bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantum Simulation of a 2D Quasicrystal with Cold Atoms
Authors: Macé Nicolas , Jagannathan Anuradha , Duneau Michel
Published: September 2016

We describe a way to obtain a two-dimensional quasiperiodic tiling with eight-fold symmetry using cold atoms. One can obtain a series of such optical tilings, related by scale transformations, for a series of specific values of the chemical potential of the atoms. A theoretical model for the optical system is described and compared with that of the well-known cut-and-project method for the Ammann–Beenker tiling. The relation between the two tilings is discussed. This type of cold atom structure should allow the simulation of several important lattice models for interacting quantum particles and spins in quasicrystals.
688,112 Statistical Results: Content Mining Psychology Articles for Statistical Test Results
Authors: Hartgerink Chris
Published: September 2016

In this data deposit, I describe a dataset that is the result of content mining 167,318 published articles for statistical test results reported according to the standards prescribed by the American Psychological Association (APA). Articles published by the APA, Springer, Sage, and Taylor & Francis were included (mining from Wiley and Elsevier was actively blocked). As a result of this content mining, 688,112 results from 50,845 articles were extracted. In order to provide a comprehensive set of data, the statistical results are supplemented with metadata from the article they originate from. The dataset is provided in a comma separated file (CSV) in long-format. For each of the 688,112 results, 20 variables are included, of which seven are article metadata and 13 pertain to the individual statistical results (e.g., reported and recalculated p-value). A five-pronged approach was taken to generate the dataset: (i) collect journal lists; (ii) spider journal pages for articles; (iii) download articles; (iv) add article metadata; and (v) mine articles for statistical results. All materials, scripts, etc. are available at https://github.com/chartgerink/2016statcheck_data and preserved at http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.59818.
The Analytical Solution of Parabolic Volterra Integro-Differential Equations in the Infinite Domain
Authors: Zhao Yun , Zhao Fengqun
Published: September 2016

This article focuses on obtaining analytical solutions for d-dimensional, parabolic Volterra integro-differential equations with different types of frictional memory kernel. Based on Laplace transform and Fourier transform theories, the properties of the Fox-H function and convolution theorem, analytical solutions for the equations in the infinite domain are derived under three frictional memory kernel functions. The analytical solutions are expressed by infinite series, the generalized multi-parameter Mittag-Leffler function, the Fox-H function and the convolution form of the Fourier transform. In addition, graphical representations of the analytical solution under different parameters are given for one-dimensional parabolic Volterra integro-differential equations with a power-law memory kernel. It can be seen that the solution curves are subject to Gaussian decay at any given moment.
A Raspberry Pi Cluster Instrumented for Fine-Grained Power Measurement
Authors: Cloutier Michael , Paradis Chad , Weaver Vincent
Published: September 2016

Power consumption has become an increasingly important metric when building large supercomputing clusters. One way to reduce power usage in large clusters is to use low-power embedded processors rather than the more typical high-end server CPUs (central processing units). We investigate various power-related metrics for seventeen different embedded ARM development boards in order to judge the appropriateness of using them in a computing cluster. We then build a custom cluster out of Raspberry Pi boards, which is specially designed for per-node detailed power measurement. In addition to serving as an embedded cluster testbed, our cluster’s power measurement, visualization and thermal features make it an excellent low-cost platform for education and experimentation.
Feedback Linearization Controller for a Wind Energy Power System
Authors: Alrifai Muthana , Zribi Mohamed , Rayan Mohamed
Published: September 2016

This paper deals with the control of a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based variable speed wind turbine power system. A system of eight ordinary differential equations is used to model the wind energy conversion system. The generator has a wound rotor type with back-to-back three-phase power converter bridges between its rotor and the grid; it is modeled using the direct-quadrature rotating reference frame with aligned stator flux. An input-state feedback linearization controller is proposed for the wind energy power system. The controller guarantees that the states of the system track the desired states. Simulation results are presented to validate the proposed control scheme. Moreover, further simulation results are shown to investigate the robustness of the proposed control scheme to changes in some of the parameters of the system.
The Possibility of Decreasing 50-Hz Electric Field Exposure near 400-kV Power Lines with Arc Flash Personal Protective Equipment
Authors: Korpinen Leena , Pirkkalainen Herkko , Heiskanen Timo , Pääkkönen Rauno
Published: September 2016

Various guidelines for the protection of human beings against possible adverse effects resulting from exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have been published with a view towards continual improvement; therefore, decreasing exposure is an important research area. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of decreasing electric field exposure with arc flash rated personal protective equipment (PPE), which in this case was a set of coveralls, and to compare the measurement results to calculations using the helmet-mask measuring system. We collected the data under a 400-kV power line. The test person stood on isolated aluminum paper, and the current between the ground and the aluminum paper was measured. When the test subject wore the arc flash PPE, the current to the ground was only 9.5% of the current measured when wearing normal clothes, which represents a clear decrease in exposure.
Pesticide Residues on Three Cut Flower Species and Potential Exposure of Florists in Belgium
Authors: Toumi Khaoula , Vleminckx Christiane , Van Loco Joris , Schiffers Bruno
Published: September 2016

In order to assess the prevalence of pesticide contamination and the risk of florists’ exposure when handling cut flowers, sampling and analysis of 90 bouquets of the most commonly sold cut flowers in Belgium (50 bouquets of roses; 20 of gerberas, and 20 of chrysanthemums) were carried out. The bouquets were collected from 50 florists located in the seven largest cities of Belgium (Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Ghent, Leuven, Liege, and Namur) and from five supermarkets located in the different regions. To have a better understanding of the route of exposure and professional practices a questionnaire was also addressed to a group of 25 florists who volunteered to take part in the survey. All florists were interviewed individually when collecting the questionnaire. The residual pesticide deposit values on cut flowers were determined in an accredited laboratory using a multi-residue (QuEChERS Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe) method and a combination of gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chormatograhphy (LC) analysis. A total of 107 active substances were detected from all samples; i.e., an average of about 10 active substances per bouquet. The most severely contaminated bouquet accumulated a total concentration of residues up to 97 mg/kg. Results show that roses are the most contaminated cut flowers; with an average of 14 substances detected per sample and a total concentration per rose sample of 26 mg/kg. Some active substances present an acute toxicity (acephate, methiocarb, monocrotophos, methomyl, deltamethrin, etc.) and exposure can generate a direct effect on the nervous system of florists. Nevertheless, fungicides (dodemorph, propamocarb, and procymidone) were the most frequently detected in samples and had the highest maximum concentrations out of all the active substances analysed. Dodemorph was the most frequently detected substance with the highest maximum concentration (41.9 mg/kg) measured in the rose samples. It appears from the survey that, despite being exposed to high deposits of residues, florists usually do not protect themselves from contact with residues even if they spend several hours handling cut flowers and preparing bouquets (from 2 to 6 h/day, depending on the time of year and/or selling periods) daily. Bad habits (eating, drinking, or smoking at work) and absence of personal protective equipment of most florists also increase the risk of contact with pesticide residues.
A GIS Study of the Influences of Warm Ocean Eddies on the Intensity Variations of Tropical Cyclones in the South China Sea
Authors: Yang Feng , Peng Hui , Du Yunyan , Wu Guofeng
Published: September 2016

This study presented the spatial distribution patterns of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the South China Sea (SCS) and discussed the possible influences of average sea surface temperature (SST) and the size of warm ocean eddies on changes in the intensity of TCs passing over them. Between 1993 and 2013, the SCS has experienced 233 TCs, of which 134 have interacted with warm ocean eddies. The results of fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering showed that these TCs are mainly located in the northern portion of the SCS. After interacting with warm ocean eddies, TCs may intensify, remain at the same intensity, or weaken. For intensifying TCs, the enhancements range from 0 to 3 m/s only; however, this level of TC intensity enhancement is statistically significant at p<0.05. Further statistical analyses show that warm ocean eddies with a higher-than-average SST and a larger ratio between the size of the warm ocean eddies and the radius of the TC maximum wind may help intensify passing TCs.
Development of 12 Microsatellite Markers in Dorcus titanus castanicolor (Motschulsky, 1861) (Lucanidae, Coleoptera) from Korea Using Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Kang Tae , Han Sang , Park Sun
Published: September 2016

In the present study, we used next-generation sequencing to develop 12 novel microsatellite markers for genetic structural analysis of Dorcus titanus castanicolor (Lucanidae; Coleoptera), a popular pet insect in China, Korea, and Japan. We identified 52,357 microsatellite loci in 339,287,381 bp of genomic sequence and selected 19 of the loci based on their PCR amplification efficiency and polymorphism. The 19 selected markers were then tested for the presence of null alleles and linkage disequilibrium. We did not detect any evidence of null alleles; however, four pairs of loci (DT03 and DT11, DT05 and DT26, DT08 and DT26, DT26 and DT35) exhibited linkage disequilibrium. Thus, we assessed the genetic diversity of a D. titanus castanicolor population from the Daejeon region of Korea (n = 22) using 13 markers. Among them, one marker (DT17) deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Therefore, 12 markers may be useful for further analyzing the genetic diversity of D. titanus castanicolor.
Full Polymer Dielectric Elastomeric Actuators (DEA) Functionalised with Carbon Nanotubes and High-K Ceramics
Authors: Köckritz Tilo , Luther René , Paschew Georgi , Jansen Irene , Richter Andreas , Jost Oliver , Schönecker Andreas , Beyer Eckhard
Published: September 2016

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA) are special devices which have a simple working and construction principle and outstanding actuation properties. The DEAs consist of a combination of different materials for the dielectric and electrode layers. The combination of these layers causes incompatibilities in their interconnections. Dramatic differences in the mechanical properties and bad adhesion of the layers are the principal causes for the reduction of the actuation displacement and strong reduction of lifetime. Common DEAs achieve actuation displacements of 2% and a durability of some million cycles. The following investigations represent a new approach to solving the problems of common systems. The investigated DEA consists of only one basic raw polymer, which was modified according to the required demands of each layer. The basic raw polymer was modified with single-walled carbon nanotubes or high-k ceramics, for example, lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate. The development of the full polymer DEA comprised the development of materials and technologies to realise a reproducible layer composition. It was proven that the full polymer actuator worked according to the theoretical rules. The investigated system achieved actuation displacements above 20% regarding thickness, outstanding interconnections at each layer without any failures, and durability above 3 million cycles without any indication of an impending malfunction.
YAP Inhibition by Resveratrol via Activation of AMPK Enhances the Sensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer Cells to Gemcitabine
Authors: Jiang Zhengdong , Chen Xin , Chen Ke , Sun Liankang , Gao Luping , Zhou Cancan , Lei Meng , Duan Wanxing , Wang Zheng , Ma Qingyong , Ma Jiguang
Published: September 2016

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol present in most plants, inhibits the growth of numerous cancers both in vitro and in vivo. Aberrant expression of YAP has been reported to activate multiple growth-regulatory pathways and confer anti-apoptotic abilities to many cancer cells. However, the role of resveratrol in YES-activated protein (YAP) expression and that of YAP in pancreatic cancer cells’ response to gemcitabine resistance remain elusive. In this study, we found that resveratrol suppressed the proliferation and cloning ability and induced the apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. These multiple biological effects might result from the activation of AMP-activation protein kinase (AMPK) (Thr172) and, thus, the induction of YAP cytoplasmic retention, Ser127 phosphorylation, and the inhibition of YAP transcriptional activity by resveratrol. YAP silencing by siRNA or resveratrol enhanced the sensitivity of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that resveratrol could increase the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine by inhibiting YAP expression. More importantly, our work reveals that resveratrol is a potential anticancer agent for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, and YAP may serve as a promising target for sensitizing pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy.
A Middle-of-the-Road Proposal amid the Sci-Hub Controversy: Share “Unofficial” Copies of Articles without Embargo, Legally
Authors: Chen Xiaotian
Published: September 2016

This article summarizes the two sides of the Sci-Hub debate, and raises awareness of the rights of journal article authors to post a certain version online that one is legally allowed to share, with no embargo.
Airflow-Restricting Mask Reduces Acute Performance in Resistance Exercise
Authors: Motoyama Yuri , Joel Gustavo , Pereira Paulo , Esteves Gilmar , Azevedo Paulo
Published: September 2016

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the number of repetitions to volitional failure, the blood lactate concentration, and the perceived exertion to resistance training with and without an airflow-restricting mask. Methods: Eight participants participated in a randomized, counterbalanced, crossover study. Participants were assigned to an airflow-restricting mask group (MASK) or a control group (CONT) and completed five sets of chest presses and parallel squats until failure at 75% one-repetition-maximum test (1RM) with 60 s of rest between sets. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs), blood lactate concentrations (Lac−), and total repetitions were taken after the training session. Results: MASK total repetitions were lower than those of the CONT, and (Lac−) and MASK RPEs were higher than those of the CONT in both exercises. Conclusions: We conclude that an airflow-restricting mask in combination with resistance training increase perceptions of exertion and decrease muscular performance and lactate concentrations when compared to resistance training without this accessory. This evidence shows that the airflow-restricting mask may change the central nervous system and stop the exercise beforehand to prevent some biological damage.
ON THE COMPOSITION OF YOUNG, DIRECTLY IMAGED GIANT PLANETS
Authors: Moses J. I. , Marley M. S. , Zahnle K. , Line M. R. , Fortney J. J. , Barman T. S. , Visscher C. , Lewis N. K. , Wolff M. J.
Published: September 2016

The past decade has seen significant progress on the direct detection and characterization of young, self-luminous giant planets at wide orbital separations from their host stars. Some of these planets show evidence for disequilibrium processes like transport-induced quenching in their atmospheres; photochemistry may also be important, despite the large orbital distances. These disequilibrium chemical processes can alter the expected composition, spectral behavior, thermal structure, and cooling history of the planets, and can potentially confuse determinations of bulk elemental ratios, which provide important insights into planet-formation mechanisms. Using a thermo/photochemical kinetics and transport model, we investigate the extent to which disequilibrium chemistry affects the composition and spectra of directly imaged giant exoplanets. Results for specific “young Jupiters” such as HR 8799 b and 51 Eri b are presented, as are general trends as a function of planetary effective temperature, surface gravity, incident ultraviolet flux, and strength of deep atmospheric convection. We find that quenching is very important on young Jupiters, leading to CO/CH4 and N2/NH3 ratios much greater than, and H2O mixing ratios a factor of a few less than, chemical-equilibrium predictions. Photochemistry can also be important on such planets, with CO2 and HCN being key photochemical products. Carbon dioxide becomes a major constituent when stratospheric temperatures are low and recycling of water via the

+ OH reaction becomes kinetically stifled. Young Jupiters with effective temperatures

K are in a particularly interesting photochemical regime that differs from both transiting hot Jupiters and our own solar-system giant planets.
X-RAY FLASHES POWERED BY THE SPINDOWN OF LONG-LIVED NEUTRON STARS
Authors: Ciolfi Riccardo
Published: September 2016

X-ray flashes (XRFs) are a class of high-energy transients whose nature is still open to question. Similar in many aspects to common gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), their strong X-ray emission is accompanied by very low or absent emission in the gamma-ray band. Despite this key difference, a number of indications have consolidated the idea that XRFs and GRBs share a common origin, including a number of potential XRF/supernova associations and the consistency of some XRFs with the Amati relation for long GRBs. However, the difficulties in explaining XRFs as off-axis or intrinsically weak GRBs still cast doubts on this interpretation. Here we explore the possibility that some XRFs are instead powered by the spindown of a long-lived neutron star (NS) formed in a binary NS (BNS) merger or, possibly, in a core-collapse supernova. Focusing on XRF 020903 and a few other cases observed by HETE-2, we show that their lack of gamma-ray emission, spectral properties, duration and X-ray luminosity find a natural explanation within our hypothesis. Moreover, we point out that the agreement of XRF 020903 with the Amati and Ghirlanda relations for long GRBs is respectively only marginal and problematic. Assuming a BNS merger origin for the long-lived NS, we use XRF observations to estimate a lower limit on the rate of BNS mergers accompanied by a potentially observable XRF signal. Within the reach of the advanced LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors, we find

. Finally, we discuss the implications of a supernova association for the XRF events considered.
THE TWO CENTRAL STARS OF NGC 1514: CAN THEY ACTUALLY BE RELATED?*
Authors: Méndez Roberto H. , Kudritzki Rolf-Peter , Urbaneja Miguel A.
Published: September 2016

The central star of the planetary nebula NGC 1514 is among the visually brightest central stars in the sky (V = 9.5). It has long been known to show a composite spectrum, consisting of an A-type star and a much hotter star responsible for the ionization of the surrounding nebula. These two stars have always been assumed to form a binary system. High-resolution spectrograms obtained with Espadons at the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope on Maunakea have allowed us to measure good radial velocities for both stars: they differ by 13 ± 2 km s−1. The stellar velocities were unchanged after 500 days. We have also estimated the metallicity of the cooler star. Combining these data with other information available in the literature, we conclude that, unless all the published nebular radial velocities are systematically wrong, the cooler star is just a chance alignment, and the two stars are not orbiting each other. The cooler star cannot have played any role in the formation of NGC 1514.
A WEAKLY NONLINEAR MODEL FOR THE DAMPING OF RESONANTLY FORCED DENSITY WAVES IN DENSE PLANETARY RINGS
Authors: Lehmann Marius , Schmidt Jürgen , Salo Heikki
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we address the stability of resonantly forced density waves in dense planetary rings. Goldreich & Tremaine have already argued that density waves might be unstable, depending on the relationship between the ring’s viscosity and the surface mass density. In the recent paper Schmidt et al., we have pointed out that when—within a fluid description of the ring dynamics—the criterion for viscous overstability is satisfied, forced spiral density waves become unstable as well. In this case, linear theory fails to describe the damping, but nonlinearity of the underlying equations guarantees a finite amplitude and eventually a damping of the wave. We apply the multiple scale formalism to derive a weakly nonlinear damping relation from a hydrodynamical model. This relation describes the resonant excitation and nonlinear viscous damping of spiral density waves in a vertically integrated fluid disk with density dependent transport coefficients. The model consistently predicts density waves to be (linearly) unstable in a ring region where the conditions for viscous overstability are met. Sufficiently far away from the Lindblad resonance, the surface mass density perturbation is predicted to saturate to a constant value due to nonlinear viscous damping. The wave’s damping lengths of the model depend on certain input parameters, such as the distance to the threshold for viscous overstability in parameter space and the ground state surface mass density.
MONTE CARLO RADIATION TRANSFER SIMULATIONS OF PHOTOSPHERIC EMISSION IN LONG-DURATION GAMMA-RAY BURSTS
Authors: Lazzati Davide
Published: September 2016

We present MCRaT, a Monte Carlo Radiation Transfer code for self-consistently computing the light curves and spectra of the photospheric emission from relativistic, unmagnetized jets. We apply MCRaT to a relativistic hydrodynamic simulation of a long-duration gamma-ray burst jet, and present the resulting light curves and time-dependent spectra for observers at various angles from the jet axis. We compare our results to observational results and find that photospheric emission is a viable model to explain the prompt phase of long-duration gamma-ray bursts at the peak frequency and above, but faces challenges when reproducing the flat spectrum below the peak frequency. We finally discuss possible limitations of these results both in terms of the hydrodynamics and the radiation transfer and how these limitations could affect the conclusions that we present.
SIMULATIONS OF ALFVÉN AND KINK WAVE DRIVING OF THE SOLAR CHROMOSPHERE: EFFICIENT HEATING AND SPICULE LAUNCHING
Authors: Brady C. S. , Arber T. D.
Published: September 2016

Two of the central problems in our understanding of the solar chromosphere are how the upper chromosphere is heated and what drives spicules. Estimates of the required chromospheric heating, based on radiative and conductive losses, suggest a rate of ∼0.1 erg cm−3 s−1 in the lower chromosphere and drops to ∼10−3 erg cm−3 s−1 in the upper chromosphere. The chromosphere is also permeated by spicules, higher density plasma from the lower atmosphere propelled upwards at speeds of ∼10–20 km s−1, for so-called Type I spicules, which reach heights of ∼3000–5000 km above the photosphere. A clearer understanding of chromospheric dynamics, its heating, and the formation of spicules is thus of central importance to solar atmospheric science. For over 30 years it has been proposed that photospheric driving of MHD waves may be responsible for both heating and spicule formation. This paper presents results from a high-resolution MHD treatment of photospheric driven Alfvén and kink waves propagating upwards into an expanding flux tube embedded in a model chromospheric atmosphere. We show that the ponderomotive coupling from Alfvén and kink waves into slow modes generates shocks, which both heat the upper chromosphere and drive spicules. These simulations show that wave driving of the solar chromosphere can give a local heating rate that matches observations and drive spicules consistent with Type I observations all within a single coherent model.
Marine Environment Data Management Related to the Human Activity in the South-Eastern Baltic Sea (The Lithuanian Sector)
Authors: Grigelis Algimantas , Blažauskas Nerijus , Gelumbauskaitė Leonora Živilė , Gulbinskas Saulius , Suzdalev Sergej , Ferrarin Christian
Published: September 2016

The chapter provides an overview of the activities fostering the blue growth and measures supporting the sustainable development and maintaining the good status of the marine environment in Lithuania. The recent findings and developed practical management tools facilitating the effective management of the marine resources support the implementation of EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Preparation of the first Lithuanian integrated maritime spatial plan, development of innovative solutions for handling dredged soil in ports, the new approach for selection of new dumping sites and prediction of possible adverse effects are among the activities that provided the most valuable results for the further development of marine activities also in the wider region.
Competitiveness of Polish International New Ventures from Managerial Perspective
Authors: Baranowska-Prokop Ewa , Sikora Tomasz
Published: September 2016

The key objective of this chapter is to describe and evaluate the main sources of competitive advantages and market strategies of Polish International New Ventures (INVs). Previous research showed that in the case of firms from the developed countries, the consistent implementation of competitive strategy was the decisive factor of success. It appears that the best competitive strategy for the Polish INVs is strong differentiation, because either it was related to higher evaluation of success or it has been at least “neutral” in the sense that it has never been related to lower (or worst) evaluation of success. Similarly, the second best strategy is strong price leadership (in this case the positive relationships with companies' success are weaker). The results of presented research brought an interesting observation of rather weak interdependence between the strategy type and the economic results of the Polish INVs. This conclusion may be explained by some macroeconomic factors, e.g. low labor costs, favorable exchange rate of Polish currency, etc., which heavily contributed to the success of Polish INVs and overweighed the shortcomings of strategy formulation.
Performance Evaluation of Hotel Enterprises in Crete
Authors: Karantonis Iraklis , Baourakis George , Zopounidis Constantin
Published: September 2016

The main purpose of this chapter is to evaluate the financial performance of hotel enterprises in Crete from a Multiple-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) perspective. Crete is one of the most developed tourist destinations in the Mediterranean basin and the hotel sector plays a major role constituting the main driving power towards economic growth. In this study, the multi-criteria method PROMETHEE II, based on outranking relations, will be implemented based on five different criteria. The original financial data are obtained through financial statements for the recession period 2008-2012. According to the availability of data, the sample consists of 194 hotel companies. The present study provides valuable insights for a number of stakeholders in such a dynamic competitive sector.
Polish Firms' Innovation Capability for Competitiveness via Information Technologies and Social Media Implementation
Authors: Kavoura Androniki , Koziol Leszek
Published: September 2016

This chapter examines the implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as innovative tools and the use of Social Media (SM) by Polish medium and small sized companies. The chapter aims to present the scope and importance of the use of Information Technology (IT) and SM in the process of companies' functioning and management. Presentation of the results of empirical research is another important aim. Companies' assessment of IT tools and SM's effective use as a prerequisite to improve the company performance is also examined. This is an exploratory study based on a sample of 166 southern Polish firms and it adds to the scant literature on firms' internal IT capabilities to support SM. The paper makes a theoretical and practical contribution in that it brings forth the emerging theme of IT resources that small and medium-sized enterprises adapt to their processes. It further examines the SM use from these firms based on the IT technology they implement as a whole. Managerial implications for marketers are provided since findings illustrate the tendency from small and medium-sized Polish companies not to implement ICTs and SM to a full extent and they could further incorporate SM in the firms' advertising and communication campaigns. Limitations and further research are discussed.
Animal Spirits or Engaging Spirits?
Authors: Besana Angela
Published: September 2016

After having discussed the contemporary importance of the not-for-profit and social economy, the chapter builds on a cluster analysis of performances and roles of grant-making foundations, who are the essential node of the cooperation and coopetitiveness, today. This chapter aims to present worldwide grant-making foundations for their performances and profiling according to the latest accounting data and mission reports, which collect results of their projects according to the classification of pure grant-making, networking, leadership, partnership and pooling. With this in mind, the chapter adopts a typical approach of cluster analysis of industrial organization. The cluster analysis emphasizes the profiling of the sample and it allows to separate groups with significant features. The main focus remains on the issues of the finance of the social economy, when the Public Welfare State is too much indebted. Complementary and substitute roles of the Private Welfare State can emerge for the support the not-for-profit economy.
Franchise Management and the Greek Franchise Industry
Authors: Homata Alexandra , Mihiotis Athanassios , Tzortzaki Alexia Mary
Published: September 2016

In this chapter, the development and growth of franchising is studied through the collection and comparison of statistical data from several countries with a special focus on Greece. The business concept of franchising, its different types as well as its advantages and disadvantages are investigated especially under the pressures of the current economic crisis. With Greece being one of the worst hit countries, this paper, suggests that that franchising is one of the most viable, low risk business models and possibly a pathway to re-igniting entrepreneurial activity. To argue the case, the authors present a historic account of the development of franchising in Greece; an analysis of the current Greek business climate and the ease of doing business in Greece; Greek market trends in relation to franchise activity; Greek franchise market prospects and limitations. The paper ends with proposed implications especially aimed towards managers of franchise businesses in Greece.
Currency Parity and Competitiveness
Authors: Encinas-Ferrer Carlos
Published: September 2016

The international competitiveness of a country is the ability of its domestic production to participate commercially in foreign markets. There are many elements that influence in the long run this competitive ability, some of macroeconomic nature as low inflation and real exchange rate, others of microeconomic character such as the productivity of its offer and its labor and wage level in relation to their Business partners. The problems that monetary parity has on the competitiveness of a country's productive plant seemed to be overcome in Europe with the establishment of the euro as the common currency in many of its countries, the so called Eurozone. The first years seemed to confirm this. However, the global crisis in 2008, as a prelude to that the Eurozone would live in 2011, put on the table for discussion the weak economic theory of currency areas in which it was based and, therefore, the irresponsibility with which it was established.
A Business Case Process for IT-Enabled Investments
Authors: Maes Kim , De Haes Steven , Van Grembergen Wim
Published: September 2016

Many organisations perform an adequate job in order to build a sound justification for their decision-making on IT enabled investments. It is recognised that developing a detailed business case is an essential step in order to realise the value potential of IT enabled investments. However, many business cases are often disregarded after the investment approval. Such an attitude towards business case use might be risky. Moreover, several advantages attributed to business cases could only be achieved if they are used continuously throughout the investment life cycle. It is suggested that the latter approach would be more capable to enable benefit realisation and increase the investment success. According to some scholars, a rational transformation is therefore required in which the perspective on business cases shifts from document thinking to process thinking. This study presents an interesting part of the exploration of a process perspective on business cases. Prior research has been helpful to explore individual practices that could support a continuous business case approach and to develop a conceptual model for a business case process. As an important step to increase the validity of the conceptual model and business case practices, the present study investigates through what practices the business case process can be effective in order to enable well-founded investment decision-making and to ultimately increase investment success? Therefore, the article has a threefold aim: (1) to obtain a validated list of business case practices and definitions, (2) to understand the practices' perceived effectiveness / ease of implementation, and (3) to identify a minimum set of key business case practices. In order to achieve these objectives, a group of academic and practitioner experts participated in a Delphi study and validated in total 31 business case practices, of which the majority was perceived as highly effective to support the objectives of a business case process. The paper ends with an exploration of the practical application of business case process practices in the context of COBIT 5, as an instance of a widely used practitioner's framework.
Emerging Challenges, Security Issues, and Technologies in Online Banking Systems
Authors: Aljawarneh Shadi A.
Published: September 2016

Online banking security is a critical issue over request-response model. But the traditional protection mechanisms are not sufficient to secure the online banking systems that hold information about clients, and banks. The infrastructure of networks, routers, domain name servers, and switches that glue these online banking systems together could be fail, and as a result, online banking systems will no longer be able to communicate accurately or reliably. A number of critical questions arise, such as what exactly the infrastructure is, what threats it must be secured against, and how protection can be provided on a cost-effective basis. But underlying all these questions is how to define secure online banking systems. In this chapter, emerging challenges, security issues and technologies in Online Banking Systems will be analyzed and discussed systematically.
Analysis of Data Validation Techniques for Online Banking Services
Authors: Aljawarneh Shadi A.
Published: September 2016

The insufficient preparation for the information and communication technologies revolution led to few offering online transaction platforms, information security features, and credit facilities. One of the security concerns is a lack of data validation. Data that is not validated or not properly validated is the main issue for serious security vulnerabilities affecting online banking applications. In this chapter, the influences of security issues on world banks will be discussed. A number of data validation methods will be also reviewed to date to provide a systematic summary to banking environment. Based on the advantages and disadvantages of each method, the IT developer will decide which is best suited to develop the systematic online banking application. From this analysis, a global view of the current and future tendencies of data validation will be obtained and therefore provision of possible recommendations for solving the security and privacy issues for the online banking services.
An Algorithm for Securing Hybrid Cloud Outsourced Data in the Banking Sector
Authors: Alhaj Abdullah , Aljawarneh Shadi A.
Published: September 2016

The Cloud has become a significant topic in the banking computing; however, the trend has established a new range of security issues that need to be addressed. In Cloud, the banking data and associated software are not under their control. In addition, with the growing demands for Cloud networks communication, it becomes increasingly important to secure the data flow path. The existing research related to security mechanisms only focuses on securing the flow of information in the communication banking networks. There is a lack of work on improving the performance of networks to meet quality of service (QoS) constrains for various services. The security mechanisms work by encryption and decryption of the information, but do not consider the optimised use of the network resources. In this chapter the authors propose a Secure Data Transmission Mechanism (SDTM) with Preemption Algorithm that combines between security and quality of service for the banking sector. Their developed SDTM enhanced with Malicious Packets Detection System (MPDS) which is a set of technologies and solutions.
Ransomware
Authors: Bhardwaj Akashdeep
Published: September 2016

Compared to the last five to six years, the massive scale by which innocent users are being subjected to a new age threat in form of digital extortion has never been seen before. With the rise of Internet, use of personal computers and devices has mushroomed to immense scale, with cyber criminals subjecting innocent users to extortion using malware. The primary victim to be hit the most has been online banking, impacting the security and reputation of banking and financial transactions along with social interactions. Online security revolves around three critical aspects – starting with the use of digital data and files, next with the use of computer systems and finally the internet as an unsecure medium. This is where Ransomware has become one of the most malicious form of malware for digital extortion threats to home and corporate user alike.
Achieving Security to Overcome Attacks and Vulnerabilities in Mobile Banking Security
Authors: Balusamy Balamurugan , Velu Malathi , Nandagopal Saranya , Mano Shirley Jothi
Published: September 2016

Mobile Banking is a means of connectivity between bank and its customers. It would be impractical to expect customers to regularly visit banks or connect to a web site for regular upgrade of their mobile banking application. Mobile Banking is a provision and availability of both banking and financial services with the help of mobile telecommunication devices as an Application. It would be expected that the mobile application itself check the upgrades and updates and download necessary patches. Mobile banking has brought the advantage to have an alternate to debit and credit card usage. Mobile banking has the below three inter-related concepts: Mobile accounting, Mobile brokerage, Mobile financial information services. Mobile banking services are Account information provision, Monetary Transaction, Investment facilitation, Support and Content services. The threats involved in Mobile Banking are categorized as, Threats against end user and end user device, Threats against communication network, Threats against remote banking service. The impact of various threats is discussed below.
Importance of Stakeholders Identification in Information Distribution Chain Management for Public Value Detection in Public Initiatives
Authors: Fernandes da Anunciação Pedro , Garcia Bruno , Fonseca Gleyson
Published: September 2016

The generation of public value by public organizations for citizens, in diverse social and economical topics, has been an object of analysis and strong debates in social sciences and administration and management sciences. New paradigms arisen recently, looking to satisfy economical and social agents' needs, but they hardly combat the lack of efficiency and mainly efficacy perception people have on public initiatives. The concept of public value can be defined as something that improves the life conditions for a community and whose benefits are appreciated by that community. Defining what is valuable for society, and considering this definition to establish the goals and the extent of a public initiative, is one of the toughest challenges in public administration. The results for a specific public initiative must the needs and expectations of society and, at the same time, observe the laws and regulations, and follow the experts' advice. The outcomes and expected value are conditioned by the capability to access information and by the way this information is transmitted to stakeholders. In this article, we propose a questionnaire to identify and map key stakeholders for a specific public initiative, in order to identify and understand the potential interested individuals and groups. This helps public officers to identify the best way to share information with those interested, and to evaluate the generation of public value. By using this questionnaire we were able to identify the key stakeholders for an exports encouragement program in a medium-size city in Brazil, whose vision must be considered to create public value for this public program.
Decision Support System Design Requirements, Information Management, and Urban Logistics Efficiency
Authors: Herrera Jairo Enrique Parra , Argüello Laura Vanessa Palacios , Gonzalez-Feliu Jesus , Jaimes Wilson Adarme
Published: September 2016

The aim of this chapter is to define the requirements for the design of a Decision Support System (DSS), in order to address the problems associated with loading and unloading of goods operations in Bogotá, Colombia. The requirements definition is based on information obtained from the project “Formulación de alternativas para el cargue y descargue de mercancías en Bogotá” developed by the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. We present a literature review concerning with the relevance of developments and application of this kind of systems in cities such as Bogotá, regarded by some authors as a megacity in Latin America. The definition of the design requirements of the system is rooted in the identified needs of the stakeholders involved in urban logistics operations with the aim of encompassing and providing reliable information that favors the design of a DSS adapted to identified conditions.
Benefits of the Transics Fleet Management System
Authors: Iltchev Petre , Palczewska Anna , Pilichowska Klaudia , Kozlowski Remigiusz , Marczak Michał
Published: September 2016

This chapter defines a fleet management system (FMS), describes the functionalities, architecture, and modules of Transics FMS. The next topic is the role of a fleet management system in a transport company and areas of improvement of business processes. This is based on the presentation of selected Polish transport companies using Transics software. The chapter gives a comparison of the functionalities of the Transics solution with other similar commercially available FMS, like European freight exchange platform Trans.Eu. The paper presented the prerequisites for a successful implementation of fleet management software – the basic principles and conclusion from the experience of Polish companies. The chapter showed the impact of the Transics solution on the effectiveness and competitive advantage gained by transport firms, as well as the benefits offered to those firms and their customers.
Port Single Window and Logistics Single Window
Authors: Simão José Carlos Dias , Fernandes da Anunciação Pedro
Published: September 2016

A port is a confluence point for the various means of transport, responsible for the handling of the industries and other sort of companies goods located within their area of influence, which is called hinterland. The agile handling of ships and cargoes is a key factor for the competitiveness of a port, and the information management is ever more a strategic issue within this scope. Nevertheless, the different features of the various means of transport, the multiple players involved in port intermodality and logistics, as well as the cultural, technological and procedures simplification asymmetries of both the authorities representing the public interest inside the port and the private parties involved in the port business offer difficulties to the development of an agile and electronic integrated relational model. The “Single Window” philosophy implemented for the management of port information has been achieving very positive results, as far as maritime transport concerns (a sector with very specific characteristics), being absolutely imperative to apply this philosophy to all the means of transport and port logistics. The agility of information in intermodality is still an incipient reality, and the present project takes a careful look at this problematic. Our case-study is Port of Sines and we will make an analysis of the present situation and present a possible development to new conceptual developments in this area.
Information Management and Enterprise Resource Planning
Authors: Fonseca Gleison Lopes , Rodello Ildeberto Aparecido , Fernandes da Anunciação Pedro
Published: September 2016

Information technology has become one of the great advantages of modern enterprises, especially assisting in the optimization, information management and value creation. Among the reasons that prompted this change is the use of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), mainly adopted by large enterprises, since its adoption involves high investment and complexity for implementation, hindering its spread among smaller companies. Several studies have discussed the benefits generated by the adoption of ERP systems in enterprises as well as costs involved in the deployment process. The focus of this research is to present and discuss, through a conceptual approach, these different views on the costs and benefits of these systems, focusing on the different ways of generating value systems that provide information to businesses through ERP. The results showed that the discussion about the value of ERP for companies not yet consolidated and with increasing importance of information systems, ERP was regarded as a strategic tool in the search for greater competitiveness, transcending its value and importance for companies of their internal processes for a relationship of greater importance in business strategy.