bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimodal Imaging of Astrocytic Hamartomas Associated With Tuberous Sclerosis
Authors: Schwartz Stephen G. , Harbour J. William
Published: September 2017

An 11-year-old patient was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis complex based on retinal and cutaneous findings and confirmed by genetic testing. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrated subtle solid intraretinal tumors that focally replaced the inner retina and displaced the outer retinal layers. OCT angiography demonstrated prominent intrinsic vascularity but no feeder vessels.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:756–758.]
Pistas fósiles y dubiofósiles del Ediacárico y Cámbrico del Anticlinal de Alcudia, España
Authors: Simón J.
Published: September 2017

El registro fósil de la transición Ediacárico—Cámbrico en España proporciona información potencialmente útil para entender este episodio crítico de la historia de la vida en La Tierra. El presente trabajo describe nuevos hallazgos de icnofósiles y dubiofósiles del Ediacárico superior y Cámbrico basal en la unidad Alcudiense del Anticlinal de Alcudia, hacia el margen meridional de la Zona Centroibérica (valle de Alcudia, Macizo Ibérico, España). Dos localidades con pistas fósiles son descritas para la subunidad Alcudiense Superior, y asignadas al piso Fortuniense (Cámbrico inferior, serie Terreneuviense) y al subpiso regional Cordubiense Inferior. Contienen ejemplos de marcas de artrópodos u organismos similares (Monomorphichnus lineatus) y pistas bilobadas simples (semejantes a Archaeonassa), una madriguera con spreite inclinada (quizá un teichíchnido) y madrigueras largas, sin ramificar, con estructura transversal muy fina (probablemente la superficie ventral de Psammichnites). Se describen Torrowangea aff. rosei y posibles fósiles corporales de edad ediacárica tardía en la subunidad Alcudiense Inferior, incluyendo un disco semejante al anclaje de un fronde, y una estructura compleja, con forma de diamante, sin equivalentes conocidos.
Primer registro de Nopachtus coagmentatus (Xenarthra, Glyptodontidae) para la Provincia de Catamarca, Argentina. Revisión del género Nopachtus
Authors: Zamorano M. , Moreno G. G. , Vaccari N. E. , Falcón C. M. , Combina A. M. , Bonini R. A.
Published: September 2017

Nopachtus coagmentatus fue reconocido por Ameghino en 1888. El holotipo procede de la Formación Brochero (Montehermosense - Chapadmalalense [Plioceno temprano - Plioceno tardío]), de las cercanías de Villa Cura Brochero (Córdoba). Se reporta el primer hallazgo de esta especie para la Provincia de Catamarca. Se describe el material hallado, se detalla su procedencia y se presenta el perfil estratigráfico detallado correspondiente. El material mencionado, procedente de la Formación Salicas aflorante en el paraje de Suri Yaco, consiste en 14 osteodermos de la coraza dorsal que se atribuyen a N. coagmentatus, 12 completos y 2 fragmentados correspondientes a la región media y póstero-dorsal de la coraza dorsal. Estos osteodermos presentan una figura central rodeada por dos hileras de figuritas periféricas y figuritas que corresponderían a una tercera hilera, siempre incompleta. La primera hilera tiene entre 10 y 12 figuritas y la segunda entre 19 y 22; las figuritas son pentagonales o, mayoritariamente, hexagonales. A su vez, se revisa todo el material hasta ahora conocido para este género, que incluye dos especies. Para N. coagmentatus solamente había dos registros fehacientes, hasta esta comunicación, y varios dudosos, en tanto que para N. cabrerai Zamorano, Scillato-Yané, González Ruiz & Zurita solo se dio a conocer el holotipo.
Síntesis e investigación del mono cristal BiSBTeSe dopado con Zr obtenido mediante el método de Bridgman
Authors: Požega Emina , Nikolic´ Pantelija , Bernik Slavko , Gomidželovic Lidija , Labus Nebojša , Radovanovic Milan , Marjanovic Saša
Published: September 2017

El lingote del mono cristal de BiSbTeSe dopado con Zr se sintetizó utilizando el método de Bridgman. La composición química se determinó mediante análisis con espectroscopía de dispersión de energía (EDS). Mediante difracción de rayos X (DRX) se demostró que el lingote de cristal obtenido es un mono cristal y confirmó que se trata de un compuesto del tipo Bi2Te3, con orientación del mono cristal (001). El punto de fusión se determinó por medidas dilatométricas. La movilidad, concentración, resistividad/conductividad, y el coeficiente de Hall del BiSbTeSe dopado con Zr, se determinaron utilizando un sistema de medición de efecto Hall basado en el método de Van der Pauw. El efecto Hall se midió a temperatura ambiente con una intensidad de campo magnético aplicada de 0,37 T a diferentes intensidades de corriente.
Las muestras de lingotes medidos se cortaron y se rompieron de diferentes regiones. Las muestras de lingotes utilizadas en las medidas fueron obtenbidas mediante corte y escisión en distintas zonas. Los resultados obtenidos utilizando un sistema de medición de efecto Hall (Ecopia, HMS-3000) en las distintas muestras, se compararon entre sí. Los resultados confirmaron que las propiedades eléctricas y de transporte del mono cristal dependen de la dirección del crecimiento del cristal. La movilidad se mejoró significativamente en comparación no solo con el valor teórico de Bi2Te3 sino también con los datos existentes en la literatura.
Lawrence2College
Authors: Falk Audrey Faye , Carey Ashley J.
Published: September 2017

High school graduation and college access are critical vehicles for individuals' social mobility and for community change. This chapter provides an overview of Lawrence2College, a culturally engaging service-learning partnership which was initiated in 2014 and focuses on these issues. Lawrence2College facilitates high school achievement and college awareness through a mentoring and support program which connects students from Lawrence High School, a public school in Lawrence, Massachusetts, with graduate and undergraduate students from Merrimack College, a private, Catholic college in neighboring North Andover. Lawrence is a city in Massachusetts with a strong Latinx presence, including recent immigrants. Poverty and low literacy are challenges faced by residents. This chapter explains the rationale and conceptual underpinnings of Lawrence2College and describes its evolution and approaches. The chapter concludes with insights and recommendations for practice and research.
Writing Partners
Authors: Blomeley Sarah , Hamilton Amy Hodges
Published: September 2017

This chapter describes and analyzes a writing assignment, an oral history project, developed for a college-level service-learning composition class. In bridging the writer with a single community partner and inviting the pair to jointly compose a memoir, this assignment can create a successful service-learning experience by engaging students and community members in projects that are beneficial and hold important personal, social, and political implications. The chapter also considers how the project, up to this point used successfully in local service communities, might fare in international service learning contexts.
Advocacy for English Learners
Authors: Giambo Debra A.
Published: September 2017

There is a growing need for teachers to be advocates for their English learners (ELs). Teacher preparation programs often do not develop teacher candidates' advocacy skills effectively, and this chapter begins with an outline of the need for developing the advocacy skills of teacher candidates. Activities to promote the development of teacher candidates' skills to advocate for policy change for ELs are described both at scaffolded levels of preparation and within the context of an undergraduate teacher education program. These activities are organized in the program to reflect both the teacher candidates' developing abilities to analyze and synthesize information related to policy as well as, for some assignments, the political election cycle. As part of these activities, teacher candidates engage in self-reflection as well as in-class, whole group reflection, and these processes are described along with a presentation of themed student reflective responses in regard to the advocacy activities.
Someone Like Me
Authors: Lewis Sylento R. , Pope Myron L.
Published: September 2017

This study focuses on the role that African American male instructors have on African American male students in the classroom and beyond. The research consistently demonstrates the persistence, completion, and overall success challenges that African American male students have in higher education. However, there are some African American male students who have been successful, and they attribute this success to African American male instructors who served as mentors. The research endeavored to hear the stories of these students, and to allow them to articulate how their experiences with these instructors benefitted them in their academic success. Anti-deficit achievement framework, self-efficacy, and social development theories serve as the conceptual framework for this study. Through the interviews, the students provided feedback that focused on positive relationships and interactions with African American male instructors. The chapter concludes with recommendations for creating such mentoring opportunities for these students in higher education.
School Bullying and Advocacy
Authors: Kougioumtzis Georgios A. , Verykiou Joanne , Mallouchou Afroditi
Published: September 2017

In this chapter, the phenomenon of bullying is being approached. A phenomenon which is an internationally recognized problem, with multifactorial etiology. As this phenomenon manifests itself in various cruel forms, its functions are particularly aggravating and affect the mental health of children and adolescents during their school life. In order to address this phenomenon, the dire need of advocacy is proposed by the authors. Advocacy is an interdisciplinary field of many different acting individuals, aiming to influence social / educational systems and institutions. Their ultimate objective is to fight against discriminations, stigmatization and social exclusion of any vulnerable persons or groups, with the ultimate aim of promoting equality, social justice, inclusive education and the defending of human rights. In order for us to have an effective modern school and be able to alleviate any potential conflicts, all parties involved – teachers, students, parents and the wider community – ought to advocate safeguarding the rights of all students through a wider culture change.
Investing in the Future
Authors: Storey Valerie Anne , Gill Michele Gregoire
Published: September 2017

Over the last five years, the education program at the University of Central Florida (UCF) has been redesigned to respond to two distinct but important challenges: (a) crafting program tracks that meet the needs of students desiring a professional career in a nontraditional setting, and (b) responding to 21st-century aspirations of lifelong learners. Within the context of a broader redesign effort, program faculty designed Education Lifelong Learning (LLL) tracks grounded in integrative learning, a place-based education component embedded in experiential-learning internships, and a subject specialism. These LLL tracks enable students to meet community needs by bringing their understanding of learning processes and subject specialism to organizations delivering informal learning. The account provided in this chapter advances existing literature by making visible many of the important granular details associated with LLL, as well as considerations associated with track design and implementation within an elementary-education program.
Building Emotional Brand Personalities
Authors: Güven Esra , Yakın Volkan
Published: September 2017

Brands are one of the most important assets for companies since they serve as a differentiator. They have personalities like people, which makes them reach consumers emotionally. Therefore, in their efforts put in branding, firms began to give more importance to developing a brand personality. The personification of brands is a form of anthropomorphism. There are various ways to build an anthropomorphic brand. Brand personality models are based on human personality theories in psychology. These models help managers to build a strong and anthropomorphic brand. In this chapter, the authors make a comprehensive explanation regarding the brand personality with benefits, brand personality models, and anthropomorphism and explain the relationship between anthropomorphic brands and marketing communication by presenting some examples.
Brand Revitalization
Authors: Fatma Sabeeha
Published: September 2017

Brand revitalization may be defined as putting a new lease of life to a dying brand. Revitalizing a brand is first of all a task of creating innovative products in line with the tastes of today's new customers, not those of yesterday's. Even when the brand may be very old, it should leave in the memory some traces, then only it would be fruitful to revamp the declining brand. The chapter discusses the meaning of brand revitalization, its causes and symptoms. The concept has been explained from the Indian perspective giving various examples from India. The chapter further discusses the various ways in which a dying brand may be given a new lease of life. The chapter discusses the role of emotional connect of the customers with the brand in particular. There is a detailed analysis of how Cinthol, a leading brand of soap in 1980's lost market in 1990's and how it revived itself by reconnecting with youth 2000 onwards. This chapter would add to the knowledge of the reader in the following ways: understanding the concept of brand revitalization and the rationale for reviving a brand; understanding the reasons why a successful brand loses its relevance and the indicators of the downfall; and understanding the linkages between emotional connect with the target audience and brand revitalization
Emotional Branding Through Celebrity Endorsements
Authors: Dhandhnia Kopal Agrawal , Tripathi Sanjeev
Published: September 2017

Emotional branding is an effective way to create a long-lasting relationship with the customers. The recent shift in brand strategy is towards gaining an emotional share of consumers and understanding the symbolic, emotional features that generate socio-psychological associations in their minds. Use of celebrities through celebrity advertising can act as effective tools to develop a strong emotive tie with a consumer, which can overtime, culminate into long-term brand equity and an emotional connect with the brand. In this chapter, we develop an understanding of various aspects of celebrity endorsement and explain how these can be used to connect emotionally with consumers. We also illustrate situations where use of celebrities has had a positive effect on emotional branding and where it has failed miserably.
Emotional Branding and Social Media
Authors: Mathew Nicholas , Dixit Ashutosh
Published: September 2017

Emotional branding is increasingly being used by marketers to win customers for their products or services. And, social media has become a growing and popular forum where marketers use emotional branding. This paper/chapter explores the concept of emotional branding and the role of emotional branding in marketing contexts such as in social media. Positive and negative emotions are explored with practical examples of advertisements that use emotional appeals. The paper provides a literature review on emotions and emotional branding and offers theoretical perspectives on the emotional branding concept. The paper also provides a brief discussion on the theoretical and practical implications of emotional branding in the realm of marketing.
Cyborgization
Authors: Baeva Liudmila Vladimirovna
Published: September 2017

The image of the cyborg in modern society is being formed from the standpoint of modern scientific developments and media culture: the various phenomena of e-culture. The article presents an overview of current research related to understanding the nature of cyborgs, a philosophical analysis of the socio-humanitarian aspects of the process of cyborgization, the arguments pro and contra. The problem of cyborgization considered in the context of transformation of gender, immortality and ethics, etc. Special attention is paid to the study of the image of the cyborg in modern mass culture, from cinema to computer games.
Structure-Property Relations in Polymers and Polymer Blends Using X-Ray Diffraction Technique
Authors: H Somashekarappa , Alabur Manjunath
Published: September 2017

This chapter discusses about the synthesis and characterization of polymers, polymer blends, polymer composites, and polymer nanocomposites. Electrically conductive blends polyaniline dodecyl benzene sulphonic acid (Pani:DBSA)/Styrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS) block copolymer have been prepared by melt mixing and using in situ polymerization method. The microstructural parameters were computed using wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Bimodal distribution method has been studied for SBS, DCH32 cotton fiber and Pure Mysore multi-voltine silk (PMS) samples using Line profile analysis.
Effect of Cenosphere on the Performance of Polyurethane/Polystyrene Interpenetrating Polymer Network Green Composites
Authors: S. Roopa , Siddaramaiah
Published: September 2017

The effect of cenosphere content on the performances of polyurethane/polystyrene (PU/PS, 90/10) interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) based green composites have been studied. The PU/PS IPNs have been prepared using castor oil, toluene diisocyanate and styrene. IPN/cenosphere composites have been prepared with different weight fractions viz., 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 wt % of cenosphere. The prepared IPN composites have been characterized by physico – mechanical, chemical and thermal behavior. The tensile strength of unfilled IPN was 1.79 MPa and a significant improvement in tensile strength (34%) was noticed for 10% cenosphere loaded IPN composite. The swelling behavior of the composites has been studied in different organic solvents. Thermal characteristics of the composites have been measured using differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). A slight improvement in thermal stability was noticed for filler loaded specimens. Morphological features of cryo-fractured IPN/cenosphere green composites have been analyzed using SEM.
Current State Survey and Future Opportunities for Trust and Security in Green Cloud Computing
Authors: Haouari Amine , Mostapha Zbakh , Yassir Samadi
Published: September 2017

In this paper, the authors present a state of art survey of cloud computing, highlighting its architectural principles, implementation as well as research directions in this increasingly important domain. They cover the different security issues that has emanated due to the nature of the service delivery models of a cloud computing system. Furthermore, in this survey the researchers highlight the concept of trust in digital environment as well as the use of containers like Docker, the block chain principle, artificial intelligence, last findings in the field of cryptography and other new concepts used in the domain of security and privacy related to cloud computing environments. They provide in the end an overview of the metrics which are mandatory in order to have a green flavor of cloud computing and the strategies that are currently used.
Mobile Cloud Computing Security Frameworks
Authors: Dashti Anita
Published: September 2017

Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) is a rich technology of mobile that offers cloud resources and network technology features like unlimited storage at any time via Ethernet or internet based on Pay-Per-Use method. In MCC all processes will be done in cloud servers and data is stored there too, thus mobile devices are just a tool for presenting events. MCC technology is completely different from previous traditional network technologies, so nowadays most impossible ways are becoming possible. MCC is a combination of cloud computing and mobile network. Being online and internet network brings some problems for users. One of the most popular challenges in this technology is building a secure architecture in mobile internet platform. Different security frameworks in different contexts of security challenges in MCC are recommended and compared in some common parameters to have better understanding of which one is the best for user's needs.
Swarm-Intelligence-Based Optimal Placement and Sizing of Distributed Generation in Distribution Network
Authors: Kumar Mahesh , Nallagownden Perumal , Elamvazuthi Irraivan , Vasant Pandian , Rahman Luqman Hakim
Published: September 2017

In the distribution system, distributed generation (DG) are getting more important because of the electricity demands, fossil fuel depletion and environment concerns. The placement and sizing of DGs have greatly impact on the voltage stability and losses in the distribution network. In this chapter, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm has been proposed for optimal placement and sizing of DG to improve voltage stability index in the radial distribution system. The two i.e. active power and combination of active and reactive power types of DGs are proposed to realize the effect of DG integration. A specific analysis has been applied on IEEE 33 bus system radial distribution networks using MATLAB 2015a software.
Beyond Service-Oriented Architectures
Authors: Beydoun Ghassan , Voinov Alexey , Sugumaran Vijayan
Published: September 2017

Predictions for Service Oriented Architectures (SOA) to deliver transformational results to the role and capabilities of IT for businesses have fallen short. Unforeseen challenges have often emerged in SOA adoption. They fall into two categories: technical issues stemming from service components reuse difficulties and organizational issues stemming from inadequate support or understanding of what is required from the executive management in an organization to facilitate the technical rollout. This paper first explores and analyses the hindrances to the full exploitation of SOA. It then proposes an alternative service delivery approach that is based on even a higher degree of loose coupling than SOA. The approach promotes knowledge services and agent-based support for integration and identification of services. To support the arguments, this chapter sketches as a proof of concept the operationalization of such a service delivery system in disaster management.
Security in Digital Images
Authors: Otair Mohammed A.
Published: September 2017

Due to the swift growth of the using of the digital multimedia in the internet these days, the security in digital images has become a very important issue. Lately, significant attentions are given by many researchers in the field of the security for digital images, and several image encryption techniques have been developed to improve the security levels of these images. Different techniques can be applied to protect intellectual property rights for digital images and prohibit illegal copying. The aim of this chapter is to introduce the most important techniques that have been developed to implement the security in digital images such as digital watermarking and image steganography.
Networked Multimedia Communication Systems
Authors: Shukla Piyush Kumar , Bhatele Kirti Raj
Published: September 2017

This Chapter simply contains multimedia - an integrated and interactive presentation of speech, audio, video, graphics and text, has become a major theme in today's information technology that merges the practices of communications, computing and information processing into an interdisciplinary field. The challenge of multimedia communications is to provide services that integrate text, sound, image and video information and to do it in a way that preserves the case of use and interactivity. A brief description of the elements of multimedia systems is presented. User and network requirements are discussed together with the pocket transfer concept. About Multimedia communication standards a general idea is also given. Multimedia transport over ATM and IP networks discussed in brief. The issues pertaining to multimedia digital subscriber lines are outlined together with multimedia over wireless, mobile and broadcasting networks as well as digital TV infrastructure for interactive multimedia services.
Interactive Multimedia
Authors: Mussoi Eunice Maria , Amaral Érico Marcelo Hoff do , Tarouco Liane Margarida Rockembach , Valdeni de Lima José
Published: September 2017

One of the important characteristics to be considered when developing multimedia educational materials is interactivity. The purpose of this study was to check whether the proposed multimedia's interactivity influenced the performance of 5th graders in a controlled environment and using Portuguese questions from the Brazil Test (Prova Brasil) as inputs. Those assignments were given to two groups of students, where one group had access to activities implemented via software featuring different interactive resources and a second group carried out the same activity in a plain environment, without the aid of multimedia resources. As a result, this chapter compares the performance of each group of students and relates them to the levels of interactivity, thereby demonstrating the latter's influence over the number of correct answers in the activities. Additionally, this chapter provides elements for the preparation of a second study phase.
The Social Media “Information Explosion” Spectacle
Authors: Kohle Friedrich H.
Published: September 2017

The semantic web, social media and the amount of user-generated content continues to grow at a staggering rate. Social Media significantly contributed to the information flow during the Arab Spring, the Occupy and Wall Street movement continue to maintain a global online presence using social media technology. But is the social media information explosion really a unique event in media history? How did story telling evolve into social media? In order to place social media in its historical context and anticipate digital native expectations, we explore the origins of narrative and storytelling from the perspective of a documentary producer. How did past media technologies prepare the way for social media? How do digital natives perceive the world via social media and what do they expect from today's documentary producer? What are the viewing habits of digital natives? What do previous ‘information explosions' have in common with social and digital media? These are essential questions for media and documentary producers navigating their way through the vast maze of social media technology and the semantic web, in addition to traditional media.
Evaluation of Situations Causing Split of Attention in Multimedia Learning Environments via Eye-Tracking Method
Authors: Mutlu-Bayraktar Duygu , Bayram Servet
Published: September 2017

In this chapter, situations that can cause split of attention in multimedia environments were determined via eye tracking method. Fixation numbers, heat maps and area of interest of learners were analyzed. As a result of these analyses, design suggestions were determined for multimedia environments to provide focusing attention to content without split attention effect. Visual and auditory resources should be provided simultaneously. Visual information should be supported with auditory expression instead of texts. Images such as videos, pictures and texts should not be presented on the same screen. Texts provided with pictures should be presented via integration to each other instead of separate presentation of text and picture. Texts provided with videos should be presented via integration to each other instead of separate presentation of text and video. Images should be given via marking important points on images to increase attention.
Digital Competence
Authors: Avni Edith , Rotem Abraham
Published: September 2017

This chapter presents a proposal for a conceptual framework of digital competence, which is a civil right and need and is vital for appropriate, intelligent study and functioning in the real world, through means that technology and the internet offer the citizen. Digital competence in the 2010s is a multifaceted complex of a net of literacies that have been updated, reformulated and transformed under the influence of technology. The framework of the digital competency includes eight fields of digital literacies. At the top of the net is digital ethics literacy, outlines the moral core for proper use of technology; at the base are technological literacy and digital reading and writing literacy, comprising the foundation and interface for all the digital literacies, and in between are the digital literacies in these fields: information literacy, digital visual literacy, new media literacy, communication and collaboration literacy and social media literacy. These interconnected literacies compose a synergetic complex of the digital competence framework.
Interactive Multimedia and Listening
Authors: Vo Yen (Ingrid)
Published: September 2017

The topic of this chapter is concerned with the use of interactive multimedia in teaching listening skills to English language learners. The chapter starts with the difference between listening and hearing, the definition of interactive multimedia, and interactive multimedia listening environments. Explanation is then given to why listening is so important. The chapter also addresses main types of listening, active listening process, and obstacles to listening. This chapter additionally shows the benefits of and rationales for listening using interactive multimedia resources in comparison with audio-only listening materials regarding visual support, authentic content, comprehensible input, vocabulary acquisition, and student motivation. The chapter concludes by suggesting some Internet sources and materials for listening practice as a part of learning English as a foreign or second language.
Young Children and Digital Media in the Home
Authors: Dias Patricia , Brito Rita
Published: September 2017

This chapter presents an overview of the digital practices of young children (under 8 years old) in the home. At such an early age, parents are the main mediators of the contact with digital media, thus paying a preponderant role in shaping young children's practices, perceptions and attitudes. In this chapter, we present partial results of a European-scale qualitative project that followed a methodology based on grounded theory, using interviews to families as method. Our findings reveal different roles played by the parents – role models, gatekeepers, companions, and supervisors. We also found that these different roles are related to the parenting style and also to the parents' own digital practices, and most importantly to perceptions and attitudes towards digital media.
New and Strange Sorts of Texts
Authors: Hundley Melanie Kittrell , Holbrook Teri
Published: September 2017

Dennis Baron (1999) writes about the impact of digital technology on literacy practices and thus is a good exemplar for considering how communication technologies are changing the ways in which stories are told. In this chapter, we argue that young adult literature authors and readers are currently in what Baron terms an inventive stage as they devise new ways of producing storied texts. Young adult authors, aware of their readers as avid, exploring, and savvy tech users, experiment with text formats to appeal to readers growing up in a digital “participatory culture” (Jenkins, Purushotma, Weigel, Clinton & Robins, 2009). In a cultural climate where the very notion of what constitutes a book is changing, our chapter responds to Baron's (2009) claim that readers and writers are in the process of “[learning] to trust a new technology and the new and strange sorts of texts that it produces” (p. x).
Home Media Access with Heterogeneous Devices
Authors: Lemlouma Tayeb
Published: September 2017

The intensive use of social content anywhere and from any device presents new challenges for current systems and networks particularly when they are used by novice users. One of the most places where social channels are used by non-expert users and with a wide range of devices is at home. Unfortunately, current digital home systems lack of intelligent components that help terminals and users to find, configure and connect devices for using media content (video, audio, etc.) in an intuitive, transparent and optimized way. In this paper, the author discusses how the user's experience is negatively affected in existing digital home systems. Particularly, in heterogeneous environments with terminals and networks having different capabilities. The author discusses the home media access using a real-world evaluation of existing home systems. The author compares these evaluations to a Web-based approach and show how the use of the home network resources can be significantly improved for sharing and browsing media items and folders.
Our Future
Authors: Korhonen Maija R.
Published: September 2017

We live in an ever-changing world. Despite that many new and excellent reforms are achieved, this period of time is also very confusing when many things that were regarded as concrete are becoming virtual. In spite of all this incompleteness, our common goal should be a good information society and the purpose of this chapter is to find out some factors that reveal the steps toward it. The question we ask is how to find a balance between a good life and eServices from the human point of view. The key findings pointed to issues in the needs of structural changes in the society. Another challenge that can be observed and which will be in the most essential role in the future, is the ownership and control over My Data. Agreements are a common practice in the business and when the subject is eServices in the future, we cannot avoid discussion of the end-user agreements, too.
Reflecting Emerging Digital Technologies in Leadership Models
Authors: Smith Peter A. C. , Cockburn Tom
Published: September 2017

In this chapter, Smith and Cockburn reaffirm the claim that they made in a previous book (Smith & Cockburn, 2013), namely that today's global business environments are characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, and that leaders must focus less on developing behavioral competencies and more on complex thinking abilities and mindsets. In so doing, leaders must be familiar with emerging digital technologies, their benefits and drawbacks, and utilize these technologies in their practice as appropriate. In their previous book (Smith & Cockburn, 2013), the authors defined flexible and dynamic leadership models that assure successful leadership in the above turbulent contexts, and also described learning related processes that are essential to mastering the ability to learn and adapt at rates consistent with the business complexity leaders face. In this chapter, the authors extend their previous research (Smith & Cockburn, 2013), review newly emerging elements of social digital connectivity that are contributing to global business complexity, and explain how these elements may be applied by leaders to augment the power of the recommended dynamic leadership models.
Next Steps in Multimedia Networking
Authors: Kanellopoulos Dimitris N.
Published: September 2017

This chapter presents in brief background knowledge on multimedia communication: multimedia applications and services, network and user QoS requirements, bandwidth on demand, multicasting, media synchronization, adaptive media coding, multimedia streaming, and end-system support for multimedia communication. In the second part, it deals with content delivery networks (CDNs). In the third part, it concentrates on issues for achieving multimedia optimization over heterogeneous wireless and wired networks. In the fourth part, it presents the main approaches for QoS guarantees over the Internet. This part tries to include the important aspects that have significantly impacted the enhancements to the basic Internet architecture and its associated protocols. In the fifth part, the chapter presents future Internet architectures. This is followed by some future research directions in multimedia networking.
Case Study Analysis of a Behavior Intervention Service Delivery Model With Autism Spectrum Disorder Students
Authors: Epler Pam L. , Ross Rorie
Published: September 2017

This chapter focuses on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a designated disability that is becoming more common in schools in the United States. Autism spectrum disorder, as the name suggests, covers a range of symptoms. Some students with this disorder are high functioning and, although lacking in social skills, can be educated in the general education classroom. Students at the other end of the spectrum need someone to assist them with daily living skills and are often non-verbal. The chapter includes a discussion about effective service delivery models for students who have ASD and provides two case studies that use a behavior intervention service delivery model. The chapter also presents intervention strategies that can assist the general education teacher in providing proper help to students with autism spectrum disorder. Finally, the chapter discusses future trends surrounding this disability.
Social Stories in Robot-Assisted Therapy for Children With ASD
Authors: Silvera-Tawil David , Strnadová Iva , Cumming Therese M.
Published: September 2017

Mobile technology devices are commonly used as assistive technology to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in gaining skills in interpersonal communication. While considered generally safe and effective, there are concerns that a child that is taught to communicate through interactive technologies may become dependent on the virtual world and its rewards, while interpersonal skills are sacrificed or not generalized to real world settings (Bauminger-Zviely, Eden, Zancanaro, Weiss, & Gal, 2013). This chapter theorizes that the anthropomorphic embodiment of humanoid robots may provide a compromise between the real and the virtual worlds. The authors suggest that a humanoid robot can use social stories within an Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) framework to support the acquisition of social interaction skills of children with ASD. The objective of this chapter is to contribute to the current literature by providing a description of this intervention and make suggestions for its implementation using a case study approach.
The Stress and Adjustment in the Family of Intellectually Disabled Children
Authors: Prusty Babita
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACT Intellectual disability is a disorder, in which children exhibit intellectual insufficiency as well as inadequate adaptive skills, in conceptual, social, and practical domains, manifested during developmental period. The wellbeing, coping and overall adjustment of parents, siblings and other family members of children with intellectual disabilities is worth studying not only because of understanding of the children suffering from disability but also because of helping, reducing burden and enhancing a healthy physical and mental life of the family members. Research suggests that parents of children with, typical development, but their mental health in general might be complicated as well. Certain therapeutic techniques like Psychodynamic therapy, family therapy and behavioral therapies could be used for helping such families.
Accessibility and Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Brown Kirsten
Published: September 2017

This chapter contributes to important conversations about accessibility in higher education by examining legal issues that shape experiences of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The chapter begins by outlining the relationship between reasonable accommodations and academic success. Then, it provides an overview of ASD in relation to postsecondary education. A substantive portion of the chapter delineates current legal topics, including federal law, case law, and Office of Civil Rights (OCR) letters. Functional limitations associated with ASD are social or sensory in nature. However, legal precedent in the United States defines the major life activity of learning in a manner that does not usually include these components, thereby limiting access to sensory and social accommodations. The chapter concludes by discussing Title IX and students with ASD that experience sexual assault, the value of neurodiversity, and future implications for accessibility as the number of students with ASD in postsecondary education increases.
Sustainable Project Management in the System of Economic Reform of Industries
Authors: Apenko S. N.
Published: September 2017

Russian economy is facing a difficult period characterized by economic crisis. In particular, industry became an evident of the necessity to change economic development model: the transition from raw material economy to industrial one. This requires economic reforms. At the present stage, economic reforms can be implemented, first, in the project format, and secondly, following the requirements of sustainable development concept. Project management as the theory, methodology and set of practical technologies has significantly strengthened its position in the modern management of economic entities. Project management proves own efficiency, also in the development and implementation of economic reforms. This raises the urgent issue of integration and integrated use of project management and sustainable development concept. Today, scholars and practitioners declare an importance of sustainability criteria implementation at the project level. Therefore, the aim of the study was to develop provisions for sustainable project management. Consequently, results of the study proposed: clarification of sustainable project management essence, interrelation of directions of sustainable development and functional areas of project management, conditions and prerequisites for the transition to sustainable project management, rationale for the transition to sustainable project management towards so-called “weak” sustainability.
Economic Reforms in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Akhmetova Marina I. , Krutova Alexandra V.
Published: September 2017

This chapter deals on regional specialization and inter-territorial integration. Author's investigation provides an overview of the methodological tools of analysis of the territory's integration potential. The main factors, underlying the integration potential, includes the following: availability of financial and natural resources, and geographical location of the region, transport infrastructure, human and intellectual potential, industry, services and trade development, regional management quality, etc. The authors consider intensity of the inter-regional integration processes by comparing the turnover of wholesale trade and the gross regional product (GDP). The chapter describes the evaluation method of integration potential and integration intensity on the example of the Volga Region: Tatarstan Republic, Perm region, Bashkortostan Republic and Udmurt Republic. Implementation of theoretical and methodological developments may contribute to improving the effectiveness of regional cluster policies in the framework of the spatial development strategy and ensure living standards increasing in the long term.
Business Organizational Structure in the Context of Economic Transformation
Authors: Křibíková Pavlína , Tichá Michaela , Poczatková Blanka
Published: September 2017

After the communist regime collapse in 1989, economy of previous socialistic countries of Central and Eastern Europe was to be transformed. Economic system of Czechoslovakia was changing within 1990s as well, from centrally managed to market oriented system. The change of ownerships and needed restructuring is closely connected with the change of organizational structure of companies, which was changing very slowly within 1990s. The aim of this chapter is to explain the changes of business organizational structure, which follow the economic companies restructuring provided within 1990s. Czech companies went through big change as for ownership structure within 1990s, which was connected with total restructuring. Original managerial structures were not suitable and were too tied with previous style of ineffective management. Now the role of manager moves to the role of businessman and performance monitoring moves to an architect being responsible for design and organizing.
Boosting the EU Competitiveness as Response to Economic Shocks
Authors: Staníčková Michaela , Melecký Lukáš
Published: September 2017

Since 2008, the world has faced the economic crisis that has had devastating effects on many regions to various degrees. How regions respond to economic shock depends on regional economic structure and performance, administrative capacity, resources, human capital, social capital, and other factors, were perceived as resilience. Resilience has recently risen to prominence in several disciplines, has also entered policy discourse, and is one of the future strategic goals for the European Union. The aim of the chapter is to introduce a methodology for assessing the resilience of EU28 NUTS 2 regions based on a construction of composite weighted index derived from EU Regional Competitiveness Index database of indicators using Factor analysis and their classification by Cluster analysis. Construction of composite indicators includes several steps that have to be made and corresponding methods have to be chosen to handle different aspects of economic issues including features of EU resilience.
Fiscal Reforms in a Country's Competitiveness Development
Authors: Janošková Mária , Csikósová Adriana , Čulková Katarína
Published: September 2017

The chapter attention is given to fiscal reforms in Slovakia. Reform measurements and their impact on the state budget have been investigated in selected areas of the economy. Reforms are always lively discussed issue. On the one hand, they are reasoned by expert arguments, but also by political ideas and emotions. On the other hand, we must see that the reforms affect all citizens, mainly children, students, workers, unemployed and pensioners. The chapter contains a brief overview of the most important reforms in the years 2002-2006 as well as preliminary impacts on the economy, inhabitants and public finances. The aim of this chapter is to describe the fiscal reforms in Slovakia, to bring close principles that were behind the changes and to evaluate their influence on the country's competitiveness. The aim is to show how economic policy and reforms have changed the socio-economic model in Slovakia and what results it has brought.
Pervasive Information Systems Adaptation Challenges
Authors: Achour Fatma , Jedidi Anis , Gargouri Faiez
Published: September 2017

Initially, a significant number of contextual information can be employed to describe the pervasive system. Hence, to design this type of system, there is a stern need for a new information system. Unlike the classical information system, the new system integrates the mobile devices characterized by different hardware and software capacity and other useful devices. Therefore, most pervasive information system designers provide mechanisms and architectures to effectively save, recover and submit the most relevant information to the user regardless of location, time and the user's equipment which are independent of the network constraints. In this paper, the authors present a model to describe the pervasive information system through the use of the existing contextual models. In the same context, they suggest a semantic description to adapt the users to six categories of contextual information by taking the semantic-web-service creation as a basis. Finally, they present the semantic rules applied to the intended description and notification system to validate these rules.