scholarly journals Who Wants to Learn English Online for free?

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 53-65
Author(s):  
Rubén Chacón-Beltrán ◽  
Raymond Echitchi
Keyword(s):  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Good Starting Point ◽  
And Gender ◽  
University Degree ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

This study of demographics is aimed to help LMOOC designers develop courses that are more appealing to prospective learners, and thus fight low completion rate which remains one of the main drawbacks of MOOCs. In addition, as the world battles against the COVID-19 pandemic looking for alternative learning approaches is unavoidable. The data presented in this paper were collected between 2016 and 2020 by means of a questionnaire that over 29,000 participants completed upon registration. The questionnaire, which included three multiple-choice questions aimed at obtaining responses regarding age, level of education and gender, revealed that most learners were middle-aged adults who held a university degree. In addition, our findings seemed to indicate that female learners are more likely to take the courses than their male counterparts. The aforementioned findings, which provide an insight into the demographics of EFL MOOCs in Spanish-speaking contexts, is a good starting point for further research which could ultimately help educational authorities know the impact of EFL MOOCs and enable the latter to reach a wider audience.

scholarly journals Branding post-communist Romania and its effects on country image

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 504-512
Author(s):  
Anca-Georgiana Andrei
Keyword(s):  
Nation Branding ◽  
Country Image ◽  
National Image ◽  
Competitive Edge ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Weak Points ◽  
National Reputation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract In recent years, more precisely from 1989 on, which was considered by a lot of experts the beginning of the second stage of globalization, nation branding campaigns have started to be launched in more and more countries in order to help developing nations image and reputation and to provide a competitive edge on economic, social and even political areas. Simon Anholt and Wally Olins are the two authors who studied the most nation branding phenomenon and came up with theories which were applied often by professionals when elaborating nation branding campaigns for different states. Nadia Kaneva, Keith Dinnie, Melissa Aronczyk, Luminita Nicolescu and Alina Dolea have also focused their researches on this theme and manage to contribute with new and interesting ideas to the field. This paper provides insight into the most important nation branding campaigns made by Romania starting from 1989 until present. Through a comparative analysis of those campaigns the paper tries to identify which was their impact on Romania’s image or reputation. How was Romania perceived (from the image perspective) before 1989 at international level? Did the image change after 1989? And what was the impact of the most important branding nation campaigns implemented after 1989 in the image of Romania and implicit in economy? These are the main questions this paper tries to answer. At the same time, the study also explores briefly the concept of globalization, nation branding, national image and national reputation. The conclusions of the paper will provide in the end a general background of all studied nation branding campaigns which will include the similarities and differences between them, but also both strong and weak points. Its aim is to contribute, among other existing papers, as a starting point for researchers or professionals who want to elaborate nation branding strategies for Romania or other countries.

scholarly journals Preparation of Innovative Skin Compatible Films to Release Polysaccharides for Biobased Beauty Masks

Cosmetics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria-Beatrice Coltelli ◽  
Serena Danti ◽  
Luisa Trombi ◽  
Pierfrancesco Morganti ◽  
Giovanna Donnarumma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Human Keratinocytes ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Biobased Materials ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Good Starting Point ◽  
Skin Compatibility ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fast Release

The preparation and selection of biobased materials compatible with skin is essential for producing innovative and highly eco-friendly beauty masks. The use of a commercial elastomeric poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and starch was fundamental to select materials for bioplastic films with the necessary resistance in wet conditions, skin compatibility and capacity for a fast release of polysaccharides and similar active and functional molecules. Micrometric calcium carbonate was also used to control the stickiness of film during moulding. Starch release in water was investigated by gravimetric and infrared analyses. The compatibility with skin was investigated via two different in vitro tests based on human keratinocytes and human mesenchymal stromal cells. The materials were highly cytocompatible with skin, enabled immune modulation by keratinocytes and starch release in water up to 49% by weight in 30 min. These outcomes are a good starting point for boosting the production of biobased and biodegradable beauty masks, thus decreasing the impact onto environment of cosmetic products that are currently still mainly produced using petrol-based substrates.

scholarly journals Artificial moral agents: an intercultural perspective

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Michael Nagenborg
Keyword(s):  
Poor Countries ◽  
Moral Agents ◽  
Artificial Moral Agents ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Good Starting Point ◽  
Cultural Dialogue ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

In this paper I will argue that artificial moral agents (AMAs) are a fitting subject of intercultural information ethics because of the impact they may have on the relationship between information rich and information poor countries. I will give a limiting definition of AMAs first, and discuss two different types of AMAs with different implications from an intercultural perspective. While AMAs following preset rules might raise con-cerns about digital imperialism, AMAs being able to adjust to their user‘s behavior will lead us to the question what makes an AMA ?moral?? I will argue that this question does present a good starting point for an inter-cultural dialogue which might be helpful to overcome the notion of Africa as a mere victim.

scholarly journals How Do Marital Status And Gender Affect The PRR To A University Degree In Australia?

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Sarah Wright
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Rate Of Return ◽  
Income Data ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Cost ◽  
University Degree ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Private Rate ◽  
Housing Survey

While Australian evidence suggests that the Private Rate of Return (PRR) to a university degree in Australia has gradually declined with increases in the cost of higher education, these studies have only measured the PRR for the average male and average female. This paper uses income data from the ABS Income and Housing Survey (2003-04) CURF to measure the impact of the 2005 increase in HECS fees on the PRR based on gender and marital status. This paper shows that the return to a university degree is largely affected by both gender and marital status and studies that measure the PRR to a university degree for single males and single females with no dependent children underestimate the PRR for most male graduates and overestimate the PRR of female graduates.

Perception of Corporate Social Responsibility by the Employees

2015 ◽  
pp. 51-72
Author(s):  
Zlatko Nedelko ◽  
Vojko Potocan
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
The State ◽  
Economic Outcomes ◽  
Empirical Survey ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

The main purpose of this chapter is to examine the relationships between three underlying aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), namely economic, environmental, and societal aspects, and the level of CSR, as perceived by the employees. The strength and direction of the impact of a single underlying aspect of CSR, on the level of CSR in organizations, is examined through a sample of 288 employees in Slovenian organizations. Results from the empirical survey suggest that employees' higher concern for environmental and social issues increases the level of organizational CSR, while higher striving for solely economic outcomes lowers the level of organizational CSR. Findings in this chapter provide insight into the state of CSR in organizations as perceived by the employees, providing an important starting point for definition or re-thinking of strategies in relation to CSR, and as a starting point for other actions as well, like changes in academia.

Burying the Dead: Predicting the Purchase Intentions for Funeral Products Using the Theory of Reasoned Action

2021 ◽  
pp. 097215092098491
Author(s):  
Tshegofatso Alice Monkge ◽  
Rina Makgosa
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Reasoned Action ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Good Starting Point ◽  
Burial Rituals ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

The study departs from the norm by investigating how attitudes and subjective norms conceptualized through the aggregated and disaggregated approaches predict intentions to purchase funeral products, as well as how the effects differ between groups based on past purchase behaviour. A structured questionnaire was self-administered to a purposeful sample of 500 Christians in Gaborone, Botswana, of which 457 (i.e., 91%) were useful responses. The findings of the aggregated approach show that both attitudes and subjective norms significantly and positively affect purchase intentions of funeral products. The effects are more evident for those who have purchased funeral products before, while the purchase intentions of those who have not purchased funeral products are influenced by subjective norms only. However, the findings based on the disaggregated approach reflect that motivation to comply is the most dominant, significant and positive predictor of intentions to purchase funeral products. Further results indicate that the intentions of those who have purchased funeral products before were significantly and positively influenced by evaluations, normative beliefs and motivation to comply, while the intentions of non-purchasers were only influenced significantly and positively by their motivation to comply. Thus, motivation to comply serves as a significant and positive predictor of intentions regardless of past purchase behaviour. The results imply that various components of attitudes and subjective norms affect intentions differently, and variations do exist in the effects according to the groups’ past purchase behaviour. This study adopts a consumer behaviour perspective in offering insight into Christian burial rituals. By applying the Theory of Reasoned Action, the link between intentions and its predictors is investigated, which extends the literature about the purchase of funeral products beyond the study of spending behaviour. Its concentration on Christians in Botswana also provides a good starting point for highlighting the role of religiosity on the purchase of funeral products, while embracing an understudied society.

Coupled Dynamic and Static Analysis of Typhoon TLP Accident During Extreme Environmental Conditions

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Joelsas Timerman ◽  
Marcio Araujo de Campos ◽  
Kazuo Nishimoto ◽  
Oscar Augusto Brito
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
The Other ◽  
Loss Of Stability ◽  
Failure Investigation ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Hurricane Season ◽  
Good Starting Point ◽  
Offshore Industry ◽  
Recent Project ◽  
The Impact

An important path to reviewing technology is through failure investigation, which enables understanding of appropriate levels of safety and assurance of design criteria. In the occurrence of extreme environmental conditions in which most units respond well or at least satisfactorily, the assessment of exception cases can be taken as a good starting point for the failure investigation mentioned above. Hence, especially on account of hurricanes Rita and Katrina, the 2005 hurricane season, which had a notable impact on offshore industry at Gulf of Mexico region, can be taken as a promising scenario to assess the losses and bring out cases to be more carefully appraised. It is the case of the TLP Typhoon found upside down after the passage of Rita. Being the only unit located at a significant water depth which followed recent project standards, the case naturally came to the fore. This paper addresses an investigative analysis held out in order to establish and analyze the possible causes that resulted on the capsizing of the referred unit. The investigation focuses on two major paths which were selected as being the most probable and also had feasibility to be carried out — one that analyzes a possible lack of displacement due to the passage of a hurricane wave and the consequent loss of stability of the TLP and the other, concentrated on a dynamic analysis of the unit under the impact of the hurricane metocean conditions. This second analysis focuses on obtaining the tension on the tethers stating if either they suffered excessive loads causing them to break or lack of it, causing compression and possible buckling.

Mechanical Modeling and Characterization of the Curing Process of Underfill Materials

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Ernst ◽  
C. van ’t Hof ◽  
D. G. Yang ◽  
M. S. Kiasat ◽  
G. Q. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Stress And Strain ◽  
Electronic Packages ◽  
Curing Process ◽  
Strain Fields ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Polymer Curing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

Thermo-setting polymers are widely used as underfill materials to improve the reliability of electronic packages. In the design phase, the influence of underfill applications on reliability is often judged through thermal and mechanical simulations, under assumed operating conditions. Because of lacking insight into the mechanical processes due to polymer curing, the impact of processing induced residual stress fields is often neglected. To investigate the evolution of stress and strain fields during the curing process it is important to assume a more appropriate starting point for subsequent process modeling. Furthermore, study of possible damage originating from the fabrication process then comes within reach. To facilitate future analysis of stress and strain fields during the curing process a cure dependent constitutive relation is assumed. An approximate investigation method for the process-dependent mechanical properties, based on Dynamic Mechanic Analysis (DMA), is developed. As an illustration the parameter identification is performed for a selected epoxy resin.

Perception of Corporate Social Responsibility by the Employees

2019 ◽  
pp. 1442-1465
Author(s):  
Zlatko Nedelko ◽  
Vojko Potocan
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
The State ◽  
Economic Outcomes ◽  
Empirical Survey ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

The main purpose of this chapter is to examine the relationships between three underlying aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), namely economic, environmental, and societal aspects, and the level of CSR, as perceived by the employees. The strength and direction of the impact of a single underlying aspect of CSR, on the level of CSR in organizations, is examined through a sample of 288 employees in Slovenian organizations. Results from the empirical survey suggest that employees' higher concern for environmental and social issues increases the level of organizational CSR, while higher striving for solely economic outcomes lowers the level of organizational CSR. Findings in this chapter provide insight into the state of CSR in organizations as perceived by the employees, providing an important starting point for definition or re-thinking of strategies in relation to CSR, and as a starting point for other actions as well, like changes in academia.

Learning and Explaining the Impact of Enterprises’ Organizational Quality on their Economic Results

2012 ◽  
pp. 228-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Pregeljc ◽  
Erik Štrumbelj ◽  
Miran Mihelcic ◽  
Igor Kononenko
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Economic Interpretation ◽  
Organizational Quality ◽  
Social Units ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
General Explanation

The authors employed traditional and novel machine learning to improve insight into the connections between the quality of an organization of enterprises as a type of formal social units and the results of enterprises’ performance in this chapter. The analyzed data set contains 72 Slovenian enterprises’ economic results across four years and indicators of their organizational quality. The authors hypothesize that a causal relationship exists between the latter and the former. In the first part of a two-part process, they use several classification algorithms to study these relationships and to evaluate how accurately they predict the target economic results. However, the most successful models were often very complex and difficult to interpret, especially for non-technical users. Therefore, in the second part, the authors take advantage of a novel general explanation method that can be used to explain the influence of individual features on the model’s prediction. Results show that traditional machine-learning approaches are successful at modeling the dependency relationship. Furthermore, the explanation of the influence of the input features on the predicted economic results provides insights that have a meaningful economic interpretation.

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