bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What is New York’s Amazon Tax on Internet Commerce?
Authors: Yang James G.S.
Published: October 2011

This paper examines internet commerce taxation. It concerns who is responsible for collecting sales tax - the seller or the buyer, which depends on nexus between the seller and the state. If there is a nexus, it is the seller’s responsibility; otherwise, it is the buyer’s duty. Nexus further depends on physical presence. However, in today’s e-business, the concept of physical presence has changed. Effective June 1, 2008, New York State enacted the so called “Amazon Tax Law” that an out-of-state online retailer is presumed to have nexus with New York State if it enters into a contract with an affiliate in the state to engage in soliciting businesses in the state by means of web site linkage for an annual gross receipts of more than $10,000. As such, the online retailer is required to collect sales tax from the in-state buyer. The concept of physical presence has been extended from employee or office to web site connection. This paper examines its impact.
Market Transparency in Business-to-Business e-Commerce
Authors: Ozcelik Yasin , Ozdemir Zafer D.
Published: October 2011

Market transparency refers to the level of current trade information revealed to participants by market makers. This paper analyzes the effect of market transparency on the outcomes of posted-offer style Business-to-Business e-commerce markets. First, increasing market transparency improves the price-tracking ability of sellers, and results in higher efficiency. However, revelation of quantity information on transactions is not very crucial as opposed to price information. Second, although sellers extract significantly higher surplus (profit) than buyers can do in a posted-offer market, the difference vanishes with increasing market transparency. Lastly, sellers in posted-offer markets respond poorly to external demand shocks. Interestingly, the poor price-tracking performance of sellers hurts buyers more. In other words, seller profits are much less sensitive to demand shocks as compared to buyer surpluses.
The Level Paradox of E-Collaboration
Authors: de Guinea Ana Ortiz
Published: October 2011

Although e-collaboration phenomena are multilevel in nature, research to date has been conducted from an exclusively single-level focus. This has lead to the level paradox. The dangers of the level paradox are discussed, including the potential that apparent cumulative knowledge may actually be spurious. Solutions to the level paradox are proposed in the form of future opportunities of research from several mixed-level approaches, and the benefits and barriers to mixed-level research are discussed. The article ends with a discussion on the necessity of finding a balance between single-level and mixed-level research, as well as on the necessity of single-level studies explicitly specifying the levels of theory, measurement, and data in their research.
Working Effectively in a Matrix
Authors: Forgie Jennifer
Published: October 2011

The complexities of today’s organizations have made it increasingly challenging for leaders to encourage and sustain a culture of cooperation. As organizations become flatter and leaner and people are required to do “more with less,” the key to success is the ability to coordinate decisions and actions across organizational boundaries and gain the support of people who often have competing priorities or conflicting goals. Further, the increasing prevalence of virtual teamwork and widespread use of e-collaboration tools have additional implications for how leaders encourage cooperation and coordinate work. This article explores the critical organizational factors and leadership skills that are required to build a culture of cooperation in today’s highly matrix, and often virtual, organizations.
Towards a Framework for Web 2.0 Community Success
Authors: Chang Joshua , Lewis Clifford
Published: October 2011

Although ample research has been conducted on the topic of community, there is still much research to be done on online communities. More specifically, there is a paucity of research on the topic of building successful Web 2.0 communities like YouTube—the top ranked Web 2.0 video sharing website. In this paper, a framework for Web 2.0 community success is proposed based on a theoretical review and an empirical study of YouTube using a dual approach consisting of content analysis and grounded theory interviews. The findings identify specific internal and external factors that are important for the success of YouTube as a Web 2.0 community. A framework of Web 2.0 community success is also proposed, which is useful in the planning and administration of Web 2.0 Communities.
Megatrends in Electronic Business
Authors: Ovaskainen Marko , Tinnilä Markku
Published: October 2011

This paper analyses the impact of megatrends of electronic business on small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). The limited resources of SMEs create particular challenges in surviving the fast pace of changes in electronic business. This paper discusses megatrends and presents a qualitative study of e-business trends. The authors reveal entrepreneurial opportunities for agile small businesses and emphasize the need to keep up with technology. They examine core competences and finding a role in networks, the creation of business models and processes, and the challenges of multi-channel digital environments. The main trends are analysed for their particular impact on SMEs, and directions for development needs in SMEs are discussed.
Innovative Electronic Business
Authors: Kollmann Tobias , Krell Patrick
Published: October 2011

In this paper, the development of the Internet from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 to Web 3.0 is analysed to define current trends and discover future potential trends. Furthermore, a definition of these different stages is made and supported with examples. Starting with Web 1.0 and the corresponding e-procurement, e-shop and e-marketplace, the first e-business activities are defined. Thereafter, Web 2.0 is determined by innovative e-community systems. Finally, Web 3.0 is characterised by e-customization and e-request platforms. This article creates a clearer understanding of the development of the Internet, defines current trends, and discovers potential trends.
Entrepreneurial Tricks and Ethics Surveyed in Different Countries
Authors: Pivoda Miroslav , Hoy Frank , Todorov Kiril , Vojtko Viktor
Published: October 2011

To resolve entry and growth problems, entrepreneurs use creative solutions or tricks, which some may find to be ethically questionable. Generating mistrust is a negative consequence when engaging in entrepreneurial tricks. In spite of that, 66% of entrepreneurs (out of 201 respondents) and 76% of business students (out of 213) consider using some tricks as absolutely necessary if an entrepreneur wants to succeed in his or her domestic business environment. Surprisingly optimistic, 52% of entrepreneurs and 57% of students believe that business ethics can be improved substantially by teaching business ethics to entrepreneurs. And of course, there are different levels of ethics standards or custom practices in different countries emerging from our survey in five countries and a few responses from 21 other countries. The authors also discuss the possible future for business tricks, and if there might be any benefits of them.
Broadband Adoption and Usage Behavior of Malaysian Accountants
Authors: Dwivedi Yogesh   K. , Selamat Mohamad Hisyam , Lal Banita
Published: October 2011

This study examines the factors affecting the adoption of broadband Internet in a developing country context by focusing on Malaysia. The data relating to these factors was collected using a survey approach. The findings of this paper suggest that constructs such as relative advantage, utilitarian outcomes, service quality, and primary influence are important factors affecting Malaysian accountants’ broadband adoption and Internet use behaviour. The paper proceeds to outline the research limitations and implications.
Malaria Parasite Detection
Authors: Koppar Anant R. , Sridhar Venugopalachar
Published: October 2011

Healthcare Delivery Systems are becoming overloaded in developing countries like India and China. It is imperative that more efficient and cost effective processes are employed. One such requirement is the automatic detection of malaria parasites in stained blood smears. Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease. Each year Malaria kills between one and three million people. The most conventional and gold standard test for the confirmation of the Malarial diagnosis is the peripheral blood smear examination. The paper investigates and develops an automated malaria diagnostic system based on the color image processing using Hue, Saturation & Intensity (HSI) model. The algorithm is designed to identify only parasites inside red blood cells (erythrocytes) to avoid false positive results. The work-flow process has enabled practical tele-pathology by allowing e-collaboration between lesser skilled technicians in rural areas and experts in urban areas, cutting down the total turnaround time for diagnosing malaria from days to minutes.
Pervasive Computing Support in the Transition towards Personalised Health Systems
Authors: Serrano Martín , Elmisery Ahmed , Foghlú Mícheál Ó , Donnelly Willie , Storni Cristiano , Fernström Mikael
Published: October 2011

This paper discusses pervasive computing work in the transition from traditional health care programs to personalised health systems (pHealth). A chronological guided transition survey is discussed to highlight trends in medicine describing their most recent developments about health care systems. Future trends in this interdisciplinary techno-medical area are described as research goals. Particularly, research and technological efforts concerning ICT’s and pervasive computing in healthcare and medical applications are presented to identify systems requirements supporting secure and reliable networks and services. The main objectives are to summarise both the pHealth systems requirements providing end-user applications and the necessary pervasive computing support to interconnect device-based health care applications and distributed information data systems in secure and reliable forms, highlighting the role pervasive computing plays in this process. A generic personalised healthcare scheme is introduced to provide guidance in the transition and can be used for multiple medical and health applications. An example is briefly introduced by using the generic scheme proposed.
Modeling Emergency and Telemedicine Heath Support System
Authors: Yu Weider D. , Bhagwat Radhika
Published: October 2011

This paper examines the study of healthcare services provided through a telemedicine oriented Emergency Health Support System (EHSS). This study caters to the needs of senior citizens, but can be extended to a larger population. The main goals are to model the support system in Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) using Cloud Computing and study its performance. The paper compares a system deployed in the cloud versus a co-located environment based on data gathered from the prototype. The emergency support system has a 24/7 remote healthcare monitoring of registered users and provides immediate support in case of a healthcare emergency. The telemedicine system empowers the physicians to prescribe medication based on the users’ vitals, via email, instant messaging, or phone. The system can be based on the platform of Cloud Computing to not only improve performance, but also cut down on computing and networking resource requirements to a large extent. A prototype of Emergency Health Support System has been developed and the system has been modeled and tested to derive performance statistics of the system’s capability.
Discrete Portable Measuring Device for Monitoring Noninvasive Intraocular Pressure with a Nano-Structured Sensing Contact Lens Prototype
Authors: Moya Ana , Guimerà Anton , Sánchez Irene , Laukin Vladimir , Martín Raúl , Ussa Fernando , Laukhina Elena , Rovira Concepció , Veciana Jaume , Pastor José Carlos , Villa Rosa , Aguiló Jordi
Published: October 2011

A new portable measuring device for monitoring intraocular pressure with a non invasive system using a prototype of contact lens has been developed. The contact lens is based on a new organic flexible highly piezo-resisitive film sensor that is glued to the central hole of a lens. The measuring system is wire connected to the contact lens and incorporates user interface methods and a Bluetooth link for bi-directional wireless data transfer. The key design aspects of such architecture are discussed in this paper. The system is designed with an architecture that can be integrated in the future in order to be placed in the contact lens. The discrete system is used to validate the electronic measurement operation and the contact lens sensor (CLS). The measurement instrument can calibrate the differences of the nominal value of the sensor and measure resistances variations that are related to pressure variations. The measuring system and the contact lens sensor were tested with an eye phantom and with enucleated pig eyes by applying pressure changes between 7 to 32 mmHg recording the electrical changes with the portable device.
Acquisition of Multiple Physiological Parameters During Physical Exercise
Authors: Felizardo Virginie , Gaspar Pedro Dinis , Garcia Nuno M. , Reis Victor
Published: October 2011

This paper describes the experimental method focused on the acquisition of various physiological parameters during different effort levels of physical exercise like walking and running at several velocities. The study involved 57 young and adult people, 43 male and 14 female (24,37±5,96 years), from which 48 were soldiers belonging to the Infantry Regiment n.° 13 (RI13) of the Portuguese Army and 9 were teachers or college students of Sport Sciences, physically active but not competitive. The experimental measures provide a set of information that offers insight about the health status and physical performance of the subjects during exercise. This experimental method procedure is suited for the acquisition of physiological parameters with both the wireless physiological data acquisition systems such as the bioPlux and the respiratory analyzer gas systems such as Cosmed K4b2.The data was collected to allow the definition of a model that will be used to estimate the energy expenditure of a subject using a wireless physiological data acquisition system, which is much more comfortable and suitable to monitor physical exercise in everyday use than the standard method that makes use of a respiratory gas analysis system.
QoS Concepts and Architecture Over Wireless Body Area Networks for Healthcare Applications
Authors: Chaari Lamia , Kamoun Lotfi
Published: October 2011

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) applications have emerged as one of the most recent research areas of wireless sensor networks. Lots of research is improving QoS factors in sensor networks. However, QoS requirements vary from application to application, WBAN applications are very sensitive, and QoS issues in WBAN need major concern and focus. This paper outlines the WBANs QoS requirements and factors and reviews with emphasis on their strengths some medium access mechanisms that response to some QoS challenges. Moreover, the authors have defined and specified a QWBAN MAC protocol that can allow the integration of QoS architecture over WBAN. A set of QoS modules such as admission control (CAC), bandwidth allocation and scheduling are discussed. Besides that, an integrated QoS architecture is suggested for WBAN to support healthcare applications.
A Prototype Agent Based Model and Machine Learning Hybrid System for Healthcare Decision Support
Authors: Laskowski Marek
Published: October 2011

Science is on the verge of practical agent based modeling decision support systems capable of machine learning for healthcare policy decision support. The details of integrating an agent based model of a hospital emergency department with a genetic programming machine learning system are presented in this paper. A novel GP heuristic or extension is introduced to better represent the Markov Decision Process that underlies agent decision making in an unknown environment. The capabilities of the resulting prototype for automated hypothesis generation within the context of healthcare policy decision support are demonstrated by automatically generating patient flow and infection spread prevention policies. Finally, some observations are made regarding moving forward from the prototype stage.
A Success Model for Enterprise Resource Planning Adoption to Improve Financial Performance in Vietnam’s Equitized State Owned Enterprises
Authors: Pham Long , Teich Jeffrey E.
Published: October 2011

Equitized state-owned enterprises (ESOEs) in Vietnam have begun to implement enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, ubiquitous in developed countries, to improve their operational and financial performance. However, such ESOEs lack a model for ERP adoption to guide them in successfully implementing ERP systems. This study is based on an extensive review of literature on ERP benefits and the equitization process in Vietnam and relevant theories on innovation adoption, and the authors propose a success model for ERP adoption in Vietnam’s ESOEs. Model hypotheses that present relationships among factors influencing ERP adoption are given and future studies are discussed.
A Classification Framework of Critical Success Factors for ERP Systems Implementation
Authors: Nour Mohamed A. , Mouakket Samar
Published: October 2011

Although organizations can gain many benefits from successful implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, there are high failure rates in ERP implementation projects. Therefore, a better understanding of ERP implementation success is a critical. One of the best known approaches used to define and measure ERP implementation success has been the critical success factors (CSF) approach. In this study, the authors investigate the current literature of critical success factors (CSFs) of ERP systems implementation and propose a new classification framework, categorized according to six proposed fundamental stakeholders. The authors then map those critical success factors to three different stages of an ERP project lifecycle. In addition, they identify several roles that each stakeholder may play during the ERP systems project lifecycle. The proposed classification framework provides organizations with a classification tool to help them identify the CSFs and those stakeholders who are most likely to have an impact on the implementation of the ERP system, which will help organizations to better plan for the implementation of their ERP systems.
Sustainable Competitive Advantage in E-Commerce and the Role of the Enterprise System
Authors: Schubert Petra , Williams Susan P. , Woelfle Ralf
Published: October 2011

Developing and sustaining a competitive advantage from the use of information technology is a topic of concern for information systems research. Mata et al. (1995) present a model that is founded on the resource-based view of the firm. The model is used to discuss factors that lead to competitive advantage in e-commerce companies. This paper explores factors that enable sustainable competitive advantages in B2C retailing. The analysis is based on a single in-depth case study of an Internet pioneer company (LeShop), which was observed by the authors since its inception more than 10 years ago. The research data stems from a series of interviews with managers at LeShop as well as two case studies about the company from two different points in time (2000 and 2009). LeShop is an online pioneer, which began selling groceries on the Internet in Switzerland in April 1998. After a turbulent few years, LeShop is now one of the few successful e-commerce suppliers in the supermarket segment worldwide. The discussion includes an analysis of further critical resources of the company from a resource-based view.
Collaborative Planning of ERP Implementation
Authors: Sohrabi Babak , Vanani Iman Raeesi
Published: October 2011

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the process of optimizing the performance of enterprise business processes through the utilization of integrated IT-based solutions. Such systems are mostly based on best practices gained through years of software analysis, design and deployment in the competitive markets. Planning for enterprise-wide system implementation requires all of the stakeholders to integrate views on considering strategic approaches toward a unified vision on how to develop and improve the collaborative ERP implementation planning process. This paper develops a framework which critically evaluates the final implementation plan based on considerations taken in design science methodology. Using the guidelines provided in this methodology, managers gain the capability of evaluating the overall artifact of planning in the total value system, and also gain the ability to measure the progress of ERP implementation plan based on the provided indicators.
Improving Internal Supply Chain Collaboration by Increasing Information-Processing Capacity
Authors: Feger Ana L. Rosado
Published: October 2011

This study examines the role of enterprise information systems in fostering collaboration between the Purchasing, Production, and Outbound Logistics functions of manufacturing facilities. These forms of integrative information technology are considered key facilitators of supply chain management. The research model embeds these systems within a broader model of facilitators of interfunctional integration. The model is tested by path analysis, using a survey sample of 120 manufacturing facilities located in the United States. The results suggest that integrative information technology has a significant effect on collaboration, and that the level of demand uncertainty moderates the effect on collaboration.
Would Elizabeth Cady Stanton Blog?
Authors: Pole Antoinette
Published: October 2011

This study examines the role of women political bloggers and how they use their blogs for purposes related to politics, public policy, and current events. Based on a combined purposive-snowball sample, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 women political bloggers in October 2006. Findings show respondents blog about a range of topics, not necessarily unique to women. Generally, women use their blogs to inform their readers, check the media, engage in advocacy efforts, and solicit charitable contributions from their readers and more specifically, women ask their readers to vote and contact elected officials. Data show women deal with a range of challenges blogging most notably discrimination. Though a majority of women political bloggers reported they did not face discrimination, interviewees qualified their responses saying they witnessed discrimination and discriminatory attitudes, suggesting the political blogosphere is somewhat inhospitable to women.
Effects of Perceiver / Target Gender and Social Networking Presence on Web-Based Impression Formation
Authors: Albert Leslie Jordan , Hill Timothy R. , Venkatsubramanyan Shailaja
Published: October 2011

As the Web has expanded in its use and utility it has fundamentally changed the way in which individuals gather and use information. This paper suggests that those changes give rise to tangible and significant effects in the impressions people form of others using Web-based information. This study explores the impacts of perceiver gender, target gender, and social networking presence on subjects’ perceptions of potential teammates otherwise unknown to them as revealed by ratings they assign based only on search engine results. Experiments reveal differences in how male and female perceivers view others’ social networking activity in general and suggest that how the perceiver gender matches, or differs, from the gender of the target affects how social networking presence plays into impression formation. Findings hold implications for professionals, academics and individuals concerned with the role that Web-based information plays in impression formation and how inherent gender-based biases may affect power and politics in the workplace and beyond.
Islam, Revolution and Radicalism
Authors: Khan M. A. Muqtedar , Smith Reid T. , Tanay Onur
Published: October 2011

New forms of information technologies are revolutionizing politics in the Muslim World. This article presents political analysis of the complex global and historical socio-cultural impact of new media specifically social media by exploring two cases, i.e., the green movement during the Iranian presidential elections during 2009 and al-Qaeda’s radicalism in the virtual world. The analysis finds that Islam and Muslim societies are compatible with new forms of information technologies and that the difference between real and virtual is blurring in the modern Muslim World.
“Army Uniform Is Part Of My Skin”
Authors: Baqir M. Naveed
Published: October 2011

This paper discusses implications of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) growth on the new political discourse in Pakistan. The power play between the civil society and General Pervez Musharraf set new directions for Pakistani politics in 2007. This paper presents a critical discourse analysis of the controversy surrounding Musharraf’s attempt to continue holding the offices of army chief and president of Pakistan simultaneously. He declared “army uniform is part of my skin”. The civil society’s online participation in the political process and the street protests that resulted forced him to flee the country. The paper offers an analysis of ICT growth and politics in Pakistan and provides an understanding of how ICT growth has shaped the political landscape in Pakistan. Social and electronic media have emerged as powerful political players and have influenced Pakistani politics and policy development. This critical discourse analysis explains political changes during 2007 that are generally attributed to ICT growth. The results indicate that ICT growth plays an important role in achieving harmony, coordination, social change, justice, and transparency of government.
The Invisible Hand Guiding Technology
Authors: Kakabadse Nada K. , Kakabadse Andrew , Knyght Reeves , Lee-Davies Linda
Published: October 2011

This paper examines attitudes towards Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and explores the wider concerns of the ever increasing prospect of social tagging. Capturing vignettes and narratives from a sample of study participants, the paper highlights concerns about adopting RFID implements now and in the future. The views captured through qualitative methodology act as the platform for a wider argument concerning the human rights and privacy intrusion concerns over IT applications. Intended as an insight into the reality of technology impact, this paper lists a series of questions for leaders to consider over matters of human rights specifically concerning RFID adoption. The authors conclude that caution, naivety and fear are the underlying reasons for society accepting RFIDs without question and that RFIDs will be a part of everyday working and domestic life in the near future.
The Impact of Internet Connectedness on Voluntary Social Activity in UAE
Authors: Ahmed Azza Abdel-Azim Mohamed
Published: October 2011

The Internet plays a great role in various fields in Arab societies, including social voluntary work, which represents a symbol of solidarity and cooperation among individuals in a community. In this paper, the author examines the role the Internet might play in promoting social voluntary work. It examines Internet connectedness among a sample of United Arab Emirates’ Arab residents, and how it might influence their social voluntary work. The results reveal that interpersonal utility and entertainment, news-seeking, and paying are factors that determine Internet usage goals among UAE residents. No significant difference between high- and low-level Internet connectors in terms of social civil involvement was found. Although, there was evidence found that the Emiratis are more socially involved in volunteer work than other Arab nationalities in the UAE. Education, age, income, and occupation were predictor variables of ICI and Civic Social work.
Colored vs. Black Screens or How Color Can Favor Green e-Commerce
Authors: Pelet Jean-Eric , Papadopoulou Panagiota
Published: October 2011

This paper presents the results of an exploratory qualitative study conducted with 26 consumers about their use of computer screen savers. The results show how the use of screen savers remains almost nonexistent. Unknown or taking too long to apply, this feature is not attractive to persons interviewed who do not use it for sustainable development purposes. The paper presents the results of this qualitative study, offering an interpretive analysis of the reasons and factors explaining this type of computer user’s behavior. The paper also discusses the potential of using screensaver functionality in e-commerce websites, particularly in the Mediterranean region. In this direction it looks into how this could be provided by the establishment of two elements - a browser and a website extension, which will be tested in a future online experiment.
Defining, Applying and Customizing Store Atmosphere in Virtual Reality Commerce
Authors: Krasonikolakis Ioannis G. , Vrechopoulos Adam , Pouloudi Athanasia
Published: October 2011

This paper studies the concept of Store Atmosphere in Virtual Commerce (V-Commerce) through the Web in order to empirically define its determinants and investigate their applicability and customization capabilities. A series of in depth interviews with field experts (study #1) along with an online questionnaire survey (study #2) served as the data collection mechanisms of the study. The empirical findings suggest that while the social aspect dimension of V-Commerce limits customization capabilities, it provides several innovative options for manipulating Store Atmosphere. Additionally, the results indicate that Store Atmosphere attributes can be grouped in three factors with high average scores concerning the importance users attach to them. Specifically, storefront, store theatrics, colors, music and graphics are grouped in Factor #1 and reflect the “Store’s Appeal”. Crowding, product display techniques and innovative store atmosphere services are grouped in Factor #2 labeled “Innovative Atmosphere”, while store layout constitutes the only attribute included in Factor #3. The paper outlines the theoretical and managerial implications of these research results.
Technical Audit of an Electronic Polling Station
Authors: Alaiz-Moreton Hector , Panizo-Alonso Luis , Fernandez-Diaz Ramón A. , Alfonso-Cendon Javier
Published: October 2011

This paper shows the lack of standard procedures to audit e-voting systems and also describes a practical process of auditing an e-voting experience based on a Direct-recording Electronic system (D.R.E). This system has been tested in a real situation, in the city council of Coahuila, Mexico, in November 2008. During the auditing, several things were kept in mind, in particular those critical in complex contexts, as democratic election processes are. The auditing process is divided into three main complementary stages: analysis of voting protocol, analysis of polling station hardware elements, and analysis of the software involved. Each stage contains several items which have to be analyzed at low level with the aim to detect and resolve possible security problems.
Protecting a Distributed Voting Schema for Anonymous and Secure Voting Against Attacks of Malicious Partners
Authors: Obermeier Sebastian , Böttcher Stefan
Published: October 2011

A distributed protocol is presented for anonymous and secure voting that is failure-tolerant with respect to malicious behavior of individual participants and that does not rely on a trusted third party. The proposed voting protocol was designed to be executed on a fixed group of N known participants, each of them casting one vote that may be a vote for abstention. Several attack vectors on the protocol are presented, and the detection of malicious behavior like spying, suppressing, inventing, and modifying protocol messages or votes by the protocol is shown. If some participants stop the protocol, a fair information exchange is achieved in the sense that either all votes are guaranteed to be valid and accessible to all participants, or malicious behavior has been detected and the protocol is stopped, but the votes are not disclosed.
Policy Cycle-Based E-Government Architecture for Policy-Making Organisations of Public Administrations
Authors: Walser Konrad , Riedl Reinhard
Published: October 2011

This article outlines a business and application architecture for policy-making organisations of public administrations. The focus was placed on the derivation of processes and their IT support on the basis of the policy-cycle concept. The derivation of various (modular) process areas allows for the discussion of generic application support in order to achieve the modular structure of e-government architectures for policy-making organisations of public administrations, as opposed to architectures for operational administration processes by administrations. In addition, further issues and spheres of interest to be addressed in the field of architecture management for policy-making organisations of public administrations will be specified. Different architecture variants are evaluated in the context of a potential application of the architecture design for policy-making organisations of public administrations. This raises questions such as how the issue of interoperability between information systems of independent national, state, and municipal administrations is to be tackled. Further research is needed to establish, for example, the level of enterprise architecture and the depth to which integration in this area must or may extend.
The WAVE Platform
Authors: Lee Deirdre , Menda Yojana Priya , Peristeras Vassilios , Price David
Published: October 2011

The growth of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) offers governments advanced methods for providing services and governing their constituency. eGovernment research aims to provide the models, technologies, and tools for more effective and efficient public administration systems as well as more participatory decision processes. In particular, eParticipation opens up greater opportunities for consultation and dialogue between government and citizens. Many governments have embraced eParticipation by setting up websites that allow citizens to contribute and have their say on particular issues. Although these sites make use of some of the latest ICT and Web 2.0 technologies, the uptake and sustained usage by citizens is still relatively low. Additionally, when users do participate, there is the issue of how the numerous contributions can be effectively processed and analysed, to avoid the inevitable information overload created by thousands of unstructured comments. The WAVE platform addresses what the authors see as the main barriers to the uptake of eParticipation websites by adopting a holistic and sustained approach of engaging users to participate in public debates. The WAVE platform incorporates argument visualisation, social networking, and Web 2.0 techniques to facilitate users participating in structured visual debates in a community environment.
Personality Traits and Consumer Behavior in the Mobile Context
Authors: Varnali Kaan
Published: October 2011

Research focusing on consumer behavior in the mobile context is rapidly accumulating. However, the role of personality traits in explaining and predicting users’ perceptions regarding mobile services and behavior within the mobile context is conspicuously under-researched. If consumers are considered as dispositional entities, this lack of researcher interest on the role of personality traits on the value creation processes of mobile consumers should be scrutinized. Striving to provide guidance as to why and how to incorporate personality-based variables within prospective research models attempting to explain and predict consumer behavior in the mobile context, this research critically assesses the-state-of-the-art and presents a conceptual discussion regarding related future research avenues.
Applications of Intelligent Agents in Hospital Search and Appointment System
Authors: Edwards Tyrone , Sankaranarayanan Suresh
Published: October 2011

Access to the correct healthcare facility is a major concern for most people, many of whom gather information about the existing hospitals and healthcare facilities in their locality. After gathering such information, people must do a comparison of the information, make a selection, and then make an appointment with the concerned doctor. The time spent for this purpose would be a major constraint for many individuals. Research is currently underway in this area on incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve the services available in the health industry. This paper proposes an agent based approach to replicate the same search operations as the individual would otherwise do, by employing an intelligent agent. The proposed agent based system has been simulated and also validated through implementation on an individual’s smart phone or a PDA using JADE-LEAP agent development kit.
Reengineering a Green Business
Authors: Lan Yi-Chen
Published: October 2011

A green environment is a social as well as business issue. Business enterprises, as a large part of the global community, are obliged to make endeavours toward an environmentally sustainable operation that reflects their corporate social responsibility. One of the effective approaches of making business operations more environmental friendly is to undertake business process reengineering with the strategic focus on green perspective. This paper discusses the reengineering of a green business from its process viewpoint. This reengineering of business processes is undertaken in the context of five areas of green business characteristics (necessary, effective, efficient, agile, and measureable) and their corresponding life cycles. This analysis paves the path for an in-depth research agenda for developing and operating green business processes in organizations. The framework is explained with five key phases namely, 1) examining business processes with green process characteristics, 2) integrating business processes with the environmental standards, 3) green business process redesign, 4) training programs development and change management, and 5) performance monitoring and process improvement. The paper concludes with a suggestion of the framework validation and future research directions.
The Impetus and Catalytic Role of Green ICT for Business Benefit
Authors: Sherringham Keith
Published: October 2011

The monetized catalyst and impetus for the adoption of Green ICT by business are explored in this paper. For a business to significantly reduce its environmental footprint through the use of Green ICT, a strategic transformation of business is required. Such a transformation includes changes to business models, a redefinition of business processes, a realignment of information exchange, and integration of unified communication. Without the right impetuses and catalysts, a strategic transformation of a business may take a long time or, at worst, may not occur because of incumbency, cost, and risk. Like other strategic changes, the implementation of Green ICT is likely to be achieved through a series of tactical changes aligned to an overall strategy. However, such an incremental tactical approach requires consistency and persistency in taking advantage of many small business opportunities to implement Green ICT. Such an adoption of Green ICT is only likely to occur because of the business benefits achieved. Any catalyst and impetus for the adoption of Green ICT must provide tangible (monetized) benefits to a business, as well as prevent adverse outcomes.
Pivotal Role of the ISO 14001 Standard in the Carbon Economy
Authors: Pradhan Alok
Published: October 2011

The ISO 14000 and ISO 9000 standards have a positive impact on achieving sustainable and efficient business. The ISO 14001, in particular, is credited with a crucial role of assisting businesses with managing their environmental credentials which are vital in the upcoming carbon economy. This paper explores the significance of ISO 14001 and expands on the possibilities of the use of this standard in a creative way by organizations. Furthermore, with regards to ISO 14001, adjustments could be made to improve its effectiveness in implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS). The areas of this standard that could be upgraded are also outlined, including measuring compliance, specified, strict environmental targets for business, and a stronger sustainability component.
Cognitive Ethnography
Authors: Dubbels Brock
Published: October 2011

This paper describes cognitive ethnography as a method of choice for game studies, multimedia learning, professional development, leisure studies, and activities where context is important. Cognitive ethnography is efficacious for these activities, as it assumes that human cognition adapts to its natural surroundings (Hutchins, 1995, 2010) with emphasis on analysis of activities as they happen in context; how they are represented; and how they are distributed and experienced in space. The methodology is described for increasing construct validity (Cook & Campbell, 1979; Campbell & Stanley, 1966) and the creation of a nomological network (Cronbach & Meehl, 1955). This description of the methodology is contextualized with a study examining the literate practices of reluctant middle school readers playing video games (Dubbels, 2008). The study utilizes variables from empirical laboratory research on discourse processing (Zwann, Langston, & Graesser, 1996) to analyze the narrative discourse of a video game as a socio-cognitive practice (Gee, 2007; Gee, Hull, & Lankshear, 1996).
Playful Learning Experiences
Authors: Mitgutsch Konstantin
Published: October 2011

Players use digital games as playgrounds for their interests, passions, values, and beliefs. Computer games entertain us, please our needs, challenge our abilities, make us engage with other players, and confront us with novel experiences. Today, video games foster learning, but how players connect their learning through playing games to their biographies is a question yet unanswered. This paper outlines basic theoretical assumptions on playful learning experiences and empirical insights into meaningful learning patterns. On this basis it presents the central results of an innovative qualitative study on playful learning biographies undertaken in 2010, and thereby aims to provide a reflected understanding of how today’s generation experiences deep and meaningful learning in their playful biographies. Furthermore, this paper examines the question on how games foster transformative learning and discusses consequences for educational settings and future research.
Mitigation of Liquefaction Hazard Using Granular Piles
Authors: Krishna A. Murali
Published: October 2011

In this paper, ground improvement techniques are used to mitigate liquefaction hazards. Granular piles are the preferred alternative due to several advantages. Granular piles improve the ground by reinforcing and adding density to the surrounding soil apart from providing drainage. Different mechanisms operate in the function of stone columns/granular piles in liquefaction mitigation, including Drainage, Storage, Dilation, Densification, and Reinforcement. This paper presents an overview of the use of granular piles as a liquefaction remedial measure for sand deposits. A brief description on liquefaction and the associated features is presented. A short discussion on various ground improvement methods available for liquefaction mitigation is discussed in light of the importance of granular piles. Different installation methods and design concepts for granular piles are presented. Various mechanisms of granular piles in mitigating the liquefaction potential of loose sand deposits are discussed and quantified in detail proving their effectiveness in hazard mitigation.
Dynamic Properties of Sandy Soils at Large Shear Strains with Special Reference to the Influence of Non-Plastic Fines
Authors: Sitharam T. G. , Ravishankar B. V. , Vinod J. S.
Published: October 2011

This paper presents the results of the dynamic properties such as shear modulus and damping ratio of sandy soils, especially at large shear strain levels (>0.2%). A series of strain controlled cyclic triaxial tests were carried out on sand samples collected from the earthquake affected areas of Gujarat, India. Laboratory investigations were conducted on natural sand (Base sand) and clean sand samples. The shear modulus and damping ratios have been estimated based on the first cycle information. The effect of different parameters such as number of loading cycles, relative density, confining pressures, and non-plastic fines on the dynamic properties of the soils has been studied. It was observed that shear modulus decreases with an increase in the percentage of non-plastic fines. However, a slight increase in damping ratio was observed with increase in non-plastic fines.
Lateral Displacement of Liquefaction Induced Ground Using Least Square Support Vector Machine
Authors: Das Sarat Kumar , Samui Pijush , Kim Dookie , Sivakugan N. , Biswal Rajanikanta
Published: October 2011

The determination of lateral displacement of liquefaction induced ground during an earthquake is an imperative task in disaster mitigation. This study investigates the possibility of using least square support vector machine (LSSVM) for the prediction of lateral displacement of liquefaction induced ground during an earthquake. The results have been compared with those obtained using artificial neural network (ANN) models and observed that LSSVM outperformed the ANN models. Model equation has been presented based on the model parameters, which can be used by the professionals. Sensitivity analysis has also been performed to determine the importance of each of the input parameters.
Non-Axisymmetric Dynamic Response of Imperfectly Bonded Buried Orthotropic Thin Empty Cylindrical Shell Due to Incident Shear Wave (SH Wave)
Authors: Rajput Rakesh Singh , Kumar Sunil , Chaubey Alok , Dwivedi J. P.
Published: October 2011

Non-axisymmetric dynamic response of imperfectly bonded buried orthotropic thin empty pipelines subjected to incident shear wave (SH-wave) is presented here. In the thin shell theory the effect of shear deformation and rotary inertia is not considered. The pipeline has been modeled as an infinite thin cylindrical shell imperfectly bonded to surrounding. A thin layer is assumed between the shell and the surrounding medium (soil) such that this layer possesses the properties of stiffness and damping both. The degree of imperfection of the bond is varied by changing the stiffness and the damping parameters of this layer. Although a general formulation including P-, SV-, and SH-wave excitations are presented, numerical results are given for the case of incident SH-waves only. Comparison of axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric responses are also furnished.