bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Life Skill Development and Transfer beyond Sport
Authors: Agnew Deborah , Jackson Kathryn , Pill Shane , Edwards Christine 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The aim of this research was to investigate the current life skills education programs offered by the Australian Football League (AFL) for elite footballers in order to determine the retention of life skill knowledge and transfer beyond sport. Life skill education in sport is an increasing phenomenon. Life skills sport programs are capable of delivering positive outcomes when nurtured through a deliberately designed curriculum and purposeful teaching strategies. However, it is not known how life skills are learned and importantly what the impact of life skills education on long term behavioural changes is. It is apparent from the literature that there is a need to identify how knowledge is acquired and importantly retained through life skills education programs. This was a qualitative research project from a life history perspective. Twenty footballers who had been delisted from an elite Australian football club and had subsequently returned to a South Australian state-based football club took part in semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed through an inductive thematic analysis. Two themes emerged from the data: football related development and holistic development. It was clear that football clubs placed importance on the development of life skills that transfer beyond the sport. However, given the footballers in this research have not fully transferred into life after sport, their perception of the broader transferability of their life-skill development beyond sport is limited. This research concludes that the current format of life skill education (delivering content) that the players in this study were exposed to was not effective because the players failed to be able to make connections from the program to life outside of football. Therefore, the programs are unlikely to have any long-term benefit to player health and well-being during their post-elite football life.
Body Image, Physical Activity and Sport Involvement: A Study on Gender Differences
Authors: Leng Ho Keat , Phua Yi Xian Philip , Yang Yifan 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine whether sport involvement i.e. identification with the domain of sports affect satisfaction with body image in men and women. 158 respondents from a tertiary educational institution provided data on their satisfaction with their body image, level of sport involvement, and level of physical activity. Independent t-tests were conducted to compare differences between and within genders. Female respondents (n=40) who were high in sport involvement reported a significantly lower level of dissatisfaction with their body image (M=.55, SD=.78) when compared to female respondents (n=44) who were low in sport involvement (M=.84, SD=.83; t=1.65, p<.05). There was no significant difference amongst male respondents. There was also no significant difference in satisfaction with body image across groups with varying levels of physical activity. This suggests that being involved in sport can affect body image satisfaction amongst females.
The Excellence as a Habit - The Thyroid Repair
Authors: Mândrea Lucian , Curta Ioan , Chirilă Aurel , Deaconu Dragoș 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The research shows in the first part that it is possible to maintain a very good state of the human being for a long time, almost continuously. This thing is highlighted using the values of the human being general balance, while the other values are in the optimal range. The measurements were performed by means of a Bio Well device. The tested subject was the first author of this article. Different techniques were used continuously to reach this important goal. Of course, this attitude can only lead to excellence in everyone’s activity domain and also, in general, in everybody’s life. The second part of the research refers to the human being’s possibilities to send energy to the energy cover of the body to improve the human being functioning. This thing is proved by the measurements made with the help of a thermo-vision camera. A short film was made to show the temperature increase at the level of the head skin during five minutes due to the energy arrived at that zone. The third part refers of the possibility of the human beings to repair themselves. The analysis of the thyroid energy level of the measured subject by means of the Bio Well device is presented. Because the thyroid was used a little too much to improve the optimization of the human being functioning, as presented in the first part of this article, the device shows a possible future danger. Immediate measures had to be taken. Due to successive measures, the subject succeeds in bringing his thyroid energy level to a normal one, without the help of medicines. All the three types of the measurements are very original, presented maybe for the first time in the world. The general purpose of the article is to show that we can do more than we believe about our health and our level of performance.
Towards Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in Lebanon
Authors: Diab Malak Bou 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Faced with provocation emerged from sustainable development, several states, and in specific organizations and other related social performers, are asking their tasks and desire to take dynamic perspective to social accountability. In doing this, they are faced with sustainable development challenges. Entrepreneurship constitutes the business efforts of an individual or group for earning profit and ensuring economic empowerment, while social entrepreneurship involves the business activities with an embedded social purpose focused on sustainability rather than immediate outcomes. Entrepreneurship is an important factor of economy. The development of social entrepreneurship needs a structural adjustment in the society. The principal paper aim is to investigate the social entrepreneurship role in improving sustainable development. Also, the paper will examine social entrepreneurship as an effective tool in resolving social problems, noting that social entrepreneurship analysis can provide a response to sustainable development challenges. The research focuses on addressing the current state of social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship indicators, pillars of entrepreneurship development, business environment and entrepreneurial opportunity and signifying the practicality of dissimilar business models developed in social entrepreneurship. Surveys were conducted on fifty different organizations (banks and audit companies) to collect data. Also, SPSS system was used to analyze the data gathered, to study the relationship between sustainable development and social entrepreneurship. Evidence suggests that social entrepreneurship can play a significant role for poverty reduction, ensuring employment, economic prosperity, environmental justice, pollution free ecology, good governance, reduction of terrorism, guarantee of peace, corruption control etc., thus offering opportunities to fulfill sustainable development goals in Lebanon. We can conclude that social business models develop a basic spread that grant social entrepreneurs to participate actively to sustainable development.
The role of strategic agility in the IT sector
Authors: Lungu Miruna Florina 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
As we are living in a world governed by technology, the society becomes step by step more digitalized. The IT sector is now rooted both in our personal and professional lives, removing physical boundaries. Given these facts, the aim of this paper is to present an analysis of how strategic agility works hand in hand within the IT industry. Strategic agility represents a trigger for growth in this industry, contributing to its expansion and strategic business direction as part of the business environment. Thus, the objectives of the current paper are three-folded, namely: (1) what does strategic agility stands for in the IT industry; (2) how strategic agility is achieved within IT sector (3) which business areas of IT companies are impacted by strategic agility. In the journey of covering all these points, we will use mixed research methodology. The qualitative research contributes to a deeper understanding of the role strategic agility plays in the IT business. This section of the paper screens the targeted concepts of the research, acknowledging the challenges and opportunities triggered by strategic agility. The quantitative research method represented by a survey highlights through primary collected data a real case analysis of the IT industry. Various stakeholders operating in this industry bring their input to the development of this scientific paper, their opinion being sketched with the support of structured set of opened and closed questions. The findings of this research are collected and analyzed to mirror the significance of strategic agility as part of the IT industry. The paper aims to cover all the listed objectives, raising awareness of how technology is a vital strategic pillar of the business environment. Such results enhance our capacity of future value creation, enabling new opportunities for growth and innovation.
A Comparative Analysis of Crowdfunding in Poland and Romania
Authors: Fanea-Ivanovici Mina , Siemionek-Ruskań Małgorzata 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Given the difficulty to access traditional bank funding by creative businesses and start-ups, crowdfunding as an alternative way to finance innovative and creative projects has been adopted, enacted and successfully used by several Western countries, which can serve as best practice examples. However, in many countries crowdfunding is still an emerging phenomenon due to its novelty and variety, the general awareness regarding this alternative funding method being relatively low. The aim of this paper is to investigate the extent to which Poland and Romania, the two largest Central and Eastern European member states, have adopted and used crowdfunding to support innovative and creative projects and to assess the sustainability of such a novel funding method in the respective countries. The objective of the comparative analysis is to determine how the existing legal framework supports the implementation of crowdfunding activities and what crowdfunding types are being used in each country based on the existing local crowdfunding platforms, to identify and explain the main strengths and weaknesses of each of the two markets, as well as to provide a set of measures and proposals that can be adopted by the two countries in order to promote and enhance the crowdfunding phenomenon, which we argue is a factor that ensures business sustainability in creative and innovative activities carried out especially by start-up companies. Apart from the empirical analysis of legislation and platforms, the research methodology includes a survey among business students and fresh graduates of business schools, the purpose of which being to assess the level of awareness of young entrepreneurs-to-be regarding this funding method.
Modifying the organisational culture in order to increase the company’s level of sustainability
Authors: Covaş Lilia 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Changing the business behaviour by prioritising sustainability was proved to be an intelligent solution to social, environmental, as well as economic issues. Adapting to the principles of sustainability must begin with modifying the visions, values and beliefs typical of the economic entities, given that these elements form its organisational culture. Therefore, the concept of sustainability can be integrated in the company’s strategy by changing the organisational culture. Given these points, a study was conducted within twenty-eight organisations from the Republic of Moldova with the objective of identifying the optimal organisational culture pattern for increasing the level of sustainability. The first part of the research implies elaborating a suitable way to compute the global performance of an entity which entails economic, social and environmental performance. To realise a comparative analysis of the results obtained by the companies, was proposed a classification method in 5 performance categories, based on which their sustainability was appreciated. Quantitative research is based on the method of questionnaire, which was applied to a number of 300 employees from the same companies. The organization culture was analysed according to the Competing Values Framework (CVF) by Cameron and Quinn (2011), which is one of the most influential and extensively used models in the area of organizational culture research. The findings show that in the analysed companies dominates hierarchy type of organizational culture. However, the study emphasises the fact that companies with a higher sustainability level scored significantly higher on clan, adhocracy and, market cultures, while the hierarchical is lower. The obtained results prove that organisational culture is a factor which has a considerable impact on the company’s sustainability. Adopting a sustainability-oriented organizational culture can make a major contribution in creating long term success in organization.
The Carbon Dioxide Clathrate Disposal in a Pit near Japan
Authors: Mândrea Lucian , Bădescu Viorel , Voicu Ionuț Cristian 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The research purpose is to present the possibility to deposit the carbon dioxide clathrate at the ocean bottom near Japan. As it is well known, a big amount of CO2 is produced nowadays, with a very damaging influence on the climate. These effects can already be seen all around the world. A possible solution to get rid of the CO2 surpluses is to liquefy it, transform it into carbon dioxide clathrate and send it through pipes at very low levels into the oceans or seas, where its density is bigger than the salted ocean water density. Theoretical ideas are presented at the beginning. An analytical method is used to calculate the carbon dioxide clathrate pressure at the exit of the pipe and also the pressure at a certain depth into the ocean. Because the carbon dioxide clathrate density and the sea water density are variable at different depths, an integral calculus must be done. The authors also calculated the flow rate through the pipes and the time needed to deposit the clathrate at the bottom of the ocean. The volume of the pit is also determined. A particular calculus is made in the case of the Ryukyu pit near Japan. It has steep slopes and the depth reaches around 8000 meters. The location was chosen because, in the case of Japan, high amounts of CO2 are produced. Hurricanes cross this country. Therefore, we suppose that large interest can appear for such a solution to change the climate even locally. Depending on the previous parameters, one can analyze the opportunity for the practical deposition of the carbon dioxide clathrate in the respective pit with a further economical calculus. The calculus which uses the prices in Japan can estimate the cost to liquefy the CO2 and to send it to the bottom of the ocean as well as compare it with other methods to reduce the CO2 quantity in the atmosphere.
Major Challenges and Barriers to IPSASs Implementation in Lebanon
Authors: Ahmad Amar Sayed , Nasseredine Hassan 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The need for greater accountability and transparency in government and private institutions handling funds and resources reporting was heightened by the global financial crisis that led to reduced resources available for both the government and private sector. This led to the introduction of an accounting and auditing system known as International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) that will help to track all transactions hence ability to maintain transparency and accountability while reporting financial statements. However, the implementation of the IPSASs guidelines in most countries has been faced with a lot of barriers. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to determine some of the challenges facing the implementation of IPSASs in Lebanon. The study deploys quantitative descriptive study design and the primary data gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire from 100 public accountants and financial system managers. The data collected has been analyzed using SPSS to get frequencies and percentages which have been presented in tabular form. The findings indicate that the level of IPSAS awareness in Lebanon is higher, however, the full implementation of the IPSASs guidelines is still facing a lot of barriers. The principal obstacles that have come out clearly from the study findings included lack of government support, the high cost of implementation, resistance to change and lack of better understanding of the significance and operation of the IPSASs tool. The study has recommended that IPSASs be incorporated in college and university curriculum, the government to fund the implementation of IPSASs in all listed organizations and government departments and strengthen regulatory bodies to ensure that all accountants and auditing organizations in Lebanon comply with IPSASs guidelines.
Investigating how online shopping platform users contribute to improving the businesses’ performance: empirical evidence from Romania
Authors: Barbu Andreea , Militaru Gheorghe , Simion Cristina Petronela , Moiceanu Georgiana 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to identify how online shopping platform users in Romania influence businesses’ performance. The emergence of e-commerce has led to a revolution in global commerce by diversifying and improving sales and purchasing actions for existing products and services on the market. In Romania, buyers’ behaviour shows a more restraining of online commerce behaviour. Most sales are still registered according to the classic system of physically going to stores, although the number of online users has grown significantly over the last decade. The reluctance of buyers to buy from the online environment leads to the low performance of companies in the e-commerce market. The hypothesized model is empirically tested using data collected from a survey on Google Analytics platforms of some online companies in Romania. The authors used SPSS Software to examine the reliability and validity of the measurement model. There have been analysed various links between some variables that were obtained from Google Analytics, data that were collected by age groups, gender or geographical area. Through an empirical analysis is being analysed the role of tracking data on the websites in order to improve company performance. By analysing those variables, the authors analysed if the number of sessions acquired, the bounce rate of the acquired visitors or other variables can improve the company performance. This study offers a new perspective on company performance in online firms. The analysis of variables describing user behaviour in the online environment in interaction with e-commerce platforms has led to conclusions about the performance of online companies. The theoretical contributions and managerial implications of the study are discussed.
Suitability of OPC UA for distributed energy monitoring
Authors: Krutwig Michael C. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
According to ISO 50001, energy management systems have become widespread in the manufacturing industry. Especially for most large, energy-intensive companies, an energy management system has become an indispensable component of cost planning and sustainability strategy. Energy monitoring is used for continuously evaluating energy flows. Networked and distributed monitoring in industrial production environments is becoming increasingly common with cyber-physical systems (CPS) and can take advantage of them. Considering this, the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) framework plays a decisive role, as it networks all factory components and creates a standard for interoperability between the components. In a literature review context, this paper examines the flexible OPC UA standard, particularly concerning its applicability to energy monitoring. The research question concerns which OPC UA aspects are of relevance for an energy management system. To reduce the technical resources, a subset of the complete standard tailored to the specific task can also be available in the components. Here, we investigate the requirements an energy-related CPS has to fulfill and extract the standard’s relevant components and characteristics from the OPC UA framework based on these requirements. Using the information model of OPC UA, an energy sensor becomes a CPS. We demonstrate this process in a prototypical implementation.
Romania and its poverty-alleviating competitiveness: a Central and Eastern European outlook
Authors: Argatu Ruxandra , Păunescu Carmen 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Competitiveness is a prerequisite for development and a critical ingredient for enabling national welfare in the nowadays challenging world, being more and more debated and approached by researchers and policymakers at the same time. Following these considerations, the article aims to illustrate Romania’s competitiveness ranking in fighting poverty and ensuring a decent level of living to people relative to the European Union’s positioning, through indicators comprised within the European Social Progress Index and the Global Competitiveness Index. The concern for this topic is backed up by prior research performed with respect to Romania’s social and economic competitiveness, claiming that the country has managed to improve its standing among European Union member states but it still has to struggle to get even better by following the best practices of these nations. Thus, there is a relentless need for the consolidation of both its economic cohesion by altering the quality of its infrastructure and institutions, as well as its social status through investments in education, knowledge and innovation. As for the methodology, the analysis of Romania’s competitiveness degree will firstly incorporate a literature review section, comprising poverty, competitiveness and competitiveness obtainment tools. The evaluation will also rely on document analysis of secondary data concerning competitiveness indicators retrieved from the websites of the institutions issuing them, namely Social Progress Imperative and World Economic Forum. The research intends to clarify how Romania can become more competitive in social terms, what fields require substantial progress and what the European Union countries can teach us in this sense.