Abstract: Knowing about the customer behavior in a grocery has
been a long-standing issue in the retailing industry. The advent of
RFID has made it easier to collect moving data for an individual
shopper's behavior. Most of the previous studies used the traditional
statistical clustering technique to find the major characteristics of
customer behavior, especially shopping path. However, in using the
clustering technique, due to various spatial constraints in the store,
standard clustering methods are not feasible because moving data such
as the shopping path should be adjusted in advance of the analysis,
which is time-consuming and causes data distortion. To alleviate this
problem, we propose a new approach to spatial pattern clustering
based on the longest common subsequence. Experimental results using
real data obtained from a grocery confirm the good performance of the
proposed method in finding the hot spot, dead spot and major path
patterns of customer movements.
Abstract: The paper evaluates the ongoing reform of VAT in the Czech Republic in terms of impacts on individual households. The main objective is to analyse the impact of given changes on individual households. The adopted method is based on the data related to household consumption by individual household quintiles; obtained data are subjected to micro-simulation examining. Results are discussed in terms of vertical tax justice. Results of the analysis reveal that VAT behaves regressively and a sole consolidation of rates at a higher level only increases the regression of this tax in the Czech Republic.
Abstract: This paper explores the issues that influence online retailing in Saudi Arabia. Retailers in Saudi Arabia have been reserved in their adoption of electronically delivered aspects of their business. Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia has the largest and fastest growth of ICT marketplaces in the Arab region, e-commerce activities are not progressing at the same speed. Only very few Saudi companies, mostly medium and large companies from the manufacturing sector, are involved in e-commerce implementation. Based on qualitative data collected by conducting interviews with 16 retailers and 16 potential customers in Saudi Arabia, several factors influencing online retailing diffusion in Saudi Arabia are identified. However, government support comes the highest and most influencing factor for online retailing growth as identified by both parties; retailers and potential customers in Saudi Arabia.
Abstract: Overall cost is a significant consideration in any
decision-making process. Although many studies were carried out on
overall cost in construction, little has treated the uncertainties of real
life cycle development. On the basis of several case studies, a
feedback process was performed on the historical data of studied
buildings. This process enabled to identify some factors causing
uncertainty during the operational period. As a result, the research
proposes a new method for assessing the overall cost during a part of
the building-s life cycle taking account of the building actual value,
its end-of-life value and the influence of the identified life cycle
uncertainty factors. The findings are a step towards a higher level of
reliability in overall cost evaluation taking account of some usually
unexpected uncertainty factors.
Abstract: Requirement engineering has been the subject of large
volume of researches due to the significant role it plays in the
software development life cycle. However, dynamicity of software
industry is much faster than advances in requirements engineering
approaches. Therefore, this paper aims to systematically review and
evaluate the current research in requirement engineering and identify
new research trends and direction in this field. In addition, various
research methods associated with the Evaluation-based techniques
and empirical study are highlighted for the requirements engineering
field. Finally, challenges and recommendations on future directions
research are presented based on the research team observations
during this study.
Abstract: The aim of this research is to determine how preservice Turkish teachers perceive themselves in terms of problem solving skills. Students attending Department of Turkish Language Teaching of Gazi University Education Faculty in 2005-2006 academic year constitute the study group (n= 270) of this research in which survey model was utilized. Data were obtained by Problem Solving Inventory developed by Heppner & Peterson and Personal Information Form. Within the settings of this research, Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of the scale was found as .87. Besides, reliability coefficient obtained by split-half technique which splits odd and even numbered items of the scale was found as r=.81 (Split- Half Reliability). The findings of the research revealed that preservice Turkish teachers were sufficiently qualified on the subject of problem solving skills and statistical significance was found in favor of male candidates in terms of “gender" variable. According to the “grade" variable, statistical significance was found in favor of 4th graders.
Abstract: This study aimed at assessing whether and to what extent moral judgment and behaviour were: 1. situation-dependent; 2. selectively dependent on cognitive and affective components; 3. influenced by gender and age; 4. reciprocally congruent. In order to achieve these aims, four different types of moral dilemmas were construed and five types of thinking were presented for each of them – representing five possible ways to evaluate the situation. The judgment criteria included selfishness, altruism, sense of justice, and the conflict between selfishness and the two moral issues. The participants were 250 unpaid volunteers (50% male; 50% female) belonging to two age-groups: young people and adults. The study entailed a 2 (gender) x 2 (age-group) x 5 (type of thinking) x 4 (situation) mixed design: the first two variables were betweensubjects, the others were within-subjects. Results have shown that: 1. moral judgment and behaviour are at least partially affected by the type of situations and by interpersonal variables such as gender and age; 2. moral reasoning depends in a similar manner on cognitive and affective factors; 3. there is not a gender polarity between the ethic of justice and the ethic of cure/ altruism; 4. moral reasoning and behavior are perceived as reciprocally congruent even though their congruence decreases with a more objective assessment. Such results were discussed in the light of contrasting theories on morality.
Abstract: Article is devoted to the problem of Kazakhstan people national values in the conditions of the Republic of Kazakhstan independence. Formation of ethnos national values is viewed as the mandatory constituent of this process in contemporary conditions. The article shows the dynamics of forming socialspiritual basis of Kazakhstan people-s national values. It depicts peculiarities of interethnic relations in poly-ethnic and multiconfessional Kazakhstan. The study reviews in every detail various directions of the state social policy development in the sphere of national values. It is aimed to consolidation of the society to achieve the shared objective, i.e. building democratic and civilized state. The author discloses peculiarities of ethnos national values development using specific sources. It is underlined that renewal and modernization of Kazakhstan society represents new stage in the national value development, and its typical feature is integration process based on peoples- friendship, cultural principles of interethnic communication.
Abstract: This paper presents a remote on-line diagnostic system
for vehicles via the use of On-Board Diagnostic (OBD), GPS, and 3G
techniques. The main parts of the proposed system are on-board
computer, vehicle monitor server, and vehicle status browser. First,
the on-board computer can obtain the location of deriver and vehicle
status from GPS receiver and OBD interface, respectively. Then
on-board computer will connect with the vehicle monitor server
through 3G network to transmit the real time vehicle system status.
Finally, vehicle status browser could show the remote vehicle status
including vehicle speed, engine rpm, battery voltage, engine coolant
temperature, and diagnostic trouble codes. According to the
experimental results, the proposed system can help fleet managers and
car knockers to understand the remote vehicle status. Therefore this
system can decrease the time of fleet management and vehicle repair
due to the fleet managers and car knockers who find the diagnostic
trouble messages in time.
Abstract: This paper analyzed the perception of e-commerce
application services by construction material traders in Malaysia.
Five attributes were tested: usability, reputation, trust, privacy and
familiarity. Study methodology consists of survey questionnaire and
statistical analysis that includes reliability analysis, factor analysis,
ANOVA and regression analysis. The respondents were construction
material traders, including hardware stores in Klang Valley, Kuala
Lumpur.
Findings support that usability and familiarity with e-commerce
services in Malaysia have insignificant influence on the acceptance of
e-commerce application. However, reputation, trust and privacy
attributes have significant influence on the choice of e-commerce
acceptance by construction material traders. E-commerce
applications studied included customer database, e-selling, emarketing,
e-payment, e-buying and online advertising. Assumptions
are made that traders have basic knowledge and exposure to ICT
services. i.e. internet service and computers. Study concludes that
reputation, privacy and trust are the three website attributes that
influence the acceptance of e-commerce by construction material
traders.
Abstract: There has been a strong link between computermediated education and constructivism learning and teaching theory.. Acknowledging how well the constructivism doctrine would work online, it has been established that constructivist views of learning would agreeably correlate with the philosophy of open and distance learning. Asynchronous and synchronous communications have placed online learning on the right track of a constructive learning path. This paper is written based on the social constructivist framework, where knowledge is constructed from social communication and interaction. The study explores the possibility of practicing this theory through incorporating online discussion in the syllabus and the ways it can be implemented to contribute to young people-s personality and social development by addressing some aspects that may contribute to the social problem such as prejudice, ignorance and intolerance.
Abstract: This paper demonstrates a model of an e-Learning
system based on nowadays learning theory and distant education
practice. The relationships in the model are designed to be simple
and functional and do not necessarily represent any particular e-
Learning environments. It is meant to be a generic e-Learning
system model with implications for any distant education course
instructional design. It allows online instructors to move away from
the discrepancy between the courses and body of knowledge. The
interrelationships of four primary sectors that are at the e-Learning
system are presented in this paper. This integrated model includes
[1] pedagogy, [2] technology, [3] teaching, and [4] learning. There
are interactions within each of these sectors depicted by system loop
map.
Abstract: Road traffic accidents are a major cause of death worldwide. In an attempt to reduce accidents, some research efforts have focused on creating Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) able to detect vehicle, driver and environmental conditions and to use this information to identify cues for potential accidents. This paper presents continued work on a novel Non-intrusive Intelligent Driver Assistance and Safety System (Ni-DASS) for assessing driver point of regard within vehicles. It uses an on-board CCD camera to observe the driver-s face. A template matching approach is used to compare the driver-s eye-gaze pattern with a set of eye-gesture templates of the driver looking at different focal points within the vehicle. The windscreen is divided into cells and comparison of the driver-s eye-gaze pattern with templates of a driver-s eyes looking at each cell is used to determine the driver-s point of regard on the windscreen. Results indicate that the proposed technique could be useful in situations where low resolution estimates of driver point of regard are adequate. For instance, To allow ADAS systems to alert the driver if he/she has positively failed to observe a hazard.
Abstract: Meat and meat products for human consumption are one of main sources of protein, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Popular variety of meat product is meatballs, which can be enriched with valuable product – Jerusalem artichoke powder, made from dried and grinded Jerusalem artichoke tubers, it is raw material with low-calorie, low fat, rich in dietary fibres, minerals, and vitamins. The results of this study indicate that that people could accept the new product - meatballs with Jerusalem artichoke powder and Jerusalem artichoke powder is suitable for meatballs preparation, in result them is possible to improve meatballs sensory and physical properties.
Abstract: terrorism and extremism are among the most
dangerous and difficult to forecast the phenomena of our time, which
are becoming more diverse forms and rampant. Terrorist attacks often
produce mass casualties, involve the destruction of material and
spiritual values, beyond the recovery times, sow hatred among
nations, provoke war, mistrust and hatred between the social and
national groups, which sometimes can not be overcome within a
generation. Currently, the countries of Central Asia are a topical issue
– the threat of terrorism and religious extremism, which grow not
only in our area, but throughout the world. Of course, in each of the
terrorist threat is assessed differently. In our country the problem of
terrorism should not be acutely. Thus, after independence and
sovereignty of Kazakhstan has chosen the path of democracy,
progress and free economy. With the policy of the President of
Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and well-organized political and
economic reforms, there has been economic growth and rising living
standards, socio-political stability, ensured civil peace and accord in
society [1].
Abstract: Studies revealing the positive relationship between
trade and income are often criticized with the argument that
“development should mean more than rising incomes". Taking this
argument as a base and utilizing panel data, Davies and Quinlivan [1]
have demonstrated that increases in trade are positively associated
with future increases in social welfare as measured by the Human
Development Index (HDI). The purpose of this study is twofold:
Firstly, utilizing an income based country classification; it is aimed
to investigate whether the positive association between foreign trade
and HDI is valid within all country groups. Secondly, keeping the
same categorization as a base; it is aimed to reveal whether the
positive link between trade and HDI still exists when the income
components of the index are excluded. Employing a panel data
framework of 106 countries, this study reveals that the positive link
between trade and human development is valid only for high and
medium income countries. Moreover, the positive link between trade
and human development diminishes in lower-medium income
countries when only non-income components of the index are taken
into consideration.
Abstract: In the article there have been revealed the properties
of designing the research teaching the military masters and in the context it has been offered the program of mastering by the masters
military men the methodology of research work, in the course of practical teaching activity there has been considered the developed
and approbated model of organization of the process of mastering by the masters the methodology of research work. As a whole, the research direction of master preparation leaves its
sign to the content of education, forms of organization of educational
process, scientific work of masters. In this connection the offered in
the article properties of organization of research teaching and a model
of organization of mastering by the masters military men the methodology of research work can be taken into account when
designing the content of master preparation.
Abstract: Economic freedoms, most emphasized issue in the recent years, are considered to affect economic growth and performance via institutional structure. In this context, a model that includes Turkey and Middle East Countries, and where the effects of economic freedom on growth are examined, was formed. For the groups of countries determined, in the study carried out by using the dataset belonging the period of 2004 - 2009, between economic freedoms and growth, a negative relationship was observed as group. In the sense of individual effects, it was identified that there was a positive relationship in terms of some Middle East Countries and Turkey.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between the principles of Educational Sport and the objectives of Physical Education in two brasilian laws: National Curriculum Guidelines (PCNs) for the Elementary and Middle School Levels and the Guidelines and Basis Legislation (LDB). The method used was the survey analysis in order to determine the practices present in, or the opinions of, a specific population. The instrument used in this research was a questionnaire. After a broad review of the bibliography and according to the methodological procedures, the aim was to set the relationships between the Principles of Educational Sport and the objectives of Physical Education, according to the Brazilian Law (LDB) and National Curriculum Guidelines (PCNs) in a table made under the analysis of a group of specialists. As the relation between the principles of Educational Sport and the objectives of School Physical Education have shown, we can state that School Physical Education has gained pedagogical security for the potential use of Educational Sport as part of its contents.
Abstract: This paper presents an application of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to forecast actual cost of a project based on the earned value management system (EVMS). For this purpose, some projects randomly selected based on the standard data set , and it is produced necessary progress data such as actual cost ,actual percent complete , baseline cost and percent complete for five periods of project. Then an ANN with five inputs and five outputs and one hidden layer is trained to produce forecasted actual costs. The comparison between real and forecasted data show better performance based on the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) criterion. This approach could be applicable to better forecasting the project cost and result in decreasing the risk of project cost overrun, and therefore it is beneficial for planning preventive actions.