Connectedness in Cayley Graphs and P/NP Dichotomy for Quay Algebras

This senior thesis attempts to determine the extent to which the P/NP dichotomy of finite algebras (as proven by Bulatov, et.al in 2017) can be cast in terms of connectedness in Cayley graphs. This research is motivated by Prof. Robert McGrail\u27s work ``CSPs and Connectedness: P/NP-Complete Dichotomy for Idempotent, Right Quasigroups published in 2014 in which he demonstrates the strong correspondence between tractability and total path-connectivity in Cayley graphs for right, idempotent quasigroups. In particular, we will introduce the notion of total V-connectedness and show how it could be potentially used to phrase the dichotomy in terms of connectivity for another class of algebras, namely for Quay algebras

Public-Enterprise Collaboration: Overcoming Challenges to Scale up Social Innovation

Researchers on both fields – social innovation and cross-sector collaboration have emphasized the critical role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in promoting the social-oriented and sustainable solutions. However, despite that positive fact, literature review has shown that SMEs were understudied. In particular, there is a lack of in-depth research on the process of SMEs collaborating with other sectoral actors and on the process of SMEs innovating with social purpose. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to research under both spectrums - social innovation and cross-sector collaboration, collecting novel insights to shred light into the involvement of SMEs. The research object was to investigate in-depth the challenges attached to the collaboration for social innovation involving SMEs. This thesis presented the data from a collaborative social innovation involving three research institutions and three SMEs. The process of collecting the data was longitudinal. Researcher was able to immerse into the research setting, working as a group member for a period of time. This has allowed the researcher to conduct both individual interviews and group’s observations. The synthesis of the theoretical framework suggested that the study of the collaboration for social innovation ought to be analyzed under multiple dimensions: Initial conditions, process dimension and outcome dimension. Each dimension has various driving factors that intertwine and influence each other, both inside and outside of the dimensions. Since the thesis focused on an in-depth study of the processes, the researcher reviewed the process dimension in scrutiny with four main driving forces – mutual understanding, membership and power structure, leadership, and finally trust. These factors are concluded based on reviewed literature as well as the empirical data. The finding part was structured in accordance with the theoretical framework. The case’s insights have reinforced many theories of reviewed literature. At the same time, there were many noble insights, resulted from the characteristics of the SMEs and the conditions of this particular social innovation. These emerging insights have indicated there were four main specific challenges attached to the process of collaboration for social innovation, with SMEs’ involvement. The outcomes of this study provided a more in-depth look into the SMEs management field. Actors in the cross-sector collaboration and social innovation are suggested to utilize these empirical results to overcome their own underlying challenges. Other researchers in the future could as well apply these insights into other management cases so as to increase the relevance and create a comprehensive theoretical framework in the SME’s collaboration and innovation management field

Labor and Individual Differences: Their Influence on Product Value Perception

The current research examined the impact of self-monitoring propensity on the “IKEA Effect”, in which labor induces greater liking for the products of one\u27s labor, and as a result overvaluation of one’s creation. Whereas there was some research, such as those on toolkits or the “IKEA Effect”, which investigated valuation of self-created or self-build products, there is still little on personality traits influencing such valuations. In the experiment, students evaluated their self-assembled origami crane, cranes made by other participants, or cranes made by someone with high experience doing origami. The valuations made by the groups in different conditions are then compared. Results suggest that labor does not lead to increased valuation and interaction with self-monitoring was not significant but can be qualified as a trend. These finding can have implications for marketing manager decisions, and company employers and managers more generally. Our research discusses alternative explanations, implications, and opportunities for future research

THE EFFECTS OF TEXT-BASED INCIDENTAL VOCABULARY LEARNING ON EFL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION

This paper reports a study that examines the effects of text-based incidental vocabulary learning on EFL high school students’ reading comprehension and explores their attitudes toward text-based incidental vocabulary learning. It was a quasi-experimental study with 70 students from a high school in Kien Giang province. These students were divided into two groups: the control group and the experimental group. The quantitative data from reading tests (for pre-test and post-test) were used to examine students’ reading comprehension over eight weeks. Questionnaires and the qualitative analysis from semi-structured interviews focus on their attitudes towards text-based vocabulary learning in reading comprehension. The findings indicate that text-based incidental vocabulary learning influenced positively students’ reading comprehension after the treatment and that students yielded positive attitudes towards text-based incidental vocabulary learning in their reading lessons.  Article visualizations

Student Satisfaction Measurement with the Transport Companies Services

Diplomová práce se zabývá analýzou spokojenosti pražských vysokoškolských studentů se službami alternativních taxi společností – Bolt a Uber. Cílem práce je změřit míru spokojenosti vybraného segmentu se službami celkově i vůči jednotlivým dílčím vlastnostem. V rámci práce jsou také identifikovány faktory, které mají na spokojenost zákazníků vliv a jsou zde zkoumány vztahy mezi spokojenosti a jinými faktory jako je například pravděpodobnost doporučení. Pro účely diplomové práce bylo realizováno dotazníkové šetření kvantitativního charakteru. Šetření proběhlo metodou CAWI.The diploma thesis deals with the analysis of the satisfaction of Prague university students with the services of alternative taxi companies – Bolt and Uber. The aim of the thesis is to define the level of satisfaction of the selected segment with the services in general and with individual partial features. The work also identifies factors that affect customer satisfaction and examines the relationship between satisfaction and other factors, such as likelihood. For the purpose of the thesis, a quantitative survey was implemented. The survey was conducted using the CAWI method.116 - Katedra marketingu a obchoduvýborn

EFFECTS OF EXTENSIVE READING ON EFL LEARNERS’ WRITING PERFORMANCE

Extensive Reading (ER) is considered as a good learning technique to enhance every skill in language learning. It is considered to assist the improvement of other skills of language learners especially English as a Foreign Language (EFL) leaners. This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of ER on EFL learners’ writing performance and to identify the EFL learners’ attitude towards the effects of ER on writing performance. The study recruited a group of 59 non-English majors at a public university in Vietnam. The participants were divided into two groups, i.e., experimental group and control group. The participants in the experimental group were assigned extensive reading materials as their homework to support their learning of writing meanwhile the participants in the control group were guided to write without the support of extensive reading materials. To check the differences of the participants’ writing ability before and after the intervention, pre-test and post-test were employed. A questionnaire was also delivered to the experimental group after the treatment. The results from the tests revealed that ER supported EFL learners in their writing performance. The experimental group had more significant enhancement. The results obtained from the questionnaire also indicated that the EFL learners had positive attitudes towards the use of extensive reading materials provided in their writing learning process.   Article visualizations

FRESHMAN EFL LEARNERS’ ANXIETY IN SPEAKING CLASSES AND COPING STRATEGIES

This study aims to investigate what speaking anxiety freshman EFL learners encountered in their classes and what strategies they used to reduce their anxiety. A mixed methods approach was employed to collect the data, including a questionnaire following the quantitative method and individual semi-structured interviews following the qualitative method. The participants were 185 freshman EFL learners at several universities in the Mekong Delta. The combination of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale developed by Horwitz, Horwitz & Cope (1986) and the theories about three kinds of anxiety proposed by Ellis (1994) was adapted to measure freshman EFL learners’ kinds of speaking anxiety in classes. Additionally, the five categories of coping strategies in Kondo and Ling (2004) were adapted to measure the participants’ coping strategies for reducing their speaking anxiety. The results of the study showed that the participants encountered all three kinds of speaking anxiety including trait anxiety, specific-situation anxiety, and state anxiety in classes. Furthermore, the study also indicated five kinds of strategies utilized by the participants to reduce their anxiety in speaking class namely preparation strategies, relaxation strategies, positive thinking strategies, peer-seeking strategies, and resignation strategies. From the results, it was also indicated that preparation strategies were used more frequently than the other strategies by the participants in speaking classes.  Article visualizations

Unraveling the Mechanism of ER-Associated Mitochondrial Fission and Fusion

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo cycles of fission and fusion at a unified platform defined by endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria membrane contact sites (MCSs). These MCSs or nodes co-localize fission and fusion machinery. Although several factors have been identified that promote ERassociated mitochondrial fission and fusion, little is known about how the processes of ER MCS formation and ER-associated division and fusion are regulated. We have used a candidate approach and proximity proteomics to identify and characterize two factors that regulate ER-associated mitochondrial fission and fusion. We first have identified Miro1, a negative regulator of ER-associated mitochondrial and peroxisomal constriction and fission. Our data demonstrate that spatial association of mitochondria to MTs blocks ER-mitochondria MCSs dedicated to mitochondrial constriction and division. We also used a promiscuous biotin ligase linked to the fusion machinery, Mfn1, and proteomics to identify an ER membrane phospholipid hydrolase, ABHD16A, as a major regulator of node formation. In the absence of ABHD16A, fission and fusion machineries fail to recruit to ER-associated mitochondrial nodes and fission and fusion rates are significantly reduced. These data suggest a mechanism whereby ABHD16A functions by altering phospholipid composition at ER-mitochondria MCSs. Our data present the first example of an ER membrane protein that regulates the recruitment of both fission and fusion machineries to mitochondria.</p