E-COMMERCE WITHIN LEBANESE BANKS SUSTAINABILITYCONCERNS; ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS

Electronic commerce is conducting and executing any trade, business or service through the electronic channels and the Internet website. By analyzing the advantages and limitations of e-commerce we identify the positive contribution to the traditional commercial practice and its Limitations. We also list the effects of ecommerce on the banks in Lebanon within the context of sustainability concern. We summarize the positive additions to the financial services provided and the negative aspects that are facing the banks in the financial economy and its own characteristics. The ease of conducting e-commerce transactions still carries with it many deficiencies intrinsic to the digitized world rendering it unsecure and in need a lot of innovation, development and securitization. Some of the banks in Lebanon have felt the pressure for sustainability and innovative development of its systems and service partnership to overcome the prevailing worries of the digital world and to have the upper hand in the developing e-commerce economy. In this research we adopt the desktop methodology and research the critical issues that dominate the e-commerce industry and its effect on the Lebanese Bank through the sustainability concerns and the service they provide for customers and institutions. Knowing that there is limited information specific to e-commerce published by the banks and organizations in Lebanon, we shall analyze a couple of bank’s unique efforts in maintaining its market presence efforts

RISING LEVELS OF CONSUMPTION’S INFLUENCE ON THEENVIRONMENT IN THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR

This paper examines the influence of the increasing levels of consumption on the environment which increased pollution, specifically in the real estate sector in Lebanon. Demographic changes in population, immigration, and the middle class followed by competition and the increase of production are reasons for the increase in consumption levels. Based on a literature analysis, we first introduce the influence of consumption on the real estate sector globally and how the result of this increasing demand in the real estate sector has created challenges to supply the market with building material. In the literature review we also illustrate the effect of the rising consumption level on the environment. A desktop research methodology and a question and answer interview with a developer’s personal experience background will be used. A case study on the Lebanese market will be illustrated, on issues of pollution, and climate change due to the increasing demand on construction which have created new challenges with supplying building material and maintaining a sustainable environment

Detection of complex gangliosides in human amniotic fluid

AbstractGangliosides are possibly very potent immunosuppressive molecules. Here we show that human amniotic fluid contains high concentrations of a number of previously unnoted, structurally complex and highly polar gangliosides. These unusual molecules are present early in pregnancy (first trimester), increase in concentration with gestational age, and reach maximum levels (0.8 μM) at term. Since similar gangliosides have been detected in human placenta, trophoblast, and amnion, we suggest that these molecules are shed into the amniotic fluid bathing these tissues

Engineering Students’ Perception of Academic Dishonesty at an American University in the Middle East

This study surveys engineering students’ perception of academic integrity at a private American university in the Middle East. The survey included questions on plagiarism, inappropriate collaboration, cheating on exams, copyright violations, and complicity in academic dishonesty. The study showed that more than one-third of the students were not aware that the university has a student academic integrity code. The gender appears to affect the students’ perception of academic dishonesty, as the female students perceived more frequent cheating than males. Also, about 10% of the female students, compared to about 30% of the male students, see no relationship between morality and academic integrity. The main reason why students cheat was because they had little time to do the work without seeking unauthorized help and because they perceive cheating as a form of collaborative work. Students believed that one of the most effective ways in reducing incidences of academic dishonesty is using more proctors during exams

Collaboration Versus Cheating

We outline how we detected programming plagiarism in an introductory online course for a master's of science in computer science program, how we achieved a statistically significant reduction in programming plagiarism by combining a clear explanation of university and class policy on academic honesty reinforced with a short but formal assessment, and how we evaluated plagiarism rates before SIGand after implementing our policy and assessment.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, 5 tables, SIGCSE 201

Faculty perception of engineering student cheating and effective measures to curb it

© 2019 IEEE. Engineering faculty were surveyed on issues related to academic dishonesty by students affiliated with their college at an American university located in the United Arab Emirates. The survey addressed perceived frequency of plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, cheating, copyright violations and complicity in academic integrity. As expected, the majority of the faculty think that dishonesty is more common in-of-class work compared to proctored exams. They think that applying tougher penalties and using more proctors are the most effective methods in decreasing academic dishonesty. The authors believe that it would be helpful if faculty members follow the university\u27s policy on cheating rather than make up their own rules in order to have consistent approach in dealing with academic dishonesty violations across the whole university. Ideally, the best way to combat dishonest acts at an institution is by educating students through seminars and workshops about the virtues of academic integrity and the benefits it brings to society. But until our campuses become free of dishonest behavior by students, some practical measures should be undertaken by the faculty to safeguard the institution against unethical behavior by students. For example, faculty members are recommended to either make their own assignments or modify the end-of-chapter problems from textbooks because students may have access to solution manuals. They are encouraged to give different homework problems and projects from one semester to another since students may have access to graded past work. While test banks provided to faculty by publishers may be used as a guide when creating exams, problems from such sources should not be put verbatim on exams by faculty because they are often available for purchase by students on the internet. Furthermore, the weight of-of-class assignments relative to the total course grade should be a small fraction of the total weight to discourage students from cheating on homework. Wireless signal jamming devices can combat some acts of e-cheating that utilizes the internet by disrupting communication between a smart phone and the cell-phone base station

Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon: Phase Three Field Survey Findings Report

The project aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency of humanitarian aid and reconstructions efforts, particularly for those most affected by the Beirut port explosion. It will do so by better equipping local civil society and journalist networks in their roles as watchdogs, by supporting state actors to improve government reforms and manage crisis in transparency, and by equipping citizens to monitor and report corruption, particularly in areas of Beirut most affected by the explosion. Several recent reports and documentaries have questioned the transparency and accountability of international assistance related to the Port of Beirut (PoB) explosion. There are claims that millions of dollars have been misused or wasted to corruption. “Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon (EARREL)” intends to fill this information gap. EARREL is led by the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) and funded by Transparency International. This report builds on an exhaustive literature review conducted by the team as well as a data collection exercise that included (1) field surveys of 900 aid beneficiaries in the PoB area, and (2) Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with 50 experts in the field

Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon: Synthesis Report

The project aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency of humanitarian aid and reconstructions efforts, particularly for those most affected by the Beirut port explosion. It will do so by better equipping local civil society and journalist networks in their roles as watchdogs, by supporting state actors to improve government reforms and manage crisis in transparency, and by equipping citizens to monitor and report corruption, particularly in areas of Beirut most affected by the explosion. Several recent reports and documentaries have questioned the transparency and accountability of international assistance related to the Port of Beirut (PoB) explosion. There are claims that millions of dollars have been misused or wasted to corruption. “Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon (EARREL)” intends to fill this information gap. EARREL is led by the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) and funded by Transparency International. This report builds on an exhaustive literature review conducted by the team as well as a data collection exercise that included (1) field surveys of 250 aid beneficiaries in the PoB area, and (2) Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with 25 experts in the field

Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon: Phase Two Field Survey Findings Report

The project aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency of humanitarian aid and reconstructions efforts, particularly for those most affected by the Beirut port explosion. It will do so by better equipping local civil society and journalist networks in their roles as watchdogs, by supporting state actors to improve government reforms and manage crisis in transparency, and by equipping citizens to monitor and report corruption, particularly in areas of Beirut most affected by the explosion. Several recent reports and documentaries have questioned the transparency and accountability of international assistance related to the Port of Beirut (PoB) explosion. There are claims that millions of dollars have been misused or wasted to corruption. “Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon (EARREL)” intends to fill this information gap. EARREL is led by the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) and funded by Transparency International. This report builds on an exhaustive literature review conducted by the team as well as a data collection exercise that included (1) field surveys of 650 aid beneficiaries in the PoB area, and (2) Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with 50 experts in the field