bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observations of Driver Behavior during Overtaking of Bicycles on Rural Roads
Authors: Chapman Jeremy R. , Noyce David A.
Published: January 2013

The interaction between motorized and nonmotorized road users has been an issue of contention for many years. Drivers complain that bicyclist behavior ranges from annoying to dangerous to illegal. Bicyclists complain that driver behavior ranges from annoying to dangerous to illegal. Many studies have observed these interactions on urban roads. However, only anecdotal evidence existed for the interactions on rural roads. When looking at driver and bicyclist behavior, specifically during interactions on rural roads, researchers have not had independent data to review. The study underlying this paper collected real-time interaction data between bicycles and motorized vehicles on rural roads, with Dane County, Wisconsin, as a field laboratory. Researchers collected video and sensor data for 1,151 interactions between bicycles and motorized vehicles. This paper provides initial observations drawn from these interactions. This study found that drivers, in fact, operated in a technically unsafe manner by frequently performing passing maneuvers outside designated areas. This study also found that despite the frequent comment from bicyclists that drivers passed too closely, these actions were actually quite rare and accounted for only 0.5% of all the observed interactions (six of 1,151). Drivers were far more likely to give bicyclists more room than required and risked a centerline violation, even when conditions were not safe to do so. Bicycle lanes (paved shoulders) directly affected the likelihood of a driver committing a moving violation, with violation rates four to six times lower when a paved shoulder was available.
Evaluating the Impact of Processing Spoken Words on Driving
Authors: Rossi Riccardo , Gastaldi Massimiliano , Biondi Francesco , Mulatti Claudio
Published: January 2013

The potential impact on driving of the processing of a single, auditorily presented word is analyzed in this work. Because driving is a complex cognitive activity that involves the integration and coordination of multiple subprocesses, the authors narrowed the scope of the research to concentrate on one critical task involved in driving: driver braking response. If two tasks have to be performed concurrently and both of them require access to a capacity-limited system, then performance in one or both of the tasks will dramatically worsen because the two processes will compete for access to cognitive resources. It has been shown that both word recognition and driving require central resources; therefore, these tasks are likely to interfere with each other. In the experiments, participants were required to perform two tasks during simulated driving. In the word recognition task, participants had to categorize auditorily presented words. In the braking task, participants depressed a brake pedal in response to the lead car's brake lights. The interval of time between the onset of the tasks’ stimuli was varied. Braking responses were substantially slower as the overlap between tasks increased. This finding demonstrates that the processing of a single word hinders driving performance. The experiments carried out have significant implications in the field of road safety. Many situations, such as cell phone ringing, cell phone conversations, auditory tips from navigation systems, and auditory alerts from driver warning systems, are similar to those studied. The experiments suggest that all these situations can negatively affect a driver's response time, increasing the likelihood of near misses and accidents.
Investigating Differences between Experienced Adult Drivers and Teen Drivers with Low-Cost Vehicle Data Recorder
Authors: Romoser Matthew R. E. , Deschamps Michael , Wilson Hendalee , Fisher Donald L.
Published: January 2013

This study used a low-cost vehicle data recorder (LCVDR) to investigate the differences between teenage and adult drivers. The relatively high cost of current vehicle data-recording systems has often been cited by parents as a deterrent to using such systems. A lower-cost, less-intrusive system for monitoring teen driving behavior would mitigate these concerns. However, the first step was to determine whether low-fidelity data collection devices could discriminate between the driving characteristics of different populations. Teenage and adult drivers had the LCVDR installed in their personal vehicles for four weeks. For each drive, the device recorded a summary of driving performance, including distance driven, drive duration, speed, and sudden braking and acceleration events. The device also calculated a fuel economy and safety score for each drive. Results showed that teen drivers had much higher rates of sudden stops and starts per mile driven than adult drivers. These trends remained intact even after controlling for distance driven on both short and longer drives. Across all drivers in both groups, there was a significant correlation between sudden stops and starts. The teen drivers whose safety scores were in the top third had braking and acceleration profiles similar to the experienced adult drivers. These results demonstrate that significant differences between teen and adult drivers can be measured with lower-cost, lower-fidelity devices. Future research will investigate the effectiveness of training programs designed around the data provided by such devices.
Driver Responses to Signing Treatments for Flooded Roads
Authors: Higgins Laura , Balke Kevin , Chrysler Susan T.
Published: January 2013

A study performed by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute for the Texas Department of Transportation examined signing strategies for warning motorists of flooding on roadways, with the goal of creating uniform signing guidelines for flooding or water-crossing situations. Two human factors studies were conducted to provide information about driver responses to signing treatments that warn of flooded roadways. The first was a series of focus groups that explored driver decision processes and information preferences related to flooded roadways. The focus group results indicated that drivers tended to base decisions about proceeding on a flooded road on their perceptions of the depth and speed of the water (which were not always reliable), as well as other visual cues; drivers preferred positive guidance in the form of directive messages and active signs. The second study was a survey that presented drivers with pictures of roadways using various signing treatments, followed by questions about how they would respond to each situation pictured. The survey results supported the focus group findings about drivers’ greater trust of active signs versus passive signs and further emphasized the effects of visual cues on drivers’ decisions about proceeding on flooded roads.
Prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in common salad vegetables of Dhaka Metropolis
Authors: Rahman Farjana , Noor Rashed
Published: January 2013

Microbial quality of common salad vegetables (viz. carrot, cucumber, tomato and lettuce) collected from Dhaka metropolis was analysed to detect the presence of bacterial pathogens. The occurrence of huge numbers of fecal coliforms (1.0×104 - 4.09×106 cfu/g), Escherichia coli (1.0×104 - 5.0×108 cfu/g), Staphylococcus aureus (2.0×105 - 5.95×107 cfu/g), and Listeria spp. (1.5×106 - 6.5×107 cfu/g) were detected in all the tested samples. Interestingly, occurrence of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria was also noticed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v41i2.13442 Bangladesh J. Bot. 41(2): 159-162, 2012 (December)
Genetic variability and trait relationship in cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme (Dunnal) A. Gray)
Authors: Islam MS , Mohanta HC , Ismail MR , Rafii MY , Malek MA
Published: January 2013

Nine traits of 11 cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) var. cerasiforme (Dunal) A. Gray) inbred lines exhibited a wide range of genetic variability. High geno- and phenotypic coefficients of variation were obtained for individual fruit weight (68.16 and 74.23%, respectively) followed by number of fruits/plant (58.8 and 68.34%, respectively). High estimates of heritability, genetic advance and genotypic coefficient of variation for the traits of individual fruit weight, number of fruits and clusters/plant were controlled by additive gene action indicating the possibility of selection to improve these characters. Fruit yield/plant showed low heritability along with low genetic advance and did not show significant and positive correlation with the remaining characters. It indicates that improvement of high yield through selection is difficult, rather hybridization can be effective for improving the fruit yield/plant. Among the lines, CH154 produced the highest number of fruits/plant (291) and highest fruit yield (1.89 kg/plant and 63.4 t/ha) and can be selected for cultivation under Bangladesh condition. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v41i2.13443 Bangladesh J. Bot. 41(2): 163-167, 2012 (December)
Didymodon tomaculosus (Blockeel) M.F.V.Corley, new to the moss flora of Turkey and Asia
Authors: Canli Kerem , Cetin Barbaros
Published: January 2013

Didymodon tomaculosus (Blockeel) M.F.V.Corley is reported for the first time from Turkey, bringing the total number of Didymodon species known from Turkey to 19. D. tomaculosus is also reported first time to the moss flora of Asia. It is a very rare species and was known only from British Isles and south of Germany. Description, illustrations and diagnostic characters of the species are given, together with notes on its ecology. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v41i2.13445 Bangladesh J. Bot. 41(2): 177-179, 2012 (December)
Water quality and phytoplankton diversity of Gopeswar temple freshwater pond in Assam (India)
Authors: Baruah PP , Kakati Bhaswati
Published: January 2013

Water quality and phytoplankton diversity were investigated in Gopeswar temple pond of Assam, India. Altogether 45 species of phytoplankton were recorded representing Chlorophyceae (16), Cyanophyceae (10), Bacillariophyceae (14), Euglenophyceae (3), Chrysophyceae (1) and Dinophyceae (1). Phytoplankton peaks were observed in summer and monsoon periods. Correlations of phytoplankton density with different water quality parameters were evaluated and the water body was found to be moderately polluted. Presence of Microcystis aeruginosa along with Navicula cryptocephala throughout the year also indicated its cultural eutrophication and hence, needs management intervention DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v41i2.13446 Bangladesh J. Bot. 41(2): 181-185, 2012 (December)
Occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in some shrimp farms of Bangladesh
Authors: Neela Farzana Ashrafi , Rahman Md Atiquer , Banu MST Nasrin Akhter , Rahman M Habibur , Ohta Hiroyuki , Alam M Firoz
Published: January 2013

Tetracycline (TC) and ampicillin (AMP) resistant bacteria were identified from both fresh and brackish water shrimp farming system, in Bangladesh. Among 78 isolates from freshwater samples, 14.10, 17.95 and 23.8% were found resistant to TC, AMP and TC plus AMP, respectively. On the other hand, isolates from the brackish water samples, the percentages of TC, AMP and TC plus AMP resistant isolates were 10.25, 12.82 and 15.38, respectively. In freshwater samples, the highest percentage of resistant bacteria was Bacillus sp. (38.9), Pseudomonas sp. (22.2), Staphylococcus sp. (16.7), Acinetobacter sp. (11.1), Brevibacillus sp. (5.5) and Enterobacter sp. (5.5). While in brackish water samples dominant resistant bacteria was Bacillus sp. (50) followed by Pseudomonas sp. (16.7), Acinetobacter sp. (16.7), Enterobacter sp. (8.3) and Microvirgula sp. (8.3). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v41i2.13449 Bangladesh J. Bot. 41(2): 197-200, 2012 (December)
Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cell-Conditioned Media Inhibits Hypoxic-Induced Apoptosis in Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells and Cardiac Myocytes by Activation of the Survival Protein Akt
Authors: Jin Hua , Sanberg Paul R. , Henning Robert J.
Published: January 2013

We have previously demonstrated in acute myocardial infarctions that human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (HUCBCs), which contain hematopoietic, endothelial, and mesenchymal stem cells, reduce acute myocardial infarction size by ≥50% and preserve LV contractility. We hypothesize that the beneficial effects of HUCBCs are due to secretion of biologically active factors that activate in cardiac endothelial cells and myocytes the cell survival protein Akt. We determined by protein microarrays the growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines secreted by HUCBCs into culture media during 12 h of hypoxia (1% O2). We then determined by Western blots the effects of cell-free media from hypoxic-conditioned HUCBCs (HUCM) on activation of the cell survival protein Akt in human coronary artery endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes in culture during 24 h of 1% O2. We also determined in separate experiments endothelial cell and myocyte apoptosis by caspase-3 and Annexin V. In the present experiments, HUCBCs secreted multiple growth factors, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibitors of metalloproteinase during normoxia and hypoxia. Human cord blood cells increased the concentration in culture media of angiopoietin, hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin-4, insulin-like growth factor, placental growth factor, vascular endothelial cell growth factor, angiogenin, and stem cell factor by 100 to >10,000% during 12 h of 1% O2 ( p < 0.001). HUCM, which contained these biological factors, significantly increased Akt phosphorylation/activation in coronary artery endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes subjected to 24 h of 1% O2 by more than 60% ( p < 0.05) and increased the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression by 34–50% in comparison with endothelial cells and myocytes treated without HUCM in 1% O2 ( p < 0.05). HUCM also significantly decreased caspase-3 activity and decreased hypoxic endothelial cell and cardiac myocyte apoptosis by more than 40% in comparison with cells cultured without HUCM ( p < 0.05). Inhibition of Akt activation in endothelial cells and myocytes by the sensitive and specific antagonist API-1 during 24 h of hypoxia nearly completely prevented the beneficial effects of HUCM on inhibiting caspase-3 activity and apoptosis. We conclude that HUCBCs secrete biologically active factors during hypoxia that activate survival proteins in endothelial cells and myocytes that significantly limit apoptosis.
Le coton bio-équitable du Mali : matière à équivoque
Authors: Rubino Roberta
Published: January 2013

Le commerce équitable est généralement perçu comme une pratique hybride entre le don et le marché, levier de développement pour les pays du Sud. Cet article, à travers une étude de cas réalisée au Mali, interroge chacune des ces interprétations : il questionne la performance d’un commerce qui bien qu’ « équitable » reste enveloppé dans une économie de marché et, en même temps, il interroge les implications liées à la part du don qu’il contient. Ce genre d’analyse vise à mettre en évidence les limites du commerce équitable dues aux implicites politico-culturels dont il est porteur.
Effets directs du développement financier sur la pauvreté : validation empirique sur un panel de pays à bas et moyen revenu
Authors: Boukhatem Jamel , Mokrani Bochra
Published: January 2013

L’objet de cet article consiste à tester empiriquement l’existence des effets directs du développement financier sur la réduction de la pauvreté pour un échantillon de 67 pays à bas et moyen revenu sur la période 1986-2009. Les résultats obtenus montrent qu’indépendamment de la méthode économétrique appliquée, le développement financier contribue directement à la réduction de la pauvreté. En revanche, l’instabilité liée au développement financier pénaliserait les populations pauvres et anéantirait les effets positifs liés au développement financier. Faut-il donc trouver un arbitrage entre le développement financier et l’instabilité financière afin d’assurer une croissance pro-pauvres ?
L'interprétation comme activité de travail : matérialité et signification de l'œuvre
Authors: Hénaut Léonie
Published: January 2013

Résumé Cet article interroge le lien entre la matérialité d’une œuvre d’art – son aspect, son état matériel – et la signification qu’on lui attribue. En étudiant les interactions ayant lieu entre conservateurs et restaurateurs, à l’occasion de leur restauration, nous montrons comment la matérialité infléchit le processus d’interprétation. D’une part, les acteurs en présence s’appuient sur la matérialité du tableau pour mettre en cohérence les différents dispositifs d’interprétation disponibles et déterminer collectivement le sens dit « original » de l’œuvre, c’est-à-dire celui qui est le plus fidèle à l’intention de l’artiste. D’autre part, par sa présence, le tableau participe activement à la production de son nouveau sens.
Agent Based Framework Architecture for Supporting Content Adaptation for Mobile Government
Authors: Al-Sakran Hasan Omar , Kharma Qasem , Serguievskaia Irina
Published: January 2013

Rapid spread of smart mobile technology that supports internet access is transforming the way governments provide services to their citizens. Mobile devices have different capabilities based on the manufacturers and models. This paper proposes a new framework for adapting the content of M-government services using mobile agent technology. The framework is based on a mediation architecture that uses multiple mobile agents and XML as semi-structure mediation language. The flexibility of the mediation and XML provide an adaptive environment to stream data based on the capabilities of the device sending the query to the system.
A Mobile Remote Lab System to Monitor in Situ Thermal Solar Installations
Authors: Saez de Arregui Gastón , Plano Miguel , Lerro Federico , Petrocelli Lucía , Marchisio Susana , Concari Sonia , Scotta Virginia
Published: January 2013

In this paper we describe the design and development of interconnected devices which allow monitoring in situ the performance of solar boilers. This mobile remote lab system comprises two huge blocks of hardware: a mobile station located by the boiler, which is monitored and controlled in a remote way, and a fixed station, located in the Laboratory of Energy for the Sustained Development of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario. The communication between the fixed and mobile devices is controlled by microcontrollers included in both stations and programmed in C language. The project is being developed through three parallel lines of work: 1) Design and development of fixed and mobile hardware; 2) Development of firmware and software necessary to register and communicate data; 3) Design and development of learning activities. This mobile remote lab will be useful to test the behavior of solar boilers in the place and environmental conditions where they are placed so as to evaluate their performance and efficiency anywhere. This is also in order to contribute for the implementation of norms for the certification of solar boilers. On the other hand, the data and results obtained from the development will be used as supplies for the design of learning activities
Development of eStudent iOS mobile application
Authors: Antic Mladjan , Jovanovic Slobodan , Cvetanovic Svetlana
Published: January 2013

Abstractâ?? iOS is the Apple mobile operating system, for Apple mobile devices. Initially developed for iPhone, and later for iPod Touch, iPad, AppleTV. The Metropolitan University has a Web application titled eStudent, which enables students by Web to get information about their marks for all subjects, their financies, exam scheduling, professors and assistents, and send exam registration and feedback about teaching, etc. This paper explains the development of the mobile application eStudent on the iOS platform. This application enables students whenever they want, by using their iPhone mobile phone, to get access to the information from the eStudent Web application, and to present it on their iPhone User Interface (UI). This paper explains in details software requirements analysis, system architecture, system modelling, and UI of the eStudent iOS mobile application.
A Mobile Portal for Pharmaceutical Services
Authors: Otair Mohammed , Al-Refaei Aiman , Sarayreh Bashar
Published: January 2013

This paper initiated to develop a WAP based ordering system. The paper extends the existing WEB enabled sales order capability to include a WAP service. Sales Representative Place the customer order during the customer visit to reduce time to order from second day to instant. Reduce paper work and costs associated with the recording of sales orders. In the Pharmacist Convenience to order, to check his /her account balance anytime anywhere, Get info on promotional items, and place orders.
A Link-Based Ranking Algorithm for Semantic Web Resources
Authors: Park Hyunjung , Rho Sangkyu , Park Jinsoo
Published: January 2013

The information space of the Semantic Web has different characteristics from that of the World Wide Web (WWW). One main difference is that in the Semantic Web, the direction of Resource Description Framework (RDF) links does not have the same meaning as the direction of hyperlinks in the WWW, because the link direction is determined not by a voting process but by a specific schema in the Semantic Web. Considering this fundamental difference, the authors propose a method for ranking Semantic Web resources independent of link directions and show the convergence of the algorithm and experimental results. This method focuses on the classes rather than the properties. The property weights are assigned depending on the relative significance of the property to the resource importance of each class. It solves some problems reported in prior studies, including the Tightly Knit Community (TKC) effect, as well as having higher accuracy and validity compared to existing methods.
A Study of Open Source Software Development from Control Perspective
Authors: Xu Bo , Lin Zhangxi , Xu Yan
Published: January 2013

Open source software (OSS) has achieved great success and exerted significant impact on the software industry. OSS development takes online community as its organizational form, and developers voluntarily work for the project. In the project execution process, control aligns individual behaviors toward the organizational goals via the Internet and becomes critical to the success of OSS projects. This paper investigates the control modes in OSS project communities, and their effects on project performance. Based on a web survey and archival data from OSS projects, it is revealed that three types of control modes, that is, outcome, clanship, and self-control, are effective in an OSS project community. The study contributes to a better understanding of OSS project organizations and processes, and provides advice for OSS development.
Multi-Level Modeling of Web Service Compositions with Transactional Properties
Authors: Vidyasankar K. , Vossen Gottfried
Published: January 2013

Web services have become popular as a vehicle for the design, integration, composition, reuse, and deployment of distributed and heterogeneous software. However, although industry standards for the description, composition, and orchestration of Web services have been under development, their conceptual underpinnings are not fully understood. Conceptual models for service specification are rare, as are investigations based on them. This paper presents and studies a multi-level service composition model that perceives service specification as going through several levels of abstraction. It starts from transactional operations at the lowest level and abstracts into activities at higher levels that are close to the service provider or end user. The authors treat service composition from a specification and execution point of view, where the former is about composition logic and the latter about transactional guarantees. Consequently, the model allows for the specification of a number of transactional properties, such as atomicity and guaranteed termination, at all levels. Different ways of achieving the composition properties and implications of the model are presented. The authors also discuss how the model subsumes practical proposals like the OASIS Business Transaction Protocol, Sun’s WS-TXM, and execution aspects of the BPEL4WS standard.
Service Composition and Interaction in a SOC Middleware Supporting Separation of Concerns with Flows and Views
Authors: Chiu Dickson K.W. , Li Qing , Hung Patrick C. K. , Shan Zhe , Cheung S. C. , Yang Yu , Farwick Matthias
Published: January 2013

Service-Oriented Computing (SOC) has recently gained attention both within industry and academia; however, its characteristics cannot be easily solved using existing distributed computing technologies. Composition and interaction issues have been the central concerns, because SOC applications are composed of heterogeneous and distributed processes. To tackle the complexity of inter-organizational service integration, the authors propose a methodology to decompose complex process requirements into different types of flows, such as control, data, exception, and security. The subset of each type of flow necessary for the interactions with each partner can be determined in each service. These subsets collectively constitute a process view, based on which interactions can be systematically designed and managed for system integration through service composition. The authors illustrate how the proposed SOC middleware, named FlowEngine, implements and manages these flows with contemporary Web services technologies. An experimental case study in an e-governmental environment further demonstrates how the methodology can facilitate the design of complex inter-organizational processes.
Complementing Business Process Verification by Validity Analysis
Authors: Soffer Pnina , Kaner Maya
Published: January 2013

This paper investigates the need for complementing automated verification of business process models with a validity analysis performed by human analysts. As business processes become increasingly automated through process aware information systems, the quality of process design becomes crucial. Although verification of process models has gained much attention, their validation, relating to the reachability of the process goal, has hardly been addressed. The paper investigates the need for model validation both theoretically and empirically. The authors present a theoretical analysis, showing that process model verification and validation are complementary in nature, and an empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of validity criteria in validating a process model. The theoretical analysis, which relates to different aspects of process model quality, shows that process model verification and validation are complementary in nature. The empirical findings corroborate the effectiveness of validity criteria and indicate that a systematic criteria-supported validity analysis improves the identification of validity problems in process models.
Extending Agile Principles to Larger, Dynamic Software Projects
Authors: Batra Dinesh , VanderMeer Debra , Dutta Kaushik
Published: January 2013

The article evaluates the feasibility of extending agile principles to larger, dynamic, and possibly distributed software development projects by uncovering the theoretical basis for agile values and principles for achieving agility. The extant literature focuses mainly on one theory – complex adaptive systems – to support agile methods, although recent research indicates that the control theory and the adaptive structuration theory are also applicable. This article proposes that at least three other theories exist that are highly relevant: transaction cost economics, social exchange theory, and expectancy theory. By employing these theories, a rigorous analysis of the Agile Manifesto is conducted. Certain agile values and principles find theoretical support and can be applied to enhance agility dynamic projects regardless of size; some agile principles find no theoretical support while others find limited support. Based on the analysis and the ensuing discussion, the authors propose a framework with five dimensions of agility: process, design, people, outcomes, and adaptation.
Technical Challenges in 4G Cognitive Femtocell Systems
Authors: Al-Rubaye Saba , Cosmas John
Published: January 2013

This chapter studies the application of femtocells as part of the future cognitive 4G networks. It starts with a demonstration for the evolution of cellular and wireless networks. The developing technology that leads towards a converged LTE-Femtocell wireless environment is described in detail. The chapter presents the key challenges of deploying cognitive femtocell in the macrocell networks. As spectrum utilisation management is the main concern in the future network, the main models for spectrum allocation used to provide enough bandwidth to the femtocell in coexistence with the LTE systems are incorporated for further investigation. In addition, the Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning and the main approaches for measuring end user performance are given as function small range transmission domains. The requirement of an effective mobility management solution in such systems is analysed for future development. The chapter is concluded with a summary.
A Novel Spectrum Sensing Scheduling Algorithm for Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Salih Sami H. O. , Erman Maria , Mohammed Abbas
Published: January 2013

Cognitive Radios are recognized as a novel approach to improve the utilization of a precious natural resource of wireless communications: the radio frequency spectrum. Historically, telecom regulators assigned fixed spectrum bands to the licensed wireless network operators. This spectrum management approach guarantees an interference free environment, except for some configuration faults or illegal usage. However, with the increasing demand for more bandwidth in the finite radio spectrum, the spectrum becomes underutilized. Hence, the concept of secondary operators have emerged, but with emphasis not to influence licensed operators. Consequently, the Cognitive Radio Network (CRN) architecture enters the market as an intelligent solution to these issues, with concentration on spectrum sensing procedures to achieve the regulatory constraint. The most successful sensing algorithms are those applying cooperation and scheduling to have better scanning information; however, those algorithms are developed based on the primary network activities, which are good in terms of reducing expected interference, albeit with more computational load on the CRN. In this chapter, a novel sensing scheduler algorithm is proposed. The idea is to utilize the CRN by fairly distributing the sensing task among the sensors and afterwards utilizing the radio spectrum shared with the primary networks.
A Survey of High Performance Cryptography Algorithms for WiMAX Applications Using SDR
Authors: Ahmad Rafidah , Ismail Widad
Published: January 2013

As wireless broadband technology has become very popular, the introduction of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) based on IEEE 802.16 standard has increased the demand for wireless broadband access in the fixed and the mobile devices. This development makes wireless security a very serious concern. Even though the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) has been popularly used for protection in WiMAX applications, still WiMAX is exposed to various classes of wireless attack, such as interception, fabrication, modification, and reply attacks. The complexity of AES also produces high power consumption, long processing time, and large memory. Hence, an alternative cryptography algorithm that has a lower power consumption, faster and smaller memory, is studied to replace the existing AES. A Software Defined Radio (SDR) is proposed as a different way of proving the performance of the cryptography algorithm in real environments because it can be reprogrammed, which leads to design cost and time reductions.
Student Learning Experience through CoSpace Educational Robotics
Authors: Eguchi Amy , Shen Jiayao
Published: January 2013

CoSpace educational robotics is a new educational digital media that enables users to try out programs and strategies with both virtual and real objects. The CoSpace educational robotics program was created to integrate digital game- and simulation-based learning with educational robotics—both are popular amongst young generation—in order to attract different populations of students into the STEM field. The chapter introduces the concept of CoSpace and CoSpace educational robotics, the educational theories that support learning through CoSpace educational robotics, and a case study of RoboCupJunior CoSpace educational robotics. During the RoboCupJunior 2011 competition, held in Istanbul, Turkey, 14 teams participated using the CoSpace platform in the demonstration league events—CoSpace Dance and CoSpace Rescue. A survey of participating students was conducted during the competition. The results suggest that CoSpace educational robotics promotes learning of collaborative skills and indicates that CoSpace educational robotics might be able to provide the users Csíkszentmihályi’s flow state (Csíkszentmihályi, 2008).
3D Virtual Worlds as Creative Pedagogy for Art Education
Authors: Lu Lilly
Published: January 2013

As 3D Virtual Worlds (VWs) have become an ongoing trend in education, their potential application in art education needs to be demystified. The author reviews the literature on 3D VWs for education and art education that highlights their unique characteristics and related issues and reveals the learning opportunities for engaging students. Next, the author presents her virtual world curriculum and pedagogy as well as students’ work examples and their responses to the new art and learning media from her Art Café@Second Life research project. At the end, she makes recommendations for future research that examines the 3D VW as a creative learning/teaching environment, art form/medium, and exhibition/creation ground, and an emerging curricular topic for inquiry.
3D Technology in P12 Education
Authors: Spencer Karla , Lennex Lesia , Bodenlos Emily
Published: January 2013

3D technology has progressed dramatically. The compelling question driving this research was, “Will 3D technology really benefit students?” After much of the research was completed, both in discovering the various technologies available, and the testing of equipment obtained, some new ideas have come about to answer this question. It has become a tool used by many industries, from television to business. Recently, 3D technology has become increasingly popular in the field of education. New 3D education technology has been developed to assist students with learning. With more 3D technology available than ever before, teachers are able to help their students visualize content in new ways. The history of 3D traces from the mid-1800s to the present movie-based and visually based technologies. The visually based technologies utilizing either DLP enabled projectors and/or 3D computer programs have become the most common of graphically enhanced materials for P-12 schools. Teachers have also begun construction of some of their own 3D materials using either movies or still photos. While the technology is relatively recent, the advances to enable uses in the classroom have brought 3D to a viable place in the schools. This chapter provides a brief history of 3D technology, research of a teacher-friendly 3D camera (Aiptek), and a free 3D construction program, Google SketchUp.
Stereoscopic 3D
Authors: Barba Ian , Brewer James , Swinford Brenda
Published: January 2013

This chapter summarizes information gathered in the first two phases of research being conducted at Texas Tech University (TTU) Libraries on the feasibility and potential benefits of using stereoscopic 3D content in a classroom or library. The authors share background information gathered during the first phase of the research, including an overview of stereoscopic 3D technology and a review of related research. They then discuss findings and recommendations from the second phase of the research, including detailed coverage of 3D equipment, practical advice for using 3D technology, and results from demonstration and survey sessions conducted with TTU faculty, staff, and students. The authors also share options for accessing and creating stereoscopic 3D content. They end with a discussion of some future directions of stereoscopic 3D.
Using 3D Virtual Reality Technology in Cyber Ethics Education
Authors: Matsuda Toshiki , Nakayama Hiroshi , Tamada Kazue
Published: January 2013

In this chapter, the authors introduce the e-learning material that they developed using Three-Dimensional Virtual Reality (3D-VR) technology in cyber ethics education. They propose a new instructional method that teaches students to use three types of knowledge in their analyses of moral judgment problems: knowledge of ethical codes, ICT, and rational judgment. They also verify that this method is more effective than the conventional method. In addition, the authors developed e-learning material that provides students with analytical problems and feedback according to their ability to understand ethical codes. Reality and authenticity are key to learning for every student. To inculcate a sense of seriousness toward the problems in e-learning material, the authors devised various dialog methods and built an effective instructional design model, such as the three-way interaction model.
Taking Elementary Document Camera Use to the Next Dimension
Authors: Blair Nancye W.
Published: January 2013

The world’s first stereoscopic 3D document camera, the 3D Ladibug, is quite unique in its ability to facilitate an interactive and constructivist implementation of stereoscopic 3D content in the elementary classroom. By harnessing the 3D Ladibug’s dynamic capabilities, teachers and students are able to enhance lessons with custom-designed learning activities in science, mathematics, literacy, and other curriculum areas. Moreover, through a blend of anaglyph and full-color stereoscopic 3D images, students are able to translate this technology into applications with print media, video editing, and live-action presentations. In the pilot implementation, educators have observed increases in student excitement, engagement, attention span, learning gains, and the ease of instruction using manipulatives with young students. Additionally, the ability to custom create 3D curriculum has made distinct differences in the motivation for students to design working models and products that demonstrate a deeper understanding of concepts. Likewise, teachers were inspired to integrate an increased number of visual aids and hands-on activities into class activities when using this tool. Through its traditional 2D document camera functionalities and added stereoscopic 3D capabilities, the 3D Ladibug Document Camera proved to be a highly effective teaching tool, captivating students and teachers by breathing life into classroom models, manipulatives, and presentations.
3D Modeling in a High School Computer Visualization Class
Authors: Combs Rebecca M , Mazur Joan
Published: January 2013

This semester long case study in a rural high school Introduction to Computer Visualization course focused on a detailed analysis of pedagogical approaches, the learning environment, and students’ performance outcomes. Classroom observations, student interviews, and instructor’s commentary yielded insights regarding how students learn to create virtual 3D models and what contexts for learning best support the modeling processes students’ learned in the course (tool use, tool path patterns, time management, and accuracy of the modeled structure). The social learning environment of this particular classroom, the combination of didactic, guided practice and exploratory modes of inquiry, self-selected work groupings, and peer designations of expertise that supported multiple problem solving approaches were powerful mediators of students’ learning resulting in high quality modeling products.
SMEs, Institutions, and Performance
Authors: Jensen Camilla , Peng Low Mei
Published: January 2013

This chapter addresses at the outset the topic of SMEs and economic development from an institutions perspective. The authors argue that the transaction cost theory is not helpful towards understanding the role that institutions play for SME performance for several reasons. Instead, they argue for combining the resource-based theory with an institutions-based approach towards constructing a more practical and empirical oriented analytical framework. After the preliminary discussion and introduction to the different theories used, the authors then take a focus on the analytical framework used to study the relationship between the institution of competition, firm performance, and firm size distributions. This chapter studies the relationship between competition and firm size, whereas subsequent research could also involve the inclusion of other measures of institutions and firm performance.
Human Resource Management in SMEs
Authors: Melo Pedro , Machado Carolina
Published: January 2013

Although small and medium size companies perform a relevant role in world economies, the authors conclude that research in this field focuses more attention on bigger organizations in seeking to understand what happens about the HRM function. However, and looking to the special characteristics of SMEs, it becomes critical to carry out a study, focused particularly on its characteristics, which allow for drawing a conceptual framework capable of helping managers of this kind of organizations to implement HRM practices consistently and adjusted to organizational objectives. The purpose of this research is to develop a conceptual framework which allows a better understanding of the main HRM research lines in SMEs and the underlying importance to HRM professionals.
Antecedents and Consequences of Technology Orientation (TECHOR) for Small Firms
Authors: Lee Olivia F. , Uslay Can , Meuter Matthew L.
Published: January 2013

This chapter explores the firm-level technology orientation construct and highlights the importance of a small firm’s dynamic capabilities in knowledge learning and management. Technology orientation (TECHOR) is comprised of three sets of technology-oriented activities: the allocation of technology resources, the development of technology competence, and the ability to sense and respond to technology opportunities that influence technology adoption and utilization. As firms engage in more of these activities, they will have higher levels of technology orientation. Antecedents to TECHOR include external forces (technology policy and industry characteristics) and internal dynamics (role of management, interdepartmental connections, and organizational factors). Consequences include customer outcomes (technology learning, perceived quality, and loyalty), employee outcomes (technology learning, job satisfaction, and performance) and organizational outcomes (firm performance and competitive advantage). Small firms that can deliver the appropriate match between the required technology-oriented activities, technology adoption, and utilization are the ones that are likely to survive and thrive.
Perceived Benefits and Barriers of ICT Adoption among SMEs
Authors: Tan Khong Sin , Eze Uchenna Cyril
Published: January 2013

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are a key economic sector in Malaysia. In 2005, there were 99.2 per cent or 518,996 SMEs in the country. They contributed to 65.1 percent of employment and 47.3 percent of labor productivity. Due to the importance of SMEs, the Malaysian government formed National SME Development Council (NSDC) in 2004 to oversee the development of SMEs in the country. On the other hand, in order to leverage the power of ICT, particularly the Internet, Malaysian government formed National Information Technology Council (NITC) in 1994 to provide information and communication technology (ICT) assistance to Malaysian companies. This chapter examines perceived benefits and barriers of Internet-based ICT adoption among SMEs in Malaysia. Questionnaire was used to collect data from 406 managers/owners of SMEs in Malaysia. Analysis reveals the composite ICT benefits and barriers to ICT adoption. The chapter ends with a discussion and interpretation of the findings including key implications for research, practice and policy.
Apprenticeship and Enterprise Development in a Typical Sub Sahara African Context
Authors: Nkamnebe Anayo D.
Published: January 2013

The nexus between skill acquisition, mastering of trade and enterprise creation for development is long established in the literature. For economies with high incidence of unemployment, apprenticeship has particularly proved invaluable in helping labour acquire marketable skills and encouraging enterprise development for job creation. Accordingly, apprenticeship becomes important policy instrument of governments in both sides of development divide. For obvious reasons, formal apprenticeship, which is predominant among developed economies, has received longstanding academic attention relative to traditional or informal apprenticeship that dominates most of the poorer countries of the world. Concomitantly, little is known about the role of traditional or informal apprenticeship in enterprise development in the largely under-reported markets of the world. Using this as a point of departure, this chapter examines apprenticeship within the context of enterprise development in Nigeria (a typical sub Sahara African context). Despite the acknowledged role of traditional apprenticeship in creating enterprises and arguably mitigating the negative impact of unemployment, disproportional policy attention has been given to formal apprenticeship. Disappointingly, despite the attention, minimal results have been achieved in using formalised apprenticeship model to create enterprises in Nigeria. This chapter suggested strategic choices for revamping the obviously neglected traditional apprenticeship in Nigeria with a view to resuscitating it.
Perspectives on the Glass Ceiling in Indian Enterprises
Authors: D’Couto Rita Latha , Ganesh C.
Published: January 2013

The genesis of the present study is from the widespread observation that only a small proportion of top level managerial positions in corporate organizations are occupied by women, both globally and in India. Although women are making their entry into the corporate arena in increasing numbers, with credentials equivalent to those of their male counterparts, they do not appear to be progressing to the ranks of senior management at comparable rates. It is felt that in their quest for career advancement and career success, women face hurdles which are not experienced by men. A glass ceiling, which can be conceptualized as a subtle barrier comprising attitudinal and cultural biases, appears to constrain the upward mobility of managerial women. This phenomenon of low representation of women in the highest echelons of management seems to be in sharp contrast with the trend highlighted in recent human resources management literature which views the management skills and leadership styles traditionally attributed to women as ideally suited to the needs of modern organizations. Hence, the present study was undertaken with the objective of exploring the various individual and organizational influences which serve to constrain their progress to positions of power and influence in corporate organizations.