Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Customer Churn Prediction Analysis

Several machine learning models have been proposed to address customer churn problems. In this work, the authors used a novel method by applying deep convolutional neural networks on a labeled dataset of 18,000 prepaid subscribers to classify/identify customer churn. The learning technique was based on call detail records (CDR) describing customers activity during two-month traffic from a real telecommunication provider. The authors use this method to identify new business use case by considering each subscriber as a single input image describing the churning state. Different experiments were performed to evaluate the performance of the method. The authors found that deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) outperformed other traditional machine learning algorithms (support vector machines, random forest, and gradient boosting classifier) with F1 score of 91%. Thus, the use of this approach can reduce the cost related to customer loss and fits better the churn prediction business use case

Evaluation of Autopsy and Volatility for Cybercrime Investigation: A Forensic Lucid Case Study

In this article, the authors successfully created two new plugins one for Autopsy Forensic Tool, and the other for Volatility Framework. Both plugins are useful for encoding digital evidences in Forensic Lucid which is the goal of this work. The first plugin was integrated in Autopsy to generate a report for the case of a Brute Force Authentication attack by looking for evidence in server logs based on a key search. On the other hand, the second plugin named ForensicLucidDeviceTree aims to find whether a device stack has been infected by a root-kit or not expression is implied by the previous statement. The results of both plugins are shown in Forensic Lucid Format and were successfully compiled using GIPC compiler

Connecting Enterprise Architecture and Project Portfolio Management: A Review and a Model for IT Project Alignment

Enterprise architecture (EA) and project portfolio management (PPM) are key areas when it comes to connecting enterprise strategy and information technology (IT) projects. Both management disciplines enhance business capabilities, integrate skilled resources, and govern affiliated processes and functions. A skillful comprehension of the links between these managerial areas is essential for effective IT planning. This article elaborates on the common grounds and structural attachment of EA and PPM, showing the substantiated relations between them and demonstrating their cohesiveness. From strategic planning to solution delivery, a conceptual model for IT project alignment integrates these IT management disciplines over two levels. EA ascertains the technical goals and constraints, whereas PPM determines the organizational goals and constraints. The results from both sides are combined to jointly propose, select, prioritize, and schedule IT projects. Roadmapping is a suitable approach to bring EA and PPM together

Green Information Systems Refraction for Corporate Ecological Responsibility Reflection in ICT Based Firms: Explicating Technology Organization Environment Framework

This study develops a green information system (IS) interpretive model grounded on technology organization environment (TOE) framework to identify the factors that influence Green IS refraction and further examines to what extent these factors impact Green IS refraction in information communications technology (ICT) based firms for corporate ecological responsibility reflection. For this purpose, a survey was conducted among ICT based firms and analyzed using partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicate that the technological factors significantly influence Green IS refraction. In addition, results suggest that the organizational factors positively influence Green IS refraction. Moreover, results reveal that environmental factors significantly determine the extent of Green IS refraction. Finally, results show that Green IS reflection initiatives implemented in ICT-based firms positively defines corporate ecological responsibility. Respectively, this study offers a comprehensive approach for measuring Green IS practice implemented in ICT based firms

Survey of Reading Promotion of Public Libraries in China

Reading promotion is a key service of the public library. This article investigates the current state of reading promotion in public libraries in China. There were 86 public libraries chosen as a sample. The research finds that Chinese libraries have been paying more and more attention to the importance of reading promotion. A variety of reading promotion services and programs are being carried out, including reading festivals, booklists, reading contests, reading communication and lectures on reading. Public libraries tend to apply more towards the digital platform when promoting reading. Public libraries have cooperated with NGO and business fields to promote reading. This study suggests more can be done to improve the service, including improving the librarian's knowledge of genre books, enhancing reading communication, deeply investigating measurement of reading promotion, and the influence of contracting out reading programs

Who Are More Active and Influential on Twitter?: An Investigation of the Ukraine's Conflict Episode

Twitter is an emerging form of news media with a wide spectrum of participants involving in news dissemination. Owing to their open and interactive nature, individuals, non-media, and non-commercial participants may play a greater role on this platform; thus, it is deemed to disrupt conventional media structures and introduce new ways of information flow. While this may be true in certain aspects in news dissemination such as allowing a broader range of participants, the authors' analysis of the involvement and influence of the different participant types, based on a large tweets dataset collected during the Ukraine's conflict event (2013-2014), portrays a different picture. Specifically, the results unveil that while non-commercial participants were the most “involved” in generating tweets about the news event, the retweets they attracted, a common measure of influence, were among the lowest. In contrast, mass media and sources related to journalists, professional associations and commercial organizations garnered the highest retweets

Factors to Consider When Designing Multimedia CBL Tools in Health Professional Programs

Multimedia case studies are effective constructivist instructional tools that can help to design contextually authentic scenarios while also scaffolding instruction to help students move beyond their current skill and knowledge base. Although there are many advantages of using multimedia case-based learning, there are also many challenges associated with designing technology-enhanced case studies for constructivist learning. The research described herein presents the advantages and challenges that emerged from three unique learning environments in health professional education programs. In each of these environments, a multimedia educational tool (named the multimedia case-based learning sports injury assessment educational tool) was designed to engage students in authentic sport injury case scenarios. Feedback was gathered from multiple stakeholders in each learning context and used to explore the effectiveness of this technology-enhanced pedagogical approach

Integrating Service-Learning Pedagogy Into Community College Coursework: A Phenomenological Study

Developmental students face significant academic and life challenges as they pursue a college degree. As students in developmental studies often struggle to complete their courses, research focused on innovative pedagogy that engages students while developing skills is needed. This project sought to investigate implementing an on-campus, service-learning (SL) component into developmental reading courses. Students participated in SL by reading to children at the on-campus Early Childhood Center (ECC) one time per week, during scheduled class, with time provided for structured metacognition through reflective journals. A phenomenological approach was used for this study, and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to examine responses and note trends in data. It was found that students who participated in SL as part of their developmental reading course reported multiple positive effects such as developing a positive academic mindset, improving self-efficacy, and increasing motivation to read

Digital Badge Use in Specific Learner Groups

As educational technology continues to advance, new technologies continue to enter the scene that seek to enhance the delivery and reception of learning in both academic and industry settings. Digital badges are a recent educational innovation that has unique characteristics and capabilities that can allow for individualized pathways for learning and are being implemented in a variety of settings and for multiple purposes. This article reviews the literature on digital badges and four of their core theoretical underpinnings – behaviorism, goal-setting, constructivism, and gamification theory – as well as empirical studies that highlight the contexts and specific learner groups in which digital badges are being utilized. This review contributes to both scholarly research and practical applications of digital badges and offers potential directions for future research involving digital badges

Fenômica: A Computer Vision System for High-Throughput Phenotyping

Computer vision and image processing procedures could obtain crop data frequently and precisely, such as vegetation indexes, and correlating them with other variables, like biomass and crop yield. This work presents the development of a computer vision system for high-throughput phenotyping, considering three solutions: an image capture software linked to a low-cost appliance; an image-processing program for feature extraction; and a web application for results' presentation. As a case study, we used normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data from a wheat crop experiment of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. Regression analysis showed that NDVI explains 98.9, 92.8, and 88.2% of the variability found in the biomass values for crop plots with 82, 150, and 200 kg of N ha1 fertilizer applications, respectively. As a result, NDVI generated by our system presented a strong correlation with the biomass, showing a way to specify a new yield prediction model from the beginning of the crop