bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RESPONSE STRENGTH IN EXTREME MULTIPLE SCHEDULES
Authors: McLean Anthony P. , Grace Randolph C. , Nevin John A.
Published: August 2012

Four pigeons were trained in a series of two‐component multiple schedules. Reinforcers were scheduled with random‐interval schedules. The ratio of arranged reinforcer rates in the two components was varied over 4 log units, a much wider range than previously studied. When performance appeared stable, prefeeding tests were conducted to assess resistance to change. Contrary to the generalized matching law, logarithms of response ratios in the two components were not a linear function of log reinforcer ratios, implying a failure of parameter invariance. Over a 2 log unit range, the function appeared linear and indicated undermatching, but in conditions with more extreme reinforcer ratios, approximate matching was observed. A model suggested by McLean (1991), originally for local contrast, predicts these changes in sensitivity to reinforcer ratios somewhat better than models by Herrnstein (1970) and by Williams and Wixted (1986). Prefeeding tests of resistance to change were conducted at each reinforcer ratio, and relative resistance to change was also a nonlinear function of log reinforcer ratios, again contrary to conclusions from previous work. Instead, the function suggests that resistance to change in a component may be determined partly by the rate of reinforcement and partly by the ratio of reinforcers to responses.
THE SUNK COST EFFECT WITH PIGEONS: SOME DETERMINANTS OF DECISIONS ABOUT PERSISTENCE
Authors: Macaskill Anne C. , Hackenberg Timothy D.
Published: August 2012

The sunk cost effect occurs when an individual persists following an initial investment, even when persisting is costly in the long run. The current study used a laboratory model of the sunk cost effect. Two response alternatives were available: Pigeons could persist by responding on a schedule key with mixed ratio requirements, or escape by responding on a second key. In Experiment 1, mean response requirements for persistence and escape were varied across conditions. Pigeons persisted (committing the sunk cost error) when persisting increased the mean response requirement only slightly but not when persisting was sufficiently nonoptimal. Experiment 2 explored more systematically combinations of ratios and probabilities assigned to the schedule key. Persistence varied with the ratio of the mean global response requirements for persistence and escape. In Experiment 3, transitions between ratios were signaled. This reduced nonoptimal persistence, and produced some instances of a reverse sunk cost error—escaping when persistence was optimal. In Experiment 4, it was optimal to escape after the second‐smallest ratio ever presented. Pigeons escaped at approximately the optimal juncture, especially in conditions with added signals. Overall, this series of experiments suggests that the sunk cost error may arise in part because persistence is the default behavioral strategy in situations where the contingencies for escape and persistence are insufficiently disparate and/or it is relatively difficult to discriminate when to escape. The study also demonstrates the utility of animal models of complex decision making situations.
Novel lytics, novel imaging: a new treatment strategy in stroke?
Authors: Quinn Terence J , Dawson Jesse
Published: August 2012

Evaluation of: Parsons M, Spratt N, Bivard A
et al.
A randomized trial of tenecteplase versus alteplase for acute ischemic stroke.
N. Engl. J. Med.
366(12), 1099–1107 (2012).

Intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase is one of the few evidence-based acute ischemic stroke treatments. Efficacy is time dependent and not all patients treated within the 4.5 h license derive benefit. The lytic agent tenecteplase has theoretical benefits. In the Phase II study by Parsons and colleagues, tenecteplase was superior to alteplase across imaging and safety outcomes for patients selected using specific imaging criteria. We review the evidence for thrombolysis, experience with tenecteplase and compare this study with others that have used similar designs for the investigation of novel stroke lytic agents.
Facilitating comparative effectiveness research in cancer genomics: evaluating stakeholder perceptions of the engagement process
Authors: Deverka Patricia A , Lavallee Danielle C , Desai Priyanka J , Armstrong Joanne , Gorman Mark , Hole-Curry Leah , O’Leary James , Ruffner BW , Watkins John , Veenstra David L , Baker Laurence H , Unger Joseph M , Ramsey Scott D
Published: August 2012

Aims:
The Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research in Cancer Genomics completed a 2-year stakeholder-guided process for the prioritization of genomic tests for comparative effectiveness research studies. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of engagement procedures in achieving project goals and to identify opportunities for future improvements.
Materials & methods:
The evaluation included an online questionnaire, one-on-one telephone interviews and facilitated discussion. Responses to the online questionnaire were tabulated for descriptive purposes, while transcripts from key informant interviews were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach.
Results:
A total of 11 out of 13 stakeholders completed both the online questionnaire and interview process, while nine participated in the facilitated discussion. Eighty-nine percent of questionnaire items received overall ratings of agree or strongly agree; 11% of responses were rated as neutral with the exception of a single rating of disagreement with an item regarding the clarity of how stakeholder input was incorporated into project decisions. Recommendations for future improvement included developing standard recruitment practices, role descriptions and processes for improved communication with clinical and comparative effectiveness research investigators.
Conclusions:
Evaluation of the stakeholder engagement process provided constructive feedback for future improvements and should be routinely conducted to ensure maximal effectiveness of stakeholder involvement.
Making the results of bottom-up energy savings comparable
Authors: Moser Simon , Leutgöb Klemens , Reichl Johannes , Kollmann Andrea
Published: August 2012

The Energy Service Directive (ESD) has pushed forward the issue of energy
savings calculations without clarifying the methodological basis. Savings
achieved in the Member States are calculated with rather non-transparent and
hardly comparable Bottom-up (BU) methods. This paper develops the idea of
parallel evaluation tracks separating the Member States? issue of ESD
verification and comparable savings calculations. Comparability is ensured by
developing a standardised BU calculation kernel for different energy
efficiency improvement (EEI) actions which simultaneously depicts the
different calculation options in a structured way (e.g. baseline definition,
system boundaries, double counting). Due to the heterogeneity of BU
calculations the approach requires a central database where Member States
feed in input data on BU actions according to a predefined structure. The
paper demonstrates the proposed approach including a concrete example of
application.
Potential of waste heat in Croatian industrial sector
Authors: Biscan Davor , Filipan Veljko
Published: August 2012

Waste heat recovery in Croatian industry is of the highest significance
regarding the national efforts towards energy efficiency improvements and
climate protection. By recuperation of heat which would otherwise be wasted,
the quantity of fossil fuels used for production of useful energy could be
lowered thereby reducing the fuel costs and increasing the competitiveness of
examined Croatian industries. Another effect of increased energy efficiency
of industrial processes and plants is reduction of greenhouse gases i.e. the
second important national goal required by the European Union (EU) and United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Paper investigates
and analyses the waste heat potential in Croatian industrial sector. Firstly,
relevant industrial sectors with significant amount of waste heat are
determined. Furthermore, significant companies in these sectors are selected
with respect to main process characteristics, operation mode and estimated
waste heat potential. Data collection of waste heat parameters (temperature,
mass flow and composition) is conducted. Current technologies used for waste
heat utilization from different waste heat sources are pointed out.
Considered facilities are compared with regard to amount of flue gas heat.
Mechanisms for more efficient and more economic utilization of waste heat are
proposed.
The potential of natural gas as a bridging technology in low-emission road transportation in Germany
Authors: Wang-Helmreich Hanna , Lochner Stefan
Published: August 2012

Greenhouse gas emission reductions are at the centre of national and
international efforts to mitigate climate change. In road transportation,
many politically incentivised measures focus on increasing the energy
efficiency of established technologies, or promoting electric or hybrid
vehicles. The abatement potential of the former approach is limited, electric
mobility technologies are not yet market-ready. In a case study for Germany,
this paper focuses on natural gas powered vehicles as a bridging technology
in road transportation. Scenario analyses with a low level of aggregation
show that natural gas-based road transportation in Germany can accumulate up
to 464 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emission reductions until 2030
depending on the speed of the diffusion process. If similar policies were
adopted EU-wide, the emission reduction potential could reach a maximum of
about 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent. Efforts to promote natural gas as
a bridging technology may therefore contribute to significant emissions
reductions.
Options Trading and the Cost of Equity Capital
Authors: Naiker Vic , Navissi Farshid , Truong Cameron
Published: August 2012

This study examines how options trading affects the rate of return expected by investors, i.e., the implied cost of equity capital. Our cross-sectional analysis suggests that firms with listed options have lower implied cost of equity capital than firms without listed options, while the results from our temporal difference-in-differences analysis suggest that firms with listed options experience a significant decrease in their implied cost of equity capital relative to a matched sample of firms without listed options following an options listing. Moreover, we find that within firms that have listed options, firms with higher options trading volume are associated with lower implied cost of equity capital. These findings, which are robust to a wide range of additional tests, are consistent with the view that options trading improves the precision of information and reduces information asymmetry problems, resulting in lower expected return on equity.

Data Availability: All data used in this study are publicly available from the sources identified in the paper.
Evaluation of splenectomy as a risk factor for gastric dilatation-volvulus
Authors: Grange Andrew M. , Clough William , Casale Sue A.
Published: August 2012

Objective—To evaluate whether dogs undergoing splenectomy had an increased risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), compared with a control group of dogs undergoing enterotomy.

Design—Retrospective case-control study.

Animals—219 dogs that underwent splenectomy for reasons other than splenic torsion (splenectomy group; n = 172) or enterotomy (control group; 47) without concurrent gastropexy.

Procedures—Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, date of surgery, durations of surgery and anesthesia, reason for splenectomy, histopathologic findings (if applicable), whether gastropexy was performed, duration of follow-up, and date of death (if applicable). Follow-up information, including occurrence of GDV, was obtained via medical records review and a written client questionnaire.

Results—Reasons for splenectomy included splenic neoplasia, nonneoplastic masses, infarction, traumatic injury, and adhesions to a gossypiboma. Incidence of GDV following surgery was not significantly different between dogs of the splenectomy (14/172 [8.1 %]) and control (3/47 [6.4%]) groups. Median time to GDV for the 17 affected dogs was 352 days (range, 12 to 2,368 days) after surgery. Among dogs that underwent splenectomy, sexually intact males had a significantly higher incidence of GDV (4/16) than did castrated males and sexually intact or spayed females (10/156). Incidence of GDV among sexually intact male dogs did not differ between groups.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results did not support a recommendation for routine use of prophylactic gastropexy in dogs at the time of splenectomy. Other patient-specific risk factors should be assessed prior to recommending this procedure.
Use of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for treatment of a heart base chemodectoma in a dog
Authors: Rancilio Nicholas J. , Higuchi Takashi , Gagnon Jerome , McNiel Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2012

Case Description—A 9-year-old spayed female mixed-breed dog was evaluated because of a progressively worsening, nonproductive cough and gagging of 1 year's duration.

Clinical Findings—Physical examination results were unremarkable. A cranial mediastinal mass was identified at the heart base with 3-view thoracic radiography. A CT scan of the thorax revealed an invasive mass surrounding major vessels at the heart base that was not considered surgically resectable. Thoracoscopic biopsy specimens of the cranial mediastinal mass were obtained, and histologic evaluation revealed that the tumor was a chemodectoma.

Treatment and Outcome—On the basis of results of the CT scan, a 3-D conformal radiation therapy plan was generated with computer treatment-planning software. The patient was treated with external beam radiation therapy; a 6-MV linear accelerator was used to deliver a prescribed dose of 57.5 Gy in twenty-three 2.5-Gy fractions. The cough improved following radiation therapy. Prior to treatment, the tumor volume was calculated to be 126.69 cm3. Twenty-five months following radiation therapy, a follow-up CT scan was performed and there was a >50% reduction in tumor volume at that time. Disease progression causing pericardial, pleural, and peritoneal effusion and syncopal episodes occurred 32 months following radiation therapy, which were treated with pericardectomy and additional radiation therapy. The dog was still alive and doing well 42 months following initial radiation treatment.

Clinical Relevance—Conformal radiation therapy provided an additional treatment option for a nonresectable heart base chemodectoma in the dog of this report; conformal radiation therapy was reasonably tolerable and safe.
Seizures and severe nutrient deficiencies in a puppy fed a homemade diet
Authors: Hutchinson Dana , Freeman Lisa M. , McCarthy Robert , Anastasio John , Shaw Scott P. , Sutherland-Smith James
Published: August 2012

Case Description—An 8-month-old male Saint Bernard developed tetanic seizures and hyperthermia during evaluation of bilateral osteochondritis dissecans of the shoulder joints. Further investigation revealed that the dog was receiving an unbalanced homemade diet.

Clinical Findings—Preliminary evaluation of the dog revealed bilateral signs of pain and mild muscle wasting in the shoulder joint areas. Serum biochemical analysis revealed severe hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hyperphosphatemia, vitamin D deficiency, and taurine deficiency. Diffuse osteopenia was identified on radiographs of the mandible and long bones, confirming bone demineralization. Analysis of the homemade diet revealed that the dog's diet was severely deficient in a variety of nutrients.

Treatment and Outcome—The dog responded positively to treatment for hypocalcemia, hyperthermia, and seizures. The dog's diet was changed to a complete and balanced canine diet formulated for growth. Body weight and body condition were monitored, and dietary intake was adjusted to achieve optimal body condition during growth. After initial evaluation, serial monitoring of serum calcium and taurine concentrations revealed that values were within reference limits and the dog had no further clinical signs associated with dietary deficiency.

Clinical Relevance—Findings in this puppy highlight the risks associated with feeding an unbalanced homemade diet during growth and the importance of obtaining a thorough dietary history from all patients. For owners who elect to feed a homemade diet, it is critical to have the homemade diet carefully formulated by a veterinary nutritionist to avoid severe nutrient imbalances, especially in young, growing dogs.
A lesson in history: the evolution of endoscopic third ventriculostomy
Authors: Schmitt Paul J. , Jane John A.
Published: August 2012

The history of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) demonstrates the importance of studying neurosurgery's history. A story that began with numerous technological advancements started to fizzle as neurosurgeons were stymied by problems encountered during the infancy of the technology they were still developing. The new technique, although sound in theory, failed to deliver a realistic solution for managing hydrocephalus; it lost the battle to the valved shunt. Over the last 15–20 years, a clearer understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying various forms of hydrocephalus, along with effective implementation of evidence-based practice, has allowed for optimization of patient selection and a remarkable improvement in ETV success rates. Neurosurgeons would be wise to take the lessons learned in modernizing the ETV procedure and reassure themselves that these lessons do not apply to other methods that are tempting to dismiss as antiquated or archaic.
Dr. Otto “Tiger” Freer: inventor and innovator
Authors: Chittiboina Prashant , Connor David E. , Nanda Anil
Published: August 2012

Every neurosurgeon develops his or her own standard approach to common intracranial pathologies in terms of the order in which different stages are performed and which instruments are used to perform individual tasks. The majority of the basic steps in performing a craniotomy are learned through repetition and practice during residency training. Significant amounts of energy are devoted to mastering technical skills and developing an operative rhythm. What often receives little attention is the historical origin of the instruments that make the work possible. The Freer elevator represents a particularly interesting example. To people unfamiliar with the accomplishments of turn-of-the-century laryngologist Otto “Tiger” Freer, it can be assumed that the name of the instrument in one's hand is simply named for what it can do, that is, to “free” the nasal mucosa from the bony and cartilaginous septum during the transsphenoidal approach. The technique this master surgeon spent his life and career perfecting is now repeated almost daily by skull base neurosurgeons approaching pathologies from the inferior frontal lobe to the foramen magnum. In reviewing his life and work, the authors of this paper discovered an interesting creative process that led to the design of the eponymous instrument. Additionally, they discovered important advances toward the development of the transnasal approach and in our understanding of the anterior skull base. They present a historical perspective on the life and accomplishments of Dr. Freer and the ubiquitous surgical instrument that he invented and popularized.
The history of the combined supra- and infratentorial approach to the petroclival region
Authors: Grossi Peter M. , Nonaka Yoichi , Watanabe Kentaro , Fukushima Takanori
Published: August 2012

Lesions of the ventrolateral brainstem, clivus, and cerebellopontine angle pose significant challenges for surgeons, and the rate of morbidity and mortality from classic neurosurgical approaches has proven to be unacceptably high. Early attempts to expose this region consisted primarily of an extended suboccipital craniectomy, with opening of the tentorium and ligation of the sigmoid sinus for additional exposure. During the 1960s, technological innovations including the surgical microscope and the pneumatic drill allowed surgeons to gain additional exposure by removing more bone from the base of the skull. This let surgeons define combined infra- and supratentorial approaches, which rely less on brain retraction to resect these difficult tumors successfully. These approaches rely on a combined posterior mastoid approach with an anterior petrosectomy. The evolution of this approach is discussed in this paper.
The Jubilee of Bishop Kyle
Authors: Roberts Alasdair
Published: August 2012

Celebrations surrounding the golden jubilee of Bishop James Kyle's priesthood in 1862 generated a considerable volume of documentary evidence, mostly in the form of letters. The Northern District of the Catholic Church in Scotland represented a rural tradition from penal times. Its priests considered themselves to be gentlemen, though impoverished, serving congregations different from the mainly Irish ones in urban areas. The article is, by implication, about clergy culture as well as clergy finance. Bishop Kyle's base was at the archival treasure-house of Preshome near Fochabers in the Enzie district where an underground practice of religion had been maintained since the seventeenth century. Most of the Northerners (strikingly young by today's standards, and attention is drawn the number of early deaths among priests of that day) had spent time at Preshome at the start of their careers. The focal point of the jubilee was a dinner at Blairs College, Scotland's junior seminary. The focal point of the dinner was a pastiche of ‘Tullochgorum’, described by Robert Burns as Scotland's finest song. In it a young priest entertained his colleagues while teasing the more senior of them in convivial fashion.
Opiniones y hábitos de publicación en acceso abierto de los investigadores argentinos. Un estudio basado en los datos de la encuesta SOAP
Authors: Bongiovani Paola , Diana Gómez Nancy , Miguel Sandra
Published: August 2012

El presente trabajo tiene como principal objetivo conocer las opiniones y hábitos de publicación en acceso abierto de los investigadores argentinos en cuatro áreas temáticas: Medicina, Física y Astronomía, Agricultura y Ciencias Biológicas y Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades. El estudio se basa en las respuestas de los investigadores que participaron de la encuesta mundial realizada en 2010 en el marco del proyecto SOAP (Study of Open Access Publishing). Los resultados obtenidos son comparados con los hallazgos de la encuesta SOAP a escala mundial, y con un estudio previo sobre prácticas de publicación de los investigadores argentinos según el modelo económico de las revistas donde publican. Las conclusiones y discusión advierten que si bien la publicación en acceso abierto es, desde las opiniones de los investigadores, considerado beneficioso, no es suficiente para que modifiquen sus hábitos de publicación.
Stratégies et styles rédactionnels de l’article de recherche : les ressources de l’utilisateur non-natif devant publier en anglais
Authors: Sionis Claude
Published: August 2012

L’article rend compte d’une analyse de corpus limité mais représentatif de stratégies et de styles mis en œuvre par deux générations de scientifiques français (pré et post enseignement communicationnel d’une langue) lors de la rédaction d’articles de recherche devant être publiés par des journaux spécialisés anglophones. L’accent est mis sur les stratégies de communication relevant plus particulièrement de deux attitudes différentes en apprentissage des langues étrangères : utiliser la langue en tant qu’outil servant à satisfaire précisément les exigences d’une seule tâche spécifique (une sorte d’attitude « d’utilisation puis d’oubli »), et tirer un profit maximum de toutes les situations langagières rencontrées pour développer ses ressources et améliorer sa capacité globale à utiliser la langue. L’article étudie aussi certains aspects du traitement des relations qui existent entre la langue générale de l’argumentation et le « noyau dur » du langage mathématique représenté par les équations et les formules.
Irrigation Management and Water Pricing in Turkey
Authors: Cakmak Erol H.
Published: August 2012

Irrigated agriculture in Turkey currently consumes 75 percent of the total water consumption, which corresponds to about 30 percent of the renewable water supply. Unfavorable future global climate and economic conditions will increase the stress in the water sector. The operation and maintenance (O&M) of almost all large surface irrigation schemes developed by the state has been transferred to irrigation associations governed by the farmers. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of irrigation management practices and an evaluation of irrigation water pricing after the transfer using price data at the association level since 1999. Results indicate that both irrigation water charges and collection rates increased following the transfer. However, the recuperation of investment costs for irrigation development from the users has remained minimal. The price of the irrigation water continued to be on per hectare basis, and farmers using pumping water face 2.5 times higher water charge per hectare then the gravity water users. The uptake of more efficient water application technology accompanied by pricing mechanisms reflecting scarcity value of water will certainly ease the adjustment burden of the irrigation sector in the future.
Automatic Real-Time River Traffic Monitoring Based on Artificial Vision Techniques
Authors: Iocchi Luca , Novelli Luca , Tombolini Luigi , Vianello Michele
Published: August 2012

Artificial vision techniques derived from computer vision and autonomous robotic systems have been successfully employed for river traffic monitoring and management. For this purpose, ARGOS and HYDRA systems have been developed by Achimedes Logica in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome under the EU initiatives URBAN and MOBILIS for the monitoring of the boat traffic in Venice on the Gran Canal and the harbour area. These advanced systems provide an efficient automatic traffic monitoring to guarantee navigation safety and regular flow while producing and distributing information about the traffic. The systems are based on the processing of digital images that are gathered by survey cell stations distributed throughout the supervised area providing a visual platform on which the system displays recent and live traffic conditions in a synthetic way similar to radar view. ARGOS and HYDRA systems are programmed to automatically recognize and notice situations of great interest in whatever sea or land-targeted security applications including environmental, perimeter, and security control. This article describes the wide spectrum of applications of these two systems, that is, monitoring traffic and automatically tracking position, speed and direction of all vehicles.
Environmental and Social Impact of Stormwater Outfalls at Lake Michigan Beaches
Authors: Silva Marcia R. , McLellan Sandra L.
Published: August 2012

Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and home to approximately one million people. Lake Michigan waters in Milwaukee’s coastal area are mainly used for recreational purposes and drinking water. These coastal waters are impacted by many sources of pollution, from which the presence of sewage is a main concern, as this sewage contains numerous harmful pathogens. In this paper, the authors examine and analyze the beaches of Milwaukee for pollutants to serve as an impetus for future action.
Innovations and Continuous Improvements and Their Impact on Firms’ Performance
Authors: Zain Mohamed , Kassim Norizan
Published: August 2012

This paper examines the influence of innovation and continuous improvement practices on the competitiveness of firms, which in turn affect their performance. Results obtained from 112 Qatari firms confirm that continuous improvements had a significant positive influence on the firms’ competitiveness. Among six of the ten Ekvall’s creative climate factors examined, only four had some positive influence on the competitiveness of the firms. The authors also found that the organization’s internal environment had significant positive influence on the competitiveness of the firms. Furthermore, results show that organizational competitiveness significantly influenced performance. Managerial implications of the findings are also provided.
Going Beyond the Bibliographic Catalog
Authors: Bento Filipe Manuel dos Santos , da Silva Lídia de Jesus Oliveira L.
Published: August 2012

This chapter exposes some core concepts for an innovative bibliographic information search system model, where not only the document is the point of reference, but to a new extent, the user himself and all his surroundings. Taken as central point is the bibliographic collection of the Library and the “ecosystem” of users and their use of the same, added with, to the extent where it is feasible, information from other sources.
Matching of Twig Pattern with AND/OR Predicates over XML Streams
Authors: Yang Weidong , Zhu Hao
Published: August 2012

Chapter 5 presents a novel approach for processing complex twig pattern with OR-predicates and AND-predicates over XML document streams which a twig pattern is represented as a query tree. Its OR-predicates and AND-predicates are represented as a separate abstract syntax tree associated with the branch node, and all the twig patterns are combined into a single prefix query tree that represents such queries by sharing their common prefixes. Consequently, all the twig patterns are evaluated in a single, document-order pass over the input document stream avoiding the translation of the set of twig patterns into a finite state automaton. Chapter 1 introduces the background of this issue. Chapter 2 discusses the representation of complex twig pattern as a query tree, how to combine a set of twig patterns into a single query three, how to match multi twig patterns over the incoming XML document, and possible optimization of computing logical AND/OR predicates. In section 3, the architecture of a XML stream process system named LeoXSQ is given. Section 4 shows the conducted experiments. In section 5, the related work is discussed. Section 6 summarizes this chapter.
Conclusions and Future Work
Authors: Al-Hamadani Badya , Lu Joan
Published: August 2012

This thesis introduces a new model which has the ability to compress an XML document efficiently and retrieve information from the compressed file according to vague queries and even various other types of queries. This chapter will outline the main conclusions of the research as well as the main advantages and limitations of the designed model. Finally, the chapter will also list possible future trends in this research in terms of developing the proposed model.
Research Background
Authors: Dweib Ibrahim , Lu Joan
Published: August 2012

In this chapter, the research background is discussed. This includes XML model, XML query languages, XML schema languages, XML Application Program Interface, XML documents types, XML data storage approaches, relational database model, and the similarities and differences between XML model and relational database model. Finally the chapter summary is given.
Case Studies
Authors: Pein Raoul Pascal , Lu Joan , Renz Wolfgang
Published: August 2012

This chapter discusses several case studies to evaluate the methods introduced in chapter 23, Methods. Each case study focuses on a specific issue and the advanced cases build up on previous findings. The first ones are dealing with the low-level fv directly and then the scope widens to the interrelationship of multiple fv until their combination within a single query is used as a mapping rule for higher-level semantics (i.e. categories).
An Overview of Business Process Management
Authors: Zhou Wei , Zhou Yixuan , Yang Jinwu , Yao Shaowen
Published: August 2012

BPM (Business Process Management) includes support for business process analysis, design, implementation, management methods, techniques, and tools. This chapter introduces the origin of BPM technology and development, covering four fields: Business Process Management benefits, the history of BPM, classification of Business process, the lifecycle of BPM, and Business Process Modeling Techniques. In addition, the authors also determine that the present workflow technology is not enough to exist in the root causes of some deficiencies; concluding the chapter with the future of workflow technology trends.
Business Process Modeling
Authors: He Gang , Xue Gang , Yu Kui , Yao Shaowen
Published: August 2012

Business process modeling is that make use of graphics, formulas, tables and text to describe the characteristics of business process, and answer why to do, what to do, how to do. Business process modeling is the foundation of business process management. Implementation of business process management can improve the process and enhance competitiveness. In this chapter, the authors attempt to find current business process modeling methods’ advantages and disadvantages by analyzing their feature and comparison of based on series important evaluation criteria. The goal is that it provides a reference to business process modeling methods in practice.
Advanced Branching and Synchronization Patterns Description Using Pi-Calculus
Authors: Yu Kui , Zhang Nan , Xue Gang , Yao Shaowen
Published: August 2012

Workflow patterns contain basic features of business process. Advanced branching and synchronization patterns present a series of patterns, which characterize more complex branching and merging concepts which arise in business processes. Pi-calculus can be applied in business process modeling. In this chapter, this kind of workflow patterns is investigated using Pi-calculus.
Robust Performance of Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Gong Shimin , Wang Ping , Huang Jianwei
Published: August 2012

Harmonic coexistence of cognitive radio systems and licensed systems requires the secondary users to have the capability of sensing and keeping track of primary users’ transmissions. While existing spectrum sensing methods usually assume known distributions of the primary signals, such an assumption is often not true in practice. As a result, applying existing sensing methods will often lead to unreliable detection performance in practical networks. In this chapter, the authors try to investigate the sensing performance under the distribution uncertainty of primary signals. They first investigate the performance bounds for single user detection with unknown distribution, and provide an analytical expression for the lower bound of detection probability. Moreover, they bring the distribution uncertainty into multi-user cooperative sensing. The authors formulate the optimal sensing design as a robust optimization problem, and propose an iterative algorithm to determine the optimal decision threshold for each user. Extensive simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Distributed Multicell Precoding for Network MIMO
Authors: Ho Winston W. L. , Quek Tony Q. S. , Heath Robert W.
Published: August 2012

Interference is a performance limiting factor in dense cellular networks with aggressive frequency reuse. Cooperation among base stations (BSs) is a promising approach for improving data rates by eliminating or mitigating interference. For the downlink, the highest spectral efficiency gains are achieved through precoding with full coordination, which requires complete channel state information (CSI) and data sharing among BSs at the cost of significant utilization of the backhaul. In this chapter, the authors introduce distributed precoding techniques for the multicell MIMO downlink. Each BS designs its own precoder without requiring data or downlink CSI of links from other BSs. The authors also study the effect of imperfect CSI on these precoders and introduce a robust precoder in the presence of CSI uncertainty. Simulations show that these methods enjoy a rate increase with SNR similar to multicell joint dirty paper coding in the high SNR regime due to effective interference mitigation.
Game Theory for Cognitive Radio
Authors: Kamal Hany , Mohammed Abbas
Published: August 2012

Demands on high data rate applications are increasing and consequently demands on spectral resources are increasing as well. Although electromagnetic spectrum is recently said to be in a scarcity situation, several studies have shown that this scarcity is mainly due to the legacy command-and-control regulation rather than due to physical scarcity of spectrum. For this reason, researchers have started investigating techniques to better manage the usage of spectrum. Among these techniques there exist the methods allowing the primary/secondary usage of spectrum, or secondary market. Secondary market techniques mainly manage sensing, accessing, and aborting the spectrum usage by the secondary users. Techniques developed for secondary market context are also referred to as algorithms for Cognitive Radio (CR) networks. Regulators worldwide took measures to promote the deployment of primary/secondary context. In this chapter, the authors give an illustrative discussion on CR and on the application of game theory to overcome the spectrum scarcity problem. Game theory is a field of applied mathematics that describes and analyzes scenarios with interactive decisions. In recent years, there has been considerable interest in adopting game theoretic approaches to model many communications and networking problems such as radio resource management and routing. Nowadays, game theory is also used to model interactive situations for CR terminals.
Distributed Coalition Formation and Resource Allocation in Cognitive LTE Femto-cells
Authors: Gharehshiran Omid Namvar , Attar Alireza , Krishnamurthy Vikram
Published: August 2012

This chapter investigates resource allocation in a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. Users form coalitions, each exploiting resources in a particular femto-cell, while occupying optimal resources in the sense that total network throughput is maximized. Users in each cell collaborate to increase network throughput and simultaneously attempt to increase their own payoffs subject to a fairness criterion. Payoffs to the users are defined as the monetary equivalent of the individual users’ achievable throughput in the specified coalition structure. A distributed game-theoretic resource allocation mechanism is studied whereby users autonomously decide which sub-channel in which coalition to join. It is proved that if each user operates according to the proposed algorithm, the sum throughput of all links converges almost surely to its maximum feasible value.
IT/IS Readiness Maturity Model
Authors: Alshawi Mustafa , Salleh Hafez
Published: August 2012

This chapter explains the concept of an IT/IS readiness maturity model including particular requirements in terms of four domains, embracing nine attributes: IT infrastructure (top management perception, systems and communication), people (skills, roles and responsibility of IT staff, user involvement), process, and work environment (organization behaviour, IT department, leadership). Each of the attributes consists of 14 factors: top management perception (drivers, systems requirements definition), systems and communication (focus, network communication), skills (type of skills, capability building), roles and responsibility of IT staff (position of IT/IS heads, roles of IT staff), user involvement, process (practices), organizational behaviour (characteristics), IT policy (control of IT/IS activities), and leadership (communication, participation). The following section describes the concept of readiness and maturity, the resources used for element extraction/adoption and the description of the model.
ICT and Web 2.0 Technologies as a Determinant of Business Performance
Authors: Arh Tanja , Dimovski Vlado , Blažic Borka Jerman
Published: August 2012

This chapter aims at presenting the results of an empirical study, linking the fields of technology-enhanced learning (TEL), Web 2.0 technologies and organizational learning, and their impact on the financial and non-financial business performance. The chapter focuses on the presentation of the conceptualization of a structural model that was developed to test the impact of technology-enhanced learning and Web 2.0 technologies on the organizational learning and business performance of companies with more than 50 employees. The paper provides detailed definitions of technology-enhanced learning, Web 2.0 technologies and technical terms related to it, its scope and the process of organisational learning, as well as a method for business performance assessment. Special attention is given to the findings related to the observed correlations between the aforementioned constructs. The results of the study indicate a strong impact of ICT and technology-enhanced learning on organizational learning and the non-financial business performance.
Building a Knowledge Management System in a Design Firm
Authors: Mezher Toufic , Abdul-Malak M.A. , Khaled Mohamad , El-Khatib Ibrahim
Published: August 2012

Knowledge management represents a strategic vision for developing an organization’s performance and its likelihood of success in dealing with future challenges in its industry. The case starts by discussing the importance of knowledge management in improving the competitive edge of firms in general and of consulting firms in particular. Then, the case discusses the process of building a knowledge management system in the structural engineering department at a leading engineering design consulting firm, based in the Republic of Lebanon. The knowledge, both tacit and explicit, needed during the design phase is identified and mapped according to the adopted design process, and an expert system was built to capture some of the tacit knowledge needed in the conceptual design stage of the process. In addition, an intranet Web-based knowledge management system was developed with the aim of helping diffuse both explicit and tacit knowledge.
Is Strategic Processes
Authors: Fardal Harald Oddvar , Sørnes Jan
Published: August 2012

In large, geographically dispersed organizations, achieving a successful Information Systems (IS) strategy can prove very challenging. This case describes how a CIO in such an organization met that challenge by focusing on actions rather than plans, and on bottom-up processes rather than top-down decisions. The CIO keyed on benefitting from employees’ competencies. The organization, here called “NorConstruct,” has few long-term IS strategic plans. Instead, it has developed five different IS strategic themes on a general level. It’s actual IS strategy takes place through different IS projects. The case is told through the CIO and provides rich descriptions of IS strategic processes in NorConstruct, as well as the CIO’s thoughts on the pros and cons. Throughout the case, several relevant reflections are described.
Methodology and Software Components for E-business Development and Implementation
Authors: Vrcek Neven , Magdalenic Ivan
Published: August 2012

Many benefits from implementation of e-business solutions are related to network effects which means that there are many interconnected parties utilizing the same or compatible technologies. The large-scale adoption of e-business practices in public sectors and in small and medium enterprises (SMEs)-prevailing economic environments will be successful if appropriate support in the form of education, adequate legislative, directions, and open source applications is provided. This case study describes the adoption of e-business in public sectors and SMEs by using an integrated open source approach called e-modules. E-module is a model which has process properties, data properties, and requirements on technology. Therefore e-module presents a holistic framework for deployment of e-business solutions and such e-module structure mandates an approach which requires reengineering of business processes and adoption of strong standardization that solves interoperability issues. E-module is based on principles of service-oriented architectures with guidelines for introduction into business processes and integration with ERP systems. Such an open source approach enables the spreading of compatible software solutions across any given country, thus, increasing e-business adoption. This paper presents a methodology for defining and building e-modules.
Streamlining Semantic Integration Systems
Authors: Kalfoglou Yannis , Hu Bo
Published: August 2012

Yannis Kalfoglou and Bo Hu argue for the use of a streamlined approach to integrate semantic integration systems. The authors elaborate on the abundance and diversity of semantic integration solutions and how this impairs strict engineering practice and ease of application. The versatile and dynamic nature of these solutions comes at a price: they are not working in sync with each other neither is it easy to align them. Rather, they work as standalone systems often leading to diverse and sometimes incompatible results. Hence the irony that we might need to address the interoperability issue of tools tackling information interoperability. Kalfoglou and Hu also report on an exemplar case from the field of ontology mapping where systems that used seemingly similar integration algorithms and data, yield different results which are arbitrary formatted and annotated making interpretation and reuse of the results difficult. This makes it difficult to apply semantic integration solutions in a principled manner. The authors argue for a holistic approach to streamline and glue together different integration systems and algorithms. This will bring uniformity of results and effective application of the semantic integration solutions. If the proposed streamlining respects design principles of the underlying systems, then the engineers will have maximum configuration power and tune the streamlined systems in order to get uniform and well understood results. The authors propose a framework for building such streamlined system based on engineering principles and an exemplar, purpose built system, CROSI Mapping System (CMS), which targets the problem of ontology mapping.
Medical Devices and Patient Safety
Authors: Mattox Elizabeth
Published: August 2012

Errors related to health care devices are not well understood. Nurses in intensive care and progressive care environments can benefit from understanding manufacturer-related error and device-use error, the principles of human factors engineering, and the steps that can be taken to reduce risk of errors related to health care devices.