bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in Higher Order Wavefront Aberrations After Contact Lens Corneal Refractive Therapy and LASIK Surgery
Authors: Goldstone Robert N. , Yildiz Elvin H. , Fan Vincent C. , Asbell Penny A.
Published: May 2010

PURPOSE:

To compare ocular higher order aberrations induced by corneal refractive therapy (CRT, Paragon Vision) to those produced by LASIK for patients with comparable levels of myopia.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review of 11 patients who used CRT lenses and 12 patients who underwent LASIK for correction of low to moderate myopia was performed. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest refraction, and optical higher order aberrations were recorded before and 1 month after treatment for each patient.

RESULTS:

The CRT group consisted of 11 patients (4 men, 7 women) with a mean age of 29.1±5.2 years (range: 23 to 40 years), and the LASIK group consisted of 12 patients (3 men, 9 women) with a mean age of 39.2±12.0 years (range: 23 to 60 years). Manifest refraction decreased statistically significantly from −2.81±1.05 diopters (D) at baseline to −0.77±0.64 D following CRT treatment at 1 month (
P
<.0001) and from −3.11±1.21 D at baseline to −0.43±0.27 D at 1 month after LASIK (
P
<.0001). Both CRT and LASIK exhibited no significant changes in total higher order aberrations for 4-mm pupils but induced statistically significant increases in total higher order aberrations for 6-mm pupils. Corneal refractive therapy and LASIK both exhibited statistically similar factors of change for total higher order aberrations and coma-like higher order aberrations for 6-mm pupils. Corneal refractive therapy demonstrated a statistically significant greater factor of increase in spherical-like higher order aberrations for 6-mm pupils (
P
=.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Contact lens corneal refractive therapy and LASIK can effectively correct myopia, but both increase higher order aberrations for 6-mm pupils to a similar degree. However, spherical-like aberrations were statistically significantly greater after CRT than after LASIK. [
J Refract Surg
. 2010;26:348–355.]
Dark-Adapted Pupil Diameter as a Function of Age Measured with the NeurOptics Pupillometer
Authors: Bradley Jay C. , Bentley Karl C. , Mughal Aleem I. , Bodhireddy Hari , Brown Sandra M.
Published: May 2010

Purpose:

To measure the dark-adapted pupil diameter of normal research participants in their second through ninth decades of life using the NeurOptics pupillometer (Neuroptics Inc).

Methods:

Individuals aged 18 to 80 years with no history of eye disease or injury, intraocular surgery, or use of systemic antihistamines or opiates were recruited. After 2 minutes of adaptation at 1 lux illumination, the right dark-adapted pupil diameter was measured using the NeurOptics pupillometer, with accommodation controlled by distance fixation. The NeurOptics pupillometer reported a mean dark-adapted pupil diameter and a standard deviation of the mean, which were analyzed as a function of age-decade.

Results:

Two-hundred sixty-three individuals participated. For participants aged 18 to 19 years (n=6), the mean dark-adapted pupil diameter was 6.85 mm (range: 5.6 to 7.5 mm); 20 to 29 years (n=66), 7.33 mm (range: 5.7 to 8.8 mm); 30 to 39 years (n=50), 6.64 mm (range: 5.3 to 8.7 mm); 40 to 49 years (n=51), 6.15 mm (range: 4.5 to 8.2 mm); 50 to 59 years (n=50), 5.77 mm (range: 4.4 to 7.2 mm); 60 to 69 years (n=30), 5.58 mm (range: 3.5 to 7.5 mm); 70 to 79 years (n=6), 5.17 mm (range: 4.6 to 6.0 mm); and 80 years (n=4), 4.85 mm (range: 4.1 to 5.3 mm). These values were consistent with studies using infrared photography. The standard deviation was >0.1 mm in 10 (3.8%) participants, all of whom were younger than 55 years.

Conclusions:

The dark-adapted pupil diameter is an important clinical variable when planning refractive surgery. Surgeons can compare a patient’s dark-adapted pupil diameter with the results of this population study to identify outlier measurements, which may be erroneous, and repeat testing prior to surgery.
Atorvastatin for Diabetic Macular Edema in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Elevated Serum Cholesterol
Authors: Panagiotoglou Theonitsa D. , Ganotakis Emmanuel S. , Kymionis George D. , Moschandreas Joanna A. , Fanti Garufalia N. , Charisis Spyridon K. , Malliaraki Niki E. , Tsilimbaris Miltiadis K.
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy of atorvastatin in reducing hard exudates and diabetic macular edema.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

An uncontrolled clinical case series included 18 eyes with diabetic maculopathy and an elevated baseline lipid profile. All patients were treated with atorvastatin. Ophthalmologic evaluation, including fundus photography and fluorescein angiography, was performed at presentation and repeated at 3, 6, and 12 months. Hard exudates, hemorrhages, and fluorescein leakage at 12 months were evaluated and compared with baseline findings.

RESULTS:

Eighteen subjects with diabetic maculopathy received atorvastatin, and a significant decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was seen (
P
< .05). Hard exudates and fluorescein leakage were decreased. No evidence of an association between change in hemorrhage status and treatment was found.

CONCLUSION:

Oral atorvastatin therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia seems to reduce the severity of hard exudates and fluorescein leakage in diabetic maculopathy and could be useful as an adjuvant therapy in the management of diabetic macular edema.

[Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging 2010;41:316–322.]
Intravitreal Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Mehta Sachin , Blinder Kevin J. , Shah Gaurav K. , Kymes S. M. , Schlief Shelley L. , Grand M. Gilbert
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To report the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT) in refractory diabetic macular edema.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Records of 60 eyes of 54 consecutive patients who underwent intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for refractory diabetic macular edema were reviewed. All eyes received intravitreal bevacizumab 1.25 mg/0.05 mL, and 36 eyes underwent pretreatment and post-treatment optical coherence tomography. Mean follow-up was 7.4 months.

RESULTS:

Pretreatment mean visual acuity plus or minus standard deviation was 0.71 ± 0.28 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) Snellen letters. At final follow-up, mean visual acuity had improved to 0.66 ± 0.30 LogMAR (
P
= .0543). Mean baseline CRT was 440 ± 106 µm, and follow-up mean CRT was 386 ± 129 µm (
P
= .008). Vitrectomized eyes had worse visual acuity and CRT outcomes (
P
= .002 and
P
= .028, respectively) compared with nonvitrectomized eyes.

CONCLUSION:

Intravitreal bevacizumab may provide a functional and anatomic benefit in eyes with persistent diabetic macular edema despite previous treatments.

[Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging 2010;41:323–329.]
Orbicularis Oculi Myo-osseous Fixation: A New Treatment for Benign Essential Blepharospasm and Blepharospasm Associated With Diffuse Facial Dystonia (Meige Syndrome)
Authors: Borodic Gary E.
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

This article describes a novel surgical procedure, myo-osseous fixation, as an adjunct therapy for patients with reduced or poor response to repeated botulinum toxin injections for essential blepharospasm and Meige syndrome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The small-incision, rapidly healing, rapidly performed technique uses self-drilling titanium screws tightly engaged with a compression wrench. The screws fixate the periorbital orbicularis oculi muscle to bone, creating mechanical resistance to outer portions of the orbicularis muscle involved in debilitating involuntary contractions.

RESULTS:

Eleven of the treated 12 patients experienced immediate improvement in function. Each responding patient noted enhanced effect of subsequent botulinum toxin injections at previously ineffective doses. The benefit was substantial and sustained for 6 months in 9 of 12 patients. Decreased brow depression during forced closure, forced frown, and brow elevation at rest was apparent in all patients postoperatively. Although the brow elevation effect was reduced after 6 months, reduced brow depression during forced closure still was easily demonstrated in most patients. Complications included a nodular bump over the brow, more commonly found when large titanium screws were used, transient headache, and easily removed dislodged screw.

CONCLUSION:

Initial data suggest that this procedure appears safe, well tolerated, and useful in the treatment of patients with essential blepharospasm and Meige syndrome responding poorly to botulinum toxin therapy.

[Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging 2010;41:360–369.]
In Vitro Simulation of the First Technique for Non-invasive Measurement of Volumetric Ophthalmic Artery Blood Flow in Humans
Authors: Siesky Brent , Harris Alon , Kagemann Larry , Moore Danny , Werne Adam , Sheets Clinton W. , Garzozi Hanna J.
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the accuracy, reproducibility, and variability of volumetric flow measurements taken by color Doppler imaging ultrasound, using an in vitro “phantom” model to simulate the ophthalmic artery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

An agar flow phantom with two wall-less lumens was constructed to simulate the ophthalmic artery. Velocity and volumetric flow measurements were taken for various flow rates and ultrasound probe positions. The measurements were analyzed for accuracy, reproducibility, and variability.

RESULTS:

Velocity measurements were more accurate than flow measurements (8 of 24 vs 3 of 24 accurate trials). The average coefficient of variation for volumetric blood flow was 11.4% (n = 120). Volumetric flow significantly correlated with velocity (R
2
= 0.408, n = 600,
P
< .001). The highest correlation was achieved using the large lumen with the probe held at 75°, offset to the flow (R
2
= 0.862, n = 75).

CONCLUSION:

Based on an in vitro model, noninvasive color Doppler imaging recordings of volumetric flow measurements in the ophthalmic artery significantly correlated with velocity and higher correlations were found using the larger lumens, although the data showed a lack of high accuracy in measurements of flow and velocity.

[Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging 2010;41:375–382.]
Evaluación de impacto ambiental de centro de transformación y gestión de residuos sólidos agrícolas en la provincia de Almería (España)
Authors: Callejón A. J. , Carreño A. , Sánchez-Hermosilla J. , Pérez J.
Published: May 2010

En la agricultura intensiva almeriense, el tipo de residuo que se genera es muy variado y las características del mismo hacen que no pueda ser aprovechado de modo directo por los animales ya que la composición mixta en muchos casos (materia vegetal y rafias) o el tipo de algunos residuos, hace que se vaya pensando en una gestión discriminada del residuo para obtener de cada tipo un máximo de aprovechamiento y una minimización en el impacto que causen, pasando de un concepto de residuo al de subproducto susceptible de diferentes aplicaciones como medio de producción. Para el tratamiento, transformación y gestión de los residuos sólidos agrícolas (biomasa, materiales plásticos, envases de fertilizantes y fitosanitarios, maderas y alambres, aceites de desecho y sustratos) los recursos naturales a emplear serán agua y mano de obra, principalmente. Todo ello, para obtener compost vegetal, granza a partir de materiales plásticos, materiales metálicos clasificados, maderas y otros materiales de similar composición clasificados, envases de productos fitosanitarios y fertilizantes clasificados y gestión de aceites de desecho. Los efluentes que se emitirán serán ruidos, levantamiento de polvo, emisión de olores, aguas residuales de frutas, aguas procedentes del lavado de camiones y contenedores, aguas de lavado de envases de productos fitosanitarios, aguas procedentes de la humectación del material vegetal. Mediante la evaluación de impacto ambiental se concluye que es mejor reciclar y compostar que obtener energía a partir de los residuos, además se propone un sistema de impermeabilización con hormigón polímero para controlar los efluentes de productos fitosanitarios.
Estudio del comportamiento del hormigón armado ante esfuerzos normales y tangentes mediante modelos seccionales de interacción completa
Authors: Bairán J. M. , Marí A. R. , Mohr S.
Published: May 2010

El análisis tradicional de estructuras reticulares se basa en las teorías clásicas de vigas cuyas hipótesis de partida implican la única existencia de tensiones normales en la sección transversal o, en algunos casos, también tensiones tangenciales con simplificaciones más o menos acertadas. Su aplicación resulta satisfactoria en casos dominados por solicitaciones normales. Existen varios intentos de extenderlos directamente al análisis no lineal de estructuras de hormigón con cargas arbitrarias donde dichas teorías no son aplicables estrictamente debido, entre otras cosas, a la fisuración diagonal. Así pues, la respuesta real ante solicitaciones importantes del tipo cortante, torsión o confinamiento, no puede ser reproducida adecuadamente por los métodos tradicionales. En este artículo se analizan las ventajas del análisis seccional y se define hasta qué punto considerar sólo el efecto de los esfuerzos normales puede resultar suficiente. Se presenta brevemente un modelo que permite reproducir estados tensionales tridimensionales a nivel seccional y se emplea para analizar estructuras sometidas a casos con notable influencia de esfuerzos tangenciales y confinamiento y se investiga la incidencia práctica en la respuesta de secciones y estructuras continuas. Se resalta la existencia de una distribución de tensiones normales modificada en la zona de tracciones que puede afectar la rigidez real de la estructura. Asimismo, se manifiesta un efecto dual al incremento de tracciones en la armadura longitudinal consistente en un incremento de tracciones en la armadura transversal con momento concomitante. Por otro lado, el modelo permite una representación más real de la fisuración en vigas y evidencia una mayor capacidad de rotación plástica antes de la rotura.
Investigación experimental sobre los modelos normativos de fisuración en piezas de hormigón armado sometidas a flexión pura
Authors: Calderón E. , Fernández J.
Published: May 2010

La presente investigación analiza la idoneidad de las formulaciones propuestas por EHE, Eurocódigo 2 y ACI 318 Building Code para el control de la fisuración en elementos de hormigón armado mediante el ensayo de elementos a escala real, 14 vigas a flexión pura. Además analiza la influencia de la variación de parámetros tales como el diámetro, cuantía y disposición de armadura comprimida. En esta investigación se analiza el ajuste de las formulaciones teóricas antes referidas y los resultados experimentales obtenidos, con resultados en algunos casos más desfavorables que los previstos. También pone de manifiesto la notable influencia de algunos parámetros, tales como la cuantía en el control de la fisuración, y por el contrario, la poca influencia de parámetros tales como el diámetro, la separación de armaduras, y la disposición de armadura comprimida. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos en la investigación, finalmente se evalúan posibles variantes de la formulación existente, concretamente de la formulación que ha presentado una tendencia más adecuada frente a los resultados de los ensayos (EC-2), con objeto de mejorar el ajuste de dicha formulación a los resultados experimentales.
Beach cusps and inner surf zone processes: growth or destruction? A case study of Trafalgar Beach (Cádiz, Spain)
Authors: Garnier Roland , Ortega-Sánchez Miguel , Losada Miguel A. , Falqués Albert , Dodd Nicholas
Published: May 2010

Large beach cusps (LBC, wavelength of ~ 30 m) are intertidal features that can alternately exist in the swash and in the inner surf zone due to tidal sea level changes. They have a larger cross-shore extent (up to 50 m) than traditional cusps. This extent has been explained by a shift of the swash zone during falling tide. The cusps immerse at rising tide and previous studies indicate that surf zone processes are exclusively destructive. Here, the behaviour of large beach cusps in the inner surf zone is investigated by using a 2DH morphological numerical model applied to Trafalgar Beach (Cádiz, Spain). The model results indicate that the inner surf zone processes do not always destroy the cusps but can in fact reinforce them by considering neither the swash processes nor the tidal changes. More generally, in conditions favouring the presence of the LBC the surf zone of a beach can be unstable, leading to the formation of transverse/oblique sand bars that can have characteristics similar to the LBC. Thus, in principle, the LBC could emerge not only due to swash zone morphodynamics but also due to surf zone morphodynamics or a combination of both.
An Introduction to Neurocomputing
Authors: Barceló Juan A.
Published: May 2010

Let’s build an automated archaeologist! It is not an easy task. We need a highly complex, nonlinear, and parallel information-processing “cognitive core” able to explain what the robot sees, in terms of causal factors, which not always have an observable nature. Of course, such a “cognitive core” should not run like a human brain. After all, automated archaeologists do the same tasks as “human archaeologists,” but not necessary in the same way. Nevertheless, there is some similitude in the basic mechanism. My suggestion is that an archaeologist, human or “artificial,” will perceive archaeological data and, using some basic principles of learning, as those presented in previous chapter, will develop ways of encoding these data to make sense of perceived world. Consequently, we may try to build our artificial archaeologist based on the idea of learning and the ability to adapt flexibly epistemic actions to different archaeological problems waiting for a solution.
An Automated Approach to Historical and Social Explanation
Authors: Barceló Juan A.
Published: May 2010

It is obvious that answering the first question is a condition to solve the second. In the same way as human archaeologists, the automated archaeologist needs to know what, where and when before explaining why some social group made something, and how. That is to say, only after having explained why archaeological observables are the way they are in terms of the consequence of some social activity or bio-geological process performed in the past or in the present, the automated archaeologist will try to explain more abstract causal processes.
The Blended Learning Classroom
Authors: García Karen , Suzuki Renata
Published: May 2010

This blended learning classroom (BLC) case study identifies and describes successful procedures and methodologies that widen the use of online tools in virtual environments. It provides a systematic and organized access to the plethora of free social software available online for the development of collaborative learning activities. The goal of this particular BLC professional development activity was to offer a face-to-face group of English teachers in Venezuela the opportunity to meet members of an international community of practice (CoP) and together review a packaged learning course material online. Blended technology, the mix and match of available tools, served to display the wide use of resources and each person’s skills. By exploring online tools, participants gained an opportunity for learning about both educational theory and the use of technology. The experience described here shows a prototype of future pathways towards educational content use and development.
An Information Technology Planning Framework for an Industry Cluster
Authors: Tan Albert Wee Kwan
Published: May 2010

Strategic IS planning (SISP) has been found to be a key issue of concern for management across organizations in various industries. However, most SISP studies have been conducted in the context of large, for-profit organizations but not at the industry level. An industry approach to SISP has been found to be most effective in Singapore to develop the IT capabilities of each industry. This chapter introduces a framework for planning of information technologies (IT) for the industry cluster. More specifically, the different stages in planning and executing an industry scale IT project for supply chain management are discussed here based on an example from Singapore. This generic framework proposed can be used in any industry where IT plays a strategic role for industry transformation.
Adopting the IT (RPM) Model to Enhance the Value of IT
Authors: Sanwal Anand , Mohanty Subhradeep
Published: May 2010

In a day and age that has been deemed the “Information Age”, it is ironic that one of the most common questions that organizations continue to grapple with is “what is the value of Information Technology?” Despite mercurial debate on the question, it remains unanswered with most IT organizations unaware of how they can demonstrate this value. Interestingly, the question posited this way drives you to one immediate, and potentially false, conclusion – that IT, in fact, is driving value, and therefore, it is just a matter of determining or solving for this value. Most of us probably know (but may be unwilling to admit) that the reality is not so. Just like not all people are above average, not all IT organizations demonstrate value. We would argue that the “what is the value of IT?” question is the wrong question. The more important question that IT organizations should ask themselves is “how can IT deliver more value?” A satisfactory resolution to this question will also handle the “what is the value of IT?” question. But by posing the question this way, you approach it in a more objective and dispassionate manner. The IT Reengineering & Portfolio Management Model (herein, IT (RPM)) offers a pragmatic, proven and plausible means for IT organizations to deliver and demonstrate value. In introducing you to the IT (RPM), we aim to: Discern between those investments which are valued by the business and those which are not, e.g. expenses versus investments. Develop a plan to reengineer low value IT expenses in an effort to create additional investment capacity within IT and/or for the larger organization for strategic, business-enhancing projects and investments. Utilize a portfolio management discipline to select the best investments, e.g. those that maximize strategic and financial value per unit of risk. Provide an understanding of the process and behavioral elements required to enable IT (RPM)
Information Technology Portfolio Management
Authors: Kumar Ram , Ajjan Haya , Niu  , Niu
Published: May 2010

There is significant interest in managing IT resources as a portfolio of assets. The concept of IT portfolio management (ITPM) is relatively new, compared to portfolio management in the context of finance, new product development (NPD), and research and development (R&D). This article compares ITPM with other types of portfolio management, and develops an improved understanding of IT assets and their characteristics. It presents a process-oriented framework for identifying critical ITPM decision stages. The proposed framework can be used by managers as well as researchers.
IT Portfolio Management
Authors: Ramakrishnan Muralidharan
Published: May 2010

This chapter is intended primarily for managers who are preparing to implement portfolio management concepts in an organization and students of IT Project Management courses at the Masters level, who wish to understand the difference between Project and Portfolio Management. As IT Governance is gaining importance, the IT department should not be surprised if they are given a mandate from the senior management to implement a Governance framework. Portfolio Management principles are the foundations of building an effective governance. While there is literature available discussing portfolio management at the conceptual level, there is not enough available which translates these concepts into tactical implementation. This could be because implementation differs between organizations and there is no one size fits all solution. However, practitioners can benefit from discussing implementation approaches that can be tailored to suit individual needs. This chapter shows one of the many ways to implement a portfolio management framework.
Planning and Control and the Use of Information Technology in Mental Healthcare Organizations
Authors: Baars I.J. , Merode G.G. Van
Published: May 2010

Demand for mental healthcare increases. Simultaneously, the need for more patient oriented processes increases and the market develops towards more competition among providers and organizations. As a result of these developments, mental healthcare organizations are becoming more aware of efficiency and effectiveness. Often, they choose to transform to more process oriented organizations, which require changes in planning and control systems and information technology (IT). However, little is known about the required planning and control systems and IT for mental healthcare.
The Human Aspects of Change in IT Projects
Authors: Day Karen , Norris Tony
Published: May 2010

In this chapter we describe the transition phase (capability crisis) of the change process linked to health IT projects, indicate how it can be identified, and outline the ways in which we can use change management to intervene and assist people in their journey of change. Despite IT projects being considered a failure more often than not, we continue to implement IT innovations encapsulated in health information systems in healthcare services. These projects bring about considerable organizational change. Good project management includes the use of critical success factors such as change management in our attempts at ensuring success. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the ways in which we can identify (diagnose) the capability crisis and intervene (with change management) by means of learning, leadership, communication and workload management.
Electronic Health Records
Authors: Kluge Eike-Henner W.
Published: May 2010

The development of electronic health records marked a fundamental change in the ethical and legal status of health records and in the relationship between the subjects of the records, the records themselves and health information and healthcare professionals—changes that are not fully captured by traditional privacy and confidentiality considerations. The chapter begins with a sketch of the nature of this evolution and places it into the epistemic framework of healthcare decision-making. It then outlines why EHRs are special, what the implications of this special status are both ethically and juridically, and what this means for professionals and institutions. An attempt is made to link these considerations to the development of secure e-health, which requires not only the interoperability of technical standards but also the harmonization of professional education, institutional protocols and of laws and regulations.
Knowledge Translation in Nursing Through Decision Support at the Point of Care
Authors: Doran Diane , Di Pietro Tammie
Published: May 2010

With advances in electronic health record systems and mobile computing technologies it is possible to re-conceptualize how health professionals access information and design appropriate decision-support systems to support quality patient care. This chapter uses the context of nursing-sensitive patient outcomes data collection to explore how technology can be used to increase nurses’ and other health professionals’ access to patient outcomes information in real time to continually improve patient care. The chapter draws upon literature related to: (1) case-based reasoning, (2) feedback, (3) and evidence-based nursing practice to provide the theoretical foundation for an electronic knowledge translation intervention that was developed and tested for usability. Directions for future research include the need to understand how nurses experience uncertainty in their practice, how this influences information seeking behavior, and how information resources can be designed to support real-time clinical decision making.
Social Networking and Personal Learning Environment
Authors: Fini Antonio
Published: May 2010

In social studies a social network is the set of relations that links people, through their interactions and familiarity of various kind. Today, however, social networking indicates a growing phenomenon, characterised by Web technologies that create and keep together groups of people on the basis of common interests. These tools (social software technologies) include for instance: blogs, podcasts, RSS feeds, social bookmarking, and offer new opportunities to promote collaboration, to assist conversations, to help in the sharing of knowledge, in work and learning contexts, both formal and informal. Although some of these tools are often used in LMSs, the main idea of this new approach is to consider the advantages coming from general purpose tools, widely available on the net, and characterised by an intrinsic vitality and spontaneity. In this context, also linked to a growing criticism of the current e-learning model, based on the extensive use of VLEs (virtual learning environments), new proposals oriented towards the definition of new models of Web spaces for personal learning (personal learning environment or virtual learning landscape) are being put forward. In these new systems the individual has a central place, in a network of resources and of social and friendly interactions that offer support on the emotional as well as on the cognitive level.
Guarding Corporate Data from Social Engineering Attacks
Authors: Botelho Christopher M. , Cazier Joseph A.
Published: May 2010

The threat of social engineering attacks is prevalent in today’s society. Even with the pervasiveness of mass media’s coverage of hackers and security intrusions, the general population is not aware of the possible damage that could occur should they be subjected to a social engineering attack. In order to show the damage caused by these attacks, we will discuss the results of a social engineering attack based on a survey conducted in the downtown area of a large financial center in the United States. The authors make suggestions companies can incorporate into their policies in order to protect their employees, as well as systems from intrusions based on social engineering attacks.
A Holistic Approach for Enterprise Agility
Authors: Alexopoulou Nancy , Kanellis Panagiotis , Nikolaidou Mara , Martakos Drakoulis
Published: May 2010

Efficient response to change, both upon expected and unpredicted contingencies, is a critical characteristic for modern enterprises. This chapter presents the various ways this feature has been addressed in the literature and explains why the term “enterprise agility” has been adopted for characterizing this capability. Furthermore, it provides a holistic approach for analyzing enterprise agility that is based on an introduced viewpoint-oriented Enterprise Architecture. The ultimate target is to provide the means for researchers to explore enterprise agility in a systematic way and identify a number of important issues regarding the attainment of such capability.
What is SAP Business Blueprint?
Authors: Aberra Hossana H.
Published: May 2010

SAP Business Blueprint is a vital part of SAP implementation exercise. A well-defined business blueprint may set the foundation for successful implementation of the subsequent SAP implementation phases; provided that the necessary project success factors are in position. This chapter clarifies some of the concepts behind SAP Business Blueprint. It explains and views the ERP solution as an integral component of the design process. It outlines different aspects of SAP business blueprinting from technical infrastructure enablement, while setting the solution landscape, to the details of business process defi- nition. It points out how the SAP Solution Manager facilitates (business process) architecture-driven implementation through tight integration with ARIS Business Architect for NetWeaver. It details ways of moving toward Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) utilizing Enterprise Services, and an approach for generating Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) models using Web Services Description Language (WSDL) imported objects for analysis.
Free and Open Source Enterprise Resources Planning
Authors: de Carvalho Rogerio Atem
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces the key aspects of Free/Open Source Enterprise Resources Planning systems (FOS-ERP). Starting by related work carried out by researchers and practitioners, it argues in favor of the growing acceptance of this category of enterprise systems while showing how this subject is not yet well explored, especially by researchers. The goals of this chapter are to highlight the differences between FOS-ERP and their proprietary equivalents (P-ERP) in terms of business models, selection, customization, and evolution; and showing the challenges and opportunities that they offer to adopters, vendors, researchers, and individual collaborators. Therefore, this chapter tries to broaden the discussion around the FOS-ERP subject, currently focused only in cost aspects, bringing more attention to other aspects and pointing out their innovative potential.
Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
Authors: Mishra Alok
Published: May 2010

In the age of globalization, organizations all over the world are giving more significance to strategy and planning to get an edge in the competition. This chapter discusses the Enterprise Resurce Planning (ERP) systems effects and strategic perspectives in organizations. These are significant how information technology and ERP together facilitate in aligning the business in such a way so that it should lead to excellent productivity. It further explores in what ways effects of ERP system in organizations can provide sustained competitive advantage.
ERP-Driven Performance Changes and Process Isomorphism
Authors: Masini Andrea
Published: May 2010

After observing that the pervasiveness of IT may soon render it strategically irrelevant, management scholars have recently questioned the value of information technology. This chapter challenges the above view, contends that ERP investments may contribute to the achievement of improved business performance, and examines the conditions under which this contribution occurs. The panel analysis of a sample of SAP R/3 adopters provides several insights. First, it suggests that the ERP exerts a generalized positive impact on both productivity and profitability. Second, the results confirm that the widespread diffusion of best practices embedded in the software may limit the ability of firms to use ERP to effectively differentiate from competitors. However, they also suggest that, whilst in the long run the pervasive diffusion of standardized software may decrease its strategic value, in the short run early ERP adopters can profit from a window of opportunity to obtain above average returns.
Enterprise Systems Strategic Alignment and Business Value
Authors: Loukis Euripidis , Sapounas Ioakim , Aivalis Konstantinos
Published: May 2010

This chapter is dealing with the alignment of enterprise systems with business strategy and its impact on the business value that enterprise systems generate. Initially the research on the strategic potential of ICT, which constitutes the basic theoretical foundation of the need for strategic alignment of enterprise systems, is analyzed. Then the previous research that has been conducted concerning enterprise systems strategic alignment is critically reviewed. It is grouped into three basic streams. The first of them is dealing with the conceptualization and basic understanding of enterprise systems strategic alignment. The second research stream aims at the development of models and frameworks for directing and assessing enterprise systems strategic alignment. The third research stream examines the impact of enterprise systems strategic alignment on business performance. Finally, an empirical investigation that has been conducted by the authors concerning the impact of enterprise systems strategic alignment on business performance as a guidance for future research on this topic is described. We expect that this chapter will sufficiently inform on strategic alignment, both researchers and practitioners in the area of enterprise systems, so that they can incorporate this highly important concept in their research and practice respectively.
Enterprise Systems in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Authors: Mathrani Sanjay , Rashid Mohammad A. , Viehland Dennis
Published: May 2010

The market for enterprise systems (ES), continues to grow in the post millennium era as businesses become increasingly global, highly competitive, and severely challenged. Although the large enterprise space for ES implementation is quite stagnated, now all of the ES vendors are focusing on the small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector for implementations. This study looks at the current ES implementation scenario in the SME sector. The purpose of the study is to gain insights into what is a typical case of ES implementation and to understand how current implementations in the SME sector differ from the earlier implementations in the large enterprise sector through a perspective of ES vendors, ES consultants, and IT research firms in a NZ context. Implications for practice in implementation processes, implementation models, and organizational contexts are discussed.
From ERP to Enterprise Service-Oriented Architecture
Authors: Nicolescu Valentin , Wittges Holger , Krcmar Helmut
Published: May 2010

This chapter provides an overview of past and present development in technical platforms of ERP systems and its use in enterprises. Taking into consideration the two layers of application and technology, we present the classical scenario of an ERP system as a monolithic application block. As the demands of modern enterprise software cannot be met by this concept, the shift to a more flexible architecture like the service-oriented architecture (SOA) is the current status quo of modern companies. Keeping in mind the administrative complexity of such structures, we will discuss the new idea of business Webs. The purpose of our chapter is, on the one hand, to show the historical development of ERP system landscapes and, on the other hand, to show the comparison of the presented concepts with respect to application and technology view.
ERP and Beyond
Authors: Subramoniam Suresh , Tounsi Mohamed , Ghani Shehzad Khalid , Krishnankutty K. V.
Published: May 2010

Enterprise-wide automation has already transformed the relations among suppliers, purchasers, producers, and customers. Conventional ERP helps only to automate individual departments. It could neither integrate its back-office benefits into the front-office, nor could it establish consistent control of all business processes. Competitive pressures and globalization stresses the need for more effective, total enterprise solutions. The world class competition, modern business environment, and the availability of the Internet are the premises which stress the need for ERP. The salient features of ERP II are presented in addition to describing some of the disruptive technologies which will help reengineer ERP systems rapidly. The results of an international survey pertaining to the embedding of intelligence in the modern day ERP shows an evolutionary trend. The order placement over the Internet by a sales clerk from a remote location forms a part of this chapter to benefit the readers in understanding the functioning of an ERP system.
Emerging Frameworks in User-Focused Identity Management
Authors: Gupta Manish , Sharman Raj
Published: May 2010

A paradigm shift is occurring in identity management philosophy. User-focused identity management is one the emerging and most promising paradigms. One of the fundamental principles of the user-focused identity management frameworks is that the users control their identity formations, revelations, and interactions. This means that users must be given the choice of which identities to use at which services; they have choice to decide what identity information will be disclosed to services and how those services will use their identity information. User-focused identity management frameworks are posed to make users’ online interactions easier and safer. In this chapter, we survey 11 of the most common user-focused identity management frameworks that are emerging, and their associated technologies. First, the chapter discusses issues and challenges with domain-centric identity management paradigm and presents unique value propositions of user-focused frameworks. Secondly, this chapter provides a comprehensive and cohesive coverage of common user-focused identity management frameworks. Users, technologists, businesses; and systems and security managers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the concepts, frameworks and associated technologies relating to user-focused identity management.
3D and 4D Medical Image Registration Combined with Image Segmentation and Visualization
Authors: Li Guang , Citrin Deborah , Miller Robert W. , Camphausen Kevin , Mueller Boris , Mychalczak Borys , Song Yulin
Published: May 2010

Image registration, segmentation, and visualization are three major components of medical image processing. Three-dimensional (3D) digital medical images are three dimensionally reconstructed, often with minor artifacts, and with limited spatial resolution and gray scale, unlike common digital pictures. Because of these limitations, image filtering is often performed before the images are viewed and further processed (Behrenbruch, Petroudi, Bond, et al., 2004). Different 3D imaging modalities usually provide complementary medical information about patient anatomy or physiology. Four-dimensional (4D) medical imaging is an emerging technology that aims to represent patient motions over time. Image registration has become increasingly important in combining these 3D/4D images and providing comprehensive patient information for radiological diagnosis and treatment.
Adoption of ICT in an Australian Rural Division of General Practice
Authors: Deering Patricia , Tatnall Arthur
Published: May 2010

Many information technology (IT) products have been developed to support medical general practitioners (GP) in all aspects of their work (GPSRG 1998), and much research and development in this area has already been done. It is apparent, however, that GPs are not making as much use of these systems as they could. Our research had shown that there is still reluctance, in particular, from many rural general practitioners to fully implement Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in primary health care in rural Australia (Everitt and Tatnall 2003). While a simple analysis of the statistics of the numbers of computers in medical practice shows that there are computers in most general practices it is not so clear how, or even whether, they are being used. Rural GPs, however, operate very much in the mode of small business (Burgess and Trethowan 2002). Some national research shows that GPs use ICT mainly for administrative and some clinical functions but that much less use is made of online functions (NHIMAC 1999; GPCG 2001). This is even more pronounced for rural GPs.
Advances in Bone Tissue Engineering to Increase the Feasibility of Engineered Implant
Authors: Vidula Neelima , Mouannes Jessy J. , Halim Nadia , Othman Shadi F.
Published: May 2010

Millions of patients experience bone loss as a result of degenerative disease, trauma, or surgery (Xu, Othman, Hong, Peptan, & Magin, 2005). Healthy bone tissue constantly regenerates itself and remodels its architecture to meet the mechanical demands imposed on it, as described by Wolff’s “Law of Bone Remodeling” (Wolff, 1986). However, this capacity is severely limited when there is insufficient blood supply, mechanical instability, or competition with highly proliferating tissues (Pinheiro & Gerbei, 2006). Furthermore, severe bone losses can be detrimental to individuals, because they reduce the bone’s ability to remodel, repair, and regenerate itself (Luo et al., 2005; Nordin & Franklin, 2001), ultimately resulting in the deterioration of a patient’s health, and, in some instances, death (Luo et al., 2005).
Agent-Based Patient Scheduling
Authors: Hovland Einar Jakob , Larsen Even Åby
Published: May 2010

Agent-oriented software engineering has, by many researchers, been dubbed the new paradigm in software development, and from its original concepts in the early ‘80s, agents and agent systems are now active research areas in computer science. This evolution offers a promising approach to the development of patient scheduling systems. Coordinating and processing a vast amount of complex variables, such a system should be designed to stock and schedule a wide range of resources based on the patients’ health condition and availability, drawing on the advantageous data control and optimization abilities of agent technologies. This article presents the design of a working agentbased patient scheduling system prototype.
Applications of Data Mining in the Healthcare Industry
Authors: Wang John , Hu Xiaohua , Zhu Dan
Published: May 2010

The workflow of health care organizations involves the generation and collection of various kinds of data relating to clinical practices, clinical trials, patient information, resource administration, policies, and research. Traditionally, statistical techniques are used to derive some operational information from the data. Data mining, a new method, provides the opportunity to derive, in an exploratory and interactive manner, valuable health care knowledge in terms of associations, sequential patterns, classifications, predictions, and symbolic rules. Such inductively-derived health care knowledge can provide strategic insights into the practice delivery of health care. As the medical field expands, it is the duty of each physician to evaluate and protect each patient from diseases, side effects, and medical mishaps. Armed with a scalpel, stethoscope, and other accruements, physicians are now armed with data mining as a tool for expanding their knowledge base. Data mining is available to every aspect within the health care industry. It is multifaceted and used in areas like insurance to detect fraud, the pharmaceutical industry to evaluate side effects of drugs, and even detection of certain diseases based on genetics.
Applying Social Network Analysis in a Healthcare Setting
Authors: Parise Salvatore
Published: May 2010

The people-to-people relationships where knowledge work actually gets performed in organizations are called social networks, and they may be in complete contradiction to the information flows expected, based on looking at the organizational chart of formal roles or titles. These informal or social networks are playing an increasingly important role in the healthcare industry, as medical and clinical knowledge needs to be shared effectively between people within and among healthcare organizations. Social network analysis (SNA) is a research methodology to analyze networks between people, groups, organizations, and systems within and across organizations (Wasserman & Faust, 1994). The results of the analysis inform the researcher of both the structure of the network, as well as the positions of nodes or people in the network. This article provides a description of how SNA can be applied in a healthcare setting.