bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kaanbal: A Mobile Learning Platform Focused on Monitoring and Customization of Learning
Authors: Huerta-Guerrero César , Lopez-Dominguez Eduardo , Hernández-Velázquez Yesenia , Domínguez-Isidro Saul , Cueto-García Arturo , De-la-Calleja Jorge , Medina-Nieto María Auxilio
Published: January 2021

For the new educational models, it is essential to include teaching strategies that allow students to customize their learning based on their competencies, skills, and preferences, as well as strategies that support individual monitoring of student learning. However, the implementation of these strategies in teaching is complex for professors, and it gets complicated, as the number of students in the class-room increases. In this work, the design and development of a mobile learning platform are presented, which provides the professor and student with multiple services for the learning monitoring and customization based on learning styles, context information, and mobile learning objects. Our platform is composed of three main components: (1) A mobile learning object generator system, (2) A learning object repository, and (3) A student-oriented mobile application. The in-tegration of these three components allows and facilitates the professor the im-plementation of various strategies for monitoring and customization of learning systematically. We carried out a usability assessment of the learning object gener-ator system through a field study with five research professors. According to the obtained results, the learning object generator system presents a good acceptance, satisfaction, and applicability from the professors' perspective.
A Study on Digital Literacy Skills of Faculty of Letters Students: Use of University Library
Authors: Zan Burcu Umut , Çolaklar Huriye , Altay Ahmet , Taşkın Nuri
Published: January 2021

Digital literacy skills are important, for university students, who are qualified human resources of countries, to have the digital literacy skills to meet the needs of the current age. However, in university libraries where digital technology is used extensively, it is thought that users who do not have or have low digital lit-eracy skills will not benefit from these libraries in the maximum level possible. It is therefore recognized that the determination of the digital literacy levels of the users, to whom services are provided, is important in diversifying the services and training provided to the users. This study is conducted in order to determine the current awareness and skills of students in relation to digital literacy studying in the first grade of departments of Psychology, History, Turkish Language and Literature (TLL), and Contemporary Turkish Dialects and Literatures (CTDL) at Bartın University. Using quantitative research method, the data used in this study was obtained by using survey technique. Within the framework of the responses of 226 participants to the survey questions, the study investigated whether there were any differences between students' digital literacy skills and awareness on the basis of departments and technology usage habits. The study shows that students' skills and awareness about digital literacy vary according to the departments they study in and their technology usage habits. It is observed that the Psychology de-partment received the highest average for the information technology usage habits among the participants.
The Use of Electronic Educational Resources of The University as A Means of Increasing The Educational Motivation of Students
Authors: Talysheva Irina , Pegova Khene , Khaliullina Liliya
Published: January 2021

The relevance of using electronic educational resources as a means of developing educational motivation is determined by a detailed study of issues related to the use of this educational technology in practice in the modern educational process. The aim of our research work was to study the relationship of educational motivation of students and their relationship to the use of electronic educational resources for the subsequent improvement of the quality of education at a university. Based on a survey and questionnaire of 100 respondents, the authors analyzed topical issues of using electronic educational resources and types of educational motivation of students with a pedagogical profile. The authors studied the impact of electronic educational resources on the effectiveness of the educational process and increasing student motivation. Features of the organization of this process are considered on the example of the Elabuga Institute of Kazan Federal University.
Design and Application of an Improved Genetic Algorithm to a Class Scheduling System
Authors: Chen Xiangliu , Yue Xiao-Guang , Li Rita Yi Man , Zhumadillayeva Ainur , Liu Ruru
Published: January 2021

The current expansion of national colleges and universities or the increase in the number of enrolments requires teaching management to ensure the quality of teaching. The problem of scheduling is a very complicated prob-lem in teaching management, and there are many restrictions. If the number of courses scheduled is large, it will be necessary to repeat the experiment and make adjustments. This kind of work is difficult to accomplish accu-rately by manpower. Moreover, for a comprehensive university, there are many subjects, many professional settings, limited classroom resources, limited multimedia classroom resources, and other factors that limit and constrain the results of class scheduling. Such a large data volume and com-plicated workforce are difficult to complete accurately. Therefore, manpow-er scheduling cannot meet the needs of the educational administration of colleges and universities. Today, computer technology is highly developed. It is very economical to use software technology to design a course schedul-ing system and let the computer complete this demanding and rigorous work. Common course scheduling systems mainly include hill climbing al-gorithms, tabu search algorithms, ant colony algorithms, and simulated an-nealing algorithms. These algorithms have certain shortcomings. In this re-search, we investigated the mutation genetic algorithm and applied the algo-rithm to the student’s scheduling system. Finally, we tested the running speed and accuracy of the system. We found that the algorithm worked well in the course scheduling system and provided strong support for solving the tedious scheduling work of the educational administration staff.
The Effect of Network Relational Structure on Knowledge Diffusion Learning: An Empirical Study
Authors: Renping Zhang , ShiYong Zheng , Ming Qiu , Ali Rizwan , Comite Ubaldo
Published: January 2021

As social media has been popularized, users have shifted from the receiver of knowledge to the creator and communicator of knowledge. Besides, the relationship between users has become more sophisticated. In two-way and one-way networks, different network relationship structures formed be-tween users have different impacts on the knowledge learning of infor-mation recipients. Some studies highlighted that knowledge, according to the different forms of knowledge generation and expression, can be split in-to explicit and tacit knowledge. Thus, in the network structure with differ-ent levels of relationship intensity, which type of knowledge can be spread and learned better? To answer this question, this study first uses second-hand data analysis. As revealed from the results of empirical research, under Weibo and WeChat, i.e., two different network structures, a variety of knowledge dissemination learning will have different effects. Then, by ana-lyzing questionnaire data, the phenomenon and its internal mechanism are explained in accordance with the theory of regulatory focus.
Postgraduate Training Performance Evaluation Applying Weighting and Comprehensive Fuzzy Evaluation Methods
Authors: Wang Mei , Zhang Zeng , Xu Mi
Published: January 2021

Postgraduate training performance evaluation is an important part of higher education evaluation. In order to quantitatively evaluate the performance of postgraduate training combined with the needs of talent training in colleges and universities, a comprehensive evaluation system for postgraduate train-ing performance is designed and proposed. The analytic hierarchy process and the entropy method are combined to determine the weights of seven in-put and output indicators, such as funding input, teacher source input, sci-entific research ability, and graduate output quality. The comprehensive fuzzy evaluation model is also applied. This paper tests the above models to evaluate the graduate training performance of 20 colleges at Tianjin Univer-sity. It is found that the weight of student input and graduate output quality combined is 87.69%, which makes them the key indicators to measure the performance of graduate training. Furthermore, it is concluded that the per-formance of the science college was significantly higher than that of the humanities college.
The Development of E-Worksheet Using Kvisoft Flipbook Maker Software Based on Lesson Study to Improve Teacher’s Critical Thinking Ability
Authors: Erna Maria , Elfizar Elfizar , Dewi Citra Ayu
Published: January 2021

The effectivity and efficiency of the learning process is very dependent on the quality of teacher. Therefore must improve their quality by conducting various learning innovations, one of them by implementing ICT-based learning. The purpose of this study was to develop e-worksheet using kvisoft flipbook maker software based on lesson study to improve chemistry teacher’s critical thinking ability. This research used development model 4-D namely define, design, develop, and disseminate. The subject of this research was involved chemistry teachers and student of grade XI of Senior High School in Rokan Hulu, Riau, Indonesia. The draft e-worksheet was validated by experts using validation questionnaires and critical thinking ability instruments using essay tests. The data were analyzed using N-Gain formulation. Based on the result, the developed e-worksheet in chemistry material has exactly valid with score percentages 88.88% and average critical thinking ability about 60 with enough category. Therefore, it can be concluded that e-worksheets using kvisoft flipbook maker software based on lesson studies that have been developed can improve critical thinking ability of teacher and students.
Virtual Reality Game for Introducing Pencak Silat
Authors: Sampoerna Jansen , Istiono Wirawan , Suryadibrata Alethea
Published: January 2021

The culture of the Indonesians is truly diverse and widely known by worldwide community. One of the cultures is the martial art called pencak silat. Pencak silat is considered as a martial art because each movement includes art. There are many Indonesians pay less attention to this martial art. Therefore, in this paper, we try to create a media to introduce pencak silat. One of the media that can be used is a rhythm game with virtual reality technology. Virtual reality rhythm game is played by hitting the incoming object in accordance of the song being played. Player can hit that object by using pencak silat’s movement corresponding to the incoming object. The movements used in this game are “pukulan lurus”, “pukulan sangkal”, “tebangan”, and “dobrakan”. We evaluate this game by using Hedonic-Motivation System Adoption Model or HMSAM modelling to determine the satisfaction level of the player. The behavioral intention to use and immersion obtained by using HMSAM are 78.61% and 77%, respectively
Two Models Based on Social Relations and SVD++ Method for Recommendation System
Authors: Al Sabaawi Ali M. Ahmed , Karacan Hacer , Yenice Yusuf Erkan
Published: January 2021

Recently, Recommender Systems (RSs) have attracted many researchers whose goal is to improve the performance of the prediction accuracy of recommendation systems by alleviating RSs drawbacks. The most common limitations are sparsity and the cold-start problem. This article proposes two models to mitigate the effects of these limitations. The proposed models exploit five sources of information: rating information, which involves two sources, namely explicit and implicit, which can be extracted via users’ ratings, and two types of social relations: explicit and implicit relations, the last source is confidence values that are included in the first model only. The whole sources are combined into the Singular Value Decomposition plus (SVD++) method. First, to extract implicit relations, each non-friend pair of users, the Multi-Steps Resource Allocation (MSRA) method is adopted to compute the probability of being friends. If the probability has accepted value which exceeds a threshold, an implicit relationship will be created. Second, the similarity of explicit and implicit social relationships for each pair of users is computed. Regarding the first model, a confidence value between each pair of users is computed by dividing the number of common items by the total number of items which have also rated by the first user of this pair. The confidence values are combined with the similarity values to produce the weight factor. Furthermore, the weight factor, explicit, and implicit feedback information are integrated into the SVD++ method to compute the missing prediction values. Additionally, three standard datasets are utilized in this study, namely Last.Fm, Ciao, and FilmTrust, to evaluate our models. The experimental results have revealed that the proposed models outperformed state-of-the-art approaches in terms of accuracy.
Impact of Technologies During COVID-19 Pandemic for Improving Behavior Intention to Use E-learning
Authors: Tawafak Ragad M. , ALFarsi Ghaliya Muslem , Jabbar Jasiya , Iqbal Malik Sohail , Mathew Roy , AlSidiri Abir , Shakir Mohanaad , Romli Awanis
Published: January 2021

This comprehensive study to review the technology impact during the COVID-19 pandemic that elucidates the overarching of technology usage to technology enhanced learning which assisted to enhance the behavior intention to use technologies among undergraduates. Recently, higher education institutions suffer from the impact of using emerging technologies with electronic learning during COVID-19 pandemic for improving student academic performance in higher educational institution. The main purpose in this study is to determine the impact of technology enhanced learning that allow the students to emerge technologies and software's to develop their skill and improve their academic performance. The method should influence critical instructions in the way of online learning through the COVID-19 pandemic.  The results revealed that the unique features of TEL spur and encourage the behavior intention to use e-learning. Additionally, social learning, perceived deterrents, and internal controls contribute to behaviors.
De la mobilité des paysans tharu et de leurs chefs
Authors: Krauskopff Gisèle
Published: January 2021

En 1978, Sagant consacra un article pionnier à « l’ampleur et à la profondeur historique des migrations népalaises » qui met en relief l’oppression de la nouvelle administration népalaise et le rôle de la colonisation britannique de l’Inde dans l’intensification des migrations au début du xixe siècle. La pertinence de cette analyse générale est illustrée par l’histoire d’un mouvement de migration massif de paysans tharu, des terres sous tutelle d’un petit état himalayen vers des régions devenues britanniques en 1805. Je traite ici de la mobilité des paysans tharu du Terai, région frontière sous exploitée qui connut à cette époque un bouleversement radical avec l’ingérence des Britanniques et la fixation d’une frontière internationale entre deux nouveaux États-nations. Ma contribution s’inscrit dans une approche plus générale du rôle de la mobilité paysanne dans les formations sociales et des contradictions engendrées par l’instauration de territoires sous contrôle de l’état. Ces données éclairent l’organisation sociale tharu — l’importance de la résidence commune, des grandes maisons et des groupements de maisons (villages), fondés sur l’exploitation nécessairement collective d’une terre pionnière —, et le non-attachement au sol des paysans tharu, plus encore, le refus d’un tel attachement pour échapper au paiement de l’impôt et résister à l’emprise de l’État. Sagant insista sur le rôle déterminant joué par les chefs locaux dans l’intensification des migrations. Les chefs tharu ne font pas exception : un corpus d’archives (1726-1840) sur une lignée tharu montre l’évolution du statut d’un de ces chefs et la rupture provoquée par l’emprise de l’administration centrale et l’émergence des États-nations.
« À qui appartenait la terre ? » dans le royaume hindou du Népal
Authors: Gaborieau Marc
Published: January 2021

Revenant sur ses discussions avec Philippe Sagant, et se fondant à la fois sur des sources textuelles (juridiques et administratives) et des observations de terrain, Marc Gaborieau étudie la nature et les limites des droits de propriété sur la terre dans le royaume hindou du Népal jusque dans la seconde moitié du xxe siècle. C’est un jeu complexe entre trois protagonistes : les sujets qui habitent et exploitent la terre, le pouvoir royal et son administration qui autorisent et réglementent leur accès à cette terre et, enfin et surtout, les dieux qui en sont les maîtres premiers et éminents auxquels le roi lui-même est soumis. Dans cette lutte inégale pour l’accès à la terre, comme pour l’accès aux femmes, ce sont toujours les dieux qui gardent la haute main : les humains, roi comme sujets, passent toujours après eux et n’ont que des restes.
U.S. African-American Small Business Owners' Leadership Perspectives Around Business Development, Sustainability, and Succession Transition
Authors: Bradley-Swanson Orna T. , Burrell Darrell Norman
Published: January 2021

Small businesses produce near 50% of the gross domestic product and are responsible for over 6 out of 10 new jobs. These numbers point to the importance of small business ownership and leadership is important in the US economy. In 2020, there are 124,004 African-American-owned businesses in the U.S. In spite of these numbers, African-American-owned small businesses face tremendous challenges. This exploratory qualitative study examines U.S. African-American small business owners' leadership perspectives around business development, sustainability, and succession transition.
Perceived Discrimination Among African-American Faculty and the Elliott Kemp Organizational Change Model
Authors: Kemp Roxanne Elliott
Published: January 2021

This chapter is relevant to the field of leadership psychology as the fundamental notions of psychology involve the study of how mental processes affect behavior. With perceived discrimination being a covert awareness experienced by some, it is important to obtain an in-depth understanding of how perceived discrimination may be the cause of lower employee engagement resulting in higher levels of intention to quit, and ultimately leading to overt job-seeking behaviors. Due to the limited research in these areas, the motivation for exploring gaps in perceived discrimination and intention to quit is an urgent need. This is also important because there is evidence suggesting that despite the advances of African Americans in obtaining the necessary education qualifying them for employment, very little progress has been made towards obtaining tenured, professor, or senior positions in academia.
A Literature Review of CEO Servant Leadership and Social Responsibility in American For-Profit Organizations
Authors: Yoon SookYoung S. , Darville Jeff J. , Spann Charlene Stacey
Published: January 2021

The aim of this chapter is to synthesize the literature on servant leadership and corporate social responsibility demonstrating conceptual and theoretical convergence. Servant leadership emphasizes ethics, positive psychology, and maximizes optimistic behavior and can be associated with CSR which has an ethical and humanistic framework. It is hypothesized that servant leadership is linked with both individual employee development and purpose-driven, stakeholder-based community relationships in for-profit corporations. The research gap that exists between CSR and servant leadership requires this study to analyze operational definitions through the perspective of ethics and spirituality. This study indicates that a positive relationship may exist between the perceptions of followers and attributions of servant leadership and CSR. With CSR, CEO servant leaders enhance employee psychological well-being, loyalty, improve financial performance, and address genuine social concerns.
Smart Cities and Accessible Tourism
Authors: Dias Ana , Santinha Gonçalo , Rodrigues Mário , Queirós Alexandra , Rodrigues Carlos , Rocha Nelson P.
Published: January 2021

Promoting accessibility in tourism can impact on other areas, including sustainable mobility, social inclusion, and territorial marketing, since it implies taking the needs of all people into account to access tourism products and services, including those with permanent or temporary disabilities. Smart cities may change the way people experience their surroundings and their ability to provide contextual services is a key aspect to make cities more accessible, comprehensible, and enjoyable. The systematic review reported by the present chapter aimed to identify relevant research studies supported by smart cities infrastructures with an impact on accessible tourism. The literature search and the analysis of the retrieved articles were performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The results identify the most relevant achievements related to accessible tourism in the context of smart cities, including the types of smart services being developed and their maturity level.
Assistive Technologies in Museums for People With Visual Impairments
Authors: Mesquita Susana Vasconcelos , Carneiro Maria João
Published: January 2021

Museums are important cultural places where technology, and specifically assistive technology, offers a prime opportunity for people with visual impairments to access the exhibition and the space. People with visual impairments represent a large group of the population but still experience several constraints during their museum visits. Nevertheless, there are few studies on the importance of assistive technologies in museums. This chapter aims to discuss the relevance of technology in museums and to identify guidelines to implement assistive technologies in order to improve the experience of people with visual impairments during their visits to museums. A reflection on the potential of assistive technologies for people with visual impairments and some guidelines are provided in order to promote more accessible and inclusive museums.
Sport Atmospherics' Influence on the Event Experience
Authors: Palmero Mauro , Price Kelly
Published: January 2021

This chapter discusses traditional and online atmospherics as a sport marketing strategy. Though with traditional retail roots, atmospherics have emerged as a strategy that may be utilized in the physical, online, and mobile sport environments. A comprehensive review of major traditional and sports atmospheric variables, online atmospheric variables including augmented and virtual reality, and applications to sport are discussed. In addition, the spectator experience cycle is introduced with atmospheric correlations. The purpose of the chapter is to explain why traditional and online atmospherics are important to the sport industry and to demonstrate how sport marketers may use physical, online, or mobile atmospherics to enhance spectator experience, increase loyalty, impact attitude, consumer choice, and impact purchase behavior. In addition, the chapter is meant to emphasize the importance of atmospherics to ultimately achieve sport promotional/marketing objectives. Finally, future research directions are recommended.
The Fall of the Fourth Wall
Authors: Stahlke Samantha , Robb James , Mirza-Babaei Pejman
Published: January 2021

Over the past several years, the live-streaming of digital games has experienced a vast increase in popularity, coinciding with the rise of eSports as an entertainment medium. For a rapidly growing audience, streamed content provides material from an ever-increasing roster of games, tournaments, and special events. Recently, streaming platforms, game developers, and professional players have experimented with the inclusion of viewer interaction through mechanisms such as chat, broadcast messages, donations, and voting systems. With the advent of these mechanisms, the concept of game viewership has entered a transitory period; while still largely focused on consumption, for many spectators, the viewing experience is no longer an entirely passive act. The idea of interactive spectatorship (the authors refer to it as Spectator-players) carries the potential for audience members to engage with content at a much deeper level, participating actively in a novel form of entertainment and contributing to an enriched gaming community. This novel form of gaming interaction poses interesting challenges for game designers, as it requires design considerations to meet the needs of players, passive viewers, and active audience members alike. In this paper, the authors examine the opportunities and challenges presented by the design of interactive spectator experiences. Ultimately, they propose a series of design guidelines aimed at the exploration of development in the area of interactive spectator experiences.
Deep Analytics in Sport Community Forums
Authors: Fister Dušan , Fister Iztok , Fister Jr. Iztok
Published: January 2021

In recent years, some sport clubs have adopted web forums for online discussions about planning training sessions, races, club problems, sponsors and supporters, equipment and so on. Mostly, these forums are closed, because some discussions about critical information must be permitted only to registered club members. Indeed, various members are connected into a network representing a forum community that participates in forming the internal structure of a club and has taken an increasingly important role in solving the club affairs. This has influenced the classic way of doing business with meetings or calls and has allowed the community to participate in forming plans. This article deals with the deep analytics of data acquired from a web forum of a small cycling club located in Slovenia for a period of five years. The purpose of these analyses is to identify various members of the forum's community, track the dynamics of events as found in this forum, and search for hidden relationships.
AI and Individualized Education in Phys Ed and Sport
Authors: Patrascu Adrian , Patrascu Monica
Published: January 2021

The development of AI technologies in recent years has opened the doors to a wide array of application domains. One field of study in particular has great potential to use this knowledge: physical education and sport. New devices and software have made their way into the field of physical activity, motivating the investigation of AI-driven technologies as a tool in developing a new type of educational system. The general scope of this chapter is to analyze the use of AI individualized education in one major field of study: physical education and sport. The use of AI technologies in training future teachers is also discussed and analyzed. The implementation of AI software in sport is brought to attention, along with relevant case studies. Limitations and hurdles in constructing intelligent support systems for training were identified. Accessibility of an AI-driven educational system was detailed, pointing out barriers with regard to culture, social environment, and age differences.
An Extended Study on Training and Physical Exercise in Esports
Authors: Kari Tuomas , Siutila Miia , Karhulahti Veli-Matti
Published: January 2021

This chapter is an extended revision of the authors' earlier study (2016) on the training routines of professional and high-level esport players, with added focus on their physical exercise. The study is methodologically mixed with a quantitative survey sample (n=115) and a qualitative interview sample (n=7). Based on this data, high-level esport players train approximately 5.28 hours every day around the year, and professional esport players at least the same amount. Approximately 1.08 hours of that training is physical exercise. More than half (55.6%) of the professional and high-level esport players believe that integrating physical exercise into their training programs has a positive effect on esport performance; however, no less than 47.0% do the physical exercise chiefly to maintain their overall state of health. Accordingly, the study indicates that professional and high-level esport players are physically active as well: those of age 18 and older exercising more than three times the daily 21-minute physical activity recommendation given by the World Health Organization.
Thermal Imaging in Evaluation of the Physical Fitness Level
Authors: Kasprzyk Teresa , Stanek Agata , Sieroń-Stołtny Karolina , Cholewka Armand
Published: January 2021

The thermoregulation mechanisms during the physical effort can be easily study by using the thermovision. The thermoregulation mechanisms in human body keep the body core temperature on basic level 37 ± 2 oC. However, the question is if there are any differences in skin surface temperature distribution between trainee sportsmen and amateur. Is there any possibility to show the sportsman level of practise using the thermal imaging? Would it be possible to evaluate the efficiency of athlete or evaluate the level of sports possibilities in average amateur who just wants to start cycle training. To find how the thermoregulation mechanisms work the different measurements were done i.e. during the cyclist endurance test for group of male cyclist (intermediate level of cycling skill) and during the Aerobic Circuit Training (ACT) for trainee and amateur group of women.
A Model for Online Music Education
Authors: Cremata Radio
Published: January 2021

This chapter proposes a sustainable model for online music education in post-secondary contexts. This model is framed around the intersections and along the continua of formal and informal music teaching/learning, conscious and unconscious knowing/telling, synchronous and asynchronous musical e-spaces/places, currencies, and e-collaboration. The model maintains deterritorialization (i.e., an e-space or e-place without boundary) as a foundational underpinning. The purpose of this chapter is to interrogate notions of online music learning, challenge preconceptions, and leverage innovation and technological advancement to redefine and re-understand how music can be taught and learned in e-spaces and e-places. The chapter can serve to disrupt traditional conceptions of musical teaching/learning. By disrupting the cycle that perpetuates music education at the post-secondary level, this chapter seeks to leverage online innovation, draw out technological inevitabilities, and push the music education profession forward towards new frontiers.
Transformational Learning Theory and Service-Learning Projects
Authors: Kornacki Gillian
Published: January 2021

This chapter investigates the University of Windsor's service-learning program Leadership Experience for Academic Direction's (L.E.A.D.) impact on teacher candidates' perceptions of teaching in-risk students. The L.E.A.D. program focuses on introducing teacher candidates to the Ministry of Ontario's Student Success initiatives and reflective teaching practices, and places teacher candidates with Student Success Teachers, allowing teacher candidates to learn from in-risk youth. This study adopted a qualitative approach using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to examine the lived experience of graduates of the L.E.A.D. program. Five graduates of the L.E.A.D. program who are currently practicing secondary teachers in southwestern Ontario were interviewed in one focus group and one individual interview. The responses indicated themes of the importance of relationship building with students, the value of school support systems, the positive impact of L.E.A.D. coursework, and altered efficacy and perceptions of teaching in-risk youth.
Applications of Keystroke Dynamics Biometrics in Online Learning Environments
Authors: Muniasamy Anandhavalli
Published: January 2021

The biometric authentication in the online learning environment (OLE) is still exploratory and, despite an increase in keystroke dynamics biometrics research, many challenges remain in designing this authentication system due to the fact that it is economical and easily integrated with existing computer security system in OLE. Existing research in keystroke dynamics tends to focus on finding how keystroke dynamics of users can support non-intrusive authentications of users in OLEs. However, there is little evidence that researchers have approached the issue of unauthenticated users to take the role of authenticated users and perform tasks in the OLE with the intent of building models based on the keystroke dynamics of users. In a nutshell, the aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the existing applications of keystroke dynamics as biometric authentication in the OLE, keystroke dynamics framework being designed for the OLE, advantages and disadvantages of a keystroke dynamics biometrics approach, as well as offering suggestions and possible future research directions.
Bridging the Social, Academic, and Cultural Divide for International Students
Authors: Palermo-Kielb Kimberly , Fraenza Christy
Published: January 2021

International learners face many unique challenges when studying in a U.S. based online program. These challenges include language barriers, social barriers, and psychological barriers. In this chapter, the authors propose the use of peer-to-peer support programs, combined with an increased focus on learning communities, to help these students succeed. The literature shows that isolation is a common experience for online learners, and in particular, international students. Researchers have also found that peer relationships and connections can improve this experience for students, which can lead to student satisfaction, success, and retention. Based in the sociocultural theory of Vygotsky, the purpose of this chapter is to share specific strategies with instructors, course designers, and larger institutions so they can create courses and a larger learning environment that are sensitive to the needs of diverse learners studying online.
Fostering Effective Learning Community in the Online Classroom
Authors: Dereshiwsky Mary I.
Published: January 2021

Online learning communities are an important aspect of successful virtual learning experiences. They bring opportunities for peer collaboration and sharing of ideas in a globally based classroom unrestricted by time and space. At the same time, online learning community participants may face some challenges of effective communication and collaboration as compared to traditional face-to-face learning environments. The author discusses issues, concerns, and potential solutions with regard to online learning communities in the areas of discussion participation, group work on assignments, faculty concerns, and miscellaneous issues such as technology access. Maximizing the potential of online learning communities will facilitate higher-order learning in the technologically mediated twenty-first century classroom.
Decentralization and District-Level Decentralization in Amhara Region
Authors: Besfat Dejen Engdaw
Published: January 2021

This paper examines the process of decentralization and district level decentralization programs in the Amhara region. It addresses the decentralization processes in Imperial, Derg, and EPRDF regimes. The depth and degree of decentralization in the three consecutive regimes were different as the process of decentralization in the current government meant to be deeper and extensive and pushed powers, functions, and roles into the local government. The process of decentralization in the current government has transferred powers and functions to the districts. However, the district level decentralization process has faced many challenges. The paper revealed that unclear assignments of powers and functions, executive dominations, upward accountabilities, top-down planning, lack of skilled manpower, lack participatory systems, failure of the councils in holding the executive accountable, lack of adequate budget, lack of revenue mobilization capacity, lack of responsiveness, and accountability among councils were the main challenges that impede in the process of the DLD process.
Failure Mechanism of Diamond Saw Blade Sawing Concrete
Authors: Hu Shan Shan , He Li Ang , Hu Ying Ning , Wang Cheng Yong
Published: January 2021

Sawing concrete with diamond saw blade is a complex process with alternating loading. However, due to the poor working conditions of the thin circular blade made of high manganese steel core, and the lack of research on its failure mechanism, a large number of used blade are abandoned every year in China and all over the world without steel core reused. Therefore, exploring the failure mechanism of diamond saw blade can improve the cutting quality and efficiency, and extend the service life of the saw blade. In this paper, the failure mechanism of diamond saw blade sawing concrete was analyzed through segment wear experiment and microstructure observation of segments and steel core of failed sawblade. The results showed that the stress concentration exited at the bottom of slot, where it became the most dangerous section. The crack at the bottom of the cooling hole caused the saw blade to deviate violently and bear unevenly. The microstructure is great different along the outer to the center of the steel core. The closer to the teeth of the saw blade, the more obvious the microstructure change, while the central core still retains the original structure. Under the same sawing area of 0.01m2, the stable dust adhesion of plain concrete is less than that of the steel fiber concrete. However, when the dust adhesion increases to more than the stable adhesion, the phenomenon of blockage will occur. Therefore, deflection, crack, wear and burn were the main failure reasons of diamond saw blade when sawing concrete.
Multi-Objective Optimization of PMEDM Process of 90CrSi Alloy Steel for Minimum Electrode Wear Rate and Maximum Material Removal Rate with Silicon Carbide Powder
Authors: Hong Tran Thi , Cuong Nguyen Van , Danh Bui Thanh , Ky Le Hong , Linh Nguyen Hong , Lien Vu Thi , Vinh Nguyen Thai , Cuong Nguyen Manh
Published: January 2021

This study aims to minimize electrode wear (EW) and maximize material removal rate (MRR) in powder mixed electrical discharge machining (PMEDM) process of 9CrSi alloy steel with silicon carbide powder. To achieve these objectives, Taguchi method and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) are applied to optimize one two-level and four three-level PMEDM process parameters, including Ton, Toff, CP, IP and SV in eighteen experiments based on an orthogonal array L18 (21 and 43). Results have provided a set of optimal PMEDM process parameters in which Ton has the strongest effect on SW and MRR while that of CP is insignificant. The obtained minimum EW and maximum MRR have been verified and proven by a PMEDM experiment using optimal process parameters. The proposed method can be further applied to optimize other PMEDM process parameters for different objectives.
Influence of Process Parameters on Material Removal Rate in Electrical Discharge Machining Cylindrical Shaped Parts
Authors: Hong Tran Thi , Linh Nguyen Hong , Danh Bui Thanh , Ky Le Hong , Lien Vu Thi , Giang Tran Ngoc , Pi Vu Ngoc , Tam Do Thi
Published: January 2021

This paper aims to find the impact of Electric Discharge Machining (EDM) factors on material removal rate (MRR) for 90CrSi alloy steel. Five three-level factors including pulse on time (Ton), pulse off time (Toff), pulse current (IP), server voltage (SV), and diameter of work-piece (dw) are investigated to explore their contribution on MRR by using Taguchi method in twenty-seven experiments based on an orthogonal array L27 (35). The findings realize that MRR is the most affected by the pulse current while the effect of the dw is the smallest. Based on ANOVA analysis, an optimal model of MRR has been developed and verified by comparing with the experiment result. The applicability of this proposed method can be used for further studies in EDM process.
Effect of Process Parameters on Machining Time in PMEDM Cylindrical Shaped Parts with Silicon Carbide Powder Suspended Dielectric
Authors: Hong Tran Thi , Linh Nguyen Hong , Cuong Nguyen Van , Danh Bui Thanh , Ky Le Hong , Quy Le Thu , Cuong Nguyen Manh , Pi Vu Ngoc , Tam Do Thi
Published: January 2021

This paper presents a work on the effect of Powder Mixed Electric Discharge Machining (PMEDM) parameters on the machining time when machining cylindrical shaped parts made from 90CrSi alloy steel. Five parameters including pulse on time Ton, powder concentration Cp, pulse off time Toff, pulse current IP and server voltage SV are explored their contribution on machining time by using the Taguchi method in eighteen experiments based on an orthogonal array L18 (21 and 34). Based on ANOVA analysis, an optimum model of the machining time was proposed. The model was well verified by comparing with the experiment, and it, therefore can be used for further studies in the PMEDM process.
Resection of a large endometriotic nodule of the bladder using a combined laparoscopic and cystoscopic approach (“light to light technique”)
Authors: Silva K. C. D. P. , Gankanda W. I. , Sumanathissa R. P. J. , Illukpitiya I. G. D. C. , Abeysekara N. C.
Published: January 2021

Bladder endometriosis is uncommon yet a cause of cyclical disabling urinary symptoms. Surgical excision of the bladder endometriotic nodule using combined cystoscopic and laparoscopic approach (“light to light technique”) remains the best approach where surgery is deemed the mode of treatment. A 31-year-old infertile woman underwent resection of endometriosis of the bladder by this method. The main surgical steps included ureteric stenting, bladder mobilization, marking the endometriotic nodule cystoscopically, cystoscopic transillumination, completion of the bladder nodule excision laparoscopically and bladder repair.
Use of oxytocin for induction of labour
Authors: Dasanayake D. L. W. , Goonewardene M.
Published: January 2021

No abstract available
Clampless abdominal hysterectomy: a case series at Teaching Hospital Peradeniya
Authors: Kandauda C. , Wanasinghe W. M. M. P. B.
Published: January 2021

Objective: To evaluate the Clampless Abdominal Hysterectomy (CAH) technique with regard to its complications, analgesic requirement and average duration taken to mobilize.Materials and method: This case series included 51 consecutive open abdominal hysterectomies done with the Clampless Abdominal Hysterectomy technique between May 2017 and May 2018. Patient’s age, Body Mass Index (BMI), duration of surgery, preoperative and post-operative hemoglobin, pain score on post-operative day 1 and day 2, time to mobilize to chair, time taken for full mobilization and the analgesic requirements of the patients were taken into consideration.Results: The mean age of the patient population was 53±4.69 years, the mean BMI was 23.7±3.54 kg/m2. The mean duration of the surgery was 50.7±7.03 minutes, and it ranged from 75 minutes (maximum) to 40 minutes (minimum). The mean pre-operative hemoglobin (Hb) was 10.6±0.69 g/dl, while the mean post-operative Hb was 9.8±0.66 g/dl. The mean pain score on day one was 6, which ranged from 8 (maximum) to 5 (minimum), while on the day two it was 4, which ranged from 6 (maximum) to 3 (minimum). The mean time duration taken to mobilize to chair was 16±2.10 hours while the mean time taken for full mobilization was 22.3±2.39 hours.Conclusion: The Clampless Abdominal Hysterectomy is an extremely safe procedure with less complications that may be employed as an alternative to the conventional open abdominal hysterectomy.
Revisiting bronchoscopic intratumoral chemotherapy in malignant central airway obstruction via EUS-B approach and its review of literature
Authors: Niwas Ram , Chawla Gopal , Pareek Puneet , Chauhan Nishant Kumar , Dutt Naveen
Published: January 2021

Critical central airway obstruction has always been a dreaded complication to which interventional pulmonologist commonly encounters. There have been various modalities which are used for the management and palliation, which includes mechanical coring, laser, cryoextraction, electrocautery and airway stenting. Rigid bronchoscopy with or without jet ventilation has been corner stone of therapeutics and palliation of central airway obstruction. There are only a few conditions where it is not possible to use rigid bronchoscopy. Here we report a case of metastatic tracheal tumour which presented with critical airway obstruction in a patient who had atlantoaxial instability (AAI) due to rheumatoid arthritis. Here we used endobronchial ultrasound scope (EBUS) via esophageal route, i.e. EUS-B guided approach for sampling of the tracheal tumour, and intratumoral chemotherapy was instilled in multiple sessions, which resulted in shrinking of tumour, thus relieving the critical airway obstruction. This is the first report of using EUS-B approach for intratumoral chemotherapy for tracheal tumors. Bronchoscopic intratumoral chemotherapy therapy (BITC) in tracheal tumors is also one of the options but has not been explored much and there has been a dearth of literature for it.
Association between pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain and the risk of preeclampsia
Authors: Ulhaq Renata Alya , Anis Wahyul , Fatmaningrum Widati , Akbar Muhammad Ilham Aldika
Published: January 2021

Objective:

To analyze the relationship between body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and gestational weight gain throughout pregnancy with the incidence of preeclampsia.

Methods:

This was a systematic review-meta analysis of literature collected from three e-databases: Scopus, PubMed, and Science Direct. Quality assessment was measured with the Effective Public Health Practice Project methods. Meta-analysis was done by calculating the fixed and random-effects of odds ratio (OR) for each BMI category and gestational weight gain as compared with the incidence of preeclampsia.

Results:

Overweight was associated with a significantly increased risk of preeclampsia (OR=2.152, 95% CI 1.363-3.400; P=0.001). Obesity was also associated with a noticeably increased risk of preeclampsia (OR=2.856, 95% CI 1.755-4.649; P<0.001). Meanwhile, underweight was associated with a significantly reduced risk of preeclampsia (OR=0.639, 95% CI 0.500-0.817; P<0.001) when compared with normal BMI. Pregnant women who gained weight below the standard throughout pregnancy was a protective factor from preeclampsia (OR=0.813, 95% CI 0.610-1.083; P=0.157) whereas pregnant women who gained weight above the standard had almost doubled risk of preeclampsia (OR=1.850, 95% CI 1.377-2.485; P<0.001).

Conclusions:

The result of this study affirms the role of overweight-obesity pre-pregnancy, and gestational weight gain above the standard during pregnancy as significant risk factors for developing preeclampsia.