bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistical Gas Distribution Modeling Using Kernel Methods
Authors: Asadi Sahar , Reggente Matteo , Stachniss Cyrill , Plagemann Christian , Lilienthal Achim J.
Published: May 2011

Gas distribution models can provide comprehensive information about a large number of gas concentration measurements, highlighting, for example, areas of unusual gas accumulation. They can also help to locate gas sources and to plan where future measurements should be carried out. Current physical modeling methods, however, are computationally expensive and not applicable for real world scenarios with real-time and high resolution demands. This chapter reviews kernel methods that statistically model gas distribution. Gas measurements are treated as random variables, and the gas distribution is predicted at unseen locations either using a kernel density estimation or a kernel regression approach. The resulting statistical models do not make strong assumptions about the functional form of the gas distribution, such as the number or locations of gas sources, for example. The major focus of this chapter is on two-dimensional models that provide estimates for the means and predictive variances of the distribution. Furthermore, three extensions to the presented kernel density estimation algorithm are described, which allow to include wind information, to extend the model to three dimensions, and to reflect time-dependent changes of the random process that generates the gas distribution measurements. All methods are discussed based on experimental validation using real sensor data.
Characterization of Complex Patterns
Authors: Caulier Yannick
Published: May 2011

Hence, the same approach can be applied for the characterization of colorimetric patterns in case of particular machine olfaction tasks, as the proposed developments can be further used integrated into other quality control systems, in order to bring more “intelligence” to this technique.
Tomato Plant Health Monitoring
Authors: Zhang Fu , Iliescu D. D. , Hines Evor L. , Leeson Mark S.
Published: May 2011

Electric noses (e-noses), taking their inspiration from the human olfactory system, have been extensively used in food quality control and human disease monitoring. This chapter presents the e-nose as a potential candidate for health monitoring and disease and pest detection on tomato plants. Two common problems in greenhouse tomatoes, namely powdery mildew and spider mites, are considered. An experimental arrangement is described based on a commercial 13-sensor e-nose where tomato plants are grown in an isolated, controlled environment inside a greenhouse. Attention is paid to the preliminary results of data post-processing using two different techniques. First, Principal Component Analysis is employed and demonstrates clear evolution of the components as the plants develop disease or infestation. Subsequently, Grey System Theory enables the identification of clear groupings in the sensor responses and thus the reduction of the model, producing stronger trend differences in the Principal Component between healthy and unhealthy plants. The results, although preliminary, show that the e-nose with appropriate data post-processing is a promising approach to monitoring the development of tomato plant diseases and infestations.
Improved Gas Source Localization with a Mobile Robot by Learning Analytical Gas Dispersal Models from Statistical Gas Distribution Maps Using Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Lilienthal Achim J.
Published: May 2011

The method presented in this chapter computes an estimate of the location of a single gas source from a set of localized gas sensor measurements. The estimation process consists of three steps. First, a statistical model of the time-averaged gas distribution is estimated in the form of a two-dimensional grid map. In order to compute the gas distribution grid map the Kernel DM algorithm is applied, which carries out spatial integration by convolving localized sensor readings and modeling the information content of the point measurements with a Gaussian kernel. The statistical gas distribution grid map averages out the transitory effects of turbulence and converges to a representation of the time-averaged spatial distribution of a target gas. The second step is to learn the parameters of an analytical model of average gas distribution. Learning is achieved by nonlinear least squares fitting of the analytical model to the statistical gas distribution map using Evolution Strategies (ES), which are a special type of Evolutionary Algorithm (EA). This step provides an analysis of the statistical gas distribution map regarding the airflow conditions and an alternative estimate of the gas source location, i.e. the location predicted by the analytical model in addition to the location of the maximum in the statistical gas distribution map. In the third step, an improved estimate of the gas source position can then be derived by considering the maximum in the statistical gas distribution map, the best fit, as well as the corresponding fitness value. Different methods to select the most truthful estimate are introduced, and a comparison regarding their accuracy is presented, based on a total of 34 hours of gas distribution mapping experiments with a mobile robot. This chapter is an extended version of the conference paper (Lilienthal et al., 2005).
Standardization of virtual objects
Authors: Espada Jordán Pascual , Martínez Oscar Sanjuán , García-Bustelo B. Cristina Pelayo , Lovelle Juan Manuel Cueva , Ordóñez de Pablos Patricia
Published: May 2011

This chapter proposes architecture to unify the development and use of virtual objects. As technology advances more and more “objects” began to appear in digital format, examples include: books, event tickets, airline tickets, agendas, etc electronic purses. These digital objects do not follow a standard format or recommendations since there are no mechanism that allows for treating them in a general way, storing and sharing or being processed by other applications that do not know their format. Based on the problems identified in this document, a proposal is detailed in search for a single structure and for the construction of any virtual object.
Collaborative Filtering
Authors: Kerkiri Tania Al. , Konetas Dimitris
Published: May 2011

The interactive tools like blogs, wikis, et cetera, known under the commonly acceptable name Web2.0, led to a new generation of Internet services and applications such as social networks, recommendation systems, reputation systems, et cetera, allowing for public participation in the formation of the content of the Web, and at the same time fueling an explosion of information. This information is a widely available intellectual capital. Due to the opportunities that arise from the exploitation of this information, this chapter will i) present the rationale under which these systems function, ii) summarize and apply in an indicative manner the mathematical models used to handle this information, iii) propose a general architecture of these systems and iv) describe a hybrid multifaceted algorithm that exploits the capabilities arising from this information towards a personalized inference for a specific user. The result of this work is an indication of the capabilities that arise from further exploitation of these systems.
Diplek
Authors: Rodosthenous C. T. , Kameas Achilles D. , Pintelas Panayiotis
Published: May 2011

Modern ICT has evolved through the years and is now in position of delivering educational content to specific target groups in remote locations. Advanced e-learning techniques are now used not only for delivering content to high school and university students, but can be used in lifelong training programs. Due to the target group most of these programs have (i.e. professionals with little time to spend, people of a certain age with reduced ICT skills, etc.), it is vital that organizations choose wisely among the many Learning Management Systems currently available. The purpose of this chapter is to describe and examine the features of such a platform. DIPLEK is a platform developed using service oriented architecture to enable easy access to educational content and activities for novice learners and instructors.
Technological Evaluation and Optimization of E-Learning Systems Components
Authors: Kurilovas Eugenijus , Dagiene Valentina
Published: May 2011

The main research objective of the chapter is to provide an analysis of the technological quality evaluation models and make a proposal for a method suitable for the multiple criteria evaluation (decision making) and optimization of the components of e-learning systems (i.e. learning software), including Learning Objects, Learning Object Repositories, and Virtual Learning Environments. Both the learning software ‘internal quality’ and ‘quality in use’ technological evaluation criteria are analyzed in the chapter and are incorporated into comprehensive quality evaluation models. The learning software quality evaluation criteria are further investigated in terms of their optimal parameters, and an additive utility function based on experts’ judgements, including multicriteria evaluation, numerical ratings, and weights, is applied to optimize the learning software according to particular learners’ needs.
Building Bridges
Authors: Birnholtz Jeremy , Baecker Ron , Laughton Simone , Mak Clarissa , Causey Rhys , Rankin Kelly
Published: May 2011

Supporting lifelong learning can be challenging in that participants are often geographically distributed, have significant time constraints, and widely varied skills and preferences with regard to technology. This creates the need for designers to support flexible configurations of systems for delivering content, in ways that still allow for meaningful learning and instruction to take place. In this chapter, the authors present a case study of experience in offering a university course using a novel system that bridges videoconferencing and webcasting technologies. These have historically been separate. Webcasting scales easily to accommodate large audiences, but only supports one-way transmission of audio and video. Videoconferencing allows for two-way interaction in real time, but uses more bandwidth, and does not scale as easily. Our system allowed for increased participation in webcasts, which had benefits for both instructors and students. This chapter presents an analysis of interaction and awareness in distance learning contexts, and concludes with design principles suggesting that designers of future systems focus on: (1) developing novel displays and visualizations for presenting information about students, (2) reducing inequalities between modes of participation by making it clearer when, say, questions are asked by text or who is speaking when there are multiple images displayed, and (3) accommodate a range of student preferences and capabilities by supporting multiple modes of presentation.
Incorporating Cultural Components into the Design of an Affective Support Tool for the Malaysian Online Distance Learners
Authors: Alias Nor Aziah
Published: May 2011

For the purpose of this case, culture is defined according to the UNESCO Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity (2001) as the “set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs”. Online learners and online distance learners are used interchangeably to denote learners who study online with no or minimal face to face interaction. The chapter will be organized in the following manner. A description of the cultural issues surrounding Malaysian online distance learning will be highlighted to provide a comprehensive picture of the problem in hand. The initiative to alleviate the problem will then be described in detail followed by a discussion of initial evaluation findings.
Culturally Significant Signs, Symbols, and Philosophical Belief Systems within E-Learning Environments
Authors: Crawford Caroline M. , Cook Ruth Gannon
Published: May 2011

The contextual backdrop of the problem and goal of the study are based within the framework that the researchers wanted to be sure that the courses were unique in their appropriateness to their respective cultures; but they also wanted to see if the course adaptations provided cultural values and perspectives that were fairly consistent and appropriate across cultures and nations. The methodology is qualitative in nature, specifically focused upon development design research and narrative inquiry. The findings suggest that there were several levels of concern: learner concerns; instructional design or teaching concerns; management and organizational concerns; and, technology concerns. This study has addressed the question “what lessons could be learned from semiotic and philosophical instructional imperatives inclusion within e-learning environments?” As such, the interpretation of the findings of the study shed light on the importance of simple mediation tools, such as signs, symbols, and stories. The implications of the findings indicate that more research could shed light on how to help students feel comfortable enough to follow through and complete their e-learning courses. In viewing best practices for e-learning, students’ existent knowledge can be bridged with what they need to know by using a variety of the semiotic tools discussed in this study.
Teaching Students in Mainland China
Authors: Sadera William A. , Robinson David
Published: May 2011

This case study examines the design, implementation and cultural challenges of delivering an online university course to a group of 21 Mainland Chinese educators. Culturally influenced challenges included: culturally different learning styles, inhibited online communication, and language issues. A mid-course survey and an end of the semester course evaluation tool provided anecdotal data to facilitate enacting solutions for the challenges presented in the design and delivery of the course.
India to China – Repurposing Learning Software across Cultures
Authors: Strong Margaret , Joy Bobby , Pulluru Madhukar , Dong Tenya , Zhou Edward
Published: May 2011

This case study follows an international e-learning software development project between the India and China Technology Centers of the largest independent software company in the world. The case presents many of the major intercultural project challenges that can typically arise in an information technology workplace. This example focuses on the customization and deployment of an e-learning framework supporting online and physical libraries of technical publications. This library forms an integral component of blended e-learning solutions for the technical workforce. The case uses a running narrative, project artifacts, e-mails, and team debriefings. Students will encounter reflective questioning and be given the opportunity to recognize key milestones and strategies that they might consider adopting when working with intercultural, virtual teams in their professional careers.
Translating E-Learning Courses
Authors: Tsuruta-Alvarez Kara
Published: May 2011

More frequently, universities and corporations are faced with the challenge of having e-learning courses translated into other languages for learners in other countries or for specialized groups. However, the translation process, especially for e-learning, requires several considerations before spending those dollars. In this resource chapter, a translation industry professional, experienced with quoting translation bids, offers tips on how to prepare content for translation and what to consider with respect to translating typical e-learning components, like video, voice over, etc. The author orients you to the project management side of translation - so you know what to expect from your language service provider (LSP), when, and why - and shares best practices that help you avoid common mistakes like trying to ‘do it yourself’.
Incorporating “World View” into the LMS or CMS is Best
Authors: Watson Katherine
Published: May 2011

“Linguistic relativism” leads people of different cultures to define, explain, and even see reality in images framed by their diverse languages. The most readily available and commonly used online educational materials are often scaffolded in unyielding structures shrouded in American standards and expectations. These Americano-centric course management and learning management systems render subject matter design and delivery, as well as assignment formulation, scheduling, and grading, difficult for educators who understand the importance of imbuing their materials with atypical alternative views of reality expressed in the worldviews of languages and cultures beyond the borders of the United States.
Collaborative Bayesian Image Annotation and Retrieval
Authors: Zhang Rui , Guan Ling
Published: May 2011

With nearly twenty years of intensive study on the content-based image retrieval and annotation, the topic still remains difficult. By and large, the essential challenge lies in the limitation of using low-level visual features to characterize the semantic information of images, commonly known as the semantic gap. To bridge this gap, various approaches have been proposed based on the incorporation of human knowledge and textual information as well as the learning techniques utilizing the information of different modalities. At the same time, contextual information which represents the relationship between different real world/conceptual entities has shown its significance with respect to recognition tasks not only through real life experience but also scientific studies. In this chapter, the authors first review the state of the art of the existing works on image annotation and retrieval. Moreover, a general Bayesian framework which integrates content and contextual information and its application to both image annotation and retrieval are elaborated. The contextual information is considered as the statistical relationship between different images and different semantic concepts for image retrieval and annotation, respectively. The framework has efficient learning and classification procedures and the effectiveness is evaluated based on experimental studies, which demonstrate its advantage over both content-based and context-based approaches.
A Highly Scalable and Adaptable Co-Learning Framework on Multimodal Data Mining in a Multimedia Database
Authors: Guo Zhen , Faloutsos Christos , Zhang Zhongfei (Mark) , Zhang Zhongfei (Mark)
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a highly scalable and adaptable co-learning framework on multimodal data mining in a multimedia database. The co-learning framework is based on the multiple instance learning theory. The framework enjoys a strong scalability in the sense that the query time complexity is a constant, independent of the database scale, and the mining effectiveness is also independent of the database scale, allowing facilitating a multimodal querying to a very large scale multimedia database. At the same time, this framework also enjoys a strong adaptability in the sense that it allows incrementally updating the database indexing with a constant operation when the database is dynamically updated with new information. Hence, this framework excels many of the existing multimodal data mining methods in the literature that are neither scalable nor adaptable at all. Theoretic analysis and empirical evaluations are provided to demonstrate the advantage of the strong scalability and adaptability. While this framework is general for multimodal data mining in any specific domains, to evaluate this framework, the authors apply it to the Berkeley Drosophila ISH embryo image database for the evaluations of the mining performance. They have compared the framework with a state-of-the-art multimodal data mining method to demonstrate the effectiveness and the promise of the framework.
Music Content Analysis in MP3 Compressed Domain
Authors: D’Aguanno Antonello
Published: May 2011

Nowadays more and more audio contents are stored in compressed formats. Especially MP3 music has become very popular with the availability of powerful computation and wide bandwidth connectivity. So that, this chapter will be devoted to present techniques and algorithms, dealing with compressed audio, aimed at content analysis. Since content analysis in compressed domain is an innovative field of applications, the literature review will be extended to methods that extract music content from MP3, even if the algorithms are not focused on music information retrieval. In this chapter, the authors focus on a number of different algorithms dealing with common tasks of the MIR field such as tempo induction, tempo tracking, and automatic music synchronization. They will present an overview of the MusicXML, and IEEE1599 language to represent score and synchronization results, because they have decided to use those formats to represent the score in their synchronization algorithm. The chapter will end showing applications, conclusions, and future works in the field of direct content analysis in compressed domain.
Topological Modeling for Model-Driven Domain Analysis and Software Development
Authors: Osis Janis , Asnina Erika
Published: May 2011

Model-driven software development has all chances to turn software development into software engineering. But this requires not only mature methodologies but also engineering models. An engineering model should satisfy five key characteristics, namely, abstraction, understandability, accuracy, predictiveness and inexpensiveness. This chapter discusses capabilities of a Topological Functioning Model (TFM) as such an engineering model for the purposes of domain analysis and software development in common. The TFM has functional and topological properties. The functional properties are cause-effect relations, cycle structure, inputs, and outputs. The topological properties are connectedness, closure, neighborhood, and continuous mapping. Thanks to its formal mathematical foundations, the TFM completely satisfies the mentioned characteristics of engineering models that is illustrated in the chapter.
Topological Functioning Model as a CIM-Business Model
Authors: Asnina Erika , Osis Janis
Published: May 2011

The first model in Model Driven Architecture (MDA) is a Computation Independent Model (CIM) that specifies domain information. One of issues discussed in this chapter is the meaning of “computation independence”. Another one is formalism of CIMs. And the last issue discussed is a use of a Topological Functioning Model (TMF) for problem domain modeling from a computation independent viewpoint. The TFM is a mathematical model that holistically and formally represents functionality of the problem domain, and does not show any details of the implementation and modeling platform. The TFM contains information from functional, information, and organizational domains of business process modeling. Construction of the TFM from the informal description of the system and guidelines for its decomposition into business processes are discussed and demonstrated by an example.
Model-Driven Automated Error Recovery in Cloud Computing
Authors: Sun Yu , White Jules , Gray Jeff , Gokhale Aniruddha
Published: May 2011

Cloud computing provides a platform that enables users to utilize computation, storage, and other computing resources on-demand. As the number of running nodes in the cloud increases, the potential points of failure and the complexity of recovering from error states grows correspondingly. Using the traditional cloud administrative interface to manually detect and recover from errors is tedious, time-consuming, and error prone. This chapter presents an innovative approach to automate cloud error detection and recovery based on a run-time model that monitors and manages the running nodes in a cloud. When administrators identify and correct errors in the model, an inference engine is used to identify the specific state pattern in the model to which they were reacting, and to record their recovery actions. An error detection and recovery pattern can be generated from the inference and applied automatically whenever the same error occurs again.
Systematic Use of Software Development Patterns through a Multilevel and Multistage Classification
Authors: Azevedo Sofia , Machado Ricardo J. , Bragança Alexandre , Ribeiro Hugo
Published: May 2011

Software patterns are reusable solutions to problems that occur often throughout the software development process. This chapter formally states which sort of software patterns shall be used in which particular moment of the software development process and in the context of which Software Engineering professionals, technologies and methodologies. The way to do that is to classify those patterns according to the proposed multilevel and multistage pattern classification based on the software development process. The classification is based on the OMG modeling infrastructure or Four-Layer Architecture and also on the RUP (Rational Unified Process). It considers that patterns can be represented at different levels of the OMG modeling infrastructure and that representing patterns as metamodels is a way of turning the decisions on their application more objective. Classifying patterns according to the proposed pattern classification allows for the preservation of the original advantages of those patterns and avoids that the patterns from a specific category are handled by the inadequate professionals, technologies and methodologies. The chapter illustrates the proposed approach with the classification of some patterns.
Model-Driven Requirements Specification for Software Product Lines
Authors: Alférez Mauricio , Moreira Ana , Amaral Vasco , Araújo João
Published: May 2011

Model-driven methods for requirements specification in Software Product Lines (SPLs) support the construction of different models to provide a better understanding of each SPL feature and intended use scenarios. However, the different models must be composed to show the requirements of the target applications and, therefore, help to understand how features will be integrated in a new product of a software product line. Although well-established standards for creating metamodels and model transformations exist, there is currently no established foundation that allows practitioners to distinguish between the different modeling and composition approaches for requirements models. This chapter provides an overview of different approaches for specifying requirements models and composing models for specific products of an SPL. In particular, it emphasizes one of the most recurring specification techniques: model-driven and use case scenario-based specification. This technique, in combination with feature models and the Variability Modeling Language for Requirements (VML4RE), integrates our approach for model-driven requirements specification for SPLs.
Model-Driven Performance Evaluation of Web Application Portals
Authors: Roy Nilabja , Schmidt Douglas C.
Published: May 2011

Web application portals cater to various types of concurrent users and requests. The number of requests varies by time of day and day of week. Despite the variation in workload, it is important to provide the expected performance (response time) to users of these applications. To assure an appropriate level of performance, web application portals should be analyzed and evaluated throughout their software development lifecycles. Model Driven Architecture (MDA) provides a structured process for developing and analyzing web application portals from the requirement analysis to the ultimate deployment. This chapter examines recent advances in performance analysis methods for web application portals and shows how they can be integrated with MDA methods to analyze performance analysis throughout their software development lifecycles.
From Information Technology to Social Technology
Authors: Yeo Benjamin
Published: May 2011

Stemming from the information economy, the knowledge economy represents an extension of technology-based production to include the leverage of technologies for value-added products and services. In this chapter, the author defines the knowledge economy and looks at the technology-based economic growth experiences of three places—the San Joaquin Valley in California, Ennis in Ireland, and Singapore—to show the importance of human capital development, social inclusion, and learning contexts in generating the foundation for continuous innovation. These themes highlight the opportunities and challenges involved in their bid to create a knowledge economy. The main argument in the chapter advocates the importance of going beyond the technologies to analyse the social context within which technologies function. Based on the author’s larger study of the sustainable knowledge economy, this chapter comprises an empirical analysis of the three cases and a rigorous literature review to emphasise the shift in perspective from the information view of technology to the social perspective of technology.
Cultural and International Aspects of Social Media
Authors: Mandl Thomas
Published: May 2011

Social software provides powerful tools for people to communicate and interact. Social software networks are popular around the world but there are many differences between tools, functions and their use. The international application of these global tools even bears the risk of misunderstandings between individuals. This article discusses differences between social software from various countries concerning design, functions, use, opinion expression and the perception of social capital. First, a theoretical culture model is presented to provide one potential framework for the analysis. Subsequently, the relation between culture and information technology is explored. In particular, user interfaces need to be adapted to national preferences and cognitive styles. The influence of culture on social networks is then discussed for several aspects of social media.
Using Web 2.0 Social Computing Technologies to Enhance the Use of Information Systems in Organizations
Authors: Pelet Jean Éric
Published: May 2011

In the perspective of managing the Intellectual Capital (IC), the user friendliness of User Generated Content (UGC) tools may be preferred over the Information Systems platforms offered in the majority of organizations. Based on a review of literature and actual practices, this chapter focuses on aspects related to user practices of social networks and web tools that could be useful for corporate platforms; its aim is to improve the use of corporate platforms by informing both the research academy and managers about effective practices. Case studies are presented to understand how UGC can be used to implement new ways of sharing information and communicating more efficiently in organizations. Knowledge and IC management systems for teaching and learning are presented, in order to better assess whether or not this technology is effective to support knowledge creation and sharing in an academic and business setting.
Social Networks and Semantics
Authors: Toma Ioan , Caverlee James , Ding Ying , Jacob Elin K. , Yan Erjia , Milojevic Staša
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the relation between Social Networks and Semantics – two areas that have recently gained a lot of attention from both academia and industry. The authors show how synergies between these two areas can be used to solve concrete problems, and they describe three approaches that demonstrate the potential for interconnecting these technologies. The first approach focuses on the semantic profiling of social networks. More precisely, they study the characteristics of large online social networks through an extensive analysis of over 1.9 million MySpace profiles in an effort to understand who is using these networks and how they are being used. The MySpace study is based on a comparative analysis of three distinct but related facets: the sociability of users in MySpace; the demographic characteristics of MySpace users; and the text artifacts of MySpace users. The second approach to interconnecting social networks and semantics focuses on a solution for mediating between social tagging systems. The Upper Tag Ontology (UTO) is proposed to integrate social tagging data by mediating between related social metadata schemes. The chapter discusses how UTO data can be linked with other social metadata (e.g., FOAF, DC, SIOC, SKOS), how to crawl and cluster tag data from major social tagging systems, and how to integrate data using UTO. The third approach discusses the use of social semantics to qualitatively improve the task of service ranking. The authors explore the idea of using social annotation technologies for ranking web services and show how such an approach can be implemented using information provided by Delicious, one of the largest social networks.
Advanced Multimodal Frameworks to Support Human-Computer Interaction on Social Computing Environments
Authors: Avola Danilo , Del Buono Andrea , Spognardi Angelo
Published: May 2011

In recent years, the growing improvements of the computational capability of the mobile and desktop devices, jointly to the potentialities of the current fast network connections have allowed the wide spread of advanced and complex applications and services belonging to the social computing area. The most current approaches used to interact with this kind of applications and services (hereinafter called social computing environments) do not seem able to provide an effective and exhaustive support to the human-computer interaction process. For this reason, in order to overcome this kind of problems, it is necessary to turn to more suitable interaction methodologies. In this context, human-oriented interfaces can be profitably used to support every kind of social computing environment. More specifically, multimodal interfaces enable users an effortless and powerful communication way to represent concepts and commands on different mobile and desktop devices. This chapter explores the more suitable possibilities to employ multimodal frameworks (and related algorithmic approaches) in order to interact with different kinds of social computing environments.
Social Computing and the New Market
Authors: Caudill Jason G.
Published: May 2011

Social computing has revolutionized the way individuals connect with one another and manage their personal lives. The technology has launched billionaire entrepreneurs and influenced presidential elections. For businesses the same technology has meant a revolution in online marketing. Different types of social computing applications offer different opportunities for marketing, but all relate to the opportunity for companies to improve their connections with current and potential customers. This chapter will explore both the history of marketing and social computing and how the two fields have come together to revolutionize online marketing today.
Viral Marketing via Social Networking Sites
Authors: Jayasekera Ranadeva , Papadopoulos Thanos
Published: May 2011

This chapter focuses on the role of social networking sites in viral marketing through a case study in a university environment. Over the last years, companies are using alternative channels including social networking sites to promote their products. The specific channel provides the opportunity to connect with customers and achieve marketing objectives. The study aims to gather the perspectives of students on social networking sites as a form of marketing and draw on their views to establish implications and practical recommendations for marketers. By using questionnaires and focus groups interviews, the study ascertained that companies which were active in social networking sites developed a positive effect on customer attitudes, particularly brand perception, but had little to no effect on the actual customer behaviour patterns. It is also concluded that social networking sites suggest an efficient alternative channel for marketing purposes.
Illthrift in Suckling Lambs Secondary to Umbilical Infections and Possible Implication of Cryptosporidiosis as a Risk Factor
Authors: Giadinis Nektarios D. , Papadopoulos Elias , Loukopoulos Panayiotis , Panousis Nikolaos , Kalaitzakis Emmanouil , Koutsoumpas Asimakis , Karatzias Harilaos
Published: May 2011

Illthrift was observed in 20/60 lambs aged 40–45 days in a dairy sheep flock in Greece. Cryptosporidiosis had been diagnosed and successfully treated with halofuginone lactate a month earlier. Parasitological examinations were negative for endoparasites while hematology and biochemistry were unremarkable. Necropsy of 5 lambs revealed lung and liver abscessation, presumably secondary to umbilical infections due to poor farm hygiene, though umbilical lesions were not observed. No new cases were observed following treatment of the umbilicus of newborn lambs with chlorexidine. Although umbilical infections are common, this is the first reported case of illthrift in lambs attributed to umbilical infection; illthrift may be the only clinical manifestation of such infections. The prior presence of cryptosporidiosis may have contributed to the severity of the infection through the reduction of local immunity. Recognition of this possibly underdiagnosed or underappreciated condition may improve medical, production, and welfare standards in the sheep industry.
Management of Hypertension in High-Risk Ethnic Minority with Heart Failure
Authors: Demede M. , Pandey A. , Innasimuthu L. , Jean-Louis G. , McFarlane S. I. , Ogedegbe G.
Published: May 2011

Hypertension (HTN) is the most common co-morbidity in the world, and its sequelae, heart failure (HF) is one of most common causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Current understanding of pathophysiology and management of HTN in HF is mainly based on studies, which have mainly included whites. Among racial groups, African-American adults have the highest rates (44%) of hypertension in the world and are more resistant to treatment. There is an emerging consensus on the significance of racial disparities in the pathophysiology and treatment options of hypertension and heart failure. However, African Americans had been underrepresented in all the trials until the initiation of the A-HEFT trial. Since the recognition of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as an important medical condition, large clinical trials have shown benefits of OSA treatment among patients with HTN and HF. This paper focuses on the pathophysiology, causes of secondary hypertension, and treatment of hypertension among African-American patients with heart failure. There is increasing need for randomized clinical trials testing innovative treatment options for African-American patients.
Comparison of FRAX Scores of Southern California Females of Mexican Descent Using US Hispanic and Mexico Database
Authors: Nasser Keaton M. , Focil Augusto , Silverman Stuart L.
Published: May 2011

Introduction. Regional differences for fracture risk of US Hispanics may vary by national origin. In California, where a majority of the Hispanic population is of Mexican descent, it is of interest to compare the FRAX absolute risk using the US Hispanic and Mexico databases.Methods. We collected FRAX risk factor data from 134 women of Mexican descent in southern California. The FRAX risk score was calculated using the US Hispanic and Mexican databases, using the NOF guidelines for osteoporosis to compare the number of patients that would be selected for treatment.Results. The 10-year absolute risk of major osteoporotic fracture among women of Mexican descent using the US Hispanic database was 4.82 ± 5.03 (95% CI 3.97–5.67) compared to 4.86 ± 4.72 (CI 3.98–5.44) using the Mexico database (P=.94). The 10-year risk for hip fracture was 0.86 ± 1.78 (CI .56–1.16) compared to 1.12 ± 1.97 (CI .79–1.45,P=.26). The mean conformity for meeting the interventional threshold by either risk score was 94.8%.Conclusion. The comparison between the FRAX databases demonstrates a similarity in the absolute risk of major osteoporotic fracture. Differences are noted in the absolute number of hip fracture subjects at risk, but there is a high rate of conformity.
Using Intradermal Rabies Vaccine to Boost Immunity in People with Low Rabies Antibody Levels
Authors: Brown David , Fooks Anthony R. , Schweiger Martin
Published: May 2011

Intradermal rabies vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organisation, but not all countries, including England, follow this recommendation. A group of 12 adults in England previously given pre-exposure intradermal rabies vaccine were considered to be non-immune to rabies because their rabies antibody titres were known to be less than 0.5 IU/mL. A cohort study examined the immunizing effect of increasing the participants' cumulative dose of intradermal rabies to 2.0 IU. All patients subsequently demonstrated rabies antibody levels >0.5 IU⋅mL supporting evidence of adequate sero-conversion. No adverse effects of intradermal rabies vaccine boosting were noted. Within the limits of a small study the findings support the hypothesis that adequate levels of rabies antibody can be achieved by a schedule of intradermal injections delivered on at least three occasions with a cumulative rabies vaccine dose of 2.0 IU.
Effect of Steric Constraint at the γ-Backbone Position on the Conformations and Hybridization Properties of PNAs
Authors: Crawford Matthew J. , Rapireddy Srinivas , Bahal Raman , Sacui Iulia , Ly Danith H.
Published: May 2011

Conformationally preorganized peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have been synthesized through backbone modifications at the γ-position, where R = alanine, valine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine side chains. The effects of these side-chains on the conformations and hybridization properties of PNAs were determined using a combination of CD and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. Our results show that the γ-position can accommodate varying degrees of sterically hindered side-chains, reaffirming the bimodal function of PNAs as the true hybrids of “peptides” and “nucleic acids.”
The Molecular Evolution of Animal Reproductive Tract Proteins: What Have We Learned from Mating-System Comparisons?
Authors: Wong Alex
Published: May 2011

Postcopulatory sexual selection is thought to drive the rapid evolution of reproductive tract genes in many animals. Recently, a number of studies have sought to test this hypothesis by examining the effects of mating system variation on the evolutionary rates of reproductive tract genes. Perhaps surprisingly, there is relatively little evidence that reproductive proteins evolve more rapidly in species subject to strong postcopulatory sexual selection. This emerging trend may suggest that other processes, such as host-pathogen interactions, are the main engines of rapid reproductive gene evolution. I suggest that such a conclusion is as yet unwarranted; instead, I propose that more rigorous analytical techniques, as well as multigene and population-based approaches, are required for a full understanding of the consequences of mating system variation for the evolution of reproductive tract genes.
Association of Serum Phosphate and Related Factors in ESRD-Related Vascular Calcification
Authors: Zheng Cai-Mei , Lu Kuo-Cheng , Wu Chia-Chao , Hsu Yung-Ho , Lin Yuh-Feng
Published: May 2011

Vascular calcification is common in ESRD patients and is important in increasing mortality from cardiovascular complications in these patients. Hyperphosphatemia related to chronic kidney disease is increasingly known as major stimulus for vascular calcification. Hyperphosphatemia and vascular calcification become popular discussion among nephrologist environment more than five decades, and many researches have been evolved. Risk factors for calcification are nowadays focused for the therapeutic prevention of vascular calcification with the hope of reducing cardiovascular complications.
Exploring the bio-psychosocial effects of renal replacement therapy amongst patients in a state hospital in South Africa
Authors: Kasiram Madhubala , Harilall Bharita
Published: May 2011

This article described a qualitative study that investigated the bio-psychosocial effects of renal replacement therapy on patients in a state hospital in South Africa. The study aimed to investigate the level of debility experienced by patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD)and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and to explore how this debility affects their bio-psychosocial functioning. Respondents comprised a small sample of HD and CAPD patients. Using an interview schedule as the research tool allowed rich data to be uncovered. Content analysis and reducing data into themes facilitated data analysis. Although the study was not quantitative and thus did not allow for comparative analysis,themes regarding the levels of stress emerged amongst participants. The HD group voiced greater concerns regarding the degree of debility and psychosocial distress than the CAPD group. Governmental support for holistic kidney disease treatment and careful teaming of key role players to reduce the severity and far-reaching bio-psychosocial effects of HD and CAPD treatment are recommended.OpsommingHierdie artikel beskryf ‘n kwalitatiewe studie wat die bio-psigososiale effekte van niervervangingsterapie op pasiënte in ‘n staatshospitaal in Suid-Afrika ondersoek het. Die studie is gemotiveer deur die mate van debiliteit van pasiënte wat hemodialise (HD) en kontinue ambulatoriese peritoneale dialise (KAPD) ondergaan en wat oënskynlik verder strek as bloot die fisieke aspekte van die siekte en die behandeling daarvan. Respondente het bestaan uit ‘n klein groep HD- en KAPD-pasiënte. Deur ‘n onderhoudskedule as die navorsingsinstrument te gebruik, is ryk data onthul. Inhoudanalise en die redusering van data tot temas het die data-analise gefasiliteer. Alhoewel die studie nie kwantitatief was nie en vergelykende analise dus nie moontlik was nie, het temas van spanning onder die respondente voorgekom. Dit was duidelik uit die onderhoude met albei pasiëntgroepe en inhoudanalise dat die HD-groep meer bekommernis oor die graad van debiliteit en psigososiale stres getoon het as die KAPD-groep.Regeringsondersteuning vir holistiese nierbehandeling en versigtige samestelling van ‘n span sleutelrolspelers vir die vermindering van die erns en verreikende gevolge van HD en KAPD word voorgestel.
Lymphocytic Panhypophysitis: Its Clinical Features in Japanese Cases
Authors: Wada Yoshiharu , Hamamoto Yoshiyuki , Nakamura Yoshio , Honjo Sachiko , Kawasaki Yukiko , Ikeda Hiroki , Takahashi Jun , Yuba Yoshiaki , Shimatsu Akira , Koshiyama Hiroyuki
Published: May 2011

Lymphocytic hypophysitis is divided into three forms according to the involved tissues, lymphocytic adenohypophysitis, lymphocytic infundibulo-neurohypophysitis, and lymphocytic panhypophysitis (LPH). The term LPH was first proposed by us in 1995, although its entity and pathogenesis still remain controversial. Here we report five cases of LPH, who visited our clinics during 1994 to 2009. All cases were female of 20 to 77 years of age, and one case was associated with pregnancy. They presented with polyuria (n = 4), headache (n = 3), general malaise, polydipsia (n = 2), blunted vision, diplopia, amenorrhea or appetite loss (n = 1). Magnetic resonance imaging showed the pituitary swelling, the thickened stalk, the loss of the T1 hyperintense neurohypophysis (n = 4), or the atrophic pituitary (n = 1). Endocrinological examinations revealed deficiencies of TSH, ADH in all cases, GH, ACTH in three cases, LH, PRL in two cases, and FSH in one case, respectively. The severity of ADH deficiency varied among the cases. Anti-pituitary antibody was not detected in the cases examined. The biopsy of the pituitary lesions was performed except for one case, all of which revealed the diffuse lymphocytic infiltration. These results suggest that LPH is characterized by the female predominance, the atypical patterns of anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies and the variable degrees of diabetes insipidus in Japanese.