bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Emotions Experienced by Learners and their Development through Communication with the Tutor-Counsellor
Authors: Kalogiannakis Michail , Touvlatzis Sotiris 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
The effective communication between the learners and the tutor-counsellor has been proved to significantly promote the positive emotions, reduce the negative ones and reinforce the learners’ participation in a distance learning program. The main purpose of our research is to investigate the emotions experienced by the learners of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) and how these emotions may vary through interaction with the tutor-counsellor. In order to carry out the research, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was implemented. Data collection was performed via an anonymous questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The sample of the research consisted of undergraduate and post-graduate students of the HOU. Our findings confirm the dominant place occupied by emotions in the learning process, a place that has been until recently entirely attributed to reason, while highlighting the communicative and supportive role to be taken by the tutor-counsellor in distance learning programs.
A Learning Analytics Methodology for Detecting Sentiment in Student Fora: A Case Study in Distance Education
Authors: Kagklis Vasileios , Karatrantou Anthi , Tantoula Maria , Panagiotakopoulos Chris T. , Verykios Vassilios S. 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Online fora have become not only one of the most popular communication tools in e-learning environments, but also one of the key factors of the learning process, especially in distance learning, as they can provide to the students involved, motivation for collaboration in order to achieve a common goal. The purpose of this study is to analyse data related to the participation of postgraduate students in the online forum of their course at the Hellenic Open University. The content of the messages posted is analysed by using text mining techniques, while the network through which the students interact is processed through social network analysis techniques. Furthermore, sentiment analysis and opinion mining is applied on the same dataset. Our aim is to study students’ attitude towards the course and its features, as well as to model their sentiment behaviour over time, and finally to detect if and how this affected their overall performance. The combined knowledge attained from the aforementioned techniques can provide tutors with practical and valuable information for the structure and the content of the students’ exchanged messages, the patterns of interaction among them, the trend of sentiment polarity during the course, so as to improve the educational process.
Massive Open Online Courses and Economic Sustainability
Authors: Liyanagunawardena Tharindu R. , Lundqvist Karsten O. , Williams Shirley A. 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Millions of users around the world have registered on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offered by hundreds of universities (and other organizations) worldwide. Creating and offering these courses costs thousands of pounds. However, at present, revenue generated by MOOCs is not sufficient to offset these costs. The sustainability of MOOCs is a pressing concern as they incur not only upfront creation costs but also maintenance costs to keep content relevant, as well as on-going facilitation support costs while a course is running and re-running. At present, charging a fee for certification seems to be a popular business model adopted by leading platform providers.
In this position paper, the authors explore possible business models for courses, along with their advantages and disadvantages, by conducting a literature study and applying personal insights gained from attending various MOOC discussion fora. Some business models discussed here are: the Freemium model, sponsorships, initiatives and grants, donations, merchandise, the sale of supplementary material, selective advertising, data-sharing, follow-on events, and revenue from referrals. This paper looks at the sustainability of MOOCS as opposed to the sustainability of MOOC platforms, while observing the tight link between them.
Diagram Rules as a Challenge in Complex Regulation
Authors: Pečarič Mirko 
Published: January 2016

AbstractStates are trying to achieve the best results in the increasingly changing conditions. A creation of sophisticated systems that would be able to display complex situations with the simple initial rules is a challenge for the present and future era. The effectiveness of a legal norm does not depend on its content, but on its form. This paper tries to give an explanation about the effects of legal norms, which emerge through their repetitions and fused with new information without sacrificing legality and regardless of the human cognitive shortcuts. With this goal the paper is based on the atypical physical and biological properties of law that offer a new perspective on the legal norms. On this basis the change of the traditional form of legal norm is presented with the diagram and/or algorithm that could, based on the computerised operations, include more statistic or natural sampling propositions.
Effect of Aggregate Gradation on the Stiffness of Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Al-Mosawe Hasan , Thom Nick , Airey Gordon , Al-Bayati Amjad 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Aggregate gradation plays an important role in the behaviour of asphalt mixtures. Packing of aggregate is a very important factor that will be affected by changing the aggregate gradation. Many researchers have investigated different ways of describing packing both theoretically and practically. Bailey ratios have recently been used to understand the volumetric properties of mixtures. In this paper, the Bailey ratios have been used, and two further ratios have also been introduced to allow the asphalt mixture gradation to be fully understood. Thirteen different aggregate gradations have been chosen within the 14 mm asphalt concrete specification to investigate the effect of particle size distribution on the stiffness of the mixture. It was found that variation in aggregate gradation has a significant effect on asphalt stiffness, even within specification limits, and a reasonable correlation between the set of ratios investigated and the Indirect Tensile Stiffness.
Variability in Pavement Design
Authors: Valle Paola Dalla , Thom Nick 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
This paper presents the results of a review on variability of key pavement design input variables (asphalt modulus and thickness, subgrade modulus) and assesses effects on pavement performance (fatigue and deformation life). Variability is described by statistical terms such as mean and standard deviation and by its probability density distribution.
The subject of reliability in pavement design has pushed many highway organisations around the world to review their design methodologies, mainly empirical, to move towards mechanistic-empirical analysis and design which provide the tools for the designer to evaluate the effect of variations in materials on pavement performance. This research has reinforced this need for understanding how the variability of design parameters affects the pavement performance.
This study has only considered flexible pavements. The sites considered for the analysis, all in the UK (including Northern Ireland), were mainly motorways or major trunk roads. Pavement survey data analysed were for Lane 1, the most heavily trafficked lane. Sections 1km long were considered wherever possible.
Statistical characterisation of the variation of layer thickness, asphalt stiffness and subgrade stiffness is addressed. A sensitivity analysis is then carried out to assess which parameter(s) have the greater influence on the pavement life.
The research shows that, combining the effect of all the parameters considered, the maximum range of 15th and 85th percentiles (as percentages of the mean) was found to be 64% to 558% for the fatigue life and 94% to 808% for the deformation life.
The Big Data Mining Approach for Finding top rated URL
Authors: Shyam Mohan J.S. , Shanmugapriya P. , Vinay Pawan Kumar Bhamidipati 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Finding out the widely used URL’s from online shopping sites for any particular category is a difficult task as there are many heterogeneous and multi-dimensional data set which depends on various factors. Traditional data mining methods are limited to homogenous data source, so they fail to sufficiently consider the characteristics of heterogeneous data. This paper presents a consistent Big Data mining search which performs analytics on text data to find the top rated URL’s. Though many heuristic search methods are available, our proposed method solves the problem of searching compared with traditional methods in data mining. The sample results are obtained in optimal time and are compared with other methods which is effective and efficient.
Design and Analysis of EDF Scheduling Algorithm for a Chosen Network Traffic Problem: Implementation and Simulation Analysis
Authors: Ighodaro Jude 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Workstations, CPU etc are in a period of transition, moving from a relatively slow network links and data oriented services to a high set fibre optic services and more diverse services. As such many of the hard and soft real time will not only demand high bandwidth but also a predictable and guarantee Quality of Service (QoS) along side, which is not offered in a best effort network (BE). The provision and terms of (QoS) to real-time applications is a key issue in promising broadband packet switched networks and network of other sorts. Applications such as voice and video typically require QoS guarantees in terms of end-to-end data transfer delays. Supporting the diverse and of course, heterogeneous delay requirements of applications with widely varying characteristics requires packet scheduling schemes more sophisticated than First-In-First-Out (FIFO) at each switch in the network(2) are one of most accepted examples of such scheduling schemes. This points to the convincing need for a QoS, which apportion a high network utilization to be realized. In this paper, we focus on the EDF scheduling scheme, since it is known to provide the optimal delay performance (2), in the deterministic environment, and can for this reason be expected to perform well in the real time setting as well. The large amount of bandwidth as promised by the future network also offer the integration of real time applications, hard or soft.
Role of Regulatory Bodies in the Banking and Energy Sectors
Authors: Jakšić Miomir 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
The article discusses the status and role of regulatory bodies and the aftermaths of their independence and accountability to the public and the parliament. The author analyses different legal statuses of regulatory bodies in Montenegro and Serbia in the central banking and energy sectors and concludes that it is necessary that national constitutions, as the highest legal acts in each state, prescribe in a separate article that “Regulatory bodies are independent and accountable to Parliament”.
Relevant separate legal acts should closely define the procedures for establishing, enforcing, and sanctioning of possible breaching of: 1) independence of regulatory bodies, 2) accountability of regulatory bodies to the parliament, and 3) transparency of their activities.
Integration of Government Bond Market in the Euro Area and Monetary Policy
Authors: Lukić Velimir 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
This paper combines analysis of evolution in euro area government bond market integration and interference of European Central Bank with functioning of respective market recently. Since the introduction of euro, government bond yields converged in the euro area, bonds of different countries have become close substitutes in the perception of investors, and overall integration of the market was rather high. At the end of 2008, dramatic shift occurred and ever since disintegrative forces were set in motion. The paper presents the following measures of integration of the government bond markets: yield spreads, dispersion in yield spreads and beta coefficient. All three measures suggest unprecedented market disintegration as of 2010. The paper highlighted relevance of sovereign bond market for the smooth functioning of the monetary policy transmission mechanism in a monetary union context. Three ECB’s programmes aimed at sovereign debt crisis resolution were analysed in details. They proved successful in lowering peripheral countries’ yields and spreads, and calming the markets. If one takes central bank function of the lender of last resort for banks, then these programmes may be viewed as the “buyer of last resort” device for government bonds. Although warranted by exceptional circumstances and need for swift response, a due caution should be paid to these programmes since they pose certain challenges for conduct of monetary policy and might even have unintended consequences.
Aggregate Demand–Inflation Adjustment Model Applied to Southeast European Economies
Authors: Apostolov Mico , Josevski Dusko 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Applying IS-MP-IA model and the Taylor rule to selected Southeast European economies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia) we find that the change of effective exchange rate positively affects output, while the change of the world interest rate negatively affects output or it does not affect the output at all, and additional world output would help to increase output of the selected economies.
A lower ratio of government consumption spending to GDP would also increase the output of the selected economies. Hence, fiscal prudence is needed, and the conventional approach of real depreciation to stimulate exports and raise real output does not apply to the selected Southeast Europe economies.
When private household consumption is employed in the model, the coefficient on government spending to nominal GDP is insignificant implying that Ricardian equivalence does hold for the selected countries.
River Floodplains as Habitat and Bio-Corridors for Distribution of Land Snails: Their Past and Present
Authors: Horáčková Jitka , Podroužková Štěpánka , Juřičková Lucie 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
River floodplains of Czech rivers serve as refugia to woodland or hydrophilous gastropods, in current intensively agriculturally utilised, urbanised and largely fragmented landscape. This habitat often form one of the last refuge and replace the natural habitat of these species. River floodplains also represent linear bio-corridors in landscape and allow gastropods to spread through the landscape in both directions, up and down the stream. We showed based on available fossil mollusc successions that development of the floodplain mollusc fauna took place quite different way in various river floodplains, depending on their specifics and geographical location, because especially the ones situated in the chernozem area of the Czech Republic had very different history in comparison with those in higher altitudes. The species richness and composition of recent floodplain malacofauna arises from historical development of particular area/site and depends also on environmental factors such as an elevation, humidity gradient, vegetation type and its biomass, light conditions of the site and soil reaction. Recently, the invasive plants represent a serious problem for current floodplain ecosystems; species richness and abundances of terrestrial mollusc floodplain assemblages are changing due to their effect. The impact on gastropods is species-specific and was described for the following species: Impatiens glandulifera, Fallopia japonica subsp. japonica, F. sachalinensis, F. ×bohemica.
Assessment of 3D-RANS models for the simulation of topographically forced shallow flows
Authors: Safarzadeh Akbar , Brevis Wernher 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
In this work the performance of Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations to predict the flow structure developed by the presence of a sidewall obstacle in a uniform open-channel shallow flow is discussed. The tested geometry was selected due to its important role in several fluvial applications, such as the control of riverbank erosion and the creation of improved ecological conditions in river restoration applications. The results are compared against experimental laboratory velocity fields obtained after Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) measurements. It is shown that the length of reattachment of the separated shear layer generated by the obstacle is well predicted by a Reynolds Stress Model, while classical two-equation models show important limitations. All the performed RANS simulations are unable to properly predict the formation of a secondary gyre region, which develops immediately downstream the obstacle.
Infiltration and water retention of biological soil crusts on reclaimed soils of former open-cast lignite mining sites in Brandenburg, north-east Germany
Authors: Gypser Stella , Veste Maik , Fischer Thomas , Lange Philipp 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Investigations were done on two former open-cast lignite mining sites under reclamation, an artificial sand dune in Welzow Süd, and a forest plantation in Schlabendorf Süd (Brandenburg, Germany). The aim was to associate the topsoil hydrological characteristics of green algae dominated as well as moss and soil lichen dominated biological soil crusts during crustal succession with their water retention and the repellency index on sandy soils under temperate climate and different reliefs.
The investigation of the repellency index showed on the one hand an increase due to the cross-linking of sand particles by green algae which resulted in clogging of pores. On the other hand, the occurrence of moss plants led to a decrease of the repellency index due to absorption caused by bryophytes. The determination of the water retention curves showed an increase of the water holding capacity, especially in conjunction with the growth of green algae layer. The pore-related van Genuchten parameter indicate a clay-like behaviour of the developed soil crusts. Because of the inhomogeneous distribution of lichens and mosses as well as the varying thickness of green algae layers, the water retention differed between the study sites and between samples of similar developmental stages. However, similar tendencies of water retention and water repellency related to the soil crust formation were observed.
Biological soil crusts should be considered after disturbances in the context of reclamation measures, because the initial development of green algae biocrusts lead to an increasing repellency index, while the occurrence of mosses and a gain in organic matter enhance the water holding capacity. Thus, the succession of biocrusts and their small-scale succession promote the development of soil and ecosystem.
Variability of snow line elevation, snow cover area and depletion in the main Slovak basins in winters 2001–2014
Authors: Krajčí Pavel , Holko Ladislav , Parajka Juraj 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Spatial and temporal variability of snow line (SL) elevation, snow cover area (SCA) and depletion (SCD) in winters 2001–2014 is investigated in ten main Slovak river basins (the Western Carpathians). Daily satellite snow cover maps from MODIS Terra (MOD10A1, V005) and Aqua (MYD10A1, V005) with resolution 500 m are used.
The results indicate three groups of basins with similar variability in the SL elevation. The first includes basins with maximum elevations above 1500 m a.s.l. (Poprad, Upper Váh, Hron, Hornád). Winter median SL is equal or close to minimum basin elevation in snow rich winters in these basins. Even in snow poor winters is SL close to the basin mean. Second group consists of mid-altitude basins with maximum elevation around 1000 m a.s.l. (Slaná, Ipeľ, Nitra, Bodrog). Median SL varies between 150 and 550 m a.s.l. in January and February, which represents approximately 40–80% snow coverage. Median SL is near the maximum basin elevation during the snow poor winters. This means that basins are in such winters snow free approximately 50% of days in January and February. The third group includes the Rudava/Myjava and Lower Váh/Danube. These basins have their maximum altitude less than 700 m a.s.l. and only a small part of these basins is covered with snow even during the snow rich winters.
The evaluation of SCA shows that snow cover typically starts in December and last to February. In the highest basins (Poprad, Upper Váh), the snow season sometimes tends to start earlier (November) and lasts to March/April. The median of SCA is, however, less than 10% in these months. The median SCA of entire winter season is above 70% in the highest basins (Poprad, Upper Váh, Hron), ranges between 30–60% in the mid-altitude basins (Hornád, Slaná, Ipeľ, Nitra, Bodrog) and is less than 1% in the Myjava/Rudava and Lower Váh/Danube basins. However, there is a considerable variability in seasonal coverage between the years. Our results indicate that there is no significant trend in mean SCA in the period 2001–2014, but periods with larger and smaller SCA exist. Winters in the period 2002–2006 have noticeably larger mean SCA than those in the period 2007–2012.
Snow depletion curves (SDC) do not have a simple evolution in most winters. The snowmelt tends to start between early February and the end of March. The snowmelt lasts between 8 and 15 days on average in lowland and high mountain basins, respectively. Interestingly, the variability in SDC between the winters is much larger than between the basins.
Mantle rock exposures at oceanic core complexes along mid-ocean ridges
Authors: Ciazela Jakub , Koepke Juergen , Dick Henry J.B. , Muszynski Andrzej 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
The mantle is the most voluminous part of the Earth. However, mantle petrologists usually have to rely on indirect geophysical methods or on material found ex situ. In this review paper, we point out the in-situ existence of oceanic core complexes (OCCs), which provide large exposures of mantle and lower crustal rocks on the seafloor on detachment fault footwalls at slow-spreading ridges. OCCs are a common structure in oceanic crust architecture of slow-spreading ridges. At least 172 OCCs have been identified so far and we can expect to discover hundreds of new OCCs as more detailed mapping takes place. Thirty-two of the thirty-nine OCCs that have been sampled to date contain peridotites. Moreover, peridotites dominate in the plutonic footwall of 77% of OCCs. Massive OCC peridotites come from the very top of the melting column beneath ocean ridges. They are typically spinel harzburgites and show 11.3–18.3% partial melting, generally representing a maximum degree of melting along a segment. Another key feature is the lower frequency of plagioclase-bearing peridotites in the mantle rocks and the lower abundance of plagioclase in the plagioclase-bearing peridotites in comparison to transform peridotites. The presence of plagioclase is usually linked to impregnation with late-stage melt. Based on the above, OCC peridotites away from segment ends and transforms can be treated as a new class of abyssal peridotites that differ from transform peridotites by a higher degree of partial melting and lower interaction with subsequent transient melt.