bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineer-to-Order
Authors: Addo-Tenkorang Richard , Eyob Ephrem
Published: August 2012

General Engineer-to-Order (ETO) design of product capacity projects among many others, includes design for large electric machine, huge centrifugal pumps, diesel/natural fuel power plant engines, steam turbine, boiler, ship power, et cetera. ETO is basically a product development process, which starts with a product specification and finishes with an engineering design as its deliverable. It rarely includes manufacturing processes. The main drawback is with issues concerning its long lead-time. Research shows that an excessive lead-time is more often than not caused directly or indirectly by factors related to the design phase. This chapter thus, endeavours to introduce a best practice concurrent approach for reducing the lead-time at an engineer-to-order product design/development stage by seeking to integrate business information technology systems in the design and operational phases. It also introduces a new concurrent best practice approach by way of seeking to integrate other related business systems, e.g., (Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)) such as (Enterprise Service Architecture (ESA) application processes with Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)) as a platform for applications and processes for effective communication. Furthermore, the chapter presents and discusses a model of classical concurrent engineering (CE) ETO operational process. ETO key elements, ETO success factors, and series of state of the art ETO classical ERP engineering design tools, as well as the “best practice” product life cycle are all discussed.
E-Business/ICT and Carbon Emissions
Authors: Yi Lan
Published: August 2012

The high-tech industry, its associated Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and subsequent e-business and Internet applications, have had profound effects on our economic lives, social development and environment. This revolutionary change is not only appreciated by computer gurus, but also by private and public organisations. This chapter attempts to focus on the relationship between the e-business/ICT and carbon emission–one of the causes of global warming. Aspects to be considered include energy consumption and CO2 emission associated with the Internet throughout its lifecycle-from manufacturing of Internet equipment/hardware to its usage and final disposal. On the other hand how Internet technology facilitates environment management and benefits industries via, for example Carbon Trading, will be discussed. The aim of this chapter is to provide a clarification and comprehensive picture of the carbon impact of ICT/e-business to private and public organisations as well as individuals, especially some “behind-the-scene” type of facts. Therefore environmental factors can be taken into account for more informed decision-making during business conduction.
Embedded RFID Solutions
Authors: Sampaio Álvaro M. , Pontes António J. , Simões Ricardo
Published: August 2012

Full traceability of products is extremely difficult, although it has been sought after for as long as production, distribution and sales chains exist. Electronic traceability methods, such as RFID technology, have been proposed as a possible solution to this problem. In the specific case of RFID, the number of applications that promote innovative solutions in retail and other areas has been continuous growing. However, RFID tags are mostly placed externally on a surface of products or their packages. This is appropriate for logistics, but not for other applications, such as those involving user interaction. In those, not only is the placement of the RFID tag more complex, but it is also necessary that the tag is not visible or not directly accessible, to prevent accidental damage and intentional abuse. This certainly imposes challenges to manufacturing, but mainly creates new challenges to the development of new products and re-design of existing ones. This chapter presents some insights and what we consider to be the two main approaches to incorporating RFID technology into consumer products.
Organic Solar Cells Modeling and Simulation
Authors: Mitroi Mihai Razvan , Fara Laurentiu , Moraru Andrei Galbeaza
Published: August 2012

Modelling and simulation of organic (polymer, dye sensitized, and nanotube) solar cells is discussed. High J-V theoretical curves, the calculation of key parameters, and also the relative influence of different parameters on the cell operation, are evidenced and analyzed. On this basis, the authors obtain information on the optimization of the solar cell design and manufacturing.
Sequencing Orders from Multiple Industrial Customers on an External Manufacturing Facility
Authors: Koulouriotis Dimitrios E. , Xanthopoulos Alexandros
Published: August 2012

In this chapter, the system defined by a subcontractor, which processes orders generated from multiple customers, is cast into the dynamic single-machine sequencing framework. The subcontractor is modeled as a production/inventory facility that consists of a single, failure-free server and an input buffer with infinite capacity. Jobs arrive continuously to the system at random intervals and have stochastic processing times and due dates. A setup is required when switching from one job type to another. The behaviour of the system, when operating under various rescheduling policies and job dispatching schemes, is investigated using discrete-event simulation in a series of experiments. A reinforcement learning-based approach is proposed for dynamic dispatching rule selection under the completely reactive rescheduling policy. The reinforcement learning controller is applied to two simulation cases with the aim of generating state-dispatching rule mappings that minimize mean tardiness and mean lateness.
Overview on 3PL Selection Problem
Authors: Aguezzoul Aicha
Published: August 2012

Many companies outsource their logistics functions to Third-Party Logistics providers (3PL) instead of achieving them internally. The studies on this field are mostly of empirical type and focused on reasons, benefits, and risks of working with 3PL as well as the role of those on supply chain management. This chapter focuses on 3PL selection problem and presents a literature analysis of 47 articles published within 2001-2011 period. The objective is to identify the mainly approaches applied and their evaluating criteria in measuring the performance of 3PL.
Multi-Criteria Decision Making for Supplier Selection in Biomass Supply Networks for Bioenergy Production
Authors: Kazantzi Vasiliki , Gerogiannis Vassilis , Anthopoulos Leonidas
Published: August 2012

Decision-making on outsourcing biomass supply operations for bioenergy production is both of strategic and operational importance and can be modeled as a multi-perspective supplier selection problem characterized by multiple qualitative and quantitative factors, as well as technical and non-technical attributes and constraints. The biomass supply system presents unique features that highly impact the bioenergy production. Network functionality, raw material availability (influenced by seasonality, weather/climate conditions, land suitability, and other parameters), and procurement costs constitute important parameters for the viability of bioenergy production plants. This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of biomass supply chains, focusing on the special issues of raw material cost fluctuations, biomass seasonality, and the dynamics of biomass demand. It also suggests the effectiveness of a multi-criteria decision making approach for adequately assessing imprecise and uncertain biomass supplier profiles based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets (IFS) in conjunction with a multi-period optimization framework for selecting the best biomass supply mix at a maximum total purchasing value.
Pricing of 3PL Services
Authors: Dimitris Papasotiriou
Published: August 2012

The project of pricing logistics services in the Logistics-Services-Provider sector is extremely difficult due to the absence of adequate technical knowledge in the Logistics market. This knowledge is not taught in special and integrated approach. The Logistics market is in need of a sector responsible for recording all pricing methods as regards the provision of pricing services. This sector has to be fully functional, efficient, and rational. This chapter aims at the development of an integrated record for the identification and classification of the advantages – disadvantages and key criteria as regards the selection of pricing methods in the third party logistics (3PLs) market sector. The key finding of this chapter contribute to the identification and classification of pricing methods, possibly applied in future 3PL projects.
The Effects of the Financial Crisis on 3PL Enterprises
Authors: Misopoulos Fotios , Papathanasiou Konstantinos
Published: August 2012

This research examines the various ways in which Third Party Logistics service providers (3PLs) are being affected by the current market turmoil, also known as the financial crisis of 2008-2010 (which still rages on). Furthermore, the research locates and analyses the countermeasures 3PLs apply in order to respond to the recession. The main focus is in the Greek market; however a global overview of the industry was considered vital in order to conceptualize the entire subject in a clear and comprehensible way. The main aspects of the logistics industry have been described, and the significance and role of 3PLs are stated appropriately. A deep research on past growth of such enterprises, combined with the effects and impacts previous crises had, and the extracted information utilized by the conducted research, has led to unquestionable results - in terms of affection and selected countermeasures - which are representative for the 3PL providers throughout the Greek market.
Online Instructors
Authors: Wang Victor X. , Kania-Gosche Beth
Published: August 2012

This study investigates the andragogical and pedagogical teaching philosophies of online instructors at the California State University, Long Beach in the Spring Semester of 2010. Drawing from reflective adult education theory, this article proposes a new model for this reflective adult education theory. It is either the helping relationship (andragogical philosophy) or the directing relationship (pedagogical philosophy) plus the learning environment (the Internet) that leads to adult learners’ critical reflection in Mezirow’s (1991) terms. A researcher-designed survey instrument called Online Philosophy of Adult Education Scale (OPAES) was used to measure instructional preferences of these instructors in the electronic classroom to determine their andragogical or pedagogical teaching philosophies. Data were collected from 37 online instructors regarding their instructional preferences. Nine qualitative questions were designed to parallel the Likert scale OPAES to determine why these online adult education instructors chose their pedagogical or andragogical teaching philosophies. The results of the study demonstrate that these online adult education instructors support both the teacher-centered approach and the student-centered approach to teaching online.
A Case Study of an Intervention to Support Ed.D. Students in Dissertation Writing
Authors: Kania-Gosche Beth , Leavitt Lynda
Published: August 2012

Dissertation writing is often the most challenging aspect of the doctoral program. In an effort to raise completion rates and lower time-to-degree as well as increase student satisfaction with the program, professors in an Ed.D. program developed a semester-long course to support students writing their dissertations. This case study describes the development of the course and the implementation of the first semester. The course consisted of a series of workshops on various aspects of dissertation writing as well as various other activities such as peer review. The students did not receive a grade for the course. After reviewing data, students in the course were classified by their productivity that semester and engagement in the course. Students who were highly engaged but not highly productive were the most prevalent group. In this article, the authors also provide follow-up, including changes made the next semester and data on student completion.
The Scenario of a Learning Society Model toward Promoting a Positive Paradigm Shift for Communities
Authors: Charungkaittikul Suwithida
Published: August 2012

This study uses a prospective qualitative approach. The Ethnographic Delphi Futures Research (EDFR) technique is used to propose a learning society model. The data include a review of peer-reviewed literature, a field study visit and observation of five best practices communities in Thailand, in-depth interviews to gain experts’ perspectives, mini-Delphi techniques questionnaires, focus group discussions, and model evaluation. Qualitative data were transcribed and analyzed using content-analysis. Policy makers, practitioners from public and private agencies, educational personnel, and community leaders were among the 42 individuals involved in the data collection effort. Results revealed essential elements for development of a learning society including, principles, developmental processes, strategies, and key success factors to enhance a positive paradigm shift for communities. It is anticipated that the findings will (1) add meaningful information and practical guidelines for developing a learning society, (2) contribute to ensuring the quality of citizen participation and ensure balanced and sustainable development of communities and societies, and (3) serve as a basis for further research.
Collaborative Online Learning in Non-Formal Education Settings in the Developing World
Authors: Asunka Stephen
Published: August 2012

In the present knowledge economy, individuals, particularly working adults, need to continuously acquire purposeful knowledge and skills so they can better contribute towards addressing society’s ever-changing developmental challenges. In the developing world however, few opportunities exist for working adults to acquire such new learning experiences through the formal education sector, and this makes it imperative for organizations to develop non-formal education and training programs to help address this need. With the proliferation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) worldwide, this article recommends the adoption of Collaborative Online Learning (COL) by non-formal learning organizations as a means of helping address the education and training needs of working adults. The article thus provides an overview of COL, and then draws on the research literature on relevant theories to recommend best-practice strategies for designing and delivering effective and workable COL initiatives within non-formal education settings, particularly in the developing world.
Information Technology and Fair Use
Authors: Farmer Lesley S. J.
Published: August 2012

Intellectual pursuit and the recognition of ideas is a central concept. Copyrights protect the rights of intellectual creators while balancing those rights with the needs for access. As technologies have expanded, and production has become more sophisticated, the legal regulations surrounding their use have become more complex. With the advent of the interactive web 2.0 and increased resource sharing, as well as growth in distance learning opportunities, complying with the legal use of information technology can be daunting. In any case, leaders and other educators should be aware of the more important aspects of technology-related copyright laws and regulations. This article provides an overview of copyright law and fair use for educational research purposes. It explains different options for intellectual production and sharing, and notes administrative actions to support copyright compliance.
Adult Education and Sustainable Learning Outcome of Rural Widows of Central Northern Nigeria
Authors: Usman Lantana M.
Published: August 2012

In northern Nigeria, widows’ identities and status are defined within the mores, norms, traditional religions, and legal institutions of the cultures of the community. The ethnic cultural laws are oppressive and retrogressive. The nexus of these cultural pressures trigger discriminatory practices that deny school attending widows’ access, and completion of primary and secondary levels of education, leaving them literacy bankrupt and unskilled to fend for themselves and their children. These experiences motivated an all women Community Based Organization (CBO) to establish a Widows Training School to educate widows in vocational skills and basic literacy and numeracy. This paper examines research that was conducted with a sample of former graduates and attendees of the Widows Training School (WTS). The study is based on a qualitative educational research orientation, and the case study design. Multi-modal data were derived from Focused Group Interviews (FGIs) and Non Participant Observation (NPO) with a sample population of the widows. Data analysis engaged the qualitative process of transcription, categorization, and generation of codes that were merged into major themes, and presented in the as socio cultural status of the widows in the community; historical foundation, nature and curriculum implementation of the school; and the facets of sustainable learning outcome of the widows.
Dynamical Disequilibrium, Transformation, and the Evolution and Development of Sustainable Worldviews
Authors: Gabora Liane , Merrifield Maegan
Published: August 2012

This chapter begins by outlining a promising, new theoretical framework for the process by which human culture evolves inspired by the views of complexity theorists on the problem of how life began. Elements of culture, like species, evolve over time; that is, they exhibit cumulative change that is adaptive in nature. By studying how biological evolution got started, it is possible to gain insight into not just the specifics of biological evolution, but also general insights into the initiation of any evolutionary process that may be applicable to culture. The authors, thus, explore the implications of this new framework for culture on the transformative processes of individuals. Specifically, they address what this emerging perspective on cultural evolution implies for to go about attaining a sustainable worldview; that is, a web of habits, understandings, and ways of approaching situations that is conducive to the development of a sustainable world.
The Biotic Logic of Quantum Processes and Quantum Computation
Authors: Sabelli Hector , Kauffman Louis H.
Published: August 2012

This chapter explores how the logic of physical and biological processes may be employed in the design and programing of computers. Quantum processes do not follow Boolean logic; the development of quantum computers requires the formulation of an appropriate logic. While in Boolean logic, entities are static, opposites exclude each other, and change is not creative, natural processes involve action, opposition, and creativity. Creativity is detected by changes in pattern, diversification, and novelty. Causally-generated creative patterns (Bios) are found in numerous processes at all levels of organization: recordings of presumed gravitational waves, the distribution of galaxies and quasars, population dynamics, cardiac rhythms, economic data, and music. Quantum processes show biotic patterns. Bios is generated by mathematical equations that involve action, bipolar opposition, and continuous transformation. These features are present in physical and human processes. They are abstracted by lattice, algebras, and topology, the three mother structures of mathematics, which may then be considered as dynamic logic. Quantum processes as described by the Schrödinger’s equation involve action, coexisting and interacting opposites, and the causal creation of novelty, diversity, complexity and low entropy. In addition to ‘economic’ (not entropy producing) reversible gates (the current goal in the design of quantum gates), irreversible, entropy generating, gates may contribute to quantum computation, because quantum measurements, as well as creation and decay, are irreversible processes.
Complexity, Emergence and Molecular Diversity via Information Theory
Authors: Torrens Francisco , Castellano Gloria
Published: August 2012

Numerous definitions for complexity have been proposed with little consensus. The definition here is related to Kolmogorov complexity and Shannon entropy measures. However, the price is to introduce context dependence into the definition of complexity. Such context dependence is an inherent property of complexity. Scientists are uncomfortable with such context dependence that smacks of subjectivity, which is the reason why little agreement is found on the meaning of the terms. In an article published in Molecules, Lin presented a novel approach for assessing molecular diversity based on Shannon information theory. A set of compounds is viewed as a static collection of microstates that can register information about their environment. The method is characterized by a strong tendency to oversample remote areas of the feature space and produce unbalanced designs. This chapter demonstrates the limitation with some simple examples and provides a rationale for the failure to produce results that are consistent.
IT Security Governance Legal Issues
Authors: Alejandre Gemma María Minero
Published: August 2012

The protection of the investment and creativity made in producing computer programs and databases by intellectual property rights is still not harmonised internationally. Taking into account that IT is used not only to produce these goods, but also to infringe their intellectual property rights, national laws nowadays also protect the so-called technological protection measures, such as passwords, encryption or copy-protection software, created to protect the intellectual property rights. Besides, IT must fulfill the privacy protection regulations currently in force and the companies using it must carry out the international auditing standards. But intellectual property rights cannot protect simple data and information, apart from the substantial investment made in either obtaining, verification, or presentation of data, by sui generis right over databases (or database right). This chapter examines and compares the current legislations of developed countries in order to find the characteristics -and the criticism- in common.
Adoption of ISO 27001 in Cyprus Enterprises
Authors: Dionysiou Ioanna , Kokkinaki Angelika , Magirou Skevi , Iacovou Theodosios
Published: August 2012

This chapter presents the findings of an investigation on current security practices in Cypriot organizations, including enterprises and public sector divisions. In order to gain knowledge on the deployed security technologies by organizations, a survey was conducted and concluded in late 2010. The survey primarily examined compliance of enterprise current security policies and procedures with ISO 27001 security guidelines. A research analysis has been performed and identified that security mechanisms and the management of information technology (IT) resources may be improved on a number of aspects. Based on the research findings, an assessment of the viability of ISO 27001 in Cyprus is given as well as recommendations on the further deployment of ISO 27001.
An Information Governance Model for Information Security Management
Authors: Nicho Matthew
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this paper is to propose an IS security governance model to enhance the security of information systems in an organisation by viewing security from a holistic perspective of encompassing information security, information assurance, audit, governance, and compliance. This is achieved through the strategic integration of appropriate frameworks, models, and concepts in information governance, IS service management, and information security. This involves analysing the relevant frameworks, models, and concepts used in the above domains, extracting the best practices for implementing them from the literature and mapping these into an integrated standard. The frameworks identified are Control Objectives for Information and related Technology (COBIT), Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), ISO 27002, Risk IT, and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). While it is evident that each of these five frameworks serve different purpose of information systems, such as information auditing and governance, facilitating the delivery of high-quality IT services, providing a model managing an Information Security Management System, providing a risk focus, and protection of cardholder data, all of these frameworks have the common objective to secure the IS assets in an organisation. Hence, extraction of the best practices in each of these framework can provide effective security of organisational IS assets rather than adequate security.
Information Security Governance Using Biometrics
Authors: Tiwari Shrikant , Singh Sanjay Kumar
Published: August 2012

To establish the identity of an individual is very critical with the advancement of technology in networked society. Thus, there is need for reliable user authentication technique to solve the growing demand for high level of Information Security Governance (ISG) depending on the requirement. Biometrics can be explained as the method to recognize an individual based on physical (face, fingerprint, ear, iris, etc.) or behavioral (voice, signature, gait, etc.) features to identify an individual person. Nowadays, biometric systems are being used for different purposes for information security like commercial, defense, government, and forensic applications as a means of establishing identity and to mitigate the risk which is one of the important objectives of Information Security Governance. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to explain the use and proper selection of biometric trait to help in Information Security Governance.
Critical Review of Academic Entrepreneurship in India
Authors: Baporikar Neeta
Published: August 2012

Academic Entrepreneurship in the last three decades has risen to greater heights. There are various reasons, too. India’s education sector has been undergoing sea changes in these decades. Every state has been opening up, and there has been a plethora of institutions established. In the process, India has earned itself a reputation of a brainpower generator. Academic entrepreneurship in India has played a seminal role in accomplishing this status. The chapter aims to provide a critical review of academic entrepreneurship in India. It will give an analysis between different entrepreneurs, demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of education policy based on observations, bring out the factors that have key impact on the growth of academic entrepreneurship, their performance, as well as the best practices are discussed to pave way in understanding the academic entrepreneurship, which is of both theoretical and practical importance for both developed and developing countries.
Cultivating Entrepreneurial Thinking through a Management of Innovation and Technology Course
Authors: Ktoridou Despo
Published: August 2012

In recent years, the concept of entrepreneurship and the idea of entrepreneurship education are not novel. Entrepreneurship education at the university level is mostly taught in business schools. Entrepreneurial skills, though, are not only necessary for students who become entrepreneurs. Science and Management Information Systems (MIS) specializations are preparing students to effectively integrate into the competitive working environments of the 21st century. Nevertheless, a common observation is that it is often difficult for students to see any motivation in cultivating mainly entrepreneurial thinking through a course of Management of Innovation and Technology. Academics and practitioners, who teach related topics, especially to multidisciplinary classes, continuously seek innovative teaching and learning approaches to impose more learning responsibility on students, mainly to cultivate their entrepreneurial thinking and acting. This chapter examines the impact of Student-Centered Learning (SCL) introduced in the new multidisciplinary undergraduate course MGT370 Management of Innovation and Technology at the University of Nicosia. The study shows that students and lecturer effectively adopted SCL and commented on its worth for their teaching and learning. Further, the study confirms the implementation of SCL as a significant contribution in cultivating students’ entrepreneurial thinking in meeting the needs of the 21st century.
A Case Study
Authors: Elliott Robert
Published: August 2012

We know that a nationwide shortage of highly qualified teachers exists, and not enough people are becoming teachers. We also know there are increasing demands for institutions to demonstrate a system of accountability through program assessment. As stated by the State Higher Education Executive Officers (2005), “The National Commission on Accountability in Higher Education believes improved accountability for better results is imperative, but how to improve accountability in higher education is not so obvious” (p. 4). Also, many teacher preparation programs are not accredited, and of the 1,300 teacher preparation programs that existed in 1999, only 38 percent were accredited through the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) (The CEO Forum on Education & Technology, 2000, p. 3). While examining the effectiveness of the Teacher Education program assessment at the case institution, three convergent themes emerged.
A Framework for Examining Data and Taking Action to Increase Student Retention and Graduation
Authors: Pitter Gita Wijesinghe , Hudson William
Published: August 2012

Increasing student retention and graduation is one of the most difficult challenges facing Traditionally Black Colleges and Universities (TBCUs). This chapter examines the type of data that is generally available and useful to issues of retention, and suggests a variety of possible actions that can be undertaken to address the findings and impact retention and graduation rates. The framework of IR data and possible actions to address problems revealed by data is based on the experiences at Large State A&M University. The issues revealed are common to many TBCUs, and it is hoped that this sharing of information will assist other TBCUs in addressing the important issues of retention and graduation rates.
Collaboration in Student Assessment Research
Authors: Capt Robin , Taylor Heidi , Kelley Gary , Cuevas Mo
Published: August 2012

Institutional Research (IR) professionals have diverse roles and responsibilities in universities across the country. The Office of Institutional Research (OIR) at Small State University has evolved from an Office of Planning and Analysis whose primary responsibility was for collecting and reporting descriptive statistics to an OIR with growing responsibilities for outcomes research. In this chapter, the authors describe the transition of the OIR to provide more support to outcomes research and program/project evaluation. A particular case related to the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and First Year Experience (FYE) efforts is described. For many universities, the primary and sometimes only outcome measure being assessed related to the First Year Experience is the Fall to Fall retention rate of students. At Small State University, faculty were interested in understanding more about how a particular FYE course and its learning community contributed to student success indicators beyond retention rates. Through collaboration between the OIR, the Associate Provost (AP), and the Associate Vice President for Learning Assessment (AVPLA), data regarding FYE courses and learning communities was assessed. The findings supported the skills learned through the FYE course and learning communities are mechanisms through which at-risk students can improve overall GPA and retention. This collaboration between the OIR, the AP, and the AVPLA provided a foundation upon which focused studies of student characteristics and outcomes assessment can proceed in the future. A framework for organizing the work of institutional research and learning assessment is proposed.
Development and Evaluation of a Generic Re-Purposable e-Learning Object on Data Analysis
Authors: Griffiths Jillian R. , Craven Jenny
Published: August 2012

This case describes the development of a re-purposable learning object for higher education. There is evidence of an increasingly diverse student population in UK higher education, where the sector is currently faced with re-positioning itself in order to meet the challenges of higher education in the 21st century. This has resulted in a new emphasis in education on supporting the learner, in collaboration with peers and tutors, through a lifetime of education, both within and outside the classroom. These factors, together with personal experience in teaching students data analysis have been instrumental in the formation, by the authors, of the conception of the Analyse This!!! learning object described in this case study. In June 2008 Analyse This!!! was successfully launched, and it is hoped that it will prove to be a useful resource for students and staff alike, across many different subject disciplines and across different institutions.
Heterogeneity Analysis in the University Context
Authors: Blasco Maria Fuentes , Saura Irene Gil , Velásquez Beatriz Moliner
Published: August 2012

The transformations being experienced by Spanish universities faced with the challenge of adapting to a changing environment and increasingly discerning and segmented demand highlights the importance of knowing the needs and wishes of students as main customers. The present study attempts an in-depth examination of the viability of student perceptions of service quality as a segmentation criterion. We go deeply into the dimensionality of university service quality and we analyze how such dimensions can be used to segment effectively the collective of students’ degrees using latent methodology. The results based on information gathered from 287 questionnaires permit analysis of existing heterogeneity and a set of recommendations to be made for strategic management in the area of university services.
Developing an Assessment Plan for the Arts and Sciences Division of a Comprehensive Community College
Authors: Smith Annette E. , Jones Stephanie J.
Published: August 2012

Assessment of student learning outcomes at institutions of higher learning has become a strategic initiative as accountability discussions continue to stir within the academic environment. This case study looks at the various aspects of developing, implementing, and evaluating an assessment plan for the Arts and Sciences division of a comprehensive community college. Discussions include how to instill an “assessment” focus within an institution, the importance of identifying appropriate leadership and establishing assessment committees, how to get faculty buy in, how to develop an assessment plan, how to utilize technology for data collection and analysis, and how to continuously improve assessment activities, are all explored. The institution of discussion has completed the first two years of its four-year assessment process. The case study reflects on the first two years of the process.
A Study of the Relationship Between Freshman Composition and Student Performance in Intensive Writing Courses
Authors: Martin Thomas K.
Published: August 2012

The latter finding, while complicating the interpretation of the analysis, contributed most significantly to answering the question of whether or not ENGL1301 should be required as a prerequisite to other intensive writing courses. If ENGL1301 were germane to performance in intensive writing courses, then taking ENGL1301 before taking the intensive writing courses should consistently reduce the odds of negative outcomes in the subsequent courses. Since the sequencing of ENGL1301 did not predict the likelihood of adverse outcomes in intensive writing courses, and since college readiness and having effective writing skills were both predictors of the likelihood of adverse outcomes in intensive writing courses, the evidence suggests that ENGL1301 should not be required as a prerequisite to intensive writing courses. The data do underscore the importance of ensuring that students are college-ready and have some degree of writing proficiency, whether or not that proficiency comes from ENGL1301, before attempting intensive writing courses.
Addressing Online Student Learning Environments and Socialization Through Developmental Research
Authors: Cook Ruth Gannon , Crawford Caroline M.
Published: August 2012

Keywords: Developmental Research, Distance Learning, Instructional Technology
Learning Patterns of Learners’ Interaction in Learning Management Systems
Authors: Bing Wu , Ping Teoh Ai , Ming Ye Chun
Published: August 2012

Following the rapid development of open distance education and the enrichment of online resources and Learning Management Systems in Asia, the quality of interactions amongst learners and online content, teacher and peers has become one of the imperative factors in determining the efficacy of web-based teaching-learning. Online learning is distinctive as compared to face-to-face interaction in terms of how the course material is presented, the nature of interactions, and overall learning experience. This case study explores the understanding, expectation and experience of learners from China and Malaysia based on vital aspects of learning in the web-based environment such as the concept of teaching and learning, the role of the teacher, communication patterns in the virtual classroom, relationships with the teacher and the classmates, and attitudes towards learning achievement. These are reflected in the learning patterns and behavior of online learners as observed in their interaction with the web-based content and participation in the online forum discussions within the online Learning Management Systems. In addition, this case highlights the influence of national culture towards learners’ interaction as displayed in their online learning activities.
Number of instars and sexual dimorphism of Tetropium fuscum (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae determined by maximum likelihood
Authors: Flaherty Leah , Régnière Jacques , Sweeney Jon
Published: August 2012

Tetropium fuscum (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a Palaearctic wood borer that has been established in Atlantic Canada since at least 1990. Neither the number of instars nor methods for determining the instar of field-collected larvae have been documented for this species. Head-capsule width was measured for 949 T. fuscum larvae in order to determine the number of instars in this species, estimate the mean and variance of head-capsule widths associated with each instar, and identify whether head-capsule width is sexually dimorphic. Head-capsule width data were analysed using maximum likelihood analysis of mixture models and the Brooks–Dyar rule. Our results provide strong support for the existence of six larval instars, with sexually dimorphic head-capsule widths in instars five and six. The probability of misclassifying larvae into instar-specific and sex-specific categories ranged from 0.6% to 12.8%, with the highest probabilities occurring when assigning a sex to fifth-instar and sixth-instar larvae.
The use of narrative hermeneutical approach in the counselling of abortion patients within an African context
Authors: Baloyi Elijah M.
Published: August 2012

Our country has celebrated democracy for more than a decade now, the democracy in which everyone enjoys all the basic human rights, including the right to an abortion. Public and private hospitals and some traditional healers are engaged in this act where some give pre-abortion and post-abortion counselling to their patients whilst others do not. It becomes a serious question of course to ask whether those patients who did not receive counselling, cope with life after the experienced trauma. By the looks of things it seems very clear that the people who commit abortion have a special need for help in order to cope with life thereafter. Another question now is whether the little counselling that they receive in the hospital before and after an abortion is satisfactory to their individual needs. That is why the author’s focus is on the method or approach which the author thinks will better help the patients who find themselves in such a traumatic situation. The concentration is on the narrative-hermeneutical approach as one of the applicable approaches from the author’s point of view.
Spatial variation of aerosol optical properties around the high-alpine site Jungfraujoch (3580 m a.s.l.)
Authors: Zieger P. , Kienast-Sjögren E. , Starace M. , von Bismarck J. , Bukowiecki N. , Baltensperger U. , Wienhold F. G. , Peter T. , Ruhtz T. , Collaud Coen M. , Vuilleumier L. , Maier O. , Emili E. , Popp C. , Weingartner E.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. This paper presents results of the extensive field campaign CLACE 2010 (Cloud and Aerosol Characterization Experiment) performed in summer 2010 at the Jungfraujoch (JFJ) and the Kleine Scheidegg (KLS) in the Swiss Alps. The main goal of this campaign was to investigate the vertical variability of aerosol optical properties around the JFJ and to show the consistency of the different employed measurement techniques considering explicitly the effects of relative humidity (RH) on the aerosol light scattering. Various aerosol optical and microphysical parameters were recorded using in-situ and remote sensing techniques. In-situ measurements of aerosol size distribution, light scattering, light absorption and scattering enhancement due to water uptake were performed at the JFJ at 3580 m a.s.l.. A unique set-up allowed remote sensing measurements of aerosol columnar and vertical properties from the KLS located about 1500 m below and within the line of sight to the JFJ (horizontal distance of approx. 4.5 km). In addition, two satellite retrievals from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) as well as back trajectory analyses were added to the comparison to account for a wider geographical context. All in-situ and remote sensing measurements were in clear correspondence. The ambient extinction coefficient measured in situ at the JFJ agreed well with the KLS-based LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) retrieval at the altitude-level of the JFJ under plausible assumptions on the LIDAR ratio. However, we can show that the quality of this comparison is affected by orographic effects due to the exposed location of the JFJ on a saddle between two mountains and next to a large glacier. The local RH around the JFJ was often higher than in the optical path of the LIDAR measurement, especially when the wind originated from the south via the glacier, leading to orographic clouds which remained lower than the LIDAR beam. Furthermore, the dominance of long-range transported Saharan dust was observed in all measurements for several days, however only for a shorter time period in the in-situ measurements due to the vertical structure of the dust plume. The optical properties of the aerosol column retrieved from SEVIRI and MODIS showed the same magnitude and a similar temporal evolution as the measurements at the KLS and the JFJ. Remaining differences are attributed to the complex terrain and simplifications in the aerosol retrieval scheme in general.
Predicting decadal trends and transient responses of radiocarbon storage and fluxes in a temperate forest soil
Authors: Sierra C. A. , Trumbore S. E. , Davidson E. A. , Frey S. D. , Savage K. E. , Hopkins F. M.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Representing the response of soil carbon dynamics to global environmental change requires the incorporation of multiple tools in the development of predictive models. An important tool to construct and test models is the incorporation of bomb radiocarbon in soil organic matter during the past decades. In this manuscript, we combined radiocarbon data and a previously developed empirical model to explore decade-scale soil carbon dynamics in a temperate forest ecosystem at the Harvard Forest, Massachusetts, USA. We evaluated the contribution of different soil C fractions to both total soil CO2 efflux and microbially respired C. We tested the performance of the model based on measurable soil organic matter fractions against a decade of radiocarbon measurements. The model was then challenged with radiocarbon measurements from a warming and N addition experiment to test multiple hypotheses about the different response of soil C fractions to the experimental manipulations. Our results showed that the empirical model satisfactorily predicts the trends of radiocarbon in litter, density fractions, and respired CO2 observed over a decade in the soils not subjected to manipulation. However, the model, modified with prescribed relationships for temperature and decomposition rates, predicted most but not all the observations from the field experiment where soil temperatures and nitrogen levels were increased, suggesting that a larger degree of complexity and mechanistic relations need to be added to the model to predict short-term responses and transient dynamics.
Response of bacterioplankton activity in an Arctic fjord system to elevated pCO2: results from a mesocosm perturbation study
Authors: Piontek J. , Borchard C. , Sperling M. , Schulz K. G. , Riebesell U. , Engel A.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. The effect of elevated seawater carbon dioxide (CO2) on the activity of a natural bacterioplankton community in an Arctic fjord system was investigated by a mesocosm perturbation study in the frame of the European Project on Ocean Acidification (EPOCA). A pCO2 range of 175–1085 μatm was set up in nine mesocosms deployed in the Kongsfjorden (Svalbard). The bacterioplankton communities responded to rising chlorophyll a concentrations after a lag phase of only a few days with increasing protein production and extracellular enzyme activity and revealed a close coupling of heterotrophic bacterial activity to phytoplankton productivity in this experiment. The natural extracellular enzyme assemblages showed increased activity in response to moderate acidification. A decrease in seawater pH of 0.5 units roughly doubled rates of β-glucosidase and leucine-aminopeptidase. Activities of extracellular enzymes in the mesocosms were directly related to both seawater pH and primary production. Also primary production and bacterial protein production in the mesocosms at different pCO2 were positively correlated. Therefore, it can be suggested that the efficient heterotrophic carbon utilization in this Arctic microbial food web had the potential to counteract increased phytoplankton production that was achieved under elevated pCO2 in this study. However, our results also show that the transfer of beneficial pCO2-related effects on the cellular bacterial metabolism to the scale of community activity and organic matter degradation can be mitigated by the top-down control of bacterial abundances in natural microbial communities.