bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SEMG for Human Computer Interface Using Ann to Navigate Wheel Chair
Authors: Rajesh V. , Kumar P. Rajesh
Published: June 2012

This paper presents an approach to identify hand gestures with muscle activity separated from electromyogram (EMG) using Back Propagation analysis with the goal of using hand gestures for human-computer interaction. While there are a number of previous reported works where EMG has been used to identify movement, the limitation of these works is that the systems are suitable for gross actions and when there is one prime-mover muscle involved. This paper reports overcoming the difficulty by using independent component analysis to separate muscle activity from different muscles and classified using back propagation neural networks. The experimental results show that the system was accurately able to identify the hand gesture using this technique (95%). The advantage of this system is that it is easy to train one to use it and can easily be implemented in real time.
Assessment of Anti-Angiogenic Drug in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Pan Indrajit
Published: June 2012

It has been documented in the literature that a solid tumor survives by the generation of micro-vessels around it. This phenomenon is known as angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is governed by two factors, namely Tumor Angiogenic Factor (TAF) secreted by the tumor cells and tissue Fibronectin (FNT) concentration in the extra-cellular space. These two factors help in mobilization of endothelial cells from nearby blood vessels. At the initial phase of angiogenesis, neighboring blood vessels affect in formation of capillary sprouts. In this work, to the authors develop a clinically relevant analytical model that could act as an effective tracing system of tumor growth. The author has performed a quantitative assessment of tumor angiogenesis. This analytical method is a correlation between tumor system and vasculature system through an analytical assessment at peripheral blood circulatory of tumor milieu.
Adaptive Multi-Services System for Maternal and Child Health Care on Mobile Application (AM-Care)
Authors: Romsaiyud Walisa , Premchaiswadi Wichian
Published: June 2012

Addressing efforts towards the improvement of maternal and child health management can often prove to be problematic in context to successfully obtaining healthcare and medical treatment information from health care professionals. In this regard, the authors propose an adaptive multi-service system that contains fully integrated health care services, medical treatment services, and maternal and child health management. The system utilized both web-based and mobile technology for implementing the application. A practical framework for generating individual maternal and child health care is also presented from data repositories and fully integrated functional health care services to support an improved quality of life for both mother and children. The application, namely AM-Care, consists of the three main components, i.e., Control Centre Component, Web-based Components, and Mobile Components. Also, AM-Care has the important add-on features such as emergency services and warning services.
Measuring Patients’ Perceptions and Social Influence on Home Telecare Management System Acceptance
Authors: Chen Charles , Chou Shih-Wei
Published: June 2012

Successful implementation of a Home Telecare Management System (HTMS) requires acceptance by the users, especially when technical innovation is applied to manage chronic healthcare in elderly patients, who are unaccustomed to using modern technology. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Social Influence Theory (SIT), a Home Telecare Management System (HTMS) Acceptance Model is proposed and tested to improve the understanding of patients’ acceptance of HTMS and the impact of social influence on patients’ attitude and behavioral intentions in using HTMS. Via empirical research and analysis of 221 patients’ questionnaires, the partial least squares (PLS) technique indicates that most of the model’s hypotheses are significant. Implications for both theory and practice are also provided.
In Search of a Star Trek Affective State
Authors: Jelen Jonatan , Brocato Billy , Schmidt Thomas M. , Gold Stuart S.
Published: June 2012

The authors’ meta-analysis showed that leadership studies have ignored pioneering research into the heuristic tools people employ that affect decision-making and, subsequently, judgments regarding effective group performance in organizational settings. The chapter suggests a postmodern model superseding the modernist perspectives whose theoretical grounding remain mired in Frederick Taylor’s (1911) scientific management theories. The authors’ meta-analysis identified salient characteristics found in the selected leadership research, allowing for a disambiguation of the transformational and charismatic leadership operational traits. The meta-analysis comprised selected research studies from 1999 to 2008, and revealed distinctive intrapersonal (5 organizational referents) and interpersonal (5 social identity/normative referents) icons that inform emergent leader and follower behaviors. The chapter proposes a postmodern evaluation matrix to reveal the structural biases and modernist conceptual ambiguities tied to the leader-worker dyadic in varying organizational contexts. The findings suggest that leadership researchers should consider complex behavioral decision-making processes that result in emergent group performances instead of focusing on a leader’s ephemeral behavioral traits. A postmodern approach also helps leadership researchers identify a group’s performance on a continuum that would demonstrate their willingness to act in a way that tests individual limits, stretches group boundaries, and exceeds company goals, what the authors term a Star Trek Affective State.
Evaluating the Success of ERP Systems’ Implementation
Authors: Almeida Ricardo , Teixeira Miguel Nuno de Oliveira
Published: June 2012

Information management has assumed an increasing importance at business organizations, over the last decades. Such trends lead companies to promote enormous efforts on organizing and optimizing their business processes, acquiring expensive enterprise information systems, aiming to promote an accurate answer to market uncertainty. Unfortunately, traditional software implementations have revealed low levels of satisfaction by Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems’ customers. This study aims to evaluate the reasons for success and failure of ERP systems implemented in Portugal and the methodologies taken by consulting teams. To achieve such a goal, it has been submitted a web survey to Portuguese companies and consulting teams, in order to confirm major errors, ERP systems’ coverage and quality’s response for business processes, and assessment of engineering requirements as a major concern. This study is concluded with the presentation of the web survey results and some conclusions about ERP systems’ implementation at Portugal.
EX-ANTE and EX-POST Model Applied to the Portuguese Air Force Flying Regime
Authors: Páscoa Carlos , Alves António , Tribolet José
Published: June 2012

In order to be able to plan, execute, and control its activities to achieve the desired results, it is essential that organizations tie together the academic knowledge and the operational experience by utilizing proven scientific theories in the organization executables. There are several theories about how to frame the models of corporate governance according to different perspectives; there are advantages and disadvantages in the adoption of each of them. The more or less complete dimension when related to the scope of each model is also an important aspect in its use and disclosure. The EX-ANTE and EX-POST model proposes a set of concepts that allow for the co-existence of mechanisms of access control and registration and validation, being the governance of the system based on four architectures: strategic, business, applications and technology. The model that the Portuguese Air Force uses for the definition of its annual flying hours regime includes five well-defined phases that may improve the level of coverage if the listed security mechanisms, control and audit, recommended in the Model EX-ANTE and EX-POST, are considered.
End-user Attitude in ERP Post-Implementation
Authors: Almeida Tiago , Teixeira Leonor , Ferreira Carlos
Published: June 2012

This chapter analyzes the impact of the implementation of SAP R/3 in a Multinational Portuguese Organization (MPO), defining some Critical Success Factors (CSFs). In order to understand the motivations of end-users prior to implementation and to analyze the behavior after a change (post-implementation), a study based on a questionnaire was carried out. The sample included 67 users of SAP R/3 that were present throughout the process. Considering the results, the authors conclude that the implementation of SAP R/3 in MPO was successful, and the respondents consider their work more productive and achieve easier access to information. The existence of a solid team to support the project was established as a major facilitator in the whole process, as opposed to the limited time and lack of training that emerged as barriers to the implementation. It was also found that the learning period assumes a high importance in the success of the implementation, since increasing the training time reduces the need for support to the end-users.
Inventory Management, a Decision Support Framework to Improve Operational Performance
Authors: van den Berg Jan , van Heck Guido , Davarynejad Mohsen , van Duin Ron
Published: June 2012

Enterprise Resource Planning systems have been introduced to support the efficient and effective execution of business processes. In practice, this may not fully succeed. This also holds in particular for inventory management (IM), which forms a part of supply chain management. Within this research, by analyzing the IM business process theoretically, eleven potential benefits are indicated. Next, by using a Business Intelligence approach, key performance indicators (KPIs) are selected to measure the performance of IM sub-processes. Integration of these approaches yields an IM performance decision support framework that can be used to obtain a generic, coherent picture of the fundamental IM processes in an organization. In addition, by tracking and analyzing KPI measurements, adequate decisions can be prepared towards the improvement of the operational IM performance. The proposed framework is validated using experts’ opinions and a comparative case study. The experts’ comments yielded a list of top-10 KPIs, based on the measurements of which a set of quick wins can be determined. The case study results show that some of the identified potential benefits are also observed in practice. Future research may reveal that comparable performance improvements are possible in other IM environments (and even in other supply chain domains) based on similar decision support frameworks.
IT Governance State of Art in the Colombian Health Sector Enterprises
Authors: Herrera Andrea , Giraldo Olga Lucía
Published: June 2012

The Colombian healthcare industry has been growing since the late 90’s and the amount of spending allocated to this sector is the highest proportion of GDP in Latin American countries. Those facts have increased the importance of this sector for the economy and national development. Furthermore, enterprises with IT governance that focus on organizational objectives have yielded superior results than their competitors (Weill & Ross, 2004). The authors performed a research project to find out if there are similarities amongst Colombian Health Sector Enterprises that have obtained positive results. In this project, the authors studied IT governance, operational model, engagement model, and portfolio management of twelve companies, all of them large to medium-sized. The results show that the IT governance behavior of the Colombian healthcare industry is not homogeneous. Different subsectors have different behavior; some perform as large superior global enterprises and others are beginning their journey.
Enterprise Tomography Driven Root-Cause-Analysis and Integration Lifecycle Management of Federated ERP in Green Clouds
Authors: Aalmink Jan , Gómez Jorge Marx
Published: June 2012

Cloud Computing is finding its way into the architecture of current IT landscapes. The present chapter depicts the challenges of the required changes and transitions of Enterprise Data Centers from non-integrated on-premise solutions towards fully integrated on-demand systems in silo-free clouds. Cloud standardization in the context of the Open Cloud Manifesto is discussed as well as a reference model based upon semantic composition and federation (Federated ERP Systems and Corporate Environmental Information Management Systems CEMIS 2.0). How Enterprise Tomography can support the governance process is described as the Root-Cause-Analysis procedure and Integration Lifecycle Management of an Enterprise Cloud and by comparing different system states. On the basis of an operator-based approach, Root-Cause-Analysis and data integrity can be ensured. Finally, an outlook on an approach involving environmental aspects (Green Clouds) is given.
Towards Effective Tourism and People Alignment
Authors: Ferreira Luís , Putnik Goran D. , Cruz-Cunha Maria Manuela , Castro Hélio
Published: June 2012

The new (e)commerce/(e)business paradigms forced enterprises to undertake important transformations and reorganizations. It happened with the web and will be repeated in the Cloud and social networks, following Eric Schmidt’s (Google CEO) thoughts, “better thinking now on WWC – World Wide Computer, that is, what is behind u-commerce, ubiquity”. The tourism is no more only a traditional commercial activity but ever more social- and information-oriented. The tourism services need to be effective to be aligned with tourist requirements. The globalization and easy access allows tourists to change their plans constantly. Dynamic services reconfiguration and resulting impact on their information systems need to be supported. The theme here presented explores new tourism services requirements as the ubiquity and dynamic reconfiguration, new brokering mechanisms, and reliable integration processes, and human-to-human synchronous collaboration allow the natural involvement of the tourist on the co-creation of his activity plan with other agents (humans).
Linking the Strategic Importance of ICT with Investment in Business-ICT Alignment
Authors: Cumps Bjorn , Viaene Stijn , Dedene Guido
Published: June 2012

In this article, we introduce a framework that can be used by organizations as a positioning instrument to think of business-ICT alignment decisions in light of the strategic importance of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in their organization. We make a distinction between organizations where ICT is of high strategic importance and those where ICT is of low strategic importance. Based on this difference we argue that heavily investing in business-ICT alignment processes, structures and roles (PSRs) will not necessarily always be beneficial when ICT is of low strategic importance to the business. Furthermore, organizations that have a minimalist approach to the use of ICT do not necessarily need to invest in business-ICT alignment PSRs. We explain the dynamics and possible migration scenarios of our proposed framework after testing the statistical significance of the relationship between the strategic importance of ICT and the investment in business-ICT alignment. We end this article with a short empirical study which combines survey and case study results. Both the framework and framework dynamics still need further empirical validation, preferably with longitudinal data. Therefore, we stress and acknowledge that many of the discussions in this article are still explorative in nature. However, this article illustrates the possibilities and the need for a more fine-grained approach to business-ICT alignment.
Professional Analysts and the Ongoing Construction of IT Governance
Authors: Magnusson Johan
Published: June 2012

This article addresses the role of the professional analysts as actors within the field of IT Governance. Through a content analysis of over 400 reports from the largest commercial research firm, instances of normative statements are identified and analyzed. With the intended target group of the reports being Chief Information Officers, the findings show that the content of IT Governance has changed during the last three years. This is discussed in relation to the role that professional analysts play in an ongoing construction of IT Governance. The article concludes by identifying possible risks and benefits involved in using professional analysts as sources for best-practice, as well as calling for a more practice-based definition of IT Governance.
IT Governance
Authors: Luftman Jerry N. , Ben-Zvi Tal , Dwivedi Rajeev , Rigoni Eduardo Henrique
Published: June 2012

Aligning Information Technology (IT) and business has been a persistent and pervasive problem for over three decades. Studies show that one of the essential components for organizations seeking to improve their alignment maturity is IT Governance. This paper demonstrates the relationship between IT Governance and business performance. The Strategic Alignment Maturity Assessment (SAM) framework is applied as the foundation for relating IT Governance to company performance and to overall alignment maturity. Based on this research model, IT strategic planning, IT budgeting, and IT reaction capacity demonstrate strong contribution to the overall IT Governance maturity score. Furthermore, IT Governance has a significant impact on company performance. Although these results underscore the importance of IT Governance in alignment maturity, there is no silver bullet and the other five SAM components (Communications, Value, Partnership, Technology Scope, and Skills) must also be addressed.
Aligning IT/IS with Business Strategy Re-Visited
Authors: Grant Kevin , Hackney Ray , Edgar David
Published: June 2012

This paper explores the co-relational process activities of information technology and systems (IT/IS) and business strategy alignment. The notion of “process” as being strategy and strategic alignment has been observed but not examined. Organizations are both complex and adaptive, and these attributes create significant challenges for managers when assessing strategic requirements. A need exists to further understand alignment as a process and embrace this concept when aligning business IT/IS with the strategic goals of the organisation. This highlights an important distinction of “process” that recasts the nature of congruence and reassesses the appropriateness and usefulness of current practice. The authors propose the use of principles underpinning complex adaptive systems as a way to re-orientate IT/IS alignment in a meaningful and more appropriate manner. The context for the study is the UK Health Service, and informed by a case analysis of 26 senior members from a Scottish Health Board.
Improving the Organizational Integration of IT Governance Tools
Authors: Heier Hauke , Borgman Hans P.
Published: June 2012

Why are many information technology (IT) governance software implementations challenged and what are the critical success factors (CSFs) for the rollouts? This question has recently gained importance, as IT governance is high on the corporate agenda and software tools have become available that promise to enforce and streamline IT governance mechanisms. However, early research has shown some of the difficulties surrounding the implementations of these applications. This article presents and discusses several implementation case studies based on a comprehensive research framework, and concludes with a discussion of implementation practices. Three major factors can overcome most common failure points: careful project planning, top management support, and tight organizational integration.
The Adoption of Open Source Desktop Software
Authors: Ven Kris , Van Kerckhoven Geert , Verelst Jan
Published: June 2012

More organizations are currently migrating toward open source desktop software (OSDS). However, such migration is complex. More insight into the process will assist decision makers in making a well-informed decision on whether or not to migrate to OSDS and in building a strong business case to support this decision. In this paper, the authors present the results of a qualitative study in seven Belgian organizations and report on why these organizations have adopted OSDS and how the migration was undertaken. These cases represent challenging adoptions of OSDS. Results indicate that providing added value for users can positively influence user perceptions. In addition, the authors found strong empirical support for the guidelines with respect to the migration to OSDS that have been proposed in academic literature.
Detection of Strategies in IT Organizations through an Integrated IT Compliance Model
Authors: Marcos Antonio Folgueras , Tello José Carlos Alva , Ruiz-Mezcua Belén , Crespo Ángel García
Published: June 2012

In the past few years, many frameworks and standards have been developed to cover different aspects of IT to provide best practices, such as COBIT, ITIL, CMMI, ISO/IEC 20000, ISO/IEC 38500 and ISO/IEC 27000, and improve IT governance and IT service management in organizations. This research presents how self-assessments for IT standards improve significantly the strategic and tactical evaluation of IT requirements. Self-assessments measure the state of an organization in relation to experts’ recommendations of a specific framework. As a result of the number and excellence of the current standards, the authors propose a Compliance Model (MOPLACO) that uses, as a starting point, a combination of self-assessments and standards to plan the early strategic and tactical stages of the IT departments.
Optimal Service Ordering in Decentralized Queries Over Web Services
Authors: Tsamoura Efthymia , Gounaris Anastasios , Manolopoulos Yannis
Published: June 2012

The problem of ordering expensive predicates (or filter ordering) has recently received renewed attention due to emerging computing paradigms such as processing engines for queries over remote Web Services, and cloud and grid computing. The optimization of pipelined plans over services differs from traditional optimization significantly, since execution takes place in parallel and thus the query response time is determined by the slowest node in the plan, which is called the bottleneck node. Although polynomial algorithms have been proposed for several variants of optimization problems in this setting, the fact that communication links are typically heterogeneous in wide-area environments has been largely overlooked. The authors propose an attempt to optimize linear orderings of services when the services communicate directly with each other and the communication links are heterogeneous. The authors propose a novel optimal algorithm to solve this problem efficiently. The evaluation of the proposal shows that it can result in significant reductions of the response time.
Outsourcing in Knowledge-Based Service Firms
Authors: Edvardsson Ingi Runar , Oskarsson Gudmundur Kristjan
Published: June 2012

This paper reports on empirical work recently conducted on outsourcing among knowledge-based and other service firms in Iceland. The results show that knowledge-based firms outsource on a larger scale and more human resource functions than other service firms. However, they do not have a more strategic vision towards outsourcing, nor do they outsource more low knowledge-based activities than other firms. The study gives support to the resource-based view of the firm, and is in line with former studies of knowledge-based firms. The firms in the survey tend to keep their core competencies and employees in-house, and at the same time they outsource other functions that they consider non-core, such as peripheral and administrative tasks, or IT that requires technical specialization. The more innovative firms rely on outsourcing from best in class suppliers regarding training and counselling. The contribution of this study to the theory of outsourcing is that the non-routine tacit knowledge base related to firms’ core competencies is not limited to knowledge-based firms, but to a large portion of service firms as well.
Semantic Interfaces for Personal and Social Knowledge Work
Authors: Christidis Konstantinos , Papailiou Niki , Apostolou Dimitris , Mentzas Gregoris
Published: June 2012

A large number of tools has recently emerged supporting information management for individuals in their work context. Semantic technologies play an important role in the development of such tools as they facilitate advanced organization, annotation, navigation, and search capabilities. This study contributes to the design of such tools by outlining how a user-centred design methodology can be applied to develop usable and effective user interfaces. SPONGE, the resulting system, encapsulates core functionalities that are needed for managing personal information and for seamlessly sharing personal information within knowledge networks.
Organizational Conditions as Catalysts for Successful People-Focused Knowledge Sharing Initiatives
Authors: Sáenz Josune , Aramburu Nekane
Published: June 2012

This paper analyzes the impact of different organizational enablers on the degree of success of different people-focused knowledge sharing initiatives. Considering company size and technology intensity as two of the most relevant contingent variables in terms of organizational conditions (Mintzberg, 1979), the moderator role of these variables will be examined. For these relationships to be tested, an empirical study has been carried out among Spanish manufacturing firms with more than 50 employees which carry out R&D activities. Structural equation modelling (SEM) based on partial least squares (PLS) has been applied in order to test the main hypotheses of the research. The results obtained show that organizational design and organizational culture play a substantial role when it comes to explaining the degree of success of implementation of people-focused knowledge sharing initiatives. Conversely, the influence of information and communication technologies (ICT) is less relevant. Some interesting differences arise depending on technology intensity and company size.
An Architecture for Query Optimization Using Association Rule Mining
Authors: Bagui Sikha , Islam Mohammad , Bagui Subhash
Published: June 2012

This research presents a way to identify attribute-value relationships already existing in a database by using association rule mining to optimize query processing. Once relationships have been determined, these relationships can be used as a basis for creating temporary structures like views to optimize query operations. This paper presents an architecture that shows how table partitions in the form of views, created based on association rules, can be used to optimize queries. The results of this study were statistically significant.
SaaS Multi-Tenancy
Authors: Cai Hong , Reinwald Berthold , Wang Ning , Guo Chang Jie
Published: June 2012

SaaS (Software as a Service) provides new business opportunities for application providers to serve more customers in a scalable and cost-effective way. SaaS also raises new challenges and one of them is multi-tenancy. Multi-tenancy is the requirement of deploying only one shared application to serve multiple customers (i.e. tenant) instead of deploying one dedicated application for each customer. This paper describes the authors’ practice of developing and deploying multi-tenant technologies. This paper targets a technology that could quickly enable existing Java EE (Enterprise Edition) applications to be multi-tenancy enabled thus having the benefit of quick time to market. This paper describes the overall framework of multi-tenant SaaS platform, how to migrate an existing Java EE application, how to provision the multi-tenant application, and how to onboard the tenants. The paper also shows experiments which compare the economics of multi-tenant SaaS deployment versus traditional application deployment (one application for one tenant) with precise data.
Using Free Software for Elastic Web Hosting on a Private Cloud
Authors: Kübert Roland , Katsaros Gregory
Published: June 2012

Even though public cloud providers already exist and offer computing and storage services, cloud computing is still a buzzword for scientists in various fields such as engineering, finance, social sciences, etc. These technologies are currently mature enough to leave the experimental laboratory in order to be used in real-life scenarios. To this end, the authors consider that the prime example use case of cloud computing is a web hosting service. This paper presents the architectural approach as well as the technical solution for applying elastic web hosting onto a private cloud infrastructure using only free software. Through several available software applications and tools, anyone can build their own private cloud on top of a local infrastructure and benefit from the dynamicity and scalability provided by the cloud approach.
Cloud Security Engineering
Authors: Aljawarneh Shadi
Published: June 2012

Information security is a key challenge in the Cloud because the data will be virtualized across different host machines, hosted on the Web. Cloud provides a channel to the service or platform in which it operates. However, the owners of data will be worried because their data and software are not under their control. In addition, the data owner may not recognize where data is geographically located at any particular time. So there is still a question mark over how data will be more secure if the owner does not control its data and software. Indeed, due to shortage of control over the Cloud infrastructure, use of ad-hoc security tools is not sufficient to protect the data in the Cloud; this paper discusses this security. Furthermore, a vision and strategy is proposed to mitigate or avoid the security threats in the Cloud. This broad vision is based on software engineering principles to secure the Cloud applications and services. In this vision, security is built into all phases of Service Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Platform Development Life Cycle (PDLC) or Infrastructure Development Life Cycle (IDLC).
Cloud Computing Applied for Numerical Study of Thermal Characteristics of SIP
Authors: Maharana S. K. , Mali Praveen B. , Prabhakar Ganesh , J Sunil , Kumar Vignesh
Published: June 2012

Thermal management of integrated circuit (IC) and system-in-package (SIP) has gained importance as the power density and requirement for IC design have increased and need exists to analyse the heat dissipation performance characteristics of IC under use. In this paper, the authors examine the thermal characteristics of materials of IC. The authors leverage Cloud Computing architecture to remotely compute the dissipation performance parameters. Understanding thermal dissipation performance, which explains the thermal management of IC, is important for chip performance, as well as power and energy consumption in a chip or SIP. Using architectural understanding of Software as a Service (SaaS), the authors develop an efficient, fast, and secure simulation technique by leveraging control volume method (CVM) of linearization of relevant equations. Three chips are kept in tandem to make it a multi-chip module (MCM) to realise it as a smaller and lighter package. The findings of the study are presented for different dimensions of chips inside the package.
Survey of the State-of-the-Art of Cloud Computing
Authors: Ahuja Sanjay P. , Rolli Alan C.
Published: June 2012

Cloud computing as a computational model has gathered tremendous traction. It is not completely clear what this term represents though it generally is thought to include a pay-as-you model for computation and storage. This paper explains what Cloud Computing is and contrasts it with Grid computing. It describes the major cloud services offered, discusses architectural details, and gives details about the infrastructure of Cloud Computing. This paper surveys the state of cloud computing and associated research and discusses the probable directions to the future of this evolving field of computing.
Fault Tolerant Architecture to Cloud Computing Using Adaptive Checkpoint
Authors: Belalem Ghalem , Limam Said
Published: June 2012

Cloud computing refers to both the applications delivered as services over the Internet and the hardware and systems software in the datacenters that provide those services. Failures of any type are common in current datacenters, partly due to the number of nodes. Fault tolerance has become a major task for computer engineers and software developers because the occurrence of faults increases the cost of using resources and to meet the user expectations, the most fundamental user expectation is, of course, that his or her application correctly finishes independent of faults in the node. This paper proposes a fault tolerant architecture to Cloud Computing that uses an adaptive Checkpoint mechanism to assure that a task running can correctly finish in spite of faults in the nodes in which it is running. The proposed fault tolerant architecture is simultaneously transparent and scalable.
Computer Ethics and Neoplatonic Virtue
Authors: Stamatellos Giannis
Published: June 2012

In normative ethical theory, computer ethics belongs to the area of applied ethics dealing with practical and everyday moral problems arising from the use of computers and computer networks in the information society. Modern scholarship usually approves deontological and utilitarian ethics as appropriate to computer ethics, while classical theories of ethics, such as virtue ethics, are usually neglected as anachronistic and unsuitable to the information era and ICT industry. During past decades, an Aristotelian form of virtue ethics has been revived in modern philosophical enquiries with serious attempts for application to computer ethics and cyberethics. In this paper, the author argues that current trends and behaviours in online communication require an ethics of self-care found in Plotinus’ self-centred virtue ethics theory. The paper supports the position that Plotinus’ virtue ethics of intellectual autonomy and self-determination is relevant to cyberethics discussions involved in computer education and online communication.
The Evolution of E-learning Management Systems
Authors: Alves da Silva Nuno Sotero , Morais da Costa Gonçalo Jorge , Prior Mary , Rogerson Simon
Published: June 2012

The development of educational technologies is enhancing a distinctive feature of learning environments: the learner’s personalized environment. However, the current literature in e-learning seems to neglect an important discussion: will individuals (learners and lecturers) and organizations face an enhancement concerning ethical dilemmas due to this evolution? To promote this discussion, this paper builds on a consideration of e-learning definition and its ethical dilemmas, and human-centred learning concept and its dimensions, to examine the implications of integrating social and cultural contexts. By examining the evolution of e-learning management systems the argument progresses to a discussion of the relationships between pedagogy and ethics. By framing evidence at different scales, the authors critically reflect on the ethical dilemmas embedded in e-learning systems. The discussion concludes with advocating the adoption of an extension of “three P” mode of pedagogy to become the “P3E” model: personalization, participation, productivity, lecturer’s ethics, learner’s ethics, and organizational ethics.
The International SOLETM of Finnish Higher Education
Authors: Hoffman David M. , Välimaa Jussi , Saarinen Taina , Söderqvist Minna , Raunio Mika , Korhonen Marjaana
Published: June 2012

This participative inquiry critiques recent management trends in the Finnish higher education system. The six authors, presently working in three Finnish universities, focus on strategic internationalization policy to highlight the argument. Global trends in internationalization are introduced, followed by an experienced-based meta-analysis, drawing on several recent studies by the authors. This analysis points to significant challenges and blind spots that exist- well hidden- alongside the Finnish higher education system’s best features. The increasing use of ICT-based management routines are called into question with respect to higher education practices, capacity and linked societal challenges. The analysis indicates these challenges remain unengaged- even obscured by- the rapidly proliferating number of ICT-based university management systems. Although none of the authors are specialists in Philosophy or ethics, the interpretive-level findings presented by this interdisciplinary group of scholars illuminates ways forward for the emerging field of specialists focused on ICT-based network-related ethics.
The Net Generation and E-Textbooks
Authors: Nicholas Arlene J. , Lewis John K.
Published: June 2012

The traditional college student of today is part of the Net Generation who has been raised in an era of instant access. Their communication and learning is complemented by the Internet, a major influence on this cohort. The regular method of contact is text messaging, instant messaging and cell phones. Learning methods for the Net Generation include Internet tools such as Web-CT, Blackboard, online courses, online journals and i-pod downloads. Are they ready to also change from print textbooks to Internet based textbooks? This paper describes the attitudes of some Net Generation students towards the usage of electronic textbooks. Three case studies were conducted: one class used an online textbook and two other classes used e-chapter supplements. Students were questioned on their perceptions of using and learning with e-textbooks. Their views describe some changing thoughts towards network connected media that is the mantra of this generation.
Web 2.0
Authors: Harris Lisa , Warren Lorraine , Smith Kelly , Carey Charlotte
Published: June 2012

The use of Web 2.0 technologies in the classroom is becoming more widespread, as educators begin to recognise their use as effective learning and teaching tools. Web 2.0 facilitates new modes of social interaction that offer the potential to enrich university educational activities. New roles, structures and activities can be enabled, engendering new forms of creativity and increasing the availability of and extent of access to information. Yet in achieving this, such platforms shift the traditional boundaries between educators and their students, between personal and professional lives, raising issues of integrity and pedagogy in unexpected ways. This paper reflects on three personal narratives to examine some of these challenges; the authors conclude by highlighting concerns that universities need to address.
How Do Technology Application and Equity Impact Student Achievement?
Authors: Chan Tak Cheung
Published: June 2012

This study examines the impact of technology application on student achievement in the state of Georgia. Technology application includes elements such as technology access, technology integration, and teacher technology proficiency. Student achievement refers to students’ standardized test scores in language, social studies, sciences, and mathematics in elementary, middle, and high schools. Results of Multiple Regression analysis yielded significant percentages of variance in student achievement that was attributable to Internet connected computer access. Another purpose of the study was to investigate the equity issues of school technology. School levels and student socioeconomic status were used as independent variables to determine if significant differences in technology application existed among the school levels and the socioeconomic status categories. Results of Analysis of Variance indicated that students of low socioeconomic status had far less opportunities to access Internet connected computers than students of high socioeconomic status. The level of technology application increased as students moved up the school level.
Digital Equity in Schools
Authors: Williamson Jo E.
Published: June 2012

Technology is often touted as a means for providing new opportunities for learning, economic development, and participation in digital-age citizenry—especially for those who have limited access to high-quality learning environments and who have historically been marginalized in decision-making processes. Unfortunately, these opportunities for advancement are inextricably linked to the possibility of continued disenfranchisement and oppression. Lack of access to technology—or an absence of informed guidance regarding its use—can actually magnify the inequities in students’ education and further limit their opportunities. For these reasons, two of the most fundamental issues of cyber ethics in education are eliminating digital divides and promoting digital equity. In order to review the most recent trends in digital equity for elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education, this article analyzes 42 peer reviewed journal articles published in 2009-10 for trends in research and scholarly thought.
Embracing Technology and Community Engagement as a Teaching and Learning Medium in Social Justice Education
Authors: Naidoo Loshini
Published: June 2012

This paper examines the varied learning experiences that integrated socio-cultural theory, community engagement and e-learning offered by the “Diversity, Social Justice and Schooling” subject at the University of Western Sydney. This subject engaged university students in the learning process in a reflective and critical way, by responding to a need identified by community. Together with education technology, subject content knowledge and community engagement, the social justice subject aimed to enhance the educational achievement of marginalised groups, while simultaneously supporting pre-service teachers in the context of their development as educators committed to a social justice ethos.
Teaching Online
Authors: Söderström Tor
Published: June 2012

This article examines adult online education by investigating the complex relationship between technology and community. The aim was to explore online teaching in relation to the handbook dilemma teachers meet in their teacher profession by focusing on participation and sharing opportunities. This study analysed several handbooks that aim to help teachers design and implement online education. The advice in the handbooks was contrasted against two empirical cases. Specifically, the study examined how two cases – online adult education courses and special needs teacher training courses – implemented online education with respect to participation and sharing. The analysis suggests that pedagogy is the crucial point and a planned pedagogy is absolutely necessary for designing and implementing effective online education, education that encourages participation and sharing. The findings showed that some handbooks offer meaningful guidance regarding the development of online education, but other publications were not helpful which creates a dilemma for teachers.
Helping Students Avoid Plagiarism in Online Courses
Authors: Asunka Stephen
Published: June 2012

This study used design-based research approaches to investigate student plagiarism in an online course, with the objective of determining the instructional interventionist strategies that can help students avoid the practice in online courses. Twenty eight (28) undergraduate students who were engaged in a semester-long online course in Educational Technology at a private university in Ghana participated in the study. Drawing on relevant learning and related theories, the study implemented different learning activities pertaining to plagiarism at regular intervals during the semester, and then subsequently analyzed students’ individual and group course writings for evidence of plagiarism. Findings reveal that regular and varied instructional interventions helps students reduce and eventually avoid plagiarism in the online learning environment. Students were also found to plagiarize to a much lesser extent when they worked in groups than when they worked individually. Implications of these findings for the design and management of online learning courses in higher education are briefly discussed.
Behind the Scenes
Authors: Griffin Alison , Forzetting Sarah
Published: June 2012

In discussions surrounding collection development and approval plans, one often forgotten aspect of the conversation is the role of vendors in crafting the profiles and systems that aid library subject selectors in title-by-title selecting. This chapter outlines current approval practices and highlights new challenges, such as integrating e-books and mediating Patron Driven Acquisitions. The chapter aims to provide library selectors with information about the approval profile process so that they can get the most out of meetings with vendors.
Out of the Ordinary
Authors: Farison Leslie , Donovan Georgie L.
Published: June 2012

The primary purpose of business research is to gather information in order to aid decision-making. While there are many different users of business information, this chapter will focus on those in an academic setting. A wide variety of general and specialized resources exist to support the teaching and research needs of business students and faculty. For several reasons, the nature of these resources is complex and can be confusing. This chapter analyzes various types and subject areas within the discipline of business and considers various criteria used to select the most appropriate resources for curricular and research needs. The chapter recommends ongoing stewardship of the resources and suggests various methods of educating users about them.
Collection Development for Theological Education
Authors: Little Geoffrey
Published: June 2012

Students in graduate theological programs working toward ordination and a career in ministry in the Christian church require library collections that support their study of scripture, doctrine, ancient languages, and Biblical history and interpretation, as well as the practice of pastoral ministry, leadership, and administration. This chapter will discuss how to build collections at theological libraries measured against standards set by the Association of Theological Schools, the accrediting organization for theological schools in Canada and the United States; the importance of print and online reference works such as language dictionaries, atlases, and encyclopedias in theological library collections; indexes and databases for theological studies; important journals; the different categories of theological monographs; collection development policies; special collections in theological libraries; dealing with gifts and donors; and professional development resources for theological librarians.
New Professions, New Opportunities
Authors: Lenox Cynthia
Published: June 2012

This chapter is focused on how academic librarians have responded to the information needs of interdisciplinary programs. A review of literature of both American higher education and academic libraries is provided as a context for understanding current needs and collection development techniques. These techniques include the development of core book and journal lists, citation analysis, citation scatter analysis, the use of ontologies, and creative approaches to collection budgeting. The results of a survey of collection development librarians are presented, which identify current practices when dealing with interdisciplinary programs developed in recent years and the budget issues that either facilitate or present obstacles to the development of interdisciplinary library collections.