bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of four-view radiography and conventional computed tomography analysing sacral and pelvic fractures in dogs
Authors: Senthirajah S. K. J. , Nemanic S. , Baltzer W. , Warnock J. , Bobe G. , Stieger-Vanegas S. M.
Published: March 2015

Objective: The purpose of our study was (1) to determine whether four-view radiography of the pelvis is as reliable and accurate as computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing sacral and pelvic fractures, in addition to coxofemoral and sacroiliac joint subluxation or luxation, and (2) to evaluate the effect of the amount of training in reading diagnostic imaging studies on the accuracy of diagnosing sacral and pelvic fractures in dogs.

Methods: Sacral and pelvic fractures were created in 11 canine cadavers using a lateral impactor. In all cadavers, frog-legged ventrodorsal, lateral, right and left ventro-45°-medial to dorsolateral oblique frog leg (“rollover 45-degree view”) radiographs and a CT of the pelvis were obtained. Two radiologists, two surgeons and two veterinary students classified fractures using a confidence scale and noted the duration of evaluation for each imaging modality and case. The imaging results were compared to gross dissection.

Results: All evaluators required significantly more time to analyse CT images compared to radiographic images. Sacral and pelvic fractures, specifically those of the sacral body, ischiatic table, and the pubic bone, were more accurately diagnosed using CT compared to radiography. Fractures of the acetabulum and iliac body were diagnosed with similar accuracy (at least 86%) using either modality.

Clinical significance: Computed tomography is a better method for detecting canine sacral and some pelvic fractures compared to radiography. Computed tomography provided an accuracy of close to 100% in persons trained in evaluating CT images.
Electroburning of few-layer graphene flakes, epitaxial graphene, and turbostratic graphene discs in air and under vacuum
Authors: Candini Andrea , Richter Nils , Convertino Domenica , Coletti Camilla , Balestro Franck , Wernsdorfer Wolfgang , Kläui Mathias , Affronte Marco
Published: March 2015

Graphene-based electrodes are very promising for molecular electronics and spintronics. Here we report a systematic characterization of the electroburning (EB) process, leading to the formation of nanometer-spaced gaps, on different types of few-layer graphene (namely mechanically exfoliated graphene on SiO2, graphene epitaxially grown on the C-face of SiC and turbostratic graphene discs deposited on SiO2) under air and vacuum conditions. The EB process is found to depend on both the graphene type and on the ambient conditions. For the mechanically exfoliated graphene, performing EB under vacuum leads to a higher yield of nanometer-gap formation than working in air. Conversely, for graphene on SiC the EB process is not successful under vacuum. Finally, the EB is possible with turbostratic graphene discs only after the creation of a constriction in the sample using lithographic patterning.
Généalogie d'une conquête
Authors: Cova Anne
Published: March 2015

De la fin du XIXe siècle jusqu’en 1939 des années s’écoulent durant lesquelles l’idée de protection de la maternité fait son chemin, long parcours qui n’est pas nécessairement linéaire et qui permet de saisir l’édification de l’Etat-providence en France. Il n’y a aucune loi spécifique en faveur de la protection maternelle jusqu’au début du XXe siècle. Les premières lois relatives à la protection de la maternité reconnaissent le droit de certaines mères à être protégées et l’obligation qui en découle pour l’Etat de leur assurer cette protection. Puis, ce sera l’entre-deux-guerres, où commence le cycle de l’assurance qui supplante celui de l’assistance. Les divers mouvements de femmes ne cesseront de revendiquer la protection de la maternité. Elles sont des actrices, parmi d’autres, dans la construction de cet Etat-protecteur.
Journée internationale des femmes : à la poursuite d'un mythe
Authors: Picq Françoise
Published: March 2015

Le 8 mars est célébré de par le monde comme la journée des femmes. Cette date, disait-on, commémore une grève des couturières, à New York en 1857. Il n’y a pourtant aucune trace d’un mouvement d’ouvrières à cette date dans l’histoire américaine. La Conférence Internationale des femmes socialistes, qui a décidé en 1910, d’organiser cette célébration annuelle, n’a ni fait référence à un tel événement, ni fixé la date du 8 mars. C’est plus tard, dans les années 1950 que la légende des couturières new yorkaises a pris forme et s’est diffusée. Cet article expose les étapes et les résultats de l’enquête qui a permis cette mise au point et s’interroge sur les motivations des femmes socialistes en 1910 et sur celles qui ont amené plus tard d’autres femmes à donner une origine nouvelle à cette ancienne célébration.
Un enseignement unique en son genre
Authors: Lapeyre Nathalie
Published: March 2015

Cet article vise à mettre en lumière quelques éléments de réflexion issus d’une expérience singulière d’enseignement du genre à l’université. La présente analyse d’un processus d’institutionnalisation des études féministes s’ancre essentiellement au sein de la première formation professionnelle française sur le genre. Cette dernière est centrée sur la question de l’analyse des politiques sociales au prisme des rapports sociaux de sexe. Elle fut créée il y a une vingtaine d’années, par des collègues universitaires et professionnelles, pionnières au sein d’un département de sociologie. Tout en ne perdant pas de vue que le genre est bien plus qu’un enseignement, par sa portée scientifique, symbolique et politique, nous mettrons l’accent sur la genèse de cette histoire collective, les réalisations et les conquêtes dans un contexte d’opportunités, ainsi que les véritables défis à relever. Les effets sociaux de la mise en œuvre d’un Master professionnel, ou la place du genre en dehors de l’université, seront également abordés, au regard notamment de la dynamique actuelle autour des questions d’égalité hommes-femmes.
Formation des enseignants : les résistances au genre
Authors: Salle Muriel
Published: March 2015

La mise en place du programme de l’ abcd de l’Egalité, en octobre 2013, dans un contexte de tension consécutif au vote de la loi sur le mariage dit « pour tous », a placé sur le devant de la scène médiatique des actions pédagogiques pour la promotion de l’égalité entre filles et garçons dans le système scolaire dont certaines sont pourtant déjà anciennes. Dans l’académie de Lyon, depuis plus de dix ans, les enseignants reçoivent une formation sur les problématiques de genre et d’égalité entre les sexes. Ces formations, globalement très bien accueillies, suscitent aussi parfois des résistances, en dépit du fait que les enseignants en sont très demandeurs d’une part, et qu’ils se déclarent très soucieux de promouvoir l’égalité filles/garçons et femmes/hommes d’autre part. C’est à l’analyse de ce paradoxe qu’est consacré cet article, qui veut proposer à la fois une typologie de ces résistances et des pistes de remédiation.
Emploi associatif, féminisme et genre
Authors: Flahault Érika , Dussuet Annie , Loiseau Dominique
Published: March 2015

Le féminisme des années 1970 a débouché sur la création de réseaux associatifs aujourd’hui incontournables : Planning familial, Centres d’Information sur les Droits des Femmes et des Familles, Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes. Ces réseaux, producteurs d’un service de défense et d’accès aux droits pour les femmes, remplissent une fonction de « service public », grâce à l’emploi de salariés qui sont essentiellement des femmes. A partir des résultats d’une enquête qualitative de type monographique auprès d’associations de ces réseaux, nous montrerons que, si l’on peut observer dans ces organisations des conditions d’emploi souvent précaires, il faut sans doute référer ces observations aux conditions d’emploi que rencontrent par ailleurs les femmes dans d’autres secteurs de l’économie. Autrement dit, il semble que, paradoxalement, ces organisations féministes reproduisent simplement des normes d’emploi structurées par le genre.
Orthopedic Surgery Fellowships: The Effects of Interviewing and How Residents Establish a Rank List
Authors: Niesen Matthew C. , Wong Jeffrey , Ebramzadeh Edward , Sangiorgio Sophia , SooHoo Nelson Fong , Luck James V. , Eckardt Jeffrey
Published: March 2015

The Orthopaedic Fellowship Match was established in 2008 to streamline and improve the process of matching residents and fellowships. The purpose of this study was to quantify the factors that affect the application process and to determine how residents establish a rank list. The Orthopaedic Fellowship Match has improved the ability of residents and programs to consider their options more carefully and to focus on finding the best match. However, this process introduces new factors for all parties involved to consider. The costs of the interview process and time away from service for residents may be larger than anticipated. Ultimately, residents value operative experience and staff members at a fellowship more than all other factors when selecting a fellowship. [
Orthopedics.
2015; 38(3):175–179.]
Far Cortical Locking Screws in Distal Femur Fractures
Authors: Adams John D. , Tanner Stephanie L. , Jeray Kyle J.
Published: March 2015

Distal femur fractures routinely heal by secondary bone healing, which relies on interfragmentary motion. Periarticular locking plates are commonly used for fixation in distal femur fractures but are associated with a high nonunion rate, likely due to the stiffness of the constructs. Far cortical locking (FCL) screws are designed to allow micromotion at the near cortex while maintaining purchase in only the far cortex. Although clinical data are limited, these screws have been shown in biomechanical studies to provide excellent interfragmentary motion, and animal models have shown increased callus formation compared with traditional locking screws. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical effects that FCL screws have on healing in distal femur fractures treated with locked constructs. In this retrospective case series, 15 patients with a distal femur fracture treated with MotionLoc screws (Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana) were analyzed. Serial radiographs were evaluated for callus presence and time to union. All fractures were either 33-A3 or 33-C2 according to the AO classification system, and 5 (33%) were open. Bone loss was recorded in 2 patients. There were no nonunions, and average time to union was 24 weeks. There were no implant failures, and all 5 open fractures, including the 2 with bone loss, healed without intervention. There was 1 reoperation due to painful hardware. Although this is a small case series, these results are promising. Far cortical locking screws may provide the answer to the high nonunion rate associated with distal femur fractures treated with traditional locked constructs. [
Orthopedics
. 2015; 38(3):e153–e156.]
Surgical Indications for Distal Tibial Epiphyseal Fractures in Children
Authors: Cai Haoqi , Wang Zhigang , Cai Haiqing
Published: March 2015

The goal of this study was to investigate the treatment methods and surgical indications of distal tibial epiphyseal fractures in children. Two hundred eighty-six children with distal tibial epiphyseal fractures were included in the study. Among these patients, 202 were male and 84 were female. Mean age was 11.7 years. A retrospective study on the postoperative long-term complications and related risk factors was performed. Treatment methods were determined according to the distance of fracture displacement. A long-leg cast was applied after closed reduction for patients with primary fracture displacement less than 2 mm. For cases with more than 2 mm of fracture displacement, K-wire or screw fixation was performed. For patients with less than 2 mm of fracture displacement, closed reduction and internal fixation was performed. Open reduction was performed in patients with more than 2 mm of fracture displacement, even after closed reduction. Mean follow-up was 6.4 years. Premature physeal closure occurred in 42 patients, and, among them, varus and valgus ankle deformities occurred in 16 patients. Associated fibular fractures and cast immobilization after closed reduction for Salter-Harris type III and IV fractures were risk factors for premature physeal closure. It is not effective to determine the surgical procedure according to the distance of preoperative fracture displacement for improving the prognosis of distal tibial epiphyseal fractures in children. Conservative treatment should be performed for patients with Salter-Harris type I and II distal tibial epiphyseal fractures, and surgery should be performed in patients with Salter-Harris type III and IV distal tibial epiphyseal fractures to reduce the incidence of premature physeal closure. [
Orthopedics
. 2015; 38(3):e189–e195.]
Low Prevalence of Isolated Medial Meniscal Tears in Young Females With Stable Knees
Authors: Haviv Barak , Bronak Shlomo , Thein Rafael
Published: March 2015

The information regarding isolated tears of the meniscus in stable knees (ie, without cruciate ligament tears), specifically in a younger population, is scarce. Although surgical treatment is preferred for young patients with meniscal tears, the diagnosis at this age may be misled by other sources of knee pain. The purpose of this study was to report on the prevalence and sex variance of isolated meniscal tears in a younger population based on arthroscopic findings. From a database of 2425 arthroscopic knee surgeries performed over a period of 6 years, 591 patients (480 males and 111 females) younger than 40 years were included. Patients were divided into 5 age groups and subdivided according to their surgical findings. Measures included the prevalence of meniscal tears according to sex and age groups and also odds ratio calculations for the presence of meniscal tears. Of 591 arthroscopic surgeries in young patients with stable knees, only 6 females (vs 87 males) younger than 30 years had isolated medial meniscus tears. The number of stable knees without meniscal tear at arthroscopy in all age groups was relatively high. The odds ratio for having a medial meniscal tear was significantly higher in males. The results suggest a protective mechanism for isolated medial meniscal tears in younger females as opposed to other injuries of the knee. Isolated medial meniscus tears in stable knees are uncommon in females younger than 30 years; thus, young females with suspected tears should be reevaluated and treated conservatively before considering surgical solutions. [
Orthopedics
. 2015; 38(3):e196–e199.]
A Novel Technique Using Sensor-Based Technology to Evaluate Tibial Tray Rotation
Authors: Roche Martin W. , Elson Leah C. , Anderson Christopher R.
Published: March 2015

Rotational tibiofemoral congruency and centralized patellar tracking are critical technical factors that affect the postoperative success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Several techniques are used to position the femoral component, but there is no validated method for achieving the ideal rotational position of the tibial component. It has been suggested that referencing the midmedial third of the tibial tubercle intraoperatively mitigates positional outliers. This study used data collected from intraoperative sensors to quantify the variability associated with using the midmedial third of the tibial tubercle in 170 patients undergoing primary TKA. With the sensor-equipped trial insert in place, the knee was taken into extension and the location of the femoral condylar contact point on the articular surface of the tibial insert was displayed. Rotational adjustments of the tibial tray were evaluated in real time as the surgeon corrected tray malpositioning. The initial and final angles of tibial tray rotation were captured and recorded with intraoperative video feed. When referencing the tubercle, 53% of patients had asymmetric tibiofemoral congruency in extension. Of those patients, 68% had excessive internal rotation of the tibial tray relative to the femur and 32% had excessive external rotation. The average tibiofemoral incongruency deviated from a neutral position by 6° (range, 0.5°–19.2°). Data from this evaluation suggest that use of the tibial tubercle to maximize tibiofemoral congruency is highly variable and inconsistent for confirming the final rotation of the tibial tray. [
Orthopedics.
2015; 38(3):e217–e222.]
Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fracture After Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Griesser Michael J. , McCoy Brett W. , Hussain Waqas M. , Saluan Paul
Published: March 2015

The authors present a report of a bicondylar tibial plateau fracture in an adolescent athlete after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. The procedure was performed via arthroscopic transtibial PCL reconstruction with quadrupled semi-tendinosus and gracilis autograft. The patient recovered uneventfully postoperatively and was able to participate in high-level sports activity, such as baseball and track, with no limitations, no subjective complaints, and no episodes of instability. He continued to be asymptomatic up to 3.5 years postoperatively. Almost 4 years postoperatively, the patient reinjured the left knee during recreational noncontact football and was seen emergently. Plain radiographs, magnetic resonance image scan, and computed tomography scan at the time of injury showed a bicondylar tibial plateau fracture with intra-articular involvement. Operative intervention was undertaken for open reduction and internal fixation of the bicondylar tibial plateau fracture. A plate was placed along the medial aspect of the tibia with locking and nonlocking screws, and the joint line was restored appropriately. The patient recovered uneventfully and at the most recent follow-up had full active and passive range of motion, had no subjective or objective evidence of instability, and had returned to full activity with no restrictions. The patient had no history of multiple fractures or any medical or pharmacologic history that predisposed him to decreased bone density. This case shows a unique possible complication after transtibial PCL reconstruction in an adolescent patient. [
Orthopedics.
2015; 38(3):e240–e243.]
Los derechos humanos hoy: perspectivas y retos XXII Conferencias Aranguren
Authors: Pérez Luño Antonio-Enrique
Published: March 2015

La primera parte versa sobre las generaciones de derechos humanos y analiza la evolución histórica de las libertades. Los derechos humanos nacieron en el seno de la Modernidad, con marcada impronta individualista, como libertades individuales que configuran la primera fase o generación de los derechos humanos. Dicha matriz ideológica individualista sufrirá un amplio proceso de erosión e impugnación en las luchas sociales del siglo XIX. Esos movimientos reivindicativos evidenciarán la necesidad de completar el catálogo de los derechos y libertades de la primera generación con una segunda generación de derechos: los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales. La estrategia reivindicativa de los derechos humanos se presenta hoy con rasgos inequívocamente novedosos al polarizarse en torno a temas tales como el derecho a la paz, los derechos de los consumidores, el derecho a la calidad de vida, o la libertad informática. En función de ello, se abre paso, con intensidad creciente, la convicción de que nos hallamos ante una tercera generación de derechos humanos complementadora de las fases anteriores. La segunda parte trata del impacto de la teledemocracia y la ciberciudadanía en la esfera de los derechos humanos. La temática de las generaciones de derechos se prolonga en un aspecto nuclear referente a los derechos de la tercera generación: La proyección de las NT y las TIC en el proceso político de las sociedades democráticas (teledemocracia) y, como uno de los principales aspectos de ese fenómeno, el ejercicio de los derechos humanos de participación política a través de los nuevos medios tecnológicos (ciberciudadanía). Se estudian aquí las principales ventajas y riesgos que entrañan esas proyecciones tecnológicas en el ejercicio de los derechos humanos.
¿Eugenesia liberal? Aproximaciones a partir de la propuesta anti-historicista de Michel Foucault
Authors: Gabriel Dalmau Iván
Published: March 2015

En el presente trabajo buscaremos intervenir en el debate filosófico – político actual respecto de si ciertas prácticas biomédicas pueden ser consideradas como una “nueva eugenesia liberal”. Nos centraremos, entonces, en la tríada constituida por la imbricación entre ciencias humanas, técnicas biopolíticas y tecnologías de gobierno de la población en el marco de la construcción del “capital humano” como problema, para dar cuenta genealógicamente del interrogante que opera como disparador del presente trabajo.
Las etapas del pensamiento de Savater
Authors: Rivera Juan Antonio
Published: March 2015

Marta Nogueroles es la primera autora española que ha escrito una biografía intelectual de Fernando Savater, el filósofo más leído en España y uno de los más influyentes en el mundo. El libro estudia la trayectoria intelectual de Savater desde 1970 a 2000, y distingue tres etapas en esa trayectoria, que van desde el anarquismo de sus primeros años hasta el humanismo ilustrado, cosmopolita y antinacionalista de su fase de madurez.
Factors Stimulating Entrepreneurship
Authors: Puia George M. , Affholter Joseph A. , Potts Mark D.
Published: March 2015

The World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the Heritage Foundation, and other global organizations have studied national business climates to determine optimal conditions and practices necessary to stimulate entrepreneurship and economic growth. This chapter compares select measures from the three organizations from six West African countries (Benin, Cote d'Ivorie, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone) and benchmarks their results against the United States and an unweighted average of six European Union member states. These measures are most directly tied to the establishment, protection and sustainable growth of technology or technology-dependent entrepreneurial businesses: business freedom, investment freedom, investor protection, property rights protection, technological readiness, innovation, freedom from corruption, and access to risk capital. This chapter contributes to the literature in three ways. First, it provides a broad policy comparison. Second, it benchmarks entrepreneurial readiness climates via comparisons among emerging and developed markets. Lastly, it offers recommendations for policy makers and researchers.
Gender, Entrepreneurship, and Informal Markets in Africa
Authors: Kwami Janet D.
Published: March 2015

Mainstream scholarship on entrepreneurship focuses on firms in the global north as the dominant paradigm, neglecting potential lessons to be found in the informal sector, in the global south, particularly in Africa, and among women. Local entrepreneurship practices present a valuable case study for understanding the nature of entrepreneurship in emerging economies and their contribution to social and economic development. Drawing on ethnographic data, this chapter examines gender and information and communication technology use in the Ghanaian marketplace. Market women's entrepreneurship is influenced by social capital derived from social networks drawn from strong community ties. The study found that ICTs such as mobile phone, while gendered, are central to organizing and managing these micro-enterprises. This chapter contributes to studies on entrepreneurship by drawing attention to the under-researched intersections of female entrepreneurship in the Ghanaian marketplace and ICTs in emerging economies.
Portrait of the Hispanic Entrepreneur in the United States
Authors: Bishop Deborah Ramirez , Surfield Christopher J.
Published: March 2015

The rate of entry of Hispanics into entrepreneurial activity increased from a monthly average rate of new business creation of 0.33 percent of Hispanic adults in 1996 to a rate of 0.52 percent in 2011, while remaining relatively constant for White, non-Hispanics (Fairlie, 2012). Using the NLSY, 1979 Cohort, this chapter presents a portrait of Hispanic entrepreneurs in the United States and provides a comparison to non-Hispanic entrepreneurs on a number of human capital and socio-demographic variables to develop a better understanding of the factors that contribute to the decision to pursue entrepreneurship. Comparisons are also made among Hispanic origin groups.
The Relationship between the Arab Spring Revolutions and Entrepreneurial Inhibitors, Enablers, and Activity in North Africa
Authors: Shin Henry
Published: March 2015

The purpose of this chapter is to detail the impact of the Arab Spring Revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya in regards to entrepreneurship. This study tests the validity of three hypotheses, which were whether the Arab Spring revolutions had a positive relationship with entrepreneurial inhibitors, a negative relationship with entrepreneurial enablers, and a negative relationship with entrepreneurial activity in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. This quantitative study utilized data from before, during, and after the Arab Spring Revolutions to evaluate the validity of the hypotheses. Findings determined partial validity in regard to all three relationships; more research is necessary to determine if these hypotheses can be fully validated. With only a short time frame since the end of these revolutions, future data of these factors are required to determine whether it truly was the Arab Spring Revolutions that had an impact on entrepreneurship in these countries.
Chinese Investments in Africa
Authors: Ebenezer Eva Esther Shalin , Shi Wei , Mackie Wayne E.
Published: March 2015

The chapter focuses on Chinese investment in Africa and its general impact on African businesses and its specific implications for entrepreneurship in Africa. This chapter first provides a historical overview of China's economic development to explain why China has the ability to invest in Africa. Two types of investments from China are considered: the investment from the Chinese government and the investment from various Chinese firms. This study highlights which countries the investments targeted, the amount of capital, and the business areas the Chinese and investors emphasize. The final segment highlights both positive and negative implications of the investment activities for both China and Africa. In particular, this segment emphasizes the implications for entrepreneurship in Africa.
Learning from Those Who Do
Authors: Jaber Kylie
Published: March 2015

This case study represents one of a series of personal interviews with entrepreneurs in Ghana and the United States. In particular, this chapter details the journey of American entrepreneur Terry Duperon, who started Duperon Corporation, a Michigan-based screening technologies company. In this chapter, the authors describe the motivating factors, operationalization, challenges, and successes of starting a business as experienced by Mr. Duperon. They also describe the unique challenges of family relationships and firm performance within the context of a family firm. Finally, in the spirit of learning from those who do, the authors discuss the mental attributes deemed critical for a successful business venture according to a practicing entrepreneur. The study, which takes a narrative approach, contributes to existing literature on both entrepreneurs and family business.
Improving Lives through Mobility
Authors: Misra Kaustav
Published: March 2015

Researchers must acknowledge that entrepreneurship studies could and should be carried out at multiple levels of analysis—conceptual, empirical, and practical frameworks. The authors argue that practical level analysis is critical but valuable, since the reasons for studying entrepreneurship in the practical level lies in the characteristics of the entrepreneurial phenomenon itself. Every entrepreneur is different, so it makes more sense to know them individually, and in this chapter, the authors attempt to discuss a case study on a how a successful entrepreneurial family has been running their business for half a century. While discussing mental entrepreneurial motivations, women entrepreneurs, copreneurs, and young entrepreneurs in this case study, they also focus on the external and internal challenges these entrepreneurs are facing on a daily basis. At the end, this case study makes recommendations for the prospective entrepreneur.
Mentalpreneurial Differences and Similarities
Authors: Ofori-Dankwa Joseph , Omane-Antwi Kwame Boasiako
Published: March 2015

This chapter identifies several challenges and positive trends that family businesses in Africa face. The challenges include relative lack of capital, lack of business freedom, and the high levels of corruption. Positive trends identified include infrastructural projects associated with the Chinese investments in Africa, the role of technology as a catalyst in helping social capital build-up of women entrepreneurs, and the strong correlation of good governance factors with indicators of ease of doing business. This chapter also identifies several similarities and the few differences that American and Ghanaian entrepreneurs face. Implications for research and lessons for prospective entrepreneurs are provided.
Aligning and Valuing Data-Based Wisdom Projects
Authors: Olson Brandon
Published: March 2015

Data-based wisdom projects in the form of Knowledge Management System (KMS) initiatives exhibit a high degree of failure. These failures are caused by technical, people, and organizational challenges. Although the literature provides some degree of guidance for improving the success of KMS initiatives, an overall approach to ensure the KMS meets the needs of the organization does not exist. In this chapter, the common challenges to KMS implementations are discussed and the factors leading to more successful KMS implementation evaluated. Using the findings from the challenges and success factors, a conceptual framework is presented as an approach to increase the success of KMS initiatives. The proposed framework uses strategic alignment and organizational value as drivers in the KMS efforts. The framework applies a multi-dimensional strategy and the Project Portfolio Management (PPM) approach to govern KMS initiatives in an effort to maximize the value offered by the KMS and to ensure the KMS supports the organization's strategies.
Big Data Literacy
Authors: Christozov Dimitar , Toleva-Stoimenova Stefka
Published: March 2015

The chapter addresses the problems of digital divide in the light of learning from data in the era of accumulated, available, and accessible Big Data. The phenomenon of Big Data arose in the last years and offered new dimensions of digital divide: the challenge that the human society faces since the appearance of computer technology. Objectives of this chapter are to highlight problems and barriers in learning from Big Data and to initiate discussion on the ways to overcome those new challenges. The chapter tries to define the “Big Data Phenomenon,” to identify the phases and activities in the process of learning from data, and to relate them to learning from Big Data. As a result, a paradigm of competences and barriers for acquiring Big Data literacy are proposed as a new dimension of literacy in dividing the human society.
Generating Data by Gamifying Education
Authors: Gubic Aleksandar
Published: March 2015

The main focus of this chapter is to present how data generated by gamifying education affects the grading process and student engagement. One of the challenges facing modern society is the overall lack of engagement. This is particularly the case in education when frequent tasks and assignments are not approached with a high level of commitment. A relatively new technique has been developed and is showing great potential in a wide array of fields including education. Gamification is the process of applying game mechanics and a way of thinking to real-world tasks with a goal to improve engagement. Gamifying education generates new types of data that can be used in the process of assessing a student's performance as well as effectively improving engagement. The key to implementing gamification is to understand what types of data can be generated. As the amount of data varies depending on which specific components are applied, the task of its interpretation and contextualisation is vital for a successful outcome.
Developing Social Media Policies
Authors: Jones Jennifer Amanda
Published: March 2015

Nonprofit organizations engaged in social media outreach face numerous risks. One way to minimize risk is to develop policies and procedures. Social media policies have gained popularity in recent years but little research has been conducted about their effectiveness. As a result, nonprofit organizations often develop social media policies without the guidance of best practice models. The Vista Community Clinic responded to this challenge by developing a Technology Outreach Committee. The committee, which includes employees from a variety of programs and departments, meets regularly to discuss strategies, identify challenges, and brainstorm solutions. As this case documents, a team learning approach allows the organization to incorporate diverse skillsets, manage the creative tension between a somewhat bureaucratic organization and a highly fluid social media environment, minimize risks in high risk patient/client outreach, and garner employee confidence in the policy.
Building Information Modelling in Cameroon
Authors: Abanda F. H. , Manjia M. B. , Pettang C. , Tah Joseph H. M. , Nkeng G. E.
Published: March 2015

BIM has recently gained ground in developed countries. However, the use of BIM in developing countries including Cameroon is not well-known. In this study, BIM implementation in Cameroon is explored. The research methods used are a pilot study, electronic email surveys and in-depth phone interviews. Altogether, 179 professionals having at least a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering from the National Advanced School of Engineering Yaoundé I - Cameroon, a leading engineering institution in Francophone Africa, were sampled. Forty six provided feedback yielding a response rate of 25.7%. It emerged that some BIM software are already being used in Cameroon. However, major barriers hindering BIM uptake are high license fee and lack of huge projects that can pay off the cost of investment in BIM. Perhaps, partly because the respondents were highly skilled, it emerged that the lack of expertise was/is not a major problem to use BIM in projects. Although this study is limited to Cameroon, many recommendations could be relevant to other African countries.
HPC in Weather Forecast
Authors: Monteiro André , Teixeira Cláudio , Pinto Joaquim S.
Published: March 2015

Many traditional High-Performance Computing systems rely on hardware performance as well as compiler parallelization. The increased demand on computing resources rapidly escalates costs, which are the bigger limitation nowadays in both public and private sector. Cutting costs stimulates the research for new solutions, which are being opened by Cloud Computing. Virtualization becomes the key to migration and delivering intensive computing applications becomes more proficient than ever, thus providing the motivation for a change to the Cloud. This paper presents a case study of how to migrate an application and optimize performance without significant cost growth based on Cloud Computing applied to weather forecasting.
TrimCloud
Authors: Gomez Beatriz
Published: March 2015

Virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs) are a system on a server platform that hosts multiple virtual machines (VMs). Traditionally, VDIs are on-premise and thus are completely supported and maintained internally by an organization; hence, they can be costly and inefficient to maintain and support. In this paper, TrimCloud is proposed as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution to on-premise VDIs by reducing the costs, labor, and the worries of installing, implementing, and maintaining a VDI. TrimCloud, which uses the VirtualBox program as its hypervisor, delivers isolated virtual environments through the cloud using OpenVPN for added security. The TrimCloud Web App offers a point of access where the client manages the administrative duties including selecting the specifications for their virtual machines. The prototype implementation of TrimCloud is currently available at the TrimCloud website. This paper examines the capabilities, advantages, and limitations of using the SaaS solution TrimCloud.
Cloud Computing for Global Software Development
Authors: Al-Rousan Thamer
Published: March 2015

The cloud computing paradigm offers an innovative and promising vision concerning Information and Communications Technology. Actually, it provides the possibility of improving IT systems management and is changing the way in which hardware and software are designed and purchased. This paper introduces challenges in Global Software Development (GSD) and application of cloud computing platforms as a solution to some problems. Even though cloud computing provides compelling benefits and cost-effective options for GSD, new risks and difficulties must be taken into account. Thus, the paper presents a study about the risk issues involved in cloud computing. It highlights the different types of risks and how their existence can affect GSD. It also proposes a new risk management process model. The risk model employs new processes for risk analysis and assessment. Its aim is to analyse cloud risks quantitatively and, consequently, prioritise them according to their impact on different GSD objectives.
From Street Protests to Facebook Campaigns
Authors: Rathnayake Chamil
Published: March 2015

This study examines effects of political cynicism and efficacy on online political engagement of Sri Lankan undergraduates. A survey was conducted among 155 Sri Lankan undergraduates that support the views of the Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF), an evidently anti-government student movement that claims to be dedicated to protecting free education in the country. Initial analysis showed that respondents were highly cynical (mean: 4.49 on a 1 to 5 scale). The study hypothesized that both political cynicism and efficacy exert a positive impact on online political engagement of respondents. The study also tested the effects of two moderators (extent of Facebook use, and the year of study). Results showed that political cynicism exerts a positive impact (standardized coefficient:.274, p:.000) on online political engagement, and this effect is positively moderated by the extent of Facebook use (standardized coefficient:.261, p:.000). Results also showed that internal political efficacy is not a significant predictor of the dependent variable.
Game Theoretic Study of Cooperative Spectrum Leasing in Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Afghah Fatemeh , Razi Abolfazl
Published: March 2015

In this paper, a novel property-right spectrum leasing solution based on Stackelberg game is proposed for Cognitive Radio Networks (CRN), where part of the secondary users present probabilistic dishonest behavior. In this model, the Primary User (PU) as the spectrum owner allows the Secondary User (SU) to access the shared spectrum for a fraction of time in exchange for providing cooperative relaying service by the SU. A reputation based mechanism is proposed that enables the PU to monitor the cooperative behavior of the SUs and restrict its search space at each time slot to the secondary users that do not present dishonest behavior in the proceeding time slots. The proposed reputation-based solution outperforms the classical Stackelberg games from both primary and reliable secondary users' perspectives. This novel method of filtering out unreliable users increases the PU's expected utility over consecutive time slots and also encourages the SUs to follow the game rule.
Advances on Concept Drift Detection in Regression Tasks Using Social Networks Theory
Authors: Barddal Jean Paul , Gomes Heitor Murilo , Enembreck Fabrício
Published: March 2015

Mining data streams is one of the main studies in machine learning area due to its application in many knowledge areas. One of the major challenges on mining data streams is concept drift, which requires the learner to discard the current concept and adapt to a new one. Ensemble-based drift detection algorithms have been used successfully to the classification task but usually maintain a fixed size ensemble of learners running the risk of needlessly spending processing time and memory. In this paper the authors present improvements to the Scale-free Network Regressor (SFNR), a dynamic ensemble-based method for regression that employs social networks theory. In order to detect concept drifts SFNR uses the Adaptive Window (ADWIN) algorithm. Results show improvements in accuracy, especially in concept drift situations and better performance compared to other state-of-the-art algorithms in both real and synthetic data.
A Proposed Validation Method for a Benchmarking Methodology
Authors: George Tudorica Bogdan
Published: March 2015

The aim of this paper is to describe a meaning to validate a previously proposed benchmark method targeted at NoSQL databases. The method described here is based on a statistical analysis of the results given by the benchmarking software. The reason for proposing such a validation method is the opinion of the author that any benchmarking methodology should be both based on a rigorous algorithm and verified in a thorough way (by validation and by testing) before practical use.
Market Factors, Training Programs, Strategic Management and Performance
Authors: Zamani Mahmoud , Valmohammadi Changiz , Moshiri Mona
Published: March 2015

The main purpose of this study is to carry out an empirical research to investigate the relationship between market factors (competitive intensity and industry attractiveness), training programs development, strategic management and organizational performance of insurance companies in Iran. nda clarify the importance role of market forces as an essential factor influencing training programs development, strategic management and organizational performance in insurance companies in the context of Iran. This research is based on an empirical survey of marketing and sales experts in four private insurance companies, namely Saman, Parsian, Karafarin and Pasargad in capital city of Iran, Tehran. Questionnaire is the main data collection instrument for this research. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses as well as structure equation modeling were employed for data analysis. Statistical analyses revealed that competitive intensity, industry attractiveness, training programs development and strategic management have a positive and significant relationship with the organizational performance of the surveyed companies.
Logic of Growth
Authors: Najmaei Arash
Published: March 2015

Business literature has paid a remarkable deal of attention to the growth of the firm. Despite the enormity of research about this phenomenon the role of business model in this context has surprisingly received little attention. In some cases, it has also been mistakenly equated with the strategy of the firm. In this research the authors address these two issues in two steps. First the authors clarify the concept of business model and distinguish it from the concept of strategy. Second the authors show what roles these two can play in the growth of the firm separately and jointly. Therefore this research can serve two purposes: 1) to advance understanding of growth as a complicated phenomenon from the perspective of business model and its interactions with strategy and 2) to provoke further empirical and theoretical research on this emergent area of inquiry. The main conclusion drawn from this analysis is that, although business model is not strategy however these two are intertwined and their interactions form the underlying assumptions by which a firm grows.
The Ethics of Neuroenhancement
Authors: Wagner Nils-Frederic , Robinson Jeffrey , Wiebking Christine
Published: March 2015

According to several recent studies, a big chunk of college students in North America and Europe uses so called ‘smart drugs' to enhance their cognitive capacities aiming at improving their academic performance. With these practices, there comes a certain moral unease. This unease is shared by many, yet it is difficult to pinpoint and in need of justification. Other than simply pointing to the medical risks coming along with using non-prescribed medication, the salient moral question is whether these practices are troubling in and of themselves. In due consideration of empirical insights into the concrete effects of smart drugs on brain and behavior, our attempt is to articulate wherein this moral unease consists and to argue for why the authors believe cognitive enhancement to be morally objectionable. The authors will contend that the moral problem with these practices lies less in the end it seeks, than in the underlying human disposition it expresses and promotes. Some might ask, what is wrong with molding our cognitive capacities to achieve excellence, get a competitive edge, or, as the whim takes us? In all of these occasions, the usage of smart drugs serves a certain goal, a telos. The goal is, broadly speaking, this: outsmarting opponents in an arms race for limited resources and thereby yielding a competitive edge. In plain words: competition is valued higher than cooperation or solidarity. What is wrong with striving for this goal? The authors submit that the question whether people really want to live in a society that promotes the mentality ‘individual competition over societal cooperation' deserves serious consideration. In developing their answer, the authors draw on an ‘Ethics of Constraint' framework, arguing that widespread off-label use of smart drugs bears the risk of negative neural/behavioral consequences for the individual that might, in the long run, be accompanied by changing social value orientations for the worse.
Citizen Perspectives on the Customization/Privacy Paradox Related to Smart Meter Implementation
Authors: Winter Jenifer Sunrise
Published: March 2015

This paper employs the framework of contextual integrity related to privacy developed by as a tool to understand citizen response to implementation of residential smart metering technology. To identify and understand specific changes in information practices brought about by the introduction of smart meters, citizens were interviewed, read a description of planned smart grid/meter implementation, and were asked to reflect on changes in the key actors involved, information attributes, and principles of transmission. Areas where new practices emerge with the introduction of the smart grid were then highlighted as potential problems (privacy violations). Issues identified in this study included concern about unauthorized use and sharing of personal data, data leaks or spoofing via hacking, the blurring distinction between the home and public space, and inferences made from new data types aggregated with other personal data that could be used to unjustly discriminate against individuals or groups.
A Hybrid Cloud Model for Cloud Adoption by Multinational Enterprises
Authors: He Wu , Wang Feng-Kwei
Published: March 2015

As a new IT paradigm for users, cloud computing has the potential to transform the way that IT resources are utilized and consumed. Many multinational enterprises (MNEs) are interested in cloud computing but do not know how to adopt and implement cloud computing in their enterprise settings. In an effort to help MNEs understand cloud computing and develop successful enterprise adoption strategies for cloud computing, the authors propose a hybrid cloud model for MNEs and illustrate the utility of this model by using two case studies. Insights for adopting and implementing this model in international settings are provided as well.