bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Hypotension Surveillance and Prediction System for Critical Care
Authors: Santos Ricardo Jorge , Bernardino Jorge , Vieira Marco
Published: June 2013

The sudden fall of blood pressure (hypotension) is a common and serious complication in medical care. In critical care patients, hypotension may induce severe or even lethal events. Moreover, recent studies report an increase of mortality in critical care patients. By predicting hypotension (HT) in advance, medical staff can take action to minimize its effects or even avoid its occurrence. Typically, most medical systems have focused on monitoring current patient status, rather than predicting a patient’s future status. Therefore, predicting HT episodes in advance remains a challenge. In this chapter, the authors present a solution for continuous monitoring and prediction of HT episodes, using Heart Rate (HR) and mean Blood Pressure (BP) biosignals. They propose an architecture for a HT Predictor (HTP) Tool, presenting a set of applications and a real-time database capable of continuously storing, and real-time monitoring all patients’ historical HR and BP data. The tool is able to efficiently alert both probable and detected occurrences of HT episodes for each patient for the following 60 minutes. Additionally, the system promotes medical staff mobility, by taking advantage of mobile personal devices such as mobile phones and PDAs, optimizing human resources. Finally, an experimental evaluation on real-life data from the well-known Physionet database shows the efficiency of the tool, outperforming the winning proposal of the Physionet 2009 Challenge.
Pervasive Multiplatform Health Care Support
Authors: Sobrinho Álvaro Alvares de Carvalho César , Dias da Silva Leandro , Melo de Medeiros Leonardo , Câmara Ana Cláudia de Brito
Published: June 2013

In recent years, there has been a great advancement in technology for wireless communication. This facilitates the availability of devices using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi that allows other devices to exchange information and actions. Consequently, the paradigm of pervasive computing is increasingly present in several areas assisting to conduct various types of activities. Healthcare is one of the important sectors that benefits from this paradigm. The clinical monitoring associated with the control of Electronic Health Record from patients has the potential to offer better care for their health and improve their everyday life. This chapter presents a study about the use of the pervasive computing paradigm for health care through the development of a multiplatform tool for mobile devices.
Developing Wireless Network Design in 4G Long Term Evolution for Healthcare
Authors: Zain Aini Syuhada Md , Yahya Abid , Malek Mohd Fareq Abd. , Omar Normaliza
Published: June 2013

The current growth of mobile data usage and emergence of new applications have greatly motivated the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to work on Long Term Evolution (LTE). LTE is the most recent standard in the mobile network technology to be developed based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies with the aim of optimizing the capacity and speed of 3G mobile communication networks. In this chapter, the structures and features of fourth generation (4G) LTE are investigated at the early stages of telemedical research. The chapter also provides a comparison of WiMAX and LTE standards on various aspects, as well as the potential of technology in healthcare applications. Issues and challenges of wireless technologies in healthcare applications and services are finally presented.
ICT Applications and Solutions in Healthcare
Authors: Furdu Iulian , Patrut Bogdan
Published: June 2013

This chapter describes and discusses the applications and solutions under development or implemented in the e-Health care systems, in terms of their technological, social, organizational dimensions. A survey of the present status in relation with e-Government covers the leading countries (and not only) in ICT-based developments in these sectors. The authors present the most important solutions regarding the implementation and administration of a wide range of applications. Certain issues concerning EHR (Electronic Healthcare Record Systems), pharmacy and electronic prescription systems, patient administration and financial systems, intensive care unit systems, laboratory information systems, homecare and telecare applications, radiology information systems, and bioinformatics are outlined. Up and running ICT projects according to European Commission policies for health, ageing well, inclusion, and governance (FP7) are also presented.
Location-Based Services to Improve Elderly and Handicapped Citizens’ Mobility
Authors: Benavente-Peces César , Garcia-Gangoiti Ander , Pardo-Martín José Manuel , Ortega-González Francisco Javier , Franco-Arroyo Javier
Published: June 2013

This chapter is aimed at the analysis and description of various wireless technologies and methods for indoor location of mobile/portable devices in order to provide support services to elderly and handicapped people as well as to care and medical services. Indoor location is an open problem that has been analyzed in the last years in order to provide location-based positioning services that can improve the quality of life of end users. GPS location is not possible in these environments due to the lack of satellite coverage. Satellites’ signals are absorbed by buildings’ elements and cannot reach GPS receivers. As a consequence, no location is obtained. One must take into account that many elderly and handicapped people are most of the time in an indoor location. Thus, new technologies and techniques have to be investigated in order to provide additional location services indoors that complement those provided in outdoor situations by the GPS system.
Image Based Classification Platform
Authors: Gonçalves Paolo J. S. , Almeida Rui J. , Pinto João R. Caldas , Vieira Susana M. , Sousa João M. C.
Published: June 2013

The high number of exams that is done in healthcare institutions increases the medical doctors’ workload, leading to poor working conditions and the increase of wrong diagnoses. As consequence, an automatic system that can help medical doctors in diagnostic tasks is of major interest to any healthcare institution. The chapter proposes an Image Based Classification Platform suitable to help Medical Doctors diagnosing breast cancer, based on mammograms, i.e., to detect if a tumor is present in the image. The platform is twofold, i.e., in the first part the image descriptors are extracted from the image using image-processing algorithms. The obtained descriptors are used in the second part. The second part is related to classification, where computational intelligence methods are used to classify a given image, based on the descriptors obtained in the first phase. Texture analysis based on co-occurrence matrices are applied to obtain the descriptors from the MIAS database of mammograms. From these descriptors, fuzzy models, neural networks, and support vector machines are successfully used to classify the mammograms and obtain a diagnosis.
The Reality of Accessibility in the Public Health Systems
Authors: Cala Guillermo López , Robles Yolanda María de la Fuente , Alcalá Rosa María Fernández
Published: June 2013

This chapter deals with accessibility, a relevant and important concept for every citizen in the improvement of their quality of life in any environment or daily situation. Specifically, an empirical study about accessibility in the public health centers of a Basic Health Area (BHA) of Jaén is carried out. From this study, accessibility deficiencies in health buildings are revealed, and explicit proposals are provided with the aim of improving accessibility in different scopes such as information and communications. The improvement plans based on the use of Technology, Information, and Communication (TIC) tools help sensory disabled users that attend to the Health Center.
Knowledge-Based Support of Medical Work in Home Care
Authors: Lhotska Lenka , Dolezal Jaromir , Bosansky Branislav
Published: June 2013

Healthcare applications involve complex structures of interacting processes and professionals that need to exchange information to provide the care services. In this kind of system, many different professional competencies, ethical and sensibility requirements, as well as legal frameworks coexist, and because of that, the information managed inside the system should not be freely accessed. On the contrary, it must be subject to very complex privacy restrictions. In the chapter, the authors describe a case study of a knowledge-based distributed system, the fundamental issues that must be considered in design of a distributed healthcare application. The K4CARE system is an example of an application to the medical domain of homecare assistance. Homecare involves professionals from different institutions (hospital, social workers, etc.) that must interact around any particular patient, and which used to be located in different physical places having their own and independent information systems.
Towards Telemedical Centers
Authors: Brzezinski Jerzy , Kosiedowski Michal , Mazurek Cezary , Slowinski Krzysztof , Slowinski Roman , Stroinski Maciej , Weglarz Jan
Published: June 2013

Over the years, the developments in computing science have strongly influenced the way healthcare entities maintain processes aimed at delivering adequate medical services to patients. Hospital information systems operating within internal computer networks have drastically helped hospitals to improve the efficiency of providing services. They have allowed an immediate sharing of medical information in digital form between hospital employees in order to undertake clinical decisions in a quicker and better way, and to eliminate errors caused by lower quality paper information. The equivalent to these systems in exchanging information between distant medical professionals has become telemedicine. Telemedicine has created opportunities for a smooth cooperation between dispersed medical units and for automating the management of healthcare processes at the regional and national levels. In this chapter, the authors discuss an emerging trend towards developing and maintaining telemedical centers at the institutional and regional/national levels. The authors present functional and organizational requirements for such centers, as well as technical conditions relating to their implementation. Recommendations and statements presented herewith are based on the authors’ collective experience in building teleinformation systems for healthcare, which led to the development of the Wielkopolska Center of Telemedicine.
ICT Aspects of Next-Generation-Sequencing Applied to Molecular Diagnostics
Authors: Biskup Saskia
Published: June 2013

Next-Generation-Sequencing (NGS) techniques are currently on the rise. This is seen as a revolution by (most) geneticists. The wealth of data stemming from Next-Generation-Sequencing will without a doubt lead to significant advances in the field of molecular diagnostics. On the clinical side, this will be higher detection rates of the genetic causes of particular diseases in patients. On the scientific side, NGS techniques will lead to the discovering of genes related to certain diseases (see, for example, Mardis, et al., 2009; Haack, et al., 2010; Lupski, et al., 2010). However, these advances come at a price: geneticists will be confronted with different and new ICT issues related to NGS. Because of the so far unknown amount of data stemming from NGS, these ICT issues need to be taken seriously. The purpose of this chapter is to give an overview on the different ICT aspects that come with the introduction of Next-Generation-Sequencing in molecular diagnostics.
Using Interactive Digital Television Middleware Tools to Promote Facilities for Healthcare and Social Services
Authors: Azevedo Samuel Oliveira , Dantas Rummenigge Rudson , Gonçalves Luiz Marcos
Published: June 2013

This chapter introduces the use of middleware tools in applications for healthcare and social services, focusing on solutions designed for Interactive Digital Television (IDTV), and discusses its implications to modern roles for easing patient and caretaker relations. The authors explore the capacities of such solutions to assist the patients in their personal needs, optimizing the time and tasks of the caretaker. They discuss the limits of the use of Internet in satisfying the needs of communication of elderly and other patients, and then they propose new roles for caretaking based on this new reality. The authors also present an architecture that allows the remote use and control of electronic devices via IDTV set-top boxes for the middleware Ginga. They show applications based on this architecture that promote healthcare and social services, as a set of infrared lights coupled to a hat that can be used as input for impaired patients, and how an accelerometer can be used with IDTV applications for treatment and entertainment. Before concluding, the authors point out research directions on the topics discussed in this chapter.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Authors: Martins Maria de Fátima , Remoaldo Paula Cristina , Carvalho Ana Paula
Published: June 2013

In Portugal, the Health Ministry’s family planning programmes have traditionally focused on women. However, the involvement of men in family planning is crucial to the promotion of equal opportunities in health. Recent advances in technology and the means of communication that support Sexual and Reproductive Health seemed to mark the beginning of a new era in family planning in which men and women could be equal partners in the decision making processes, but these hopes have not been realised. In this chapter, we present semi-structured interviews conducted with 66 men from the Northwest of Portugal between May and June 2010. The results show that 90% of the respondents consider their involvement in the vigilance of Sexual and Reproductive Health important. However, 83.3% have not, to date, participated in any kind of consultation for family planning. The results identify a need to create new strategies for the promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health among men, employing for example social marketing strategies, in which new technologies and certain means of communication could have an important role.
A Preliminary Study of Key Factors Affecting Management and Evaluation of IT Outsourcing Contracts in Hospitals
Authors: Lin Chad , Huang Yu-An , Li Chien-Fa , Jalleh Geoffrey , Liu Ying-Chieh
Published: June 2013

Many hospitals are experiencing pressure to improve their operational efficiency and patient safety due to escalating costs and increased competition. In order to achieve these and other business objectives, hospitals have to outsource some of their Information Technology (IT) functions to external outsourcing contractors. The scope and range of IT-related outsourcing services are also increasing, as evidenced by the promotion of Applications Service Providers (ASP), Business-to-Business (B2B) integration, cloud-drive business and IT services, desktop and helpdesk, IT infrastructure services, and software development outsourcing. However, little attention has been paid by many hospitals to the key factors that affect their IT outsourcing decision-making and negotiation processes. This is important given that the IT outsourcing can play a key role in organizational success. Moreover, contract decision-making and negotiation processes in hospitals are particularly under-studied, especially in the management and evaluation of the IT outsourcing contracts. Hence, the main objectives of this chapter are to: (1) examine and identify some key factors affecting the management and evaluation of IT outsourcing contracts in Taiwanese hospitals; and (2) propose a set of recommendations to overcome or minimize the key issues identified in this study. One contribution of the study is the recommendations provided to deal with issues that are critical in the management and evaluation of IT outsourcing contracts in hospitals.
Enterprise 2.0 Management Challenges
Authors: Patten Karen P. , Keane Lynn B.
Published: June 2013

The nature of the enterprise and the way people work is changing rapidly. The enabling power and competitive advantage of new social and participative technologies will benefit those that recognize the way work is changing. Web 2.0, the “second phase” of the Web, is the foundation of a new and improved Enterprise 2.0. Enterprise 2.0 provides, through a web of interconnected applications, services, and devices, the capabilities for enterprise employees and vendors to be more competitive and productive and for enterprise customers to be more engaged and loyal by accessing the right information from the right people at the right time. This paper describes Enterprise 2.0 management challenges and issues identified by Chief Information Officers, which include the unauthorized use of services and technologies, the integration of a myriad of technologies and capabilities, and the potential compliance and security implications. The authors have proposed a conceptual framework that explores the relationships of three Enterprise 2.0 dimensions – technology, its use, and how resulting user-generated content may lead to business value – with management implications affecting IT culture and policies within the enterprise. This paper provides observations and suggestions for future research.
Understanding Users’ Continuance of Facebook
Authors: Hsu Chia-Lin , Wu Cou-Chen
Published: June 2013

The purpose of this study is to develop an integrated model designed to examine users’ continuance of Facebook based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), the expectation disconfirmation model (EDM), and flow theory. Empirical data collected from 482 users who have experience with Facebook are subjected to structural equation modeling based on the proposed research model. Results show that users’ continuance intention of Facebook is determined by social influence, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, flow experience, and satisfaction. Satisfaction is significantly affected by flow experience and disconfirmation. Results also suggest that effort expectancy is positively related to flow experience. Based on the findings, managerial implications are discussed in this paper and directions for future research are also highlighted.
Blog Influence Index
Authors: Shiratuddin Norshuhada , Hassan Shahizan , Hashim Nor Laily , Sakdan Mohd Fo’ad , Sajat Mohd Samsu
Published: June 2013

Although weblogs are a popular medium of communication, their influence on society is unclear. In particular, studies that investigate the impact and influence of blogosphere on the community and government have not been fully exploited. Such studies are important especially to the government in reshaping and realigning the policies related to new media. This article presents the outcomes of a study to identify measures on how to assess the influence of weblogs. At least four dimensions are critical for measuring weblog influence, which are recognition (number of in links and number of visitors), activity generation (number of comments and number of posts), novelty (number of out links), and credibility of a blog (number of information presentation type, number of factual errors, and number of hyperlink citations). It is hereby proposed that these dimensions make up a measure called the Blog Influence Index.
Going DEEP
Authors: Dekker Andrew , Marrington Justin , Viller Stephen
Published: June 2013

Unlike traditional forms of Human-Computer Interaction (such as conducting desktop or Web-based design), mobile design has by its nature little control over the contextual variables of its research. Short-term evaluations of novel mobile interaction techniques are abundant, but these controlled studies only address limited contexts through artificial deployments, which cannot hope to reveal the patterns of use that arise as people appropriate a tool and take it with them into the varying social and physical contexts of their lives. The authors propose a rapid and reflective model of in-situ deployment of high-fidelity prototypes, borrowing the tested habits of industry, where researchers relinquish tight control over their prototypes in exchange for an opportunity to observe patterns of use that would be intractable to plan for in controlled studies. The approach moves the emphasis in prototyping away from evaluation and towards exploration and reflection, promoting an iterative prototyping methodology that captures the complexities of the real world.
Monitoring User’s Emotions Using Brain Computer Interfaces
Authors: Crowley Katie , Pitt Ian
Published: June 2013

This chapter discusses the use of commercial Brain Computer Interfaces to monitor the emotions and interactions of a subject as they use a system. Tracking how a user interacts with a system, and the emotion-based responses that are invoked as they interact with the system, yield very valuable datasets for the development of intelligent, adaptive systems. The proliferation of mobile devices as an emerging platform offers scope for the development of the relationship between Brain Computer Interfaces and mobile technology, towards ubiquitous, minimally invasive, mobile systems.
Self-Sustainability in Academic Libraries in the Digital Era
Authors: Kalpana T. M. , Gopalakrishnan S.
Published: June 2013

Libraries are storehouses of knowledge and act as disseminating agents for the knowledge producer because knowledge accrued from library is invariably implemented in creating new knowledge. The libraries are agents for knowledge collection, utilization, and dissemination. In all these processes, finance plays a major role. Shrinking budgets (Anna, 1994) and increases in available resources pressure collection development and the disseminating process. The strategies discussed in this chapter can to some extent help in sorting out this financial crisis depending on suitability and implementing standards. Library and information service is a noble service sector. It is not enough to concentrate on issues inside the library, but one needs to widen the service and address issues outside as well, factors like global warming, chronic health disorders, power shortage, diminishing funds, pollution, up to date literature collection, obsolete technologies, and so on.
Access to and Usage of E-Resources in Selected Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania
Authors: Mtega Wulystan Pius , Nyinondi Philbert , Msungu Andrew
Published: June 2013

This chapter assesses the usage of e-resources in higher learning institutions in Tanzania. It identifies how electronic resources are acquired, determines the factors influencing the usage of e-resources, and assesses how e-resources are managed and disseminated. The chapter also investigates the efficiency of the Consortium of Tanzania University and Research Libraries in enhancing accessibility and usage of e-resources. The study employed a survey in data collection where face-to-face interviews and online surveys were used. Collected data was analysed through content analysis. The study found that all higher learning institutions in Tanzania had Internet connectivity, thus providing an opportunity for usage of online and offline resources. It was found that the usage of e-resources was influenced by users’ attitudes, preference and searching skills, funds for e-resources subscription, Internet connectivity, and electric power. It is recommended for higher learning institutions to invest in ICTs infrastructure and support the current trends of subscription and usage of e-resources.
Web Credibility of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Websites in India
Authors: Jeyshankar R. , Jeyasundari A. , Muthamizharasi S.
Published: June 2013

The official Website of an academic library has a different role to play in the Internet scheme of disseminating information. In this respect, considerable thought should be given on the kind of information provided and the way of its presentation on the Web. This chapter aims to study NIT and its library Websites in India. The analysis of the data represents the extent and the level of credibility possessed by the NIT Websites in India, which is the key to any successful Website of any organization, especially of any academic library.
Business Intelligence and Data Mining
Authors: Kardkovács Zsolt T.
Published: June 2013

Whenever decision makers find out that they want to know more about how the business works and progresses, or why customers do what they do, then data miners are summoned, and business intelligence is to be built or altered. Data mining aims at retrieving valid, interesting, explicable connection between key factors for either operative reporting or supporting strategic planning. While data mining discovers static connections between factors, business intelligence visualizes relevant data for decision makers in order to make them identify fast changes and analyze precisely business states. In this chapter, the authors give a short introduction for data oriented decision support systems with data mining and business intelligence in it. While these techniques are widely used in business processes, there are much more bad practices than good ones. We try to make an attempt to demystify and clear the myths about these technologies, and determine who should and how (not) to use them.
Service-Driven Approaches to Software Architecture
Authors: Ramanathan Raja
Published: June 2013

Software Architecture has evolved from simple monolithic system designs to complex, multi-tiered, distributed, and componentized abstractions. Service-driven architectural approaches have been a major driver for enabling agile, cost-effective, flexible, and extensible software applications and integration solutions that support the business dynamics of today’s fast-paced enterprises. SOA and the SCA model have been the typical Service-driven architectural approaches used in enterprises today, to tackle the challenges of developing and implementing agile and loosely coupled software and enterprise integration solutions. Recent trends involve the use of Web APIs and RESTful architecture in the enterprise for agile service development and application integration. The goal of this chapter is to explore, discuss, and recommend methodologies for Service-driven Computing in the enterprise. Service versioning is detailed as a primary architectural approach for accommodating modifications to services during their life cycle. Service Mediation, Enterprise Service Bus, and Composition mechanisms including Enterprise Mashups are explored. The chapter also presents the business value of APIs in the enterprise and investigates the value-add to Social Media and Cloud enterprise initiatives. The typical phases of a Service-driven development life cycle are explained and service design patterns to facilitate the engineering of flexible service-based applications are described. The chapter concludes with thoughts on future opportunities and challenges in the area of Service-driven computing.
Maintaining Transactional Integrity in Long Running Workflow Services
Authors: Reiff-Marganiec Stephan , Ali Manar S.
Published: June 2013

This chapter presents a framework to provide autonomous handling of long running transactions based on dependencies which are derived from the workflow. Business Processes naturally involve long running activities and require transactional behaviour across them. This framework presents a solution for forward recovery from errors by automatic application of compensation to executing instances of workflows. The mechanism is based on propagation of failures through a recursive hierarchical structure of transaction components (nodes and execution paths). The authors discuss a transaction management system that is implemented as a reactive system controller, where system components change their states based on rules in response to triggering of events, such as activation, failure, force-fail, completion, or compensation events. One notable feature of the model is the distinction of vital and non-vital components, allowing the process designer to express the cruciality of activities in the workflow with respect to the business logic. Another novel feature is that in addition to dependencies arising from the structure of the workflow, the approach also permits the workflow designer to specify additional dependencies which will also be enforced. Thus, the authors introduce new techniques and architectures supporting enterprise integration solutions that cater to the dynamics of business needs. The approach is implemented through workflow actions executed by services and allows management of faults through a policy-driven framework.
Enabling Vendor Diversifiable Enterprise Integration
Authors: Rebello Lloyd
Published: June 2013

Without effective architectural oversight, enterprises risk stifling their ability to innovate, because vendor products are too tightly woven into their key business processes, which impedes the evolution of their technology environment in support of business needs. Vendors gain negotiation leverage due to monopoly on the technology that supports key enterprise processes and capabilities. The goal of this chapter is to provide practical guidance on business flexibility advantages through carefully managed vendor diversification options for enterprises that are implementing Service-driven applications and integration solutions. The approach presented in this chapter recommends adherence to four basic principles, namely, owning the ability to control delivery channels and integration, compartmentalizing concepts into fulfillment roles in the Service-driven enterprise, using a vendor agnostic enterprise service interface, and owning the key data. The dual reinforcing concepts of ownership and control underpin the vendor diversification opportunities. A reference architecture is presented that distills these principles into a conceptual model that can be applied to any enterprise. A real world transportation and logistics business enterprise integration project is used as an example to illustrate the advantages of using vendor agnostic principles in a Service-driven environment.
Silicon Micro-Robot with Neural Networks
Authors: Saito Ken , Takato Minami , Sekine Yoshifumi , Uchikoba Fumio
Published: June 2013

Insect type 4.0, 2.7, 2.5 mm. width, length, height size silicon micro-robot system with active hardware neural networks locomotion controlling system is presented in this chapter. The micro-robot system was made from a silicon wafer fabricated by Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. The mechanical system of the robot equipped with millimeter-size rotary type actuators, link mechanisms, and six legs to realize the insect-like switching behavior. In addition, the authors constructed the active hardware neural networks by analog CMOS circuits as a locomotion controlling system. Hardware neural networks consisted of pulse-type hardware neuron models as basic components. Pulse-type hardware neuron model has same basic features of biological neurons such as threshold, refractory period, spatio-temporal summation characteristics, and enables the generation of continuous action potentials. The hardware neural networks output the driving pulses using synchronization phenomena such as biological neural networks. Four output signal ports are extracted from hardware neural networks, and they are connected to the actuators. The driving pulses can operate the actuators of silicon micro-robot directly. Therefore, the hardware neural networks realize the robot control without using any software programs or A/D converters. The micro-robot emulates the locomotion method and the neural networks of an insect with rotary type actuators, link mechanisms, and hardware neural networks. The micro-robot performs forward and backward locomotion, and also changes direction by inputting an external trigger pulse. The locomotion speed was 26.4 mm/min when the step width was 0.88 mm.
Design and Implementation of a Step-Traversing Two-Wheeled Robot
Authors: Yap Huei Ee , Hashimoto Shuji
Published: June 2013

In this chapter, the authors present the design and implementation of a step-traversing two-wheeled robot. Their proposed approach aims to extend the traversable workspace of a conventional two-wheeled robot. The nature of the balance problem changes as the robot is in different phases of motion. Maintaining balance with a falling two-wheeled robot is a different problem than balancing on flat ground. Active control of the drive wheels during flight is used to alter the flight of the robot to ensure a safe landing. State dependent feedback controllers are used to control the dynamics of the robot on ground and in air. Relationships between forward velocity, height of step, and landing angle are investigated. A physical prototype has been constructed and used to verify the viability of the authors’ control scheme. This chapter discusses the design attributes and hardware specifications of the developed prototype. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme has been confirmed through experiments on single- and continuous-stepped terrains.
Inferring Intention through State Representations in Cooperative Human-Robot Environments
Authors: Schlenoff Craig , Pietromartire Anthony , Kootbally Zeid , Balakirsky Stephen , Foufou Sebti
Published: June 2013

In this chapter, the authors describe a novel approach for inferring intention during cooperative human-robot activities through the representation and ordering of state information. State relationships are represented by a combination of spatial relationships in a Cartesian frame along with cardinal direction information. The combination of all relevant state relationships at a given point in time constitutes a state. A template matching approach is used to match state relations to known intentions. This approach is applied to a manufacturing kitting operation1, where humans and robots are working together to develop kits. Based upon the sequences of a set of predefined high-level state relationships that must be true for future actions to occur, a robot can use the detailed state information presented in this chapter to infer the probability of subsequent actions. This would enable the robot to better help the human with the operation or, at a minimum, better stay out of his or her way.
Time Delay and Uncertainty Compensation in Bilateral Telerobotic Systems
Authors: Tzafestas Spyros G. , Mantelos Andreas-Ioannis
Published: June 2013

This chapter presents the state-of-art of the bilateral teleoperation field. It starts with a discusion of the early class of techniques, which are based on passivity and scattering theory. The main issue in bilateral telerobotic systems is the communication delay between the operator and the remote site (environment), which (if not treated) can lead the system to instability. The chapter continues by presenting the evolution of modern control techniques for stabilization and compensation of the time delay consequences. These techniques include predictive control, adaptive control, sliding-mode robust control, neural learning control, fuzzy control, and neurofuzzy control. Four case studies are reviewed that show what kind of results can be obtained.
Modelling and Simulation Approaches for Gas Turbine System Optimization
Authors: Asgari Hamid , Chen XiaoQi , Sainudiin Raazesh
Published: June 2013

This chapter deals with research activities that have been carried out so far in the field of modelling and simulation of gas turbines for system optimization purposes. It covers major white-box and black-box gas turbine models and their applications to control systems.
GISS and GISP Facilitate Higher Education and Cooperative Learning Design
Authors: Ahamer Gilbert
Published: June 2013

International cooperation in higher education management has successfully expanded on Geographic Information Science and Systems (here named GISS, for the “space of places”), which facilitates the exchange of worldviews among learners. On a general level, after clarification of the notions of “design,” “pedagogy,” “GIS,” and “path dependency,” the potential for self-organized Web-supported learning is explored. Global socio-economic trends in land-use, energy, and economy (i.e., collective evolutionary learning) serve to provide lessons for individual learning procedures. Path dependency is a concept used both in economics and education management. This chapter suggests using a collaborative, dialogic learning structure that allows learners to act on several layers of reality simultaneously: the cognitive, discoursive, social, interactive, and integrative. Strategies for graphic notation of social procedures within “social spaces” are suggested. Graphical Information on Social Procedures (here named GISP, for the “space of flows”) should facilitate the design of online courses and blended learning courses because it allows for analyzing the interplay of different horizons and layers of human interaction. To sum up, this chapter uses several analogies from global socio-economic trends in order to describe the highly complex challenges and opportunities for auto-adaptive online pedagogy and the design of higher education that leads towards the dynamic self-responsibility of learners.
Cultivating Leaders from Within
Authors: Wynne Carlise Womack
Published: June 2013

This chapter examines the practice of internal recruitment and internal advancement of administrative personnel within higher education. The purpose of this chapter is to determine the perceived success of one campus’s approach to internal promotion from the view of the promoted. Additionally, the chapter discusses the rationales for promotees’ views in relation to current literature and provides a contextual analysis of best practices related to internal promotion within higher education forums. The data analysis indicates that even within a single campus, practices vary widely, with little consistency or predictability. There is a correlation between the perceptions of job efficacy to support and access to mentoring from higher-level administration.
Curriculum Development through Competency-Based Approach in Higher Education
Authors: Cano Elena , Ion Georgeta
Published: June 2013

The purpose of this chapter is to present existing research about competency-based approach curricula and its implications on the higher education system. At first, a broad European framework about harmonization and lifelong learning is presented. Second, competence-based learning is explored and its consequences on interdisciplinary and authentic learning situations are analyzed. Finally, some challenges for higher education institutions are presented with the ways in which some of these institutions are resolving them.
Administrators’ Assessments of Online Courses and Student Retention in Higher Education
Authors: Cook Ruth Gannon , Sutton Roy
Published: June 2013

Criteria may vary across public, private, and for profit universities for online courses around the world, but despite differences, there seem to be some successful lessons that could be shared across universities with respect to certain factors that increased student online course completion rates among certain universities’ courses. This study looked at an associate dean’s search for strategic factors that could contribute to increased online course completion rates at his university and more effectively address problems on a timely basis to improve those course completion rates. The associate dean’s collaboration with a researcher led to their conducting representative model research that revealed best practices and assessments from a number of universities and provided insights into which factors could be applied to online courses at his university. Future research could look at whether there was a substantial increase in student retention in the online courses implementing these factors to see if there may be best practices that could be generalized to other universities around the world.
Measuring Perceptions of New Faculty towards Research, Service, and Teaching in Higher Education
Authors: Bradley Kelly D. , Worley Linda , Cunningham Jessica D. , Bieber Jeffery P.
Published: June 2013

The New Faculty Preparation Survey was designed to measure perceptions of recently hired faculty regarding research, service, and teaching for self and institution, while considering academic preparation. A Rasch measurement model was applied to the calibration sample responses to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument, providing a foundation for structural modifications. Rasch results revealed sound reliability; however, item misfit existed, coupled with limited utility of the full rating scale. Studying the measurement properties of the instrument will aid in proper interpretation of the results and in the construction of an instrument that can be used by higher education institutions to better understand faculty, and potentially to enhance programmatic structuring. Accurately measuring and understanding faculty perceptions across research, service, and teaching can aid in professional development training at the university level, future faculty preparation, and general faculty satisfaction.
Global Accreditation for a Knowledge-Oriented Community
Authors: Alphin Henry C.
Published: June 2013

Faculty, administrators, businesses, accrediting agencies, and other institutions concerned with higher education quality must act to provide a framework for international higher learning standards, particularly concerning e-learning and access in developing countries. Higher education internationalization efforts will continue through the use of IT, increased mobility, the knowledge economy, and an integrated world economy (Altbach & Knight, 2007). Global accreditation will help to assure quality and increase options to improve access. A global accreditation model would provide the impetus for a knowledge-oriented global community that provides access to students in developing countries, as well as traditional and non-traditional learners. The chapter examines key forces shaping the transformation and globalization of higher education, international entities taking a global approach to quality assurance and accreditation, and key concepts in development and implementation of quality assurance at the global level. Finally, the chapter concludes with future implications in the ongoing development of global accreditation.
Flying a Math Class?
Authors: Mavrou Katerina , Meletiou-Mavrotheris Maria
Published: June 2013

This chapter presents a pilot exploratory case study that seeks to bridge the classic gap between teacher preparation and practice by exploiting the affordances offered by digital simulations for contextualizing novice teachers’ learning and pedagogy. Using the simulated classroom SimSchool as a virtual field experience, a teaching intervention focused on mathematics education and the use of technology was conducted in order to determine best practices. Both undergraduate and graduate education students participated in the study. The study explored participants’ views on the experiences with the simulated environment. Interviews and self-reflection reports were used for data collection. Findings suggest that participants appreciated simulations as virtual environments that provide the opportunity to practice and experiment on particular teaching approaches in a safe environment. Nevertheless, they also express a number of concerns related to how they compare simulations with real classroom experiences and their interaction with virtual students, as well as some technical considerations. Simulations have a great potential to create reality-based learning contexts that foster opportunities for pre- and in-service teachers to improve their pedagogy. Thus, further research is required to unfold all aspects of such approaches.
Effective Higher Education Management through Collaborative Dual-Degree Programs
Authors: Culver Steven M.
Published: June 2013

Influenced by constantly changing demographic, social, and political forces, the internationalization of higher education has been a movement that has shifted purposes and directions over the last 40 years. As more and more students take advantage of educational experiences that transcend country borders, and as these educational experiences become more varied, the development, delivery, and evaluation of educational programs becomes more complex. In some settings, newly developed structures, such as dual-degree or joint-degree programs, have been established as one way to organize and provide structure to such educational programs. The purpose of this chapter is to use the results of a study of a sample of collaborative dual-degree programs in Europe to provide guidance for the management of transnational higher education initiatives.
Social Media in Higher Education
Authors: Wagner Kristy Kowalske , Dole Sharon
Published: June 2013

This study uses the theoretical framework of social constructivism and Communities of Practice (CoP) in two qualitative case studies that explore the use of wikis in online courses in teacher education to promote collaborative writing, problem-solving, and knowledge construction. The case studies involve data collection in the form of interviews, student products on wiki pages from the two courses, and course feedback. Several themes emerge that can be categorized under the broad headings of community building and collaboration, creative process, professional growth, and technology and the research process. Recommendations are made for educators that may be useful in augmenting their students’ e-learning experiences with wikis.
Widespread high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia on biopsy predicts the risk of prostate cancer: A 12 months analysis after three consecutive prostate biopsies
Authors: De Nunzio Cosimo , Albisinni Simone , Cicione Antonio , Gacci Mauro , Leonardo Costantino , Esperto Francesco , Tubaro Andrea
Published: June 2013

Purpose: To evaluate the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) on a third prostate biopsy in a group of patients with two consecutive diagnoses of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN). Materials and methods: From November 2004 to December 2007, patients referred to our clinic with a PSA ! 4 ng/ml or an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) were scheduled for trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided 12-core prostate biopsy. Patients with HGPIN underwent a second prostate biopsy, and if the results of such procedure yielded a second diagnosis of HGPIN, we proposed a third 12-core needle biopsy regardless of PSA value. Crude and adjusted logistic regressions were used to assess predictors of PCa on the third biopsy. Results: A total of 650 patients underwent 12 cores transrectal ultrasound prostatic biopsy in the study period. Of 147 (22%) men with a diagnosis of HGPIN, 117 underwent a second prostatic biopsy after six months and 43 a third biopsy after other six months. After the third biopsy, 19 patients (34%) still showed HGPIN, 15 (35%) were diagnosed with PCa and 9 (21%) presented with chronic prostatitis. Widespread HGPIN on a second biopsy was significantly associated with PCa on further biopsy (!2 = 4.04, p = 0.04). Moreover, the presence of widespread HGPIN significantly predicted the risk of PCa on crude and adjusted logistic regressions. Conclusions: Widespread HGPIN on second biopsy is associated with the presence of PCa on a third biopsy. Nonetheless, the relationship between HGPIN and PCa remains complex and further studies are needed to confirm our findings.