bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creating organizational innovations in countries in transition using Finnish change laboratory: A case study from Serbia
Authors: Bodrozic Zlatko , Stepanovic Ivana
Published: April 2012

The Finnish Change Laboratory intervention method has been used in several
Western countries to support innovation and learning within organizations.
This study explored the applicability of the Change Laboratory method to work
activities in Eastern European transition economies. The case of a Change
Laboratory project at a Serbian publishing house was examined and discussed.
The Change Laboratory led to a clear break from previous models and resulted
in a new, much more efficient model of work organization based on teams. The
studied publishing house can be characterized as an innovator within a
relatively laggard industry. This characteristic increased the Serbian
publisher?s potential for developing ?learning partnerships? with publishing
activities in EU Member States. These ?learning partnerships? enabled
appropriate Western concepts to be found that could be used as stimuli to
develop a new model of work for the publishing house during the Change
Laboratory.
Two for the seesaw: requester and requested
Authors: Dolinski Dariusz
Published: April 2012

Two for the seesaw: requester and requested

Research on emotion conducted so far has usually ignored situations where the person experiences a certain emotion, but where the external stimulus that evoked and upholds this emotion suddenly disappears. This kind of situation, however, is relatively common in everyday life. This article attempts to recognize certain consequences of those conditions under which the stimuli justifying our experience of such emotional states as fear or anxiety suddenly disappear. Research done to data by the author and his colleagues indicates increased compliance of the subject when addressed with various requests, commands or suggestion in the situation termed here "emotional see-saw" or "fear-then-relief".
Modelling Excessive Internet Use:s Revision of R. Davis's Cognitive-Behavioural Model of Pathological Internet Use
Authors: Kaliszewska-Czeremska Katarzyna
Published: April 2012

Modelling Excessive Internet Use:s Revision of R. Davis's Cognitive-Behavioural Model of Pathological Internet Use

This article proposes a new model of excessive Internet use. The point of departure for the present study was the Cognitive-Behavioural Model of Pathological Internet Use developed by R. Davis (2001). The original model was modified so as to improve its explanatory power. Data were collected from 405 participants aged from 18 to 55 in various Polish towns and cities. The following instruments were administered to the participants: The Temperament and Character Inventory, J. Kuhl's Action Control Scale, The Berlin Social Support Scale, The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, The Excessive Internet Use Risk Scale, The Reasons for Internet Use and the Personal Data Questionnaire. The new model of excessive Internet use was empirically tested and proved to be satisfactory.
A sense of success, perception of economic crisis and the form of occupational activity
Authors: Paruzel-Czachura Mariola
Published: April 2012

A sense of success, perception of economic crisis and the form of occupational activity

The studies presented attempt to outline a relationship between a feeling of success, the perception of economic crisis and the form of occupational activity. The article shows the results of empirical research conducted among 341 economically active people and concerns the psychological differences between them in Poland. The theoretical basis of the research is the new model of success by Dej, Stephan, Gorgievsky (2009). This research has proven the existence of significant statistical differences in a sense of success between entrepreneurs, employees in private companies, and employees in state-owned companies, but there are no differences in perception of economic crisis. People who scored a high general result in a feeling of success perceive economic crisis as harmless (r= .238). The results show that being an entrepreneur is the most beneficial activity from a mental health standpoint.
The Influence of Emotional and Non-emotional Concepts Activation on Information Processing and Unintentional Memorizing
Authors: Pawłowska Monika , Magier-Łakomy Ewa
Published: April 2012

The Influence of Emotional and Non-emotional Concepts Activation on Information Processing and Unintentional Memorizing

The aim of the work is to compare mechanisms of semantic and emotional processing and memory. Targets (words and non-words) were primed (100 ms) by category name (semantic in Experiment 1 and emotional in Experiment 2). The congruency of prime and target was manipulated. The reaction time of lexical decisions and the effects of unintentional memorizing of word targets were measured. Activation of semantic (Experiment 1) and emotional (Experiment 2) nodes leads to faster processing of related concepts: congruent targets are processed faster than incongruent. Processing congruent primed emotional concepts depends on their modality: anger and joy words are processed faster than sadness. Thus, congruently primed activating emotional concepts are processed differently from congruently primed deactivating concepts. The effectiveness of unintentional memory of emotional and non-emotional concepts (words) is based on different mechanisms: congruently primed emotional words are better remembered than incongruently primed. The results are discussed in the framework of spreading activation theory and theory of emotional memory.
Personality Dimensions and Nicotine Dependence and Withdrawal Symptoms: the Mediating Role of Self-Directness
Authors: Schiep Sybilla , Cieślik Katarzyna
Published: April 2012

Personality Dimensions and Nicotine Dependence and Withdrawal Symptoms: the Mediating Role of Self-Directness

We analyzed the relationship between personality traits and smoking status and nicotine withdrawal symptoms using two comprehensive models of personality: the Five-Factor Model and the Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory. In total 295 people were examined, 149 smokers and 146 who have never smoked. To measure the severity of the nicotine dependence we used the Fagerstroem Tolerance Questionnaire and the DSM-IV criteria of nicotine dependence and to measure the nicotine withdrawal symptoms the Nicotine Dependence History. The results showed significant differences between the groups in particular dimensions: Neuroticism, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. The analyse of the TCI demonstrate, that smokers are higher in Novelty Seeking and lower in Reward Dependence than never smokers and show less Self-Directness and Cooperativeness. The mediation analyses showed that Self-Directness is the significant mediator between Extra-Introversion and nicotine withdrawal symptoms measured by NDHIS and between Neuroticism and DSM-IV criteria of nicotine dependence.
Diagnostics of DC Machine Based on Analysis of Acoustic Signals with Application of MFCC and Classifier Based on Words
Authors: Głowacz A. , Głowacz Z.
Published: April 2012

Diagnostics of DC Machine Based on Analysis of Acoustic Signals with Application of MFCC and Classifier Based on Words

Technical diagnostics is concerned with the assessment of technical conditions of the machine through the study of properties of machine processes. Diagnostics is particularly important for factories and ironworks. In paper is presented method of diagnostics of imminent failure conditions of DC machine. This method is based on a study of acoustic signals generated by DC machine. System of sound recognition uses algorithms for data processing, such as Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient and classifier based on words. Software to recognize the sounds of DC machine was implemented on PC computer. Studies were carried out for sounds of faultless machine and machine with shorted coils. The results confirm that the system can be useful for diagnostics of dc and ac machines used in metallurgy.
Variations of Mechanical Parameters and Strain Energy Dissipated During Tension-Torsion Loading
Authors: Szymczak T. , Kowalewski Z.
Published: April 2012

Variations of Mechanical Parameters and Strain Energy Dissipated During Tension-Torsion Loading

The paper presents behaviour of materials under complex loading being combinations of torsion-reverse-torsion cycles superimposed on monotonic tensile deformation. The 2024 aluminium alloy, P91 steel and M1E copper were investigated under plane stress state using thin-walled tubular specimens. All tests were strain controlled and a total strain was less than 1%. An influence of torsion cycles on tensile characteristic was manifested by lowering of the proportional limit and yield point. This effect was increased with magnification of cyclic strain amplitude and in the case of copper a reduction of yield point was equal around 90%. A character of this effect was checked using the yield surface concept after each test. The papers also presents, variations of tangential hardening modulus and plastic strain energy dissipation.
Laser Surface Modification of Borochromizing C45 Steel
Authors: Bartkowska A. , Pertek A. , Jankowiak M. , Jóźwiak K.
Published: April 2012

Laser Surface Modification of Borochromizing C45 Steel

In this study the test results for borochromized C45 steel after laser surface modification were presented. Influence of laser heat treatment on the microstructure and microhardness of surface layer was investigated. The process of borochromizing consisted of chromium plating followed by diffusion boronizing. The laser heat treatment (LHT) of multiple tracks in the helical line was carried out with CO2laser beam. The technological laser TRUMPF TLF 2600 Turbo CO2of the nominal power 2.6 kW was applied. Borochromizing was carried out with laser power density q = 41.40 kW/cm2and at laser beam scanning rate v = 0.67 m/min and v = 2.016 m/min. Measurements of microhardness were conducted using the Vickers' method and Zwick 3212 B hardness tester. Microstructure observations were performed by means of an optical microscope Metaval Carl Zeiss Jena and scanning electron microscope Tescan VEGA 5135. After laser heat treatment with re-melting a three-zone layer was obtained, which included: re-melted zone, heat affected zone and a core. Influence of laser treatment parameters on thickness of melted zone and microstructure of the surface layer was tested. The microhardness tested along the axis of track of the surface layer after laser modification was about 800-850 HV. The results of tests showed influence of laser power density and scanning rate on microstructure and properties of borochromized layers.
Microstructure and Soft Magnetic Properties of Fe61Co10Y8Me1B20 (Where Me = W, Zr or Nb) Amorphous Alloys
Authors: Pietrusiewicz P. , Nabiałek M. , Szota M. , Perduta K.
Published: April 2012

Microstructure and Soft Magnetic Properties of Fe61Co10Y8Me1B20(Where Me = W, Zr or Nb) Amorphous Alloys

The microstructure and the soft magnetic properties of the multi-component Fe61Co10Y8Me1B20amorphous alloys (where Me = W, Zr or Nb) have been investigated; the samples were in the form of ribbons of 3 mm width and 30 μm thickness. The samples were produced using a single-roller melt-spinning method. The alloy composition was investigated using an X-ray diffractometer. The amorphous nature of the entire volume of all the as-quenched samples was confirmed. From the magnetic measurements performed using the ‘LakeShore’ vibrating sample magnetometer, magnetic parameters such as: coercivity, saturation of the magnetization for the as-quenched samples were derived. All of the investigated alloys displayed good soft magnetic properties, making them perfect materials for magnetic cores. The core losses for different values of magnetic field and operating frequency were also measured. It was shown that the investigated alloys featured lower core losses than commercially-used classical FeSi steel.
Finding All Solutions and Instances of Numberlink and Slitherlink by ZDDs
Authors: Yoshinaka Ryo , Saitoh Toshiki , Kawahara Jun , Tsuruma Koji , Iwashita Hiroaki , Minato Shin-ichi
Published: April 2012

Link puzzles involve finding paths or a cycle in a grid that satisfy given local and global properties. This paper proposes algorithms that enumerate solutions and instances of two link puzzles, Slitherlink and Numberlink, by zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (ZDDs). A ZDD is a compact data structure for a family of sets provided with a rich family of set operations, by which, for example, one can easily extract a subfamily satisfying a desired property. Thanks to the nature of ZDDs, our algorithms offer a tool to assist users to design instances of those link puzzles.
Sumoylation at the Host-Pathogen Interface
Authors: Wilson Van G.
Published: April 2012

Many viral proteins have been shown to be sumoylated with corresponding regulatory effects on their protein function, indicating that this host cell modification process is widely exploited by viral pathogens to control viral activity. In addition to using sumoylation to regulate their own proteins, several viral pathogens have been shown to modulate overall host sumoylation levels. Given the large number of cellular targets for SUMO addition and the breadth of critical cellular processes that are regulated via sumoylation, viral modulation of overall sumoylation presumably alters the cellular environment to ensure that it is favorable for viral reproduction and/or persistence. Like some viruses, certain bacterial plant pathogens also target the sumoylation system, usually decreasing sumoylation to disrupt host anti-pathogen responses. The recent demonstration that Listeria monocytogenes also disrupts host sumoylation, and that this is required for efficient infection, extends the plant pathogen observations to a human pathogen and suggests that pathogen modulation of host sumoylation may be more widespread than previously appreciated. This review will focus on recent aspects of how pathogens modulate the host sumoylation system and how this benefits the pathogen.
External Beam Radiotherapy of Recurrent Glioma: Radiation Tolerance of the Human Brain
Authors: Sminia Peter , Mayer Ramona
Published: April 2012

Malignant gliomas relapse in close proximity to the resection site, which is the postoperatively irradiated volume. Studies on re-irradiation of glioma were examined regarding radiation-induced late adverse effects (i.e., brain tissue necrosis), to obtain information on the tolerance dose and treatment volume of normal human brain tissue. The studies were analyzed using the linear-quadratic model to express the re-irradiation tolerance in cumulative equivalent total doses when applied in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2cumulative). Analysis shows that the EQD2cumulative increases from conventional re-irradiation series to fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) to LINAC-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The mean time interval between primary radiotherapy and the re-irradiation course was shortened from 30 months for conventional re-irradiation to 17 and 10 months for FSRT and SRS, respectively. Following conventional re-irradiation, radiation-induced normal brain tissue necrosis occurred beyond an EQD2cumulative around 100 Gy. With increasing conformality of therapy, the smaller the treatment volume is, the higher the radiation dose that can be tolerated. Despite the dose escalation, no increase in late normal tissue toxicity was reported. On basis of our analysis, the use of particle therapy in the treatment of recurrent gliomas, because of the optimized physical dose distribution in the tumour and surrounding healthy brain tissue, should be considered for future clinical trials.
Antioxidant, Antitubercular and Cytotoxic Activities of Piper imperiale
Authors: Diaz Luis E. , Munoz Diego R. , Prieto Rosa E. , Cuervo Sergio A. , Gonzalez Diego L. , Guzman Juan D. , Bhakta Sanjib
Published: April 2012

Phenolic compounds are widely distributed in Nature and act as pharmacologically active constituents in many herbal medicines. They have multiple biological properties, most notably antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. In the present study an attempt to correlate the phenolic composition of leaf, flower and wood extracts of Piper imperiale, with antioxidant, antitubercular and cytotoxic activities was undertaken. The total phenol content ranged from 1.98 to 6.94 mg GAE/gDW among ethanolic extracts, and gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid, resveratrol and quercetin were identified and quantified by HPLC. DPPH and ABTS assays showed high antioxidant activity of the leaf extract (EC50ABTS = 15.6 µg/mL, EC50DPPH = 27.3 µg/mL) with EC50 in the same order of magnitude as the hydroxyquinone (EC50ABTS = 10.2 µg/mL, EC50DPPH = 15.7 µg/mL). The flower extract showed strong antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. All the extracts exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 cancer cells. This is the first time that a Piper extract has been found to be highly active against M. tuberculosis. This study shows the biological potential of Piper imperiale extracts and gives way to bio-guided studies with well-defined biological activities.
Ambulatory Orthopaedic Surgery Patients’ Knowledge with Internet-based Education
Authors: Leino-Kilpi H. , Salanterä S. , Heikkinen K.
Published: April 2012

Background: There is a growing need for patient education and an evaluation of its outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients’ knowledge with Internet-based education and face-to-face education with a nurse. The following hypothesis was proposed: Internet-based patient education (experiment) is as effective as face-to-face education with a nurse (control) in increasing patients’ level of knowledge and sufficiency of knowledge. In addition, the correlations of demographic variables were tested.

Methods: The patients were randomized to either an experiment group (n = 72) or a control group (n = 75). Empirical data were collected with two instruments.

Results: Patients in both groups showed improvement in their knowledge during their care. Patients in the experiment group improved their knowledge level significantly more in total than those patients in the control group. There were no differences in patients’ sufficiency of knowledge between the groups. Knowledge was correlated especially with patients’ age, gender and earlier ambulatory surgeries.

Conclusions: As a conclusion, positive results concerning patients’ knowledge could be achieved with the Internet-based education. The Internet is a viable method in ambulatory care.
Progressive Data Transmission for Anatomical Landmark Detection in a Cloud
Authors: Ralovich K. , Zhang J. , Zhou S. K. , Comaniciu D. , Sofka M.
Published: April 2012

Background: In the concept of cloud-computing-based systems, various authorized users have secure access to patient records from a number of care delivery organizations from any location. This creates a growing need for remote visualization, advanced image processing, state-of-the-art image analysis, and computer aided diagnosis.

Objectives: This paper proposes a system of algorithms for automatic detection of anatomical landmarks in 3D volumes in the cloud computing environment. The system addresses the inherent problem of limited bandwidth between a (thin) client, data center, and data analysis server.

Methods: The problem of limited bandwidth is solved by a hierarchical sequential detection algorithm that obtains data by progressively transmitting only image regions required for processing. The client sends a request to detect a set of landmarks for region visualization or further analysis. The algorithm running on the data analysis server obtains a coarse level image from the data center and generates landmark location candidates. The candidates are then used to obtain image neighborhood regions at a finer resolution level for further detection. This way, the landmark locations are hierarchically and sequentially detected and refined.

Results: Only image regions surrounding landmark location candidates need to be trans- mitted during detection. Furthermore, the image regions are lossy compressed with JPEG 2000. Together, these properties amount to at least 30 times bandwidth reduction while achieving similar accuracy when compared to an algorithm using the original data.

Conclusions: The hierarchical sequential algorithm with progressive data transmission considerably reduces bandwidth requirements in cloud-based detection systems.
La presse en ligne au service de la démocratie locale
Authors: Parasie Sylvain , Cointet Jean-Philippe
Published: April 2012

Résumé Les sciences sociales dressent souvent un constat critique du rôle que joue la presse dans la vie politique locale. À travers une analyse statistique et lexicométrique de forums web mis en place par La Voix du Nord à l’occasion des élections municipales de 2008, cet article montre qu’une organisation de presse peut tirer parti du web pour modifier le rôle qu’elle joue dans les espaces démocratiques locaux. Pour ce faire, il montre que la prise de parole se déploie en ligne d’une façon spécifique selon la morphologie des communes. En proposant des espaces de discussion en ligne, le journal joue le rôle d’un « voile » dans les petites communes ­ mettant en suspens les identités dans un contexte d’interconnaissance ­ et d’un « catalyseur » dans les communes moyennes ­ favorisant l’émergence d’une opinion locale.
Transfer of antibiotic resistance determinants between lactobacilli isolates from the gastrointestinal tract of chicken
Authors: Vieira de Souza F. , Roque R. , Silva Moreira J.L. , Resende de Souza M. , Nicoli J.R. , Neumann E. , Cantini Nunes Á.
Published: April 2012

The aim of this study was to assess the potential horizontal transfer of genetic traits for antibiotic resistance between lactobacilli isolated from the chicken gut, both in vitro and in vivo. Thirty-seven Lactobacillus spp. strains isolated from the gizzard, small and large intestines and caeca of free-range broiler chickens showed multi-drug resistance as assessed by disc diffusion assays. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for vancomycin, tetracycline, erythromycin and chloramphenicol was determined in De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe broth in a microplate assay. Almost all the lactobacilli isolates were resistant to vancomycin (except strains belonging to the Lactobacillus acidophilus group) and to tetracycline (MIC≥128 μg/ml). Only five strains were resistant to erythromycin, and six to chloramphenicol. The transfer rate in filter mating experiments performed using L. acidophilus strain 4M14E (EmR), Lactobacillus vaginalis strain 5M14E (CmR), Lactobacillus salivarius strain 5C14C (EmR), and the 4G14L and 3C14C strains of Lactobacillus reuteri (CmR) showed a frequency of approximately 1×104 cfu/ml of double-resistant transconjugants for the different combinations. The exception was the L. salivarius 5C14C (EmR) and L. vaginalis 5M14E (CmR) mating combination, which produced no transconjugants. In vivo experiments performed in gnotobiotic mice by mating L. acidophilus 4M14E (EmR) with L. reuteri 3C14C (CmR), L. reuteri 4G14L (CmR) or L. vaginalis 5M14E (CmR) resulted in transconjugants at 3.95±0.29, 3.16±0.33, and 4.55±1.52 log10 cfu/g of faeces, respectively. Taken together, these data suggest that genetic exchange may occur between native bacterial strains within the gastrointestinal tract of chickens, which might maintain a dynamic gene pool conferring antibiotic resistance upon indigenous microbiota components, even in the absence of the pathogens. This possibility must be taken into account as a complementary criterion when lactobacilli are screened for probiotic use.
Technical inspection of pipeline groups using surface electromagnetic methods
Authors: Mousatov Aleksandr , Delgado‐Rodríguez Omar , Nakamura‐Labastida Edgar , Shevnin Vladimir
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we present an electromagnetic surface technique for the integrity inspection of buried pipelines groups. The inspection includes the determination of the pipeline plan location and depth, assessment of insulation‐coating quality and cathodic protection conditions. This technique is based on the approximation of a metallic pipeline by a heterogeneous transmission line. In the transmission line model, the degree of coating damage (disbanded or cracked insulation) corresponds to the leakage resistance that is defined by the coating resistance and environmental resistivity. Using the transmission line model, we simulated the voltage and current distributions along a pipeline created by the cathodic protection system or an external generator in a low‐frequency range. The calculations were performed for both a single pipeline and interconnected pipelines with different insulation‐coating quality (model of a common cathodic protection system). We describe the field operations, which consist of measurements of the magnetic field created by the current flowing into a pipeline, voltages on the cathodic protection control posts and soil resistivity. To find the pipeline position, depth and current we apply the interactive inversion of the magnetic‐field data obtained along the profiles orthogonally oriented to the pipeline‐group route. The interpretation of the field data includes: calculating the leakage current (the current difference on the measuring interval) for each pipeline, determining the leakage resistance (the voltage to the leakage‐current ratio) and assessing the insulation‐coating resistance taking into account the surrounding soil resistivity. We present practical examples of the integrity inspection of interconnected pipelines group in Mexico. The successful results achieved allow us to recommend this electromagnetic technique for quantitative inspection of the technical conditions of interconnected pipelines.
Local Commitment
Authors: Heland Laure
Published: April 2012

This contribution concerns the planning process applicable to sustainable urban neighbourhoods whose increasing number in Europe appears to be changing the framework of urban development. Having briefly presented the main characteristics of sustainable neighbourhoods in Europe, this chapter then specifically concentrates on sustainable urban neighbourhoods resulting from an ecological rehabilitation process in the city of Albertslund, in Denmark. While these rehabilitation experiments remain anecdotal when compared with new sustainable districts, they nevertheless represent a far greater structuring potential for cities. Our hypothesis is that the implementation of sustainable development renews local planning practices. We shall also see how these districts attempt to overcome a major contradiction inherent in new eco-neighbourhoods by combining a search for eco-technological performances with the incorporation of more social and cultural challenges. Our research suggests that the local actions of inhabitants can play an important role in making sustainable development work.
Technology Adoption and Economic Development
Authors: Mafimisebi Taiwo E.
Published: April 2012

Africa’s economic development will result from conscious efforts directed towards diversification and increased productivity in its low-performing agricultural sector. Technology development, transfer and uptake, which are low for now, are indispensible necessities in this respect. The purpose of this chapter is to review the characteristics, importance, constraints and technology adoption process of African agriculture to identify factors that enhance or hinder technology uptake. This is with a view to isolating lessons for developers or packagers of new agricultural or other technologies for Africa, especially nanotechnology and microelectronics which are evolving and transformational. The attributes of technologies that have made desired impact in African agriculture included cheapness, simplicity, observability, visibility of results, usefulness, compatibility with existing technologies and farm- or farmer-specific socio-economic or socio-cultural conditions. Case studies of the welfare-enhancing impacts of adopted agricultural technologies were examined under use of fertilizers, improved varieties and biotechnology. Useful lessons for development and transfer of nanotechnology and micro-electronics to Africa were highlighted.
Development of an Information System for the Assessment of Different Bioenergy Concepts Regarding Sustainable Development
Authors: Schmehl Meike , Eigner-Thiel Swantje , Ibendorf Jens , Hesse Martina , Geldermann Jutta
Published: April 2012

From an environmental, economic, social, and technical perspective, this chapter focuses on a sustainability assessment of concepts for the energetic use of biomass in order to provide decision support for different options of biomass use. In rural areas, bioenergy concepts are of particular interest in this context. These can for example be biogas plants which are operated by electric service providers, or a biogas plant owned by one farmer, or bioenergy villages. The topic relates to the development of suitable criteria and to the adaption of existing indicator systems to the special requirements of sustainable biomass use for energy. The results of this sustainability assessment consider the different biomass concepts’ advantages and disadvantages, which are illustrated by multi-criteria valuation methods. Furthermore, the sustainability assessment of bioenergy concepts has specific requirements with regard to an information system in terms of data and information’s demand and supply side.
Triple Helix, Quadruple Helix and Quintuple Helix and How Do Knowledge, Innovation and the Environment Relate To Each Other?
Authors: Carayannis Elias , Campbell David F.J.
Published: April 2012

This article develops an inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary framework of analysis that relates knowledge, innovation and the environment (natural environments) to each other. For that purpose the five-helix structure model of the Quintuple Helix is being introduced. The Triple Helix model, designed by Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff (2000), focuses on the relations of universities, industry and governments. The Quadruple Helix (Carayannis & Campbell, 2009) blends in the perspective of a media-based and culture-based public. The Quintuple Helix finally frames knowledge and innovation in the context of the environment (natural environments). Therefore, the Quintuple Helix can be interpreted as an approach in line with sustainable development and social ecology. “Eco-innovation” and “eco-entrepreneurship” should be processed in such a broader understanding of knowledge and innovation.
Sharing Information about the Pain
Authors: Chalfen Richard , Rich Michael
Published: April 2012

The chapter presents findings from recent studies that feature a model of doctor-patient collaboration called Video Intervention/Prevention Assessment (VIA), a research methodology that engages patient-participants in sharing their life stories on video, communicating their concerns and teaching their doctors what it means to live with a chronic illness. Patients are collaborators in creating a comprehensive understanding of illness that expands the medical community’s definition of disease. This chapter focuses on visual narratives made by young patients with Cystic Fibrosis and Spina Bifida as they experience their transitions from pediatric to adult-oriented medicine care. Collaboration in research facilitates more effective ownership of and accountability for their illness, facilitating adherence to treatment plans and improved quality of life. Our chapter concludes with an evaluation of the pros and cons of VIA as a collaborative information methodology.
Predicting the Attitude toward Mobile Financial Services in Developing Countries
Authors: Shrivastava Prateek
Published: April 2012

Globally, only about a sixth of the 3 billion poor people of working age currently have access to formal financial services. This translates to 17% coverage of the market, leaving 83% under-served or “unbanked”. Addressing the needs of these people is the “self-sustaining approach” to microfinance. Mobile banking is one of the newest approaches to the provision of financial services made possible by the widespread adoption of mobile phones in low income countries. However, reports show that potential users may not be using these systems despite already being available. This study was conducted in 2008. It extends the Luarn & Lin mobile banking adoption model by adding two additional constructs: “Enhancement of image” and the “enhancement of quality of life by having access to financial service” to test the attitude toward mobile banking. In order to test these constructs, 11 hypotheses are proposed. The chapter successfully applies Luarn & Lin’s model in a new geographic and economic context. Consistent with their study, perceived usefulness, perceived credibility, perceived ease of use and perceived self-efficacy were found to be significant antecedents. Perceived financial costs, however, was found to have a positive relationship with attitude. This finding is diametrically opposite to Luarn & Lin’s study. Perceived enhancement to quality of life showed a strong relationship and Perceived enhanced image showed a weak relationship with the attitude toward mobile banking. The control group analysis showed the previously unbanked group (Mzansi) had the highest expectation of mobile banking and also found the idea most attractive. This study therefore concludes that mobile banking can indeed be a channel to reach out to low income groups.
“Green Infrastructure” Concept as an Effective Medium to Manipulating Sustainable Urban Development
Authors: Kaplan Adnan
Published: April 2012

This chapter aims at exploring and conceptualizing green infrastructure (GI) as a comprehensive system in planning schemes of metropolitan cities such as Melbourne (Australia) and Izmir (Türkiye). Urban open space network(s) and its further step, “GI,” stretches out from the urban core through its periphery. This requires investigation of the planning hierarchy between metropolitan planning and urban design with a focus on connectivity and urban sustainability. Supporting and managing physical development, modes of transportation, and social life, GI provides ecological and social services to cities in pursuit of sustainable development. Following the scrutiny of Melbourne’s GI and its relevance to the planning history, this work undertakes a comparative analysis between Melbourne and Izmir in order to address the development of a metropolitan GI system for these cities. Such an approach would support policies and strategies relating to sustainable urban development.
The Reflexive Practitioner
Authors: Dobson Stephen
Published: April 2012

This chapter aims to set out relevant discourse and approaches to consider when planning strategies for acquiring and building knowledge for formal ontology construction. Action Research (AR) is offered as a key means to help structure the necessary reflexivity required to enrich the researcher’s understanding of how they know what they know, particularly within a collaborative research setting. This is especially necessary when revealing tacit domain knowledge through participation with actors and stakeholders: “In this kind of research it is permissible to be openly normative and to strive for change, but not to neglect critical reflection” (Elfors & Svane 2008, 1).
Ontological Collaboration Engineering
Authors: Knoll Stefan Werner , Plumbaum Till , De Luca Ernesto William , Predoiu Livia
Published: April 2012

This chapter gives a comprehensive overview of ongoing research about semantic approaches for Collaboration Engineering. The authors present a new ontology-based approach, where each concept of the ontology corresponds to a specific collaboration step or a resource, to collect, manage, and share collaborative knowledge. The chapter discusses the utility of the proposed ontology in the context of a real-world example where the authors explain how collaboration can be modelled and applied using their ontology in order to improve the collaboration process. Furthermore, they discuss how well-known ontologies, such as FOAF, can be linked to their ontology and extend it. While the focus of the chapter is on semantic Collaboration Engineering, the authors additionally present methods of reasoning and machine learning to derive new knowledge about the collaboration process as a further research direction.
Wikipedia as Training Resource for Developing Digital Competences
Authors: Petrucco Corrado
Published: April 2012

It seems improbable that Wikipedia could be considered a valid resource for educational institutions like schools and universities because of the risk of incurring mistakes, inaccuracies, and plagiarism. The bad reputation of the free encyclopedia is false, Wikipedia is reliable and can be used in the curriculum as a new approach for social and collaborative construction of knowledge. It can enter fully into educational contexts, which will represent an opportunity to reflect on the verification of information, the ethical use of technology, and the role of democratic participation of people that use social software. In fact, the creation and maintenance of the articles of Wikipedia as classroom activities offer higher processes of cognitive development and on-line relationships, allowing the development of essential digital competences for life-long learning, like Information Literacy, Participation Literacy, and Ethical Literacy.
The Media Diet of University Students in Italy
Authors: Pozzali Andrea , Ferri Paolo
Published: April 2012

Developments in information and communication technologies have raised the issue of the intergenerational digital divide that can take place between “digital natives” and “digital immigrants”. Despite emphatic claims concerning how educational systems must take into account the specific characteristics of “digital natives”, sound empirical research on these topics is lacking, especially for Europe. This paper presents the results of research performed during the course of 2008, studying how university students in Italy use digital technologies. The research is based on a survey of 1086 undergraduate students at the University of Milan-Bicocca, complemented by focus groups and in-depth interviews. The results of our research show that, even if university students are familiar with digital technologies, the general possession of high level skills in accessing and using the Internet should not be taken for granted.
A Semantic-Based Dynamic Search Engine Design and Implementation for Electronic Medical Records
Authors: Yu Weider D. , Yilayavilli Seshadri K.
Published: April 2012

In the current technology driven world, information retrieval activities are in almost every aspect of daily, as society uses popular web search engines like Google, Yahoo!, Live Search, Ask, and so forth to obtain helpful information. Often, these popular search engines look for and obtain key information; however, not all of the retrieved items are relevant in context to the search target a. Thus, it is left for the user to filter out unwanted information, using only a few information items left from the search results. These popular web search engines use a first generation search service based on “static keywords”, which require the users to know exactly what they want to search and enter the right keywords. This approach puts the user at a disadvantage. In this paper, the authors investigate and design a dynamic, question-answer search engine that enables searching by attributes for more precise and relevant information in Electronic Medical Record (EMR) field.
Automatic Generation of Memory Interfaces for ASIPs
Authors: Kammler David , Witte Ernst Martin , Chattopadhyay Anupam , Bauwens Bastian , Ascheid Gerd , Leupers Rainer , Meyr Heinrich
Published: April 2012

With the growing market for multi-processor system-on-chip (MPSoC) solutions, application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIPs) gain importance as they allow for a wide tradeoff between flexibility and efficiency in such a system. Their development is aided by architecture description languages (ADLs) supporting the automatic generation of architecture-specific tool sets as well as synthesizable register transfer level (RTL) implementations from a single architecture model. However, these generated implementations have to be manually adapted to the interfaces of dedicated memories or memory controllers, slowing down the design-space exploration regarding the memory architecture. To overcome this drawback, the authors extend RTL code generation from ADL models with the automatic generation of memory interfaces. This is accomplished by introducing a new abstract and versatile description format for memory interfaces and their timing protocols. The feasibility of this approach is demonstrated in real-life case studies, including a design space exploration for a banked memory system.
Generating Process Network Communication Infrastructure for Custom Multi-Core Platforms
Authors: Sørensen Peter , Madsen Jan
Published: April 2012

We present an approach for generating implementations of abstraction layers implementing the communication infrastructure of applications modeled as process networks. Our approach is unique in that it does not rely on assumptions about the capabilities and topology of the underlying platform. Instead, a generic implementation is adapted to the particular platform based on information retrieved from analyzing the platform. At the heart of the approach is a novel method for analyzing the capabilities of custom execution platforms composed of components. The versatility and usefulness of the approach and analysis method is demonstrated through a case study.
Alternative Call Center Operational Indicators to Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Oliveira Alexandre Ferreira , Joia Luiz Antonio
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this chapter is to purport a set of alternative call center operational performance indicators, in order to enhance the relationship between call center performance and customer satisfaction. In order to do that, a methodological approach based on surveys, as well as stepwise multiple linear regressions, is developed from 6,616 cases collected during three months from the telecommunication industry. The general conclusion is that a set of alternative call center indicators covering three dimensions, namely the call center ability to resolve a problem, the call center responsiveness, and the prior customer satisfaction with the call center, together with traditional indicators, present a statistically significant relationship with customer satisfaction. The insights from this study can help managers to improve the customer satisfaction with call center, as well as to better sub-contract outsourcing call center operators.
Knowledge Management in the Public Service
Authors: Ang Hak Seng , Ng Pak Tee
Published: April 2012

In the knowledge economy, Knowledge Management (KM) has gained strategic importance in management agenda in many organizations, including those in the service industries. This chapter presents the case study of the Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB), as a study of how KM can be harnessed to improve public sector performance in an area where bottom-line performance is hard to define. By analysing the development of the HPB’s “Healthier Hawker Programme,” the case study examines the HPB’s journey in using increasingly sophisticated KM processes, tools, and techniques. The experiences and lessons learnt during the HPB’s KM journey are analysed and presented using the Learning with Knowledge (LK) Cycle, a model that is useful to the formation of an ontology for analytic discussion and the implementation of KM.
Adverse Events and Medical Errors in Greece
Authors: Vozikis Athanassios
Published: April 2012

For years, experts have recognized that medical errors exist and compromise healthcare quality. Much has been written worldwide about medical errors and improvements in their reporting and handling, with the proposals ranging from the implementation of nationwide mandatory reporting with public release of performance data to voluntary reporting and quality-assurance efforts that protect the confidentiality of error-related data. In the present chapter, the author first points out the lack of standardized nomenclature and a universal taxonomy-classification for adverse events and medical errors, which complicates the development of a response to these issues. The chapter also reviews a number of methods of and adverse events’ and medical errors’ knowledge management, each of which has evolved over time and been adapted to different contexts. Finally, the author assesses each of these methods, unveiling their particular strengths and advantages, and also weaknesses and limitations.
A Predictive Modeling of Retail Satisfaction
Authors: Hemalatha M.
Published: April 2012

Data mining allows managers to make more knowledgeable decisions by predicting future trends and behaviors. One of the most widely used areas of data mining for the retail industry is in marketing. There are also at least seven methods of analysis or statistical techniques that are commonly used in data mining. It is obvious that the approach to the data mining is the key determinant of the statistical technique to be used. Predictive modeling uses variety of techniques such as linear regression, logistic regression, and their extensions can be used to identify patterns, which can be used to predict the future. This research specifically focuses on the application of multiple regression technique a data mining tool in Indian retail industries to predict the retail satisfaction using store attributes as independent variables.
Knowledge Management in Educational Games
Authors: Minovic Miroslav , Milovanovic Miloš , Starcevic Dušan
Published: April 2012

Use of educational games during teaching process does not represent a new topic. However, the question “How to address the knowledge in educational games?” is still open. The purpose of this chapter is to propose a model that will attempt to establish the balance between knowledge integration into game on one side, and its reusability on other. The model driven approach presented in this chapter relies on the use of Learning Objects (LO) as constructing pieces of knowledge resources, which are specialized for educational game design purpose. Presented models contribute to methodology of educational games development in a way that they embrace principles of learning and knowledge management early in design process. The authors demonstrate applicability of their models in design case study, where they developed educational game editor where the educator can easily define new educational game utilizing existing knowledge, assessment, and multimedia from repository.
A Semantic Framework for Cloud Learning Environments
Authors: Mikroyannidis Alexander
Published: April 2012

Cloud Learning Environments (CLEs) are gradually gaining ground over traditional Learning Management Systems (LMS) by facilitating the lone or collaborative study of user-chosen blends of content and courses from heterogeneous sources, including Open Educational Resources (OER). This chapter describes the use of ontologies for modelling various aspects of the learning process within such an environment. In particular, the author considers a semantic knowledge base as the core of the learning environment, facilitating learners in finding educational services on the cloud. He describes how different stakeholder clusters are involved in the creation and maintenance of this knowledge base, through collaborative ontology management techniques. Finally, the chapter defines the mechanisms for the evolution of this knowledge base and the constant updating of the associated cloud learning services.