Jun , Zou Yan Hua
Published: January 2021

To further improve the finishing efficiency, it has been proposed to apply full-wave rectified current to the coil. In this paper, the effect of full-wave rectified current on the magnetic field and finishing force is studied. The effects of full-wave rectified current and alternating current on finishing characteristics were compared through experiments. The experimental results show that, with different magnetic particle sizes, the finishing efficiency shows different results. In the case of full-wave rectified current, when the average diameter of the magnetic particles is 30 μm, 75 μm and 149 μm, the finishing efficiency is higher than the alternating current, and when the average diameter of the magnetic particles is 330 μm, the finishing efficiency is lower than the alternating current.
Numerical Analysis of Solidification Behavior during Laser Welding Nickel-Based Single-Crystal Superalloy Part: II Crystallography-Dependent Supersaturation of Liquid Aluminum
Authors: Gao Zhi Guo
Published: January 2021

The thermal metallurgical modeling of liquid aluminum supersaturation was further developed through couple of heat transfer model, dendrite selection model, multicomponent dendrite growth model and nonequilibrium solidification model during three-dimensional nickel-based single-crystal superalloy weld pool solidification. The welding configuration plays more important role in supersaturation of liquid aluminum, morphology instability and nonequilibrium partition behavior. The bimodal distribution of liquid aluminum supersaturation along the solid/liquid interface is crystallographically symmetrical about the weld pool centerline in (001) and [100] welding configuration. The distribution of liquid aluminum supersaturation along the solid/liquid interface is crystallographically asymmetrical throughout the weld pool in (001) and [110] welding configuration. Optimum low heat input (low laser power and high welding speed) with (001) and [100] welding configuration is more favored to predominantly promote epitaxial [001] dendrite growth to reduce the metallurgical factors for solidification cracking than that of high heat input (high laser power and slow welding speed) with (001) and [110] welding configuration. The lower the heat input is used, the lower supersaturation of liquid aluminum is imposed, and the smaller size of vulnerable [100] dendrite growth region is incurred to ameliorate solidification cracking susceptibility and vice versa. The overall supersaturation of liquid aluminum in (001) and [100] welding configuration is beneficially smaller than that of (001) and [110] welding configuration regardless of heat input, and is not thermodynamically relieved by gamma prime γˊ phase. (001) and [110] welding configuration is detrimental to weldability and deteriorates the solidification cracking susceptibility because of unfavorable crystallographic orientations and alloying aluminum enrichment. The mechanism of asymmetrical solidification cracking because of crystallography-dependent supersaturation of liquid aluminum is proposed. The eligible solidification cracking location is particularly confined in [100] dendrite growth region. Moreover, the theoretical predictions agree well with the experiment results. The useful modeling is also applicable to other single-crystal superalloys with similar metallurgical properties for laser welding or laser cladding. The thorough numerical analyses facilitate the understanding of weld pool solidification behavior, microstructure development and solidification cracking phenomena in the primary γ phase, and thereby optimize the welding conditions (laser power, welding speed and welding configuration) for successful crack-free laser welding.
Formability Analysis on Ultra-High Strength Steel for Automotive Parts Using Finite Element Simulation
Authors: Nakwattanaset Aeksuwat , Suranuntchai Surasak
Published: January 2021

Finite Element Method (FEM) is one of the most popular methods in the automotive industry to reduce problems, time and wastes in production processes. This method can predict the metal forming processes with computer modeling before making forming tools. In sheet metal forming analysis, Forming Limit Diagram (FLD) is one of the most important indicators in FEM, it can tell each forming regions such as cracks, wrinkles and safe zone. However, the FLD that has automatically created in finite element program isn’t enough accurate. Then, the main objective of this research work was to generate FLD of the ultra-high strength steel: NSC980D that usually has been used in auto body frame by using Nakajima's tests. Then, the generated FLD was used to simulate the forming of the automotive parts for solving the cracks caused during the forming along with the Hill’s 1948 material model. The Keeler’s FLD, which is generated automatically by the commercial software applied, was plotted for comparison during simulation, as well. Drawing process of the panel front was investigated by applying FEM simulating tool: PAMSTAMP to analyze the formability and to determine the optimal forming parameters under suitable service conditions. The main parameters of interest were the part and blank configuration. A number of corrections were successively made to successfully form the part. From the analysis of 2 case studies, it was found that tearing was occurred in the first case results. When the forming force was reduced from 15 tons to 9 tons in the second case, the complete forming without tearing and similar like actual forming at the same conditions had been taken place in the second results.