bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding Falls in Multiple Sclerosis: Association of Mobility Status, Concerns About Falling, and Accumulated Impairments
Authors: Matsuda Patricia Noritake , Shumway-Cook Anne , Ciol Marcia A. , Bombardier Charles H. , Kartin Deborah A.
Published: December 2011

Background

Falls in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are a serious health concern, and the percentage of people who restrict their activity because of concerns about falling (CAF) is not known. Mobility function and accumulated impairments are associated with fall risk in older adults but not in people with stroke and have not been studied in people with MS.

Objective

The purposes of this study were: (1) to estimate the percentage of people who have MS and report falling, CAF, and activity restrictions related to CAF; (2) to examine associations of these factors with fall status; and (3) to explore associations of fall status with mobility function and number of accumulated impairments.

Design

A cross-sectional survey was conducted.

Methods

A total of 575 community-dwelling people with MS provided information about sociodemographics, falls, CAF, activity restrictions related to CAF, mobility function, and accumulated impairments. Chi-square statistics were used to explore associations among these factors.

Results

In all participants, about 62% reported CAF and about 67% reported activity restrictions related to CAF. In participants who did not experience falls, 25.9% reported CAF and 27.7% reported activity restrictions related to CAF. Mobility function was associated with fall status; participants reporting moderate mobility restrictions reported the highest percentage of falls, and participants who were nonwalkers (ie, had severely limited self-mobility) reported the lowest percentage. Falls were associated with accumulated impairments; the participants who reported the highest percentage of 2 or more falls were those with 10 impairments.

Limitations

This cross-sectional study relied on self-reported falls, mobility, and impairment status, which were not objectively verified.

Conclusions

Both CAF and activity restrictions related to CAF were common in people with MS and were reported by people who experienced falls and those who did not. The association of fall status with mobility function did not appear to be linear. Fall risk increased with declining mobility function; however, at a certain threshold, further declines in mobility function were associated with fewer falls, possibly because of reduced fall risk exposure.
Brazilian Validation of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale
Authors: Valentini Nadia Cristina , Saccani Raquel
Published: December 2011

Background

The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a well-known motor assessment tool used to identify potential delays in infants' motor development. Although Brazilian researchers and practitioners have used the AIMS in laboratories and clinical settings, its translation to Portuguese and validation for the Brazilian population is yet to be investigated.

Objective

This study aimed to translate and validate all AIMS items with respect to internal consistency and content, criterion, and construct validity.

Design

A cross-sectional and longitudinal design was used.

Methods

A cross-cultural translation was used to generate a Brazilian-Portuguese version of the AIMS. In addition, a validation process was conducted involving 22 professionals and 766 Brazilian infants (aged 0–18 months).

Results

The results demonstrated language clarity and internal consistency for the motor criteria (motor development score, α=.90; prone, α=.85; supine, α=.92; sitting, α=.84; and standing, α=.86). The analysis also revealed high discriminative power to identify typical and atypical development (motor development score, P<.001; percentile, P=.04; classification criterion, χ2=6.03; P=.05). Temporal stability (P=.07) (rho=.85, P<.001) was observed, and predictive power (P<.001) was limited to the group of infants aged from 3 months to 9 months.

Limitations

Limited predictive validity was observed, which may have been due to the restricted time that the groups were followed longitudinally.

Conclusions

In sum, the translated version of AIMS presented adequate validity and reliability.
A “21st Century Economic Agenda for America”: Barack Obama's Pre-Presidential Economic Jeremiads
Authors: Harrell Willie J.
Published: December 2011

Abstract:

This essay argues that Barack Obama's pre-presidential rhetoric serves as economic jeremiads that urge atonement in order to initiate a plan of economic change that will transform America and unite Americans in the common cause fulfilling the nation's democratic mission of providing life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of all citizens. Above all else, Obama's pre-presidential economic jeremiads attempt to paint a vivid picture of the real danger facing the American economic system and call Americans to act immediately in order to restore the faltering economy.
Patient with Chiari malformation Type I presenting with inducible hemifacial weakness
Authors: Witt Cordelie E. , Wang Anthony C. , Maher Cormac O. , Than Khoi D. , Garton Hugh J. L. , Muraszko Karin M.
Published: December 2011

In this report, the authors describe the first known case of inducible hemifacial weakness in a patient with Chiari malformation Type I (CM-I). The patient was a 14-year-old girl with a 1-year history of right facial paresis induced by sustained leftward head rotation. These episodes were characterized by weak activation of her right facial muscles with preserved eye opening and closure. Additionally, she had hypernasal speech, persistent headaches, and intermittent left arm twitching. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a CM-I. A suboccipital craniectomy and C-1 laminectomy were performed for decompression of the CM-I, with duraplasty and coagulation of the pial surface of the cerebellar tonsils. At the 9-month follow-up, the patient's inducible hemifacial weakness had completely resolved. Her symptoms were thought to have resulted from the CM-I, perhaps due to traction on the right facial nerve by the ectopic tonsils with head rotation.
Dielectric Barrier Discharge Characteristics of Multineedle-to-Cylinder Configuration
Authors: Wang Xiaojing , Yang Qing , Yao Chenguo , Zhang Xiaoxing , Sun Caixin
Published: December 2011

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) produces a homogenous discharge with low energy consumption, offering broad developmental prospects, and this discharge process is also the mechanism through which charges are transported. Higher reaction efficiency is achieved when more charges are transported. Focusing on the electrode configuration of the multineedle-to-cylinder (MC) system, i.e., the structure of needles arrayed on the inner coaxial rod, the effect of needle arrangement, including needle length (NL), inter axial needle distance (ID), and inter axial needle rotation angle (INRA), on the transported charge per cycle and discharge power in DBDs is investigated. The finite-element method (FEM) and quasi-static field simulation are adopted to study the active region (AR) where the electric field strength exceeds the breakdown electric field strength between MC electrodes because this region plays a dominant role in DBD. The improvement of its volume ratio in the reactor allows an increase in discharge power. The simulation results are in accordance with the experimental results, which illustrate that quasi-static field simulation is effective and reliable. Simulation results show that mutual effects of nearby needles and between needles and the inner rod exist. As a result, shorter ID (1.5 mm), needles with similar lengths (3.5 mm) are arranged, and an INRA of 0° is proven to be the optimal structure because it produces the highest AR volume ratio. The result is experimentally validated by transported charges per cycle and discharge power obtained through Lissajous figures.
Scoring Function Based on Weighted Residue Network
Authors: Jiao Xiong , Chang Shan
Published: December 2011

Molecular docking is an important method for the research of protein-protein interaction and recognition. A protein can be considered as a network when the residues are treated as its nodes. With the contact energy between residues as link weight, a weighted residue network is constructed in this paper. Two weighted parameters (strength and weighted average nearest neighbors’ degree) are introduced into this model at the same time. The stability of a protein is characterized by its strength. The global topological properties of the protein-protein complex are reflected by the weighted average nearest neighbors’ degree. Based on this weighted network model and these two parameters, a new docking scoring function is proposed in this paper. The scoring and ranking for 42 systems’ bound and unbounded docking results are performed with this new scoring function. Comparing the results obtained from this new scoring function with that from the pair potentials scoring function, we found that this new scoring function has a similar performance to the pair potentials on some items, and this new scoring function can get a better success rate. The calculation of this new scoring function is easy, and the result of its scoring and ranking is acceptable. This work can help us better understand the mechanisms of protein-protein interactions and recognition.
Hydrogen
Authors: Bockris John O’M.
Published: December 2011

The idea of a “Hydrogen Economy” is that carbon containing fuels should be replaced by hydrogen, thus eliminating air pollution and growth of CO2 in the atmosphere. However, storage of a gas, its transport and reconversion to electricity doubles the cost of H2 from the electrolyzer. Methanol made with CO2 from the atmosphere is a zero carbon fuel created from inexhaustible components from the atmosphere. Extensive work on the splitting of water by bacteria shows that if wastes are used as the origin of feed for certain bacteria, the cost for hydrogen becomes lower than any yet known. The first creation of hydrogen and electricity from light was carried out in 1976 by Ohashi et al. at Flinders University in Australia. Improvements in knowledge of the structure of the semiconductor-solution system used in a solar breakdown of water has led to the discovery of surface states which take part in giving rise to hydrogen (Khan). Photoelectrocatalysis made a ten times increase in the efficiency of the photo production of hydrogen from water. The use of two electrode cells; p and n semiconductors respectively, was first introduced by Uosaki in 1978. Most photoanodes decompose during the photoelectrolysis. To avoid this, it has been necessary to create a transparent shield between the semiconductor and its electronic properties and the solution. In this way, 8.5% at 25 °C and 9.5% at 50 °C has been reached in the photo dissociation of water (GaP and InAs) by Kainthla and Barbara Zeleney in 1989. A large consortium has been funded by the US government at the California Institute of Technology under the direction of Nathan Lewis. The decomposition of water by light is the main aim of this group. Whether light will be the origin of the post fossil fuel supply of energy may be questionable, but the maximum program in this direction is likely to come from Cal. Tech.
Espace, ressources naturelles et demandes sociales au Burkina Faso: quel avenir pour l'environnement?
Authors: Poda Nayiré Evariste
Published: December 2011

L'article analyse les rapports population-environnement dans un pays du Sahel partiellement touché par l'aridité. La situation est sérieuse en raison de la forte croissance démographique et du rapide processus de désertification. L'environnement a une influence marquée sur la population, particulièrement dans les régions du nord où les sols sont pauvres et les sécheresses fréquentes. Inversement, la population a une forte influence sur l'environnement; les surfaces cultivées s'accroissent, l'agriculture itinérante sur brûlis est destructrice, le bois est largement utilisé pour la construction de cases et de maisons; enfin, diverses activités et coutumes contribuent à la dégradation du couvert végétal. Depuis l'indépendance du pays, diverses politiques ont essayé de sauvegarder les ressources naturelles.
Profession, résidence et situation familiale des jeunes urbains sous la Monarchie de Juillet
Authors: Lévy-Vroelant Claire
Published: December 2011

Family, professional and residential status of young urban people during the July Monarchy (1830-1848): study from nominal rolls of a 1837 census

The concept of "transition to adult status" has been shown as vague or reversible in recent surveys. Furthermore, increasing difficulties on the labour market would imply a later instance of such a transition in our societies.

The frequent reference to the past used in debates on society issues should be further specified and confronted to accurate data. The purpose of this paper is to analyse family, professional and residential status for young people living in the city of Versailles during the July Monarchy (1830-1848), by using marriage registers, local press and nominal rolls from the 1837 census, which allowed us to observe a sample of 854 15- 30 young people. This kind of survey could not be carried out in Paris where equivalent sources have disappeared. At that time, young people either : lived in the parental home, or were head of a household, or were taken in by a family, or were living in a furnished room, or were housed by their employer. The great importance of the last category, particularly among girls (20-30 %), the low marriage frequency, as well as its postponement, were all factors which revealed young people difficulties to emancipate. Such arrangements, which lend to a longer latency period, could be seen as "family tricks", as lesser harm anyway in comparison with the young people condition in rural areas or in factories.
Un second trésor d'époque augustéenne découvert à Port-Haliguen (Quiberon, Morbihan)
Authors: Goulpeau Louis
Published: December 2011

We study a second augustan hoard, found in the same parcel as this one described by J.-B. Giard. Later in formation date than the former, it should be burried at a same date but with a différent hoarding process.
César, Strabon et les Vénètes : un faux «emporion»
Authors: Thollard Patrick
Published: December 2011

The comparison between the principle texts concerning the Venet shows a difference between the accounts of Strabo, Caesar and Cassius Dio. The différence lays on the words χρώμένοι τῷ ἑμπορίῳ wich puzzled a lot the comrnentators and up to now no satisfying ansvver has been found. We propose to read ἑμπορικῷ instead of ἑμπορίῳ. The interprétation offers the advantage to set up again Strabo's cohérence and to make Cassius Dio's, Caesar's and Strabo's texts concord.
La Bajoulière en St-Rémy-la-Varenne (Maine-et-Loire). Fouille et restauration d'un grand "Dolmen Angevin"
Authors: Gruet Michel , Passini Bernard
Published: December 2011

The dolmen of La Bajoulière stands two kilometers south of the Loire river, between Angers and Saumur. It is an impressive, huge, megalithic, square monument. Its pattern is "angevin" type, that is to say it has a short porch (portique). Before the dolmen has been built, the place had been occupied by an Augy-Ste Pallaye neolithic group. It has been impossible to find out the builders'identity, because gallo-roman and Middle-Ages people had inhabited the burial-chamber.

We observed, inside, a transversal megalithic partition with an axial way. Outside, we made clear remains of a pear shaped cairn, tapering at the back and including a wall dividing it, probably, into two banks, and a two-horned fore-court. One of thèse horns was defaced, may be at the Bronze-Age. It is not quite certain that this fore-court has been made up by the burial-chamber builders.
Contribution à l'étude de l'occupation du site d'Evreux au Paléolithique
Authors: Cliquet Dominique
Published: December 2011

The study of Evreux's occupation at the paleolithic came out with the collections of the town museum shows that the man was early established in a loess environment. Ancient paleolithic - middle Acheulean - and middle paleolithic - Mousterian of Acheulean tradition - only are attested. However upper paleolithic is attested in the Eure "county".
Le complexe mégalithique du Petit-Mont à Arzon (Morbihan)
Authors: Lecornec Joël
Published: December 2011

A un premier bilan des fouilles du complexe mégalithique du Petit Mont à Arzon (Morbihan), publié à l'issue de la cinquième année de fouilles en 1985, succèdent ici les résultats des travaux de 1983 à 1986. Au cours de cette période a été mise au jour, dans le cairn secondaire, une sépulture particulièrement attrayante par son ornementation et son mobilier du IVe millénaire, et nous apportons une preuve supplémentaire au dossier des populations néolithiques iconoclastes.
Fouille du monument de Brehuidic à Sarzeau-Brillac (Morbihan)
Authors: Lecornec Joël
Published: December 2011

La fouille de sauvetage réalisée au début de 1987 à Brillac en Sarzeau nous a permis de reconnaître un nouveau monument mégalithique en presqu'île de Rhuys. Son état dégradé ne nous a pas permis d'en définir le type. Un superbe mobilier céramique et lithique a été recueilli, mettant en évidence une occupation du Néolithique moyen au Néolithique final marqué par du Campaniforme, des céramiques du type "Riesenbecher", et de belles lames de poignards en silex pressignien.
Un nouvel atelier de bouilleur de sel à Landrellec en Pleumeur-Bodou (Côtes d'Armor)
Authors: Daire Marie-Yvane
Published: December 2011

During spring 1990, a rescue excavation has permitted the study of a new «salt-making» workshop, dating from the late Iron Age, on the north coast of Brittany. The most remarquable structures of the workshop, well preserved, are a big excavated kiln and a séries of five pits, whose utilisation was perhaps sait brine préservation.
Découverte d'une faucille à douille de type britannique sur la commune de la Chapelle-des-Marais (Loire-Atlantique)
Authors: Maggi Christine , Faye Chrystèle
Published: December 2011

A British sickle socketed laterally (Group I, C. F'ox, 1939) has been discovered around «La Chapelle-des- Marais» (Loire-Atlantique). Typical objects of the carp's tongue group, this kind of sickles is a proof showing a link berween British islands and France during the Bronze Age.
Le campement mésolithique des Etangs de la Brenière à Montbert (Loire-Atlantique)
Authors: Gouraud Gérard
Published: December 2011

The effective protection of the encampment of the Etangs de la Brenière has allowed a homogeneous mesolithic industry. The hunters, settled in a specially well sheltered vale, worked the best facies of a local stone. Ligerian (lone-valley) flint only competed with this stone for the most elaborate productions. With a strongly laminar debitage, the industry of the Etangs de la Brenière, with its transvasal base points of hesitating technology, going with others more classic, a few Chaville points and azilian points, also the relative importance of its isoceles triangles, could be attributed to an early Preboreal occupation.
Le décor à la coquille dans le campaniforme du Sud-Finistère
Authors: Salanova Laure
Published: December 2011

The study of Beaker pottery from South-Finistère led us to specify the techniques of decoration characteristic of each style. The Maritime style is generally made by shell impression and not by «comb impression». For the decorations based on triangles, spatula stamping and incising are used.
Un trésor tibérien de deniers et d'aurei au Mans (Sarthe)
Authors: Amandry Michel , Aubin Gérard
Published: December 2011

En 1985, un trésor composé de 45 deniers, 1 drachme, 3 quinaires de la République et des débuts de l'Empire et de 5 aurei de Tibère a été découvert dans un niveau antérieur a l'installation des thermes publics du Mans. Il s'agit d'un trésor mixte, vraisemblablement enfoui sous le règne de Tibère, à la veille d'une transformation du cadre urbain de ce chef-lieu de cité.
Un atelier de potier de la fin du XIIème siècle à La Roche-Mabile (Orne)
Authors: Bernouis Philippe , Dufournier Daniel , Fajal Bruno
Published: December 2011

The remains of a twelfth (12 th) century pottery workshop have been discovered outside the defensive works of the fortified town of La Roche-Mabile (Orne). These consist of two small longitudinal kilns, preserved to a length of 2,5 m and 2 m respectively, their floors approximately flat and abrupty sloping. The products of this workshop, essentially made up of cooking pots and pitchers, belong within the régional typology of common pottery of the Middle Ages.
Le tumulus de Renongar en Plovan (Finistère). Etude d'une fouille ancienne de Paul Du Chatellier
Authors: Polles Ronan
Published: December 2011

The monument of Renongar at Plovan (Finistère) is a megalithic complex excavated by the finisterian

archaeologist Paul Du Chatellier in the last century but which has not been fully published.

This monument procured an important material includingone of the most important assemblages of Kerugou ware.

One of the orthostats was carved on both sides and the design shows that it may be a decorated menhir re-used as a slab.

From the ceramic material, the author studies the relations between Groh-Collé ware and Kerugou ware in south Finistère.
Le remembrement : ses apports à l'inventaire archéologique d'une commune. L'exemple de Chauve (Loire Atlantique)
Authors: Tessier Michel
Published: December 2011

A new apportionnement of fields, in order to set modem farming, improves ways, beats down hedges and slopes, deepens streamlets. Archeological prospect along the new riversides can show many discoveries. Most of them could not be found by other procedures. An example is given by such a prospect through the parish of Chauve (Loire-Atlantique) where 25 sites from Paleolitic to Middle Age have been pointed out.
Site campaniforme de Sauveterre, commune d'Olonne-sur-Mer (Vendée)
Authors: Rousseau Jérôme
Published: December 2011

Le site de Sauveterre vient s'ajouter aux nombreux sites campaniformes du littoral vendéen. L'unique tesson décoré propose une empreinte profonde réalisée au coquillage, peut-être le pétoncle.
Le site paléolithique inférieur de Raguénés (Névez, Finistère). Cadre géologique et industrie
Authors: Molines Nathalie , Gageonnet Robert , Monnier Jean Laurent
Published: December 2011

Une industrie exclusivement en quartz a été découverte sur la commune de Névez (Finistère) en plusieurs points de la falaise bordant la plage et l'îlot de Raguénés. La conservation du gisement pourrait être liée à une ancienne anse colmatée qui se marque dans l 'arrière-côte par une dépression topographique et une petite falaise morte. Le niveau archéologique est associé à des restes de plage ancienne et à un head recouvrant le substratum de micaschistes.

L'homogénéité des pièces taillées, quant à leur état de surface, comme à leurs caractères techno-typologiques, plaide en faveur d'une unique occupation attribuée au Paléolithique inférieur. A titre d'hypothèse et par référence au contexte stratigraphique sud armoricain, un âge correspondant aux stades isotopiques 9 ou 11 est proposé.
Premières données paléoenvironnementales extraites du matériel archéobotanique de Kerven Teignouse (Inguiniel, Morbihan)
Authors: Marguerie Dominique
Published: December 2011

Les études polliniques et anthracologiques, menées depuis 1996 sur le site de Kerven Teignouse en Inguiniel (Morbihan), révèlent l'existence d'une mosaïque de paysages entourant les habitats successifs tout au long du second Age du Fer. Une chênaie demeurée dense cohabite avec des fourrés et des landes. En contrebas du site, un bas-marais est auréolé d'une aulnaie. Enfin, des zones de pâtures et de cultures céréalières existent non loin du site. Il s'agit là des premiers résultats d'une enquête archéobotanique qui se poursuit actuellement sur et autour du site pour apporter plus de précisions dans la reconstitution diachronique de l'environnement et dans les relations entretenues par les Gaulois avec ce dernier.
Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis: Urea Kinetic Modeling and Implications of Residual Kidney Function
Authors: Guest Steven , Akonur Alp , Ghaffari Arshia , Sloand James , Leypoldt John K.
Published: December 2011

♦Background

Intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) is an old strategy that has generally been eclipsed, in the home setting, by daily peritoneal therapies. However, for a select group of patients with exhausted vascular access or inability to receive PD at home, in-center IPD may remain an option or may serve as an incremental strategy before initiation of full-dose PD. We investigated the residual kidney clearance requirements necessary to allow thrice-weekly IPD regimens to meet current adequacy targets.

♦Methods

The 3-pore model of peritoneal transport was used to examine 2 thrice-weekly IPD dialysis modalities: 5 – 6 dwells with 10 – 12 L total volume (low-dose IPD), and 50% tidal with 20 – 24 L total volume (high-dose IPD). We assumed an 8-hour dialysis duration and 1.5% dextrose solution, with a 2-L fill volume, except in tidal mode. The PD Adequest application (version 2.0: Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, USA) and typical patient kinetic parameters derived from a large dataset [data on file from Treatment Adequacy Review for Gaining Enhanced Therapy (Baxter Healthcare Corporation)] were used to model urea clearances. The minimum glomerular filtration rate (GFR) required to achieve a total weekly urea Kt/V of 1.7 was calculated.

♦Results

In the absence of any dialysis, the minimum residual GFR necessary to achieve a weekly urea Kt/V of 1.7 was 9.7 mL/min/1.73 m2. Depending on membrane transport type, the low-dose IPD modality met urea clearance targets for patients with a GFR between 6.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 7.6 mL/min/1.73 m2. Similarly, the high-dose IPD modality met the urea clearance target for patients with a GFR between 4.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 6.5 mL/min/1.73 m2.

♦Conclusions

In patients with residual GFR of at least 7.6 mL/min/1.73 m2, thrice-weekly low-dose IPD (10 L) achieved a Kt/V urea of 1.7 across all transport types. Increasing the IPD volume resulted in a decreased residual GFR requirement of 4.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 (24 L, 50% tidal). In patients with residual kidney function and dietary compliance, IPD may be a viable strategy in certain clinical situations.
Prisons et santé mentale, les oubliés du système
Authors: Vacheret Marion , Lafortune Denis
Published: December 2011

Depuis plusieurs années, les institutions carcérales sont confrontées au problème de la présence, derrière leurs murs, d’une population présentant des troubles importants de santé mentale. Or, la prise en charge de cette population semble se heurter à de nombreuses difficultés, difficultés que nous avons analysées à partir d’une étude dans divers établissements correctionnels du Québec. Il ressort ainsi, qu’en dépit d’une dénonciation récurrente de la vulnérabilité de ce groupe, les condamnés avec des problèmes de santé mentale se retrouvent dans un cercle de contrôle et de dépendance encore plus marqué que celui du condamné sans problèmes particuliers. Ignorés, oubliés, infantilisés, ces détenus se retrouvent dans une situation de précarité importante. Faute de moyens, sans lieux d’hébergement adaptés, les interventions réalisées auprès de cette population, dont les troubles sont d’ailleurs rarement dépistés, sont généralement réduites à une simple distribution de médicaments. Elles accentuent d’autant plus l’isolement et l’exclusion auxquels se trouve soumise toute population captive.
Les carrières de consommation d'usagers de cocaïne inconnus des institutions socio-sanitaires et répressives une recherche qualitative conduite en France en 2007-2009
Authors: Reynaud-Maurupt Catherine , Maitena Milhet , Hoareau Emmanuelle , Cadet-Taïrou Agnès
Published: December 2011

Cet article porte sur les carrières d’usagers de cocaïne inconnus des institutions socio-sanitaires et répressives. Il présente les résultats d’une enquête conduite par entretiens semi-directifs auprès de 50 usagers appartenant à cette population cachée. Les auteurs retracent les différentes étapes des carrières en portant une attention particulière aux fréquences d’usage mais aussi aux contextes de consommation, aux significations de l’usage ainsi qu’aux dynamiques de groupe façonnant les parcours individuels.
Quelques réflexions à propos des termes : inceste, incestuel et abus
Authors: de Perrot Édouard
Published: December 2011

Résumé L’auteur s’interroge sur la thématique évoquée, si vaste qu’on ne peut que la survoler en se posant quelques questions au sujet de son histoire et de ses implications, tant sur la manière de penser que sur la pratique qui en découle.
The Set-Up and Implementation of Fully Virtualized Lessons with an Automated Workflow Utilizing VMC/Moodle at the Medical University of Graz
Authors: Rehatschek Herwig Erich , Hölzl Gernot , Fladischer Michael
Published: December 2011

With start of winter semester 2010/11 the Medical University of Graz (MUG) successfully introduced a new primary learning management system (LMS) Moodle. Moodle currently serves more than 4,300 students from three studies and holds more than 7,500 unique learning objects. With begin of the summer semester 2010 we decided to start a pilot with Moodle and 430 students. For the pilot we migrated the learning content of one module and two optional subjects to Moodle. The evaluation results were extremely promising â?? more than 92% of the students wanted immediately Moodle â?? also Moodle did meet our high expectations in terms of performance and scalability. Within this paper we describe how we defined and set-up a scalable and highly available platform for hosting Moodle and extended it by the functionality for fully automated virtual lessons. We state our experiences and give valuable clues for universities and institutions who want to introduce Moodle in the near future.
Implementation Success Model in Government Agencies
Authors: Levy Yair , Danet Theon L.
Published: December 2011

A recent presidential directive mandated that all U.S. government agencies establish a centralized identification system. This study investigated the impact of users’ involvement, resistance, and computer self-efficacy on the implementation success of a centralized identification system. Information System (IS) usage was the construct employed to measure IS implementation success. A survey instrument was developed based on existing measures from key IS literature. The results of this study indicated a strong reliability for the measures of all constructs (user involvement, computer self-efficacy, user’s resistance, and IS usage). Factor analysis was conducted using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation. Results of the PCA indicate that items of the constructs measured had high validity, while Cronbach’s Alpha for each factor demonstrates high reliability for all constructs measured. Additionally, results of a structural equations modeling analysis using Partial Least Square (PLS) indicate that computer self-efficacy and user involvement had positive significant impact on the implementation success. However, the results also demonstrated that user’s resistance had no significant impact on IS usage, while end user involvement had a strong negative impact on user’s resistance.
Mass Customisation Models for Travel and Tourism Information e-Services
Authors: Sigala Marianna
Published: December 2011

Online travel firms exploit current ICT advances for developing mass customization (MC) capabilities and addressing the needs of the sophisticated travellers. However, studies investigating MC in services and specifically in tourism are limited. By adopting a customer-focused approach, this paper addresses this gap by analysing the following issues: a) the ICT and product dimensions that online firms can customise for developing and implementing different MC models; and b) the customer value and benefits provided by the different MC models. After reviewing and illustrating the interrelationships of studies coming from the fields of customer value, MC and IS design, the author proposes a customer value based framework for developing MC models. The applicability and practical implications of this framework are demonstrated by analysing the MC practices of three online travel cyberintermediaries. Finally, the paper summarises the formulation of research propositions investigating the influence of users’ characteristics on the customer value and benefits sought by MC practices and on the design of the IS platforms supporting MC services.
E-Accessibility and Municipal Wi-Fi
Authors: Baker Paul M.A. , Fairchild Alea , Pater Jessica
Published: December 2011

One of the typical design objectives of municipal Wi-Fi systems is the free or low-cost provision of connectivity for citizens, including people with disabilities and others impacted by the digital divide. This paper examines a range of municipal Wi-Fi implementation models for potential impact on e-accessibility. A comparative analysis was undertaken of sample U.S. and European municipal Wi-Fi systems to assess the business model and stakeholders involved in municipal wireless initiatives and to examine the degree of accessibility to or sensitivity of, municipal wireless systems for people with disabilities. As many people with disabilities are currently affected by social disparities in education and income, further marginalization of their communication and information access creates additional access barriers to critical information and full participation in community life.
The Market Fraction Hypothesis under Different Genetic Programming Algorithms
Authors: Kampouridis Michael , Chen Shu-Heng , Tsang Edward
Published: December 2011

In a previous work, inspired by observations made in many agent-based financial models, we formulated and presented the Market Fraction Hypothesis, which basically predicts a short duration for any dominant type of agents, but then a uniform distribution over all types in the long run. We then proposed a two-step approach, a rule-inference step, and a rule-clustering step, to test this hypothesis. We employed genetic programming as the rule inference engine, and applied self-organizing maps to cluster the inferred rules. We then ran tests for 10 international markets and provided a general examination of the plausibility of the hypothesis. However, because of the fact that the tests took place under a GP system, it could be argued that these results are dependent on the nature of the GP algorithm. This chapter thus serves as an extension to our previous work. We test the Market Fraction Hypothesis under two new different GP algorithms, in order to prove that the previous results are rigorous and are not sensitive to the choice of GP. We thus test again the hypothesis under the same 10 empirical datasets that were used in our previous experiments. Our work shows that certain parts of the hypothesis are indeed sensitive on the algorithm. Nevertheless, this sensitivity does not apply to all aspects of our tests. This therefore allows us to conclude that our previously derived results are rigorous and can thus be generalized.
Using Genetic Programming Systems as Early Warning to Prevent Bank Failure
Authors: Almanza Alma Lilia Garcia , Jaramillo Serafín Martínez , Alexandrova-Kabadjova Biliana , Tsang Edward
Published: December 2011

The main advantage of creating understandable rules is that users are able to interpret and identify the events that may trigger bankruptcy. By using the method that we propose in this work, it is possible to identify when certain financial indicators are getting close to specific thresholds, something that can turn into an undesirable situation. This is particularly relevant if the companies we are referring to are banks. The contribution of this chapter is to improve the prediction by means of a multi-population approach. The experimental results were evaluated using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) described in Fawcett and Provost (1997). We show that our approach could improve the Area Under the ROC Curve in 5% with respect to the same method proposed in Garcia et al. (2010). Additionally, a series of experiments were performed in order to find out the reasons of success of the EDR.
Teaching Hardware Design with Online Laboratories
Authors: Hashemian Reza , Pearson Timothy R.
Published: December 2011

This chapter focuses on a cost-effective, hybrid remote laboratory for hardware design. The laboratory is based on a reconfigurable internal debugging interface coupled with an “in the cloud” development and simulation system. Deployment, scalability, administration, and security concerns are discussed, and the possibility of hardware abstraction is introduced. Finally, the remote use of standard test equipment is detailed, examples of typical system usage and workflow are presented, and sample cost tables are provided.
The Role of Internet-Accessible Laboratory Plants in the Teaching of Automatic Control
Authors: Atanasijevic-Kunc Maja , Karba Rihard , Logar Vito
Published: December 2011

This chapter presents a sequential approach to the introduction of e-learning in the field of automatic control as realized at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. However, the proposed methodology can easily be extended to other scientific fields. First, the organization of the lectures and the main activities are described. Then the motivational aspects for the reorganization are presented, where the design projects introduced during the exercises play an important role. As a result of the positive response to this approach, one of the projects was further extended and realized as a combination of exercises and exams, incorporating parts of a computer game and competition using virtual and remote experiments with a chosen multivariable pilot plant. The students’ responses and staff experiences are evaluated and analyzed, from which the potential advantages of the proposed approach become clear.
Matlab RTW-based Internet Accessible Remote Laboratory for Teaching Robot Control
Authors: Kovacic Zdenko , Jerbic Davor , Vojvoda Vedran , Dujmovic Siniša
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes the use of Matlab Real Time Workshop (RTW) for implementing an Internet Accessible Laboratory (IAL) for teaching robot control. The IAL architecture consists of three key components - IAL Web Application, IAL database, and a set of robot control schemes prepared for students’ laboratory curriculum that are running in Matlab RTW. The IAL management system supports multilingual access and enables easy addition of new users, new robotic systems, and new laboratory exercises related to robot control. The IAL functionality is demonstrated with the example of controlling a four degrees of freedom SCARA robot.
Remote Instrumentation for Science Education
Authors: Lytle Fred E. , Weaver Gabriela C. , Wyss Phillip , Steffen Debora , Campbell John
Published: December 2011

This chapter will describe a laboratory of Internet accessible instrumentation that serves students participating in the Center for Authentic Science Practice in Education (CASPiE). The equipment consists of commercially available scientific instruments not commonly available for teaching purposes in two and four year colleges. All are controlled by proprietary instrument manufacturer software which is also necessary for data reduction and analysis. Because the Center is a consortium of a large number and variety of schools, and because the students have little previous experience with advanced instrumentation, security has been a major design goal. The discussion will focus primarily on the types of security and data provenance issues encountered and the methods used to make the CASPiE laboratory a secure part of the educational cyberinfrastructure.
Collaborative Sustainability Strategies for Online Laboratories
Authors: Watson Roger , Coble Aaron , Bhave Amit , Braumann Andreas , Smallbone Andrew , Kraft Markus
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes a wide range of issues relating to the collaborative aspects of sustaining an online laboratory at both a local and a strategic level. The discussion focuses on the benefits that the key stakeholders can obtain through collaboration, methods for establishing and sustaining collaborations, and the ways in which collaboration can enhance didactics. Current trends and future opportunities for amateur, research, and industry-driven online laboratories are also discussed. The chapter concludes with three case studies which illustrate the recent past, the state-of-the-art and the imminent future of online laboratory learning, and the ways by which progress towards a sustainable infrastructure can be made in a complex and culturally diverse world. It is advocated that the online laboratory community should move beyond a narrow peer-to-peer approach and engage increasingly with the full range of stakeholders.
Luciano Floridi’s Metaphysical Theory of Information Ethics
Authors: Spence Edward
Published: December 2011

This paper falls into five main parts. Part one, offers a critical analysis and evaluation of Luciano Floridi’s metaphysical theory of information ethics (IE). Drawing on part one, part two provides a discussion of what I consider to be the main conceptual and practical difficulties facing Floridi’s IE theory. Although in agreement with the overall motivation and objective that informs Floridi’s IE position, namely, that “all entities, qua informational objects, have an intrinsic moral value…” and that “there seems to be no good reason not to adopt a higher and more inclusive, ontocentric [moral] perspective” (Floridi, 2007, 10), part three of the paper proposes an alternative New-Gewirthian approach to Information Ethics that avoids some if not all of the difficulties facing Floridi’s own position. Part four then examines the implications for Floridi’s metaphysical theory of information ethics and finally, offers a conclusion in part five.
Working Together to Improve Usability
Authors: Nørgaard Mie , Hornbæk Kasper
Published: December 2011

In theory, usability work is an important and well-integrated activity in developing software. In practice, collaboration on improving usability is ridden with challenges relating to conflicting professional goals, tight project schedules, and unclear usability findings. The authors study those challenges through 16 interviews with software developers, usability experts, and project managers. Four themes that are key challenges to successful interaction between stakeholders are identified: poor timing when delivering usability results, results lacking relevance, little respect for other disciplines, and difficulties sharing important information. The authors review practices that have successfully addressed these challenges and discuss their observations as encompassing multiple perspectives and as a collaborative cross-professional learning process.
IAM Risks during Organizational Change and Other Forms of Major Upheaval
Authors: Axelrod C. Warren
Published: December 2011

Managing digital identities and computer and network access rights is difficult at the best of times. But today’s rapidly changing organizational structures and technology dependencies make for even greater challenges. In this chapter, we review the various stages in the identity and access management (IAM) lifecycle from the particular perspective of organizations undergoing substantial change from mergers and acquisitions, business expansions and contractions, as well as internal structural and technological changes. We also look at the impact on IAM of incidents originating from outside organizations, such as natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, etc.) and manmade catastrophes (terrorist bombings, major oil spills, etc.). We address the question of how one might prepare for and respond to such events by managing and controlling identification and authorization in fast-moving, difficult-to-control situations.
Separating Private and Business Identities
Authors: Gulyás Gábor György , Schulcz Róbert , Imre Sándor
Published: December 2011

As various information technologies are penetrating everyday life, private and business matters inevitably mingle. Separating private and business past records, public information, actions or identities may, however, be crucial for an employee in certain situations. In this chapter we review the interrelated areas of employee privacy, and analyze in detail two areas of special importance from the viewpoint of the separation: web and social network privacy. In relation to these areas we discuss threats and solutions in parallel, and besides surveying the relevant literature, we also present current Privacy Enhancing Technologies applicable in each area. Additionally, we briefly review other means of workplace surveillance, providing some insight into the world of smartphones, where we expect the rise of new privacy-protecting technologies as these devices are getting capable of taking over the functions of personal computers.
Privacy Considerations for Electronic Health Records
Authors: Kuehler Mary , Schimke Nakeisha , Hale John
Published: December 2011

Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are a powerful tool for healthcare providers and patients. Both groups benefit from unified, easily accessible record management; however, EHR systems also bring new threats to patient privacy. The reach of electronic patient data extends far beyond the healthcare realm. Patients are managing their own health records through personal health record (PHR) service providers, and businesses outside of the healthcare industry are finding themselves increasingly linked to medical data. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule and other regulatory measures establish baseline standards for protecting patient privacy, but the inclusion of medical images in patient records presents unique challenges. Medical images often require specialized management tools, and some medical images may reveal a patient’s identity or medical condition through re-linkage or inherent identifiability. After exploring EHR systems in-depth and reviewing health information policy, the chapter explores how privacy challenges associated with EHR systems and medical images can be mitigated through the combined efforts of technology, policy, and legislation designed to reduce the risk of re-identification.