Increase product sales of electronic companies by using IT applications in creating an effective e-marketing plan in social virtual worlds

The objective of this research is to determine the effect of using IT applications for e-marketing in social virtual worlds on real products sales by focusing on electronic companies. The findings of this research suggests that marketers have to use specialized IT applications for e-marketing in social virtual worlds, which can improve the interaction with virtual products, and this can lead to an increase in the real product sales

Classifying Real Money Trading In Virtual World

Virtual world activities related to the buying and selling of virtual currency, virtual items, and services with real world money are referred as Real Money Trading (RMT). Although there is a great deal of evidence for the growth of RMT in virtual world, there is also evidence to suggest that many companies are struggling to become involved with RMT. A framework for classifying RMT in virtual world is essential for devising successful virtual business strategies. A key component in the process of formulating the optimal competitive strategy is to understand the unique characteristics of RMT and the implications behind those characteristics. This study aims to propose a classification of RMT based upon the characteristics of products and services, the transaction and marketplace, as well as the currency and exchange systems

Opportunities and Challenges for Real Money Trading in Virtual World

The consumption of virtual goods in social virtual world is a multibillion-dollar industry. People are willing to pay real money for manydifferent virtual goods and services, including virtual homes and virtual land. With the rapid growth of Real Money Trading (RMT) in social virtual world, it is important to understand the opportunities and challenges facedby both the consumersand the sellers within theRMT virtual world economy.By presenting some selected key events of RMT of two different types ofvirtual world environment, we highlight the opportunities and challenges emerging from RMT

Real Money Trading in Virtual Worlds

Significant real money is traded into and out of virtual world currencies. Virtual world participating users buy and sell virtual products, virtual goods, virtual properties, virtual services, and other virtual items of interest. As gamers, some trade real money to: buy assets including characters, currencies and other auctioned items. Others buy at virtual auctions, purchase virtual currencies, purchase virtual land, build virtual properties and use virtual facilities. The Theory of Planned Behavior maps a structural equation modelling approach for real money trading (RMT) - suggesting RMT can be behaviorally promoted to participant users in virtual worlds

Toward a Better Understanding of The Virtual Economy Platforms

Understanding the virtual world (VW) platforms, the virtual currency (v-currency) exchange rate, and the marketplace is critical to the success of the virtual economy (v-economy). However, the current knowledge on VW platforms, marketplace, and currency exchange rate is incomplete. Drawing on the v-economy dimensions, this study proposes a diagram that produces a suitable integration of dimensions, which provides high chances of improving the v-economy activities in the VW. The finding indicates that there are three dimensions that could integrate together to improve a v-economy platform, and these are a dynamic platform, a free currency exchange rate, and a free marketplace

Virtual World Platforms End-User Motives

This study enlists four motive constructs (achievement, control, escapism, and friendship) to show significant differences exist across when applied to different VWs platforms, and shows VW platform studies need to be investigated in isolation, and not in combination. The four motive constructs differ, and in structural equation modelling they can be treated as a combined suite of input motives, and against one VW platform at a time. Such studies offer developers (and relational marketers) direction when formulating and building their VW platform’s sustainable positioning modelling outcome directions

Using Studio-Based Learning for Enhancing EFL Preservice Teachers’ Pedagogical Knowledge and Investigating the Effect on their Pedagogical Content Knowledge

This research utilized a studio-based learning classroom to enhance students/teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and investigated the effect of this treatment on their pedagogical content knowledge. Participants of the research were pre-tested and divided into an experimental group (n=38) and a control group (n=38). The research employed a pre/post pedagogical knowledge test and an analytic pedagogical content knowledge rubric. The experiment lasted for 2 months during which the experimental group members were trained in a collaborative studio classroom on classroom management and lesson planning. Traditional lectures on the same topics were delivered to the control group. Upon the completion of the experiment, the participants were post-tested. When statistical analysis was done, it was found that a significant difference existed between the mean scores of the experimental and control groups on the post- administration of both the test and the rubric. Moreover, the proposed studio-based learning classroom was found to be of a large effect size on enhancing the pedagogical knowledge of the targeted topics of the experimental group. So, it was concluded that it had a greater effect size in enhancing the targeted pedagogical knowledge topics for the experimental group than the traditional lecturing for the control group. It seemed also that a positive correlation existed between enhancing students/teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and developing their pedagogical content knowledge. So, the research recommended that: (1) As students’ pedagogical knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge are not less important than their content knowledge, they should be given more attention in Egyptian EFL faculties of education. (2) Developing EFL prospective teachers' pedagogical knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge via studio-based learning is worthwhile and requires more investigation. Keywords: Pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, studio-based learning, EFL students/teachers’ preparation

Utilization of Marble Dust for Improving The Geotechnic Characteristics Of Collapsible Soil

An environment friendly and cost effective factor of collapsible soil stabilization with the help of industrial waste has been widely adopted in this research. Buildings which are constructed on collapsible soils are subjected to large deformations and shear failure. Collapsible soil can be broadly categorized as those soils susceptible to a large reduction in volume upon wetting. The mechanism usually involved in rapid volume reduction entails breaking of bonds at coarse particle contacts by weakening of fine grained materials brought there by surface tension in evaporating water. This research presents the effects of using marble dust on the geotechnical properties of Collapsible soil as a new stabilizing technique. A series of experimental tests are carried for samples of collapsing soil with and without stabilization using marble dust for dry and soaked conditions. The collapsible soil was mixed with marble dust at different contents of (0, 10, 20, 30%,40% and 50%). The results indicated that, The optimum water content decreases by 20.67% at marble content of 50%, liquid limit decreses by35.41% at marble content of 50% and frictional angle for soaked soil decreases by 66.09% at marble content of 50% while un soaked soil decreases by54.68% at marble content of 50%. The maximum dry density increases 5.91% at marble content of 50% and cohesion for soaked increases 314.2% at marble content of 50% while un soaked soil increases 206.7% at marble content of 50%. It has been found that the adopted marble has a good effect in controlling the collapsing potential which is reduced by as much as 64.32% at marble content of 30%

Swelling Soil Stabilized with Sand

This paper presents the study of swelling soil and its recurrent volume changes with the variation of moisture content. This soil has a unique shrink-swell behavior which changes along with variation in soil water content reducing the strength that can damage a structure. Controlling the swelling potential of soil is one of the important criteria to the civil engineers. Several attempts are being made all over the world to improve the swell-shrink phenomenon of swelling soil. The present paper attempts to study the improvement of the swelling soil with EPS geofoam layer and with sand as a layer and as soil-sand mixture. Various tests have been performed such as sieve analysis, standard proctor test, Atterberg limits, one- dimensional oedometer, and free swell index. in the laboratory on both natural and treated soil. These tests were performed at the geotechnical engineering research laboratory, Tanta University. From the obtained results of the experimental testing program, it is observed that the engineering properties of the swelling soil are improved effectively and the swelling pressure is substantially reduced, as the percent of sand increased. From the obtained results, it was found that adding sand could considerably decrease the swelling pressure of the tested soil from 520 kN/m2 to nearly 320 kN/m2