bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large surface velocity fluctuations of Biafo Glacier, central Karakoram, at high spatial and temporal resolution from optical satellite images
Authors: Scherler Dirk , Strecker Manfred R.
Published: April 2012

Despite global warming and unlike their Himalayan neighbours, glaciers in the Karakoram mountains do not show signs of significant retreat. Here we report high velocity variations of Biafo Glacier, central Karakoram, which occurred between 2001 and 2009 and which indicate considerable dynamics in its flow behaviour. We have generated a dense time series of glacier surface velocities, based on cross-correlation of optical satellite images, which clearly shows seasonal and interannual velocity variations, reaching 50% in some places. The interannual velocity variations resemble the passing of a broad wave of high velocities, with peak velocities during 2005 and some diffusion down-glacier over a period of at least 4 years. High interannual velocity variations are also observed at other glaciers in the vicinity, suggesting a common cause, although these appear to partly comprise longer acceleration phases. Analysis of weather station data provides some indications of meteorological conditions that could have promoted sustained sliding events during this period, but this does not explain the wave-like nature of the acceleration at Biafo Glacier, and the regular, protracted velocity changes.
Introduction to the Yang-Baxter Equation with Open Problems
Authors: Nichita Florin
Published: April 2012

The Yang-Baxter equation first appeared in theoretical physics, in a paper by the Nobel laureate C. N. Yang, and in statistical mechanics, in R. J. Baxter’s work. Later, it turned out that this equation plays a crucial role in: quantum groups, knot theory, braided categories, analysis of integrable systems, quantum mechanics, non-commutative descent theory, quantum computing, non-commutative geometry, etc. Many scientists have found solutions for the Yang-Baxter equation, obtaining qualitative results (using the axioms of various algebraic structures) or quantitative results (usually using computer calculations). However, the full classification of its solutions remains an open problem. In this paper, we present the (set-theoretical) Yang-Baxter equation, we sketch the proof of a new theorem, we state some problems, and discuss about directions for future research.
Neurotrophic Effect of Citrus Auraptene: Neuritogenic Activity in PC12 Cells
Authors: Furukawa Yoshiko , Watanabe Sono , Okuyama Satoshi , Nakajima Mitsunari
Published: April 2012

The activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) leads to a number of cellular changes associated with the development of long-term memory. Using cultured cortical neurons, we previously showed that the n-hexane extract prepared from the peels of Citrus grandis (Kawachi bankan) induces the activation of ERK1/2 and that one of the compounds with this ability in the extract is 3,5,6,7,8,3′,4′-heptamethoxyflavone (HMF), a Citrus polymethoxyflavone. In fact, we found that HMF has the ability to rescue mice from drug-induced learning impairment. This hexane extract contains auraptene (AUR), a coumarin derivative with a monoterpene unit, together with HMF. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of AUR in vitro. Our results show that 1) AUR had the ability to induce the activation of ERK1/2 in not only cortical neurons but also the rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12 cells), which is a model system for studies on neuronal proliferation and differentiation; and 2) AUR had the ability to promote neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells.
Cytotoxic Sesterterpenoids from a Sponge Hippospongia sp.
Authors: Chang Yu-Chia , Tseng Shang-Wei , Liu Li-Lian , Chou Yalan , Ho Yuan-Shing , Lu Mei-Chin , Su Jui-Hsin
Published: April 2012

One new pentacyclic sesterterpene, hippospongide A (1), and one new scalarane sesterterpenoid, hippospongide B (2), along with six previously reported known scalarane–type sesterterpenes (3–8), were isolated from a sponge Hippospongia sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data and comparison of the NMR data with those of known analogues. These metabolites are the first pentacyclic sesterterpene and scalarane-type sesterterpenes to be reported from this genus. Compounds 3–5 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against DLD-1, HCT-116, T-47D and K562 cancer cell lines.
Strong Electro-Absorption in GeSi Epitaxy on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI)
Authors: Luo Ying , Zheng Xuezhe , Li Guoliang , Shubin Ivan , Thacker Hiren , Yao Jin , Lee Jin-Hyoung , Feng Dazeng , Fong Joan , Kung Cheng-Chih , Liao Shirong , Shafiiha Roshanak , Asghari Mehdi , Raj Kannan , Krishnamoorthy Ashok V. , Cunningham John E.
Published: April 2012

We have investigated the selective epitaxial growth of GeSi bulk material on silicon-on-insulator substrates by reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition. We employed AFM, SIMS, and Hall measurements, to characterize the GeSi heteroepitaxy quality. Optimal growth conditions have been identified to achieve low defect density, low RMS roughness with high selectivity and precise control of silicon content. Fabricated vertical p-i-n diodes exhibit very low dark current density of 5 mA/cm2 at −1 V bias. Under a 7.5 V/µm E-field, GeSi alloys with 0.6% Si content demonstrate very strong electro-absorption with an estimated effective ∆α/α around 3.5 at 1,590 nm. We compared measured ∆α/α performance to that of bulk Ge. Optical modulation up to 40 GHz is observed in waveguide devices while small signal analysis indicates bandwidth is limited by device parasitics.
Kinetic Study of Oxygen Adsorption over Nanosized Au/γ-Al2O3 Supported Catalysts under Selective CO Oxidation Conditions
Authors: Gavril Dimitrios , Georgaka Aglaia , Karaiskakis George
Published: April 2012

O2 adsorption is a key process for further understanding the mechanism of selective CO oxidation (SCO) on gold catalysts. Rate constants related to the elementary steps of O2 adsorption, desorption and surface bonding, as well as the respective activation energies, over a nanosized Au/γ-Al2O3 catalyst, were determined by Reversed-Flow Inverse Gas Chromatography (RF-IGC). The present study, carried-out in a wide temperature range (50–300 °C), both in excess as well as in the absence of H2, resulted in mechanistic insights and kinetic as well as energetic comparisons, on the sorption processes of SCO reactants. In the absence of H2, the rate of O2 binding, over Au/γ-Al2O3, drastically changes with rising temperature, indicating possible O2 dissociation at elevated temperatures. H2 facilitates stronger O2 bonding at higher temperatures, while low temperature binding remains practically unaffected. The lower energy barriers observed, under H2 rich conditions, can be correlated to O2 dissociation after hydrogenation. Although, H2 enhances both selective CO reactant’s desorption, O2 desorption is more favored than that of CO, in agreement with the well-known mild bonding of SCO reactant’s at lower temperatures. The experimentally observed drastic change in the strength of CO and O2 binding is consistent both with well-known high activity of SCO at ambient temperatures, as well as with the loss of selectivity at higher temperatures.
Gossypol Exhibits a Strong Influence Towards UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1, 1A9 and 2B7-Mediated Metabolism of Xenobiotics and Endogenous Substances
Authors: Zhang Yong-Sheng , Yuan Jun , Fang Zhong-Ze , Tu Yan-Yang , Hu Cui-Min , Li Gan , Wang Liang , Deng Jian-Ping , Yao Jia-Jiu , Li Hai-Rong
Published: April 2012

Gossypol, the polyphenolic constituent isolated from cottonseeds, has been used as a male antifertility drug for a long time, and has been demonstrated to exhibit excellent anti-tumor activity towards multiple cancer types. The toxic effects of gossypol limit its clinical utilization, and enzyme inhibition is an important facet of this. In the present study, in vitro human liver microsomal incubation system supplemented with UDPGA was used to investigate the inhibition of gossypol towards UGT1A1, 1A9 and 2B7-mediated metabolism of xenobiotics and endogenous substances. Estradiol, the probe substrate of UGT1A1, was selected as representative endogenous substance. Propofol (a probe substrate of UGT1A9) and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythimidine (AZT, a probe substrate of UGT2B7) were employed as representative xenobiotics. The results showed that gossypol noncompetitively inhibits UGT-mediated estradiol-3-glucuronidation and propofol O-glucuronidation, and the inhibition kinetic parameters (Ki) were calculated to be 34.2 and 16.4 μM, respectively. Gossypol was demonstrated to exhibit competitive inhibition towards UGT-mediated AZT glucuronidation, and the inhibition kinetic parameter (Ki) was determined to be 14.0 μM. All these results indicated that gossypol might induce metabolic disorders of endogenous substances and alteration of metabolic behaviour of co-administered xenobiotics through inhibition of UGTs’ activity.
Microbial Enhance of Chitosan Production by Rhizopus arrhizus Using Agroindustrial Substrates
Authors: Cardoso Antonio , Lins Clarissa Izabel M. , Dos Santos Ednaldo Ramos , Silva Marta C. Freitas , Campos-Takaki Galba M.
Published: April 2012

This study investigated the potential of Rhizopus arrhizus UCP 402 for producing chitosan using corn steep liquor and honey as agroindustrial nitrogen and carbon sources. A complete factorial design was used to assess the improved biomass and chitosan production. The results were evaluated using Pareto charts (Statistica 7.0 software). The chitosan obtained was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The cristallinity index (IC), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to evaluate the degree of deacetylation (DD %). The morphological aspects of the R. arrhizus were evaluated by measuring the diameter of the colonies by light microscopy. The results obtained showed higher biomass and chitosan yields (20.61 g/L and 29.3 mg/g), respectively, in the selected assays. The characterization of the macromolecular arrangement of chitosan showed a crystallinity index compatible with the literature, and the infrared peaks confirmed a degree of 86%. The experimental data obtained suggest that adding honey to corn steep liquor is a promising way to improve microbiological chitosan production.
Architecture and Methods for Innovative Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Network Applications
Authors: Antonio Pedro , Grimaccia Francesco , Mussetta Marco
Published: April 2012

Nowadays wireless sensor netwoks (WSN) technology, wireless communications and digital electronics have made it realistic to produce a large scale miniaturized devices integrating sensing, processing and communication capabilities. The focus of this paper is to present an innovative mobile platform for heterogeneous sensor networks, combined with adaptive methods to optimize the communication architecture for novel potential applications in multimedia and entertainment. In fact, in the near future, some of the applications foreseen for WSNs will employ multi-platform systems with a high number of different devices, which may be completely different in nature, size, computational and energy capabilities, etc. Nowadays, in addition, data collection could be performed by UAV platforms which can be a sink for ground sensors layer, acting essentially as a mobile gateway. In order to maximize the system performances and the network lifespan, the authors propose a recently developed hybrid technique based on evolutionary algorithms. The goal of this procedure is to optimize the communication energy consumption in WSN by selecting the optimal multi-hop routing schemes, with a suitable hybridization of different routing criteria. The proposed approach can be potentially extended and applied to ongoing research projects focused on UAV-based sensing with WSN augmentation and real-time processing for immersive media experiences.
Fiber Sensor Systems Based on Fiber Laser and Microwave Photonic Technologies
Authors: Fu Hongyan , Chen Daru , Cai Zhiping
Published: April 2012

Fiber-optic sensors, especially fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are very attractive due to their numerous advantages over traditional sensors, such as light weight, high sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, immunity to electromagnetic interference, ease of multiplexing and so on. Therefore, fiber-optic sensors have been intensively studied during the last several decades. Nowadays, with the development of novel fiber technology, more and more newly invented fiber technologies bring better and superior performance to fiber-optic sensing networks. In this paper, the applications of some advanced photonic technologies including fiber lasers and microwave photonic technologies for fiber sensing applications are reviewed. FBG interrogations based on several kinds of fiber lasers, especially the novel Fourier domain mode locking fiber laser, have been introduced; for the application of microwave photonic technology, examples of microwave photonic filtering utilized as a FBG sensing interrogator and microwave signal generation acting as a transversal loading sensor have been given. Both theoretical analysis and experimental demonstrations have been carried out. The comparison of these advanced photonic technologies for the applications of fiber sensing is carried out and important issues related to the applications have been addressed and the suitable and potential application examples have also been discussed in this paper.
Following Knots down Their Energy Gradients
Authors: Kauffman Louis H.
Published: April 2012

This paper details a series of experiments in searching for minimal energy configurations for knots and links using the computer program KnotPlot.
Poxvirus Cell Entry: How Many Proteins Does it Take?
Authors: Moss Bernard
Published: April 2012

For many viruses, one or two proteins enable cell binding, membrane fusion and entry. The large number of proteins employed by poxviruses is unprecedented and may be related to their ability to infect a wide range of cells. There are two main infectious forms of vaccinia virus, the prototype poxvirus: the mature virion (MV), which has a single membrane, and the extracellular enveloped virion (EV), which has an additional outer membrane that is disrupted prior to fusion. Four viral proteins associated with the MV membrane facilitate attachment by binding to glycosaminoglycans or laminin on the cell surface, whereas EV attachment proteins have not yet been identified. Entry can occur at the plasma membrane or in acidified endosomes following macropinocytosis and involves actin dynamics and cell signaling. Regardless of the pathway or whether the MV or EV mediates infection, fusion is dependent on 11 to 12 non-glycosylated, transmembrane proteins ranging in size from 4- to 43-kDa that are associated in a complex. These proteins are conserved in poxviruses making it likely that a common entry mechanism exists. Biochemical studies support a two-step process in which lipid mixing of viral and cellular membranes is followed by pore expansion and core penetration.
Pharmacological Inhibition of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
Authors: Mohammadi Hakimeh , Bienzle Dorothee
Published: April 2012

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a member of the retroviridae family of viruses and causes an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in domestic and non-domestic cats worldwide. Genome organization of FIV and clinical characteristics of the disease caused by the virus are similar to those of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Both viruses infect T lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages, and their replication cycle in infected cells is analogous. Due to marked similarity in genomic organization, virus structure, virus replication and disease pathogenesis of FIV and HIV, infection of cats with FIV is a useful tool to study and develop novel drugs and vaccines for HIV. Anti-retroviral drugs studied extensively in HIV infection have targeted different steps of the virus replication cycle: (1) inhibition of virus entry into susceptible cells at the level of attachment to host cell surface receptors and co-receptors; (2) inhibition of fusion of the virus membrane with the cell membrane; (3) blockade of reverse transcription of viral genomic RNA; (4) interruption of nuclear translocation and viral DNA integration into host genomes; (5) prevention of viral transcript processing and nuclear export; and (6) inhibition of virion assembly and maturation. Despite much success of anti-retroviral therapy slowing disease progression in people, similar therapy has not been thoroughly investigated in cats. In this article we review current pharmacological approaches and novel targets for anti-lentiviral therapy, and critically assess potentially suitable applications against FIV infection in cats.
Scenario Analysis of Nutrient Removal from Municipal Wastewater by Microalgal Biofilms
Authors: Boelee Nadine C. , Temmink Hardy , Janssen Marcel , Buisman Cees J. N. , Wijffels René H.
Published: April 2012

Microalgae can be used for the treatment of municipal wastewater. The application of microalgal biofilms in wastewater treatment systems seems attractive, being able to remove nitrogen, phosphorus and COD from wastewater at a short hydraulic retention time. This study therefore investigates the area requirement, achieved effluent concentrations and biomass production of a hypothetical large-scale microalgal biofilm system treating municipal wastewater. Three scenarios were defined: using microalgal biofilms: (1) as a post-treatment; (2) as a second stage of wastewater treatment, after a first stage in which COD is removed by activated sludge; and (3) in a symbiotic microalgal/heterotrophic system. The analysis showed that in the Netherlands, the area requirements for these three scenarios range from 0.32 to 2.1 m2 per person equivalent. Moreover, it was found that it was not possible to simultaneously remove all nitrogen and phosphorus from the wastewater, because of the nitrogen:phosphorus ratio in the wastewater. Phosphorus was limiting in the post-treatment scenario, while nitrogen was limiting in the two other scenarios. Furthermore, a substantial amount of microalgal biomass was produced, ranging from 13 to 59 g per person equivalent per day. These findings show that microalgal biofilm systems hold large potential as seasonal wastewater treatment systems and that it is worthwhile to investigate these systems further.
Human Behavior in Chatrooms
Authors: Loewen Shawn , Wang Jiawen
Published: April 2012

The development of new technologies has had an impact on human behavior and communication from time immemorial. With the growing rate of technological advancement during the past 100 years, the changes have occurred even more rapidly. In an effort to understand the effects of one medium on human behavior and communication, this article explores and synthesizes research that has been conducted over the past 30 years, in what has come to be known as the chatroom. The chatroom, in the form of Internet Relay Chat (IRC), was developed in the late 1980s, and has been growing in popularity ever since. Chatrooms are Web-based platforms that allow synchronous, written communication between two or more interested participants in a forum that is potentially open to other interested participants.
Digital Natives
Authors: Bennett Sue
Published: April 2012

The term “digital native” was popularized by Prensky (2001) as a means of distinguishing young people who are highly technologically literate and engaged. His central claim was that because of immersion in digital technologies from birth, younger people think and learn differently than older generations. Tapscott (1998) had proposed a similar idea, calling it “The Net Generation,” and there have been numerous labels applied to the same supposed phenomena since. Recent research has revealed that the term is misapplied when used to generalize about an entire generation, and instead indicates that only a small sub-set of the population fits this characterization. This research shows significant diversity in the technology skills, knowledge, and interests of young people, and suggests that there are important “digital divides,” which are ignored by the digital native concept. This chapter synthesizes key findings from Europe, North America, and Australia and predicts future directions for research in this area.
Individuals with Disabilities and Internet Use
Authors: Gozza-Cohen Mary , May Deborah
Published: April 2012

This entry examines the use of the internet by individuals with disabilities. Before people with disabilities can use the Internet for socializing, communicating, gathering information, learning, or working, they must first be able to access the Internet. This may require additional assistance by either people or modified hardware and software. Some authors have expressed concern that there is a digital divide, with many people with disabilities not accessing the Internet. The differing needs of people with disabilities, and how their needs may be met with technology and adaptations are explored. Examples of various uses of the Internet by people with disabilities are presented. This field does not have a large research base; it is difficult to do controlled large group studies with such diverse populations, so much of the information comes from position papers, demographic reports, case studies, or exploratory research.
Cyber Behaviors of Immigrants
Authors: Chen Wenli , Xie Wenting
Published: April 2012

In the 21st Century, due to development of transportation and communication technology, people are living in a more globalized world than ever before. International migration, with changing dynamics, is achieved at high speed and on a large scale. As new media are gaining popularity, the authors are curious about the way immigrants behave in the cyberspace and the consequences their cyber behaviors bring about. In this article, the authors trace the historical development of research on cyber behaviors of immigrants, explore important research topics, examine existing studies, and predict future trend in this area.
Cyber Behavior of Homeless Adolescents and Adults
Authors: Eyrich-Garg Karin M. , Rice Eric
Published: April 2012

A common stereotype is that persons experiencing homelessness have no access to digital and Information Technology. Even if they could obtain access, they would not have the skills necessary to use it. In this entry, the authors examine the scientific literature focused on the Internet use of persons experiencing homelessness. Both homeless adolescents and adults use the Internet at public libraries, social service agencies, and via mobile phone. They use the Internet to obtain employment and housing, seek services, remain socially connected, and have fun. The Internet has enormous potential as a tool to improve the lives of persons experiencing homelessness in terms of social support, advocacy, connection to and rating of services, online education, online intervention scheduling, and online intervention delivery. This field is new, and its development should prove both exciting and vital for the assessment, research, and intervention of persons experiencing homelessness.
Managing Employee Internet Abuse in the Digital Workplace
Authors: Young Kimberly
Published: April 2012

Employee Internet abuse is a problem among organizations often resulting in poor job productivity, high turnover rates due to job loss, and the potential for legal liability. While organizations developed acceptable Internet use policies and monitored employee Internet usage, studies found that these methods alone were not enough to deter and prevent employee Internet abuse. This chapter describes the research surrounding employee Internet use and presents Young’s model for preventing and addressing Internet use in the workplace. The model includes strategies in policy development, training, Internet monitoring, and revised termination policies for incidents of employee Internet abuse that include rehabilitation through the company EAP. Finally, the chapter addresses new trends in digital media abuse such as to Facebook and Twitter in the workplace and how these can create new kinds of technostress for those who become addicted.
Human Behaviors in Online Pharmacies
Authors: Orizio Grazia , Gelatti Umberto
Published: April 2012

Online pharmacies are companies that sell pharmaceutical preparations via the Internet. The purpose of this contribution is to summarize the existing evidence on the issue, following four main research areas. The first is about data on consumers buying from online pharmacies. This is the most relevant area regarding behavioral aspects. The research area was tackled via different approaches, specifically: the study of cognitive characteristics and decision-making patterns, the definition of consumers’ socio-demographic characteristics via population-based surveys, clinical case reports on complications occurring in consumers of drugs purchased online, and the empirical study of risk perception regarding online pharmacies. Other research areas include the study of online pharmacy website characteristics (found by web scanning), and of the products bought online in terms of purchase characteristics and drug quality. A large amount of literature was dedicated to the complex legal and ethical implications raised by online pharmacies.
Cyber Behaviors of Self Health Care Management
Authors: Seçkin Gül
Published: April 2012

The use of social computing technologies for health information and support has been of growing interest among researchers. Eight in ten computer connected individuals browse the Internet for health information, which makes it one of the most common online activities (Tanis, 2008). The Internet technology has produced a revolutionary change in the availability and the amount of health and medical information to patients. Sometimes referred to as the informaticization of medicine, a whole new field of knowledge around medical information and communication in cyber space emerged in the late 1990s. As the technologies for health management develop, it becomes more important to explore the health management behavior of computer-connected patients. This entry aims to serve this purpose by discussing the background and current state of knowledge about how usage of the Internet technology affects individuals’ self health care management behavior.
Internet Addiction
Authors: Vondrackova Petra , Smahel David
Published: April 2012

Internet addiction can be defined as overuse of the Internet leading to impairment of an individual’s psychological state; this includes both mental and emotional states, as well as scholastic, occupational, and social interactions. Internet addiction was first mentioned in a clinical context by Kimberly Young in 1996, since then it has received attention from experts in various scientific fields. Perhaps due to its short history, the concept of Internet addiction has not been fully developed and there are still many unanswered questions, particularly regarding the terminology, definition, and its clinical relevance. Realized studies on Internet addiction have focused on (a) prevalence estimates, (b) negative correlates, (c) defining the core components and designing measurement scales and/or diagnostic criteria, and (d) treatment approaches. Future research should focus on clarifying the concept of Internet addiction and related terminology, and creating a standardized instrument for measuring Internet addiction.
Online Pornography Seeking Behaviors
Authors: Markey Patrick M. , Markey Charlotte N.
Published: April 2012

Given the prevalence of online pornography and the ease with which this content can be accessed using Internet search engines, it is important to understand different ways to measure online pornography seeking behaviors. Research that has used self-report data to analyze online pornography searches and behavior is discussed, and the limitations of this methodology are outlined. An alternative approach, which samples a portion of Google Web searches in order to determine how many searches for specific keywords have been conducted in a given time period, is then presented as a useful method for assessing this behavior. Using this method, the changes in pornographic keyword searches across the last eight years are discussed along with how pornographic searches change across a given week. Finally, research is presented in order to demonstrate how this methodology can be used to examine various psychological and social theories.
Young People’s Online Civic Participation
Authors: Hirzalla Fadi , Banaji Shakuntala
Published: April 2012

This chapter reviews the body of academic literature about young people’s online civic participation. The authors first sketch how this literature has developed historically in the context of old and changing scholarly discussions about what civic participation and democratic citizenship more generally do or should envelop. The second section outlines how extant empirical studies on young people’s civic participation online may be subdivided into four strands of research, each focusing on different questions and relying on different methods. The closing section provides a number of directions for further research, mostly calling for innovative and more pressing context-specific and people-centered research approaches.
Cyber Warfare
Authors: Berenger Ralph D.
Published: April 2012

This entry explores the difficulty of defining precisely cyber warfare, of determining the motives behind cyber attacks, and reviews the history of cyber warfare that extends back to the creation of cyberspace itself, while looking at future international research and policy implications. The introduction grapples with defining cyber warfare and its distinction from cyber war. It traces the etymology of the concept to the unlikely confluence of science fiction writers, 1960’s radicals, and current experts in the field, many of them former anti-establishment cyber warriors themselves. The next section synthesizes the literature and highly publicized examples of cyber warfare in recent years. The following segment reviews the responses of governments to cyber warfare, and finally, it looks at future implications for policymakers.
E-learning in Elementary Education
Authors: van der Meij Hans
Published: April 2012

E-learning (EL) is defined as communication and learning activities through computers and networks. EL in elementary education is mainly blended with having a teacher present who is steering, at least in a broad sense, what goes on. After defining key terms and introducing pioneers, the main advantages and disadvantages of EL are discussed. Two ground-breaking projects on EL in elementary school are then detailed. The section on EL effects begins with a discussion on drills, which are among the most widely used and effective EL types in elementary education. Meta-analyses show that tutorials (which usually include drills) have consistently been found to be effective, especially in the domains of mathematics and science. Three future research directions on e-learning in elementary school are discussed, including the interactive whiteboard, simulation-based learning environments, and instructions for digital literacy development of students.
Understanding Cyber Behavior in Europe
Authors: Brandtzæg Petter Bae
Published: April 2012

This chapter aims to understand cyber behavior in terms of Internet usage patterns in Europe. It presents both an historical introduction to the term and insight into the different approaches to understanding cyber behavior, such as the user typology approach, by which European citizens are classified according to their Internet usage patterns. It also provides insight into cross-country differences in Europe, with a focus on the North/South European divide in Internet access and use. Further, this chapter presents several important factors affecting the European digital divide, such as economy, gender equality, press freedom and political openness, education, and culture. Finally, some important future research directions related to cyber behavior in Europe are suggested.
Cyber Behaviors in Canada
Authors: Guitton Matthieu J.
Published: April 2012

The real world impacts the use of the cyber world. Two characteristics shape the Canadian cyber world: first, the bilingual nature of Canada; second and most important, the immensity of the Canadian territory and the related difficulties in physically reaching its population. Due to this situation, Canada has been at the edge of the development of cyberspace, investing major efforts in cyber-applications for the health system and for tele-education. This chapter describes the characteristics of cyber behavior in Canada and summarizes the current state of Canadian cyberspace, with a particular focus on the involvement of the government, media and entertainment, universities and hospitals, and a special emphasis on tele-medicine. Finally, this chapter describes some of the research of Canadian scientists in the field of cyber behavior. In the context of a globalized world, the experience of Canada provides a useful example for optimizing the use of cyberspaces in large territories, and facilitating interactions between different – real or virtual – communities.
A Proposition for Classification of Business Sectors by ERP Solutions Support
Authors: Jakupovic Alen , Pavlic Mile , Vrcek Neven
Published: April 2012

This paper illustrates the results of an analysis of business sectors covered by ERP solutions. The authors answer questions in regards to business sectors supported by ERP solutions, while presenting a list of supported business sectors. Using a statistical analysis, an answer is given to the question of whether there are any business sectors that are supported by a large number of ERP solutions, and whether it is possible to classify business sectors based on the occurrence of the support. Finally, three classifications are described that stem from different statistical views of covering business sectors by ERP solutions, and a suggestion for a unique classification of business sectors is given.
An Exploratory Study of the Key Skills for Entry-Level ERP Employees
Authors: Peslak Alan R. , Boyle Todd A.
Published: April 2012

This research identifies the key skills (e.g., business, team, communication) that industries expect for entry level positions involving enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Based on a review of the literature, a number of possible core skills that ERP entry level employees should possess are identified. To identify the relative importance of these specific skills, a web-based survey involving IT professionals from 105 organizations is conducted. Analyzing the findings using exploratory factor analysis and scale reliability analysis indicates four specific and significant factors representing the major key skills that industry expects from entry level ERP positions labeled for this study such as systems analysis and integration, team skills, project management, and business and application understanding. Various common technical skills (e.g., programming, networks) were found to be significantly less important than the business and team skills. This study should assist companies in developing criteria for evaluating potential candidates for entry level positions in ERP systems, as well as universities for evaluating the relevancy of their IT and Business programs.
The Core Critical Success Factors in Implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
Authors: Hanafizadeh Payam , Gholami Roya , Dadbin Shabnam , Standage Nicholas
Published: April 2012

The Implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems require huge investments while ineffective implementations of such projects are commonly observed. A considerable number of these projects have been reported to fail or take longer than it was initially planned, while previous studies show that the aim of rapid implementation of such projects has not been successful and the failure of the fundamental goals in these projects have imposed huge amounts of costs on investors. Some of the major consequences are the reduction in demand for such products and the introduction of further skepticism to the managers and investors of ERP systems. In this regard, it is important to understand the factors determining success or failure of ERP implementation. The aim of this paper is to study the critical success factors (CSFs) in implementing ERP systems and to develop a conceptual model which can serve as a basis for ERP project managers. These critical success factors that are called “core critical success factors” are extracted from 62 published papers using the content analysis and the entropy method. The proposed conceptual model has been verified in the context of five multinational companies.
Effects of Reciprocal Investments and Relational Interaction in Deploying RFID Supply Chain Systems
Authors: Angeles Rebecca
Published: April 2012

In this paper, the author looks at the perceived ability of information technology (IT) infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration. In order to moderate the relationship between business process specificity and domain knowledge specificity, the study focuses on two dependent variables; reciprocal investments and relational interaction using the moderated regression procedure. Results show that IT infrastructure integration moderates the relationship between business process specificity and relational interaction, as well as domain knowledge specificity and relational interaction.
Message-Based Approach to Master Data Synchronization among Autonomous Information Systems
Authors: Yu Dongjin
Published: April 2012

The evolution of networks and large scale information systems has led to the rise of data sources that are distributed, heterogeneous, and autonomous. As a result, the management of Master Data becomes more complex and of uncertain quality. This paper presents a novel message-based approach to the synchronization of Master Data among multiple autonomous information systems. Different than traditional approaches based on database triggers, the author adopts the optimistic bidirectional strategy with the process of two synchronization phases. By means of data service buses, it propagates synchronized Master Data through messages being passed along star-like cascading routes. Moreover, this approach could resolve possible data conflicts automatically using predefined attribute confidences and deducible current value confidences respectively. Finally, this paper presents the real case about synchronizing datasets among four separate but related systems based on the author’s novel message-based approach.
An Empirical Evaluation of the Assimilation of Industry-Specific Data Standards Using Firm-Level and Community-Level Constructs
Authors: Mendoza Rubén A. , Ravichandran T.
Published: April 2012

Vertical standards focus on industry-specific product and service descriptions, and are generally implemented using the eXtensible Markup Language (XML). Vertical standards are complex technologies with an organizational adoption locus but subject to inter-organizational dependence and network effects. Understanding the assimilation process for vertical standards requires that both firm and industry-level effects be considered simultaneously. In this paper, the authors develop and evaluate a two-level model of organizational assimilation that includes both firm and industry-level effects. The study was conducted in collaboration with OASIS, a leading cross-industry standards-development organization (SDO), and with ACORD, the principal SDO for the insurance and financial services industries. Results confirm the usefulness of incorporating firm-level and community-level constructs in the study of complex networked technologies. Specifically, the authors’ re-conceptualization of the classical DoI concepts of relative advantage and complexity are shown to be appropriate and significant in predicting vertical standards assimilation. Additionally, community-level constructs such as orphaning risk and standard legitimation are also shown to be important predictors of assimilation.
Semantics for Accurate Conflict Detection in SMoVer
Authors: Altmanninger Kerstin , Schwinger Wieland , Kotsis Gabriele
Published: April 2012

In collaborative software development, the utilization of Version Control Systems (VCSs) is a must. For this, a multitude of pessimistic as well as optimistic VCSs for model artifacts emerged. Pessimistic approaches follow the lock-edit-unlock paradigm whereas optimistic approaches allow parallel editing of one resource, which are therefore the preferred ones. To be flexible for the ever increasing variety of modeling environments and languages such tools should be independent of the modeling environment and applicable to various modeling languages. Those VCS characteristics may implicate a lack of information for the conflict detection method by virtue of firstly receiving solely the state of an artifact without concrete editing operations and secondly due to unavailable knowledge about the semantics of a modeling language. However, in optimistic VCSs concurrent changes can result in conflicts and inconsistencies. In environment and language independent VCSs inconsistencies would even arise more often due to information losses. Hence, accurate conflict detection methods are indispensable for the realization of such VCSs. To tackle this task, the “Semantically enhanced Model Version Control System” SMoVer is presented. With SMoVer it is possible to specify the semantics of a modeling language, needed for conflict detection in order to provide more accurate conflict reports than other current environment and language independent VCSs. In this work, it is exemplified how semantics of a specific modeling language can be specified in SMoVer, how those specifications can improve the accuracy of conflict reports and finally how those can be presented to modelers.
The Centralisation Dilemma in Educational IT
Authors: Weller Martin
Published: April 2012

The trend with organisational adoption of virtual learning environments (VLE) seems to be cyclical. Initially, a decentralised approach was adopted, wherein each department implemented different learning environments or mixtures of technology, often developed in-house. The last five years have seen an increased centralisation of learning environment implementation, with most universities adopting a single VLE. However, in more recent times the proliferation of free, easy-to-use third party tools that fulfil a range of functions has seen a desire amongst some educators to return to a more decentralised model of technology provision, by supporting Personal Learning Environments (PLE). This paper examines the issues surrounding both a centralised and decentralised model. These include pedagogic, support, financial, reliability, data and technical issues. The conclusion is that although the fully individualised PLE may not be possible or desirable in higher education, maintaining separate, often inferior versions of commonly available software is not a sustainable position.
Toward a Personal Learning Environment Framework
Authors: Chatti Mohamed Amine , Agustiawan Mohammad Ridwan , Jarke Matthias , Specht Marcus
Published: April 2012

Over the past decade, it has been argued that technology-enhanced learning (TEL) could respond to the needs of the new knowledge society and transform learning. However, despite isolated achievements, TEL has not succeeded in revolutionizing education and learning processes. Most current TEL initiatives still take a centralized technology-push approach in which learning content is pushed to a predefined group of learners in closed environments. A fundamental shift toward a more open and learner-pull model for learning is needed. Recently, the Personal Learning Environment (PLE) concept has emerged to open new doors for more effective learning and overcome many of the limitations of traditional TEL models. In this paper, the authors present theoretical, design, implementation, and evaluation details of PLEF, a framework for mashup personal learning environments. The primary aim of PLEF is to help learners create custom learning mashups using a wide variety of digital media and data.
Designing Effective Spaces, Tasks and Metrics for Communication in Second Life Within the Context of Programming LEGO NXT Mindstorms™ Robots
Authors: Vallance Michael , Martin Stewart , Wiz Charles , van Schaik Paul
Published: April 2012

Science education is concerned with the meaningful pursuit of comprehension, knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes. In Vygotskian social constructivist learning, personal interpretation, decision-making and community cooperation fosters long-term understanding and transference of learned concepts. The construction of knowledge requires learners to be actively involved in the process of learning. For effective science learning to take place an instructor’s pedagogical approach must be anchored in meaningful contexts so that students have actual opportunities to experience science. This paper presents the early stages of a research project that attempts to assess and define effective measurements for evaluating strategies for communicating science by using LEGO robots and Mindstorms™ RCX controllers that are collaboratively constructed and programmed by students using virtual technologies while physically situated in different locations.
Virtual Speed Mentoring in the Workplace - Current Approaches to Personal Informal Learning in the Workplace
Authors: Hamilton Chuck , Langlois Kristen , Watson Henry
Published: April 2012

Informal learning is the biggest undiscovered treasure in today’s workplace. Marcia Conner, author and often-cited voice for workplace learning, suggests that “Informal learning accounts for over 75% of the learning taking place in organizations today” (1997). IBM understands the value of the hyper-connected informal workplace and informal learning that comes through mentoring. This case study examines a novel approach to mentoring that is shaped only by virtual space and the participants who inhabit it. The authors found that virtual social environments can bridge distances in a way that is effective, creative and inexpensive. Eighty-five percent of virtual speed mentoring attendees reported that this approach achieved their learning objectives. Participants also reported that virtual social spaces like Second Life® are suitable delivery vehicles for mentoring, and that connecting with people was much easier than via telephone or web conferencing.
Investigating Modes of Student Inquiry in Second Life as Part of a Blended Approach
Authors: Webber Sheila
Published: April 2012

This article discusses activities carried out in the virtual world of Second Life (SL) as part of a compulsory class in the first year of an undergraduate programme. The paper identifies the contribution of SL to the students’ learning environment and an Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) approach to programme design. The reasons for taking an IBL approach are explained in relation to institutional and disciplinary goals. The paper reflects on the contribution of the three key learning environments—the classroom, WebCT and SL—to students’ learning. SL is evaluated in relation to a conceptual framework of IBL. It is concluded that SL has made a contribution to students’ achievement of learning outcomes from the class, and has facilitated the development of students’ inquiry skills. In conclusion, further avenues for developing research and teaching are identified.
Challenges Facing the Semantic Web and Social Software as Communication Technology Agents in E-Learning Environments
Authors: Olaniran Bolanle A.
Published: April 2012

The semantic web describes the process whereby information content is made available for machine consumption. With increased reliance on information communication technologies, the semantic web promises effective and efficient information acquisition and dissemination of products and services in the global economy, in particular, e-learning. Despite the semantic web’s promises, certain challenges face the realization of these goals. In this paper, the author addresses key challenges, including technological and socio-cultural issues, in addition to discussing specific implications relating to the direction of the semantic web.