ConfBits: A Web Based Conference Management System

ConfBits is a Web-based Conference Management System (CMS) developed to aid effective organization and management of professional, academic and technical conferences. The web based application is an object-oriented and multi-conferences platform that is made up of four major actors which are authors, reviewers, administrators (otherwise known as Program Committee (PC) chair) and participants. Conference organizers in any Anglophone country can subscribe to the platform via the Internet to access and utilize the different features which include; abstract and full paper submissions, assignment of papers to reviewers, sending email notifications to authors and reviewers, participants management and conference program scheduling. The prototype of the platform is already deployed on the Internet and the trial Universal Resource Locator (URL) is www.cucms.com.ng. From our review of existing online CMSs, ConfBits (although still at a prototype stage) is the first of such system from a developing clime. We hope the platform will serve to bridge the hitherto wide digital divide between the developed and developing nations especially with respect to scholarly online content

Innovation Networks in the Learning Economy

This paper presents breakthroughs of the proposal for a methodology to develop innovation networks with virtual links. It considers stages of analysis, design, implementation and follow up and can be applied to both large companies and SMEs. Fragmented approaches have predominance in literature, for this reason we want to close that gap somehow, within the framework of a systemic, dynamic, organic, and transparent approach. The methodology values the already existing contributions, from which new elements have been added, specially the support of electronic networks (ICT). We consider that innovation in networks must transcend spatial frontiers, thus considering virtual links since they turn the organizations faster and more flexible, therefore facilitating a more efficient access to information and knowledge; considered the key aspects in today’s interactive innovation process. The research methodology was bibliographical, documental, and exploratory.

Pengaruh Faktor Budaya, Sosial, Pribadi, dan Psikologis terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Handphone Merek Nokia di Kota Padang

Penelitian ini menguji tentang Pengaruh Faktor Budaya, Sosial, Pribadi dan Psikologis Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Produk Handphone Merek Nokia di Kota Padang. Responden dari penelitian ini adalah konsumen yang membeli atau yang menggunakan handphone Nokia di Kecematan Padang Barat dan Kecamatan Lubuk Kilangan. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah responden atau masyarakat yang membeli atau menggunakan handphone Nokia dengan jumlah sampelnya 100 orang responden, teknik pengambilan sampel disini dengan metode Quota Sampling. Data tersebut dikumpulkan melalui kuesioner yang di berikan langsung kepada responden. Metode analisis data yang digunakan adalah analisis deskriptif dengan menggunakan regresi linier berganda, Uji t, Uji R², Uji F.Keempat variabel yaitu faktor budaya, soasial, pribadi dan psikologis yang berpengaruh secara simultan dengan hasil sebagai berikut: Untuk melakukan pengujian secara simultan tentang pengaruh variabel faktor budaya (X¹), sosial (X2), pribadi (X3), dan psikologis (X4) terhadap keputusan pembelian (Y), Maka dapat dilihat dari ringkasan hasil analisa regresi yang memperlihatkan bahwa nilai Uji F adalah sebesar 10,700dengan tingkat signifikansi 0,000. Nilai signifikansi ini berada jauh dibawah 0,05 sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa keempat variabel bebas secara simultan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap keputusan pembelian konsumen. Dengan demikian, Hipotesis kelima (H5) penelitian ini yang menyatakan variabel faktor budaya, sosial, pribadi dan psikologis secara simultan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap keputusan pembelian dinyatakan diterima

Foreign Direct Investment And Poverty Reduction

This paper provides a detailed survey of the literature on the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on poverty reduction, outlining the theoretical and empirical relationship between these variables. Although a number of studies have been done on the impact of FDI on poverty reduction, the majority of these studies have focused on the indirect impact of FDI on poverty reduction. The bulk of the literature reviewed supports the positive effects of foreign direct investment on poverty reduction, although a few studies have also found foreign direct investment to have an adverse or insignificant effect on poverty reduction. This study differs fundamentally from previous studies in that it focuses on the direct impact of FDI on poverty reduction, giving a detailed review of the nature of this relationship

Structurally Triggered Metal-Insulator Transition in Rare-Earth Nickelates

Rare-earth nickelates form an intriguing series of correlated perovskite oxides. Apart from LaNiO3, they exhibit on cooling a sharp metal-insulator electronic phase transition, a concurrent structural phase transition and a magnetic phase transition toward an unusual antiferromagnetic spin order. Appealing for various applications, full exploitation of these compounds is still hampered by the lack of global understanding of the interplay between their electronic, structural and magnetic properties. Here, we show from first-principles calculations that the metal-insulator transition of nickelates arises from the softening of an oxygen breathing distortion, structurally triggered by oxygen-octahedra rotation motions. The origin of such a rare triggered mechanism is traced back in their electronic and magnetic properties, providing a united picture. We further develop a Landau model accounting for the evolution of the metal-insulator transition in terms of the $R cations and rationalising how to tune this transition by acting on oxygen rotation motions.Comment: Submitted in Nature Communicatio

Analysis of Citation in Undergraduate Law Projects in Faculties of Law Libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria

The study sought to find out secondary sources of law undergraduate law students cite in their research projects. The study further sought to determine most frequently cited sources as well as their availability in faculty of law libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria. Five research questions guided the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study. A total of 543 projects were used for the study. Checklist and interview were the instrument for data collection. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages to answer research questions 1,2 and 3. Responses from the law librarians in research questions 4 and 5 were qualitatively analysed. The result of the analysis revealed that most of the information sources cited were not available in the four law libraries studied. Challenges facing law librarians in the provision and availability of these resources were highlighted. The study also made recommendations that will enhance the availability and utilisation of these information sources in faculty of law libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria were recommended

Analysis of Citation in Undergraduate Law Projects in Faculties of Law Libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria

The study sought to find out secondary sources of law undergraduate law students cite in their research projects. The study further sought to determine most frequently cited sources as well as their availability in faculty of law libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria. Five research questions guided the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study. A total of 543 projects were used for the study. Checklist and interview were the instrument for data collection. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages to answer research questions 1,2 and 3. Responses from the law librarians in research questions 4 and 5 were qualitatively analysed. The result of the analysis revealed that most of the information sources cited were not available in the four law libraries studied. Challenges facing law librarians in the provision and availability of these resources were highlighted. The study also made recommendations that will enhance the availability and utilisation of these information sources in faculty of law libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria were recommended

Book review: gender, war, and conflict by Laura Sjoberg

In conflicts across the world, women continue to play a large and growing role in formal and informal military structures. Laura Sjoberg‘s book questions how useful traditional gendered categories are in understanding the dynamics of war and conflict today. Mercy Ette applauds this book for its potential to inform and influence policy on war and war-making