bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Periodontal Treatment Decreases Levels of Antibodies to Porphyromonas gingivalis and Citrulline in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontitis
Authors: Okada Moe , Kobayashi Tetsuo , Ito Satoshi , Yokoyama Tomoko , Abe Asami , Murasawa Akira , Yoshie Hiromasa
Published: May 2013

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated as an etiologic agent of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because of the expression of peptidylarginine deiminase. The present study evaluates whether periodontal treatment may affect serum antibodies to P. gingivalis and citrulline levels in relation to disease activity of RA.

Methods: Fifty‐five patients with RA were randomly assigned to receive oral hygiene instruction and supragingival scaling (treatment group, n = 26) or no periodontal treatment (control group, n = 29). Periodontal and rheumatologic parameters and serum levels of cytokine and inflammatory markers citrulline and immunoglobulin (Ig)G to P. gingivalis were examined at baseline and 8 weeks later.

Results: Both groups did not differ statistically in any parameters except percentage of sites with probing depth and clinical attachment level ≥4 mm at baseline. The treatment group exhibited a significantly greater decrease in disease activity score including 28 joints using C‐reactive protein (DAS28‐CRP) (P = 0.02), serum levels of IgG to P. gingivalis hemin binding protein (HBP)35 (P = 0.04), and citrulline (P = 0.02) than the control group. Serum levels of IgG to P. gingivalis HBP35 were significantly correlated positively with those of anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (P = 0.0002). The same correlation was obtained between serum levels of IgG to P. gingivalis–sonicated extracts and those of rheumatoid factor (P = 0.02).

Conclusions: These results suggest that supragingival scaling decreases DAS28‐CRP and serum levels of IgG to P. gingivalis HBP35 and citrulline in patients with RA. These observations may reflect a role of P. gingivalis in the protein citrullination, which is related to the pathogenesis of RA.
Saliva and Serum Levels of B‐Cell Activating Factors and Tumor Necrosis Factor‐α in Patients With Periodontitis
Authors: Gümüş Pınar , Nizam Nejat , Lappin David F. , Buduneli Nurcan
Published: May 2013

Background: B‐lymphocytes play a central and critical role in the adaptive immune response against invading pathogens. This study evaluates saliva and serum levels of APRIL (a proliferation‐inducing ligand), B‐cell activating factor (BAFF), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐6, and IL‐10 in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) or aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and periodontally healthy individuals.

Methods: Twenty‐five patients with AgP, 20 patients with CP, and 20 periodontally healthy individuals were included. Smoking status was recorded, and all individuals were divided into non‐smokers and smokers. Saliva and serum samples were collected before clinical periodontal measurements. APRIL, BAFF, TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐10 levels in serum and saliva samples were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of variance and bivariate correlation.

Results: Serum and saliva levels of TNF‐α, APRIL, BAFF, IL‐6, and IL‐10 were similar in CP and AgP groups. Serum levels of TNF‐α, APRIL, and BAFF and saliva levels of BAFF were significantly higher in periodontitis groups than healthy controls (P <0.05). Non‐smokers with CP or AgP had lower levels of saliva TNF‐α and APRIL and serum APRIL and IL‐6 than smokers with CP or AgP (P <0.05). Saliva APRIL and serum TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels were significantly higher in healthy smokers than healthy non‐smokers (P <0.05). Clinical periodontal parameters correlated positively with TNF‐family cytokines and negatively with IL‐10 (P <0.05).

Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, it may be suggested that elevated salivary and serum TNF‐α, APRIL, and BAFF in patients with periodontitis may contribute to the dominance of B cells in periodontitis lesions. Moreover, higher levels in healthy smokers than non‐smoking counterparts may play a role in detrimental effects of smoking on periodontal tissues.
Retinopathy in Youth With Type 2 Diabetes Participating in the TODAY Clinical Trial
Authors:   TODAY Study Group
Published: May 2013

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of retinopathy in 517 youth with type 2 diabetes of 2–8 years duration enrolled in the TODAY study.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Retinal photographs were graded centrally for retinopathy using established standards.

RESULTS

Retinopathy was identified in 13.7% of subjects. Prevalence increased with age, diabetes duration, and mean HbA1c. Subjects in the highest BMI tertile had the lowest prevalence of retinopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of retinopathy and its association with HbA1c and diabetes duration is similar to that previously reported in youth with type 1 diabetes and in adults with type 2 diabetes of known duration. The mechanism underlying the reduced risk of retinopathy in the most obese individuals is unknown. Follow-up of this cohort will help define the natural history of retinopathy in youth with type 2 diabetes.
Global and exponential attractors for a Caginalp type phase-field problem
Authors: Bangola Brice
Published: May 2013

We deal with a generalization of the Caginalp phase-field model associated with Neumann boundary conditions. We prove that the problem is well posed, before studying the long time behavior of solutions. We establish the existence of the global attractor, but also of exponential attractors. Finally, we study the spatial behavior of solutions in a semi-infinite cylinder, assuming that such solutions exist.
Ninth Annual Brown Lecture in Education Research
Authors: Walker Vanessa Siddle
Published: May 2013

This research sought to extend the historical record of advocacy for Black education by exploring the role of Black educators in the decades before the Brown v. Board of Education decision. It addressed (a) the ways the educators were involved in advocating for Black schools and (b) the relationship of the activities to the more visible accounts of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Answers to the research questions relied on historical ethnography as a methodological tool to analyze the records of the Georgia Teachers and Education Association and the NAACP. Each of these collections was also supplemented by other archival sources and interviews. Results indicate three identifiable periods of advocacy in the years before Brown. In each period, Black educators through their organizations were locally and nationally visible in advocating for education. The results reveal a co-dependent relationship with the NAACP and amplify the importance of a “connector” in establishing congruent national and local advocacy.
Effects of a Curricular Revision on Learner Outcomes in Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Authors: Hollinger Charlotte , Libarkin Julie C. , Stickle Julia E. , Hauptman Joe G. , Henry Rebecca , Scott Michael A.
Published: May 2013

A mixed-methods evaluation was conducted to study learner attitudes and knowledge about clinical pathology across a curricular change that instituted a stand-alone clinical pathology course in place of content within a previously integrated pathology course structure. Groups of pre- and post-change students were assessed three times across the two semesters leading up to graduation. At each time, rank-ordered and open-ended response items probed attitudes, and multiple-choice items assessed knowledge. Data about student clinical pathology performance were also collected from clinical pathology instructors and supervising clinicians. Student rank-ordered items were evaluated by factor analysis; resulting factor-scale scores, multiple-choice scores, and rank responses from study cohorts were statistically assessed between groups and within each group over time. Intraclass correlations were calculated for the coding of student open-ended responses, and all coded responses were compared among groups. Analysis revealed that students in the revised curriculum had greater satisfaction with their training and greater confidence in data interpretation compared to students without exposure to an independent clinical pathology course. Although differences in knowledge of clinical pathology were not detected, it was also apparent that the independent clinical pathology course filled a student-perceived curricular need without raising criticisms related to diminished integration with anatomic pathology. Secondary study outcomes included formative feedback for course improvement, evidence of clerkship efficacy, and baseline data for further studies.
Quantitative Hahn-Banach Theorems and Isometric Extensions for Wavelet and Other Banach Spaces
Authors: Ajiev Sergey
Published: May 2013

We introduce and study Clarkson, Dol’nikov-Pichugov, Jacobi and mutual diameter constants reflecting the geometry of a Banach space and Clarkson, Jacobi and Pichugov classes of Banach spaces and their relations with James, self-Jung, Kottman and Schäffer constants in order to establish quantitative versions of Hahn-Banach separability theorem and to characterise the isometric extendability of Hölder-Lipschitz mappings. Abstract results are further applied to the spaces and pairs from the wide classes IG and IG+ and non-commutative Lp-spaces. The intimate relation between the subspaces and quotients of the IG-spaces on one side and various types of anisotropic Besov, Lizorkin-Triebel and Sobolev spaces of functions on open subsets of an Euclidean space defined in terms of differences, local polynomial approximations, wavelet decompositions and other means (as well as the duals and the lp-sums of all these spaces) on the other side, allows us to present the algorithm of extending the main results of the article to the latter spaces and pairs. Special attention is paid to the matter of sharpness. Our approach is quasi-Euclidean in its nature because it relies on the extrapolation of properties of Hilbert spaces and the study of 1-complemented subspaces of the spaces under consideration.
Inquiring into Red/Red Inquiring
Authors: Gale Ken , Gallant Mike , Gannon Susanne , Kirkpatrick Davina , Malthouse Marina , Percy McClain , Perrier Maud , Porter Sue , Rippin Ann , Sakellariadis Artemi , Speedy Jane , Wyatt Jonathan , Wyatt Tess
Published: May 2013

This layered account of an inquiry into ‘red’ emerged out of a collective biography workshop. In the middle of the Wiltshire countryside, an international and interdisciplinary group of scholars gathered together to write and make other things and marks on paper that asked questions of, and into, the spaces between words, people, things and their environments. We did not set out to workshop or write into or paint ‘red’ but, rather, it was red that slipped in, uninvited, and painted and wrote us. Red arose as a blush or a stain seeping amongst us that became referenced obliquely by material objects, metaphors and fairytales. The stain spread, became noticeable through our weekend together and beyond it, creating another (bright red artery) vein of connection to write with.
Structural Alterations of Human Serum Albumin Caused by Glycative and Oxidative Stressors Revealed by Circular Dichroism Analysis
Authors: Monacelli Fiammetta , Storace Daniela , D'Arrigo Cristina , Sanguineti Roberta , Borghi Roberta , Pacini Davide , Furfaro Anna , Pronzato Maria , Odetti Patrizio , Traverso Nicola
Published: May 2013

The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of oxidative and glycative stressors to modify properties of human serum albumin (HSA) by analyzing markers of glycation (pentosidine) and oxidation (advanced oxidative protein products (AOPPs)) and assessing fluorescence and circular dichroism. HSA was incubated for up to 21 days with ribose, ascorbic acid (AA) and diethylenetriamine pentacetate (DTPA) in various combinations in order to evaluate influences of these substances on the structure of HSA. Ribose was included as a strong glycative molecule, AA as a modulator of oxidative stress, and DTPA as an inhibitor of metal-catalyzed oxidation. Ribose induced a significant increase in pentosidine levels. AA and DTPA prevented the accumulation of pentosidine, especially at later time points. Ribose induced a mild increase in AOPP formation, while AA was a strong inducer of AOPP formation. Ribose, in combination with AA, further increased the formation of AOPP. DTPA prevented the AA-induced generation of AOPP. Ribose was also a potent inducer of fluorescence at 335nm ex/385nm em, which is typical of pentosidine. AA and DTPA prevented this fluorescence. Circular dichroism showed complex results, in which AA and DTPA were strong modifiers of the percentages of the alpha-helical structure of HSA, while ribose affected the structure of HSA only at later time points.
Over-Expression of Deubiquitinating Enzyme USP14 in Lung Adenocarcinoma Promotes Proliferation through the Accumulation of β-Catenin
Authors: Wu Ning , Liu Cong , Bai Chong , Han Yi-Ping , Cho William , Li Qiang
Published: May 2013

The deubiquitinating enzyme USP14 has been identified and biochemically studied, but its role in lung cancer remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of USP14 in patients with lung adenocarcinoma and to define its role in lung cancer cell proliferation. USP14 mRNA levels in different non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines were detected by real-time qPCR. USP14 protein levels in surgically resected samples from NSCLC patients, and in NSCLC cell lines, were detected by immunohistochemistry or Western blot. The correlation of USP14 expression with clinical characteristics and prognosis was determined by survival analysis. After silencing USP14, cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and the cell cycle was measured by FACS assay. It was found that USP14 expression was upregulated in NSCLC cells, especially in adenocarcinoma cells. Over-expression of USP14 was associated with shorter overall survival of patients. Downregulation of USP14 expression arrested the cell cycle, which may be related to β-catenin degradation. Over-expression of USP14 was associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients and promoted tumor cell proliferation, which suggests that USP14 is a tumor-promoting factor and a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.
Plant Neurobiology, a Fascinating Perspective in the Field of Research on Plant Secondary Metabolites
Authors: Iriti Marcello
Published: May 2013

In this Editorial, I comment on the exciting and original topic of plant neurobiology, focusing on natural products whose biosynthesis is shared by animal and plant organisms, i.e., indoleamines (melatonin and serotonin) and catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine).
Topographic Correction of Wind-Driven Rainfall for Landslide Analysis in Central Taiwan with Validation from Aerial and Satellite Optical Images
Authors: Liu Jin-King , Shih Peter
Published: May 2013

Rainfall intensity plays an important role in landslide prediction especially in mountain areas. However, the rainfall intensity of a location is usually interpolated from rainfall recorded at nearby gauges without considering any possible effects of topographic slopes. In order to obtain reliable rainfall intensity for disaster mitigation, this study proposes a rainfall-vector projection method for topographic-corrected rainfall. The topographic-corrected rainfall is derived from wind speed, terminal velocity of raindrops, and topographical factors from digital terrain model. In addition, scatter plot was used to present landslide distribution with two triggering factors and kernel density analysis is adopted to enhance the perception of the distribution. Numerical analysis is conducted for a historic event, typhoon Mindulle, which occurred in 2004, in a location in central Taiwan. The largest correction reaches 11%, which indicates that topographic correction is significant. The corrected rainfall distribution is then applied to the analysis of landslide triggering factors. The result with corrected rainfall distribution provides better agreement with the actual landslide occurrence than the result without correction.
Éros Apteros ou la description impertinente
Authors: Laurens Pierre
Published: May 2013

Deux citations, l'une d'Aelius Théon, définissant la controverse appliquée à l'ecphrasis, l'autre de Nicolas le sophiste, sur le raisonnement ajouté à la description d'œuvre d'art, offrent son cadre théorique à une étude diachronique de la figuration d'Eros de l'Antiquité à la Renaissance. La discussion, qui s'attache d'abord principalement à l'attribut des ailes, se déplace à la fin du Moyen Age sur le détail innovant de la cécité, mais ouvre sur une mise en cause radicale de la pertinence de la représentation, dont deux textes fameux, de Dion Chrysostome et de Clément d'Alexandrie, dégagent l'enjeu philosophique et théologique.
Codifier la morale? La morale dans les Codes civils français et tunisien
Authors: Sakrani Raja
Published: May 2013

The composition of a «civil code» is a juristic founding act that is neither revealed by God nor prescribed by the exact sciences. In fact, moral values and the conception of justice differ from one society to another and from one civil code to the next. But the moment of codification provides the spot for a paradigmatic representation of the «sensus communis» that morality throws on human action through the pencil of the codifier and along with his opinion. In this comparative study about two codifiers diverse on the one hand (separated by a whole century and a great revolution), and very close on the other (the first having inspired the second) some reflections are presented on a question that seems strange to the last century’s «belle époque» of codification : Can morality be codified ? And why does a codifier at the end of the 19th century allow morality to infiltrate his normative reign ? The creation of a morality inherent to the codified norm becomes manifest in two fundamental processes : relieving morality from its religious transcendence in a spirit of conceiving the codification as a scientific fact, or integrating moral commitment into the codified norm. Whereas the first approach seems to be more valuable for the French codifier, it appears more sensible for his Tunisian homologue to assimilate normative instruments of moralisation.
Mechanical and thermal properties of bacterial-cellulose-fibre-reinforced Mater-Bi® bionanocomposite
Authors: Nainggolan Hamonangan , Gea Saharman , Bilotti Emiliano , Peijs Ton , Hutagalung Sabar D
Published: May 2013

The effects of the addition of fibres of bacterial cellulose (FBC) to commercial starch of Mater-Bi® have been investigated. FBC produced by cultivating Acetobacter xylinum for 21 days in glucose-based medium were purified by sodium hydroxide 2.5 wt % and sodium hypochlorite 2.5 wt % overnight, consecutively. To obtain water-free BC nanofibres, the pellicles were freeze dried at a pressure of 130 mbar at a cooling rate of 10 °C min−1. Both Mater-Bi and FBC were blended by using a mini twin-screw extruder at 160 °C for 10 min at a rotor speed of 50 rpm. Tensile tests were performed according to ASTM D638 to measure the Young’s modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break. A field emission scanning electron microscope was used to observe the morphology at an accelerating voltage of 10 kV. The crystallinity (Tc) and melting temperature (Tm) were measured by DSC. Results showed a significant improvement in mechanical and thermal properties in accordance with the addition of FBC into Mater-Bi. FBC is easily incorporated in Mater-Bi matrix and produces homogeneous Mater-Bi/FBC composite. The crystallinity of the Mater-Bi/FBC composites decrease in relation to the increase in the volume fraction of FBC.
Enterprise Architectures for E-Government Development
Authors: Farooq Muhammad Kashif , Shamail Shafay , Awais Mian Muhammad
Published: May 2013

There are two common strategies for the development of e-government projects. One approach is demand based e-government initiatives having no national level centralized Enterprise Architecture. The other is the development of projects under the shadow of a predefined set of guidelines following a given Enterprise Architecture at the national level. It is similar to developing a demand based unplanned city development verses a master plan based development. Complex electronic service deliveries need allied and synchronized output of all the projects. Architectural approach provides guidelines from project planning to technical development and operations. It aligns all the e-government projects with some standard principles. A National Enterprise Architecture based approach provides a number of benefits, including institutionalization of top level strategic planning, standardized development across all levels of e-government, sustainability of e-government projects when governments change, cost reduction by sharing resources and better return on investment. There are many enterprise architectures for e-government development. Different countries are experimenting with different enterprise architectures. In this chapter, e-government projects and their devolution is discussed using Zachman Framework, Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP), A Reference Model for Collaboration Networks (ARCON), The Open Group Architectural Framework (TOGAF), and Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF). It is recommended that architectural implementation should be aligned with governing structure of a country such as centralized, devolved and decentralized. However, governments may use a decentralized architecture and devolve it to its sub-nationals such as state/provincial level and city level as per their political, fiscal and administrative needs and capacity.
An Evaluation of the Added Value of Co-Design in the Development of an Educational Game for Road Safety
Authors: All Anissa , Van Looy Jan , Castellar Elena Patricia Nuñez
Published: May 2013

This study explores the added value of co-design in addition to other innovation research methods in the process of developing a serious game design document for a road safety game. The sessions aimed at exploring 4 aspects of a location-based game experience: themes, game mechanics, mobile phone applications and locations for mini-games. In total, 72 adolescents between 15 and 18 years participated in five co-design sessions lead by a researcher and a professional game designer. The sessions provided useful input regarding the aspects the authors wished to explore. The sessions were especially useful in gathering input on scoring systems, ways to give instructions about next tasks and organizing level systems. In sum, their study indicates that co-design can be a source of additional ideas on top of other research methods such as state of the art analysis and expert consultation and thus lead to more effective interactive content creation.
Behavioral Evaluation of Preference for Game-Based Teaching Procedures
Authors: Marques Leonardo Brandão , das Graças de Souza Deisy
Published: May 2013

Recent research has evaluated the motivational functions of educational games and its potential role for the teaching of reading skills. Educational games must maintain their educational function retaining clear definitions of the teaching objectives and instructional methods. Reading skills can be broken down into more basic behavioral units. Each relation between spoken words and written words can be evaluated and taught separately. This paper evaluated the impact of a game on a reading instructional procedure that has been successfully applied in Brazil. Two matching-to-sample teaching tasks were tested on 15 children in literacy ages. In the condition of standard teaching, only the matching-to-sample tasks were presented. In the game-based condition, the same matching-to-sample tasks were interspaced with game challenges. A behavioral choice procedure indicated the participant´s condition choice. After learning 15 words, the participants responded a computerized version of the Learning Motivational Scale of Basic Education, which identified the intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors. Results show no motivation and reading scores correlation and validate the choice procedure as reliable predictor of preference.
Avatar-Based Coaching
Authors: Abdelaziz Hamdy Ahmed
Published: May 2013

This paper aims to investigate the effect of using avatar-based coaching as an instructional approach through virtual world to develop selling skills and learning satisfaction among business secondary school students in Egypt. It also seeks to examine how second life virtual learning objects can increase the probability of mastering selling skills among students. The proposed instructional approach is based on the principles of cognitive, constructive and connective learning theories. A one-group pretest-posttest design is utilized in this paper to test the effect of the new instructional approach on developing selling skills and learning satisfaction among a convenience sample of 23 commercial secondary school students. The findings of this paper revealed that the use of avatar-based coaching through second life learning objects has a significance effect on participants’ selling skills and learning satisfaction. The results of this paper supported the effectiveness of avatar-based coaching in developing selling skills. This can extend to skills and knowledge relevant to other areas of business such as decision making and negotiation skills. The business training sector may also apply this new approach in the training of employers and employees for better value and better results in all kinds of organizations.
Explaining Family Farm Run Businesses’ Capacity to Develop Dynamic Capabilities
Authors: May Daniel E.
Published: May 2013

The present article proposes a conceptual model to determine the dynamic capabilities that can realistically be developed by family farm run businesses. Using a pilot sample of ex-Sugar Beet Farmers of the West Midland region of the UK it was found that these agents have fewer opportunities to develop these capabilities than firms belonging to other industries. In addition, it was found that exiting market barriers prevent these farmers from using the available sources of dynamic capabilities. As a result, it is concluded that family farm businesses are not prepared to maintain their competitive position in response to future policy reforms.
The Process of Collectivization Approached in Romanian Propagandistic Literature
Authors: Stoica Loredana
Published: May 2013

The article analyses one of the most representative propagandistic literary productions that approached the subject of collectivization in Romania, that is the short story entitled The Unfolding written by Marin Preda. The subject brought into attention cannot be discussed without a previous review over the social and political context in the communism, propaganda, situation of peasantry and new ideological patterns that marked people mentality and behavior, class struggle, Party doctrine and all the actions that changed completely the picture of the Romanian society.
Regionalization as a Factor of Agriculture Development of the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Puškaric Anton , Subic Jonel , Bekic Bojana
Published: May 2013

Identified trends of all systems evolution indicate the fact that strategic planning of development, as managerial decision which defines goals, and planned decision on how to realize determined goals, is not possible without insight into actual situation in the regions, municipalities and local communities. Regionalization can contribute to interactive usefulness, i.e. it can be useful for the one who spatially defined areas makes available for investors and it can be useful for investors, due to acceptability of economic environment. Institutional harmonization of competences can only contribute to entire development. Changes and regionalization, as a result of reasonable and unique strategic development policy, will contribute to improvement of entire economy, agriculture diversification and rural community activation. These processes can be harmonized with positive-legal regulative brought and conducted by the state institutions (politics, legal factors, financial taxes, harmonization of technological standards with ecological standards), with aim to prevent social and market imbalance (stagnation, recession, decline of morality, unfair competition).
Passenger Train Delay Classification
Authors: Yaghini Masoud , Sanai Maryam Setayesh , Sadrabady Hossein Amin
Published: May 2013

One of the most popular data mining areas, which estimate future trends of data, is classification. This research is dedicated to predict Iranian passenger train delay with high accuracy over Iranian railway network. A hybrid method based on neuro-fuzzy inference system and Two-step clustering is used for this purpose. The results indicate that the hybrid method is superior over the other common classification methods. The result can be used by train dispatcher to accurate schedule trains to diminish train delay average.
The Role of Relational Mediators in the CRM-Performance Link
Authors: Padmavathy Chandrasekaran
Published: May 2013

CRM literature has considered the role of relationship quality (satisfaction, trust and commitment), but its respective effects on relationship maintenance (retention) and relationship development (cross-buying) are unnoticed. This research proposes an integrated model of CRM and investigates its impact on relationship quality, relationship maintenance, and relationship development. Specifically, it examines the effect of CRM on satisfaction, trust, retention and cross-buying. The results indicate significant and positive effect of CRM on satisfaction; satisfaction has a positive effect on trust, retention and cross-buying, and trust positively influences retention. Satisfaction plays a mediating role in the relationship between CRM and its outcomes. The results imply bank managers to focus on satisfying customers primarily to maintain and develop customer relationships.
The Relationships between the Organizational, Environmental Characteristics and Marketing Performance
Authors: Omran Sally Kamel Ali
Published: May 2013

This research aimed at studying and analyzing the relationships between the organizational, environmental characteristics and marketing performance in three Egyptian private telecommunication companies. The analyzed data came from a hand delivery survey of a stratified random sample of 390 from the employees. Since the total numbers of the mobile customers are very large and geographically dispersed, an e-mail survey was used. The response rate for the employees was equal 92.3% and for the mobile customers 85.2%. The research ended up with the following main findings: (a) In general, there is strong and significant support for the developed hypotheses; (b) there is strong, positive and significant relationship between formalization; internal environment and marketing performance; (c) centralization and external environment are strongly, negatively and significantly related with marketing performance; and (d) there is strong and significant relationships between all the independent variables and all marketing performance indicators.
Enhancement of Efficiency and Effectiveness in Banking through CRM Systems
Authors: Gupta Priya , Singh Kanhaiya , Kainth Jyoti
Published: May 2013

Financial Services Industry in India is experiencing robust growth and intensity of competition unlimited by geographical operations and multiple methods of service delivery, witnessed by the ever dynamic and increasing role of Information Technology (IT). Relationship Marketing has replaced traditional Transactional Marketing and in this direction, the concept and tools of customer relationship management (CRM) have become significantly important. This research paper examines the multi-fold impact of CRM systems on the growth and efficiency of plethora of banking operations. This empirical study is based on descriptive research design using questionnaire as the key research instrument. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and Stepwise regression and chi-square were used to test the research hypotheses. Cross selling helps to retaining the customer and give more than one platform to engage with the client. It also gives employees an opportunity to learn various non-related products for their skill development for career progression. Banks can improve their efficiency by structured and scientific approach towards cross selling through implementation of CRM tools. Desired results can be obtained by training staff on various products and close tracking on sales process.
Personalized Mobile Applications for Remote Monitoring
Authors: Laguna Miguel A. , Finat Javier
Published: May 2013

The development of mobile applications is a challenging activity. The main problems are the limits of the mobile devices (in memory size, processing power, battery duration, etc.) and the diversity of target platforms, display sizes, or input modes (keypads or tactile screens). For these reasons, the software product line (SPL) development paradigm can improve the process of designing and implementing mobile systems. The authors’ approach to SPL development uses the package merge relationship of the standard UML to represent the variability in all the SPL design and implementation models. The combination of this technique and conventional CASE and IDE tools (Eclipse or MS Visual Studio) makes the developments of SPLs for mobile applications easier as it removes the need for specialized tools and personnel. This article presents a SPL that makes possible the remote monitoring of dependent people to facilitate their autonomy. The SPL generic architecture uses Bluetooth wireless sensors connected to mobile devices. These devices are remotely connected to a central system, which could be used in hospitals or aged person’s residences. Moderate cost sensors allow health parameters such as heart rate or oxygen saturation level to be controlled. Risk situations can also be detected using a range of predefined values or specific sensors. The diversity of individual situations and the resource limitations favor the use of the SPL paradigm, as only the required features are incorporated in each concrete product.
Flexible Heat Flux Sensor for Firefighters Garment Integration
Authors: Navone Christelle , Soulier Mathieu , Chartier Isabella , Simon Julia , Oliveira Aurelien , Gehin Claudine , Pauchard Thierry
Published: May 2013

The interest in using optimal equipment to face unknown hazards is growing, as it ultimately save lives. This holds especially true for fire-fighters which are confronted with other hazards during the course of operations. Improvement of their security by an integrated sensory clothing system was the main objective of the European project ProeTEX. In this context, the integration of commercial heat flux sensors into fire-fighters garment has proved the interest of such measurements. However, low flexibility and high cost remain major disadvantages of these sensors. The objective of this work is to develop an innovative heat flux sensor based on a low cost technology. Heat flux sensors have been realized using printable thermoelectric materials and present high sensitivity (146 mV/ (W/cm2)). Their flexibility is compatible with integration in clothes and three specific integrations are proposed and compared. Proof of concept of flexible heat flux sensor is also presented in this paper.
Design Flow for Silicon Chip Implementing Novel Platform Architecture for Wireless Communication
Authors: Avasare Prabhat , Declerck Jeroen , Glassee Miguel , Amin Amir , Umans Erik , Raghavan Praveen , Palkovic Martin
Published: May 2013

In current era of complex chip designs targeting wireless mobile terminals, architects and designers need to conform to tight design constraints – both in terms of performance (e.g. execution time, silicon area, energy consumption) and time-to-market. Further, additional flexibility is required in these designs to handle multiple wireless standards, sometimes even concurrently. To achieve these challenging goals, the authors introduce a platform architecture that uses a decentralized control to minimize communication and control overhead while keeping timing predictable by using state-of-the-art components and a novel interconnect. The authors demonstrate three main achievements in running multiple wireless standards on their platform: 1.053Gbps 4x4 80MHz WLAN 802.11ac receiver data path meeting the SIFS timing with a latency of 12.5µs, dual concurrent 173Mbps 2x2 20MHz Cat-4 3GPP-LTE receiver and platform reconfiguration from WLAN 11n receiver to 3GPP-LTE one in 52µs. Further the authors describe the design flow used to prepare main components of our platform architecture for a tape-out, while especially keeping a close eye on energy consumption. We believe that our chip design flow is generic and can be used in other custom processor chip designs even outside wireless domain.
Media-Education Convergence
Authors: Kalogeras Stavroula
Published: May 2013

In the era of media convergence, transmedia (cross-media/cross-platform/multi-platform) narratives are catering to users who are willing to immerse themselves in their favorite entertainment content. The inherent interactivity of the Internet and the emotional engagement of story can lead to innovative pedagogies in media rich environments. This paper focuses on Web-Based Transmedia Storytelling Edutainment as a pedagogical practice in higher education.
Online Games as a Component of School Textbooks
Authors: Kim Do Kyun , Dinu Lucian F. , Chung Wonjun
Published: May 2013

Currently, the South Korean government is in the process of transforming school textbooks from a paper-based platform to a computer-based digital platform. Along with this effort, interactive online educational games (edu-games) have been examined as a potential component of the digital textbooks. Based on the theory of diffusion of innovations, this study examined how 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students perceive an interactive online edu-game and whether or not their communication attributes predict their willingness to diffuse the game. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that four perceptions of the innovation – relevant advantage, complexity, compatibility, and observability – were statistically significant predictors of students’ willingness to diffuse an online edu-game as indicated by the theory of diffusion of innovations, while only trialability was not. Based on these results, this study provides some implications for the diffusion of interactive online educational games as a potential component of the digital textbook.
Online Learner Satisfaction and Collaborative Learning
Authors: Alkhalaf Salem , Nguyen Jeremy , Nguyen Anne , Drew Steve
Published: May 2013

Despite the considerable potential for e-learning to improve learning outcomes, particularly for female students and students who need to rely on distance learning, feedback from current users of e-learning systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) suggests a relatively low level of satisfaction. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach in investigating the underlying reasons for this situation. Results indicate that students are not unhappy with the information technology infrastructure or with other technical aspects. However, many students report a low level of interaction between them and their fellow students. When interactions do occur, students indicate overwhelmingly that they find such interactions useful. Together, these findings suggest that greater student interaction, which could be fostered through the use of collaborative learning, is likely to be both popular with students and beneficial to their learning outcomes.
Between a Rock and a Cell Phone
Authors: Kavanaugh Andrea , Sheetz Steven D. , Hassan Riham , Yang Seungwon , Elmongui Hicham G. , Fox Edward A. , Magdy Mohamed , Shoemaker Donald J.
Published: May 2013

Many observers heralded the use of social media during recent political uprisings in the Middle East, even dubbing Iran’s post-election protests a “Twitter Revolution”. The authors seek to put into perspective the use of social media in Egypt during the mass political demonstrations in 2011. We draw on innovation diffusion theory to argue that these media could have had an impact beyond their low adoption rates due to other factors related to the essential role played by social networks in diffusion and the demographics of Internet and social media adoption in Egypt, Tunisia and (to a lesser extent) Iran. To illustrate the argument the authors draw on technology adoption, information use, discussion networks and demographics. They supplement the social media data analysis with survey data collected in June 2011 from an opportunity sample of Egyptian youth. The authors conclude that in addition to the contextual factors noted above, the individuals within Egypt who used Twitter during the uprising have the characteristics of opinion leaders, that is, a group of early adopters with influence throughout their social circles and beyond. These findings contribute to knowledge regarding the use and impact of social media during violent political demonstrations and their aftermath.
A Data Mining Model for Risk Assessment and Customer Segmentation in the Insurance Industry
Authors: Hanafizadeh Payam , Paydar Neda Rastkhiz
Published: May 2013

Customer segmentation on the basis of predictable risks can help insurance firms maximize their earnings and minimize their losses. Car insurance is one of the most lucrative and profitable branches in the insurance industry. Utilizing the concept of self-organizing map, the authors propose a two-phase model called ‘Auto Insurance Customers Segmentation Intelligent Tool’ to segment customers in insurance companies on basis of risk. In the first phase, the authors extract 18 risk factors in four categories consisting of demographic specifications, auto specifications, policy specifications, and the driver’s record extracted from the literature review. In the second phase, they finalize the selection process by drawing on expert opinion polls. The authors utilize self-organizing maps since they are able to display the output in the form of illustrative and comprehensible graphical maps capable of representing linear and non-linear relationships among variables, insensitive to the learning input, and slightly sensitive to the noise in the learning input. Finally, K-means are employed to compare the results with those obtained through self-organizing maps.
The Beauty and the Beast?
Authors: Bühlmann Marc
Published: May 2013

There are two competing hypotheses concerning the connection between democracy and globalization. The critics hold globalization responsible for an ongoing crisis of democracy. The enthusiasts highlight the positive contributions of financial openness and international political cooperation on the development of democracy. In this contribution the author investigates the interrelation between globalization and the quality of established democracies. He introduces the Democracy Barometer, a new instrument that measures the quality of democracy in 30 established democratic regimes between 1995 and 2005 and that explicitly does not measure sustainable government because it aims at serving as dependent as well as independent variable to explain different economic, societal and natural environment, i.e. sustainable development. Based on this instrument, the author first shows that one cannot speak of an ongoing crisis of (established) democracies. Second, he also conducts several multilevel analyses to model the different developments of the quality of democracy in the different countries. The author then shows that economy, i.e. economic globalization indeed has a positive impact on the quality of democracy. However, this impact is stronger in stable, i.e. older than in younger established democracies. Further investigations show that a high quality of democracy also goes hand in hand with societal and environmental performance.
An Improved Population-Based Incremental Learning Algorithm
Authors: Folly Komla A.
Published: May 2013

Population-Based Incremental Learning (PBIL) is a relatively new class of Evolutionary Algorithms (EA) that has been recently applied to a range of optimization problems in engineering with promising results. PBIL combines aspects of Genetic Algorithm with competitive learning. The learning rate in the standard PBIL is generally fixed which makes it difficult for the algorithm to explore the search space effectively. In this paper, a PBIL with adapting learning rate is proposed. The Adaptive PBIL (APBIL) is able to thoroughly explore the search space at the start of the run and maintain the diversity consistently during the run longer than the standard PBIL. The proposed algorithm is validated by applying it to power system controller parameters optimization problem. Simulation results show that the Adaptive PBIL based controller performs better than the standard PBIL based controller, in particular under small disturbance.
Building an Organizational Culture that Promotes Innovation in IT Firms
Authors: Korkpoe Carl Hope , Nyarku Kwamena Minta
Published: May 2013

Conceptually, new technologies have affected individuals and organisations resulting to the rethinking of all the fundamental operating assumptions of many organisations and the roles in them. Organisations exist in a rapidly changing environment, necessitating responsive and often radical strategic capabilities. This strategic move has allowed organisations to create new demand, open up new market space, apply creative solutions to problems and exploit opportunities to enhance or to enrich people’s lives - innovation. The Information Technology (IT) industry is competitive by any market criteria used. Unlike its counterparts from traditional manufacturing industries, IT products have short shelf-lives (Mody et al., 1987) and appeal for customers and consumers. Survival for IT firms thus depends on a constant stream of new products and/or incremental efficiencies of existing products from the firm’s innovation assembly line. Within the technology industry, the market for IT products is perfectly competitive with little or no barriers to entry. This paper focuses on investigating why matured stage IT firms finds it so difficult to innovate. It will also assess some relevant growth strategies and further review related literature on how matured IT firms can build an organisational culture that promotes innovation. A new conceptual framework necessary to formulate strategies for surviving will also be developed and diagrammatically represented.
Evidence versus Pragmatism
Authors: Iromuanya Chi , Hargiss Kathleen M. , Howard Caroline
Published: May 2013

This study explores two construction execution and management models for construction and infrastructure development in a new era of fiscal austerity in the face of unplanned, yet devastating natural or man-made disasters. One model explores the role and application of evidence-based construction management, while the other studies the role of the pragmatic approach to construction management in the context of existing cultures and emergent, or dynamic project circumstances. Responses from subject matter experts from two representative dynamic construction and infrastructure development areas (Nigeria and Afghanistan) are evaluated for insights. This research combined expert opinions with time-tested approaches for efficient infrastructure project, procurement, and execution in emergent circumstances of man-made or natural disaster management. While one of the two development strategies is based on performance criteria such as cost, quality and time efficiencies, the other is based on the utilitarian value of a pragmatic juxtaposition of driving social, political and environmental factors. The study is underscored by the notion that while numbers do not lie, they are by their very nature incapable of offering the whole truth.