bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ovarian Teratoma Mimicking Features of Juvenile Dermatomyositis in a Child
Authors: Ibarra Maria , Chou Pauline , Pachman Lauren M.
Published: October 2011

An 8-year-old girl complained for 4 months of right arm pain, weakness in both legs, difficulty in arising from a seated or squatting position, and 1 month of pain in her hips, ankles, and knees. On physical examination, she had weak neck flexors, weak proximal and abdominal muscles, and an assisted Gower maneuver; both knees and ankles were painful. Erythematous macules on her elbows, knees, and medial ankles were present without heliotrope rash or dilated eyelid capillaries. She had nail-fold erythema and decreased numbers of nail-fold capillary end-row loops (ERLs) (5.42 ERLs per mm [normal: ≥6.8 ERLs per mm]) without digital ulcers or tight skin. Laboratory testing revealed slightly elevated creatine phosphokinase (440 IU/L [normal: ≤199 IU/L]) and aldolase (11.7 U/L [normal: ≤8.6 U/L]) levels. Her eosinophilia (7.2%) was not characteristic of juvenile dermatomyositis. Rheumatologic evaluation included a positive antinuclear antibody test result (1:5120 titer), speckled pattern (normal: <80 titer), myositis-associated and -specific antibodies that showed indeterminate Mi-2, with the others negative, including p155/140, elevated immunoglobulin G (IgG) (1440 mg/dL [normal range: 608–1229]) and IgE (409 kU/L [normal: <160 kU/L]) levels, and normal levels of IgM and IgA. She had an increased neopterin level (20 nm/L [normal: <10 nm/L]) and decreased absolute count of CD3-CD56/16+ natural killer cells (89 [lower normal limit: 138]). MRI of her thigh muscles revealed serpiginous increased T-2 signals consistent with inflammation and a complex round mass in the left pelvis. A muscle biopsy did not indicate juvenile dermatomyositis. Pelvic ultrasound confirmed a solid mass of the left ovary consistent with a mature teratoma. After surgical removal of the teratoma, the myositis, synovitis, and cutaneous findings resolved over 4 months without further therapy.
Influence of Birth Weight on Internalizing Traits Modulated by Serotonergic Genes
Authors: Broekman Birit F. P. , Chan Yiong Huak , Goh Liang , Fung Daniel , Gluckman Peter D. , Saw Seang Mei , Meaney Michael J.
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE:

Fetal growth predicts childhood behavioral problems associated with brain serotonergic systems. We hypothesized that allelic variations in genes involved in serotonergic function would moderate associations between birth weight (BW) and internalizing traits in childhood.

METHODS:

The Child Behavior Checklist was administered to 545 healthy Singaporean children at 8 to 12 years. BW, corrected for gestational age, and candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TPH2, HTR2A, and SCL6A4 genes were investigated.

RESULTS:

There was no significant main effect of BW on internalizing T scores (F = 1.08; P = .36). After multiple corrections, significant main effects on internalizing T scores were found for HTR2A rs2296972 (adjusted: F = 2.85; P = .019) and HTR2A rs6313 (adjusted: F = 5.91; P = .0002). Significant interactions were found between BW and SNPs for the TPH2 gene (rs2171363: P = .008; rs7305115: P = .007) and the HTR2A gene (rs2770304: P = .001; rs6313: P = .026) for internalizing T scores. The CC genotype of TPH2 rs2171363, GG genotype of TPH2 rs7305115, CC genotype of HTR2A rs2770304, and CC genotype of HTR2A rs6313 were associated with reduced internalizing scores for children born in the quartile above the midpoint. No significant main effects or interactions were found for SCL6A4 SNPs.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that sequence variations in genes involved in serotonergic functions modulate relationships between BW and internalizing traits and might be candidates for plasticity mechanisms that determine individual differences in responses to environmental influences over the course of development.
Bounded Opportunity: A Knowledge-Based Approach to Opportunity Recognition and Development
Authors: de Bruin Anne M. , Ferrante Francesco M.
Published: October 2011

This article is premised on the underlying notion that knowledge is crucial to the opportunity recognition and development process. Springboarding from the insights of Atkinson and Stiglitz (1969) on the localized nature of knowledge accumulation, we define a feasible solution space and examine the implications of entrepreneurial knowledge in the recognition and development of opportunity within this space. Distinguishing between two forms of entrepreneurial knowledge, namely context dependent idiosyncratic knowledge or tacit knowledge, and codified knowledge, the primary aim of this article is to propose a knowledge-based model of opportunity within a bounded solution space. Our discussion of this model includes elaboration on how the composition of entrepreneurial knowledge predicts major path differences for the expansion and development of opportunities.
Addressing inequality and poverty with tax instruments
Authors: Randjelovic Sasa , Zarkovic-Rakic Jelena
Published: October 2011

There is a consensus, in both academia and economic policy circles, that the
reform of the personal income tax system in Serbia is necessary one. Two
frequently discussed reform scenarios are East European style flat tax and
the comprehensive income tax model of Western Europe. Most Central and
Eastern European (CEE) countries have recently reformed their income tax
systems by introducing some form of flat tax scheme, while in numerous
countries of Western Europe the possibility of flat tax reform is also
seriously considered. Opponents of the reform usually stress the adverse
distributional effects of flat tax schemes. The aim of our paper is to
contribute to the empirical literature on the distributional effects of
alternative tax reform scenarios. The analysis is based on the tax and
benefit micro-simulation model for Serbia (SRMOD). The results suggest that
redesigning the existing income tax system so as to introduce a uniform tax
rate and increase the basic allowance would somewhat reduce inequality and
improve vertical inequity in taxation. On the other hand, in the case of the
introduction of comprehensive income tax, considerably larger equalizing and
progressivity effects would be achieved. At the same time, since in both
cases redistribution will not affect the bottom decile group, no significant
effects (in either cases) on poverty reduction will be achieved.
Exchange rate policy, growth, and foreign trade in China
Authors: Gligoric Mirjana
Published: October 2011

This paper analyzes a hot topic: the influence of an undervalued currency on
macroeconomic variables - primarily on the economic growth and trade balance
of a country, but also on employment, foreign exchange reserves, competition,
and living standards. It also reviews and explains the consequences of yuan
undervaluation, points out the need for its appreciation, and states the
negative effects that stem from this measure. Special attention is given to
the problematic bilateral relations between China and the USA and the reasons
why Americans are worried about the exchange rate policy that China
implements. Although yuan appreciation would decrease the American foreign
trade deficit, it also raises the question of further financing of the
American deficit. There are also other problems that the possible
appreciation would cause for the American economy, due to the effect of
J-curve, passthrough, larger costs of input imported from China, etc.
Therefore, Chinese foreign exchange policy is an important subject, but it is
not the solution to the problems of the global economy - which have deeper
roots than that. However, there is no excuse for China implementing unfair
exchange rate policies, or replacing such policies with controversial
protectionist policies (as some authors have suggested).
The synthesis, structure and photoluminescence property of a novel 3D supramolecular compound based on mixed ligands of 8-hydroxy-quionline-5-sulfonate and ethylenediamine
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhuang Changfu , Wu Chunhua , Zhang Jiayan , Li Wang , Xin Minghong , Zhu Guangshan , Xu Jianing
Published: October 2011

A new organic-inorganic hybrid coordination compound ZnQS (en)?2H2O (1) in
which two different organic ligands, ethylenediamine (en) and
8-hydroxy-quinoline-5-sulfonic acid (H2QS) coordinate with zinc ions, has
been synthesized via the evaporation method and characterized by single
crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA). The structure solution showed that compound 1 displays a
three-dimensional supramolecular network by synergic linkage of hydrogen and
coordinated bonds. Moreover, compound 1 exhibits intense photoluminescence at
513 nm excited at 396 nm in the solid state at room temperature.
Sintering nanodisperse zirconium powders with various stabilizing additives
Authors: Antsiferov V.N. , Porozova S.E. , Kulmetyeva V.B.
Published: October 2011

Effect of various stabilizing additives on sintering kinetics of nanodisperse
powders was studied by thermomechanical analysis. Temperature ranges of the
most intense shrinking, characteristic points of shrinking rate changes were
established. Peaks characterizing the most intense shrinking of nanodisperse
zirconium powder samples were shown to allow to arrange the stabilizing
additives as follows: Y2O3?CeO2?TiO2.
Equilibrium neck shapes for initial stages of solid-state sintering due to surface diffusion in a disk model of clays
Authors: Medved I. , Moravcíková J.
Published: October 2011

We study equilibrium neck shapes corresponding to initial stages of
solid-state sintering, using a microscopic model of clays in which particles
have a uniform disk shape with a microscale diameter R and a nanoscale
thickness ? = R/100. Particles are stacked on top of each other, forming
vertical piles of various heights ranging from h = ? to h = 10?. Pores are
formed in the spaces between any three touching piles of the same height.
Assuming that surface diffusion is the dominant sintering mechanism and
considering a simplified form of the neck configuration, we derive
equilibrium neck shapes by minimizing a neck surface free energy when a neck
volume V fixed. We allow for the anisotropy of the surface free energy, using
a single anisotropy parameter q. We discuss the dependence of the obtained
neck shapes on the neck volume V, pore height h, and anisotropy parameter q.
Sintering of mechanically activated magnesium-titanate and barium-zinc-titanate ceramics
Authors: Obradovic N. , Filipovic S. , Pavlovic V.B. , Maricic A. , Mitrovic N. , Ristic M.M.
Published: October 2011

In this article the influence of mechanical activation on sintering process
of magnesium-titanate and barium-zinc-titanate ceramics has been
investigated. Both nonactivated and mixtures treated in planetary ball mill
for 80 minutes were sintered at 1100?C and 1300?C. The influence of
mechanical activation on phase composition and crystal structure has been
analyzed by XRD, while the effect of activation and sintering process on
microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. It has been
established that temperature of 1100?C was to low to induce final sintering
stage for both systems. Moreover, we concluded that barium-zinc-titanate
ceramics exhibited better sinterability than magnesium-titanate ceramics.
The effect of vanadium-carbon monolayer on the adsorption of tungsten and carbon atoms on tungsten-carbide (0001) surface
Authors: Moitra A. , Kim S. , Park S.J. , Kim S.G. , Horstemeyer M.F.
Published: October 2011

We report a first-principles calculations to study the effect of a
vanadium-carbon (VC) monolayer on the adsorption process of tungsten (W) and
carbon (C) atoms onto tungsten-carbide (WC) (0001) surface. The essential
configuration for the study is a supercell of hexagonal WC with a (0001)
surface. When adding the VC monolayer, we employed the lowest energy
configuration by examining various configurations. The total energy of the
system is computed as a function of the W or C adatoms? height from the
surface. The adsorption of a W and C adatom on a clean WC (0001) surface is
compared with that of a W and C adatom on a WC (0001) surface with VC
monolayer. The calculations show that the adsorption energy increased for
both W and C adatoms in presence of the VC monolayer. Our results provide a
fundamental understanding that can explain the experimentally observed
phenomena of inhibited grain growth during sintering of WC or WC-Co powders
in presence of VC.
The effect of temperature and frequency on magnetic properties of the Fe81B13Si4C2 amorphous alloy
Authors: Djukic S. , Maricic V. , Kalezic-Glisovic A. , Ribic-Zelenovic L. , Randjic S. , Mitrovic N. , Obradovic N.
Published: October 2011

In this study it was investigated influence of temperature and frequency on
permeability, coercivity and power loses of Fe81B13Si4C2 amorphous alloy.
Magnetic permeability measurements performed in nonisothermal and isothermal
conditions was confirmed that efficient structural relaxation was occurred at
temperature of 663 K. This process was performed in two steps, the first one
is kinetic and the second one is diffuse. Activation energies of these
processes are: Ea1 = 52.02 kJ/mol for kinetic and Ea2 = 106.9 kJ/mol for
diffuse. It was shown that after annealing at 663 K coercivity decrease about
30% and therefore substantial reduction in power loses was attained.
Investigated amorphous alloy satisfied the criteria for signal processing
devices that work in mean frequency domain.
Electrical properties and microstructure fractal analysis of magnesium-modified aluminium-silicate ceramics
Authors: Purenovic J. , Mitic V.V. , Kocic Lj. , Pavlovic V.B. , Paunovic V. , Purenovic M.
Published: October 2011

The addition of Mg2(NO)3 and some active additives, composed of Al salts, to
the mixtures of kaolinite and bentonite can provide clay compositions which,
after sintering at high temperatures, produce very porous ceramics with
microcrystalline and amorphous regions and highly developed metalized
surfaces (mainly with magnesium surplus). Characterization of sintered
samples was done before and after treatment in ?synthetic water?, i.e. in
aqueous solution of arsenic-salt. Microstructure investigations have revealed
non-uniform and highly porous structure with broad distribution of grain
size, specifically shaped grains and high degree of agglomeration. Electrical
characterization was estimated by determining dielectric constant and
electrical resistivity in function of active additives amount and sintering
temperature. Fractal analysis has included determination of grain contour
fractal dimension.
A glass-ceramic material for fixation of radioactive waste
Authors: Bozadzhiev L.S. , Georgiev G.T. , Bozadzhiev R.L.
Published: October 2011

In this article, a starting mixture for the preparation of glass-ceramic
material for radioactive waste (RW), consisting of 85-95 mass % basanite and
5-15 mass % oxides of elements in I-VIII group of the Periodical table of
elements imitating RW, is proposed. The glass-ceramic material is obtained by
melting the starting mixture in air at 1450?C for 1 hour and by further
crystallization of the melts at 950?C for 30 minutes. It has been noticed
that the texture of the glass-ceramic material is microgranular. The main
mineral is pyroxene, while a mixture phases are magnetite, hematite and
residual glass. It was shown that the RW elements are fixed in the pyroxene
and partly in the admixture phases.
Supply Chain Broker Operations
Authors: Huang Michael , Homem-de-Mello Tito , Smilowitz Karen , Driegert Bill
Published: October 2011

A network analysis of spot-market broker operations in supply chain management is presented with a case study of a brokerage firm. By modeling the connections between brokers and vendors, users can define metrics that correlate the strategies to select the vendors with profitability, which identifies new operating policies. Profitability is affected not only by the number of interactions between brokers and vendors but also by the quality of those interactions. The quality of interactions is quantified. The extent to which this approach can yield operating policy guidelines and serve as a tool to evaluate broker performance is demonstrated.
Evaluation of Emissions Reduction in Urban Pickup Systems
Authors: Pitera Kelly , Sandoval Felipe , Goodchild Anne
Published: October 2011

A case study of the University of Washington Mailing Service, which operates a heterogeneous fleet of vehicles, provides insight into the impact of operational changes on cost, service quality, and emissions. An emissions minimization problem was formulated and solutions were identified with a creation and local search algorithm based on the I1 and 2-opts heuristics. The algorithm could be used to find many solutions that could improve existing routing on both cost and emissions metrics, reduce emissions by an average of almost 6%, and reduce costs by an average of 9%. More significant cost and emissions savings could be found with service quality reductions. For example, reducing delivery frequency to once a day could lead to emissions and cost savings of close to 35% and 3%, respectively. Rules of thumb for vehicle assignment within heterogeneous fleets were explored to gain an understanding of simple implementations, such as assigning cleaner vehicles to routes with more customers and longer travel distances. This case study identified significant emissions reductions that could be obtained with minimal effects on cost and service and that offered new, practical applications that could be used by fleet managers interested in reducing their carbon footprint.
Online Freight Network Assignment Model with Transportation Disruptions and Recourse
Authors: Unnikrishnan Avinash , Figliozzi Miguel
Published: October 2011

Continuous real-time monitoring of shipment cost and delivery time is increasingly used by companies to reduce transportation costs while avoiding costly delays or disruptions. Recourse refers to the ability of the shipper to update a routing strategy on the basis of information obtained about the state of the network disruptions. An adaptive routing policy is proposed to help shippers and carriers save costs by reacting to information updates. Public transportation agencies can use the formulation to predict the behavior of shippers under disruptions in multimodal transportation networks. A mathematical model is formulated and analyzed; the model accounts for a new type of freight network assignment problem with recourse defined in a dynamic environment and in the presence of probable network disruptions or significant delays. The mathematical model is intended (a) to capture shipper behavior better in the presence of network disruptions and rerouting and (b) to include the heterogeneity in shipper routing behavior as a result of commodity or product, mode, and logistics system characteristics. Results indicate that models that do not account for the likelihood of disruption can severely misrepresent freight system performance and flows over the network, especially in situations in which freight is continuously monitored and disruptions are either significant or frequent.
Intermodal Container Flow Simulation Model and Its Applications
Authors: Meng Qiang , Wang Shuaian
Published: October 2011

A container flow simulation model incorporating shippers, carriers, and port operators for intermodal freight transportation systems is developed and consists of the following components: inland intermodal container transportation involving various inland transport modes, liner shipping services provided by various carriers, freight-rate competition between carriers, transit time and service capacity, utility-based path choice principle for shippers, and discrete event simulation procedure. The object-oriented programming language C++ is used to implement the model to facilitate analysis of various scenarios. The developed program is used to predict the increased revenue and market share of a liner shipping company if the company introduces a new liner service route and is also used to estimate quantitatively the effect on the container throughput of Singapore Port of the shift of Maersk's Southeast Asian hub from Singapore to Tanjung Pelepas, Port Malaysia.
Time-Dependent Effects on Parameters of Freight Demand Models
Authors: Holguín-Veras José , Sánchez Iván , González-Calderón Carlos , Sarmiento Iván , Thorson Ellen
Published: October 2011

Seven national freight origin-destination samples collected in Colombia from 1999 to 2005 were used to conduct an empirical investigation of the temporal stability of parameters of freight demand models in the short to medium term. Freight generation, freight distribution, and empty trip models were considered. To identify time-dependent effects, models were estimated with a panel formulation with time-dependent parameters and fixed time effects and then compared with the corresponding cross-sectional models. The results indicate the presence of statistically significant time-dependent effects on all freight generation models (production and attraction), freight distribution models (based on both loaded vehicle trips and commodity flows), and empty trip models. A literature review indicates that few studies are available on the temporal stability of parameters. The results show a remarkably consistent pattern in that the components of freight demand that could change faster (i.e., freight production and attraction) are those that exhibit the largest rates of parameter change. The rates of change for these models are 18.29% and 26.37%, respectively. In contrast, the freight distribution models of loaded trips were found to change less rapidly (10.50% and 1.94%, respectively, depending on the impedance function), while the tonnage distribution model exhibited only fixed time effects. The model that changes least rapidly is the empty trip model, which has a rate of change of 0.83%.
Freight Generation, Freight Trip Generation, and Perils of Using Constant Trip Rates
Authors: Holguín-Veras José , Jaller Miguel , Destro Lisa , Ban Xuegang (Jeff) , Lawson Catherine , Levinson Herbert S.
Published: October 2011

Several findings call into question current practices. The chief conclusion is that the accuracy of freight generation (FG) and freight trip generation (FTG) models depends on the consistency between the model's structure and actual FG-FTG patterns, the degree of internal heterogeneity of the economic and land use aggregation used to estimate the model, and the appropriateness of the spatial aggregation procedure used to obtain the desired FG-FTG estimates. Relative to model structure, the paper establishes strong reasons to treat FG and FTG as separate concepts, because the latter is the output of logistic decisions, whereas the former is determined by the economics of production and consumption. The connection between business size variables–for example, employment–and FG is relatively strong because they are economic input factors, whereas the one with FTG is weaker because inventory and transportation costs come into play. Thus it is generally not correct to assume proportionality between FTG and business size or to assume that using constant FTG rates could be problematic. For instance, only 18% of the industry sectors in New York City exhibit constant FTG rates per employee. For economic and land use aggregation, the finer the level of detail the better, as independent variables have a better chance to explain FG-FTG. In the case of spatial aggregation, the correct aggregation procedure depends on the underlying disaggregate model. For a FG-FTG model to work well, both economic and land use and spatial aggregations must be appropriate.
Multicriteria Freeway Performance Measures for Trucking in Congested Corridors
Authors: Wheeler Nikki , Figliozzi Miguel
Published: October 2011

Research was undertaken to develop multicriteria tools for measuring and analyzing the impact of recurring and nonrecurring congestion on freight. Unlike previous studies, this work used several distinct data sources to analyze the effects of congestion on I-5 in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area: Global Positioning System data from commercial trucks, Oregon Department of Transportation corridor travel time loop data, and incident data. A new methodology and algorithms combine these data sources and estimate the impact of recurrent and nonrecurrent congestion on reliability and delays, costs, and emissions of freight movements. The results suggest that traditional traffic sensor data tend to underestimate the impact of congestion on travel times and variability of commercial vehicles. Congestion is detrimental not only for carriers’ and shippers’ costs but also for the planet because of increases in greenhouse gas emissions and for the local community because of increases in oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, and other harmful pollutants. The developed methodology can provide useful freight operation and performance data for the freight community, transportation decision makers, and other transportation stakeholders.
THE INFLUENCE OF DEPOSITS INSURANCE ON THE STABILITY OF THE BALTIC STATES BANKING SYSTEM / INDĖLIŲ DRAUDIMO ĮTAKA BALTIJOS ŠALIŲ BANKŲ SISTEMOS STABILUMUI
Authors: Lakštutienė Aušrinė , Krušinskas Rytis , Rumšaitė Dalia
Published: October 2011

The processes in the financial markets in the last years revealed the new research directions in the risk for market actors valuation area. Globalization processes and their impact on a country's financial system stability affects banking system not only with the clear macroeconomic indicators, but also with the panic and uncertainty of resources providers – depositors. Deposit coverage insurance limit increase as risk management tool for Baltic States banking system stability in the period of 2005–2009 was implemented. These actions helped commercial banks, participating in deposit insurance system, to keep their credit ratings and financial stability. However, the main concern is about whether this tool is more theoretical or practical for maintaining stability of the banking system, and what influence to macroeconomic factors make deposits sum in country's banks. Santrauka Procesai, vykstantys finansų rinkose, pastaraisiais metais atskleidė naujas tyrimų kryptis, siejamas su rinkos dalyvių rizikos vertinimu. Globalizacijos procesai ir jų įtaka šalies finansų sistemos stabilumui daro įtaką bankų sektoriui ne tik per aiškiai susiejamus makroekonominius rodiklius, tačiau ir per finansinių išteklių teikėjų – indėlininkų – patiriamą riziką ar vertinamą neapibrėžtumą. Indėlių draudimo limitų padidinimas, kaip rizikos valdymo įrankis, Baltijos šalyse buvo įdiegtas 2005–2009 metų periodu siekiant užtikrinti bankų sistemos stabilumą. Šie veiksmai padėjo komerciniams bankams, dalyvaujantiems indėlių draudimo sistemoje, palaikyti savo kredito reitingus ir užsitikrinti finansinį stabilumą. Vis tik pagrindiniu susidomėjimo šaltiniu išliko siekis išsiaiškinti, ar pasiūlytos priemonės yra labiau teorinės nei praktinės stengiantis išlaikyti bankinės sistemos stabilumą, taip pat įvertinti, kaip makroekonominiai šalių rodikliai veikė indėlių kitimą analizuojamų šalių bankuose.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF AERONAUTICAL SYSTEM UPGRADE IN UNCERTAIN CONDITIONS / AERONAUTIKOS SISTEMŲ ATNAUJINIMO PROJEKTŲ VALDYMAS NEPASTOVIOMIS SĄLYGOMIS
Authors: Samkov Alexei , Suslova Galyna , Litvinenko Vladimir , Zakharchenko Yurii
Published: October 2011

The article researches the project management upgrade of an aeronautical system in conditions of uncertainty. An approach based on artificial immune systems and Bayesian networks is suggested.

Santrauka

Straipsnyje tiriamas aeronautikos sistemų atnaujinimo projektų valdymas nepastoviomis sąlygomis. Siūloma naudoti dirbtines atsparias sistemas ir Bajeso tinklus.
DETECTION OF ATMOSPHERIC THERMAL FLOWS BY USE OF ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK / KYLANČIO ORO SRAUTŲ NUSTATYMAS DIRBTINIAIS NEURONŲ TINKLAIS
Authors: Stankūnas Jonas , Suzdalev Ivan
Published: October 2011

This article analyses the determination of a rising thermal flow with assistance of an artificial neural network. Input data for the artificial neural network are derived from aircraft navigation equipment. The output data of the artificial neural network is the assessment of rising or descending airflow conducted in real time. Simulation is carried out in idealised conditions. The simulation revealed the dependence of absolute error on the vertical air speed component and the aircraft's aerodynamic parameters.

Santrauka

Straipsnyje nagrinėjamas kylančio oro srauto aptikimas naudojant dirbtinių neuronų tinklus. Dirbtinių neuronų tinklų įėjimo duomenys yra gaunami iš orlaivio navigacinės įrangos. Dirbtinių neuronų tinklų išėjimo duomenys kylančio arba besileidžiančio oro srauto įvertinimas vykdomas realiuoju laiku. Modeliuojama idealizuotomis sąlygomis. Modeliuojant nustatyta santykinės paklaidos priklausomybė nuo oro srauto greičio vertikaliojo sando dydžio ir aerodinaminių orlaivio parametrų.
REGIONAL DISPARITIES AND THE WAYS OF THEIR MEASUREMENT: THE CASE OF THE VISEGRAD FOUR COUNTRIES / REGIONINIAI SKIRTUMAI IR JŲ MATAVIMO BŪDAI: KETURIŲ VYŠEGRADO ŠALIŲ ATVEJIS
Authors: Tvrdoň Michal , Skokan Karel
Published: October 2011

Real convergence of countries within European Union is measured mostly at the national level by the indicator of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Generally, countries with relatively low GDP per capita should catch-up with richer ones and this has become the main objective of post-communist countries at the beginning of the transition process. However, when we look at the regional level and regional GDP per capita data in these countries one can assume that the intensity of real convergence strongly differs among regions and disparities between regions still prevail. The paper attempts to identify factors responsible for persistence of regional disparities in the Visegrad Four countries. In the paper, available Eurostat NUTS 3 statistical data were used for analysis of economic disparities development in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The paper has two main parts. In the first theoretical part approaches to regional disparities and their measurement on the basis of indexes are provided. The second, empirical, part contains description of the main trends in regional development of Visegrad Four countries. This is followed by comparison of these trends in the Visegrad Four regions. Calculations suggested conclusion that the regional disparities between regions are growing. Santrauka Tikroji Europos Sajungos šalių konvergencija nacionaliniu lygiu dažniausiai matuojama bendruoju vidaus produktu (BVP), tenkančiu vienam gyventojui. Apskritai pagrindinis pokomunistinių šalių tikslas pereinamojo proceso pradžioje – pasivyti turtingesnes šalis pagal BVP vienam gyventojui. Tačiau pažvelgus į duomenis, matyti, kad regioninių skirtumų vis dar yra. Straipsnyje siekiama nustatyti veiksnius, nuo kurių priklauso keturių Vyšegrado šalių regioniniai skirtumai. Šiame straipsnyje, naudojant ”Eurostat“ NUTS statistinius duomenis, buvo analizuojami Čekijos, Vengrijos, Lenkijos ir Slovakijos ekonominio vystymosi skirtumai. Straipsnis padalytas į dvi pagrindines dalis: pirmojoje dalyje išdėstyti regioninių skirtumų matavimo pagrindai, antrojoje, empirinėje, dalyje aprašomos pagrindinės keturių Vyšegrado šalių regioninės plėtros tendencijos. Šios tendencijos palygintos. Skaičiavimai atskleidė, kad regioniniai skirtumai didėja.
Consumer demand and quality assurance: segmentation basis and implications for chain governance in the pork sector
Authors: Grunert Klaus , Wognum Nel , Trienekens Jacques , Wever Mark , Olsen Nina Veflen , Scholderer Joachim
Published: October 2011

Consumers differ in their demands, and this may have implications for the type of supply chain governance that is most suitable for serving them. We present a segmentation of pork consumers in the EU based on their food-related lifestyles and demands for different pork products. We then present an inventory of pork chain governance and quality management systems, also resulting from a pan-European study, and attempt to match types of chains to consumer segments, arguing that the type of quality demanded by consumers has implications especially for the quality management system governing the chain, and that these implications are different for fresh meat and processed meat. The paper closes with a call for more collaboration between chain researchers and consumer researchers.
Efficient and Robust Node-Partitioned Data Warehouses
Authors: Furtado Pedro
Published: October 2011

Running large data warehouses (DW) efficiently over low cost platforms places special requirements on the design of system architecture. The idea is to have the DW on a set of low-cost nodes in a non-dedicated local-area network (LAN). Nodes can run any relational database engine, and the system relies on a partitioning strategy and query processing middle layer. These characteristics are in contrast with typical parallel database systems, which rely on fast dedicated interconnects and hardware, as well as a specialized parallel query optimizer for a specific database engine. This chapter describes the architecture of the Node-Partitioned Data Warehouse (NPDW), designed to run on the low cost environment, focusing on the design for partitioning, efficient parallel join and query transformations. Given the low reliability of the target environment, we also show how replicas are incorporated in the design of a robust NPDW strategy with availability guarantees and how the replicas are used for always-on, always efficient behavior in the presence of periodic load and maintenance tasks.
A Case of an IT-Enabled Organizational Change Intervention
Authors: Wang Bing , Paper David
Published: October 2011

This case study documents an organizational change intervention concerning the implementation of a novel information technology at a university-owned research foundation (URF). It evidences the disparate expectations and reactions by key actors toward the change event, marking a mismatch between a new paradigm required by the new technology and existing information technology practices. Drawing upon change management and management information systems (MIS) literature, we discuss the perceived change management issues hindering the change process at URF. Our discussion is tempered by a theoretical lens that attempts to integrate the literature bases drawn upon in this research. In particular, resistance from in-house IT specialists was observed as the strongest force obstructing the novel IT implementation. This study offers a forum to stimulate both researchers and practitioners to rethink the necessary elements required to enact change, especially with respect to novel IT implementations.
Workflow-Supported Invoice Management
Authors: Lang K. R.
Published: October 2011

The case study describes the implementation of a workflow management application at large media company. It shows how an organization created business value through information technology and process automation. Benefits of the system in terms of operational efficiency and organizational performance are discussed. Limitations are also identified.
Business Reengineering at a Large Government Agency
Authors: McGarry Nina , Beckman Tom
Published: October 2011

This case describes the difficulties and successes encountered in a reengineering effort. A team of consultants undertook reengineering the delivery of compensation and benefits at a large quasi-governmental agency. Benefits included six programs which accounted for several time-intensive processes such as “cafeteria plan” options for individual and family health coverage, a health benefits open enrollment period where information is dispersed to assist employees in plan selection; thrift spending account; and retirement accounts.
Building an Internet-Based Workflow System
Authors: Gebauer J. , Schad H.
Published: October 2011

This case enumerates how Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories’ Zephyr System demonstrates how emerging technologies can help streamline procurement processes and improve the coordination between participants in engineering projects by enabling new ways of collaboration.
Information Systems Redesign in a State Social Services Agency
Authors: Kuilboer J.-P.
Published: October 2011

This case addresses many of the causes of IS project failure. It is based on an information system redesign project undertaken by a State Social Services Agency.
The Dilemma of Dairy Farm Group between Redesigning of Business Processes and Rebuilding of Management Information Systems
Authors: Ng E. M.W. , Banerjee P.
Published: October 2011

The case study describes the Dairy Farm Group of Companies which is a conglomerate of supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores and drugstores in the Asia-Pacific Region. Two consulting firms were hired to independently conduct a preliminary investigation of the existing system and to recommend changes to operational procedures with appropriate technologies.
Heineken USA
Authors: Kim G. , Price J.
Published: October 2011

To facilitate the parent company’s push to gain market share, Heineken USA needed to be more responsive to market demand fluctuation. Because of the long lead-time between order and delivery, they found that responding to marketplace changes in a timely fashion was becoming increasingly difficult. In the meantime, major competitors such as Anheuser Busch were responding to consumer demands for fresher products by providing freshness label dating. Heineken USA launched its new Internet based system called Heineken Operational Planning System (HOPS) to allow the parent company to produce the beer closer to the time when they need to deliver it, so the customer receives a fresher product. The new system enables Heineken USA to achieve 50% reduction in the lead-time from order to delivery and 10% increase in sales.
Business Process Redesign in Travel Management in an SAP R/3 Upgrade Project
Authors: Schallert M.
Published: October 2011

Travel and related expenses account on average for 7% of an organization’s total operating costs and are escalating to be the second largest controllable corporate expense. Based on rising business travel demand in past decades, the management of business travels has received increasing attention. Furthermore, the rapidly changing environment in the travel industry dominated by requirements for e-business offers organizations evident possibilities to manage business travels more efficiently. As a consequence for organizations, all transactions around business travels, from travel planning to reimbursement of expenses, have gained great importance. Organizations aim to reduce and control their travel costs by the utilization of integrated computer systems, such as the enterprise system R/3 and implementation of Travel Management. But how does an organization find its way to reduce costs and at the same time process high amounts of business travels based on a high quality for the traveler? Is this task an insoluble conflict or can it be a win-win situation for all involved parties? The following teaching case provides the initial stages of a process reengineering project undertaken in a shared service provider for local government departments in Australia. The objective of this project is to reengineer the process of business travels applying a reengineering methodology.
Service-Dominant Logic Foundations of E-Novation
Authors: Vargo Stephen L. , Lusch Robert F.
Published: October 2011

A major change is taking place in most national economies, and even the world economy. It has been variously described under rubrics of globalization, global flattening, and global outsourcing, and has resulted in debate over how firms and nations gain and retain competitive advantage. Innovation has become perhaps the most often used term to capture the process of achieving this competitive advantage.
E-Novation Curriculum (Communication and Education)
Authors: Freeder Daphne
Published: October 2011

Generic labelling of consumers does not demonstrate sophisticated marketing and does not reflect the level of analysis that can be done to target appropriate or one to one marketing. On an ethical level, marketers need to focus on permission based marketing and apply co-creation models which have the potential to address the bottom line and shareholder returns without compromising the interests and wellbeing of consumers. Emotion remains the key brand response from consumers, but the new online research environment offers opportunities for marketers to apply analytical diversity and the use of creative and lateral thinking (Cooke & Buckley, 2007), rather than just intrusive marketing practices enhanced by technological capabilities. Improved practice, together with ethics, should be represented in marketing and business training and in the profession. All of this is influenced by technology and its flawed or decent application reflects human intervention as always. How much protection or care then should marketers exercise towards consumers in their environments especially since consumers are deemed to be more sophisticated? Educative systems should also ensure that sustainability practices are a promise of future marketing.
E-Novation Customer Relationship Management
Authors: Boujena Othman , Johnston Wesley J.
Published: October 2011

In the early 1990’s, marketing theory experienced a paradigm shift from a transactional approach focusing on sales to a relationship one. This shift was due to several limits of traditional mix marketing based on the “four P’s” and to the change in the market business models. In fact, the growing role of branding in mass markets, the development of services marketing, and the importance of network and human interactions in business are some of the main reasons behind relationship marketing emergence. Relationship marketing is then aimed at developing and maintaining mutually profitable relationships with customers and even stakeholders. In the era of technology evolution and Internet, customer relationship management (CRM) is moving forward to better manage, drive, and keep value-added relationships. However, CRM is, first of all, a company strategy and a shared vision that involves organization, people, and processes in satisfying and retaining customers. This chapter deals with the concept of customer centricity and its development, customer lifecycle with acquisition and retention, and finally the issue of CRM implementation.
LNA Inventions
Authors: Noh Norlaili Mohd.
Published: October 2011

The main design goals of an LNA are to achieve low noise figure, high gain, good linearity and good matching and reverse isolation. The choice of the LNA topology is therefore very important to suit the design application. Five LNA topologies were studied, analyzed and compared in this chapter. The topologies are the Simultaneous Noise and Input Matching (SNIM), Power-constrained Simultaneous Noise and Input Matching (PCSNIM), Current-reuse (CR) and Folded-cascode (FC) LNAs. The last topology is the PCSNIM with buffer. The circuits are analyzed in detail in terms of their functionality and compared based on the LNAs typical performance metrics. From the analysis, the PCSNIM technique can improve matching and noise performance of the inductively degenerated cascode. The current-reuse is found to consume less current but maintaining the circuit’s transconductance to achieve the desirable gain. The folded-cascode operates at lower voltage and hence is suitable for low-powered designs. Consequently, it is also resulting in the lowest noise-figure amongst the other designs.
Multiband Multi-Standard LNA with CPW Transmission Line Inductor
Authors: Ben Amor M. , Loulou M. , Quintanel S. , Pasquet D.
Published: October 2011

LNA is one very essential bloc in the RF receiver. Due to the growth of the standard evolution, this component must handle several frequency bands with the best performances. This chapter presents a wide band LNA design for IEEE802.16 standard with the CMOS 0.35µm technology. In this LNA, we use a CPW transmission line to design the inductive degeneration inductor of 0.38nH. This circuit has a S21 of 12dB, a noise figure less than 3dB and an input/output reflexion coefficient less than -10dB between 2 and 6GHz. The CPW line presents a characteristic impedance of 120O, an inductance of 0.38nH, a capacitance of few fF and a resistance less than 2O on the desired frequency band.
The Design and Modeling of 30 GHz Microwave Front-End
Authors: Ng Wan Yeen , Ng Xhiang Rhung
Published: October 2011

This chapter aims to discuss a millimeter wave integrated circuit (MMWIC) in frequency of 30 GHz especially switch (SPDT), medium power amplifier (MPA) and low noise amplifier (LNA). The switch is developed using a commercial 0.15 µm GaAs pHEMT technology. It achieves low loss and high isolation for millimeter wave applications. The circuit and layout drawing of SPDT switch are done by using Advanced Design System (ADS) software. The layout is verified by running the Design Rules Check (DRC) to check and clear all the errors. At the operating frequency of 30 GHz, the reported SPDT switch has 1.470 dB insertion loss and 37.455 dB of isolation. It also demonstrates 26.00 dBm of input P1dB gain compression point (P1dB) and 22.975 dBm of output P1dB. At a supply voltage of 3.0 V and 30 GHz operating frequency, this two-stage LNA achieves an associated gain of 21.628 dB, noise figure (NF) of 2.509 dB and output referred 1-dB compression point (P1dB) of -11.0 dBm, the total power consumptions for the LNA is 174 mW. At a supply voltage of 6.0 V and 30 GHz operating frequency, a 2-stage MPA achieves a linear gain (S21) of 13.236 dB, P1dB of 22.5 dBm, power gain of 11.055 dB and the PAE of 14.606%. The total power consumption for the MPA is 1.122 W. The 30 GHz LNA and PA can be applied in direct broadcast satellite (DBS), automotive radar transmitter and receiver.
Beyond The Look
Authors: Childs Merilyn , Wagner Regine
Published: October 2011

In this chapter, the authors argue that a disjuncture has emerged between the look of learning spaces within learning spaces discourse, definitions of learning spaces, and the aspirations of learning spaces as a design concept that transforms higher education. Using Visual Studies methodology and photographs, the chapter contrasts the hegemonic look of learning spaces with a viral learning space – learning that is not designed or controlled by the institution. The authors argue that the Learning Spaces agenda will fail to transform higher education in the twenty first century if its proponents do not adequately conceptualize lifelong and lifewide learning achieved by learners outside the institution .
Design of Outdoor and Environmentally Integrated Learning Spaces
Authors: Rafferty John M.
Published: October 2011

The chapter explores the environmentally sensitive design characteristics of Charles Sturt University’s Albury Wodonga campus and the outdoor learning spaces it provides. Attention will be given to exploring how the holistic and integrated nature of the campus and the environmental functionality of the site provide unique opportunities for learning within learning spaces. Examples are provided of how the natural and built environments of the campus are used as learning spaces to promote social interactions, conversations, and experiences that enhance student learning. The chapter highlights the value of outdoor environments as legitimate and critical spaces for learning within higher education. The chapter explores the benefits of designing teaching space based on strategies that are defined by personal pedagogic repertoires and practical wisdom. By enacting such strategies, it is argued that universities can develop diverse, locally appropriate, and inclusive pedagogies.