bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Evaluation of Poly(Sodium 2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonate-co-Styrene)/Magnetite Nanoparticle Composites as Corrosion Inhibitors for Steel
Authors: El-Mahdy Gamal , Atta Ayman , Al-Lohedan Hamad
Published: January 2014

Self-stabilized magnetic polymeric composite nanoparticles of coated poly-(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate-co-styrene)/magnetite (PAMPS-Na-co-St/Fe3O4) were prepared by emulsifier-free miniemulsion polymerization using styrene (St) as a monomer, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt (AMPS-Na) as an ionic comonomer, N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker, hexadecane (HD) as a hydrophobic solvent, and 2,2-azodiisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator in the presence of hydrophobic oleic acid coated magnetite particles. Hydrophobic oleic acid coated magnetite particles with an average size of about 7-10 nm were prepared with the new modified water-based magnetite ferrofluid, synthesized by a chemical modified coprecipitation method. The morphology and the particle size distributions of the crosslinked PAMPS-Na-co-St/Fe3O4 composite were observed and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average Fe3O4 content of PAMPS-Na-co-St/Fe3O4 was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The inhibitory action of PAMPS-Na-co-St/Fe3O4 towards steel corrosion in 1 M HCl solutions has been investigated by polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. Polarization measurements indicate that PAMPS-Na-co-St/Fe3O4 acts as a mixed type-inhibitor and the inhibition efficiency increases with inhibitor concentration. The results of potentiodynamic polarization and EIS measurements clearly showed that the inhibition mechanism involves blocking of the steel surface by inhibitor molecules via adsorption.
Development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Individual Monitoring of Panels in a Photovoltaic Plant
Authors: Prieto Miguel , Pernía Alberto , Nuño Fernando , Díaz Juan , Villegas Pedro
Published: January 2014

With photovoltaic (PV) systems proliferating in the last few years due to the high prices of fossil fuels and pollution issues, among others, it is extremely important to monitor the efficiency of these plants and optimize the energy production process. This will also result in improvements related to the maintenance and security of the installation. In order to do so, the main parameters in the plant must be continuously monitored so that the appropriate actions can be carried out. This monitoring should not only be carried out at a global level, but also at panel-level, so that a better understanding of what is actually happening in the PV plant can be obtained. This paper presents a system based on a wireless sensor network (WSN) that includes all the components required for such monitoring as well as a power supply obtaining the energy required by the sensors from the photovoltaic panels. The system proposed succeeds in identifying all the nodes in the network and provides real-time monitoring while tracking efficiency, features, failures and weaknesses from a single cell up to the whole infrastructure. Thus, the decision-making process is simplified, which contributes to reducing failures, wastes and, consequently, costs.
A High Temperature Capacitive Pressure Sensor Based on Alumina Ceramic for in Situ Measurement at 600 °C
Authors: Tan Qiulin , Li Chen , Xiong Jijun , Jia Pinggang , Zhang Wendong , Liu Jun , Xue Chenyang , Hong Yingping , Ren Zhong , Luo Tao
Published: January 2014

In response to the growing demand for in situ measurement of pressure in high-temperature environments, a high temperature capacitive pressure sensor is presented in this paper. A high-temperature ceramic material-alumina is used for the fabrication of the sensor, and the prototype sensor consists of an inductance, a variable capacitance, and a sealed cavity integrated in the alumina ceramic substrate using a thick-film integrated technology. The experimental results show that the proposed sensor has stability at 850 °C for more than 20 min. The characterization in high-temperature and pressure environments successfully demonstrated sensing capabilities for pressure from 1 to 5 bar up to 600 °C, limited by the sensor test setup. At 600 °C, the sensor achieves a linear characteristic response, and the repeatability error, hysteresis error and zero-point drift of the sensor are 8.3%, 5.05% and 1%, respectively.
Crises et mal-logement : réflexions sur la notion de « vulnérabilité résidentielle »
Authors: Fijalkow Yankel
Published: January 2014

Crises and inadequate housing : reflections on the notion of " residential vulnerability"

Inadequate housing has been a subject of political discussion for the past twenty years. The five factors that define it are lack of housing, difficulties in accessing housing, discomfort and squalor, maintenance difficulties and mobility difficulties. Within this context, the Fondation Abbé Pierre makes a distinction between the " number of people experiencing severe problems of inadequate housing" (3.5 million people) and " people in a situation of real short-or medium-term vulnerability" (6.6 million people). This definition is the result of a long evolution that has led the physical causes of inadequate housing to be separated from the causes attributable to human beings. Under this approach, the poor and vulnerable are considered as fully-fledged actors, capable of building their own strategies in relation to the Welfare State. However, observation of these strategies reveals, above all, precarious living arrangements (flat shares, subletting) which call into question the notion of " residential vulnerability".
Effets sociaux des politiques urbaines de démolition et reconstruction du logement social. De l’ascension résidentielle à la fragilisation socio-économique
Authors: Meslin Karine , Rousselot Loïc
Published: January 2014

FRE: Logement social, Démolition , Relogement , Trajectoires résidentielles
Home-centered Health-enabling Technologies and Regional Health Information Systems
Authors: von Bargen T. , Kohlmann M. , Marschollek M. , Schwartze J. , Song B. , Wagner M. , Wolf K.-H. , Haux R. , Gietzelt M.
Published: January 2014

Introduction: This article is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on “Using Data from Ambient Assisted Living and Smart Homes in Electronic Health Records”.

Objectives: In this paper, we present a prototype of a Home-Centered Health- Enabling Technology (HET-HC), which is able to capture, store, merge and process data from various sensor systems at people’s home. In addition, we present an architecture designed to integrate HET-HC into an exem -plary regional Health Information System (rHIS).

Methods: rHIS are traditionally document-based to fit to the needs in a clinical context. However, HET-HC are producing continuous data streams for which documents might be an inappropriate representation. Therefore, the HET-HC could register placeholder-documents at rHIS. These placeholder-documents are assembled upon user-authenticated request by the HET-HC and are always up-to-date. Moreover, it is not trivial to find a clinical coding system for continuous sensor data and to make the data machine-readable in order to enhance the interoperability of such systems. Therefore, we propose the use of SNOCAP-HET, which is a nomenclature to describe the context of sensor-based measurements in health-enabling technologies.

Results: We present an architectural approach to integrate HET-HC into rHIS. Our solution is the centralized registration of placeholder-documents with rHIS and the decentralized data storage at people’s home.

Conclusions: We concluded that the pre -sented architecture of integrating HET-HC into rHIS might fit well to the traditional approach of document-based data storage. Data security and privacy issues are also duly considered.
Lessons Learned from a Health Record Bank Start-up
Authors: Shortliffe E. H. , Yasnoff W. A.
Published: January 2014

Introduction: This article is part of a Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on Health Record Banking.

Background: In late summer 2010, an organization was formed in greater Phoenix, Arizona (USA), to introduce a health record bank (HRB) in that community. The effort was initiated after market research and was aimed at engaging 200,000 individuals as members in the first year (5% of the population). It was also intended to evaluate a business model that was based on early adoption by consumers and physicians followed by additional revenue streams related to incremental services and secondary uses of clinical data, always with specific permission from individual members, each of whom controlled all access to his or her own data.

Objectives: To report on the details of the HRB experience in Phoenix, to describe the sources of problems that were experienced, and to identify lessons that need to be considered in future HRB ventures.

Methods: We describe staffing for the HRB effort, the computational platform that was developed, the approach to marketing, the engagement of practicing physicians, and the governance model that was developed to guide the HRB design and implementation.

Results: Despite efforts to engage the phy -sician community, limited consumer advertising, and a carefully considered financial strategy, the experiment failed due to insufficient enrollment of individual members. It was discontinued in April 2011.

Conclusions: Although the major problem with this HRB project was undercapitalization, we believe this effort demonstrated that basic HRB accounts should be free for members and that physician engagement and participation are key elements in constructing an effective marketing channel. Local community governance is essential for trust, and the included population must be large enough to provide sufficient revenues to sustain the resource in the long term.
Development and characterization of 10 microsatellite loci in the giant cardon cactus, Pachycereus pringlei (Cactaceae)
Authors: Gutiérrez Flores Carina , Lozano Garza O. Adrian , León de la Luz José L. , García de León Francisco J.
Published: January 2014

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed for the cardon, a giant columnar cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) of the Sonoran Desert, to investigate intraspecific genetic patterns of diversity and population structure.

• Methods and Results: Using 454 GS‐FLX technology and bioinformatics tools, microsatellite primers were successfully identified on 282 reads, including di‐, tri‐, tetra‐, penta‐, and hexanucleotides. A set of 10 primers were characterized on 80 individuals collected in two areas of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico. All 10 loci were polymorphic, with a mean of 6.3 alleles per locus and overall levels of observed and expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.41 to 0.59 and from 0.40 to 0.57, respectively. Alleles per individual plant ranged from one to four, suggesting a polyploidal genome.

• Conclusions: These loci should be useful for future investigations of population structure, genetic diversity, and gene flow in the cardon cactus.
Hyperphagie boulimique, traumatisme et travail de deuil à l'adolescence : complémentarité du TAT et du FAT pour l'étude d'un cas
Authors: Le Samedy Mathieu , Bréchon Geneviève , Réveillère Christian , Guérin Véronique
Published: January 2014

L’article propose d’étudier les liens entre hyperphagie boulimique, traumatisme psychique et travail de deuil à l’adolescence, au regard du Thematic Apperception Test et du Family Apperception Test. Plus précisément, l’intérêt de ce travail est de mettre en évidence la complémentarité de ces outils cliniques, les données issues du TAT permettant de repérer la précarité de l’élaboration intrapsychique, et celles du FAT, révélant le défaut d’étayage familial, à l’œuvre dans la clinique de l’hyperphagie boulimique à l’adolescence. L’utilisation conjointe et articulée de ces tests favorise ainsi une appréhension globale du sujet adolescent inscrit dans cette problématique.
Proximité des représentations de la maladie chez le malade et ses proches : revue de littérature et illustration clinique
Authors: Villani Murielle , Flahault Cécile , Montel Sébastien , Sultan Serge , Bungener Catherine
Published: January 2014

La représentation de la maladie reste un champ de recherche fondamental en psychologie, en ce sens qu’il permet de mieux comprendre les comportements de santé dans le contexte de maladies chroniques ou épisodes aigus. De nombreuses études ont, en effet, montré que la représentation de la maladie d’un patient a un impact significatif sur son adaptation physique et psychologique. En partant des modèles théoriques les plus fréquemment utilisés, notamment en psychologie de la santé, pour expliquer la constitution des représentations de la maladie, cet article tente de répondre aux questions suivantes : de quelle manière les proches sont-ils touchés par la maladie chronique ou les épisodes aigus d’un patient ? Quel est l’impact des similarités ou des divergences de représentation entre le patient et ses proches ? Une rapide revue de littérature et l’exemple clinique d’un couple confronté au cancer du sein nous conduisent à penser que cette représentation doit être abordée, tant du point de vue du patient que de celui de ses proches, et que l’analyse des interactions entre les différentes représentations permet un dialogue thérapeutique fécond.
Fantôme, traces et trauma. De la douleur du deuil à l'expression d'un trauma encrypté
Authors: Condamin Christine , Diere Coralie
Published: January 2014

En prenant l’exemple d’une première rencontre avec une fillette de huit ans, les auteurs montrent comment l’expression graphique et narrative peut être analysée selon les processus propres au rêve, en rapport avec le mouvement associatif, suscité lors de la relation transférentielle et comment celle-ci suscite aussi diverses associations, comme autant de jalons qui ont marqué son histoire ; certains deuils, traumas précoces et/ou transgénérationnels peuvent même, parfois, être allégués et revécus. Ce travail avec le dessin peut offrir, comme scène de l’inconscient, les conditions nécessaires à l’expression de traumas et d’angoisses jusqu’alors indicibles, impensables ou encryptés, et même de désirs jusque là occultés. Une première séance laisse parfois augurer d’un travail possible de restauration, de valorisation narcissique et de subjectivation, qui pourra s’effectuer au long des séances qui vont suivre.
Le Grand Paris de l'emploi : l'extension des infrastructures de transport peut-elle avoir des effets positifs sur le chômage local ?
Authors: L’Horty Yannick , Sari Florent
Published: January 2014

Avec le projet du Grand Paris Express, l’extension des infrastructures franciliennes de transports collectifs va impliquer une nouvelle donne pour les temps de déplacements des nombreux franciliens qui en deviendront les usagers. Ce faisant, elle est susceptible d’exercer des effets positifs importants sur le marché de l’emploi, à la fois sur la demande et sur l’offre de travail, en rapprochant les travailleurs des emplois. Dans cet article, nous nous intéressons aux effets sur l’offre de travail qui ne sont pas uniformes sur l’ensemble de l’espace francilien dans la mesure où ils dépendent du tracé du Grand Paris Express, de la localisation des emplois et de celle des lieux de résidence des personnes en emploi et au chômage. Partant d’une analyse statistique et spatialisée du chômage francilien, nous portons un regard nuancé sur le Grand Paris Express qui pourrait n’améliorer que partiellement la situation des actifs sur le marché du travail.
Paris, métropole agricole ? Quelles productions agricoles pour quels modes d'occupation des sols
Authors: Torre André , Traversac Jean-Baptiste , Darly Ségolène , Melot Romain
Published: January 2014

L’objet de cet article est d’éclairer le lien entre l’Ile-de-France et son agriculture, mais aussi de tracer les lignes des futurs défis de gouvernance de la Région, face aux enjeux d’alimentation, d’occupation de l’espace et de prestation d’aménités paysagères. Bien que couvrant près de la moitié de sa surface, l’agriculture pèse peu en IDF. L’offre et la demande alimentaires sont largement déconnectées et sa place peut rapidement évoluer sous la pression de l’urbanisation diffuse des périphéries, forte consommatrice de terres agricoles. La première section présente l’agriculture locale, les industries alimentaires et les alternatives au modèle agricole dominant. La deuxième montre comment la consommation des terres agricole génère des conflits liés aux concurrences d’usages. La troisième amorce une réflexion sur la place des agricultures locales, dans un contexte de changements des perceptions des résidents, de renouvellement des politiques agricoles et des modifications des schémas d’aménagement touchant essentiellement des espaces périurbains.
Note de recherche. Le Grand Paris : vers une problématique de l'action métropolitaine
Authors: Bourdin Alain
Published: January 2014

Le cas du Grand Paris constitue un passage à la limite à partir duquel on peut construire un idealtype de l’action métropolitaine. Celle-ci présente des caractéristiques spécifiques qui la distinguent fortement des types d’action habituellement étudiés dans les organisations, dans la sphère politique ou dans les mouvements sociaux. On insiste ici sur quatre dimensions, fortement illustrées par le Grand Paris et dont on s’efforce de montrer qu’elles structurent l’action métropolitaine : (1) les caractéristiques des acteurs et leurs modes de mobilisation et d’implication, (2) la régulation des coopérations par la référence au territoire, notion qui, dans le cas métropolitain, présente de grandes particularités, (3) les modalités spécifiques de la construction du sens donné à l’action et (4) la nature des objets (visés et réellement produits) de l’action, qui pose un ensemble de questions.
Behavioral Response of Bats to Passive Integrated Transponder Tag Reader Arrays Placed at Cave Entrances
Authors: Britzke Eric R. , Gumbert Mark W. , Hohmann Matthew G.
Published: January 2014

An increasingly popular mark–recapture method to study the ecology of bats is the use of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Deployment of PIT reader arrays at entrances to caves and mines can yield insight into bat behavior during swarming, winter activity, and emergence. This application has the potential to address questions about bat activity at cave and mine entrances in response to white-nose syndrome or bat seasonal movements; however, no studies have examined the response of bats to these arrays. We describe bat response to placement of PIT tag reader arrays using camcorders and supplemental infrared illuminators at three cave entrances near Bloomington, Indiana, during spring 2006. A random subset of 5-min periods was viewed and bat behavior was classified. Circling represented >70% of all behavior noted for two caves but only represented approximately 30% of behavior at the third cave. Proportions of observed activity that resulted in contacts or landings were consistently low across the three caves (x̄  =  1.34%; range 0.5–3.0%), with most contacts causing bats to simply change course and fly away. Based on our observations, positioning reader PIT tag reader arrays at cave entrances to passively recapture PIT tags does not limit bat movements. However, video monitoring during initial sampling efforts of future projects should be conducted to verify appropriate placement and configuration of PIT tag reader arrays. This research provides data illustrating the lack of significant impact in using PIT tag reader arrays at cave entrances, thereby opening up the potential use of this technology to address issues of bats ecology that cannot be obtained with other marking techniques.
Teaching of Fluid Mechanics in Engineering Course
Authors: Rahman Ataur , Al-Amin Md
Published: January 2014

In undergraduate engineering courses, fluid mechanics is regarded as a challenging subject. This is particularly the case for students who do not possess a strong mathematical background. This chapter reviews the issues related to the teaching of fluid mechanics with an emphasis on how e-technology can enhance student learning. It uses the data of 462 students studying the second year engineering course at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) in Australia. The UWS fluid mechanics course, in its past ten years, has undergone significant changes in its content and delivery. It has been found that teaching based on a “student-centered approach” is more effective in teaching fluid mechanics than a “lecturer-centered approach.” Further enhancements are proposed in UWS through a blended learning approach involving both e-technology and traditional teaching methods to teach fluid mechanics. The method can also be adapted to other universities.
Blending Conventional Methods with Emerging Flight Simulation Technology as Tools for Effective Teaching and Learning Experiences in Aerospace Engineering
Authors: Ahmed Noor A.
Published: January 2014

Engineering is about wealth creation for the comfort and well-being of human beings. In this context, the process and experiences associated with teaching and learning of engineering concepts are pivotal in sustaining and advancing the progress of modern day civilization. However, the teaching of aerospace engineering is not easy and fraught with difficulties, as the students have to be provided with the opportunity to develop their creative skills while retaining a professional and practical base. It is also important to proactively harness the available and emerging technologies to greater effect in the learning process. At the University of New South Wales in Australia, the authors have approached the teaching and learning in undergraduate aerospace engineering from a non-conventional perspective to prepare students to be creative and become practically oriented for productive employment in the very competitive world of today. They have been experimenting and refining what is generally known as the “advanced project design study concept” used in some aerospace industries and incorporated it as an integral component in aerospace engineering studies. In the process, the authors have blended conventional methods with flight simulation as methods of enquiry and investigation. The feedback, support, and encouragement that they have received from industries, the potential employers of students, have been very positive. This chapter outlines the basic philosophies behind the authors’ approach and the methodologies and technologies used in achieving the desired outcomes.
Module-Based Teaching of Mechanical Design
Authors: Pramanik Alokesh , Islam M. Nazrul
Published: January 2014

Teaching engineering in the context of practical problems has been suggested as a way to motivate and interest students. By module-based teaching, it is possible to make the contents easier for the students to imbibe and to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of mechanical design. The purposes of this chapter are to describe (1) five modules for introducing Mechanical Design courses in Mechanical Engineering, (2) the differences in emphases of the modules, (3) the most important aspects of the modules, (4) student reactions to the module-based teaching approach, and (5) student reactions in terms of the ease of learning. It was found that module-based teaching of mechanical design improves learning ability and students’ satisfaction significantly.
Using Real World Applications as Technological Tools in Engineering Education
Authors: Ho Sidney S. H.
Published: January 2014

“Scientia” is the investigation of something to acquire knowledge. This chapter is based on a number of engineering courses taught by the author in recent years. During the author’s delivery of lectures and tutorials, he took the opportunity to use real world applications and situations to arouse interest and enabled students to understand basic underlying principles before progressing to theoretical treatment and mathematical modeling. The abstract nature of the latter is often a hurdle in technical education. The author observes that students are most attuned to matters already in existence – things of common interest that exist in society at large and/or matters that can be found in nature. As soon as each principle is mastered, the author gradually adds more building blocks. The methodology and pace allow the confidence of his students to improve which leads to better motivation. This also provides students with the ability to look deeper into concepts and creates a virtuous environment for both teaching and learning.
Innovative Teaching Practice and Assessment with Technology Applications in International Biomedical Engineering Education
Authors: Malmivuo Jaakko , Kybartaitė Asta
Published: January 2014

The advantages of the Internet in education are widely acknowledged by students and teachers all over the world. The authors have developed EVICAB as a free-access portal for e-learning with a full curriculum in biomedical engineering. It may be used as a virtual campus to support classroom lecturing or for distant learning. EVICAB provides educational material in various formats: video lectures to be viewed on a PC, an iPod or a media phone, lecture slides, textbook, exercises. It also offers a system for an Internet examination, which makes it possible for the students to take the examination anywhere in the world, where an educational institution provides proper environment. In this chapter, the authors briefly introduce the technology of the EVICAB portal and discuss in more detail the application of the Internet examination system. Educational technologies for developing teaching and learning via the Internet are widely available and user friendly.
Strategies to Remove Barriers and Increase Motivation to Use the Tablet PC in Formative Assessment
Authors: Dekkers Antony , Howard Prue , Adams Nadine , Martin Fae
Published: January 2014

The Tablet PC has been employed to provide feedback through formative assessment to students in preparatory mathematics courses at Central Queensland University for close to a decade. A study conducted in 2011 on formative assessment and feedback given via the Tablet PC within these courses conveyed extremely positive outcomes (Adams, Dekkers, & Elliott, 2012). Approximately 90% of the 140 students surveyed found the feedback beneficial to their learning and that assessment was returned, on average, within two to four days. These findings would indicate that these methods should be adopted into mainstream higher education courses (Adams, et al., 2012). Building on the research and experiences of staff involved in the use of the Tablet PC to provide feedback on formative assessment in preparatory mathematics courses, strategies to implement and improve these practices in undergraduate engineering courses are investigated in this chapter.
The BIM Concept
Authors: Sampaio Alcínia Zita
Published: January 2014

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is changing the way projects are constructed. This emerging practice requires new mind-sets and technological know-how in order to achieve significant improvements in building efficiency. Universities must focus on the strategy of using BIM as an innovative technology to allow the acquisition of new skills by students and prepare them for their future activity in a more competitive world. Based on this perspective, this chapter presents some educational measures on offer at the Technical University of Lisbon. It focuses on the importance of teaching BIM: the involvement of students in research projects, PhD theses, and MSc dissertations, and the dissemination of BIM through professional short courses and workshops addressed to the AEC community outside the school. Some of these have already been carried out in the school; others are presently being proposed or currently in progress. It is clear from this that school is an important driver for the growth of BIM knowledge and practice through the preparation of new and existing professionals.
Understanding Students’ Use of Online Learning Tools through Online Learning Readiness Assessment
Authors: Panuwatwanich Kriengsak , Stewart Rodney A.
Published: January 2014

Understanding the readiness of students to undertake online education has been viewed as a necessary precursor to ensuring their success in an online learning environment. To serve this purpose, a number of Online Learning Readiness (OLR) assessment tools have been developed. However, the relationship between the students’ readiness, assessed by these tools, and the actual online learning outcomes has not been well established. This chapter presents a study that assesses the Online Learning Readiness (OLR) of a sample group of postgraduate engineering students and determines whether there is any association between the level of readiness and the extent to which the students use online learning tools. The research employed a questionnaire survey targeting a group of postgraduate students undertaking a project management course at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. Based on the survey data from 30 valid responses, it was found that the sampled students had different levels of OLR and can be clustered into three main groups: developed, less-developed, and developing OLR, and that the higher level of OLR can be associated with more extensive use of online learning tools.
Evolving Use of Educational Technologies
Authors: Ambikairajah Eliathamby , Sethu Vidhyasaharan , Eaton Ray , Sheng Ming
Published: January 2014

This chapter describes the use of educational technology for enhancing student learning at the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications (EE&T) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Over the past decade, the school has introduced and trialled various technology-based approaches in the form of electronic whiteboard-based lectures for remote teaching, voice-over power-point screencasts using tablet PCs for tutorial problems, pre-recorded dynamically annotated lecture material delivered initially via DVDs and later hosted on the cloud as support material for live lectures, distributed laboratories capable of real-time interaction via video, audio and digital annotations, and most recently, the use of iPads to aid in lecture delivery. The impact of these approaches is evaluated in this chapter using student surveys over multiple years, some of which are still on-going. The results of these surveys show that technology-based approaches have a positive impact on student learning experiences. In particular, the students found that the video capture of lectures with appropriate dynamic annotation as support material allowed for flexible learning to suit individual styles.
Assessment Practices using Online Tools in Undergraduate Programs
Authors: Kootsookos Alexandra
Published: January 2014

This chapter provides an overview of the use of online and Web-based learning technologies as formative and summative assessment. Peer learning and assessment, provision of feedback to students, online tests and quizzes, plagiarism detection systems, and audience response systems are all examined with a view to highlighting best practice and demonstrating that online assessment must still follow sound pedagogy to be both valid and valued by instructors and students alike.
Social Responsibility and Legal Financial Communication in African Companies in the South of the Sahara
Authors: Ndjetcheu Louis
Published: January 2014

In an environment marked by growing claims regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR), debates on governance show the need for taking into account all the legitimate involved parties of the company within the framework of the legal or voluntary financial communication (Dowling and Pfeffer, 1975; Lind B lom, 1994; Gray et al.., 1995). If the accounting regulation, the laws and the rules in western countries require the consideration of the environmental aspects in the accounts and the annual reports of companies (Law NRE, Art 116, 2001), paradoxically in Africa, the OHADA accounting law remains silent on the problems of management generated by this CSR. Is this disinterest for the CSR justified for the OHADA accounting law? Does it mean that the CSR is excluded from African companies? Does it mean that in the OHADA zone the companies are in advance compared to the accounting legislation? In other words, is the OHADA accounting law still relevant to play its role of macroeconomic regulator? This paper examines the evaluations of the social and environmental impacts of the activities of companies and their integration in final accounts for a reliable, true financial communication and reflecting a true and fair view in the OHADA zone.
Expanding the Technology Acceptance Model to Examine Internet Banking Adoption in Tunisia Country
Authors: Nasri Wadie , Lanouar Charfeddine , Allagui Anis
Published: January 2014

This paper aims to empirically examine the factors that affect the adoption of Internet banking in Tunisia. In order to explain the factors, this paper extends the “Technology Acceptance Model” by adding additional external factors such as security and privacy, self efficacy, social influence, and awareness of services and its benefits. The findings of the study suggests that the security and privacy, self efficacy, social influence, and awareness of services and its benefits have significant effects on the perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and attitude toward Internet banking acceptance. Age and education have also significant impact on the attitude towards the likelihood of adopting online banking. These findings may provide for banks useful guidelines for developing Internet banking services and for marketing Internet banking.
A Strategic Multicriteria Decision Support System to Assess the Best Supply Chain Distribution Strategy and Characterize the Bullwhip Effect
Authors: De Felice Fabio , Petrillo Antonella
Published: January 2014

The attention on optimal management of production systems has increased, thus the control of production with local control of the coordination of an entire chain of production and distribution (Supply Chain Management). The aim of this work is to analyze some issues relating to new types of production realities based on the Supply Chain, to show the multiple causes of the change in demand along a Supply Chain, the reasons that cause the Bullwhip Effect and the techniques to improve it. From this point of view the authors have developed a strategic multicriteria decision support system based on the Analityc Network Process with which the authors can analyze the criticality throughout the supply chain process. Definitively this paper introduces a conceptual framework for evaluating different supply chain structures in the context of Bullwhip Effect. The authors also illustrate the applicability of the resulting framework through a specific model applied in an automotive industry.
Decision Support System for Real Time Vehicle Routing in Indian Dairy Industry: A Case Study
Authors: Malairajan R. A. , Ganesh K. , Punnniyamoorthy M. , Anbuudayasankar S. P.
Published: January 2014

In today’s highly competitive and demanding environment, the pressure on both public and private organizations is to achieve a better way to deliver values to end customers. There has been a growing recognition that the two goals, cost reduction and customer service are achieved through Logistics and Supply Chain Management (SCM). Transportation of goods continues an important part of in-bound as well as outbound logistics of Supply Chain Management (SCM). Efficient distribution of goods and services is of great importance in today’s competitive market, because transportation constitutes a considerable portion of the purchase price of most products or services. Vehicle routing is considered as an important resource in a distribution logistics management system. Effective plan and control of vehicle operation can significantly reduce the cost of physical distribution system. To overcome the challenges of changing environment, the scheme of vehicle control of a physical distribution system should be dynamic. Thus India has become the top milk producing country in the world. This study addresses the vehicle routing aspect of distribution logistics in Sangam dairy supply chain of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh. The problem is viewed as Vehicle Routing Problem with Backhauls (VRPB) and a mathematical model is developed with the consideration of various practical constraints. Moreover, a decision support system is developed for dynamic VRPB, which would help the manager in making operational and tactical decisions.
Communication Issues for Small and Medium Enterprises
Authors: Stojanovic Mirjana D. , Acimovic-Raspopovic Vladanka S.
Published: January 2014

This article considers communication issues for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from both provider and customer perspectives. SME communication infrastructure at the individual site should usually be built around Ethernet-based local area network with a remotely manageable integrated access device that enables high speed Internet access, virtual private networking, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) functionality and collaborative services. The authors further address several open quality of service (QoS) issues that include: service level agreements, signaling for quality of service and management aspects. The proposed framework for service management encompasses interfaces for QoS-aware and legacy applications, generic service level specification, functional model of service negotiation and management policies.
Innovation Intermediation and Emerging Medical Devices - The Lead-User Method in Practice
Authors: O'Flaherty Brian , O’Donoghue John , Bogue Joe
Published: January 2014

This case study explores the application of the Lead-user method in the development of medical applications based on Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technology by three independent research teams. The study also reflects on the role of student teams as Innovation Intermediaries (Howells, 2006; O’Flaherty, et al. 2013) and as a resource for discovering new medical devices. This exercise produced surprising results, with the emergence of diverse WSN technology product concepts applied to Geriatric Falls Detection & Analysis, Sport Cardiac Screening and Critical Care Vital signs within accident and emergency environments. This case highlights the segmented nature of medical areas and the difficulty in applying a generic WSN technology to meet the functional requirements of the broader individual medical domains. It questions the appropriateness of applying ‘total’ highly functional technologies broadly across highly specialised niche medical areas.
Future Sustainability of the Florida Health Information Exchange
Authors: Noblin Alice M. , Cortelyou-Ward Kendall
Published: January 2014

Florida began the journey to health information connectivity in 2004 under Governor Jeb Bush. Initially these efforts were funded by grants, but due to the downturn in the economy, the state was unable to support growth in 2008. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provided funding to further expand health information exchange efforts across the country. As a result, Florida was now able to move forward and make progress in information sharing. Harris Corporation was contracted to provide some basic services to the health care industry in 2011. Since then, the Florida HIE has begun to take shape and information sharing is occurring. The ARRA funding will end in 2014 and the Florida HIE must have a plan to survive into the future. This plan must address challenges such as the recruitment of new users, integration of new services, and ultimately long term sustainability.
Infinite Families of A4-Sextic Polynomials
Authors: Ide Joshua , Jones Lenny
Published: January 2014

In this article we develop a test to determine whether a sextic polynomial that is irreducible overℚhas Galois group isomorphic to the alternating groupA4. This test does not involve the computation of resolvents, and we use this test to construct several infinite families of such polynomials.
Intercomparison of daytime stratospheric NO2 satellite retrievals and model simulations
Authors: Belmonte Rivas M. , Veefkind P. , Boersma F. , Levelt P. , Eskes H. , Gille J.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. This paper evaluates the agreement between stratospheric NO2 retrievals from infrared limb sounders (MIPAS and HIRDLS) and solar UV/VIS backscatter sensors (OMI, SCIAMACHY limb and nadir) over the 2005–2007 period and across the seasons. The observational agreement is contrasted with the representation of NO2 profiles in 3-D chemical transport models such as the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (SD-WACCM) and TM4. A conclusion central to this work is that the definition of a reference for stratospheric NO2 columns formed by consistent agreement among SCIAMACHY, MIPAS and HIRDLS limb records (all of which agree to within 0.25 × 1015 molecules cm−2 or better than 10%) allows us to draw attention to relative errors in other datasets, e.g.: (1) the WACCM model overestimates NO2 densities in the extratropical lower stratosphere, particularly over northern latitudes by up to 35% relative to limb observations, and (2) there are remarkable discrepancies between stratospheric NO2 column estimates from limb and nadir techniques, with a characteristic seasonal and latitude dependent pattern. We find that SCIAMACHY nadir and OMI stratospheric columns show overall biases of −0.6 × 1015 molecules cm−2 (−20%) and +0.6 × 10 15 molecules cm−2 (+20%) relative to limb observations. It is highlighted that biases in nadir stratospheric columns are not expected to affect tropospheric retrievals significantly, and that they can be attributed to errors in the total slant column density, either related to algorithmic or instrumental effects. In order to obtain accurate and long time series of stratospheric NO2, a critical evaluation of the currently used Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) approaches to nadir retrievals becomes essential, as well as their agreement to limb and ground-based observations, particularly now that limb techniques are giving way to nadir observations as the next generation of climate and air quality monitoring instruments pushes forth.
Nutrient regimes control phytoplankton ecophysiology in the South Atlantic
Authors: Browning T. J. , Bouman H. A. , Moore C. M. , Schlosser C. , Tarran G. A. , Woodward E. M. S. , Henderson G. M.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Fast Repetition Rate fluorometry (FRRf) measurements of phytoplankton photophysiology from an across-basin South Atlantic cruise (as part of the GEOTRACES programme) characterised two dominant ecophysiological regimes which were interpreted on the basis of nutrient limitation. South of the South Subtropical Convergence (SSTC) in the northern sub-Antarctic sector of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) in the Eastern Atlantic Basin, waters are characterised by elevated chlorophyll concentrations, a dominance by larger phytoplankton cells, and low apparent photochemical efficiency (Fv / Fm). Shipboard 24 h iron (Fe) addition incubation experiments confirmed that Fe stress was primarily responsible for the low Fv / Fm, with Fe addition to these waters, either within the artificial bottle additions or naturally occurring downstream enrichment from Gough Island, significantly increasing Fv / Fm values. To the north of the SSTC at the southern boundary of the South Atlantic Gyre, phytoplankton are characterised by high values of Fv / Fm which, coupled with the low macronutrient concentrations and increased presence of picocyanobacteria, are interpreted as conditions of Fe replete, balanced macronutrient-limited growth. Spatial correlation was found between Fv / Fm and Fe:nitrate ratios, supporting the suggestion that the relative supply ratios of these two nutrients can control patterns of limitation and consequently the ecophysiology of phytoplankton in subtropical gyre and ACC regimes.
Nutrient dynamics in tropical rivers, lagoons, and coastal ecosystems of eastern Hainan Island, South China Sea
Authors: Li R. H. , Liu S. M. , Li Y. W. , Zhang G. L. , Ren J. L. , Zhang J.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Nutrient dynamics based on field observations made along the eastern Hainan Island during the period 2006–2009 were investigated to understand nutrient biogeochemical processes, and to provide an overview of human perturbations of coastal ecosystems in this tropical region. The rivers showed seasonal variations in nutrient concentrations, with enrichment of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved silicate, and depletion of PO43−. High riverine concentrations of nitrate mainly originated from agricultural fertilizer inputs. The DIN : PO43− ratios ranged from 37 to 1063, suggesting preferential depletion of PO43− relative to nitrogen in rivers. Chemical weathering in the drainage area might explain the high levels of dissolved silicate. Aquaculture ponds contained high concentrations of NH4+ and dissolved organic nitrogen. The particulate phosphorus concentrations in the study area were lower than those reported for estuaries worldwide. The particulate silicate levels in rivers and lagoons were lower than the global average level. Nutrient biogeochemistry in coastal areas was affected by human activities (e.g., aquaculture, agriculture), and by natural phenomena including typhoons. The nutrient concentrations in coastal waters were low because of dispersion of land-derived nutrients in the sea. Nutrient budgets were built based on a steady-state box model, which showed that riverine fluxes are magnified by estuarine processes (e.g., regeneration, desorption) in estuaries and Laoyehai Lagoon, but not in Xiaohai Lagoon. Riverine and groundwater inputs were the major sources of nutrients to Xiaohai and Laoyehai lagoons, respectively, and riverine inputs and aquaculture effluents were the major sources for the eastern coast of Hainan Island. Nutrient inputs to the coastal ecosystem increased with typhoon-induced runoff of rainwater, elucidating the important influence of typhoons on small tropical rivers.
Automated landform classification in a rockfall prone area, Gunung Kelir, Java
Authors: Samodra G. , Chen G. , Sartohadi J. , Hadmoko D. S. , Kasama K.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. This paper presents an automated landform classification in a rockfall prone area. Digital Terrain Models (DTM) and geomorphological inventory of rockfall deposits were the basis of landform classification analysis. DTM pre-processing was applied to improve the quality of DTM-derived products. Several data layers produced merely from DTM were slope, plan curvature, stream power index, shape complexity index; whereas layers produced from DTM and rockfall modeling were velocity and energy. Unsupervised fuzzy k-means was applied to classify the generic landforms. It was classified into seven classes: interfluve, convex creep slope, fall face, transportational middle slope, colluvial foot slope, lower slope and channel bed. The classification result was analyzed by draping it over DTMs and performing probability distribution of rockfall volume. Cumulative probability density was adopted to estimate the probability density of rockfall volume in four generic landforms i.e. fall face, transportational middle slope, colluvial foot slope and lower slope. It shows negative power laws, with exponents 0.58, 0.73, 0.68, 0.64; for fall face, transportational middle slope, colluvial foot slope and lower slope, respectively. Different values of the scaling exponents in each landform reflect that geomorphometry influences the volume statistics of rockfall. The methodology introduced in this paper has possibility for preliminary rockfall risk analysis. It reveals that the potential high risk is located in the transportational middle slope and colluvial footslope. This is useful information to account for the prioritization action of countermeasures policy and design.