bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Viable Governance Model
Authors: Lewis Edward , Millar Gary
Published: June 2012

Empirical studies into the governance of Information Technology (IT) have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms used to control the management of IT. However, there has been relatively little research into the formulation of a theoretical model of IT governance that explains and organises the growing collection of mechanisms into a coherent whole. To further advance the concept of the corporate governance of IT, the Viable Governance Model (VGM) is proposed. The VGM is a theoretical model of governance based on the laws and principles of cybernetics as embodied in Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM). The VGM is used to formulate a series of design propositions or principles that may be used to guide the design and implementation of specific IT governance arrangements. The study draws on empirical studies or professional standards to establish how these theoretical design propositions may be satisfied in practice.
A Conceptual Model for Aligning IT Valuation Methods
Authors: Silvius J. Gilbert
Published: June 2012

The relationship between IT and value is complex and often disputed. Researchers and practitioners have created numerous models and valuation methods to capture this value. Although payoffs from IT investment are a function of strategic alignment, most of these models do not address the alignment of business and IT as a factor that influences or creates value. This paper explores the role of business and IT alignment in the valuation methods of IT assets and investments. It focuses on the impacts resulting from the use of IT assets, considering the function and nature of the impacts. It also explores the alignment of IT valuation and business strategy. The paper is concluded with the construction of a comprehensive selection model that provides guidance for aligning the IT valuation method with the specific characteristics, impacts and organizational context of an IT asset or investment.
Pattern-Based Task Management as Means of Organizational Knowledge Maturing
Authors: Riss Uwe V.
Published: June 2012

This paper presents the principles of pattern-based task management (PBTM) that aims at knowledge maturing based on the integration of task and knowledge management. It takes into account that knowledge does not only manifest in artifacts but also in actions. The approach supports knowledge workers in the execution of their tasks by offering guiding task patterns without restricting their freedom of execution. Task patterns are collaboratively managed and support the sharing and development of work experience in a way, which makes this experience easily applicable to new tasks. The collaborative origin of task patterns requires offering obvious benefits to knowledge workers to motivate their contributions. In this regard, PBTM establishes an organizational knowledge maturation process that prevents the loss and ensures the development of organizational knowledge.
An Ontology-Based Extraction Framework for a Semantic Web Application
Authors: Peter Hadrian , Greenidge Charles
Published: June 2012

The Semantic Web vision is rapidly becoming a mainstream reality, but obstacles remain in the way. A major challenge is the adoption of practical Semantic Web applications and the production of vast stores of ubiquitous meta-data which is needed to allow robust inference engines to attain the goals of machine readability of web documents. The authors propose the Semantic Web Applications (SEMWAP) framework which facilitates semi-automatic matching of instance data from opaque web databases using lightweight ontology terms. This framework combines information retrieval, information extraction, natural language processing, and ontology techniques to produce a matching and thus provides a viable building block for Semantic Web applications. To experimentally investigate the characteristics and limitations of the SEMWAP framework, a prototype system called the Semantic Ontological Data Labeler (SODL) was constructed.
Applying Security Policies in Small Business Utilizing Cloud Computing Technologies
Authors: Karadsheh Louay , Alhawari Samer
Published: June 2012

Over a decade ago, cloud computing became an important topic for small and large businesses alike. The new concept promises scalability, security, cost reduction, portability, and availability. While addressing this issue over the past several years, there have been intensive discussions about the importance of cloud computing technologies. Therefore, this paper reviews the transition from traditional computing to cloud computing and the benefit for businesses, cloud computing architecture, cloud computing services classification, and deployment models. Furthermore, this paper discusses the security policies and types of internal risks that a small business might encounter implementing cloud computing technologies. It addresses initiatives towards employing certain types of security policies in small businesses implementing cloud computing technologies to encourage small business to migrate to cloud computing by portraying what is needed to secure their infrastructure using traditional security policies without the complexity used in large corporations.
The Financial Clouds Review
Authors: Chang Victor , Li Chung-Sheng , De Roure David , Wills Gary , Walters Robert John , Chee Clinton
Published: June 2012

This paper demonstrates financial enterprise portability, which involves moving entire application services from desktops to clouds and between different clouds, and is transparent to users who can work as if on their familiar systems. To demonstrate portability, reviews for several financial models are studied, where Monte Carlo Methods (MCM) and Black Scholes Model (BSM) are chosen. A special technique in MCM, Least Square Methods, is used to reduce errors while performing accurate calculations. Simulations for MCM are performed on different types of Clouds. Benchmark and experimental results are presented for discussion. 3D Black Scholes are used to explain the impacts and added values for risk analysis. Implications for banking are also discussed, as well as ways to track risks in order to improve accuracy. A conceptual Cloud platform is used to explain the contributions in Financial Software as a Service (FSaaS) and the IBM Fined Grained Security Framework. This study demonstrates portability, speed, accuracy, and reliability of applications in the clouds, while demonstrating portability for FSaaS and the Cloud Computing Business Framework (CCBF).
Power Aware Meta Scheduler for Adaptive VM Provisioning in IaaS Cloud
Authors: Jeyarani R. , Nagaveni N. , Sadasivam Satish Kumar , Rajarathinam Vasanth Ram
Published: June 2012

Cloud Computing provides on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. The major issue lies in managing extremely large agile data centers which are generally over provisioned to handle unexpected workload surges. This paper focuses on green computing by introducing Power-Aware Meta Scheduler, which provides right fit infrastructure for launching virtual machines onto host. The major challenge of the scheduler is to make a wise decision in transitioning state of the processor cores by exploiting various power saving states inherent in the recent microprocessor technology. This is done by dynamically predicting the utilization of the cloud data center. The authors have extended existing cloudsim toolkit to model power aware resource provisioning, which includes generation of dynamic workload patterns, workload prediction and adaptive provisioning, dynamic lifecycle management of random workload, and implementation of power aware allocation policies and chip aware VM scheduler. The experimental results show that the appropriate usage of different power saving states guarantees significant energy conservation in handling stochastic nature of workload without compromising the performance, both when the data center is in low as well as moderate utilization.
Constructivist and Constructionist Approaches to Graduate Teaching in Second Life
Authors: Talab R. S. , Botterbusch Hope R.
Published: June 2012

As a growing number of faculty use constructivist and constructionist approaches to teaching in SL, little research exists on the many ethical considerations and legal implications that affect course development. Following the experiences of the instructor and five students, their 12-week journey is documented through interviews, journals, blogs, weekly course activities, SL class dialogs, and in-world assignments. Additionally, five faculty and staff experts who taught or trained in SL at this university were also interviewed and consulted. Ethical considerations in constructivist and constructionist teaching were time, appearance, skills, scaffolded instruction, playful exploration, vicarious experience, self-directed project development, construction of objects, constructivism and constructionism balance, social networking and collaboration, harassment and griefing, false identities and alternate avatars, chat log sharing, and copyright and trademark violations. Lessons learned included developing scaffolded pedagogical approaches that moved from direct teaching to constructivism and constructionism, and required faculty and student adherence to the SL TOS, Community Standards, and Intellectual Property policy.
Computer Teachers’ Attitudes toward Ethical Use of Computers in Elementary Schools
Authors: Özer Niyazi , Ugurlu Celal Teyyar , Beycioglu Kadir
Published: June 2012

This descriptive study explores the elementary school computer teachers’ attitudes and awareness regarding ethical computer use in classrooms and the differences in teachers’ attitudes and awareness in terms of demographic variables including gender, teaching experiences, pre-service/in-service education about ethical computer use. In order to measure computer teachers’ attitudes, awareness, and teaching practices regarding computer ethics, an adopted version of Cyberethics Questionnaire (CEQ), originally developed by Yamano (2004), was used in this study. The CEQ was administered to 150 teachers working for elementary schools in Hatay, Turkey. After incomplete and erroneous forms were discarded, a total number of 141 questionnaires completed by 60 female and 81 male computer teachers were considered for analysis. Results show that the opinions of male and female teachers are significantly different.
Ethical Decision Making with Information Systems Students
Authors: Alhawari Samer , Talet Amine Nehari
Published: June 2012

Information Technology (IT) is a new tool in education that continually changes and offers new opportunities for teaching and learning. In general, the effects of IT are complex and depend upon people’s decisions about development and use. This study investigates the ethical issues in education in terms of Information Systems students’ attitudes at Saudi universities towards digital piracy. The differences in the ethical decision-making process, ethical awareness, and intention to perform questionable acts is examined. The authors tested for differences in attitudes toward eighteen different questionable actions by using three different factors (gender, age, and university level). The measures of awareness capture the extent to which respondents felt that a particular action was unethical according to each of several ethical criteria. This work explored information technology ethics in several ways. The work analyzed whether information technology use is viewed by individuals as an ethical topic and demographic differences were explored. Significant differences were found in many cases between demographic groups based on ethical issues. These findings can be used to target and address ethical issues and enforcement in information systems curriculum.
Virtue, Privacy and Self-Determination
Authors: Stamatellos Giannis
Published: June 2012

The ethical problem of privacy lies at the core of computer ethics and cyber ethics discussions. The extensive use of personal data in digital networks poses a serious threat to the user’s right of privacy not only at the level of a user’s data integrity and security but also at the level of a user’s identity and freedom. In normative ethical theory the need for an informational self-deterministic approach of privacy is stressed with greater emphasis on the control over personal data. However, scant attention has been paid on a virtue ethics approach of information privacy. Plotinus’ discussion of self-determination is related to ethical virtue, human freedom and intellectual autonomy. The Plotinian virtue ethics approach of self-determination is not primarily related to the sphere of moral action, but to the quality of the self prior to moral practice. In this paper, it is argued that the problem of information privacy should be reconsidered in the light of Plotinus’ virtue ethics and his notion of self-determination.
Global Education Access Utilizing Partnerships and Networked Global Learning Communities
Authors: Kenon Vanessa Hammler
Published: June 2012

Networked global learning communities build partnership programs between higher education institutions and high schools which allow students, teachers and professors to attend and work in college preparation programs located in countries outside of their native lands. These educational programs help to promote development of transnational policies and procedure reforms to provide access to universities in other countries, as well as provide exposure to global learning strategies, structures, and emerging technologies among teachers and educational leadership. Transnational High School-University Bridge programs also allow the student to adjust to a new culture and work to improve their second language skills, while potentially earning college credit in a dual credit, high school environment.
The Significance of Network Ethics Education in Japanese Universities
Authors: Ueno Tetsu , Maruyama Yasushi
Published: June 2012

Cell phone abuse amongst Japanese school students, including sex crimes and bullying, are commonly managed with filters and phone bans. Many believe these measures are more effective than moral education. Japanese teenagers therefore enter college without moral education in the Internet society, which can cause problems on campus: students plagiarizing from the Internet, or posting anonymous defamatory messages on bulletin boards. Japanese universities address these problems ineffectively. Problems are caused by both student ignorance of network ethics and moral immatureness. Therefore, it is insufficient to provide only information ethics knowledge; students require a citizenship education to learn to build a moral community in the globalized network society. Here, the authors examine the effectiveness and difficulties in the practice of educating students to be moral subjects in such a society. Students are encouraged to debate ethical and practical issues, to express ethical remarks, and to understand the impact of their remarks.
Five Steps to Efficient, Economical Collection Development
Authors: Hallyburton Ann
Published: June 2012

Libraries’ collection development funding seems limited in the best financial times. In worse economic situations, those resources prove even scarcer. To ensure that the constituents served by libraries receive the best possible materials to meet their needs, developers must set purchasing priorities before spending the first dollar. A five-step process can aid developers in wisely spending funds. First, developers should devote the largest portion of collection building funds to meeting direct patron needs. The next largest fund portion goes toward “core” materials singled out by respected recommendation resources specific to relevant disciplines or genres. Holdings data from libraries with notable collections offer an additional avenue for identifying necessary items. Freely available, quality materials offer another opportunity to plug holes or accentuate collection areas. Finally, resources craved by the developer but not critical to the collection, should be judiciously considered.
Collection Development for the College of Engineering at Louisiana State University Libraries
Authors: Daugherty Alice , Hires Will E. , Braunstein Stephanie G.
Published: June 2012

Louisiana State University (LSU) is a research-intensive co-educational institution and the largest public university in the state of Louisiana. In partnership with federal agencies and private businesses, it operates some of the most important research projects in the nation. LSU Libraries support this research as well as the instructional mission of the university by means of a subject liaison system that incorporates collection development duties. Under the authority of the Collection Development Coordinator, collection development for all schools and departments is assigned to individual librarians. In this chapter, collection development is described generally, with emphasis on monograph selection and as it pertains to the LSU College of Engineering (COE).
Something for Everyone
Authors: Swogger Susan
Published: June 2012

This chapter describes a broad anatomy collection development project undertaken by the Health Sciences Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The project included the selection of a wide range of new electronic resources and print materials to fully support the breadth of program needs and learning styles. As a case study, it provides ample opportunity to discuss strategies and best practices for materials selection to support multiple professional schools with similar but distinct curriculum needs. It also allows discussion of an equally critical but occasionally neglected aspect of collection development—marketing the resources to the users and continuing follow-up.
Academic Curriculum Collections in North America
Authors: Holder Sara
Published: June 2012

Casual observance of curriculum collections in academic institutions will show many similarities, but also many unique aspects and regional trends. What is the reason for these differences? Where can a new librarian looking to establish best practices for his or her own collection find benchmarks for comparison? In order to answer these and other questions, the author collected survey responses from librarians across North America who have responsibilities for the management of a curriculum collection. This chapter will present the results of the survey and use the data to draw conclusions about the connections that exist between collecting practice and the institutional environment in which the collection is located. Challenges and issues involved in collecting curriculum materials will be explored and future research directions suggested.
Rehabilitation Gaming
Authors: Nap Henk Herman , Diaz-Orueta Unai
Published: June 2012

A recent innovation in rehabilitation is the use of serious gaming to train motor, cognitive, and social abilities. The main advantages of rehabilitation gaming are related to the motivation to engage in rehabilitation, the objectivity of rehabilitation measurements, and the personalization of the treatment. This chapter focuses on the use and effectiveness of serious gaming in rehabilitation and illustrates the possibilities and strengths in this new and exciting work field. Furthermore, a review of the literature and examples of rehabilitation games are presented. The state-of-the-art technologies and directions for future research are also discussed. Rehabilitation gaming has great potential for today’s and future health care, and despite the research gaps, there is increasing evidence that gaming can positively contribute to the rehabilitation and recovery process.
A Serious Game for On-the-Ward Infection Control Awareness Training
Authors: Dunwell Ian , Jarvis Steve
Published: June 2012

Healthcare associated infections represent a major ongoing cost to health services. This chapter reviews the development and deployment of Ward Off Infection, a serious game targeted at improving infection control practices of nurses in on-the-ward training. The game was deployed in 2009 across 13 hospital wards within the UK. As limited usage of the game precluded attempts to consider its efficacy though pre and post-survey, this chapter focuses upon the key issues surrounding this low uptake. Relating these more generally to the deployment of serious games in healthcare, a potential link is observed between the presence of training professionals and usage of the game, as well as strong overriding perceptions of the medium and training objectives by users. The findings demonstrate the challenges associated with enacting effective behavioural and attitudinal change through a serious game deployed in an on the ward context, particularly with respect to stimulating high levels of perceived usefulness. Hence, the authors reflect on key lessons learned in the development and deployment of Ward Off Infection, and relate their findings to other studies of serious games in healthcare, identifying the context in which a game is deployed to be a critical development consideration.
Smart Phone Video Game Simulation of Parent-Child Interaction
Authors: Baranowski Tom , O’Connor Teresia , Hughes Sheryl , Beltran Alicia , Baranowski Janice , Nicklas Theresa , Sleddens Ester , Thompson Debbe , Lu Amy Shirong , Buday Richard
Published: June 2012

Higher levels of vegetable intake have been associated with decreased risks of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, several cancers, and possibly obesity, but vegetable intake is generally low. Preference is an important determinant of vegetable intake, and food preferences are initiated early in life, but parents of preschoolers commonly report difficulties in getting their child to eat, or even taste, vegetables. What parents do to get their child to do something in a specific context (such as eating, homework, or chores) has been labeled “parenting practices.” Based on research on parenting practices (effective and ineffective) related to preschoolers’ vegetable consumption (hereinafter called vegetable parenting), a smart phone application (app) game prototype was developed to help parents of preschool children use effective vegetable parenting practices. This chapter presents the extensive formative research, describes the game app, and explains the behavioral science foundation.
Improving the Identification of Medication Names by Increasing Phonological Awareness via a Language-Teaching Computer Game (Medicina)
Authors: Müller Amanda
Published: June 2012

This study tests the effectiveness of a language-teaching computer game called Medicina that seeks to improve the ability of English as a Second Language (ESL) nursing students to hear and identify medication names in class and clinical placement. This aim is achieved through a hypothesised improvement in phonological awareness and an increase in listening skills. The study uses a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methods to ascertain the degree to which the aims of Medicina is achieved and the validity of the theoretical assumptions. It will be shown that significant improvements in listening skills were gained, with very large effect sizes. Some influence from memorisation and exposure to word form was also found. Finally, qualitative comments reveal the personal impact the game has on listening ability and the wider educational experience. Throughout the chapter, qualitative and quantitative data are used to evaluate the contribution of a computer game in a health education context.
Putting Multiliteracies into Practice in Teacher Education
Authors: Taylor D. Bruce , Yearta Lindsay Sheronick
Published: June 2012

While technology has always played a role in teaching and learning, with the advent of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), schools have struggled to keep pace with Web 2.0 tools available for teaching and learning. Multiliteracies, a term coined by scholars who published under the name The New London Group in 1996, has helped provide a theoretical foundation for applying new texts and tools to teaching and learning; however, much of the scholarship around Multiliteracies remains in the academic and theoretical domain. The authors suggest a pedagogic framework or metastructure for applying Multiliteracies to teacher education and by extension to P-12 classrooms. They document Web 2.0 tools and discuss how they have used them in undergraduate and graduate teacher education courses.
Designing and Teaching an Online Elementary Mathematics Methods Course
Authors: Polly Drew
Published: June 2012

This chapter discusses a longitudinal examination of a mathematics methods course for teacher candidates taught in hybrid and a 100% asynchronous online format. Using Guskey’s (2000) framework for evaluating learning experiences for teachers, thematic analysis was conducted on teacher candidates’ course feedback and two major course assignments. Data analysis indicated that teacher participants valued the amount of support provided by the instructor and communication with classmates, had mixed comments about having to take ownership of their learning, and disliked the amount of work in the course. Participants’ work samples reflected the application of emphasized pedagogies in lesson plans and course projects, and participants also positively impacted student learning during their clinical project. Implications for future courses as well as the examination of online methods courses are shared.
Virtual Teaming in Online Education
Authors: Shmerling Shirley , Peters Linda M. L.
Published: June 2012

The global economy has given rise to the concept of virtual teaming in which team members work without the boundaries of space and time, both within and outside the confines of a single organization, in order to compete in an ever-changing business environment. This case raises questions as to the efficiency and effectiveness of virtual teaming by examining survey responses from 128 online MBA students who were required to work on virtual project teams as part of the class requirements. The vast majority of the students (84%) were in the 21-40 year old age range and tended to have a high comfort level (99%) with the Learning Management System (LMS) utilized by the academic institution. Using a survey method with both Likert-style options and open response items, the authors explore the major causes that may impact the success of working and learning on teams that cross time and distance barriers.
Video Gaming for STEM Education
Authors: Hyatt Kim J. , Barron Jessica L. , Noakes Michaela A.
Published: June 2012

Therefore, this chapter will explore the vast world of video games and the opportunities for instructors to incorporate them into lesson planning. The basis of this empirical work is to align the guiding principles of STEM with the identification of accessible games, based upon learning principles and assessment strategies. The challenge for 21st century educators will be how to bridge the gap between the traditional development of skill sets to meet workforce demands in a dynamically changing global economy that simultaneously creates employees who are capable of innovation, collaboration, and deep critical thinking.
Web Conferencing as a Pedagogical Tool
Authors: Garonce Francisco Vieira , Lacerda dos Santos Gilberto
Published: June 2012

Web conferencing is videoconferencing using Internet connections. When it is applied in educational environments, it enables a new paradigm for teaching through a face-connected classroom. This chapter presents results from a Brazilian study at the University of Brasilia (UnB), where Web conferencing is being used as the primary teaching tool in an academic master´s degree course. The research focus is the transposition of the teachers’ roles from traditional to a face-connected virtual classroom. Special attention is given to Web conferencing as an implementer for teaching and learning in collaborative communities.
Google Docs in Higher Education
Authors: Reyna Jorge
Published: June 2012

It has been determined that students at the School of Education, University of Western Sydney (UWS) are widely spread throughout the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) region and that many have competing schedules due to being enrolled full-time in a course and having a full-time job (Martinez-Fernandez, Rerceretnam, & Sharp, 2006). This makes group assignments a time-consuming task, and in many cases, group work and collaboration does not occur in an optimal way. Recent research has discussed the case for wikis as collaborative learning tools in education, and some has explicitly focused on the use of wikis in completing group projects (Bold, 2006; Parker & Chao, 2007). However, the use of Google Docs in a tertiary educational setting remains largely unexplored in the literature; even though the collaborative features of wikis and Google Docs are relatively comparable. In this regard, the authors identified a potential use of Google Docs to improve group assignments, allowing the students to interact and collaborate online, thus enhancing their learning experience. They set up three different scenarios including nine lecturers (unit convenors and tutors) in order to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of including Google Docs within units taught at the School of Education. Preliminary data (collected over four consecutive semesters and featuring online survey responses of 963 students) showed a potential use of Google Docs to facilitate group assignments, to share information between students and academics, and to gather information via online surveys. The authors believe this powerful online application can be an excellent resource to overcome students’ isolation and engage them in online knowledge construction.
Lecture Capture as a Tool to Enhance Student Accessibility
Authors: Vajoczki Susan , Watt Susan
Published: June 2012

This case examines the incremental introduction of lecture-capture as a learning technology at a research-intensive university with the goal of addressing issues created by increases in both undergraduate enrolments and disability accommodation needs. This process began with podcasting lectures, leading ultimately to a lecture capture system with closed captioning. At each step, the changes were evaluated in terms of their impact on student learning, acceptability to students and faculty, and application to different disciplines. This evidence-based approach is in keeping with the research culture of the academy and has been helpful in advocating for budgetary support and encouraging faculty participation. As a result of this project, the authors unexpectedly gained substantial knowledge about the complexity of students’ lives, the impact of that complexity on their approach to learning, instructor misperceptions about the impact of this form of learning, the presence of many unreported disabilities, and the many different ways in which students used the system.
Didactical Design for Online Process-Based Assessment in Teacher Education
Authors: Bergström Peter
Published: June 2012

This chapter reports on a research project in which a group of students in pre-school teacher education participated in an educational intervention based on the development of process-based assessment. A didactical design was developed and structured into three phases for supporting students in building formal knowledge from their prior informal knowledge. Moreover, the design was implemented in an online context that facilitated documentation and reflection. A qualitative approach was taken that aimed to understand the learning environment emerging from the didactical design through the use of technology by addressing questions about the teacher’s role, the learning process, and the assessment process. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and a questionnaire, which were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. The concept of variation was used in the analysis of the student perspective on the didactical design. The results indicate how the concept of variation was helpful in highlighting the underpinning affordances and constraints of this environment and the associated social relationships.
User Perspective on the Adoption of Mobile Augmented Reality Based Applications
Authors: Salo Markus , Olsson Thomas , Makkonen Markus , Frank Lauri
Published: June 2012

Mobile augmented reality (AR) based applications enable digital content to be connected with the user’s real world surroundings. To begin with, the current types of consumer-level applications are introduced. The main purpose of the chapter is to study the adoption and perceived strengths and weaknesses of mobile AR-based applications by analyzing quantitative and qualitative responses of 90 actual users. Diffusion of innovations (DOI) theory is adopted with structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate the intention to use such applications. Perceived strengths and weaknesses, mentioned by the users, are analyzed by qualitative coding. Results indicate that the constructs of diffusion of innovations theory are able to explain 67.7% of variance for the intention to use AR-based applications. Relative advantage, ease of use, and observability are significant factors determining use intentions. The strengths and weaknesses of applications are related to content, features, ease of use, technology and hardware, enjoyment, and concept.
Perceptions of the Impact of Mobile Sales Force Automation on Salespeople’s Performance
Authors: Scornavacca Eusebio , Huff Sid L. , Hoehle Hartmut , Sutherland Adam
Published: June 2012

While mobile sales force automation (mSFA) has been studied by a number of researchers, little is yet known about the impact of these solutions on the overall performance of salespeople. This chapter explores the perceived impact of mSFA on salespeople’s performance, as seen by the salespeople themselves and also by their manager. The findings indicate that salespeople and management share different perceptions in regards to the extent that mSFA could improve individual performance.
Mobile Services as Resources for Consumer Integration of Value in a Multi-Channel Environment
Authors: Liljander Veronica , Gummerus Johanna , Pihlström Minna , Kiehelä Hanna
Published: June 2012

Consumers use their mobiles phones more intensely than ever before to access core and supporting services, such as product information, games, payments, purchases, and social media. M-services have the capacity to offer new value-creating opportunities for consumers by supporting their channel multiplicity behaviors. So far, little research has been conducted on channel multiplicity behaviors and perceptions, because of a focus on channel choice and channel specific value. In this chapter the authors discuss the importance of moving beyond single channel research and understanding how contemporary consumers use and combine channels to create value for themselves. Drawing upon Service Dominant Logic, the chapter suggests that the mobile phone is one resource that consumers use to create value. Firms need to understand consumers’ use of this resource, in combination with other resources, in order to create attractive offerings. Throughout the chapter, the authors offer numerous examples of how mobile services are used to enhance consumer experienced value.
A Model for Operationalising Influencing Factors in IT Strategy Deployment
Authors: Iyamu Tiko
Published: June 2012

The reliance on information technology (IT) keeps increasing and rapidly as technology advances. Information technology has become so significant that it is critical to the success or failure of many organisations. Hence the organisations emphasises on strategy for IT, to enable and support their processes and activities, periodically. The IT strategy is influenced by many factors at both development and implementation levels. These factors enable and at the same time constraint during the development and implementation of the IT strategy in the organisation. The research examines the types of factors which exist during the development and implementation of IT strategy. This includes the roles of the factors and how they manifest to influence IT strategy. In achieving this object of the research, a case study method was employed and Structuration Theory was applied to examine the factors which emerge and how they impact the development and implementation of IT strategy in the organisation.
Fostering a Culture of Creative Interdisciplinary Innovation at Texas A&M University
Authors: Casey Autum , Morris Jeffrey M.
Published: June 2012

As a relatively young department in an aesthetically conservative, remote college town, the Department of Performance Studies at Texas A&M University is building a culture of innovation through strategic facility development, a focus on students sharing work through public performance, and a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. The authors have embraced the celebrated strengths of their university in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) by developing interdisciplinary experiences and inspiring facilities (through technology and curriculum grants). These experiences contribute to the university at large by demonstrating how technology can connect with the human element and how technology impacts human expression. The authors’ Music, Performance Studies, and Theatre Arts students benefit by joining the faculty in exploring the new and also rediscovering the traditional.
The Metaplastic Arts and Design Innovations
Authors: Mura Gianluca
Published: June 2012

This article discusses the theory of the Metaplastic discipline for the study and the realization of new virtual media through interdisciplinary methodologies between reality and virtual realities. It explains the theoretical and artistic background of metaplastic virtual worlds evolutions, from their archetypes to their definition. The union between plastic elements and the fuzzy logic systems, found their expression with new metaplastic semantic and aesthetic values. The virtual media acquire form and meaning through its process of conceptual interpretation. The metaphor of the artistic machine finds its new realization where the metaplastic machine itself becomes aesthetic expression of the virtuality. The following paragraphs use metaplastic definitions within Design, Art, and Sciences application fields. The Open Metaplastic framework’s general approach applied to software and hardware modeling design are discussed.
Cognitive Rehabilitation Computer Brain Solutions
Authors: Price Amy
Published: June 2012

Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) survivors claim advantage in retraining their brains with neuroplasticity based cognitive training after trauma. Significant growth in computer based cognitive rehabilitation is spurred on by positive research findings on neuroplasticity and advances in accessible computer technology. Drawbacks include limitations on the part of both patient and therapist in regards to time expenditure, cost of therapy, ease of use/learning curve, and the availability of long-term studies in regards to near and far transfer of training. MTBI patients may have sustained motor, visual, auditory, and chronic pain difficulties that complicate computer use. Benefits and barriers as perceived by patients and psychologists who are using the interventions for patient rehabilitation are critical. MTBI patient and therapist feedback concerning efficacy, usability accessibility, and satisfaction are needed to realize this form of rehabilitation.
Is Post Traumatic Amnesia any Different from Delirium?
Authors: Roy Samit
Published: June 2012

This invited commentary discusses David W. Smith’s narrative account of his experiences during recovery from his traumatic brain injury (Smith, 2012). The author discusses the available literature around recovery from an ‘injured cognition state’ with particular reference to post traumatic amnesia, delirium, and other behavioral changes associated with recovery from traumatic brain injury.
The Need for Digital Evidence Standardisation
Authors: Grobler Marthie
Published: June 2012

Continuous developments in forensic processes and tools have aided in elevating the positioning of digital forensics within the legal system. The equally continuous developments in technology and electronic advances, however, are making it more difficult to match forensic processes and tools with the advanced technology. Therefore, it is necessary to create and maintain internationally accepted standards to control the use and application of digital forensic processes. This article addresses this need and touches on the motivation for such internationally recognised standards on digital evidence. It also looks at current work in and progress towards the establishment of digital evidence related documents addressing all phases of the digital forensic process.
Framework for Graphical User Interfaces of Geospatial Early Warning Systems
Authors: Hammitzsch Martin
Published: June 2012

An important component of Early Warning Systems (EWS) for man-made and natural hazards is the command and control unit’s Graphical User Interface (GUI). All relevant information of an EWS is concentrated in this GUI and offered to human operators. However, when designing the GUI, not only the user experience and the GUI’s screens are relevant, but also the frameworks and technologies that the GUI is built on and the implementation of the GUI itself are of great importance. Implementations differ based on their applications in different domains but the design and approaches to implement the GUIs of different EWS often show analogies. The design and development of such GUIs are performed repeatedly on some parts of the system for each EWS. Thus, the generic GUI framework of a geospatial EWS for tsunamis is introduced to enable possible synergistic effects on the development of other new related technology. The results presented here could be adopted and reused in other EWS for man-made and natural hazards.
Consistency of High-g Acceleration Sensor Performance
Authors: Shi Yun Bo , Zhang He , Liu Jun , Li Ke Jie
Published: June 2012

Based on the designed, packaged high-g acceleration sensor in measuring demonstrated sensor performance between individuals have big difference, Researched this problem, through the analysis that the main reason of this problem appeared in the sensor package process of Die process. Through ANSYS simulation and experimental test on two aspects of the analysis the die adhesive’s amount of Die process is the high-g acceleration sensor in testing large performance differences were the main factors. Packaged high-g acceleration sensors with die process of quantitative die adhesive were designed and tested their performance. The result showed that, the simulation results were consistent with experimental results.
Insight into Effects of Different Drying Methods on Morphological Properties of Sodium Alginate-Chitosan Double Coacervation Hydrogel Beads
Authors: Xing Nan , Li Yu Kun , Li Meng Su , Tian Feng
Published: June 2012

Hydrogel beads with different diameters were prepared by double coacervation method of alginate with CaCl2 followed by complexation between alginate and chitosan. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the morphological properties of beads under different conditions and prepared by different drying methods, which would have a major effect on the other characters and applications of beads. The results show that the beads can be manufactured with the control of concentrations of the two polymers and diameter of the syringe needle. Different drying methods can affect the morphological properties of the beads.
Investigation on Synthesis and Morphology of SnO2 Powders Prepared by Solution Chemical Method
Authors: Liu Ke Gao , Ma Zhong Quan , Wang Jian Hua
Published: June 2012

The SnO2 powders have been prepared by hydrothermal method at temperatures of 150, 180 °C from SnCl2•2H2O, NaOH and sulfur (S) powder. The phases and morphology of the products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively. Experimental results show that, no impurity phases were found except SnO2 and no regular geometric shapes were observed in this product powders. The reaction mechanism is that SnO2 may be obtained by decomposition of Na2SnO2 formed from Sn(OH)2+NaOH.
Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Al2O3-ZrO2 Composite Coating on Biomedical Magnesium Alloy Fabricated by Cathodic Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation
Authors: Wang Yun Long , Wang Miao , Jiang Zhao Hua
Published: June 2012

A relatively new method called cathodic plasma electrolytic oxidation (CPEO) was development to fabricate Al2O3–ZrO2 composite coating on AZ91 biomedical magnesium alloy. The microstructure and properties of the composite coating including phase composition, surface and cross section morphology, thickness and bonding strength were investigated. The corrosion behavior of the coated magnesium alloy in simulated body fluids(SBF) was primarily evaluated. The results showed that the coating was composed of c-ZrO2, α-Al2O3 and γ-Al2O3. The coating surface was coarse and porous with the average pores diameters of 5 µm. The thickness of the coating was about 60 µm and the bonding strength of coating to the AZ91 substrate was 22 MPa. The polarization test indicated that corrosion potential (Ecorr) and corrosion current density (icorr) of the coated samples in SBF were −1.56V and 8.89×10-7 A/cm2 , respectively, whose corrosion resistance was significantly improved compared to the uncoated sample.
Microstructure and Properties of Non-Quenched Prehardened Steel for Plastic Mould with 700 mm Thickness
Authors: Luo Yi , Zhou Quan
Published: June 2012

Non-quenched prehardened steel for plastic mould with 700 mm thickness (NQP700) has been developed in order to save energy and shorten the producing cycle. Microstructure and properties of the NQP700 steel are studied. The results show that microstructure of the NQP700 steel block is bainite distributing uniformly through the whole section, whose hardness fluctuation is not more than ±1.5HRC. Its polishing ability and pattern etching properties satisfy the needs of plastic mould, and it has better machinability
Preliminary Studies in Composite Scaffolds of Calcium Phosphate Bone Cement with Polylactide
Authors: Lou Ching Wen , Huang Cheng Chun , Chen Wen Cheng , Hu Jin Jia , Lu Chao Tsang , Lin Jia Horng
Published: June 2012

Calcium phosphate bone cement (CPC), a ceramic material, is commonly used as a biomaterial for the restoration of bone injuries. This study creates the composite scaffolds by mixing CPC with various amounts of polylactide fibers. Then, the resulting scaffolds are observed and tested in terms of the morphology, compressive strength, and fiber distribution, respectively, to explore the influence of the addition of polylactide fibers on the scaffolds. According to the experimental result, the compressive strength of the scaffolds increases as a result of an increase in the addition of fibers.
Preparation and Characterization of Photocatalytic TiO2/CdS Nanocomposite Loaded on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotues (MWCNTs)
Authors: Ke Ou Yang , Shan Xie , Ma Xiao Ou
Published: June 2012

Multi-walled carbon nanotues (MWCNTs)/TiO2/CdS composite photocatalysts were prepared by sol–gel method in order to investigate its photocatalytic activity under simulated solar irradiation. MWCNTs/TiO2/CdS composite photocatalysts were characterized by the methods of SEM, XRD, TG and UV–vis. The results showed that MWCNTs/TiO2/CdS composites were mainly composed of anatase-TiO2 and little CdS cubic phases. the composite can cause an pronounced red shift of UV–vis spectra compared with pure TiO2. The degradation of MO by MWCNTs/TiO2/CdS composite photocatalysts under simulated solar light irradiation was studied. The results showd that the presence of MWCNTs and CdS can enhance the photoefficiency of TiO2.