bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sitting Posture Recognition and Location Estimation for Human-Aware Environment
Authors: Manabe Yusuke , Sugawara Kenji
Published: October 2011

Realization of human-computer symbiosis is an important idea in the context of ubiquitous computing. Symbiotic Computing is a concept that bridges the gap between situations in Real Space (RS) and data in Digital Space (DS). The main purpose is to develop an intelligent software application as well as establish the next generation information platform to develop the symbiotic system. In this paper, the authors argue that it is necessary to build ’Mutual Cognition’ between human and system. Mutual cognition consists of two functions: ’RS Cognition’ and ’DS Cognition’. This paper examines RS Cognition, which consists of many software functions for perceiving various situations like events or humans’ activities in RS. The authors develop two perceptual functions, sitting posture recognition and human’s location estimation for a person, as RS perception tasks. In the resulting experiments, developed functions are quite competent to recognize a human’s activities.
On Localities of Knowledge Inconsistency
Authors: Zhang Du
Published: October 2011

Inconsistency is commonplace in the real world in long-term memory and knowledge based systems. Managing inconsistency is considered a hallmark of the plasticity of human intelligence. Belief revision is an important mental process that underpins human intelligence. To facilitate belief revision, it is necessary to know the localities and contexts of inconsistency and how different types of inconsistency are clustered. In this paper, the author provides a formal definition of locality of inconsistency and describes how to identify clusters of inconsistent circumstances in a knowledge base. The results pave the way for a disciplined approach to manage knowledge inconsistency.
The Formal Design Model of Doubly-Linked-Circular Lists (DLC-Lists)
Authors: Wang Yingxu , Ngolah Cyprian F. , Tan Xinming , Sheu Phillip C.Y.
Published: October 2011

Abstract Data Types (ADTs) are a set of highly generic and rigorously modeled data structures in type theory. Lists as a finite sequence of elements are one of the most fundamental and widely used ADTs in system modeling, which provide a standard encapsulation and access interface for manipulating large-volume information and persistent data. This paper develops a comprehensive design pattern of formal lists using a doubly-linked-circular (DLC) list architecture. A rigorous denotational mathematics, Real-Time Process Algebra (RTPA), is adopted, which allows both architectural and behavioral models of lists to be rigorously designed and implemented in a top-down approach. The architectural models of DLC-Lists are created using RTPA architectural modeling methodologies known as the Unified Data Models (UDMs). The behavioral models of DLC-Lists are specified and refined by a set of Unified Process Models (UPMs) in three categories namely the management operations, traversal operations, and node I/O operations. This work has been applied in a number of real-time and nonreal-time system designs such as a real-time operating system (RTOS+), a file management system (FMS), and the ADT library for an RTPA-based automatic code generation tool.
A Systematic Empirical Analysis of Forging Fingerprints to Fool Biometric Systems
Authors: Schwarzl Christian , Weippl Edgar
Published: October 2011

This paper serves to systematically describe the attempts made to forge fingerprints to fool biometric systems and to review all relevant publications on forging fingerprints to fool sensors. The research finds that many of the related works fail in this aspect and that past successes could not be repeated. First, the basics of biometrics are explained in order to define the meaning of the term security in this special context. Next, the state of the art of biometric systems is presented, followed by to the topic of security of fingerprint scanners. For this, a series of more than 30,000 experiments were conducted to fool scanners. The authors were able to reproduce and keep records of each single step in the test and to show which methods lead to the desired results. Most studies on this topic exclude a number of steps in producing a fake finger and fooling a fingerprint scanner are not explained, which means that some of the studies cannot be replicated. In addition, the authors’ own ideas and slight variations of existing experiment set-ups are presented.
Building Secure Software Using XP
Authors: Al-Ahmad Walid
Published: October 2011

Security is an important and challenging aspect that needs to be considered at an early stage during software development. Traditional software development methodologies do not deal with security issues and so there is no structured guidance for security design and development; security is usually an afterthought activity. This paper discusses the integration of XP with security activities based on the CLASP (Comprehensive Lightweight Application Security Process) methodology. This integration will help developers using XP develop secure software by applying security measures in all phases and activities, thereby minimizing the security vulnerabilities exploited by attackers.
Customers as Innovators in Senior Service Markets
Authors: Hennala Lea , Melkas Helinä , Pekkarinen Satu
Published: October 2011

This study investigates aging customers as innovators in senior service markets by their innovation potential and characteristics as innovators in development of well-being services. The study focuses on an initiative to develop the service concept of a foundation providing homes for aging people in Finland. The participants generated ideas on housing and rehabilitation services. Organizations would benefit from engaging users in the improvement of their services. This study provides an example of how that could be put in to practice. The study complements the managerial discussion concerning customer involvement and combines research on user-driven innovation as well as business and service development. It is of interest to managers and other actors in various organizations’ service innovation activities, innovation researchers, and researchers in service science and various aspects of aging.
Situated Service-Oriented Modeling
Authors: Saadé Raafat George , Vahidov Rustam
Published: October 2011

The emergence of e-services benefited the stakeholders due to ease of access to data, information and knowledge sources. Service-based applications have evolved into flexible and adaptable systems capable of coping with changes in user requirements and business processes. The shift from monolithic application silos towards service-oriented approaches is evident in the literature today. The benefits of service-oriented approaches include cost effectiveness, improved inter-operability, reusability, and flexibility. The benefits are not enjoyed without the threat of cognitively overloading managers in their decision making activities. Tools for effective management of information are necessary. Effective and efficient service-oriented applications need to operate within their situational boundaries. As such, decision support type tools require tight integration with the service-based approach. This study proposes an integrated Situated Service-Oriented Model and demonstrates its value via a case study of an e-learning service-based application used over a period of 15 months. Two designs were used; component-based and service-oriented. The significance of this study is in the tangible value of the model proposed and demonstrated by the e-learning case study.
A Study on Relationships Among Software Engineering Capabilities in Japan Using Panel Analysis
Authors: Kadono Yasuo
Published: October 2011

To understand how software engineering capabilities relate to IT vendors’ business performance and business environment, the author designed social research on software engineering excellence (SEE) and administered it in 2005, 2006 and 2007 with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The author measured the SEE survey results with regard to seven factors including service science characteristics: deliverables, project management, quality assurance, process improvement, research and development, human development, and contact with customers. This paper integrates 233 responses to the SEE surveys into a new database and identified 151 unique IT firms. Based on the results of the panel analysis, most SEE factors for a year had significant positive influences on the same factors the next year. Three paths existed to improving the level of deliverables through project management, quality assurance and research and development. Some SEE factors had significant positive influence on different factors in the following year diagonally. Some negative paths existed, implying that effort put toward a particular factor did not pay off during the research. These efforts may have longer-term effects on other SEE factors. In comparison to the overall structure, stratified analysis on the relationships among the seven factors suggested that year-to-year relationships of the independent vendors tend to be strengthened due to enhancement of series correlation.
A Modeling Framework for Analyzing the Viability of Service Systems
Authors: Golnam Arash , Regev Gil , Wegmann Alain
Published: October 2011

Recent research has explored the principles of service system viability based on systems inquiry invoking perspectives from Systems Theory and Cybernetics in particular Stafford Beer’s viable systems model (VSM). However based on Banathy and Jenlink (2004), Systems inquiry encompasses more than just Systems Theory and includes domains such as Systems Methodology and Systems Philosophy. Building on the extant literature, this work has the following particularities: 1) it is based on an explicit systems philosophy in which the authors explicitly define what they view as viability and, 2) it involves a systems methodological approach to either analyze the viability of a service system or to design a viable service system. This is achieved by means of applying a systems modeling technique called SEAM (Systemic Enterprise Architecture Method). SEAM rests upon systemic principles and embodies conceptualizations from VSM. The authors apply SEAM to concretely model a utility company in Geneva, Switzerland in order to gain an understanding of how a service system maintains its identity and remains viable in its environment.
Service Oriented Enterprise and Contracted Profit Sharing
Authors: Badrabadi Ali Habibi , Tarokh Mohammad Jafar , Mohammadi Shahriar
Published: October 2011

Service Oriented Enterprises (SOEs) outsource their functionalities via third party web services. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic approach to manage the cooperation of the services. SOEs perform their functionalities in an extremely dynamic environment. Changes that happen to a SOE are categorized in two types: top-down changes and bottom-up changes. This paper considers top-down changes which are initiated by SOE’s management. In order to manage a top-down change, the SOE’s management should consider the possible conflicting interests of the different parties. This study finds a situation in which none of the services have to incur losses. Consequently, this paper proposes ex-ante contracted profit sharing principles that can attract the services to the change. The problem is modeled and Security improvement is discussed as an example to describe this approach.
Facilitating Biodefense Research with Mobile-Cloud Computing
Authors: Zhang Jingyu , Yao Jinhui , Chen Shiping , Levy David
Published: October 2011

This paper proposes the use of a mobile-cloud by combining mobile devices and the cloud together in a biodefense and emerging infectious diseases (BEI) research application scenario. A mobile-cloud framework is developed to facilitate the use of mobile devices to collect data for, and manipulate and interact with the scientific workflows running in the Cloud. In this framework, an independent trusted accountability service is used to provide data provenance and enforce compliance among the participants of a biodefense research workflow. The authors have implemented a prototype which allows the researchers to use mobile devices to design and participate in biodefense workflows. The authors evaluated the effectiveness of the mobile-cloud with a prototype and conducted performance testing with example biodefense workflows.
Towards a Framework for Weaving Social Networks Into Mobile Commerce
Authors: Maamar Zakaria , Faci Noura , Mostéfaoui Soraya Kouadri , Akhter Fahim
Published: October 2011

This paper discusses a framework that supports weaving social elements into mobile commerce applications. This weaving takes place through different types of social networks that identify the stakeholders taking part in completing these applications. These stakeholders are consumers, providers, and brokers and are connected to each other through relationships such as competition, referral, loyalty, and collaboration. Each relationship is mapped onto a social network upon which a stakeholder relies before engaging in any of these applications and afterwards, making any decision. The value of social networks added to mobile commerce is illustrated with a set of experiments implementing a smart mobile restaurant guide.
Enhancing ERP System with RFID
Authors: Chiu Dickson K. W. , Mark Kai-Pan , Kafeza Eleanna , Wong Tat-Pui
Published: October 2011

Various contemporary information and communication technologies (ICT) have revolutionized the global computing environment. This impacts most companies, especially traditional stand-alone ERP systems are inadequate to handle the current requirements of logistics applications. This paper studies the integration of RFID and mobile technologies with web-enabled applications to an existing in-house ERP system. This enables management to utilize accurate information for analyzing their business performance and then perform any other further decisions quickly. Benefits include retrieving information more easily, reducing order processing and delivery time, increasing sales performance, enhancing communication with customer, and improving data accuracy for in-house ERP System. In particular, the authors illustrate how this infrastructure can help the integration of logistic processes and the handling of exceptions in key business processes. The authors further evaluate the approach with respect to the requirements of key system stakeholders.
Semi-Automatic Ontology Construction by Exploiting Functional Dependencies and Association Rules
Authors: Cagliero Luca , Cerquitelli Tania , Garza Paolo
Published: October 2011

This paper presents a novel semi-automatic approach to construct conceptual ontologies over structured data by exploiting both the schema and content of the input dataset. It effectively combines two well-founded database and data mining techniques, i.e., functional dependency discovery and association rule mining, to support domain experts in the construction of meaningful ontologies, tailored to the analyzed data, by using Description Logic (DL). To this aim, functional dependencies are first discovered to highlight valuable conceptual relationships among attributes of the data schema (i.e., among concepts). The set of discovered correlations effectively support analysts in the assertion of the Tbox ontological statements (i.e., the statements involving shared data conceptualizations and their relationships). Then, the analyst-validated dependencies are exploited to drive the association rule mining process. Association rules represent relevant and hidden correlations among data content and they are used to provide valuable knowledge at the instance level. The pushing of functional dependency constraints into the rule mining process allows analysts to look into and exploit only the most significant data item recurrences in the assertion of the Abox ontological statements (i.e., the statements involving concept instances and their relationships).
Tackling M-Government Service Complexity
Authors: Sowaileh Ahmed , AlSoufi Ali
Published: October 2011

The development of mobile government services in Bahrain is moving slowly, when compared with traditional e-government services. Few informational and transactional services are available on the mobile portal. The complexity of government services prevents their delivery through the limited mobile phone interface. This exploratory research builds a method to tackle service complexity, as well as simplify and streamline the design and development of government services that target mobile devices. Forty government services in Bahrain were analyzed to identify the factors that affect mobile government services. The model was then applied to the sample services, and results were used to develop the target method. The main finding of this research is that the current approach of taking the existing services on the PC portal and implementing them on the mobile portal should be avoided. A better approach is to break down the services into sessions or components and identify opportunities where mobile technologies can be utilized.
Cellular Telephones and Social Interactions
Authors: Stern Steven E. , Grounds Benjamin E.
Published: October 2011

Changes in technology often affect patterns of social interaction. In the current study, the authors examined how cellular telephones have made it possible for members of romantically involved couples to keep track of each other. The authors surveyed 69 undergraduates on their use of cellular telephones as well as their relationships and their level of sexual jealously. Results find that nearly a quarter of romantically involved cellular telephone users report tracking their significant other, and evidence shows that tracking behavior correlates with jealousy. Furthermore, participants frequently reported using countermeasures such as turning off their cellular telephones in order to avoid being tracked by others. In conclusion, newer communication technologies afford users to act upon protectiveness and jealousy more readily than before these technologies were available to the general public.
Technoethics and the State of Science and Technology Studies (STS) in Canada
Authors: Luppicini Rocci
Published: October 2011

University degree programs in STS (Science and Technology Studies) represent a popular training ground for scholars and other professions dealing with advanced studies in science and technology. Degree programs in STS are currently offered at universities around the globe with various specializations and orientations. This study explores the nature of science and technology in Canada and the state of ethics within STS curriculum in Canada. STS degree programs offered under various titles at nine universities in Canada are examined. Findings reveal that ethical aspects of science and technology study is lacking from the core content of most Canadian academic programs in STS. Key challenges are addressed and suggestions are made on how to leverage STS programs within Canadian universities. This study advances the understanding of the developing field of STS in Canada from a technoethical perspective.
Perverting Activism
Authors: Bertolotti Tommaso , Bardone Emanuele , Magnani Lorenzo
Published: October 2011

This paper analyzes the impact of new technologies on a range of practices related to activism. The first section shows how the functioning of democratic institutions can be impaired by scarce political accountability connected with the emergence of moral hazard; the second section displays how cyberactivism can improve the transparency of political dynamics; in the last section the authors turn specifically to cyberactivism and isolate its flaws and some of the most pernicious and self-defeating effects.
Boys with Toys and Fearful Parents?
Authors: Fritzsche Albrecht
Published: October 2011

Based on recent complaints about the neglect of the human in the philosophy of technology, this paper explores the different ways how technology ethics put the relation between the human and the technical on stage. It identifies various similarities in the treatment of the human in technology and the treatment of the child in education and compares Heidegger’s concerns about the role of technology with the duplicity of childhood and adulthood in conflicts of adolescence. The findings give reason to assume that technology ethics and pedagogy are closely related. A brief review of selected topics in technology ethics illustrates exemplarily how a pedagogic interpretation of the current discussion can contribute to further progress in the field.
Without Informed Consent
Authors: Belfrage Sara
Published: October 2011

The requirement of always obtaining participants’ informed consent in research with human subjects cannot always be met, for a variety of reasons. This paper describes and categorises research situations where informed consent is unobtainable. Some of these kinds of situations, common in biomedicine and psychology, have been previously discussed, whereas others, for example, those more prevalent in infrastructure research, introduce new perspectives. The advancement of new technology may lead to an increase in research of these kinds. The paper also provides a review of methods intended to compensate for lack of consent, and their applicability and usefulness for the different categories of situations are discussed. The aim of this is to provide insights into one important aspect of the question of permitting research without informed consent, namely, how well that which informed consent is meant to safeguard can be achieved by other means.
An Exploratory Theoretical Framework for Understanding Information Behaviour
Authors: Mosindi Osemeke , Sice Petia
Published: October 2011

Recent trends in researching Information Behaviour in organisations show that the initial focus on technology has shifted to cognitive methods that take the individual into account, but more recently there has been a move to the social sciences approach. Literature shows that this approach has been informative but rather theoretic as there has been limited work using this approach to handle information problems in organisations. There is a need to develop and test theories to help understand Information Behaviour in organisations in a social science context that gives direct benefits to the organisation. It is useful to view organisations as complex social networks of interactions, where importance is put on the relationships between people in the organisations, as well as on the individual actor. A need exists to evaluate and connect insights from social sciences communities of practice, and complexity theory. This paper explores insights from these theories and develops a conceptual framework for understanding Information Behaviour in organisations. Data collection is in a preliminary stage, reflections and observations, of the researcher and a few participants. The intention is to provoke thoughts along the lines of seeking to use a synergy between theories that can offer different and useful platforms to help better understand the impact of information behaviour on organizational culture.
Barriers to e-Government Implementation in Jordan
Authors: Fidler Christine Sarah , Kanaan Raed Kareem , Rogerson Simon
Published: October 2011

This paper identifies and highlights the significance of Wasta as a barrier to e-government implementation within The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and is part of a wider qualitative research study of all barriers. A longitudinal research approach was applied to explore any dynamism within the presence of barriers over a three year study, as well as to seek a richer understanding of such barriers. Data, principally collected via interviews with relevant stakeholders, was analysed using Strauss and Corbin’s variant of grounded theory. Using illustrative quotations primarily from interview transcripts, this paper enunciates the significant and persistent role that Wasta plays in hindering Jordan’s e-government implementation, both as an explicitly mentioned barrier and as cause of other barriers. The paper supports the view that culture is a root cause of e-government implementation difficulty, and that barriers vary with the different country settings in which e-government systems are embedded.
The Role of Partnership in E-Government Readiness
Authors: Al-Shqairat Zaid I. , Altarawneh Ikhlas I.
Published: October 2011

The Initiative of establishing Information Technology (IT) and Community Service Centers, later renamed Knowledge Stations (KSs) was launched in 2001. The KSs initiative is intended to implement IT in local communities (LCs) and remote areas in preparation for the E-Government process. This study develops a model that explores KSs’ role as a partnership in E-Government readiness in Jordan through answering the following two questions: why is a clearly comprehensive role of KSs needed for the readiness of E-Government in Jordan? How does this role take place practically? The research methodology is the case study that was applied to six KSs as a purposive sample in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Nine semi-structured interviews have been conducted with the director of KSs project, trainers, trainees and volunteers in the KSs project. The findings of the study showed that the role of KSs in E-Government readiness has four pillars: enhancement of community awareness in social and economic fields, development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capabilities, lessening computer illiteracy fulfillment of comprehensive development.
A Usability Comparison of SMS and IVR as Digital Banking Channels
Authors: Peevers Gareth , Douglas Gary , Jack Mervyn A. , Marshall Diarmid
Published: October 2011

In this paper, the authors compare the usability of SMS mobile banking and automated IVR telephone banking. Participants (N = 116) used SMS banking and IVR banking to find their account balance in a repeated-measures experiment. IVR banking scored higher for usability metrics: effectiveness, attitude, and quality. There was no clear difference in rank order of preference between the two channels. Participants gave positive comments regarding speed and efficiency with SMS banking, but had serious doubts over the security of the SMS channel, impacting consumer trust in SMS banking. The authors argue that usability problems and security concerns are a major factor in the low adoption of SMS mobile banking. Older users were less positive in general to SMS banking compared with the more established IVR banking. Older users had lower first time completion rates for SMS banking and gave IVR banking higher attitude and quality scores.
Developing New Literacies through Blended Learning
Authors: Kitchener Deborah , Murphy Janet , Lebans Robert
Published: October 2011

This article reports on the implementation and impact of two blended models of teacher professional learning that promote innovative classroom practice and improved literacy and numeracy in six school districts in Ontario, Canada. The Advanced Broadband Enabled Learning Program (ABEL), situated at York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, transforms how teachers learn and teach through a strategic blend of face-to-face interaction, technological tools and resources, online interaction and support. Learning Connections (LC), its sister project, uses the same model to improve literacy and numeracy in school districts. Research into the impact of both programs reveals increased student engagement and achievement, enhanced teacher efficacy, and improved results in literacy and numeracy. This report presents the findings from two participant surveys conducted in one large suburban board just north of Toronto, and one large rural board in Northern Ontario, and demonstrates how the working definition of literacy that teachers use in the classroom is being transformed by their use of technology in the classroom.
Personal Learning Environments
Authors: Fiedler Sebastian H. D. , Väljataga Terje
Published: October 2011

This paper reviews and critiques how the notion of PLEs has been conceptualised and discussed in literature so far. It interprets the variability of its interpretations and conceptualisations as the expression of a fundamental contradiction between patterns of activity and digital instrumentation in formal education on one hand, and individual experimentation and experience within the digital realm on the other. It is suggested to place this contradiction in the larger socio-historic context of an ongoing media transformation. Thus, the paper argues against the prevalent tendency to base the conceptualisation of PLEs almost exclusively on Web 2.0 technologies that are currently available or emerging, while underlying patterns of control and responsibility often remain untouched. Instead, it proposes to scrutinise these patterns and to focus educational efforts on supporting adult learners to model their learning activities and potential (personal learning) environments while exploring the digital realm.
My Personal Mobile Language Learning Environment
Authors: Perifanou Maria A.
Published: October 2011

Mobile devices can motivate learners through moving language learning from predominantly classroom–based contexts into contexts that are free from time and space. The increasing development of new applications can offer valuable support to the language learning process and can provide a basis for a new self regulated and personal approach to learning. A key challenge for language teachers is to actively explore the potential of mobile technologies in their own learning so that they can support students in using them. The aim of this paper is first to describe the basic theoretical framework of Mobile Learning and Personal Learning Environments. Secondly, it intends to assist language teachers and learners in building their own Mobile Personal Learning Environment providing a useful classification of iPhone applications with a description and examples. The paper concludes with the proposal of ideas for practical, personal language learning scenarios, piloted in an Italian language learning context.
Exploring the Association Between Leisure Time Digital Immersion, Attention and Reasoning Ability in Pre-Teens
Authors: Grimley Mick , Allan Mary , Solomon Cathy
Published: October 2011

Some researchers claim that digital natives are endowed with greater cognitive abilities than digital immigrants, due to the interactive nature of digital technologies. This study investigates relationships between different types of digital activity, reasoning ability and attention in a pre-teen population. Two hundred twenty-four participants (139 males, 85 females) aged 10-12 years completed a questionnaire measuring leisure time digital immersion. Factor analysis reveals 5 distinct types of users. Ninety-two participants completed tests of reasoning and attention to ascertain the relationship between type of digital user and cognitive ability. Results indicate that users who engaged in simple low level writing and drawing tasks with technology were inclined to have low literacy levels and poor concentration levels. In addition, users who engaged in computer mediated communication and content creation showed inconsistent and unstable attentional ability.
Learning Through Sharing and Regulation
Authors: Tsai Chia-Wen , Chen Yi-Fen
Published: October 2011

Many studies investigate the effects of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and also explore how learning processes and social interaction contribute to learning outcomes in online learning environments. This study provides an appropriate design of web-supported collaborative learning (CL) with teacher’s initiation and self-regulated learning (SRL), and demonstrates the effects of this design on improving students’ involvement and helping students attain course goals in a blended course. The authors conducted an experiment with an intervention of web-supported CL with initiation and SRL in a course titled ‘Applied Information Technology: Networking’ that included 112 sophomores from two classes at an academic university in Taiwan. The class of web-supported CL with initiation and SRL was the experimental group, and online CL without initiation or SRL served the control group. The results illustrate that web-supported CL with initiation and SRL could significantly improve students’ involvement in this course. In addition, interviewed students also expressed their positive appreciation for web-supported CL with initiation and SRL. The authors expect the innovative learning activities and teaching method in this study could provide insights for online teachers.
Educational Services in Second Life
Authors: Forte Joana Ancila Pessoa , Gomes Danielle Miranda de Oliveira Arruda , Nogueira Cláudio André Gondim , Cavalcante de Almeida Carlos Felipe
Published: October 2011

Among many changes influenced by the Internet, interactivity in spaces that promote relationships, entertainment, and businesses can be highlighted. Considering this, Second Life stands out because it is a tridimensional online environment which imitates human real social life. Despite social and commercial influences, Second Life suggests a new format for e-learning. Then, the question of how to explore the facets of an online learning environment may be answered by Flow Theory. Hence, the main objective of this paper is to analyze the most significant antecedent and subsequent relations of the Flow Experience in the Second Life’s educational environment, based on Novak, Hoffman, and Yung (2000). This research used tools from multivariate statistical analysis such as confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results confirmed the hypotheses, indicating that there is flow in Second Life’s e-learning environment, with interactive speed, exploratory behavior and telepresence as the most significant constructs detected.
An Exploration of the Social Web Environment for Collaborative Software Engineering Education
Authors: Kamthan Pankaj
Published: October 2011

The technological environment in which software engineering education (SEE) resides and thrives continues to evolve. In this paper, SW4CSE2, a methodology for collaborations in SEE based on the Social Web environment, is proposed. The impact of integrating Social Web technologies, and applications based on these technologies, in collaborative activities that commonly occur in the context of SEE are explored. In particular, teacher–student and student–student collaborations, both inside and outside the classroom, are highlighted. In doing so, the feasibility issues in selection and adoption of technologies/applications are emphasized, and the use of pedagogically-inclined patterns is made. The potential prospects of such an integration, and related concerns, are illustrated by practical examples.
The Effects of Combined Training of Web-Based Problem-Based Learning and Self-Regulated Learning
Authors: Tsai Chia-Wen , Shen Pei-Di , Lee Tsang-Hsiung
Published: October 2011

This study explored, via quasi-experiments, the effects of the combined training in web-based problem-based learning (PBL) and self-regulated learning (SRL) on low achieving students’ skill development. Two classes of 76 undergraduates in a one-semester course titled ‘Web Page Programming and Website Planning’ were chosen for this study. Results were generally positive, showing enhanced skills of website planning and higher levels of involvement. This study provided an illustration of a promising course design and its associated implementations in the specific context of low achieving students, for which there is lack of research in the current literature.
Lightweight Collaborative Web Browsing
Authors: Santos Raphael O. , Oliveira Felipe F. , Gomes Roberta L. , Martinello Magnos , Guizzardi Renata S. S.
Published: October 2011

Collaborative navigation systems provide a useful way for virtual groups to share information through the web. However, the common set of features of these tools is not enough to offer a more face-to-face browsing experience. To fill in the gap, this paper presents a collaborative web browsing proposal, which integrates flexible session management, the maintenance of shared production spaces, and efficient communication facilities. The proposal relies on a collaboration ontology that provides a well-defined conceptualization and common vocabulary. To demonstrate the feasibility of the approach, the OCEAN prototype was developed and tested.
E = Mportfolios2?
Authors: Weber Ian , Evans Peter
Published: October 2011

This paper critically examines the developmental trends of mPortfolios and gauges their impact on newer forms of learning that utilise mobility, portability, and flexibility. Placing this study within the emerging paradigm of futures’ thinking, the paper focuses on the environmental factors that shape the direction of portfolio development from electronic to mobile systems using a series of global case studies to illustrate the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for educators. While mobility and portability emerged as strong elements in design, flexibility remains a key challenge for educators. The analysis also revealed that sector based approaches to developing mPortfolios through research and Community of Practice structures are potentially more beneficial for mPortfolio developers. Yet within these approaches there are clear advantages to be accessed from the communal-dialogical approach found within the Community of Practice approach, which could potentially inform futures’ thinkers in relation to strategic planning and forecasting of new trajectories in mobile and lifelong learning.
Advanced Content Management System in Murdoch Research Institute
Authors: Shadlou Saeed , Solaymani Hamdam , Hajmoosaei Abdolreza
Published: October 2011

The Hugh Williamson Gait Analysis Laboratory is a world leader in the analysis of walking disorders in children. Using state of the art equipment, highly specialised staff are able to determine why children walk the way they do. Knowing this, it is then possible to plan treatment individually for each child. Gait Lab aims to make thorough and reliable measurements of children’s walking ability in an efficient and friendly manner. It provides considered interpretations of these measurements to referring clinicians and conducts research to advance the understanding of human walking. This paper introduces The Gait Analysis Laboratory Content Management System, a contemporary approach using a Content Management System for surgery and research alike. The system provides the ability for surgeons to edit data and extract specific reports for research using the Internet from any location and at any time. The CMS has the functionality to save patient details, create referrals and make appointments, information which can be used for specific reports, during the surgery process, and for research around the world.
Perceptions of Trust Between Online Auction Consumers
Authors: Malinen Sanna , Ojala Jarno
Published: October 2011

Trust between partners is a precondition for business transactions. The perceptions of trust were studied among the users of a popular Finnish online auction site, ‘Huuto.net’. Results are based on interview and survey data collected from 358 users. According to the interviews, a reputation system that is based on user feedback is essential for the evaluation of other users and their reliability, but the more experienced users had also adopted more advanced strategies for looking for additional reliability cues. The results of the survey indicate that experienced users with a longer transaction history often tend to establish regular contacts, and, partly for this reason, perceive online transacting as reliable. The experienced users were also more positive about the system and its administration than less experienced users. As a practical result, in this paper, the authors examine which kinds of design elements of the service support the experience of trust.
Decentralized Communication for Data Dependency Analysis Among Process Execution Agents
Authors: Urban Susan D. , Liu Ziao , Gao Le
Published: October 2011

This paper presents the authors results with the investigation of decentralized data dependency analysis among concurrently executing processes in a service-oriented environment. Distributed Process Execution Agents (PEXAs) are responsible for controlling the execution of processes that are composed of web services. PEXAs are also associated with specific distributed sites for the purpose of capturing data changes that occur at those sites in the context of service executions using Delta-Enabled Grid Services. PEXAs then exchange this information with other PEXAs to dynamically discover data dependencies that can be used to enhance recovery activities for concurrent processes that execute with relaxed isolation properties. This paper outlines the functionality of PEXAs, describing the data structures, algorithms, and communication mechanisms that are used to support decentralized construction of distributed process dependency graphs, demonstrating a more dynamic and intelligent approach to identifying how the failure of one process can potentially affect other concurrently executing processes.
Unified Modelling Functional and Non-Functional Aspects of Web Services Composition Using PTCCS
Authors: Xiao Fangxiong , Huang Zhiqiu , Cao Zining , Hu Jun , Liu Linyuan , Yuan Min
Published: October 2011

Unified modelling and analyzing functional and non-functional aspects of Web services composition reduces the gap caused by modelling them in different models respectively, increases development speed, and reduces development cost. Though existing process algebras have advantages over modelling concurrent and composite systems, including Web services composition, they lack the capability of modelling cost that is an important non-functional property. This paper proposes a process algebra called PTCCS (Priced Temporal Calculus of Communicating Systems) based on the existing TCCS (Temporal Calculus of Communicating Systems) by associating action of TCCS with price information. The authors present the syntax and semantics of PTCCS and prove that PTCCS extends TCCS with cost modelling capability. Cost state space for a process in PTCCS is proposed and an algorithm to generate it to support cost optimal Web services composition or time optimal Web services composition is presented. The authors present another algorithm that can generate cost optimal path for cost optimal Web services composition and time optimal path for time optimal Web services composition based on cost state space. An experiment shows that PTCCS can effectively support unified modelling functionality, time, and cost of Web services composition.
From chemical neuroanatomy to an understanding of the olfactory system
Authors: Oboti L. , Peretto P. , De Marchis S. , Fasolo A.
Published: October 2011

The olfactory system is the appropriate model for studying several aspects of neuronal physiology spanning from the developmental stage to neural network remodelling in the adult brain. Both the morphological and physiological understanding of this system were strongly supported by classical histochemistry. It is emblematic the case of the Olfactory Marker Protein (OMP) staining, the first, powerful marker for fully differentiated olfactory receptor neurons and a key tool to investigate the dynamic relations between peripheral sensory epithelia and central relay regions given its presence within olfactory fibers reaching the olfactory bulb (OB). Similarly, the use of thymidine analogues was able to show neurogenesis in an adult mammalian brain far before modern virus labelling and lipophilic tracers based methods. Nowadays, a wealth of new histochemical techniques combining cell and molecular biology approaches is available, giving stance to move from the analysis of the chemically identified circuitries to functional research. The study of adult neurogenesis is indeed one of the best explanatory examples of this statement. After defining the cell types involved and the basic physiology of this phenomenon in the OB plasticity, we can now analyze the role of neurogenesis in well testable behaviours related to socio-chemical communication in rodents.
Improved Statistical Analysis for Array CGH-Based DNA Copy Number Aberrations
Authors: Jiang Hongmei , Zhu Zhong-Zheng , Yu Yue , Lin Simon , Hou Lifang
Published: October 2011

Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) allows measuring DNA copy number at the whole genome scale. In cancer studies, one may be interested in identifying DNA copy number aberrations (CNAs) associated with certain clinicopathological characteristics such as cancer metastasis. We proposed to define test regions based on copy number pattern profiles across multiple samples, using either smoothed log2-ratio or discrete data of copy number gain/loss calls. Association test performed on the refined test regions instead of the probes has improved power due to reduced number of tests. We also compared three types of measurement of copy number levels, normalized log2-ratio, smoothed log2-ratio, and copy number gain or loss calls in statistical hypothesis testing. The relative strengths and weaknesses of the proposed method were demonstrated using both simulation studies and real data analysis of a liver cancer study.
Early Neolithic burials of Starćevo culture at Galovo, Slavonski Brod (Northern Croatia)
Authors: Minichreiter Kornelija , Botić Katarina
Published: October 2011

At Galovo, near Slavonski Brod (Posavina, northern Croatia), a part of an early phase Starčevo culture settlement was found. Inside the settlement a ritual space was separated from the living area by semicircular wooden fences, which shows the so far unknown dimension of ritual burials and organisation of life in the settlement during this period. In a big burial pit, three individuals were buried: a man (complete skeleton), and a woman and a man, both without heads. In the small burial pit a man without a face was buried. Offerings near the buried individuals and objects in the pits show function and tribal status of these individuals at the settlement. Radiocarbon analyses date the burials to around 5700 and 5300 calBC.
Messing with the dead: post-depositional manipulations of burials and bodies in the South Scandinavian Stone Age
Authors: Fahlander Fredrik
Published: October 2011

This paper concerns post-depositional manipulations of burials at two Stone Age sites in Southern Sweden: the Late Mesolithic Skateholm and Middle Neolithic Ajvide. A distinction is made between non-aggressive and aggressive manipulations of graves and dead bodies. Fine-grained horizontal stratigraphies make it possible to associate each category with different phases of occupation. It is suggested that aggressive manipulations are generally the result of social stress during periods of hybridisation between different groups and traditions.
Göbekli Tepe – the Stone Age Sanctuaries. New results of ongoing excavations with a special focus on sculptures and high reliefs
Authors: Schmidt Klaus
Published: October 2011

The transition from non-food producing to farming societies first took place during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) of the Near East. It happened immediately after the end of the Pleistocene, between the 10th to the 8th millennium BC. One of the main questions that have exercised the minds of generations of archaeologists is why people first gave up a hunting and gathering way of life and start to domesticate plants and animals. In other words, why did the Neolithic Revolution take place? The new discoveries at Göbekli Tepe have turned up evidence for explanations that differ from the generally accepted wisdom on this issue.