bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data Storage, Retrieval and Management
Authors: Cristea Valentin , Dobre Ciprian , Stratan Corina , Pop Florin
Published: May 2010

The latest advances in network and distributedsystem technologies now allow integration of a vast variety of services with almost unlimited processing power, using large amounts of data. Sharing of resources is often viewed as the key goal for distributed systems, and in this context the sharing of stored data appears as the most important aspect of distributed resource sharing. Scientific applications are the first to take advantage of such environments as the requirements of current and future high performance computing experiments are pressing, in terms of even higher volumes of issued data to be stored and managed. While these new environments reveal huge opportunities for large-scale distributed data storage and management, they also raise important technical challenges, which need to be addressed. The ability to support persistent storage of data on behalf of users, the consistent distribution of up-to-date data, the reliable replication of fast changing datasets or the efficient management of large data transfers are just some of these new challenges. In this chapter we discuss how the existing distributed computing infrastructure is adequate for supporting the required data storage and management functionalities. We highlight the issues raised from storing data over large distributed environments and discuss the recent research efforts dealing with challenges of data retrieval, replication and fast data transfers. Interaction of data management with other data sensitive, emerging technologies as the workflow management is also addressed.
Fault Tolerance
Authors: Cristea Valentin , Dobre Ciprian , Stratan Corina , Pop Florin
Published: May 2010

The domains of usage of large scale distributed systems have been extending during the past years from scientific to commercial applications. Together with the extension of the application domains, new requirements have emerged for large scale distributed systems. Among these requirements, fault tolerance is needed by more and more modern distributed applications, not only by the critical ones. In this chapter we analyze current existing work in enabling fault tolerance in case of large scale distributed systems, presenting specific problem, existing solution, as well as several future trends. The characteristics of these systems pose problems to ensuring fault tolerance especially because of their complexity, involving many resources and users geographically distributed, because of the volatility of resources that are available only for limited amounts of time, and because of the constraints imposed by the applications and resource owners. A general fault tolerant architecture should, at a minimum, be comprised of at least a mechanism to detect failures and a component capable to recover and handle the detected failures, usually using some form of a replication mechanism. In this chapter we analyzed existing fault tolerance implementations, as well as solutions adopted in real world large scale distributed systems. We analyzed the fault tolerance architectures being proposed for particular distributed architectures, such as Grid or P2P systems.
Security
Authors: Cristea Valentin , Dobre Ciprian , Stratan Corina , Pop Florin
Published: May 2010

Security in distributed systems is a combination of confidentiality, integrity and availability of their components. It mainly targets the communication channels between users and/or processes located in different computers, the access control of users / processes to resources and services, and the management of keys, users and user groups. Distributed systems are more vulnerable to security threats due to several characteristics such as their large scale, the distributed nature of the control, and the remote nature of the access. In addition, an increasing number of distributed applications (such as Internet banking) manipulate sensitive information and have special security requirements. After discussing important security concepts in the Background section, this chapter addresses several important problems that are at the aim of current research in the security of large scale distributed systems: security models (which represent the theoretical foundation for solving security problems), access control (more specific the access control in distributed multi-organizational platforms), secure communication (with emphasis on the secure group communication, which is a hot topic in security research today), security management (especially key management for collaborative environments), secure distributed architectures (which are the blueprints for designing and building security systems), and security environments / frameworks.
Application Development Tools and Frameworks
Authors: Cristea Valentin , Dobre Ciprian , Stratan Corina , Pop Florin
Published: May 2010

Large scale distributed systems are used for executing a wide variety of applications; while the first distributed applications were from the scientific area, today many of them are dedicated to businesses or even to home users. The constantly increasing demand for large scale distributed applications has brought on a need for tools and frameworks that ease their development. The main role of these tools and frameworks is to assist the developer in implementing some common functionalities and patterns that are specific to distributed applications – for example, dividing a large computational task into smaller subtasks to be executed on multiple machines, or sending e-mails automatically, or managing the access to resources in a secure way. One of the most important issues that the application development frameworks have to address is the abstraction of the underlying middleware: their main objective is to relieve the application programmer from the effort of dealing with lowerlevel components. Another important aspect is the performance of the communication among the application components; hence, some development tools are specifically targeted to optimizing the communication performance. We also observe an increasing interest in the interoperability among applications developed with different platforms, which has led to many standardization initiatives. This chapter discusses the issues introduced above, and makes an overview of the current tools and frameworks for developing various types of distributed applications. We start with web applications, which are the most frequently used nowadays; we introduce some general design issues, and present tools for server-side and client-side programming. Then, we discuss about developing applications in grids, clouds and peer-to-peer systems; we present the specific aspects of programming applications in these types of systems and introduce some of the most widely used tools and frameworks. The last section is dedicated to distributed workflows – complex applications that are composed of multiple smaller applications or services; the development and execution of workflows poses more challenges compared to traditional applications, requiring specific tools and runtime environments.
Introducing Distance into the Model
Authors: Bertin Jean-Claude , Gravé Patrick
Published: May 2010

This chapter will consider how the introduction of distance impacts the didactic ergonomics model constructed in chapter 1. In accordance with the systemic approach adopted in this book, we will first define the notions of distance learning – also referred to as e-learning. Then we will question the notion of distance itself to see how its specific meaning in our context intensifies the complexity of the language learning situation while at the same time making more explicit processes previously kept hidden. Distance should not however be considered just another pole of our model. It does not in itself generate new sets of interactions, but rather it modifies existing ones to an extent that remains to be defined. Instead, we will consider that it adds a new dimension: the shift from a face-to-face setting to distance learning superimposes an extra virtual, or immaterial, layer in the initial situation. The nature of this so-called virtual reality will be explored in psychosocial terms to understand how learning processes are affected.
The ‘Teacher' Pole
Authors: Narcy-Combes Jean-Paul
Published: May 2010

The teacher is one of the poles of our model. As is often the case in complex systems, it is difficult to observe one of the poles in isolation, since there is constant interaction between them. Chapters on the language pole, the learner poles, as well as the reflection on the learning process have reduced our description of the teacher pole to what is directly relevant to the person.The reader can initially try and see how he or she would answer the questions and compare with what is described in the chapter. A synthetic table summarizing the content of the chapter will conclude the chapter, followed by a figure illustrating the place of the teacher in the cycle. Anticipating the figure and discussing how different the anticipation is from the position defended in the book may prove a worthwhile way of reading the following pages.
Pedagogic Consequences
Authors: Narcy-Combes Jean-Paul
Published: May 2010

As seen in chapter 4, CLT proponents assumed that the best way to approach learning a second language was to provide the learners with a great quantity of authentic input and with opportunities to discuss and process the second language. It gradually became clear that it is not possible to specify what a learner will learn in linguistic terms and that compatibility with the cognitive processes involved in L2 acquisition had to be ensured. Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) was one of the responses (see chapter 3). Prabhu (1987) suggested that content could be specified by holistic units of communication, i.e. tasks, and by pre-selection of linguistic items. This did not seem sufficient, as was seen in chapter 5, Long & Crookes (1991) emphasized the need for learners to attend to form consciously. Issues of cognitive demand placed on the learner by the complexity of tasks have raised the question of how to reduce the cognitive load the learner has to cope with. This involves linguistic difficulty, but also problems related to cultural schemata and task familiarity. This cognitive demand may make it difficult for the learner to deploy cognitive resources to notice inter- and intra-lingual gaps.
An Empirical Analysis of Indices and Factors of ICT Use by Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Japan
Authors: Tsuji Masatsugu , Bunno Teruyuki , Idota Hiroki , Miyoshi Hiroaki , Ogawa Masaru , Ueki Yasushi
Published: May 2010

This chapter attempts to extract factors which promote the introduction and usage of ICT by SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises) through the method of mail surveys and in-depth interviews conducted in two of the largest SME clusters in Japan, Higashi-Osaka and Ohta Ward, Tokyo. The questionnaire was sent to more than 6,000 SMEs there, and received nearly 1,200 replies. Questions are related to company characteristics and purposes for ICT use. Moreover, the followings indexes are selected which present the degree of ICT use by SMEs: (i) software that contributes to efficient utilization of managerial resources; and (ii) Internet usage. Based on these data, factors are extracted by utilizing the regression methods such as OLS, logit and probit estimation. Among them, the most important elements in promoting ICT use are found to be a future-oriented vision for SMEs such as expectations for restructuring business process through ICT, and managerial orientations.
The Potentials and Pitfalls of the Information Society Project in Turkey
Authors: Kaynak M. Selcan
Published: May 2010

This chapter aims to assess policies regarding information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Turkey within the last five years. The focus of the chapter will be on digital divide: Although, ICTs in general, and the Internet in particular, have become an essential part of everyday life in Turkey, access to the opportunities provided by these technologies has not been distributed equally. The divides with respect to social class, geographic location, gender and age cripple the potential benefits of these policies. In addition, the programs implemented so far have been highly influenced by the global policy agenda; in a sense, adapting the “information society” vision advanced globally to the local context. In order to actualize an equitable and sustainable transformation process, there is further need to understand the nuanced picture Turkey’s social conditions present. This chapter will examine the ways in which information society project has been modeled in Turkey, the policy paradigms that shaped its direction and finally, where they fell short and where they offer potentials.
Regional Innovation Strategies
Authors: Tiryakioglu Murad , Alcin Sinan
Published: May 2010

Regional innovation strategies which emerged during the mid 90s and were implemented especially in the developing regions of the world are significant for the transformation of both the knowledge produced in the regional scale and the added value it created into competitive power in the national and global scale. These strategies which have successfully been implemented in different parts of the world are a great opportunity for a country like Turkey which has a large young population and stands out among the other developing countries with her strategic location and potentials for human resources, agriculture and commerce. Focusing on these strategies and exploring national and regional innovation systems, this chapter both investigates the leader implementations in Europe and examines the first implementations of regional innovation strategies in Turkey. This chapter suggests that by transforming her regional innovation skills into products and services that have added value, Turkey will have a potential to achieve rapid social and economic development and therefore increase her significance for the national and international innovative investors.
Adaptive Higher Order Neural Network Models for Data Mining
Authors: Xu Shuxiang
Published: May 2010

Data mining, the extraction of hidden patterns and valuable information from large databases, is a powerful technology with great potential to help companies survive competition. Data mining tools search databases for hidden patterns, finding predictive information that business experts may overlook because it lies outside their expectations. This chapter addresses using ANNs for data mining because ANNs are a natural technology which may hold superior predictive capability, compared with other data mining approaches. The chapter proposes Adaptive HONN models which hold potential in effectively dealing with discontinuous data, and business data with high order nonlinearity. The proposed adaptive models demonstrate advantages in handling several benchmark data mining problems.
Improving Sparsity in Kernelized Nonlinear Feature Extraction Algorithms by Polynomial Kernel Higher Order Neural Networks
Authors: Lu Zhao , Song Gangbing , Shieh Leang-san
Published: May 2010

As a general framework to represent data, the kernel method can be used if the interactions between elements of the domain occur only through inner product. As a major stride towards the nonlinear feature extraction and dimension reduction, two important kernel-based feature extraction algorithms, kernel principal component analysis and kernel Fisher discriminant, have been proposed. They are both used to create a projection of multivariate data onto a space of lower dimensionality, while attempting to preserve as much of the structural nature of the data as possible. However, both methods suffer from the complete loss of sparsity and redundancy in the nonlinear feature representation. In an attempt to mitigate these drawbacks, this article focuses on the application of the newly developed polynomial kernel higher order neural networks in improving the sparsity and thereby obtaining a succinct representation for kernel-based nonlinear feature extraction algorithms. Particularly, the learning algorithm is based on linear programming support vector regression, which outperforms the conventional quadratic programming support vector regression in model sparsity and computational efficiency.
Dynamic Ridge Polynomial Higher Order Neural Network
Authors: Ghazali Rozaida , Hussain Abir , Nawi Nazri Mohd
Published: May 2010

This chapter proposes a novel Dynamic Ridge Polynomial Higher Order Neural Network (DRPHONN). The architecture of the new DRPHONN incorporates recurrent links into the structure of the ordinary Ridge Polynomial Higher Order Neural Network (RPHONN) (Shin & Ghosh, 1995). RPHONN is a type of feedforward Higher Order Neural Network (HONN) (Giles & Maxwell, 1987) which implements a static mapping of the input vectors. In order to model dynamical functions of the brain, it is essential to utilize a system that is capable of storing internal states and can implement complex dynamic system. Neural networks with recurrent connections are dynamical systems with temporal state representations. The dynamic structure approach has been successfully used for solving varieties of problems, such as time series forecasting (Zhang & Chan, 2000; Steil, 2006), approximating a dynamical system (Kimura & Nakano, 2000), forecasting a stream flow (Chang et al, 2004), and system control (Reyes et al, 2000). Motivated by the ability of recurrent dynamic systems in real world applications, the proposed DRPHONN architecture is presented in this chapter.
Neuro – Fuzzy Control Schemes Based on High Order Neural Network Function Approximators
Authors: Theodoridis Dimitris C. , Christodoulou M. A. , Boutalis Yiannis S.
Published: May 2010

The indirect or direct adaptive regulation of unknown nonlinear dynamical systems is considered in this chapter. Since the plant is considered unknown, we first propose its approximation by a special form of a fuzzy dynamical system (FDS) and in the sequel the fuzzy rules are approximated by appropriate high order neural networks (HONN’s). The system is regulated to zero adaptively by providing weight updating laws for the involved HONN’s, which guarantee that both the identification error and the system states reach zero exponentially fast. At the same time, all signals in the closed loop are kept bounded. The existence of the control signal is always assured by introducing a novel method of parameter hopping, which is incorporated in the weight updating laws. The indirect control scheme is developed for square systems (number of inputs equal to the number of states) as well as for systems in Brunovsky canonical form. The direct control scheme is developed for systems in square form. Simulations illustrate the potency of the method and comparisons with conventional approaches on benchmarking systems are given.
Bridging Informal and Formal Learning
Authors: Gibson David
Published: May 2010

What is “one wikipedia’s” worth of time and effort outside of school? About 100 million hours of free labor, which illustrates one of the features of participatory media. How can formal education take advantage of the new digital media, Web 2.0 and the like? This chapter describes the architecture of participatory media and the transition in formal education needed to mine the spare time and effort of learners. Bringing participatory media into formal education necessitates a redesign of learning institutions as well as the art of teaching. At the same time, as unobtrusive performance assessment improves and becomes available, new information can enhance formal education by making clear the educative value of digital experiences outside of school. Teachers who are trained to travel both ways on the bridge can be highly effective in creating new learning experiences that function as spreadable media appropriated by teens and others in a myriad of new ways in the emerging participatory culture of schools of the future. The game-based learning framework of The Global Challenge Award program is used to illustrate the framework of the participatory media bridge between informal and formal education.
Using an Educational Online Game to Stimulate Learning
Authors: Sauvé Louise
Published: May 2010

Digital games are increasingly being seen as effective learning resources. This is especially true because of how society is being transformed by the technological revolution, with adolescents as the key players in this transformation. In order to diversify teaching methods, schools in Quebec have been experimenting with educational games. This chapter reports on research that was based on a single group, pretest-posttest design. The findings showed that the online game STIs: Stopping the transmission, supported learning in terms of structuring of knowledge and integration of information for youth between the ages of 14 and 15. Several recommendations for further research have been made in the discussion.
The Experience of an Online Management Simulation Game to Foster Collaboration and Teamwork
Authors: Martins Hélder Fanha
Published: May 2010

With a new degree on Management, a new course called Management Simulation Project was created and started in the summer semester of 2006-2007 at the Lisbon School of Accountancy and Administration (ISCAL). The teaching team wanted to explore ways to bring the realities of business decision-making and action into the curriculum. This chapter reflects on the concept of educational simulations and games and aims at describing how a web-based competitive management game helped to achieve that. The authors discuss their objectives and those of the game and outline their reasons for choosing it. They describe the context at ISCAL and the game’s main features, showing how it is played over a semester. The authors consider, as online simulation facilitators of what is predominantly a student-led learning process, that the game helps students to gain a real ‘feel’ for collaboration, managerial decision-making and teamwork. An exploratory study was carried out. A questionnaire was designed to tap students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the use of a simulation/game as a new teaching method in five areas: career preparation, traditional educational goals, use of time, involvement and satisfaction, and a set of specific skill competencies. The results of the authors’ empirical study show that students perceive the simulation course as superior to the lecture-centered method. On the overall dimensions, the simulation course was seen as a better vehicle in helping students make career preparations, achieve educational goals, and utilize time. The results are presented and discussed.
Modding and Rezzing in Games and Virtual Environments for Education
Authors: Kaplan-Rakowski Regina , Sebastian Christian
Published: May 2010

Creating new resources in computer games and virtual worlds by modification – also known as modding and rezzing, respectively – is a popular pastime activity of the new generation of learners. Educators need to understand the potentials of these activities for education, and to possibly integrate some of them into school curricula. This chapter provides an overview of the modification process to create new resources within a virtual environment (both games and virtual worlds). It examines the differences in the modification process between game worlds and virtual worlds, and offers practical considerations for using the activities in teaching and instruction.
Considerations and Methodology for Designing a Virtual World
Authors: Bauer Brian
Published: May 2010

This chapter centers on a publically traded Fortune 500 Pharmaceutical company based in the United States. With over 100,000 employees spread across many countries, physical separation of the workforce is an everyday reality. In the author’s case, it was not the goal to attempt to unite the entire company; rather, it was the author’s goal to provide a means to overcome the obstacles that present themselves when physically disparate coworkers must perform seamlessly to complete a business process.In the following case study, the author determined that although users were open minded to trying Virtual Worlds and other types of Immersive technologies, the solutions delivered needed to provide task oriented functionality that was directly in line with everyday business process. Using this basic requirement, the author developed a Virtual Corporate Environment Business Tool (VCEBT©) box.The VCEBT© philosophy is grounded on the principal that business process is accomplished by following a set of business methods each performed using a set of business tools. While it may sound like a rigid and inflexible way to describe a knowledge-worker environment, the author finds that the process-method-tools definition applies to most environments quite well. The goal is to introduce new tools that increase the effectiveness of this process in terms of its ability to meet clearly defined business objectives.The VCEBT© framework does not attempt to change people or the work that they do. VCEBT©’s do augment the business tool box, providing highly efficient tools designed to solve real world challenges that can restrict a business’s ability to maximize business performance.
Interactive Whiteboards and the Discourses of Transformation, Affordance, Orchestration and Participation
Authors: Twiner Alison
Published: May 2010

This chapter offers a discussion of literature regarding the use of interactive whiteboards in english and welsh classrooms, focusing predominantly on the primary sector. Broadly speaking a series of shifting terms can be plotted through the research, in how the iwb is characterized within the classroom. This is particularly notable in english and some welsh primary school contexts, in line with changes in curriculum policy and government-introduced national strategy, where the iwb as a particular technological and (arguably) pedagogic tool has been championed by government funding tied to policy change. The discussion reviews shifting characterizations of iwb use in schools, focusing on four key forms of discourse in the literature: transformation, affordance, orchestration and participation. Although discourses are not replaced, the chapter highlights shifts in emphasis from the power of the technology, to the power of the tool when in the hands of teachers and learners.
Using the Interactive Whiteboard to Stimulate Active Learning in School Science
Authors: Hennessy Sara , Deaney Rosemary , Tooley Chris
Published: May 2010

This case study is set in the context of an extraordinarily rapid influx of interactive whiteboards in schools in the UK. The focus is on pedagogical strategies used to harness the functionality of this powerful technology to support teaching and learning in science. The study offers a vivid example of how one expert secondary teacher used the IWB technology and other digital resources to support “active learning” about the process of photosynthesis by a class of students aged 14-15. Collaborative thematic analysis of digital video recordings, teacher diary, field notes and post-lesson interview data from a sequence of six lessons yielded detailed, theorized descriptions of the teacher’s own rationale. The chapter concludes by highlighting a multimedia resource produced as an outcome of this case study in order to support professional development of practitioners working in other contexts.
Technology Shaping a Democratic Classroom
Authors: Lim-Fong Brenda , Robins Rebecca
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents a case study of how the educational potential of interactive whiteboards spread from one teacher to her staff, the district and subsequently to other teachers in a province in Canada. This initiative is unique because of the “bottom up” nature of teachers coming together and sharing their expertise and experience with interactive whiteboards, which in turn inspired other teachers. Over a number of years, Livingstone staff have observed, discussed and documented multiple ways in which IWBs support teaching and learning. These findings have been adopted and improved as the staff collaborate and change their authoritarian style to a more student-directed classroom. This case outlines the power and potential of this type of collaborative, bottom up approach among teachers and university educators rather than the more common “top down” approach typically identified with administrators requiring teachers to use interactive whiteboards.
Documenting Teachers and Students Experiences with Interactive Whiteboards in Ireland
Authors: Judge Miriam
Published: May 2010

This case study discusses the key findings from a pilot Interactive Whiteboard Project in Ireland which ran from 2005 to 2007. Eight primary and secondary schools were involved. The project exemplifies a bottom-up initiative as it was neither government funded nor supported. Findings indicate that Interactive Whiteboards were well received and utilized by teachers and students whose views on the benefits of IWBs reveal strong correlations. Despite a lack of national policy guidance and funding for this technology in Ireland, IWBs are becoming increasingly popular. However, there is a danger that this policy vacuum will create its own problems as schools increasingly rely on IWB suppliers for advice and direction on how to proceed. It may also have digital divide implications as more affluent schools are better able to fund this technology.
Elemental Learning and the Pyramid of Fidelity
Authors: Dempsey J. V.
Published: May 2010

One of the emerging issues for educators who recognize the importance of digital games and virtual worlds is fidelity to learning outcomes, both intentional and incidental. In this chapter, from the perspective of an educator, the author introduces an integrated framework that emphasizes elemental learning. The model, based on learning analysis and direct measurement of learning is iterative, as opposed to a front-end-only approach, and includes five major cognitive learning outcomes: actual elements, simulated elements, procedural understanding, conceptual understanding, and related knowledge. For each of the learning outcomes, the author provides design propositions and an example.
Toward a Rhetoric of Serious Game Genres
Authors: Sherlock Lee
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines the construction of serious game genre frameworks from a rhetorical perspective. The author argues that to understand the forms of persuasion, learning, and social action that serious games facilitate, perspectives on genre must be developed and applied that situate serious gaming activity within larger systems of discourse, meaning-making, and text circulation. The current disconnect between popular understandings of serious game genres and those expressed by serious game developers represents one instance where rhetorical genre studies can be applied to generate knowledge about the “genre work” that serious games perform. Advocating a notion of genre that seeks to identify forms of social action and the persuasive possibility spaces of gaming, the author concludes by synthesizing digital game-based formulations of genre with perspectives from rhetorical theory to suggest implications for serious game research and design.
Serious Games for Transformative Learning
Authors: Yannuzzi Thomas J. , Behrenshausen Bryan G.
Published: May 2010

This chapter discusses the ways in which an understanding of key concepts from both communication studies and critical pedagogy can improve the use of serious games in learning environments. By exploring a history of educational theory that champions the ontological work of critical pedagogy, the authors note how critical self-reflection can be facilitated by serious games. This chapter then distinguishes between models of human communication as information transfer (on which some educational gaming situations are implicitly based) and models of human communication as social construction, or a process of co-constructing social realities and identities (on which new and future gaming situations might be based) as a way of demonstrating to both designers and educators the benefits of viewing games communicatively. Because video games are symptom and emblem of life in informatic control societies, their role in education is exceedingly important for cultivating students’ critical reflection on the binarisation of everyday life (which is increasingly structured by algorithmic logics that polarize lived experience). Serious games often provide opportunities for gamers to become “experts” of scientific or informational knowledge and often more skilled technique—or skilled, technical know-how. However, they often fail to provide opportunities for critically reflective practice or the development of praxis. Incredibly rapid technological/scientific advancements in societies focused on production leave little room for mindful activity. Although we continue to “advance,” we often fail to unite two fundamental aspects of critical learning: the moral and political (praxis) with the technical and productive (techne). Serious games can assist in doing this.
Sacred Geographies
Authors: Friedlander Larry
Published: May 2010

In this paper, the author suggests that designers create serious games by turning to an interesting class of stories called sacred scenarios. Such sacred stories are found in many, if not all, cultures. These are richly promising sources for game narratives: They are serious yet entertaining; they combine fantasy with deeply held and emotionally charged visions of life; they offer situations that express basic human experiences; and they bring together the basic elements of story—plot, action, and spatial setting—in rich and surprising ways. They are also easy to program and can be used to create complex narrative experiences from simple elements. The author describes different modes of these sacred scenarios and sketch some possible games to be drawn from this source.
Knowledge-Based Value Generation
Authors: Carrillo Francisco Javier
Published: May 2010

This chapter aims to characterize Knowledge Based Development (KBD) from the perspective of value systems. After an introduction to its purpose and scope, the chapter is divided into five sections. The first section looks into the distinctive aspects of human knowledge-based or represented experience as the rationale for both Knowledge Management and Knowledge Based Development. The concept of KBD is introduced as a distinctive category and as the basis of a new social paradigm of special significance in view of both the current stage of human evolution and our impact on other Earth systems. In the second section the emergence and evolution of KBD as a field of study and practice is overviewed. Thirdly, the received perspective of knowledge capital as instrumental to increasing monetary growth and accumulation is contrasted with an integrated approach where all value elements relevant to a group are balanced into a unified system of categories. Such radical approach to KBD recaptures the essence of human value production and allows the redesign of accountacy and management practices at the organizational level, as well as of cultural and political practices at the communitary and global levels. Next, a review of some of the most visible KBD research agendas shows the trends in the evolution of this area and suggests the viability of a global R&D agenda. Finally, the possible contribution of KBD as a language to articulate national and international consesus-building on the most urgent issues is discussed as a conclusion.
Attracting and Retaining Knowledge Workers
Authors: Darchen Sébastien , Tremblay Diane-Gabrielle
Published: May 2010

A concentration of knowledge workers, including scientists and engineers, has been identified by recent works as an element fostering economic growth in metropolitan areas. The authors’ aim in this chapter is to study the factors influencing the mobility of graduate students in science and technology. The creative class thesis has emphasized the fact that criteria related to the quality of place have a positive impact on the attraction of talents and on economic development. This thesis was the basis for the authors’ research. In this paper, they assimilate the workforce in science and technology to the concept of knowledge workers. The authors compared the influence of criteria related to the quality of place on the mobility of students with other criteria related to career opportunities and to the social network. They collected the data through an on-line questionnaire and they also proceeded to interviews with students in science and technology. The authors present in this chapter the results of their research for Montreal. With a quantitative analysis, they show that while Montreal is often considered as a very attractive place, the criteria related to the quality of place play a secondary role in the attraction and retention of the population studied, while those related to the career opportunities dominate. This leads to nuance the theories that highlight the importance of place versus job opportunities, and shows that while the quality of place may have an influence on the mobility patterns of knowledge workers, job opportunities have more impact on the attraction/retention of this professional category.
The Impact of Proximity Dimensions on the Knowledge Diffusion Process
Authors: Petruzzelli Antonio Messeni
Published: May 2010

The purpose of this research is to explore how proximity dimensions can favour the diffusion of knowledge between economic actors, focusing on the knowledge relationships established by a knowledge gatekeeper. In particular, the authors formulate several hypotheses regarding the role of proximity dimensions (i.e. geographical, organizational, and technological) in affecting the establishment of gatekeepers’ knowledge relationships, taking into account their collaborative-non collaborative type and exploitative-explorative nature. Adopting a patent-based analysis, the authors test their hypotheses on a research sample constituted by 527 knowledge relationships established by two distinct types of knowledge gatekeeper, i.e. an university and a firm.
Up the Junction? Exploiting Knowledge-Based Development Through Supply Chain and SME Cluster Interactions
Authors: Donnet Tim , Keast Robyn , Pickernell David
Published: May 2010

Maximisation of Knowledge-Based Development (KBD) benefits requires effective dissemination and utilisation mechanisms to accompany the initial knowledge creation process. This work highlights the potential for interactions between Supply Chains (SCs) and Small and Medium sized Enterprise Clusters (SMECs), (including via ‘junction’ firms which are members of both networks), to facilitate such effective dissemination and utilisation of knowledge. In both these network types there are firms that readily utilise their relationships and ties for ongoing business success through innovation. The following chapter highlights the potential for such beneficial interactions between SCs and SMECs in key elements of KBD, particularly knowledge management, innovation and technology transfer. Because there has been little focus on the interactions between SCs and SMECs, particularly when firms simultaneously belong to both, this chapter examines the conduits through which information and knowledge can be transferred and utilised. It shows that each network type has its own distinct advantages in the types of information searched for and transferred amongst network member firms. Comparing and contrasting these advantages shows opportunities for both networks to leverage the knowledge sharing strengths of each other, through these ‘junctions’ to address their own weaknesses, allowing implications to be drawn concerning new ways of utilising relationships for mutual network gains.
Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Procedures
Authors: Nowrouzi Fariba
Published: May 2010

In this case, the main objective is to examine information about patients with coronary artery disease who had invasive procedures (such as balloon angioplasty or stents), or coronary artery bypass surgery. We investigate the use of the drug- eluting stent as a treatment for coronary artery disease. The first section of this chapter is a brief background about coronary artery disease and different procedures that may be used as its treatment. Next, time series analysis as a statistical tool is discussed, and in the third section, the results of the time series analyses that are performed on the database are demonstrated. In this section, the effect of the drug-eluting stent as a new treatment on the demand of other procedures is discussed. The fourth section is about computing the risk of each procedure based on the claims database used. The last section includes the result, conclusion, and suggestions.
Outcomes Research in the Treatment of Asthma
Authors: Neupane Ram C. , Turner Jason
Published: May 2010

Asthma is a common chronic disease in the United States, with increasing prevalence. Many patients do not realize therapeutic goals because of poor disease management. The purpose of this study is to examine the costs of the commonly used drugs used to treat asthma. We examined the contribution of individual, government and private agencies for medication payment. We next compared the prescription cost to the cost of emergency room visits. The data are taken from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. SAS Enterprise Guide was used for preprocessing and data visualization. It was found that prednisone is the cheapest drug and the drug, albuterol, is the most common, even if it is more expensive. The contribution of the government is higher than the amount paid by individuals and other agencies. We examined data from the National Inpatient Sample to investigate trends in asthma as well.
Analysis of Breast Cancer and Surgery as Treatment Options
Authors: Ugiliweneza Beatrice
Published: May 2010

In this case, we analyze breast cancer cases from the Thomson Medstat Market Scan® data using SAS and Enterprise Guide 4. First, we find breast cancer cases using ICD9 codes. We are interested in the age distribution, in the total charges of the entire treatment sequence and in the length of stay at the hospital during treatment. Then, we study two major surgery treatments: Mastectomy and Lumpectomy. For each one of them, we analyze the total charges and the length of stay. Then, we compare these two treatments in terms of total charges, length of stay and the association of the choice of treatment with age. Finally, we analyze other treatment options. The objective is to understand the methods used to obtain some useful information about breast cancer and also to explore how to use SAS and SAS Enterprise Guide 4 to examine specific healthcare problems.
Outcomes Research in Hydrocephalus Treatment
Authors: Wilburn Damien
Published: May 2010

Hydrocephalus is a disorder where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is unable to drain efficiently from the brain. This paper presents a set of exploratory analyses comparing attributes of inpatients under one-year old diagnosed with hydrocephalus provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) as part of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). The general methods include calculation of summary statistics, kernel density estimation, logistic regression, linear regression, and the production of figures and charts using the statistical data modeling software, SAS. It was determined that younger infants show higher mortality rates; additionally, males are more likely to present hydrocephalus and cost slightly more on average than females despite the distribution curves for length of stay appearing virtually identical between genders. Diagnoses and procedures expected for non-hydrocephalic infants showed a negative correlation in the logistic model. The study overall validates much of the literature and expands it with a cost analysis approach.
Healthcare Delivery in a Hospital Emergency Department
Authors: Twagilimana Joseph
Published: May 2010

The outcome of interest in this study is the length of stay (LOS) at a Hospital Emergency Department (ED). The Length of stay depends on several independent clinical factors such as treatments, patient demographic characteristics, hospital, as well as physicians and nurses. The present study attempts to identify these variables by analyzing clinical data provided by electronic medical records (EMR) from an emergency department. Three analysis methodologies were identified as appropriate for this task. First, data mining techniques were applied, and then generalized linear models and Time series followed. In spite of the fact that Data Mining and Statistics share the same objective, which is to extract useful information from data, they perform independently of each other. In this case, we show how the two methodologies can be integrated with potential benefits. We applied decision trees to select important variables and used these variables as input in the other models.
Physician Prescribing Practices
Authors: Tesfamicael Mussie
Published: May 2010

The purpose of this project is to develop time series models to investigate prescribing practices and patient usage of medications with respect to the severity of the patient condition. The cost of medications is rising from year to year; some medications are prescribed more often compared to others even if they have similar properties. It would be of interest to pharmaceutical companies to know the reason for this. In this case, we predict the cost of medications, private insurance payments, Medicaid payments, Medicare payments, the quantity of medications, total payment and to study why the cost is rising in one medication compared to others. We investigate how much patients are spending on average for their prescriptions of medications, taking the inflation rate into account as a time-dependent regressor. Both forecasts, the one that incorporates the inflation rates and the one that does not are compared.
Systematic Review of Speech Generating Devices for Aphasia
Authors: Koul Rajinder , Petroi Diana , Schlosser Ralf
Published: May 2010

The purpose of this chapter is to integrate and synthesize, using a meta-analytic approach, the research literature on the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention using speech generating devices (SGDs) for people with aphasia. Many individuals with little or no functional speech as a result of severe aphasia rely on non-speech communication systems to augment or replace natural speech. These systems include SGDs and software programs that produce synthetic speech upon activation. Based on this quantitative review, the following conclusions are evident. The first is that the existing state of knowledge on whether AAC interventions using SGDs work for people with aphasia is seriously affected not only because of the lack of data but also because most of the available data are compromised because of serious internal validity concerns. Keeping in mind this first conclusion as a context, the second conclusion is that AAC intervention options that utilize SGDs seem to be effective in changing the dependent variables in the experimental contexts. However, the variability among dependent measures across studies and of results within and across studies precludes meta-analytic techniques. Thus, any statements as to the effectiveness of AAC interventions using SGDs for persons with aphasia cannot be made yet.