bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Réflexions sur la délinquance et la psychothérapie chez les auteurs inspirés par Anna Freud (1945-1965) : émergence des premières théories de l'adolescence
Authors: Houssier Florian
Published: May 2010

Résumé L’essor de la psychanalyse de l’adolescence passe par A. Freud : après la Seconde Guerre mondiale, elle entraîne dans son sillage un courant de pensée sur ce thème, alors qu’on ne trouve guère d’auteur kleinien qui aurait marqué cette période par ses travaux sur l’adolescence. En reprenant les écrits significatifs des auteurs annafreudiens de l’après-guerre, nous tentons de ressaisir les principales contributions théorico-cliniques qui ont ouvert sur la spécificité de la psychanalyse de l’adolescent. Notre méthode passe par un travail de restitution commentée de ces textes exhumés, à partir de deux thèmes récurrents dans ces travaux : la délinquance et la psychothérapie.
Two new species of Dendrobrachia Brook, 1889 (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Dendrobrachiidae) from the north-eastern Atlantic and western Mediterranean
Authors: López-González Pablo J. , Cunha Marina R.
Published: May 2010

Examination of recent benthic material collected during several cruises in the Gulf of Cadiz (NE Atlantic) and the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean) has allowed the taxonomic reassessment of some previously identified specimens belonging to the monogeneric gorgonian family Dendrobrachiidae Brook, 1889. Dendrobrachia fallax Brook, 1889 is the type species of the single genus in this family, and was originally described from Ascension Island (South Atlantic). Subsequently, other authors reported the presence of this species in Cape Verde Islands (north-eastern Atlantic) and some Mediterranean localities (Alboran Sea and the Strait of Sicily). The study of the specimen from the Prince of Monaco collections in Cape Verde Islands, and recently collected material from the Gulf of Cadiz (north-eastern Atlantic) and in the south of Malta (Mediterranean), materials previously considered as D. fallax, allow us to recognize two undescribed species in this genus. All previous records of D. fallax from the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean should be considered incorrect. Opresko and Bayer (1991) added two additional species of Dendrobrachia. Two new species are described here and compared with their congeners.
Phenotypic plasticity in the Caribbean sponge Callyspongia vaginalis (Porifera: Haplosclerida)
Authors: López-Legentil Susanna , Erwin Patrick M. , Henkel Timothy P. , Loh Tse-Lynn , Pawlik Joseph R.
Published: May 2010

Sponge morphological plasticity has been a long-standing source of taxonomic difficulty. In the Caribbean, several morphotypes of the sponge Callyspongia vaginalis have been observed. To determine the taxonomic status of three of these morphotypes and their relationship with the congeneric species C. plicifera and C. fallax, we compared the spicule composition, spongin fiber skeleton and sequenced fragments of the mitochondrial genes 16S and COI and nuclear genes 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA. Phylogenetic analyses with ribosomal markers 18S and 28S rRNA confirmed the position of our sequences within the Callyspongiidae. None of the genetic markers provided evidence for consistent differentiation among the three morphotypes of C. vaginalis and C. fallax, and only C. plicifera stood as a distinct species. The 16S mtDNA gene was the most variable molecular marker for this group, presenting a nucleotide variability (π = 0.024) higher than that reported for COI. Unlike recent studies for other sponge genera, our results indicate that species in the genus Callyspongia maintain a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, and that morphological characteristics may not reflect reproductive boundaries in C. vaginalis.
Composition and distribution of subtidal and intertidal crustacean assemblages in soft-bottoms of the Ria de Vigo (NW Spain)
Authors: Cacabelos Eva , Lourido Antía , Troncoso Jesús S.
Published: May 2010

The intertidal and subtidal soft-bottoms of the inner area of the Ria de Vigo (NW Spain) were sampled in November and December 1999, and spatial distribution of crustacean species was examined. Environmental variables from water and sediment were measured at each sampling site. Amphipods and myocopids were the numerically dominant orders (49.9 and 26.9% dominance), amphipods accounting for more than 54% of identified taxa. The highest crustacean densities occurred with 55-41 species and 5953.6-4346.4 ind. m–2 in external areas, where the diversity index reached the maximum values. Multivariate techniques revealed that distribution of crustaceans in the inlet was highly dependent on depth. Ordination analysis determined three major assemblages: Intertidal bottoms colonized by seagrasses and subjected to strong variations of salinity were dominated by the amphipod Melita palmata, harpacticoids and the isopod Idotea baltica (Group A). The amphipod Corophium cf. runcicorne and the cumacean Iphinoe tenella predominated in the muddy bottoms of central areas (Group B). These species were also present in the deep muddy bottoms of the mouth of the inlet, with high carbonate and gravel contents, and with the myocopids and the amphipod Microdeutopus cf. armatus displaying maximum dominances (Group C).
DNA extraction from formalin-fixed tissue: new light from the deep sea
Authors: Palero Ferran , Hall Sally , Clark Paul F. , Johnston David , Mackenzie-Dodds Jackie , Thatje Sven
Published: May 2010

DNA samples were extracted from ethanol and formalin-fixed decapod crustacean tissue using a new method based on Tetramethylsilane (TMS)-Chelex. It is shown that neither an indigestible matrix of cross-linked protein nor soluble PCR inhibitors impede PCR success when dealing with formalin-fixed material. Instead, amplification success from formalin-fixed tissue appears to depend on the presence of unmodified DNA in the extracted sample. A staining method that facilitates the targeting of samples with a high content of unmodified DNA is provided.
Tentacle cnidae of the sea anemone Metridium senile (Linnaeus, 1761) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)
Authors: Östman Carina , Roat Kultima Jens , Roat Carsten
Published: May 2010

Tentacle cnidae of Metridium senile (Linnaeus, 1761) were examined by light microscopy. In addition to spirocysts, feeding-tentacles had 3 nematocyst categories grouped into medium and small size-classes, including 5 types. Spirocysts dominated, especially distally, followed by medium b-mastigophores. The density of cnidae decreased towards the tentacle base. Early cnidoblasts were numerous on the tentacle tip. Late cnidoblasts appeared in a moderate number on the mid-tentacle. Catch-tentacles, found in two Metridium specimens, had a maturity gradient of isorhizas and gland cells along their length. Their tip had two distinct types of mature isorhizas in great numbers and large gland cells, but lacked spirocysts. Mature isorhizas and gland cells decreased in number towards the tentacle base. On the mid-tentacle differentiating ages of isorhizas were numerous. Ordinary feeding-tentacle cnidae, abundant at the tentacle base, decreased in number distally along the tentacle.
Social Software for Bottom-Up Knowledge Networking and Community Building
Authors: Chatti Mohamed Amine
Published: May 2010

Recognizing that knowledge is a key asset for better performance and that knowledge is a human and social activity, building ecologies that foster knowledge networking and community building becomes crucial. Over the past few years, social software has become an important medium to connect people, bridge communities, and leverage collaborative knowledge creation and sharing. In this chapter we explore how social software can support the building and maintaining of knowledge ecologies and discuss the social landscape within different social software mediated communities and networks.
Weaving a Knowledge Web with Wikis
Authors: Parker Kevin R. , Chao Joseph T.
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces wikis in the context of social software, focusing on their powerful information sharing and collaboration features. It begins by defining the wiki concept and then discussing the evolution of wikis, explaining how they first emerged and how they have evolved over time. The social software aspect of wikis is then analyzed, examining how wikis can engender collaborative efforts. It investigates ways in which wikis help to develop communities of users, and finally some of the features that enhance the appeal of wikis as social software. The authors hope that by examining a software tool that users may have already encountered, that they will be better able to understand the basic concepts and value of social software. Further, as future trends are discussed, it is hoped that readers will be able to see the value of incorporating social aspects into both existing and as yet undeveloped software applications.
Who Talks with Whom
Authors: Hänninen Seppo J. , Stenholm Pekka , Vapola T. J. , Kauranen Ilkka
Published: May 2010

Knowledge sharing has a strong effect on the success of the born globals. The objective of the chapter is to create a better understanding of the impact of knowledge sharing in the value network of born globals. The study builds on co-opetitive theory, which has its underpinnings in the cooperative game theory. The present study is based on 51 interviews within 31 companies that have participated in a technology program financed by an agency funding technology and innovation development. All the companies were small or medium-sized. In the study, correlations between having discussions with various stakeholders are analyzed. The tentative empirical results are in line with the essential nature of co-opetitive relationships in which various actors engage in knowledge sharing regardless of whether they are competing or not.
Illustrating Knowledge Networks as Sociograms
Authors: Hrastinski Stefan
Published: May 2010

This chapter looks at the concept of sociograms that has great illustrative importance in some circumstances, especially for studying small knowledge networks. It is argued that the sociogram approach might be particularly useful for those who view learning and participation in knowledge networks as an inherently social phenomenon. Then, the sociogram approach is described and benefits and limitations of different approaches are discussed. The chapter also includes an exercise, web resources, further readings, and suggestions for possible paper titles.
Acquiring and Sharing Knowledge Through Inter-Organizational Benchlearning
Authors: Lemmergaard Jeanette
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces inter-organizational knowledge acquisition and sharing as a means to facilitate benchlearning within the field of human resource management. The chapter presents an interactive web-based portal and demonstrates how valuable knowledge can be released from organizational “silo centers” and be passed around to the benefit of both organizations and academia. In general, human resource departments struggle to demonstrate their validity to the business and their ability to accomplish business objectives. In addition, human resource departments generally lack the ability to speak of their accomplishments in a business language. The presented portal assists human resource professionals in making more efficient and qualitative decisions that are not based on good guesswork or mere instinct, but on facts and knowledge. The portal is novel in its approach of facilitating benchlearning across organizational boundaries and within the soft area of human resource management.
Pattern Discovery in Gene Expression Data
Authors: Kerr Gráinne , Ruskin Heather , Crane Martin
Published: May 2010

Microarray technology1 provides an opportunity to monitor mRNA levels of expression of thousands of genes simultaneously in a single experiment. The enormous amount of data produced by this high throughput approach presents a challenge for data analysis: to extract meaningful patterns, to evaluate its quality, and to interpret the results. The most commonly used method of identifying such patterns is cluster analysis. Common and sufficient approaches to many data-mining problems, for example, Hierarchical, K-means, do not address well the properties of “typical” gene expression data and fail, in significant ways, to account for its profile. This chapter clarifies some of the issues and provides a framework to evaluate clustering in gene expression analysis. Methods are categorised explicitly in the context of application to data of this type, providing a basis for reverse engineering of gene regulation networks. Finally, areas for possible future development are highlighted.
Fuzzy Neural Network Models for Knowledge Discovery
Authors: Kulkarni Arun , McCaslin Sara
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces fuzzy neural network models as means for knowledge discovery from databases. It describes architectures and learning algorithms for fuzzy neural networks. In addition, it introduces an algorithm for extracting and optimizing classification rules from a trained fuzzy neural network. As an illustration, multispectral satellite images have been analyzed using fuzzy neural network models. The authors hope that fuzzy neural network models and the methodology for generating classification rules from data samples provide a valuable tool for knowledge discovery. The algorithms are useful in a variety of data mining applications such as environment change detection, military reconnaissance, crop yield prediction, financial crimes and money laundering, and insurance fraud detection.
Evolutionary Computing
Authors: Potok Thomas E. , Cui Xiaohui , Jiao Yu
Published: May 2010

The rate at which information overwhelms humans is significantly more than the rate at which humans have learned to process, analyze, and leverage this information. To overcome this challenge, new methods of computing must be formulated, and scientist and engineers have looked to nature for inspiration in developing these new methods. Consequently, evolutionary computing has emerged as new paradigm for computing, and has rapidly demonstrated its ability to solve real-world problems where traditional techniques have failed. This field of work has now become quite broad and encompasses areas ranging from artificial life to neural networks. This chapter specifically focuses on two sub-areas of nature-inspired computing: Evolutionary Algorithms and Swarm Intelligence.
Particle Identification Using Light Scattering
Authors: Bartholomew-Biggs M. C. , Ulanowski Z. , Zakovic S.
Published: May 2010

We discuss some experience of solving an inverse light scattering problem for single, spherical, homogeneous particles using least squares global optimization. If there is significant noise in the data, the particle corresponding to the “best” solution may not correspond well to the “actual” particle. One way of overcoming this difficulty involves the use of peak positions in the experimental data as a means of distinguishing genuine from spurious solutions. We introduce two composite approaches which combine conventional data fitting with peak-matching and show that they lead to a more robust identification procedure.
A Fuzzy Decision Tree Analysis of Traffic Fatalities in the US
Authors: Beynon Malcolm J.
Published: May 2010

This chapter considers the role of fuzzy decision trees as a tool for intelligent data analysis in domestic travel research. It demonstrates the readability and interpretability the findings from fuzzy decision tree analysis can pertain, first presented in a small problem allowing the fullest opportunity for the analysis to be followed. The investigation of the traffic fatalities in the states of the US offers an example of a more comprehensive fuzzy decision tree analysis. The graphical representations of the fuzzy based membership functions show how the necessary linguistic terms are defined. The final fuzzy decision trees, both tutorial and US traffic fatalities based, show the structured form the analysis offers, as well as more readable decision rules contained therein.
New Churn Prediction Strategies in the Telecom Industry
Authors: Ruta Dymitr , Adl Christoph , Nauck Detlef
Published: May 2010

In the telecom industry, high installation and marketing costs make it six to 10 times more expensive to acquire a new customer than it is to retain an existing one. Prediction and prevention of customer churn is therefore a key priority for industrial research. While all the motives of customer decision to churn are highly uncertain there is a lot of related temporal data generated as a result of customer interaction with the service provider. The major problem with this data is its time discontinuity resulting from the transactional character of events they describe. Moreover, such irregular temporal data sequences are typically a chaotic mixture of different data types, which further hinders its exploitation for any predictive task. Existing churn prediction methods like decision trees typically classify customers into churners and non-churners based on the static data collected in a snapshot of time while completely ignoring the timing of churn and hence the circumstances of this event. In this work, we propose new churn prediction strategies that are suitable for application at different levels of the information content available in customers’ data. Gradually enriching the data information content from the prior churn rate and lifetime expectancy then typical static events data up to decay-weighted data sequences, we propose a set of new churn prediction tools based on: customer lifetime modelling, hidden markov model (HMM) of customer events, and the most powerful k nearest sequence (kNS) algorithm that deliver robust churn predictions at different levels of data availability. Focussing further on kNS we demonstrate how the sequential techprocessing of appropriately pre-processed data streams lead to better performance of customer churn prediction. Given histories of other customers and the current customer data, the presented kNS uses an original combination of sequential nearest neighbour algorithm and original sequence aggregation technique to predict the whole remaining customer data sequence path up to the churn event. On the course of experimental trials, it is demonstrated that the new kNS model better exploits time-ordered customer data sequences and surpasses existing churn prediction methods in terms of performance and capabilities offered.
Intelligent Classification and Ranking Analyses Using CARBS
Authors: Beynon Malcolm J.
Published: May 2010

This chapter demonstrates intelligent data analysis, within the environment of uncertain reasoning, using the recently introduced CaRBS technique that has its mathematical rudiments in Dempster-Shafer theory. A series of classification and ranking analyses are undertaken on a bank rating application, looking at Moody’s bank financial strength rating (BFSR). The results presented involve the association of each bank to being low or high BFSR, with emphasis is on the graphical exposition of the results including the use of a series of simplex plots. Throughout the analysis there is discussion on how the present of ignorance in the results should be handled, whether it should be excluded (belief) or included (plausibility) in the evidence supporting the classification or ranking of the banks.
Analysis of Individual Risk Attitude for Risk Management Based on Cumulative Prospect Theory
Authors: Hsu Fei-Chen , Wang Hsiao-Fan
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, we used Cumulative Prospect Theory to propose an individual risk management process (IRM) including a risk analysis stage and a risk response stage. According to an individual’s preferential structure, an individual’s risk level for the confronted risk can be identified from risk analysis. And based on a response evaluation model, the appropriate response strategy is assessed at the risk response stage. The applicability of the proposed model is evaluated by an A-C court case. The results have shown that the proposed method is able to provide more useful and pertinent information than the traditional method of decision tree by using the expected monetary value (EMV).
Neural Networks and Bootstrap Methods for Regression Models with Dependent Errors
Authors: Giordano Francesco , La Rocca Michele , Perna Cira
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces the use of the bootstrap in a nonlinear, nonparametric regression framework with dependent errors. The aim is to construct approximate confidence intervals for the regression function which is estimated by using a single hidden layer feedforward neural network. In this framework, the use of a standard residual bootstrap scheme is not appropriate and it may lead to results that are not consistent. As an alternative solution, we investigate the AR-Sieve bootstrap and the Moving Block bootstrap, which are used to generate bootstrap replicates with a proper dependence structure. Both approaches are nonparametric bootstrap schemes, a consistent choice when dealing with neural network models which are often used as an accurate nonparametric estimation and prediction tool. In this context, both procedures may lead to satisfactory results but the AR sieve bootstrap seems to outperform the moving block bootstrap delivering confidence intervals with coverages closer to the nominal levels.
Financial Crisis Modeling and Prediction with a Hilbert-EMD-Based SVM Approachs
Authors: Yu Lean , Wang Shouyang , Lai Kin Keung
Published: May 2010

Financial crisis is a kind of typical rare event, but it is harmful to economic sustainable development if occurs. In this chapter, a Hilbert-EMD-based intelligent learning approach is proposed to predict financial crisis events for early-warning purpose. In this approach a typical financial indicator currency exchange rate reflecting economic fluctuation condition is first chosen. Then the Hilbert-EMD algorithm is applied to the economic indicator series. With the aid of the Hilbert-EMD procedure, some intrinsic mode components (IMCs) of the data series with different scales can be obtained. Using these IMCs, a support vector machine (SVM) classification paradigm is used to predict the future financial crisis events based upon some historical data. For illustration purposes, two typical Asian countries including South Korea and Thailand suffered from the 1997-1998 disastrous financial crisis experience are selected to verify the effectiveness of the proposed Hilbert-EMD-based SVM methodology.
Quality in Model Driven Engineering
Authors: Punter Teade , Voeten Jeroen
Published: May 2010

This chapter argues that embedded systems design faces several challenges of which late integration and the difference in development productivity between disciplines are major ones. Model driven engineering (MDE) looks a promising approach to address these challenges. However, MDE is a new approach which has to be defined and implemented in close interaction by academia and industry the near future. We therefore provide a conceptual framework to understand the possibilities and the flaws in quality assurance in the MDE design flow.
Evaluating Performance of Software Architecture Models with the Palladio Component Model
Authors: Koziolek Heiko , Becker Steffen , Reussner Ralf , Happe Jens
Published: May 2010

Techniques from model-driven software development are useful to analyse the performance of a software architecture during early development stages. Design models of software models can be transformed into analytical or simulation models, which enable analyzing the response times, throughput, and resource utilization of a system before starting the implementation. This chapter provides an overview of the Palladio Component Model (PCM), a special modeling language targeted at model-driven performance predictions. The PCM is accompanied by several model transformations, which derive stochastic process algebra, queuing network models, or Java source code from a software design model. Software architects can use the results of the analytical models to evaluate the feasibility of performance requirements, identify performance bottlenecks, and support architectural design decisions quantitatively. The chapter provides a case study with a component-based software architecture to illustrate the performance prediction process.
Measuring Models
Authors: Monperrus Martin , Jézéquel Jean-Marc , Champeau Joël , Hoeltzener Brigitte
Published: May 2010

Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) is an approach to software development that uses models as primary artifacts, from which code, documentation and tests are derived. One way of assessing quality assurance in a given domain is to define domain metrics. We show that some of these metrics are supported by models. As text documents, models can be considered from a syntactic point of view i.e., thought of as graphs. We can readily apply graph-based metrics to them, such as the number of nodes, the number of edges or the fan-in/fan-out distributions. However, these metrics cannot leverage the semantic structuring enforced by each specific metamodel to give domain specific information. Contrary to graph-based metrics, more specific metrics do exist for given domains (such as LOC for programs), but they lack genericity. Our contribution is to propose one metric, called s, that is generic over metamodels and allows the easy specification of an open-ended wide range of model metrics.
Transitioning from Code-Centric to Model-Driven Industrial Projects
Authors: Staron Miroslaw
Published: May 2010

Introducing Model Driven Software Development (MDSD) into industrial projects is rarely done as a “green field” development. The usual path is to make a transition from code-centric (CC) development in existing projects into MDSD in a step-wise manner. Similarly to all other software development activities; software quality assurance needs to be adjusted to meet the new challenges arising when using models instead of the code for the mainstream development. In this chapter we present a set of empirical data on the issues related to transitioning from CC to MDSD projects in industry. First; we present results from a set of experiments evaluating how a domain specific notation affects the effectiveness and efficiency of reading techniques used for inspecting models. Second; we present a comparison of productivity increase when changing to MDSD projects from one of the large Swedish companies. Finally we present a short survey on the prioritization of products; projects; and resource metrics in MDSD projects.
Quality-Driven Model Transformations
Authors: Abrahão Silvia , Genero Marcela , Insfran Emilio , Ángel Carsí José , Ramos Isidro , Piattini Mario
Published: May 2010

Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) is a software engineering approach that promotes the use of models and model transformations as primary development artifacts. Usually; there are several ways to transform a source model into a target model. Alternative target models may have the same functionality but may differ in their quality attributes (e.g.; understandability; modifiability). This chapter presents an approach to deal with quality-driven model transformations. Specifically; it focuses on a specific set of transformations to obtain UML class diagrams from a Requirements Model. A set of alternative transformations are identified; and the selection of the best alternative is done through a controlled experiment. The goal of the experiment is to empirically validate which alternative transformation produces the UML class diagram that is the easiest to understand. This evidence can be further used to define high-quality transformation processes; as it will be based on empirical knowledge rather than on common wisdom and the intuition of the researchers and developers.
A Framework for Understanding and Addressing the Semiotic Quality of Use Case Models
Authors: Kamthan Pankaj
Published: May 2010

As software systems become ever more interactive, there is a need to model the services they provide to users, and use cases are one abstract way of doing that. As use cases models become pervasive, the question of their communicability to stakeholders arises. In this chapter, we propose a semiotic framework for understanding and systematically addressing the quality of use case models. The quality concerns at each semiotic level are discussed and process- and product-oriented means to address them in a feasible manner are presented. The scope and limitations of the framework, including that of the means, are given. The need for more emphasis on prevention over cure in improving the quality of use case models is emphasized. The ideas explored are illustrated by examples.
Assuring Maintainability in Model-Driven Development of Embedded Systems
Authors: Wagner Stefan , Deissenboeck Florian , Teuchert Stefan , Girard Jean-François
Published: May 2010

In model-driven software development as much as in classical code-driven development maintenance costs make up the bulk of the total life cycle costs of a software system. However, as development methods in MDSD differ from classical methods, assuring the maintainability of systems built with MDSD requires companies to adjust their quality assurance to work with the new paradigm and the novel type of development artefacts. As the automotive industry has already applied model-driven approaches for some time (usually in the form of Matlab/Simulink) it proves to be a fertile ground to advance assurance methods for the maintainability of model-based systems. In this chapter we describe a two-dimensional quality metamodel and present an instance that defines maintainability for MDSD with Matlab/Simulink and TargetLink. We exemplify how such a model serves as the basis of all quality assurance activities and report on experiences made in an industrial case study with one of the leading international providers of commercial vehicles and transport solutions.
High-Quality Software Models of the Mid-Infrared Instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope
Authors: Oh Jane M.C.
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines the experience of using model-based design in the context of development of critical software. The software is being developed to control a science instrument that it to fly as part of NASA’s James Web Space Telescope. The chapter discusses the context and nature of this software development effort, and why they motivated the choice of a model-based development approach. Illustrations are provided of the elements of model-based design that are proving to be beneficial. The chapter also considers how software assurance practices are being adapted to work with this approach.
HealthGrids in Health Informatics
Authors: Naseer Aisha , Stergioulas Lampros K.
Published: May 2010

Healthcare is a vast domain encapsulating not only multiple sub-domains or sub-sectors but also many diverse operations and logistics within each sub-sector. This diversity needs to be handled in a systematic and well-characterized manner in order to maintain consistency of various healthcare tasks. Integration of health information systems within each healthcare sub-sectors is crucial for ubiquitous access and sharing of information. The emerging technology of HealthGrids holds the promise to successfully integrate health information systems and various healthcare entities onto a common, globally shared and easily accessible platform. Many different types of HealthGrids exist but there lacks a taxonomy to classify them into a hierarchical order. This chapter presents a well-characterized taxonomy of different types of HealthGrid and classifies them into four major types, namely BioGrid, MediGrid, PharmaGrid and CareGrid. Each of these HealthGrids possesses dedicated features and functionalities. The proposed taxonomy serves to better understand the realtionship among various HealthGrid types and would lay a basis for future research.
Managing ICT in Healthcare Organization
Authors: Zakaria Nasriah , Affendi Shafiz , Zakaria Norhayati
Published: May 2010

The objective of this chapter is to illustrate a case study of a medical research institute in Malaysia in order to discuss issues pertaining to ICT adoption in healthcare organizations, in particular exploring the culture, challenges, and issues of ICT adoption among medical teams, patients, etc. In this chapter, we examine the question of ‘What are the challenges of implementing ICT in healthcare organizations?’ Some of the lessons learned from the case study were: ICT was successfully adopted and implemented based on several factors such as supportive organizational culture, competent IT workers, committed IT department and heavy investment on ICT infrastructure. Yet challenges also arise which hinges upon factors like initial deployment of outside IT resources or expertise for ICT implementation, lack of user training and continuous communication between involved parties in the initial stage.
Investing Trust Relationships in a Healthcare Network
Authors: Kethers Stefanie , Gans Guenter , Schmitz Dominik , Sier David
Published: May 2010

Public hospitals currently face an ever increasing demand on their resources, and there are many attempts at streamlining processes and patient flows. However, in many cases, optimizing processes is not enough, as ‘soft’ factors such as the relationships between hospital wards influence how efficiently the resources needed to treat patients are utilized. These factors are often ignored when attempting to improve patient flows. In this chapter, the authors describe a case study investigating the relationships between an acute stroke ward and a specialist stroke rehabilitation ward of a large metropolitan health service. The motivation for this study was the hospital management’s interest in improving communication and collaboration across wards as a means to optimize hospital processes, and thus, patient care. To assess the relationships between the two wards, the authors examined the patient handover process that links the wards’ activities and applied the Trust-Confidence-Distrust (TCD) framework of Gans et al. (2003), which was developed to model trust relationships in social networks, to examine the trust relationships between the wards.
Replace an Old Functioning Information System with a New One
Authors: Kyhlback Hans , Sutter Berthel
Published: May 2010

This chapter addresses a problem that is often experienced when ICT systems are being implemented in a work practice. Posed as a question, it might be formulated like this: What does it take to replace an old functioning information system with a new one? Findings are grounded on a long-term case study at a community elder care. This chapter used the Development Work Research (DWR) approach that is an interventionist methodology comprising ethnography as well as design experiment. During the case study, a new digital case book for the community wound care was developed. However, as it turned out, the nurses´ established practice favored the old-fashioned mobile information system. First conclusion of this chapter is that an old-fashioned information system within health care work will not successfully be replaced by a new one, unless the new is better “as a whole”, that is, better supports work practices of a range of occupational and professional workers. Second conclusion is that when designing information system for the public sector, system designers will almost always face dilemmas based on a contradiction between central, high level interest and local level work-practice perspectives. The third conclusion is that in order to succeed in the design of new information and communication system, the distinctive features of the work activities in question have to be delineated by ethnographic studies, and taken into consideration in the design process.
A Quality Assurance Approach to Healthcare
Authors: Shaw Mark C. , Stahl Bernd Carsten
Published: May 2010

Despite decades of research, healthcare information systems have been characterised by cost over-runs, poor specifications and lack of user uptake. A new approach is required which provides organisations with a reason to invest in this type of software. W Edwards Deming argues that quality is not an entity but derives from using feedback, iteratively to seek improvement to processes, in order to increase productivity and to make better use of resources. The authors propose that supporting this form of quality assurance (QA) using information systems (IS) has the potential to deliver a return on investment. An object-oriented analysis, where healthcare is viewed as the delivery of interdependent processes to which Deming’s form of QA is applied, results in a class model of data types that has some useful characteristics. It is able to store data about medical and nonmedical events; to save descriptions of procedures and to represent the QA process itself. With software based on the model, organisations will have a memory of previous attempts at making improvements as well as data about feedback from patients and staff to drive future change. A critical research in information systems (CRIS) analysis of this model proposes a number of criticisms deriving from theories about rationality; concepts of technology; politics and hidden agendas, as well as the social consequences of technology. The view that QA is a standardised, ongoing conversation about the important characteristics of a process pre-empts many of these counter arguments. The CRIS critique also highlights the need to ensure that development is in harmony with the needs of the many stakeholders in healthcare IS. These concepts lead to new directions in healthcare IS research. The class model needs to be tested against clinical and non-clinical use-cases for its viability not only as support for QA but also as an electronic patient record. A standard terminology is required for processes and for how objects from the model should be used to represent them. The model predicts that user interfaces will have to collect more detailed data than hitherto. Also use of the software should be tested in controlled trials to demonstrate whether the required improvements in quality not only benefit the patient but also the organisations managing their care.
Toward an Organizational View of E-Collaboration
Authors: Fink Lior
Published: May 2010

This chapter develops an organizational view of the roles and impacts of e-collaboration. Drawing on the dynamic capabilities perspective, e-collaboration is conceptualized as a change-oriented capability that enables a firm to identify, integrate, and apply its knowledge assets to meet competitive demands. Therefore, e-collaboration potentially has three organizational roles – coordination, learning, and innovation – that are associated with either efficiency impacts or competitive impacts. Drawing on contingency theory, the main argument developed in this chapter is that firms in less dynamic business environments need e-collaboration for operational purposes, emphasizing the coordination role, whereas firms in highvelocity business environments need e-collaboration for strategic purposes, emphasizing the learning and innovation roles. An analysis of the way in which business environment characteristics interact with media characteristics serves to demonstrate the importance of strategic characteristics – in addition to media and task characteristics – in determining the organizational effectiveness of e-collaboration.
Towards Civil-Military Coordination During Security, Stabilization, Transition and Reconstruction Efforts
Authors: Mittu Ranjeev , Guleyupoglu Suleyman , Barlow William , Dowdy Michael , McCarthy Sean
Published: May 2010

The emergence of new doctrine is enabling Security, Stabilization, Transition and Reconstruction (SSTR) operations to become a core U.S. military mission. These operations are now given equal priority to combat operations. The immediate goal in SSTR is to provide the local populace with security, restore essential services, and meet humanitarian needs. The long-term goal is to help develop indigenous capacity for securing and maintaining essential services. Therefore, many SSTR operations are best performed by indigenous groups with support from foreign agencies and professionals. Large scale disasters, however, are an example where military support can improve SSTR operations by providing a much needed boost to foreign governments and nongovernmental organizations which may already be under great stress to respond in a timely and effective manner. However, without the means to effectively coordinate the efforts between many diverse groups across the civil-military boundary during SSTR operations, basic assistance and relief operations may be severely impeded. This chapter will describe a conceptual portal called ShareInfoForPeople, which provides advanced Information and Communication Technology to enable collaboration, coordination and information sharing across the civil-military boundary during SSTR operations.
A Comprehensive Framework Towards Information Sharing Between Government Agencies
Authors: Bajaj Akhilesh , Ram Sudha
Published: May 2010

Recently, there has been increased interest in sharing digitized information between government agencies, with the goals of improving security, reducing costs, and offering better quality service to users of government services. The bulk of previous work in interagency information sharing has focused largely on the sharing of structured information among heterogeneous data sources, whereas government agencies need to share data with varying degrees of structure ranging from free text documents to relational data. In this work, we explore the different technologies available to share information. Specifically, our framework discusses the optional data storage mechanisms required to support a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). We compare XML document, free text search engine, and relational database technologies and analyze the pros and cons of each approach. We explore these options along the dimensions of information definition, information storage, the access to this information, and finally the maintenance of shared information.
Electronic Conduits to Electoral Inclusion in an Atypical Constituency
Authors: Hill Lisa
Published: May 2010

Due to compulsory voting, Australia’s turnout rate is among the highest and most socially-even in the industrialised world. Nevertheless, some voters are still left behind on election day. In this chapter we examine the potential for E-technologies to address the problem of political exclusion among some currently excluded groups of voters. We canvas known and suspected patterns of such exclusion and, in some cases, suggest possible reasons for it. We review the capacity for electronic forms of voting and registration to address: Low voting and registration levels among indigenous Australians; declining registration levels among the young; restricted access to the secret ballot caused by disability; informal voting among minority language speakers and people with low literacy and numeracy competence; low voting participation among people who experience difficulty in attending a polling place on election day and low voting participation among the Australian diaspora. We begin by providing some technical background, after which we report briefly on the E-voting state of play in Australia today.
A Multi-Agent Service Oriented Modeling of E-Government Initiatives
Authors: Gasmelseid Tagelsir Mohamed
Published: May 2010

The recent economic, organizational and technological transformations are motivating developing countries to adopt electronic government applications. The main objective of the e-government project in Sudan is “to achieve a society based on a strong base of industry knowledge in which all segments of the media access to information that leads to the distribution, publication and use of information as widely as a whole contributes to the achievement of economic growth, increase employment and raise the rates and quality of production in all sectors and poverty eradication. However, the project has been based on the use of a client-server architecture that has many limitations. This chapter provides a multiagent service oriented architecture for the implementation of the project based on a thorough review of project documents and implementation reports.
Analyst-Ready Large Scale Real Time Information Retrieval Tool for E-Governance
Authors: Santos Jr. Eugene , Santos Eunice E. , Nguyen Hien , Pan Long , Korah John
Published: May 2010

With the proliferation of the Internet and rapid development of information and communication infrastructure, E-governance has become a viable option for effective deployment of government services and programs. Areas of E-governance such as Homeland security and disaster relief have to deal with vast amounts of dynamic heterogeneous data. Providing rapid real-time search capabilities for such databases/sources is a challenge. Intelligent Foraging, Gathering, and Matching (I-FGM) is an established framework developed to assist analysts to find information quickly and effectively by incrementally collecting, processing and matching information nuggets. This framework has previously been used to develop a distributed, free text information retrieval application. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive solution for the E-GOV analyst by extending the I-FGM framework to image collections and creating a “live” version of I-FGM deployable for real-world use. We present a Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) technique that incrementally processes the images, extracts low-level features and map them to higher level concepts. Our empirical evaluation of the algorithm shows that our approach performs competitively compared to some existing approaches in terms of retrieving relevant images while offering the speed advantages of a distributed and incremental process, and unified framework for both text and images. We describe our production level prototype that has a sophisticated user interface which can also deal with multiple queries from multiple users. The interface provides real-time updating of the search results and provides “under the hood” details of I-FGM processes as the queries are being processed.
AJAX in Development of Web-Based Architecture for Implementation of E-Governance
Authors: Sharma Dilip Kumar , Varshneya Gopalji , Upadhyay Ashwani Kumar
Published: May 2010

This article analyzes the diffusion of a Web technology named AJAX in facilitating e-government architecture and enhancing its potential by enablement of modern Web features as democracy and collaboration. Flexibility needed for free flow of interactive collaboration, compatibility, and robustness is treated as vital in the chapter. Major enterprises that have created landmarks in terms of participation of individuals and enterprises, along with contemporary Web technologies, are also analyzed to consolidate priority of technologies befitting robust and sustainable Web architecture. Emphasis is on the point that a proper collaboration among private, public, and government entities can only be achieved by proper information dissemination and acceptance of competent Web technologies, AJAX being one of them. Features of AJAX such as sectional processing ability, speed, bridging, portability, and compatibility are viewed with criticality for practical establishment.