bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ekspresjonizm Jako „Dobro Wspólne”. O Pierwiastkach Ekspresjonistycznych We Wczesnej Twórczości Poetyckiej Czesława Miłosza / Expressionism as a ‘Common Good’: Expressionist Motifs in Czesław Miłosz ’s Early Poetry
Authors: Szewczyk-Haake Katarzyna
Published: February 2013

This is an attempt at tracing the expressionist tropes in Czesław Miłosz’s pre-war poetry, identified by reference to a consensual catalogue of distinctive (both thematic and formal) characteristics of literary expressionism, such as the disintegration of identity or fear resulting from the loss of all metaphysical assurance and comfort. If Miłosz’s and the expressionists’ handling of modern man’s spiritual condition are remarkably similar, it should hardly be a surprise for expressionism appears to have functioned as a ‘common good’ of many poetic voices of the nineteen thirties. We can find some of its elements not just in Miłosz’s verse, but also in the work of other poets associated with the group Żagary. What is striking is that the at least some of the expressionist traits of Miłosz’s early poetry seem to be have stood the test of time.
Extrapolation Of A Controversial Subject In Pregnancy And Puerperium: The Influence Of Combined Oral Contraceptive Use Over Body Mass Index And Biliary Symptoms
Authors: Tica Irina , Tica V.I. , Mihailov Claudia , Mitroi A.
Published: February 2013

Introduction and aim: Because for the majority of women one of the most unwanted effect of combined oral contraceptive use is considered to be weight increasement, our study aim was to find out if there is a correlation between the use of combined oral contraceptives in the present or past and the body mass index in a group of pregnant, puerperal and matching control patients.

Material, patients and method: In a prospective cohort (Regional University Hospital - Constanţa), 176 patients were included in 3 groups: pregnant, puerperal and matching non-pregnant women (control). For each patient a chart was considered, with the following parameters, age, height, weight, BMI, type of diet, use of combined oral contraceptives in the present or in the past (more than 6 months), ultrasound evaluation of gallbladder’ content.

Conclusion: In our study, the use of combined oral contraceptives was not correlated with a high BMI but it seems to correlate with a higher incidence of biliary dyspeptic symptoms in patients without biliary sludge or stones.
Emergence of Staphylococcus hominis Strains in General Infections
Authors: Voineagu Lavinia , Braga Victoria , Botnarciuc Mihaela , Barbu Adina , Tataru Mirela
Published: February 2013

A retrospective analysis of microbiology data from general infections was performed. From 105 isolates strains of Staphylococcus spp. 36 (34,28%) were Staphylococcus epidermidis, 33 (31,42%) Staphylococcus aureus, 21 (20%) Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and 15 (14,28%) were Staphylococcus hominis. Results: S. hominis isolates were predominantly resistant to betalactamins (93,33 %) and even Imidazole (60 %). 53,33 % of strains were resistent to aminosides and 33,33 % to Ciprofloxacin. All strains (100%) were sensitive to Vancomycin, but also all were susceptibile to Quinupristin-Dalfopristin. A high percentage of S. hominis were sensitive to Moxifloxacin, Linezolid (93,33 %), and to teicoplanin (86,67%). Discussion: S. hominis is a member of skin normal flora, but all strains of S. hominis were isolated from generalized infection with a high rate of mortality.
A case of acute leukaemia in a 38-years old female
Authors: Adina Barbu
Published: February 2013

Leukaemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissues, such as bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream. The stem cells usually develop into a type of white blood cell called myeloblasts which do not mature into healthy white blood cells. The leukaemia cells are unable to do their usual work and can build up in the blood and bone marrow so there is less space for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Anemia is a major sign but diagnosis is provided only microscopic examination of peripheral blood smear.
Research on the diagnosis of peritoneal micrometastases in tumors of the subdiaphragmatic digestive tract
Authors: Ciufu N. , Vieru Alina , Costea D.O.
Published: February 2013

This presentation is aimed at analyzing the possibility of detecting the peritoneal micrometastases through multiple peritoneal biopsies to the patients with tumors of the subdiaphragmatic digestive tract.

Nowadays, detection of the micrometastases is performed indirectly through cytological analysis and / PCR analysis of the peritoneal liquid, through the histopathological study of the peritoneal fragments intraoperatively collected and the immunohistochemical study.

This presentation is aimed at analyzing the possibility of detecting the peritoneal micrometastases through multiple peritoneal biopsies and to correlate this with various factors such us: staging neoplasia, the affected organ, histopathological type, tumoral grading.

Inclusion of the patients that find themselves in the early stage of peritoneal carcinomatosis - of peritoneal micrometastases - would allow for the application of an adequate treatment and could greatly increase the patient’s survival chances
Capsule endoscopy – accurate diagnosis method for detection of obscure digestive bleedings and secondary chronic anemia
Authors: Suceveanu A.P. , Suceveanu Andra-Iulia , Mazilu Laura , Parepa Irinel-Raluca , Voinea F.
Published: February 2013

Background. Capsule endoscopy is a revolutionary new diagnostic method for the detection of digestive diseases, especially localized at the level of small bowel and colorectal tract. This method is the only technique that allows endoscopic examination of the digestive tract without sedation. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is the most common indication for capsule endoscopy, which commonly diagnoses arteriovenous malformations, small bowel tumors, ulcers or tumors missed at standard endoscopy or other imaging examinations [1]. Aim. Our study aimed to detect the accuracy of endoscopic videocapsule in detecting the cause of microscopic anemia in patients with supposed digestive pathologies. Material and method. We used PillCam 2 Platform provided by Given Imaging, a system consisting of PillCam 2 videocapsules, a data recorder, a set of sensors and the Rapid 7 Access computer soft capable to receive and transform pictures into films, in order to visualize the entire digestive gastrointestinal tract. We examined 25 patients with chronic anemia, all of them without any known hematologic, renal or digestive disease, investigated by standard imagistic and lab techniques. Results. From the total of 25 investigated patients, 18 (72%) of them presented sources of bleeding discovered with videocapsule endoscopy. The source of bleeding was the small bowel in 10 cases (55%) and the colorectal tract in 8 cases (45%). The accuracy of videocapsule was very good for detecting the digestive tract obscure sources of bleeding (Sn=74%, Sp=87%). Conclusions. The videocapsule endoscopy is an accurate imagistic option to detect digestive sources of bleeding and to identify the cause of many chronic anemia
Daily noise exposure effects on serum transaminases
Authors: Chirică R. , Comșa G.I.
Published: February 2013

Noise pollution is one of the biggest problems that europeans is facing in our days. Half of europeans live in a permanent noise and one third suffer from insomnia due to noise pollution. Also, besides affecting social life, exposure to noise can cause changes in the organs, and it can be a triggering cause disease.
Considering the Geographic Dispersion of Homeless and Highly Mobile Students and Families
Authors: Miller Peter M. , Bourgeois Alexis K.
Published: February 2013

This article addresses school and community-level issues associated with the expanding crisis of student homelessness in the United States. We note that while an increased geographic dispersion of homeless and highly mobile (HHM) families is largely attributed to the widespread effects of the economic recession, it is also furthered by shifting federal policy on the engagement of homelessness. Highlighting the greater Madison, Wisconsin, area, we use geospatial analysis to document the area’s expanding “geographic centers” of HHM families. We then consider how, in these new geographic centers, schools may lack readiness to serve HHM students and HHM families may not have access to vital community-based resources. We conclude by suggesting that research and practice should more purposefully consider school effects and community effects in contexts of homelessness.
Water and nitrate movements in an agricultural field with different soil frost depths: field experiments and numerical simulation
Authors: Iwata Yukiyoshi , Yazaki Tomotsugu , Suzuki Shinji , Hirota Tomoyoshi
Published: February 2013

To evaluate water and anion movement in an agricultural field in different frost conditions, a paired-plot field experiment was conducted at an agricultural site in northern Japan where a significant decrease in the frost depth has occurred during the past 20 years. Snow cover was removed to enhance soil freezing in one plot (treated plot), whereas natural conditions were maintained in a control plot. The maximum frost depth was 0.43 m in the treated plot and 0.11 m in the control plot, which induced substantial differences in water movement throughout the winter. A substantial amount of water moved upward before the onset of snowmelt. However, nitrate did not move markedly before the snowmelt period in either plot. The amount of snowmelt infiltration in the control plot was larger than in the treated plot. Correspondingly, the peak of nitrate content in the control plot was deeper than that in the treated plot after the snowmelt period. Soil freezing, snow accumulation and snowmelt processes were simulated reasonably well using a one-dimensional numerical model: Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW). Nevertheless, the model performed poorly for simulating soil thawing and soil water movement, suggesting a need for improvement.
Ferrier and the Myth of Scottish Common Sense Realism
Authors: McDermid Douglas
Published: February 2013

Once a name to conjure with, Scottish idealist James Frederick Ferrier (1808–1864) is now a largely forgotten figure, notwithstanding the fact that he penned a work of remarkable power and originality: the Institutes of Metaphysic (1854). In ‘Reid and the Philosophy and Common Sense,’ an essay of 1847 which anticipates some of the central themes of the Institutes of Metaphysic, Ferrier presents an excoriating critique of Thomas Reid's brand of common sense realism. Understanding Ferrier's critique of Reid – its content, motivations, and significance – is the task of the present essay.
Antibody Drug Conjugates as Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Trail Pamela
Published: February 2013

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) based therapies have achieved considerable success in oncology, primarily when used in combination with cytotoxic drugs. Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are a class of therapeutics that harness the antigen-selectivity of MAbs to deliver highly potent cytotoxic drugs to antigen-expressing tumor cells. The use of MAb directed delivery can confer a therapeutic index to highly potent cytotoxic drugs, increasing both the efficacy and safety of therapy. Although simple in concept, to achieve the design goal of improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced toxicity, each of the components of an ADC; the MAb, linker and drug need to considered in the context of the targeted antigen, the selectivity of antigen expression and the biology of the tumor type on which the target antigen is expressed. The characteristics of targets, MAbs, linkers and drugs being used in ADC design are discussed.
Minimum-Information-Entropy-Based Control Performance Assessment
Authors: Meng Qing-Wei , Fang Fang , Liu Ji-Zhen
Published: February 2013

Generally, the controller design should be performed to narrow the shape of the probability density function of the tracking error. A small information entropy value corresponds to a narrow distribution function, which means that the uncertainty of the related random variable is small. In this paper, information entropy is introduced in the field of control performance assessment (CPA). For the unknown time delay case, the minimum information entropy (MIE) benchmark is presented, and a MIE-based performance index is defined. For the known time delay case, a tight upper bound of MIE is derived and adopted as a performance benchmark to assess the stochastic control performance. Based on these, the control performance assessment procedures are developed for both the steady and the transient processes. Simulation tests and an industrial case study of a main steam pressure system of a 1,000MW power unit are utilized to verify the effectiveness of the proposed procedures.
2-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-phenyl-6-(thiophen-2-yl)-pyridine-3-carbonitrile
Authors: Mishriky Nawal , Moustafa Aisha
Published: February 2013

2-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-phenyl-6-(thiophen-2-yl)-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (4) was synthesized via nucleophilic substitution reaction of 1-methylpiperazine with 2-bromo analogue 3. The latter was obtained through bromination (Br2/AcOH) of 2-[3-oxo-1-phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)propyl]malononitrile (2).
α(δ')-Michael Addition of Alkyl Amines to Dimethyl (E)-hex-2-en-4-ynedioate: Synthesis of α,β-Dehydroamino Acid Derivatives
Authors: Chavan Arjun , Deng Jie-Cheng , Chuang Shih-Ching
Published: February 2013

The direct nucleophilic addition of alkyl amines to the α(δ')-carbon atom of dimethyl (E)-hex-2-en-4-ynedioate to generate α,β-dehydroamino acid derivatives is reported. Herein, we have studied the reactivity of various primary and secondary alkyl amines in the α-selective nucleophilic conjugate addition to conjugated dimethyl (E)-hex-2-en-4-ynedioate. The reaction with primary alkyl amines gives only the (2E,4E)-stereoisomer, while that with secondary alkyl amines gives the (2E,4E) and (2Z,4E)-stereoisomers of dimethyl (2-alkylamino)-muconic ester.
A Harsh Environment Wireless Pressure Sensing Solution Utilizing High Temperature Electronics
Authors: Yang Jie
Published: February 2013

Pressure measurement under harsh environments, especially at high temperatures, is of great interest to many industries. The applicability of current pressure sensing technologies in extreme environments is limited by the embedded electronics which cannot survive beyond 300 °C ambient temperature as of today. In this paper, a pressure signal processing and wireless transmission module based on the cutting-edge Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices is designed and developed, for a commercial piezoresistive MEMS pressure sensor from Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc. Equipped with this advanced high-temperature SiC electronics, not only the sensor head, but the entire pressure sensor suite is capable of operating at 450 °C. The addition of wireless functionality also makes the pressure sensor more flexible in harsh environments by eliminating the costly and fragile cable connections. The proposed approach was verified through prototype fabrication and high temperature bench testing from room temperature up to 450 °C. This novel high-temperature pressure sensing technology can be applied in real-time health monitoring of many systems involving harsh environments, such as military and commercial turbine engines.
Determination of Odor Release in Hydrocolloid Model Systems Containing Original or Carboxylated Cellulose at Different pH Values Using Static Headspace Gas Chromatographic (SHS-GC) Analysis
Authors: Lee Sang , Shin Gil-Ok , Park Kyung , Chang Pahn-Shick , Kim Young-Suk
Published: February 2013

Static headspace gas chromatographic (SHS-GC) analysis was performed to determine the release of 13 odorants in hydrocolloid model systems containing original or regio-selectively carboxylated cellulose at different pH values. The release of most odor compounds was decreased in the hydrocolloid solutions compared to control, with the amounts of 2-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and 2,3-butanedione released into the headspace being less than those of any other odor compound in the hydrocolloid model systems. However, there was no considerable difference between original cellulose-containing and carboxylated-cellulose containing systems in the release of most compounds, except for relatively long-chain esters such as ethyl caprylate and ethyl nonanoate. The release from the original and carboxylated cellulose solutions controlled to pH 10 was significantly higher than that from solutions adjusted to pH 4 and 7 in the case of some esters (ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, ethyl butyrate, butyl propionate, ethyl caproate) and alcohols (2-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol), in particular, ethyl butyrate and 3-methyl-1-butanol. In contrast, the release of 2,3-butanedione from both the original and carboxylated cellulose solutions was increased at pH 4 and 7 compared to that at pH 10 by about 70% and 130%, respectively. Our study demonstrated that the release of some odorants could be changed significantly by addition of both original and carboxylated cellulose in hydrocolloid model systems, but only minor effect was observed in pH of the solution.
BreedVision — A Multi-Sensor Platform for Non-Destructive Field-Based Phenotyping in Plant Breeding
Authors: Busemeyer Lucas , Mentrup Daniel , Möller Kim , Wunder Erik , Alheit Katharina , Hahn Volker , Maurer Hans , Reif Jochen , Würschum Tobias , Müller Joachim , Rahe Florian , Ruckelshausen Arno
Published: February 2013

To achieve the food and energy security of an increasing World population likely to exceed nine billion by 2050 represents a major challenge for plant breeding. Our ability to measure traits under field conditions has improved little over the last decades and currently constitutes a major bottleneck in crop improvement. This work describes the development of a tractor-pulled multi-sensor phenotyping platform for small grain cereals with a focus on the technological development of the system. Various optical sensors like light curtain imaging, 3D Time-of-Flight cameras, laser distance sensors, hyperspectral imaging as well as color imaging are integrated into the system to collect spectral and morphological information of the plants. The study specifies: the mechanical design, the system architecture for data collection and data processing, the phenotyping procedure of the integrated system, results from field trials for data quality evaluation, as well as calibration results for plant height determination as a quantified example for a platform application. Repeated measurements were taken at three developmental stages of the plants in the years 2011 and 2012 employing triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack L.) as a model species. The technical repeatability of measurement results was high for nearly all different types of sensors which confirmed the high suitability of the platform under field conditions. The developed platform constitutes a robust basis for the development and calibration of further sensor and multi-sensor fusion models to measure various agronomic traits like plant moisture content, lodging, tiller density or biomass yield, and thus, represents a major step towards widening the bottleneck of non-destructive phenotyping for crop improvement and plant genetic studies.
Fast screening of Bifidobacterium longum sublethal stress conditions in a novel two-stage continuous culture strategy
Authors: Mozzetti V. , Grattepanche F. , Berger B. , Rezzonico E. , Arigoni F. , Lacroix C.
Published: February 2013

A central issue in the application of probiotics as food additives is their fastidious production and their sensitivity to many environmental stresses. The importance of inducible cell-protective mechanisms triggered by application of sublethal stresses for survival under stress conditions has been demonstrated. Continuous cultures could be a suitable and more efficient method to test stress factors on one culture instead of several repeated batch cultures. In this study, the application of a two-stage continuous culture of Bifidobacterium longum NCC2705 was investigated. The first reactor was operated under fixed conditions at 37 °C and pH 6.0 and used to produce cells with controlled physiology, mimicking cells in the late exponential growth phase. Stress pretreatment combinations of pH (6.0, 5.0 and 4.0), temperature (37, 45 and 47 °C) and NaCl (0, 5 and 10%) were tested in the second reactor. Of all tested combinations, only those of pH 4.0 significantly decreased cell viability in the second reactor compared to control conditions (37 °C, pH 6.0, 0% NaCl) and, therefore, could not be considered as sublethal stresses. Pretreatments with 5 or 10% NaCl had a negative effect on cell viability after gastric lethal stress. A significant improvement in cell resistance to heat lethal stress (56 °C, 5 min) was observed for cells pretreated at 47 °C. In contrast, heat pretreatment negatively affected cell viability after freeze drying and osmotic lethal stresses. The two-stage continuous culture allowed for efficient screening of several stress pretreatments during the same experiment with up to four different conditions tested per day. Optimal sublethal stress conditions can also be applied for producing cells with traditional batch cultures.
Efficacy of Bacillus clausii strain UBBC-07 in the treatment of patients suffering from acute diarrhoea
Authors: Sudha M. Ratna , Bhonagiri S. , Kumar M. Asin
Published: February 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity of Bacillus clausii strain UBBC 07 in patients suffering from acute diarrhoea. A total of 27 patients (average age of 35.44±8.08 years) with acute diarrhoea were included in a prospective, Phase II clinical study after informed consent and ethical committee approval. The criteria included for all subjects were ≤3 loose stool motions within 24 hours and for more than 7 days. All patients were assigned to receive one capsule of B. clausii strain UBBC-07 (containing 2×109 cfu) two times a day for a period of 10 days. Efficacy assessment of duration of diarrhoea, frequency of defecation, abdominal pain and stool consistency were tested on days 1, 3, 6 and 10. Safety was evaluated by assessing the incidence and type of adverse effects such as increase in blood pressure and pulse rate, physical examination and clinical laboratory tests, i.e. complete blood count, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum creatinine, and stool examination and microscopy, on day 1 and day 10. The results of this study clearly showed that the mean duration of diarrhoea decreased from 34.81±4.69 to 9.26±3.05 (P<0.0001) min per day, the frequency of defecation also decreased from 6.96±1.05 to 1.78±0.50 (P<0.0001) times per day, abdominal pain decreased from 3.22±0.93 (severe) to 0.74±0.71 (absent) (P<0.0001), and stool consistency improved from 3.93±0.38 (watery) to 1.22±0.42 (soft) (P<0.0001). No significant change in safety parameters were observed during treatment. This study shows that the B. clausii strain UBBC-07 can potentially be effective in alleviating the symptoms of diarrhoea without causing any adverse effects.
Improving Comprehension of Medication Information: Implications for Nurse–Patient Communication
Authors: Morrow Daniel G. , Conner-Garcia Thembi
Published: February 2013

Older adults with chronic illness have complex medication regimens that require an understanding of a wide range of information. The impact of patient characteristics (e.g., cognitive ability), health documents (language and multimedia), and the communication context (available time to communicate) in which older adults understand the information needed to take medication safely are considered to identify recommendations for nurses to communicate effectively with older adults. This article focuses on visually presented information (text and graphics) to motivate suggestions for improving patient education materials. Information communicated during provider-patient encounters is also considered, with implications for improving nurse–patient collaboration.
Treatment of Insomnia in Older Adults: Re-Evaluating the Benefits and Risks of Sedative Hypnotic Agents
Authors: Brandt Nicole J. , Piechocki Jennifer M.
Published: February 2013

Insomnia and sleep complaints are common among older adults. Although once considered safer than benzodiazepine drugs, recent data on non-benzodiazepine drugs, such as zolpidem (Ambien
®
), have revealed similar negative effects. This issue, as well as others, has been included in the recent updated 2012 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria. This article describes the risks and benefits associated with sedative hypnotic agents in older adults and discusses the conundrum facing practitioners as well as patients.
Using Facebook in Teaching
Authors: Boghian Ioana
Published: February 2013

Educators have started to turn to social networking sites as they began to recognize the assistance that such sites may provide in information dissemination, creation and cooperation activities, and also in receiving feedback. As promoter of personality, individuality, self-expression, self-assertion, and communication, Facebook responds well to the particularities and requirements of the student-centered approach to teaching and learning. By critically analyzing certain pedagogic approaches to Facebook and by highlighting the common denominator of Facebook and student-centered strategies in terms of didactic benefits, this paper intends to answer the following questions: Can Facebook be regarded and used as an effective and efficient educational tool? If yes, in what way(s)?
Personal Knowledge Management and Social Media
Authors: Groß Marie-Luise
Published: February 2013

Today’s students are tomorrow’s knowledge workers. They will be paid to find innovative solutions to organizations’ most pressing problems. In times of decreasing training budgets and a dynamic job market, employees have to take over responsibility for their own personal development. Social Media and Social Software both on the WWW and organizations intranets offer a myriad of possibilities to employees and managers to be successful knowledge workers in increasingly virtual organizations and to ensure continuous learning. However, social media also puts new challenges on employees. Particularly young people, who – as the Generation Y’ers – are expected to possess extensive social media skills, need to know how they can use social media in a business context to ensure their personal development and be successful in their jobs. In this chapter, the Personal Knowledge Management model is used to discuss influential factors of successful knowledge work and personal development and to outline what students need to learn to be prepared for Enterprise 2.0.
Usage of Social Media by Children and Teenagers
Authors: Velicu Anca , Marinescu Valentina
Published: February 2013

This chapter presents the results of EU Kids Online II project about the children’s and adolescent’s uses of the social network sites. The results showed both the main differences and similarities regarding this issue both at the European and at the country (i.e. Romania) level. Although at the European level one can notice the emergence of different groups of users, in Romania, the use of the Internet is only at the beginning and has no clear pattern. The individual characteristics in the self-efficacy variant positively vary with the using of SNS and, at the same time, none of the negative individual characteristics predicts the possessing of a profile on a social network. The strongest connection exists between having competences regarding the use of the Internet and owning a profile on a social network. Moreover, the results agree with previous researches that highlight a complex influence of the parental mediation on the social behaviors.
The Potential of Document Sharing for Scaffolding Writing Instruction
Authors: Wright Katherine Landau
Published: February 2013

As the current focus of education is often on test scores rather than student learning, many public school teachers do not emphasize the development of cross-curricular writing skills in their curriculum. With the inherent pressures of standardized tests and growing class sizes, the burden of assessing writing projects often makes them prohibitive. However, recent research has shown that developing strong cross-curricular writing programs can not only support content knowledge but also raise standardized test scores. Web 2.0 document sharing technology can reduce teacher workload while providing more scaffolding and instruction than traditional writing assignments. Using these programs, instructors can implement collaborative writing projects that will allow students to learn as they write. This chapter uses pedagogical frameworks such as Balanced Literacy, Gradual Release of Responsibility, and Lev Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development to support the implementation of cloud software in public schools. It also outlines action research from a middle school classroom using cloud technology and makes practical suggestions for use of free software in secondary curriculum.
The Role of the Web Technologies in Connection to the Communication’s Streamlining and Diversification between the Actors of a Learning System
Authors: Bocu Dorin , Bocu Razvan , Patrut Bogdan
Published: February 2013

In this chapter, the authors systematically relate to the question: “What are the main ideas that should be considered when elaborating software Systems for the communication’s streamlining and diversification (CSD) between the actors of a learning system?” The broader perspective within which these ideas are debated is represented by the context that is created through the inception of what, in the specialized literature, is called social media (as a problematic universe) and Web 2.0 (as a fundamental technological universe). Naturally, the authors will not miss some considerations that highlight the impact of the phenomenon “social media” on the information systems of the near future.
The Universal Appeal of Facebook©
Authors: Gruppetta Maree , Mason Terry
Published: February 2013

The positive and negative aspects of using Facebook© as a crucial communication tool between Aboriginal academics and their Aboriginal students will be discussed within this chapter. Initially, the authors’ use of Facebook © was to provide support for our Australian Aboriginal students within their own communities. The original intention was to supplement existing electronic forums provided by the University to maintain contact with students between study blocks, encourage reluctant technology users to interact online, and build links to the students’ own communities and families. In 2009, the authors’ students were involved in a research project (Milton, Gruppetta, Vozzo & Mason, 2009) and their use of Facebook © to interact with students was recognised as innovative and the authors were encouraged to investigate the potential within another research project (Vozzo, et al., 2011). From a peripheral practice conducted by two Australian Aboriginal academics, the importance of utilizing Facebook © to build social capital and support an Indigenous Academic community has become crucial to the success and retention of our Aboriginal tertiary students. The authors’ most recent research project relies heavily on Facebook © as the main communication tool due to the vast distances between Aboriginal communities in Australia and the variety of technology provided by each state/territory.
Reflections on Mode 3, the Co-Evolution of Knowledge and Innovation Systems and How it Relates to Sustainable Development
Authors: Vadrot Alice B. M.
Published: February 2013

This paper is interested in raising the question to which extent the epistemological implications of the Mode 3 concept coincide with the respective knowledge understanding. The argumentation focuses on the article from David F. J. Campbell and Elias G. “Mode 3” and “Quadruple Helix”: Toward a 21st Century Fractal Innovation Ecosystem (2009) and aims to illuminate it from a theoretical perspective. The starting point is the elaborated basic understanding of knowledge as well as the interpretation of knowledge production.
Employee Behavioral Intentions in Adopting Information Technology
Authors: Katou Anastasia A. , Vogiatzi Margarita A.
Published: February 2013

This study investigates the impact of perceived information technology (IT) beliefs on behavioural intention to use IT. The study is based on a national sample of 18 organisations from the private hotel industry in Greece, and on data obtained from 215 employees. The statistical method employed is structural equation modelling. The findings of the study suggest that employee attitudes positively and fully mediate the relationship between perceived IT beliefs and behavioural intention to use IT. Furthermore, it suggests that this relationship is influenced by individual factors such as task-technology fit, self-efficacy, individual contingencies, and social factors such as subjective norm. Finally, the study argues that women, younger people, well-educated employees, and people with managerial experience are keen in adopting new technologies in the hotel industry in Greece.
How to Survive in an Environment of Technological Changes
Authors: Ardilio Antonino , Warschat Joachim
Published: February 2013

Technologies are a main source for the innovative evolvement of innovative products in small and medium enterprises (SME). In addition, the implementation of other technologies in the company can enable SMEs to address new application fields. If new technologies and their potential are identified and implemented into the company in a strategically convenient way, it can cope with the continuously growing requirements of the markets and participate in global economic growth. However, most SMEs do not examine strategic matters. The SMEs are not informed of or are scared by the laborious process behind such a strategy. In many instances, companies do not have a clearly enunciated corporate strategy or a vision of the future on which the technology strategy can be elaborated. This paper introduces a methodology for a sustainable technology strategy based on competence management through a technology-function matrix. The methodology targets SMEs and their specific conditions. Different benefits of the application of the methodology are presented within a use case.
E-Supply Chain Collaboration and Integration
Authors: Joshi Sudhanshu
Published: February 2013

Formulation of supplier integration strategy is essential to optimize the value chain. In the chapter, the authors review the literature on integration of supplier relationship practices and its impact on optimization of value chain. The review is based on e-collaborative framework for optimized value chain, which comprises the supplier integration strategy, i.e., information sharing, e-business systems, and policy-based supplier selection have positive influence on the long-term planning and supply chain practices. The chapter reviews 368 articles on empirical research in e-collaboration and supply chain management. It finds the majority of authors are using a combination of the entity of analysis, while still focusing on the firm level rather than the network level. In this, another encouraging fact is that most of the authors prefer to consider a combination of various elements of exchange in their analysis. The potential limitation of the study is that it does not attempt to trace out trends using regression techniques. The extension of this study could be statistically testing the figures observed in this chapter and setting a grounded theory approach for future research in e-collaboration and supply chain.
Web Applications for the Outsourcing of Logistics Services
Authors: Folinas Dimitris
Published: February 2013

This chapter investigates the extent to which the Greek Third-Party Logistics (3PLs) companies use the internet in order to provide information and on-line services to their customers. It is based on the findings of a survey that examined the Web presence of 3PL companies in Greece. Thus, the websites of these companies were contacted and evaluated against a specific questionnaire that consists of two main categories of questions: the scope of logistics services which 3PLs provide, and the Internet practices and technologies that the examined companies use in order to support the identified logistics services. The findings of the survey reveal the effort that 3PL companies in Greece have applied in order to effectively and efficiently support their provided services via the Internet. Furthermore, they support the belief that adaptation and application of the Internet best practices and innovative technologies turns out to be beneficial for all the parties involved in the examined business sector.
The Use of Cloud Computing in Shipping Logistics
Authors: Pal Kamalendu , Karakostas Bill
Published: February 2013

The aim of this chapter is to showcase the potential of new, Cloud-based, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platforms for transport logistics chain management. The related literature is analysed from five perspectives. First, by examining supply chain issues relating to integration of core processes across organizational boundaries, through improved communication, partnerships, and cooperation. Second, from a strategy and planning perspective, by examining supply chain management as an IT platform dependent business practice. Third, by considering implementation issues using agent, as well as Web service technologies. Fourth, by considering the impact of new trends in service computing built around technologies, such as Semantic Web services and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), on transport logistics. Finally, the chapter proposes a Cloud-based SOA software platform as an enabler for lowering transaction costs and enhancing business opportunities through service virtualization in shipping transport logistics. The operational aspects of shipping transport logistics management are illustrated using a business case that shows the opportunities for increased collaboration through Cloud-based virtualized services.
The Use of RFID Technologies for E-Enabling Logistics Supply Chains
Authors: Michaelides Zenon , Forster Richard
Published: February 2013

This chapter reviews the potential benefits and challenges of introducing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies as a means of e-enabling logistics supply and distribution systems. It introduces RFID and associated technologies as a catalyst for e-enabling optimised supply and distribution activities. In particular, the emerging role of RFID in integrating logistics supply chains is considered key to aligning tasks and achieving operational efficiencies. Other benefits include better visibility resulting from proactive task and process management, and improved risk assessment associated with better data accuracy/quality. In addition, the optimisation of planning and control functions is enhanced through the introduction of key RFID technologies and their integration into logistics systems and operations. Finally, the use of RFID technologies is reviewed in a variety of diverse sectors and areas, from assisting humanitarian efforts through solutions aimed at recovering from the effects of natural disasters to providing accurate and effective methods of recording race times for the Los Angeles marathon.
A University of Greenwich Case Study of Cloud Computing
Authors: Chang Victor , Wills Gary
Published: February 2013

This chapter proposes a new Supply Chain Business Model in the Education domain and demonstrates how Education as a Service (EaaS) can be delivered. The implementation at the University of Greenwich (UoG) is used as a case study. Cloud computing business models are classified into eight Business Models; this classification is essential to the development of EaaS. A pair of the Hexagon Models are used to review Cloud projects against success criteria; one Hexagon Model focuses on Business Model and the other on IT Services. The UoG case study demonstrates the added value offered by Supply Chain software deployed by private Cloud, where an Oracle suite and SAP supply chain can demonstrate supply chain distribution and is useful for teaching. The evaluation shows that students feel more motivated and can understand their coursework better.
Integrating Video Lecture Tools in Online and Hybrid Classrooms
Authors: Desrosiers Patricia
Published: February 2013

Use of technological resources can greatly enhance the effectiveness of online instruction. Developing familiarity with these new resources can be time consuming and difficult for professors already overburdened with high class sizes and course load assignments. This chapter introduces the basic components of three general types of video lecture tools: lecture capturing tools, web conferencing tools, and video hosting and streaming tools by providing details of three specific software platforms: TegrityTM, AdobeR ConnectTM, and YouTube. Suggestions for their effective use in both online and hybrid classrooms are given.
Media and the Moving Image
Authors: Chilsen Paul
Published: February 2013

We are immersed in a culture of spoken media, written media, and – like it or not – screen media. Just as writing and speaking skills are keys to functioning in society, we must consider that the future increasingly demands proficiency in “mediating” as well. Doing anything less leaves this powerful medium in the hands of a relative few. By offering instruction in what screen media is, how it is created, how it relates to other literacies, how the internet is changing it, and how this all informs everyday teaching and learning, the Rosebud Institute seeks to make screen media literacy more broadly understood and accessible. This chapter follows a program developed by the Rosebud Institute and looks at how – using simple, accessible technology – people can become more screen media literate by creating digital films and ePortfolios themselves. Developed along with Rosebud’s program manager, Christine Wells, the creation process enables deeper, more authentic learning, allowing us all to communicate more effectively, to self assess more reflectively, and to thrive in a screen-based world.
Asynchronous Modeling and Simulation with Orthogonal Agents
Authors: Tankelevich Roman
Published: February 2013

This paper considers a class of systems of autonomous self-governed agents with purpose-specific behavior. Agents of this class contribute most to the overall performance if they have an unobstructed (transparent) access to the environment. Many examples of such systems can be found in swarm technologies and asynchronous simulation of discrete and continuous systems. An efficiency metric for a multi-agent system operating within a given environment is proposed as a dot product of the system’s characteristic time-vectors: one of an agent’s demands for resources and the other of the resources’ availability. It is shown that the smaller the dot product the higher the efficiency of the agents. In some cases, the better efficiency of individual agents translates into improvement of the overall performance of the system. This observation is postulated as the principle of orthogonality: under some conditions, the asynchronous, ungoverned systems outperform the systems with synchronized actions. It is shown that the asynchronous (“chaotic”) multi-agent models, properly devised to achieve a higher level of transparency, can produce a better throughput beyond the level achieved by simply improving the latency of the system. Examples of orthogonal systems include many discrete-continuous physical, financial, control and some machine learning multi-agent models. Conditions of convergence of asynchronous models are presented. Some experimental results are shown, as well. More general observations are made in the context of natural decomposition.
Perspectives on eBrain and Cognitive Computing
Authors: Wang Yingxu , Anderson James A. , Baciu George , Budin Gerhard , Hsu D. Frank , Ishizuka Mitsuru , Kinsner Witold , Mizoguchi Fumio , Nishida Toyoaki , Sugawara Kenji , Tsumoto Shusaku , Zhang Du
Published: February 2013

Cognitive Informatics (CI) is a discipline spanning across computer science, information science, cognitive science, brain science, intelligence science, knowledge science, and cognitive linguistics. CI aims to investigate the internal information processing mechanisms and processes of the brain, the underlying abstract intelligence theories and denotational mathematics, and their engineering applications in cognitive computing and computational intelligence. This paper reports a set of nine position statements presented in the plenary panel of IEEE ICCI*CC’12 on eBrain and Cognitive Computers contributed from invited panelists who are part of the world’s renowned researchers and scholars in the field of cognitive informatics and cognitive computing.
Augmenting Conversational Environment
Authors: Nishida Toyoaki
Published: February 2013

People are proficient in collaboratively forming and maintaining gatherings thereby shaping and cultivating collective thoughts through fluent conversational interactions. A big challenge is to develop a technology for augmenting the conversational environment so that people can conduct even better conversational interactions for collective intelligence and creation. Conversational informatics is a field of research that focuses on investigating conversational interactions and designing intelligent artifacts that can augment conversational interactions. The field draws on a foundation provided by artificial intelligence, natural language processing, speech and image processing, cognitive science, and conversation analysis. In this article, the author overviews a methodology for developing augmented conversational environment and major achievements. The author also discusses issues for making agents empathic so that they can induce sustained and constructive engagement with people.
Adoption of Online Social Media Innovation
Authors: Taufique Khan Md. Raziuddin , Shahriar Faisal Mohammad
Published: February 2013

Few but mentionable studies have been conducted in typifying the Online Social Media (OSM) users. Studies on innovations taking place within the OSM environment are also very much found. But gaps are present in linking OSM innovations and adoption of innovations by the OSM users. Precise and objective studies to put the OSM users in an adoption spectrum are close to nil, though such studies might carry great significance in this new but exploding field of business and marketing. This study focuses on proposing an ‘Adoption Spectrum’ for OSM innovations by the users by proliferating Rogers’s ‘Adoption of Innovation’ with the ‘Typology of OSM Users’. Absolutely conceptual and qualitative in nature, the study concentrates on assessing the speed and magnitude of adoption of OSM innovations by the users. The proposed spectrum is an alignment between Rogers’s work and the OSM user typology. Mentionable limitation of this piece of work may be forwarding the empirical justifications for further study. However, the study may be used as input for managing innovations by the firms that venture through OSM.