bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investment and Language Learning in the 21 st Century
Authors: Darvin Ron , Norton Bonny
Published: August 2016

Cet article explore la notion d’investissement dans l’apprentissage linguistique, développée par Bonny Norton à partir du milieu des années 1990 (Norton Peirce, 1995 ; Norton, 2000 ; 2013), et augmentée plus récemment par Ron Darvin (Darvin & Norton, 2015). L’investissement, complément sociologique de la notion psychologique de motivation, est devenu un point nodal de la linguistique appliquée (Kramsch, 2013), dévoilant les rapports de pouvoir qui promeuvent ou qui limitent l’apprentissage et l’enseignement des langues. L’article s’intéresse particulièrement au modèle élargi d’investissement de Darvin et Norton, impulsé par les changements technologiques survenus dans le paysage communicatif. Afin d’analyser les paradoxes de la mondialisation et les mécanismes invisibles du pouvoir à l’œuvre dans l’économie du savoir, le modèle situe l’investissement au croisement de l’identité, du capital et de l’idéologie. Il élabore de manière utile l’idée selon laquelle le droit à la parole doit être appréhendé comme une notion construite, matériellement et idéologiquement. À partir de situations d’apprentissage canadiennes et ougandaises, l’article montre comment l’investissement découle du positionnement des apprenants, de leur négociation des potentialités d’apprentissage, et de formes systémiques de contrôle qui compromettent leur agentivité. En conclusion il est estimé qu’une pédagogie critique mettant en valeur un avenir cosmopolite pourrait inciter l’apprenant à s’investir davantage dans les pédagogies de langue et de littératie du 21 e siècle.
L’investissement dans la littératie : identités sociales et capital symbolique
Authors: Bemporad Chiara , Jeanneret Thérèse
Published: August 2016

Le présent article discute la manière dont des personnes plurilingues comprennent leur investissement pour l’appropriation de pratiques littératiées, et notamment de lecture, dans des langues étrangères (le français et l’espagnol). Suivant une méthodologie qualitative et compréhensive, les analyses portent sur des discours écrits et oraux, tenus par trois étudiantes apprenant le français comme langue étrangère dans une université suisse, l’une d’origine suisse italienne et les deux autres d’origine canadienne anglophone. Les données montrent que les étudiantes ont conscience de deux types différents de capital symbolique, en lien avec leurs positionnements sociaux et leurs dynamiques identitaires : un capital linguistique et culturel d’une part, et un capital communicatif, d’autre part. Cette typologie influe sur les modes d’appropriation des étudiantes, en orientant leur investissement vers des pratiques langagières (et notamment littératiées) différentes.
Investissement langagier et économie politique
Authors: Duchêne Alexandre
Published: August 2016

La notion d’ investissement langagier a fait l’objet d’une intense production scientifique depuis les années quatre-vingt-dix dans l’espace nord-américain, en particulier dans le champ de la linguistique appliquée. En analysant des données issues d’un terrain ethnographique sur les agences étatiques de contrôle et de placement des chômeurs en Suisse (équivalentes à Pôle emploi en France), je vais chercher à revisiter cette notion par le prisme de l’économie politique. Je montrerai que l’investissement individuel des chômeurs dans les processus d’appropriation des langues se confronte à des mécanismes institutionnels où l’incitation à suivre des cours de langues, ou la privation de l’accès à ces cours, est liée à une logique de retour sur investissement . En analysant les processus de décision d’allocation des mesures d’accès au marché du travail, je montrerai alors que l’investissement dans les langues est reconfiguré en termes d’ employabilité . Cette démarche permet de maintenir certains chômeurs dans une position de subalternité en les privant de l’accès aux ressources langagières qu’ils souhaiteraient investir, limitant ainsi l’espoir d’une mobilité professionnelle. Ces analyses m’amèneront alors à argumenter que l’agentivité postulée dans les travaux sur l’investissement doit être pondérée et requestionnée à l’aune des contingences structurelles dans lesquelles l’investissement (s’) opère.
Monopole officinal et concurrence en prix pour la délivrance des médicaments non remboursables : l’exemple français
Authors: Pilorge Céline
Published: August 2016

Cette étude analyse l’existence d’une concurrence en prix sur le marché des médicaments non remboursables, dans un cadre de monopole officinal en France. À partir de données de prix mensuelles pour trente médicaments pour un échantillon de 4 700 pharmacies, entre 2006 et 2008, le niveau des prix est comparé selon le degré de concurrence dans l’environnement proche de la pharmacie, mesurée à partir d’un indicateur fin de densité communale. Les résultats indiquent que la concurrence s’exerce très peu sur ce segment de marché. Alors que le degré de concurrence est très variable entre les pharmacies, la plupart d’entre elles vendent au même prix. Ces résultats interrogent sur les effets d’une ouverture de ce marché à de nouveaux entrants, au regard des expériences étrangères.
Changement d’enseigne sur le marché français des carburants : effets sur la concurrence locale d’une baisse des prix
Authors: Chamayou Étienne , Le Saout Ronan
Published: August 2016

Entre 2011 et 2014, un groupe pétrolier a développé une stratégie à bas prix en créant une nouvelle enseigne à partir de son réseau de stations-service et en baissant les prix de 10 centimes d’euro par litre. À l’aide des prix hebdomadaires du diesel provenant de plusieurs milliers de points de vente et d’une méthode des doubles différences, nous soulignons la faiblesse de la réaction agrégée, inférieure à 1 centime d’euro, des proches concurrents. Celle-ci masque néanmoins des hausses et des baisses en proportions équivalentes pour les 40 % des stations dont la réaction excède 1 centime. Les baisses sont principalement mises en place par des stations de la grande distribution, tandis que les hausses sont plutôt le fait de stations de groupes pétroliers et indépendants. Ces réactions soulignent l’importante segmentation du marché, au-delà de l’homogénéité apparente du produit.
Calcaneocuboid Joint Arthritis of the Midfoot Precedes Tibiotalar Joint Arthritis
Authors: Dugarte Anthony , Bharwani Sahil , Yoo HoJun , Boiwka Alexander Vondra , Yu Charles C. , Bajwa Navkirat S. , Toy Jason O. , Tang Jonathan E. , Ahn Uri , Ahn Nicholas
Published: August 2016

Surgical models have best shown the relationship between ankle and mid-foot osteoarthritis, although findings regarding the calcaneocuboid joint have varied. To the authors' knowledge, no studies have evaluated the relationship between degenerative changes across the tibiotalar and calcaneocuboid joints. The goal of this study was to determine whether such a relationship exists and which joint degenerates first. A single examiner evaluated 694 tibiotalar and calcaneocuboid joints to determine the presence of osteoarthritis. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted with a standard
P
value cutoff (
P
<.05) and 95% confidence interval. The average incidence of tibiotalar and calcaneocuboid osteoarthritis in specimens older than 40 years was compared with the incidence in those 40 years and younger. A positive correlation between tibiotalar and calcaneocuboid osteoarthritis was noted. African-American subjects were less likely than white subjects to have tibiotalar osteoarthritis. The finding of right and left tibiotalar and calcaneocuboid osteoarthritis in subjects 40 years and younger showed that midfoot arthritis was significantly more common than arthritis of the ankle. The prevalence of calcaneocuboid osteoarthritis remains stable after 40 years of age, and the prevalence of tibiotalar osteoarthritis approaches that of calcaneocuboid osteoarthritis. Calcaneocuboid osteoarthritis precedes tibiotalar osteoarthritis. Altered biomechanics involved in calcaneocuboid osteoarthritis are transferred to the tibiotalar joint, leading to tibiotalar osteoarthritis as the subject ages. Early education, surveillance, physical therapy, shoe adjustment, and orthotics may help to reduce the forces across the midfoot and prevent ankle arthritis in the long term. [
Orthopedics.
2016; 39(6):e1112–e1116.]
Fat Thickness as a Risk Factor for Infection in Lumbar Spine Surgery
Authors: Lee John J. , Odeh Khalid I. , Holcombe Sven A. , Patel Rakesh D. , Wang Stewart C. , Goulet James A. , Graziano Gregory P.
Published: August 2016

Body mass index does not account for body mass distribution. This study tested the hypothesis that subcutaneous fat thickness is a better indicator than body mass index of the risk of surgical site infection in lumbar spine procedures performed through a midline posterior approach. Charts were reviewed for previously identified risk factors for surgical site infection (age, diabetes, smoking, obesity, albumin level, multilevel procedures, previous surgery, and operative time) in 149 adult patients who underwent lumbar spine procedures through a midline posterior approach. Subcutaneous fat thickness was measured with a novel automated technique. Regression analysis was used to determine associations between risk factors and fat thickness with surgical site infection. In the study group, 15 surgical site infections occurred (10.1%). Bivariate analysis showed a significant association between surgical site infection and body mass index (
P
=.01), obesity (
P
=.02), and fat thickness (
P
=.002). With multivariate analysis, body mass index and obesity did not show significance, but fat thickness remained significant (
P
=.026). For every 1-mm thickness of subcutaneous fat there was a 6% (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.10) increase in the odds of surgical site infection, and patients with fat thickness of greater than 50 mm had a 4-fold increase in the odds of surgical site infection compared with those with fat thickness of less than 50 mm. Body mass index and fat thickness were moderately correlated (
r
2
=0.44). These results confirm the hypothesis that local subcutaneous fat thickness is a better indicator than body mass index of the risk of surgical site infection in lumbar spine procedures. [
Orthopedics.
2016; 39(6):e1124–e1128.]
Factors That Predict Blood Loss After Bernese Periacetabular Osteotomy
Authors: Novais Eduardo N. , Carry Patrick M. , Kestel Lauryn A. , Koerner Jason , Tan Gee Mei
Published: August 2016

Although strategies to reduce bleeding and avoid allogeneic transfusion have been described, there is controversy about the factors associated with blood loss after Bernese periacetabular osteotomy. This study was conducted to determine risk factors for postoperative blood loss. After institutional review board approval was obtained, a retrospective review was conducted of 41 young patients who underwent periacetabular osteotomy for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia over a 3-year period. Of these patients, two-thirds donated blood before surgery. A Cell Saver Elite autotransfusion system (Haemonetics, Braintree, Massachusetts) was used intraoperatively in all cases. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were obtained before surgery and during the hospital stay. The primary outcome variable was the percentage of total blood volume lost during surgery. Univariate analysis was performed to test the association between potential predictors of blood volume loss. Candidate variables that were significant at alpha=0.15 were tested with multivariate analysis. The average percentage of blood volume lost during surgery was 30.3% (95% confidence interval, 25.1%–35.5%). Univariate analysis showed that operative time, arthrotomy, femoral head-neck osteochondroplasty, labral procedure, male sex, and age were prognostic factors associated with increased blood volume loss. However, operative time (average, 294.6 minutes; range, 204–444 minutes) was the only independent predictor of increased blood loss in the final model. Additional procedures, such as femoral head-neck osteochondroplasty and labral repair or debridement performed through an anterior hip arthrotomy at the time of periacetabular osteotomy, were associated with increased operative time. The findings suggest that all patients undergoing periacetabular osteotomy, including those having concomitant procedures, may benefit from pre- and intraoperative strategies to conserve blood and avoid allogeneic transfusion. [
Orthopedics.
2016; 39(6):e1147–e1153.]
Aging on the Street: Homeless Older Adults in America
Authors: Sorrell Jeanne M.
Published: August 2016

Older adults are at greater risk for homelessness today than at any time in recent history. Approximately one half of homeless individuals in America are older than 50, which has created serious challenges for how cities, governments, and health care providers care for homeless populations. Systems established in the 1980s to help care for homeless individuals were not designed to address problems of aging. It is critical that nurses and all health professionals have a better understanding of the unique needs and concerns of homeless older adults. Nurses can be an important part of the solution, not only through direct patient care but by advocating for improvements in care for this vulnerable population. [
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 54
(9), 25–29.]
Managing Workplace Violence With Evidence-Based Interventions: A Literature Review
Authors: Martinez Angel Johann Solorzano
Published: August 2016

Workplace violence in health care settings is an occupational issue concerning nurses and other health care professionals. Patient aggression against nurses is often the most common form of violence in clinical settings, occurring in emergency departments, inpatient psychiatric settings, and nursing homes. Physical and verbal assaults are the major forms of workplace violence encountered by nurses. Current research has identified staff, environmental, and patient risk factors as the major precursors of workplace violence initiated by patients. Nurses often experience significant physical and psychological negative consequences after an episode of workplace violence. A review of the evidence was conducted to identify current evidence-based interventions that can help nurses minimize the incidence of workplace violence. [
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 54
(9), 31–36.]
Effect of Complex Working Conditions on Nurses Who Exert Coercive Measures in Forensic Psychiatric Care
Authors: Gustafsson Niclas , Salzmann-Erikson Martin
Published: August 2016

Nurses who exert coercive measures on patients within psychiatric care are emotionally affected. However, research on their working conditions and environment is limited. The purpose of the current study was to describe nurses' experiences and thoughts concerning the exertion of coercive measures in forensic psychiatric care. The investigation was a qualitative interview study using unstructured interviews; data were analyzed with inductive content analysis. Results described participants' thoughts and experiences of coercive measures from four main categories: (a) acting against the patients' will, (b) reasoning about ethical justifications, (c) feelings of compassion, and (d) the need for debriefing. The current study illuminates the working conditions of nurses who exert coercive measures in clinical practice with patients who have a long-term relationship with severe symptomatology. The findings are important to further discuss how nurses and leaders can promote a healthier working environment. [
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
,
54
(9), 37–43.]
A New Approach to the Use of Semantic Technologies in E-Learning Platforms
Authors: Bouquet Paolo , Molinari Andrea
Published: August 2016

Semantic technologies have been studied and used in different areas of computer science. E-learning has been one of this, but the most frequent use of semantic technologies in this discipline has been in the extraction and indexing of contents, like forums, blogs, learning objects etc. The research presented in this paper aims at taking advantage of semantic technologies in a different way respect to the mainstream use that has been done in the past. This new approach refers to the use of semantic technologies in the management of the persistence layer of Learning Management Systems (LMS), i.e., where all the contents are stored. Our research follows the idea of using semantics technologies as a support, if not an entire replacement, of the backend and persistence mechanisms of LMSs. As a testbed, we will present the design and early results of the application of this approach to the persistence layer of a Virtual Communities System, where these technologies will enriched the platform to address two fundamental issues: a) entities disambiguation and identification inside the persisted objects b) adding new features to the platform without refactoring it.
From eLearning to Digital Transformation: A Framework and Implications for L&D
Authors: Seufert Sabine , Meier Christoph
Published: August 2016

How can the learning function (L&D) support learning and innovation at the level of an entire organization in times of digital transformation? The core challenges in this are twofold: 1) Competence clarification: What are relevant “digital competences” in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes that employees need in order to cope with digital transformation? 2) Competence development: How to organize, design and support learning processes contributing to digital competences and digital transformation?
Building on a framework originating in the context of business engineering and applying it to corporate training and human resource development, we explicate what digital transformation implies for the L&D function. As L&D functions explore and exploit the options sketched out, they live digital transformation in a way that enables them to effectively and efficiently contribute to digital transformation at an organizational level.
Innovation Capability, Knowledge Management and Big Data Technology: A Maritime Business Case
Authors: Lambrou Maria
Published: August 2016

We present an updated knowledge management approach to foster companies’ proficiency to formulate and implement their innovation strategies for new business models, services and markets, interlinked with knowledge management and learning technology resources and capabilities, in today’s highly uncertain environment. We elaborate the generic framework, also in view of a maritime business case.
Coverage Optimization Algorithm of Wireless Sensor Network Based on Mobile Nodes
Authors: Zhu Li , Fan Chunxiao , Wu Huarui , Wen Zhigang
Published: August 2016

To reduce the blind zone in network coverage, we propose a coverage optimization algorithm of wireless sensor network based on mobile nodes. This algorithm calculates the irregularity of blind zone in network coverage and obtains the minimum approximate numerical solution by utilizing the quantitative relationship between energy consumption of related nodes and the position of the mobile nodes. After determining the optimal relative position of the mobile nodes, the problem of blind zone between the static nodes is addressed. Simulation result shows that the proposed algorithm has high dynamic adaptability and can address the problem of blind zone maximally. Besides increasing the network coverage, the algorithm also reduces the network energy consumption, optimizes network coverage control and exhibits high convergence.
Origine et usages de la notion de services écosystémiques : éclairages sur son apport à la gestion des hydrosystèmes
Authors: Dufour Simon , Sartre Xavier Arnauld de , Castro Monica , Oszwald Johan , Rollet Anne Julia
Published: August 2016

La popularité considérable de l’expression « services écosystémiques » rend nécessaire un travail fin de délimitation de ses domaines de validité. Il convient ainsi de s’interroger sur la vocation d’une telle notion, mais aussi sur ses effets réels en matière de gestion des milieux naturels. L’objet de cette contribution est de discuter les apports et les limites que la notion de services écosystémiques représente pour la gestion des cours d’eau. L’analyse de la généalogie et de la diffusion de cette notion d’origine scientifique montre comment d’un compromis métaphorique elle est en passe de devenir un dispositif (dans le sens de Foucault) de gouvernementalité. Dire cela limite forcément le périmètre de validité des services écosystémiques : inventée pour convaincre certains acteurs à certaines échelles scalaires (notamment celle de gouvernance internationale), cette notion n’a pas forcément une portée universelle, parfaitement applicable en tous lieux. Concrètement, l’étude de la littérature et de retours d’expériences permet d’identifier au moins trois usages de la notion : un usage de sensibilisation globale (celui de son origine), un usage d’animation démocratique et d’aide à la décision et un usage de financement des actions de gestion ou de restauration. De fait, l’apport effectif de la notion est pour l’instant encore limité et son apport potentiel est contraint notamment par des raisons techniques de difficulté d’évaluation des services rendus par les écosystèmes fluviaux. En effet, si les usages de dimension pédagogique semblent pertinents, la plus-value des usages s’appuyant sur une caractérisation plus poussée des services écosystémiques (notamment quantitative, voire économique) peut être discutée.
Pourquoi et comment faut-il sauver la sécurité hydrique ?
Authors: Renou Yvan
Published: August 2016

Mobilisant une approche d’écologie politique, la démarche exposée dans cet article invite à substituer à la notion conventionnelle de sécurité hydrique celle de sécurité hydro-sociale afin de répondre aux principaux enjeux hydriques contemporains, au premier rang desquels figure l’adaptation au changement climatique. Il s’agit alors non plus de procéder à une sociétalisation marchandisée des risques hydriques mais bien d’oeuvrer à une démocratisation des cycles hydro-sociaux afin de consolider le processus de co-construction territorialisée de trajectoires de développement soutenables. Dans une telle perspective, la mise en politique de la gestion des incertitudes scientifiques et sociétales inhérentes aux services écosystémiques représente un pré-requis méthodologique incontournable devant permettre d’aboutir, via un processus de négociation fondé sur l’évaluation monétaire démocratique, à l’élaboration de compromis institutionnalisés « sécurisants ».
Understanding restoration and transaction costs in a payment for ecosystem service water quality market in Oregon, USA
Authors: Guillozet Kathleen
Published: August 2016

En Orégon (États-Unis), la température de l'eau de nombreux ruisseaux et rivières est réglementée dans le cadre de certains contextes par l’approche de paiements pour services écosystémiques (PSE). Grâce à cette approche, les entités de régulation visées par la réglementation sont en mesure de compenser leurs déversements qui font dépasser la température de l'eau au-dessus des valeurs admissibles en payant pour la restauration de la forêt riveraine et les avantages de refroidissement qu’apporte son ombre. Ainsi elles peuvent faire valoir leur conformité réglementaire. Les activités obligatoires de surveillance et de rapport de la qualité de l'eau menées par les entités qui font des rejets de sources ponctuelles fournissent la base sur laquelle un service écosystémique (l'ombre de la forêt riveraine) est quantifié (en kilocalories/mi) et vendu (par crédit thermique). La station de traitement des eaux usées de la ville de Medford, dans le sud de l'Orégon (États-Unis) est la première entité de régulation de l'eau à adopter une approche PSE pour sa conformité réglementaire. Grâce à l'analyse des transactions vérifiées et de nombreux autres documents publics, les coûts moyens de transaction associés à ce programme sont estimés à 85 pourcent des coûts totaux. Malgré une littérature croissante sur les coûts de transaction dans les programmes de PSE, il y a peu de consensus ou de conseils sur ce qui est un pourcentage raisonnable des coûts totaux pour les programmes de PSE connus comme « efficaces ». Les régulateurs, les titulaires de permis et le public peuvent utiliser cette information pour examiner comment structurer les permis, quels types de coûts de transaction sont plus ou moins importants, et comment tirer parti des investissements pour les plus grands avantages sociaux, écologiques et économiques.
Corporate Social Responsibility as a Tool for Poverty Reduction
Authors: DiGabriele Maria
Published: August 2016

This chapter is aimed at addressing gaps highlighted as being inherent in the current model of Corporate Social Responsibility. In so doing, it proposes means whereby the current CSR model can be harnessed more efficiently to achieve and realize the goal of poverty reduction - particularly in developing countries.
IFRS Harmonization and Foreign Direct Investment
Authors: Vidal-García Javier , Vidal Marta
Published: August 2016

IFRS refers to International Financial Reporting Standards, which are the guidelines that provide the framework for accounting works. The principles are also known as the International Accounting Standards (IAS). This global financial concept was first introduced in 2001 to equip investors with analyzed accounting statements. In this Chapter we review the relation between IFRS and Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). We review the relevant literature that analyses the effects on IFRS on FDIs and cross-border acquisitions. The economic literature states that the introduction of IFRS has presented an important increase in FDIs. The evidence shows that IFRS adopting countries attract investments from countries that implemented IFRS and non-IFRS implementing countries.
Investigating the Relationship between Foreign Direct Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Ojo Marianne , Ayadi Olusegun Felix
Published: August 2016

Should regulatory incentives which incorporate the lowering of environmental and labor standards, generate life threatening and environmental repercussions, as well as those resulting in moral hazard and excessive risk taking levels, be encouraged? This chapter not only investigates whether central bank independence is positively correlated with inflation, but also highlights other variables which could impact the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Foreign Direct Investment. It will highlight why a continuous need for updating of data is necessary given the inability to capture data specific variables and why the introduction of complementary standards would serve to bolster measures aimed at promoting financial stability and encouraging investors – rather than incentives aimed at diluting such standards. In so doing contributes to previous and current literature on the topic – by way of reference to investigations and studies which have revealed concerns in the ability to adequately capture data – particularly in light of the recent 2008/2009 Financial Crisis.
The Audit Expectations Gap
Authors: Ojo Marianne , Ali Azham , Lee Teck Heang , Mohamad Rosli , Yusof Nor Zalina Mohamad
Published: August 2016

Corporate Social Responsibility necessitates effective engagement of stakeholders and investors – both at local and international levels. As well as demonstrating that changes in perceptions do not warrant an internship program as a means of reducing the audit expectations gap as misperceptions are still found among respondents on issues of auditing after the completion of the internship program, this chapter will seek to demonstrate why Corporate Social Responsibility endeavors which focus on the mitigation of information asymmetries between the management of an enterprise and local and international investors, also translates to effective corporate social responsibility reporting – in the sense that the engagement of stakeholders - facilitated primarily through legal and ethical responsibilities, ultimately results in the realization of economic and philanthropic responsibilities. From an economic perspective, the mitigation of information asymmetries and systemic risks, without doubt, constitutes the most important of rationales or other objectives that could be presented.
Cybersecurity Best Practices and Cultural Change in Global Business
Authors: Saiz-Alvarez José Manuel , Leal Guillermo Calleja
Published: August 2016

This chapter discusses how the adoption of best practices to increase cybersecurity in business affects the cultural value of the company. Primarily focused on the European Union, the chapter defines and analyzes both the impact of cyber security on the global business conducted in the European Union, and its relation to cloud computing. A brief analysis of the ISO27000 family of standards is made, to finally analyze the relationship between cybersecurity, cultural change and best practices in IT-based business. Businesses are facing now the Third Industrial Revolution characterized by real-time communications through Information and Communication Technologies, where fighting against cybercrime is essential to have safer and more reliable IT-based systems, given the negative effects emanated from cyber insecurity.
Shift in Paradigm
Authors: Martins Ana , Martins Isabel , Pereira Orlando
Published: August 2016

Quantum theories have become widely accepted in the fields of management and social sciences, because these theories enhance organizational sustainability. The principles of the quantum approach are humanizing in nature being a panacea in organizational life. In those organizations that adopt this mindset, employees tend to accept common goals and objectives. The aim of this chapter is to ascertain whether management of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), specifically Universities, adhere to the quantum principles already evident in other sectors. Universities are, par excellence, the source for creation and sharing of knowledge, hence this chapter reflects on whether sustainability is achievable and also if major organizational challenges are surpassed in knowledge creation and sharing despite the absence of spiritual capital. Spiritual capital is a vital component in the new age organizational paradigm. The main objective of this chapter, therefore, is the identification of spiritual capital characteristics in profit-oriented organizations, including Universities.
Working for the Collective
Authors: Sundstrom Linda-Marie , Beaumaster Suzanne
Published: August 2016

Karl Marx wrote that in the higher phase of Communism, society could inscribe on its banner the phrase, from each according to his ability to each according to his needs. This chapter explores the role of the government and individual in providing for the needs of the collective. It compares and contrasts the voluntary practice of the Communist Subbotnik (voluntary work on Saturdays) in the former Soviet Union, with the voluntary sector practices in the United States. The article posits that the United States, with the reputation as an individualistic, capitalist society, achieves the Marxist ideal of working for the collective through the nonprofit voluntary sector, even more than the Communist practice of Subbotnik. In the United States nonprofit sector, individuals donate time and resources to charitable organizations (each according to his ability), which in turn, provides services and resources to others (according to their needs).
Types of Terrorism
Authors: Martin Gus
Published: August 2016

Terrorist typologies are descriptive classifications explaining the quality of political violence arising from distinct political and social environments. Although many terrorist typologies are accepted without controversy by analysts, some are the subject of definitional debate. Accepted typologies include the following: The New Terrorism, state terrorism, dissident terrorism, religious terrorism, ideological terrorism, and international terrorism. Sub-classifications of accepted typologies include nationalist terrorism, ethno-national terrorism, and racial terrorism. In contradistinction to accepted typologies, other classifications are conceptually “cutting-edge” and the subject of definitional debate. These include gender-selective terrorism and criminal terrorism (often referred to as narco-terrorism). Nevertheless, there is growing recognition that gender-selective and criminal terrorism are features of the modern global terrorist environment. This chapter will identify and discuss terrorist typologies in the modern era, including the emerging recognition of newly defined typologies.
Protection of Critical Homeland Assets
Authors: Bailey William J.
Published: August 2016

The protection of critical infrastructure assets is vital to every government, organisation, business and person. If the asset forms part of the vital critical infrastructure, the loss could be catastrophic and far reaching with considerable knock-on effects. To avoid such negative outcomes requires a wide range of in-built resilient security structures, plans and operating procedures. A more adaptive, proactive, comprehensive security management process needs to be embraced to: prevent, detect, deter, respond and defeat potential damaging events and incidents. Core to security planning is a full understanding of the potential consequences of worst case scenarios. Adopting a process driven model is a proactive approach and grounded upon current operational procedures used by major international companies in hostile and dangerous environments. By utilizing a clearly defined comprehensive risk management tool, a more systematic Security, Threat, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (STRVA), process can be developed. This process uses a multi-layered intelligence gathering capabilities.
Transnational Crime and the American Policing System
Authors: Martin Starlett Michele
Published: August 2016

The 21st century US can be characterized as a period of globalization, during which countries have become increasingly interconnected. However, since the 9-11 terrorist attacks on US soil—unease about the possibility of subsequent attacks and other transnational crimes has become ever more prevalent. While traditional security agencies, such as the FBI and CIA, have changed since this phenomenon, US police have been forced to assume a greater share of the responsibility as part of a comprehensive homeland-security framework. Consequently, through an in-depth descriptive analysis of transnational crime and the strategies and methods police agencies presently have at their disposal to combat it, one can determine if US police have the tools needed to handle this salient issue. Thus, recommendations can be made of ways to improve the efficacy of US policing agencies in the pursuit of their homeland-security directives, and moreover, methods of implementing these recommendations can be devised.
Importance of a Versatile Logging Tool for Behavioural Biometrics and Continuous Authentication Research
Authors: Mondal Soumik , Bours Patrick , Johansen Lasse , Stenvi Robin , Øverbø Magnus
Published: August 2016

We present the design and implementation of a Windows operating system based logging tool, which can capture the keystroke, mouse, software interaction and hardware usage simultaneously and continuously. Log data can be stored locally or transmitted in a secure manner to a server. Filter drivers are used to log with high precision. Privacy of the users and confidentiality of sensitive data have been taken into account throughout the development of the tool. Our behaviour logging software is mainly designed for behavioural biometrics research, but its scope could also be beneficial to proactive forensics and intrusion detection. We show the validity of the tool in a study of keyboard and mouse data uses for continuous authentication.
Evaluation of Keystroke Dynamics Authentication Systems
Authors: Dafer Moustafa , El-Abed Mohamad
Published: August 2016

Keystroke dynamics authentication systems have shown promising results to be used in e-commerce and banking applications. However, this modality suffers from several limitations decreasing their widespread of use in daily applications. This chapter addresses the evaluation of keystroke dynamics authentication systems. The chapter provides an evaluation framework to be used when designing and comparing such systems. It also provides an analysis study of the collected features using a physical and touch screen keyboards. This chapter is dedicated to researchers and engineers who need to quantify the usability of their developed keystroke dynamics systems.
Defending Information Networks in Cyberspace
Authors: Carneiro Alberto da Conceição
Published: August 2016

The considerations of this chapter intend to address some concerns and highlight some of the major problems affecting the cyberspace. This chapter will focus on defensive attitudes and concerns pertaining to the cybersecurity issues. Part 1: Facing to cyberspace security opens the area of threats and the need of defensive attitudes. Part 2: Remembering Internet issues deals with known internet problems in what concerns cybersecurity as a generic term. In Part 3: Defensive Cybersecurity the focus is on the need to add more defensive features to security policies. Part 4: In the search of better solutions emphasizes the need to invest continuously in scientific research and the creation of more sophisticated processes in order to prevent new forms of attack and mitigate negative results.
Security and Trust in Cloud Computing
Authors: Kuada Eric
Published: August 2016

The discussion of security and trust issues in this book chapter will follow from the discussions on the role of virtualization in cloud computing and hence the impact that the various categories of virtualization such as server virtualization, network virtualization, storage virtualization, and application virtualization have on the security and trust issues in cloud computing. It will be evident from these discussions that virtualization introduces a number of security and risk related challenges in cloud computing based on the three security objectives of confidentiality, integrity, and availability; and the two main other related security objectives of authenticity and accountability of information systems that were adopted for this discussion. It was however also noted that if the necessary recommended best practices of virtualizations are faithfully adhered to, then virtualization can actually lead to improvement or enhancement in the security posture of cloud environments.
Security Issues in Distributed Computing System Models
Authors: Elkabbany Ghada Farouk , Rasslan Mohamed
Published: August 2016

Distributed computing systems allow homogenous/heterogeneous computers and workstations to act as a computing environment. In this environment, users can uniformly access local and remote resources in order to run processes. Users are not aware of which computers their processes are running on. This might pose some complicated security problems. This chapter provides a security review of distributed systems. It begins with a survey about different and diverse definitions of distributed computing systems in the literature. Different systems are discussed with emphasize on the most recent. Finally, different aspects of distributed systems security and prominent research directions are explored.
Biometric
Authors: Rawat Ajay , Gambhir Shivani
Published: August 2016

Cloud computing lacks control over physical and logical aspects of the system, which imposes profound changes in security and privacy procedure; hence, it needs a high level of security. Currently, many researchers and developments are being done to provide client service-level agreements regarding security issues. These researchers are attracted towards biometrics and its security applications, since it is based on biometric traits, thus providing a high level of security. Due to biometrics' benefits and cloud advantages, the collaboration of cloud and biometrics have open up wide areas this field. This chapter discusses some case studies of integration of biometrics and cloud computing.
Antimicrobial Consumption and Multidrug Resistant Organisms in Intensive Care Units
Authors: Jabri Fouad Farouk
Published: August 2016

Improper antimicrobial use and bacterial resistance can affect an entire community, threaten public health and create economic burdens and ecological consequences on societies. This chapter discusses the importance of counteracting this public health issue. In Saudi Arabia, the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents is of particular concern. The prescribing of broad-spectrum antimicrobials in hospital settings is not highly restricted, and antimicrobials are available over the counters in pharmacies. This unwise use provides a scenario for the emergence of bacterial resistance and subsequent public health concerns. In addition, there is a lack of representative epidemiological research on antimicrobial consumption and quantitative data linking consumption to the incidence of resistance. This chapter illustrates that the implementation and the success of the strategies that monitor and control antimicrobial consumption depend on the availability of information about the extent and patterns of antimicrobial consumption. It demonstrates the potentials and recommendations on obtaining antimicrobial consumption data using defined daily dose as a unit of measurement in Saudi hospital settings.
Watermark Embedding for Multiscale Error Diffused Halftone Images by Adopting Visual Cryptography
Authors: Guo Yuanfang , Au Oscar C. , Tang Ketan
Published: August 2016

Error Diffusion has been widely adopted in the printing industry due to its good visual quality and simple implementation. However, error diffusion still possesses its own deficiencies. Thus multiscale error diffusion (MED) has been developed, and this method outperforms traditional error diffusion according to extensive research results. The majority of previous halftone image watermarking techniques cannot be directly applied to MED halftone images. Since there is no halftone visual watermarking (HVW) method for MED halftone images in existing methods, we propose the first HVW method for MED halftone images, Copyright Protecting Multiscale Error Diffusion (CoP-MED), in this paper. By adopting the visual cryptography principle, CoP-MED can effectively embed a secret pattern into two MED halftone images, where the secret pattern can be decoded clearly by simply overlaying the two stego halftone images or performing not-exclusive-or operation between them. Parameter selection is also discussed based on the experimental results. Later, in comparison tests, CoP-MED shows superior performance compared to existing works.
Image Data Mining Based on Wavelet Transform for Visualization of the Unique Characteristics of Image Data
Authors: Gebremeskel Gebeyehu Belay , Chai Yi , Shangbo Zhou , Xu Su
Published: August 2016

Mining techniques can play an important role in image decomposition, segmentation, classification and retrieval systems. As image data become more complex and growing at a fast pace, searching valuable information and knowledge implicit become more challenging than ever before. In this chapter, authors proposed a WT based DM techniques to optimize and characterize the unique feature of image retrieval, which is fundamental to optimize informative mathematical representation of image objects. Many software, including data exploratory tools such as DM packages contain fast and efficient programs that perform WT. Wavelets have quickly gained popularity among scientists and engineers, both in theoretical research and in applications. The authors discussed in details and introduced a novel method for image database analysis in different scenarios that foster the wide access of image data.
Retrieval of Multimedia Information Using Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) Techniques
Authors: Mukherjee Anupam
Published: August 2016

This chapter will focus on the concept of Content-based image retrieval. Searching of an image or video database based on text based description is a manual labor intensive process. Descriptions of the file are usually typed manually for each image by human operators because the automatic generation of keywords for the images is difficult without incorporation of visual information and feature extraction. This method is impractical in today's multimedia information era. “Content-based” means that the search will analyze the actual contents of the image rather than the metadata such as keywords, tags, and descriptions associated with the image. The term “content” in this context might refer to colors, shapes, textures, or any other information that can be derived from the image itself. Several important sections are highlighted in this chapter, like architectures, query techniques, multidimensional indexing, video retrieval and different application sections of CBIR.
Fast Medical Image Segmentation Using Energy-Based Method
Authors: Kashyap Ramgopal , Gautam Pratima
Published: August 2016

Medical applications became a boon to the healthcare industry. It needs correct and fast segmentation associated with medical images for correct diagnosis. This assures high quality segmentation of medical images victimization. The Level Set Method (LSM) is a capable technique, however the quick process using correct segments remains difficult. The region based models like Active Contours, Globally Optimal Geodesic Active Contours (GOGAC) performs inadequately for intensity irregularity images. During this cardstock, we have a new tendency to propose an improved region based level set model motivated by the geodesic active contour models as well as the Mumford-Shah model. So that you can eliminate the re-initialization process of ancient level set model and removes the will need of computationally high priced re-initialization. Compared using ancient models, our model are sturdier against images using weak edge and intensity irregularity.
Wavelets with Application in Image Compression
Authors: Singh Piyush Kumar , Singh Ravi Shankar , Rai Kabindra Nath
Published: August 2016

This chapter focus mainly on different wavelet transform algorithms as Burt's Pyramid, Mallat's Pyramidal Algorithm, Feauveau's non dyadic structure and its application in Image compression. This chapter focus on mathematical concepts involved in wavelet transform like convolution, scaling function, wavelet function, Multiresolution analysis, inner product etc., and how these mathematical concepts are liked to image transform application. This chapter gives an idea towards wavelets and wavelet transforms. Image compression based on wavelet transform consists of transform, quantization and encoding. Basic focus is not only on transform step, selection of particular wavelet, wavelets involved in new standard of image compression but also on quantization and encoding, Huffman code, run length code. Difference in between JPEG and JPEG2000, Quantization and sampling, wavelet function and wavelet transform are also given. This chapter is also giving some basic idea of MATLAB to assist readers in understanding MATLAB Programming in terms of image processing.
Study of Noise Removal Techniques for Digital Images
Authors: Patel Punyaban , Jena Bibekananda , Sahoo Bibhudatta , Patel Pritam , Majhi Banshidhar
Published: August 2016

Images very often get contaminated by different types of noise like impulse noise, Gaussian noise, spackle noise etc. due to malfunctioning of camera sensors during acquisition or transmission using the channel. The noise in the channel affects processing of images in various ways. Hence, the image has to be restored by applying filtration process before the high level image processing. In general the restoration techniques for images are based up on the mathematical and the statistical models of image degradation. Denoising and deblurring are used to recover the image from degraded observations. The researchers have proposed verity of linear and non-linear filters for removal of noise from images. The filtering technique has been used to remove noisy pixels, without changing the uncorrupted pixel values. This chapter presents the metrics used for measurement of noise, and the various schemes for removing of noise from the images.