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Pedagogical Partnerships: A How-To Guide for Faculty, Students, and Academic Developers in Higher Education by Alison Cook-Sather, Melanie Bahti and Anita Ntem - A Book Review
Get PDFAdvanced machine learning techniques for predictive modeling of property prices
Get PDFReal estate price prediction is crucial for informed decision making in the dynamic real estate sector. In recent years, machine learning (ML) techniques have emerged as powerful tools for enhancing prediction accuracy and data-driven decision making. However, the existing literature lacks a cohesive synthesis of methodologies, findings, and research gaps in ML-based real estate price prediction. This study addresses this gap through a comprehensive literature review, examining various ML approaches, including neural networks, ensemble methods, and advanced regression techniques. We identify key research gaps, such as the limited exploration of hybrid ML-econometric models and the interpretability of ML predictions. To validate the robustness of regression models, we conduct generalization testing on an independent dataset. Results demonstrate the applicability of regression models in predicting real estate prices across diverse markets. Our findings underscore the importance of addressing research gaps to advance the field and enhance the practical applicability of ML techniques in real estate price prediction. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of ML’s role in real estate forecasting and provides insights for future research and practical implementation in the real estate industry
A systematic review on the determinants of customer relationship quality in agile projects in the IT industry: a social exchange theory perspective
Get PDFIn recent decades, Sri Lanka's IT industry has thrived, contributing significantly to economic development. Effective project management, especially using Agile methodologies, has been key to this success. Agile, with its customer-centric and flexible approach, has replaced traditional models like Waterfall, emphasizing frequent software delivery and active customer engagement. Customer Relationship Quality is vital for project success, fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty. Agile methods prioritize strong customer relationships through collaboration and customer involvement. However, challenges persist in Sri Lanka due to a lack of understanding among software companies regarding factors crucial for maintaining robust customer relationships, leading to project failures and dissatisfied customers. To address these challenges, this paper undertook a systematic literature review, focusing on Agile project management, Social Exchange Theory, and Customer Relationship Quality. The research question was, "What factors influence Customer Relationship Quality in Agile IT Projects, from a Social Exchange Theory perspective?". Peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, and book chapters from 2012 to 2023 were reviewed, emphasizing human-centered aspects. The study uncovered an overlap in factors affecting both Agile project success and Customer Relationship Quality, highlighting the pivotal role of Customer Relationship Quality. Common factors, such as communication, culture, team capability, and commitment, were identified as crucial elements for project success and relationship quality. Future research should explore these shared factors in-depth to enhance Agile project success and Customer Relationship Quality. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of Agile project management, customer relationships, and their interconnectedness, emphasizing the need for further studies in this evolving field
Antecedents of customer purchase intention of furniture from online stores with the assistance of augmented reality applications
Get PDFDeveloped countries around the world are already implementing AR applications in their business community, but as a developing country Sri Lanka is far behind with the touch of these technologies. Gaining a competitive advantage, attracting customers, building a brand reputation, and gaining high-profit margins are the company's ultimate strategic goals that determine its existence in the competitive market. To win the high competition, needs to think innovatively and creatively. Customer purchase intention is the crucial factor that drives consumers to purchase certain products. Therefore, the objective is to identify antecedents that would impact the purchase intention of customers when shopping for furniture from online stores that have implemented augmented reality applications. The introduction section provides a starter for the study while the literature review is implemented to identify factors and develop a conceptual framework. Then the methodology section contains a description of the data collection process. This study adopted a distributed questionnaire approach. Then the data analysis which is conducted by adopting the PLS-SEM method follows the previous section. The results show that both factors namely: hedonic motivation and informativeness positively affect customer purchase intention
Reconfiguring genre, style, and idiolect: investigating progressive rock’s meta-genre and affordances
No full textIn this article, the relationship between the classificatory terms of genre, style, and idiolect is examined. Focusing on progressive rock – noted for its heterogenous nature – I propose that we should adapt our current understanding of idiolect to encompass both the collective idiolects associated with particular bands, and the personal idiolects of musicians that perform in them. Allan F. Moore has previously argued that for some progressive rock bands, their idiolect may transcend the notion of style. In this article, I suggest that the collective idiolect of a band may also transcend genre, and that we should think of progressive rock not only as a set of sub-genres or a network of styles, but also as an assemblage of collective idiolects. Moreover, I contend that greater attention should be paid to the classificatory activities of progressive rock fans whose “lay discourses” forge connections between the different bands
Grounded in liquidity: writing and identity in third space
Get PDFIn this article, we argue that writing for publication has the potential to support the creation, negotiation and stabilisation of the professional identities of third space practitioners in higher education. Caught in the impermanence and unpredictability of liquid life, third space opens up unique opportunities in writing that afford its practitioners a means of building and sustaining identity. It expands academic writing beyond its normative constraints, creating a tension between the apparent permanence and solidity of writing and the liquidity that allows for the negotiation of meaning and identity. As such, writing, particularly for dissemination, provides third space practitioners with a strategy for creating a grounding narrative that helps to stabilise their own identity while allowing the flexibility required by a ‘liquid’ and uncertain present. We explore this process of negotiation by examining the role of writing in identity formation from the perspective of a range of third space practitioners, in an international triple-site qualitative research study involving learning developers, learning designers, academic developers and writing specialists. Our findings reveal that writing, as an act of negotiation of identity in third space, has the potential to actuate the fluidity of the space, so that it can become a site of liberation and resistance that may transform the very act of scholarly writing. What our study shows is that writing offers third space practitioners an opportunity to establish a narrative thread that may stabilise their liquid roles in academia
Integrating sentiment analysis to enhance mental health support chatbots
Get PDFMental health conditions have adverse effects on an individual's quality of life. Between 2017 and 2019, there were 52.9 emergency department visits per 1,000 adults for mental health disorders. The rising popularity of artificial intelligence prompted its use in depression detection or mental condition diagnosis, establishing its prominent role in the mental health sector. In this research, we developed an AI chatbot with enhanced contextual intelligence using sentiment analysis to support individuals experiencing mental distress. For this research, we utilized a dataset of text data from 1.6 million posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) due to its open-source availability and accessibility. The collected dataset was cleaned of repetitive characters, special characters, URLs, and numbers. NLP techniques, including tokenization, lemmatization, and stemming, were used for pre-processing. The application identifies sentiments, generates responses, and suggests basic support remedies. We used the Rasa framework to create a hybrid chatbot with customizable configurations. An LSTM model for sentiment analysis was integrated into the Rasa chatbot as a custom action component. A batch size of 32 and an optimal maximum sequence length were selected for balanced training efficiency and accuracy. The LSTM model achieved 76% accuracy in training and validation, enhancing the chatbot text comprehension. Future improvements will include adding personal features and expanding the user base
Identifying research priorities for infection prevention and control. A mixed methods study with a convergent design
No full textBackgroundMeaningful research creates evidence for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice.AimTo establish Infection Prevention Society (IPS) members’ research priorities to support future research projects.MethodsA mixed methods convergent parallel design incorporating a cross-sectional survey of IPS members (2022–2023), and focus group findings from the IPS Consultative Committee, (October 2022). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim, entered into NVivo 12, and analysed using a thematic analysis approach.Findings/Results132 IPS members responded to the survey, including 120 (90.9%) nurses. The three most prevalent priorities were: Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (n = 84, 16.1%); IPC Training and Education (n = 77, 14.8%); and IPC Evidence-based Guidelines (n = 76, 14.6%). Analysis of the focus group transcripts identified six emergent themes ‘Patient Centred Care’, ‘Training and Education’, ‘IPC Role and Identity’, ‘IPC Leadership’, ‘IPC is Everyone’s Responsibility’, and ‘Research Activity’. Triangulation of findings demonstrated concordance between quantitative and qualitative findings with Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) and Training and Education identified as priority research areas.DiscussionThis study highlights the necessity of developing support systems and incorporating research priorities in QIPS, as well as Training and Education. The findings of this study align with the recommended core competencies and components for effective infection prevention and control programs, making them relevant to QIPS initiatives. The outcomes of the study will serve as a valuable resource to guide the IPS Research and Development Committee in delivering practical support to IPS members
Blood flow restriction augments exercise-induced pressure pain thresholds over repetition and effort matched conditions
No full textWe sought to determine the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) on exercise-induced hypoalgesia, specifically using low-load (LL) resistance exercise (30% 1RM) protocols that accounted for each individual’s local muscular endurance capabilities. Forty-four participants completed four conditions: (1) 70% of maximal BFR repetitions with blood flow restriction (LL+BFR exercise); (2) 70% maximal BFR repetitions without LL+BFR (LL exercise); (3) 70% maximal free flow repetitions (LL+EFFORT exercise); (4) time-matched, non-exercise control (CON). Pressure pain threshold (PPT) was measured before and after exercise. Ischaemic pain threshold and tolerance was assessed only at post. The change in upper body PPT was greater for LL+BFR exercise compared to LL exercise [difference of 0.15 (0.35) kg/cm2], LL+EFFORT exercise [difference of 0.23 (0.45) kg/cm2], and the CON condition. The change in lower body PPT was greater for LL+BFR exercise compared to LL exercise [difference of 0.40 (0.55) kg/cm2], LL+EFFORT exercise [difference of 0.36 (0.62) kg/cm2], and the CON condition. Ischaemic pain thresholds and tolerances did not change. Submaximal exercise with BFR resulted in systemic increases in PPT but had no influence on ischaemic pain sensitivity. This effect is likely unique to BFR as we did not see changes in the effort matched free flow condition
Cultural intelligence and sustainable career success in Intercultural Service Encounters
No full textScholars have explored individual, organisation and external factors impacting career sustainability and framed these as part of a career ecosystem. While productivity is considered pivotal for career sustainability according to conceptual frameworks, there remains a gap in understanding its practical implications for occupations involving Intercultural Service Encounters (ICSEs). Culture significantly influences the attitudes and behaviours of service employees and shapes customers’ perceptions of service quality, thereby making cultural intelligence (CQ) a key competency for employees working in ICSEs settings such as in cultural tourism and the airline industry. This paper adopts De Vos, Van der Heijden, and Akkermans (2020) conceptual framework to underscore the significance of CQ in ICSEs and its connection to performance, thus fostering career sustainability in such contexts. Data from an ethnographic case study in Thai Airways, comprising semi-structured interviews with cabin crew employees, observations, and company records, were collected. Our study highlights the significance of CQ competencies in expanding the understanding of sustainable careers in ICSEs settings and aligns with the Career Ecosystem theory by emphasising the interplay between individuals, organisations, and national culture in shaping sustainable careers in such settings
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