bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Modal Defeasible Reasoner of Deontic Logic for the Semantic Web
Authors: Kontopoulos Efstratios , Bassiliades Nick , Governatori Guido , Antoniou Grigoris
Published: April 2013

Defeasible logic is a non-monotonic formalism that deals with incomplete and conflicting information, whereas modal logic deals with the concepts of necessity and possibility. These types of logics play a significant role in the emerging Semantic Web, which enriches the available Web information with meaning, leading to better cooperation between end-users and applications. Defeasible and modal logics, in general, and, particularly, deontic logic provide means for modeling agent communities, where each agent is characterized by its cognitive profile and normative system, as well as policies, which define privacy requirements, access permissions, and individual rights. Toward this direction, this article discusses the extension of DR-DEVICE, a Semantic Web-aware defeasible reasoner, with a mechanism for expressing modal logic operators, while testing the implementation via deontic logic operators, concerned with obligations, permissions, and related concepts. The motivation behind this work is to develop a practical defeasible reasoner for the Semantic Web that takes advantage of the expressive power offered by modal logics, accompanied by the flexibility to define diverse agent behaviours. A further incentive is to study the various motivational notions of deontic logic and discuss the cognitive state of agents, as well as the interactions among them.
ACRONYM
Authors: Monaghan Fergal , Handschuh Siegfried , O’Sullivan David
Published: April 2013

With the advent of online social networks and User-Generated Content (UGC), the social Web is experiencing an explosion of audio-visual data. However, the usefulness of the collected data is in doubt, given that the means of retrieval are limited by the semantic gap between them and people’s perceived understanding of the memories they represent. Whereas machines interpret UGC media as series of binary audio-visual data, humans perceive the context under which the content is captured and the people, places, and events represented. The Annotation CReatiON for Your Media (ACRONYM) framework addresses the semantic gap by supporting the creation of a layer of explicit machine-interpretable meaning describing UGC context. This paper presents an overview of a use case of ACRONYM for semantic annotation of personal photographs. The authors define a set of recommendation algorithms employed by ACRONYM to support the annotation of generic UGC multimedia. This paper introduces the context metrics and combination methods that form the recommendation algorithms used by ACRONYM to determine the people represented in multimedia resources. For the photograph annotation use case, these result in an increase in recommendation accuracy. Context-based algorithms provide a cheap and robust means of UGC media annotation that is compatible with and complimentary to content-recognition techniques.
An Enhanced Semantic Layer for Hybrid Recommender Systems
Authors: Cantador Iván , Castells Pablo , Bellogín Alejandro
Published: April 2013

Recommender systems have achieved success in a variety of domains, as a means to help users in information overload scenarios by proactively finding items or services on their behalf, taking into account or predicting their tastes, priorities, or goals. Challenging issues in their research agenda include the sparsity of user preference data and the lack of flexibility to incorporate contextual factors in the recommendation methods. To a significant extent, these issues can be related to a limited description and exploitation of the semantics underlying both user and item representations. The authors propose a three-fold knowledge representation, in which an explicit, semantic-rich domain knowledge space is incorporated between user and item spaces. The enhanced semantics support the development of contextualisation capabilities and enable performance improvements in recommendation methods. As a proof of concept and evaluation testbed, the approach is evaluated through its implementation in a news recommender system, in which it is tested with real users. In such scenario, semantic knowledge bases and item annotations are automatically produced from public sources.
Learning Management System Evaluation and Selection
Authors: Koutropoulos Apostolos
Published: April 2013

Educational technology goes hand-in-hand with pedagogy when it comes to teaching and learning. At the center of our collection of educational tools, especially those in online-only courses, is the Learning Management System (LMS). Compared to other newer technologies, such as blogs and wikis, the selection and implementation of an LMS requires more in-depth evaluation due to the higher re-implementation costs associated with making an initial poor choice. LMS choice goes beyond a simple comparison of the various tools available in the various LMS candidates. This case study examines the process by which the UMassOnline consortium chose an LMS to replace their end-of-life LMS. In this case we describe the Learning Platform Review process that drove our decision-making, the rationale behind this process, and the outcomes. This LPR process is based on agile methodology, and it was the first use case of the LPR for the UMassOnline consortium; we therefore also include a post-modem analysis, what we learned, and what we would have done differently.
E-Learning Service Delivery Quality
Authors: Alsabawy Ahmed Younis , Cater-Steel Aileen , Soar Jeffrey
Published: April 2013

E-learning systems have received considerable attention from researchers, educational institutions, and organisations for their anticipated benefits. The objective of e-learning systems is to provide students with educational services via electronic channels. User dissatisfaction is considered the main issue facing universities in regards to e-learning systems. Service Delivery Quality (SDQ) can be deemed an essential concern for management and customers. This research investigates the role of SDQ on user satisfaction on two levels: the effect of SDQ on user satisfaction, and the effect of each sub-dimension of SDQ on user satisfaction. This paper reports on a study which surveyed 720 external students at an Australian university. The findings highlight the critical role of SDQ on user satisfaction. Based on the results of structural equation modeling and content analysis, a set of recommendations was formulated. The aim was to help improve service delivery quality, user satisfaction, and greater overall success of e-learning systems.
Embedding Plagiarism Detection Mechanisms into Learning Management Systems
Authors: Butakov Sergey , Shcherbinin Vladislav , Diagilev Vadim , Tskhay Alexander
Published: April 2013

The main objectives of this chapter are to review available plagiarism detection tools, discuss the most popular software tools on the market and describe the new architecture for plagiarism detection tools. The proposed architecture emphasizes lightweight integration with LMS as well as the possibility for the LMS owner to adjust the amount of information that is being transferred to plagiarism detection service based on the intellectual property protection rules adopted by the school. This chapter shows how the proposed architecture was implemented as a plug-in for the Moodle LMS. A set of user trials is provided to show practical applicability of the proposed solutions.
Synchronous Tools in Support of Teaching and Learning
Authors: Shah-Nelson Clark
Published: April 2013

Instant messaging and text chat, online collaborative whiteboards, web conferencing and other synchronous Web 2.0 tools are increasingly finding their way into higher education and are available in both commercially-branded and open source varieties. This chapter describes excellent practices and challenges in using these tools for synchronous and blended course delivery, collaboration, learning activities, and technical support, based on the author’s experience in online education and online-teaching support. Synchronous tools can provide immediate and efficient communication for instructors, learners and support staff, foster community and establish a heightened sense of social presence. An increasing number of practitioners in the field of distance learning are using synchronous tools to reach their learning and support objectives (Murphy and Rodríguez Manzanares, 2008). Today, institutions have a whole menu of synchronous tools to choose from, ranging from free and open-source software to more costly commercial enterprise systems. These tools enable education and support for teaching and learning to happen across great distances and on all types of mobile and not-so-mobile computer devices. This chapter will describe some of these tools, the types of needs that drive their use, and strategies for effective use and implementation.
Leveraging Learning Theory and Learning Management Systems in Higher Education
Authors: Harris Colleen S. , Rausch David W.
Published: April 2013

This chapter is intended to inform practitioners and those who design curricula in online and hybrid-delivery programs, particularly at the graduate level. After a review of the different learning theories, the chapter explores how constructivist and cognitivist learning theory can best inform the practice of educators using a learning management system (LMS) to design their learning environments. A thorough review of the literature explores the important role facilitation plays in the LMS learning experience, noting in particular the impact of facilitation on both learning and social engagement. Finally, the chapter reviews the experience of designing and implementing a hybrid-delivery doctoral program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and concludes with areas for further research.
Virtual Tools in Medical Education
Authors: Epstein Jason H. , Goldberg Andrew , Krol Marina , Levine Adam
Published: April 2013

Technology has become ubiquitous throughout medical education. Currently there is a wide range of tools that can be used to supplement traditional classroom and clinical learning. Simulators and mobile devices are among the tools that may make an especially significant impact on educating medical practitioners. Simulators range from simple part-task trainers to complex high-fidelity human patient simulators. Internet-enabled handheld portable computers such as the iPad® have begun to revolutionize and expand the medical classroom to even further reaches. Instructional design principles maintain that these technologies can and should be used to allow practitioners to learn by playing. Blind investment in these technologies, however, can quickly turn these technologies into a waste of time and money. We present principles intended to ensure that factors such as cost, size and technological expertise are taken into consideration when investing in such technologies for medical education. Following these principles will allow a medical department to optimize the cost-benefit ratio of an investment in simulation and portable computer technology for medical education.
Evaluating iPad Applications
Authors: Kiekel Jean , Kirk E.E.
Published: April 2013

Traditional classrooms based solely on textbooks and print-based reading material no longer fit ways students gain knowledge. Advances and innovations in technology are changing the way students of all ages learn. The latest innovation, smaller tablet style computers such as iPads, is further changing the way technology is used in schoolrooms. Popularity of these devices and the ability to download applications to them opens a world of uses for such devices in classrooms. The appropriate use of these devices and choice of appropriate applications for educational purposes provides a new realm of research opportunities for scholars. Educators and administrators need to feel confident capital expenditures on tablet devices will fulfill the promise of a positive impact in classrooms. This chapter explores the readability of one of the more popular applications for iPads in an attempt to discover whether reading levels of the application are appropriate for students in elementary, middle, and high school.
Pedagogy and Use of Apps for Early Literacy
Authors: Parette Howard P. , Blum Craig , Luthin Katie
Published: April 2013

As early childhood education professionals increasingly integrate apps into their classroom settings to support literacy development, they are challenged to effectively connect Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles with apps and a pedagogy that leads to outcomes. The EXPECT IT-PLAN IT-TEACH IT conceptual framework for integrating apps and other 21st Century technologies into the curriculum provides guidance for making such connections. An overview of the framework and its relationship to instructional strategies and assessment is presented, coupled with descriptions of three prominent apps having UDL features and which hold potential to support literacy development. Examples of how the apps are connected to instructional methods and integration strategies are provided.
Back to the Future
Authors: Underation Chris
Published: April 2013

As the Internet rises as a center for reading and writing, many are expressing concerns about fractured reading, shallow knowledge, and shorter attention spans that digital media encourages. These criticisms miss the point: a new literacy is rising, and this literacy is bringing about a change every bit as profound as the change from oral to literate culture. Using Walter Ong’s concept of secondary orality, this study explores the likelihood that oral culture and literate culture are being forged into a new type of literacy that restores some of the virtues of oral culture to our society. Current statistics and studies indicate there is a renaissance of reading in the United States, likely as a result of reading online.
Clarification of Abilities and Qualities of Knowledge Coordinators
Authors: Chihara Kayano , Nakamori Yoshiteru
Published: April 2013

Abilities and qualities of key persons in regional revitalization projects are unclear, although in connection with the recognition of the importance of these projects, fostering talent is an urgent task. Based on the concept that a key person in regional revitalization projects is the knowledge coordinator, this paper explores abilities and qualities of knowledge coordinators. As a result, the knowledge coordinator in regional revitalization projects is a person who has abilities and qualities as shown by the i-System, and is a person who puts a comprehensive and process-like approach for knowledge creation into practice. This paper visualizes and structures their abilities and qualities from the viewpoint of knowledge coordination by using the i-System.
A Task Context Aware Physical Distribution Knowledge Service System
Authors: Xiao Liang , Pei Yanli
Published: April 2013

A physical distribution task has typical characteristics of dynamic mobility: dynamic locations, time criticality, and environmental complexity. Research has focused on creating an environmental and task adaptive knowledge service system to support collaborative management of the physical distribution tasks. In this paper, four task context functions are established on the basis of defining customer context, product context, resource context, and network context of distribution task. A task context aware collaborative distribution knowledge service system is built with elaboration and discussion of the service system using an example of distribution center.
Evaluation of Technological Influence Power of Enterprises through the Enterprise Citation Network
Authors: Wu Jiangning , Wang Shu , Pan Donghua
Published: April 2013

As an important source for discovering new competitive technological intelligence involved in enterprises, patents can be analyzed to identify the technological strategy and the potential competitors. Based on the patent citation information, the weighted and directed enterprise citation network is established. Based on the modified PageRank algorithm, a novel method is provided to evaluate the technological influence power of enterprises. Experiments with this method have been done using the patent dataset in the field of fluid-pressure and analogous brake systems during the 25-year period from 1975 to 1999 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Compared with the traditional assessment indicator based on the citation count method, the proposed method is more reasonable in identifying the technological influential enterprises, as it gives a comprehensive consideration of the amount of citing enterprises, the influence of citing enterprises and the citation strength between them. This study helps enterprises discover potential technological competitors, which take the lead in the industry.
Association Rules Evaluation by a Hybrid Multiple Criteria Decision Method
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Guo Chonghui
Published: April 2013

Various rules can be generated from databases by using association rule algorithms, but only a small number of these rules may be selected for implementation due to the limitations of resources. Accordingly, evaluating the quality of these rules becomes a hot topic in the data mining field. Based on multiple criteria decision theory, a framework for evaluating the mined association rules using TOPSIS method with combination weights is proposed, which takes into account both objective interestingness measures and the users’ domain information. An example of market basket analysis is applied to illustrate the applicability of this method.
A Study of Organizational Narrative Simulation for Decision Support
Authors: Yeung C. L. , Cheung C. F. , Wang W. M. , Tsui E.
Published: April 2013

This paper presents an overview of current decision making approaches. For some approaches abstract information is provided, whereas others require a large amount of labor and time resources to facilitate decision making. However, few address the issues of assisting participants in learning how to make decisions and provide prompt responses to the situations. Harnessing lessons learned from making inappropriate decisions is expensive. To redress this problem, this paper presents a pilot study of the investigation of the psychological behaviors of humans to improve decision making processes with the use of organizational narrative simulation (ONS). By using the ONS method, possible and plausible narrative-based environments can be simulated. Participants can take actions based on their decisions; they can also observe the changes and the consequences. The decisions for handling new challenges generated purposely are validated in a trial that allows prompt responses to the situations. The ONS method is implemented in a selected reference site. The implementation processes, findings, and benefits are presented.
A Formalised Approach to the Management of Risk
Authors: Brownsword Mike , Setchi Rossi
Published: April 2013

Observations made while working with industry and government organisations have shown a number of issues with the implementation of current risk management best practice. A major issue in many cases is the lack of pragmatism associated with the risk management process and the need for a more formalised approach to risk management. In this paper, the authors propose and validate a multi-view approach to defining the processes required to carry out risk management. The formalised approach proposed includes a definition of risk, an ontology, a set of processes, and a pragmatic methodology, which shows an application of these processes enabling pro-active management of change. The ability of the processes to be applied to different types of risk has been demonstrated through a case study highlighting health and safety issues. Within the current engineering and economic climate this logical approach provides a visualisation which is consistent, repeatable, view based, and pragmatic.
Social Responsibility
Authors: Mulej Matjaz , Potocan Vojko , Zenko Zdenka , Hrast Anita , Strukelj Tjasa
Published: April 2013

Both the economic practice and education in the decades after the 2nd world war continued the previous trend toward over-specialization resulting from the huge amounts of knowledge piled up. But both the global impact and the local action require linking of specialists in interdisciplinary creative cooperation for their work processes to succeed. ‘Division of work’ was much more stressed than ‘coordination’ and ‘cooperation’ and still is so. Oversights result with consequences reaching all way to global crises, including world wars. Systems and cybernetic theories have offered remedies in some of their many versions, including the knowledge systems science, but with a poor acceptance on the part of over-specialists and bosses. In the recent decade a new remedy has been offered under the label of social responsibility. Data from USA, Germany, etc., show that customers are increasingly embracing it. This makes this invention start becoming a crucial non-technological innovation, which shall enter the economic practice and education quickly. It shall not tackle organizations only, but become a human attribute of all influential persons and their organizations from family to the entire world.
Reuse of Excess Research Data for New Researches
Authors: Porath Amiram
Published: April 2013

The chapter presents a specific niche dilemma regarding the ethical aspects of utilization of data gathered for one specific research for another research, which was not specified to the data suppliers (sample) at the time of gathering, or that the data suppliers were not even informed of the possibility of such occurrence. That dilemma of the reuse of research data stems from motives that are also (among others) rooted in the aim to increase the public good, and the dilemma is between potential benefits and potential harm. As the forces that create the dilemma are growing in concurrence with current trends in research and research financing, the dilemma commands some attention, even if it seems at first glance to be minor compared to issues related to business data mining and governmental data bases. The discussion ends with a possible solution, but the reader is encouraged to think about the dilemma and understand it rather than “solve” it. The novice can regard this as an introduction to the dilemma while the experienced researcher will view it as a summary. However, this sort of research need to be supported to uphold the ethical aspects of data mining and their various applications in the socio-economic development processes of a country, such as generic or specific researches, entrepreneurship development through innovation, and trading, commerce or e-governance through the utilization of innovative technologies.
Data Mining Techniques to Improve Early Warning Systems across the Bay of Bengal
Authors: Rahman Hakikur
Published: April 2013

This chapter is a conceptual contribution to this book on data mining applications upholding ethical issues related to two extremely important aspects of the Bangladeshi population: the early warning system and the disaster management system. The chapter tries to provide a few conceptual ideas to introduce ethical data mining application in these systems to support the agencies that are involved for an improved, efficient, and transparent support system in the country, especially across the Bay of Bengal. Resembling a triangular shape (deltaic), a major portion of the bay touches the southern portion of Bangladesh. Sediments from rivers have made the bay a shallow sea. Due to its shallowness and shape, monsoon rains and cyclone storms become destructive, causing great loss of life along the southern part of the country. Moreover, the three mighty rivers (Padma, Jamuna, and Meghna) form one of the largest river systems in the world. They have a large number of distributaries and tributaries, which cause a major portion of the country to be inundated by monsoon rain. In addition, being the lowest landing zone of the Himalayan water, Bangladesh becomes victim to floods almost every year. Loss of lives, destruction of properties, suffering of numerous people and hampering of economic development have become part and parcel of Bangladeshi communities. This chapter suggests that the newly emerged data mining techniques can be introduced to collect, synthesize, analyze, archive, disseminate, and even make future forecasts forming a reliable early warning system across the Bay of Bengal.
Social Science Data Analysis
Authors: Scime Anthony , Murray Gregg R.
Published: April 2013

Social scientists address some of the most pressing issues of society such as health and wellness, government processes and citizen reactions, individual and collective knowledge, working conditions and socio-economic processes, and societal peace and violence. In an effort to understand these and many other consequential issues, social scientists invest substantial resources to collect large quantities of data, much of which are not fully explored. This chapter proffers the argument that privacy protection and responsible use are not the only ethical considerations related to data mining social data. Given (1) the substantial resources allocated and (2) the leverage these “big data” give on such weighty issues, this chapter suggests social scientists are ethically obligated to conduct comprehensive analysis of their data. Data mining techniques provide pertinent tools that are valuable for identifying attributes in large data sets that may be useful for addressing important issues in the social sciences. By using these comprehensive analytical processes, a researcher may discover a set of attributes that is useful for making behavioral predictions, validating social science theories, and creating rules for understanding behavior in social domains. Taken together, these attributes and values often present previously unknown knowledge that may have important applied and theoretical consequences for a domain, social scientific or otherwise. This chapter concludes with examples of important social problems studied using various data mining methodologies including ethical concerns.
A Customised Dataset to Assist Legal and Ethical Governance of Seaports
Authors: Echeverry Ana Ximena Halabi , Richards Deborah
Published: April 2013

Attention to the legal and ethical principles of governance of seaport authorities (PAs) can enhance the future possibility of sustainable development of a port. This chapter presents a customised dataset and accompanying descriptions compiled from multiple sources and repositories that can be mined to provide adequate understanding over key decisional variables to assist the implementation of three Port State Control (PSC) mechanisms. Considerable care is given to the selection and combination of variables which may identify potentially serious accidents and the port’s legal and ethical liabilities. The authors seek to clarify the relationship between the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of PAs and, what is possibly the most important issue facing PAs nowadays, the issue of security. In order to validate the relationship between PSC and CSR, the authors suggest the use of the Regression Approach in Time Series Analysis (RATS) method that offers an assessment of mutual impacts of the PSC variables and a forecast of future values of CSR. RATS would enable PAs to be aware of the CSR challenges occurring among partner ports at least one time-step ahead. This may represent an important advance in using decision support systems to assist managers in performing complex analyses and making strategic choices.
Ethical and Legal Data Mining
Authors: Tran Ben
Published: April 2013

In the process of data mining, techniques used, and results gathered, became ethically or even legally questionable due to the concern of the violation of individuals’ privacy when specific information is obtained, manipulated, and disseminated by other entities without an individual’s knowledge or consent. In other words, it is not the concern of what data is being mined, but more so regarding who is the miner of these data. This chapter is based on a review of the existing studies, which shows that not enough attention has been paid to the study of the “miner,” as well as the ethical and legal qualifications of the miner, from the perspectives of organizational development practitioners (OD) and organizational psychologists (OP) in approaching for certifying or licensing. During the review, several cases are being included to justify the certifying or licensing approach, thus upholding ethical data mining, especially in relation to the socio-economic development of a community, or county. This research concludes with a few practical recommendations for both data miner(s) and entities that are involved with data mining.
Improved Decision Support System to Develop a Public Policy to Reduce Dropout Rates for Four Minorities in a Society
Authors: Ochoa-Zezzatti Alberto , González Saúl , Montes Fernando , Amin Seyed , Margain Lourdes , Gutiérrez Guadalupe
Published: April 2013

This chapter proposes a decision support system applied to public schooling, especially for reducing dropout rates for minorities. That is relevant enough to enable understanding of ethical data mining in a strategic planning context. This understanding explains the importance of adequate different aspects related with Strategic Planning. The authors focus their analysis on a specific problem related with reducing dropout rates based on decision support systems under uncertainty. To this end, surveys are performed to gather information about this problem using Data Mining techniques to profile a number of behavioral patterns and choices that describe social behaviors. Ethical Data Mining is used for reasons of culture to improve the socio economic development. In addition, the chapter describes innovative models that capture salient variables of modernization, and how these variables give raise to intervening aspects that end up shaping behavioral patterns in ethical and social aspects. Finally, the chapter remarks and extends discussions of the authors’ approach and will provide general guidelines for future work in diverse application domains, including further analysis on how those public politics organize and operate.
Mining Electoral Data for Effective Campaigns and E-Participation
Authors: Goncalves Marlene , Castro Francisco , Vidal Luis Alberto , Acosta Maribel , Vidal Maria-Esther
Published: April 2013

E-Democracy and E-Participation are sub-areas of E-Government that utilize Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to empower democracy and allow the participation of ordinary people during the definition of policies that affect their lives. Particularly, general elections as well as the selection of presidential candidates are types of electoral events where ICT can facilitate the constituency participation, providing a resource to influence the implementation of such events. The authors propose data mining and ranking techniques to analyze voting historical data and identify regions where electoral campaigns need to be intensified. Based on citizens’ participation patterns in previous elections, they illustrate the quality of their approach on Venezuelan electoral data and compare it with respect to the results produced by a baseline independent study. Experimental results suggest that the authors’ techniques are able to predict the classification given for the baseline study, while they are simpler and easily reproducible.
Use of Web 2.0 Collaboration Technologies in Egyptian Public Universities
Authors: Azab Nahed , Abdelsalam Hisham M. , Gamal Sara
Published: April 2013

The second wave of the World Wide Web, referred to as Web 2.0, has affected every sector of the society including the public sector as well as the government, now often referred to as Government 2.0. Specifically, Government 2.0 can have a great impact on improving learning and research activities in public universities. Governments have recognized the role that Internet plays in education; they have made the use of ICT a substantial component in any government agenda. In addition, many governments have recognized the importance of incorporating Web 2.0 technologies in higher education. Being characterized by fostering an interactive and user generated content, Web 2.0 can usefully assist both students and faculty. Web 2.0 could contribute in overcoming budget constraints that constitutes a common problem among public universities especially in developing countries. This research argues that adopting Web 2.0 in public universities should start first by assisting faculty in their research and communication tasks through an easy and convenient way. This could reduce their resistance to change (which is considered one of the main barriers in adopting technologies) by being used to it and perceiving its value. Therefore, this chapter aims to investigate the use of Web 2.0 among academic staff in public universities. Such objective was reached through distributing a survey targeting a sample that represents faculty in some of the leading Egyptian public universities. Findings revealed a high use of Web 2.0 by faculty members in collaboration and information sharing. In addition, the main barriers of use are due to a lack of awareness or perception of the value of such technologies. Moreover, it has been proved that the level of Web 2.0 adoption varies among academic disciplines, but does not depend on age or academic position.
Social Media in State Governments
Authors: Sandoval-Almazan Rodrigo , Gil-Garcia J. Ramon
Published: April 2013

More than other information technology, social media has the potential to improve communication, participation, and collaboration between governments and citizens. The widespread use of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and blogs among citizens has forced government officials to use these technologies to reach citizens, interact with them, and legitimate policies and public decisions. Despite this great potential and the relevance of social media in today’s society, there is still a relatively limited number of empirical studies that attempt to understand how governments are using these tools, particularly at the state and local levels. The main objective of this research is to understand how state governments are using Web 2.0 technologies and to provide some conceptual elements for future research in this area. Based on a longitudinal review of the 32 state Websites in Mexico and a more in-depth analysis of two cases, this chapter provides preliminary results on how state governments are using two of the most well known social media tools: Facebook and Twitter. The chapter highlights some differences and similarities among state governments. It also provides some initial ideas about how to develop a more comprehensive strategy for using social media tools and applications in state governments.
E-Government Status and M-Government Readiness in Malawi
Authors: Mtingwi John , Van Belle Jean-Paul
Published: April 2013

This chapter investigates the readiness of the Malawian government to engage in mobile government (m-government). It explores the exciting potential of mobile technologies to leapfrog the conventional model of e-government in some Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) where e-government has not achieved the desired benefits due to the lack of fixed communications infrastructure and citizen access. The chapter starts with an assessment of the current e-government context and status in Malawi. The research then uses a qualitative approach by interviewing more than 20 important government and non-government stakeholders to assess Malawi’s readiness to embrace m-government. The theoretical framework to assess the Malawi government readiness is a combination of the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework and the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) model. The findings are that although e-government was never fully realized in Malawi, the country is, to a large extent, ready to embrace mobile government and leap-frog e-government model, which is based on a fixed-line communications structure. It is hoped that other LDCs, in Africa and elsewhere, can benefit from the framework factors and themes which are uncovered and determine their mobile readiness.
Thailand’s Transformation to C-Government
Authors: Kawtrakul Asanee , Rungrusamiwatanakul Nantanach , Ruengittinun Somchoke , Khampachua Tawa
Published: April 2013

With the commitment to ASEAN Community integration by 2015 and the continuing advances in information and communication technologies, Thailand has been provided a golden opportunity to not only catch up on current trends and technologies, but also to leap over e-Government and go directly towards Connected Government, or c-Government. In so doing, the government needs to focus on strategic implementation rather than simply developing a conceptual framework of e-Government. This chapter presents the core challenges and co-cultivated roadmap to accelerate connected government and a connected ASEAN. Firstly, there is the Management Challenge in enabling the progression and accelerating the adoption of transformational services; secondly, the Governance Challenge in establishing the comprehensive guiding principles to shape the vision, enterprise structure, committed leadership, coordinated efforts, and strategic action plans; and thirdly, the Foundation Challenge for leveraging the interoperability and establishing a standardized evaluation system with human resources development and joint key performance indices. To overcome these challenges, this chapter proposes proactive strategies and a sustainable roadmap, starting with a SWOT analysis of the lessons learnt in order to understand the current state of e-Government, followed by a clear vision of the future and an action plan for proactively and sustainably implementing c-Government. Input has been gathered not only from the public by e-survey and an IT group of 200 who attended a workshop, but the collective perception of directly concerned CIOs through discussion at a seminar.
The Science of Cell Phone Use
Authors: Yan Zheng , Chen Quan , Yu Chengfu
Published: April 2013

Cell phones are becoming the most ubiquitous technology. Researchers in various other disciplines in behavioral sciences have been extensively examining how people use cell phones and what influences cell phone use have on people’s lives for more than 20 years. This review paper provides an overall picture of the science of cell phone use by sketching the past, present, and future of this emerged field of study. After a short introduction, it presents an overview of the literature search methods used in this study and a brief history of the science of cell phone use, provides a detailed review of five major areas and six specific topics of the field, and ends with an outline of future directions of research.
Real-Time Visual Simulation of Urban Sustainability
Authors: Isaacs John P. , Blackwood David J. , Gilmour Daniel , Falconer Ruth E.
Published: April 2013

Sustainable decision making for strategic planning is a challenging process: requiring an understanding of the complex interactions among environmental, economic and social factors. Commonly, such decisions are dominated by economic factors hence there is a need for a framework that supports inclusive decision making throughout all stages of urban and rural planning projects. Towards this the authors have developed the Sustainable City Visualization Tool (S-CITY VT) which comprises 1) indicators (these provide the basis for assessment and monitoring of sustainability) selected according to scale and development 2) modelling techniques that provide indicator values, as not all of the indicators can be measured, and allows spatio-temporal prediction of indicators 3) Interactive 3D visualisation techniques to facilitate effective communication with a wide range of stakeholders. The sustainability modelling and 3D visualisations are shown to have the potential to enhance community engagement within the planning process thus enhancing public acceptance and participation within the urban or rural development project.
A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study of the Mechanical Properties of Carbon-Nanotube Reinforced Polystyrene Composite
Authors: Tahreen Nabila , Masud K. M.
Published: April 2013

In recent years, polymer/carbon nanotube composites have attracted increased attention because the polymer properties have significantly improved. In this paper, a single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) is used to reinforce polystyrene matrix. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to study two periodic systems - a long CNT-reinforced polystyrene composite and amorphous polystyrene matrix itself. The axial and transverse elastic moduli of the amorphous polystyrene matrix and nanocomposites are evaluated using constant-strain energy minimization method. The results from MD simulations are compared with corresponding rule-of-mixture predictions. The simulation results show that CNTs significantly improve the stiffness of polystyrene/CNT composite, especially in the longitudinal direction of the nanotube. Polystyrene posses a strong attractive interaction with the surface of the SWCNT and therefore play an important role in providing effective adhesion. The conventional rule-of-mixture predicts a smaller value than MD simulation where there are strong interfacial interactions. Here the authors report a study on the interfacial characteristics of a CNT-PS composite system through MD simulations and continuum mechanics.
Application of Response Surface Methodology to Predict Ovality of AA6082 Flow Formed Tubes
Authors: Srinivasulu M. , Komaraiah M. , Rao C.S. Krishna Prasada
Published: April 2013

Flow-forming is eco-friendly, chipless manufacturing process employed in the manufacture of thin walled seamless tubes. Ovality, the out of roundness is one of basic form of errors encountered in the tubular components. In the present research, a response surface model has been developed to predict ovality of AA6082 alloy pre-forms using Design of Experiments. The experiments are performed on a flow forming machine with a single roller. The process parameters selected for the present investigation are axial feed of the roller, the speed of the mandrel, and roller radius. Box-Behnken Design, a standard response surface methodology has been used to conduct the experimental runs. The developed response surface model successfully predicts the ovality of AA6082 flow formed tube within the range of selected process parameters. It has been found that, roller feed is the most important process parameter influencing the ovality of AA6082 flow formed tube.
Family and Poverty Eradication in Developing Countries
Authors: Takamatsu Kana
Published: April 2013

This research note aims to find the new perspective on “family” relating to poverty reduction with the case study of Myanmar. Firstly, this research note examines the concept of family in Myanmar. Secondly, it approaches the socio-economic impacts on family. Lastly, it analyzes “family” from the data collected by the life history interview to migrant workers from Myanmar. In depth life history interview shows that different ideas on family depending on the socio-economic situation of individuals. This research note calls for more focus on individuals and their relations with family rather than family as the main unit of analysis, however, family oriented policies for poverty reduction are widely discussed.
Exploring Social Aspects Influence on Change in Network Relationships
Authors: Svensson Jesper , Eriksson Carina Ihlström
Published: April 2013

Digital innovation processes are becoming more and more networked, and actors are growing dependent on each other’s competences, resources and knowledge. In networks developing digital innovation actors need to identify, mobilize, and integrate diverse and heterogeneous knowledge resources to be able to innovate successfully. Social aspects are important where heterogeneous actors connect, negotiate, and adjust to each other’s perspectives. The aim of this paper is to explain how social aspects such as trust, commitment and power, influence changes in relationships in digital innovation networks. A case study approach was selected to study events involving multiple actors in an innovation and development project aimed at introducing technology that aids elderly, home care personnel and next of kin by improving the management of home care visits. Based on the authors’ findings they present a model for how social aspects influence changes in relationships and conclude by making six propositions.
Student Support in Higher Education
Authors: Jumani Nabi Bux , Bhatti Abdul Jabbar , Malik Samina
Published: April 2013

Today every country is striving to enhance higher education qualitatively and quantitatively, because the economy of any country is directly influenced by the “intellectual capital” of that country. An important factor affecting the quality and quantity of higher education is the support that an institution provides to its students. The present study is an attempt to find the achievements of as well as challenges to the student support services in higher education institutions [HEIs] of developing countries with particular example of those in Pakistan. Employing the Delphi technique, the study explored the (a) achievements, (b) the problems and issues, and (c) means to address problems and issues in the student support services in HEIs of Pakistan. It was found that the HEIs in Pakistan were facing many challenges as the achievements were less than the requirement. Allocation of proper resources and restructuring the system of support are the most important means to address the challenges.
An Investigation into Critical Success Factors of Knowledge Management Implementation in TQM Organizations in Malaysia
Authors: Hing Pei Pei , Yip Mum Wai , Lau Dominic
Published: April 2013

Knowledge Management (KM) is one of the hottest topics today in both the industrial and research world. In our daily life, the authors deal with huge amounts of data and information. Data and information are not knowledge until they know how to obtain the value out of it. This is the reason the authors need to practise KM. The objective of the research is to identify the relationship between the critical success factors (CSFs) and perceived benefits of KM. This study was accomplished through mail questionnaires to the organisations that are implementing Total Quality Management (TQM). Data gained from the questionnaires were analyzed by using SPSS software. The findings revealed that organisational culture, top management leadership and commitment, employee participation have a positive relationship among the perceived benefits of KM. These findings are useful for both practitioners and academicians.
Research Trends with Cross Tabulation Search Engine
Authors: Yin Chengjiu , Hirokawa Sachio , Yau Jane Yin-Kim , Hashimoto Kiyota , Tabata Yoshiyuki , Nakatoh Tetsuya
Published: April 2013

To help researchers in building a knowledge foundation of their research fields which could be a time-consuming process, the authors have developed a Cross Tabulation Search Engine (CTSE). Its purpose is to assist researchers in 1) conducting research surveys, 2) efficiently and effectively retrieving information (such as important researchers, research groups, keywords), and also 3) providing analytical information relating to past and current research trends in a particular field. Their CTSE system employs data-processing technologies and emphasizes the use of a “Learn by Searching” learning strategy to support students to analyze such research trends. To show the effectiveness of CTSE, a pilot experiment has been conducted, where participants were assigned to do research survey tasks and then answer a questionnaire regarding the effectiveness and usability of the system. The results showed that the system has been helpful to students in conducting research surveys, and the research trend transitions that our system presented were effective for producing research trend surveys. Moreover, the results showed that most students had favorable attitudes toward the usage and usability of the system, and those students were satisfied in gaining more know ledge in a particular research field in a short period.