Prompt K_short production in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=0.9 TeV

The production of K_short mesons in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 0.9 TeV is studied with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The luminosity of the analysed sample is determined using a novel technique, involving measurements of the beam currents, sizes and positions, and is found to be 6.8 +/- 1.0 microbarn^-1. The differential prompt K_short production cross-section is measured as a function of the K_short transverse momentum and rapidity in the region 0 < pT < 1.6 GeV/c and 2.5 < y < 4.0. The data are found to be in reasonable agreement with previous measurements and generator expectations.Comment: 6+18 pages, 6 figures, updated author lis

Using Social Media to Improve Student-Instructor Communication in an Onlinef Learning Environment

The lack of effective faculty-student interaction has been identified as a main contributor to the high dropout rate in online education. For this paper, the authors conducted an empirical study using a social networking tool, specifically Facebook, to improve student-instructor communication and student performance in an online learning environment. They recruited three sections of an introductory IT course at a public university and divided them into two groups: (1) a treatment group where Facebook was used as an additional communication tool and (2) a control group where the course setting wasn\u27t changed. The authors surveyed the participants\u27 opinions on the use of Facebook in the treatment group, and collected participants\u27 academic performance data for both the treatment and control groups. Their research findings show that the use of Facebook as a supplemental communication method can help an instructor better reach out to students, reduce a course\u27s failure rate, and improve student course performance

Marketing Innovation in Tourism

Tourism businesses have become virtual organisations linked to information technology available for innovation in marketing as well as using other platforms in the social media environment such as Facebook, Instagram, etc. This use of social media is creating innovation, as the tourists are becoming co-designers, co-producers, co-marketers, and co-consumers of tourism experiences. The branding strategies methods, tools, and process are changing since the adoption of digital technology in marketing and branding. The organisations are able to reach their tourism appeal through multisensory information that touches the five senses in a more effective way. The use of liquid branding and audio branding to introduce, enhance, and develop various audio and visual elements of the brand is a new trend in branding. Therefore, as brick and mortar or virtual organisations, the destination marketing organisation should innovate their marketing efforts and should respond to change within a dynamic business environment