bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adopter-Centric Checklist Application
Authors: Wapakabulo Thomas Josephine
Published: May 2010

Standardization is the key to ensuring the interoperability, quality, safety, reliability, maintainability, effectiveness and efficiency of the equipment used by the Armed Forces (UK MoD SSE, 2005a). To realise these benefits, standards have to be effectively adopted and implemented within the MoD. However, what emerged in Chapter Six was that there are a number of factors and barriers critical to the adoption of standards within the MoD. Some factors like organization culture are applicable to the adoption of any standard or innovation within the MoD. However, other factors like standardization policies, standard characteristics and support from the standards community are unique to a particular standard.
Citizen-Centric E-Government
Authors: Reddick Christopher G.
Published: May 2010

Electronic government or e-government in this chapter can be defined as the delivery of government information and services to citizens through the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days per week. This definition has been used in other empirical studies of e-government adoption (Moon and Norris, 2005a). This chapter adds to this definition Grant and Chau’s (2005) interpretation of e-government as a broad-based transformative initiative, which is consistent with creating more citizen-centric government. Gronlund (2005) reviews the various definitions of e-government and has found they share a common theme of the need for organizational transformation through technological implementation. Citizen-centric e-government is the delivery of government services continuously to citizens, businesses, and other government agencies through the Internet (Seifert and Relyea, 2004). Citizen-centric government through e-government acts as a transformational tool that provides a new government model based on being citizen focused (Schelin, 2003). Some scholars have argued that for e-government to fully realize its capabilities, it must transform government from agency-centric to citizen-centric (Seifert and Relyea, 2004). The term e-government emerged in the late 1990s. It was born out of the Internet boom. The literature on information technology (IT) use within government is different from e-government because it more often focuses on external use, such as services to citizens’ and organizational change (Gronlund and Horan, 2004). Definitions of e-government that focus exclusively on service delivery components fail to capture the more complex aspects of government transformation because of IT (Grant and Chau, 2005). The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the e-government literature with a focus on how it influences citizens. In order to understand some of the issues associated with Homeland Security Information Systems (HSIS), we need to provide information on e-government and its impact on government. There is a discussion in this chapter of the evolution of the roles and responsibilities of federal CIOs. There also is a description of how the public sector CIO’s environment is uniquely different from what can be found in private sector. In this chapter, we identify what it means to create a more citizen-centric government through e-government. A conceptual framework is outlined explaining what factors one would expect to be associated with creating a more citizen-centric government. This chapter articulates how these findings can be used to move e-government to higher stages of development. There also are examples of HSIS creating more citizen-centric government towards the end of the chapter.
Local Government Homeland Security Information Systems
Authors: Reddick Christopher G.
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines homeland security information systems (HSIS) with a focus on local governments. Local governments are typically the first at the scene when responding to an emergency or a terrorist attack. The most notable incidents are Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In both of these incidents the first responders were the local governments, which faced dual issues of communication and information sharing. It is important to understand the current level of preparedness and use of HSIS in local governments. This chapter tries to discern the relative priority of HSIS compared to other priorities of local governments in the realm of homeland security. This chapter first outlines some background information on local governments with respect to their organizational structure and level of homeland security preparedness. The second section outlines the stages of e-government adoption, which is commonly discussed in the local e-government literature. Third, there is a discussion of homeland security information sharing between the federal, state, and local governments. There is some evidence presented from existing surveys of the impact of HSIS on local governments. Finally, there is survey results presented from a study conducted by the International City/ County Management Association (ICMA) on homeland security preparedness. This survey information is used to determine where HSIS fits into local priorities on homeland security.
An Overview of Technology in Society
Authors: Walker Amanda , Huddlestone Bridgette , Pullen Darren Lee
Published: May 2010

Being literate is vital for learning and working, possibly more so in the digital age than in the industrial age, given society’s reliance on digital technologies. Individual and societal reliance on technology has in turn created problems and opportunities. The associated problems concern who has access to what forms of technology and when and how it is used. The opportunities centre on the interconnectedness of digital technologies, which ultimately transform how and when we communicate. When technology and communication are joined together they form another literacy commonly referred to as technoliteracy. This chapter will provide a brief overview of some of the ways in which literacy and technology interconnect and will provide the reader with sufficient understanding of the field to enable them to grasp some of the more theoretical and practical applications of technoliteracy discussed in the following chapters.
Information Technology
Authors: Lê Thao , Lê Quynh
Published: May 2010

Information technology (IT) has permeated many fields and aspects of modern society such as education, business, health and entertainment. It provides users with innovative and powerful products which were unimagined decades ago. The Internet is one of the most powerful IT developments. The introduction of the Internet has brought in new areas such as e-commerce, e-health and e-learning. Thus the instrumental role of IT is unquestionable in this digital age. However, from a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) perspective, IT is socially situated and its role and impacts cannot be divorced from its socio-cultural context. CDA is an interdisciplinary approach which studies linguistic and social issues in relation to social discourse with a main aim to examine how social power permeates and controls discourses and consequently creates social inequality and injustice. As IT is closely linked to its social discourse, its use and value are embedded in social structures and processes which are organized through institutions and practices such as political systems, business, education and the media, each of which is located in and structured by a particular discussive field. There are different social groups with competing discourses and they can exert power to use IT to their advantage. The challenge to IT experts, educators and IT users is not about the instrumental power that IT has brought to them. The real challenge is how to use it wisely to enhance humanity.
ICT in Malay Language Learning
Authors: Ya'akub Abduyah , Gitsaki Christina , Honan Eileen
Published: May 2010

With digital communications and technological media becoming an integral part of the new professional workplace and everyday lives of the younger generation (especially in post-industrial societies), comes the clarion call for educators to develop a more complex understanding of language and literacy and how to go about designing pedagogies that equip students with 21st Century skills. This chapter presents two case studies that examine the complex interaction of teachers, students, writing pedagogies, language curriculum and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The study explored students’ experiences of using ICT in second language writing and the impact of ICT on writing pedagogy and the curriculum, producing in-depth descriptions and interpretations to answer a set of focused research questions.
Multimedia, Oral History, and Teacher Education
Authors: Schneider Jenifer , King James R. , Kozdras Deborah , Welsh James , Minick Vanessa
Published: May 2010

The study took place at a Catholic PreK-8 school/parish where two faculty instructors taught undergraduate methods courses. At the parish site, the pre-service teachers worked with elementary students to create a range of multi-media projects. These projects showcased the oral histories of the people, places, and events of the school and church community and allowed the pre-service teachers to integrate technology into their teaching. The researchers analyzed observational, interview, and textual data and found a range of behaviors that reflected the pre-service teachers’ familiarity/unfamiliarity with technology, teaching, and the community in which they were learning. As a result, their attempts at learning through and teaching with technology, along with our attempts to teach with and learn through technology, revealed a multiplicity of enactments of fast literacies (Schneider, King, Kozdras, Minick, & Welsh, 2006). In this chapter, we share examples from the themes of our analysis, which reflect Kinzer’s (2005) notion of the “intersection” between school, community, and technology.
Multiliteracies and Games
Authors: Wright Pam , Skidmore David
Published: May 2010

Digitalization of modern society has lead to rapid changes and innovative ways of communicating. Changes in the way people perceive belonging to society are reflected in the multiple methods of participation, communication, learning and engaging. Knowledge has become synonymous with how we can locate, use and find new information in a networked world rather than what it is we already know. The quest for knowledge in this digital and globalized society forces interaction with multiple modes of information. In this multi-literate society, educators must find opportunities for students to interact and interpret the multitude of new literacies. This chapter discusses how multi-literacies are bound up in computer games and how educators can employ these games through play, study and creation to shift students from consumers to creators of interactive narratives. The chapter provides some strategies for implementing the games in the curriculum. It also raises questions about computer game use in the primary classroom, and calls for an integrated approach to teacher and trainee teacher professional development in the area of computer gaming.
Alleviating the Thrashing by Adding Medium- Term Scheduler
Authors: Reuven Moses , Wiseman Yair
Published: May 2010

A technique for minimizing the paging on a system with a very heavy memory usage is proposed. When there are processes with active memory allocations that should be in the physical memory, but their accumulated size exceeds the physical memory capacity. In such cases, the operating system begins swapping pages in and out the memory on every context switch. The authors lessen this thrashing by placing the processes into several bins, using Bin Packing approximation algorithms. They amend the scheduler to maintain two levels of scheduling - medium-term scheduling and short-term scheduling. The mediumterm scheduler switches the bins in a Round-Robin manner, whereas the short-term scheduler uses the standard Linux scheduler to schedule the processes in each bin. The authors prove that this feature does not necessitate adjustments in the shared memory maintenance. In addition, they explain how to modify the new scheduler to be compatible with some elements of the original scheduler like priority and realtime privileges. Experimental results show substantial improvement on very loaded memories.
Enhancing the Efficiency of Memory Management in a Super-Paging Environment by AMSQM
Authors: Itshak Moshe , Wiseman Yair
Published: May 2010

The concept of Super-Paging has been wandering around for more than a decade. Super-Pages are supported by some operating systems. In addition, there are some interesting research papers that show interesting ideas how to intelligently integrate Super-Pages into modern operating systems; however, the page replacement algorithms used by the contemporary operating system even now use the old Clock algorithm which does not prioritize small or large pages based on their size. In this chapter an algorithm for page replacement in a Super-Page environment is presented. The new technique for page replacement decisions is based on the page size and other parameters; hence is appropriate for a Super-Paging environment.
Doing Business on the Globalised Networked Economy
Authors: Koumpis Adamantios , Protogeros Nikos
Published: May 2010

In this chapter the authors present a set of challenges that are to be faced by accounting information systems. More specifically, these include the support of interoperable accounting processes, for virtual and networked enterprises and for open-book accounting as well as the creation of novel interface metaphors that will automate and increase the usability of accounting information systems, and last but not least the provision of integrated e-accounting platforms.
Complex Information Technology-Intensive Firms
Authors: Jelen Jonatan , Kolakovic Marko
Published: May 2010

In its late 20th century incarnation, information technology has affected our economic structures not only more intensely but all around differently than in its previous heydays when it brought us language or print. The objective of the present research is to identify if and to what extent IT has transformed society’s very crown jewel of productivity, the firm. IT has impacted every parameter and variable of the firm’s character, its strategy, structure, scale, scope, and social position in such fundamental ways that we may be in the presence of a truly new nature of the firm. The resulting complex information technology-intensive firms are much altered from the original nature of the firm as it was envisaged by Ronald Coase and his fellow New Institutionalists. Through empirical research the authors are trying to identify and model some elements of a new framework of why and how firms are intended, designed, and created.
Designing Open-Source OMIS Environment for Virtual Teams to Support Inter-Enterprise Collaboration
Authors: Hou VAT Kam
Published: May 2010

Today companies large and small have taken to open source as a way to increase collaboration, reduce development costs, provide a friendly platform for their products and services. Underlying this movement is a set of concerns related to the initiative to allow knowledge workers across different enterprises to participate in joint project work, resulting in some inter-organizational processes of knowledge sharing, to be modeled and followed by other enterprises of interest. This formulation, in terms of discovering business mutual benefits, could be considered as the open source philosophy behind an enterprise’s cooperation with other counterparts. In the specific context of establishing enterprise information systems (EIS) to enable organizations (especially small and medium enterprises) to integrate and coordinate their business processes, the stakes can be high in light of maintaining a company’s competitive advantages. Whether open source will work at any company depends on both the capabilities of the company and the maturity of the open source processes and hence the software to support them. This article investigates the context of knowledge networks among virtual teams of professionals as the case-in-point discussion on a specific type of open source knowledge environment based on the Wiki technology, called organizational memory information system (OMIS) to support people working within and across organizational boundaries with technology. The issues of trust and shared understanding among organizations using the relevant OMIS environment is also deliberated in the discussion alongside the technology alignment and process adaptation for managing the OMIS-based collaboration among members of the knowledge networks.
Communication in the Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Aslesen Sigmund , Moen Svein Erik
Published: May 2010

This chapter is based on a case study of one shipyard’s effort to make the flow of engineering drawings feeding into its production process more reliable. To construct a ship, detailed drawings of every part of the product is an essential input. For these drawings to be reliable, they must include all relevant information, they have to follow each other in a proper line of order, and they should be released according to production milestones. In the shipyard in this study, an analysis was initiated to explore the management of engineering drawing. The main findings show that the usability of ICT is limited for this purpose, and that to really make an effort in order for engineering drawings to be reliable, a more basic understanding of the interpersonal communication at work in a one-off project environment is fundamental.
Exploring Enterprise Information Systems
Authors: Tabatabaie Malihe , Paige Richard , Kimble Chris
Published: May 2010

The concept of an Enterprise Information System (EIS) has arisen from the need to deal with the increasingly volatile requirements of modern large-scale organisations. An EIS is a platform capable of supporting and integrating a wide range of activities across an organisation. In principle, the concept is useful and applicable to any large and SMEs, international or national business organisation. However, the range of applications for EIS is growing and they are now being used to support e-government, health care, and non-profit / non-governmental organisations. This chapter reviews research and development efforts related to EIS, and as a result attempts to precisely define the boundaries for the concept of EIS, i.e., identifying what is and what is not an EIS. Based on this domain analysis, a proposal for using goal-oriented modelling techniques for building EIS is constructed; the proposal is made more concrete through illustration via an example.
Teaching Criminology
Authors: Bessette Jean-Michel
Published: May 2010

The field of study (and the teaching) of the criminal sociology presents multiple aspects and shows itself at various levels, the methods to implement for the exploration of the numerous research leads that it conceals are multiple and varied as well. This case, as a rough guide, proposes some modalities of approach in this domain.
P.E.N.T.A.C.R.I.M.E.
Authors: Antinori Arije
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces the birth of the project named P.E.N.T.A.C.R.I.M.E. based on a dynamic teaching approach. The contemporary Criminology has to face today’s complexity, then the Criminologist has to apply a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary way of thinking to deeply understand the brand-new Criminal and Deviant phenomena. During the latest years Communication has gained a main role in human life especially about the group relationships. The author shows the philosophy, methodology and technology profile of this seminar project that can be represent a new and useful way to grasp the meaning of Media processes and Media technology in the so-called new Terrorism, the Global Terrorism. Thanks to the interconnection between technology mediated teaching and learning it is possible to create an open-source Knowledge model to be used as valuable tool both in research and practice field.
GIS
Authors: Bianchini Elena , Sicurella Sandra
Published: May 2010

The advent of the GIS technology has revolutionized the traditional field of information and cartographic production. The GIS, indeed, enables the management of much more numerous and more complex data and it is able to overcome the static and the traditional two-dimensional cartography. The Geographic Information Systems (GIS), that is used in various fields and disciplines, represent, also, in the university research, a valuable tool for investigation. In criminology, in particular, it has facilitated, regarding the city of Bologna, on the one hand, a kind of crime mapping on the nature of the so called “petty crimes” within the jurisdiction of the criminal Justice of the Peace, and the creation of a city’s map on which have been identified support centers for victims operating in them. The use of GIS software is the basis in order to realize and put into practice not only operational measures designed to combat and to prevent crime, but it is also of help to social control measures, to public policy and to security. To the end of ensuring public safety, nowadays, it is essential, to have a clear, spatial and graphics representation, of the high concentrations of crime areas and of the degraded ones, in which there is a greater likelihood that some type of crime is committed.
Anthropo-Sociological Approach of the Criminology and Applied Victimology
Authors: Romano Rosaria
Published: May 2010

Criminology attempts to explain the causes of crime using two different approaches: the anthropological and the sociological. The anthropological approach focuses on man as the author of crime, and seeks to determine the physical, psychological, motivational, and psychosocial factors, that may have led to the criminal conduct. The sociological approach, on the other hand looks at the macro social factors influencing the insurgence of crime. The problem of social control, namely the way in which a society is able to integrate individuals around a single coherent system of customs, traditions and norms, and thus guarantee community security is connected to the concept of social disorder. The concept of social disorder is also linked to that of marginality, characteristic of the immigrant condition: the loss of cultural roots and the lack of integration in the new cultural context places immigrants in the margins of society. Instances of social problems resulting were reported news broadcasts of events occurring towards the end of 2008 in Italy which suddenly brought to light a series of similar events, evidencing ever more frequent occurrences of racism and xenophobia. These episodes spoke for themselves. Evident as the light of day, it was no longer easy to conceal their true matrix. From the homicide of a Milan boy (from http://www.rainews24.rai.it/notizia.asp?newsid=85897) who had allegedly stolen a packet of biscuits, to the homicides of Castel Volturno immigrants (Castel Volturno is a Southern Italian little city) (from http://www.corriere.it/cronache/08_settembre_19/rivolta_castelvolturno_immigrati_de6698dc-8635-11dd-bef9-00144f02aabc.shtml), the violent Parma bashings, the injuries sustained by a young man from Ghana, and to those in Rome against a Chinese citizen. But this is not the end of the story. This study will analyze the Abba’s homicide. Abba was a young man, an Italian citizen, and the son of Burkina Faso immigrants with Italian citizenship; he was born and grown up in Milan. The theoretical premises on which this case is based are those reported in victimology literature, it has been chosen for it’s similarity to other cases of xenophobia and because it brings new insights to present notions existing within criminology and applied victimology, (such as concepts of social disorder and social fear), and as such constitutes a significant contribution to this field of study.
University Branches in Prison
Authors: Ronco Daniela
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces the Italian experience about university in prison. Since ten years many faculties all over the country signed cooperation agreements with penitentiary administrations to pursue and realize the prisoners right to study at the highest levels. Prison management engage itself to warrant structural possibilities to study: quietly sections where prisoners can concentrate while preparing exams, entry license to professors and didactic materials, personnel engaged in monitoring detainees programs of rehabilitation through study. University carries out academic tutorship to support study careers and individual preparations to exams and degree. A bilateral connection links the two institutions: on the one hand, university forwards a service to warrant the prisoners’ right to study. Prison, on the other hand, is an important matter of study for academics (particularly to specific branches: criminology, sociology of law, sociology of deviance, penal and penitentiary law, psychology). This paper offers a national survey about these experiences and concentrate about a specific case: the University of Turin inside the local prison, where Faculties of Law and Political Sciences forward, since 1998, a didactic project, with the involvement of professors and assistants in lectures and exams inside the prison. A specific section is reserved to a certain number of prisoners determined in carrying out a study program, till the degree. The aim is to examine how academic studies may be considered as a specific opportunity to put the rehabilitation ideal into practice, as the article 27 of the Italian Constitution asserts (“punishment must aim to re-education”). Education, combined with work, religion, leisure activity, sport and family contacts, is the means to pursue such function. The university involvement into these projects makes possible a better comprehension about life in prison and an active participation into implementation of detainees people’s rights.
The Perfect Blend?
Authors: Scala Roberto Di
Published: May 2010

This chapter tackles the implementation of the way online courses of English language are structured within the on-line degree courses of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy. Moving from a double theoretical framework grounded on the links between e-learning and communication and between e-learning and multimedia learning, The author will outline the basic features of the course the author is currently teaching. Besides the standard tools provided by the university platform (the course portal and forum and the course content slides), he has added some ‘external’ tools to offer students further possibilities to interact and take an active role in the learning environment which thus becomes actually ‘blended.’ By making practice of the language through posting comments on a dedicated blog and by exchanging impressions and making queries at a number of Skype-mediated meetings, instructor and students can further interact and create a stronger ‘studying community.’
Online Materials for Teaching Japanese
Authors: Masumi Kai
Published: May 2010

This chapter discusses how to adapt online learning to teach Japanese language courses. The author overviews the current language education situation in Japan, introducing the existing online Japanese courses and examine their content. Online learning is convenient because learners can learn at any time or place. However, learning Japanese online has a problem, namely a complicated typing system. The author details how typing in Japanese can be an obstruction to learning online. She also discusses the merits of typing exercises. Their previous research shows that learning Japanese characters at an early stage of learning can improve the students’ listening ability. The author introduces hiragana and katakana software which can enhance the learning of characters. Finally, she describes a system to monitor the students’ progress and involvement and how to incorporate online learning with face-toface instruction.
Business Process Management as a Critical Success Factor in EIS Implementation
Authors: Modrák Vladimír
Published: May 2010

Nowadays, the implementation of business process management modern tools in companies becomes a mater of acceptation of an effective organization management. The first ultimate precondition for achieving this goal is a properly structured company. An attention in the study is placed on business process reengineering due to preparing preconditions for smooth implementation of enterprise information system (EIS). Since there are differences between tools of business processes redesign and information systems development, then a main focus was on overcoming existing semantic gaps. With aim to solve this problem the specific modeling method has been used that was clear for company’s staff and usable for EIS designers. Used modeling approach was supported by QPR software.
Business Integration Model in Services Sector SMEs
Authors: Pantelic Snežana
Published: May 2010

The objective of this chapter is to show the importance of integration business processes and information systems for service sector SMEs and to present an opportunity of synchronous and simultaneous development of both business process integration (BPI) and enterprise information system (EIS) utilizing the introduced Business Integration Model (BIM). BIM approach is based on modeling core business processes, which are supported by modern IS. Process centric and customer centric modern organization relies on enterprise management standards like ISO 9000 family. The task is to achieve the business goal of the process measured by defined Key Performance Indicator (KPI) and to improve the processes continually. The presented “Autotransport” case describes BIM design and implementation for the core process “Transport services management.” The critical factor of the success of implementation of Business Integration Model (BIM) is undoubtedly readiness of employees to accept a process approach in the execution of their tasks.
Enterprise Information Systems for Business Integration in Global International Cooperations of Collaborating Small and Medium Sized Organisations
Authors: Osanna P. H. , Durakbasa N. M. , Yurci M. E. , Bauer J. M.
Published: May 2010

The importance of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is today far beyond any discussion in countries all over the world - in European countries as well as in Asia and in USA, in Africa as well as in Latin America. To meet market demands in the present and future global industrial world, manufacturing enterprises of any kind and any size must be flexible and agile enough to respond quickly to product demand changes. With the support of artificial intelligence and modern information technology, it is possible to realise modern cost-effective customer-driven design and manufacturing taking into account the importance and basic role of quality management and metrology. This will be especially possible on the basis of the innovative concept and model for modern enterprises the so-called “Multi-Functions Integrated Factory – MFIF” that makes possible an agile and optimal industrial production in any kind of industry and especially in up-to-date SMEs.
E-Leadership Styles for Global Virtual Teams
Authors: Chamakiotis Petros , Panteli Niki
Published: May 2010

With time, an increasing number of organizations deploy global virtual teams (GVTs) in an effort to respond to the demands and the competitive nature of the global business arena. Leadership, a factor that is arguably central to the successful functioning of collocated teams, is much altered in view of the virtual backdrop, and thus, management practices, when referring to GVTs’ operation and effectiveness, have to be re-addressed. This chapter explores the contribution of a leader-coordinator in GVTs and – by drawing upon interviews with staff that participate in intra-organizational virtual teams of an eminent global operator – it discusses leadership approaches suitable for those teams. In addition, this chapter attempts to unveil and discuss the personal values that drive ordinary virtual actors to emergently lead their teams. Ultimately, the chapter suggests e-leadership styles which could be of foremost value to current and future virtual teams and virtual organizations.
Particle number size distributions in urban air before and after volatilisation
Authors: Birmili W. , Heinke K. , Pitz M. , Matschullat J. , Wiedensohler A. , Cyrys J. , Wichmann H.-E. , Peters A.
Published: May 2010

Abstract. Aerosol particle number size distributions (size range 0.003–10 μm) in the urban atmosphere of Augsburg (Germany) were examined with respect to the governing anthropogenic sources and meteorological factors. The two-year average particle number concentration between November 2004 and November 2006 was 12 200 cm−3, i.e. similar to previous observations in other European cities. A seasonal analysis yielded twice the total particle number concentrations in winter as compared to summer as consequence of more frequent inversion situations and enhanced particulate emissions. The diurnal variations of particle number were shaped by a remarkable maximum in the morning during the peak traffic hours. After a mid-day decrease along with the onset of vertical mixing, an evening concentration maximum could frequently be observed, suggesting a re-stratification of the urban atmosphere. Overall, the mixed layer height turned out to be the most influential meteorological parameter on the particle size distribution. Its influence was even greater than that of the geographical origin of the prevailing synoptic-scale air mass. Size distributions below 0.8 μm were also measured downstream of a thermodenuder (temperature: 300 °C), allowing to retrieve the volume concentration of non-volatile compounds. The balance of particle number upstream and downstream of the thermodenuder suggests that practically all particles >12 nm contain a non-volatile core while additional nucleation of particles smaller than 6 nm could be observed after the thermodenuder as an interfering artifact of the method. The good correlation between the non-volatile volume concentration and an independent measurement of the aerosol absorption coefficient (R2=0.9) suggests a close correspondence of the refractory and light-absorbing particle fractions. Using the "summation method", an average diameter ratio of particles before and after volatilisation could be determined as a function of particle size. The results indicated that particles >60 nm contain a significantly higher fraction of non-volatile compounds, most likely black carbon, than particles <60 nm. The results are relevant for future health-related studies in that they explore the size distribution and time-dependent behaviour of the refractory component of the urban aerosol over an extended time period.
How can aerosols affect the Asian summer monsoon? Assessment during three consecutive pre-monsoon seasons from CALIPSO satellite data
Authors: Kuhlmann J. , Quaas J.
Published: May 2010

Abstract. The impact of aerosols above and around the Tibetan Plateau on the Asian Summer Monsoon during pre-monsoon seasons March-April-May 2007, 2008, and 2009 is investigated by means of remote sensing and radiative transfer modelling. Four source regions are found to be responsible for the high aerosol loading around the Tibetan Plateau: the Taklamakan Desert, the Ganges Plains, the Indus Plains, and the Arabian Sea. CALIPSO lidar satellite data, providing vertically resolved images of aerosols, shows aerosol concentrations to be highest in the lower 5 km of the atmosphere with only little amounts reaching the Tibetan Plateau altitude. Using a radiative transfer model we find that aerosol plumes reduce shortwave radiation throughout the Monsoon region in the seasonal average by between 20 and 30 W/m2. Peak shortwave heating in the lower troposphere reaches 0.2 K/day. In higher layers this shortwave heating is partly balanced by longwave cooling. Although high-albedo surfaces, such as deserts or the Tibetan Plateau, increase the shortwave heating by around 10%, the overall effect is strongest close to the aerosol sources. A strong elevated heating which could influence large-scale monsoonal circulations as suggested by previous studies is not found.
Impacts of hypoxia on the structure and processes in pelagic communities (zooplankton, macro-invertebrates and fish)
Authors: Ekau W. , Auel H. , Pörtner H.-O. , Gilbert D.
Published: May 2010

Abstract. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in the water column is an environmental parameter that is crucial for the successful development of many pelagic organisms. Hypoxia tolerance and threshold values are species- and stage-specific and can vary enormously. While some fish species may suffer from oxygen values of less than 3 mL O2 L−1 through impacted growth, development and behaviour, other organisms such as euphausiids may survive DO levels as low as 0.1 mL O2 L−1. A change in the average or the range of DO may have significant impacts on the survival of certain species and hence on the species composition in the ecosystem with consequent changes in trophic pathways and productivity. Evidence for the deleterious effects of oxygen depletion on pelagic species is scarce, particularly in terms of the effect of low oxygen on development, recruitment and patterns of migration and distribution. While planktonic organisms have to cope with variable DOs and exploit adaptive mechanisms, nektonic species may avoid areas of unfavourable DO and develop adapted migration strategies. Planktonic organisms may only be able to escape vertically, above or beneath the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ). In shallow areas only the surface layer can serve as a refuge, but in deep waters many organisms have developed vertical migration strategies to use, pass through and cope with the OMZ. This paper elucidates the role of DO for different taxa in the pelagic realm and the consequences of low oxygen for foodweb structure and system productivity. We describe processes in two contrasting systems, the semi-enclosed Baltic Sea and the coastal upwelling system of the Benguela Current to demonstrate the consequences of increasing hypoxia on ecosystem functioning and services.
Carbon isotopic composition of branched tetraether membrane lipids in soils suggest a rapid turnover and a heterotrophic life style of their source organism(s)
Authors: Weijers J. W. H. , Wiesenberg G. L. B. , Bol R. , Hopmans E. C. , Pancost R. D.
Published: May 2010

Abstract. Branched Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraethers (GDGTs) are membrane spanning lipids synthesised by as yet unknown bacteria that thrive in soils and peat. In order to obtain more information on their ecological niche, the stable carbon isotopic composition of branched GDGT-derived alkanes, obtained upon ether bond cleavage, has been determined in various soils, i.e. peat, forest, grassland and cropland, covered by various vegetation types, i.e., C3- vs. C4-plant type. These δ13C values are compared with those of bulk organic matter and higher plant derived n-alkanes from the same soils. With average δ13C values of −28‰, branched GDGTs in C3 soils are only slightly depleted (ca. 1‰) relative to bulk organic carbon and on average 8.5‰ enriched relative to plant wax-derived long-chain n-alkanes (nC29–nC33). In an Australian soil covered with C4 type vegetation, the branched GDGTs have a δ13C value of −18‰, clearly higher than observed in soils with C3 type vegetation. As with C3 vegetated soils, branched GDGT δ13C values are slightly depleted (1‰) relative to bulk organic carbon and enriched (ca. 5‰) relative to n-alkanes in this soil. The δ13C values of branched GDGT lipids being similar to bulk organic carbon and their co-variation with those of bulk organic carbon and plant waxes, suggest a heterotrophic life style and assimilation of relatively heavy and likely labile substrates for the as yet unknown soil bacteria that synthesise the branched GDGT lipids. However, a chemoautotrophic lifestyle, i.e. consuming respired CO2, could not be fully excluded based on these data alone. Based on a natural labelling experiment of a C3/C4 crop change introduced on one of the soils 23 years before sampling and based on a free air CO2 enrichment experiment with labelled CO2 on another soil, a turnover time of ca. 17 years has been estimated for branched GDGTs in these arable soils.
Telerehabilitation and Clinical Applications: Research, Opportunities, and Challenges
Authors: Schmeler Mark R. , Schein Richard M. , McCue Michael , Betz Kendra
Published: May 2010

Rehabilitation service providers in rural or underserved areas are often challenged in meeting the needs of their complex patients due to limited resources in their geographical area. Recruitment and retention of the rural clinical workforce are beset by the ongoing problems associated with limited continuing education opportunities, professional isolation, and the challenges inherent to coordinating rural community healthcare. People with disabilities who live in rural communities also face challenges accessing healthcare. Traveling long distances to a specialty clinic for necessary expertise is troublesome due to inadequate or unavailable transportation, disability specific limitations, and financial limitations. Distance and lack of access are just two threats to quality of care that now being addressed by the use of videoconferencing, information exchange, and other telecommunication technologies that facilitate telerehabilitation.This white paper illustrates and summarizes clinical and vocational applications of telerehabilitation. We provide definitions related to the fields of telemedicine, telehealth, and telerehabilitation, and consider the impetus for telerehabilitation. We review the telerehabilitation literature for assistive technology applications; pressure ulcer prevention; virtual reality applications; speech-language pathology applications; seating and wheeled mobility applications; vocational rehabilitation applications; and cost-effectiveness. We then discuss external telerehabilitation influencers, such as the positions of professional organizations. Finally, we summarize clinical and policy issues in a limited context appropriate to the scope of this paper.Keywords: Telerehabilitation; Telehealth; Telemedicine; Telepractice
Telerehabilitation Technologies: Accessibility and Usability
Authors: Pramuka Michael , Van Roosmalen Linda
Published: May 2010

In the fields of telehealth and telemedicine, phone and/or video technologies are key to the successful provision of services such as remote monitoring and visits. How do these technologies affect service accessibility, effectiveness, quality, and usefulness when applied to rehabilitation services in the field of telerehabilitation? To answer this question, we provide a overview of the complex network of available technologies and discuss how they link to rehabilitation applications, services, and practices as well as to the telerehabilitation end-user.This white paper will first present the numerous professional considerations that shape the use of technology in rehabilitation service and set it somewhat apart from telemedicine. It will then provide an overview of concepts essential to usability analysis; present a summary of various telerehabilitation technologies and their strengths and limitations, and consider how the technologies interface with end users’ clinical needs for service accessibility, effectiveness, quality, and usefulness. The paper will highlight a conceptual framework (including task analyses and usability issues) that underlies a functional match between telerehabilitation technologies, clinical applications, and end-usercapabilities for telerehabilitation purposes. Finally, we will discuss pragmatic issues related to user integration of telerehabilitation technology versus traditional face-to-face approaches.Key Words: Remote, Technology, Usability, Accessibility, Decision Factors, Decision Support.
Telerehabilitation: Policy Issues and Research Tools
Authors: Seelman Katherine D. , Hartman Linda M.
Published: May 2010

A number of experts recognize the importance of public policy as a complementary framework for telehealth, telemedicine, and by association, telerehabilitation. The purpose of this paper is to report on the current state-of-the-science on telerehabilitation (TR) policy and research methodology and make recommendations about future research needs. We conducted an extensive search of the literature via search terms grouped into the main topics of telerehabilitation, policy, population of users, and policy specific issues such as cost and reimbursement.The availability of rigorous and valid evidence-based cost studies emerged as a major challenge to the field. Existing cost studies provide evidence that tele-homecare may be a promising application area for TR. Cost studies also indicate that tele-psychiatry is a promising telepractice area. Notably, the literature did not reference the International Classification on Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).We concluded that outcome studies characterized by rigorous and comprehensive TR assessment and evaluation are required to generate confidence among providers, payers, clinicians, and end users. Study criteria must comprehensively assess consumer satisfaction and participation via medical, functional, and quality of life items such as assistive technology and environmental factors.
In-Home Telerehabilitation for Post-Knee Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study
Authors: Tousignant Michel , Boissy Patrick , Corriveau Hélène , Moffet Hélène , Cabana François
Published: May 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of in-home telerehabilitation as an alternative to conventional rehabilitation services following knee arthroplasty. Five community-living elders who had knee arthroplasty were recruited prior to discharge from an acute care hospital. A pre/post-test design without a control group was used for this pilot study. Telerehabilitation sessions (16) were conducted by two trained physiotherapists from a service center to the patient’s home using H264 videoconference CODECs (Tandberg 550 MXP) connected at 512 Kb\s. Disability (range of motion, balance and lower body strength) and function (locomotor performance in walking and functional autonomy) were measured in face-to-face evaluations prior to and at the end of the treatments by a neutral evaluator. The satisfaction of the health care professional and patient was measured by questionnaire. Results are as follows. One participant was lost during follow-up. Clinical outcomes improved for all subjects and improvements were sustained two months post-discharge from in-home telerehabilitation. The satisfaction of the participants with in-home telerehabilitation services was very high. The satisfaction of the health care professionals with the technology and the communication experience during the therapy sessions was similar or slightly lower. In conclusion, telerehabilitation for post-knee arthroplasty is a realistic alternative for dispensing rehabilitation services for patients discharged from an acute care hospital.Keywords: Telerehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Total Knee Arthroplasty, Videoconferencing