bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Attribute-Based Signature with Application to Secure Attribute-Based Messaging System
Authors: Yang Piyi , Zia Tanveer A
Published: April 2013

A set of attributes instead of a single string to represent the signer’s identity is a challenging problem under standard cryptographic assumption in the standard model. Therefore, designing a fully secure (adaptive-predicate unforgeable and perfectly private) Attribute-Based Signature (ABS) that allows a signer to choose a set of attributes is vital. Existing schemes are either too complicated or have only been proved in the generic group model. In this chapter, the authors present an efficient fully secure ABS scheme in the standard model based on q-parallel BDHE assumption, which is more practical than the generic group model used in the previous schemes. The proposed scheme is highly expressive since it allows any signer to specify claim-predicates in terms of any predicate consisting of AND, OR, and Threshold gates over the attributes in the system. ABS has found many important applications in secure communications, such as anonymous authentication systems and attribute-based messaging systems.
Cryptography in Electronic Mail
Authors: Rafiee Hosnieh , von Löwis Martin , Meinel Christoph
Published: April 2013

Electronic Mail (email) is a very important method of communicating across the Internet, but the protocols used to handle emails during transmission, downloads, and organizational processes are not secure. Spammers and scammers misuse these protocols to propagate spam or scams across the Internet for advertising purposes or to gain access to critical data, such as credit card information. Cryptographic approaches are applied as a tool to help in securing email components, such as the header, data, etc. This chapter classifies the approaches used according to the protection mechanisms provided to the email components, and it also briefly describes these approaches. Because scammers are continually trying to crack current algorithms, the most recent improvements in email security using cryptography are covered in this discussion. An explanation is given as to the need for verifying both receivers and senders in this process. Finally, the authors examine how the use of these approaches will work in IPv6 as compared to IPv4.
Petri Net Supervisory Method for Linear Constraints and its Applications to Flexible Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Luo Jiliang
Published: April 2013

An algorithm is proposed to equivalently transform original linear constraints on Petri nets, where the uncontrollable subnets are forward-concurrent free nets, into admissible ones. Consequently, this algorithm can be used to design both efficient and optimal supervisors for enforcing linear constraints on Petri nets since the problem on how to enforce admissible constraints has been well solved. Further, the supervisor synthesis procedure is presented using this algorithm. Lastly, it is illustrated by an example where an optimal supervisor is designed for a flexible manufacturing system.
Distributed Maximally Permissive Nonblocking Control of Flexible Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Zhang Renyuan , Gan Yongmei , Wonham W. M. , Wang Zhaoan
Published: April 2013

In recent years, a great deal of research has been focused on preventing deadlock in Flexible Manufacturing Systems. Policies based largely on Petri net models have been presented in the literature. Recently, a quite different approach has been developed based on supervisory control theory, and it has been adapted to solve the nonblocking maximally permissive control problem in various resource allocation systems, such as an Automatic Guided Vehicle system and a Production Cell. In this chapter, the authors obtain the corresponding control policy for a Flexible Manufacturing System, and from it derive an equivalent distributed control using the recent theory of supervisor localization.
An Innovative “Cybernetic” Organization Improvement Plan through Participatory Action Research in Persistent “Open Source” Virtual Worlds
Authors: Pellas Nikolaos
Published: April 2013

The research interest of this chapter focuses on redefining contemporary structures of organizational crossing boundaries, learning processes and diffusion of innovations based on the structure of persistent “open source” virtual worlds (VWs). In this notion, the present study decrypts valuable ways of organizational changes in a virtual learning community and managerial responsibilities of situational complexities that usually interdict on “open-source” VWs, and especially Open Simulator (OS grid). This assumption frequently recapitulated with a “cybernetic” improvement plan that addressed to the organizational structure of collaborative e-learning courses, encountering by the “Viable System Model” (VSM). The participatory action research empowerment appeared initially from the implementation of a multi-dimensional framework for enhancing the dynamic presence of users, according to the “cognitive apprenticeship” model. This establishment approves firstly the latest organizational and administrative practices of an adult learning program, and secondly instructor’s progressing through the cybernetic management that the VSM governs.
Teaching Basic Software Engineering to Senior High School Students
Authors: Köhler Barbara , Gluchow Michaela , Brügge Bernd
Published: April 2013

Software Engineering (SE) is an increasingly important topic as software projects increase in size, budget, and duration. The authors suggest starting teaching SE already to high school students instead of waiting until their freshman year at university. This chapter shows the principles the authors used for creating such courses. First, the authors explain which software lifecycle model the authors use, why, and how it needs to be tailored for students with very little development experience. Second, the authors discuss the educational models the authors apply to increase motivation and counter the inert knowledge problem often observed in lectures. The authors mainly focus on goal-based scenarios and scaffolding, two constructivist design methods. Finally, the authors present a case study of one course they conducted in fall 2011 with eleven high school students between ages 16 and 18.
Continuous Improvement in e-Teams for Collaborative Marketing Planning
Authors: von der Heidt Tania
Published: April 2013

Academics are charged with continuous and evidence-based curriculum improvement in a move toward more learner-centred teaching and assessment, whereby information and communication technologies increasingly facilitate this call. This chapter looks at technology enhanced teaching and learning in a university curriculum innovation. A major collaborative marketing plan assessment was designed to be undertaken in virtual or eteams in a compulsory first-year Marketing unit within a Bachelor of Business course. Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act improvement cycle, the efficacy of teamwork is evaluated for two successive delivery periods in 2011. Improvements to the eteam design are identified and implemented. It is found that external students can successfully conceptualise new products and develop marketing plans in a fully online learning environment. Further, with the improved eteam design, initial results suggest that teamwork is shifting from simply cooperative to genuinely collaborative.
Conducting Performance Evaluation of an e-Health Platform
Authors: Lo Owen , Fan Lu , Buchanan William J. , Thuemmler Christoph
Published: April 2013

For increased awareness and adoption of e-Health implementations, results from evaluation must be catered towards three primary perspectives: organizational, end-user and technical perspective. This chapter addresses the issue of conducting performance evaluation of e-Health for the technical perspective. The authors present the design of metrics that enable them to evaluate the scalability, functionality and reliability of e-Health implementations. Using simulated patient data, experiments are conducted on an existing e-Health platform using their defined metrics. Results show that 100 simulated patient’s data may interact with the e-Health platform under evaluation with a maximum round-trip time latency value of 6.6 seconds. By building upon the techniques the authors have used to conduct performance evaluation of e-Health implementations, along with the design of methodologies to enable evaluation to take place for the two other perspectives, i.e. end-user and organizational perspectives, the authors hope to see greater support for this technology in the near future.
Changes in the Technology of Soybean Production
Authors: Gordana Dozet , Gorica Cvijanovic , Vojin Djukic
Published: April 2013

Nitrogen is the key element of yield and the most limiting factor in achieving high yields. Nitrogen fertilization is specific because mineral nitrogen, the available form of nitrogen for the plant in the soil, is on one hand subject to leaching losses due to its mobility in the soil and denitrification, and on the other hand to the content increase due to mineralization of soil organic matter. To encourage more intensive adoption of atmospheric nitrogen in nitrogen-fixing, the presence of cobalt and molybdenum is necessary. Molybdenum is required for the binding of atmospheric nitrogen by Azotobacter and plays an important role in the fixation of N2. Legumes treated with molybdenum have a larger amount of fixed nitrogen. Cobalt is relevant to the process of biological fixation of molecular nitrogen. The role of cobalt in biological fixation of molecular nitrogen is specific, and it cannot be replaced in the process by other trace elements. Inoculation of soybean seed with microbiological fertilizer and seed treatment with cobalt and molybdenum, as well as the use of corn crop fertilization with different doses of nitrogen, has a different impact on the yield and properties of soybeans.
Strategic Planning of Sustainable Development of Local Communities
Authors: Saric Radojica , Jovanovic Marijana , Grujic Biljana
Published: April 2013

The subject of research in this chapter is analysis of the concept of sustainable agriculture of local communities from the point of view of strategic planning and based on the case study for the model of sustainability of the local community Glogonj. The main goal of the research is to connect the basic aspects of strategic planning with the concept of sustainable development in order to improve the quality of life in local communities. The authors apply the theoretical and practical, and conceptual and methodological frame of research based on the case study, which is oriented on three thematic areas of analysis: (1) sustainable development as a modern concept for improving the quality of life of local communities; (2) basic aspects of strategic planning in function of implementation of the concept of sustainable development on local level; (3) the model of strategic planning of sustainable development of the local community at Glogonj as a case study.
Management and Utilisation of Natural Resources in Special Nature Reserves
Authors: Draškovic Božo , Zubovic Jovan , Domazet Ivana
Published: April 2013

Special nature reserves are particularly regulated land areas designated for protection and utilization of natural resources at their disposal. In this chapter, the authors present a pioneering attempt to analyze management efficiency and utilization effectiveness of natural resources in protected nature reserves in Serbia based on an empirical research. Moreover, the authors explore the regulations that define the protection, management, and conservation of natural values and goods in Serbia, with a purpose of evaluating opportunities for development and implementation of Environmental Accounting (EA). EA is still at an early stage of development, especially from the standpoint of its incorporation into the developed standard models of company accounting. There still exist several unexplored problems to be solved at the level of national accounts, such as the expression of environmental damage, resource consumption, sustainable use of natural capital, evaluating environmental benefits, and free gifts of nature. The chapter is completed with a case study based on an empirical study in the field of environmental management in one protected area in Serbia, Zasavica.
Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Forestry
Authors: Popovic Vesna , Mijajlovic Nada
Published: April 2013

Although climate change is a global process, its local impacts are diverse. Existing agro-ecological conditions, structure of production, various production systems, technological development, socio-economic factors, and international competition and policy choices will determine the impact that climate change will have on the agricultural and forestry sectors and their adaptive capacity and mitigation potential. The authors use the Danube basin area in Serbia as a case study to test the hypothesis that only sustainable agriculture, based on optimum balance of different types of farming systems and practices and satisfying a range of the region’s specific ecological, social, and economic functions, as well as sustainable forestry, can cope successfully with the climate change. The main topics of the analysis are the climate change trends and impacts on agriculture and forestry and the assessment of their adaptive capacity and mitigation potential, including the proposition of relevant adaptation and mitigation measures.
Conceptualization of the Base for Sustainable Rural Development Policy Implementation
Authors: Zoran Njegovan , Boškovic Olgica
Published: April 2013

Looking in wider perspective, the problems of inequality have emerged relatively early even from the period of establishment of economy as a scientific discipline. However, those problems are also the subject of different socio-humanistic scientific research. That process lasts up to date, and it could be said that nowadays it is much more important than before. The main reason for that is that current inequalities are significant and radicalised nowadays as a cause of non-adequate development process.
Social Economy
Authors: Turek Rahoveanu Maria Magdalena
Published: April 2013

At the European and global levels, the social economy has a strong impact in society with significant results that can be summarized both by the market shares held and their activity contribution to GDP, and by the number of members and the citizens’ welfare offered by the jobs created. This chapter is part of the CAP reform in Europe after 2013, by which Romania will have to undergo a series of transformations including promoting the social economy by encouraging cooperation and joint agriculture, stimulating the development of alternative economic activities such as organic farming, ecotourism, development, and promotion of local products labeled, specialized human capital development, and collaboration and sharing of best practices with experts from other EU Member States.
Integrating ESD in Norwegian Education
Authors: Sandås Astrid , Benedict Faye
Published: April 2013

This article presents and extracts lessons from experiences implementing the Norwegian national strategy for education for sustainable development (ESD) over a period of more than 15 years. After an introduction to central ideas of sustainable development and ESD, the authors discuss appropriate strategies and instruments. Key factors are collaboration to allow pupils and schools to actively contribute to positive development locally and globally, interdisciplinary approaches to complex sustainability issues, and appropriate use of the ICT and other media. ESD programmes and activities should support school development and build the capacity of schools and teachers for integration of ESD.
Personnel Performance Appraisal Coverage in ITIL, COBIT, and CMMi
Authors: Casado-Lumbreras Cristina , Colomo-Palacios Ricardo , Hernández-López Adrián , Soto-Acosta Pedro
Published: April 2013

Human capital is of paramount importance in the ICT industry. This paper analyses one of the elements which underlies effective management of human assets: performance assessment. This analysis uses the development of a common standard based on the tasks and processes outlined in People CMM, the standard in human resource management designed by the Software Engineering Institute. This framework is evaluated in different models related to IT Governance, such as COBIT and ITIL, as well as other related IT practices like CMMI for Development, CMMI for Acquisition, and CMMi-SVC. The results indicate that COBIT is the only framework that presents reliable coverage in relation to personnel performance assessment.
Information Security Awareness in Academia
Authors: Korovessis Peter
Published: April 2013

Information security has become an established discipline as more and more businesses realize its value. Many surveys have indicated the importance of protecting valuable information and an important aspect that must be addressed in this regard is information security awareness. The academic sector is one that regularly addresses information security awareness. Because many successful security intrusions are the result of either social engineering or user complacency, there is a need for students in non IT-related disciplines to become as security literate as possible. The proposed research investigates the level of security awareness amongst the online population. For this reason sample data from a university environment was used in order to examine the state of information security awareness in the academic sector and investigate the awareness needs of students. Since information technology grows at a rapid pace, it is important for the academic sector to identify new trends and developments in information security and adapt the curricula appropriately.
Ethical Competences in Accounting Higher Education
Authors: Fitó M. Àngels , Llobet Joan , Moya Soledad
Published: April 2013

The integration of the Spanish University System into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) introduces, among other aspects, competency-based learning (MECD, 2003). For a discipline like accounting this context implies the challenge of introducing ethics into accounting education, since ethical values have been included as a fundamental part of the generic competencies that graduates are required. The following study analyzes, in the light of the importance that academics and professionals give to ethical competences, to which extent universities have committed with ethics, considering the information provided in their respective websites relating their first cycle degrees. The outcomes obtained show the little presence of ethical competencies in the information published in the websites of the offered courses.
Evaluation of Organization Structure Based on Email Interactions
Authors: Palus Sebastian , Bródka Piotr , Kazienko Przemyslaw
Published: April 2013

In every company, employees are in communication via phone, email, text messages, chats on a forum, co-author documents, events, and so forth. They collaborate with each other creating and maintaining mutual relationships in one complex social network. In this paper, the authors use this social network to evaluate company structure and based on this evaluation recommend some changes that have to be made within a company to improve its structure. The evaluation process and an example of its usage are presented in the paper.
An Analysis of the Impact of 2.0 Tools and Technologies on Organizational Processes
Authors: Miguel Félix Pascual- , Peláez Julián Chaparro- , García Ángel Hernández-
Published: April 2013

In this paper, the authors present results from a study on the usage rate of 2.0 tools and technologies among Spanish enterprises. The main objective of the study is to analyze, from the perceptions of executives, the influence of social software tools on a set of business processes. This analysis has been made using two graphic tools: the “2.0 Success Matrix” and the “Tool’s Footprint”. Both the review of literature and the empirical work have lead to important findings and conclusions.
Integrating the LMS in Service Oriented eLearning Systems
Authors: Leal José Paulo , Queirós Ricardo
Published: April 2013

Learning management systems are routinely used for presenting, solving and grading exercises with large classes. However, teachers are constrained to use questions with pre-defined answers, such as multiple-choice, to automatically correct the exercises of their students. Complex exercises cannot be evaluated automatically by the LMS and require the coordination of a set of heterogeneous systems. For instance, programming exercises require a specialized exercise resolution environment and automatic evaluation features, each provided by a different type of system. In this paper, the authors discuss an approach for the coordination of a network of eLearning systems supporting the resolution of exercises. The proposed approach is based on a pivot component embedded in the LMS and has two main roles: (1) provide an exercise resolution environment, and (2) coordinate communication between the LMS and other systems, exposing their functions as web services. The integration of the pivot component in the LMS relies on Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI). This paper presents an architecture to coordinate a network of eLearning systems and validate the proposed approach by creating such a network integrated with LMS from two different vendors.
The Role of Outside Affordances in Developing Expertise in Online Collaborative Learning
Authors: Deed Craig , Edwards Anthony
Published: April 2013

Web 2.0 tools have introduced a dynamic aspect to learning in contemporary classrooms. Pre-service teachers require expertise in the use of these spaces. The metaphor of outsideness—engaging with distant peers using Web 2.0 tools—has affordances that support the development of this expertise. In this paper, a conceptual framework is outlined that links a model of developing expertise with the affordances of outsideness and a case study of pre-service teacher education is used to demonstrate the framework’s possibilities and limitations. Implications are drawn for the use of online collaborative spaces in higher education.
AHKME eLearning Information System
Authors: Rego H. , Moreira T. , García-Peñalvo F. J.
Published: April 2013

AHKME (Adaptive Hypermedia Knowledge Management E-Learning Platform) is an eLearning Information System that has evolved to fulfill the web-based learning requirements when they are compliant with a Web 3.0 philosophy. The ideas behind Web 3.0 are related to more semantic and intelligent systems. AHKME allows teachers to access standardized resources and evaluate integration and reuse possibilities in eLearning systems, not only content but also learning strategy. The educational resources adaptation in AHKME is supported by a set of collaborative tools, which also allow the users’ feedback provision that is stored in system database. The semantic component in AHKME is based on a set of tools for the instructional designer to create and customize specifications and ontologies to give structure and meaning to resources, manual and automatic search with recommendation of resources and instructional design based on the context, and recommendation of adaptations in learning resources. Finally, AHKME takes into account the mobile learning (mLearning) capabilities, allowing access by teachers and students to learning resources, regardless of time and space.
Beyond Knowledge Management
Authors: Karvalics Laszlo Z. , Dalal Nikunj
Published: April 2013

The authors outline trends in managing knowledge, introduce the emerging framework of knowledge governance, and expand its scope. The major approaches of classical knowledge management, distilled to cook-book definitions and consultant practices, are increasingly viewed as inadequate in addressing the growing complexity of information and knowledge flows in modern organizations and societies dealing with rapidly changing environments. Reflecting a new normative push towards conceptual innovation, knowledge governance has emerged as a new paradigm to describe, understand, and analyze the expanding “knowledge domain” in a holistic and comprehensive way. Knowledge governance involves the design of structures and mechanisms to support the processes of sharing and creating knowledge. Knowledge governance has two main interpretation levels in the literature: the company- (micro-) and the national (macro-) level. The authors propose a three-layer model adding a layer of “global” knowledge governance. Analyzing and separating the main issues in this way, we can reformulate the focus of knowledge governance research and practice in all layers.
Object-Aware Business Processes
Authors: Künzle Vera , Weber Barbara , Reichert Manfred
Published: April 2013

Despite the increasing maturity of process management technology not all business processes are adequately supported by it. Support for unstructured and knowledge-intensive processes is missing, especially since they cannot be straight-jacketed into predefined activities. A common characteristic of these processes is the role of business objects and data as drivers for process modeling and enactment. This paper elicits fundamental requirements for effectively supporting such object-aware processes; i.e., their modeling, execution, and monitoring. Imperative, declarative, and data-driven process support approaches are evaluated and how well they support object-aware processes are investigated. A tight integration of process and data as major steps towards further maturation of process management technology is considered.
Ontology Alignment Quality
Authors: Sampson Jennifer , Krogstie John , Veres Csaba
Published: April 2013

Recently semantic web technologies, such as ontologies, have been proposed as key enablers for integrating heterogeneous data schemas in business and governmental systems. Algorithms designed to align different but related ontologies have become necessary as differing ontologies proliferate. The process of ontology alignment seeks to find corresponding entities in a second ontology with the same or the closest meaning for each entity in a single ontology. This research is motivated by the need to provide tools and techniques to support the task of validating ontology alignment statements, since it cannot be guaranteed that the results from automated tools are accurate. The authors present a framework for understanding ontology alignment quality and describe how AlViz, a tool for visual ontology alignment, may be used to improve the quality of alignment results. An experiment was undertaken to test the claim that AlViz supports the task of validating ontology alignments. A promising result found that the tool has potential for identifying missing alignments and for rejecting false alignments.
Ontological Rules for UML-Based Conceptual Modeling
Authors: Lu Shan , Parsons Jeffrey
Published: April 2013

UML is used as a language for object-oriented software design, and as a language for conceptual modeling of applications domains. Given the differences between these purposes, UML’s origins in software engineering might limit its appropriateness for conceptual modeling. In this context, Evermann and Wand have proposed a set of well-defined ontological rules to constrain the construction of UML diagrams to reflect underlying ontological assumptions about the real world. The authors extend their work using a design research approach that examines these rules by studying the consequences of integrating them into a UML CASE tool. The paper demonstrates how design insights from incorporating theory-based modeling rules in a software artifact can be used to shed light on the rules themselves. In particular, the authors distinguish four categories of rules for implementation purposes, reflecting the relative importance of different rules and the degree of flexibility available in enforcing them. They propose distinct implementation strategies that correspond to these four rule categories and identify some redundant rules as well as some rules that cannot be implemented without changing the UML specification. The rules are implemented in an open-source UML CASE tool.
A Longitudinal Study of Fan-In and Fan-Out Coupling in Open-Source Systems
Authors: Mubarak Asma , Counsell Steve , Hierons Robert M.
Published: April 2013

Excessive coupling between object-oriented classes is widely acknowledged as a maintenance problem that can result in a higher propensity for faults in systems and a ‘stored up’ future problem. This paper explores the relationship between ‘fan-in’ and ‘fan-out’ coupling metrics over multiple versions of open-source software. More specifically, the relationship between the two metrics is explored to determine patterns of growth in each over the course of time. The JHawk tool was used to extract the two metrics from five open-source systems. Results show a wide range of traits in the classes to explain both high and low levels of fan-in and fan-out. Evidence was also found of certain ‘key’ classes (with both high fan-in and fan-out) and ‘client’ and ‘server’-type classes with high fan-out and fan-in, respectively. This paper provides an explanation of the composition and existence of such classes as well as for disproportionate increases in each of the two metrics over time. Finally, it was found that high fan-in class values tended to be associated with small classes; classes with high fan-out on the other hand tended to be relatively large classes.
An Approach for E-Service Design Using Enterprise Models
Authors: Henkel Martin , Johannesson Paul , Perjons Erik
Published: April 2013

Organisations demand new business models for value creation and innovation that require collaboration with customers and vendors in agile and flexible networks. To realise such networks, organisations are embracing service oriented models and architectures using e-services for business communication. A major issue for a service oriented organisation is to design and offer e-services that are adapted to the needs, wants, and requirements of customers and vendors. This is a challenging task as different customer groups and vendors will have different requirements, which may vary over time, resulting in a large number of e-services. In this paper, the authors suggest enterprise models as being adequate instruments for design and maintenance of e-services. More specifically; an approach for designing e-services based on value and goal models, which will ensure that the constructed e-services will satisfy the needs and wants of customers. A project from the Swedish health care sector is used to demonstrate and evaluate the proposed approach.
E-Government Success in Public Libraries
Authors: Gorham Ursula , Bertot John Carlo , Jaeger Paul T. , Taylor Natalie Greene
Published: April 2013

For much of their history in the United States, public libraries made services for immigrants a key part of their mission by offering them many long-term services, such as developing job searching skills and learning English as a second language. Internet-enabled services, such as navigating the citizenship process, establishing residency, and delivering other key functions through e-government, are a recent addition. This chapter reports the findings of a multi-method study that provides insight into the development of e-government partnerships in various realms (including immigration), highlighting the extent to which these partnerships enhance the ability of libraries to overcome the various challenges that arise in connection with providing e-government services to different populations.
Critical Success Factors for E-Government Infrastructure Implementation
Authors: Janssen Marijn , Borman Mark
Published: April 2013

Effective digital government infrastructures are needed to support the policy and strategy of governments. ICT Infrastructures provide generic functionalities that are shared and used by large numbers of users. Typically, many stakeholders are involved in the implementation of the infrastructure and the infrastructure is shaped by the interactions among stakeholders. The management of the development of such infrastructures is complicated. Multiple competing agendas and needs have to be reconciled. One approach for managing and guiding its development is based on critical success factors (CSFs). CSFs are those areas that need to be given attention and are perceived to be most important to the success of the infrastructure development. The aim of the research described in this chapter is to identify CSFs for guiding shared infrastructure implementation. This research is conducted by identifying CSFs for Surfnet - which is a public organization providing a digital infrastructure for researchers, teachers and students. This infrastructure enables them to collaborate with each other. The framework of Borman and Janssen (2012) was used which classified CSF in outcome, process and operating environment characteristic categories. The CSFs suggest a need to have a well-developed infrastructure implementation strategy. It is argued that taking a CSF-based approach is suitable for guiding complex projects, but they should be revisited regularly as they might change over time.
Severe depression with Cotard’s phenomenon: treatment of a capacitated patient within the United Kingdom’s Mental Health Act 2007
Authors: Mughal Faraz , Menezes Simon B.
Published: April 2013

Treatment of Cotard’s syndrome with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been seen to be an effective treatment option when pharmacological options are not successful. Recent changes in the Mental Health Act 2007 used within the United Kingdom has resulted in clinicians unable to prescribe treatment for patients who have capacity but are not providing consent for treatment. We report a case of a patient in the UK with Cotard’s phenomenon and severe depression, where the only effective treatment of ECT was restricted due to changes in mental health law. The role of maintenance ECT as well as the ethical dilemma faced is discussed.
Localization of Atiyah classes
Authors: Abate Marco , Bracci Filippo , Suwa Tatsuo , Tovena Francesca
Published: April 2013

We construct the Atiyah classes of holomorphic vector bundles using (1,0)-connections and developing a Chern–Weil type theory, allowing us to effectively compare Chern and Atiyah forms. Combining this point of view with the Čech–Dolbeault cohomology, we prove several results about vanishing and localization of Atiyah classes, and give some applications. In particular, we prove a Bott type vanishing theorem for (not necessarily involutive) holomorphic distributions. As an example we also present an explicit computation of the residue of a singular distribution on the normal bundle of an invariant submanifold that arises from the Camacho–Sad type localization.
Strongly isospectral manifolds with nonisomorphic cohomology rings
Authors: Lauret Emilio A. , Miatello Roberto J. , Rossetti Juan P.
Published: April 2013

For any

n\ge 7

,

k\ge 3

, we give pairs of compact flat

n

-manifolds

M

,

M'

with holonomy groups

\mathbb{Z}_2^k

, that are strongly isospectral, hence isospectral on

p

-forms for all values of

p

, having nonisomorphic cohomology rings. Moreover, if

n

is even,

M

is Kähler while

M'

is not. Furthermore, with the help of a computer program we show the existence of large Sunada isospectral families; for instance, for

n= 24

and

k=3

there is a family of eight compact flat manifolds (four of them Kähler) having very different cohomology rings. In particular, the cardinalities of the sets of primitive forms are different for all manifolds.
Partial spectral multipliers and partial Riesz transforms for degenerate operators
Authors: ter Elst A. F. M. , Ouhabaz El Maati
Published: April 2013

We consider degenerate differential operators of the type

A = {-\sum_{k,j=1}^d \partial_k (a_{kj} \partial_j)}

on

L^2(\mathbb{R}^d)

with real symmetric bounded measurable coefficients. Given a function

\chi \in C_b^\infty(\mathbb{R}^d)

(respectively, a bounded Lipschitz domain

\Omega

), suppose that

(a_{kj}) \ge \mu > 0

a.e. on

\operatorname{supp} \chi

(respectively, a.e. on

\Omega

). We prove a spectral multiplier type result: if

F\colon [0, \infty) \to \mathbb{C}

is such that

\sup_{t > 0} \| \varphi(.) F(t .) \|_{C^s} < \infty

for some nontrivial function

\varphi \in C_c^\infty(0,\infty)

and some

s > d/2

then

M_\chi F(I+A) M_\chi

is weak type (1,1) (respectively,

P_\Omega F(I+A) P_\Omega

is weak type (1,1)). We also prove boundedness on

L^p

for all

p \in (1,2]

of the partial Riesz transforms

M_\chi \nabla (I + A)^{-1/2}M_ \chi

. The proofs are based on a criterion for a singular integral operator to be weak type (1,1).
La poliédrica y heterogénea protección internacional de los menores
Authors: De Bartolomé Cenzano José Carlos
Published: April 2013

El artículo versa sobre las medidas europeas de protección de uno de los colectivos más débiles: los menores.

Cada vez con más frecuencia deben salir los menores de sus países de origen para intentar ofrecer un mejor futuro a sus familiares. De otra parte, debido a la crisis económica, también globalizada y por tanto mundial, se están rompiendo las estructuras económicas del Estado social de Derecho que protegía a los colectivos más vulnerables. Los niveles prestacionales de carácter social han descendido vertiginosamente en muchos de los Estados de la Unión, sobre todo en los que de manera más feroz están viviéndola, entre ellos España.

Ante este difícil panorama, el presente artículo pretende analizar los medios de protección que se proponen desde Europa para proteger a los menores. La normativa europea está muy fragmentada, por ello, se pretende investigar los medios europeos que escapan del valor programático para atender las necesidades básicas de este colectivo.

Se repasan los instrumentos intergubernamentales sobre la materia, así como la normativa de Derecho derivado de la Unión. También se analiza los medios más flexibles y los órganos que pretenden adoptar medidas reales y de eficacia inmediata para salvar las vidas de los niños y jóvenes. En este sentido resulta muy relevante la labor que está realizando la UE a través de los diálogos con países ajenos a la Unión.

Tras el estudio, se concluye con una visión global sobre el problema de la fragmentación normativa y se realiza una propuesta de homogeneización sobre las principales garantías actuales para la protección y mejora del sistema.
Spectral structure of Pc3–4 pulsations: possible signatures of cavity modes
Authors: Sutcliffe P. R. , Heilig B. , Lotz S.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. In this study we investigate the spectral structure of Pc3–4 pulsations observed at low and midlatitudes. For this purpose, ground-based magnetometer data recorded at the MM100 stations in Europe and at two low latitude stations in South Africa were used. In addition, fluxgate magnetometer data from the CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload) low Earth orbit satellite were used. The results of our analysis suggest that at least three mechanisms contribute to the spectral content of Pc3–4 pulsations typically observed at these latitudes. We confirm that a typical Pc3–4 pulsation contains a field line resonance (FLR) contribution, with latitude dependent frequency, and an upstream wave (UW) contribution, with frequency proportional to the IMF (interplanetary magnetic field) magnitude BIMF. Besides the FLR and UW contributions, the Pc3–4 pulsations consistently contain signals at other frequencies that are independent of latitude and BIMF. We suggest that the most likely explanation for these additional frequency contributions is that they are fast mode resonances (FMRs) related to cavity, waveguide, or virtual modes. Although the above contributions to the pulsation spectral structure have been reported previously, we believe that this is the first time where evidence is presented showing that they are all present simultaneously in both ground-based and satellite data.
El papel de los museos en las redes sociales
Authors: Forteza Oliver Miquela
Published: April 2013

Analiza el rol desempeñado por los museos en el ámbito de las redes sociales, y en el contexto de una evolución necesaria de las instituciones culturales.
Criterios y fundamentos para la implementación de Centros de Recursos para el Aprendizaje y la Investigación
Authors: Zamora Fonseca Raquel
Published: April 2013

Revisa los criterios y fundamentos base para la implementación de Centros de Recursos para el Aprendizaje y la Investigación – CRAI. El análisis esta enfocado a la implementación de CRAIs en bibliotecas universitarias y a los modelos organizativos que se pueden adoptar.
Brunante d’Herménégilde Chiasson : « consigner l’émouvante fragilité »
Authors: Viau Robert
Published: April 2013

Brunante est une oeuvre emblématique du parcours de l’artiste et écrivain Herménégilde Chiasson. Dans ce recueil, Chiasson parle en son nom propre, par le truchement d’un « je » où se confondent la personne et l’écrivain dans une éloquente tentative de légitimation de son activité artistique et sociale. À défaut de mémoires, comme le démontre l’auteur de l’article, c’est une excellente introduction à la vie de Chiasson et à celle de son époque, marquée par la révolte et la tentative de développement d’un art qui soit lié à l’Acadie, tout en étant profondément ancré dans la modernité. Le questionnement de Chiasson débouche sur un savoir-faire, sur une oeuvre qui serait à la mesure d’une Acadie qui s’éveille et qui se découvre une voix.
Mariaagélas, Pélagie-la-Charrette et le folklore acadien
Authors: d’Entremont Carmen
Published: April 2013

Maillet a souvent insisté sur le caractère essentiellement oral de ses textes, ainsi que sur sa personnalité de conteuse, s’opposant par là au rôle normal de l’écrivain. Plusieurs ont donc affirmé que son oeuvre rend hommage à la tradition orale, ce qui s’est surtout fait en discutant de sa forme narrative. Or on a rarement envisagé le point de vue de l’ethnologie dans les nombreuses références à la culture populaire que Maillet emprunte directement au folklore acadien, et qui, pour l’étude de cette discipline, représente une richesse énorme. Il y a quarante ans, Maillet, par ses études doctorales, dégageait le caractère populaire de l’oeuvre rabelaisienne, afin de mesurer la richesse du folklore acadien. On peut maintenant considérer l’apport populaire de l’oeuvre mailletienne, ce que je propose à partir de deux romans, Mariaagélas et Pélagie-la-Charrette, à l’étude des légendes et des croyances superstitieuses.
La défaite de la sdn face aux nationalismes des majorités
Authors: Cussó Roser
Published: April 2013

En contraste avec d’autres unités de la sdn, la Section des minorités tend à limiter ses missions. Elle n’appuie pas l’extension des traités ni ne consulte les entités non gouvernementales ; elle n’alerte pas l’opinion publique sur la montée du fascisme. Très important, la Section contribue à consolider l’image « identitaire » des revendications nationales non étatiques. En fait, elle ne pense pas les conflits entre majorités et minorités comme des conflits politiques entre droits concurrents, à la fois collectifs et individuels. Peu étudiées jusqu’ici, les décisions sur l’irrecevabilité de certaines pétitions, notamment celles non couvertes par les traités, illustrent ces propos. Indépendamment de l’influence des grandes puissances, la Section des minorités soutient une philosophie politique favorable aux nationalismes des majorités sans contradiction avec une volonté de juridicisation du domaine.
Négocier l’accès à la santé au niveau mondial
Authors: Rollet Vincent
Published: April 2013

De nombreuses questions de santé, telles que le vih/sida, les risques liés à la consommation de tabac et d’alcool, le cancer ou encore les résistances thérapeutiques, sont désormais considérées comme des questions de santé mondiale, car elles menacent la santé à la fois des populations des pays industrialisés et de celles qui vivent dans les pays en développement. Devant ces défis sanitaires mondiaux, un nombre croissant d’acteurs locaux, nationaux et internationaux ont depuis deux décennies fait entendre leurs voix et ont participé à des négociations de portée mondiale dont l’objectif est de s’accorder sur des solutions adaptées et durables pouvant répondre aux défis actuels de la santé. De ces interactions complexes et multiniveaux a émergé un nouveau type de diplomatie connue sous le nom de diplomatie sanitaire mondiale qui est certes à l’origine d’initiatives sanitaires innovantes et efficaces permettant l’accès local à la santé, mais qui a également pu déboucher sur des situations de statu quo, voire sur des échecs.
Reliability of Hip Examination Tests for Femoroacetabular Impingement
Authors: Ratzlaff Charles , Simatovic Jacqueline , Wong Hubert , Li Linda , Ezzat Allison , Langford Dolores , Esdaile John M. , Kennedy Carol , Embley Patrick , Caves Darryl , Hopkins Trish , Cibere Jolanda
Published: April 2013

Objective

To assess the interrater reliability of hip examination tests used to assess femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) among clinicians from different disciplines.

Methods

Twelve subjects were examined by 9 clinicians using 12 hip tests drawn from a review of the literature and consultation with experts in hip pain and FAI. Examiners assessed both hips of each subject and were blinded to subject history. The order in which subjects were seen, the order of tests, and order of examination of the 2 hips within each subject were all randomized. Interrater reliability (IRR) for the 10 categorical tests was summarized using overall raw agreement (ORA), positive agreement (agreement on abnormal findings), and negative agreement (agreement on normal findings). An ORA of >0.75 was considered to indicate adequate reliability. For the 2 range of motion (ROM) outcomes, IRR was summarized using the median of the absolute difference (MAD) in measurements obtained by any 2 examiners on any patient. MAD reflects the “typical” difference (in degrees) between 2 raters.

Results

Adequate reliability (ORA >0.75) was achieved for 6 of the 10 hip examination tests with categorical outcomes. Positive agreement ranged from 0.35 to 0.84, while negative agreement ranged from 0.62 to 0.99. For the ROM outcomes, examiners were, on average, within 5° of each other for flexion and 7° for internal rotation.

Conclusion

The results provide evidence that the most common hip examination tests would likely be sufficiently reliable to allow agreement between examiners when discriminating between painful FAI and normal hips in a clinical setting.