bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Personal Information Privacy Concerns Evaluation
Authors: Rohunen Anna , Markkula Jouni
Published: June 2017

Personal data is increasingly collected with the support of rapidly advancing information and communication technology, which raises privacy concerns among data subjects. In order to address these concerns and offer the full benefits of personal data intensive services to the public, service providers need to understand how to evaluate privacy concerns in evolving service contexts. By analyzing the earlier used privacy concerns evaluation instruments, we can learn how to adapt them to new contexts. In this article, the historical development of the most widely used privacy concerns evaluation instruments is presented and analyzed regarding privacy concerns' dimensions. Privacy concerns' core dimensions, and the types of context dependent dimensions, to be incorporated into evaluation instruments are identified. Following this, recommendations on how to utilize the existing evaluation instruments are given, as well as suggestions for future research dealing with validation and standardization of the instruments.
New Perspectives of Pattern Recognition for Automatic Credit Card Fraud Detection
Authors: Salazar Addisson , Safont Gonzalo , Rodriguez Alberto , Vergara Luis
Published: June 2017

Automatic credit card fraud detection (ACCFD) is a challenge issue that has been increasingly studied considering expanded potential of new technologies to emulate legitimate operations. Solution has to handle with fraud behavior changing in time; detection in data with very small fraud/legitimate operations ratio; and accomplish operation requirements of very low false alarm in real-time processing. In this chapter, main issues related with the problem of ACCFD and proposed solutions are discussed from theoretical and practical standpoints. The perspective of detection analyses from receiving operating characteristic curves and business key performance indicators are jointly analyzed. A new conceptual framework for ACCFD considering decision fusion and surrogate data is outlined including a case of study with different proportions of real and surrogate data. In addition, the sensitivity of the methods to different proportions of fraud/legitimate ratios is tested. Finally, theoretical and practical conclusions are provided as well as several open lines of research are proposed.
Knowledge Acquisition on Dante Alighieri's Works
Authors: Locuratolo Elvira Immacolata , Lenzi Valentina Bartalesi
Published: June 2017

The approach followed for the identification and the implementation of visualization diagrams able to support the knowledge acquisition on Dante's works is described. Two high level structures and an implementation model are proposed. An example of citation histogram is given; one of its possible refinements is considered. The article is part of the Towards a Digital Dante Encyclopedia, a three-year Italian National Project which aims to build a digital library endowed with services to support scholars in creating, evolving and consulting an encyclopedia on Dante Alighieri and on his works.
Visualization as a Knowledge Transfer
Authors: Ursyn Anna
Published: June 2017

This overview inspects visualization tools and applications enabling visualization of data, information, and knowledge. The background is provided first about visualizing information in a pictorial yet abstract rather than illustrative way. Further text discusses visual metaphors as a basic structure in metaphorical language of visualization. Selected methods and tools are introduced, and the ways visualization transfers knowledge and mediates between the user and the physical world, supporting cognitive ways of learning and teaching. Nature derived metaphors serve as bio-inspired, interdisciplinary models. The importance of visual and technological literacy is discussed, along with a need of teaching visualization methods as an important part of the current educational strategies. Concluding remarks examine how metaphorical visualization may support learning and teaching, and why visual and technological literacy should be taught and trained since early childhood.
Social Media Applications as Effective Service Delivery Tools for Librarians
Authors: Babatope Ihuoma Sandra
Published: June 2017

In a bid to satisfy the growing needs of library users, the social media hype has gradually crept into the library profession with a wide variety of social media applications such as Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Skype, Library Thing, Ning and so on being common tools for carrying out routine tasks within the library community. This paper will provide an overview of social media applications and identify those that are commonly used in libraries in Nigeria as well as explore the reasons for using social media applications in libraries and how they are employed in performing sundry library routines. The paper will also examine the future role of librarians with respect to the current realities as presented by these social media applications as well as the opportunities and the challenges of using social media applications in libraries. Recommendations and future trends in the use of social media applications will also be highlighted.
E-Business Supply Chains Drivers, Metrics, and ERP Integration
Authors: Essila Jean C.
Published: June 2017

The world of business is witnessing the emergence of electronic supply chains (e-SC). As more business is performed via the Internet, e-SCs are becoming an integral part of supply chain management SCM). With business via the Internet requiring different fulfillment approaches, traditional drivers of regular supply chains are no longer adequate for explaining how e-SC performance is driven. The task of SC professionals is more complicated than ever. This situation often leads to unsatisfied customers, which can force companies to close their doors. Therefore, understanding e-SCM performance drivers and their integration with ERP becomes a necessity. Little attention has been devoted to SCM performance driver evaluation. This article discusses the performance drivers of e-SCs and their integration with ERPs. SCM is among the most important factors to organizational success. Effective SCM can enhance competitiveness and increase profitability. Nevertheless, SCM professionals and other actors must understand the factors that undergird driver performance.
Offshoring IT
Authors: Cockrell Susan , Damron Terry Stringer , Melton Amye M. , Smith Alan D.
Published: June 2017

Offshore outsourcing basically describes the practice of contracting to outside vendors in another country, especially in cases where the client company has no direct ownership. This operational strategy of low-cost, global expansion, and increased capability of vendors in India, China, the Philippines, South Korea, has opened great number of avenues of traditional organizational functions of IT. Such functions as software development, call centers, and accounting are typically offshored. Since the late 1990s, offshore outsourcing has included more sophisticated finance and accounting functions, beyond that of simple data input and transactions. Offshore finance and accounting outsourcing is especially becoming an attractive option for many companies. The obvious benefits are gaining access to scarce and valuable skills, cutting costs, and domestic and global achieving competitiveness. However, there are risks as well. A relatively balanced approach of benefits and risks are discussed in this chapter.
Pricing Based on Real-Time Analysis of Forklift Utilization Using RFID in Warehouse Management
Authors: Celebi Numan , Savaş Kübra , Selvi Ihsan Hakan
Published: June 2017

Radio frequency identification is an automatic identification technology that is used in various applications. Despite many academic and theoretical studies have been conducted about this technology only few of these studies have concentrated on application problems in real life. Therefore many of these theoretical studies cannot be of help to practitioners directly. In this study to realize such an objective, in order to price forklift operations used in handling operations in logistics warehouse management a new approach that works with RFID technology is presented. The proposed model has been used in tracking of forklift movements at the warehouse of a firm active in logistics sector and has been tested. The results obtained from the case study have shown that developed system can be successfully used in price determination of forklift movements in warehouse management. Although the case was small, the proposed approach works well to follow real time forklift movements and produces encouraging and meaningful outcomes pricing determination for future warehouse management policy.
Reflections of the 1Malaysia Supply Chain (1MSC)
Authors: Halili Munira , Mohamed Latifah Naina , Fernando Yudi
Published: June 2017

This chapter focuses on the 1Malaysia Supply Chain framework that acts as the mover, which enables the whole 1Malaysia concept to be realized and implemented. It will highlight an in-depth review of the 1MSC. The 1MSC concept is derived from the integration between all the key players in the end-to-end supply chain process. This is where the stakeholders have the same goals in ensuring that the end to end process of supply chain is achieved. The 1MSC can be considered as an umbrella that governs the whole supply chain process. The driving force behind the realization of this concept is the strong foundation of its supply chain which integrates different parties as one. This article introduces the concept of National Development Incubator (NDI) where it combines the primary supply chain elements to achieve sustainable business and supply chain performance.
A Review of Supply Chain Risk Management in Agribusiness Industry
Authors: Widiyanesti Sri , Fernando Yudi
Published: June 2017

Supply chain of agricultural commodities becomes a major concern of Indonesian scholars and practitioners. Many companies engaged in this industry unable to survive in the market. This is contrary to the natural conditions of Indonesia with abundant natural resources and plenty of commodity producers. Problems often arise in the field of supply chain risk which link to commodities in Indonesia, among others: price fluctuation, the scarcity of the commodity, supply and demand are not balanced, distribution and production costs are expensive, raw material commodities that are imported, and natural disasters. Companies which engaged in agricultural business have high risk of survival and not even grow. To overcome this challenges the this chapter intend to review supply chain management concept by look at risk consideration may arise in the business uncertainties. The lack of studies to investigate the risk factors in agribusiness makes this study contribute to the supply chain literature.
Interactivity in Distance Education and Computer-Aided Learning, With Medical Education Examples
Authors: Doyle D. John , Fahy Patrick J.
Published: June 2017

Medical educators commonly place considerable importance on the notion of “interactivity” in the educational process. Interactivity may be defined as a reciprocally active situation whereby a two-way flow of information or opinion exists between a source and a user, and where the source responds to the user's input. Advocates of interactivity maintain that well-designed interactivity in educational systems helps capture the learner's interest, has the potential to speed the learning process, and even allows for continuous assessment of the degree to which the material is mastered. Medical educators also point out that technology can allow for high-quality interactivity by providing for frequent and relevant user feedback, by recognizing when students misunderstand a concept, and by providing learning aids such as animations or graphs that vary depending on user input. However, badly designed interactivity can also impede student progress.
Defining and Characterising the Landscape of eHealth
Authors: O'Connor Yvonne , Heavin Ciara
Published: June 2017

There has been a surge of electronic health (eHealth) technologies encompassing a range of services available to various stakeholders within the health care system in both developed and developing countries. As technology has evolved, the features and functionalities offered by eHealth technologies have grown dramatically leading to a proliferation of advanced technical solutions. As a result of this increased focus various definitions for what constitutes the term eHealth have emerged in the literature. This lack of consensus is further inhibited by a dearth of research documenting the characteristics (i.e. features and functionalities) of such eHealth technologies. The authors propose to define and characterise the landscape of eHealth technologies from an Information Systems (IS) perspective in this chapter. By examining existing literature and reviewing the market place, this study reveals that there is a need to integrate the various features and functions of eHealth technologies, thereby arguing that integration and interoperability is important for the growth of eHealth.
Pervasive Mobile Health
Authors: Anshari Muhammad , Almunawar Mohammad Nabil
Published: June 2017

Pervasive mobile health is mobile health that provides healthcare services accessible regardless of time and place with patients can continuously be connected through their smart mobile devices. It offers healthcare providers a more comprehensive perspective of patients' condition and thus aid in achieving complex healthcare goal(s) such as building lasting relationships with patients. The service can be further extended to accommodate customers' participation in health and healthcare processes to improve healthcare services by extending roles of patients. The advancement of the Web technologies, especially social networks, push eHealth to embrace mobile devices (mHealth) and personalize customers centric services with a possibility to extend and improve services by enabling active participation of patients, patient's families, and the community at large in healthcare processes and personal health decision making. This chapter addresses some important concepts of mHealth, challenges, future trends, and some related terminologies to provide a holistic view of mHealth.
Methods for Simultaneous Improvement of Comb Pass Band and Folding Bands
Authors: Dolecek Gordana Jovanovic
Published: June 2017

This decimation introduces the replicas of the main signal spectrum. If the signal is not properly filtered, the overlapping of the repeated replicas of the original spectrum, called aliasing, may occur. The aliasing may destroy the useful information of the decimated signal and must be eliminated by the filter which precedes the decimation, called decimation filter. The most popular decimation filter is a comb filter, usually used in the first stage of decimation. However its magnitude characteristic is not flat in the pass band of interest and there is not enough attenuation in the folding bands. Different methods are proposed to improve comb magnitude characteristic. This article presents an overview of methods for simultaneous improvement of comb magnitude characteristic in both: pass band and folding bands. The methods are divided into three main groups: Sharpening-based methods, Corrector–based methods, and Methods based on the combination of alias rejection and compensator design methods.
Micro to Macro Social Connectedness Through Mobile Phone Engagement
Authors: Mentor Dominic
Published: June 2017

The literature on social connectedness through mobile phone engagement reveals positive tacit opportunities. Mobile phone engagement hosts micro and macro opportunities to start and maintain a sense of social connectedness. Increasing a sense of social connectedness encourages healthier emotional well-being among people, reducing potential feelings of isolation and chances of faster recovery from illness. Mobile social media access, participation and messaging, be it face-to-face, peer-to-peer, group or virtual, through intentional and unintentional social connectedness, may aid the improvement and performance among workers, students and campaigns. Mobile engagement also offers possible improvement in performance and enhanced perceptions of emotional well-being. Engagement through social media networks, mostly accessed via mobile, including mobile gaming, or health monitoring, commenting or posting photos or short texts, increases the production and value of successful maintenance of reciprocal interpersonal relationships.
Mobile Game-Based Learning
Authors: DaCosta Boaventura , Seok Soonhwa , Kinsell Carolyn
Published: June 2017

The massive spread of mobile computing is undeniable with the draw of mobile games reaching epic proportions. This popularity, along with the anytime-, anywhere-, and on-any-device characteristics of mobile computing has ignited mounting interest in the use of mobile games in educational contexts, as illustrated by a growing number of articles on this topic. This chapter offers a review of the research on mobile game-based learning (mGBL), citing mobile games that have been experimented with and/or used to explore learning. Although many of the studies to date have emphasized the location-based capabilities of mobile devices, the emerging research focused on mGBL is promising, showing that learning can take place through the use of these games. Future research, however, should look beyond individual devices and functionality, and place greater importance on pedagogy.
Metadata Standards in Digital Audio
Authors: Szeto Kimmy
Published: June 2017

Audio metadata are an essential tool that supports control and management of systems that create, transmit, describe, manage, and store digital audio. Throughout the lifecycle of digital audio objects—pre-production, acquisition and production, post-production, distribution, storage, transmission, and archiving—metadata “describe the attributes of a resource, characterize resource relationships, and support resource discovery, management, and effective use” (Vellucci, 1999). Technical and structural metadata enable audio in devices and software applications; descriptive metadata provide context. Metadata also relate and incorporate audio in a multimedia environment resulting in profound effects on conception, reception, and consumption.
Semantically Enhanced Authoring of Shared Media
Authors: Dimoulas Charalampos , Veglis Andreas A. , Kalliris George
Published: June 2017

This chapter examines current trends and future perspectives of semantically-enhanced media /multimedia, considering all forms of non-linear storytelling, sharing and authoring. Background is presented providing basic definitions, involved technology, achieved progress and limitations. Recommendations and future research direction are then stated, aiming at serving a two-folded target: firstly, to present new, user-friendly forms of collaborative creativity, multimedia authoring and storytelling; secondly, to suggest innovative adaptation mechanisms that can be utilized in both the media production and consumption ends. A semantically enhanced media authoring model is proposed, integrating most of the expected progress in augmented user interaction and the upcoming Web 2.0/3.0 services. The targeted Semantically-enhanced Multimedia Storytelling Services aim at engaging audience members individually, validating their involvement and positively reinforcing personal participation in the narration. Thus the importance of the topic toward the transition to the Web 3.0 era is revealed.
Telesurgical Robotics and a Kinematic Perspective
Authors: Nisar Sajid , Hasan Osman
Published: June 2017

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) has revolutionized the world of surgery. On one hand it offered many revolutionary advantages, on the other hand it proved to be a tedious and sophisticated technique for surgeons. Telesurgical robotics came forward to assist surgeons and made surgeries even further innovative, safer and efficacious. Kinematics - a fundamental and foremost design step - acts as the lynchpin of performance of a surgical robot. It plays a decisive role and defines the capabilities and viability of a robot vis-à-vis its application. This chapter tries to understand the kinematic design approaches in practice so far and discusses their features and potential shortcomings. Some of the notable kinematic structures are explained in detail and an all-inclusive consideration to the kinematic aspects of the existing designs has been given. Based on the key challenges identified, possible solutions are suggested which is followed by future research directions and conclusion.
Financing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in Indian Industry
Authors: Ganguly Shromona
Published: June 2017

During the last five decades, the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the Indian economy have emerged as a dynamic, vibrant segment having a significant contribution towards employment generation and entrepreneurship formation. Despite being an important contributor towards the national output and employment of the economy, the MSME sector continues to face a number of challenges choking its growth, of which, credit availability to these enterprises has become one of the most important issues. The existing literature on small firm financing discusses the issues and challenges from a cross-country perspective. There is a lack of detailed research on implications of country specific factors and financial system on small firm financing. The present essay aims to fill this gap by analysing the extent and nature of credit constraint faced by small firms in the manufacturing sector in India and how technology may change the situation in the coming years.
Adolescents' Food Communication in Social Media
Authors: Holmberg Christopher
Published: June 2017

Social media is ubiquitous in the lives of adolescents. Social media permits users to upload and share contents pertinent to health such as food and nutrition communications. Studies show that the dissemination and sharing of food content is prevalent in these channels. Not only do messages of food serve a symbolic purpose in these online platforms, but this communication might also affect adolescents in both positive and negative ways in regards to health. Visual food messages can affect brain areas associated with appetite and influence dietary behaviors among adolescents similar to advertisements. The objective with this article is to elucidate the complex and interwoven relationship between food and nutrition, social media, and adolescents from a health communication perspective. The article draws upon empirical studies and results, as well as related conceptual literature. Methodological and theoretical explanations are discussed as well as practical implications. Future research directions are also outlined.
Agent-Based Social Networks
Authors: Bergenti Federico , Poggi Agostino , Tomaiuolo Michele
Published: June 2017

Social networking sites have deeply changed the face of the web in the last years. Although the current approach to build social networking systems is to create huge centralized systems owned by a single company, such strategy has many drawbacks, e.g., lack of privacy, lack of anonymity, risks of censorship and operating costs. Therefore, a decentralized architecture may offer several advantages, but it may involve some security and design issues that are not present in traditional social networks. This chapter has the goal of introducing social networks and how they can take advantages of a decentralized architecture and how the use of multi agent technologies help to cope with its security and design issues and, in addition, to support the creation of innovative services for its users.
The Qualities and Potential of Social Media
Authors: Averweg Udo Richard , Leaning Marcus
Published: June 2017

In recent years social media have been clearly identified as playing a significant part in facilitating, if not causing a number of political revolutions and unexpected election results. Similarly social media ha also been considered as a way to improve organisational performance. In business and management social media is seen as a way to empower customers and users, improve service levels through feedback loops and generally offer an improved service users' experience of bureaucracy. In this article the qualities and potential of social media can be understood to cause social change are examined. First in the background discussion to social media, new technologies are discussed. Then the four key areas of the characteristics of social media (the contemporaneity of communications; productive audiences; its dialogical and network nature; and its searchable and ‘taggable' nature) are explored. Finally, a number of possible trends in social media development and extrapolate are identified. From these (the self leveraging network; deeper personal profiles and the Universal ID and identity; and hyper locality) they are extrapolated to the future.
Social Media Credit Scoring
Authors: Anderson Billie , Hardin J. Michael
Published: June 2017

This book chapter provides an overview of credit scoring and discusses how credit scoring is evolving within the context of social media. The main focus of the chapter is how financial institutions have begun incorporating a credit applicant's social media activity such as Facebook and Twitter into the risk associated with a financial loan. Traditional financial organizations such as FICO to relatively new start-up companies such as Lenddo are highlighted; the way in which these companies are incorporating big data sources such as social media data into their loan-making decisions are discussed.
Socio-Economic Processes, User Generated Content, and Media Pluralism
Authors: Kavoura Androniki
Published: June 2017

Media pluralism that is associated with the presentation of different points of view and ideas in media content, consists of a recurrent issue of discussion because it is in close relation with the socio-economic, technological and political environment within which media operate. Major developments take place with the worldwide economic instability that exists but also with the advancement of new technologies and social media that enhance online communication. This paper aims (a) to present media pluralism's components and (b) to describe the reciprocal role between media pluralism's dimensions and communication technologies, socio-economic and political processes that take place. These processes are based on the technological advancements of new media platforms such as online video platforms and streaming services as media types for online media content. In doing so, this chapter adds to the literature by illustrating the role of the abovementioned processes on media pluralism. Media pluralism is under continuous negotiation. Current real-world scenarios are discussed.
Suggestions for Communication of Information for Multicultural Co-Existence
Authors: Kurata Noriko
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this chapter is to propose measures required for promoting coexistence with multi-culture residents (MCR). In this chapter, the plans and ordinances established by the local governments in Japan were focused. As a result, majority of the local governments targeted for the survey had declared the need for multicultural co-existence and multilingual communication of information in their plans. Further, on the web operated by the local governments, machine translation was used. However, the study revealed that there were no local governments that communicated ordinances on the web in multiple languages. Not being informed about ordinances is detrimental to the daily life of foreigners residing in the local community and further can become the cause of increase in troubles with the Japanese in the local community. Therefore, this chapter proposes that the concerned local governments translate the ordinances ranked higher in the system of all ordinances on a priority basis and collaborate with the MCR to generate more precise expressions.
The Challenges of Teaching and Learning Software Programming to Novice Students
Authors: Shahamiri Seyed Reza
Published: June 2017

As software applications play a vital role in our daily life, there is a need to have more skilled programmers to create such software products. There are various emerging disciplines like Internet of Things, driver-less cars, Data Science, Software Defined Networks, etc. that demand more programmers in the near future hence a more promising carrier for software developers is expected. Nevertheless, we have seen a low success rate in programming classes where some students lose interest to learn the required skills as they find programming a software a very challenging task; it has been reported that the fail rate of first programming papers in university computer science programmes can be up to 60 percent. This chapter looks at some of the issues in regards to teaching and learning software programming and the nature of programming that may negatively influence the students' attention. Remedies to tackle the issues are also provided emphasizing on blended delivery using the technologies to facilitate the learning.
Towards an Understanding of Performance, Reliability, and Security
Authors: Wang Ye , Jiang Bo , Pan Weifeng
Published: June 2017

Service-oriented computing is a promising computing paradigm for software applications. However, there are a lot of key research issues in the service-oriented computing paradigm. Quality of Service (QoS) is a key factor to resolve these issues as well as a crucial aspect in the design of service-oriented systems as it directly touches the concerns of the service users. Therefore it is necessary and important to achieve a deeper understanding of different types of QoS properties. This chapter introduces three QoS properties namely performance, reliability and security, and provides an overview of these QoS properties and offer an in-depth analysis of the issues, challenges and research opportunities of QoS properties in designing and developing service-oriented systems.
Role of Educational Leaders in Supporting Beginning Teachers in Al Ain Schools in the UAE
Authors: Ali Salam Omar
Published: June 2017

This research studied the current practices of the principals in Al-Ain school district (in UAE) in supporting their novice teachers in their first years of teaching. It aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need of an effective principal who knows the important role he plays especially with the new appointed teachers. The study used depth of literature review to establish a good base of theoretical ideas about the effective role of principals in supporting the novice teachers in their first years of teaching. The importance of induction program and its goals and benefits were tackled as well, in addition to the main aspects of the support provided. Moreover, the conceptual framework of the study discussed the methodology by describing the qualitative and quantitative methods used to gather data. The population and the sample, data analysis and discussion, conclusion and recommendations were presented too. 20 principals and 30 teachers of public and private schools participated in answering a questionnaire. On the other hand, some of them will be interviewed.
Ubiquitous Teachers' Training and Lessons Learned with the uProf! Model
Authors: Leone Sabrina , Biancofiore Giovanni
Published: June 2017

This article illustrates features and outcomes of the experiences with uProf!, a model for teachers' professional training in ubiquitous learning by tablets and Quick Response (QR) codes. The model was designed, implemented and successfully validated in 2012 within a full-immersion, learner-centred and metacognitive course for 80 Italian high school teachers who are part of a school network for the enhancement of curriculum continuity from middle into high school. Later on, uProf! has been used to provide continuous professional training and tailored in-class tutoring during these teachers' first implementations of technology-enhanced learning experiences.
An Essay on Denotational Mathematics
Authors: Iurato Giuseppe
Published: June 2017

Denotational mathematics is a new rigorous discipline of theoretical computer science which springs out from the attempt to provide a suitable mathematical framework in which laid out new algebraic structures formalizing certain formal patterns coming from computational and natural intelligence, software science, cognitive informatics, neuronal networks, artificial intelligence. In this chapter, a very brief but rigorous exposition of the main formal structures of denotational mathematics, is outlined within naive set theory.
Sleptsov Net Computing
Authors: Zaitsev Dmitry A.
Published: June 2017

Motivation for new models of hyper-computations was presented. Sleptsov net was introduced compared to Petri and Salwicki nets. A concept of universal Sleptsov net, as a prototype of a processor in Sleptsov net computing, was discussed. Small universal Sleptsov net that runs in polynomial time was constructed; it consists of 15 places and 29 transitions. Principles of programming in Sleptsov nets, as composition of reverse control flow and data, have been developed. Standard control flow patterns include sequence, branching, loop, and parallel execution. Basic modules, which implement efficiently copying, logic, and arithmetic operations, have been developed. Special dashed arcs were introduced for brief specification of input and output data of modules (subnets). Ways of hierarchical composition of a program via substitution of a transition by a module were discussed. Examples of Sleptsov net programs for data encryption, fuzzy logic, and partial differential equations have been presented. Enterprise implementation of Sleptsov net programming promises ultra-performance.
Virtual Worlds in the Educational Context
Authors: Nunes Felipe Becker , Herpich Fabrício , Paschoal Leo Natan
Published: June 2017

Virtual worlds have constantly been exploited in recent years in education, which are developed educational activities with the use of multimedia resources and simulation within the 3D environment for the student to interact and learn about a particular topic. On this basis, this chapter presented a systematic review of virtual worlds applied in education, were selected several articles between 2010 and 2015 coming from conferences and magazines. Results show a large amount of educational theories that have been used as basis for the construction and implementation of educational activities in virtual worlds, where the integration of existing features in virtual worlds with educational concepts has resulted in positive and instigators results from the experiments.
The Economics of Internetization
Authors: Passaris Constantine E.
Published: June 2017

Internetization is a new word and concept that has gained currency with the advent of the new global economy of the 21st century. Prior to the ascendance of Internetization economists had embraced the term globalization to describe the operational parameters of the new economy. The problem with the word globalization is that it is neither a new concept nor is it an appropriate descriptive for the contemporary transformational change precipitated by the spectacular technological inventions on the international economic landscape. The new word, Internetization, describes more succinctly the transformative powers of the world-wide-web and the electronic information high way on the evolving dynamics of interconnectivity for the new global economy of the 21st century. Indeed, Internetization captures the pervasive influence of technological change and electronic innovations on the global economy and all aspects of human endeavour for our civil society in the 21st century.
Revisiting Web 2.0
Authors: Dinger Michael , Grover Varun
Published: June 2017

This chapter revisits and considers the application of Web 2.0 technologies in contemporary business environments. Web 2.0 refers to a general category of internet technologies and content development that lean on the contributions of many individual users to create value. These technologies are characterized by rich media, a dynamic nature, social networking elements and distributed contributions. The chapter presents three major Web 2.0 archetypes: blogs, wikis and social networking sites. It concludes with a value-oriented framework designed to guide firms in the development of Web 2.0 initiatives.
Usability of CAPTCHA in Online Communities and Its Link to User Satisfaction
Authors: Swaid Samar I.
Published: June 2017

Completely Automated Public Turning Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA) is a security mechanism that is used by online communities to block spam and hacking. Today, there are a large number of sophisticated CAPTCHAs that are robust, however, most of them are unusable. This chapter describes a study to examine types and characteristics of Text CAPTCHAs used by top 50 online communities. Furthermore, the study the first of its type to develop a scale to measure usability of text CAPTCHA and to examine the relationships between dimensions of CAPTCHA and perception of usability and satisfaction with registration process in online communities. Factor analysis and equation modeling study suggests that text-based CAPTCHA can be measured on four reflective dimensions of: (1) content; (2) visual layout; (3) distortion; and (4) service in which correlate significantly to users' sanctification with online community.
Volumosina, a new Nearctic genus for the rare old-growth forest fly Herniosina voluminosa Marshall (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae)
Authors: Roháček Jindřich , Marshall Stephen A.
Published: June 2017

Volumosinanew genus (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae: Limosininae) is described to accomodate the enigmatic Nearctic species Herniosina voluminosa Marshall, 1987 and its relationships are discussed. Based on morphological characters Volumosina is treated as part of the Limosina genus group along with Apteromyia Vimmer, 1929, Gigalimosina Roháček, 1983, Herniosina Roháček, 1983, and Limosina Macquart, 1835 but its position within the group remains unresolved. Volumosina voluminosa (Marshall, 1987) new combination is recorded from Canada and redescribed with new distributional and natural history data suggesting that it is an old-growth specialist associated with large woody debris. The gigantism of the male aedeagal complex of V. voluminosa is discussed.
Cytoplasmic Form of Carlr lncRNA Facilitates Inflammatory Gene Expression upon NF-κB Activation
Authors: Castellanos-Rubio Ainara , Kratchmarov Radomir , Sebastian Maialen , Garcia-Etxebarria Koldo , Garcia Liher , Irastorza Iñaki , Ghosh Sankar
Published: June 2017

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of inflammation. To further understand the interaction between inflammatory signaling pathways and lncRNAs, we characterized the function of cardiac and apoptosis-related lncRNA (Carlr), an lncRNA expressed in both mouse and human cells of diverse tissues. Carlr expression is increased following NF-κB signaling in macrophages, with concomitant translocation to, and enrichment of, the transcript in the cytoplasm. Knockdown of Carlr results in impaired expression of NF-κB pathway genes and influences the interaction between macrophages and intestinal cells in an inflammatory environment. In human celiac disease patient samples, increased levels of the Carlr transcript were detected in the cytoplasm, alongside elevated expression of NF-κB pathway genes. These findings suggest that increased Carlr expression and/or cytoplasmic localization is required for efficient NF-κB signaling and is associated with the inflamed tissue state observed in human celiac disease.
Caracterización espacio–temporal de la temperatura superficial del mar satelital en destinos turísticos: Partido de la Costa, Pinamar y Villa Gesell en Buenos Aires, Argentina
Authors: Verón E. , Allega L. , Cozzolino E. , Camiolo M. , Lasta C. , Codignotto J.
Published: June 2017

The coastal spaces are fragile and complex areas that receive strong pressure because of the many uses and activities that are developed in them. The tourism of sun and beaches is one of the main economic practices present in these spaces that value the physical-natural conditions and their environmental variables. Of all of them, the sea surface temperature (SST) has been the least studied variable, especially associated to tourist destinations. The coastal zone of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, concentrates numerous tourist centers like the Partido de la Costa, Pinamar and Villa Gesell that attract in the summer time, a great flow of population. The objective of the present paper was to perform a descriptive and comparative analysis of SST in these parties through the use of monthly satellite images obtained by the Aqua-MODIS satellite-sensor during the period 2003-2013. The results showed a spatial and seasonal behavior of the SST differentiated for the entire study area. The SST for the warm period (January-March) ranged between 21.5 - 24.5°C and for the cold (July-September) between 9.4 - 11.5°C. This difference was lower in the cold period, allowing distinguishing 3 thermal zones with variations smaller than 0.5°C between them: Costa Norte, Costa Centro- Costa Sur, and Pinamar-Villa Gesell. The warm period presented more intense spatial thermal variations between the studied tourist destinations. Four thermal zones with 0.5°C differences were identified: Costa Norte, Costa Centro, Costa Sur, and Pinamar-Villa Gesell.
Global-scale combustion sources of organic aerosols: sensitivity to formation and removal mechanisms
Authors: Tsimpidi Alexandra P. , Karydis Vlassis A. , Pandis Spyros N. , Lelieveld Jos
Published: June 2017

Abstract. Organic compounds from combustion sources such as biomass burning and fossil fuel use are major contributors to the global atmospheric load of aerosols. We analyzed the sensitivity of model-predicted global-scale organic aerosols (OA) to parameters that control primary emissions, photochemical aging, and the scavenging efficiency of organic vapors. We used a computationally efficient module for the description of OA composition and evolution in the atmosphere (ORACLE) of the global chemistry–climate model EMAC (ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry). A global dataset of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) measurements was used to evaluate simulated primary (POA) and secondary (SOA) OA concentrations. Model results are sensitive to the emission rates of intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) and POA. Assuming enhanced reactivity of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and IVOCs with OH substantially improved the model performance for SOA. The use of a hybrid approach for the parameterization of the aging of IVOCs had a small effect on predicted SOA levels. The model performance improved by assuming that freshly emitted organic compounds are relatively hydrophobic and become increasingly hygroscopic due to oxidation.
Biological and environmental rhythms in (dark) deep-sea hydrothermal ecosystems
Authors: Cuvelier Daphne , Legendre Pierre , Laës-Huon Agathe , Sarradin Pierre-Marie , Sarrazin Jozée
Published: June 2017

Abstract. During 2011, two deep-sea observatories focusing on hydrothermal vent ecology were up and running in the Atlantic (Eiffel Tower, Lucky Strike vent field) and the Northeast Pacific Ocean (NEP) (Grotto, Main Endeavour Field). Both ecological modules recorded imagery and environmental variables jointly for a time span of 23 days (7–30 October 2011) and environmental variables for up to 9 months (October 2011–June 2012). Community dynamics were assessed based on imagery analysis and rhythms in temporal variation for both fauna and environment were revealed. Tidal rhythms were found to be at play in the two settings and were most visible in temperature and tubeworm appearances (at NEP). A  ∼  6 h lag in tidal rhythm occurrence was observed between Pacific and Atlantic hydrothermal vents, which corresponds to the geographical distance and time delay between the two sites.
A numerical analysis of biogeochemical controls with physical modulation on hypoxia during summer in the Pearl River estuary
Authors: Wang Bin , Hu Jiatang , Li Shiyu , Liu Dehong
Published: June 2017

Abstract. A three-dimensional (3-D) physical–biogeochemical coupled model was applied to explore the mechanisms controlling the dissolved oxygen (DO) dynamics and bottom hypoxia during summer in the Pearl River estuary (PRE). By using the numerical oxygen tracers, we proposed a new method (namely the physical modulation method) to quantify the contributions of boundary conditions and each source and sink process occurring in local and adjacent waters to the DO conditions. A mass balance analysis of DO based on the physical modulation method indicated that the DO conditions at the bottom layer were mainly controlled by the source and sink processes, among which the sediment oxygen demand (SOD) at the water–sediment interface and the re-aeration at the air–sea interface were the two primary processes determining the spatial extent and duration of bottom hypoxia in the PRE. The SOD could cause a significant decrease in the bottom DO concentrations (averaged over July–August 2006) by over 4 mg L−1 on the shelf off the Modaomen sub-estuary, leading to the formation of a high-frequency zone of hypoxia (HFZ). However, the hypoxia that occurred in the HFZ was intermittent and distributed in a small area due to the combined effects of re-aeration and photosynthesis, which behaved as sources for DO and offset a portion of the DO consumed by SOD. The bottom DO concentrations to the west of the lower Lingdingyang Bay (i.e. the western shoal near Qi'ao Island) were also largely affected by high SOD, but there was no hypoxia occurring there because of the influence of re-aeration. Specifically, re-aeration could lead to an increase in the bottom DO concentrations by ∼ 4.8 mg L−1 to the west of the lower Lingdingyang Bay. The re-aeration led to a strong vertical DO gradient between the surface and the lower layers. As a result, the majority (∼ 89 %) of DO supplemented by re-aeration was transported to the lower layers through vertical diffusion and ∼ 28 % reached the bottom eventually. Additional numerical experiments showed that turning off re-aeration could lead to an expansion of the hypoxic area from 237 to 2203 km2 and result in persistent hypoxia (hypoxic frequency  >  80 %) to the west of the lower Lingdingyang Bay. Compared to re-aeration and SOD, photosynthesis and water column respiration had relatively small impacts on the DO conditions; turning off these two processes increased the hypoxic area to 591 km2. In summary, our study explicitly elucidated the interactive impacts of physical and biogeochemical processes on the DO dynamics in the PRE, which is critical to understanding hypoxia in this shallow and river-dominated estuarine system.