bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study of Proline Metabolism in Canola (Brassica napus L.) Seedlings under Salt Stress
Authors: Saadia Mubshara , Jamil Amer , Akram Nudrat Aisha , Ashraf Muhammad
Published: May 2012

Expression analysis of crop plants has improved our knowledge about the veiled underlying mechanisms for salt tolerance. In order to observe the time course effects of salinity stress on gene expression for enzymes regulating proline metabolism, we comparatively analyzed the expression of specific genes for proline metabolism in root and shoot tissues of salt-tolerant (cv. Dunkled) and salt-sensitive (cv. Cyclone) canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars through reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); following the NaCl treatment for various durations. Both lines showed an increase in ∆1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase1 (P5CS1) gene expression after induction of salt stress with enhanced expression in the root tissue of the tolerant line, while maximum expression was noted in the shoot tissues of the sensitive line. We observed a much reduced proline dehydrogenase (PDH) expression in both the root and shoot tissues of both canola lines, with more marked reduction of PDH expression in the shoot tissues than that in the root ones. To confirm the increase in P5CS1 gene expression, total proline content was also measured in the root and shoot tissues of both the canola lines. The root tissues of canola sensitive line showed a gradually increasing proline concentration pattern with regular increase in salinity treatment, while an increase in proline concentration in the tolerant line was noted at 24 h post salinity treatment after a sudden decrease at 6 h and 12 h of salt treatment. A gradually increasing concentration of free proline content was found in shoot tissues of the tolerant canola line though a remarkable increase in proline concentration was noted in the sensitive canola line at 24 h post salinity treatment, indicating the initiation of proline biosynthesis process in that tissue of sensitive canola.
Chemical Investigation of Saponins in Different Parts of Panax notoginseng by Pressurized Liquid Extraction and Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Wan Jian-Bo , Zhang Qing-Wen , Hong Si-Jia , Li Peng , Li Shao-Ping , Wang Yi-Tao
Published: May 2012

A pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed for the qualitative determination of saponins in different parts of P. notoginseng, including rhizome, root, fibre root, seed, stem, leaf and flower. The samples were extracted using PLE. The analysis was achieved on a Zorbax SB-C18 column with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 8 mM aqueous ammonium acetate as mobile phase. The mass spectrometer was operated in the negative ion mode using the electrospray ionization, and a collision induced dissociation (CID) experiment was also carried out to aid the identification of compounds. Forty one saponins were identified in different parts of P. notoginseng according to the fragmentation patterns and literature reports, among them, 21 saponins were confirmed by comparing the retention time and ESI-MS data with those of standard compounds. The results showed that the chemical characteristics were obviously diverse in different parts of P. notoginseng, which is helpful for pharmacological evaluation and quality control of P. notoginseng.
Design, Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of Novel 2-Substituted-4-amino-6-halogenquinolines
Authors: Jiang Nan , Zhai Xin , Li Ting , Liu Difa , Zhang Tingting , Wang Bin , Gong Ping
Published: May 2012

Two series of novel 2-substituted-4-amino-6-halogenquinolines 8a–l and 13a–h were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against H-460, HT-29, HepG2 and SGC-7901 cancer cell lines in vitro. The pharmacological results indicated that most compounds with 2-arylvinyl substituents exhibited good to excellent antiproliferative activity. Among them, compound 8e was a considered promising lead for further structural modifications with IC50 values of 0.03 μM, 0.55 μM, 0.33 μM and 1.24 μM, which was 2.5- to 186-fold more active than gefitinib and compound 1.
The Application and Mechanism of Action of Ribavirin in Therapy of Hepatitis C
Authors: Thomas Emmanuel , Ghany Marc G , Liang T Jake
Published: May 2012

Ribavirin has been used as an antiviral agent for several decades. Although it has activity against numerous viruses, its major use clinically has been in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus in paediatric patients and chronic HCV infection in both children and adults. This review highlights the clinical application and mechanism of action of ribavirin and discusses the future role of ribavirin in treatment of HCV where there are intense research efforts to improve therapy.
Safety of Infliximab Treatment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Real-world Clinical Setting: Description and Evaluation of Infusion Reactions
Authors: KELSALL JOHN , ROGERS PAMELA , GALINDO GRISELDA , De VERA MARY A.
Published: May 2012

Objective.

To describe acute and delayed infusion reactions in a large cohort of patients with inflammatory arthritis, treated with infliximab (IFX).

Methods.

We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients treated with IFX at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre between 2000 and 2008. The primary outcome was the occurrence of acute infusion reactions during infusions or 1–2 hours after each infusion, and secondary outcome was the occurrence of delayed infusion reactions 1–14 days after an infusion. Descriptive analyses were conducted to summarize study outcomes and identify trends over followup.

Results.

Since 2000, 376 patients were referred to the Mary Pack IFX clinic and 200 received 4399 IFX infusions over a mean 140 ± 132 weeks of followup. Of these, 135 were patients with RA who received 2977 IFX infusions over mean followup of 138 ± 132 weeks. In total 258 episodes of acute reactions were observed for an overall acute reaction rate of 5.8%. Acute infusion reactions were mostly mild (42.6%) and moderate (43.8%) and commonly affected sites were head and neck (31.5%) and cutaneous (21.1%). A total of 37 delayed infusion reaction episodes were observed (0.9% rate); reactions were also mostly mild (16.2%) and moderate (64.9%).

Conclusion.

These clinical data from 200 patients treated with IFX demonstrate that acute and delayed infusion reactions occur infrequently and are mostly mild to moderate in presentation.
Cigarette Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, and Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case-control Study in a Japanese Population
Authors: KIYOHARA CHIKAKO , WASHIO MASAKAZU , HORIUCHI TAKAHIKO , ASAMI TOYOKO , IDE SABURO , ATSUMI TATSUYA , KOBASHI GEN , TADA YOSHIFUMI , TAKAHASHI HIROKI ,   Kyushu Sapporo SLE (KYSS) Study Group
Published: May 2012

Objective.

Cigarette smoking may be associated with increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), whereas the role of alcohol consumption is unknown. We examined the association between SLE risk and smoking or drinking.

Methods.

We investigated the relationship of smoking and drinking compared to SLE risk among 171 SLE cases and 492 healthy controls in female Japanese subjects. Unconditional logistic regression was used to compute OR and 95% CI, with adjustments for several covariates.

Results.

Compared with nonsmoking, current smoking was significantly associated with increased risk of SLE (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.86–5.03). The higher the level of exposure to cigarette smoke, the higher the risk of SLE. Inhalation was also associated with increased SLE risk (OR 3.73, 95% CI 1.46–9.94 for moderate inhalation; OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.81–5.15 for deep inhalation). In contrast, light/moderate alcohol consumption had a protective effect on SLE risk (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.19–0.76). As for beer, the risks for non-beer drinkers and beer drinkers were similar. This also applies to alcoholic beverages other than beer.

Conclusion.

Our results suggest that smoking was positively associated with increased SLE risk whereas light/moderate alcohol consumption was inversely associated with SLE risk, irrespective of the type of alcoholic beverage. Additional studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Evaluation of a Shared Autoimmune Disease-associated Polymorphism of TRAF6 in Systemic Sclerosis and Giant Cell Arteritis
Authors: CARMONA F. DAVID , SERRANO AURORA , RODRÍGUEZ-RODRÍGUEZ LUIS , CALLEJAS JOSÉ LUIS , SIMEÓN CARMEN P. , CARREIRA PATRICIA , CASTAÑEDA SANTOS , SOLANS ROSER , BLANCO RICARDO ,   The Spanish Scleroderma Group,   The Spanish Giant Cell Arteritis Group, GONZÁLEZ-GAY MIGUEL A. , MARTÍN JAVIER
Published: May 2012

Objective.

We evaluated whether a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of theTRAF6gene previously associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis may be a common risk factor for systemic sclerosis (SSc) and giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods.

A total of 1185 patients with SSc, 479 patients with biopsy-proven GCA, and 1442 unrelated healthy controls of white Spanish origin were genotyped for the rs540386 variant using a specifically designed TaqMan©allele discrimination assay.

Results.

No significant associations of this SNP with global SSc or GCA were found. This was also the case when the potential associations of theTRAF6polymorphism with the main clinical phenotypes of the 2 diseases (e.g., limited cutaneous and diffuse cutaneous SSc, or presence of polymyalgia rheumatica and visual ischemic manifestations in GCA) were assessed.

Conclusion.

Our data do not support a role of the rs540386TRAF6variant as a key component of the genetic network underlying SSc and GCA.
The effect of organic and conventional production methods on sea bream growth, health and body composition: a field experiment
Authors: Mente Eleni , Stratakos Alexandros , Boziaris Ioannis S. , Kormas Konstantinos A. , Karalazos Vasileios , Karapanagiotidis Ioannis T. , Catsiki Vassiliki A. , Leondiadis Leondios
Published: May 2012

This study aimed to develop a better understanding of organic sea bream aquaculture production in Greece, in particular its consequences for fish growth, health and body composition, and to propose and update standards for sustainable organic sea bream farming. Gilthead sea bream were kept in sea cages at densities of 4 kg m–3 (organic) and 15 kg m–3 (conventional), and were fed organically produced feed (45% crude protein, 14% fat) or conventional feed (46% crude protein, 17% fat). The amino acid profile of the conventional diet, particularly the lysine content, which is one of most important dietary amino acids for sea bream, appeared to be unsatisfactory. “Organic” sea bream stored less fat content in their white muscle than the conventional sea bream. The liver lipid content was lower and the hepatosomatic index was higher for the organic sea bream. The microbiological analysis showed that both Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli on the skin were below the enumeration detection limit in both the organic and conventional sea bream. Total viable counts on the skin and muscle of both the organically and conventionally cultured sea bream were approximately 3 log cfu g –1, which is well below the acceptable limit (7 log cfu g–1) for marine species. The results showed that the combination of a low stocking density and feed with a different ingredient composition but similar nutritional value resulted in similar growth rates and nutrient profiles of the final product. Further research on nutrition is required to provide information on setting the appropriate standards for organic sea bream aquaculture to ensure that the final product is in line with the consumers’ preferences.
New insights into the morphology, reproduction and distribution of the large-tuberculate octopus Graneledone macrotyla from the Patagonian slope
Authors: Guerra Ángel , Roura Álvaro , Sieiro Maria Pilar , Portela Julio M. , Del Río José Luis
Published: May 2012

The new information reported in this paper is based on 11 specimens of the large-tuberculate octopus Graneledone macrotyla. These specimens were caught in bottom trawl surveys ATLANTIS 2009 and 2010 carried out on the Patagonian slope off the Argentinean Economic Exclusive Zone between 24 February and 1 April 2009 and from 9 March to 5 April 2010 respectively. A new diagnosis and a complete description of the species are provided. This is the first time that stylets, beaks and spermatophores are described. This is also the first time in which mature females have been studied and the female genitalia described. Like other eledonid octopods, G. macrotyla does not have spermathecae in the oviducal glands. The presence of fertilized eggs inside the ovary suggests that fertilization takes place within the ovary. The simultaneous occurrence of oocyte cohorts at different oogenic stages suggests that the species is a multiple spawner. G. macrotyla inhabits shallower waters on the Patagonian slope (475-921 m) than in the subantartic area (1647-2044 m). From a biogeographical point of view, our data show that G. macrotyla inhabits the plume of cold subantarctic waters, which is pushed far north into the southwestern Atlantic by the Falkland (Malvinas) Current.
Age, growth and utility of otolith morphometrics as a predictor of age in the wrasse Coris julis (Labridae) from the eastern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Škeljo Frane , Ferri Josipa , Brčić Jure , Petrić Mirela , Jardas Ivan
Published: May 2012

Age and growth of Coris julis were determined by examining sagittal otoliths belonging to fish sampled between November 2008 and October 2009 in the eastern Adriatic Sea (north-central Mediterranean Sea). A total of 1102 specimens (528 males, 487 females and 87 individuals of indeterminate sex), ranging from 48 to 222 mm total length were analysed. Ninety-two per cent of the otoliths were readable and 68% of the specimens had two readings in agreement. Counting of daily rings revealed that the second opaque ring represents the first annulus (315.1±27.8 daily rings). The maximum observed age was 7 years for males and 5 years for females, with males dominating in higher age classes ( > 3 years) and females in age classes 1+ and 2+. Growth was described by the von Bertalanffy growth curves and significant differences were found between males (L∞=29.10 cm, k=0.12 and t0=–1.48) and females (L∞=21.27 cm, k=0.21 and t0=–1.08). Otolith mass, length, width and thickness were determined for the otoliths belonging to 465 fish and the utility of these morphometrics as a predictor of age was evaluated. The most precise age estimations were obtained from the otolith length data, followed by the otolith mass.
Augmenting the Use of Mobile Devices in Language Classrooms
Authors: Viswanathan Revathi
Published: May 2012

Do students use varied types of technological devices for enhancing learning? If not, how can educators motivate students to use them within or outside the classroom? How can teachers facilitate mobile learning in a traditional classroom? With the changing trends in the field of language teaching and the introduction of various technologies, these questions must be addressed for enhancing learning, particularly among tertiary level students. To promote language learning using mobile devices, teachers must first learn the special features of various mobile devices that could be used for teaching language skills to students. This article highlights the possibility of using some of the devices for teaching communication skills through a description of the devices and a pilot study conducted with tertiary level students. It further indicates effective ways of enhancing the concept of mobile learning.
Orchestrating Data, Design, and Narrative
Authors: Miller Charles , Lecheler Lucas , Hosack Bradford , Doering Aaron , Hooper Simon
Published: May 2012

Information visualization involves the visual, and sometimes interactive, presentation and organization of complex data in a clear, compelling representation. Information visualization is an essential element in peoples’ daily lives, especially those in data-driven professions, namely online educators. Although information visualization research and methods are prevalent in the diverse fields of healthcare, statistics, economics, information technology, computer science, and politics, few examples of successful information visualization design or integration exist in online learning. The authors provide a background of information visualization in education, explore a set of potential roles for information visualization in the future design and integration of online learning environments, provide examples of contemporary interactive visualizations in education, and discuss opportunities to move forward with design and research in this emerging area.
Prevalence and Correlates of Internet Addiction in Undergraduate Students
Authors: Schoenfeld Daniel , Yan Zheng
Published: May 2012

This study determined if two different internet addiction assessments would identify the same individuals as addicted to the internet. A total of 224 undergraduate internet users were surveyed using a stratified sampling plan based on the proportional allocation technique to procure as diverse a sample as possible. The assessments used were Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Caplan’s Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale (GPIUS), a demographic questionnaire, and a reasons-for-use questionnaire. Results showed that about 0.9% of the sample could be considered addicted to the internet according to both the IAT and GPIUS, which is a smaller percentage than found in previous studies. There were too few participants identified as addicted to the internet to determine if these two assessments identified the same individuals as addicted; however, over a third of the sample was identified as “at risk” for addiction by one assessment and not the other. These results show that the assessment measure used is of extreme importance when diagnosing internet addiction and more robust sampling procedures may lead to fewer internet addicts identified, which could be a more accurate reflection of internet addiction in the target population.
Exploring Students’ Perceived Needs and Ideas About Feedback in Online Learning Environments
Authors: Ferrara Lisa A. , Butcher Kirsten R.
Published: May 2012

Although research has found that students value timely, formative feedback, it’s unknown how students’ prior experiences influence their expectations for feedback in online learning environments. Two workshops were conducted to examine college students’ perceptions and preferences about feedback during traditional and online instruction. Survey, short response, and interview questions were used to collect students’ self-reported experiences in receiving and using feedback with a variety of work products (e.g., essays) in traditional academic experiences, examining their self-reported challenges and needs during online learning tasks. Students collaboratively worked to design storyboards that depicted optimal feedback environments for an online instructional system. Results show that students’ (positive and negative) prior experiences with traditional feedback guide their perceived preferences regarding online feedback. Students were aware of many specific challenges that they faced during online research, and expressed a strong desire for technologies that could support identification of valid and relevant online content. Self-reported, online feedback needs were consistent with successful features of digital learning environments that have been shown to support deeper learning. This research suggests that students’ perceived needs and preferences have a strong impact on the degree to which they are likely to value and utilize feedback in online learning environments.
Investigating the Role of Electronic Planning within Planning Reform
Authors: Williamson Wayne , McFarland Paul
Published: May 2012

The limited research on e-Planning in Australia, a perceived slow take up of e-Planning in the New South Wales (NSW) planning system, and the release of a set of e-Planning recommendations as part of a larger planning reform package in November 2007 are the three main reasons for conducting this research. The goal of this paper is to discover the attitudes of planners in the NSW planning system toward Information Technology, and secondly, what the planners understanding of the e-Planning recommendations are. An online survey of 171 planning staff working in NSW local government was conducted during August and September 2008. The survey results confirmed that planners in the NSW planning system are using a wide variety of IT applications, and that although there are frustrations, their attitude is supportive of using IT in their workplace. Participants also demonstrated a strong understanding of the e-Planning recommendations with insightful additional comments collected about the advantages of e-Planning tools and the wider implications for the planning system. Overall, this research has investigated the attitude of planners and found them to be supportive and understanding of the new technologies that are largely yet to be implemented in their workplaces.
Console Game-Based Pedagogy
Authors: Groff Jennifer , Howells Cathrin , Cranmer Sue
Published: May 2012

The main focus of this research project was to identify the educational benefits of console game-based learning in primary and secondary schools. The project also sought to understand how the benefits of educational gaming could transfer to other settings. For this purpose, research was carried out in classrooms in Scotland to explore learning with games played on games consoles, such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Wii. Interviews were carried out with school leaders, classroom teachers, and students in 19 schools and followed up by a series of lesson observations in four of these schools. Findings include significant impact on students’ performance and engagement, as well as strong support from participating teachers and school leaders.
Detecting Learning Style through Biometric Technology for Mobile GBL
Authors: Mehigan Tracey J. , Pitt Ian
Published: May 2012

Adaptive learning systems tailor content delivery to meet specific needs of the individual for improved learning-outcomes. Learning-styles and personalities are usually determined through the completion of questionnaires. There are a number of models available for this purpose including the Myer-Briggs Model (MBTI), the Big Five Model, and the Felder Silverman Learning-Style Model (FSLSM). Most models classify the student on a number of scales. Recently, a number of studies have investigated the possibility of determining an individual’s learning-style directly through their interaction patterns when using a system. Automatic learning-style detection could play a significant role in the advancement of educational gaming through personalized learning environments. Biometric devices, such as accelerometers and eye-trackers, are now available for use with mobile devices. These provide an opportunity to move toward adaptive mobile gaming environments, giving potential to track learning-styles directly through avatar movement. This paper examines mobile learning (mLearning) with an emphasis on mobile game-based environments. Adaptive learning systems are introduced. The results of studies conducted to assess the potential of biometric devices as a means of automatically detecting students’ learning-styles are discussed. The potential of this research for mobile game-based learning is outlined.
CDIO Standards and Quality Assurance
Authors: Gray Peter J.
Published: May 2012

With Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) approach collaborating institutions and programs in many countries and regions of the world, it is essential that the International CDIO Leadership Council promulgate processes to assure internal and external stakeholders that member institutions and programs are adhering to the 12 CDIO Standards. The Standards are what make CDIO a unique initiative in that they provide a vehicle for realizing the CDIO vision to transform the culture of engineering education. Therefore, the CDIO Council has developed five quality assurance processes that begin with the application to become a CDIO Collaborator and include self-evaluation, certification, and accreditation based on the CDIO Standards. This article discusses the CDIO quality assurance processes and the other articles in this special issue provide case studies and other examples related to the use of the processes by CDIO collaborators.
Insider Perceptions of Insider Trading and Corporate Governance at Nigerian Banks
Authors: Omankhanlen Alex Ehimare , Mukoro Dick Oluku
Published: May 2012

This study investigates the perceptions of uncertainty associated with Nigerian banks from an insider viewpoint. A critical review of Nigerian corporate environment shows that there have been several cases of trust abuse by board of director members at some banks. When banks’ stability is questioned by the public or investors, it negatively impacts the economy. However, it may be difficult to know what is going on unless those with inside knowledge are consulted. This study uses a confidential survey of bank employees, followed by correlation analysis, to assess perceptions of ethical corporate governance and performance. The findings reveal a strong positive correlation that bank practitioners perceive ethical corporate governance is linked to financial performance. Recommendations are given for financial practitioners and banking industry consumers.
Using a Genetic Algorithm and Markov Clustering on Protein–Protein Interaction Graphs
Authors: Moschopoulos Charalampos , Beligiannis Grigorios , Likothanassis Spiridon , Kossida Sophia
Published: May 2012

In this paper, a Genetic Algorithm is applied on the filter of the Enhanced Markov Clustering algorithm to optimize the selection of clusters having a high probability to represent protein complexes. The filter was applied on the results (obtained by experiments made on five different yeast datasets) of three different algorithms known for their efficiency on protein complex detection through protein interaction graphs. The results are compared with three popular clustering algorithms, proving the efficiency of the proposed method according to metrics such as successful prediction rate and geometrical accuracy.
An Artificial Intelligence Based Approach for High Impedance Faults Analysis in Distribution Networks
Authors: Abdel Aziz M. S. , Hassan M. A. Moustafa , El-Zahab E. A.
Published: May 2012

This paper presents a new approach for high impedance faults analysis (detection, classification and location) in distribution networks using Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System. The proposed scheme was trained by data from simulation of a distribution system under various faults conditions and tested for different system conditions. Details of the design process and the results of performance using the proposed method are discussed. The results show the proposed technique effectiveness in detecting, classifying, and locating high impedance faults. The 3rd harmonics, magnitude and angle, for the 3 phase currents give superior results for fault detection as well as for fault location in High Impedance faults. The fundamental components magnitude and angle for the 3 phase currents give superior results for classification phase of High Impedance faults over other types of data inputs.
Park’s Transformation for Electric Power Quality Recognition and Classification in Distribution Networks
Authors: Kandari Ahmad M. AL , Madouh Jamal Y. , Soliman Soliman A. , Alammari Rashid A.
Published: May 2012

This paper presents a novel algorithm for recognizing and classifying the power quality events based on Park’s transformation, where the three rotating abc phases are transferred to three equivalent stationary dq0 phases (d-q reference frame). This transformation is implemented, either for three-phase or single phase circuits. The proposed algorithm transferred the utility signal to a complex phasor (transformation from time domain to frequency domain). The magnitude of this phasor depends on the magnitude of the signal either a three-phase or a single phase signal. The proposed technique produces the complex phasor loci that depend on the type of power quality event; voltage sags, voltage flickers, voltage swell, and harmonics. The time of starting the disturbance is chosen randomly and the length of disturbance is arbitrary. Implementation of this technique is succeeded in recognizing and classifying the power quality events. Simulated results are presented within the text, for three-phase and single phase events.
The Transition of the “Traditional” Romanian Brands
Authors: Voicilas Dan Marius
Published: May 2012

In this paper, the author discusses the trajectory of the main Romanian marks from the communist period on the free competition market. This analysis used data that were periodically published by the Romanian newspaper Adevarul, following the surveys and studies conducted by Gemius and Evensys (popularity tops of the fourth edition of the study “Leading Brands by Romanian Users 2011”), as well as other specialty works, the studies made by Alexander Dolgin in particular. Last but not least, the author examines some “success stories” of new Romanian brands, compared with the old brands, to bring to evidence and debate the capacity of the new Romanian entrepreneurs to stand out in the market and protect and promote their products in a tough competition environment, subject to globalization.
Accumulation and Integration in Seamless Knowledge
Authors: Sugiyama Shigeki , Suzuki Junji
Published: May 2012

Society is in the era of globalization. Communication methods include transfers among commodities, facilities, information, systems, thought, knowledge, etc., causing many interactions among society. As a result of these situations, an individual’s world can be altered, causing multi dipoles. Currently, an individual is able to get as much information as he or she desires. But on the other hand, individuals are also losing information, goods, foods, etc., without recognizing how much is lost. The authors believe under these situations almost everything in the world may be interfering with one another in a multitude of ways. This phenomenon will aggressively continue. This paper studies the problems caused by these situations and proposes a method to resolve some of the problems caused by these situations: Accumulation and Integration in Seamless Knowledge.
Civil Society Organizations in Knowledge Society
Authors: Saeed Saqib , Rohde Markus , Wulf Volker
Published: May 2012

The notion of a knowledge society demands equal access of knowledge for every stakeholder in the society. Modern information and communication technologies play a significant role in accessing and storing knowledge, which is a vital enabler for fostering knowledge society paradigm. Voluntary organizations represent an important part of society which differs from traditional business and governmental organizations in terms of structure, working methodologies, and decision making. In this paper the authors investigate the Pakistani civil society sector to analyze the involvement of technology in their work settings. The findings suggest that lack of technological and financial resources hinder voluntary organizations in this region to adopt innovative technological solutions, so there is need for supporting the appropriation of technology in this sector. On the basis of the authors’ findings they propose a research plan to follow for the uplift of Pakistani NGOs and their use of ICTs. This research framework can be extended to NGO sectors of other parts of the world in an effort to generalize the findings worldwide to better support the technology needs of this community.
Research on Emotional Intelligence Management Based on the Intellectual Capital Business Model
Authors: Naixiao Zhu , Zhuoqi Ding
Published: May 2012

With the development of globalization and knowledge economy, intangible assets have become more important in competition. The practice of the intellectual capital business model in Chinese enterprises is an important source for innovation and lets Chinese enterprises get sustainable competitive advantage. In this paper, the authors take K group as an example, and analyze methods of EI management, which has improved employee motivation in innovation. The authors also use empirical analysis to validate the positive correlation between the emotional intelligence (EI) of core staff and job performance. With the development of knowledge economy and corporate strategy theory, knowledge management has taken an important role in the competition and intellectual capital (IC) has become the source of value creation. Intellectual capital business model is a description of the intellectual capital operation, the better mode of operation, the higher and greater value of intellectual capital. As such, intellectual capital is becoming an essential business component; the application of intellectual capital business models increases economic efficiency and enhances competitiveness.
Telehomecare in The Netherlands
Authors: Kort H.S.M. , van Hoof J.
Published: May 2012

Telehomecare is one of the technological solutions used by older persons to remain living at home in their own community. A selection of 85 Dutch telehomecare projects was examined in terms of the barriers to their implementation. Three categories of telehomecare technologies were distinguished: (i) remote telecare, (ii) activity monitoring, and (iii) a category comprising telemedicine and e-health solutions and services. There are numerous barriers to the implementation of telehomecare technologies. In the majority of the Dutch telehomecare projects, the needs of both care recipients and family carers are addressed. The integration of needs derived from one’s health condition and the requirements set to technology are not always a match. Some projects give consideration to how to get commitment of the care professionals and their managers. Only a few projects consider economic aspects, for instance by the development of a social business case. To lift the barriers to the implementation of telehomecare, a better exchange of knowledge and experiences related to functionalities and user needs, the use of home modifications and assistive technologies, as well as the available care support should be considered.
Efficient and Reliable Transportation of Consignments (ERTOC)
Authors: Akhtar Javed , Bailey John , Weatherby David , Shaikh Siraj Ahmed , Ireland David , Payne Daniel , Antins Luke , Barker Dave
Published: May 2012

This paper describes a new initiative to drive business improvement and sustainability throughout the supply chain from factory to point of sale. The effort, called Efficient and Reliable Transportation of Consignments (ERTOC), aims to develop a standards based open architecture data hub to deliver accurate information for transport operators and their customers to use and improve business efficiency and effectiveness. Only by understanding the true environmental costs involved, users will be able to compare and assess different transport options to make better informed choices. Such a need drives this effort to demonstrate how a standardised data hub can track the carbon costs of transport at consignment level. The paper presents the underlying architecture of the proposed system, which serves to integrate (diverse and third party) resources, involving collection of data, storage and provision of it for further processing.
Utilizing the Modified Self-Adaptive Differential Evolution Algorithm in Dynamic Cellular Manufacturing System
Authors: Hassannezhad Mohammad , Javadian Nikbakhsh
Published: May 2012

Today, Cellular Manufacturing Systems (CMS) have been introduced as a mixture of work-shop manufacturing and line-production systems for keeping efficiency and flexibility synchronously. One of the difficult steps of designing CMS is the Cell Formation (CF) problem in which parts with similar processes are made in one cell. Solving a dynamic integer model of CF with three sub-objective functions is considered using evolutionary algorithms. Due to the fact that CF is a NP-hard problem, solving the model using classical optimization methods needs long computational time. In this paper, a nonlinear integer model of CF is presented and then solved by proposed Modified Self-adaptive Differential Evolution (MSDE) and Modified Genetic Algorithm (MGA) using a set of 25 test problems. The results are compared with the optimal solution, and the efficiency of MSDE algorithm is discussed.
A Survey of Ant Colony Optimization Algorithms for Telecommunication Networks
Authors: Benyahia Ilham
Published: May 2012

Optical and ad-hoc networks which fulfill the communications requirements of complex applications must meet the Quality of Service (QoS) demanded by these applications, such as transmission delay. These demands are hard to satisfy in the presence of unpredictable behavior in the environment such as interference, traffic congestion, etc. Algorithms based on Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) offer an effective approach to meet such challenges since they are well suited to the dynamic routing optimization and dynamic resource reassignment required by these applications. In this paper, the author presents a survey of Ant Colony Optimization variants applied to ad-hoc and optical networks. The ACO variant called AntHocNet in particular will be reviewed, analyzed, and criticized from the point of view of emergent applications for environment management such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).
Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline and Least Square Support Vector Machine for Prediction of Undrained Shear Strength of Clay
Authors: Samui Pijush , Kurup Pradeep
Published: May 2012

This study adopts Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS) and Least Square Support Vector Machine (LSSVM) for prediction of undrained shear strength (su) of clay, based Cone Penetration Test (CPT) data. Corrected cone resistance (qt), vertical total stress (sv), hydrostatic pore pressure (u0), pore water pressure at the cone tip (u1), and pore water pressure just above the cone base (u2) are used as input parameters for building the MARS and LSSVM models. The developed MARS and LSSVM models give simple equations for prediction of su. A comparative study between MARS and LSSSM is presented. The results confirm that the developed MARS and LSSVM models are robust for prediction of su.
A DIMMA-Based Memetic Algorithm for 0-1 Multidimensional Knapsack Problem Using DOE Approach for Parameter Tuning
Authors: Yaghini Masoud , Momeni Mohsen , Sarmadi Mohammadreza
Published: May 2012

Multidimensional 0-1 Knapsack Problem (MKP) is a well-known integer programming problems. The objective of MKP is to find a subset of items with maximum value satisfying the capacity constraints. A Memetic algorithm on the basis of Design and Implementation Methodology for Metaheuristic Algorithms (DIMMA) is proposed to solve MKP. DIMMA is a new methodology to develop a metaheuristic algorithm. The Memetic algorithm is categorized as metaheuristics and is a particular class of evolutionary algorithms. The parameters of the proposed algorithm are tuned by Design of Experiments (DOE) approach. DOE refers to the process of planning the experiment so that appropriate data that can be analyzed by statistical methods will be collected, resulting in valid and objective conclusions. The proposed algorithm is tested on several MKP standard instances from OR-Library. The results show the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Imagining a Feminist Actor-Network Theory
Authors: Quinlan Andrea
Published: May 2012

Feminism and Actor-Network Theory (ANT) have often been considered opposing theoretical and intellectual traditions. This paper imagines a meeting between these seemingly divergent fields and considers the theoretical and methodological challenges that ANT and feminism raise for one another. This paper examines an empirical project that calls for an engagement with both ANT and feminism. Through the lens of this empirical project, three methodological questions that an alliance between ANT and feminism would raise for any research project are considered: 1) Where does the analysis start? 2) What can be seen once the research has begun? 3) What about politics? The potential places where ANT and feminism can meet and mutually shape research on scientific practice and technological innovation are explored. In doing so, this paper moves toward an imagining of a feminist ANT.
OPEN Platform for Migration of Interactive Services
Authors: Nickelsen Anders , Paternò Fabio , Grasselli Agnese , Schmidt Kay-Uwe , Martin Miquel , Mureddu Francesca
Published: May 2012

One important aspect of ubiquitous environments is to provide users with the possibility to freely move about and continue to interact with the available applications through a variety of interactive devices such as cell phones, PDAs, desktop computers, intelligent watches, or digital television sets. Migratory applications are able to follow the user by sensing changes in the user’s context and adapting to available devices, ideally without interrupting the user experience. However, applications themselves must contain functions to monitor context information, coordinate a migration, handle application adaptation, and interact with the user during the migration process. To make life easier for developers and users of migratory applications, an integrated Migration Service Platform (MSP) is proposed, where all the common migration functions are centralised. The authors show how the platform is realised as middleware that contains a server for the central functions and lightweight client-side running on the end-user devices. The authors show how migratory applications can interact with the platform and thereby do not have to contain migration functions themselves. The authors describe the challenges following the centralisation of a migration platform that can support different types of applications, both games and business applications, implemented with either web-technologies or as component-based applications.
An Exploration of the Value of Online Social Networks for Salespeople
Authors: Shoemaker Mary E.
Published: May 2012

Social Customer Relationship Management, using interactive technologies to have conversations with the customer, is rapidly emerging as a source of competitive advantage. Online social networking, such as using LinkedIn or Facebook, is being touted as essential to building customer relationships. Salespeople whose primary function is to build relationships are embracing online social networking to reach their sales goals. This paper reviews academic and practitioner literature to consider what aspects of interpersonal relationship building may be enhanced by the use of online social networks. Sales process support, trust building, weak tie leverage, customer value creation, buying center identification, and contact management are proposed as areas where online social networks could contribute value to sales endeavors.
Potential of General Purpose Graphic Processing Unit for Energy Management System
Authors: Tournier Jean-Charles , Donde Vaibhav , Li Zhao , Naef Martin
Published: May 2012

This paper investigates the potential of General Purpose Graphic Processing Unit (GPGPU) for the server and HMI parts of Energy Management System (EMS). The HMI investigation focuses on the applicability and performance improvement of GPGPU for scattered data interpolation algorithms typically used to visually represent the overall state of a power network. The server side investigation focuses on fine grain parallelization of EMS applications by targeting the sparse linear solver. The different performance evaluations show the high potential of GPGPU for the HMI part with a speedup factor up to 100 at the cost of acceptable approximations, while the benefit on the server side varies from a speedup factor of up to 300 to 0 depending on the application.
Big Data Management Challenges in a Meteorological Organisation
Authors: Wilson Lee , Goh Tiong T. , Wang William Yu Chung
Published: May 2012

Data management practices strongly impact enterprise performance, especially for e-science organisations dealing with big data. This study identifies the key challenges and issues facing information system managers in growing demand for big data operations to deliver timely meteorological products. Data was collected from in-depth interviews with five MetService information system managers, including the CIO. Secondary data sources include internal documents and relevant literatures. The study revealed the pressing and challenging big data management issues can broadly be classified as data governance, infrastructure management, and workflow management. The study identifies a gap in adopting effective workflow management system and coordinated outsourcing plan within the organisation. Although the study is limited by its sample size and generalisation, the findings are useful for other IT managers and practitioners of data-intensive organisations to examine their data management practices on the need to balance the demand for efficient scientific operations and sustainable business growth. This study recognised that although the organisation is implementing up-to-date and practical solutions to meet these challenges, effort is needed to harmonise and align these solutions with business growth strategies to sustain future growth. This study enhanced societies’ understanding to the current practices of a real world organization.
Towards Active Citizen-Centric E-Government Systems for Developing Countries
Authors: Folorunso Olusegun , Chen Catherine , Ahmed Nazim U. , Harris Thomas
Published: May 2012

The importance of citizen’s participation in government cannot be overemphasized. Governments in many developing countries have made efforts, in spite of their infrastructural and financial limitations, to uphold the virtues of participatory e-governance with limited success. A major cause of this elusive success is the design of e-government platforms, which doesn’t encourage usage by the stakeholders of e-government. Many governments in developing countries are settling for other means to communicate with citizens. In this work, a new architectural framework is proposed that uses knowledge management facilities to enhance web-based e-governance and encourage participation, thus allowing for the elicitation of knowledge from online discourse. The country examined in this article is Nigeria. However, it is likely that many other African and developing countries have similar experiences. This work will aid in the improvement of web-based e-government platforms for such countries.
The Principle of Nexus in E-Commerce Tax
Authors: Yang James G.S.
Published: May 2012

The volume of Internet commerce has become increasingly important in today’s economy. However, it has a sales tax problem, concerning whether the seller or the buyer should be responsible for collecting sales tax. This problem becomes more complicated when the Internet commerce crosses state borders; this situation has caused many lawsuits. Courts have ruled that an out-of-state seller is held responsible only when there is a “nexus” between the seller and the state. A place of business or employee is evidence of “physical presence” and thus constitutes “nexus.” An independent contractor is treated as employee. Website connection between two computers serving as an “affiliate” in soliciting business for a fee is deemed to have “nexus.” In recent years, many state governments enacted tax statutes that require an out-of-state seller to provide information about an in-state buyer’s name and address and product purchased. Unfortunately, it was ruled unconstitutional by the court. The seller can refuse the request without financial consequences.