bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studying Social Capital in the New Communitarian Horizon
Authors: Aguirre José Luis López
Published: May 2011

Characterized by the virtualization vs. materialization of the social interaction spaces, current communitarian scenarios set a series of doubts about how new technologies are transforming the ability of humans to associate with others over space and time. This uncertain atmosphere takes our methodological approaches for studying virtual communities to the study of the communitarian environment through the analysis of essential attributes that determine the existence of a community: social capital. This chapter presents a multi-method research strategy that allows the study of the social capital in these hybrid communities, in which the only stable element to perform the analysis is the person, understood as the central node where different social groups converge in physical and virtual interaction nets and where ultimately communitarian feelings are cherished.
Preparing People to Manage, Support and Use Enterprise Systems in an Arabian Gulf Context
Authors: Al-Hinai Hamed , Edwards Helen M.
Published: May 2011

Preparing organizations and assessing their readiness to implement enterprise systems is a growing agenda in information systems research. This chapter examines the challenges that face the preparation of organizations‘ stakeholders in managing and supporting the implementation and using enterprise systems in an Arabian Gulf context. The chapter points out the major issues that have been identified by enterprise systems‘ professionals such as: lack of business and IT strategies, continuous top management support, insufficient training, inefficient communication procedures, inefficient change management and cultural barriers. To overcome these challenges, the chapter suggests that the preparation should not be limited to end users since the preparation of other stakeholders, such as top managers, project manager and project teams, is essential to successfully implement and use the enterprise system. Based on insights gained by empirical research with enterprise systems professionals, the chapter recommends a number of factors that need to be considered. These have been grouped into the categories of: organizational, managerial, technical, external, and human/social factors.
Electronic Readiness of Saudi Health Organizations
Authors: Al-Kinani Ali
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, the author uses a questionnaire as an instrument s to evaluate the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in Saudi health organizations. Information and Communication Technology has become an important tool for improving the efficiency of health organizations. E-Health applications are increasingly being drawn into evaluating the Internet as a useful source of information on health by end-users. This chapter is an attempt to explore E-Health applications and related implementations issues in developing countries, and in particular Saudi Arabia.
City Networks in Cyberspace and Time
Authors: Boulton Andrew , Devriendt Lomme , Brunn Stanley D. , Derudder Ben , Witlox Frank
Published: May 2011

Geographers and social scientists have long been interested in ranking and classifying the cities of the world. The cutting edge of this research is characterized by a recognition of the crucial importance of information and, specifically, ICTs to cities’ positions in the current Knowledge Economy. This chapter builds on recent “cyberspace” analyses of the global urban system by arguing for, and demonstrating empirically, the value of Web search engine data as a means of understanding cities as situated within, and constituted by, flows of digital information. To this end, the authors show how the Google search engine can be used to specify a dynamic, informational classification of North American cities based on both the production and the consumption of Web information about two prominent current issues global in scope: the global financial crisis, and global climate change.
Locative Media and Playful Appropriations or How Electronic Games Help to Redefine the Meaning of Space
Authors: Falcão Thiago , Andrade Luiz , Ferreira Emmanoel , Bruni Paolo
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents an investigation on how the ludic incorporation of locative media modifies the creation of meaning in urban spaces. In this sense, the authors try to understand how electronic games reinforce the relationship between the urban space and the digital media, allowing the creation of intelligent informational territories. The authors‘ hypothesis is based on the fact that these specific types of digital games – known as ubiquitous, pervasive games – develop new spatiality forms, producing – to the players – other types of use and appropriation of the urban space. In order to develop this discussion, they propose an analysis of some alternate reality games (ARGs) developed in Brazil.
Cross-Platform Microarray Data Integration Combining Meta-Analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis
Authors: Yu Jian , Wu Jun , Li Miaoxin , Yi Yajun , Shyr Yu , Xie Lu
Published: May 2011

Integrative analysis of microarray data has been proven as a more reliable approach to deciphering molecular mechanisms underlying biological studies. Traditional integration such as meta-analysis is usually gene-centered. Recently, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) has been widely applied to bring gene-level interpretation to pathway-level. GSEA is an algorithm focusing on whether an a priori defined set of genes shows statistically significant differences between two biological states. However, GSEA does not support integrating multiple microarray datasets generated from different studies. To overcome this, the improved version of GSEA, ASSESS, is more applicable, after necessary modifications. By making proper combined use of meta-analysis, GSEA, and modified ASSESS, this chapter reports two workflow pipelines to extract consistent expression pattern change at pathway-level, from multiple microarray datasets generated by the same or different microarray production platforms, respectively. Such strategies amplify the advantage and overcome the disadvantage than if using each method individually, and may achieve a more comprehensive interpretation towards a biological theme based on an increased sample size. With further network analysis, it may also allow an overview of cross-talking pathways based on statistical integration of multiple gene expression studies. A web server where one of the pipelines is implemented is available at: http://lifecenter.sgst.cn/mgsea//home.htm.
Chaos Game Representation of Mitochondrial Genomes
Authors: Yu Zu-Guo , Han Guo-Sheng , Li Bo , Anh Vo , Li Yi-Quan
Published: May 2011

The mitochondrial genomes have provided much information on the evolution of this organelle and have been used for phylogenetic reconstruction by various methods with or without sequence alignment. In this paper, we explore the mitochondrial genomes by means of the chaos game representation (CGR), a tool derived from the chaotic dynamical systems theory. If the DNA sequence is a random collection of bases, the CGR will be a uniformly filled square; on the other hand, any pattern visible in the CGR contains information on the DNA sequence. First we use the Markov chain models to simulate the CGR of mitochondrial genomes. Then we model the noise background in the genome sequences by a Markov chain. A simple correlation-related distance approach without sequence alignment based on the CGR of mitochondrial genomes is proposed to analyze the phylogeny of 64 selected vertebrates.
Digital Auscultation System of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Its Signals Acquisition
Authors: Zhou Fanpeng , Yan Jianjun , Wang Yiqin , Li Fufeng , Xia Chunming , Guo Rui , Yan Haixia
Published: May 2011

Digital auscultation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a relatively new technology which has been developed for several years. This system makes diagnoses by analyzing sound signals of patients using signal processing and pattern recognition. The paper discusses TCM auscultation in both traditional and current digital auscultation methods. First, this article discusses demerits of traditional TCM auscultation methods. It is through these demerits that a conclusion is drawn that digital auscultation of TCM is indispensable. Then this article makes an introduction to voice analysis methods from linear and nonlinear analysis aspects to pattern recognition methods in common use. Finally this article establishes a new TCM digital auscultation system based on wavelet analysis and Back-propagation neural network (BPNN).
Structure of Hydrogenase in Biohydrogen Production Anaerobic Bacteria
Authors: Du Ming , Zhang Lu
Published: May 2011

Hydrogenase plays an important role in the process of biohydrogen production. Hydrogenases have very unique active sites and are classified into three groups according to the metal composition of the active sites: the [Ni-Fe] hydrogenase, [Fe-Fe] hydrogenase, and [Fe-only] hydrogenase. In this paper, the crystal structures and active sites of three kinds of hydrogenases are examined and compared. These enzymes have an unusual structural feature in common. Their similar active site indicates that the catalytic mechanism of hydrogen activation is probably similar. The understanding of the catalytic mechanisms for the three kinds of hydrogenases may help achieve the industrialization process of hydrogen energy production. Moreover, the future research direction about the hydrogenases from auto-aggregative bacteria and the chemical mimic of hydrogenases structure is discussed.
A Novel Flowsheet for the Recycling of Valuable Constituents from Waste Printed Circuit Boards
Authors: He Jingfeng , He Yaqun , Zhou Nianxin , Duan Chenlong , Wang Shuai , Zhang Hongjian
Published: May 2011

Waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) contain a number of valuable constituents. It is of great significance to separate precious metals and non-metallic constituents from waste PCBs with appropriate methods for resource recycling and environment protection. A novel flowsheet for the recycling of waste PCBs using physical beneficiation methods was constructed. Waste PCBs were disassembled into substrates and slots firstly. The substrates were crushed to the size below 1mm through wet impact crushing and separated with a tapered column separation bed. The results indicated that products with integrated separation efficiency of 93.9% and metal recovery ratio of 93.7% were obtained by the primary separation with the water discharge of 5.5 m3/h, feed-rate of 250g/min and inclination angle of 35°. Waste PCBs slots components were crushed to the size of 0.5-5mm through impact crushing and separated with an active pulsing air classifier. The separation results showed that products with integration separation efficiency of 92.4% and metal recovery ratio of 96.2% were obtained with the airflow velocity of 2.90m/s and pulsing frequency of 2.33Hz. Precious metals could be obtained by further separation and purification of the metal components and the non-metal components could be used as refuse derived fuel. The flowsheet has great potential to be applied in the field of waste PCBs treatment and recycling.
Brand Management Process for the Online Education Programmes
Authors: Gokaliler Ebru , Aybar Ayda Sabuncuoglu
Published: May 2011

The brand management process consists 5 steps which are: market analysis, brand situation analysis, targeted positioning, testing the new opportunities, and evaluation. In order to make a successful online education programme brand, all these steps must be carried out and the programme must be positioned positively in the consumers’ minds. In order to create a successful brand of online education programme, the programme should follow the brand management stages for placing a positive meaning on the consumer mindset.
Social Media Based Relationship Marketing
Authors: Shaik Najmuddin , Ritter Shannon
Published: May 2011

A growing number of colleges and universities are using social media as an integral component of their marketing strategy, because they realize marketing is not a marketer-led, one-way form of communication, but a student-led, two-way dialogue. By becoming part of this conversation, educational institutions can learn about how to incorporate social media as part of their marketing strategy to reach these students. The chapter combines an overview of social media based marketing tools and “real-world” experience from corporate and academic institutions on social media based marketing. This chapter ends with a case study of Penn State Global Campus to assist marketing managers to create social presence for online educational programs.
Important Issues in Online Education
Authors: Hismanoglu Murat
Published: May 2011

In our times, many educational institutions are providing online degree programs for learners by supplementing their traditional offline class with web-based online educational devices. This chapter aims at stressing important issues in online education with reference to e-pedagogy and marketing of online education programs. It defines online learning, assesses the benefits and challenges of online education, and illustrates sub-categories of online degree programs to show the richness of these programs in the world of education today. It also expounds the characteristics of successful online learners and instructors as well as the principles of effective online instruction. Further, it places emphasis on the marketing of online education programs. Lastly, it offers some valuable tips for better marketing of online education programs.
Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development of Open and Distance Learning Programs in India
Authors: Tripathi Purnendu , Mukerji Siran
Published: May 2011

The ODL institutions need to have a competitive strategy so as to provide quality education at an affordable cost. This makes India a special case of investigation, wherein a network of over 10 open universities and 104 institutes of open and distance education (IODE) are providing access and equity to education. Challenge and competition in the education sector have presented a new situation where institutions are now viewed as conglomerates and educational programs as educational products. To ascertain sustainable and quality oriented education in open and distance learning mode, the present chapter attempts to make an analysis of IGNOU, the premier national open university of India by Academic Program Life Cycle (APLC) and SWOC, and to suggest strategies for improving the continuance and survival of academic programs and quality assurance in support services.
Kritical Art Works in Second Life
Authors: Harrison Dew , Doyle Denise
Published: May 2011

The chapter outlines the curation process for both of the exhibitions; presents the artists’ ideas and works; and with the panel’s insights, (some of whom are somewhat skeptical of an artist’s intent where SL work is concerned) draws them together into a new reading of art in Second Life.
Spatial Design and Physical Interface in Virtual Worlds
Authors: Watanave Hidenori
Published: May 2011

We would like to propose a new spatial model, the “Contents Oriented Space”, conforming to the physical senses experienced in the 3D virtual worlds, as well as providing an appealing spatial experience, and present a design methodology making use of this new model. There are three necessary conditions for such “Contents Oriented Space”: 1. The contents are visible from the outside; 2. The contents are directly accessible; 3. By being directly accessible, the contents become “spatial”. By applying such a spatial model, it is possible to realize the architectural space in the 3D virtual worlds, conforming to the physical senses experienced in such environment, at the same time providing an attractive spatial experience. It is a new design methodology, able to be widely applied in the architectural space design for the 3D virtual worlds in general. The experimental use of the proposed methodology in the physical interface expanding this design methodology is also currently on going.
Survey of Educational Multi-User Virtual Environments and Agents
Authors: Tezcan Arda , Richards Debbie
Published: May 2011

The potential value of Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) is increasing amongst educationalists. A key issue with MUVE for education is the need to provide system intelligence and believable characters so that the learning goals may be monitored and achieved. Agent-technology offers solutions towards achieving these needs. In this chapter, the authors explore numerous existing educational MUVE and the use of agents for pedagogy in general, as they pave the way forward for delivering intelligent educational MUVE.
Hasta La Vista Privacy, or How Technology Terminated Privacy
Authors: Stylianou Konstantinos K.
Published: May 2011

Lawyers find great joy in pointing out the destructive effects of digital technology on privacy and naturally expect the law to avert overexposure of people’s personal information. This essay takes a different view by arguing that the trajectory of technological developments renders the expansive collection of personal data inevitable, and hence the law’s primary interest should lie in regulating the use—not the collection—of information. This does not foreshadow the end of privacy, but rather suggests a necessary reconceptualization of privacy in the digital era. Along those lines we first need to acknowledge that people increasingly sacrifice voluntarily some of their privacy to enjoy the benefits of technology. Second, the ready availability of a huge volume of personal information creates attention scarcity, such that the chances a person’s privacy will be intruded are diminished. Most importantly, though, once the law accepts the inevitability of the collection of personal information, it will be best in the position to focus attention on ensuring that the collected information is appropriately used, instead of wasting resources on trying to hinder in vain its collection. This more realistic approach calls for alternative means of regulation, like self-regulation or emphasis on informed consent, and facilitates the flow of information by reducing the transactional cost of its sharing and dissemination.
Radio Frequency Identification in Hospitals
Authors: Suarez Christopher A.
Published: May 2011

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been applied increasingly within the hospital setting. This chapter argues that, while such applications may drastically improve hospital efficiency, they also may produce privacy risks that harm patients more than they help them. Further, the privacy risks associated with RFID technologies are difficult to comprehend. When patients’ personal data is implicated, hospitals should adhere to privacy principles that promote the flow of full information and enable patients to make rational choices when they opt-in to hospital RFID applications. Otherwise, RFID hospital technologies may be implemented in ways that do not serve patients’ long term privacy interests.
Measurement-Based Timing Analysis for Reconfigurable Embedded Systems
Authors: Kirner Raimund , Bünte Sven , Zolda Michael
Published: May 2011

Reconfigurable embedded computing opens many interesting possibilities for efficiency and reliability improvement. Still, it is necessary to verify whether the reconfigurable embedded computer system fulfills its timing requirements. Purely static worst-case execution time (WCET) analysis is not the best choice for verifying the timing behavior of reconfigurable embedded computer systems, as frequent re-modeling of different hardware configurations is not practicable. We describe measurement-based timing analysis as an approach that is better applicable for reconfigurable applications. Measurement-based timing analysis is a hybrid approach that combines static program analysis techniques, borrowed from static WCET analysis, with empirical learning of the application’s timing behavior by performing systematic measurements. But even the MBTA approach is challenged by the reconfigurable computing paradigm by the need for adequate coverage of the reconfigurable fabric.
Trends in Reconfigurable Embedded Systems
Authors: Valderrama C. , Jojczyk L. , Possa P.
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents reconfigurable embedded systems by looking closely at three different but inter-related aspects: design tools, methodologies and architectures, paying special attention at reconfigurable interconnections. The authors will start having a closer look at the evolution of the latest design strategies, tools and methodologies facing challenges and user requirements. Reconfigurable interconnections will be analyzed, examining topologies, drawbacks, and capabilities, specially focusing on the reconfiguration potential. From the application point of view, the authors will resume with a case study regarding embedded systems, a Software-Defined Radio application highlighting the most significant technical features and design choices.
A Design Methodology of MIN-Based Network for MPPSoC on Reconfigurable Architecture
Authors: Aydi Y. , Baklouti M. , Marquet Ph. , Abid M. , Dekeyser J.L.
Published: May 2011

Massive parallel processing systems, particularly Single Instruction Multiple Data architectures, play a crucial role in the field of data intensive parallel applications. One of the primary goals in using these systems is their scalability and their linear increase in processing power by increasing the number of processing units. However, communication networks are the big challenging issue facing researchers. One of the most important networks on chip for parallel systems is the multistage interconnection network. In this paper, we propose a design methodology of multistage interconnection networks for massively parallel systems on chip. The framework covers the design step from algorithm level to RTL. We first develop a functional formalization of MIN-based on-chip network at a high level of abstraction. The specification and the validation of the model have been defined in the logic of ACL2 proving system. The main objective in this step is to provide a formal description of the network that integrates architectural parameters which have a huge impact on design costs. After validating the functional model, step 2 consists in the design and the implementation of the Delta multistage networks on chip dedicated to parallel multi-cores architectures on reconfigurable platforms FPGA. In the last step, we propose an evaluation methodology based on performance and cost metrics to evaluate different topologies of dynamic network through data parallel applications with different number of cores. We also show in the proposed framework that multistage interconnection networks are cost-effective high performance networks for parallel SOCs.
Performance Analysis of FPGA Architectures based Embedded Control Applications
Authors: Ben Othman Slim , Ben Salem Ahmed Karim , Ben Saoud Slim
Published: May 2011

The performances of System on Chip (SoC) and the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) particularly, are increasing continually. Due to the growing complexity of modern embedded control systems, the need of more performance digital devices is evident. Recent FPGA technology makes it possible to include processor cores into the FPGA chip, which ensures more flexibility for digital controllers. Indeed, greater functionality of hardware and system software, Real-Time (RT) platforms and distributed subsystems are demanded. In this chapter, a design concept of FPGA based controller with Hardware/Software (Hw/Sw) codesign is proposed. It is applied for electrical machine drives. There are discussed different MultiProcessor SoC (MPSoC) architectures with Hw peripherals for the implementation on FPGA-based embedded processor cores. Hw accelerators are considered in the design to enhance the controller speed performance and reduce power consumption. Test and validation of this control system are performed on a RT motor emulator implemented on the same FPGA. Experimental results, carried on a real prototyping platform, are given in order to analyze the performance and efficiency of discussed architecture designs helping to support hard RT constraints.
Formal Methods for Verifications of Reactive Systems
Authors: Mosbahi Olfa , Khalgui Mohamed
Published: May 2011

This chapter deals with the use of two verification approaches: theorem proving and model checking. The authors focus on the Event-B method by using its associated theorem proving tool (Click_n_Prove), and on the language TLA+ by using its model checker TLC. By considering the limitation of the Event-B method to invariance properties, the authors propose to apply the language TLA+ to verify liveness properties on a software behavior. The authors extend first the expressivity and the semantics of a B model (called temporal B model) to deal with the specification of fairness and eventuality properties. Second, they give transformation rules from a temporal B model into a TLA+ module. The authors present in particular, their prototype system called B2TLA+, that they have developed to support this transformation; then they can verify these properties thanks to the model checker TLC on finite state systems. For the verification of infinite-state systems, they propose the use of the predicate diagrams. The authors illustrate their approach on a case study of a parcel sorting system.
Iterative Knowledge Based Embedded Systems Development Framework
Authors: Mok Goh Kiah , Tjahjono Benny , Wei Ding
Published: May 2011

Developing an embedded software solution can be time consuming and challenging especially for non-software trained engineers. This is because traditionally, embedded software is programmed manually in proprietary computer languages such as C, C++, Java and assembly languages, meaning that the developers have to be familiar with at least one of these languages. In addition, most of the embedded software design environments do not cater for both microprocessors-based and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based embedded computing environments, making the development process even more difficult without the assistance of a common method. This chapter proposes a design of a new embedded system code generator framework which is based on the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61499 Function Block, XML and EBNF. Along with this code generator, an Iterative Knowledge Based Code Generator (IKBCG) is presented to improve the accuracy of the target codes.
An Argumentation Model of Deliberative Decision-Making
Authors: Walton Douglas
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents deliberation dialogue as a framework for argumentation used in group decision-making. Drawing on and summarizing the previous literature in argumentation and artificial intelligence (AI), the chapter: (1) outlines the characteristics of deliberation as a type of dialogue; (2) distinguishes between deliberation dialogue and other types of dialogue it is closely related to and often confused with; (3) refines the existing models of deliberation to make them more useful for supporting reasoning communities engaged in collaborative decision making; (4) provides a worked example to show what the stages and characteristics of a deliberation dialogue are, and show how methods from AI and argumentation can be applied to analyzing it; and (5) outlines some further areas for research on deliberation that are currently being studied.
Intersubjective Reasoning and the Formation of Metaconsensus
Authors: Niemeyer Simon
Published: May 2011

Group deliberation, according to deliberative theorists, is supposed to produce better outcomes, but there is relatively little specification on the nature of improvement beyond appeals to consensus and improved reasoning. This chapter identifies two inter-related concepts of metaconsensus and intersubjective rationality as outcomes that an authentic deliberative process ought to produce. Importantly, these deliberative ends are consistent with ideal deliberative procedure. They are also empirically tractable, where preference transformation can be described in terms of underlying values, and judgments. Methods for assessing deliberative ends are provided and demonstrated using the Bloomfield Track case study.
Group Decision Making
Authors: Saaty Thomas L.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces a multicriteria decision making method for measuring intangible criteria alongside tangible ones. It relies on the use of judgments when scales are unavailable, and because scales of measurement use arbitrary units uniformly over their entire range, judgment is often needed to determine the significance of reading on such a scale. A brief discussion is given of how individual judgments can be combined to obtain a representative group judgment. An actual example for selecting the best hospice for a terminally ill patient is developed in detail. Numerous examples of application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) process around the world are listed along with references to books written on the subject in many languages.
Web 2.0, Virtual Worlds, and Real Ethical Issues
Authors: Conger Sue
Published: May 2011

Social networking sites, enabled by Web 2.0 technologies and embodied in role-playing virtual worlds, are gaining in popularity and use both for recreational and business purposes. Behavioral controls can be regulated through program code restrictions, rules of conduct, and local norms. Most vendor hosts of virtual worlds use code restrictions sparingly, restricting only overtly illegal activities. Otherwise, all worlds publish some form of rules of conduct and rely on the development of in-world local norms to regulate behavior. As a result, many unethical forms of behavior have arisen, including griefing, fragging, and industrial espionage. There is no sure method of solving the unethical forms of behavior unless strong social norms develop; therefore, users must take precautions when acting in virtual worlds to understand how to avoid or deflect virtual attacks of different types.
A Social Framework for Software Architectural Design
Authors: Kolp Manuel , Wautelet Yves
Published: May 2011

Information systems are deeply linked to human activities. Unfortunately, development methodologies have been traditionally inspired by programming concepts and not by organizational and enterprise ones. This leads to ontological and semantic gaps between the systems and their environments. The adoption of Multi- Agent Systems (MAS) helps to reduce these gaps by offering modeling tools based on organizational concepts (actors, agents, goals, objectives, responsibilities, social dependencies, etc.) as fundamentals to conceive systems through a development process. Socio-technical design is concerned with the direct involvement of users in software design. To this respect the DesCARTES framework presented in this paper offers three main contributions: 1) the use of agents modeled according to organizational concepts, 2) the use of social patterns in software design that better match with users’ organization structures, and 3) the inclusion in an iterative development methodology that involves the user intensively in software development.
Effects of Computer Self Efficacy on the Use and Adoption of Online Social Networking
Authors: Mew Lionel , Money William H.
Published: May 2011

Online Social Networking (OSN) systems such as Ning, MySpace, Facebook and Friendster have achieved tremendous popularity. However, little research has been conducted to determine factors motivating users with varying capabilities to use and adopt OSN systems addressing target tasks, with varying system capabilities and characteristics. The relationships between user characteristics and use/performance have not been adequately addressed. This study used a cross-sectional survey of 262 graduate and undergraduate students to examine how end user Computer Self-Efficacy (CSE) affects performance and use of OSN systems and how â€œfitâ€ determines whether there are user, task and/or systems characteristics associated with the best performance and usage levels. Significant direct and indirect relationships were found between CSE, task and system characteristics as measured by performance and use, and these relationships were further significantly strengthened when there was good â€œfitâ€ between the variables. Results indicate that users having high self-efficacy â€œfitâ€ with task or systems characteristics produce higher performance and use.
A Holistic Perspective of Security in Health Related Virtual Communities
Authors: Apostolakis I. , Chryssanthou A. , Varlamis I.
Published: May 2011

A significant issue in health related applications is protecting a patient’s profile data from unauthorized access. In the case of telemedicine systems a patient’s medical profile and other medical information is transferred over the network from the examination lab to the doctor’s office in order for the doctor to be able to perform a diagnosis. The medical information transferred across the network should be encrypted, secured and protected until it reaches its final destination. Patients’ medical profiles should be accessible by their doctors in order to support diagnosis and care, but must also be protected from other patients, medical companies and others who are not certified by the patient to access his medical data. A very important element of virtual communities is trust. Trust should be built upon the same specifications for secure data transfer and leveled access with medical information. Furthermore, trust requires a strict policy based mechanism, which defines roles, access rights and limitation among community members, as well as a flexible identification mechanism, which allows anonymity of patients, while in the same time guarantees the truthfulness of doctors’ identity and expertise.
E-Tagging in Context; Information Management across Community Networks
Authors: Pfeiffer Heather D. , Tonkin Emma L.
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines social tagging as annotation; first from the perspective of classification research; and second from the perspective of knowledge representation and knowledge management. Using the context meta-model of the annotation, the authors demonstrate that the model is adequately represented in existing knowledge representation theory; specifically, from the perspective of socially constructed meaning in community networks. Furthermore, the set of tagging representations (that is, triadic networks of the individual, object, and annotation) are explored throughout the knowledge representation domain. In contrast to many commentators, the authors of this chapter conclude that social tagging may effectively be explored via a multidisciplinary approach linking knowledge representation and classifi- cation research and creating an open domain network.
Virtual Team Identity Construction and Boundary Maintenance
Authors: Zhang Huiyan , Poole Marshall Scott
Published: May 2011

This chapter reports the results of a multiple case study which investigated how virtual teams appropriated multiple media to facilitate the construction of group identity and manage group boundaries. It focuses on relationships within and between virtual teams. The study found five processes that shaped group identity, including clarification of goals and mission, developing regularized pattern of interaction, group norms for media use, and negotiation of task jurisdiction with interlocking groups. The study discovered that groups managed boundaries in terms of clarity distinctness, and permeability. It indicated that group boundaries were blurred and maintained simultaneously through purposeful use of communication technologies.
Is it a Boy or a Girl? Anonymity and Gender in Computer-Mediated Interactions
Authors: Maguire Katheryn C.
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines the research on sex differences and gender identification in computer-mediated interaction (CMI), and presents a pilot study of synchronous, anonymous, one-to-one interactions, to understand the extent to which a person’s “real life” sex can be identified in CMIs as well as the stylistic and linguistic cues that “mark” someone as “male” or “female.” Although previous research has reported sex differences in a number of different variables (e.g., number of words, disagreements), analysis of the transcripts in this study revealed only one significant difference, in that men corrected themselves more often than women. Furthermore, participants correctly guessed the sex of their partner 62.5% of the time, felt approximately 65% sure of their guess, and used gender stereotypes to make their assessments. Implications for anonymity and CMI research are discussed, focusing on the conditions under which sex differences and gender stereotypes become relevant in on-line interactions.
Pathfinding Discourses of Self in Social Network Sites
Authors: Georgalou Mariza
Published: May 2011

It has been argued that social network sites (SNSs) constitute a cultural arena which gives rise to the processes of self-presentation, impression management and friendship performance (boyd & Ellison, 2007). Based on the tenets of discourse-centered online ethnography, this study investigates how identity can be discursively generated, reproduced and co-constructed within the genre of SNSs, taking as a case in point Pathfinder, a Greek portal which incorporates social networking features. The tendencies suggested by interviewing a Pathfinder web developer as well as by a pilot survey on social networking are traced in a popular Pathfinder networker’s profile. Adopting Zhao et al.’s (2008) sociological model of implicit and explicit identity claims on SNSs and leaning on critical discourse analytical tools (Fairclough, 2003; Reisigl & Wodak, 2001), the chapter explores how the online self can be cemented and disseminated in narrative, enumerative and visual terms via an armory of linguistic and multimodal strategies. In this fashion, SNSs should not be approached as a sheer technological artefact, but as a “space for growth” (Turkle, 1997) that encourages users to have agency shaping collaboratively their own linguistic, social and psychological development.
Information and Communications Technologies and Policy Development for E-Democracy in Malaysia
Authors: Gapar Abu Bakar Abdul , Johanson Graeme
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the prospect of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) enhancing Malaysia’s policy development processes through citizen engagement to enhance the development and implementation of electronic democracy (e-democracy). The Malaysian government promotes a diverse range of ICT initiatives which this chapter seeks to examine through a series of key questions: What are the initiatives and their objectives? How do these initiatives provide opportunities for civic education and citizen empowerment? Has the government through its public administrators actually started to engage citizens in policy development processes online? Are citizens ready to take part in these online initiatives? What sort of contribution can citizens provide to government online? In order to answer these questions, this chapter discusses the role of ICT planning, strategies, and initiatives to improve democratic practices. The chapter discusses four factors influencing the thinking of the Malaysian public service toward local conceptualization and implementation of e-democracy for better policy development. The answers are based on publications in the public domain and preliminary interviews with a handful of key informants.
Virtual Mentoring
Authors: Punyanunt-Carter Narissra Maria , Hernandez Emilio S.
Published: May 2011

With the proliferation of information technology and its saturation within homes, classrooms, and organizations, the traditional landscape of mentoring relationships is quickly becoming a faceless phenomenon. Virtual mentoring is rapidly being the more preferred way to initiate mentor and protégé relationships because of constraints that prevent people from meeting face-to-face. It is through this computer-mediated method of interaction where benefits surface that increase computer-mediate dialogue, allow for the free exchange of knowledge and information regardless of an individual’s role within the interaction, and provides women a channel to voice their opinions and ideas free from gender bias. Outside of these benefits; however, limitations do exist that should be closely monitored so that the continued success of virtual mentoring can remain a viable option.
Database Analysis with ANNs by means of Graph Evolution
Authors: Rivero Daniel , Dorado Julián , Rabuñal Juan , Pazos Alejandro
Published: May 2011

Traditionally, the development of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) is a slow process guided by the expert knowledge. This expert usually has to test several architectures until he finds one suitable for solving a specific problem. This makes the development of ANNs a slow process in which the expert has to do much effort. This chapter describes a new method for the development of Artificial Neural Networks, so it becomes completely automated. Since ANNs are complex structures with very high connectivity, traditional algorithms are not suitable to represent them. For this reason, in this work graphs with high connectivity that represent ANNs are evolved. In order to measure the performance of the system and to compare the results with other ANN development methods by means of Evolutionary Computation (EC) techniques, several tests were performed with problems based on some of the most used test databases in Data Mining. These comparisons show that the system achieves good results that are not only comparable to those of the already existing techniques but, in most cases, improve them.
Supercomputers and Supercomputing
Authors: Cook Jeffrey
Published: May 2011

What is a Supercomputer? A Supercomputer is defined as the fastest type of computer used for specialized applications that require a massive number of mathematical calculations. The term “supercomputer” was coined in 1929 by the New York World, referring to tabulators manufactured by IBM. To modern computer users, these tabulators would probably appear awkward, slow, and cumbersome to use, but at the time, they represented the cutting edge of technology. This continues to be true of supercomputers today, which harness immense processing power so that they are incredibly fast, sophisticated, and powerful.
Assessing Empirical Relations of Music Piracy Behaviors with Lifestyle and Internet Self-Efficacy of Taiwan’s Web Users
Authors: Hsu Ti , Wong Weng , Wang Chien-Chih , Li Yeen Ni , Li Pu Chuan , Tsai Min Chi , Tsai Yu Kai , Su Sheng Hong
Published: May 2011

Unlike past research on online music piracy with a focus on the economic or the legal perspective, the present study was designed to evaluate Web users’ behaviors related to the music piracy empirically. In light of the newly ratified Copyright Law in Taiwan, the behavioral intentions of Web users towards the music downloading and/or P2P file sharing were studied using a sample of 317 Taiwan’s Internet users. Results indicated that Web users were likely to reduce or modify their behaviors in order not to be in conflict with the new law. Results also showed that methods of music piracy used by respondents had nothing to do with lifestyle, but were more correlated to the Internet self-efficacy. Findings and their implications are discussed and suggestions for future work are offered in this chapter.
Creativity Support via Terms in Thematic Relations
Authors: Yamamoto Eiko , Isahara Hitoshi
Published: May 2011

Creativity is required in many fields of endeavor—especially industry and scientific research. Creative tasks we consider in this article include not only creative tasks by single individual or multiple individuals, but also collaborative tasks accomplished by a group of individuals with support of e-collaboration technologies. The difficulty of formulating new ideas calls for the development of an environment that supports creativity. Moreover, it is known that people tend to become more creative when they use words that are related thematically rather than taxonomically. In light of this, we sought to extract lists of words having a thematic relation. In this article, we propose a method of extracting such word lists and verify, through Web retrieval, that word lists with a thematic relation can support creativity. The verification method is based on the belief that we can acquire certain knowledge if a word list directs us to informative Web pages and the knowledge included in such pages is useful and can itself stimulate creativity. As a result of our experiment, we report that our methodology can extract word lists available to support creativity.
Result Refinement in Web Services Retrieval Based on Multiple Instances Learning
Authors: Zou Yanzhen , Zhang Lu , Li Yan , Xie Bing , Mei Hong
Published: May 2011

Web services retrieval is a critical step for reusing existing services in the SOA paradigm. In the UDDI registry, traditional category-based approaches have been used to locate candidate services. However, these approaches usually achieve relatively low precision because some candidate Web Services in the result set cannot provide actually suitable operations for users. In this article, we present a new approach to improve this kind of category-based Web Services retrieval process that can refine the coarse matching results step by step. The refinement is based on the idea that operation specification is very important to service reuse. Therefore, a Web Service is investigated via multiple instances view in our approach, which indicates that a service is labeled as positive if and only if at least one operation provided by this service is usable to the user. Otherwise, it is labeled as negative. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach can increase the retrieval precision to a certain extent after one or two rounds of refinement.
DSCWeaver
Authors: Wu Qinyi , Pu Calton , Sahai Akhil , Barga Roger
Published: May 2011

Correct synchronization among activities is critical in a business process. Current process languages such as BPEL specify the control flow of processes procedurally, which can lead to inflexible and tangled code for managing a crosscutting aspect—synchronization constraints that define permissible sequences of execution for activities. In this article, we present DSCWeaver, a tool that enables a synchronization-aspect extension to procedural languages. It uses DSCL (directed-acyclic-graph synchronization constraint language) to achieve three desirable properties for synchronization modeling: fine granularity, declarative syntax, and validation support. DSCWeaver then automatically generates executable code for synchronization. We demonstrate the advantages of our approach in a service deployment process written in BPEL and evaluate its performance using two metrics: lines of code (LoC) and places to visit (PtV). Evaluation results show that our approach can effectively reduce the development effort of process programmers while providing performance competitive to unwoven BPEL code.
Three Primary Science Podcasts
Authors: Rodrigues Susan , Williamson Graham
Published: May 2011

In this chapter the authors examine three podcasts created by the same class. This particular class generated three different types of podcasts and this allows us to explore the contextual and staging dimensions of language found within these podcasts. The podcasts were created as part of a project investigating the use of podcasting in primary science. The teachers used class time over three-four weeks to allow the pupils to generate podcasts that were then uploaded onto a site for public dissemination. The authors examine the podcasts from various perspectives in order to explore the notion of multiple literacy.