bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Threat Hunting in Windows Using Big Security Log Data
Authors: Fatemi Mohammad Rasool , Ghorbani Ali A.
Published: August 2019

System logs are one of the most important sources of information for anomaly and intrusion detection systems. In a general log-based anomaly detection system, network, devices, and host logs are all collected and used together for analysis and the detection of anomalies. However, the ever-increasing volume of logs remains as one of the main challenges that anomaly detection tools face. Based on Sysmon, this chapter proposes a host-based log analysis system that detects anomalies without using network logs to reduce the volume and to show the importance of host-based logs. The authors implement a Sysmon parser to parse and extract features from the logs and use them to perform detection methods on the data. The valuable information is successfully retained after two extensive volume reduction steps. An anomaly detection system is proposed and performed on five different datasets with up to 55,000 events which detects the attacks using the preserved logs. The analysis results demonstrate the significance of host-based logs in auditing, security monitoring, and intrusion detection systems.
Theoretical Foundations of Deep Resonance Interference Network
Authors: Thovex Christophe
Published: August 2019

Digital processes for banks, insurances, or public services generate big data. Hidden networks and weak signals from frauds activities are sometimes statistically undetectable in the endogenous data respective to processes. The organic intelligence of human experts is able to reverse-engineer new fraud scenarios without statistically significant characteristics, but machine learning usually needs to be taught about them or fails to this task. Deep resonance interference network is a multidisciplinary attempt in probabilistic machine learning inspired from waves temporal reversal in finite space, introduced for big data analysis and hidden data mining. It proposes a theoretical alternative to artificial neural networks for deep learning. It is presented along with experimental outcomes related to fraudulent processes generating data statistically similar to legal endogenous data. Results show particular findings probably due to the systemic nature of the model, which appears closer to reasoning and intuition processes than to the perception processes mainly simulated in deep learning.
The Latitude of Information Management in Local Government
Authors: Syväjärvi Antti , Leinonen Jaana , Kivivirta Ville , Kesti Marko
Published: August 2019

This article explores the changing role and latitude of information management in local e-government. Municipalities have implemented information management and e-government for decades, but due to the cultural, political and behavioral reasons these efforts often face problems. This paper seeks to address these limitations by exploring the issues from the perspective of latitude. An empirical study where 137 managers answered questionnaires with open questions and 16 were interviewed was conducted in Finnish municipalities. The overall profile and latitude of information management is yet unstructured and narrow, indicating only supportive operations, as managers have difficulties with the complex domain of information management. The interaction between various stakeholders is also undeveloped. The authors conclude that both strategic integration and a hybrid type of management are required in local e-government. This article provides a framework of information management that can help enhance understanding of the determinants of information management in local governments.
Publicness, Goal Ambiguity and Patient Safety
Authors: Anderson Stuart
Published: August 2019

This article explores possible links between organizational publicness, goal ambiguity and patient safety. Despite organizational and management initiatives designed to improve matters, patient safety in hospitals remains a major challenge. Much research has focused on leadership and culture, which have been shown to be crucial factors in assuring patient safety. However, improvements have been slow in coming. There may be merit therefore in examining other factors that play a part in assuring safety, especially those that address the ambiguities inherent in health care organizations. Two such factors that have received increasing attention from organization theorists are publicness and goal ambiguity. Publicness addresses the complexity now inherent in defining the public or private nature of health care organizations; goal ambiguity addresses the diversity of goals that organizations, especially public ones, are expected to fulfil. Both hinder improvements in patient safety; greater effort needs to be made to minimise the ambiguities involved.
Hints for Rethinking Communities of Practice in Public Administration
Authors: Gairín Joaquín , Rodríguez-Gómez David , Barrera-Corominas Aleix
Published: August 2019

Communities of Practice (CoP) have become one of the most widely used strategies for promoting Knowledge Creation and Management (KCM) processes in Public Administration. This chapter is based on some of the practical research and consultancy carried out by the Organisational Development Team from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (http://edo.uab.cat) over the last 10 years, presenting some ideas to facilitate the introduction of improvements in the usual functioning of CoP in the public administration. Specifically, the purpose of this chapter is twofold: (1) to analyse the procedures of KCM by means of CoP in the public administration and through the intensive use of technology; and (2) to suggest elements which may allow us to rethink and improve CoP. The main results indicate that the most important factors in determining CoP participation are related in greater measure to personal processes (interest in change, curiosity, commitment to innovation, profile within the CoP) than to circumstances (professional category, age or seniority).
Decentralization and Subnational Governance
Authors: Ryan Roberta , Woods Ronald
Published: August 2019

A trend towards decentralized systems of government and the strengthening of subnational governance is underway globally. However, decentralization has many different meanings, and it is frequently left undefined, even while it is being implemented. This chapter argues that enhanced understanding of concepts and theories can contribute to improved practice during decentralization reforms, and consequently be of benefit both to governments and their citizens. Drawing on the theoretical, research and public administration literature, an approach is adopted that aims to inform decentralization praxis, that is, the interplay of policy, strategy, implementation and review. The material is used as a foundation for presenting a synthesis-framework for praxis that draws attention to: appreciating the theoretical scope of fiscal decentralization; focusing on the country and its goals; considering the design of the system of multi-level governance; focusing on central and local capacity; and adopting flexibility, supported by feedback mechanisms, in the process of decentralization.
Designing and Implementing E-Government Projects for Democracy and Social Change in India
Authors: Virkar Shefali
Published: August 2019

Attracted by the new Information and Communication Technologies, actors across the world have adopted computer-based systems for use in government as a means of reforming inefficiencies in public administration and public service provision. This book chapter, through the study of an electronic property tax collection system in Bangalore, India, seeks to unravel the social dynamics shaping similar e-government initiatives. The research upon which this chapter is based analyses prevailing actor behaviour, motivations, and interactions; examining not only the interplay of local contingencies and external influences acting upon the project's implementation and transformation, but also the disjunctions in these relationships which inhibit the effective exploitation of ICTs in the given context.
The Influence of Government Capacity on E-Services Diffusion at Municipal Level in New Jersey
Authors: Zheng Yueping , Manoharan Aroon P
Published: August 2019

The development of ICTs brings opportunities for governments to improve their services provision. Since early 2000, governments at all levels have increasingly enabled citizens to get e-services, or services online, which was the primary function of e-government. Although great progress has been made, studies indicate that e-services levels are still low and great variances exist. Previous research, that has explored the determinants of government performance on e-services, was often lacking an emphasis on government capacity. This study aims at examining the influence of government capacity (technical capacity, financial capacity, and administrative capacity) on e-services. With data from 146 municipalities in New Jersey, the research finds that government capacity, specifically administrative capacity, positively affects government performance in e-services.
From eJustice to Open Judiciary
Authors: Lourenço Rui Pedro , Fernando Paula , Gomes Conceição
Published: August 2019

This chapter will consider the Portuguese context, with a relatively ‘traditional' eGovernment successful development, to analyse the way eJustice and open judiciary have progressed. The aim is to provide useful insights which may be considered in other contexts (countries), including a reflection on the factors that may account for differences in eJustice and open judiciary development when compared to eGovernment and open government achievements. eGovernment, eJustice, open government and open judiciary development processes are placed in dialogue, in order to discuss the factors that have contributed to differences and similarities in both generic eGovernment and open government and specific eJustice and open judiciary development in Portugal.
Academic Library Collaborations to Strengthen Open Government Data and Expand Librarianship
Authors: Das Tara
Published: August 2019

In academic libraries, the area of data librarianship has introduced several new functions and skills into the librarian toolbox. These include statistical and software support, research data management, data curation, and data and statistical literacy. Fostering data-related collaborations enables librarians to enhance library services, collections, and outreach. In this chapter, we will focus on academic library collaborations with government agencies as case in point. Under the umbrella of open access, local and national governments have started making available the raw data that they collect, in the course of providing public services, for users to conduct their own analysis. This chapter will 1) describe data librarianship in academic libraries; 2) review open government data repositories; 3) outline concerns with open government data, such as metadata and data literacy; and 4) describe collaborative efforts between an academic library and New York City government agencies to address concerns with open government data.
Open Judiciary Worldwide
Authors: Jiménez-Gómez Carlos E.
Published: August 2019

Despite its origins, openness in the judiciary has expanded beyond transparency and, therefore, beyond the common law open justice principle. Several initiatives worldwide are echoing this trend and a new term, open judiciary, is arising as a way to address openness in the justice field. This chapter gives an overview of open judiciary initiatives worldwide, focusing on some of the most successful, in order to identify drivers of adoption, critical success factors, and preliminary results. The research is embedded in a broader exploratory study on the state of the art of open judiciary. The chapter is addressed to answer two of the research questions: What are some learning practices that can be identified worldwide in relation to openness in the judiciary? What are some of the most important lessons that can be learnt from these practices?
Local Public Service Delivery Arrangements in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Authors: Nemec Juraj , Soukopova Jana , Merickova Beata Mikusova
Published: August 2019

This chapter discusses the issue of efficiency of the different modes of the provision of local public services in two selected new EU member states – the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia have a long common history and it is feasible to include both of them in the analysis. The first main part of the chapter analyses the history, transformation and the current local public delivery arrangements in the Czech Republic and Slovakia with the focus on the efficiency of the different modes of production. The final part tries to explain the main purposes behind the fact that externalisation does not deliver visible improvements.
Academic Libraries in Partnership With the Government Publishing Office
Authors: Costello Barbara
Published: August 2019

The implementation of the Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-40) brought the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) fully into the digital age. The transition has created expected and unexpected changes to the way the Government Publishing Office (GPO) administers the FDLP and, in particular, to the relationships between the GPO and academic depository libraries. Innovative partnerships, use of emerging technologies to manage and share collections, and greater flexibility on the part of the GPO have given academic depository libraries a prominent and proactive role within the depository program. Newly announced initiatives from the GPO, the National Plan for Access to U.S. Government Information and the Federal Information Preservation Network (FIPNet) potentially could either increase academic depository libraries' collaboration with the FDLP and the likelihood that they will remain in the program, or accelerate the rate at which academic depositories are dropping depository status.
Citizen Attitudes About Open Government and Government 2.0
Authors: Nam Taewoo
Published: August 2019

The analysis on the secondary data from the Pew Internet and American Life Project's national survey (Government Online) found what influences American citizens' attitude about Open Government and Government 2.0, which can be identified as a new goal and tool, respectively, of e-government. This study employs a path analysis based on standardized structural equation estimation, which decomposes the causal relationships among multiple variables into standardized direct and indirect effects. The analysis suggests some noteworthy findings. Heavy users of e-government services and those with trust in government are likely to have positive attitudes toward the new phase of e-government, Open Government and Government 2.0. Socio-demographic conditions have indirect effects on citizen attitudes through the mediating effect of e-government use.
Research and Experiences in Implementing E-Government Endeavors in Emerging Countries
Authors: Bolívar Manuel Pedro Rodríguez , Muñoz Laura Alcaide , Hernández Antonio M. López
Published: August 2019

The analysis of e-Government is of particular importance in developing countries because it constitutes a central element in the process of modernizing public administrations and strengthening governance within democratic societies. This chapter seeks to analyze the research efforts and directions in the field of e-Government performed in developing countries as well as past experiences in the implementation of e-Government in developing countries to learn some lessons for improving future implementation of e-Government, which could help to achieve more transparent, participative and democratic societies. Analysis indicates that e-Government implementations need to be analyzed from a systemic thinking approach, which suggests the use of strategic planning for e-Government success. International bodies should fund activities that allow developing countries to achieve political and social changes needed to make e-Government implementations successful and should monitor e-Government efficiency in developing countries with the aim at improving economic, democratic and social development of these countries.
Quests for Public-Private Partnership
Authors: Obicci Peter Adoko
Published: August 2019

This chapter critically reviews seminal literature on PPPs, in order to identify core congruent issues, motif, basics and environment as necessity to answer the quests for quality service delivery so rampant world over. It draws out a number of key themes to better understand why the quest for PPP has turned out to be the ‘driving tone' for all governments, even though successive reports/news prints, have uncovered many challenges in their implementation. Acknowledging that there is no one clear definition, strategy or template for the effective partnering, findings from extant literature highlight principles and critical success factors (CSFs) deemed integral to augmenting PPP performance and success. So, whilst governments invariably conducts their businesses with a smaller ration of strategic partnerships than commonly believed, and accepting private partners dominance has predominantly remained, it is advocated that there is an exigent need to disentangle the PPP initiative through some form of proper risk analysis in the project phases. The case for this is presented through a relationship schema that maps the fabric, reliance and drivers for PPP success.
Cloud Based Wireless Infrastructure for Health Monitoring
Authors: Chaudhary Ajay , Peddoju Sateesh Kumar , Peddoju Suresh Kumar
Published: August 2019

The wireless infrastructure based devices can collect data for long period of time even with a tiny power source as they perform specific function of collection of health related data and sending to gateways. The sensing data of healthcare monitoring consumes low power but they had limited computation power to process this data, where the cloud computing plays a vital role and compliment the loophole of wireless infrastructure based systems. In cloud computing with its immense computation power for easily deployment of healthcare monitoring algorithms and helps to process sensed data. As these two technologies did great jobs in their respective fields a conflate framework of these two technologies may lead to a great architecture for healthcare applications. This chapter reviews complete state-of-the-art and several use cases related to healthcare monitoring using different wireless infrastructure and adapting cloud based technologies in providing the healthcare services.
Secure Health Monitoring in the Cloud Using Homomorphic Encryption
Authors: Ames Scott , Venkitasubramaniam Muthuramakrishnan , Page Alex , Kocabas Ovunc , Soyata Tolga
Published: August 2019

Extending cloud computing to medical software, where the hospitals rent the software from the provider sounds like a natural evolution for cloud computing. One problem with cloud computing, though, is ensuring the medical data privacy in applications such as long term health monitoring. Previously proposed solutions based on Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) completely eliminate privacy concerns, but are extremely slow to be practical. Our key proposition in this paper is a new approach to applying FHE into the data that is stored in the cloud. Instead of using the existing circuit-based programming models, we propose a solution based on Branching Programs. While this restricts the type of data elements that FHE can be applied to, it achieves dramatic speed-up as compared to traditional circuit-based methods. Our claims are proven with simulations applied to real ECG data.
A Method for Classification Using Data Mining Technique for Diabetes
Authors: Al-Khasawneh Ahmad
Published: August 2019

Many researchers in the health information system field have been attracted to develop computer applications that help in the diagnosis process. Imperatively, data mining algorithms address the vital role in all of these applications. Many contributions were made in this area. There has always been a debate on the algorithm that gives the best classifier, the parameters to be used, the dataset pre-processing steps, etc. In this paper, the author largely emphasizes that the best way to build a predictive model with relatively high classification accuracy is to build several predictive models and to choose the model that gives the best results through parameters optimization. Diagnosing diabetes mellitus has gained considerable attention in the last few decades due to the increased severity of the disease. In this research, the author reviews four predictive data mining approaches that are being used in diagnosing diabetes. Four models were implemented to diagnose diabetes from PIMA dataset; k-nearest neighbour, support vector machine, multilayer perceptron neural network, and naive bayesian network. Giving the highest classification accuracy, support vector machine technique outperformed the others with a value of 78.83%.
Concoction of Ambient Intelligence and Big Data for Better Patient Ministration Services
Authors: Jain Arushi , Bhatnagar Vishal
Published: August 2019

The term Ambient Intelligence (AmI) encompasses other technologies such as ubiquitous communication, pervasive computing and ubiquitous computing. Hospitals can improve their working by monitoring the health of the patients and performing automatic analysis of various and health parameters inside the room. Security mechanisms can also be enhanced by only allowing authorized hospital staff and attendants in the ward. With the advent of Ambient Intelligence and the congenial political environment, the focus is now shifting to providing better healthcare at homes than at traditional medical centers. In this paper, we implemented an algorithm in which we consider a specific room of a hospital as the environment, with a patient monitored for health and security reasons. If anything is not allowed for the particular patient or there are some unwanted variations in the health parameters of the patient, the alarm was rang and the patient's assistants were notified.
ICTs, E-Health, and Multidisciplinary Healthcare Teams
Authors: Olaniran Bolanle A.
Published: August 2019

This paper explores the role ICTs play in the multidisciplinary teams (MDTMs) in healthcare settings. The discussion addresses benefits and challenges of ICTs along with implications for MTDMs. For example, clarification between electronic health records (EHRs) and electronic medical records (EMRs) along with their impact on privacy was made. The paper offers certain suggestions on overcoming some of the challenges identified. Retchin's (2008) framework for inter-professional and co-managed care was presented. The framework focuses on how information communication technologies can impact overall patient health care and delivery.
M-Health Telemedicine and Telepresence in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Authors: Witzke Katharina , Specht Olaf
Published: August 2019

MHealth (Mobile Health) is an innovative prehospital healthcare concept in emergency medicine. This technology offers the transfer of medical knowledge using mobile devices such as smart phone applications or real-time communication methods. Surgically active dentists in structurally weak areas can be confronted in case of an emergency to situations, that require the guidance of a remote experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon or an emergency doctor to treat potentially life-threatening conditions as early as possible. Thus, an interconnection of competence centres using real-time video communication is an appropriate technology. In the literature, various studies have been conducted to prove the huge potential of MHealth. The aim of this manuscript is to present a comprehensive MHealth concept for oral and maxillofacial surgery as well as for dentistry in the context of emergencies, something that is so far missing from the literature. The developed framework for using MHealth in oral and maxillofacial surgery opens up a new perspective of patient-centered care.
IoT-Based Big Data
Authors: Rathore M. Mazhar , Paul Anand , Ahmad Awais , Jeon Gwanggil
Published: August 2019

Recently, a rapid growth in the population in urban regions demands the provision of services and infrastructure. These needs can be come up wit the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as sensors, actuators, smartphones and smart systems. This leans to building Smart City towards the next generation Super City planning. However, as thousands of IoT devices are interconnecting and communicating with each other over the Internet to establish smart systems, a huge amount of data, termed as Big Data, is being generated. It is a challenging task to integrate IoT services and to process Big Data in an efficient way when aimed at decision making for future Super City. Therefore, to meet such requirements, this paper presents an IoT-based system for next generation Super City planning using Big Data Analytics. Authors have proposed a complete system that includes various types of IoT-based smart systems like smart home, vehicular networking, weather and water system, smart parking, and surveillance objects, etc., for dada generation. An architecture is proposed that includes four tiers/layers i.e., 1) Bottom Tier-1, 2) Intermediate Tier-1, 3) Intermediate Tier 2, and 4) Top Tier that handle data generation and collections, communication, data administration and processing, and data interpretation, respectively. The system implementation model is presented from the generation and collection of data to the decision making. The proposed system is implemented using Hadoop ecosystem with MapReduce programming. The throughput and processing time results show that the proposed Super City planning system is more efficient and scalable.
CSI Based Multiple Relay Selection and Transmit Power Saving Scheme for Underlay CRNs Using FRBS and Swarm Intelligence
Authors: Sultan Kiran , Qureshi Ijaz Mansoor , Rahman Muhammad Atta-ur , Zafar Bassam A. , Zaheer Muhammad
Published: August 2019

In this article, a multiple relay selection (MRS) scheme for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement is proposed for underlay relay-assisted cognitive radio networks (RCRNs). A secondary source-destination pair experiencing deep fading on direct path is assisted by amplify-and-forward (AF) relays in an underlay mode. In this energy-constrained scenario, the aim is to maximize the secondary network's end-to-end SNR through an intelligent power-saving method incorporated with MRS. In contrast to the prior relay selection (RS) schemes, the relay-selection factor is the difference of SNR of the source-relay link and corresponding relay-destination link for each relay along with its corresponding interference channel coefficient. The difference factor aims to achieve the SNR upper bound while performing minimum power amplification, eventually resulting in interference mitigation as well. The proposed algorithm has been implemented using Fuzzy Rule Based System (FRBS), Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and their performance has been compared through simulations.
Solving Heterogeneous Big Data Mining Problems Using Multi-Objective Optimization
Authors: Bourennani Farid
Published: August 2019

Nowadays, we have access to unprecedented quantities of data composed of heterogeneous data types (HDT). Heterogeneous data mining (HDM) is a new research area that focuses on the processing of HDT. Usually, input data is transformed into an algebraic model before data processing. However, how to combine the representations of HDT into a single model for a unified processing of big data is an open question. In this article, the authors attempt to find answers to this question by solving a data integration (DI) problem which involves the processing of seven HDT. They propose to solve the DI problem by combining multi-objective optimization and self-organizing maps to find optimal parameters settings for most accurate HDM results. The preliminary results are promising, and a post processing algorithm is proposed which makes the DI operations much simpler and more accurate.
Intelligent Decision-Making Approaches for Agricultural Sectors of Odisha in India
Authors: Mishra Debesh , Satapathy Suchismita
Published: August 2019

Agriculture lacks organizational frameworks which are needed for OHS management techniques to operate effectively. Thus, it becomes essential to analyze the magnitude of OHS problems within the agricultural sector. Hence, an attempt was made in this study to explore the prevalence of OHS disorders and discomforts among the farmers of Odisha in India. There are three contributions in this study. At first, OHS issues of farmers were analyzed based on the literature review and the data was collected by personal interaction and questionnaires. In the second part, the “Best Worst Method (BWM)” was used to rank the different rice farming processes, and the different occupational disorders and discomforts, respectively. Furthermore, the RULA tool was used to assess the ergonomics involved in various postures taken by farmers in different rice farming processes, and based on the obtained RULA scores the necessary actions were recommended accordingly. The findings in this study may have positive implications for extension programs and policy formulation in agricultural sectors.
Collaboration of Solution Architects and Project Managers
Authors: Gellweiler Christof
Published: August 2019

If IT projects are to be successful, they must meet business requirements, and they must be efficiently managed. IT projects need methodological skills to manage resources as well as technical capabilities for architectural planning and solution design. Project managers and solution architects represent two highly-qualified leadership roles in IT projects, both of which analyze requirements and both of which are responsible for supplying IT solutions. In predictive IT infrastructure projects, solution architects' technology skills complement project managers' organizational competencies. The combination of those skills improves requirements elicitation that is the key for IT project achievement. Project managers and solution architects closely collect and evaluate requirements and specify the scope in the planning phase. The relationship between these roles is examined by the IT management literature and established practitioner frameworks. Finally, suggestions for collaboration are derived and presented in the IT solution life cycle model.
The Influence of Culture in IT Governance Implementation
Authors: Bianchi Isaías Scalabrin , Sousa Rui Dinis , Pereira Ruben , De Haes Steven
Published: August 2019

IT governance calls for the definition and implementation of formal mechanisms at the highest level in the organization taking into account structures, processes and relational mechanisms for the creation of business value from IT investments. Several factors can influence IT Governance implementation success. Culture is one of these factors and the one this research will focus on. Seen as probably the most difficult factors to change since it is grounded on practices performed over time, it should receive special attention. This article aims to analyze how culture can influence IT Governance implementation of structure, process and relational mechanisms in the context of higher education. Ten case studies in universities from three different countries: Brazil, Portugal and Netherlands were carried out. The purpose is the identification of relevant differences in IT Governance implementation among organizations from the following cultures: uncertainty avoidance and individualism. This article concludes by presenting key contributions, limitations and future work.
The HTTP Flooding Attack Detection to Secure and Safeguard Online Applications in the Cloud
Authors: Dhanapal A  , Nithyanandam P
Published: August 2019

Cloud computing is the cutting edge and has become inevitable in all forms of computing. This is due to its nature of elasticity, cost-effectiveness, availability, etc. The online applications like e-commerce, and e-healthcare applications are moving to the cloud to reduce their operational cost. These applications have the vulnerability of a HTTP flooding Distributed Denial of Service attack in the cloud. This flooding attack aims to overload the application, making it unable to process genuine requests and bring it down. So, these applications need to be secured and safeguarded against such attacks. This HTTP flooding attack is one of the key challenging issues as it shows normal behaviour with regard to all lower networking layers like TCP 3-way handshaking by mimicking genuine requests and it is even harder in the cloud due to the cloud properties. This article offers a solution for detecting a HTTP flooding attack in the cloud by using the novel TriZonal Linear Prediction (TLP) model. The solution was implemented using OpenStack and the FIFA Worldcup '98 data set for experimentation.
Achieving Business Performance Via Implementation of Knowledge Management
Authors: Trevor Tin Shing LUI  , Zhicheng LI  , Chu Samuel K.W.
Published: August 2019

This article explores whether organisations that have received the Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises (MAKE) award boast better business performance relative to those that have not received or participated in the award. This quantitative study is based on 59 MAKE award winners in 2009, along with 59 counterparts. Financial data were collected from publicly available annual reports for the period 2009-2016. Applying the Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC) methodology, regression models were developed to examine the associations and connections between MAKE and non-MAKE companies' Intellectual Capitals and their financial performance indicators. Based on correlation and linear multiple regression analysis, the VAIC components (HCE, SCE and CEE) have no statistical predictive trend for market value (MB). However, HCE, SCE and CEE were significant predictors of three corporate financial performance indicators (ROA, ATO and ROE). The group of non-MAKE companies demonstrates a higher VAIC value. There is no statistical significance between the two groups' business performance.
Do Leaders Really Matter in Knowledge Management Practices? Case of Serbian Companies
Authors: Cabrilo Sladjana , Leung Rosanna
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study is to explore whether the leadership change consequently imposes further changes in knowledge management (KM) practices, as well as to reveal which KM practices are affected by this strategic change. Namely, a theorized ten-fold conceptualization of KM practices has been tested on a sample of 101 Serbian companies employing more than 100 employees each. The main findings demonstrate that leadership changes affect some elements of KM leadership, HRM practices in recruitment, training and development, and compensation. Furthermore, findings depict that leadership changes have a profound influence on knowledge-friendly organizational culture and knowledge sharing between mid-level management and employees. Finally, the results show that the leadership change in Serbian companies affects sales growth rate. The companies that experienced this change had negative sales growth rate contrary to the companies without this strategic change.
Membrane Transport for Gas Separation
Authors: Mondal Arijit , Bhattacharjee Chiranjib
Published: August 2019

Gas separations through organic membranes have been investigated from last several years and presently it has been accepted for commercial applications. This chapter will focus on membrane based gas separation mechanism as well as its application. This chapter will cover ‘‘diffusivity controlled’’ and ‘‘solubility controlled’’ mechanism and choice of suitable polymers for different gas phase applications like acidic gas, C3+ hydrocarbon, nitrogen, water vapor and helium. Diffusivity controlled mechanism performs on free volume elements of the glassy polymers via hindrance of chain packing by functional groups and restricted by the permselectivity. Other mechanism performs on the basis of molecular structure with affinity towards the target molecule and follows enhanced solution-diffusion rout. Commercially available organic membrane materials for Carbon dioxide (CO2) removal are discussed along with process design. Membranes based separation process for heavy hydrocarbon recovery, nitrogen separation, helium separation and dehydration are less developed. This article will help us to focus on the future direction of those applications based on membrane technology. Keywords: Membrane, C3+ hydrocarbon, Diffusivity controlled, Solubility controlled, Selectivity, Permeability. *Corresponding author: E-mail address: c.bhatta@gmail.com (Chiranjib Bhattacharjee), Tel.: +91-9836402118.
Ionic Polymer Metal Composites
Authors: Kumar Ponnusamy Senthil , Yaashikaa P.R.
Published: August 2019

Electroactive polymers, or EAPs, are polymers that show an adjustment fit as a fiddle when invigorated by an electric field. Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) are electro-dynamic polymers with great electromechanical coupling properties. They are proficient applicants in many progressed innovative applications, for example, actuators, artificial muscles, biomimetic sensors, and so forth. Type of membrane and electrodes determines the morphology and structure of IPMCs. IPMCs can be prepared using physical loading, chemical deposition and electroplating methods. The assembling of anodes for IPMCs is exceptionally basic in their electromechanical coupling. Optimization of force, determination of cations and molecule size dispersal inside the IPMC structure, and so on are the different components, which decides their proficiency. An ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) comprising of a thin Nafion sheet, platinum plated on the two side faces, experiences extensive twisting movement when an electric field is connected over its thickness. Then again, a voltage is created over its appearances when it is all of a sudden bends. IPMCs are best known for their proving advantages such as biocompactible, low activating voltage and more power efficiency
Metal-Organic Coordination Polymers Based on Copper: Synthesis, Structure and Adsorption Properties
Authors: Baimuratova Rose K. , Golubeva N.D. , Dzhardimalieva Gulzhian I. , Davydova G.I. , Knerelman E.I.
Published: August 2019

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials for a number of applications including gas storage and separation. In this work, coordination polymers based on copper and trimesic acid were prepared and characterized by physicochemical methods. Three different synthesis strategies were employed: precipitation at room temperature, hydrothermal method (at different temperatures) and using CO2 as SAS technique (Supercritical AntiSolvent). The obtaining samples was also tested on its capacity in CH4 adsorption at 1 bar and 296 К and 233K.
Study of Water Freezing in Nano-Channels of Supramolecular Structure Formed by Wedge-Shaped Amphiphilic Molecules
Authors: Grafskaia Kseniia N. , Anokhin Denis V. , Akhkiamova A.F. , Ivanov D.A.
Published: August 2019

Phase behavior and supramolecular structure stability of wedge-shaped mesogens at negative temperature have been studied for the first time. The effect of geometrical confinement on water crystallization in different channels was examined. The role of local ordering of linear alkyl groups on stability of the nanochannels during water freezing was enlighten.
New Polyurethane Urea Thermoplastic Elastomers with Controlled Mechanical and Thermal Properties for Medical Applications
Authors: Gorbunova M.A. , Shukhardin D.M. , Lesnichaya V.A. , Badamshina E.R. , Anokhin Denis V.
Published: August 2019

The method of synthesis of new polyurethane urea thermoplastic elastomers with controlled physical network density by varying the crystallization rate of the soft block and the structure of the interphase has been developed. Fine-tuning of morphology and mechanical properties allows to desighn adaptive materials with shape memory. By combination of calorimetric and X-ray diffraction methods, the influence of chemical nature of diaisocyanates and the ratio of two types of crystallizable blocks, polybutylene glycol adipate diol (PBA) and poly-ε-caprolactone diol (PCL), on the structure and termal behavior of the thermoplastic elastomers has been studied.
Carbon and Glass Fibers for Polymer Composites
Authors: Beev Aues A. , Khashirova S.Yu. , Beeva D.A. , Shokumova M.U. , Tkhakakhov R.B.
Published: August 2019

The paper gives a brief description of carbon and glass fibers used to obtain polymer composite materials with high thermal, physical and mechanical characteristics. Some methods for surface activation of carbon and fiberglass, which will be used to increase the adhesion interactions at the fiber-polymer boundaries, are presented.
Synthesis of a Highly Chained Polymeric Connecting in the Structure of a Multilayered Package for Garments
Authors: Koksharov Sergey A. , Kornilova Nadezhda L , Shammut J.A. , Radchenko O.V.
Published: August 2019

When using lightweight fabrics of costume-dress assortment for manufacture of clothes, the most challenging problem is to correlate changes in properties of shell fabric and fusible interlining during its transformation from flat to volumetric state. Developed the reinforced interlining materials capable of forming in conjunction with the shell fabric composites, possessing optimum shaping characteristics. They are easily shaped, and after a final wet-heat treatment they obtain required rigidity and elasticity values, thus ensuring that volumetric shape of a garment will be preserved in the process of wearing it by a user. The technology realizes original methods of selecting precision values for elastic-deformation properties in the laminate of shell fabric and an interlining by forming in a duplicating cloth 3D self-organizing structures of a reinforcing polymer-fibrous composite. It was proved that there is a chemical interaction between acrylate copolymers and polyamide adhesive, discretely distributed on the surface of interlinings. This ensures the formation of a three-dimensional reinforcing structures of a unique bristle-like shape, encrusting the surface of the fibers and penetrating into their nanoporous system. The required values for elastic-deformation properties of polymer-fibrous composite materials for various kinds of textile carriers can be found by changing topology of applying polymeric modifiers and conditions of copolymerization. A wide range of variation in elastic-deformation properties makes it possible to adapt quickly the assortment of interlining materials to the individual customer requirements taking into consideration the purpose of the manufactured clothing and characteristics of the shell materials.
Polymeric Composite Material for Medical Purposes
Authors: Fazylova Dina I. , Zenitova L.A.
Published: August 2019

Polymeric composite materials (PСM) on the basis of low-molecular siloxane rubber which are supposed to be used as impression materials in stomatology are developed. As fillers for creation of PСM were used: amorphous aerosil; vegetable aerosil, received from waste of a rice peel; diatomite. Researches concerned definition influence of content of filler on working hours of siloxane compositions and a complex of properties of the developed impression materials.
The Effect of Polyquinone and Phenol-Phosphite Stabilizer on the Resistance of Polypropylene to Ionizing Radiation
Authors: Lisanevich M.S. , Rakhmatullina Elvina R. , Khakimullin Yu.N. , Galimzyanova Rezeda Yu. , Akhmadullin R.M. , Perukhin Y.V.
Published: August 2019

For polymeric materials intended for the manufacture of disposable sterile medical devices, resistance to sterilization methods is important. For the manufacture of disposable medical products is widely used polypropylene, destructive during radiation sterilization. It is established that the addition of polyquinone leads to a decrease in the destruction of polypropylene, which is manifested in a decrease in the values of the melt flow index and an increase in the degradation temperature of polypropylene of the irradiated compositions.
Investigation of the Influence of Linear Dimensions and Concentration of Carbon and Glass Fibers on the Properties of Polyetherimide
Authors: Slonov Azamat L. , Musov Ismel V. , Zhansitov Azamat , Khakulova D.M. , Rzhevskaya Elena V. , Khashirova S.Yu.
Published: August 2019

The effect of glass (GF) and carbon (CF) fibers of various linear sizes (0.2 and 3 mm) and concentrations on the properties of polyetherimide (PEI) has been studied. It is shown that the introduction of fibrous fillers leads to a decrease in the melt flow index, and to a greater extent in the case of fibers with a length of 3 mm. Also, it was found that both GF and CF lead to a decrease in toughness and an increase in the elastic-strength properties with a slight advantage of composites containing fibers of a length of 3 mm. In this case, GF composites have significantly higher properties. The study of heat resistance shows a slight decrease for composites with CF and the absence of influence of the filler for composites with HC, regardless of the size of the fibers.
The Effect of Heat Treatment Regimes of Polyphenylene Sulfides on their Thermal Properties
Authors: Shabaev A.S. , Khashirova S.Yu. , Mamkhegov Rustam M. , Bashorov M.T. , Kunizhev B.I. , Malamatov A.H.
Published: August 2019

Thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation, as well as crosslinking and "curing" processes of polyphenylene sulfide, depending on the heat treatment regimes, have been studied using gas chromatography. The effect of sorbed water in the polymer on the processes of thermal and thermo-oxidative decomposition of polyphenylene sulfide is shown and the optimal modes of drying the samples are established.
Teleost Gasdermin E Is Cleaved by Caspase 1, 3, and 7 and Induces Pyroptosis
Authors: Jiang Shuai , Gu Hanjie , Zhao Yan , Sun Li
Published: August 2019

Pyroptosis is a newly defined gasdermin (GSDM)-dependent inflammatory type of programmed cell death. Different from mammals, which have a panel of pyroptotic GSDM members (e.g., GSDMA–E), teleosts possess only GSDME. The pyroptotic activity and regulation mechanism of teleost GSDME remain to be elucidated. In this work, we investigated the activity of the teleost Cynoglossus semilaevis (tongue sole) GSDME (CsGSDME) in association with different caspases (CASPs). We found that CsGSDME exerted pyroptotic and bactericidal activities through its N-terminal domain. Unlike human GSDME, which is exclusively cleaved by CASP3, CsGSDME was cleaved by C. semilaevis CASP (CsCASP) 1 with high efficiency and by CsCASP3 and 7 with comparatively low efficiencies, and all cleavages occurred at the 243FEVD246 site in the interdomain linker region of CsGSDME. Mutation of Phe243 to Asp/Ala and Asp246 to Ala in 243FEVD246 altered the cleavage preference of CsCASP1, 3, and 7. Treatment with loss-of-function CsCASP mutants or inhibition of CsCASP activity resulted in failure of CsGSDME cleavage. CsCASP1-cleaved CsGSDME induced pyroptosis, whereas CsCASP3/7-cleaved CsGSDME and F243 mutants induced switching of cell death from apoptosis to pyroptosis. Analysis of 54 teleost GSDME sequences revealed a conserved tetrapeptide motif that fits well to the inherent cleavage site of CASP1. Taken together, the results of our study demonstrate a hitherto, to our knowledge, unrecognized GSDME cleavage mode in teleosts that is clearly different from that in mammals, thus providing an important insight into the activation mechanism of CASP-mediated, GSDM-executed pyroptosis in teleosts.