bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical Competitive Intelligence System
Authors: Rodrigues Leonel Cezar
Published: December 2011

The recent skyrocketing costs of innovation have become a severe limiting factor for companies’ internal development of innovation. Open innovation comes as a sounding solution to investments ensuring type, variety, and needed pace in innovation. Open innovation, however, implies the efficiency of a supporting framework to search, gather, and mobilize external technical information into a company. In this chapter, the author proposes and describes the processes and functionalities of a TCI system, conceived to support open innovation processes. The proposed TCI system follows the classical logic of intelligence systems and takes into account the nuances inherent to a technical information intelligence system. The system is also contextually linked to open innovation to show functionality and play a critical role in the implementation of an effective innovation strategy whether of product or service companies.
B2B eCommerce
Authors: Karakaya Fahri
Published: December 2011

This chapter discusses the use of Internet by businesses in marketing products and services to other businesses. The chapter starts with the well-known technology adoption model and the relationship between technology adoption and firm profitability and then expands into how businesses market to other businesses using a variety of methods and examples. Most businesses targeting their products and services to other businesses or distributors have developed web sites where purchasers can obtain information and place online orders with little or no human involvement. In addition to company specific web sites, there are also web portals where business customers and sellers meet to buy and sell products using auctions and bids. The chapter then discusses how to increase online traffic using search engine optimization as well as identifying potential customers using electronic databases. The chapter ends with a discussion on the importance of relationship marketing for B2B businesses using Customer Relationship Management software or other means.
Understanding Business Strategy
Authors: Gomes Emanuel , Jackson Paul
Published: December 2011

To understand Business Strategy it is necessary to gain an appreciation of some of the processes that strategists have to undertake in order to analyse and execute successful business strategies. This chapter explains the importance of having an overall corporate strategy and proposes a possible logical structure for the strategic management process. The authors start by discussing the importance of the analysis of the strategic position of the company. This is followed by a discussion of the complexities involved in the strategy formulation phase. Finally, some considerations and issues are raised about the implementation of the strategic choices, as strategic execution is one of the main keys to business success.
Human Capital Management and Optimization
Authors: Mühlbacher Jürgen
Published: December 2011

Recent work in human resource development emphasises the fact that individual skills are strongly oriented towards the future. They enable a person to tackle upcoming challenges in a self-organised manner. So both the current requirements and the skills necessary in the future have to be seen as a strategic competitive advantage for the company. This change in perspective makes it possible to use further education as a strategic instrument of management development.
A Case Study on Testing for Software Security
Authors: Meghanathan Natarajan , Geoghegan Alexander Roy
Published: December 2011

The high-level contribution of this book chapter is to illustrate how to conduct static code analysis of a software program and mitigate the vulnerabilities associated with the program. The automated tools used to test for software security are the Source Code Analyzer and Audit Workbench, developed by Fortify, Inc. The first two sections of the chapter are comprised of (i) An introduction to Static Code Analysis and its usefulness in testing for Software Security and (ii) An introduction to the Source Code Analyzer and the Audit Workbench tools and how to use them to conduct static code analysis. The authors then present a detailed case study of static code analysis conducted on a File Reader program (developed in Java) using these automated tools. The specific software vulnerabilities that are discovered, analyzed, and mitigated include: (i) Denial of Service, (ii) System Information Leak, (iii) Unreleased Resource (in the context of Streams), and (iv) Path Manipulation. The authors discuss the potential risk in having each of these vulnerabilities in a software program and provide the solutions (and the Java code) to mitigate these vulnerabilities. The proposed solutions for each of these four vulnerabilities are more generic and could be used to correct such vulnerabilities in software developed in any other programming language.
A Review of Software Quality Methodologies
Authors: Saeed Saqib , Khawaja Farrukh Masood , Mahmood Zaigham
Published: December 2011

Pervasive systems and increased reliance on embedded systems require that the underlying software is properly tested and has in-built high quality. The approaches often adopted to realize software systems have inherent weaknesses that have resulted in less robust software applications. The requirement of reliable software suggests that quality needs to be instilled at all stages of a software development paradigms, especially at the testing stages of the development cycle ensuring that quality attributes and parameters are taken into account when designing and developing software. In this respect, numerous tools, techniques, and methodologies have also been proposed. In this chapter, the authors present and review different methodologies employed to improve the software quality during the software development lifecycle.
Network Perspective on Structures Related to Communities
Authors: Wolfe Alvin
Published: December 2011

The application of network perspectives to communities requires some appreciation of the variety of ways people are now writing about communities. Some scholars and practitioners have drifted toward the view that a community is composed very largely of the personal networks of the individuals who are members of the community. But the whole community is more than the sum of those related parts, and the structure of a community must include not only those direct interpersonal relations but also the relations among the clusters and groups and corporate entities that interact in and about this whole. If scientific knowledge about these matters is to accumulate, comparing findings among various studies is of vital importance. From the 1940s well into the 1960s, the local community was the recognized social unit that sociologists and anthropologists studied. Linton wrote of the necessity of the local group. Many sociologists and anthropologists gave their full attention to this local level of social integration through a field called “community studies.” The work of Conrad Arensberg, Sol Kimball, Robert Redfield, Carl Taylor, Eric Wolf, and others had views of communities that had a network cast to them. The category “community” includes a wide range of social formations, generally local systems of fairly densely connected persons in households and organizations, systems on a scale somewhere between those domestic households and wider society.
Bringing Qualitative and Quantitative Data Together
Authors: Gamper Markus , Schönhuth Michael , Kronenwett Michael
Published: December 2011

In this chapter, the authors investigate the issue of gathering network-related social data by means of both qualitative and quantitative methodology. An overview of the most relevant visual approaches such as network pictures and different kinds of network maps (“paper and pencil”, “paper, pen, and tokens,” and “digital network maps”) will be given, including an example of a migration study in which a network survey was carried out with the aid of the software program VennMaker. Finally, the authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of data collection based on digital network maps and make suggestions for future research.
Social Networks and Terrorism
Authors: Knoke David
Published: December 2011

This chapter explains how international terror networks, consisting of individuals and organizations spanning countries and continents, form and evolve. It describes tools and methods used by social network analysts to study such networks; their applications by counterterrorist organizations; their limitations and problems in data collection and analysis; and directions for future research. It also discusses a few recent case studies by prominent researchers.
Towards a Bespoke Framework for Eliciting Consumer Satisfaction in Second Life
Authors: Shukla Mitul , Conrad Marc , Bessis Nik
Published: December 2011

The approach taken to data gathering, analysis, and interpretation in the context of the framework is described; as well as refinements made to the framework as a consequence of emergent themes revealed through the analysis of the gathered data.
Finding Similar Users in Facebook
Authors: De Meo Pasquale , Ferrara Emilio , Fiumara Giacomo
Published: December 2011

Online social networks are rapidly asserting themselves as popular services on the Web. A central point is to determine whether two distinct users can be considered similar, a crucial concept with interesting consequences on the possibility to accomplish targeted actions like, for example, political and social aggregations or commercial promotions. In this chapter, the authors propose an approach in order to estimate the similarity of two users based on the knowledge of social ties (i.e., common friends and groups of users) existing among users, and the analysis of activities (i.e., social events) in which users are involved. For each of these indicators, authors draw a local measure of user similarity, which takes into account only their joint behaviours. After this, the chapter considers the whole network of relationships among users along with local values of similarities and combine them to obtain a global measure of similarity. Applying the Katz coefficient, a popular parameter introduced in Social Science research, carries out such a computation. Finally, similarity values produced for each social activity are merged into a unique value of similarity by applying linear regression.
E-Business Assimilation in China’s International Trade Firms
Authors: Li Dahui , Lai Fujun , Wang Jian
Published: December 2011

Despite the importance of international trade firms in China’s economic development, there is only limited empirical evidence about how these firms assimilate Internet-based e-business in global supply chain operations. Using the Technology-Organization-Environment framework, this study investigates technological, organizational, and environmental factors which determine e-business assimilation in these firms. Based on survey data collected from 307 international trade firms in the Beijing area, we found that environmental uncertainty was negatively associated with e-business assimilation, while a firm’s internal IT capability, relative advantage of e-business, learning orientation, and inter-organizational dependence were positive determinants of e-business assimilation. The effect of a firm’s ownership type was also significant. Environmental uncertainty was the most important inhibitor, and IT capability and inter-organizational dependence were the most salient enablers of e-business assimilation.
Adapting SCORM Compliant LOs in a Knowledge Engineering Scenario
Authors: Di Bitonto Pierpaolo
Published: December 2011

The present paper focuses on the problem of personalising such teaching, tailoring it to the user’s cognitive and learning styles in order to supply the didactic material in the form best suited to the user, and thus facilitate learning of the knowledge sharing environment. Tailoring the teaching strategy is an innovative issue in the context of knowledge sharing communities.
Integrating Individual Differences in Adaptive Educational Systems
Authors: Popescu Elvira
Published: December 2011

The chapter provides an overview of the individual differences that have an impact on the learning process and that are currently integrated in adaptive educational systems (AES). The focus is on one of these human factors in particular, namely learning style, which constitutes a popular source of adaptation in recent AES, but also one of the most controversial. The chapter includes a critical analysis of learning styles and their use in technology-enhanced learning settings, motivating the need for a Unified Learning Style Model (ULSM). This model integrates a carefully selected set of learning preferences extracted from several traditional learning style models, related to perception modality, way of processing and organizing information, as well as motivational and social aspects. The practical applicability of the model is also shown by briefly introducing an adaptive Web-based educational system built on it (called WELSA) and reporting the encouraging experimental results obtained so far. The use of ULSM in the emerging Web 2.0 context is also envisioned, by proposing the addition of a social learning dimension to WELSA.
Ontology-Based Multimedia Authoring Tool for Adaptive E-Learning
Authors: Deng Lawrence Y. , Keh Huan-Chao , Liu Yi-Jen
Published: December 2011

More video streaming technologies supporting distance learning systems are becoming popular among distributed network environments. In this paper, the authors develop a multimedia authoring tool for adaptive e-learning by using characterization of extended media streaming technologies. The distributed approach is based on an ontology-based model. Suppose a well-known teacher is giving a lecture/presentation to his student. Because of time constraints and other commitments, many students cannot attend. The main goal of the authors’ system is to provide a feasible method to record and represent a lecture/presentation using a browser with the windows media services. This system requires flexible support for the modeling of multimedia content models and supports possible interactivity, transfer of streams multimedia data such as audio, video, text, and annotations using network facilities. The authors propose a new approach for the modeling of reusable and adaptable multimedia content. A comprehensive system for advanced multimedia content production is also developed. This approach significantly impacts and supports the multimedia presentation authoring processes in terms of methodology and commercial aspects.
Enhancing Adaptive Learning and Assessment in Virtual Learning Environments with Educational Games
Authors: del Blanco Ángel , Torrente Javier , Moreno-Ger Pablo , Fernández-Manjón Baltasar
Published: December 2011

The rising acceptance of Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) in the e-Learning field poses new challenges such as producing student-centered courses that can be automatically tailored to each student’s needs. For this purpose digital games can be used, taking advantage of their flexibility (good video games always try to adapt to different players) and capabilities to stealthily track players’ activity, either for producing an accurate user model or enhancing the overall assessment capabilities of the system. In this chapter, the authors discuss the integration of digital games in Virtual Learning Environments and the need of standards that allow the interoperable communication of games and VLE. Authors also present a middle-ware architecture to integrate video games in VLEs that addresses the technical barriers posed by the integration. The chapter presents a case study with the implementation of the architecture in the “e-Adventure” game authoring platform, along with three examples of video game integration in educational settings.
Development of Adaptive Kanji Learning System for Mobile Phone
Authors: Li Mengmeng , Ogata Hiroaki , Hou Bin , Hashimoto Satoshi , Liu Yuqin , Uosaki Noriko , Yano Yoneo
Published: December 2011

This paper describes an adaptive learning system based on mobile phone email to support the study of Japanese Kanji. In this study, the main emphasis is on using the adaptive learning to resolve one common problem of the mobile-based email or SMS language learning systems. To achieve this goal, the authors main efforts focus on three aspects: sending the contents to a learner following his or her interests, adjusting the difficulty level of the tests to suit the learner’s proficiency level, and adapting the system to his or her learning style. Additionally, this system has already been evaluated by the learners and the results show that most of them benefited from the system and would like to continue using it.
Large-Scale Server-Side Infrastructure for E-Learning
Authors: Simpkins Neil
Published: December 2011

The rapid growth of E-business has greatly increased the demand for technology graduates with experience in server-side technology and has thus become an increasingly important area for educators. Server-side skills are in increasing demand and recognised to be of relatively greater value than comparable client-side aspects (Ehie, 2002; e-skills 2011). In response to this many educational organisations have developed E-business courses, but their approaches cannot generally be applied in the distance learning context. Here the design, development, and subsequent experiences of a scalable architecture for the provision of a set of server-side applications to a very large number of students are described. This infrastructure is intended to allow students to gain valuable experience of server side technology such as directory services, deployment, and management of Web services and other administrative applications. Whilst students can be supported in installing the server software used in courses on their own machines, it is not possible to guarantee that this type of sophisticated software will function on such a wide range of platforms and in the context of other conflicting software, without very prolonged intervention, which is not practical within the timescales of a course. To allow server side aspects to be included as a component of the course’s assessment with some fairness it is necessary to guarantee students access to such facilities even if this is not possible on a student’s own machine.
A Research of Applying Learning Diagnosis Diagram in Online Learning Diagnosis
Authors: Wu Yu Lung
Published: December 2011

Two courses were applied to conduct the proposed Two-phase Cooperative Learning. Complementary grouping method and more interaction among team members are helpful for increasing the effect of learning. Evaluation results indicate that the proposed method significantly improves the learning achievement of all learners.
Web-Based Two-Tier Diagnostic Test and Remedial Learning Experiment
Authors: Lai Ah-Fur , Chen Deng-Jyi
Published: December 2011

Offering a series of diagnosis and individual remedial learning activities for a general class by means of web and multimedia technology can overcome the dilemma of conventional diagnosis and remedial instruction. The study proposes a three-layer conceptual framework and adopts a two-tier diagnostic test theory to develop a web-based two-tier diagnostic test and remedial learning management system called “the Dr. System.” The study also designs the two-tier diagnostic test items of electro-magnetic concepts and the related multimedia remedial learning materials based on the theory of modular course for the purpose of investigating the remedial learning effects. In addition, the study helps the participants eliminate their misconception through a quasi-experiment at an elementary school in a metropolitan area of northern Taiwan. The results show that the learners of the experimental group who received the treatment under the Dr. System performed significantly better than those who took the traditional remedial class. The study also indicates that the web-based two-tier diagnostic test helps us understand learners’ misconceptions. As a result, it also provides learners useful remedial multimedia materials, which are necessary for them to eliminate their individual misconceptions in the remedial learning process.
E-Learning in Engineering Education
Authors: Chandra A.P. Jagadeesh , Samuel R.D. Sudhaker
Published: December 2011

Attaining excellence in technical education is a worthy challenge to any life goal. Distance learning opportunities make these goals easier to reach with added quality. Distance learning in engineering education is possible only through successful implementations of remote laboratories in a learning-by-doing environment. This paper presents one such technology to carry out laboratory experiments from remote locations. The technology is demonstrated by handling the web interface, which supports the remote experimentation on communication circuits, power system and an embedded board. The implemented system environment facilitates users to perform the experiment remotely and efficiently using only a commonly available, user-friendly web browser. It describes the ongoing research in this area exploiting current telematics techniques, which supports remote experimentation with real hardware via the Internet.
Performing Dissident Thinking through Writing
Authors: Briggs Kaitlin A.
Published: December 2011

Theoretically informed by Julia Kristeva’s linkage of political dissidence with thinking, this chapter explores a deconstructive tool used to develop dissident thinking through writing in the post-secondary classroom: the “Proprioceptive Question,” a central feature of Metcalf and Simon’s Proprioceptive Writing™ (2002). After this method’s fundamentals are addressed, the devaluing of subjectivity throughout schooling, as played out through literacy learning, is surveyed. Analysis of the Proprioceptive Question in terms of its discursive components and examples of its academic uses follow in order to understand what makes this question such a powerful method for developing subjective engagement in the university setting. Just as dissidents separate from existing regimes to organize their opposition, this chapter concludes that student writers via the Proprioceptive Question create space between themselves and their thought content to challenge their own ideas. Thus the question serves as a form of political intervention, a disruptive pedagogical practice.
Management Ethics
Authors: Finkelman Jay , Kelly Louise
Published: December 2011

This chapter looks at some of the psychological underpinnings of rule breaking behavior in business -what drives rule breaking behavior and how can it be shaped. The authors contrast the positive and productive rule breaking, with the destructive and unethical rule breaking behavior seen in companies such as Enron. They consider some of the causes of deviant behavior using a social bonding framework and other potential predictors such as lack of self-awareness, lack of future commitment to the organization and lack of supervisory support. Narcissistic leaders are a special case that the authors examine because of their potential influence on either positive or negative rule breaking. Narcissistic leaders can have a positive impact on innovation, or they may elect to engage in unethical rule breaking. The chapter also explores practical prevention strategies and ends with an explanation of some of the major findings of positive psychology.
Decision Aids for Business Ethics Education
Authors: Norman Ruth T. , Money Evelyn T.
Published: December 2011

Two new decision aids have been developed to improve the moral awareness and moral judgment of students and practitioners of business. The purpose of these aids is to flag situations where there is high risk of making flawed ethical decisions due to biases and/or insufficient information. One of the decision aids is a general purpose template which can be used for case study analysis and can be customized by students for particular ethical decisions. Similarly, outside the classroom, the template can be customized to address specific ethical dilemmas or organizational values. The second decision aid was designed to help accounting students as well as practicing auditors evaluate whether self-serving bias may be distorting judgment.
Showing Business Students How to Contribute to Organizational Cultures Grounded in Moral Character
Authors: Sauser William I. , Sims Ronald R.
Published: December 2011

The ethical crisis in business is very real. Countering this crisis by creating organizational cultures grounded in moral character is the challenge we face as business leaders if we are to regain the respect and confidence of the public. As educators of future business leaders, how can we prepare our students to understand, appreciate, and contribute to the establishment of cultures of character in the organizations which employ them—and which they may ultimately lead? In this chapter the authors distinguish among four corporate cultures with respect to ethics in business—cultures of defiance, compliance, neglect, and character—and present a blueprint for constructing an organizational culture grounded in moral character. With respect to showing business students how to contribute to such a culture, the authors then (a) describe how to establish an effective learning context for teaching about business ethics, (b) proffer a number of practical suggestions for student assignments and experiences that can empower students to understand, appreciate, and contribute to organizational cultures of character, and (c) explain how to enhance experiential learning by conducting an effective debriefing session. They conclude the chapter by providing two examples from their own experience illustrating how these ideas can be incorporated into programs designed to show business students how to contribute to organizational cultures grounded in moral character.
Business Ethics, Strategy and Organizational Integrity
Authors: Rendtorff Jacob Dahl
Published: December 2011

With focus on the role of integrity in relation to business ethics versus economic strategy the chapter contains following sections: 1. The concept of organizational integrity as a moral notion as it is described in the work of Lynn-Sharp Paine on organizational integrity. 2. The concept of integrity as an economic notion as it is described in the recent work of Michael Jensen. This section will discuss recent efforts in the business economics literature to consider integrity as an important notion of strategy. 3. Paine contra Jensen: A virtue or a workability concept of integrity. Here the authors discuss the basic dilemmas and problems of integrating integrity, economic performance and strategy in the perspective of the two theories of about integrity of Paine and Jensen.
Integrity as a Core Value in Organizations
Authors: Griffin Gillian
Published: December 2011

In recent years, the teaching of ethics in business schools has become more common. However, despite positive interest and the quantity of literature, there remain serious shortcomings and incidents of unethical behavior by corporations. Unfortunately, rules, principles, values and virtues are usually presented in a fragmented fashion, often confusing ethical theories. Rarely is the role of character and virtue in moral reasoning considered and little has been written to illustrate moral judgment as integral to practical reasoning in ethical decision making. This chapter defines the strengths and weaknesses of duty and organizational values and illustrates the interconnectedness of rules, values and virtues. Unless the crucial element that character plays in organizational ethics is considered, it becomes a simple philosophical comparison of ethical theories. An integrated component of duty, values and virtue provides a clearer definition of virtues and their relationship to personal development, the professional role and the public good.
A Kaleidoscopic Approach to Teaching Ethical Dimensions of Leadership
Authors: Peregoy Richard P.
Published: December 2011

A kaleidoscopic teaching method using a variety of media challenges the course facilitator to lead, guide, and offer insight so that listeners interpret and become the learners and purveyors of action. The teacher is not the focal point of the course; rather, the learner is directly, immediately, and continually self-challenged to discover a personal path of ethics that allows for good and effective leadership. The idea is not to be extensively detailed in the readings but to allow basic concepts to unfold and discussions to excite the expectations of the audience serving in part as a “chorus.” Brief overviews are used to incite active discussion based in part upon questions and examples that arise from the life experiences of the participants. Additionally, the lecturettes offer insights from different cultural and ethical perspectives in an attempt to avoid moral relativism and to help develop critical multiplism of ethical behavior in leadership and followership. Students are also given suggestions for further reading in matters of specific interest. Integrative assignments provide a personal cap to each session. The films are shown in their entirety. Questions on key points of ethical behavior are expressed before the film and discussed in small groups thereafter. In this sense, the work is that of “edutainment” as a part of the educational process. Materials in this chapter are based on teaching this course to Master of Business Administration (MBA) students.
Reflective Cycles and Reflexive Learning Principles
Authors: Nancarrow Michael , Rifkin Will
Published: December 2011

Ethics learning takes root when it draws on learners’ experiences of encounters with others, a strategy that is a foundation of adult learning processes generally. These experiences, the authors have found, can be voiced by students and managers in training and then analyzed from an ethical perspective when a safe environment has been established. A safe environment emerges through a process of incremental disclosures by the teacher and the learners. Establishing such an environment represents part of the first of what they have identified as three “cycles” of increasing awareness and understanding. In the first cycle, the teacher not only elicits but legitimates the experiences and perspectives of the learner. Second, learners are introduced to the relevant context for ethical management as being the human community and not merely the organization for which they work. Third, learners are guided to instituting a pragmatic vision for ethical action and management, a vision that recognises inescapable human frailty in themselves and others. The authors also emphasize core ethical themes of values, integrity in decision-making, and, for the public sector manager, a responsibility to serve the public interest. Such an experientially-based and highly contextualised learning process builds a student’s or manager’s capacity for both reflection-in-action and for ongoing ethical dialogue with others. Such dialogue can then enable the manager to lead organizational learning around ethics in business.
The Social Responsibility of Business Schools
Authors: Pruett Mark
Published: December 2011

Business schools teach stockholder and stakeholder perspectives for ethical decision-making, but what are the implications of those perspectives for the management of business schools themselves? From the stockholder perspective, faculty are agents in an organization financed by two types of principals—private donors and governments—with goals based on education’s social and economic benefits. The essay addresses the stockholder perspective’s issues of open and free competition, deception and fraud, and the role of required or desirable objectives. Some business school competition is open and free yet some is not. Deception and fraud do not appear significant. Objectives not specified by the principal may be required or desirable in pursuing educational objectives. Next, the stakeholder perspective suggests further parallels between business and academia. Three market failures—externalities, moral hazards, and monopoly power—are readily found in academia. Decisions do not incorporate all costs, there are numerous moral hazards, and monopoly power may arise.
Identification of cis-Regulatory Elements in the dmyc Gene of Drosophila Melanogaster
Authors: Kharazmi Jasmine , Moshfegh Cameron , Brody Thomas
Published: December 2011

Myc is a crucial regulator of growth and proliferation during animal development. Many signals and transcription factors lead to changes in the expression levels of Drosophila myc, yet no clear model exists to explain the complexity of its regulation at the level of transcription. In this study we used Drosophila genetic tools to track the dmyc cis-regulatory elements. Bioinformatics analyses identified conserved sequence blocks in the noncoding regions of the dmyc gene. Investigation of lacZ reporter activity driven by upstream, downstream, and intronic sequences of the dmyc gene in embryonic, larval imaginal discs, larval brain, and adult ovaries, revealed that it is likely to be transcribed from multiple transcription initiation units including a far upstream regulatory region, a TATA box containing proximal complex and a TATA-less downstream promoter element in conjunction with an initiator within the intron 2 region. Our data provide evidence for a modular organization of dmyc regulatory sequences; these modules will most likely be required to generate the tissue-specific patterns of dmyc transcripts. The far upstream region is active in late embryogenesis, while activity of other cis elements is evident during embryogenesis, in specific larval imaginal tissues and during oogenesis. These data provide a framework for further investigation of the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of dmyc.
Effective density of Aquadag and fullerene soot black carbon reference materials used for SP2 calibration
Authors: Gysel M. , Laborde M. , Olfert J. S. , Subramanian R. , Gröhn A. J.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. The mass and effective density of black carbon (BC) particles generated from aqueous suspensions of Aquadag and fullerene soot was measured and parametrized as a function of their mobility diameter. The measurements were made by two independent research groups by operating a differential mobility analyser (DMA) in series with an aerosol particle mass analyser (APM) or a Couette centrifugal particle mass analyser (CPMA). Consistent and reproducible results were found in this study for different production lots of Aquadag, indicating that the effective density of these particles is a stable quantity and largely unaffected by differences in aerosol generation procedures and suspension treatments. The effective density of fullerene soot particles from one production lot was also found to be stable and independent of suspension treatments. Some differences to previous literature data were observed for both Aquadag and fullerene soot at larger particle diameters. Knowledge of the exact relationship between mobility diameter and particle mass is of great importance, as DMAs are commonly used to size-select particles from BC reference materials for calibration of single particle soot photometers (SP2), which quantitatively detect the BC mass in single particles.
Potential and limitations of using soil mapping information to understand landscape hydrology
Authors: Terribile F. , Coppola A. , Langella G. , Martina M. , Basile A.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. This paper addresses the following points: how can whole soil data from normally available soil mapping databases (both conventional and those integrated by digital soil mapping procedures) be usefully employed in hydrology? Answering this question requires a detailed knowledge of the quality and quantity of information embedded in and behind a soil map. To this end a description of the process of drafting soil maps was prepared (which is included in Appendix A of this paper). Then a detailed screening of content and availability of soil maps and database was performed, with the objective of an analytical evaluation of the potential and the limitations of soil data obtained through soil surveys and soil mapping. Then we reclassified the soil features according to their direct, indirect or low hydrologic relevance. During this phase, we also included information regarding whether this data was obtained by qualitative, semi-quantitative or quantitative methods. The analysis was performed according to two main points of concern: (i) the hydrological interpretation of the soil data and (ii) the quality of the estimate or measurement of the soil feature. The interaction between pedology and hydrology processes representation was developed through the following Italian case studies with different hydropedological inputs: (i) comparative land evaluation models, by means of an exhaustive itinerary from simple to complex modelling applications depending on soil data availability, (ii) mapping of soil hydrological behaviour for irrigation management at the district scale, where the main hydropedological input was the application of calibrated pedo-transfer functions and the Hydrological Function Unit concept, and (iii) flood event simulation in an ungauged basin, with the functional aggregation of different soil units for a simplified soil pattern. In conclusion, we show that special care is required in handling data from soil databases if full potential is to be achieved. Further, all the case studies agree on the appropriate degree of complexity of the soil hydrological model to be applied. We also emphasise that effective interaction between pedology and hydrology to address landscape hydrology requires (i) greater awareness of the hydrological community about the type of soil information behind a soil map or a soil database, (ii) the development of a better quantitative framework by the pedological community for evaluating hydrological features, and (iii) quantitative information on soil spatial variability.
Tomography of the 2011 Iwaki earthquake (M 7.0) and Fukushima nuclear power plant area
Authors: Tong P. , Zhao D. , Yang D.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. High resolution tomographic images of the crust and upper mantle in and around the area of the 2011 Iwaki earthquake (M 7.0) and the Fukushima nuclear power plant are determined by inverting a large number of high-quality arrival times with both the finite-frequency and ray tomography methods. The Iwaki earthquake and its aftershocks mainly occurred in a boundary zone with strong variations in seismic velocity and Poisson's ratio. Prominent low-velocity and high Poisson's ratio zones are revealed under the Iwaki source area and the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which may reflect fluids released from the dehydration of the subducting Pacific slab under Northeast Japan. The 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake (Mw 9.0) caused static stress transfer in the overriding Okhotsk plate, resulting in the seismicity in the Iwaki source area that significantly increased immediately following the Tohoku-oki mainshock. Our results suggest that the Iwaki earthquake was triggered by the ascending fluids from the Pacific slab dehydration and the stress variation induced by the Tohoku-oki mainshock. The similar structures under the Iwaki source area and the Fukushima nuclear power plant suggest that the security of the nuclear power plant site should be strengthened to withstand potential large earthquakes in the future.
Modernist Art in a “Quality” Magazine, 1908–1922
Authors: Scholes Robert
Published: December 2011

This article traces the fortunes of modernist visual art in Scribner's magazine from 1908 to 1922, as different voices approve and disapprove of Impressionism and other modes of modernist visual art.
Hydrocyanation of Alkenes and Alkynes
Authors: Rajanbabu T. V. (Babu)
Published: December 2011

Hydrogen cyanide is an abundantly available feedstock that is useful for the synthesis of organonitrile intermediates, which serve as precursors for amines, amides, isocyanates, carboxylic acid, and esters. Many of these compounds are used in the manufacture of polymers, agrichemicals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Hydrogen cyanide itself is relatively unreactive, but in the presence of a catalyst HCN adds to carbonyl compounds, alkenes, and alkynes offering a direct and economical way to such organonitrile intermediates.

This chapter focuses primarily on the metal‐catalyzed hydrocyanation of alkenes or alkynes. Acetone cyanohydrin and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN), both commercially available reagents, can be used for thein‐situgeneration of HCN. In some transition‐metal catalyzed additions, TMSCN acts as a surrogate for HCN, giving products where the TMS group replaces the hydrogen. Preparatively, these reagents provide some advantages since the handling of toxic HCN is avoided. Reactions of these reagents are included here under appropriate substrate and direct comparison of yield and selectivity can be made.
Intermolecular C–H Insertions of Carbenoids
Authors: Davies Huw M. L. , Pelphrey Phillip M.
Published: December 2011

The metal‐catalyzed reactions of diazo compounds have broad utility in organic synthesis. The resulting high‐energy metal carbenoid intermediates are capable of a range of useful transformations, including cyclopropanation, ylide formation, and C‐H insertion.

The intermolecular C‐H insertion by metal carbenoids is the most versatile reaction to date for stereoselective C‐H functionalization. This chapter covers the historical background of C‐H insertions and describes how the utilization of new catalysts and more stabilized carbenoids has resulted in major advances in the field. Now that highly diastereoselective and enantioselective C‐H functionalization can be achieved, the method can be effectively applied to the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents and natural products. This chapter focuses exclusively on intermolecular C‐H insertions of metal carbenoids in sp3‐hybridized C‐H bonds. The carbenoids can be classified into three major classes: 1, acceptor‐substituted carbenoids; 2, acceptor/acceptor‐substituted carbenoids; and 3, donor/acceptor‐substituted carbenoids
Oxygen Surface Exchange at Grain Boundaries of Oxide Ion Conductors
Authors: Lee Wonyoung , Jung Hee Joon , Lee Min Hwan , Kim Young‐Beom , Park Joong Sun , Sinclair Robert , Prinz Fritz B.
Published: December 2011

The role of grain boundaries on oxygen surface exchange in an oxide ion conductor is reported. Atomic‐scale characterization of the microstructure and chemical composition near the grain boundaries of gadolinia‐doped ceria (GDC) thin films show the segregation of dopants and oxygen vacancies along the grain boundaries using the energy dispersive spectroscopy in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM‐EDS). Kelvin probe microscopy is employed to verify the charge distribution near grain boundaries and shows that the grain boundary is positively charged, indicating a high concentration of oxygen vacancies. AC impedance spectroscopy on polycrystalline GDC membranes with thin interfacial layers with different grain boundary densities at the cathodes demonstrated that the cells with higher grain boundary density result in lower electrode impedance and higher exchange current density. These experimental evidences clearly show that grain boundaries on the surface provide preferential reaction sites for facilitated oxygen incorporation into the GDC electrolyte.
Synthesis, characterization, and enzymatic degradation of starch‐grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymer films
Authors: Li Mei‐Chun , Lee Jae Kwang , Cho Ur Ryong
Published: December 2011

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto the corn starch (CS) backbone was carried out in an aqueous medium using ceric ammonium nitrate as an initiator under nitrogen atmosphere. The weight ratio of CS/MMA varied with their composition, as 7/3, 6/4, 5/5, 4/6, and 3/7 were used in this study of the graft efficiency and graft percentage (GP); thus, five different GP CS‐g‐PMMA copolymers were obtained. The molecular weight of CS‐g‐PMMA copolymers were measured by using gel permeation chromatography. The structure of CS and CS‐g‐PMMA copolymer were confirmed by infrared spectra. CS and CS‐g‐PMMA copolymers were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Horowitz‐Metzger and Broido methods were applied to investigate the thermal decomposition kinetics of CS‐g‐PMMA copolymers. The effect of GP on the activation energy of decomposition, crystallization behavior, and morphology was investigated. In addition, the biodegradability of CS‐g‐PMMA films were also studied by α‐amylase treatment with different times. The weight loss of CS‐g‐PMMA films after α‐amylase treatment were calculated. Finally, the morphology of CS‐g‐PMMA films before and after α‐amylase treatment were observed by SEM photograph. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Dynamic mechanical properties and structure of in situ cured polyurethane/hydrogenated nitrile rubber compounds: Effect of carbon black type
Authors: Šebenik Urška , Karger‐Kocsis József , Krajnc Matjaž , Thomann Ralf
Published: December 2011

A peroxide‐curable hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) was modified by in situ crosslinked polyurethane (PU) in a 1 : 1 weight ratio. PU was formed from solid PU precursors, polyester polyol, and blocked polyisocyanate incorporated in the HNBR during the curing of the latter. HNBR/PU blends containing carbon black (CB) of different types (N234, N330, and N550) were prepared in this work. Thirty parts of CB per hundred parts of polymer matrix (HNBR and PU) were used. The curing of PU was followed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Information of the phase structure was derived from DSC and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) tests. DMA results suggested that a quasi‐interpenetrating network structure developed in the HNBR/PU blend. This was confirmed also by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy inspections. The partition of CB between the PU and HNBR was assessed by TEM. It was established that CB was exclusively located in the HNBR phase. CB N234 proved to be more efficient reinforcement than N330 and N550. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Thermal stability and mechanical properties of room temperature vulcanized silicone rubbers
Authors: Wang J. J. , Feng La‐Jun , Lei A.‐Li , Yan Ai‐Jun , Wang Xiao‐Jing
Published: December 2011

Based on much of the importance of RTV on the field of self‐cleaning application for its nontoxic, tasteless, and thermal stability, the effects of D4‐SiO2 on mechanical properties, Al(OH)3 and decabromodiphenyl oxide ethyl(DBDPE) on flame retardant property of RTV matrix were investigated firstly. Then, a new kind of complex fire retardants was compounded. The morphology of additives and fracture appearance of composites were demonstrated by SEM. The hot property of RTV‐based composites was outlined by TG. It is found that D4‐SiO2/Al(OH)3/DBDPE/Sb2O3/RTV composites were of better comprehensive performances in mechanical property, hot property, fire resistance property, and insulating property, which presented tear 26.73 kN/m of strength, 279.8% of elongation at break, 2.81 MPa of tensile strength, FV‐0 at the level of flame retardant property, 46 of Oxygen index (OI) 3.03 × 1015 Ωm of Volume electric resistivity, the range of decomposition temperature was 370°C to 650°C, and the percentage of remain weight was 26.4%. Those properties was acquired on the condition of 11 wt % D4‐SiO2 + 20 wt % Al(OH)3 + 15 wt % DBDPE+ Sb2O3 at the amount of 3.0 wt % to 3.7 wt %. This investigation leads the authors to a conclusion that D4‐SiO2/Al(OH)3/DBDPE/Sb2O3 is a kind of better combination modifier than anyone kind of which in comprehensive properties for RTV. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011