bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement in Nerve Regeneration through a Decellularized Nerve Graft by Supplementation with Bone Marrow Stromal Cells in Fibrin
Authors: Zhao Zhe , Wang Yu , Peng Jiang , Ren Zhiwu , Zhang Li , Guo Quanyi , Xu Wenjing , Lu Shibi
Published: April 2013

Acellular nerve grafting is often inferior as well as an inadequate alternative to autografting for the repair of long gaps in peripheral nerves. Moreover, the injection method is not perfect. During the injection of cells, the syringe can destroy the acellular nerve structure and the limited accumulation of seed cells. To resolve this problem, we constructed a nerve graft by acellular nerve grafting. Bone marrow-mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) were affixed with fibrin glue and injected inside or around the graft, which was then used to repair a 15-mm nerve defect in rats. The acellular nerve graft maintained its structure and composition, and its tensile strength was decreased, as determined by two-photon microscopy and a tensile testing device. In vitro, MSCs embedded in fibrin glue survived and secreted growth factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We repaired 15-mm Sprague–Dawley rat sciatic nerve defects using this nerve graft construction, and MSCs injected around the graft helped improve nerve regeneration and functional recovery of peripheral nerve lesions as determined by functional analysis and histology. Therefore, we conclude that supplying MSCs in fibrin glue around acellular nerves is successful in maintaining the nerve structure and can support nerve regeneration similar to the direct injection of MSCs into the acellular nerve for long nerve defects but may avoid destroying the nerve graft. The technique is simple and is another option for stem cell transplantation.
BMP2 is Superior to BMP4 for Promoting Human Muscle-Derived Stem Cell-Mediated Bone Regeneration in a Critical-Sized Calvarial Defect Model
Authors: Gao Xueqin , Usas Arvydas , Lu Aiping , Tang Ying , Wang Bing , Chen Chien-Wen , Li Hongshuai , Tebbets Jessica C. , Cummins James H. , Huard Johnny
Published: April 2013

Muscle-derived cells have been successfully isolated using a variety of different methods and have been shown to possess multilineage differentiation capacities, including an ability to differentiate into articular cartilage and bone in vivo; however, the characterization of human muscle-derived stem cells (hMDSCs) and their bone regenerative capacities have not been fully investigated. Genetic modification of these cells may enhance their osteogenic capacity, which could potentially be applied to bone regenerative therapies. We found that hMDSCs, isolated by the preplate technique, consistently expressed the myogenic marker CD56, the pericyte/endothelial cell marker CD146, and the mesenchymal stem cell markers CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD44 but did not express the hematopoietic stem cell marker CD45, and they could undergo osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, and myogenic differentiation in vitro. In order to investigate the osteoinductive potential of hMDSCs, we constructed a retroviral vector expressing BMP4 and GFP and a lentiviral vector expressing BMP2. The BMP4-expressing hMDSCs were able to undergo osteogenic differentiation in vitro and exhibited enhanced mineralization compared to nontransduced cells; however, when transplanted into a calvarial defect, they failed to regenerate bone. Local administration of BMP4 protein and cell pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which improves cell survival, did not enhance the osteogenic capacity of the retro-BMP4-transduced cells. In contrast, lenti-BMP2-transduced hMDSCs not only exhibited enhanced in vitro osteogenic differentiation but also induced robust bone formation and nearly completely healed a critical-sized calvarial defect in CD-1 nude mice 6 weeks following transplantation. Herovici's staining of the regenerated bone demonstrated that the bone matrix contained a large amount of type I collagen. Our findings indicated that the hMDSCs are likely mesenchymal stem cells of muscle origin and that BMP2 is more efficient than BMP4 in promoting the bone regenerative capacity of the hMDSCs in vivo.
Sciatic Nerve Regeneration by Cocultured Schwann Cells and Stem Cells on Microporous Nerve Conduits
Authors: Dai Lien-Guo , Huang Guo-Shiang , Hsu Shan-Hui
Published: April 2013

Cell transplantation is a useful therapy for treating peripheral nerve injuries. The clinical use of Schwann cells (SCs), however, is limited because of their limited availability. An emerging solution to promote nerve regeneration is to apply injured nerves with stem cells derived from various tissues. In this study, different types of allogeneic cells including SCs, adipose-derived adult stem cells (ASCs), dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), and the combination of SCs with ASCs or DPSCs were seeded on nerve conduits to test their efficacy in repairing a 15-mm-long critical gap defect of rat sciatic nerve. The regeneration capacity and functional recovery were evaluated by the histological staining, electrophysiology, walking track, and functional gait analysis after 8 weeks of implantation. An in vitro study was also performed to verify if the combination of cells led to syner-gistic neurotrophic effects (NGF, BDNF, and GDNF). Experimental rats receiving conduits seeded with a combination of SCs and ASCs had the greatest functional recovery, as evaluated by the walking track, functional gait, nerve conduction velocity (NCV), and histological analysis. Conduits seeded with cells were always superior to the blank conduits without cells. Regarding NCV and the number of blood vessels, conduits seeded with SCs and DPSCs exhibited better values than those seeded with DPSCs only. Results from the in vitro study confirmed the synergistic NGF production from the coculture of SCs and ASCs. It was concluded that coculture of SCs with ASCs or DPSCs in a conduit promoted peripheral nerve regeneration over a critical gap defect.
Photoionisation of the tropyl radical
Authors: Fischer Kathrin H , Hemberger Patrick , Bodi Andras , Fischer Ingo
Published: April 2013

We present a study on the photoionisation of the cycloheptatrienyl (tropyl) radical, C7H7, using tunable vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation. Tropyl is generated by flash pyrolysis from bitropyl. Ions and electrons are detected in coincidence, permitting us to record mass-selected photoelectron spectra. The threshold photoelectron spectrum of tropyl, corresponding to the X+ 1A1’ ← X 2E2” transition, reveals an ionisation energy of 6.23 ± 0.02 eV, in good agreement with Rydberg extrapolations, but slightly lower than the value derived from earlier photoelectron spectra. Several vibrations can be resolved and are reassigned to the C–C stretch mode ν16+ and to a combination of ν16+ with the ring breathing mode ν2+. Above 10.55 eV dissociative photoionisation of tropyl is observed, leading to the formation of C5H5+ and C2H2.
Du traumatisme au rêve : le travail de création
Authors: Sabot Magalie
Published: April 2013

Prisonnier des décombres à la suite du tremblement de terre qui ravagea Haïti, Noa arrive à l’hôpital avec « des images plein la tête ». Il sera adressé au psychologue parce qu’il a « mal aux cicatrices » et la première demande qu’il pourra formuler sera de l’extraire de ces images qui l’envahissent. Le temps de commémoration nationale viendra de nouveau sidérer les séances par des « flashs » et des rêves traumatiques à répétition. La médiation thérapeutique du photocollage viendra alors ouvrir un espace de respiration, un espace de jeu avec les images, préliminaire à l’arrivée des rêves.
Prise en charge médico-psychologique immédiate des enfants et adolescents exposés à un événement traumatique
Authors: Romano Hélène
Published: April 2013

Les études sur le psychotraumatisme ont permis de relever l’importance des interventions médico-psychologiques précoces pour prévenir l’apparition de troubles post-traumatiques. Si l’attention portée aux adultes est aujourd’hui ancrée dans les pratiques, l’attention au plus près de l’événement portée aux enfants reste aléatoire. L’enfant exposé à l’événement traumatique est trop souvent pris en charge au même niveau que les adultes impliqués alors qu’une intervention spécifique devrait lui être dédiée. Nous proposons de discuter des spécificités de la prise en charge des enfants en situation d’extrême urgence, à partir de notre expérience d’urgentiste et de psychothérapeute spécialisé dans ce domaine. Dans un premier temps nous rappelons l’impact d’un événement traumatique dans le psychisme, puis nous abordons les possibilités de prises en charge des enfants en immédiat.
Travailler « à l'insu » des clients. Défaut de reconnaissance en caisses automatiques
Authors: Bernard Sophie
Published: April 2013

Cet article s’appuie sur une enquête portant sur l’automatisation des caisses dans le secteur de la grande distribution et sur ses conséquences sur le travail des caissières. Nous assistons à un double mouvement contradictoire : intensification du travail d’une part, invisibilisation du travail d’autre part. Les caissières se trouvent débordées en caisses automatiques, tout en travaillant « à l’insu » des clients. Or, témoins et juges de leur travail, ces derniers constituent le principal vecteur de reconnaissance du travail des caissières. Le jeu complexe qui s’instaure ainsi autour de l’invisibilisation et de la visibilisation du travail exprime bien l’enjeu qu’il y a, dans les services, à rendre visible le travail accompli. Quand le travail devient invisible aux yeux des clients, les caissières ont le sentiment que c’est leur principale source de reconnaissance du travail qui disparaît.
Participer à la professionnalisation des rh ? Un questionnement d'enseignantes-chercheures à trois voix
Authors: Perrin-Joly Constance , Ganem Valérie , Lafuma Emmanuelle
Published: April 2013

Cet article expose l’émergence d’une réflexion de trois enseignants-chercheurs sur la professionnalisation des acteurs des ressources humaines dans les organisations. Un cas rencontré par une psychodynamicienne du travail et un autre observé par une sociologue mettent en lumière la difficile prise en compte de l’organisation dans l’analyse des effets néfastes du travail sur la santé. L’éclairage juridique vient étayer ce constat en retraçant la lente émergence d’outils mobilisables en droit pour interroger l’organisation du travail. C’est également à partir d’une analyse des difficultés rencontrées dans la formation d’étudiants en gestion dans un iut que les auteures proposent quelques éléments de compréhension des obstacles à cette professionnalisation. Souhaitant approfondir cette question, elles invitent les lecteurs à participer à un colloque interrogeant les nouvelles formes de grh , leurs acteurs, et leurs effets.
Improving Nurses’ Perceptions of Competency in Diabetes Self-Management Education Through the Use of Simulation and Problem-Based Learning
Authors: Tschannen Dana , Aebersold Michelle , Sauter Cecilia , Funnell Martha M.
Published: April 2013

Nurses who provide case management can improve care practice and outcomes among patients who have type 2 diabetes through appropriate training and systems of care. This study was conducted to improve ambulatory care nurses’ perceptions of competency in empowerment-based skills required for diabetes self-management education after participation in a multifaceted educational session that included problem-based learning and simulation. After participation in the multifaceted educational session, nurses (
n
= 21) perceived that the education provided an excellent opportunity for knowledge uptake and applicability to their respective work settings. The learning strategies provided opportunities for engagement in a safe and relaxed atmosphere. The simulation experience allowed participants to deliberately practice the competencies. These nurses considered this a very effective learning activity. Through the use of problem-based learning and simulation, nurses may be able to more efficiently and effectively develop the necessary skills to provide effective case management of chronic disease.

J Contin Educ Nurs
2013;44(6):257–263.
Concept Induction in Description Logics Using Information-Theoretic Heuristics
Authors: Fanizzi Nicola
Published: April 2013

This paper presents an approach to ontology construction pursued through the induction of concept descriptions expressed in Description Logics. The author surveys the theoretical foundations of the standard representations for formal ontologies in the Semantic Web. After stating the learning problem in this peculiar context, a FOIL-like algorithm is presented that can be applied to learn DL concept descriptions. The algorithm performs a search through a space of candidate concept definitions by means of refinement operators. This process is guided by heuristics that are based on the available examples. The author discusses related theoretical aspects of learning with the inherent incompleteness underlying the semantics of this representation. The experimental evaluation of the system DL-Foil, which implements the learning algorithm, was carried out in two series of sessions on real ontologies from standard repositories for different domains expressed in diverse description logics.
Data Linking for the Semantic Web
Authors: Ferraram Alfio , Nikolov Andriy , Scharffe François
Published: April 2013

By specifying that published datasets must link to other existing datasets, the 4th linked data principle ensures a Web of data and not just a set of unconnected data islands. The authors propose in this paper the term data linking to name the problem of finding equivalent resources on the Web of linked data. In order to perform data linking, many techniques were developed, finding their roots in statistics, database, natural language processing and graph theory. The authors begin this paper by providing background information and terminological clarifications related to data linking. Then a comprehensive survey over the various techniques available for data linking is provided. These techniques are classified along the three criteria of granularity, type of evidence, and source of the evidence. Finally, the authors survey eleven recent tools performing data linking and we classify them according to the surveyed techniques.
Numeric Query Answering on the Web
Authors: O’Hara Steven , Bylander Tom
Published: April 2013

Query answering usually assumes that the asker is looking for a single correct answer to the question. When retrieving a textual answer this is often the case, but when searching for numeric answers, there are additional considerations. In particular, numbers often have units associated with them, and the asker may not care whether the raw answer is in feet or meters. Also, numbers usually denote a precision. In a few cases, the precision may be explicit, but normally, there is an implied precision associated with every number. Finally, an association between different reliability levels to different sources can be made. In this paper, the authors experimentally show that, in the context of conflicting answers from multiple sources, numeric query accuracy can be improved by taking advantage of units, precision, and the reliability of sources.
Semantics Discovery via Human Computation Games
Authors: Šimko Jakub , Tvarožek Michal , Bieliková Mária
Published: April 2013

The effective acquisition of (semantic) metadata is crucial for many present day applications. Games with a purpose address this issue by transforming computational problems into computer games. The authors present a novel approach to metadata acquisition via Little Search Game (LSG) – a competitive web search game, whose purpose is the creation of a term relationship network. From a player perspective, the goal is to reduce the number of search results returned for a given search term by adding negative search terms to a query. The authors describe specific aspects of the game’s design, including player motivation and anti-cheating issues. The authors have performed a series of experiments with Little Search Game, acquired real-world player input, gathered qualitative feedback from the players, constructed and evaluated term relationship network from the game logs and examined the types of created relationships.
Learning Management Systems
Authors: Piña Anthony A.
Published: April 2013

In this chapter, the reader is taken through a “big picture” view of learning management systems, with an emphasis on systems that are used in higher education. Included in this view is a description of common features found in learning management systems and the advantages and limitations of these systems. Also included is the report of a large research study identifying the features used most commonly by students and which of these features are the most and least valued. In addition, the reader is presented with specific resources and options for evaluating, selecting and deploying learning management systems. The chapter concludes with a series of brief profiles of the leading learning management vendors and systems.
The Evolving Role of the Instructor in the Digital Age
Authors: Beaudoin Michael F.
Published: April 2013

In this era of student-centered, collaborative, constructivist learning, augmented by social networks and other virtual environments featuring learner autonomy, self-direction and independence, the role of instructors in online education is undergoing continuous evolution since the advent of the Internet, and the proliferation of Learning Management Systems (LSM) to support teaching and learning. This chapter examines the role of the online instructor, and indeed, poses the provocative question: does there remain a useful and meaningful role for what is arguably the increasingly ‘invisible’ instructor in many online settings. Factors that contribute to this phenomenon, such as the proliferation of new technology, the emphasis on self-directed learning, a changing student clientele, emerging modes of assessment, etc. are noted. Findings from a various studies of student attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of what is critical for success in online courses are highlighted, including data suggesting that the role of instructors and the features of Learning Management Systems are relatively minor factors for achieving success in online learning. The implications of these trends for the future role of the professoriate are also considered.
Challenges Encountered in Creating Personalised Learning Activities to Suit Students Learning Preferences
Authors: O’Donnell Eileen , Sharp Mary , Wade Vincent P. , O’Donnell Liam
Published: April 2013

This book chapter reviews some of the challenges encountered by educators in creating personalised e-learning activities to suit students learning preferences. Technology-enhanced learning (TEL) alternatively known as e-learning has not yet reached its full potential in higher education. There are still many potential uses as yet undiscovered and other discovered uses which are not yet realisable by many educators. TEL is still predominantly used for e-dissemination and e-administration. This chapter reviews the potential use of TEL to provide personalised learning activities to suit individual students learning preferences. In particular the challenges encountered by educators when trying to implement personalised learning activities based on individual students learning preferences.
Literacy and Technology
Authors: Perry Karin
Published: April 2013

This chapter takes a look at technology and how it has influenced literacy through the ages. Technology has been utilized in writing since the Sumerians started using clay tablets and styluses and developed the cuneiform. This chapter also discusses prominent technology that has been used in the classroom from lead pencils and slates to iPads. With the invention of the Internet, a new form of literacy (Information Literacy) has also become important in education. Research has shown that the success or failure of the technology depends entirely on the teacher (Jonassen, 2003), and, in order for it to increase literacy and enhance instruction, students must be allowed to create their own learning using the tools that are natural to them.
Telling Tales with Talking Texts
Authors: Flihan Sheila
Published: April 2013

Using a case study design, this study examined how Microsoft Photo Story 3 for digital storytelling influenced the language and literacy development of an eighteen-year-old English Language Learner. It describes the role of digital storytelling in the development of oral fluency, word knowledge, grammar, and language use. Data included semi-structured participant interviews, conversations with the parent as key informant, and artifacts including the participant’s notes, written and recorded drafts, and final digital text. From a sociocognitive perspective, findings indicate that Microsoft Photo Story 3 is a collaborative tool that creates student centered teaching and learning experiences. Findings indicate that multiple written and recorded drafts composed during the digital storytelling process provided focus for language and literacy instruction and encouraged use of reading, writing, listening, and speaking during all stages of the composing process. Findings have the potential to inform how we teach and learn with digital tools and texts.
Three Instructional Models to Integrate Technology and Build 21st Century Literacy Skills
Authors: Bledsoe Christie , Pilgrim Jodi
Published: April 2013

Does using technology as a supplemental resource in today’s classroom sufficiently complement current practices or can technology form an integral component of instruction and learning? Traditionally, the American education system consisted of classroom learning with the teacher as the primary source of content delivery and textbooks as the chief resource. Presently, technology influences instruction, and its impact will only increase. Many students have constant access to technology via the Internet at home and mobile devices. Therefore, today’s learners must develop information literacy and media literacy skills to communicate by way of 21st Century tools. Whereas the availability of technology in the classroom varies among states and districts, instructional strategies, such as problem-based learning, can frame technology as an integral component of education. This chapter will focus on project-based learning, problem-based learning, and challenge-based learning as pedagogies that readily integrate technology to promote new literacies.
“Gotta Love Technology!”
Authors: Oslick Mary Ellen , Lowery Ruth M.
Published: April 2013

As universities move more and more classes online to accommodate a growing online-centered learning environment, the researchers as instructors want to be sure that they still adhere to good teaching and learning strategies and that their pre-service teachers not miss out or lose the richness associated with lively and meaningful book discussions. This article examines how the researchers integrated Glogster, an online interactive poster creation website with social networking aspects, in a blended (online and face-to-face) multicultural literature course to augment book discussions. Upon analysis of personal reflections and the class’ online forum discussions, the researchers identified three major themes that captured how these pre-service teachers responded to, and, in some cases, were transformed by the reader-response transaction of creating a “glog.” These themes were responses to new technology, reading new ideas and critical reading.
A New Method for Ranking Intuitionistic Fuzzy Numbers
Authors: Wei Cui-Ping , Tang Xijin
Published: April 2013

In this paper the ranking method for intuitionistic fuzzy numbers is studied. The authors first define a possibility degree formula to compare two intuitionistic fuzzy numbers. In comparison with Chen and Tan’s score function, the possibility degree formula provides additional information for the comparison of two intuitionistic fuzzy numbers. Based on the possibility degree formula, the authors give a possibility degree method to rank intuitionistic fuzzy numbers, which is used to rank the alternatives in multi-criteria decision making problems.
Systems of Communication
Authors: Murphy Peter
Published: April 2013

Three fundamental systems of communication are defined: information, explanation, and imagination. Information is based on analytic distinctions between objects in the world. Explanatory communication provides knowledge through discourse, narration, logic, rhetoric and other forms of systemic elaboration. Intellectual discovery relies on a third system of communication, that of imagination. Rather than distinction or elaboration, imagination is rooted in intuition and analogy. The most powerful medium of the imagination is antonymous insight. The article discusses examples of the latter from warfare, politics, and science.
From Creative Ideas Generation to Real World Solutions
Authors: Rousselot François , Zanni-Merk Cecilia , Bertrand de Beuvron Françoi de
Published: April 2013

The first stages of the creative inventive process are devoted to choosing the problem and redefining its conditions. Most of the time, the original statement of the problem is imprecise, and occasionally even incorrect. This is why it is necessary to have mechanisms to help structure the creative thinking of a set of experts during their analysis of the problem, by providing them a knowledge-based framework. This article presents the first stages of IDM (Inventive Design Methodology). IDM is a set of methodological tools whose main interest is the evolution of technical systems. The methodology proposes a dialectical analysis of the technical system, which focuses on the past, present, and future state of the artifacts, and the most likely transitions between them. This analysis also identifies the influences (positive or negative) that the changes done to certain elements in the system may have on other elements of the system. The use of these methodological tools provides the needed structuring framework to the experts’ creative idea generation.
Simulation on Knowledge Transfer Processes from the Perspectives of Individual’s Mentality and Behavior
Authors: Wu Jiangning , Liu Na , Xuan Zhaoguo
Published: April 2013

Knowledge transferring between people within an organization leads to varied results due to individuals’ distinctive mentality and behavior. In this study, mental and behavioral factors, such as the prestige and reputation of individual and the movement for people within the organization, are introduced to examine their impact on knowledge transferring between individuals. A conceptual model is proposed which involves two actors in the process of knowledge transfer, knowledge sender and knowledge recipient, their corresponding disseminative capacity and absorptive capacity, as well as mental and behavioral factors. Accordingly, a network model is constructed in which nodes act as the knowledge senders or recipients. The process of knowledge transfer on the network is inspected from two mental aspects—the prestige and reputation of individuals. The degree of impact of the factors on knowledge disseminative will or knowledge absorptive will of actors is measured. A personnel movement mechanism is also introduced to simulate the dynamic processes of knowledge transfer within the organization. The simulation results show that the positive mental factors for individuals can promote the disseminative capacity of knowledge senders, accelerate the processes of knowledge transfer, and improve the knowledge stock of the organization.
A Combined Forecast Method Integrating Contextual Knowledge
Authors: Huang Anqiang , Xiao Jin , Wang Shouyang
Published: April 2013

In the framework of TEI@I methodology, this paper proposes a combined forecast method integrating contextual knowledge (CFMIK). With the help of contextual knowledge, this method considers the effects of those factors that cannot be explicitly included in the forecast model, and thus it can efficiently decrease the forecast error resulted from the irregular events. Through a container throughput forecast case, this paper compares the performance of CFMIK, AFTER (a combined forecast method) and 3 types of single models (ARIMA, BP-ANN, exponential smoothing). The results show that the performance of CFMIK is better than that of the others.
Opinion Dynamics
Authors: Xia Haoxiang , Wang Huili , Xuan Zhaoguo
Published: April 2013

As a key sub-field of social dynamics and sociophysics, opinion dynamics utilizes mathematical and physical models and the agent-based computational modeling tools, to investigate the spreading of opinions in a collection of human beings. This research field stems from various disciplines in social sciences, especially the social influence models developed in social psychology and sociology. A multidisciplinary review is given in this paper, attempting to keep track of the historical development of the field and to shed light on its future directions. In the review, the authors discuss the disciplinary origins of opinion dynamics, showing that the combination of the social processes, which are conventionally studied in social sciences, and the analytical and computational tools, which are developed in mathematics, physics and complex system studies, gives birth to the interdisciplinary field of opinion dynamics. The current state of the art of opinion dynamics is then overviewed, with the research progresses on the typical models like the voter model, the Sznajd model, the culture dissemination model, and the bounded confidence model being highlighted. Correspondingly, the future directions of this academic field are envisioned, with an advocation for closer synthesis of the related disciplines.
Measuring Student Learning Responsibly
Authors: Vat Kam Hou
Published: April 2013

This chapter investigates an ethical mechanism of organizational measurement for student learning that is based on the learning analytics gathered from various learning-related activities over an extended period of time. In the context of today’s Web 2.0, such learning analytics are often collected from an electronic learning environment, such as a Web-based course management system (CMS), providing various tools of interest in scaffolding student learning: blogs, wikis, online forums, RSS, and many other innovative resources to facilitate learning online. This mechanism, intended to be ethically sound, could be considered as an instance of an accountability system typically installed in institutions of higher education and/or secondary schools, serving to gather evidence of student learning in a virtual learning environment involving electronic presence from both teachers and students in the context of learning development. It is understood that today’s university as a higher education institution (HEI) must put in place such an accountability system to measure student college experience, as her sustained commitment to continuous improvement in the quality of student learning; yet, without the context of data analysis, the transformation of any existing accountability infrastructure in support of assessment for student learning could hardly be innovated effectively, especially regarding the productivity and coordination of its staff, both academic and administrative. The question is how innovatively a HEI could establish such an accountability system to measure and assess student learning responsibly by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting student learning analytics designed into their various learning activities.
ICT for Social Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
Authors: Piaggesi Danilo , Castelnovo Walter , Battistella Linamara Rizzo
Published: April 2013

In this chapter, the authors discuss a Knowledge Economy-based approach to the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwD). The approach, different from the traditional assistance model, considers PwD as active and valuable members of the present Knowledge Society, to be included in the active workforce. This is discussed with reference to a specific operational case study concerning the establishment of the Center of Excellence for Technology and Innovation in Favor of Persons with Disabilities (CETI-D) conceived by Fondazione Rosselli Americas and being implemented by the State of Sao Paulo in Brazil. At the beginning of the chapter, the authors discuss the problem of the inclusion of PwD as a further aspect of the digital divide phenomenon. Then, the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are presented—some international best practices concerning the social inclusion of PwD are also introduced. Later, the authors discuss the CETI-D initiative, with the aim of showing how ICT can represent a powerful tool for social and economic inclusion. Finally, the authors discuss the conditions under which the experience of the CETI-D can be replicated in other countries, with a specific focus on less developed countries.
Mobile Government in Egypt
Authors: Eldeeb Hesham , Farouk Hesham , Mahdy Taha
Published: April 2013

Modern governmental agencies aim to present their services to citizens in an efficient manner. The methods employed for delivering these services are usually based on traditional computer applications. However, the computer applications suffer from limitations related to the services themselves as well as time and place. To overcome these limitations, governments are keen to use non-traditional and innovative forms for services delivery. In this context, mobile devices and applications built for such technologies can be efficiently used for delivering governmental services to citizens. This way of Government to Citizen (G2C) interaction is often referred to as m-Government. The Egyptian government has implemented many IT-based projects in the last decade. Currently, it aims to transform these projects to mobile platform. In this chapter, the authors discuss m-Government in Egypt and its related issues. The chapter begins by a survey for the available e-Government services in Egypt. So, the current Egyptian mobile situation is stated. Consequently, the chapter analyzes the possible opportunities for the government presenting m-Government services. Finally, the challenges facing the mobile applications industry in Egypt are discussed. At the same time, this chapter introduces some possible solutions for these challenges. The analysis of the Egyptian situation shows that the Egyptian society has many opportunities for developing m-Government applications. These opportunities should be exploited. Moreover, the existing challenges facing m-Government in Egypt can be avoided by good governance. The cooperation between all authorities in the republic is a must for the effectiveness and efficiency of m-Government projects.
Does Discretionary Internet-based Behavior of Instructors Contribute to Student Satisfaction?
Authors: Manrique-de-Lara Pablo Zoghbi
Published: April 2013

Although there is empirical research that supports the relationship between employee citizenship behaviors and positive measures of organizational effectiveness, little is known about how this link performs over the Internet in educational settings. This study examines the effects of discretionary Internet-based behavior of 270 instructors using e-resources on satisfaction with the teaching service of 15,367 students at a Spanish university. The argument developed is that these voluntary Internet-based behaviors, operationalized as ‘cybercivism’ (i.e., care and help for university’s information system and its student-users), comprise contextual activities that ameliorate some of the recognized deficits in virtual contexts, support the teaching-learning process across the Internet and, hence, increase student satisfaction. Previously, the paper argues on the uniqueness of cybercivism as compared with conventional citizenship behavior by contrasting the experiential differences between face-to-face and virtual interactions. Confirmatory factor analysis results supported the distinctiveness of cybercivism. Unlike conventional citizenship behavior, individual cybercivism was also found to be positively associated with student satisfaction with teaching service as rated in each university center. Since this positive impact mainly occurred in a virtual environment, the results suggest that discretionary Internet-based behavior may contribute to student satisfaction ‘on the other side of the Web.’
Competitive and Professional Gaming
Authors: Faust Kyle , Meyer Joseph , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: April 2013

Competitive and professional gaming, in which video game players participate in tournaments, offers numerous opportunities for much-needed research and enhanced knowledge about digital technology. To date, competitive gaming has received scant scientific attention, even though it may foster the development of adaptive skills or, in other instances, carry adverse consequences. Examining the lifestyles and successes of competitive gamers can increase our knowledge of gaming and yield useful information about extreme or excessive involvement in digital technology. Studying the most successful competitive gamers, who appear to develop exceptional skills, could be highly beneficial. Suggestions for research are provided.
Collaborative Environmental Knowledge Management
Authors: Chen Haohui , Bishop Ian D.
Published: April 2013

This article describes the integration of a smartphone, a world viewer and a geodatabase into a collaborative virtual environment (CVE) as a knowledge management platform for use in land management. A spatial interoperability mechanism was designed for integration of these various technologies distributed in different system layers and written in different programming languages. As users may vary in their education backgrounds and understanding of advanced information technologies, the proposed platform employs existing popular spatial technologies to facilitate usage. The platform includes an iPhone™ application, a web portal based on Google Earth™ viewer and a data server, all of which may be deployed in different and distant places, allowing remote collaboration. To evaluate the usability of the platform, a case study was implemented involving a scientist, a farmer and an agricultural consultant working collaboratively, but remotely, within the system to support their farming practices, decision-making and agricultural research. Users found that the efficiency of agricultural knowledge transfer was increased, and the centralized knowledge database would also be helpful for tracking farming history and supporting agricultural research. This represents a new paradigm in agricultural knowledge management, where relationships between the three key parties are bidirectional, in contrast to the traditional knowledge transfer pattern. This paradigm can be readily extended to other environmental management contexts.
Comparative Analysis of Artificial Neural Networks and Neuro-Fuzzy Models for Multicriteria Demand Forecasting
Authors: Kabir Golam , Hasin M. Ahsan Akhtar
Published: April 2013

An organization has to make the right decisions in time depending on demand information to enhance the commercial competitive advantage in a constantly fluctuating business environment. Therefore, estimating the demand quantity for the next period most likely appears to be crucial. The objective of the paper is to propose a new forecasting mechanism which is modeled by artificial intelligence approaches including the comparison of both artificial neural networks (ANN) and adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (FIS) techniques to manage the fuzzy demand with incomplete information. Artificial neural networks has been applied as it is capable to model complex, nonlinear processes without having to assume the form of the relationship between input and output variables. Neuro-fuzzy systems also utilized to harness the power of the fuzzy logic and ANNs through utilizing the mathematical properties of ANNs in tuning rule-based fuzzy systems that approximate the way human’s process information. The effectiveness of the proposed approach to the demand forecasting issue is demonstrated for a 20/25 MVA Distribution Transformer from Energypac Engineering Limited (EEL), a leading power engineering company of Bangladesh.
Some Linear Fuzzy Collaborative Forecasting Models for Semiconductor Unit Cost Forecasting
Authors: Chen Toly
Published: April 2013

Forecasting the unit cost of every product type in a factory is an important task to the factory. However, it is not easy to deal with the uncertainty in the unit cost. Fuzzy collaborative forecasting is very effective in handling the uncertainty in the distributed environment. This paper presents some fuzzy collaborative forecasting models to predict the unit cost of a semiconductor product. According to the experimental results, the effectiveness of forecasting the unit cost was considerably improved through the objects’ collaboration.
Fuzzy Continuity of Almost Linear Operators
Authors: Burgin Mark
Published: April 2013

In this paper, the author studies relations between fuzzy continuity and boundedness of approximately linear operators in the context of neoclassical analysis. The main result of this paper (Theorem 1) demonstrates that for approximately linear operators, fuzzy continuity is equivalent to boundedness when the continuity defect (or measure of discontinuity) is sufficiently small. The classical result that describes continuity of linear operators becomes a direct corollary of this theorem. Applying Theorem 1, we demonstrate (Theorem 2) that for linear operators in normed vector spaces, fuzzy continuity coincides with continuity when the continuity defect is sufficiently small, i.e., when it is less than one. Results are oriented at applications in physics, theory of information and other fields where operator equations play an important role. Several open problems and directions for future research are considered at the end of the paper.
Evaluation of Software Quality using Choquet Integral Approach
Authors: Pasrija Vatesh , Srivastava Praveen Ranjan
Published: April 2013

Software development comprises of processes which can be controlled, managed and improved by software measurement. The efficiency of software measurement is determined by software quality, which assesses the position of any software company in the international economic scenario. This calls for a need to develop quality models which would quantify the various quality parameters. However, these quality parameters are highly vague, by nature, and cannot be easily quantized nor measured. The Boehm’s Model, McCall’s Model, and ISO/IEC 9126 Model are existing quality models made by software quality researchers in this regard. This paper uses the ISO/IEC 9126 quality model as the baseline model, with enhanced criteria, to give a holistic approach to software quality. A methodology is proposed in this paper for comparing different software solutions based on the SRS to a common problem. As software product quality is highly unpredictable, and considering the interaction between the quality criteria, Choquet Integral is used to efficiently compare the set of software products.
Modeling and Automated Examination of Communication Processes in Integrated Health Information Systems
Authors: Saboor Samrend , Hörbst Alexander , Ammenwerth Elske
Published: April 2013

Modern, integrated information and communication systems (ICT) help improve the communication along processes in hospitals. The goal of this paper is to present a reusable and holistic concept which allows the detailed and systematic description of arbitrary communication processes, as well as the detection of communication errors. This is realized by mapping attributes of communication processes to an entity relationship model respectively database and applying specific, predefined queries on the stored process attributes and their relationships, resulting in the detection of potential communication errors. To develop the authors’ concept, they used a methodological approach which was inspired by the concept of Rapid Application Development and adapted in order to develop their model. Furthermore, techniques of qualitative content analysis, as well as expert interviews, were used to develop the authors’ approach. The components of their approach have been successfully evaluated with different communication processes and they were able to detect major potential communication errors. To fully proof the authors’ concept, further tests with complex communication processes are indicated. Tool-support is on a prototype-level and needs further improvement towards standardization and usability. To transfer their concept from scientific use to daily operation, it is also necessary to further analyze and coordinate the concept with existing approaches from the domain such as business process modeling etc.
Competitive Uses of Information and Knowledge Management Tools
Authors: Smith Alan D.
Published: April 2013

This paper examined and defined knowledge management and outline how large privately held supermarket chain has used this strategy in the current global recession to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage through effective use of its supply chain dynamics. Examples of IT tools and practices on managing the knowledge worker, applying technological tools to assist with supply chain management (SCM) strategy will be discussed. Some of the current applications include: KnowAsis™, SoftGrocer™, Global Command and Control Center (GC3), and RFID technologies. It was found that via proper management of KM-based initiatives and associated SCM and IT applications, the company has been able to increase its operational effectiveness and operate in more a lean manner, resulting in increased productivity and improved quality. The strategic leveraging of knowledge-based systems provides an appropriate comparison and benchmark on the richness of sharing knowledge within a high-volume, low-profit margin retail environment.
Using Social Quality as a Framework for Analyzing Social Development in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Lih-Rong Lillian , Wang Yun-Tung , Yung Peishan
Published: April 2013

This study applies social quality framework to analyze the current social development of Taiwan by utilizing governmental database as secondary dataset and using meta-analysis as further check in data collection. This study found that the social development of current Taiwan society basically keeps progressing along with requirements and indicators of social quality. Among them, Taiwan’s performance of social development in dimension of social economic security goes best. And in social inclusion and social empowerment dimensions, the indicators obviously show much progressive. However, the biggest room for further improvement and development is in social cohesion.
Teenage Pregnancy and Its Support System in Korea
Authors: Sôma Naoko , Park Jiyoon , Baek Sun-Hee , Morita Akemi
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this paper is to analyze vulnerability of teenage families by focusing on teenage pregnancy and its support system in South Korea, and discuss how they are facing uncertainty and insecurity and which directions in developments of family policy in so-called “family centered welfare state” of Korea. Teenage pregnancy is widely issued in developing and developed countries. Especially in developed countries, the number of teenage mothers has been increasing and their welfare support has been developed. Recent research of teenage pregnancy in developed countries examine that young mothers and fathers tend to have multi-layered problems of welfare, education, and labor-market. In South Korea, which is categorized as “family centered welfare regime”, the number of teenage pregnancy is increasing in the context of very low fertility trend. Most of teenage pregnancy has historically ended with “abortion” or “adoption,” and its issue has had stigma. However, recently the number of teenage mothers who choose their own childcare is increasing. They are facing multi-layered insecurities; insecurities of education (drop out), poverty, labor insecurity, and the insecurities of the development and future of their child. This paper focuses on young family at risk through the lens of teenage pregnancy in “familialism” welfare regime of Korea and considers possible directions in very low fertility society.