bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Genetic Epidemiological Landscape of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?
Authors: Zengini Eleni , Finan Chris , Wilkinson J. Mark
Published: December 2015

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disease that affects the whole joint, with multiple biological and environmental factors contributing to its development. The heritable component for primary OA accounts for ∼50% of susceptibility. So far, candidate gene studies and genome-wide association scans have established 18 OA-associated loci. These findings account for 11% of the heritability, explaining a rather small fraction of the genetic component. To further unravel the genetic architecture of OA, the field needs to facilitate more precise phenotypic definitions, high genome coverage, and large sample metaanalyses, expecting the identification of rare and low frequency variants with potentially higher penetrance, and more accurate methods for calculating phenotype-genotype correlation. Expression analysis, epigenetics, and investigation of interactions can also help clarify the implicated transcriptional regulatory pathways and provide insights into further novel pathogenic OA mechanisms leading to diagnostic biomarker identification and new, more focused therapeutic disease approaches.
T2A et réification du social dans le soin : la résilience organisationnelle comme piste de solution ?
Authors: Angelé-Halgand Nathalie
Published: December 2015

Nous montrons dans ce travail comment les différents dispositifs de pilotage de la performance hospitalière induits par la T2A et la Nouvelle Gouvernance contribuent à la marchandisation du soin, qui pousse les établissements à développer l’activité à moyens constants, et nous analysons les risques qu’une telle situation fait encourir au service public, en lien notamment avec le déni de la dimension humaine. Nous apportons des éléments nourrissant la réflexion sur les pistes de solution possibles : d’abord en nous penchant sur l’exemple des organisations de haute fiabilité, qui accordent une priorité à la sécurité, et ont développé une expertise dont nous pouvons apprendre ; puis en apportant des éléments plus théoriques ouvrant la voie à un renversement paradigmatique pour considérer le service public de santé comme un bien commun, tel que défini et étudié par Elinor Ostrom.
La victime et le témoin durant la dictature militaire au Brésil : une anthropologie de la mémoire
Authors: Sarti Cynthia
Published: December 2015

Ce texte vise à réfléchir sur la souffrance liée à la violence au travers de deux figures, le témoin et la victime, dans le contexte de la mémoire contemporaine de la dictature militaire brésilienne (1964-1985). On analyse ici la façon dont ces figures se sont construites tout au long du processus par lequel la violence d’État a pu être nommée, en posant que l’indicible des expériences de violence tient moins à la difficulté ou à l’impossibilité subjective de les dire, de la part de ceux qui les ont vécues, qu’à l’absence d’un espace d’écoute et d’élaboration de ces expériences.
De la « Semaine révolutionnaire » à la « Révolution » de 1964 : itinéraires, réseaux et lieux de sociabilité de la « génération de 1922 »
Authors: Cunha Diogo Arruda Carneiro da
Published: December 2015

Étudier les droites au Brésil – ou, dans un sens plus large, le conservatisme – n’est pas chose aisée. Cela est d’autant plus vrai quand il s’agit du domaine de la culture, en particulier dans les années 1960 et 1970. L’indéniable essor de la gauche dans la création artistique laissa dans l’ombre une élite culturelle conservatrice qui fut pourtant très active depuis la dictature de Vargas jusqu’au régime militaire. Identifier les intellectuels de cette élite à partir des itinéraires de ses membres, de ses réseaux et de ses lieux de sociabilité est le premier objectif de cet article. Le second est d’ébaucher un profil de cet acteur méconnu – ou oublié – de la vie politique brésilienne des années 1960 et 1970. Pour ce faire, nous avons mené une étude de cas : nous avons fait une prosopographie des membres de l’Académie brésilienne des Lettres entre 1961 et 1979 en repérant leur lieu de naissance et leur origine sociale, les études qu’ils ont suivies, les activités exercées, les lieux de sociabilité fréquentés et les postes politiques et administratifs qu’ils ont occupés. En plus de révéler un secteur important du champ intellectuel brésilien des années 1960 et 1970 – issu en grande partie d’une même génération, que nous appelons ici « génération de 1922 », connue particulièrement pour son rôle dans le renouveau culturel des années 1920 et pour sa participation à la dictature de Getúlio Vargas –, l’emprunt de la voie prosopographique nous a permis de saisir la formation de ce réseau et de donner une perception plus fine des rapports que ses membres entretenaient entre eux, d’une part, et avec le pouvoir politique, d’autre part.
To Lend or Not to Lend
Authors: Mach Traci L. , Carter Courtney M. , Slattery Cailin R.
Published: December 2015

The current paper examines loan-level data from Lending Club to look at peer-to-peer borrowing by small businesses. We begin by looking at characteristics of loan applications that were and were not funded and then take a more in-depth look at funded applications. Summary statistics show an increasing number of small business loan applications over time. Beginning in 2010—when consistent measures of loan purpose were recorded for all applications—loan applications for small businesses were on average less likely than loans for other purposes to have been funded. However, logistic regression results that control for the quality of the application show that, holding all else constant, applications for a loan for a small business were almost twice as likely to have been funded as loans for other purposes. Focusing on funded applications, we note that funded business loans were slightly larger on average than loans funded for other purposes but paid similar interest rates. However, relative to small business loans from traditional sources, peer-to-peer small business borrowers paid an interest rate that was about two times higher. Regression results that control for application quality show that peer-to-peer loans for small businesses were charged almost a percentage point interest rate premium over non-business loans. Logistic regression results that look at loan performance indicate that loans for small businesses were much more likely to be delinquent or charged off.
Toward a Typology of Crowdfunding Motivations
Authors: Vedantam Leela
Published: December 2015

Crowdfunding is a modern approach to provide real-time financial assistance to those entrepreneurs who are interested in starting seed ventures. This phenomenon is developing slowly and the financial regulators are considering options to put appropriate checks and balances to regulate these activities. Although the experience of crowdfunding may not be satisfying as it ought to be, but there a sense of willingness on the part of the civil society to participate in crowdfunding as it is associated with a good cause. It is important to note that crowdfunding as a system is being based amongst small and mid-sized income group members. The motivation to support the cause of entrepreneurs is growing as the fund lenders are novice and in the threshold stage of supporting such seed ventures. The motivations of fund lender differ depending on their personal and environmental factors, especially in connection to the emerging laws and mandatory disclosures under the financial regulatory regime. In this paper, the focus is on (i) identification of what motivates fund lenders to support entrepreneurs and the impact of the fund movement.
Basic Types of Project Initiators
Authors: Vidal-García Javier , Vidal Marta
Published: December 2015

Crowdfunding has helped many businesses and projects to take off easily and is replacing the traditional methods of fundraising since more platforms are being created. Evaluation of the risk for both the borrower and the donor is important before investing or borrowing to ensure that the project is a success. Crowdfunding is changing the way that projects and startups get funded. Most of crowdfunding money is raised on reward-based platforms, although equity crowdfunding is growing quickly. It can be expected that crowdfunding will become more popular, with many crowdfunding new opportunities available, which will make not easy for potential investors to choose what to support. In this chapter, we introduce the reader to the basic types of project initiators-contributor relations in online crowdfunding. We review the current literature identifying the research questions relevant for our purpose. We subsequently conduct a research method of systematic review to identify the relevant papers that address those research questions.
Exploring the Spheres of Crowdfunding
Authors: Imarhiagbe Bernard Owens
Published: December 2015

This chapter reviews research and policy literatures on the spheres of crowdfunding. It identifies reward-based, donation-based, equity-based and credit-based crowdfunding with a view to collate relevant information to support crowdfunding knowledgebase and further research. As crowdfunding is a new concept in research literature, it is increasing in popularity in social media, business and research communities. Academic research in crowdfunding is limited and the subject is still evolving as a way of access to finance for seed capital, entrepreneurial projects and other early stage projects. Advanced countries in Europe and North America have recognised the relevance of crowdfunding in varying proportion from one country to another for project fundraising. However, the World Bank confirmed that developing countries are at different stages of recognition of crowdfunding in their policy framework. Although the UK financial regulator, Financial Conduct Authority, has produced a policy statement for crowdfunding and approved some service providers such as crowdfunding platforms, it is still interacting with stakeholders and providing guidance to potential entrepreneurs on the operational models. Crowdfunding is a way of raising small amounts of money from different contributors over the internet for different types of projects. There are huge management implications in the spheres of crowdfunding.
Does Crowdfunding (Creatively) Disturb the Conventional (Banking) Alliances with Support Networks for Financing (Micro-)Entrepreneurs?
Authors: Mercier Nathalie , Alia Hayyan , Ashta Arvind , Ben Nasr Maaouia , Bonescu Mihaela , Ndiaye Ahmadou Bamba
Published: December 2015

Microentrepreneurs need financial capital as well as human and social capital. Banks prefer refinancing microfinance institutions and capacity building organizations rather than dealing with microentrepreneurs directly. In this chapter, we examine if the advent of crowdfunding could disturb such relations. Our research question is “what is the perception of people working in support networks on the changing of the relations between banks, support networks and crowdfunding platforms?” In this chapter, we first provide a background on entrepreneurship and coaching in France, emphasizing the role of the entrepreneurial support networks. Thereafter, we present our research methodology based on semi-structured interviews with managers in these support networks. The findings from these interviews are presented in the third section. We find that while the support networks are aware of crowdfunding initiatives, they do not think it will make a major change to the existing relations. This finding is original because most other research seems flabbergasted by the dramatic speed of development of crowdfunding sites. In the fourth section, we analyze the discourse using Nvivo software. The recommendations that emerge from this analysis point to using crowdfunding more as a tool of image building and communication.
Separating the Wheat from the Chaff
Authors: Sahakian Marlyne , Servet Jean-Michel
Published: December 2015

This chapter assesses crowdfunding as part of a growing interest in the sharing economy. Conceptual handles are proposed for apprehending what is meant by ‘sharing' and how this relates to crowdfunding. The notion of ‘the common' is revived, which involves placing societal interests ahead of personal gain. We distinguish self-interest sharing from what we term ‘communal sharing', which involves making financial services accessible and usable based on an identification of people's or societal needs. Drawing from crowdfunding examples mostly in the United States and France, with some reflections on crowdfunding in developing countries, we assess the nature and purpose of such activities, and distinguish between different levels of analysis, including the ‘platform and motivation for the platform', the ‘mechanism and donors' and the ‘project'. We conclude with a discussion around the implications of our findings towards the long-term viability of crowdfunding platforms.
Introduction to Solid Waste and Its Management
Authors: Aziz Hamidi Abdul , Abu Amr Salem S.
Published: December 2015

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal has become an increasingly serious problem in many parts of the world. In general, greater economic prosperity and a higher percentage of urban population correspond to a greater amount of solid waste produced. However, less effort has been exerted in the proper management of solid wastes produced by urban dwellers, particularly in developing countries. This chapter introduces the basic MSW rules. MSW composition, production, and collection are also highlighted. Furthermore, the concept of landfilling and waste decomposition is discussed in this chapter.
Waste Disposal
Authors: Farraji Hossein , Zaman Nastaein Qamaruz , Mohajeri Parsa
Published: December 2015

Through the human municipality growing and industrialization process, productions of municipal solid waste have been growing in parallel line. The properties and composition of municipal solid waste as the main solid waste produced by human has cultural, regional, social habits and behavior, beside the economic condition, influences the properties and compositions of waste disposal, which contains process that start after collecting and transporting MSW to landfill site. After site selection, the process of recycling, waste composting and incineration will be assessed as intermediate disposal methods. Our final goal in waste disposal focused on environmental protection. This chapter will have a review on recycling merits and as effective ecofriendly methods for disposing municipal solid waste (MSW) for saving greenhouse gases (GHGs). Incineration as a commercial waste disposal will also be reviewed. Making decision about waste disposal is a multi-criteria issue because of MSW mixture, climacteric of area, cultural and economic condition, technical support, and environmental impact.
Biological Treatment Technology for Landfill Leachate
Authors: Tajarudin Husnul Azan Bin , Othman Mohd Firdaus Bin , Serri Noor Aziah Binti , Tamat Muhammad Redzwan Bin
Published: December 2015

Biological process for environmental preservation and treatment is not a new technology. It was used a decade ago until now. The most important tools in biological processes are the microorganism and upstream instruments (bioreactor, pond and others) to run the process. Furthermore, the efficiency of the process depends on many factors such as temperature, pH, type of microorganism, conditions, and other nutrients. To understand the factors that will affect the process, mechanisms of microorganisms to treat or protect the environment must be considered. For leachate treatment, biological process is one of the most widely used techniques for low cost and environmentally friendly.
Chemical Treatment Technologies for Landfill Leachate
Authors: Abu Amr Salem S. , Zainol Noor Ainee Binti
Published: December 2015

Leachate generation is one of the main pollutants associated with municipal solid waste (MSW). Leachate is a liquid that has seeped through solid waste in a landfill and extracted dissolved or suspended materials in the process, and usually contains a complex variety of materials and organic compounds. Dedicated treatment facilities are required before leachate can be discharged to the environment. Researchers worldwide are still searching for a total solution to solve leachate problem. In this chapter, different chemical treatment methods for leachate including coagulation–flocculation, Fenton and Electro-Fenton oxidation, persulfate oxidation, ozonation, and advanced oxidation processes are reviewed and discussed. Nevertheless, the efficiency of each process was also evaluated. It can be concluded that the performance of these processes is mainly attributed to leachate type and initial organic concentrations whereas treatment performance weakens reported at older age and higher initial concentrations of leachate.
Studying Philanthropy and Fundraising in the Field of Higher Education
Authors: Chan Roy Y.
Published: December 2015

Colleges and universities are historic institutions in the U.S. that have sprung up since the founding of Harvard College in 1636. Though their evolution and development is quite simple, the involvement of numerous organizations and groups with philanthropy and higher education is quite complex. Utilizing resource dependency theory and institutional theory, this chapter reviews the historical, sociological, and organizational overview of the practices of philanthropy as it relates to American higher education. Two conceptual frameworks are developed and proposed by the author for teacher-scholars and advanced practitioners seeking to conduct formal research on institutional advancement in higher education. The paper argues that the fundraising professionals (e.g., board of trustees, the president, development officers) role on securing major resources and private gifts within the organization and field level is the result of coercion, imitation, and conformity to institutional rule, institutional isomorphism, and normatively based decision making in higher education.
Dynamics of Collaboration between U.S. Foundations and African Universities
Authors: Jaumont Fabrice
Published: December 2015

The question of interest in this chapter is the recent project referred to as the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa, and the partner Foundations' goal to contribute to the transformation of a select number of universities in selected African countries. Can public universities in sub-Saharan Africa fully accept the solutions proposed by a private donorship from the West? In exploring the question this chapter draws upon the theoretical frameworks of neo-institutionalism and resource dependency to analyze the related issues. It also reviews, within a neo-institutional perspective, the long-standing debate on U.S. foundations' international activities, and discusses these foundations' perceived influence over Africa's higher education system. Applied to the relationship between U.S. foundations and African universities, this lens seeks to shed new light on the debate about donor funding and its influence on educational reforms.
The Role of Corporate and Foundation Relations Development Officers (CFRs)
Authors: Clevenger Morgan R. , MacGregor Cynthia J.
Published: December 2015

Corporate and foundation relations development officers (CFRs) play a vital role in philanthropy and resource development within higher education. Specifically, these leaders focus time building relationships with individuals who represent corporations and foundations that are able contribute to the needs and programs of an academic institution (Clevenger, 2014; Hunt, 2012; Sanzone, 2000; Saul, 2011; Walton & Gasman, 2008). CFRs must be intimately familiar with their own institution, organizational priorities, and key leaders to be able to create and orchestrate touch-points, engagement and volunteer opportunities, and mutually beneficial inter-organizational partnerships. CFRs manage a complex intersection of internal constituents' programs and interests while simultaneously trying to meet aggressive signature philanthropic platforms for companies or foundation programmatic initiatives.
Learning to Teach the Media
Authors: Redmond Theresa A.
Published: December 2015

Media literacy education (MLE) has been recognized as an important 21st century skill that promotes critical inquiry. Many educative organizations have disseminated papers calling for MLE in PK-12 schooling. Yet, it is unclear how MLE is being incorporated in teacher education programs. This chapter reports research from a qualitative study that aims to examine how pre-service teachers (PSTs) articulate the value of MLE for 21st century teaching and learning while enrolled in a core education course that encompasses media literacy. The author employed a constant-comparative analysis of student data collected from different course sections over three semesters. The results indicate that PSTs value MLE as a pedagogy that promotes effective media integration, fosters critical thinking, and develops curriculum connections. Further, the results suggest that MLE may be useful in cultivating PSTs' technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK), in turn developing their skills in technology and media integration.
Terms of the Digital Age
Authors: Rosenfeld Kimberly N.
Published: December 2015

This chapter defines terms of the digital age as they relate to digital media literacy. The changing landscape of society is demonstrated through the recalibration occurring in media processes and the cultural forms they generate. These conditions have fostered cultural paradigms unique to the digital age: paradigms aligned with either humanistic or capitalist perspectives, and marketing playing a role with respect to this tension. An analysis of two policies in the form of new curricula reveals that more must be done to prepare, protect, and empower a digitally literate citizenry. The chapter closes with an argument that the first step in this direction must involve both establishing digital media literacy as a discipline as well as deepening and extending current media literacy frameworks.
The Freedom of Critical Thinking
Authors: Fleming Jennifer , Kajimoto Masato
Published: December 2015

This study examines how college educators in Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Malaysia adopted and adapted lessons gleaned from a news literacy curriculum developed by journalism instructors at Stony Brook University in New York. In doing so, the chapter situates the emerging field of news literacy within parameters of its parent field, media literacy, and current trends in digitization, globalization, and information freedom. Details on how educators in Asia made a pedagogy designed for American citizens relevant to their students and how they negotiated country-specific social, cultural, and political contexts are included. Future directions in research include more in-depth and comparative understandings of the processes at work in localizing media literacy frameworks as well as an exploration of what media literacy educators in the United States and other democracies can learn from their counterparts in countries where accessing, creating, and disseminating information could be considered subversive activities.
Media Literacy in the Digital Age
Authors: Manzoor Amir
Published: December 2015

Time has come to equip people communities around the world with digital and media literacy skills. In order make informed decisions, people need ability to access, analyze and engage in critical thinking about the daily messages they receive on a variety of issues such as health and politics. Today's “connected homes” provide people access to latest information and communication technologies. To become an effective participants in the information society of 21st century, people need not only acquire the multimedia skills but also the ability to use these skills effectively. One way this can be achieved is by including digital and media literacy in formal education. The objective of this chapter is to examine the media literacy programs working across the world to equip citizens to analyze and evaluate incoming information. In addition, the chapter provides some specific recommendations to bring digital and media literacy education into formal and informal settings.
Pedagogical Guidelines to Introduce Transmedia Learning into the Classroom
Authors: Gallo Patricia , Coelho Maria das Graças Pinto
Published: December 2015

Transmedia learning has been adopted as a theoretical and practical approach aimed at young students learning with technologies. It allows for open, dynamic, and engaging teaching and learning, integrating the school curriculum with life and sociocultural demands in a continuous information flow. This paper presents some pedagogical guidelines for introducing transmedia learning into the classrooms. For this, we will take into account the Brazilian context regarding the technologies and media available in Brazilian public schools, the media literacy of students and teachers, and the rules derived from the management team.
Cognitive Approach to Improve Media Literacy
Authors: Karadag Zekeriya , Devecioglu-Kaymakci Yasemin
Published: December 2015

This chapter starts with an exploration of the media literacy literature and its place in the developing 21st century. The literature suggests that media literacy should be considered as one of the capstones for the skills needed for the 21st century citizens. In terms of developing media literacy skills, scholars look at the concept from either cognitive or social perspective, and the review reveals that both of them are closely related to each other. Moreover, the study asserts that cognitive and metacognitive skills play a significant role in developing the media literacy and the skills for 21st century. Then, the chapter presents a city-wide activity done in Bayburt, Turkey. It is our assumption that the case presented here may be an inspiring example for whom may want to explore different approaches.
Media Literacy, Co-Innovation, and Productivity
Authors: Martínez-Cerdá Juan-Francisco , Torrent-Sellens Joan , Caprino Mônica Pegurer
Published: December 2015

This research analyzes the connections between media literacy and context of the knowledge economy, establishing a relationship between so-called co-innovative sources (ICT, organizational innovation and qualifications of employees) of the business environment and media literacy. It seeks to verify the behavior of media literacy as a co-innovative source, as fundamental as the three other ones to the viability and sustainability of companies. Authors start from a literature review related to media literacy and knowledge-based economy and then raise their own model that integrates the co-innovative sources and media literacy (the ‘Tetrahedron of Co-Innovative Sources') with which analyze media literacy in the business context. To verify the proposed relations, the research uses the Celot and Pérez Tornero's (2009) framework (proposed in the “Study on Assessment Criteria for Media Literacy Levels” delivered to the European Commission) with official statistical sources in Europe, returning results with which to test the hypothesis that a higher level of media literacy of citizens of a country has a positive influence on its companies and businesses.
Bring the Media Literacy of Turkish Pre-Service Teachers to the Table
Authors: Reis Zerrin Ayvaz
Published: December 2015

In this study “media” which has different meaning from basic media tools of communications industry such as named newspaper, journal, magazine and television broadcast as a printed and electronic media has defined for education. This definition basically has used to express in the field of computer-supported training and web-based distance education tools including today's developments in technology. This research study was conducted Istanbul University Hasan Ali Yucel Faculty of Education students who were pre-service teachers. The research was carried out in three stages. In the first stage; a computer-aided application which was prepared in game format had been selected to be use as training material. In the second phase has been investigated how it is understood by the target audience of these prepared course materials. Finally; to put forth candidate teachers' media literacy ability during their preparing phase of course material as well as preparing the assessment using qualitative and quantitative studies have been conducted. In the conclusion, the deficiencies have been revealed and presented suggestions for solutions.
How to Use Parody and Humour to Teach Digital Literacy
Authors: Pereira Luis
Published: December 2015

Based on the assumption digital literacy needs a practical approach and actions, this chapter presents an initiative that intends to develop digital skills in a very creative way. Considering the challenge educators (for instance, teachers or librarians) face to promote digital literacy skills especially to young people in a very engaging way, some training was developed to create a possible answer to that problem. This chapter discusses the impact of that initiative that highlights the potential of humour and parody that we can find on digital media to teach digital literacy. According to some attendants, this approach was creative, engaging and built in their minds alternative paths to explore digital literacy and critical thinking.
Fashion Supply Chain Optimization
Authors: Tambo Torben , Mikkelsen Ole Egebjerg
Published: December 2015

In global, short-life-cycle supply chains, the Make-to-Order (MTO) principle of purchasing is dominant in securing the match between customers' commitment and ordered goods. Risk can be addressed by linking knowledge on inbound logistics to the market by use of e-business solutions. This chapter describes a multi-method approach using both traditional B2B and B2C methods of sales initiatives as an e-business system connecting inbound and outbound supply chains. Initiatives can be reverse auctions, time limited discounts, co-selling, bundling, short campaigns supported with letters, e-mails, giveaways, discount schemes, and payment conditions. Interlinking is to secure full transparency at any given point in time. The discussed solution has the potential of diverting goods to retailers instead of warehouses with the probable effect of increasing revenue of both wholesale and retail with 5 – 10%. Concurrently, the attention created from selling on-ship creates side effects like higher store replenishment rate and attracts frequent shoppers interested in continuously new offerings.
Dynamic Vehicle Routing Solution in the Framework of Nature-Inspired Algorithms
Authors: Kaiwartya Omprakash , Tiwari Pawan Kumar , Kumar Sushil , Prasad Mukesh
Published: December 2015

Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), a well-known combinatorial optimization problem had been presented by Dantzing and Hamser in 1959. The problem has taken its inspiration from the transport field. In real field environment, a lot of variants of the problem exist that actually belongs to the class of NP-hard problem. Dynamic Vehicle routing problem (DVRP) is one of the variant of VRP that varies with respect to time. In DVRP, new customer orders appear over time and new route must be reconfigured at any instantaneous time. Although, some exact algorithms such as dynamic programming methods, branch and bound etc. can be applied to find the optimal route of a smaller size VRP. But, These Algorithms fail to give the solution of existed model of VRP in real field environment under given real time constraints. Courier services, dial a ride services and express mail delivery etc. are the few examples of real field environment problems that can be formulated in the form of DVRP. In this chapter, A novel variants of DVRP named as DVRP with geographic ranking (DVRP-GR) has been proposed. In DVRP-GR, geographical ranking, customer ranking, service time, expected reachability time, customer satisfaction level have been optimized. A solution of DVRP-GR using seed based particle swarm optimization (S-DVRS-PSO) has been also proposed. The simulations have been performed using customized simulator developed in C++ environment. The data sets used in the simulations are OMK-01, OMK-02 and OMK-03 generated in real vehicular environment. The solution of the proposed algorithm has been compared with the randomized solution technique. Analysis of the simulation results confirms the effectiveness of the proposed solution in terms of various parameters considered viz. number of vehicles, expected reachability time, profit and customer satisfaction.
Assessing the Readiness of Farmers towards Cold Chain Management
Authors: Joshi Rohit , Joshi Sudhanshu
Published: December 2015

The purpose of the paper is to gain an insight into the current status of farmers' awareness and practices towards maintaining the postharvest cold chain. The related hypotheses are developed and tested. The major findings include- marginalized and small farms, literacy and poor awareness level are the main causes for the backwardness of Indian farmers. Also, lack of funds forces farmers to ignore the use of cold storage. Further, multi-intermediaries and fluctuating consumer prices result farmers in not getting fair share of the consumer rupee. One of the major challenges in front of fresh food industry in India is to reduce postharvest losses across the chain through increasing awareness level of famers towards cold chain, building market information systems to assist farmers in decision-making and improving food safety and quality of farm produce available in the market.
Challenges and Issues in E-Banking Services and Operations in Developing Countries
Authors: Rana Preeti , Pandey Durgesh
Published: December 2015

In recent years we have seen a number of changes in banking sector of India. Main objective of banks is to create more value for customers; that is why most of the banks have begun to take an innovative approach for this purpose. In the world of banking and finance, nothing stands still. Now a day's banking activities is not limited to deposit and lending money to customers Apart from traditional business, banks provide a wide range of services to satisfy the needs of all types of customers whether it is financial or non-financial needs from the smallest account holder to the largest company and in some cases of non-customers. As a result of recent developments, the entire banking industry has restructured and new technologies are also introduced to make it competitive. Revolution of Information Technology has made it possible to provide ease and flexibility in operations to customers thus making life simpler and easier so bank can provide a variety of products and services to the customers. The E-Banking process has changed the way of working of banks across the world. In the chapter, the author reviews the literature on “The issues and challenges of e-banking service operation” what is the perception of people towards E-Banking in different developing countries?” As E-Banking is an emerging concept in the field of commerce and banking. This paper furnishes the study of E-banking in developing countries through an analysis of content & existing literature that focused on developing countries. The main purpose of the study is to present the current level of research on E-banking in developing countries. Electronic banking (e-banking) is the new technology in banking environment that allows the bank customers to do banking activities at any time and from any place.
Heavy Metal Pollution and its Management
Authors: Rathoure Ashok K.
Published: December 2015

Environmental degradation has become a major societal issue thanks to uncontrolled anthropogenic activity, besides natural factors. Entry of toxic heavy metals and minerals in human system mainly through contaminated water, food and air, leads to overt and insidious health problems. Heavy metal pollution, a global concern today, can be managed by using bioremediation, an eco-friendly alternative. Bioremediation is one of the most promising technological approaches to the problem of hazardous waste. It is a technology for removing pollution from environment, restoring contaminated site and preventing future pollution. Bioremediation can be performed in situ or ex situ. Microorganisms directly degrade contaminants rather than merely transferring them from one medium to another, employ metabolic degradation pathways and can be used in situ to minimize disturbance of the cleanup site. Hence, microorganisms can be effective, economical and non-disruptive tools for eliminating hazardous chemicals. Its advantage generally outweigh the disadvantage, therefore may be used as management tool.
Application of Genomics and Proteomics in Bioremediation
Authors: Hivrale Amol Uttam , Pawar Pankaj K. , Rane Niraj R. , Govindwar Sanjay P.
Published: December 2015

Bioremediation mediated by microorganisms is proving to be cost effective, ecofriendly and sustainable technology. Genome enable experimental and modeling techniques are of a great help in evaluating physiology and enhancing performance of life forms to be used for bioremediation purpose. Similarly, the application of proteomics in bioremediation research provides a global view of the protein composition of microbial cell and offers promising approach to understand the molecular mechanism of removal of toxic material from the environment. Combination of proteomics and genomics in bioremediation is an insight into global metabolic and regulatory network that can enhance the understanding of gene functions. Present chapter give a bird's eye view of genomics and proteomics and their potential utilization in bioremediation and for the clearer understanding of the cellular responses to environmental stimuli. An understanding of the growth conditions governing the expression of proteome in a specific environment is essential for developing rational strategies for successful bioremediation.
Genetically Engineered Microorganisms for Bioremediation Processes
Authors: Benjamin Stephen Rathinaraj , de Lima Fabio , Rathoure Ashok K.
Published: December 2015

In the past few decades, environmental pollution is a major issue which affects biodiversity public health and eco systems present in worldwide, nowadays, microbial potential are connected to effect the clean-up of environmental pollutants. Conventional methods are focus on the separation, rather than the destruction of contaminants, the use of genetically engineered microorganisms for bioremediation would be an alternative, environmentally friendly, more effectiveness and economical clean-up technique for the remediation of pollutants in present in contaminated sites. A combined strategies relationship between genetic engineered microbes and bioremediation can enhance the effectiveness of contaminants sites. Here, we have elaborated recent work on the investigation and improvement of these microbes using genetic tools and given an outlook of what may be possible in the near future.
Novel Bioremediation Methods in Waste Management
Authors: Gupta Charu , Prakash Dhan
Published: December 2015

Bioremediation technologies are one of the novel methods in the field of waste and environment management and are presently gaining immense credibility for being eco-compatible. Bioremediation using microbes has been well accepted as an environment friendly and economical treatment method for disposal of hazardous petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated waste (oily waste). Besides this, earthworms can be used to extract toxic heavy metals, including cadmium and lead, from solid waste from domestic refuse collection and waste from vegetable and flower markets. Other novel methods used recently for treatment of wastes are plasma incineration or plasma assisted gasification and pyrolysis technology. The technologies applied for conditioning include ultrasonic degradation, chemical degradation, enzyme addition, electro-coagulation and biological cell destruction. Genetic engineering is another method for improving bioremediation of heavy metals and organic pollutants. Transgenic plants and associated bacteria constitute a new generation of genetically modified organisms for bioremediation.
A Prospective Study on Emerging Role of Phytoremediation by Endophytic Microorganisms
Authors: Verma Amita , Shukla Parjanya Kumar
Published: December 2015

Colonies of endophytes are excellent example of beneficial association with most plants in their natural state. Endophytic colonies and plant associations are beneficial in many ways such as supplying biologically fixed nitrogen, regulation of phytohormone production thus enhancing the plant growth, resistance to environmental stress etc. these associations are also important for the agriculture and industries because they produce important medicinal, agriculture and industrial compounds as endophytic metabolites. When we concern about the waste management, degradation and biotransformation of several toxins, the phytoremediation by using endophytes has been developed as important tool. Current chapter reviles, study and collect most of important knowledge, recent ongoing research, technologies, roles and advancements in biodegradation and biotransformation of different types of toxic wastes and their effects on environment with phytoremediation by endophytes.
Decolorization of Direct Blue
Authors: Shankara S.  , Dupadahalli Kotresha , Vijayakumar M. H.  , Gaddad S. M.
Published: December 2015

A thermo-alkalophilic bacterium isolated from textile mill effluent samples and identified as a Bacillus sp., on the basis of biochemical tests. The selected bacterium showed high decolorization activity in static condition as compared to shaking condition and the maximum 1000 mg l-1 Direct Blue-14 dye decolorization was takes place in 72 h. The optimum physical parameters such as temperature 40-50 °C, pH 8.0 with 2.5% (w/v) of nitrogen source and 4% (w/v) glucose were required for the decolorization of Direct Blue-14 from this bacterium. UV–Visible analyses and colorless bacterial cells suggested that Bacillus sp. exhibited decolorizing activity through biodegradation, rather than inactive surface adsorption. The degraded dye metabolites are analyzed by TLC and diazotization, carbylamines, Ames test for individual metabolite indicates biotransformation of Direct Blue-14 into aromatic amine and non-toxic aromatic metabolites. These results suggest that the isolated organism Bacillus sp. as a useful tool to treat waste water containing azo dyes at static condition.
The Pressure Cooker Approach for Open Standards Development
Authors: Folmer Erwin , Roes Jasper
Published: December 2015

The new open world requires new approaches for IT development, and in particular for open standards. In the old world an average development time of 36 months (for European standards) is current practice, but not aligned with current and future needs. This chapter introduces a pressure cooker approach in which openness plays a crucial role in the development leading to an open standards with positive effects on adoption. Several case studies show that the average development time is reduced to an average of 25 weeks, that the approach is still improvable, and that users of the developed standards are to a certain extend satisfied with the quality of the standard. The pressure cooker concept fits within the development and management model of open standards (BOMOS) mainly for dealing with the operational development steps.
IP and Electric Vehicles Standards
Authors: Gerst Martina , Gao Xudong
Published: December 2015

This book chapter explores the interplay between IP and standardization in the case of New Electric Vehicles (NEV) in China. This case has been chosen because NEVs are an important part of urban E-mobility concepts and therefore currently on top of Government agendas in many countries in the world – also in China. NEV standardization takes place in an international multi-stakeholder environment, embedded in a rapidly changing, competitive and complex global environment, highly influenced by competing regional innovation policies. Today, we observe a technology-based competition over the inclusion of IPR in standards and the resulting capability to exert control over markets. Thus, national and regional innovation policies influence not only the standards development of electric vehicles in one particular market – in our case China - but also affect the standardization management of multi-national companies (MNC), for example in charging.
Quantity and biochemical composition of particulate organic matter in a highly trawled area (Thermaikos Gulf, Eastern Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Pusceddu Antonio , Bianchelli Silvia , Danovaro Roberto
Published: December 2015

Bottom trawling represents nowadays one of the most severe anthropogenic disturbances at sea, and determines large impacts on benthic communities and processes. Bottom trawling determines also local sediment resuspension and the effects of the injection of large amounts of surface sediments into the water column have been repeatedly investigated. Few studies have assessed the consequences of sediment resuspension caused by bottom trawling on the quantity, biochemical composition and bioavailability of suspended organic particles and how these eventually rival those exerted by natural storms. To provide insights on this poorly addressed issue, we investigated concentrations and biochemical composition of total and enzymatically digestible pools of particulate organic matter (POM) in the Thermaikos Gulf (Mediterranean Sea) under calm sea conditions, during intensive trawling activities, and after a severe storm. We show here that sediment resuspension caused by trawling can cause large effects on POM quantity, biochemical composition and bioavailability. Both during trawling and after the storm, the relative importance of the carbohydrate pools increased (in the upper water column) and the total lipid concentrations decreased (in the intermediate and bottom layers) when compared to values measured during calm conditions. These results would suggest that bottom trawling could inject in the upper water column POM pools more refractory in nature (e.g., carbohydrates) than those present in calm or after-storm conditions. By contrast, we show also that the bioavailable fraction of biopolymeric C increased significantly during trawling in the upper water column of the shallowest stations and in the bottom water column layer of the deepest ones. These results provide evidence that bottom trawling can influence the overall trophic status of coastal waters, exerting effects similar or stronger than those caused by natural storms, though of variable amplitude depending on the water depth. Since bottom trawling is carried out worldwide and natural storms at sea can be frequent and intense, we claim for the need of assessing new adapting management strategies of bottom trawling in order to mitigate the synergistic impacts of anthropogenic and natural sediment resuspension on coastal biogeochemical cycles.