bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Displaced directives: Subjunctive free-standing que-clauses vs. imperatives in Spanish
Authors: Sansiñena María Sol , De Smet Hendrik , Cornillie Bert
Published: June 2015

This paper presents a functional account of directives in spontaneous conversations in Spanish. More specifically, we address the use of imperatives and free-standing
Changes In Innovation Activity In Regional Industrial System In The Context Of Size Of Enterprises In West Pomeranian Province
Authors: Świadek Arkadiusz , Szopik-Depczyńska Katarzyna
Published: June 2015

In transition countries the firms’ size and equity property affect economic processes, including innovation activity in industry. Researche has shown that the key to accelerate economy development is technology transfer from foreign countries. Implementation of new solutions depends on medium and large organizations, rather than on the micro and small ones. Traditional micro and small regional enterprises feature a low level of capacity to take risk. An innovation activity in industry systems grows up over time, but only in small domestic enterprises, and it is similar to their foreign and larger competitors. This paper discusses the problems of size of enterprises and its impact on innovation activity in regional industry systems in West Pomeranian province in the period 2004–2006 and 2009–2011.
Horizontal Fiscal Imbalance In The United States
Authors: Kowalik Paweł
Published: June 2015

Regional inequalities are currently a challenge for the majority of countries, in particular large ones, certain of which are federations. The federal state system is more complex than the unitary system. This results in specific problems. One of them is the issue of differing level of economic development of individual territorial units, whereby the problem of income redistribution emerges. The difference between income and expenses results in the formation of fiscal gaps, both horizontal and vertical ones. The aim of the paper is to present the measures applied for measuring the horizontal fiscal imbalance. It is also the starting point for conducting measurements of those imbalances in the USA based on the presented measures. The paper presents the measures applied in the literature for the purposes of measuring horizontal fiscal imbalance. In addition, the measurement of those imbalances in the USA are presented.
Item Familiarity as a Possible Confounding Factor in User-Centric Recommender Systems Evaluation
Authors: Jannach Dietmar , Lerche Lukas , Jugovac Michael
Published: June 2015

User studies play an important role in academic research in the field of recommender systems as they allow us to assess quality factors other than the predictive accuracy of the underlying algorithms. User satisfaction is one such factor that is often evaluated in laboratory settings and in many experimental designs one task of the participants is to assess the suitability of the system-generated recommendations. The effort required by the user to make such an assessment can, however, depend on the user’s familiarity with the presented items and directly impact on the reported user satisfaction. In this paper, we report the results of a preliminary recommender systems user study using Mechanical Turk, which indicates that item familiarity is strongly correlated with overall satisfaction.
Application-aware cross-layer reliability analysis and optimization
Authors: Glaß Michael , Aliee Hananeh , Chen Liang , Ebrahimi Mojtaba , Khosravi Faramarz , Kleeberger Veit B. , Listl Alexandra , Müller-Gritschneder Daniel , Oboril Fabian , Schlichtmann Ulf , Tahoori Mehdi B. , Teich Jürgen , Wehn Norbert , Weis Christian
Published: June 2015

The increasing error susceptibility of semiconductor devices has put
reliability in the focus of modern design methodologies. Low-level
techniques alone cannot economically tackle this problem. Instead,
counter measures on all system layers from device and circuit up to
the application are required. As these counter measures are not for
free, orchestrating them across different layers to achieve optimum
trade-offs for the application wrt. reliability but also cost,
timeliness, or energy consumption becomes a challenge. This typically
requires a combination of analysis techniques to quantify the achieved
reliability and optimization techniques that search for the best
combination of counter measures. This work presents five recent
approaches for application-aware cross-layer reliability optimization
from within the embedded domain. Moreover, the Resilience
Articulation Point (RAP) as a concept cooperatively developed to model
errors across different layers is discussed. The developed approaches
are showcased via applications, ranging from MIMO systems to
distributed embedded control applications.
A Simulation-Based Fuzzy Analytic Network Process Approach in Developing Sustainable Manufacturing Strategy
Authors: Ocampo Lanndon , Clark Eppie
Published: June 2015

This paper adopts a probabilistic fuzzy analytic network process (PROFUZANP) approach in developing a sustainable manufacturing strategy. In this hybrid method, analytic network process handles the complexity of the problem structure under consideration, fuzzy set theory is used to describe vagueness in individual decision-making and probability theory is used to handle randomness in group decision-making. This holistic methodological approach addresses complexity and uncertainty both in individual and group decision-making which is useful in modeling group decisions such as developing a sustainable manufacturing strategy. In this work, an inclusive approach of integrating traditional manufacturing strategy concepts and sustainable manufacturing principles is proposed as a unifying decision model. The proposed decision structure adopts the hierarchical structure of manufacturing strategy and explores the presence of strategic responses and stakeholders’ interests as significant components of sustainability. Using PROFUZANP, the decision model identifies the content policies of sustainable manufacturing strategy. This content strategy is expected to address both competitiveness and sustainability of manufacturing firms. Results are reported in this paper along with insights and future work. The contribution of this work is the integration of manufacturing strategy and sustainability into a coherent decision framework that requires the use of PROFUZANP in dealing with complex and uncertain group decision-making problem.
An FPGA Architecture for Extracting Real-Time Zernike Coefficients from Measured Phase Gradients
Authors: Moser Steven , Lee Peter , Podoleanu Adrian
Published: June 2015

Zernike modes are commonly used in adaptive optics systems to represent optical wavefronts. However, real-time calculation of Zernike modes is time consuming due to two factors: the large factorial components in the radial polynomials used to define them and the large inverse matrix calculation needed for the linear fit. This paper presents an efficient parallel method for calculating Zernike coefficients from phase gradients produced by a Shack-Hartman sensor and its real-time implementation using an FPGA by pre-calculation and storage of subsections of the large inverse matrix. The architecture exploits symmetries within the Zernike modes to achieve a significant reduction in memory requirements and a speed-up of 2.9 when compared to published results utilising a 2D-FFT method for a grid size of 8×8. Analysis of processor element internal word length requirements show that 24-bit precision in precalculated values of the Zernike mode partial derivatives ensures less than 0.5% error per Zernike coefficient and an overall error of <1%. The design has been synthesized on a Xilinx Spartan-6 XC6SLX45 FPGA. The resource utilisation on this device is <3% of slice registers, <15% of slice LUTs, and approximately 48% of available DSP blocks independent of the Shack-Hartmann grid size. Block RAM usage is <16% for Shack-Hartmann grid sizes up to 32×32.
The Moral Police
Authors: Figenschou Tine Ustad , Beyer Audun , Thorbjørnsrud Kjersti
Published: June 2015

How does the general public understand media coverage of immigration issues? The present article analyses the media effects of an extensive news series focusing on the harassment of people believed to disrespect traditional Muslim norms. Through an explorative survey study, it traces how Norwegian media launched and covered what was labeled “the moral police” phenomenon, and to what extent the media framing of the issue had an agendasetting and/or frame-setting effect on the public. It finds that, although most respondents had become aware of the issue through the media, they did not necessarily adopt the media’s framing of the phenomenon. The respondents did not primarily relate the “moral police” to immigration (the dominant media frame), they understood the new phenomenon through experiences from their own lives and framed it as a general social problem.
Reactor-Produced Carrier-Free Iridium-194
Authors: Peisach M.
Published: June 2015

Reactor Irradiation of natural osmium leads to osmium-194 by second order neutron capture. When converted to osmium tetroxide, millicurie amounts of carrier-free iridium-194 can be recovered repeatedly from the decay of a Single sample of osmium-194 by vacuum distillation. The half-life of pure iridium-194 was found to be 17.4 ± 0.1 hours.
Carboxylierung von Ameisensäure zu Oxalsäure in wässeriger kohlensaurer Lösung unter Einwirkung von 60Co-Gammastrahlung
Authors: Gütlbauer F. , Getoff N.
Published: June 2015

Der strahlenchemische Carboxylierungsprozeß von organischen Stoffen in wässeriger kohlensaurer Lösung wurde in Abhängigkeit vom ρH-Wert, von der Strahlendosis und der Strahlenintensität eingehend studiert. Als Modellsubstanz diente in der vorliegenden Arbeit eine Lösung von 0,1 m Ameisensäure, die bis zu 1 Atm. mit Kohlendioxid gesättigt wurde. Dabei konnte Oxalsäure als Carboxylierungsprodukt erhalten werden. Im sauren Medium (pH = 2,8) betrug der G-Wert der Oxalsäurebildung G(COOH)2 = 1,8 bei einer Dosis von 2 · 1018 eV/ml, während er im alkalischen Gebiet (pH = 10,8) bei gleicher Dosis bis zu 9,1 anstieg.

Die erhaltenen Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, daß die Carboxylierung der Ameisensäure zumindest teilweise nach einer Kettenreaktion abläuft.
Annealing of Recoil Bromine-82 in Hexabromoethane
Authors: Collins Kenneth E. , Habbottle Garman
Published: June 2015

The influence of defects produced by.gamma radiation exposures of 2 to 1400 r on the subsequent thermal annealing of 82Br in crystalline C2Br6 was investigated at annealing temperatures in the range 0° to 120°. Incorporation of recoil 82Br into C2Br6 during annealing occurs by several processes. One process is dependent on radiation dose while the others are independent of dose in the range studied. "Doping" the crystals with Br2 affects the annealing at high but not at low temperatures, simulating the effect of a low level of radiation-produced defects. The dose-independent annealing is discussed in terms of "intra-site" reactions occurring in several different kinds of isolated recoil-produced sites.
25 Jahre Kernspaltung. Methoden und Ergebnisse chemischer Studien
Authors: Herrmann Günter
Published: June 2015

Die Übersicht umfaßt Methoden und Ergebnisse chemischer Studien über die Spaltung schwerer, niedrig angeregter Kerne. Im ersten Teil werden behandelt:

I. Entdeckungsgeschichte.

II. Spaltprodukte.

1. Schema des Spaltvorgangs, Definitionen.

2. Spaltketten.

3. Produkte der Dreifachspaltung.

4. Unbekannte Spaltprodukte.
Papierelektrophoretische Untersuchungen der Reaktionsprodukte des Ruthentetroxids mit Wasserstoffperoxid
Authors: Koch H. , Bruchertseifer H.
Published: June 2015

Läßt man Wasserstoffperoxid auf eine saure RuO4-Lösung einwirken, dann bilden sich je nach Arbeitsbedingungen Ruthen(III)- oder -(IV)-Ionen. Es wird ein Verfahren beschrieben, nach dem man auf relativ einfachem Wege solche Ruthenlösungen durch Papierelektrophorese charakterisieren kann. Das ist besonders für die Untersuchung trägerfreier radioaktiver Lösungen bedeutsam.
32P-Markierung von C1C6-Trialkylphosphaten durch Isotopenaustausch
Authors: Termens L. , Schweer K.-H.
Published: June 2015

C1-C8-Trialkylphosphate ließen sich durch eine Isotopenaustauschreaktion mit Fe32PO4 · 2,5 H2O markieren. Aus dem in Abhängigkeit von Zeit und Temperatur untersuchten Isotopenaustausch wurden die Austauschhalbwertszeiten und die Aktivierungsenergien der Reaktionen bestimmt. Es wurde eine Abhängigkeit der Austauschhalbwertszeiten von der Kettenlänge der Trialkylphosphate gefunden. Einige Reaktionsmechanismen werden diskutiert.
Transformations chimiques associées à la réaction (n, γ) sur l’acide tellurique
Authors: Stevovic J. , Muxart R.
Published: June 2015

On a déterminé la rétention de Te*VI pour les isotopes à l'état fondamental de courte période 129Te (69,5 min) et 181Te (25 min) formés par la réaction (n, γ) sur l’acide tellurique à l'état solide. Dans le but de rechercher un éventuel effet isotopique entre ces deux isotopes, l'acide a été irradié pendant des temps courts (10 min et 20 min), car dans ce cas, les isotopes 129Te et 181Te ont des vies moyennes de présence comparables et en conséquence sont soumis aux mêmes conditions d'irradiation pendant le même temps.

Afin d'étudier l'influence du temps d'irradiation sur la valeur de la rétention pour chacun des deux isomères fondamentaux, quelques expériences ont été réalisées pour des irradiations de plus longue durée (40, 60 et 180 min). Pour déterminer la rétention de ces isotopes avec le maximum de précision, dans des conditions expérimentales données, on a examiné plus particulièremént l'influence, sur les mesures de l'activité de 129Te et 131Te, des rayonnements des autres radioisotopes de Te formés simultanément lors de la réaction (n, γ) sur le tellure de composition isotopique naturelle.

Pour des irradiations d'acide tellurique à l'état solide dans un flux neutronique de 1010 cm-2 sec-1 et pour une dose de rayonnement γ de l’ordre de 105
r/h, à la pile EL 2, les résultats montrent que la rétention de Te*VI augmente légèrement en fonction du temps d’irradiation.

Ainsi pour l’isotope 129Te, les valeurs moyennes de R varient de 39,7% à 45,6% quand la durée de l'irradiation passe de 10 min à 20 min. Un effet similaire est observé pour 131Te; la rétention croît de 39,2% à 42,5% si le temps d'irradiation varie de 10 à 20 min. En outre, pour 129Te, la rétention atteint environ 49% après 3h, tandis qu'elle reste sensiblement constante pour 131Te après 20 min d’irradiation.

Pour des temps moyens d'existence des deux radioisotopes comparables (10 et 20 min), les résultats montrent qu’il n’y a pas d’effet isotopique entre 129Te et 131Te après une irradiation de 10 min. Par contre, si l’acide tellurique est irradié pendant 20 min, on observe une différence de 6,7 % dans les valeurs de R relatives aux deux isotopes. Toutefois, dans ce cas et bien que la valeur de la rétention de 129Te mesurée dans différentes expériences soit systématiquement plus élevée que celle de 131Te, il est difficile de conclure étant donné la marge d’erreur de 5,9%.

Nous avons admis, avec d’autres auteurs, que la modification de la rétention observée en fonction du temps d'irradiation pouvait être attribuée à l'influence du rayonnement secondaire du réacteur qui provoque une augmentation de R. Nous avons montré que cet effet est plus important pour l'isotope de longue période (129Te, T
1/2
= 69,5 min) que pour celui de courte période (131Te, T
1/2
= 25 min).
Mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in Chiriquí Province, Republic of Panamá, with a new distributional record for Camelobaetidius kondratieffi Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1995 (Baetidae)
Authors: De Jong Grant D. , Canton Steven P.
Published: June 2015

The mayfly fauna of samples collected in Chiriquí Province of western Panamá are listed, including the first report of Camelobaetidius kondratieffi Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1995 from the Republic of Panamá. This species was previously reported only from Belize, Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Enhancing the Power Conversion Efficiency of Inverted Organic Photovoltaics with Gold Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide
Authors: Isseroff Rebecca , Yang Zhenhua , Kim Jessica , Chen Andrew , Rafailovich Miriam
Published: June 2015

In this study, an “inverted” design, phase-separated morphology and gold-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (Au-rGO) were used to address exciton recombination and poor Fermi level alignment. To increase efficiencies, a unique methodology was used to coat Au-rGO on top of the active layer. When 0.05 Au-rGO was blended with the active layer, there were metal-thiolate bonds with P3HT and π-π stacking with PCBM. However, KPFM, measured for the first time for this material, showed that the while 0.05mM Au-rGO reduced the energy gap between P3HT and PBCM, this was offset by recombination. KPFM showed that Au-rGO may be better suited between the active layer and electrode. When 0.5mM Au-rGO was coated on top of the active layer, efficiency increased (p<0.002) nearly 600%, suggesting that Au-rGO is a more effective acceptor than a constituent of the active layer.
Francisco Ayala y el humanismo del exilio
Authors: López Calahorro Inmaculada
Published: June 2015

Francisco Ayala y el humanismo del exilio
Manuel Rico, Fugitiva ciudad
Authors: Abril Juan Carlos
Published: June 2015

Manuel Rico, Fugitiva ciudad
Manuel Cifo González (Ed.), Las cuatro estaciones. Homenaje a Pedro García Montalvo
Authors: Ropero Serrano María Celia
Published: June 2015

Manuel Cifo González (Ed.), Las cuatro estaciones. Homenaje a Pedro García Montalvo
De la retórica a la erística en la industria editorial y en el folletín: María, la hija de un jornalero de Ayguals de Izco
Authors: Varela Olea María Ángeles
Published: June 2015

Resumen
El gran éxito de María…, debe mucho al hecho de que su autor era propietario del primer y mayor trust editorial español especializado en folletines. Gran estratega comercial, adula al pueblo, recrea acontecimientos históricos de 1833-1837 y desarrolla su ideología populista. Analizamos el paso de la retórica a la erística que persigue convencer y vender.

Palabras clave: Empresa editorial, erística, Marx, Schopenhauer, Sociedad secreta.

Abstract

Mary was the most successful serial novel published in Spain in the XIX century, because its author was also owner of an important Publishing Group. This novel describes the plight of the urban working classes and the Spain’s History from 1834 to 1837 as a literary device to pursue of his political ideology. This essay analizes Ayguals method, according to Schopenhauer, Eristic Dialectic.

Key words: Publishing Group, Eristic, Marx, Schopenhauer, Secret Society.
Environmental Influences on HIV Medication Adherence: The Role of Neighborhood Disorder
Authors: Surratt Hilary L. , Kurtz Steven P. , Levi-Minzi Maria A. , Chen Minxing
Published: June 2015

Objectives. We hypothesized that highly disordered neighborhoods would expose residents to environmental pressures, leading to reduced antiretroviral (ARV) medication adherence.

Methods. Using targeted sampling, we enrolled 503 socioeconomically disadvantaged HIV-positive substance users in urban South Florida between 2010 and 2012. Participants completed a 1-time standardized interview that took approximately 1 hour. We tested a multiple mediation model to examine the direct and indirect effects of neighborhood disorder on diversion-related nonadherence to ARVs; risky social networks and housing instability were examined as mediators of the disordered neighborhood environment.

Results. The total indirect effect in the model was statistically significant (P = .001), and the proportion of the total effect mediated was 53%. The model indicated substantial influence of neighborhood disorder on nonadherence to ARVs, operating through recent homelessness and diverter network size.

Conclusions. Long-term improvements in diversion-related ARV adherence will require initiatives to reduce demand for illicit ARV medications, as well as measures to reduce patient vulnerability to diversion, including increased resources for accessible housing, intensive treatment, and support services.
Suicide Prevention Referrals in a Mobile Health Smoking Cessation Intervention
Authors: Christofferson Dana E. , Hamlett-Berry Kim , Augustson Erik
Published: June 2015

Automated mobile health (mHealth) programs deliver effective smoking cessation interventions through text message platforms. Smoking is an independent risk factor for suicide, so the Department of Veterans Affairs incorporated information about the Veterans Crisis Line into its SmokefreeVET smoking cessation text messaging program. Almost 7% of all SmokefreeVET enrollees have accessed this information. Because of the reach and automated nature of this and similar programs, we recommend including a referral to a suicide prevention hotline for all smoking cessation mHealth interventions.
System-Reliability Analysis by Use of Gaussian Fuzzy Fault Tree: Application in Arctic Oil and Gas Facilities
Authors: Naseri Masoud , Barabady Javad
Published: June 2015

Reliability analysis has various application in oil- and gas-processing facilities, such as identifying the bottlenecks of the system, quantitative risk assessments, improving system availability and throughput capacity, spare-parts planning, and optimizing maintenance strategies. Reliability performance of a system can be described as a function of operation time and a series of operating conditions. For this purpose, a range of reliability data is required, on the basis of which the reliability function can be modeled. One of the challenges in reliability analysis of Arctic oil and gas facilities is lack of adequate reliability data. The available historical data gathered in normal-climate regions may not be appropriate because they do not include the effects of harsh Arctic operating conditions on equipment performance. In this study, the expert-judgement process is used as a tool to modify the mean time to failure of the equipment to include the adverse impacts of Arctic climate conditions on equipment performance. However, various sources of bias and uncertainties are involved in expert judgements. Fuzzy set theory is used to deal with such uncertainties and their propagation in both the component- and system-level analyses. For this purpose, a methodology is presented to perform a Gaussian fuzzy fault-tree analysis for system-reliability assessments. This methodology is further illustrated by a case study.
A Review of Engineering and Safety Considerations for Hybrid-Power (Lithium-Ion) Systems in Offshore Applications
Authors: Hill Davion M. , Agarwal Arun , Gully Benjamin
Published: June 2015

From prior experience in the automotive sector, and now the maritime sector, hybridization of power systems is known to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions, with lower fuel consumption. With impending emissions-control areas in the US continental shelf, and nitrogen oxide enforcement mechanisms in the North Sea, emissions reduction in oil and gas exploration-and-production operations is increasingly relevant. Hybrid-power systems can address some of these issues with batteries to offset peak loads, thereby reducing size requirements for the total system. The challenge that the oil and gas industry faces is to decide when and where hybrid-power systems provide the most value for operations, how they should be implemented, what technologies are acceptable, what safety considerations there may be, and how these technologies can improve the bottom line. There is a wealth of information on lithium-ion batteries, though it is not all consistent--cost data are unclear, lifetime and energy density considerations vary under different conditions, and ruggedness and application to harsh environments constitute a large uncertainty. A review of these technologies is provided to serve as a selection guide.
Body Image as Strategy for Engagement in Social Media
Authors: Torres Silva Tarcisio
Published: June 2015

Worldwide, the use of digital communication networks has been a key strategy in activist events involving demonstrations. Its use was evident in the media’s repeated publication of pictures taken on demonstrators’ mobile phones during actions that have overthrown heads of state during the Arab Spring in 2011. In countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, social network websites and mobile communication devices (phones and notebooks) were used widely for organizing participants and for recording events. This work intends to analyze not only how communication technologies have contributed to the emergence of such events but also how image production can be interpreted in such environments. Since the use of social media in protests caught the attention of broadcasting media in 2009 during demonstrations in Iran, a strong connection can be noticed between the content circulating through digital communication technologies and the body. For images produced during the Arab Spring, the same is observed with a series of strategies connecting body image and social mobilization. Our intention is to contribute to the debate of political images, considering the way they have been produced in contemporary society, which deals with a complex environment composed of communication technologies, social organization, and the body itself.
Unified Multi-Layer among Software Defined Multi-Domain Optical Networks (Invited)
Authors: Yang Hui , Cui Yadi , Zhang Jie
Published: June 2015

The software defined networking (SDN) enabled by OpenFlow protocol has gained popularity which can enable the network to be programmable and accommodate both fixed and flexible bandwidth services. In this paper, we present a unified multi-layer (UML) architecture with multiple controllers and a dynamic orchestra plane (DOP) for software defined multi-domain optical networks. The proposed architecture can shield the differences among various optical devices from multi-vendors and the details of connecting heterogeneous networks. The cross-domain services with on-demand bandwidth can be deployed via unified interfaces provided by the dynamic orchestra plane. Additionally, the globalization strategy and practical capture of signal processing are presented based on the architecture. The overall feasibility and efficiency of the proposed architecture is experimentally verified on the control plane of our OpenFlow-based testbed. The performance of globalization strategy under heavy traffic load scenario is also quantitatively evaluated based on UML architecture compared with other strategies in terms of blocking probability, average hops, and average resource consumption.
Les problèmes linguistiques de Quentowic
Authors: Le Bourdellès Hubert
Published: June 2015

H. le Bourdellès, Linguistic problems about Quentowic.

The site of Quentowic, a famous Merovingian and Carolingian harbour, is still to be found on the Southern bank of the river Canche. We want archaeological investigations. Yet, contemporary texts, coins issued from the mint here, give some informations.

Is it possible to get anything new from a linguistic research ? The former name of the place was Vicus, apparently denominating a Gallo-roman borough. The Germanic settlement caused the name to be retained with the form : Wic. Wic never disappeared as a name, and was preserved, slightly changed into Wis, in the vernacular Romanic language.

But, soon, a Germanic compound was coined, by means of which Wic was assimilated to such other trade-places as London-wic or Schleswig, whence Quantowic and Quentowic in French texts, Quantawic and Quentawic in English texts. This compound vanished with the decay of the harbour and the mint. In later time, we are able to trace Wis from a century to another, as far as nowadays, by finding the word in an uninterrupted series of documents. We may assert Visemarest (Vis in the marshes) a hamlet by the river Canche, is an onomastic relic of this long story.
Constructing Community in Higher Education Regardless of Proximity
Authors: Clemmons Karina R. , Nolen Amanda L. , Hayn Judith A.
Published: June 2015

In an increasingly global world where students are increasingly mobile and not bound by the same rules of proximity as before (Beckmann, 2010; Healey, 2008), it becomes critically important to understand how learning can take place and how community can be built through virtual communities. This chapter reports the results of a study that investigated whether preservice and beginning teachers involved in the dialogue of an emergent online social networking community engage in meaningful educational and professionally enriching experiences. The researchers specifically examined how online social networking in teacher education programs addresses issues related to: (1) the isolation students feel while in the field; (2) the lack of community and dialogue among students; (3) the disconnectedness between classroom knowledge and field experiences; (4) the limited reflective practices observed among novice teachers; and (5) the need to appreciate multiple perspectives and diverse cultures.
Web 2.0, ICT Infrastructure, and Training Provision for E-Government Readiness in Nigeria
Authors: Ikponmwosa Oghogho
Published: June 2015

This chapter presents a discussion on e-readiness, Web 2.0, social media, mobile/wireless technologies, and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) that can help to facilitate the attainment and sustenance of an e-ready environment necessary to enhance e-governance in Nigeria. The chapter aims to clearly articulate the necessary steps to be taken to provide all stakeholders with a blueprint of areas and factors on which to focus. An assessment of how e-ready the Nigerian government and its citizens currently are and the requirements necessary for further steps to be taken (such as policies, programmes, and processes to be put in place, infrastructures to be acquired, and training provisions to equip Nigerian citizens and government officials with the capacity to benefit from and sustain the use of acquired e-technologies) are also presented. Specific ways by which Nigeria can harness the various emerging technologies (social media, Web 2.0, and mobile/wireless technologies) are highlighted. If employed appropriately, these technologies can help to provide improved processes, increased efficiency, improved transparency, and citizen's effective participation and involvement in governance to further improve the lives of Nigerian citizens.
The Utilization of Online Boundaries
Authors: Luartz Lewis A.
Published: June 2015

This chapter investigates how online social networking services function and correlate with social capital, and how this affects higher education and civic engagement. First, the authors examine how individuals utilize Facebook to communicate with others strategically to build and maintain social ties. They argue that limiting in-person interaction time and multitasking increases the amount of individuals with whom any one individual can communicate during any given time. The authors then introduce direct and indirect boundaries and demonstrate how they restrict specific types of information while building extensive trust-based network ties. The authors follow this discussion by modeling the online world, offline world, and world of higher education using these boundaries. Finally, they claim that the distinction between low and high social capital communities may be blurring due to advent of online social networking, so it is necessary to develop new means of measuring social capital and boundaries.
Re-Evaluation of Nepali Media, Social Networking Spaces, and Democratic Practices in Media
Authors: Edingo Dilli Bikram
Published: June 2015

This chapter first analyzes the Nepali mainstream media and social media's effect upon its relationships with audiences or news-receivers. Then, it explores how social media is a virtual space for creating democratic forums in order to generate news, share among Networked Knowledge Communities (NKCs), and disseminate across the globe. It further examines how social media can embody a collective voice of indigenous and marginalized people, how it can better democratize mainstream media, and how it works as an alternative media. As a result of the impact of the Internet upon the Nepali society and the Nepali mainstream media, the traditional class stratifications in Nepal have been changed, and the previously marginalized and disadvantaged indigenous peoples have also begun to be empowered in the new ways brought about by digital technology. Social networking spaces engage the common people—those who are not in power, marginalized and disadvantaged, dominated, and excluded from opportunities, mainstream media, and state mechanisms—democratically in emic interactions in order to produce first-hand news about themselves from their own perspectives. Moreover, Nepali journalists frequently visit social media as a reliable source of information. The majority of common people in Nepal use social networking sites as a forum to express their collective voice and also as a tool or medium to correct any misrepresentation in the mainstream media. Social media and the Nepali mainstream media converge on the greater issues of national interest, whereas the marginalized and/or indigenous peoples of Nepal use the former as a space that embodies their denial of discriminatory news in the latter.
Command, Control, and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis
Authors: Nkwanta Asamoah , Barber Janet E.
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this chapter is to summarize and give an overview of the educational and research programs of the Command, Control, and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis (CCICADA) in an integral way. CCICADA is based at Rutgers University and is one of the components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Excellence (COE) Center for Visualization and Data Analytics (CVADA). CVADA is co-led by Rutgers University and Purdue University. Purdue's Visual Analytics for Command, Control, and Interoperability Environments (VACCINE) Center and Rutgers University's CCICADA Center were established as a DHS Homeland Security Center of Excellence in 2009. Although Purdue's focus is on visualization sciences, and Rutgers' focus is on data sciences, these two CVADA components are working closely on a number of activities, projects, and programs (Command, Control, and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis, 2013).
The Potential of Political Changes in the Information Age
Authors: Alahmed Anas
Published: June 2015

In non-democratic societies new media social networks have played a significant role in changing political and social positions, not necessarily through real life but, instead, through cyber life. This chapter examines how Saudi activists challenge the political authority and how Saudi citizens took advantage of publicity by demanding political change. All of this happened due to social networks and new media, which allowed citizens to mobilize information for the sake of transparency. This was a new phenomenon in Saudi Arabia. The current young generation of Saudis, who use the Internet and social networking sites, played a significant role in the public sphere by making use of the space available to them within cyberspace. This chapter discusses the potential of political information to flourish in Saudi Arabia. It examines how and why citizen activism in Saudi Arabia can be effective. The chapter also shows that social networking activities have the power to change political decisions and society.
Operational tools to help stakeholders to protect and alert municipalities facing uncertainties and changes in karst flash floods
Authors: Borrell Estupina V. , Raynaud F. , Bourgeois N. , Kong-A-Siou L. , Collet L. , Haziza E. , Servat E.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Flash floods are often responsible for many deaths and involve many material damages. Regarding Mediterranean karst aquifers, the complexity of connections, between surface and groundwater, as well as weather non-stationarity patterns, increase difficulties in understanding the basins behaviour and thus warning and protecting people. Furthermore, given the recent changes in land use and extreme rainfall events, knowledge of the past floods is no longer sufficient to manage flood risks. Therefore the worst realistic flood that could occur should be considered. Physical and processes-based hydrological models are considered among the best ways to forecast floods under diverse conditions. However, they rarely match with the stakeholders' needs. In fact, the forecasting services, the municipalities, and the civil security have difficulties in running and interpreting data-consuming models in real-time, above all if data are uncertain or non-existent. To face these social and technical difficulties and help stakeholders, this study develops two operational tools derived from these models. These tools aim at planning real-time decisions given little, changing, and uncertain information available, which are: (i) a hydrological graphical tool (abacus) to estimate flood peak discharge from the karst past state and the forecasted but uncertain intense rainfall; (ii) a GIS-based method (MARE) to estimate the potential flooded pathways and areas, accounting for runoff and karst contributions and considering land use changes. Then, outputs of these tools are confronted to past and recent floods and municipalities observations, and the impacts of uncertainties and changes on planning decisions are discussed. The use of these tools on the recent 2014 events demonstrated their reliability and interest for stakeholders. This study was realized on French Mediterranean basins, in close collaboration with the Flood Forecasting Services (SPC Med-Ouest, SCHAPI, municipalities).
Simplified graphical tools for assessing flood-risk change over large flood-prone areas
Authors: Carisi F. , Domeneghetti A. , Castellarin A.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. We propose and investigate the reliability of simplified graphical tools, which we term Hypsometric Vulnerability Curves, HVCs, for assessing flood vulnerability and risk over large geographical areas and for defining sustainable flood-risk mitigation strategies. These curves rely on the use of inundation scenarios simulated by means of quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2-D) hydrodynamic models that reproduce the hydraulic behaviour of the floodable area outside the main embankment system of the study river reach. We present an application of HVCs constructed on the basis of land use and census data collected during the last 50 years for assessing the recent dynamics of the flood vulnerability and risk over a large floodable area along a 350 km stretch of the River Po (Northern Italy). We also compared the proposed simplified approach with a traditional approach based on simulations performed with the fully-2-D hydrodynamic model TELEMAC-2-D, a widely employed and well-known 2-D finite-element scheme. By means of this comparison, we characterize the accuracy of the proposed simplified approach (i.e. quasi-2-D model and HVCs) for flood-risk assessment over large geographical areas and different historical land-use scenarios.
Nanoetikk og annen positiv etikk
Authors: Nydal Rune , Myskja Bjørn , Solberg Berge
Published: June 2015

Dette nummeret av Etikk i praksis fokuserer på et av de største, om ikke det største, satsningsområdet vi har sett innenfor forskningsverdenen. Det handler om nanoteknologi, et felt som forventes å få betydelige positive samfunnsmessige konsekvenser i form av industriutvikling og forbedrede produkter for befolkningen. Nanoteknologien er et omfattende og uoversiktlig fagfelt, der det viktigste felles kjennetegnet er at en opererer med strukturer som er 100 nanometer eller mindre. Materialer i denne størrelsesorden har endrete egenskaper som innebærer en rekke nye anvendelsesmuligheter innen medisin, elektronikk, fysikk og energiproduksjon. Artiklene i temadelen omhandler utfordringer og muligheter for utvikling av en etikk-komponent innenfor dette satsningsområdet. Når vi ser på hvor tidlig vi er i utvikling av nanoetikk som fagfelt, kan man spørre om det er for tidlig å ha et temanummer i et nordisk tidsskrift. Tross alt trenger en tid for å kunne si noe forskningsmessig interessant om et fagområde. Samtidig er det første internasjonale tidsskriftet for nanoetikk over ett år gammelt, og de nordiske land er generelt langt framme i teknologiutvikling, så det skulle være god grunn til å presentere feltet. I tillegg er de senere års studier av teknologiutvikling som en etisk og samfunnsmessig størrelse i økende grad opptatt av å være i forkant av utviklingen, og da er det rimelig å formidle tidlige resultat av denne oppstrømsforskningen.
Kommentar
Authors: Hoff Geir
Published: June 2015

I dette nummeret av Etikk i Praksis belyses et etisk dilemma om premiering eller sanksjoner for deltakelse/ikke-deltakelse i nasjonale screeningprogram for kreft, i artikkelen «En etisk diskussion af screening for kræftsygdomme» av John Brodersen, Peter Laurs Sørensen, Fía Lindenskov og Lonny Henriksen. Dette er belyst gjennom intervjuer hvor divergerende meninger gjenspeiler at vi har svært begrenset kunnskap om både kort- og langtidseffekt av screening for kreft. Den politiske viljen til å innføre screeningprogram har utvilsomt vært sterkere enn viljen til å fremskaffe vitenskapelig bevis for eventuell nytteeffekt gjennom randomiserte studier (Hoff & Bretthauer 2006). Randomiserte studier på screening er svært dyre og har ofte et langt tidsperspektiv før resultater kan foreligge og danne et relevant kunnskapsgrunnlag for en nasjonal screeningstrategi. Resultatene kan også være kulturavhengige. Det understreker behovet for flere randomiserte studier. Det må også poengteres at ethvert land som har råd til å vurdere innføring av et screeningprogram (som er meget dyrt), har også råd til å finansiere randomiserte studier i forkant. En omfattende randomisert studie på fleksibel sigmoidoskopiscreening for tarmkreft har vist at deltakelse i screeningprogram kan føre til et redusert egenansvar for sunn livsstil og dermed økt risiko for livsstilssykdommer (Larsen, Grotmol, Almendingen, & Hoff 2007). Her ligger det altså en pedagogisk utfordring som kan variere fra land til land og mellom forskjellige screeningmetoder.
Evidensbaseret eller menigheden af «ikke-troende»? Tilsvar fra John Brodersen, Peter Laurs Sørensen, Fía Lindenskov og Lonny Henriksen
Authors: Brodersen John , Sørensen Peter Laurs , Lindenskov Fía , Henriksen Lonny
Published: June 2015

I sin udmærkede kommentar til vores artikel «En etisk diskussion af screening for kræftsygdomme» beskriver Geir Hoff den udtalte mangel på evidens vedrørende nytteværdien af screeningsprogrammer for kræftsygdomme baseret på randomiserede studier. Ydermere fremhæver Geir Hoff misforholdet mellem den manglende evidens ved screening og de strenge krav, der er til evidensen i den farmaceutiske industri. Dette er en velkommen kritik, pga. en udtalt ukritisk og uvidenskabelig tilgang til anvendelse af screening for denne eller hin sygdom eller risikofaktor.
Finanskrisas bakgrunn
Authors: Skarstein Rune
Published: June 2015

Denne artikkelen tar utgangspunkt i observasjonen at slutten av vekstfasene i kapitalismen har vært preget av en forvokst finanskapital på jakt etter store og raske profitter. Dette kan forklares med at jakten på profitt er selve drivkraften i den kapitalistiske produksjonsmåten. Pengekapital som søker avkastning innenfor finanssektoren, tar så å si en snarvei i profittjakten. Denne typen profittjakt forutsetter såkalte finansinnovasjoner, historisk for eksempel aksjer og obligasjoner, og i seinere tid ulike typer kredittderivater, hedgefond og pri- vate aksjefond som kan sirkulere så å si uten innblanding fra realøkonomien. Artikkelen diskuterer særlig kredittderivatenes, hedgefondenes og de private aksjefondenes rolle når det gjaldt å skape finansiell ustabilitet som til slutt førte til den generelle økonomiske krisa.
Idrettens etikk
Authors: Solberg Berge , Myskja Bjørn , Nydal Rune
Published: June 2015

Idrettens etiske spørsmål oppleves særdeles engasjerende for svært mange mennesker. Enten man er topp- eller breddeidrettsutøver, TV-titter, foreldre til idrettsaktive barn eller man har en idrettsbarndom bak seg – hvilket til sammen utgjør en stor del av befolkningen – så oppleves idrettens etiske utfordringer så å si på kroppen. Juks og urettferdighet i idretten setter følelsene i kok.
Play and virtuality
Authors: Sando Svein
Published: June 2015

The similarities between virtuality and play are obvious, beginning with, for instance, the ubiquitous character of both. This paper deals with how insights from research on play can be used to enlighten our understanding of the ethical dimensions of activities in cyberspace, and vice versa. In particular, a central claim that play is beyond vice and virtue is debated and contested.
Changing the world through shareholder activism?
Authors: Sandberg Joakim
Published: June 2015

As one of the more progressive facets of the socially responsibleinvestment (SRI) movement, shareholder activism isgenerally recommended or justified on the grounds that itcan create social change. But how effective are differentkinds of activist campaigns likely to be in this regard? Thisarticle outlines the full range of different ways in whichshareholder activism could make a difference by carefullygoing through, first, all the more specific lines of actiontypically included under the shareholder activismumbrella and, second, all of the different ways in which ithas been suggested that these could influence the activitiesof commercial companies. It is argued that – althoughmuch more empirical research is needed in the area – thereare at least theoretical reasons for thinking that it will bedifficult to influence companies through the standardactions of filing or voting on shareholder resolutions.However, some alternative strategies open to activists mayallow them to increase their efficacy. It is specificallyargued that even individual investors could be able to pushfor corporate change through devising a radically selfsacrificialcampaign that manages to get the attention ofpowerful forces outside the corporate sphere.
Bør leger ha reservasjonsrett ved assistert befruktning?
Authors: Magelssen Morten , Folstad Torbjørn
Published: June 2015

Omfanget av helsepersonells reservasjonsrett har nylig vært gjenstand for debatt i Norge. Vi spør om leger bør ha reservasjonsrett ved utførelse og henvisning til assistert befruktning, og drøfter argumenter for og imot ved hjelp av et rammeverk med sju kriterier for vurdering av reservasjon. Reservasjonsrettens grunnleggende dilemma er hvordan to viktige hensyn, henholdsvis pasientens rett til behandling og hensynet til helsepersonellets moralske integritet, best kan ivaretas. Det argumenteres for at leger bør ha rett til å reservere seg mot å utføre, assistere ved og henvise til assistert befruktning generelt hvis begrunnelsen er hensynet til befruktede eggs moralske verdi. Videre finner vi at leger også kan ha en moralsk rett til reservasjon mot å utføre, assistere ved og henvise til assistert befruktning for likekjønnede, men da på nærmere spesifiserte vilkår.Nøkkelord: reservasjonsrett, assistert befruktning, samvittighet, moralsk integritetEnglish summary: Should physicians have the right to conscientiously object to assisted reproduction?The extent of the healthcare worker's right to conscientious objection has recently been debated in Norway. This article asks whether physicians should have a right to conscientious objection to the performance of, and referral for, assisted reproduction, and discusses arguments for and against the same, utilizing a framework of seven criteria for the evaluation of conscientious objection. The fundamental dilemma of conscientious objection is how two important considerations can be reconciled: the patient's right to treatment, and the protection of the healthcare worker's moral integrity. It is argued that physicians should have the right to object to performing, assisting with, and referring for assisted reproduction generally when the objection is grounded in the moral value of the embryo. Furthermore, physicians may also have a moral right to object to performing, assisting with, and referring for assisted reproduction for same-sex couples, but only on conditions that are further specified.