bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Small Hydropower Plant on the Biodiversity of the Selected Area
Authors: Fijko Rastislav , Zeleňáková Martina
Published: August 2017

Renewable energy – wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and biomass – provides substantial benefits for our climate, our health, and our economy. Each source of renewable energy has unique benefits. Generated electricity from renewable energy rather than fossil fuels offers significant public health benefits. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems generate electricity with no associated air pollution emissions and water. This statement is true when it comes to new construction. It should also take into account those buildings that are already built (often with many shortcom-ings). This paper deals with the assessment of the negative impacts of Small Hydropower Plant (SHPP) in eastern Slo-vakia, in the boundaries of the village Lukov. This is a SHPP built in the end 60’s as one of the first three -once (built in the former Czechoslovakia). The disadvantage of its construction is bypass channel, which causes significant or total reduction of water level on biologically important areas. In terms of biodiversity, it’s a serious concern mainly in the fish reproduction period. Dry river course is insurmountable obstacle for them. This results in their death caused by exhaustion and gradual extinction of natural reproduction in the area of interest. Paper contains a case study with variant solution of current situation.
Removal of Humic Substances in Water by Granular Activated Carbon
Authors: Ilavský Ján , Barloková Danka , Kapusta Ondrej
Published: August 2017

The basic characteristics of humic substances and their negative influence on water quality and its treatment are described. The paper presents the results of removing humic substances from water from the Hriňová (Slovakia) water reservoir with the addition of humic substances using granular activated carbon (GAC) from two producers (Chemviron, Cabot) at three different pH levels of water. The results of static experiments involving the removal efficiency of humic substances using TOC parameters and the instantaneous water adsorption capacity, which uses materials at the contact time of the water with GAC material, was calculated. The results show that the pH of the water had no significant effect on the change in the efficiency of removing humic substances from water. A high level of efficiency (50%) and the lowest value of TOC are obtained at a pH of 6.5. The GAC adsorption capacity of humic substances, depending on the contact time with the water, ranged from 0.17 mg/g for one hour to 0.56 mg/g for eight hours of contact time. The most effective material was Filtrasorb F400.
Local Prediction of Precipitation Based on Neural Network
Authors: Jakša Rudolf , Zeleňáková Martina , Koščák Juraj , Hlavatá Helena
Published: August 2017

The paper is focused on analysis of local neural network model of precipitation. We use basic multilayer perceptron neural network with the time-window on input data to predict the precipitation. We predict the precipitation in the next day from the local meteorological data from past days. Data from the past 60 years were used to train the predictor. Obtained prediction model is specific for given area of Košice City in Slovakia, as the prediction is based on the statistics of the weather in given area. This precipitation predictor is multiple-input-single-output architecture with a single value per day resolution on output. Obtained results show that good local temperature prediction accuracy is possible with chosen setup, but it is worse for the precipitation prediction. Also the training requirements of precipitation predictor seem to be significantly higher then for the temperature predictor. Obtained prediction results can be used for applications based on local meteorological station data, although they are not as accurate as the state of art agency predictions based on satellite data. In the paper we will analyze design of the precipitation predictor based on existing design of the temperature predictor and provide the reader with recommended setup of such predictor for application with his/her local precipitation data.
Adsorption of Diclofenac, Sulfamethoxazole and Levofloxacin with Powdered Activated Carbon
Authors: Lember Erki , Pachel Karin , Loigu Enn
Published: August 2017

The presence of pharmaceutical residues in the receiving waterbodies of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and in the environment has become a global concern. We can now say for certain that, having metabolised in our bodies, partially modified or unmodified pharmaceuticals will reach WWTP. However, WWTP are not designed for the removal of such com-pounds. Only a small fraction of pharmaceuticals decompose during biological treatment or are adsorbed in sediment. There-fore, it is essential to find a treatment process that is capable of removing pharmaceutical residues. The aim of the present study was to research the removal of three pharmaceuticals found in the environment, namely diclofenac (DCF), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and levofloxacin (LFX), through the use of powdered activated carbon (PAC). To this end, adsorption tests were con-ducted where the adsorption capacity was estimated according to the adsorbent dose and the residence time of the process. LFX had the highest adsorption rate: the removal effectiveness was 77% in a residence time of 5 minutes and in 60 minutes a stable indicator was achieved whereby 94% of LFX had become adsorbed. The worst adsorption property was observed for SMX, as 68% of SMX was adsorbed in a residence time of 60 minutes. According to the conducted tests, the Freundlich adsorption isotherms and constants characterising the adsorption were found where the DCF K was 23.8, the SMX K was 34.3 and the LFX K was 106.1. This test demonstrated that the pharmaceuticals selected for the experiment could easily be subjected to adsorption processes and could be removed by means of PAC.
Application of Vertical Reed Beds as a Buffer for Effluent from SBR ANAMMOX Treatment for Reject Water from Centrifugation
Authors: Pierzgalski Kristian , Obarska-Pempkowiak Hanna , Wojciechowska Ewa , Gajewska Magdalena
Published: August 2017

The main purpose of this study is to determine the removal efficiency of nitrogen compounds in the effluent from ANAMMOX process used to treat reject water after centrifugation. A pilot model was bulit consisting of four different Treatment Wetlands beds with different filter substrate and with or without macrophytes growth. Vertical subsurface flow type filters have been choosen thanks to their highest efficiency in NH4-N removal and better resistance to high fluctuations of influent composition. The pilot was feed with synthetic sewage prepaired on-site every day during the study. Samples have been taken for analysis to determine the changes of NH4-N, NO3-N and NO2-N in the effluent of each filter. In bed “0” the removal of nitrogen compounds was caused only by sorption and lasted till its capacity was reached. In bed “I” and “II” the NH4-N concentration in effluent and production of NO2-N with simultaneous changes of NO3-N indicated that nitrification was occurring. Furthermore assimilation by plants and sorption processes by sub-strate contributet to the removal of nitrogen compunds. The investigation reviles different pattern of processes respon-sible for N - compounds transformation and removal, depending on the bed substrate and vegetation or without vegeta-tion
Determination of the Longitudinal Dispersion Coefficient in Lowland
Streams with Occurrence of Dead Zones
Authors: Sokáč Marek
Published: August 2017

Paper describes the field tracer experiments – determination of the coefficient of longitudinal dispersion in
streams of lowland type (channels, small slopes and velocities) with expected occurrence of dead zones. Tracer experiments
were carried out on three different streams in south Slovakia. The evaluation of field measurements confirmed in
all cases the presence of dead zones, i.e. stream sections and regions with the appearance of small velocities that were
formed due to the extensive presence of vegetation in the stream. These areas capture part of the transported substance
(tracer) and then gradually release the substance and incorporated it back into the stream, creating a significant distortion
of the tracer concentration time course. Strong influence of the dead zones raises the question of the adequacy using
standard analytical solutions, whether for determining the coefficient of longitudinal dispersion or for modelling the
dispersion of pollution or other substances carried by the stream.
Groundwater Level Prediction Using Support Vektor Machines and Autoregressive (AR) Modelss
Authors: Üneş Fatih , Demirci Mustafa , Kaya Yunus Ziya , Ispir Eyup , Mamak Mustafa
Published: August 2017

Water resources managers can benefit from accurate prediction of the availability of groundwater. Ground water is a major source of water in Turkey for irrigation, water supply and industrial uses. The ground water level fluctuations depend on several factors such as rainfall, temperature, pumping etc. In this study, Hatay Amik Plain, Kumlu region was evaluated using Autoregressive (AR) and Support Vektor Machines (SVMs) methods. The monthly groundwater level was used the previous years data belonging to the Kumlu region.
Investigation of Rainwater Infiltration with Emphasis on Hydro-geological as well as Hydrological Conditions
Authors: Zeleňáková Martina , Hudáková Gabriela , Tometz Ladislav , Hlavatá Helena
Published: August 2017

Urban drainage has become one of the most important aspects of urban development. Ensuring long-term functioning of sewer systems and waste-water treatment plants is associated with constantly rising costs, and it is clear nowadays that the contemporary method of urban drainage cannot possibly be implemented worldwide because of the financial burden. The existing method of urban drainage continues to threaten the status of water flow and water sources. Urban hydrology has evolved to improve the way urban run-off is managed for flood protection, public health and environmental protection. The essence of the future solution resides in finding an acceptable compromise or an alternative solution for rainwater drainage from urban areas. The content of this paper is research focused on the infiltration of water from surface run-off and comparison of ground testing, laboratory analysis and numerical analysis of filtration coefficient. The foundation for improving the effectiveness of urban drainage will be created through the proposal and comparison of infiltration conditions. The topic of the paper emerged because of insufficient information about infiltration systems in the Slovak technical regulations and the lack of support for water infiltration from surface run-off. This paper points out the fundamentals, principles and development of proposals for infiltration facilities. The aim of the paper was to expand the body of scientific knowledge in research and solutions for infiltration of water from surface run-off with emphasis on the infiltration capacity of the selected area and intensity of precipitation.
Trend Detection in Precipitation Data in Climatic Station
Authors: Zeleňáková Martina , Purcz Pavol , Hlavatá Helena
Published: August 2017

Trends and changes in precipitation extremes have been a focus of research over the past decade. Observations show that changes are occurring in the amount, intensity, frequency and type of precipitation. Climate variability has created the need to study subsequent changes in hydroclimatic variables (e.g. rainfall, streamflow and evapotranspira-tion) to understand the regional effects of climate change. Mainly agricultural activities and water management activi-ties – water supply, urban drainage, and hydraulic structures management are patterned according to rainfall seasonality. Trend detection in precipitation time series is crucial for water resources management. Many researchers all over the word have investigated hydrologic variables trends at various temporal scales. In this paper we investigate the trends in precipitation time series in climatic station Košice, Slovakia in the period 1981–2013. We address the topic of trend detection in precipitation time series combining novel and traditional tools in order to simultaneously tackle the issue of seasonality and interannual variability, which usually characterize natural processes. The analysis proves that, in the case study area, statistically significant trends in precipitation have been undergoing in the last decades, although they have no significant impacts on water resources.
Filter Medias from Recycled Concrete, Properties Investigated for Sorption Processes
Authors: Zurauskiene Ramune , Valentukeviciene Marina , Boussouga Youssef-Amine
Published: August 2017

Every year construction demolition waste amount increases. 75 percent of this waste consists of concrete, masonry products and tile products. Concrete and reinforced concrete waste can be recycled and reused for new concrete product pro-duction, road installation, as well as formed water treatment. Crushed concrete particles are characterized by large surface area and many voids. These particle characteristics depend on used crushing-granulating method. Particles obtained by the milling method have larger number of voids, higher water absorbance and higher number of open pores. Crushed concrete particles, of which high amounts are formed in building or waste recycling sites, can be used as filler for water treatment filters.
An Independent Asteroseismic Analysis of the Fundamental Parameters and Internal Structure of the Solar-like Oscillator KIC 6225718
Authors: Wu Tao , Li Yan
Published: August 2017

Asteroseismology is a useful tool that is usually used to probe stellar interiors and to determine stellar fundamental parameters, such as stellar mass, radius, and surface gravity. In order to probe stellar interiors, making comparisons between observations and models is usually used with the

χ

2

-minimization method. The work of Wu & Li reported that the best parameter determined by the

χ

2

-matching process is the acoustic radius for pure p-mode oscillations. In the present work, based on the theoretical calculations of Wu & Li, we will independently analyze the seismic observations of KIC 6225718 to determine its fundamental parameters and to investigate its interior properties. First, in order to test the method, we use it in the Sun to determine its fundamental parameters and to investigate interiors. Second, we independently determine the fundamental parameters of KIC 6225718 without any other non-seismic constraint. Therefore, those determined fundamental parameters are independent of those determined by other methods. They can be regarded as independent references in other analyses. Finally, we analyze the stellar internal structure and find that KIC 6225718 has a convective core with the size of 0.078–0.092

R

☉

. Its overshooting parameter

f

ov

in the core is around 0.010. In addition, its center hydrogen

X

c

is about 0.264–0.355.
The Formation of IRIS Diagnostics. IX. The Formation of the C i 135.58 NM Line in the Solar Atmosphere
Authors: Lin Hsiao-Hsuan , Carlsson Mats , Leenaarts Jorrit
Published: August 2017

The C i 135.58 nm line is located in the wavelength range of NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) small explorer mission. We study the formation and diagnostic potential of this line by means of non local-thermodynamic-equilibrium modeling, employing both 1D and 3D radiation-magnetohydrodynamic models. The C i/C ii ionization balance is strongly influenced by photoionization by Lyα emission. The emission in the C i 135.58 nm line is dominated by a recombination cascade and the line forming region is optically thick. The Doppler shift of the line correlates strongly with the vertical velocity in its line forming region, which is typically located at 1.5 Mm height. With IRIS, the C i 135.58 nm line is usually observed together with the O i 135.56 nm line, and from the Doppler shift of both lines, we obtain the velocity difference between the line forming regions of the two lines. From the ratio of the C i/O i line core intensity, we can determine the distance between the C i and the O i forming layers. Combined with the velocity difference, the velocity gradient at mid-chromospheric heights can be derived. The C i/O i total intensity line ratio is correlated with the inverse of the electron density in the mid-chromosphere. We conclude that the C i 135.58 nm line is an excellent probe of the middle chromosphere by itself, and together with the O i 135.56 nm line the two lines provide even more information, which complements other powerful chromospheric diagnostics of IRIS such as the Mg ii h and k lines and the C ii lines around 133.5 nm.
The Chemical Evolution Carousel of Spiral Galaxies: Azimuthal Variations of Oxygen Abundance in NGC1365
Authors: Ho 何宜 I-Ting 庭 , Seibert Mark , Meidt Sharon E. , Kudritzki Rolf-Peter , Kobayashi Chiaki , Groves Brent A. , Kewley Lisa J. , Madore Barry F. , Rich Jeffrey A. , Schinnerer Eva , D’Agostino Joshua , Poetrodjojo Henry
Published: August 2017

The spatial distribution of oxygen in the interstellar medium of galaxies is the key to understanding how efficiently metals that are synthesized in massive stars can be redistributed across a galaxy. We present here a case study in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 1365 using 3D optical data obtained in the TYPHOON Program. We find systematic azimuthal variations of the H ii region oxygen abundance imprinted on a negative radial gradient. The 0.2 dex azimuthal variations occur over a wide radial range of 0.3–0.7 R
25 and peak at the two spiral arms in NGC 1365. We show that the azimuthal variations can be explained by two physical processes: gas undergoes localized, sub-kiloparsec-scale self-enrichment when orbiting in the inter-arm region, and experiences efficient, kiloparsec-scale mixing-induced dilution when spiral density waves pass through. We construct a simple chemical evolution model to quantitatively test this picture and find that our toy model can reproduce the observations. This result suggests that the observed abundance variations in NGC 1365 are a snapshot of the dynamical local enrichment of oxygen modulated by spiral-driven, periodic mixing and dilution.
Light-curve Analysis of Ordinary Type IIP Supernovae Based on Neutrino-driven Explosion Simulations in Three Dimensions
Authors: Utrobin V. P. , Wongwathanarat A. , Janka H.-Th. , Müller E.
Published: August 2017

Type II-plateau supernovae (SNe IIP) are the most numerous subclass of core-collapse SNe originating from massive stars. In the framework of the neutrino-driven explosion mechanism, we study the properties of the SN outburst for a red supergiant progenitor model and compare the corresponding light curves with observations of the ordinary Type IIP SN 1999em. Three-dimensional (3D) simulations of (parametrically triggered) neutrino-driven explosions are performed with the (explicit, finite-volume, Eulerian, multifluid hydrodynamics) code Prometheus, using a presupernova model of a 15 M
⊙ star as initial data. On approaching homologous expansion, the hydrodynamic and composition variables of the 3D models are mapped to a spherically symmetric configuration, and the simulations are continued with the (implicit, Lagrangian, radiation hydrodynamics) code Crab to follow the evolution of the blast wave during the SN outburst. Our 3D neutrino-driven explosion model with an explosion energy of about

erg produces 56Ni in rough agreement with the amount deduced from fitting the radioactively powered light-curve tail of SN 1999em. The considered presupernova model, 3D explosion simulations, and light-curve calculations can explain the basic observational features of SN 1999em, except for those connected to the presupernova structure of the outer stellar layers. Our 3D simulations show that the distribution of 56Ni-rich matter in velocity space is asymmetric with a strong dipole component that is consistent with the observations of SN 1999em. The monotonic decline in luminosity from the plateau to the radioactive tail in ordinary SNe IIP is a manifestation of the intense turbulent mixing at the He/H composition interface.
Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) associated with xyelid sawflies (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) in Mexico
Authors: Khalaim Andrey I. , Ruíz-Cancino Enrique
Published: August 2017

Two species of ichneumon wasps (Ichneumonidae),Gelanes horstmanniKhalaim,sp. n.(Tersilochinae) andIdiogramma elbakyanaeKhalaimsp. n.(Tryphoninae), are described from the pine forest at 2800–2900 m from the State of Tlaxcala in Central Mexico; a third species,I. comstockii(Ashmead), is found to occur in the State of Nuevo León in Northeast Mexico. The generaGelanesHorstmann andIdiogrammaFörster are associated with xyelid sawflies (Xyelidae), and both, as well as the tryphonine tribe Idiogrammatini, are recorded from Mexico for the first time. An identification key to the twoIdiogrammaspecies occurring in Mexico is provided.
James Curran : l’athlète écossais aérien et la légende américaine du coaching
Authors: Adams Iain , Laffage-Cosnier Sébastien
Published: August 2017

De même que pour beaucoup de coachs professionnels de l’ère édouardienne (1901-1910, sic), il y a très peu de traces de Jimmy Curran dans les documents : il est habituellement décrit comme un ancien athlète professionnel qui a détecté le talent de coureur de Wyndham Halswelle alors qu’il servait dans l’infanterie légère écossaise lors de la guerre des Boers. Curran convainc Halswelle de prendre l’athlétisme au sérieux lorsque le régiment retourne en Angleterre et le coache avec succès dans l’épreuve du 880 yards lors de la compétition militaire en 1904, et lors des deux titres écossais et anglais du 440 yards en 1905. Halswelle a continué en gagnant le controversé 400 mètres aux JO de 1908 à Londres. Curran est parti pour l’Amérique en 1907 laissant son camarade ex-soldat et professionnel Jack Dalziel au coach Halswelle. Aujourd’hui, Curran est célébré en Amérique comme le légendaire coach de Mercersburg Academy qui a été impliqué dans l’entraînement de 13 athlètes olympiques en athlétisme entre 1912 et 1964 ; ils ont gagné six médailles d’or, une d’argent et deux de bronze. Cet article décrit la biographie de Curran en examinant plus particulièrement ses propres relations négociées entre l’amateurisme et le professionnalisme qui s’établissent à partir de l’étude de la bataille entre le système de valeurs de Charterhouse (Public school) et de Sandhurst (école militaire) : la première forme le gentleman amateur lieutenant Halswelle, et la seconde forge l’ouvrier et le militaire (Lancier), le caporal Curran. Le texte prend en compte le désir de Curran de s’expatrier en Amérique en 1907 et sa relation avec Mike Murphy, le coach de l’Université de Pennsylvania, devenu coach en chef de l’équipe olympique US de 1908, qui a recommandé Curran à l’Académie de Mercersburg comme coach d’athlétisme en 1910.
Vascular Eagle's Syndrome: Two Cases Illustrating Distinct Mechanisms of Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Aldakkan Abdulrahman , Dunn Marshall , Warsi Nebras Mustehsan , Mansouri Alireza , Marotta Thomas
Published: August 2017

We report two cases of Vascular Eagle's Syndrome, which demonstrate two distinct mechanisms of cerebral ischemia. In the first case, hemodynamic transient cerebral ischemia arose as a direct result of compression of the internal carotid artery (ICA). In the second, embolic large left middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction as a result of a thrombus from a pseudoaneurysmal dilatation of the left ICA.
Traditional Economic Activities of Indigenous Women in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Authors: Roy Parboti
Published: August 2017

There are about 1% Indigenous population in Bangladeshi and the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is one of the regions of Bangladesh resided by thirteen indigenous people's communities The indigenous peoples' lives is intrinsically linked to the nature, culture and their tradition. Traditional economic activities are important aspects of subsistence of indigenous people and women play a crucial role in preserving these activities through their knowledge and management skills. However, their traditional economic activities have been hampered by a range of factors. The study concentrates on this issue as it posits that indigenous women in the CHT provide remarkable contributions through the maintenance of their traditional economic activities which not only have traditional and cultural significance but also contain economic value. The study is based on secondary data. It employs theoretical and conceptual framework of post-colonial indigenous feminism and feminist economic analysis of women's domestic and subsistence activities as a means to explore indigenous women's persistent efforts to continue their traditional economic activities. The study argues that indigenous women in the CHT have been able to uphold their traditional economic practices at both an individual and collective level through the assistance of local organizations formed by the indigenous peoples. These efforts by indigenous women manifest the ‘solidarity political economy' against the global political economy.
The Role of Media in Perpetuating or Obstructing Gender Equality in the Context of Developing World
Authors: Das Prabartana
Published: August 2017

Media engineers subtle ways in which gender bias can persist in society and ensures the perpetuation of women subjugation in the society. In this chapterI want to excavate the various factors which contributes to the augmentation of gender biases by the media and how the media in developing countries strengthens the cause patriarchy masquerading in the façade of preserving traditions and customs? I also intend to unravel how perennial problems like illiteracy and abject poverty further dents the projectof women empowerment and how deeply entrenched patriarchal values manipulate the media to withhold emancipation in true sense. How women even after being qualified suffers from several negative effects undermining her own status? It will also be interesting to delve into the ways in which gendered media is far more subversive and ubiquitous in the developing world than developed world. And lastly how the gender bias in media can be curbed in the light of social and political awakening in women in particular and the development of humaningenuity and consciousness in general.
Transforming Digital Literacy With Culturally Diverse, Personalized Learning
Authors: Donohue Patricia J. , Kelly Kevin
Published: August 2017

The chapter reports on the research and efforts of two faculty members in an Instructional Technologies (ITEC) Master's program to transform their undergraduate and graduate courses into culturally sensitive personalized learning experiences in media literacy education. The 20-year-old ITEC program needed upgrading to meet the paradigm shift in new technologies and global education that its students would enter on graduation. Cultural and social justice issues have been the mission of the University for 40 years and that dimension of media literacy education was missing from the ITEC curricula. Researchers found that introducing techniques of gamification, heutagogical methods, and universal design for learning principles into their online and blended-learning courses provided a way to help students personalize their learning experience and interact more engagingly with each other, and to master the media literacy skills being taught.
Policies and Strategies for Digital Inclusion
Authors: Alcaide Muñoz Laura , Rodríguez Bolívar Manuel Pedro , Alcaraz Quiles Francisco José
Published: August 2017

E-government has enhanced the availability of government information, and expanding access to services, offering greater transparency and accountability for public administrations. However, previous research indicates that there are significant barriers for citizens, assuming major obstacles. In this sense, the EU and, in particular, the Spanish government has formulated policies and legal frameworks to introduce in the field of the provision of public sector services, in order to customize and to access these services. These initiatives seek to promote the development of networks and services, to improve the e-administration and the adoption of digital solutions for efficient delivery of public services, and to promote the inclusion and digital literacy. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to obtain a vision of government strategies adopted by Spanish regional governments to reduce the digital divide.
Methods and Strategies in Using Digital Literacy in Media and the Arts
Authors: Weisberg David J.
Published: August 2017

The marriage of media and the arts has been a long and fruitful one, and the advent of digital resources has changed the face of these disciplines immeasurably. Digital literacy has gone from a virtually non-existent entity to an incredibly useful, and sometimes absolutely essential, skill set. In various settings, it has changed the way artists both inside and outside the digital realm work, collaborate, teach and train educators.
E-Inclusion Strategies in Public Administrations
Authors: Muñoz Laura Alcaide , Hernández Antonio M. López , Bolívar Manuel Pedro Rodríguez
Published: August 2017

The implementation of e-Government could reduce administrative costs and the time devoted to repetitive tasks by civil servants, offering greater transparency to public administration, improving the current performance of public sector services, and expanding access to services. However, previous research indicates that there are significant barriers for citizens, assuming major obstacles. In this sense, the EU and, in particular, the Spanish government has formulated policies and legal frameworks to introduce in the field of the provision of public sector services in order to customize and to access these services. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to obtain a vision of government strategies adopted by Spanish regional governments to reduce the digital divide.
Creating a Digital Support Center
Authors: Littlejohn Sara , Cuny Kimberly M.
Published: August 2017

On a mid-sized university campus, the library proposes a new functional digital technology support service, and Communication Across the Curriculum (CAC) proposes a new critical and rhetorical digital support service; however, the collaborative process leading to the renovation of the library basement into a digital commons that will house these two differing digital centers has revealed missing, yet fundamental, questions about the purpose and structure of both services. Though building the digital commons could provide support in all three technological literacies, functional, critical, and rhetorical (Selber, 2004), decisions about the material aspects of the renovation preceded discussions of the theoretical foundations that necessarily inform mission and purpose and that should shape the work of the two centers. As a result, the collaboration has thus far produced an emphasis on only the first layer of technological literacy: creating functional users. The primary stakeholders' distance from the disciplinary knowledge of speaking and writing center scholarship combined with a lack of familiarity with recent trends in multiliteracy scholarship have resulted in a problematic disconnect between how the space should look and what the space should do.
Emergent Digital Literacy and Mobile Technology
Authors: Robinson Helen Mele
Published: August 2017

Higher education early childhood teacher preparation programs in the United States are guided by the National Association for the Education of Young Children Standards for Initial and Advanced Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs (NAEYC, 2010). With technology infused throughout the standards, teacher preparation programs are confronted with the challenge of priming preservice teachers to be technologically literate educators ready to cultivate engaging curriculum for 21st century learners. It is essential for early childhood educators to bring together components from developmentally appropriate practice, multiple intelligence theory, and emergent digital literacy to form an effective curriculum plan. This chapter offers details of a teacher preparation program that utilizes a multisensory learning approach to prepare early childhood preservice teachers who are capable of infusing technology into developmentally appropriate curriculum planning.
Facilitating Learning by Going Online
Authors: Barton Siew Mee
Published: August 2017

This chapter examines the impact of eLearning and Web 2.0 social media in a socially conservative environment in Indonesia that has nevertheless proven surprisingly adroit at change management. Web 2.0 social media has proven enormously popular in Indonesia but traditional Islamic schools (which are known in Java as pesantren but elsewhere in the Muslim world as madrasah) the focus of this study is often unable to access Web 2.0 or the Internet in general. Progressive non-national government organizations (NGOs) seek to remedy this situation by providing satellite broadband links to remote schools and this chapter examines one particular project. Despite the impoverished and conservative nature of their community, the leaders of this school have led their students in a surprisingly enthusiastic reception of eLearning technology, recognizing its great capacity to produce and enhance social networks and provide new opportunities for learning. Particular attention in this case study is given to factors relating to social capital, attitudes, and patterns of behavior in leadership and change management. A case study approach was chosen to enable a richer and more finely-grained analysis of the issues. The case study is based on semi-structured interviews and observations conducted over several years. This research shows that whilst the adoption and uptake of eLearning with emerging technologies is strongly shaped by cultural and social factors, it plays out in very different ways than might first have been expected.
Sharing Expertise Gained From Online Self-Directed Professional Development
Authors: Kurstedt Rosanne L. , Pizzi Adam
Published: August 2017

Evidence suggests that increasing numbers of teachers are initiating their own professional development through online channels, including social media, blogs, and websites. While research indicates that online self-directed professional development impacts teachers' classroom practice, it provides limited information about whether and how teachers share their learning with colleagues. This chapter examines one teacher's experiences engaging in online self-directed professional development, first as a teacher, and then in the new district role of Master Technology Teacher. The study found that, without the formal position, few mechanisms existed for him to share his learning. However, once formal mechanisms existed through his position as MTT, he was able to effectively share and impact teaching. The study reveals that his actions fell into three categories: reflection on practice, acquisition of knowledge, and distribution of knowledge, from which a teacher leadership cycle was constructed. The study also addresses the contextual factors that impacted his effectiveness.
Enterprise 2.0 Implementation at Vanguard
Authors: Kumar Abha , Saharia Aditya , Katsamakas Evangelos , Bixby III Glenn A.
Published: August 2017

Creating an Enterprise 2.0 extends from employee content creation and collaboration to building an architecture that enables mobility and where possible allows for emerging technologies and methodologies. Yet, in many cases implementing this new architecture may find resistance, not from knowledge workers, but from IT managers who are apprehensive because of the potential security compromise, proliferation of multiple standards, and delegation of procurement authority to individual users or business units. In this research article, the authors describe a structured and deliberate approach towards building Enterprise 2.0 environment. Many elements of the approach were defined and developed at Vanguard, Inc. as it developed an integrated communication and collaboration environment over several years. The authors emphasize the process followed and lessons learned.
Institutional Policies for Digital Inclusion in Spain
Authors: Colmenero-Ruiz Maria-Jesús , Pérez-Lorenzo Belén
Published: August 2017

This chapter describes the evolution and results of the Spanish Policies of digital inclusion, since its inception in 2000 in the framework of the EU Lisbon Strategy (eEurope 2002) to the present, with special emphasis on cases of greater relevance. It reviews the different plans implemented at the country successively during that period of time. As a result of the Spanish political organization into Autonomous Communities, the direct application of these policies has corresponded to each of them, which adapted the outline to their interests and needs. So, it analyzes the situation in three of the Autonomous Communities, Catalonia, Andalusia and Extremadura, with different demographic and economic characteristics, providing recent indicators and the programs that are in development just now.
A New Perspective for School Management in the Digital Age
Authors: Kesim Eren
Published: August 2017

All nations throughout the world have been influenced by rapid developments and transformations in the twenty first century. Throughout this process of rapid change, in which newly developed technologies and globalization gained momentum, all social establishments are being restructured. The restructuring process may only be realized with the involvement of individuals raised and trained in accordance with the age we live in, thus the strategic importance of educational organizations has risen. For educational organizations to fulfill the expectations of the responsibilities assigned to them, they must be managed in accordance with the requirements of this era. School principals are laden with important responsibilities throughout this process. One of the foremost variables of the transformation process enabled by digital technologies in the digital age is the concept of digital culture. This concept must be analyzed regarding its repercussions in educational organizations. This study analyzes the digital culture which has emerged in the digital age regarding its repercussion in schools and school management from a conceptual perspective.
From Information Society to Community Service
Authors: Neto Benedito Medeiros
Published: August 2017

This chapter presents a perspective of a post-industrial society, through the development of the information society and its deployment, focusing on the possibilities of a service predominant society. The most important point of this exercise is that this approach did not happen as expected in form or time. In the past, the ICT tools were restricted to centers of competence or in organizations. Nowadays, their increasingly presence in individual lives, as well as in their human relationships, is changing social and commercial relations, the meaning of work and political participation of people in a compulsory way, unlike what had happened at the turn of agricultural to industrial Eras. New possibilities happen in a rapid manner in a society based on wealth concentration, when there is association of ICTs with the restlessness of social movements or collective protests demanding better living conditions of minority communities. The increasing information flows have led to the desire of knowledge. However, this search for the social welfare achievements has occurred in a superficial manner, leading to anxiety and depression of common and deprived citizens. A new Citizenship or, better defined, e-Citizenship emerges between their aspirations. Based on facts and observations of recent research on the impacts of ICTs in the last ten years, the approach of a community service changes the daily lives of individuals, despite its acceptance or perception, the presence of virtual media, the growing media innovation and agricultural, industrial and operational processes, as well as the claimed social movements.
The Effect of Strategic Orientations Factors to Achieving Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Authors: Baniata Burhan Ali , Alryalat Haroun
Published: August 2017

Over the past few years, industrial organizations are increasingly realizing the significance of customers' service; one of the key challenges for them is how to improve the strategic orientations factors. This paper adapts the quantitative research approach by using the survey strategy, which is conducted by a questionnaire collected from 218 respondents working in seventy-two (72) industrial companies that listed and traded in Amman stock exchange under the industrial sector. The researcher uses the SPSS as an analysis technique to test all hypotheses. The findings of the study show that the three strategic orientations factors (customer, competitor, and technology) have a significant impact on the sustainable competitive advantage. Hopefully, these findings will shed some light for the Information Technology (IT) Industry allowing them to integrate strategic orientations factors (customer, competitor, and technology) to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.
Multiple Relations and its Application in Medical Diagnosis
Authors: Shijina V. , John Sunil Jacob
Published: August 2017

This paper develops the notion of multiple relations as multiple sets over the Cartesian product of the universal sets. This contribution focuses mainly on binary multiple relation - multiple relation over the Cartesian product of two universal sets. Some special binary multiple relations on a single universal set are discussed and their properties are investigated. This paper also has a discussion on multiple equivalence relation and some of its properties. A special attention is paid to the concept of distance multiple relation. Finally, this paper proposes an algorithm to diagnose diseases using distance multiple relation and the method is illustrated with an example.
Effects of the Grinding Wheel Eccentricity and Waviness on the Dynamics of Tool Grinding
Authors: de Payrebrune Kristin M. , Kröger Matthias
Published: August 2017

The complex dynamics of grinding repeatedly cause critical or unstable process conditions. For a better understanding and prediction of such occurrences, the dominant excitation phenomena need to be identified and their interrelation with the system dynamics have to be analyzed.Based on measurements of the excited frequencies in several operation modes of the grinding machine, the grinding wheel rotation is identified as a major excitation source. Further analysis of the grinding wheel surface displays three main components that define the excitation frequencies of the system; these are the eccentricity, waviness and roughness (also named wheel topography). Moreover, the wheel topography and thus the excitation frequencies can change over time due to excessive wear.Following the experimental results, a grinding wheel topography and wear model are developed and included in an integrated simulation of tool grinding. The analysis of the calculated cutting forces in the frequency domain confirm the excitation due to the grinding wheel topography.Firstly, this work has extracted the grinding wheel as a prominent excitation mechanism and reproduced it with the developed grinding model. Secondly, we have evidence that a complete description of the complex grinding process is only possible when considering the interdependence between system dynamics, wheel kinematics and the grinding process.
An Industrial Vision System to Analyze the Wear of Cutting Tools
Authors: Gillmann Christina , Post Tobias , Kirsch Benjamin , Wischgoll Thomas , Hartig Jörg , Hamann Bernd , Hagen Hans , Aurich Jan Christian
Published: August 2017

The wear behavior of cutting tools directly affects the quality of the machined part. The measurement and evaluation of wear is a time consuming and process and is subjective. Therefore, an image-based wear measure that can be computed automatically based on given image series of cutting tools and an objective way to review the resulting wear is presented in this paper. The presented method follows the industrial vision system pipeline where images of cutting tools are used as input which are then transformed through suitable image processing methods to prepare them for the computation of a novel image based wear measure. For multiple cutting tool settings a comparative visualization of the wear measure outputs is presented. The effectiveness of the presented approach is shown by applying the method to measure the wear of four different cutting tool shapes.
Modelling the Brittle/Ductile Transition in Super-Fine Finishing of Carbides
Authors: Beaucamp Anthony
Published: August 2017

Materials such as binderless tungsten carbide and silicon carbide have become ubiquitous in the fabrication of high-performance tooling and molding inserts. But while conventional grinding of these hard ceramics has been studied in depth, the theory underlying their super-fine finishing has been less extensively explored. In particular, the boundary in process parameters that delineates the brittle/ductile removal transition remains mostly undocumented. In this paper, we review some super-fine finishing methods for carbide materials, based on both bound and kinetic abrasive processes. The focus is then placed on modelling the interaction between material and abrasives under their respective process conditions, and deriving some useful criteria guiding the brittle/ductile transition.
Visualization and Analysis of Lighting Design Alternatives in Simulation Software
Authors: Fernandez-Prieto Diana , Hagen Hans
Published: August 2017

For decades, multiple lighting simulation software packages and plugins for commercial software have been developed in an effort to ease the usage and integration of simulation into the lighting design process. In this effort, one of the main challenges is to provide lighting designers with an easy and comprehensive access to simulation results. Visualization is used as a means to achieve this goal. In this paper, we explore two of the most used free lighting simulation packages towards the identification of visualization techniques that facilitate the access to the simulation results as well as the identification of opportunities for the enhancement of simulation-assisted lighting design processes. A test case of a metal workshop illustrates the output produced by both software packages. Based on this exploration, we identified an open gap regarding three main aspects: interactive exploration of simulation results, visualization of compliance with lighting standards, and visual comparison of lighting solutions. We provide a discussion on how approaches from other domains can be applied to close this gap.
Comparative Study of Interatomic Interaction Potentials for Describing Indentation into Si Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Zhang Zhi Bo , Urbassek Herbert M.
Published: August 2017

We compare the performance of three interatomic interaction potentials for describing the evolution of plasticity and phase transformations in Si: the well established Stillinger-Weber potential, a recent modification used in the description of Al/Si composites, and a modification of the well known Tersoff potential. We show that the generation of dislocations and the evolution of plasticity are well described by the Stillinger-Weber potential and its modification, while the phase transformation to the high-pressure bct5 modification and the subsequent amorphization are better included in the modified Tersoff potential.