Online Exchange Research Articles

A case study on exploring the motivation of English-major EFL students in online exchange programs

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the education sector worldwide, prompting a swift transition to technology-driven learning solutions. One notable response to this challenge has been the introduction of online versions of study-abroad and international exchange programs. Considering the limited existing research on how EFL university students perceive online international exchange programs, this study investigated the motivation of EFL students toward such programs initiated in response to the cancellation of in-person exchanges. The survey among 84 students from a private women's university in Kansai in August 2021 revealed that an overwhelming majority (93%) expressed their desire to participate in online international exchange programs. This study gained further insights by employing the KH Coder text mining software (Higuchi, 2016) to analyze the free-text responses obtained from the questionnaire. The analysis of the responses unveiled their recognition of the distinct advantages offered by online exchange programs. Approximately half of the respondents indicated their willingness to engage in non-credit programs, while a similar percentage conveyed that academic credits could enhance their motivation to participate. Notably, the analysis of the free text revealed that the latter group's seemingly extrinsic motivation was largely self-determined, with their primary goal being program participation. These findings underscore the potential for online international exchanges to be well-received by students, particularly when academic credits are awarded. Additionally, correspondence analysis highlights that the desire to earn academic credits is a topic of interest across all school year levels.

Impact of Digital Marketing Strategies on Marketing Performance: Role of Social Media Performance and E-commerce

E-commerce utilization has turned into a part of our regular routines. Ease of access and wide range of audience has made social media an effective medium to increase the marketing performance of firms. Due to its importance, the Fast moving consumer goods and retail businesses in Pakistan have employed social/ digital media managers to manage their social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc. The social media managers have designed digital marketing to increase their social media performance. This is shown by the number of followers, likes, and sharing by the target audience and prospective customers. The job and abilities of Web based business assumed a significant part in our research. At the culmination, 232 respondents’ outcomes were taken into contemplation for our data analysis by using SPSS and Hayes Process Macro. The direct relationships have significant values and all hypotheses are accepted. The research attempted to help brands, and social media managers devise better strategies to increase their market share and social media ratings. It also tried to contribute to literature for firms who are left far behind in employing the E-commerce and social media strategies framework to enhance their market performance and online transactions abilities. Additionally, our research examination adds to the current writing by offering bits of knowledge for firms that still can't seem to completely use internet business and entertainment procedures. By taking on these structures, organizations can further develop their market execution and online exchange abilities. Our review highlights the groundbreaking effect of advanced advertising on business development and client commitment.

The online exchange of conspiracy theories within an Irish extreme right wing Telegram group during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT While the extreme right wing (ERW) has not gained a foothold in local or national Irish politics, the country has witnessed a growth in online activism and harassment, and physical protest and violence. This paper explores a case study based on 4876 unique posts from one Irish-based Telegram group active during six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main findings are that: (a) this group was heavily influenced by foreign content and influencers, in particular, American ERW content and conspiracies associated with QAnon; (b) conspiracy theories were not adopted wholesale but adapted for an Irish audience; (c) Irish actors were not passive receivers of US content, and multi-directional exchanges of ideas were witnessed. While generalising beyond the case study analysed in this paper would require further data, this may suggest that Irish influencers are part of a transnational online ecosystem in which ideas and theories are shared and adapted to local contexts. These findings offer insights into the ERW in Ireland and, more generally, how the ERW communicates and spread conspiracy theories across national borders.

Navigating linguacultures through fanfiction: unveiling opportunities and challenges in the Chilean EFL school context

Recently, fanfiction has gained attention in the field of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) as it provides space for language practice to facilitate genre-based writing and literacy development. However, there is limited research on using fanfiction as a pedagogical tool to encourage both language and culture learning in diverse foreign language (FL) school contexts. To address this gap, this article presents a pedagogical innovation that aligns fanfiction with a linguacultural (LC) framework to involve students in collaborative, technology-enhanced LC learning. The study involved 15 EFL school teachers in Chile who participated in a workshop on LC-based fanfiction project design. Data collected included teachers’ project plans and reflective journals. Analysis of teachers’ project plans identified creative opportunities for bi-linguacultural practice, online exchange, and identity reflection. Triangulation with teachers’ reflective journals revealed the benefits of fanfiction for enhancing student engagement, language creativity, cultural awareness, and use of information communication technologies (ICTs). However, challenges were identified, ranging from student-related issues to the complexities of remote teaching in rural areas. This study emphasizes the significance of exploring pedagogical innovations in diverse FL contexts, to identify and challenge the contextualized barriers hindering successful integration of language, culture, and technology in the classroom.

Exploring the effects of quality signals on search advertising performance: the moderating role of keyword attributes

PurposeIn online exchange platforms' sponsored search advertising, the array of product quality signals within a keyword search results list plays a crucial role in shaping buyers' purchasing decisions. This research seeks to explore the impact of various quality signals – namely, ranking position, seller reputation and product price – on ad clicks. Additionally, it examines the role of keyword attributes, such as specificity and popularity, in modulating the effects of these quality signals on advertising clicks.Design/methodology/approachA total of 5,763 effective data points were collected from a leading B2B electronic platform company, and we employed negative binomial regression with Heckman correction methods to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that in online exchange platforms, search ad clicks are significantly and positively affected by displayed signals such as ranking position, seller reputation and product price information. Notably, a U-shaped relationship emerges between product price and ad clicks. Furthermore, keyword specificity and popularity distinctly moderate the impact of these displayed signals on ad clicks within online exchange platforms.Originality/valueThis paper addresses the gap in existing research on search advertising by methodically analyzing the impact of various signals displayed in search results and how keyword attributes moderate ad clicks, all through a signaling theory lens.

VSEMERA: pilot project assessing health profession students’ experiences in an international virtual research program

BackgroundThe “Virtual Semester for Medical Research Aachen” (vSEMERA) is an international, interdisciplinary, virtual education program developed for health profession students. The first edition (2021) was hosted by the Medical Faculty of RWTH Aachen University (Germany) in cooperation with Centro Universitário Christus (Brazil) and Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (Peru). The primary aim of the 12-weeks program was to provide students with skills in health science research and prepare them for scientific career paths.MethodsvSEMERA was built on a virtual learning platform, the “vSEMERA-Campus”, designed to foster students’ learning process and social interactions. Maximum flexibility was offered through synchronous and asynchronous teaching, enabling participants to join via any device from any part of the Globe alongside their regular studies. For the program’s first edition (September - November 2021), health profession students from Germany, Brazil, Peru, Spain, and Italy filled all 30 available spots. Satisfaction, quality of the program and courses offered, as well as perceived learning outcomes, were examined using questionnaires throughout and at the end of the program.ResultsThe program received a rating of 4.38 out of 5 stars. While it met most expectations (4.29 out of 5), participants were unable to attend as many courses as intended (2.81 out of 5), mainly due to scheduling conflicts with the home university schedule (46%), internships (23%), and general timing issues (31%). Participants acknowledged considerable improvements in their scientific skills, English language skills, confidence in scientific project management, research career progression, and enthusiasm for a scientific career.ConclusionsvSEMERA represents a promising example of an online international learning and exchange program using pedagogical and technological elements of virtual collaboration and teaching. In addition to advancing future vSEMERA editions, our results may offer insights for similar projects that address the targeted integration of scientific research education into an international, digital learning environment.

E-COMMERCE MANAGEMENT USING WEB3 TECH

Blockchain and NFT tokens will play an important role in the technology sector in the near future, and this process may help us to prevent scams in online exchange products as well as generate worthy trust in society. Hundreds of complaints have been filed in which the buyer or seller claimed to be defense personnel and displayed fake ID proofs to gain trust. Because Traditional Marketplace currently lacks a feature for reviewing sellers, users who want to buy products have little doubt about whether the seller can be trusted with the items they sell. Users can use it to determine whether a seller is reliable or not. Also, as a reference for purchasing items from the seller using NFT tokens. The Web3 is advancing more quickly in our society. Hopefully, it will have the widest possible audience for its reliable exchange, ownership transparency, and certified products. An NFT marketplace is a gateway to trade digital assets.The latest web assets, from simple artwork to expensive asset exchange, are available for purchase and sale on the NFT marketplace. Non-fungible tokens' ownership verification capabilities are their main advantage. Given that they are on a blockchain network, NFTs can help to link ownership to a single account. Since the blockchain can permanently store information about the product, checking for rarity and authenticity will soon be a thing on physical products too. In the rapidly evolving landscape of online marketplaces, the emergence of NFT (Non-Fungible Token) technology has ushered in a new era for both the sale of new and used products. This abstract delves into the dynamics of an NFT marketplace that caters to a diverse range of commodities, offering a seamless platform for buyers and sellers alike. This innovative marketplace leverages blockchain technology to tokenize both new and used products, providing each item with a unique digital identity that is securely stored on the blockchain. The use of NFTs ensures authenticity and provenance, instilling trust among users and mitigating the risk of counterfeit goods. The platform employs smart contracts to automate transactions, streamlining the buying and selling process while reducing the need for intermediaries.

How are you affected? The public’s online information behaviour patterns during the COVID-19 infodemic

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 infodemic on the public’s online information behaviour, offering insights critical for shaping effective informational responses in future public health emergencies.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a structured online survey with 27 targeted questions using a five-point Likert scale to measure eight variables. Data analysis is conducted through structural equation modelling on 307 valid responses to rigorously test the research hypotheses.FindingsThis paper indicates that information quality significantly impacts the public’s capacity to select, share and use online information. Additionally, the comprehensibility of information plays a crucial role in shaping the public’s behaviours in terms of online information exchange and usage. The credibility of information sources emerges as a key determinant influencing the public’s online information selection, exchange and utilization behaviour. Moreover, social influence exerts a substantial effect on the public’s online information selection, acquisition, exchange and utilization behaviour. These findings highlight the presence of universality and sociality, mediation and guidance, as well as the purposefulness and selectivity performed by the public’s online information behaviour during an infodemic.Originality/valueThis paper introduces a novel research model for assessing the influence and identifies the patterns of the public’s online information behaviour during the COVID-19 infodemic. The findings have significant implications for developing strategies to tackle information dissemination challenges in future major public health emergencies.

Challenging but Rewarding Aspects of Telecollaboration: The Case of Virtual Israeli-Polish (VIP) Project

Starting from the premise that implementing telecollaboration can be a challenging enterprise, it is assumed that such virtual exchanges bring positive outcomes. Despite rich body of research on telecollaboration, few studies to date have explored group dynamics in the context of online exchange. The current research examined an Israeli-Polish (N = 100) telecollaborative intercultural experience. The Israeli participants were students from a BEd program in informal education and Polish students from a BA program in translation. The main purpose of the telecollaborative project was to develop English linguistic skills and intercultural communicative competence (Byram, 1997) of the students. However, the present study aimed to investigate how the group dynamics influenced the telecollaboration process and the project outcomes. The students engaged in the exchange of asynchronous video recordings (Vlogs), collaborative synchronous meetings on Zoom, and completed an on-line questionnaire. This paper outlines some of the challenges related to the international telecollaboration, including technological and institutional difficulties, context-specific demands, and some individual differences of the participants. Through “thematic analysis” (TA) (Braun & Clarke, 2012) the authors of the paper explored levels of “failed communication” (O’Dowd & Ritter, 2006) and how they impacted the ongoing development of the collaboration both technically and in terms of content and development of interaction skills to uncover certain themes that referred to learners’ and instructors’ challenges. The study concludes with pedagogical implications for more effective implementation of telecollaboration in higher education.

S.L.X. : Student’s online exchange

Students online exchange (SLX) is a pioneering initiative designed to meet the unique needs of students by fostering a culture of mutual assistance and resource sharing. Addressing financial constraints and daily challenges, SLX provides a specialized platform where students can seamlessly exchange resources with the spirit of helping one another. Unlike traditional sharing models, SLX emphasizes the transformative power of mutual assistance over charity, promoting a community-driven approach. This synopsis offers insights into SLX's distinctive features, objectives, and societal impact, bridging existing gaps in the literature and presenting a novel resource-sharing paradigm. Through SLX, students collaboratively share academic materials and daily necessities, establishing a supportive environment for their educational journey. SLX endeavors’ to reshape the community narrative, making helping an integral part of student life. Key Word: Students online exchange (SLX), Mutual assistance, Resource sharing, Financial-constraints, Community-driven approach, Novel resource-sharing paradigm, Academic materials, Transformative power, Community narrative.

আড্ডা With Ahmed: An Expanded Online Exchange & Misconnection

Abstract‘আড্ডা with Ahmed: an expanded online exchange & misconnection’ is a reflexive interpretation of a DM conversation between the author and Ahmed, their Bangladesh‐based friend, presented as both text and imagetext video (Mitchell, 1994). The article examines the meaning and practice of the Bangladeshi pastime of adda/chatting in a digital context, while exploring the complexities of cultural, interpersonal and technological hybridity. Through excerpts from their adda, the author and Ahmed touch upon various themes, including cultural identity, politics, gender, and the challenges of cross‐cultural communication. Their conversations reveal a dynamic interplay between agreement and disagreement, offering glimpses into their subjective experiences and perspectives. While adda contains the potential to transcend cultural boundaries and foster new forms of connection and understanding, the asynchronous nature of the exchange, coupled with linguistic limitations and enculturated modes of expression, troubles the interpretation of meaning and growth of understanding between the correspondents. While the article acknowledges the unresolvable nature of certain misconnections, online ‘adda’ is portrayed as space for curiosity, exploration, remembrance, and the coexistence of diverse perspectives and interpretations.

In-line buffer exchange in the coupling of Protein A chromatography with weak cation exchange chromatography for the determination of charge variants of immunoglobulin G derived from chinese hamster ovary cell cultures

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the most common monoclonal antibody (mAb) grown for therapeutic applications. While IgG is often selectively isolated from cell lines using protein A (ProA) chromatography, this is only a stepping stone for complete characterization. Further classification can be obtained from weak cation exchange chromatography (WCX) to determine IgG charge variant distributions. The charge variants of monoclonal antibodies can influence the stability and efficacy in vivo, and deviations in charge heterogeneity are often cell-specific and sensitive to upstream process variability. Current methods to characterize IgG charge variants are often performed off-line, meaning that the IgG eluate from the ProA separation is collected, diluted to adjust the pH, and then transferred to the WCX separation, adding time, complexity, and potential contamination to the sample analysis process. More recently, reports have appeared to streamline this separation using in-line two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC). Presented here is a novel, 2D-LC coupling of ProA in the first dimension (1D) and WCX in the second dimension (2D) chromatography. As anticipated, the initial direct column coupling proved to be challenging due to the pH incompatibility between the mobile phases for the two stages. To solve the solvent compatibility issue, a size exclusion column was placed in the switching valve loop of the 2D-LC instrument to act as a means for the on-line solvent exchange. The efficacy of the methodology presented was confirmed through a charge variant determination using the NIST monoclonal antibody standard (NIST mAb), yielding correct acidic, main, and basic variant compositions. The methodology was employed to determine the charge variant profile of IgG from an in-house cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell supernatant. It is believed that this methodology can be easily implemented to provide higher-throughput assessment of IgG charge variants for process monitoring and cell line development.

The organisation of the fight against human trafficking and assistance to victims in Austria

Aim: The study presents a written summary by Dr. Melinda Molnár of the online exchange of experiences held in the framework of the project ‘Complex victim assistance services for victims of human trafficking’.Methodology: The author has conducted an in-depth study of the paper.Findings: The author has produced a rather informative abstract, where the most important and relevant information has been processed, thus creating a truly comprehensive presentation by writing the paper.Value: The reader is provided with a picture of the trends in the fight against human trafficking in Austria and Hungary through an easy-to-read study. The study was created as a written summary of the online professional meeting held in connection with the project ‘Complex victim assistance services for victims of human trafficking’. The aim of the volume is to provide a detailed picture of the complex organisational system within which human trafficking is fought in Austria. In addition to the Austrian experts, representatives of the Hungarian Ministry of Justice and the Hungarian Baptist Aid were also present at the online meeting, who presented our country’s own methods in the fight against human trafficking. After the joint exchange of ideas and detailed presentations, specific areas where the two countries can develop and strengthen their cooperation were defined.

Mail back or in-store dropoff? Optimal design of product-exchange policies in omnichannel retailing systems

Online retailing has been booming over the past several years as people grow increasingly comfortable with it and accustomed to its ease and speed. A major drawback of online retailing is the lack of consumer–product interaction before a purchase is finalized, which often leads to consumer dissatisfaction due to mismatched expectation of the received product. In response, retailers usually promise that online orders may be returned or exchanged free of extra charges, which can be processed either online (e.g., by mail) or onsite i.e., in-store dropoff. In this work, we study the implications of both online and onsite exchange policies in the setting of a queueing model that offers omnichannel services. Taking into account customers’ behavioral responses to these policies, we aim to inform the retailer of the one that generates a higher system revenue. Our results reveal that the online exchange policy is a double-edged sword: On the one hand, it helps eliminate the inconvenience cost for exchange customers to revisit the store; on the other hand, it can trigger more feedback orders and render a higher system congestion level, which in turn, deters future customers from placing orders. Specifically, we discover that online exchange becomes an inferior policy relative to in-store exchange when the market size is large.

Brokering collaborations between academia and the creative economies in Africa through creative imagination workshops

Africa’s creative industries are increasingly receiving attention due to their potential to generate human and economic growth and development. Converting this potential into tangible and sustainable development requires consistent collaboration between higher education (HE) institutions and the creative economy. This case study reflects on the role of Creative Imagination Workshops (CIWs) in brokering collaboration between HE and selected creative sectors in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The CIWs were an initial phase of the African Hub for Sustainable Creative Economies (AHSCE) research project. They aimed to support network building and collaboration by providing online exchange and networking opportunities. Workshop participants were recruited through both formal and informal networking processes. The CIWs demonstrate that intermediaries such as the AHSCE can offer virtual ‘third spaces’ which feature little to no financial barrier to entry, encouraging academics and entrepreneurs to engage with each other, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and resources. While the virtual workshop delivery model precipitates high levels of attendance and engagement, it is vulnerable to limitations in national infrastructure. Generating enough trust to transform connections initiated virtually into collaborative in-person partnerships also requires an extended timetable or a hybrid model combining virtual and physical interactions.

Implementasi Internet of Things Dalam Monitoring dan Controlling Variable Frequency Drive

The use of the Internet of Things (IoT) has had a significant impact in various fields, including industry and automation. IoT connects devices and systems online, enabling fast and efficient exchange of data and control. In industry, the use of IoT has changed the way systems operate and monitor, including in terms of monitoring and controlling driver 3-phase induction motors/Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). The research method used in this research is making prototypes and trials. In the first stage, a prototype monitoring and controlling system using IoT was designed and developed. This system consists of a sensor to measure motor parameters, a microcontroller as a controller, and a communication module to connect the system to the internet. The implementation of IoT in this system allows real-time collection of motor data and sending this data to a cloud server for further analysis. With the implementation of IoT in monitoring and controlling 3-phase induction motor drivers/VFD, remote motor operation becomes more possible and efficient. Motor information in the form of speed and current obtained in real-time allows the operator to take appropriate steps in optimizing motor operation.

E-Commerce as a Catalyst for Economic Development: A Focus on India

This abstract examines the pivotal role of e-commerce in shaping economic landscapes, with a specific emphasis on its transformative impact in India. E-commerce, synonymous with electronic commerce, involves the online exchange of goods, services, and financial transactions. The dynamics of businesses driving internet-based commerce in India differ markedly from traditional models, signaling a paradigm shift. Projections suggest that India's e-commerce market is poised for exponential growth, estimated to reach an impressive 200 billion US dollars by 2026, a sharp ascent from 38.5 billion US dollars in 2017. This growth trajectory is propelled by factors such as increased internet and smartphone penetration in a nation that serves as a hub for digital connectivity. The surge in digitalization is forecasted to elevate India's total internet users to 829 million by 2021, fostering an economic surge that could double the nation's GDP from US$ 125 billion in April 2017 to US$ 250 billion by 2020, primarily driven by the burgeoning e-commerce sector. The abstract underscores the cumulative effects and increasing returns associated with e-commerce, factors that have been witnessed globally and are anticipated to sustain high rates of growth. In essence, the analysis highlights how e-commerce is reshaping the economic trajectory of nations, showcasing India as a compelling case study for the transformative power of digital commerce in fostering economic development.

Taking a look in the virtual mirror: Implications of self-observation by White individuals during online intergroup exchanges for their own and their racialized partners’ experience

Concerns about being viewed negatively by outgroup members can have harmful implications for intergroup interaction. In line with the information search model, research suggests that trying to empathize with outgroup partners—by virtue of still involving taking outgroup members’ perspective—can lead right back to evaluative concerns. The present experiment (276 dyads) tested the model’s further prediction that—by virtue of still involving a focus on the self—stimuli that typically instantiate private self-awareness and prompt enhanced self-regulation also lead right back to evaluative concerns and their disruptive effects in interaction settings. Higher and lower prejudice White individuals (HPs and LPs) turned their self-view on or off during an online exchange with a partner with a marginalized racial background. Although there were some exceptions, results were generally consistent with predictions: Racialized individuals benefitted when HPs engaged in self-observation, but everyone was better off if LPs could not watch themselves.

Response of photosynthetic 13C discrimination to vapour pressure deficit reflects changes in bundle-sheath leakiness in two C4 grasses

Combined measurements of photosynthetic 13C discrimination (Δ) and gas exchange can be used to estimate bundle-sheath leakiness (Φ), a key efficiency parameter for the CO2-concentrating mechanism of C4 species and their intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE). Yet, how vapour pressure deficit (VPD) influences the CO2-concentrating mechanism and Φ in low-leakiness species has been rarely explored. Here, we performed on-line 13C discrimination, CO2 and H2O gas exchange measurements and dry matter δ13C analysis to study the responses of Δ, Φ, and iWUE to VPD in two graminaceous C4 species (guinea grass and pearl millet). Growth at high VPD led to an average increase of photosynthetic 13C discrimination (∆A) by 1.4‰ and a concurrent increase of Φ by 0.08 for both species. ∆ of leaf dry matter (∆DM) showed similar responses to VPD, but was consistently higher than ∆A by 0.4‰. The increase of ∆A was associated with increased leaf nitrogen content at high VPD. ∆A was positively correlated with iWUE and leaf nitrogen content but was unrelated with specific leaf area. This study demonstrated that Φ is variable at different growth VPD, an effect that should be taken into account when using ∆ to estimate iWUE in C4 species.

Matching problems in biodiversity offset markets: a case study of the New South Wales biodiversity offsets scheme

Biodiversity offset credits in New South Wales are transacted within a regulatory environment defined by detailed trading rules and many different types of biodiversity credits that can lead to thin markets and high transaction costs. This paper describes a market designed to facilitate efficient and effective transactions. The market includes a search algorithm to identify who can exchange with whom, according to the regulatory constraints, and an online exchange tool to facilitate efficient price discovery and allocation of offset contracts.