bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulated Effects of Land Cover Conversion on the Surface Energy Budget in the Southwest of China
Authors: Gao Jiangbo , Wu Shaohong
Published: March 2014

In this paper, the coupled WRF/SSiB model, accompanied by a Karst Rocky Desertification (KRD) map of the Guizhou Karst Plateau (GKP) of China, was applied to detect how the changed vegetation and soil characteristics over the GKP modify the energy balance at the land surface. The results indicated that land degradation led to reduced net radiation by inducing more upward shortwave and longwave radiation, which were associated with increasing surface albedo and temperature, respectively. The KRD also resulted in changed surface energy partitioning into sensible and latent heat fluxes. The latent heat flux at land surface was reduced substantially due to the higher surface albedo and stomatal resistance, the lower Leaf Area Index (LAI) and roughness length in the degradation experiment, while the sensible heat flux increased, mainly because of the higher surface temperature. Furthermore, the moisture flux convergence was reduced, owing to the lower atmospheric heating and the relative subsidence. However, compared with the reduced evaporation, the decrease in moisture flux convergence contributed much less to the reduced precipitation. Precipitation strongly affects soil moisture, vegetation growth and phenology, and thus evaporation and convective latent heating, so when precipitation was changed, a feedback loop was created.
Thermodynamics of Rotating Black Holes and Black Rings: Phase Transitions and Thermodynamic Volume
Authors: Altamirano Natacha , Kubizňák David , Mann Robert , Sherkatghanad Zeinab
Published: March 2014

In this review we summarize, expand, and set in context recent developments on the thermodynamics of black holes in extended phase space, where the cosmological constant is interpreted as thermodynamic pressure and treated as a thermodynamic variable in its own right. We specifically consider the thermodynamics of higher-dimensional rotating asymptotically flat and AdS black holes and black rings in a canonical (fixed angular momentum) ensemble. We plot the associated thermodynamic potential—the Gibbs free energy—and study its behavior to uncover possible thermodynamic phase transitions in these black hole spacetimes. We show that the multiply-rotating Kerr-AdS black holes exhibit a rich set of interesting thermodynamic phenomena analogous to the “every day thermodynamics” of simple substances, such as reentrant phase transitions of multicomponent liquids, multiple first-order solid/liquid/gas phase transitions, and liquid/gas phase transitions of the van derWaals type. Furthermore, the reentrant phase transitions also occur for multiply-spinning asymptotically flat Myers–Perry black holes. These phenomena do not require a variable cosmological constant, though they are more naturally understood in the context of the extended phase space. The thermodynamic volume, a quantity conjugate to the thermodynamic pressure, is studied for AdS black rings and demonstrated to satisfy the reverse isoperimetric inequality; this provides a first example of calculation confirming the validity of isoperimetric inequality conjecture for a black hole with non-spherical horizon topology. The equation of state P = P(V,T) is studied for various black holes both numerically and analytically—in the ultraspinning and slow rotation regimes.
Healthy Food Procurement Policies and Their Impact
Authors: Niebylski Mark , Lu Tammy , Campbell Norm , Arcand Joanne , Schermel Alyssa , Hua Diane , Yeates Karen , Tobe Sheldon , Twohig Patrick , L'Abbé Mary , Liu Peter
Published: March 2014

Unhealthy eating is the leading risk for death and disability globally. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for population health interventions. One of the proposed interventions is to ensure healthy foods are available by implementing healthy food procurement policies. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence base assessing the impact of such policies. A comprehensive review was conducted by searching PubMed and Medline for policies that had been implemented and evaluated the impact of food purchases, food consumption, and behaviors towards healthy foods. Thirty-four studies were identified and found to be effective at increasing the availability and purchases of healthy food and decreasing purchases of unhealthy food. Most policies also had other components such as education, price reductions, and health interventions. The multiple gaps in research identified by this review suggest that additional research and ongoing evaluation of food procurement programs is required. Implementation of healthy food procurement policies in schools, worksites, hospitals, care homes, correctional facilities, government institutions, and remote communities increase markers of healthy eating. Prior or simultaneous implementation of ancillary education about healthy eating, and rationale for the policy may be critical success factors and additional research is needed.
Bank Credit Risk Management and Rating Migration Analysis on the Business Cycle
Authors: Gavalas Dimitris , Syriopoulos Theodore
Published: March 2014

Credit risk measurement remains a critical field of top priority in banking finance, directly implicated in the recent global financial crisis. This paper examines the dynamic linkages between credit risk migration due to rating shifts and prevailing macroeconomic conditions, reflected in alternative business cycle states. An innovative empirical methodology applies to bank internal rating data, under different economic scenarios and investigates the implications of credit risk quality shifts for risk rating transition matrices. The empirical findings are useful and critical for banks to align to Basel guidelines in relation to core capital requirements and risk-weighted assets in the underlying loan portfolio.
Effect of NK4 Transduction in Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Biological Characteristics of Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Sun Yun-Peng , Zhang Ben-Long , Duan Jian-Wen , Wu Huan-Huan , Wang Ben-Quan , Yu Zheng-Ping , Yang Wen-Jun , Shan Yun-Feng , Zhou Meng-Tao , Zhang Qi-Yu
Published: March 2014

Pancreatic cancer usually has a poor prognosis, and no gene therapy has yet been developed that is effective to treat it. Since a unique characteristic of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is that they migrate to tumor tissues, we wanted to determine whether MSCs could serve as a vehicle of gene therapy for targeting pancreatic cancer. First, we successfully extracted MSCs from SD rats. Next, MSCs were efficiently transduced with NK4, an antagonist of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) which comprising the N-terminal and the subsequent four kringle domains of HGF, by an adenoviral vector. Then, we confirmed that rat MSCs preferentially migrate to pancreatic cancer cells. Last, MSCs expressing NK4 (NK4-MSCs) strongly inhibited proliferation and migration of the pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 after co-culture. These results indicate that MSCs can serve as a vehicle of gene therapy for targeting pancreatic cancer.
Three-Dimensional Structural Aspects of Protein–Polysaccharide Interactions
Authors: Nagae Masamichi , Yamaguchi Yoshiki
Published: March 2014

Linear polysaccharides are typically composed of repeating mono- or disaccharide units and are ubiquitous among living organisms. Polysaccharide diversity arises from chain-length variation, branching, and additional modifications. Structural diversity is associated with various physiological functions, which are often regulated by cognate polysaccharide-binding proteins. Proteins that interact with linear polysaccharides have been identified or developed, such as galectins and polysaccharide-specific antibodies, respectively. Currently, data is accumulating on the three-dimensional structure of polysaccharide-binding proteins. These proteins are classified into two types: exo-type and endo-type. The former group specifically interacts with the terminal units of polysaccharides, whereas the latter with internal units. In this review, we describe the structural aspects of exo-type and endo-type protein-polysaccharide interactions. Further, we discuss the structural basis for affinity and specificity enhancement in the face of inherently weak binding interactions.
Comparative Transcriptional Profiling of Three Super-Hybrid Rice Combinations
Authors: Peng Yonggang , Wei Gang , Zhang Lei , Liu Guozhen , Wei Xiaoli , Zhu Zhen
Published: March 2014

Utilization of heterosis has significantly increased rice yields. However, its mechanism remains unclear. In this study, comparative transcriptional profiles of three super-hybrid rice combinations, LY2163, LY2186 and LYP9, at the flowering and filling stages, were created using rice whole-genome oligonucleotide microarray. The LY2163, LY2186 and LYP9 hybrids yielded 1193, 1630 and 1046 differentially expressed genes (DGs), accounting for 3.2%, 4.4% and 2.8% of the total number of genes (36,926), respectively, after using the z-test (p < 0.01). Functional category analysis showed that the DGs in each hybrid combination were mainly classified into the carbohydrate metabolism and energy metabolism categories. Further analysis of the metabolic pathways showed that DGs were significantly enriched in the carbon fixation pathway (p < 0.01) for all three combinations. Over 80% of the DGs were located in rice quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of the Gramene database, of which more than 90% were located in the yield related QTLs in all three combinations, which suggested that there was a correlation between DGs and rice heterosis. Pathway Studio analysis showed the presence of DGs in the circadian regulatory network of all three hybrid combinations, which suggested that the circadian clock had a role in rice heterosis. Our results provide information that can help to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying rice heterosis.
Antimicrobial Peptides from Fish
Authors: Masso-Silva Jorge , Diamond Gill
Published: March 2014

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are found widely distributed through Nature, and participate in the innate host defense of each species. Fish are a great source of these peptides, as they express all of the major classes of AMPs, including defensins, cathelicidins, hepcidins, histone-derived peptides, and a fish-specific class of the cecropin family, called piscidins. As with other species, the fish peptides exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, killing both fish and human pathogens. They are also immunomodulatory, and their genes are highly responsive to microbes and innate immuno-stimulatory molecules. Recent research has demonstrated that some of the unique properties of fish peptides, including their ability to act even in very high salt concentrations, make them good potential targets for development as therapeutic antimicrobials. Further, the stimulation of their gene expression by exogenous factors could be useful in preventing pathogenic microbes in aquaculture.
Development of a Remote Sensing-Based “Boro” Rice Mapping System
Authors: Mosleh Mostafa , Hassan Quazi
Published: March 2014

Rice is one of the staple foods across the world, thus information about its production is essential for ensuring food security. Here, our objective was to develop a method for mapping “boro” rice (i.e., cultivated during the months January to May) in a Bangladeshi context. In this paper, we used a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived 16-day composite of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at 250 m spatial resolution in conjunction with ancillary datasets (i.e., land use map, crop calendar, and ground-based rice production information) during the period 2007–2012. The proposed method consisted of three procedures: (i) ISODATA clustering and determining the boro rice signatures in temporal dimension using data from the period 2007–2009; (ii) formulating a mathematical model for extracting the boro rice areas using data from the period 2007–2009; and (iii) model calibration using data from the period 2007–2009 and its validation using data from the period 2010–2012. The implementation of the abovementioned procedures revealed reasonable agreements between the model (i.e., MODIS-based) and ground-based estimates of boro rice area at both country (i.e., percentage error in the range −0.83–1.42%) and district levels (i.e., r2 in the range 0.69–0.89) during the period 2010–2012. Our proposed method demonstrated its effectiveness in mapping rice system at the regional/country scale.
Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Humidity Microsensors Integrated with Circuitry on-a-Chip
Authors: Hu Yu-Chih , Dai Ching-Liang , Hsu Cheng-Chih
Published: March 2014

A humidity microsensor integrated with a readout circuit on-a-chip fabricated using the commercial 0.18 μm CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) process was presented. The integrated sensor chip consists of a humidity sensor and a readout circuit. The humidity sensor is composed of a sensitive film and interdigitated electrodes. The sensitive film is titanium dioxide prepared by the sol-gel method. The titanium dioxide is coated on the interdigitated electrodes. The humidity sensor requires a post-process to remove the sacrificial layer and to coat the titanium dioxide. The resistance of the sensor changes as the sensitive film absorbs or desorbs vapor. The readout circuit is employed to convert the resistance variation of the sensor into the output voltage. The experimental results show that the integrated humidity sensor has a sensitivity of 4.5 mV/RH% (relative humidity) at room temperature.
Anchor Node Localization for Wireless Sensor Networks Using Video and Compass Information Fusion
Authors: Pescaru Dan , Curiac Daniel-Ioan
Published: March 2014

Distributed sensing, computing and communication capabilities of wireless sensor networks require, in most situations, an efficient node localization procedure. In the case of random deployments in harsh or hostile environments, a general localization process within global coordinates is based on a set of anchor nodes able to determine their own position using GPS receivers. In this paper we propose another anchor node localization technique that can be used when GPS devices cannot accomplish their mission or are considered to be too expensive. This novel technique is based on the fusion of video and compass data acquired by the anchor nodes and is especially suitable for video- or multimedia-based wireless sensor networks. For these types of wireless networks the presence of video cameras is intrinsic, while the presence of digital compasses is also required for identifying the cameras’ orientations.
Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Cancer Treatment: A Double-Edged Sword Cross-Targeting the Host as an “Innocent Bystander”
Authors: Gelao Lucia , Criscitiello Carmen , Esposito Angela , Goldhirsch Aron , Curigliano Giuseppe
Published: March 2014

Targeted immune checkpoint blockade augments anti-tumor immunity and induces durable responses in patients with melanoma and other solid tumors. It also induces specific “immune-related adverse events” (irAEs). IrAEs mainly include gastrointestinal, dermatological, hepatic and endocrinological toxicities. Off-target effects that arise appear to account for much of the toxicity of the immune checkpoint blockade. These unique “innocent bystander” effects are likely a direct result of breaking immune tolerance upon immune check point blockade and require specific treatment guidelines that include symptomatic therapies or systemic corticosteroids. What do we need going forward to limit immune checkpoint blockade-induced toxicity? Most importantly, we need a better understanding of the roles played by these agents in normal tissues, so that we can begin to predict potentially problematic side effects on the basis of their selectivity profile. Second, we need to focus on the predictive factors of the response and toxicity of the host rather than serially focusing on individual agents. Third, rigorous biomarker-driven clinical trials are needed to further elucidate the mechanisms of both the benefit and toxicity. We will summarize the double-edged sword effect of immunotherapeutics in cancer treatment.
En route to controlled catalytic CVD synthesis of densely packed and vertically aligned nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays
Authors: Boncel Slawomir , Pattinson Sebastian W , Geiser Valérie , Shaffer Milo S P , Koziol Krzysztof K K
Published: March 2014

The catalytic chemical vapour deposition (c-CVD) technique was applied in the synthesis of vertically aligned arrays of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs). A mixture of toluene (main carbon source), pyrazine (1,4-diazine, nitrogen source) and ferrocene (catalyst precursor) was used as the injection feedstock. To optimize conditions for growing the most dense and aligned N-CNT arrays, we investigated the influence of key parameters, i.e., growth temperature (660, 760 and 860 °C), composition of the feedstock and time of growth, on morphology and properties of N-CNTs. The presence of nitrogen species in the hot zone of the quartz reactor decreased the growth rate of N-CNTs down to about one twentieth compared to the growth rate of multi-wall CNTs (MWCNTs). As revealed by electron microscopy studies (SEM, TEM), the individual N-CNTs (half as thick as MWCNTs) grown under the optimal conditions were characterized by a superior straightness of the outer walls, which translated into a high alignment of dense nanotube arrays, i.e., 5 × 108 nanotubes per mm2 (100 times more than for MWCNTs grown in the absence of nitrogen precursor). In turn, the internal crystallographic order of the N-CNTs was found to be of a ‘bamboo’-like or ‘membrane’-like (multi-compartmental structure) morphology. The nitrogen content in the nanotube products, which ranged from 0.0 to 3.0 wt %, was controlled through the concentration of pyrazine in the feedstock. Moreover, as revealed by Raman/FT-IR spectroscopy, the incorporation of nitrogen atoms into the nanotube walls was found to be proportional to the number of deviations from the sp2-hybridisation of graphene C-atoms. As studied by XRD, the temperature and the [pyrazine]/[ferrocene] ratio in the feedstock affected the composition of the catalyst particles, and hence changed the growth mechanism of individual N-CNTs into a ‘mixed base-and-tip’ (primarily of the base-type) type as compared to the purely ‘base’-type for undoped MWCNTs.
Evaluation of Hunter Antler-Size Selection through an Age-Specific Comparison of Harvested and Naturally Cast Antler Metrics
Authors: Schoenebeck Casey W. , Peterson Brian C.
Published: March 2014

Deer antler metrics have been used to index the physical condition of deer populations, but those sampled at deer-check stations may not be representative of the population at large if deer hunters select for larger antlered individuals. The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate whether white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus hunters exhibit selective behavior through an age-specific comparison of harvested antler metrics to naturally cast antlers; and 2) evaluate the potential value of cast antlers to monitor herd condition via antler seal depth to identify individual health. Antler metrics representing antler mass (main beam basal circumference), length (main beam length), and the number of antler points were taken on yearling (aged 1.5 y) hunter-harvested deer during the 2009, 2010, and 2011 November firearm seasons and compared with freshly cast yearling antlers collected during the corresponding 2010, 2011, and 2012 antler-casting seasons. The antler metric indicative of antler mass was greater in harvested deer than the deer herd at large, providing empirical evidence of size-selective hunter behavior. We suggest that cast antlers be used as a less-biased alternative to measurements taken of antlers of harvested deer to assess herd characteristics.
Marketing Meets Social Media
Authors: Ayanso Anteneh , Lertwachara Kaveepan , Mokaya Brian
Published: March 2014

In Internet marketing, organizations leverage the Internet and related technologies to promote themselves, their products, their services, and their brands. In virtually all sectors, recent advances in Web technologies have dramatically changed the nature and volume of Internet marketing. Competition in online advertising is currently very intense as organizations have shifted their focus from print and other traditional advertising media to emails, search engines, and social media outlets for most of their promotional activities. However, due to the growing convergence of digital technologies, distinguishing one form of online marketing from another is becoming increasingly difficult. The current practice shows that there is a significant overlap of technologies as well as activities in most of the online marketing and advertising outlets. This chapter attempts to provide a classification of the major forms of Internet marketing (or online advertising) available, and discuss the key technological trends, practices, and academic research in each area. In particular, the chapter highlights the changing trends in Internet marketing due to recent developments in Web 2.0 and social media technologies.
Social Media Usage and Adoption
Authors: Olsen Line L. , Andreassen Tor W.
Published: March 2014

Social media is in vogue, but managers need to know their customers’ social media readiness to help them overcome any resistance to adopting the new benefits that social media offers and to secure customer satisfaction with the services offered through these channels. In this chapter, the authors present findings from two studies. In the first study, general technology readiness is investigated and pockets of users are identified. This study works as a backdrop for the second study, in which consumers’ social media readiness, the construct and its drivers are investigated. Overall, the authors find that customers seem to be ready for social media, as social media readiness has a positive, indirect effect on attitudes toward interaction in social media. Moreover, the effect is mediated through ease of use and usefulness.
Organizational and Management Aspects of Cloud Computing Application in Scientific Research
Authors: Čudanov Mladen , Krivokapić Jovan
Published: March 2014

This chapter is focused on the business model of scientific research, theoretically analysing managerial, organizational, and financial, rather than technical aspects of this concept. Theoretic explanation is based on an organizational networking platform. In practice, this platform is presented by Seven Bridges Genomics software solution, and the new opportunities for the organizational network broker are illustrated both in theory and practice. The impact that cloud computing has upon organizational performances is theoretically explained by costs of the ICT infrastructure, as well as of transactional and opportunity costs of operations. Through cloud computing, approach opportunity costs are reduced and efficiency is increased. The business model is presented in the framework of Osterwalder and Pigneur. By means of theoretical analysis and practical example, the authors demonstrate the development of a business model related to scientific research in bioinformatics. Cloud computing enables organizational separation of two distinct parts of the scientific research business model: core research and IT support. From the perspective of efficiency, network achieves a higher level of capital utilisation, better resistance to business risks, lower transaction costs, and in general, better efficiency, while the core research part has the opportunity to focus its structure on effectiveness and creativity.
Digital Identity Management in Cloud
Authors: Vujin Vladimir , Simić Konstantin , Kovačević Borko
Published: March 2014

Existing approaches for management of digital identities within e-learning ecosystems imply defining different access parameters for each service or application. However, this can reduce system security and lead to insufficient usage of the services by end-users. This chapter investigates various approaches for identity management, particulary in a cloud computing environment. Several complex issues are discussed, such as cross-domain authentication, provisioning, multi-tenancy, delegation, and security. The main goal of the research is to provide a highly effective, scalable identity management for end-users in an educational private cloud. A federated identity concept was introduced as a solution that enables organizations to implement secure identity management and to share information on the identities of users in the cloud environment. As a proof of concept, the identity management system was implemented in the e-learning system of Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade.
Ontology-Based Multimodal Language Learning
Authors: Milutinović Miloš , Stojiljković Vukašin , Lazarević Saša
Published: March 2014

L2 language learning is an activity that is becoming increasingly ubiquitous and learner-centric in order to support lifelong learning. Applications for learning are constrained by multiple technical and educational requirements and should support multiple platforms and multiple approaches to learning. This chapter investigates the possibility of applying ontology-based, dynamically generated learning objects implemented on a cloud computing infrastructure in order to satisfy these requirements. Previous work on using mobile learning objects is used as a starting point in an attempt to design a system that will preserve all of the advantages of utilizing learning objects, while eliminating any flaws and maximizing compatibility with existing systems. A model of a highly modular, flexible, multiplatform language learning system is presented along with some implementation remarks and advices for future implementation.
High Performance and Grid Computing Developments and Applications in Condensed Matter Physics
Authors: Belić Aleksandar
Published: March 2014

This chapter introduces applications of High Performance Computing (HPC), Grid computing, and development of electronic infrastructures in Serbia, in the South Eastern Europe region, and in Europe as a whole. Grid computing represents one of the key enablers of scientific progress in many areas of research. Main HPC and Grid infrastructures, initiatives, projects and programs in Europe, Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE) and European Grid Initiative (EGI) associations, as well as Academic and Educational Grid Initiative of Serbia (AEGIS) are presented. Further, the chapter describes some of the applications related to the condensed matter physics, developed at the Scientific Computing Laboratory of the Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade.
Exploiting Spatial and Temporal Patterns in a High-Performance CPU
Authors: Rakočević Goran , Milutinović Veljko
Published: March 2014

In modern computer systems, the effect known as the memory gap has become a serious bottleneck. It is becoming increasingly difficult to bridge this gap with traditional solutions, and much effort is put into developing new and more effective solutions to this problem. An earlier design, the Dual Data Cache (DDC), is a cache design that implies separation of data into two different cache subsystems so as to increase effectiveness of the cache. Data are separated accordingly to their predominant type of locality. The modified DDC, described here, introduces different internal organizations of the temporal and spatial parts, for better utilization of data characteristics. Conducted simulations show substantial improvements over traditional cache systems, with little increase in surface area and power consumption.
Designing Parallel Meta-Heuristic Methods
Authors: Crainic Teodor Gabriel , Davidović Tatjana , Ramljak Dušan
Published: March 2014

Meta-heuristics represent powerful tools for addressing hard combinatorial optimization problems. However, real life instances usually cannot be treated efficiently in “reasonable” computing times. Moreover, a major issue in meta-heuristic design and calibration is to provide high performance solutions for a variety of problems. Parallel meta-heuristics aim to address both issues. The objective of this chapter is to present a state-of-the-art survey of the main parallelization ideas and strategies, and to discuss general design principles applicable to all meta-heuristic classes. To achieve this goal, the authors explain various paradigms related to parallel meta-heuristic development, where communications, synchronization, and control aspects are the most relevant. They also discuss implementation issues pointing out the characteristics of shared and distributed memory multiprocessors as target architectures. All these topics are illustrated by the examples from recent literature related to the parallelization of various meta-heuristic methods. Here, the authors focus on Variable Neighborhood Search and Bee Colony Optimization.
Application of Cloud-Based Simulation in Scientific Research
Authors: Marinković Mihailo , Čavoški Sava , Marković Aleksandar
Published: March 2014

This chapter is a review of the literature related to the use of cloud-based computer simulations in scientific research. The authors examine the types and good examples of cloud-based computer simulations, offering suggestions for the architecture, frameworks, and runtime infrastructures that support running simulations in cloud environment. Cloud computing has become the standard for providing hardware and software infrastructure. Using the possibilities offered by cloud computing platforms, researchers can efficiently use the already existing IT resources in solving computationally intensive scientific problems. Further on, the authors emphasize the possibilities of using the existing and already known simulation models and tools in the cloud computing environment. The cloud environment provides possibilities to execute all kinds of simulation experiments as in traditional environments. This way, models are accessible to a wider range of researchers and the analysis of data resulting from simulation experiments is significantly improved.
Model of Interoperable E-Business in Traffic Sector based on Cloud Computing Concepts
Authors: Janković Slađana , Mladenović Snežana , Vesković Slavko
Published: March 2014

This chapter analyzes the possibilities of applying the cloud concepts in the realization of the interoperable electronic business of traffic and transport subjects. Special attention is paid to defining the Business-to-Business (B2B) model of integrating the traffic business subjects in cloud computing technological environment. It describes the design, implementation, and application of the cloud concepts on the examples of B2B integration in the field of traffic. The examples demonstrate the usage of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) by traffic business subjects in the Republic of Serbia. The examples of PaaS are the databases created and hosted on Microsoft SQL Azure platform. The examples of SaaS are Web services hosted on Microsoft Windows Azure platform. The defined model of B2B integration allows interoperability of the traffic business subjects on the syntactic, conceptual, and semantic level.
Dot Net Platform for Distributed Evolutionary Algorithms with Application in Hydroinformatics
Authors: Stojanović Boban , Milivojević Nikola , Ivanović Miloš , Divac Dejan
Published: March 2014

Real-world problems often contain nonlinearities, relationships, and uncertainties that are too complex to be modeled analytically. In these scenarios, simulation-based optimization is a powerful tool to determine optimal system parameters. Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs) are robust and powerful techniques for optimization of complex systems that perfectly fit into this concept. Since evolutionary algorithms require a large number of time expensive evaluations of candidate solutions, the whole process of optimization can take huge CPU time. In this chapter, .NET platform for distributed evaluation using WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) Web services is presented in order to reduce computational time. This concept provides parallelization of evolutionary algorithms independently of geographic location and platform where evaluation is performed. Hydroinformatics is a typical representative of fields where complex systems with many uncertainties are studied. Application of the developed platform in hydroinformatics is also presented in this chapter.
From Textual Analysis to Requirements Elicitation
Authors: Ndjodo Marcel Fouda , Ngah Virginie Blanche
Published: March 2014

This chapter discusses the teaching of Requirements Engineering (RE) through a segmented approach. The idea is to teach this field, step by step, beginning with the requirements elicitation phase, which is the main focus of the chapter. The recommended linguistics-based method advocates the training of students in textual analysis techniques in order to develop their metacognitive and interpersonal skills, specifically, abstraction and comprehension. These skills are key soft skills for the practice of requirements elicitation.
Peer Feedback in Software Engineering Courses
Authors: Rajapakse Damith C.
Published: March 2014

Teaching non-technical skills such as communication skills to Software Engineering (SE) students is relatively more difficult than teaching technical skills. This chapter explores teaching the peer feedback aspect of communication skills to SE students. It discusses several peer feedback mechanisms that can be used in an SE course, and for each mechanism, it discusses the potential challenges and the various approaches that can be used to overcome those challenges.
Project-Based Learning
Authors: Alves Luís M. , Ribeiro Pedro , Machado Ricardo J.
Published: March 2014

The lack of preparation of Software Engineering (SE) graduates for a professional career is a common complaint raised by industry practitioners. One approach to solving, or at least mitigating, this problem is the adoption of the Project-Based Learning (PBL) training methodology. Additionally, the involvement of students in real industrial projects, incorporated as a part of the formal curriculum, is a well-accepted means for preparing students for their professional careers. The authors involve students from BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees in Computing in developing a software project required by a real client. This chapter explains the educational approach to training students for industry by involving them with real clients within the development of software projects. The educational approach is mainly based on PBL principles. With the approach, the teaching staff is responsible for creating an environment that enhances communications, teamwork, management, and engineering skills in the students involved.
Designing Online Learning Strategies through Analytics
Authors: Lal Prerna
Published: March 2014

The online education environment is becoming complex day-by-day. Nowadays, educational institutes are offering various types of courses online to a large number of students having a diverse background, with the flexibility of time and geography. This results in creating a large repository of online data regarding courses, students and instructors. These data may be in text, audio or video format. This chapter is an attempt to understand the use of Learning Analytics that advocates for analysis of these data and to understand the learning process better in terms of student engagement, pedagogy, content and assessment. Educational institutes can utilize the intelligence revealed by learning analytics processes, and communicate them to those involved in strategic institutional planning.
Learning by Playing
Authors: San Millán Eduardo Díaz , Priego Rubén Gutiérrez
Published: March 2014

This chapter aims to introduce the reader into the concepts Gamification and Game-Based Learning (hereinafter, GBL) and to highlight their influence on the transmission of knowledge and development of competencies and skills in the Society of Knowledge. After a brief prior familiarization with the main features of learning and educational paradigms in the twenty-first century as well as with effective teaching strategies and pedagogical methodologies in such a context, it will move towards the clarification of the meaning of the aforementioned terms and other related concepts in what might be called the framework of playful learning. Straightaway, a detailed description of the main applicable strategies to develop an effective gamified proposal will be offered. These playful techniques have a significant ability to influence learners' motivation and strengthen their commitment to training projects while their participation, engagement, curiosity, fantasy and desire for adventures are stimulated and developed. They also have plenty of remarkable chances in the field of behavioral modeling, a topic also discussed in the chapter and whose applications within Education, and in any other economic or social area, are numerous and varied. The final level of this challenge is an exploration of the key game-based design elements (aesthetics, dynamics, mechanics and components) to close the overview of the landscape that is presented.
Evolution or Revolution
Authors: San Millán Eduardo Díaz , Priego Rubén Gutiérrez
Published: March 2014

This chapter tries to awake a critical sense from sociological approaches in an analysis of the Massive Online Open Courses (hereinafter, MOOC), that is capable of emerging from the media noise generated from concerned positions. This reflection shows some explanatory variables about the socio-educational MOOC phenomenon involving appropriate research lines to approach the veracity of such sensation. Determining the scope of analysis and its internal logic is essential in a concept as confusing as MOOC. A close up on three levels -genesis, maintenance and related effects- lets us overcome simplified visions associated with functionalist approaches. At these levels, the network of relationships, interests and struggles for power is shown as well as the influence of the own educational actors themselves that is determined by the impact of their environments. Moreover, it is possible to realize the variables that explain the interactions with other fields: scientific, economic, business, administrative which are interested in influencing the autonomy of the educational field by means of MOOCs. The chapter concludes with two sample reflections as to show how to think inside the aforesaid sociological analysis. Clearly, any analysis will be restricted by the extent of the chosen model of causal variables that will never embrace all those that reality imposes. In this sense, previous studies of such variables and a suitable election will determine its explanatory scope.
Pedagogical Patterns and Online Teaching
Authors: Seoane-Pardo Antonio Miguel , García-Peñalvo Francisco José
Published: March 2014

This chapter summarizes the experience collected after years of researching and experiencing on teaching and learning online in the form of an eLearning pattern-architecture. In this architecture, based upon the leading role of the human factor (according to the vision of the eLearning by GRIAL Group), the whole processes occurring within any training activity is represented, from the institutional planning to the evaluation of the whole process, technological decisions, teaching activity, interaction with students, and so forth. This model is briefly presented after the explanation of the notion of pattern (and its application to the pedagogical context), as a prerequisite for understanding the scope of the use of this methodology in the field of online training.
A Journey through the Wilderness
Authors: Kidd Terry T. , Ashe Carolyn , Carroll Natasha
Published: March 2014

Autoethnography has emerged as a relatively new methodological approach within the fields of project management, information technology, organizational behavioral studies, and more broadly within the social sciences. As a reflexive methodology it offers the beginning and experienced researcher a means of critically exploring the social forces that shapes ones involvement in the information technology project implementation process and subsequent the project management experience. In this article the authors discuss the significance of autoethnography as it was utilized to research the experiences of project managers in the enterprise resource planning systems implementation process. The process involved recollecting, writing and re-reading experiences in light of social capital and organizational theories that explore the socio-psychological and cultural aspects within the implementation period of an enterprise resources planning system. The autoethnographic approach used in this article contributes to the emergent methodological literature that embraces the textual or narrative turn within qualitative studies of information technology and project management.
An IT Project Management Framework for Assessing the Dynamism of Culture under Globalization
Authors: Takavarasha Sam , Hapanyengwi Gilford , Chimanikire Donald , Kabanda Gabriel
Published: March 2014

Culture has been analysed in information systems (IS) projects as one of the soft issues that cause project failure. Increased outsourcing and collaboration call for an understanding of the dynamism of cultures in the wake of global influences as a first step towards managing cross cultural Information Technology (IT) projects. In this study, the authors propose a way of assessing cultural dynamics in the context of trans-national collaboration in IT projects. Using a mixed methods approach consisting of survey and semi-structured interviews for collecting evidence in Zimbabwe, a framework for assessing the current state of communalist culture is proposed. The study showed that in spite of the inroads of Westernization and Commercialization, a culture of sharing prevails although it is affected by sensitivity to cost burden and inroads of individualism.
The Effects of Project Management Certification on the Triple Constraint
Authors: Catanio Joseph T. , Armstrong Gary , Tucker Joanne
Published: March 2014

This research paper describes key information technology (IT) project management activities in terms of project scope, time, and cost management, namely the triple constraint. The authors contend that the ability to properly manage and execute these activities is the quintessential component that oftentimes drives whether projects succeed or fail. The literature shows that IT projects have a dismal success rate but successful projects have been on the rise. The authors attempt to determine if the increase of successful projects correlates to the increase in the number of certified project managers. Empirical evidence is presented that indicates certified project managers do not perform project scope, time, and cost management activities better than project managers without professional certification credentials.
An Empirical Study of the Effect of Parameter Combination on the Performance of Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Deng Pi-Sheng
Published: March 2014

Performance of genetic algorithms is affected not only by each genetic operator, but also by the interaction among genetic operators. Research on this issue still fails to converge to any conclusion. In this paper, the author focuses mainly on investigating, through a series of systematic experiments, the effects of different combinations of parameter settings for genetic operators on the performance of the author’s GA-based batch selection system, and compare the research results with the claims made by previous research. One of the major findings of the author’s research is that the crossover rate is not as a determinant factor as the population size or the mutation rate in affecting a GA’s performance. This paper intends to serve as an inquiry into the research of useful design guidelines for parameterizing GA-based systems.
Online technique for isotope and mixing ratios of CH4, N2O, Xe and mixing ratios of organic trace gases on a single ice core sample
Authors: Schmitt J. , Seth B. , Bock M. , Fischer H.
Published: March 2014

Abstract. Polar ice cores enclosing trace gas species offer a unique archive to study changes in the past atmosphere and in terrestrial/marine source regions. Here we present a new online technique for ice core and air samples to measure a suite of isotope ratios and mixing ratios of trace gas species on a single small sample. Isotope ratios are determined on methane, nitrous oxide and xenon with reproducibilities for ice core samples of 0.15‰ for δ13C-CH4, 0.22‰ for δ15N-N2O, 0.34 ‰ for δ18O-N2O, and 0.05‰ for δ136Xe. Mixing ratios are determined on methane, nitrous oxide, xenon, ethane, propane, methyl chloride and dichloro-difluoromethane with reproducibilities of 7 ppb for CH4, 3 ppb for N2O, 50 ppt for 136Xe, 70 ppt for C2H6, 70 ppt for C3H8, 20 ppt for CH3Cl, and 2 ppt for CCl2F2. The system consists of a vacuum extraction device, a preconcentration unit and a gas chromatograph coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. CH4 is combusted to CO2 prior to detection while we bypassed the oven for all other species. The highly automated system uses only ~160 g ice, equivalent to ~16 mL air, which is less than previous methods. This large suite of parameters on a single ice sample is new and helpful to study phase relationships of parameters which are usually not measured together. A multi-parameter dataset is also key to understand in situ production processes of organic species in the ice, a critical issue observable in many organic trace gases. Novel is the determination of xenon isotope ratios using doubly charged Xe ions. The attained precision for δ136Xe is suitable to correct the isotopic ratios and mixing ratios for gravitational firn effects, with the benefit that this information is derived from the same sample. Lastly, anomalies in the Xe mixing ratio, δXe/air, can be used to detect melt layers.
On Neutral and Preferred Principles of Constitutional Law
Authors: Turner Ronald
Published: March 2014

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An R&D-Based Endogenous Growth Model of International Tourism
Authors: Albaladejo Isabel P. , Martínez-García María Pilar
Published: March 2014

According to the tourism area life cycle (TALC) model of Butler (1980), the evolution of a touristic destination follows an S-shaped curve which is upper-bounded by its carrying capacity, usually assumed to be a fixed constant. This forecast prevents a tourism-based economy from maintaining positive growth rates in the long run. However, infrastructures, transportation networks, accommodation facilities and the variety of attractions can be broadened to increase the tourism carrying capacity. In this paper, innovation is the motor of carrying capacity growth. The model follows the tradition of R&D-based endogenous growth models and allows the long-run sustainability of economic growth in a tourism-specialized economy. Along a balanced growth path, the income from tourism grows at the same rate as the innovation, and the carrying capacity will grow as the rate of innovation surpasses the foreign economic growth rate. The long-term growth of the economy depends on the real exchange rate.