Investigating the effect of gamification mechanics on customer loyalty in online stores

This study examines how gamification mechanics could be used in online retailers' loyalty programs. In other words, this article attempts to create a conceptual model for the relationship between gamification mechanics and customer loyalty elements. We used a field study to conduct our research. In order to validate the survey, 450 customers from one of the greatest online stores in Iran were questioned. The results of this survey were used to validate our 11 phrases on the relationship between gamification mechanics and customer loyalty. The results were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, path analysis, and model fitness tests in structural equations modeled in the Lisrel software. According to the research findings, the relationship between variables and the proposed conceptual model was confirmed. Based on the performed analysis, all 11 phrases were verified

Towards a comprehensive methodology for applying enterprise gamification

Gamification as a new concept uses game elements in a novel way to engage users of a non-gaming system and can be used in many domains within an enterprise, to implement the organizational processes with lower costs, higher quality or in a more efficient way. Although there are many researches on gamification but a few studies can be found in the organizational gamification and there are few research works about framework and methodology for designing and implementing organizational gamification in the literature. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive methodology for the enterprise gamification. This research is an attempt to overcome the mentioned gap via presenting a methodology by applying some important issues including organizational, humanity and gamification aspects together to design and implement customized enterprise gamification solutions through reviewing the related literature and experts’ commentaries. The evaluation of the methodology showed that it is an appropriate and perfect way to design gamification solutions in an organization, besides the enterprise needs to provide the necessary conditions for its implementation. This paper forwards an important debate on a comprehensive methodology for applying enterprise gamification, which explains how to properly use gamification in enterprises to increase productivity and better communication with employees, and thus contributes to literature on internal and enterprise gamification

Sex education dalam al-Qur'an (kajian tafsir surat an-Nur ayat 30-31)

Al-qur�an merupakan kitab suci terakhir yang diturunkan Allah swt, ia tidak hanya menyebutkan dasar-dasar dan ketentuan-ketentuan kehidupan manusia, akan tetapi lebih jauh lagi tentang hal-hal yang berhubungan dengan pendidikan. Oleh karena itu, sebagai upaya untuk memahami berbagai petunjuk dalam al-Qur�an digunakanlah penafsiran. Termasuk dalam hal ini adalah penafsiran terhadap ayatayat yang berkaitan dengan pendidikan. Lebih jauh lagi penulis mengkhususkan pada hal pendidikan anak yang terdapat dalam surat an-Nur ayat 30-31. Dalam penelitian ini penulis bertujuan untuk : 1) memaparkan pandangan para mufassir pada surat an- Nur ayat 30-31. 2) mengetahui nilai-nilai pendidikan anak yang terdapat dalam Q.S. an-Nur ayat 30-31 tersebut, 3) hikmah dari nilai-nilai pendidikan anak yang terdapat dalam Q.S. an-Nur ayat 30-31. Adapun metode yang digunakan penulis dalam penulisan skripsi ini adalah analisis deskriptif, yaitu dengan pengumpulan data secara sistematis, konsisten dan dianalisis, diseleksi serta dinarasikan untuk diambil suatu kesimpulan. Data-data kepustakaan berupa ayat-ayat al-Qur�an yang akan penulis tafsirkan menggunakan metode tahlili , yaitu sebuah metode tafsir yang digunakan oleh para mufassir dalam menjelaskan kandungan ayat al-Qur�an dari berbagai seginya, dengan memperhatikan urutan ayat-ayat al-Qur�an sebagaimana yang tercantum dalam mushaf. Dimulai dengan menyebutkan ayat-ayat yang akan ditafsirkan, menjelaskan makna lafaz yang terdapat di dalamnya dan menjelaskan isi kandungan ayat-ayat tersebut. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian ini, para mufassir sepakat menjadikan surat an-Nur ayat 30-31 ini menjadi dalil yang mengharuskan seorang mukmin dan mukminat untuk menahan pandangannya dan menjaga kehormatannya supaya tidak terjerumus ke dalam perkara-perkara yang dilarang Allah Swt. Dan juga terdapatnya nilai-nilai pendidikan berupa nilai pendidikan akhlak dan nilai pendidikan seks. Pendidikan akhlak yang bertujuan untuk memberikan pengajaran agama agar sang anak didik memiliki budi pekerti yang baik dan agar senantiasa melakukan halhal yang baik sesuai dengan ajaran agama Islam, salah satu bentuk pendidikan akhlak yang penulis kemukakan juga yakni menutup aurat, karena dengan menutup aurat manusia dapat terpelihara dan terjaga dari sesuatu yang merugikan dan dapat meredam syahwat serta mengangkat derajat bagi diri seseorang. Dan nilai pendidikan berikutnya yakni pendidikan seks, ini dimaksudkan agar anak terhindar dari bahaya seks yang tidak diinginkan, dan agar dapat menghasilkan pribadi-pribadi yang dapat menjalankan kehidupan dengan bahagia karena dapat menyesuaikan diri dengan masyarakat beserta lingkungannya dan bertanggung jawab terhadap dirinya dan terhadap orang lain. Diantara hikmah-hikmah dari menutup aurat yakni dapat menyelamatkan kehidupan bermasyarakat bagi diri sendiri dan orang lain Sedangkan hikmah dari memberikan pendidikan seks pada anak yakni dapat :1)Mencegah penyimpangan-penyimpangan seksual dan kelainan-kelainan seksual pada anak khususnya remaja.2)Memperkuat akhlak dan moral pada diri anak.3)Menghindarkan gangguan-gangguan psikis pada anak. 4)Membawa kemaslahatan di dunia maupun di akhirat

Spatial Analysis of Extreme Temperature Indices under Climate Change Based on CORDEX Data and a Developed Bias Correction Method in Iran

In this research, the trend of spatial changes in extreme indices of temperature related to the health and agriculture sectors such as the number of frost days, number of summer days, number of icing days, number of tropical nights, growing season length, diurnal temperature range, cold spell duration index, and warm spell duration index were investigated for 54 synoptic stations throughout Iran for observational (1976-2005) and future (2025-2054) periods. Daily maximum and minimum temperature data of three regional climate models namely, CCSM4, MPI-ESM-MR, and NORESM1-ME from the CORDEX project under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios were downscaled for each station using a developed multiscale bias correction method. Then, trends and changes of extreme temperature indices were investigated using Mann-Kendall and Sen’s trend line slope methods. The results indicated that the warm indices such as the number of summer days and tropical nights indices have had a positive trend at most stations in both observational and future periods. In contrast, cold indices like the number of frost days have had a decreasing trend in most stations. The results of cold and warm spell duration indices showed that most stations have had no trend for both periods. The growing season length has increased in more than 60% of stations (45% having a significant trend) mainly located in the northern, northwestern, and western regions of the country. Based on the results, it can be concluded that without considering thoughtful climate adaptation measures, some parts of the country may face health risks and limited habitability and agriculture in the future

Energy recovery during liquefied natural gas regasification

Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Turkey, 19-21 July, 2010.In the liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification process, the cold exergy can be recovered as electric power. For this purpose, in the present study, a simple open Brayton cycle was considered as a base cycle and its efficiency was improved by adding different equipment step by step. This procedure resulted in the investigation of four different cycles. The comparison of the results led to the proposal of a combined cycle that could recover the LNG cold energy most efficiently. This cycle consists of three parts; an LNG directly expanding cycle, a middle-pressure close Brayton cycle with nitrogen as working fluid, and finally an open gas turbine power cycle. All the cycles were analyzed based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Finally, the effects of different parameters upon the thermal and exergetic efficiencies were examined.ej201

Culicinae (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes in Chabahar County, Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Southeastern Iran

  Abstract Background: Mosquito-borne diseases are a major public health threat in Iran. The objective of this study was to de­ter­mine the fauna of culicinae mosquitoes for future mosquito control programs."nMethods: Three genera and eleven species of the subfamily Culicinae (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected by dipping tech­nique and identified in Chabahar County, Sistan and Baluchistan Province, southeastern Iran, during January, Feb­ru­ary, and March 2007."nResults: The collected species included:  Aedes vexans (new occurrence record for the province), Culex  arbieeni, Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, Cx. deserticola, Cx. hortensis, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. pipiens, Cx.  pseudovishnui, Cx. pusillus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. sinaiticus, Cx. theileri, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Culiseta longiareolata, Ochlerotatus cabal­lus, Oc. caspius, and Uranotaenia unguiculata."nConclusion: Our observations indicate that, in South of Iran hot and wet climatic conditions support the persistence of culicinae mosquitoes. As our study, regular monitoring of culicinae mosquitoes in this area could be the most use­ful for mosquito control and mosquito-borne disease prevention