bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing the Dynamic Reconfiguration of Enterprises
Authors: Clegg Ben , Binder Mario
Published: May 2010

Due to environmental changes and business trends such as globalisation, outsourcing and virtualisation, more and more companies get involved in business activities that are outside their direct control. This typically occurs by entering into collaborative relationships and joint ventures with specialised companies in order to fulfil the demands of customers quickly (DiMaggio, 2001). Organisational structures that results from such collaborative relationships and joint ventures are referred to in this paper as enterprises and the management of them known as enterprise management. The authors use the definition of the European Commission (2003) that defines an enterprise as “… an entity, regardless of its legal form … including partnerships or associations regularly engaged in economic activities.” Therefore in its most simple form an enterprise could be a single integrated company. However, findings from this research show that enterprises can also be made up of parts of different companies and the structure of the enterprise is contingent upon a variety of different factors. The success of the enterprise as a collaborative venture depends on the ability of companies to intermediate their internal core competencies into other participating companies’ value streams and simultaneously outsource their own peripheral activities to companies that can perform them quicker, cheaper, and more effectively (Lal et al., 1995). In other words, the peripheral activities of one member-company must be complemented by a core competence of another member-company within an overall enterprise.
Market of Resources
Authors: Cunha Maria Manuela , Putnik Goran D.
Published: May 2010

Partners search and negotiation, selection, establishment of contracts, virtual enterprise integration, monitoring and enforcement of contracts, and so forth are complex and risky activities required by the virtual enterprise (VE) model. The need to keep a close alignment with the market environment in permanent change implies the high dynamics of the organizations’ structure reconfigurability, introducing a new concept of dynamically reconfigurable global networked structures, traduced by the agile/virtual enterprise (A/VE) organizational model. In the BM_virtual enterprise architecture reference model, Putnik (2001) presents “fast adaptability” or “fast reconfigurability” as the main enabler of business alignment and the main requirement for competitiveness.
Market of Resources
Authors: Cunha Maria Manuela , Putnik Goran D. , Silva Jaoquim P.
Published: May 2010

The implementation of an organizational model characterized by very high interorganizational dynamics, such as the virtual enterprise (VE) model, presents several requirements in order to keep the VE partnership aligned with the market, that is, with business (Cunha & Putnik, 2005a, 2005c, 2006b). Such requirements include (1) the reduction of reconfiguration costs and effort and (2) the capability to preserve the firms’ private knowledge on products or processes (Cunha & Putnik, 2006c). These must be assured by a specific environment, or, in other words, by organizational infrastructures such as a meta-organizational structure for VE design (or integration) and operation, such as the market of resources—an environment developed by the authors to cope with the highlighted requirements, assuring better performance than the traditional environments such as Internet search engines or electronic marketplaces (Cunha & Putnik, 2005c; Cunha, Putnik, Gunasekaran, & Ávila, 2005a). However, VE formation, integration, and operation rely on the existence of an adequate platform of information and communication technologies (Cunha & Putnik, 2003; Cunha, Putnik, & Silva, 2005b). The environment for creation, integration, operation, reconfiguration, and dissolution can be implemented under the format of a market of resources, an entity conceived to cover the whole VE life cycle (Cunha, Putnik, & Ávila, 2004). The market of resources, its characteristics, operation, and functionalities, is specifically addressed in a different article in this encyclopedia.
Network Effects and Market Outcomes
Authors: den Hartigh Erik
Published: May 2010

Network effects occur when to an economic agent (e.g., a consumer of a firm), the utility of using a product or technology becomes larger as its network of users grows in size (Farrell & Saloner, 1985; Katz & Shapiro, 1985). The network effect may set in motion a positive feedback loop that will cause a product or technology to become more prevalent in the market. The presence of network effects may have large consequences for market outcomes (i.e., factors such as the speed of diffusion of products and technologies, the dynamics of the market shares of different competing products or technologies, and the predictability of market outcomes) (Arthur, 1989, 1996).
Networking and Corruption
Authors: Pachmann A. , Dvorak J.
Published: May 2010

Networking has become an important aspect of modern life in recent years either in sciences or interpersonal relations. Networks are studied as new forms of social organization in the sociology of science and technology, in the economics of network industries and network technologies, in business administration and in public policy. In the context of social sciences, scientists have recognized that network concept is not completely new. For example, German sociologist Georg Simmel (1858- 1918) notes an original theoretical stimulus, which he describes as a network idea drawing upon formal sociology. By contrast, popular French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss (b. 1908) conceived society “as a network of different types of orders;” and he suggested that these orders themselves could be classified according organizing principles, “by showing the kind of relationships which exist among them, how they interact with one another on both synchronic and diachronic level” (Kenis & Schneider, 1991). Corruption’s negative impact is not in doubt. It diverts resources from their planned usage, destroys economic systems, and makes a country inefficient when competing with other countries. Corruption exerts an especially hard toll on the lives of the poor by decreasing employment possibilities, causing higher prices, and demanding additional fees for government financed public goods (Dvorak, 2006).
Networks and Industrial Clusters
Authors: Vieira F.
Published: May 2010

On this case study, the aim was to understand the mechanisms for knowledge acquisition and its transformation in innovation performance by eight Portuguese firms of the moulds industrial sector. Emphasis was put on the study of interactions between several external or internal elements of the system. The two main research questions were: (1) If innovation reflects learning (Lundvall, 1992), how do firms learn, how do firms transpose learning, and are able to innovate? (2) What are the reasons for the innovative performance of the moulds sector in Portugal? The study resulted in the creation and proposal of an observation model of the moulds sector, relative to the type of relations that exist between the firms and between firms and other institutions, which permits systematization and generalisation in the analysis of the innovative dynamics of this sector. The innovative performance of the sector is also related with several of its intrinsic characteristics. By studying the firms, and the existing interactions, characteristics that are peculiar to the Italian industrial districts were noticed. This sector possesses some strong characteristics of industrial districts that have influenced and conditioned its innovative performance.
A New Perspective Network Innovation
Authors: Rodrigues Cristina S. , Fernandes Edite M.G.P. , Martins F. Vitorino
Published: May 2010

The global competition, with the decreasing of economic barriers and the strong technological and knowledge development, is changing the context of doing business and, therefore is increasing demands to firms to remain competitive. The only possible answer for a sustained competitiveness is through differentiation and innovation, accepting the context of change. Therefore, being an innovator is a firm’s central role in order to help the firm’s survival and profitability.
Older People, the Internet, and Virtual Communities
Authors: Lepa Jerzy , Tatnall Arthur
Published: May 2010

Around the world the proportion of older people is growing, and this group is accessing the World Wide Web more and more for a variety of purposes including e-mail, finance, health information and genealogy. There are several different definitions of what constitutes an “older person,” but for the purposes of this article we will define older people as those over sixty-five years of age and no longer in the full-time workforce. The proportion of older people in Australia will increase dramatically over the next twenty-five years and Foskey (1998) notes that since the nineteenth century there has been a “longevity revolution” in the Western world. In Australia during the past decade the over sixty-five age group living in non-metropolitan areas has seen the greatest rate of growth (Foskey 1998).
Ontology and Expertise Map Building in Virtual Organizations
Authors: Molcho Gila , Draghici Anca , Matta Nada
Published: May 2010

When organizations collaborate in virtual space, a common frame of reference, or at least a common terminology, is necessary for human-to-human, humanto- machine, and machine-to-machine communication. Similarly, within a core organization characterized by distributed collaboration between remote sites and research or production units, a common understanding of reference terms is indispensable. Yet this common understanding of terms is often implicit at best and frequently not present at all. Misunderstandings between distributed team members and faulty translations of software applications contribute to the rising costs of interoperability in virtual, distributed organizations. Indeed, the growing implementation of distributed software agents necessitates developing and adopting a shared terminology and syntax for efficient and effective interoperability.
Peer-to-Peer Methods for Operating System Security
Authors: Czirkos Zoltan , Hosszú Gabor
Published: May 2010

The importance of the network security problems comes into prominence with the growth of the Internet. This article presents a special approach to the intrusion detection (ID) problem, which relies on the collaboration of the protection programs running on different hosts. Computers connected to networks are to be protected by various means (Kemmerer & Vigna, 2002). The collaboration of the elements of the proposed intrusion detection system uses the so-called peer-to-peer (P2P) communication model. The article first presents the usage of the P2P paradigm for improving the protection of the operating systems (Bauer, 2005).
Performance Analysis of Multimedia Traffic
Authors: Pouzols Federico Montesino , Barros Angel Barriga , Lopez Diego R. , Sánchez-Solano Santiago
Published: May 2010

Videoconferencing and multimedia communication technologies in general are gaining momentum with the development of networked organizations. Efforts are currently underway to further adapt multimedia technologies to virtual organizations where multimedia communications find applications in training and education, customer relationships management, enterprise resource planning and many other areas (Camarinha-Matos, 2002).
Pricing Quality of Service in Diffserv IP Networks
Authors: Acimovic-Raspopovic Vladanka S. , Stojanovic Mirjana D.
Published: May 2010

In order to reduce costs and make it easier to integrate disparate systems, networked and virtual organizations (NVOs) should adopt open technology standards throughout the entire organization—standard computing architectures, standard networks, and standard application interfaces. The Internet protocol (IP) technology has been foreseen as a basic networking infrastructure that supports communication requirements of NVOs. With the growing demand for the integration of heterogeneous telecommunication services (e.g., voice, data, video and multimedia), there is a strong need for deploying quality of service (QoS) in IP-based networks. Under such circumstances, the flat pricing models that have been satisfying in traditional best-effort Internet so far do not encourage users to make reasonable use of resources. QoS differentiation introduces a clear need for incentives to be offered to users to encourage them to choose the service that is most appropriate for their needs. In commercial networks, this can be most effectively achieved through pricing. Falkner, Devetsikiotis, and Lambadaris (2000) and Da Silva (2000) supplied comprehensive reviews and evaluation of pricing schemes developed during the nineties and mainly related with per-flow IP QoS approaches, such as the integrated services (IntServ) specified by Braden, Clark, and Shenker (1994). Proliferation of the differentiated services framework, since the late 90s posed a number of new issues and resulted in novel proposals for pricing IP QoS and network resources.
Process of Innovation in Beira Interior
Authors: Santos Natário Maria Manuela , Neto Paulo Anexandre
Published: May 2010

The competitive and innovative performance of a territorial region depends on the persistence and attitude of the different actors (public and private) towards promoting innovation and competitiveness. The capacity of innovation of the territories is related with company behaviour in that area and vice versa. Thus, the aim of this chapter is to generate local development using innovative small companies.
Accessibility, Usability, and Functionality in T-Government Services
Authors: Pagani Margherita
Published: May 2010

The transition process from analog to digital system, above all in the broadcasting field, and the development of Third Generation standards in mobile communications offer an increasing number of value-added services: the incumbent actors (i.e., local and central administrations, local health structures and hospitals, dealers of public services) have the opportunity to provide e-services to citizens by exploiting the new technologies (digital television, mobile). The centrality of technology for citizens is a central issue in the Information Society policy, at a local, regional, national, European, and global level. In Europe, the action plan called “eEurope 2005”1 aims to increase productivity, better public services, and above all guarantee to the whole community the possibility to participate in a global information society, promoting new offers based on broadband and multiplatform infrastructures. Therefore, new devices, such as digital television and mobile systems, are becoming innovative and complementary solutions to the PC. As service providers must guarantee an adequate interface to the citizen, it is also important to identify the critical variables influencing the design of the new t-government services. We explore in this chapter accessibility, usability, and functionality of the systems as the key drivers to build a pervasive offer.
Business IT Systems Implementation
Authors: Gurau Calin
Published: May 2010

The traditional channels of marketing are gradually being transformed by, or assimilated into, the global network represented by the Internet and modern information technology (IT) applications. Unfortunately, in most cases, the current IT systems are not fluid and dynamic enough to cope with ubiquitous customers who can contact the firm through a multitude of communication channels, such as mobile phones, Internet, or fax. The effective implementation of modern marketing strategies depends on the effective use of IT systems and procedures. Internet-based technology can facilitate information dissemination, file transformation, data mining, and processing (Roberts, Raymond, & Hazard, 2005), which creates opportunities for the development and implementation of efficient customer relationship management systems. On the other hand, the new information technologies can also be used to increase the employees’ satisfaction and productivity (Dorgan, 2003; Eichorn, 2004). Thus, the implementation and use of an efficient IT system for business and marketing activities becomes a fundamental task, which should be managed jointly by business specialists and IT professionals (Wierenga & Van Bruggen, 2000). Unfortunately, these opportunities are hindered by many challenges at organisational or managerial levels, such as defining and restructuring the internal and the external sources of information, centralising the marketing database, and integrating the IT and marketing procedures at operational level. Considering all these issues this paper attempts, on the basis of secondary data, to provide an overview of the main issues related with the implementation of IT systems in business organisations and the challenges related with the integration between information technology and marketing systems. After a brief presentation of the previous research on this topic, the paper presents the stages of a gradual integration of IT systems in a business organisation and proposes a theoretical model
Managing Relationships in Virtual Team Socialization
Authors: Long Shawn D. , Picherit-Duthler Gaelle , Duthler Kirk W.
Published: May 2010

The traditional organizational workplace is dramatically changing. An increasing number of organizations are employing workers who are physically and geographically dispersed and electronically dependent on each other to accomplish work (Gibson & Cohen, 2003; Griffith, Sawyer, & Neale, 2003). Recent technological advances, combined with more flexible job design, have helped increase the number of people working in distributed environments. Hence, more employees are working individually and on teams that seldom, if ever, meet face to face. These virtual employees have the same work responsibilities as traditional employees in addition to the challenge of operating within the dynamics of these newly designed mediated workplaces. Rapid developments in communication technology and the increasing influence of globalization and efficiency on organizations have significantly accelerated the growth and importance of virtual teams in contemporary workplaces. Virtual teams are becoming more commonplace because of the possibilities of a more efficient, less expensive, and more productive workplace. Additionally, distributed teams are less difficult to organize temporal organizational members than traditional co-located teams (Larsen & McInerney, 2002; Lurey & Raisinghani, 2001; Piccoli & Ives, 2003). Although there are apparent advantages of organizing work virtually, the challenge for new member integration lies in the fact that team members must communicate primarily through communication technology such as electronic mail, telephone, and videoconferencing or computer conferencing. This increased dependence on technology as a medium of communication significantly alters the way new members are socialized to work teams. Additionally, team members’ ability to use complex communication technologies varies across individuals. This variation potentially may lead to inter- and intra-group conflict, as well as creating organizational work ambiguity, which refers to the existence of conflicting and multiple interpretations of a work issue (Miller, 2006). This article addresses the challenges of virtual team socialization with regard to newcomer assimilation and how newcomer encounter is an embedded process of virtual team assimilation.
Technologies in Support of Knowledge Management Systems
Authors: Jennex Murray E.
Published: May 2010

Knowledge management systems (KMSs) support the various knowledge management (KM) functions of knowledge capture, storage, search, retrieval, and use. To do this, KMSs utilize a variety of technologies and enterprise systems. This chapter surveys the various technologies and enterprise systems. Specific attention is placed on enterprise systems that integrate KM into organizational business processes, and technologies that enhance the effectiveness of these implementations. The chapter is based primarily on research summarized in Case Studies in Knowledge Management (Jennex, 2005a) and articles published by the Knowledge Management Track at the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS).
Wireless Technologies to Enable Electronic Business
Authors: Nayak Richi
Published: May 2010

Research and practices in electronic business (e-business) have witnessed an exponential growth in the last few years (Liautand & Hammond, 2001). Wireless technology has also evolved from simple analog products designed for business use to emerging radioactive, signal-based wireless communications (Shafi, 2001). The tremendous potential of mobile computing and e-business has created a new concept of mobile e-business or e-business over wireless devices (m-business).
Evolution of Electronic Procurement in Egypt
Authors: Kamel Sherif
Published: May 2010

Emerging information and communication technology is driving transformation and change in the cyberspace. Speed, competition and globalization are key factors for development and growth in the reengineered global business environment where electronic business promises to grow in volume helping the digital economy to mature and dominate. This chapter demonstrates the case of an Internet startup that capitalized on the opportunities presented by the information economy. Since its establishment in 2001, the business2business platform of speedsend.com pioneered the electronic procurement industry in Egypt through a customized Web-based platform. The transformation of classical emerging markets challenges into opportunities has been a critical success factor that related to all building blocks of the business venture including technology infrastructure deployment, community awareness, information availability, and cultural adaptation of the online business amongst others. The owners of Speedsend. com developed a set of models to drive down procurement costs while providing a practical and reliable electronic solution that can boost enterprise procurement efficiency and effectiveness and that could be appealing to a community that is known for being resistant to change and not really mature in terms of information technology adoption, diffusion and adaptation. The case focuses on the models deployed by speedsend.com demonstrating the internal and external challenges faced and lessons learnt.
Digital Rights Management
Authors: Kostopoulos Ioannis
Published: May 2010

This chapter highlights the need for using copyright protection tools in our digital transactions. The main tools of copyright protection, such as cryptography, data hiding, and watermarking, along with the security framework where these tools can be used is also presented. However, all these tools and methods can be used only inside a specific technological and legal framework. This gap between technology and traditional human activities is bridged by developing the Digital Rights Management systems which is presented as a necessary mechanism to provide integrated e-services over the Internet. The legal framework and the current activities of organizations as WIPO (World Intellectual Property Rights Organization) is also provided in this chapter with the existing DRM technologies and the future research directions in this field
Information and Knowledge Perspectives in Systems Engineering and Management for Innovation and Productivity through Enterprise Resource Planning
Authors: Stephenson Stephen V. , Sage Andrew P.
Published: May 2010

This chapter provides an overview of perspectives associated with information and knowledge resource management in systems engineering and systems management in accomplishing enterprise resource planning for enhanced innovation and productivity. Accordingly, we discuss economic concepts involving information and knowledge, and the important role of network effects and path dependencies in influencing enterprise transformation through enterprise resource planning.
Evolution of Enterprise Resource Planning
Authors: McGaughey Ronald E. , Gunasekaran Angappa
Published: May 2010

Business needs have driven the design, development, and use of the enterprise-wide information systems we call Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Intra enterprise integration was a driving force in the design, development, and use of early ERP systems. Changing business needs have brought about the current business environment, wherein supply chain integration is desirable, if not essential, thus current and evolving ERP systems demonstrate an expanded scope of integration that encompasses limited inter-enterprise integration. This chapter explores the evolution, the current status, and future of ERP, with the objective of promoting relevant future research in this important area. If researchers hope to play a significant role in the design, development, and use of suitable ERP systems to meet evolving business needs, then their research should focus at least in part on the changing business environment, its impact on business needs, and the requirements for enterprise systems that meet those needs.
International Internet Interconnection Service in Asia-Pacific Region
Authors: Kim Moon-Soo
Published: May 2010

Since 1986, the Internet has developed into a global network enabling users worldwide to connect to each other to exchange information and data. The initial zero settlement peering arrangements, however, have now largely been replaced by commercial transit arrangements, as backbone providers seek to recoup their network infrastructure investments and generate commercial profits. This is a key cause of the issues and debates that have emerged between developed and developing countries about international Internet interconnection services (IIS). This study focuses on current interconnection settlement arrangement models that disfavor ISPs and end-users in the Asia-Pacific region. After reviewing the Internet market and digital divide in the region, the chapter summarizes the main current IIS issues between the Asia- Pacific and Western regions into three categories of concern: inequity, anticompetitive practices and the threat of the “balkanization” of the Internet. Practical recommendations to resolve these issues and improve the Asia-Pacific IIS market are discussed from regional and international perspectives.
The Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems for Support of Medical Decision-Making
Authors: Claster William , Ghotbi Nader , Shanmuganathan Subana
Published: May 2010

There is a treasure trove of hidden information in the textual and narrative data of medical records that can be deciphered by text-mining techniques. The information provided by these methods can provide a basis for medical artificial intelligence and help support or improve clinical decision making by medical doctors. In this paper we extend previous work in an effort to extract meaningful information from free text medical records. We discuss a methodology for the analysis of medical records using some statistical analysis and the Kohonen Self-Organizing Map (SOM). The medical data derive from about 700 pediatric patients’ radiology department records where CT (Computed Tomography) scanning was used as part of a diagnostic exploration. The patients underwent CT scanning (single and multiple) throughout a one-year period in 2004 at the Nagasaki University Medical Hospital. Our approach led to a model based on SOM clusters and statistical analysis which may suggest a strategy for limiting CT scan requests. This is important because radiation at levels ordinarily used for CT scanning may pose significant health risks especially to children.
A Wireless Mesh Network Platform for Vehicle Positioning and Location Tracking
Authors: EL-Darieby Mohamed , Ahmed Hazem , Halfawy Mahmoud , Amer Ahmed , Abdulhai Baher
Published: May 2010

Large urban areas in North America as well as many other parts of the world are experiencing unprecedented and soaring congestion problems. It is imperative that modern societies upgrade their transportation systems in order to remain competitive, and maintain the high quality of life and social wellbeing. Current practices in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) data gathering are dominated by the use of point detectors for surveillance, and wire-line communication networks for data transmission. Reliance on point detectors is losing appeal due to detector reliability issues, the cost of building and maintaining detector networks, and potential traffic disruption during construction and maintenance of these networks. This chapter describes a novel wireless mesh network platform for traffic monitoring. The platform uses traveling cars as data collection probes and uses wireless municipal mesh networks to transport sensed data. The platform assumes that cars or drivers’ mobile devices are equipped with the widely adopted low-cost Bluetooth wireless technology. Field trials of the proposed platform demonstrated its capability to track cars traveling at speeds of 0 to 70 km/hour. The platform was able to track cars as they travel and turn on a typical road network. In addition, the platform was used to approximate car speeds through determining the change in position in a time period. The preliminary results indicated an accuracy of ± 10%- 15%. The chapter describes the architecture, implementation, and field-testing of the proposed platform. It also discusses aspects of large-scale deployment of the proposed platform to cover large geographic areas.
Systems Approach to Understanding Oral Diseases
Authors: Chattopadhyay Amit
Published: May 2010

This chapter reviews the principles of systems biology and their application through computational methods (bioinformatics, computational biomodeling, genomics, proteomics, oral human microbiome, molecular modeling, systems biology, protein structure prediction, structural genomics, computational biochemistry and computational biophysics methods and projects) that have been applied to oral diseases research. The emphasis of the chapter is on concepts from molecular biology, genetics, and traditional pathology to provide new insights into oral diseases, and the associated technologies to provide new diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic information. Another goal of the manuscript will be to serve as a central reference to access of information about systems biology resources for research into oral diseases.
Accuracy of the First Integrated Cone-Beam System for Computer Aided Implantology
Authors: Dreiseidler Timo , Ritter Jörg NeugebauerLutz , Rothamel Daniel , Mischkowski Robert A. , Zöller Jochim E.
Published: May 2010

The aim of the chapter is to give a complete survey of Computer Aided Surgery (CAS) systems in dental implantology from the different 3D visualization technologies to the different available approaches for implant planning data transfer to the corresponding anatomical patient´s sites. Focus will be on the illumination of advantages and disadvantages for the different systems components. Further on, the diagnostic value, radiation dosages to the patient, availability and costs as well as the transfer accuracy results for the investigated system will be discussed.
Imaging in Periodontology
Authors: Nackaerts O.
Published: May 2010

Periodontal disease is the most common oral disorder in the elderly population. Early detection of bony and soft tissue support changes is therefore crucial in relation to the prevention of tooth loss and/or the patient’s general health. Unfortunately, the current diagnostic tools for accurate assessment of this periodontal status have shown several limitations. Most image analysis tools are based on 2D images, while bone remodelling is a 3D process. At present, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) has become a powerful diagnostic tool in dentistry. This chapter will bring an overview of 2D and 3D visualization methods of the periodontal tissues and their pathologic manifestations like infrabony craters and furcation involvements. The diagnostic use of 2D radiographic projections, image filtering and subtraction will be compared to the use of 3D cross-sections and the image analysis tools for 3D visualization and/or follow-up of bony changes.
Meta-Analysis Approach for the Identification of Molecular Networks Related to Infections of the Oral Cavity
Authors: Daskalaki A. , Rasche A.
Published: May 2010

Chronic periodontitis is the most common infection of the oral cavity. Understanding how and why bacteria enter host cells, and how barrier cells respond to limit their impact, provides a biological basis of infection in the mixed bacterial-human ecosystem of the oral cavity. In addition, elucidation of the underlying shared pathogenic mechanisms of complex diseases like diabetes and oral infections can lead to new insight into the involvement of genes in increased susceptibility of patients with oral infections to complex systemic diseases and vice versa. Transcriptional profiling, statistical and ontology tools are used to uncover and dissect genes and pathways of human gingival epithelial cells that are modulated upon interaction with the periodontal pathogens. Affymetrix microarrays are applied to search the gene expression underlying infection with oral bacteria and identify distinct classes of up- and down-regulated genes during this process. The developed meta-analysis approach can help to extract sets of genes related to oral infection and interaction networks by integrating and combining quantitative gene expression data using statistical approaches. By means of overrepresentation analysis, the authors discovered molecular networks related to immune systems responses.
A Combined GA-Fuzzy Classification System for Mining Gene Expression Databases
Authors: Schaefer Gerald , Nakashima Tomoharu
Published: May 2010

Microarray studies and gene expression analysis have received significant attention over the last few years and provide many promising avenues towards the understanding of fundamental questions in biology and medicine. In this chapter, the authors show that a combined GA-fuzzy classification system can be employed for effective mining of gene expression data. The applied classifier consists of a set of fuzzy if-then rules that allow for accurate non-linear classification of input patterns. A small number of fuzzy if-then rules are selected through means of a genetic algorithm, and are capable of providing a compact classifier for gene expression analysis. Experimental results on various well-known gene expression datasets confirm good classification performance of our approach.
Soft Computing Techniques in Content-Based Multimedia Information Retrieval
Authors: Castellano G. , Fanelli A. M. , Torsello M. A.
Published: May 2010

Due to the diffusion of multimedia databases and new ways of communication, there is an urgent need for developing more effective search systems capable of retrieving information by specifying directly in user queries elements strictly related to the multimedia content. This is the main rationale behind the flourishing area of Content-Based Multimedia Information Retrieval (CB-MIR), that finds in Soft Computing (SC) techniques a valid tool to handle uncertainty and vagueness underlying the whole information retrieval process. The main reason for this success seems to be the synergy resulting from SC paradigms, such as fuzzy logic, neural networks, rough sets and genetic algorithms. Each of these computing paradigms provides complementary reasoning and searching methods that allow the use of domain knowledge and empirical data to solve complex problems. In this chapter, the authors emphasize the potential of SC techniques, also combined in hybrid schemes, for the development of effective CB-MIR systems. As an example, the authors describe a content-based image retrieval system that employs SC techniques in its working scheme.
Articulated Planning
Authors: Dávila Jacinto , Reyes Ana Magaly
Published: May 2010

The authors bring a notion called articulated planning that defies existing associations between centralised government approaches and socialism. With increasing availability of information and communication technologies (ICTs), the authors argue that governmental processes can be facilitated and develop more participative planning efforts towards developing e-governance in countries. The free software and simulation tools can contribute to generate appropriate spaces for citizens’ participation in, definition and supervision of government plans.
Intelligent Product Design
Authors: Zhou Zude , Wang Huaiqing , Lou Ping
Published: May 2010

CAD (Computer Aided Design) is almost instead of classical designing method which drawing plan on paper nowadays. With the development of information technology, the traditional CAD technology becomes rather matured and is developing towards a modern direction of being further integrative, intelligent, and collaborative, namely ICAD (Intelligent CAD). ICAD is a complex system consist of multi agents or multi experts to design product. It can simulate expert in this area to help designer accomplish design. ICAD is based on some technology such as artificial intelligence, CAD technique, expert systems technique, modern mechanical design theory and database technique. In this chapter, the reason of ICAD proposing is given firstly, then some research and application is described on the second sector. Thirdly, some theory and technique about ICAD is discussed. Finally, a case study is presented.
Trends and Prospect of Manufacturing Intelligence
Authors: Zhou Zude , Wang Huaiqing , Lou Ping
Published: May 2010

Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) focuses on how to adopt artificial intelligence and computing intelligence methods to solve problems in digital manufacturing, such as intelligent digital scheduling, intelligent digital designing, intelligent digital machining, intelligent digital controlling, intelligent digital process planning, intelligent digital diagnosis and maintenance. In order to meet the needs of a changing market, manufacturing systems have been in a constant process of development and the pursuit of perfection. In this chapter, the various characteristics of the manufacturing industry in the 21st century are analyzed from the perspective of society, market, product, enterprise and manufacturing technology. Then a brief review of MI in previous chapters is presented. The trends and prospects of MI, adapted to the development of manufacturing, are then discussed, followed lastly by a summary of this chapter.
Introduction
Authors: Ragusa Angela T.
Published: May 2010

Epistemology is the concept used to describe ways of knowing. In other words, how you know what you know. Sociologists have been interested in how knowledge is produced since the discipline was founded in the 19th Century. How we come to know our world and make sense of it are influenced by social institutions, individual attitudes and behaviors, and our demographic position within the social order. The social order is an historical product which continues to change over time. To facilitate our learning from our socio-historical experiences, sociologists frequently turn to ideas expressed by social theorists. Social theory, whether classical or contemporary, may thus be employed to help us make sense of changes in our social and material world. Although technology is arguably as ancient as our first ancestors, as the chapters in this book reveal, the characteristics of and communications within our postindustrial society vary greatly from those which occurred in the age of modernity. This introductory chapter identifies a few well-known social theorists who have historically attempted to explain how and why social systems, at macro and micro levels, change over time. Next, it contextualizes communication as a cultural product, arguing the best way to examine the topic is from multiple, local perspectives. In the feminist tradition of postmodernist Sandra Harding, it implores us to consider the premise and source of the knowledge sources we use and espouse while communicating and interacting in specific ways and environments. Finally, grounded in the systemic backdrop of social inequality, this chapter encourages readers to begin the task of critical thinking and reflecting about how each of us, as individuals and members of local communities, nations and the world, assuage or reproduces the structurally-derived inequalities which the globalization of communication and technical systems and interacting in a global environment manifests.
Vodcasts! How to Unsuccessfully Implement a New Online Tool
Authors: Crampton Andrea , Vanniasinkam Thiru , Milic Natalie
Published: May 2010

Online technology is increasingly used in higher education and training. Recent advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs) have enabled the implementation of an array of tools, such as online tutorials, videos, podcasts and vodcasts, which are utilised within the education and business sectors. In this chapter the authors describe a study analysing the uptake of a new online tool by a cohort of internal and distance first year microbiology students enrolled in Pharmacy, Medical Science and Biotechnology programs. Key findings included the central role publicising the electronic resources plays in the uptake of new technology. Potential advantages and pitfalls of implementing online ICTs in a discipline that traditionally relies on face-to-face instruction and very little virtual learning are discussed making this study relevant to any field considering the adoption of new ICTs.
Lurking in Multicultural Online Educational Forums
Authors: Bax Stephen , Pegrum Mark
Published: May 2010

Through an examination of the practice of lurking, or vicarious participation, in online educational environments, this chapter shows that online interaction is affected by practical, social and cultural issues which extend well beyond the technological and educational questions typically addressed in discussions of online tools. It focuses on the first phase of the Third Space in Online Discussion project, a set of asynchronous international online forums in which a multicultural cohort of language teachers took part in 2007. After a discussion of the literature related to lurking, both in non-educational and educational environments, the authors present our own data on lurking in a small-scale but in-depth study. They go on to elucidate some of the practical, social, cultural and linguistic reasons for lurking and show that these operate together, rather than individually, to produce lurking behaviour. They conclude by indicating the strategies they adopted to encourage more active involvement in a later phase of the online educational project.
Critical Issues in Online Resourcing for International and Local Students' Academic Writing
Authors: Clerehan Rosemary , Walker Ian
Published: May 2010

Notwithstanding the proliferation of web 2.0 modes of text production, the traditional essay or report remains a key component of learning and assessment in higher education. As such, it can pose problems for diverse cohorts of local and international students. In stage one of the current research with a large first-year marketing subject, a substantial proportion of students reported that they felt unprepared and did not fully understand the assessment requirements. Key issues identified were research, writing, and understanding assignment guidelines. The second stage involved the building of a website to address the identified needs and provide support, based on a contextualised view of writing as social practice. In stage three, students were surveyed to assess the helpfulness of the resources and the site was revised. It was concluded that, with appropriate research-based development, one resource can serve both international and local students, but questions remain regarding the future sustainability of such a resource.
Social Research Methods used in Moving the Traditional Usability Approach Towards a User-Centered Design Approach
Authors: Pitariu Horia D. , Andrei Daniela M. , Guran Adriana M.
Published: May 2010

The present chapter focuses on the idea of rethinking the concept of usability moving from the traditional view of usability expressed in the internal characteristics of the product towards usability understood as deriving from the quality of interactions between humans, their work and the web design product. Usability is not only an add-on or a final result in the design process but it is embedded as a main concern within the design process itself. Related to this perspective on usability, the authors discussed the design models which can support it and argued on the importance of using social research tools for a better understanding of the people and their needs starting with the very first stage of design. Further on the authors have provided a brief description of the most frequently used research methods in user needs analysis (interviews, focus groups and surveys) together with short guidelines in preparing and using these methods. The last part is dedicated to the illustration of user needs analysis taken from two of their research projects.
Reading Comprehension as a Competence to Digital Media Expert Performance
Authors: Rodrigues Azevedo Joly Maria Cristina , Martins Ronei Ximenes
Published: May 2010

The information and communication technologies (ICTs) present in the Brazilian education system determine the development of technology literacy among teachers and students, which can be measured by ICT performance. The Technology Performance Scale (EDETEC) is a self-reporting psychometric instrument to verify what the students’ conceptions are about ICT and their performance in using technology tools. Considering the necessity of the acquisition of both technology literacy and reading comprehension skills to use ICT resources, this study aimed to know the ICT performance, reading comprehension achievement, and the possible relations among them. The participants were 63 Brazilian students from K10 and K11. The EDETEC and Cloze Test with options were applied by school and grade. The best ICT performance referred to the concept and productivity tools factor (F2), and the ANCOVA (analysis of covariance) statistic test identified the influence of the grade and genre in it. There was positive correlation between reading comprehension and EDETEC.
Virtual Reality in Education
Authors: Christou Chris
Published: May 2010

Virtual Reality is implemented by a combination of technologies that are used in order to visualize and provide interaction with a virtual environment. These environments often depict three-dimensional space which may be realistic or imaginary, macroscopic or microscopic and based on realistic physical laws of dynamics, or on imaginary dynamics. The multitude of scenarios that VR may be used to depict make it broadly applicable to the many areas in education. A key feature of VR is that it allows multi-sensory interaction with the space being visualized. Here we look at how this combination of multi-sensory visualization and interactivity make VR ideally suited for effective learning and try to explain this effectiveness in terms of the advantages afforded by active learning through experiences. We also consider some of the applications of VR in education and also some of its drawbacks.