bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supporting Collaboration and Communication in Videoconferences
Authors: Paechter Manuela , Kreisler Mareike , Maier Brigitte
Published: May 2010

Working together in a group may lead to advantages such as a higher task performance, gains in individual knowledge or social skills, or a higher motivation. In many situations of our daily life, the members of a group cannot meet face-to-face to work together but have to rely on communication media. This paper focuses on collaboration with the support of specific communication media, namely videoconferences. Two empirical studies will be described. The first study shows that groups which communicate via videoconferences for solving a task can achieve the same results as face-to-face groups. In order to achieve results equivalent to face-to-face groups, videoconference groups have to adapt their communication behavior to the specific characteristics of videoconferences. In the second study presented in this chapter, different trainings for collaboration in videoconferences will be investigated. One of the trainings in which students learned rules for collaborative problem-solving proved to be successful: Students who had obtained such a training achieved better problem solutions than students without a training.
Handheld Games
Authors: Tsai Yueh-Feng Lily , Kaufman David
Published: May 2010

Children who care for real pet animals have shown higher levels of empathy and positive attitudes toward the humane treatment of animals. However, only a limited number of studies have examined whether caring for a virtual pet would have similar associations. This study investigated the question of whether a handheld virtual pet videogame can improve children’s empathy and humane attitudes. The results showed that after playing Nintendogs® for three weeks, participants showed higher levels of empathy on the Bryant Empathy Index, and had higher levels of humane attitudes on the Intermediate Attitude Scale, compared to their scores before they played.
A Study of Biofeedback in a Gaming Environment
Authors: Du Xin , Campbell Stephen R. , Kaufman David
Published: May 2010

This chapter reports on a study of biofeedback in a gaming environment incorporating the acquisition and analysis of physiological data sets in tandem with other behavioral and self-report data sets. Preliminary results presented here provide some groundwork toward subsequent study in this area, as more comprehensive and detailed treatments will require further research. The main contribution and focus of this chapter concerns our experiences in applying methods not typically available to educational researchers. Our results are promising, though they cannot be taken to be definitive. Further developments and applications of these methods will lead to more detailed investigations as to what people may learn or gain from biofeedback in gaming environments, along with interdependencies of biofeedback and gaming pertaining to affect, motivation, behavior and cognition, and perhaps especially, to learning anxiety.
Biobanking
Authors: Barnet Robert J.
Published: May 2010

It is important to recognize that the four “p”s - power, position, prestige and profit - too frequently drive science, business, academia, and the professions. This chapter is concerned with the importance of appropriate consent, the just distribution of the material benefits of scientific research, and the possible exploitation of research subjects. Informed consent and social consensus may not adequately address the related ethical issues involved in biobanking and other related research. Past experiences internationally, especially among the marginalized, are reviewed. The chapter explores whether benefits that accrue to those involved in research, and even the larger community, can rely on the concept of social consensus. Is there sufficient attention to transparency and adequate consideration of present and future harms and benefits to research subjects, their descendants and the broader community? Are conflicts of interest, real and potential, adequately acknowledged and addressed?
Technology Transforming Healthcare
Authors: Davis Emmett
Published: May 2010

Information and knowledge technologies, both alone and embedded in other advancing technologies, will transform health care. These technologies become part of health care because they bring efficiencies until they reach a tipping point where health care cannot function without them. These technologies add to the complexity of health care further creating a complex adaptive system. They function as strange attractors, or focal points, for intense, persistent, and accelerating change, which transforms the culture and control mechanisms of health care. Such smart technologies as artificial intelligence combined with genomic and nanotechnologies may bring about such a radical change that we could not return to today’s health care system. For the transformation to be optimal, health care needs to address such issues as quality improvement processes, more intelligent electronic security, new control mechanisms, redefinition of the boundaries of health care enterprises, and a change from operating in discrete to continuous information flows.
Serious Storytelling
Authors: McDaniel Rudy , Fiore Stephen M. , Nicholson Denise
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, the authors explore the nature and function of storytelling in serious games. Drawing from the field of narratology, they explore research related to narrative expression and relate those ideas to serious game design and development. They also consider interactive storytelling and apply and adapt traditional ideas about story as a static and predetermined entity into this new setting, a setting which depends in part upon gamer participation to craft dramatic experiences. The authors conceptualize narrative as a combination of plot, character, and environment, and then use that conceptualization to devise a narrative taxonomy that is useful as a heuristic for developing stronger stories in serious games. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the hybrid FPS/RPG game Fallout 3, an analysis included to show that even highly regarded and award-winning games are lacking in the narrative coherence necessary to improve the level of dramatic immersion in virtual worlds.
Establishing a Science of Game Based Learning
Authors: Sanchez Alicia , Cannon-Bowers Janis A. , Bowers Clint
Published: May 2010

Using video games to train and educate is a notion that is gaining traction among gamers, parents, and serious educators alike. Unfortunately, to date there have been few rigorous studies to determine whether games can be effective learning tools. Given their inherent features, the authors feel certain that games can teach, and they are interested instead in addressing the question of how best to design games that will optimize learning. To accomplish this goal, the authors offer a simple framework for organizing variables and then discuss findings from psychology and education as a basis to formulate a research agenda for game-based training. In doing so, they hope to stimulate researchers to conduct appropriately controlled experiments that will begin to provide insight into how various features affect motivation and learning. In this way, a true science of educational games can be formed.
New Migrant Databank Concept and Development
Authors: Boden Peter , Rees Phil
Published: May 2010

Few parts of the UK remain unaffected by the surge in migration from central and eastern Europe that has been evident since the expansion of the European Union in 2004. However, the statistical instruments available to measure the multi-dimensional impact of international migration remain inadequate. The lack of empirical evidence to support research and analysis of migrant populations is an issue that affects a broad range of organisations at international, national, regional and local level. The problem is particularly acute in a selected set of local areas, where migrant populations have had a significant demographic, economic and social impacts. This chapter reports on work examining the changing profile and dynamics of the UK’s ethnic populations. The estimation and projection of ethnic group populations for local areas requires accurate intelligence on the inflow and outflow of international migrants. In the absence of a definitive source of data that can provide these statistics, the New Migrant Databank (NMD) has been developed which combines alternative sources of international migration data into a common statistical framework for presentation and analysis. The alternative sources of international migration data are summarised and a number of analytical examples are provided to illustrate how the NMD can provide a much improved picture of patterns and trends at a local level and the basis for improved intelligence on local estimates of both short-term and long-term migration. A number of developments are suggested, both to focus future research and to extend the content and value of the NMD as a common source of intelligence on UK immigration and emigration.
Defining Labour Market Areas by Analysing Commuting Data
Authors: Coombes Mike
Published: May 2010

This chapter draws on research undertaken in revising a set of functional regions known as Travel-to-Work Areas (TTWAs) which are the only official statistical areas in the UK defined by academics. The objective of the research is to define the maximum possible number of separate TTWAs that satisfy appropriate statistical criteria that ensure the areas meet guiding principles for labour market area boundary definition. Thus, the research is an example of a functional regionalisation which is highly constrained by the purpose to which the resulting boundaries will be put. The chapter briefly reviews previous TTWA definition methods, setting this in the context of the very limited academic research on regionalisation methods. The production of the 2001 Census commuting data provided opportunities for defining new labour market areas and the chapter explains how the TTWA research has responded with several key innovations. The empirical component of the chapter then illustrates the effect of these innovations by presenting a new visualisation of the workings of the definition method and also some analysis of the sensitivity of the results to changes in the method. Finally, there is a very brief look at some possible ways in which this field of research could be extended.
Finding Explicit and Implicit Knowledge
Authors: Seki Kazuhiro , Mostafa Javed , Uehara Kuniaki
Published: May 2010

This chapter discusses two different types of text data mining focusing on the biomedical literature. One deals with explicit information or facts written in articles, and the other targets implicit information or hypotheses inferred from explicit information. A major difference between the two is that the former is bound to the contents within the literature, whereas the latter goes beyond existing knowledge and generates potential scientific hypotheses. As concrete examples applied to real-world problems, this chapter looks at two applications of text data mining: gene functional annotation and genetic association discovery, both considered to have significant practical importance.
IT, Business Processes & Performance
Authors: van Wessel Robert
Published: May 2010

This chapter describes literature about IT investments, and the impact of IT on the performance of a firm. The reason for this study is that effects of IT standards, which are an integral part of IT, will be investigated in several case studies. Supporting the case study analysis, a method will be adopted that is used to assess business performance from IT in general. Business performance in general can be assessed from different angles, such as financial performance, process performance and transaction performance. Literature from various disciplines shows the complexity of and the disagreement as regards measurement and description of business performance. However, it is generally accepted that these impacts can be assessed best at the intermediate level: that of business processes. After the introduction, literature dealing with IT value and business performance will be discussed. Then a specific method, the Balanced Scorecard, will be dealt with and an explanation is given why we used it in this research. This chapter concludes with a look at the concept of flexibility, as part of business performance, and what it means in relation to IT standards.
Building the Conceptual Model
Authors: van Wessel Robert
Published: May 2010

It is difficult to isolate the business contribution of IT investments, and investments related to IT standardization are no exception, as discussed in the previous chapter. In Chapter 2 literature on standard setting processes and standards was described and in Chapter 3 literature was reviewed on the impact of IT on the process performance of a firm. In this chapter the choice for the research method, as part of the research approach depicted in Chapter 1, Figure 3, will be clarified and an initial conceptual model will be composed. The research method chosen comprises both exploratory and explanatory case study research as this was considered the best way to complement theory in this underdeveloped domain of IS literature (Yin, 1994). The conceptual model integrates aspects of standardization, standards application and standards control, and relates those to the impact of IT standards used in an organization on business process performance.
Information Preservation and Information Services in the Digital Age
Authors: Saksena Manisha
Published: May 2010

In the digital world, library services need to be transformed utilizing the advancements possible due to that automation and machine-to-machine communication of information . In this chapter prime focus is laid upon the need of digitization and how to achieve it effectively and appropriately. The strategies for digitization have also been discussed at reasonable length. The issues debated are digital decay as against paper decay, accessibility interpretation in digital world, utility of e-journals, gray content boom, problems of access to excess, human dependence of information sharing and collaboration, disintermediation. In this chapter adequate care has been taken to visualize the importance of traditional conservation as well. The main emphasis is on the spirit of collaboration and skill to take initiative for digitization project. It has been repeatedly mentioned that institutional collaborations at national and international level have given more fruitful results in the area of digitization. This chapter shows the changed picture of librarianship in digital environment along with the change in user perspectives and service perspective.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Authors: Anaraki Leila Nemati , Heidari Azadeh
Published: May 2010

Recent developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), while making our life easier, created a social divide that is known as the digital divide. The global information gap is likely to widen the North – South divide and this global digital divide raises many issues for discussion that will be explored and reviewed further in this research. This chapter provides a brief overview of digital divide and the effects of some critical factors on it. Unequal investment of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the potential of the Internet, the important role of education, literacy, education, e-governance, librarians, libraries and also digital libraries etc. are some discussed factors in this chapter. It concludes that paying attention to all so called critical factors can bridge and decrease this global digital divide.
Traffic Prediction over Wireless Networks
Authors: Feng Huifang , Ma Maode
Published: May 2010

The predictability of network traffic is an important and widely studied topic because it can lead to the solutions to get more efficient dynamic bandwidth allocation, admission control, congestion control and better performance of wireless networks. In this chapter, firstly, the authors briefly describe a number of traffic models that include time series models, artificial neural networks models, wavelet-based models, and support vector machine-based models. Secondly, they give the prediction method and metrics of measuring the accuracy of a prediction. Finally, they examine the feasibility of applying support vector machine into the prediction of actual traffic in WLANs and evaluate the performance of different prediction models such as ARIMA, FARIMA, and artificial neural network, wavelet-based and support vector machine-based models for the prediction of the real WLANs traffic.
TPC and Non-TPC Based Topology Control Approaches for QoS Improvement in MR-WMN
Authors: Mirchandani Vinod , Prodan Ante , Marcé Olivier
Published: May 2010

A grand challenge in Multi-Radio Wireless Mesh Networks (MR-WMN) is to limit the interference such that its net capacity increases without compromising scalability and stability. In this chapter, the authors first provide an insight into the implications of transmit power control (TPC) on the MR-WMN topology and QoS. In this regard, a review of some of the key work is carried out they then explore the approach of non-TPC based topology control schemes for limiting the interference in a static nodes based MR-WMN system that uses a distributed, light-weight, cooperative multiagents. A path reduction (PR) algorithm is the principle behind our topology control scheme and its viability is explained through NetLogo tool based simulation results. The effectiveness of the PR algorithm is shown in terms of improved interference cost reduction and decrease in path length. The focus of this chapter is mainly on non-TPC approach rather than the TPC approach.
Intertextuality and Constructing Islamic Identities Online
Authors: Al Zidjaly Najma
Published: May 2010

This chapter explores, from a sociolinguistic perspective, the role that the Internet plays in the online discursive construction of the Islamic religious identity of an enlightener. It does so by examining chatroom conversations between a man with a disability from the Islamic Arabian country, Oman and individuals of diverse religious backgrounds and nationalities with whom he frequently chats. The chapter illustrates how an enlightener identity is constructed through juxtaposing two contrastive religious identities: a liberal identity (when interacting with other Muslims) and a far more traditional one (when interacting with non-Muslims). The findings of the study suggest that the Internet is helping transform many Islamic discourses from being “authoritative,” i.e., unquestioned, to being “internally persuasive,” i.e., open for debate (Bakhtin, 1981). The analysis also reveals how the Internet is offering new possibilities regarding the constitution of an Islamic identity while additionally posing increasingly poignant questions about the role of Islamic religious leaders in this digital age.
SMS Texting Practices and Communicative Intention
Authors: Sotillo Susana M.
Published: May 2010

This study focuses on the predicate-argument structure of frequently used lexical verbs in the text messages of members of five SMS social networks. Using a text analysis tool, lexical verbs were identified, coded for semantic category, and tagged for analysis in a corpus of 31, 288 words. Three research questions are addressed in relation to lexical verb usage, structural simplification, recovery of implied argument, and achievement of communicative intention via mobile telephony. The results reveal that (1) predicate-argument structures determined by certain lexical verbs become simplified in text messages; (2) particular ?-roles assigned to particular arguments become implicit but are easily recovered; and (3) text messaging language constitutes a variety of naturally occurring language. It is possible that such language variations in use may bring about language change over time.
A Digital Forensic Analysis of Advance Fee Fraud (419 Scams)
Authors: Ofulue Christine I.
Published: May 2010

One of the significant implications of digital communication is the receipt of unsolicited emails. Several such mails share common features which characterize what has now come to be known as Advance Fee Fraud (AFF) mails or 419 mails. In particular, this chapter presents a structural analysis of the content of email correspondences for linguistic clues to help detect scams. Using a qualitative approach, the data comprising several unsolicited emails were analyzed for linguistic features vis a viz standard features of email communication and Standard English (SE). Findings revealed that the language of AFF emails share common linguistic features in aspects such as address, message, content construction, English as Second Language (ESL) errors, and non-native English features. The findings of this study enrich our understanding of language use in digital communication, and equip individuals and investigators with linguistic tools to determine authenticity through digital forensic examination.
Web 2.0 Approaches for Active, Collaborative Learning in Medicine and Health
Authors: Kaldoudi Eleni , Konstantinidis Stathis , Bamidis Panagiotis D.
Published: May 2010

In recent years, advances in information and communication technology and especially the Internet have acted as catalysts for significant developments in the sector of health care, having a strong impact in supporting medical diagnosis, enabling efficient and effective patient and healthcare management and reforming medical education. There is currently an international trend to involve computers and the Internet heavily in medical curricula, in continuing life-long medical learning, as well as in general health education of the public. However, effective technology-supported interventions are usually created when there is a successful alignment of the specific requirements with the potential end use of technology. And it is just such a juncture we are currently facing with the emergent paradigm of Web 2.0. This chapter elaborates on the potential of Web 2.0 for active and, potentially, effective learning in medicine and in health and reviews current practices and trends in the field. The discussion focuses on research directions and emerging applications that fully exploit the potential of Web. 2.0 for advancing medical education. Finally, the envisaged merit of merging with Web 3.0 technologies is also discussed.
Video Games in Education
Authors: Schrader P.G. , Lawless Kimberly A. , Deniz Hasan
Published: May 2010

There has been an abundance of writing about video games1 in education. Characteristic of a young field, much of this work is theoretical and not necessarily based on data (de Freitas, 2006). Classroom integration strategies rely on researchers’ arguments, anecdotal evidence, and teachers’ pragmatism. Unfortunately, video games are often created for profit and to entertain, leaving many additional issues to consider (i.e., marketing, effectiveness, etc.). Researchers’ arguments combined with video games’ widespread popularity and potentially spurious advertising may leave teachers confused or misinformed. To exemplify this issue, this chapter contrasts the salient properties of a commercial game (Spore), an immersive context with game-like features (Quest Atlantis), and a pedagogically based immersive context (GlobalEd 2). Specifically, the authors describe the educational and technological affordances of three contexts, the limitations associated with each, and the necessary yet pragmatic steps involved in their classroom use.
Developing Electronic Portfolios
Authors: Lowe Mary Ann
Published: May 2010

Portfolios are widely used in many professional and academic areas; however there is minimal documentation for the use of portfolios by Assistive Technology / Augmentative Alternative Communication (AT/AAC) specialists. Assessment of AT/AAC progress is often difficult to document due to the limited capabilities of the written output. Specific AT/AAC systems are tailored to individual clients and may range from a low-tech communication book to a sophisticated hi-tech device/computer with specialized access techniques. As individuals transition to new opportunities, it is difficult to show documentation of progress or visually capture specific device/computer set-ups for replication. This chapter encourages service providers to develop electronic portfolios to assist families, future educators, and therapists to become familiar with the best practice AT techniques and strategies used for individuals with complex physical and communication needs.
Discourse Features in Nigerian Online Discussion Forums
Authors: Taiwo Rotimi
Published: May 2010

This chapter investigates discourse features in asynchronous Nigerian discussion forums, which is now becoming a popular medium for discussing issues of interest to many Nigerians. The sample was based on extracts from CONCOMED, a corpus of Nigerian Computer-mediated English Discourse compiled by this researcher between 2006 and 2009. Four threads, one for each year were subjected to analysis based on Herring’s (2004) Computer Mediated Discourse Analysis (CMDA) framework. Analysis focused on interaction features of turn-taking, topic focus and coherence. Turn-taking process in the threads was a complex phenomenon characterized by non-sequential turns and adjacency disruptions. Interactants typically self-selected and used Quoting as turn tracking device. Global topics often split into sub-topics to address details. Despite the limitations of messaging systems on sequential turn-taking and referencing, interactional and topical coherence was established in the threads, as participants were able to logically connect their ideas in this complex virtual conversational context through Quoting, Addressivity and topic focus.
Playing with Ethics
Authors: Simkins David
Published: May 2010

Role playing games (RPGs) are compelling spaces for ethical play. Participants can take on roles very different from their own and experience the world through a variety of social contexts. This form of play can be encouraged by good game design principles including the balanced use of consequence, mirroring, social context, and freedom. This chapter examines the structure of ethics in role playing games and uses case studies of expert role players and analysis of game design to explore the effective use of the four design principles in popular games.
Bioshock in the Cave
Authors: Travis Roger
Published: May 2010

Plato’s cave, when read with attention to its ludic element, provides a model for the way video games can teach ethics. This chapter describes the cave-culture-game, the interactivity of the prisoners of the cave with the shadow-puppet play. It argues that on its own, the cave-culture-game gives insight into the standard reproduction of dominant ideological ethics by most games that have frameworks of ethical choice. The attempted disruption of this cave-culture-game by the philosopher, however, gives additional insight into the ethical potential of video games. To explore this, the chapter provides a close reading of 2K’s Bioshock, which shows how video games can teach ethics through disruptive gestures such as the forced killing of a major character.
An Overview of Learning Management Systems
Authors: Piña Anthony A.
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, the reader is taken through a macro level view of learning management systems, with a particular emphasis on systems offered by commercial vendors. Included is a consideration of the growth of learning management systems during the past decade, the common features and tools contained within these systems, and a look at the advantages and disadvantages that learning management systems provide to institutions. In addition, the reader is presented with specific resources and options for evaluating, selecting and deploying learning management systems. A section highlighting the possible advantages and disadvantages of selecting a commercial versus an open source system is followed by a series of brief profiles of the leading vendors of commercial and open source learning management systems.
Change Talk at iVillage.com
Authors: Flanigan Jolane
Published: May 2010

With the growing number of women going online, women-centered Internet sites have become more abundant. This case focuses on social support offered by relationship message board members at iVillage.com, a popular and pioneering site for women. Findings suggest that community members promote a form of individualism that reflects a dominant United States (US) cultural understanding of self. Read against research that suggests US females tend to have a more relational than individual sense of self, the promotion of an individual self may be an unhelpful aspect of the social support given on the relationship boards.
Getting on the "E" List
Authors: Scott Craig R. , Lewis Laurie K. , D’Urso Scott C.
Published: May 2010

This case examines how a community of organizations providing service to people experiencing homelessness made use of an electronic mail list. Current economic conditions have encouraged organizations in various sectors—including nonprofits—that might normally compete for scarce resources to collaborate with one another to increase their chances of survival. One set of tools likely to be of value in such relationships includes various online discussion technologies. An examination of this community’s email list use over a three-year period suggests a somewhat complex picture regarding technology use. More specifically, some issues both constrain and enable use. Additionally, seemingly basic and minimal uses of the list provided not only the greatest functionality for the users, but also led to several unanticipated consequences for those involved.
Measuring Science & Technology in Panama
Authors: Chang Yuan-Chieh , Kan Carlos
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines the notion of national intellectual capital, which could bring new insights to the existing national science and technology policy thinking. This notion leads that the chapter proposes a framework to measure national intellectual capital, and the investigation based on the framework was applied in Panama. The results revealed that the Panamanian intellectual capital faces the decreasing supply of human capital in S&T field, the service-dominant market capital, weaker and less indigenous innovation capital, and a steady increase of process capital. Some intellectual capital policy implications are drawn for Panama and other developing countries.
Annotation Practices with Pen-Based Technologies
Authors: Reins Kevin J.
Published: May 2010

This chapter discusses pen-based technologies and their digital ink usage patterns. While traditional instructor inking practices provide opportunities for information to flow in a static unidirectional manner, pen-based computers can be combined with shared writing surfaces, real-time web interfacing, and software to increase the collaboration and interaction between students and the instructor’s presentation through active learning. Suggestions of ways post-secondary faculty can utilize digital ink using sound pedagogical practices and a discussion of an experimental study testing the impact of one inking technique used to refine student thinking processes are included.
Finding Our Way While Leading the Way
Authors: Latham Gloria , Faulkner Julie
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTThis chapter will follow two teacher educators at RMIT University in Melbourne in their quest to lead and enable others to lead as they capture and critically reflect upon the constructs that frame the creation and implementation of a virtual primary school for pre-service teachers. The school is now six years old and has moved through numerous iterations, but remains guided by theories of Christensen (1997) and Boler (1999). That is, pre-service teachers, through their interactions with the virtual school, are challenged to question and rethink assumptions through sustained innovations and the disruption of habituated practices in learning and teaching. As the school has evolved, the authors have also had to rethink assumptions and build strong theoretical frameworks to support change.
Trustworthy Mobile Transactions
Authors: Morawczynski Olga , Miscione Gianluca
Published: May 2010

This chapter will focus on one vital determinant of m-banking adoption and use—trust relations. It presents the case of M-PESA, an m-banking application that quickly achieved a remarkable local embeddedness in large segments of Kenyan society. Data for this case was gathered during a fourteen month ethnographic study that took place in two locations—one urban and one rural. The chapter identifies four categories of trust (interpersonal, extended, presumptive, institutional) that were a prerequisite for mobile banking, and a lubricant for its sustainability and growth. It shows that institutional trust relations were strong during the early stages of adoption whilst the interpersonal ones were weak. This means that customers trusted Safaricom, the mobile service provider offering M-PESA. They did not, however, trust the agents that facilitated cash in and cash out. The chapter also gives attention to the changing nature of these relations through time. For example, it shows that interpersonal trust relations between customers and agents strengthened with increased interaction. The chapter concludes by identifying areas for future research and delineating recommendations for managers.
Optimization in Digital Watermarking Techniques
Authors: Maity Santi P. , Delpha Claude
Published: May 2010

Digital watermarking (DWM) becomes a multidisciplinary research area involving theory of communications, signal processing, multimedia coding, information theory, cryptography, computer science and game theory etc. This chapter looks digital watermarking as an optimization problem from different combination of these areas. The goal is to resolve the conflicting requirements of different parameters and properties of digital watermarking. The chapter also presents a review of recent advances in the state-of-the-art algorithms for optimized watermarking techniques. Optimized watermarking methods are then discussed from the rigorous mathematical analysis to theoretical derivations of algorithms with the aid of soft computing techniques. The design and implementation of optimized watermarking methods for the image, video and sound signals are discussed in the context of various diverse applications. Finally, the scope of future research in this area is highlighted.
Comparisons of Patient Severity Indices
Authors: Cerrito Patricia , Cerrito John
Published: May 2010

In this section, we will briefly discuss two methods of ranking patient severity. The first method we consider is the AHRQ comorbidities, which is a collection of 30 patient conditions that are used to define an index consisting of the number of comorbidites that a patient has been diagnosed with. In this chapter, we will also discuss the Charlson Index and compare it to the AHRQ comorbidities. Another measure we will define in this chapter uses the patient diagnoses that have the highest mortality rates. As we find, many of these diagnoses are related to serious and resistant infections that are generally not included in other indices, which tend to focus on chronic patient conditions. We will show that the severity of a patient’s condition can be highly variable, depending upon the severity index that is used.
Mobility and Traffic Model Analysis for Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks
Authors: Kulkarni Shrirang Ambaji , Rao G. Raghavendra
Published: May 2010

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks represent a specialized application of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks. Here the mobile nodes move in lanes and their mobility can be modeled based on realistic traffic scenarios. To meet the above challenge the goal of defining the mobility model for vehicular ad hoc network along with a realistic traffic pattern is an important research area. Vehicular mobility is characterized by acceleration, deceleration, possibility of different lanes and intelligent driving patterns. Also a modeling of traffic is necessary to evaluate a vehicular ad hoc network in a highway environment. The traffic model has to take into account the driver behavior in order to take decisions of when to overtake, change lanes, accelerate and decelerate. To overcome the limitation of traditional mobility models and mimic traffic models, many traffic model based simulators like CORSIM, PARAMICS and MOVE have been proposed. In this chapter we provide taxonomy of mobility models and analyze their implications. To study the impact of mobility model on routing protocol for vehicular motion of nodes we analyze the performance of mobility models with suitable metrics and study their correlation with routing protocol. We also discuss the fundamentals of traffic engineering and provide an insight into traffic dynamics with the Intelligent Driver Model along with its lane changing behavior.
Can Urban Planning, Participation and ICT Co-Exist?
Authors: Bourdakis Vassilis , Deffner Alex
Published: May 2010

One of the recent main problems in urban planning is to find ways in order to employ practical, very broad and commonly used theoretical principles such as participation. An additional issue is the exploitation of the possibilities of new technologies. The process of developing a flexible three-part (common core, public and planners) curriculum in the case of Agia Varvara (Athens, Greece) in the framework of the Leonardo project PICT (2002-2005) showed that ICT (Information Communication Technologies) can help in participation, mainly because it constitutes a relatively simple method of recording the views of both the public and the planners in a variety of subjects (both ‘open’ and ‘closed’).
From Instructional Design to Setting up Pedagogical Infrastructures
Authors: Lakkala Minna , Ilomäki Liisa , Kosonen Kari
Published: May 2010

Changes in society and working life have led educationists to propose that educational practices should pay special attention to advancing skills for knowledge creation, collaboration, and expert-like working with knowledge supported by modern technology. Classic models of instructional design mainly concentrate on individual content learning and are based on the strict pre-structuring of activities. The pedagogical design of collaborative knowledge construction is more indirect, focusing on establishing the underlying conditions in the learning environment to enhance desired practices. This creates new challenges for pedagogical design. Building on such views, a pedagogical infrastructure framework, including technical, social, epistemological, and cognitive components, is introduced as a conceptual tool to be used in evaluating the implementations of technology-enhanced collaborative knowledge practices in education. Three course examples are described using the introduced framework to demonstrate its applicability for examining pedagogical designs.
An Intelligent Algorithm for Home Sleep Apnea Test Device
Authors: Khandoker Ahsan H.
Published: May 2010

In this chapter authors try to develop a system for Sleep apnea with the help of machine learning algorithms using ECG signals.  The application of an intelligent machine learning technique (Support Vector Machines, SVM) to diagnose the patients with sleep apnea syndrome using Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal.  Sleep apnea syndrome is a medical condition caused by sleep apnea which is defined as the cessation of breathing for short periods during sleep.
Power and Trust in the Virtual Workplace
Authors: Hanson Ardis , Engel Eric Paul , Gobes-Ryan Sheila
Published: May 2010

How we work in an increasingly computer-mediated world requires new ways of understanding the construction of teams, their co-construction of tacit knowledge to make sense of the organization, and their use of emergent technologies. We posit an alternative research perspective –that of the communities of practice construct – allows a fuller understanding of the relationships of power and trust in team behaviors and processes. The communities-of-practice model provides an avenue to examine the intricate dance that trust and power perform in virtual environments, with people as the focal point. It is how people interact with each other, with in technology, to be or become successful virtually that is the focus of this chapter. We explore trust and power in virtual or blended work environments using a reflexive autoethnographic narrative, comprised of three case studies, grounded in the larger context of the organizational communication literature.
Structuring a Local Virtual Work Ecology for a Collaborative, Multi-Institutional Higher Educational Project
Authors: Hai-Jew Shalin
Published: May 2010

This chapter focuses on a multi-institutional shared curricular-build project (2009) out of Kansas State University, Johnson County Community College, Kansas City Kansas Community College, and Dodge City Community College. This project involved the building of a range of digital learning objects for modules for an online course that will be taught at the various institutions in both online and hybrid formats. This collaboration is unique in that it brought together experts from cross-functional domains (from both the empirical sciences and the humanities) for an interdisciplinary freshman level course. The team collaborated virtually through computer mediated communications and built e-learning based on instructional design precepts. The curriculum was built to the standards of the public health domain field, the Quality Matters™ rubric (for e-learning standards), federal accessibility guidelines, intellectual property laws, and technological interoperability standards (with the curriculum to be delivered through four disparate learning / course management systems). This chapter focuses on the socio-technical structuring of a local virtual work ecology to support this “Pathways to Public Health” project.
Cross-Cultural Transformative Learning
Authors: Townley Charles , Christman Dana , Coppola Barbara , Geng Qian , Li Jiayong
Published: May 2010

Drawing from several transformative models for learning, three cases of online, cross-cultural learning in graduate-level classes were analyzed in terms of how effectively they developed into learning communities, what type of learning activities and what level of effort help transform student learning, and what types of distance education technologies and pedagogies are useful in supporting cross-cultural learning communities. Comparisons were made between an assignment, a complex assignment, and an entire course in terms of transforming student learning, student knowledge and beliefs about how they learn, and how students interact with the pedagogy and with cross-cultural peers.
Learning Outcomes in Online Graduate Education Courses
Authors: Kearsley Greg
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines the relevance of transformative learning theory as it applies to online graduate courses. It is argued that the nature of learning that occurs in such courses involves a high degree of reflection and critical analysis and hence is well described by transformative theory. Discussion forum postings from 3 different courses at different institutions are analyzed in terms of the meaning structures defined by Mezirow. The results support the assertion that meaning schema and perspectives are being created and changed as a consequence of interaction with peers and instructors during online classes. A number of suggestions for refining the study of transformative learning in online courses are provided.
Acting and Interacting
Authors: Spiro Jane
Published: May 2010

This chapter looks at the way in which an online discussion forum into critical incidents impacts on the professional knowledge and self-esteem of teachers engaged in in-service development on an MA in Education programme. The chapter shows how the online environment enabled teachers to share concerns and values about their profession and to recognise connections between apparently widely different cultural settings. The online discussion supported the teacher’s individual actions and provided structured opportunity for teachers to arrive at action plans for their own development. The chapter explores the generative principles which made these activities work. It also considers the relationship between individual action and its capacity to impact on students, colleagues and institutions.
Techniques used in the study of African wildcat, Felis silvestris cafra, in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa/Botswana)
Authors: Herbst Marna , Mills Michael G.L.
Published: May 2010

The techniques used for the capture, marking and habituation of African wildcats (Felis silvestris cafra) in the Kalahari are described and evaluated in this paper. African wildcats were captured, with either baited cage traps or chemical immobilisation through darting. Darting proved to be a more efficient and less stressful way of capturing cats. Very high frequency (VHF) radio collars fitted with activity monitors were especially effective in the open habitat of the Kalahari for locating and maintaining contact with cats; they also aided in determining if the cats were active or resting in dense vegetation. The habituation of individual cats to a 4×4 vehicle proved to be time consuming, but it provided a unique opportunity to investigate the feeding ecology and spatial organisation of cats through direct visual observations.Conservation implications: In describing and comparing the various methods of capture, handling and release of the African wildcats that we followed during our study in the southern Kalahari, we recommend the most efficient, least stressful method for researchers to follow – both in relation to time and energy, as well as in terms of the impact on the animals being studied.
Manganese behavior in the sediments of diverse Scottish freshwater lochs
Authors: Bryant C. L. , Farmer J. G. , MacKenzie A. B. , Bailey‐Watts A. E. , Kirika A.
Published: May 2010

Mn concentrations were determined in sediments and pore waters of five freshwater lochs in Scotland. The aim was to establish whether the geochemical behavior of Mn differed in a range of limnological conditions: oligotrophic/mesotrophic Loch Lomond; eutrophic unstratified Loch Leven; seasonally stratified eutrophic Balgavies Loch; oligotrophic, acidified Round Loch of Glenhead; and oligotrophic, acid‐sensitive Loch Coire nan Arr.

Although redox‐driven diagenesis of Mn was evident in all lochs, the diversity of conditions in the lochs resulted in some cases in modifications to behavior predicted by conceptual models for transport of Mn at a redox boundary. These differences were reflected in the chemical associations and trends in concentration of Mn. A classic example of Mn redox cycling in the sediments of Loch Lomond provided a basis for comparison with other systems. Higher inventories of Mn in sediment collected from eutrophic Loch Leven during the summer, compared with sediment from autunm and winter sampling, were explained by the effects of enhanced primary productivity (high pH and dissolved oxygen concentrations) during a summer algal bloom. In Balgavies Loch, where the bottom water was hypoxic, at the time of sampling, previous diagenetic enrichment of Mn in the surface sediment was subject to modification by dissolution and release from the solid phase to pore water, which was elevated in Mn. The increase in solid‐phase Mn concentration with depth and lack of significant surface enhancement of Mn in Round Loch contrasted markedly with results from other lochs. This was attributed mainly to acidification, producing a pH‐related decrease in Mn sedimentation. Mn partitioning and porewater data for Loch Coire nan Arr were in some respects similar to those at Round Loch, with both lochs having peaty sediment. However, Mn concentration patterns attributed to acidification effects at Round Loch were not found in Loch Coire nan Arr.