3,948 research outputs found

    Socio Economic Status- and Gender-based Differences in Students’ Perceptions of E-Learning Systems

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    Many universities are pushing for an increase in on-line course offerings to offset the rising cost of providing high quality educational opportunities and to better serve their student populations. However, enrollments in online courses are not always sufficient to offset their own costs. One possible way of improving enrollments is through marketing campaigns targeted to specific demographic groups. In this study, we extend prior research on online learning by investigating how students’ perceptions of e-learning systems, prior to their enrollment in an online course, vary across socio-economic status and gender. Findings suggest that working-class students perceive e-learning systems more positively than their middle-class peers, but that little difference exists between genders. Armed with this knowledge, universities may improve online course enrollments by marketing online courses specifically to working-class students or through campaigns aimed at improving middle-class students’ perceptions of e-learning systems

    Stress-stabilized sub-isostatic fiber networks in a rope-like limit

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    The mechanics of disordered fibrous networks such as those that make up the extracellular matrix are strongly dependent on the local connectivity or coordination number. For biopolymer networks this coordination number is typically between three and four. Such networks are sub-isostatic and linearly unstable to deformation with only central force interactions, but exhibit a mechanical phase transition between floppy and rigid states under strain. Introducing weak bending interactions stabilizes these networks and suppresses the critical signatures of this transition. We show that applying external stress can also stabilize sub-isostatic networks with only tensile central force interactions, i.e., a rope-like potential. Moreover, we find that the linear shear modulus shows a power law scaling with the external normal stress, with a non-mean-field exponent. For networks with finite bending rigidity, we find that the critical stain shifts to lower values under prestress

    War Crimes Jurisdiction and Due Process: The Bangladesh Experience

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    Must any state that holds and controls prisoners either prosecute those accused of having committed serious violations of international law or extradite them to a state that will prosecute? Finally, would similar breaches of international law by India or Indian troops obviate any jurisdictional competence or duties of India or Bangladesh? The questions seemed unusual, at least in view of the past practices of international tribunals of the United States in prosecutions of its nationals. Specific criminal applications of relevant international norms had been relatively sparse.\u27 There were problems with the applicability of international norms to Bangladesh, especially during the state\u27s transition through the legally relevant stages of insurgency, belligerency, and state-to-state warfare. It would also be necessary to decide whether violations of human rights were prosecutable by the state whose nationals were the victims of substantial and intentional deprivations. Do general human rights protections apply in an armed conflict? What interrelationships exist between human rights, laws of armed conflict, and prohibitions of genocide? The Bangladesh trials would surely be significant for their precedential value, the analyses of the jurisdictional issues, and the final determinations on the competence to prosecute and to sanction. They would perhaps be as significant as Nuremberg. Equally interesting would be the application of international due process guarantees to safeguard the human rights of the accused before, during, and after the trials. No previous court had faced such issues squarely, and few national or international courts had specifically incorporated human rights into due process guarantees

    Vitamins required by pigeons

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    Publication authorized March 13, 1942.Includes bibliographical references (page 15)

    MOOC Relevance: A Key Determinant of the Success for Massive Open Online Courses

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    The MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) providers promote their courses as education that builds marketable skills. However, little research examines the role of relevance in the success of MOOCs or how this relevance influences learner behaviors. This study highlights the importance of MOOC relevance by decomposing it into personal relevance and social relevance and then examining their effects on learner satisfaction. Based on Expectation-Confirmation Model and DeLone and McLean’s information system success model, our proposed theoretical framework elaborates on the relationship among personal relevance, social relevance, perceived usefulness, subjective norms, confirmation, satisfaction, and continuance intention. We analyzed survey data collected from 343 MOOC learners, finding both personal and social relevance positively associated with confirmation and satisfaction. Confirmation positively influences perceived usefulness and satisfaction, while continuance intention is enhanced by learner satisfaction and subjective norms. However, the impact of perceived usefulness on satisfaction is not significant. This study contributes to Information Systems (IS) literature by demonstrating the role of relevance in the growth and success of MOOCs. Additionally, our findings contribute to the IS education literature by highlighting the need for more personally and socially relevant curricula if traditional IS programs are to remain competitive in an era of increasing educational opportunities

    Total reward system, job satisfaction and employee productivity on company financial performance: evidence from Indonesian generation z workers

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    Abstract Purpose The study of monetary and non-monetary rewards from the human resource management (HRM) perspective has rarely been analyzed so far. There has been extensive study on HRM, yet only a few studies explicitly discuss the correlation between the adoption of a total reward system (TRS) and employee-related outcomes. This paper aims to analyze this important issue to provide inputs for organizations to design compensation strategies that will impact on company�s financial performance with employee productivity and job satisfaction as mediating variables specifically for Generation Z. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted on 40 companies operating in the service sector in Indonesia. The authors captured the overall TRS result on three outcome variables (i.e. job satisfaction, employee productivity and financial performance). Furthermore, the authors examine the impact of TRS (base pay, training and development and positive work environment) on Generation Z workers. Structural equation modeling analysis was conducted on 40 Indonesian, service industry, listed firms with an average of 6 representatives per firm. Findings The results validate that the adoption of a TRS exerts a positive influence on the aforementioned outcomes. However, the interesting fact about the finding is that Generation Z cannot be easily satisfied with only monetary incentives; their preference has shifted from monetary concerns to self-capability. Practical implications The empirical result suggests that TRS serves as a tool in encouraging employees and boosting productivity. Accordingly, firms should incorporate TRS practices to enhance job satisfaction and productivity, as well as sustain the relationship with stakeholders. Subsequently, management should also be concerned with maintaining good employee productivity to improve a company�s financial performance by supervising and monitoring company operations, as well as ensuring the fulfillment of the stakeholder�s interests. Originality/value This paper provides original insights into the complex relationship between TRS and the aforementioned outcomes, such as job satisfaction, employee productivity and financial performanc

    Diseño de instalación de protección contra incendios en instalación portuaria

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    El objetivo de este proyecto es el de conocer los estudios que se requieren para legalizar una instalación contra incendios y cumplir con las normativas estatales. Aunque localmente encontraremos diferentes normas municipales, nos centraremos en las requeridas a nivel nacional. Se pretende tener una apreciación del trabajo que envuelve legalizar una instalación contraincendios y detectar las deficiencias que se pueden encontrar sobre este tipo de instalaciones, así como las deficiencias a nivel constructivo que impedirían la utilización de un local para pública concurrencia por incumplimiento de lo considerado. Se espera asumir los conocimientos para desarrollar los proyectos técnicos correspondientes y hacer una estimación de los costes así como de los requisitos legales
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