bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Assessment Study of Quality Model for Medical Schools in Mexico
Authors: Olivares Silvia Lizett Olivares , Cruz Alejandra Garza , Cabrera Mildred Vanessa López , Regalado Alex Iván Suárez , García Jorge Eugenio Valdez
Published: September 2016

Excellence in healthcare delivery is only possible by addressing the quality issues in medical education. The authors in this paper assess the development of medical schools in Mexico considering a proposed Quality Model for Medical Schools (QMMS) having five levels of the Incremental Quality Model (IQM). An exploratory descriptive approach was applied in this study wherein 46 authorities from medical schools self-assessed their processes (strategic, core, support and evaluation) included on the QMMS to determine their development in the five levels of the IQM i.e. Start, Development, Standardization, Innovation and Sustainability. The results of the study show the average were: 3.09 strategic processes, 2.96 core processes, 3.19 support processes and 3.00 in evaluation process. The overall mean obtained was 3.07 which correspond to Standardization level. The authors consider that the proposed quality model may serve as a guide to improve their performance to advance to innovation and sustainability.
Department Chair Perspectives About Contingent Faculty in Higher Education
Authors: Timmerman Lorna C. , Mulvihill Thalia M.
Published: September 2016

This chapter examined the increasing reliance on contingent faculty in U.S. higher education as an administrative problem ripe for continued investigation. The specific purpose of this inquiry was to gain a better understanding of the impact of employing contingent faculty from the viewpoint of a departmental chair of a medium-sized Midwestern research university who routinely hired many contingent faculty. Within the context of these interviews, the chair discussed various aspects of his leadership style, his experiences and responsibilities in the job, his organizational philosophies, his departmental vision and his concerns related to the changing landscape of higher education. As Bolman and Deal's (2003) four-frames model suggests, effective leaders draw from all four frames to make the best decisions and to come to the most productive solutions. The results of this examination revealed this leader's propensity for leading with the human resource frame and then blending in the remaining frames when thinking and acting on issues related to contingent faculty.
Leadership and Followership in Post-1992 University Business Schools in England
Authors: Bisschoff Thomas Charles , Nieto Michael Lewis
Published: September 2016

The research reflects on how academics interact as leaders and followers in Post-1992 University Business Schools. The study was cognisant of the tensions experienced by knowledge workers, such as academics, whereby a person may have leadership responsibilities, whilst working within as a collegiate environment. The research explores leadership through qualitative methodology and constructivist discourse within three cases studies. The selection of case studies included two business schools which had experienced numerous restructures and one where the management team was more stable. The key outcomes of the research indicate that the respondents are dissatisfied by their leaders and reported an absence of consultation as well as almost yearly disruptive restructuring. Consequently, the research reported minimal followership or distributed leadership. Instead, disengagement was reported by academics in both management and non-management posts. In two of the business schools, successive sets of new externally hired management teams had imposed reorganisations and redundancies. Consequently, academics expressed disengagement and reported systemic failures to develop and promote internal candidates to senior management and departmental leadership posts.
Performance Funding of United States' Public Higher Education
Authors: Polatajko Mark M. , Monaghan Catherine H.
Published: September 2016

Policy makers around the globe are responsible for decision regarding the funding of higher education and the benchmarks of success. This chapter is geared toward higher education administration and leadership, especially those who shape policy in this arena. This quantitative study examined the effectiveness in the United States of allocating state resources to state public institutions of higher education by investigating the rate of change in the current benchmarks of success, which are graduation and retention rates. The findings revealed that the method of funding was not a statistically significant predictor of either the initial status or the rate of change of graduation rate or retention rate over the eight-year period, although institution type and enrollment were. The study recommends further research of performance funding outcomes, state funding levels, and other environmental factors as a means of helping administrators and policy makers in their quest to facilitate economic progress through an educated citizenry.
Social Inclusion and Intercultural Values in a School of Education
Authors: Alegre de la Rosa Olga M. , Angulo Luis M. Villar
Published: September 2016

The aim of the study was to analyze the contextual and personal factors associated with student teachers' inclusive and intercultural values to minimize barriers to learning and participation. It also examined the role higher education played as a facilitator of social inclusion. Method. The sample was comprised of 1234 university students. Researchers applied the Guide Index for Inclusion (Booth & Ainscow, 2000) composed of three dimensions: Culture, Politics and Inclusive Practices. Positive elements emphasized the gender variable with highly significant scores on all dimensions. Besides, younger students with no cooperation between teachers and families didn't collaborate between teachers and family to promote inclusive attitudes. Moreover, it was noted that experience increases to more predisposition to the inclusion and recognition of barriers to learning and participation. As a conclusion, it was recognized that the principles of social inclusion may be influenced by variables such as gender, age, cultural experience and experience with people.
Overview of the U.S. Criminal Justice System and Safety Tips for International Students
Authors: Johnson Thomas C.
Published: September 2016

While most international students have a rewarding educational experience in the United States, a small percentage are arrested for criminal behavior or victimized by criminals. The author discusses safety from crime and provides safety tips to help reduce crime victimization potential. Further, since the American criminal justice system can be overwhelming, confusing, and intimidating for anyone who does not work within the system on a regular basis, this chapter provides international students and higher education officials with an overview of this system. The author also briefly discusses constitutional rights and the arrest and trial process. Finally, the author addresses some behaviors that international students should avoid to not place themselves at risk for receiving a criminal summons, citation, or arrest.
Identity and Access Management in the Cloud Computing Environments
Authors: Thomas Manoj V. , Chandrasekaran K.
Published: September 2016

Nowadays, the issue of identity and access management (IAM) has become an important research topic in cloud computing. In the distributed computing environments like cloud computing, effective authentication and authorization are essential to make sure that unauthorized users do not access the resources, thereby ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information hosted in the cloud environment. In this chapter, the authors discuss the issue of identity and access management in cloud computing, analyzing the work carried out by others in the area. Also, various issues in the current IAM scenario in cloud computing, such as authentication, authorization, access control models, identity life cycle management, cloud identity-as-a-service, federated identity management and also, the identity and access management in the inter-cloud environment are discussed. The authors conclude this chapter discussing a few research issues in the area of identity and access management in the cloud and inter-cloud environments.
National Security Policy and Strategy and Cyber Security Risks
Authors: Injac Olivera , Šendelj Ramo
Published: September 2016

This chapter gives explanation on theoretical framework of the national security policy and strategy. Moreover, it analyzes selected countries approaches to cyber security in national policy and how countries build their capacities to face with risks, and address objectives in some cyber security policies. Also, in this chapter are described different sorts and sources of cyber threats, techniques of cyber attacks and frequently used tools (software and hardware) by cyber attackers. In addition, according with Symantec's and Kaspersky's annual report about Internet security threats for 2014, were analyzed the most important cyber threats and attacks during 2013. Furthermore, the chapter shows organization structure of cyber security system of Montenegro, statistical analysis of users activities in cyber space and cyber incidents that happened in Montenegro during 2014.
Identity Management Systems
Authors: Bhatt Reema , Gupta Manish , Sharman Raj
Published: September 2016

Identity management is the administration of an individual's access rights and privileges in the form of authentication and authorization within or across systems and organizations. An Identity Management system (IdM) helps manage an individual's credentials through the establishment, maintenance, and eventual destruction of their digital identity. Numerous products, applications, and platforms exist to address the privacy requirements of individuals and organizations. This chapter highlights the importance of IdM systems in the highly vulnerable security scenario that we live in. It defines and elaborates on the attributes and requirements of an effective identity management system. The chapter helps in establishing an understanding of frameworks that IdM systems follow while helping the reader contrast between different IdM architecture models. The latter part of this chapter elaborates on some of today's most popular IdM solutions.
The Role of Radio Frequency Identification in Modern Libraries
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: September 2016

This chapter reveals the role of radio frequency identification (RFID) in modern libraries, thus demonstrating the theoretical and practical concept of RFID; the utilization of RFID in global operations; RFID perspectives in modern libraries (i.e., operating cost, information technology infrastructure cost, skilled RFID workers, access rate, patron policy, data security, barcode factor, and patron issues); the applications of RFID in modern libraries (i.e., data management, circulation, inventory, assistance in searching and orientation, data accuracy and reliability, theft prevention, utilization statistics for serials, and personal service); and the significance of RFID in modern libraries. RFID solutions can be utilized to reduce the operating costs through decreasing labor costs, enhancing automation, improving tracking and tracing, and preventing the loss of materials. Applying the RFID will significantly improve educational performance and gain sustainable competitive advantage in modern libraries.
Analysis of Various Security Issues and Challenges in Cloud Computing Environment
Authors: Gou Zhaolong , Yamaguchi Shingo , Gupta B. B.
Published: September 2016

Cloud computing is a system, where the resources of a data center are shared using virtualization technology, such that it provides elastic, on demand and instant services to its customers and charges them based on the resources they use. In this chapter, we will discuss recent developments in cloud computing, various security issues and challenges associated with Cloud computing environment, various existing solutions provided for dealing with these security threats and will provide a comparative analysis these approaches. This will provide better understanding of the various security problems associated with the cloud, current solution space, and future research scope to deal with such attacks in better way.
Cybercrimes Technologies and Approaches
Authors: Musa WeSam
Published: September 2016

The growth of the Internet has changed our lives significantly. Not so long ago, computers used to be viewed as luxury items to have at home. People used to rely mainly on televisions and newspapers as the primary sources of news. Today, the Internet has become an essential service to depend on for many industries, such as news agencies, airports, and even utility companies. This was the beginning of a new-trillion-dollar industry: the Internet industry. However, the Internet was designed to be an open, academic tool, never to be secure. As a result, cybercrimes, cyber warfare, and other cyber illegal activities have spread to become a significant portion of Internet traffic. Cybercrimes often challenge law enforcement. It is difficult to know the exact location where an attack originated, and there are no cyber borders between nations. As a result, fighting cybercrimes requires international cooperation. The purpose of this chapter is to shed some light on motives of cybercrimes, technologies used by hackers, and solutions that can be adopted by individuals, organizations, and governments. This chapter also presents the United States (USA) and international perspectives on cybercrimes and privacy laws. In summary, individuals, organizations, and nations have roles to play in achieving security and reducing cyber risks.
The Value of Personal Information
Authors: Williams K.Y , Thomas Dana-Marie , Johnson LaToya N.
Published: September 2016

Many cyber-attacks that result in data loss can be prevented if the target of the cyber-attack is properly prepared, has the necessary and latest defenses in place, and is constantly monitoring for attacks and intrusions. Whether those cyber-attacks occur as a result of user error; network issues (password files being created and distributed to a list of people); direct assaults (direct intrusion via a designed hack, system flaw, or exploitation of a known network/software issue); or due to an insider-threat (giving a password to a trusted co-worker who then uses it for other means) one aspect of prevention that must be addressed is the need for better security and additional layers of protection on the data that resides on the servers and in computing systems. With up-to-date protocols, reduced access to the system, and compartmentalization of information, it is possible to reduce the amount and type of data that is lost in many cyber-attacks. This chapter explores five types of information that are targeted during cyber-attacks, and discuss why this information is of importance.
User Authentication Based on Dynamic Keystroke Recognition
Authors: Fouad Khaled Mohammed , Hassan Basma Mohammed , Hassan Mahmoud F.
Published: September 2016

Biometric identification is a very good candidate technology, which can facilitate a trusted user authentication with minimum constraints on the security of the access point. However, most of the biometric identification techniques require special hardware, thus complicate the access point and make it costly. Keystroke recognition is a biometric identification technique which relies on the user behavior while typing on the keyboard. It is a more secure and does not need any additional hardware to the access point. This paper presents a developed behavioral biometric authentication method which enables to identify the user based on his Keystroke Static Authentication (KSA) and describes an authentication system that explains the ability of keystroke technique to authenticate the user based on his template profile saved in the database. Also, an algorithm based on dynamic keystroke analysis has been presented, synthesized, simulated and implemented on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The proposed algorithm is tested on 25 individuals, achieving a False Rejection Rate (FRR) about 4% and a False Acceptance Rate (FAR) about 0%. This performance is reached using the same sampling text for all the individuals. In this paper, two methods are used to implement the proposed approach: method one (H/W based Sorter) and method two (S/W based Sorter) are achieved execution time about 50.653 ns and 9.650 ns, respectively. Method two achieved a lower execution time; the time in which the proposed algorithm is executed on FPGA board, compared to some published results. As the second method achieved a small execution time and area utilization so it is the preferred method to be implemented on FPGA.
Research and Web 2.0
Authors: Ponte Diego , Klein Stefan
Published: September 2016

The scientific publishing industry has witnessed a plethora of innovations across the life cycle of writing, publishing and archiving of scientific journals. Open access is only the visible tip of an iceberg that contains new players and new services and modes of publishing—which span from new review processes, online citation indexes and social media tools—that have become available over the past 20 years. One might have the impression that disruptive innovations are underway and that many of the well-established themes of digital transformation, such as business model and service innovation, disintermediation, ProSuming and new pricing models, have had a profound impact on the market of scientific journals. Nonetheless, the commercial academic publishing houses (the incumbents) so far have not only successfully defended but even extended their market position. By categorizing the innovations underway and relating them to the constellation of actors in this market, the authors reflect on and try to explain the lasting influence of traditional publishers in the market.
Libraries Meet Research 2.0
Authors: Koltay Tibor , Špiranec Sonja
Published: September 2016

This chapter is intended mainly for the researcher. Its main goal is to identify what services are already provided or could be planned by academic libraries, identified as important stakeholders in facilitating Research 2.0. Indicating the changing contexts of literacies, the focus is on research-related literacies, such as information literacy, academic literacy and data literacy, which pertain to the advisory and educational roles of the academic library. The ways of counterbalancing information overload, partially by personal information management are also described. After outlining the importance of data-intensive research, services facilitating research data management, (including the preparation of data-management plans) are portrayed. Issues of data curation, data quality and data citation, as well as the ways to identify professionals, who provide services to researchers, are outlined.
Alternative Research Funding Mechanisms
Authors: Osimo David , Priego Laia Pujol , Vuorikari Riina
Published: September 2016

Funding affects how science is carried out. Over the last 50 years, the core of science funding has become competitive, project based and increasingly oriented towards societal challenges. Recently, alternative, more open and flexible funding mechanisms have emerged, such as crowdfunding, philanthropy and bottom-up mechanisms. This chapter analyses the development and implications of alternative funding mechanisms for science, through an umbrella literature review complemented by case studies. It concludes that alternative funding are an important component of research funding, which provides new opportunities especially for niche and unrecognized research, and require stronger communication skills by researchers. However, they can't and should not substitute traditional mechanisms. Researchers, institutions and funding agencies should redesign their activity accounting for a plurality of funding instruments, and facilitate collaboration between them.
Self-Organizing the Scholarly Practices
Authors: Esposito Antonella
Published: September 2016

This study explores the self-organized activities undertaken across Web 2.0 and social media services by individual PhD researchers in their doctoral journey. It aims to add to the emergent body of knowledge reporting the doctoral students' experience in the digital venues for scholarly purposes. This chapter is based upon an international and multi-method research carried out to canvass the variety of social media practices characterizing the PhD researchers' digital engagement. The findings offer a detailed and unprecedented repertoire of individual experiments in taming social media to scholarly tasks. The results suggest that complex negotiations occur between technology and practice, where the tension between the need for supporting existing tasks and the attempt for expanding opportunities for personal development is always at work and prefigures an approach to digital engagement always on the move. Furthermore, the research sparks questions about any institution-led initiatives to support the sort of ‘do-it-yourself' PhD emerging from the participants' narratives.
The Hook, Woo, and Spin
Authors: McPherson Megan Jane , Lemon Narelle
Published: September 2016

Academics using social media in the university are now a significant issue as it is being used to influence outcomes of research and teaching. Academics are conducting their scholarly lives on social media in ways that make relations with others, and their university visible. Academics create hooks for others to be interested in the work, woo them with scholarly identity work and ways of being on social media, and spin the stories of their research. In the Academics Who Tweet project the authors focused on how academics used Twitter as a research tool, developed and maintained research networks, and for professional development. This chapter draws on findings from one interview to attend to the multiple ways academics use, think about, and research with social media. This research is significant as it is focused on academics' conceptualizations of social media use and how they think it supports their professional practices.
The Fundamentals of Health Literacy
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: September 2016

This chapter describes the overview of health literacy; the characteristics of functional health literacy, interactive health literacy, and critical health literacy; and the significance of health literacy in global health care. Health literacy is about how patients understand health information about health and health care, and how they apply that health information to their daily lives, utilize it to make health-related decisions, and act on it. Being able to understand health information and make decisions from that information is vital to patients' well-being. Health literacy can help patients prevent their health problems and protect their health, as well as better manage those problems and unexpected situations that happen. Patients with good health literacy make effective health decisions because they can find, understand, and evaluate the health information in global health care.
Health Literacy
Authors: Knight Glenda Denson
Published: September 2016

The design of the U.S. healthcare system along with increasing expectations of individuals create barriers to health care. One barrier is limited Health Literacy (HL). This essential healthcare ingredient is often disregarded (Murphy-Knoll, 2007). There is debate concerning the definition of HL (Sorensen, Van den Broucke, Fullam, Doyle, Pelikan, Slonska, & Brand, 2012). Still, there is consensus that HL is necessary for quality healthcare (Parker & Gazmararian, 2003) and that HL deficiencies must be addressed. Limited HL independently contributes to poorer health status, greater risk of hospitalizations, and increased likelihood of mortality (Hanchate, Ash, Gazmararian, Wolf, & Paasche-Orlow, 2008; Jeppesen, Coyle, & Miser, 2009). Much is known about HL. Still, few advancements have been made due to gaps between what we know about HL, and the application of that knowledge (Ishikiawa & Kiuchi, 2010). The purpose of this chapter is to provide a HL overview and recommend improvement strategies.
Transformative Learning in Osteopathic Medical Education
Authors: Sexton Patricia S. , Chamberlain Neal R.
Published: September 2016

Osteopathic medical education has undergone a transformation in the past century. From the work of Abraham Flexner to present, many lessons have been learned. Today the education of physicians relies on best practices from adult learning theory to allow learners to master the ever expanding biomedical knowledge and skill base needed for competency. Learners are expected to maintain active knowledge of a vast array of facts, be proficient at clinical skills and adapt this knowledge seamlessly to the varied situations they confront with patients. This chapter reviews the past, examines the present and envisions the future, noting how transformative learning is essential to medical training.
Effective School Leadership for Māori Achievement
Authors: Santamaría Andrés P. , Webber Melinda , Santamaría Lorri J.
Published: September 2016

This chapter leads a critical discourse amongst research and educational leadership communities around the nature of cross-cultural interactions and the role diversity plays in changing the status quo with regard to access, equity and academic achievement. Through this strengths-based qualitative inquiry, the authors bridge Kaupapa Maori (Maori ideology) and critical race theory methodologies with Maori and non-Maori culturally responsive leadership frameworks. Prerequisite conditions for effective cross-collaboration are presented based on the experiences of an international, interdisciplinary research team in collaboration with practicing Maori and non-Maori leaders of primary and secondary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). The aim of the partnership is to promote the voices and practices of effective school leaders, through cross-cultural collaboration and research, to continue building critical mass for the important role of informing effective, culturally responsive leadership practices across Aotearoa NZ.
What 21st Century Students Want
Authors: Leach Lesley F. , Winn Pam , Erwin Susan , Benedict Liza P.
Published: September 2016

Enrollment numbers in graduate Educational Leadership programs are dwindling in many public higher education institutions across the United States. At the same time, for-profit institutions and institutions with private marketing partnerships have experienced increasingly greater enrollments. In this article, the authors present survey results of graduate students in Educational Leadership programs (N=100) to determine the factors that motivate students to select a particular graduate Educational Leadership program. Results suggest that Master's and doctoral-level students primarily select an Educational Leadership program based on the course delivery methods (with hybrid courses most preferred) and the convenience that the program offers in terms of scheduling and location.
Medical Knowledge, North-South Cooperation, and Mobility of Medical Doctors
Authors: Driouchi Ahmed
Published: September 2016

This chapter introduces the overall context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the on-going cooperative frameworks and the triple helix approach with the support of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). These are devoted to accelerate the implementation of further collaboration between medical schools in both North and South of the Mediterranean area. Three important players are identified in each region. These include the medical school, the public authority, and the business related to healthcare. These players from North and South can engage in specific areas that are education, research, and development, before the identification of means and incentives to be further devoted to attract medical doctors. These collaborations follow the trends developed by international organizations, mainly the WHO. The most important conclusions attained in the previous chapters of the present book are also summarized in the present chapter.
Knowledge Management of Medical Information Resources and Tools
Authors: Mi Misa , Stefaniak Jill E.
Published: September 2016

This case demonstrates how problem-based learning (PBL) was used as a teaching method to help medical students integrate their knowledge of basic sciences with a clinical application at a medical school. PBL promotes self-directed, problem-solving, and lifelong learning. In the PBL context, students sought out a variety of resources to tackle their learning issues and help them arrive at a solution to a patient problem. The existing strategy for curating resources was not aligned with the type of thinking and activities in the PBL process. Therefore, a knowledge management system was developed to provide an online knowledge base of medical information resources and tools easily accessible at the point of students' needs.
Interdisciplinary Education for Research and Everyday Clinical Practice
Authors: Komendziński Tomasz , Dreszer-Drogorób Joanna , Mikołajewska Emilia , Mikołajewski Dariusz , Bałaj Bibianna
Published: September 2016

Teamwork, interprofessional practice and learning are integral to current interdisciplinary research and health care – such approach can maximize professional resources and optimize outcomes. The development of modern technologies associated with medical sciences, and the variability of possible neurological deficits, interventions, and even scales makes this task very difficult. The key problem is regarded successful transition of students to competent work-ready professionals. Current models of education and cooperation within interdisciplinary teams may be not enough flexible. This chapter, based on own experiences from InteRDoCTor project, tries to answer the question: how shape interdisciplinary education and how their results may be wider incorporated into research and clinical practice?
Introducing Educational Technology into the Higher Education Environment
Authors: Van Ryneveld Linda
Published: September 2016

Over the past decade or two advancements in educational technology have taken place so swiftly that it threatens to revolutionize the education system. This phenomena seem to drive higher education institutions to respond with costly roll out plans that bring state of the art computing hard- and software, together with other highly specialized educational technologies, to their campuses. The dilemma is that these investments in educational technology are often made in isolation, without consideration for imperative aspects such as professional development. To progress, educators need to acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to make optimal use of the technology. This can be achieved, among other, by means of well-structured professional development programmes. In this chapter the author explores the role of educational technology in higher education and establishes the need for capacity building by means of carefully designed professional development programmes. It furthermore suggests an alternative professional development framework.
Introducing iPads into Primary Mathematics Classrooms
Authors: Attard Catherine
Published: September 2016

The fast pace of technology has meant that new technologies are often being introduced into classrooms without knowledge of how they can be used to enhance teaching and learning in mathematics. This chapter explores how a small group of teachers used a new technology, the iPad, to teach mathematics within the first six months of their implementation and without the support of professional development. Findings from two separate studies are presented to support the argument that care should be taken when introducing any new technology to teach mathematics in primary classrooms and appropriate professional development that addresses the combination of mathematical content, pedagogy and technology is critical for all teachers, regardless of teaching experience.
Global Warming as a Socioscientific Controversy
Authors: Stewart Craig O. , Rhodes Claire
Published: September 2016

Socioscientific controversies are “extended argumentative engagements over socially significant issues … comprising communicative events and practices in and from both scientific and nonscientific spheres” (Stewart, 2009, p. 125). While global warming is not controversial among the vast majority of climate scientists, socioscientific controversies over global warming abound in various media, as citizens, politicians, journalists, and others discuss and weigh the scientific evidence for and appropriate policy responses to global warming. In this chapter, the authors investigate the lexical choices used in the New York Times in straight news articles reporting on controversies about global warming from 2001-2006, as partisan differences on this issue became more pronounced. Specifically, using DICTION 5.0, the authors analyze 87 news reports, comparing those focused on science issues with those focused on policy issues. These statistical lexical comparisons are supplemented with qualitative discourse analyses.
Regional Development Disparities in Romanian Agriculture and Rural Development
Authors: Popescu Gabriel , Bara Simona
Published: September 2016

Initially, the Romanian development regions created in 1998 had as a main objective the insurance, from the statistic point of view a relatively territorial equilibrated development; they where set up in accordance with the level NUTS-II from the EU. According to the Romanian legislation on force, the regions do not have an administrative status and they do not have legal personality. The analysis of the rural space highlights significant regional disparities, phenomena that have influence to the spending of the EU funds and their degree of absorption. This chapter proposes a method for multi-criteria analysis in order to identify the agricultural and rural territorial disparities and to establish the regional disparities in implementing the National Plan of Rural Development (NPRD) during 2007-2013. The NPRD was put under multi-criteria analysis: the main 13 measures implemented by Romania during 2007-2013 periods.
Transcritical Carbon Dioxide Refrigeration as an Alternative to Subcritical Plants
Authors: Greco Adriana , Aprea Ciro , Maiorino Angelo
Published: September 2016

Carbon dioxide (R744) is as a valid alternative to classical substances such as HFCs used in vapour compression plants. A transcritical refrigeration cycle is needed because the critical temperature of carbon dioxide is usually lower than the ambient temperature. In this chapter the performances of a transcritical cycle have been evaluated with a prototype R744 system working as a classical spit-systems to cool air. An experimental analysis has been carried out on the effect of: refrigerant charge, internal heat exchanger, heat rejection pressure on the energetic performances of the transcritical plant. An experimental analysis of a hybrid trans-critical refrigerator-desiccant wheel system has been carried out in order to improve the COP. The experimental transcritical cycle has been examined in comparison with a classical vapour compression plant working with the R134a.
Retrofitting of R404a Commercial Refrigeration Systems with R410a and R407f HFCs Refrigerants
Authors: Gamberi Mauro , Bortolini Marco , Graziani Alessandro , Manzini Riccardo
Published: September 2016

This chapter presents an experimental analysis about the retrofitting of two commercial stationary refrigeration systems marketed by an Italian leading company of the sector. Such systems operate both at medium temperature (MT) and low temperature (LT) and they are originally designed to work with the high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) R404a fluid (GWP = 3922). The purpose is to investigate the performances of HFCs R410a (GWP = 2088) and R407f (GWP = 1825) chosen as effective alternatives to HFC R404a, due to their compatibility, non-flammability and market availability. Furthermore, such fluids meet the EU restrictions in force in the next future for high GWP HFCs. The experimental analysis compares the performances, in terms of COP and cooling capacity, of R404a and the two identified alternatives under different operating conditions, i.e. chamber and condenser inlet air temperatures. In case of comparable performances, significant environmental benefits are introduced by the adoption of R407f and R410a in the MT and LT refrigeration systems.
Organic Agriculture as a Tool to Make Economy Green
Authors: Guz Mykhailo , Ivolga Ivan
Published: September 2016

The main questions that trouble ecologists are concentrated on the state of the environment per square unit, while concerns of food security supporters are concentrated on a cost of production unit (which is bigger in comparison with standard for organic agriculture). Economists, in turn, are concerned about the low cost of decision for achievement of food security in comparison with environmental safety. The point, discussed in the chapter, is related to implementation of organic and traditional technologies of farming. It is expedient to estimate the changes of environment per units of production, if there is a set of food production and soils of a variable quality.
Nanotechnology Applications for Sustainable Crop Production
Authors: Mishra Gaurav , Pandey Shailesh , Dutta Antara , Giri Krishna
Published: September 2016

Innovations in nanotechnology revolutionized the world in all sectors, including medicine, biotechnology, electronics, material science, energy sectors etc. In fact, the existing literature also points towards the potential application of nanotechnology in global food production and alarming situation of food scarcity. With the advancement of nanotechnology, use of nanofertilizers for yield enhancement, nanopesticides for insect pests and disease control and nanosensors to monitor soil and plant health becomes one of the most fascinating and promising lines of investigation to achieve sustainability. Furthermore, nanobiotechnology application enables gene transfer to expand the genetic base of crop varieties against different biotic and abiotic stresses. Some lacunas which may resist commercialization of nanotechnology are cost, industrial setup, and public attitude towards the health and food safety issues. Sincere attempts are required to answer these questions and develop suitable strategies to solve any problems, we might encounter in near future.
Analyzing Farmers' Learning Process in Sustainable Development
Authors: Chalil Diana
Published: September 2016

Rice is the staple food grain for Indonesians. With the increasing population, Indonesia has tried to improve its rice production by using high yielding varieties (HYV) and more chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Initially the program was quite successful, but later production began to stagnate with subsequent environmental and health issues. As an alternative, Indonesia embarked on wide scale promotion of organic rice farming. However, success seems unlikely. One of the first barriers to successful implementation was that not many rice crop (paddy) farmers converted their farms to the organic system. In fact, this chapter relates that the early stages of farmers' learning process actually went smoothly but did not continue in the final stages. Lack of time, labor, and funds to cover extra activities of the first years of the conversion mainly explain the barriers for farmers to complete the learning process. The barriers need to be understood and addressed in order to improve the sustainable integration of organic rice farming into Indonesian cultural practices.
Can Toxicity for Different Species Be Correlated?
Authors: Kar Supratik , Das Rudra Narayan , Roy Kunal , Leszczynski Jerzy
Published: September 2016

Experimental evaluation of the toxicity of a compound is an expensive practice, and it requires sacrifice of a large number of animals. As a consequence, in silico techniques for predictive toxicology are taking the central stage of attention of the scientific community. Interspecies quantitative structure-toxicity relationship (i-QSTR) modeling provides a tool for estimation of contaminant's sensitivity with known levels of uncertainty for a diverse pool of species. It is capable of extrapolating data for one toxicity endpoint to another toxicity endpoint when the data for the second species are unavailable. The emerging i-QSTR approach can overcome the cost of multiple toxicity tests, improve the understanding of the mechanism of toxic action (MOA) of chemicals for different organisms and endpoints and is very useful in order to fill the data gaps where toxicity value for a particular compound is absent for a specific endpoint.
Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems
Authors: Morrissey John E. , Dunphy Niall P.
Published: September 2016

The transition of food-production and consumption systems to a sustainable, low carbon future presents a dauntingly complex issue, involving technical, political, social and theoretical aspects. Such a transition necessitates an exploration of new ways of production and consumption, new technologies and innovations and new regulatory and institutional infrastructures to co-ordinate the change. Appropriate sustainability assessment has the following advantages: the conceptualisation of complex system functioning; the identification of the need for multi-dimensional, strategic approaches; the development of appropriate policy responses; and the targeting and framing of action (assessment) for sustainability. The paper presents a number of key findings and directions for further research in the context of agri-food systems sustainability.
Knowledge Management and Its Approaches
Authors: Balogh Anikó
Published: September 2016

This chapter briefly covers the basics and definitions of knowledge and knowledge management, the connection between KM and communication, its Hungarian and international development and tendencies in the past years and the so called KM generations. The chapter's goal is to show how and why the support and appreciation of knowledge (which almost exists since the beginning of humankind) developed into a system. Successful management of companies using KM systems bring to the surface a new breed of organization operating models operating with intelligent solutions, which are manifold, may be structured in a variable way, and are specifically unique in the light of these knowledge-intensive services.
Organizational Learning
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: September 2016

This chapter reveals the prospect of organizational learning; organizational learning and networks; organizational learning, organizational innovation, and transformational leadership; organizational learning, absorptive capacity, open innovation, and information technology (IT); organizational learning and training; organizational learning capability (OLC) and enterprise resource planning (ERP); and learning organization. Organizational learning is an important method by which organizations develop, enhance, and manage knowledge within their organizational functions and improve their efficiency by making better use of the wide range of skills of their employees. Regarding organizational learning, organizations improve the ability to respond to various business situations and enhance competitive performance through generating new knowledge. The chapter argues that encouraging organizational learning has the potential to improve organizational performance and gain sustainable competitive advantage in the workplace.
Relationship between Knowledge Management and Innovation
Authors: Bencsik Andrea , Filep Bálint
Published: September 2016

Successful business operation depends on several factors. Among these factors knowledge management and innovation are extremely important business areas. The aim of this theoretical study is to introduce how these two models work together and how their relationship reinforces the chance for success. Relying on secondary data analysis and literature review, the authors prove that the classical innovation model can be a part of this relationship together with the organizational innovation where the human resource comes to focus. The logic of system building of knowledge management emphasizes that the path leads from the attainment of innovation knowledge to the evaluation of utilization. This study reviews the steps of the two business models and highlights the most important relationships in a new model linking the appropriate phases. The second part of this paper shows the connection between frugal innovation and knowledge management, and their theoretical significance and practical adaptability.
Appropriate Leadership Style in Knowledge Management System (KMS) Building
Authors: Bencsik Andrea
Published: September 2016

Building up a knowledge management system is a commonly arising challenge in managing organizations. Leaders need to change their leadership style in order for their organization to be successful, in accordance with the requirements of building and operating a knowledge management system. The aim of this chapter is to sketch the necessity of the change and the right leaders' behavior. The author shows the relationships residing in the background of the elements that are in close connection with the suitable leadership style: EQ, competence, organizational culture, trust, communication, and employees' commitment and satisfaction. During this chapter readers will be led logically across the connections of the above-mentioned elements and, at the end, a figure summarizing the connections closes the chapter.
Knowledge of Management Tools and Systems in SMEs
Authors: Pawliczek Adam , Rössler Miroslav
Published: September 2016

The chapter deals with knowledge management principles and their implication to knowledge in management represented by contemporary sophisticated management tools and systems. The most important management branches and methods, tools and systems, generally considered as very helpful for professional business operating, are presented. Further research results of management tools knowledge in contemporary enterprises are presented impacting the need of education and knowledge transfer in management responsible positions. The need of management knowledge for the competitiveness of enterprises is accented. Business and competitive intelligence as media for competitiveness are introduced. In the last part of the chapter, a model of the knowledge management system applicable in SMEs is suggested. The purpose of the chapter is to make the reader familiar with some of the most important management tools, methods and systems and suggest principles for an easy and effective knowledge management system in the enterprise.
From Giftedness to Compliance
Authors: Bognár Tamás , Rácz Irma
Published: September 2016

This chapter provides a survey of methods, utilizing the human capital that helps on one hand identify the talents or the shortage of it; specify the developmental dynamics of a skill or competence, and gives help to the prognosis of successful assessment forms by following the development progress. The authors intend to suggest best practices that provide to find and complete the best possible mission for SMEs and employees as well by taking into consideration the progressive tools of knowledge management. The chapter introduces the methods of measuring talent and capability existence or shortage, the measurement possibilities of hidden potentials and the utilization of these among SMEs' routine. Authors pay special attention to the employees maturing progress on higher levels of working experience where the talent possibly manifests as utilized knowledge. Methods will be introduced that provide this manifestation to give best practices to assessment for a better prediction.