bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Antimicrobial Properties of Cedar Leaf (Thuja plicata) Oil; A Safe and Efficient Decontamination Agent for Buildings
Authors: Hudson James , Kuo Michael , Vimalanathan Selvarani
Published: December 2011

Cedar leaf oil (CLO), derived from the Western red cedar, Thuja plicata, was evaluated as a safe and acceptable broad spectrum antimicrobial agent, with a view to its potential applications in buildings, including the alleviation of sick building syndrome. Various Gram-positive and Gram-negative human bacteria, and two fungal organisms, all known to be common environmental sources of potential infection, were selected and tested quantitatively, and all of them were found to be susceptible to CLO liquid and vapor. Bacterial spores and Aspergillus niger were sensitive, although less so than the vegetative bacteria. Similar tests with cultured human lung cells showed that continuous exposure to CLO vapor for at least 60 minutes was not toxic to the cells. Based on these results, CLO shows promise as a prospective safe, green, broad-spectrum anti-microbial agent for decontamination of buildings.
A Forum for 21st Century Molecular Sciences
Authors: May Paul
Published: December 2011

As the technical editor, it is my great pleasure in welcoming you to our new journal.[...]
What Is a Molecule?
Authors: Lin Shu-Kun
Published: December 2011

During recent four years when I edited the chemistry journal Molecules (www.mdpi.org/molecules/) and handled chemical samples at MDPI (http://www.mdpi.org), an international nonprofit organization for worldwide collection, deposit and exchange of chemical samples, I always had a question in mind: what is a molecule?[...]
Human Biomonitoring Data from Mercury Exposed Miners in Six Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Areas in Asia and Africa
Authors: Baeuml Jennifer , Bose-O’Reilly Stephan , Gothe Raffaella Matteucci , Lettmeier Beate , Roider Gabriele , Drasch Gustav , Siebert Uwe
Published: December 2011

Objectives: In artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas in many developing countries, mercury (Hg) is used to extract gold from ore. Data of 1250 participants from Indonesia, Mongolia, Philippines, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe were combined to analyze the relation between exposure in ASGM areas and body burden. Methods: Four groups were selected relating to their intensity of contact with mercury: (i) a non-exposed control group; (ii) a low exposed group with participants only living in mining areas, but not working as miners; (iii) a medium exposed group, miners living in exposed areas and working with mercury without smelting amalgam; and (iv) a high exposed group, miners living in exposed areas and smelting amalgam. Results: Compared to the non-exposed control group, participants living and/ or miners working in highly exposed areas have significantly higher concentration of total mercury in urine, hair and blood (p-value < 0.001). The median mercury value in urine in the control group is < 0.2 µg/L. In the high exposed group of amalgam smelters, the median in urine is 12.0 µg/L. The median in blood in the control group is < 0.93 µg/L. The median level in blood of the high exposed group is 7.56 µg/L. The median for mercury in hair samples from the control group is 0.21 µg/g. In the high exposed group the median hair concentration is 2.4 µg/g hair. Mercury levels also differ considerably between the countries, reflecting a diverse background burden due to different fish eating habits and different work place methods. Conclusions: A high percentage of exposed individuals had levels above threshold values. These high levels of mercury are likely to be related with serious health problems.
Finger Vein Recognition Using Local Line Binary Pattern
Authors: Rosdi Bakhtiar Affendi , Shing Chai Wuh , Suandi Shahrel Azmin
Published: December 2011

In this paper, a personal verification method using finger vein is presented. Finger vein can be considered more secured compared to other hands based biometric traits such as fingerprint and palm print because the features are inside the human body. In the proposed method, a new texture descriptor called local line binary pattern (LLBP) is utilized as feature extraction technique. The neighbourhood shape in LLBP is a straight line, unlike in local binary pattern (LBP) which is a square shape. Experimental results show that the proposed method using LLBP has better performance than the previous methods using LBP and local derivative pattern (LDP).
L'or romain dans l'Ouest de la Gaule : circulation et stagnation
Authors: Aubin Gérard
Published: December 2011

The Roman isolated gold coins are more likely than hoards to give a picture of the monetary stock locally available in various circles of society. The cause of its isolation can be varied : loss, hiding, religious offer. The sample for 12 «départements» in the west of France consists of 209 coins covering 535 years. The analysis of geographical and chronological repartitions leads to some hypothesis : quick but late penetration of gold ; bad économie integration of Armorica under the Julio-Claudians reflected by accumulations of inactive gold ; well balanced economy during the second century ; scarcity of coins during the third century except for the gallo-roman Empire ; wider circulation during the fourth and fifth centuries when gold is not necessarily connected with the presence of the army.
Données nouvelles sur le gisement paléolithique moyen de Piégu (Pléneuf-Val-André, Côtes-du-Nord)
Authors: Monnier Jean-Laurent , Amoureux Patrick , Clément Jacques-Henri , Pincemin Serge
Published: December 2011

The settlement of Piégu is an old rock shelter at the bottom of a cliff which was frequented on a marine recessive period. It was very well situated and aspected.

The industry is mainly of flint and has been collected on the beach. lts outstanding features are a levalloisian technique, a very distinctive levalloisian facies (particularly numerous levalloisian points), well-made side-scrappers, a lot of natural backed-knives, the rarity of notehes, denticulates, retouched backed-knives and tools of Upper Palaeolithic type, and also the presence of infrequent hand-axes (of Acheulian type).

The saalian age of the settlement seems to be proved by the geological study of the site. The industry could be compared to an Old Middle Palaeolithic or to an «Epi-Acheulian».
Nécropoles et sarcophages du Haut Moyen Age en Bretagne
Authors: Guigon Philippe , Bardel Jean-Pierre , Batt Michael
Published: December 2011

The cemeteries in the eastern part of Brittany show sarcophaguses and cists, set out in family associations. In the westerrn part of the country there are single sarcophaguses, cemeteries with graves dug into the earth, and burial-mounds similar to those found in the Celtic countries. Some literary texts confirm the archeological data.
Le monument mégalithique transepté de La Joselière (ou du Pissot), au Clion-sur-Mer (Loire-Atlantique)
Authors: L'Helgouach Jean , Le Gouestre Didier , Poulain Henri
Published: December 2011

Already described as a transepted passage grave, the megalithic tomb at La Joselière comprises four lateral chambers opening on an axial passage. The remains of the cairn reveal a square plan. Amongst the few artefacts discovered in the southern chamber, beneath the cairn and in front of the entrance, variscite and sericite beads, transversal arrowheads and thin sherds of potteries belong to the Middle Neolithic.
Les marques digitées apposées sur les matériaux de construction gallo-romains en argile cuite
Authors: Goulpeau Louis , Le Ny Françoise
Published: December 2011

Frequently, roman bricks and tiles show finger-made marks called signature in the english archaeological littérature.

We study successively the technical aspect of their drawing, the variations of the proportion of marked materials according to the différent types of these (observed on both production or domestic sites) or between the different workshops, hypothesis on the real function of the signature.

We show how a typological organized description of signatures is necessary and how the metrology of these marks plays a part in a possible classification. The recording of the marks shows the large field covered by the different models but the predominence of certain type of signature emerges of the statistics.

We propose two examples of possible application of the signature studies : the caracterizing of a production of which the distribution is geographically limited and their share to the understanding of the evolution of workshop structures.
Persistance de techniques d'orfèvrerie : le torque celtique de Soucy (Aisne) et les bracelets gallo-romains du Poiré-sur-Vie (Vendée)
Authors: Hautenauve Hélène , Besson Corinne
Published: December 2011

La confrontation de deux bracelets gallo-romains et d'un torque du second Age du Fer est l'occasion de mettre en lumière la technique de la barre cruciforme torse apparue à en Europe à l'Age du Bronze. Ces trois pièces sont décrites ainsi que le processus de fabrication à la cire perdue. L'étude des autres types de barres torses utilisées depuis le début de l'orfèvrerie jusqu'à l'époque impériale montre une diversité des formes et des techniques qui permet de dégager des influences. Ainsi, malgré un décor romain, les bracelets du Poiré-sur-Vie tirent leur forme et leur technique de traditions celtiques elles-mêmes issues de l'Age du Bronze européen.
Locoweed dose responses to nitrogen: Positive for biomass and primary physiology, but inconsistent for an alkaloid
Authors: Delaney Kevin J. , Klypina Nina , Maruthavanan Janakiraman , Lange Carol , Sterling Tracy M.
Published: December 2011

• Premise of the Study: Plant communities may be influenced by toxic secondary metabolites or enhanced plant growth from plant–symbiont interactions. The C:N hypothesis predicts that carbon or nitrogen constrains plant secondary metabolite production, but it does not consider compounds produced by plant symbionts. Locoweeds are legumes that can have fungal endophyte alkaloid (swainsonine [SWA]) production, which causes livestock poisoning. We studied four locoweed taxa to test whether average SWA concentrations influenced SWA positive dose responses to N fertilizer.

• Methods: We measured locoweed leaf SWA, pigment concentrations and photosynthetic activity, and plant biomass dose responses to N supplementation for 3 mo in two greenhouse experiments.

• Key Results: Leaf photosynthesis, leaf pigment concentrations, and plant biomass had positive, unsaturated dose responses across tested N doses. Although N enhanced primary growth, two moderate‐SWA taxa (Astragalus mollissimus var. bigelovii and Oxytropis sericea) had negative SWA dose responses to increasing N, the high‐SWA taxon (A. moll. var. mollissimus) had no SWA change, and the very low‐SWA taxon (A. moll. var. matthewsii) had a transient positive dose response.

• Conclusions: Supplemented N led to positive dose responses for plant biomass and leaf photosynthesis and pigments, but SWA dose responses differed across locoweed taxa and time. At N levels that enhanced plant growth and reduced antioxidant protective systems, fungal endophyte alkaloid production was not strongly influenced. Production of SWA may be more strongly influenced by factors other than C:N supply (e.g., seasonality, plant age) in the locoweed–endophyte–Rhizobium complex.
Pharmacokinetics and Antiviral Activity of Phx1766, a Novel HCV Protease Inhibitor, Using An Accelerated Phase I Study Design
Authors: Hotho Daphne M , de Bruijne Joep , O'Farrell A Marie , Boyea Teresa , Li Jianke , Bracken Michele , Li Xin , Campbell David , Guler Hans-Peter , Weegink Christine J , Schinkel Janke , Molenkamp Richard , van de Wetering de Rooij Jeroen , van Vliet Andre , Janssen Harry LA , de Knegt Robert J , Reesink Hendrik W
Published: December 2011

Background

PHX1766 is a novel HCV NS3/4 protease inhibitor with robust potency and high selectivity in replicon studies (50% maximal effective concentration 8 nM). Two clinical trials investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and antiviral activity of PHX1766 in healthy volunteers (HV) and chronic hepatitis C patients, by use of a dose-adaptive overlapping clinical trial design.

Methods

Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials were conducted. Single doses of PHX1766 or placebo were administered to 25 HV and six HCV genotype 1-infected patients (50 mg once daily –1,000 mg once daily, 250 mg twice daily and 100 mg of a new formulation of PHX1766 once daily). Multiple doses of PHX1766 or placebo were administered to 32 HV and seven HCV genotype 1-infected patients (50 mg once daily –800 mg twice daily).

Results

Oral administration of PHX1766 was safe and well tolerated at all dose levels with rapid absorption (time at which concentration maximum is reached of 1–4 h) and with mean terminal half-lives of 4–23 h. Multiple doses of PHX1766 800 mg twice daily in HCV patients produced an area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time of drug administration to the last time point with a measurable concentration after dosing accumulation ratio of 2.3. The mean maximal observed HCV RNA decline was 0.6 log10 IU/ml in the first 24 h in the single-dose protocol and 1.5 log10 IU/ml after 6 days of PHX1766 dosing.

Conclusions

An overlapping, dose-adaptive single-dose and multiple-dose escalating design in HV and HCV-infected patients proved to be highly efficient in identifying a therapeutic dose. Although in vitro replicon studies indicated a robust HCV RNA viral decline of PHX1766, the study in HCV patients demonstrated only modest viral load reduction.
Integrative Review of Graduate Entry Programs in Nursing
Authors: Pellico Linda Honan , Terrill Eileen , White Patricia , Rico Janet
Published: December 2011

In this integrative review, the authors report on, summarize, and analyze research conducted on non-nurse college graduates enrolled in master’s degree programs in nursing in the United States and Canada, leading to preparation for advanced practice nurse roles. This review demonstrated that non-nurse college graduates successfully develop into registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) or certified nurse-midwives (CNMs). What is conspicuously absent in the literature is articulation of the process whereby college graduates become nurses and APRNs or CNMs. Given the expansion of graduate entry programs for non-nurse college graduates, along with the recent clarion call to move advanced practice nursing to the postgraduate level, it is time to examine the process. Understanding the process will help faculty refine pedagogy and curricula to support students’ transition from non-nurse to both nurse and APRN or CNM.
Héraclès comme figure de l’archaïsme dans la poésie hellénistique
Authors: Cusset Christophe , Acosta-Hughes Benjamin
Published: December 2011

Christophe Cusset et Benjamin Acosta-Hughes s’intéressent ici aux traitements parallèles très différents que deux auteurs majeurs, Théocrite et Apollonios de Rhodes, ont consacrés dans leurs œuvres respectives à la figure d’Héraclès, figure emblématique de l’archaïsme que l’on peut donc, à loisir, réinventer, redimensionner ou au contraire écarter, suivant des choix qui paraissent, à chaque fois, porteurs de sens pour qui s’interroge sur l’esthétique de ces deux poètes. Apollonios en effet chasse de son épopée d'un nouveau genre ce héros fameux en tant qu’il représente l’attachement à une forme archaïque d’héroïsme épique, tandis que chez Théocrite Héraclès, tout en étant reconnaissable comme héros archaïque, est vu dans une perspective qui n’est pas archaïque, mais est totalement transformé par le regard nouveau que le poète porte sur lui.
Stoïcisme et jugement littéraire au Ier siècle avant J.-C. : le témoignage de Denys d’Halicarnasse
Authors: Lévy-Makinson Mélina
Published: December 2011

Intégré au cercle des Aelii Tuberones, famille romaine d’obédience stoïcienne, l’historien et rhéteur Denys d’Halicarnasse était familier des théories du Portique : de fait, les théories stoïciennes sur le langage constituaient un intérêt certain pour les recherches stylistiques de Denys, comme en témoignent ses Opuscules Rhétoriques. D’autre part, sa réflexion reflète des enjeux importants du débat littéraire du Ier siècle avant J.-C. à Rome. Atticiste convaincu, Denys rédige ainsi deux traités (Sur Thucydide et la Seconde lettre à Ammée) en réaction contre les admirateurs stoïciens de l’auteur de la Guerre du Péloponnèse. Notre auteur développe pour sa part un « atticisme stoïcisant » qui s’adosse à une conception de l’Empire réconciliant Grecs et Romains.
Archaïsme et construction identitaire en Grande-Grèce : notes sur le Palladion d’Athénadans la céramique italiote
Authors: Pouzadoux Claude
Published: December 2011

Cet article se penche sur la nature et la signification des éléments d’archaïsme que l’on peut repérer dans la céramique italiote de la deuxième moitié du IVe siècle avant J.-C. Il s'intéresse notamment à la représentation du Palladion d'Athéna.
Unicistes versus pluralistes : l’homéopathie brésilienne à l’ère de la globalisation
Authors: Giglio-Jacquemot Armelle
Published: December 2011

La globalisation représente pour les entreprises un cadre particulièrement propice à la circulation de leurs marchandises et à l’expansion de leurs marchés. Au Brésil, l’installation récente d’une filiale des Laboratoires français Boiron ébranle le champ local de l’homéopathie. A partir d’éléments de terrain recueillis à São Paulo, l’article se propose d’examiner les réactions, stratégies et changements suscités par cette implantation dans le champ de l’homéopathie brésilienne mais aussi au-delà. Il se penche également sur les adaptations auxquelles cette industrie pharmaceutique, porteuse d’une certaine conception de l’homéopathie et du médicament homéopathique, se voit localement contrainte pour distribuer ses produits.
Typologie des erreurs de production d’anglais des francophones : segments vs. suprasegments
Authors: Capliez Marc
Published: December 2011

Il n’est pas rare d’entendre des étudiants français affirmer que la prononciation de l’anglais est trop « difficile », trop « irrégulière », ou simplement trop « différente ». Ceci est confirmé au vu des notes de phonétique médiocres obtenues par bon nombre d’étudiants en licence d’anglais, la phonétique étant d’ailleurs considérée comme la matière la plus difficile par beaucoup. Pourtant, tous les êtres humains possèdent les mêmes organes vocaux, c’est pourquoi il serait faux de dire qu’il existe des sons imprononçables par les locuteurs de telle ou telle langue. Diverses raisons permettent d’expliquer les difficultés qu’ont les apprenants avec la prononciation de l’anglais, tant du point de vue segmental que suprasegmental. Cet article de synthèse se propose d’étudier les erreurs récurrentes de prononciation de l’anglais, grâce à une analyse des différences et difficultés auxquelles sont confrontés les apprenants francophones, dont les systèmes phonémique et prosodique présentent des divergences significatives avec la langue cible. La typologie des erreurs ainsi formée permettra de dresser une comparaison entre l’importance et le rôle des segments et des suprasegments dans l’intelligibilité du discours, problème encore peu exploré.
La FASP médicale comme outil pédagogique : authenticité des textes ou altération de l’authenticité ?
Authors: Charpy Jean-Pierre
Published: December 2011

Cet article s’inscrit dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche-action conduit à la faculté de médecine de Dijon. Il porte principalement sur l’intérêt pédagogique potentiel de la FASP (Fiction à Substrat Professionnel) médicale.Entre décembre 2009 et avril 2010, j’ai demandé à dix professionnels de santé expérimentés, représentant diverses spécialités et ayant validé un diplôme inter-universitaire d’anglais médical, d’informer un questionnaire. Le questionnaire a été utilisé lors de séances de formation continue. Les participants ont dû commenter six scènes à dominante médicale extraites de thrillers, sans connaître le nom du roman ni celui du romancier. Le questionnaire avait comme objectif de vérifier la pertinence du lexique spécialisé et son potentiel en tant que vecteur d’acquisition lexicale, ainsi que l’authenticité des textes.À l’issue de cette enquête, je propose une analyse des résultats obtenus afin de tenter de mieux appréhender le réel fictif mis en scène dans ces romans ainsi que les effets incitateurs ou inhibiteurs du thriller spécialisé en tant qu’outil pédagogique dans le contexte des études médicales. Enfin, je trace quelques pistes de réflexion sur leur intérêt didactique en anglais de spécialité.
From the cultural hegemony of English to online informal learning: Cluster frequency as an indicator of relevance in authentic documents
Authors: Sockett Geoffrey
Published: December 2011

La recherche sur l’apprentissage informel de l’anglais en ligne porte souvent sur la description des loisirs d’apprenants ayant un lien avec l’anglais et leur impact sur l’apprentissage formel. L’hégémonie culturelle de l’anglais dans les médias de masse en France fait que ces pratiques sont fréquentes parmi des étudiants spécialistes de disciplines autres que l’anglais. Le téléchargement ou visionnage en streaming de séries télévisées en version originale figure souvent parmi les activités informelles d’écoute, mais la pertinence des contenus langagiers de ces émissions pour l’apprentissage de la langue-cible reste à démontrer. Dans cette étude, nous construisons un corpus de transcriptions de séries télévisées correspondant à une année de visionnage par un étudiant du secteur LANSAD. Le corpus est analysé afin de faire ressortir les groupes de quatre mots les plus fréquents. Nous analysons le contenu linguistique de ces constructions et le classement par fréquence est ensuite comparé avec celui des mêmes constructions dans le British National Corpus. La corrélation entre ces deux classements permet de conclure que les constructions les plus fréquentes du corpus constituent des exemples pertinents de la langue cible.
Of headlines & headlinese: Towards distinctive linguistic and pragmatic genericity
Authors: Isani Shaeda
Published: December 2011

Le discours et la généricité des titres à la une de la presse britannique ont fait l’objet d’une approche essentiellement lexicale et syntaxique. Cet article s’en démarque en proposant une analyse pragmatique en vue de dégager l’existence d’un sous-genre à part entière défini par une spécificité rhétorique dont la validité générique est mesurée à l’aune des théories relevant des domaines de l’analyse pragmatique et du genre. Cette mise en lumière de la visée pragmatique de ce type de discours où le lecteur est appelé à engager et interagir avec le texte et le socio-contexte, nous conduit à le distancier du genre purement journalistique à visée informative en proposant son rapprochement avec un autre genre à spécificité britannique, les mots-croisés cryptés.
Le mythe de la démonstrabilité résiste-t-il encore ? Remarques sur l’orientation des réponses anonymes
Authors: Basso Paola
Published: December 2011

La Preisfrage de 1763 était, à l’époque, incroyablement actuelle. En effet, autour de 1761, à l’Académie de Berlin et en dehors d’elle, une somme de facteurs vint menacer la supériorité incontestée de la méthode démonstrative. Même si l’optimisme suscité par les mathématiques était encore victorieux, le paradigme de la certitude absolue était imperceptiblement en train de se transformer. On se distanciait d’un certain cartésianisme et, pour utiliser le mot de Voltaire, au « compas de la mathématique » on ajoutait « le flambeau de l’expérience ». On jugeait le réquisit pur de la déduction logique trop élevé pour l’entendement humain, et l’on avait tendance à souligner les traits sensibles du plan syntaxique des figures géométriques ou des preuves des faits. Cette circonspection concernant la rhétorique de la démonstrationest bien visible dans les pages anonymes des réponses à cette Preisfrage : la plupart sont favorables à l’évidence géométrique en métaphysique, mais le scepticisme vis à vis des démonstrations mathématiques inflexibles est palpable. Le pruritus demonstrandi contenait-il déjà en lui-même, par son outrance, le germe du futur dédain pour les démonstrations en philosophie ?
A Dynamic Spoken Dialogue Interface for Ambient Intelligence Interaction
Authors: Montoro Germán , Haya Pablo A. , Alamán Xavier
Published: December 2011

In this paper, we present the interpretation and generation processes of a spoken dialogue interface for ambient intelligence. The interface is automatically created for each specific environment and the interpretation and generation vary depending on the environment and its context. These processes rely on a dialogue tree structure. Several modules process the tree structure and the context information to produce specific dialogues for the current environment state. The interface has been implemented and evaluated in an ambient intelligence environment. Satisfactory objective and subjective evaluation results are shown at the end of the paper.
Exploring Multi-Path Communication in Hybrid Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Cardoso Roberto Speicys , Caporuscio Mauro
Published: December 2011

Ambient computing requires the integration of multiple mobile heterogeneous networks. Multi-path communication in such scenarios can provide reliability and privacy benefits. Even though the properties of multi-path routing have been extensively studied and a number of algorithms proposed, implementation of such techniques can be tricky, particularly when resource-constrained nodes are connected to each other through hybrid networks with different characteristics. In this paper, the authors discuss the challenges involved in implementing multipath communication on a middleware for hybrid mobile ad hoc networks. The authors present the PLASTIC middleware, several compelling applications of multi-path communication and the main issues concerning their implementation as a primitive middleware-provided communication.
Interoperable Semantic and Syntactic Service Discovery for Ambient Computing Environments
Authors: Ben Mokhtar Sonia , Raverdy Pierre-Guillaume , Urbieta Aitor , Cardoso Roberto Speicys
Published: December 2011

The inherent heterogeneity of ambient computing environments and their constant evolution requires middleware platforms to manage networked components designed, developed, and deployed independently. Such management must also be efficient to cater for resource-constrained devices and highly dynamic situations due to the spontaneous appearance and disappearance of networked resources. For service discovery protocols (SDP), one of the main functions of service-oriented architectures (SOA), the efficiency of the matching of syntactic service descriptions is most often opposed to the fullness of the semantic approach. As part of the PLASTIC middleware, the authors present an interoperable discovery platform that features an efficient matching and ranking algorithm able to process service descriptions and discovery requests from both semantic and syntactic SDPs. To that end, the paper defines a generic, modular description language able to record service functional properties, potentially extended with semantic annotations. The proposed discovery platform leverages the advanced communication capabilities provided by the PLASTIC middleware to discover services in multi-network environments. An evaluation of the prototype implementation demonstrates that multi-protocols service matching supporting various levels of expressiveness can be achieved in ambient computing environments.
Connect Time Limits and Performance Measures in a Dial-up Modem Pool System
Authors: Schikora Paul F. , Godfrey Michael R. , Neureuther Brian D.
Published: December 2011

Managing customer service is critical for both nonprofit and for-profit dial-up modem Internet service providers. When system operators face excess demand, they can either add capacity or adapt their management techniques to deal with their limited resources—this article considers the latter. We examine system configuration options and the resultant effects on customer service levels in a simulated dial-up modem pool operation. Specifically, we look at a single pool operation and examine the effects of imposing time limits in a seriously overloaded system. We analyze the results on several key customer service measures. The results show that imposing these limits will have a distinct, nonlinear impact on these measures. Customer productivity and actual system load are shown to have major impacts on the performance measures. Interactions between several system and environmental parameters are also discussed.
ICT Usage by Greek Accountants
Authors: Emmanouilidis Efstratios C. , Economides Anastasios A.
Published: December 2011

This study investigates Greek accounting offices use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Initially, a comprehensive questionnaire was developed. It contains 35 questions with multiple answers and 2 open questions tailored to the accountants. One hundred accountants’ offices in a Greek county answered the questionnaire. The findings present their current ICT infrastructure and their use of ICT and accounting e-services. Greek accounting offices have made improvements in adopting new technology in their everyday work. All use email, antivirus software, and the Web. Most submit VAT (Value Aided Tax), Taxation Statements, and APS (Analytical Periodic Statement) via Internet. However, most are not cautious about backing up their data daily; they do not create electronic files for all their documents; they do not update their software via Internet; and they do not use advanced software applications. Finally, they expect the government and the Accountants’ Chamber to finance their ICT infrastructure.
Deploying New Perspectives of Network Organizations for Chronic Diseases’ Integrated Management
Authors: Bonacci Isabella , Tamburis Oscar
Published: December 2011

The social frame of healthcare organizations in Europe (and in particular in the Italian Public Sector), as a combination of relational, formal and informal aspects, is one of their most relevant sources of complexity, which leads to different approaches about decisional, clinical and organizational processes (Cicchetti, 2004). These issues have been enlightened as well by the increasing social incidence of chronic-degenerative pathologies, such as Diabetes Mellitus type 2. In this regard, the Italian national e-government strategy has first pointed out the need for paths of integration and interoperability among information systems to ensure a safe exchange of information (CNIPA, 2008). The activity of “integrated design” of information flows between doctors and patients allows the creation and development of reticular organizational forms in which many non contiguous actors work at the same time on the diagnosis and care process. This paper shows how the adoption of the Social Network Analysis (SNA), as theoretical and methodological perspective that emphasizes the social reality as reticular framework (Moreno, 1987), can provide an innovative approach for the study of the “pathology networks” and the “integrated management” of Diabetes Mellitus type 2, where ICT solutions are (or are about to be) currently involved.
Children’s Maps in GIS
Authors: Nordin Kerstin , Berglund Ulla
Published: December 2011

Since 2002 the authors have successively developed “Children’s Maps in GIS”, a method for children’s participation in spatial planning. Their studies show that 10-15 year-olds are capable of reading maps and using a GIS-application for communicating their interests in a stable and useful manner. The purpose of this article is to discuss the first stages of implementation in a real world project, in relation to ICT. The authors report experiences from a Swedish municipality using Children’s Maps in GIS in a survey with over 600 children as part of a comprehensive planning process and give examples of how data can be visualized. A significant digital divide between different parts of the administration is noted. In the ongoing development into an Internet version of the method the authors aim to increase the access to the GIS-application and develop standard procedures for categorizing and analyzing data.
Adoption and Use of ICTs among Rural Youth
Authors: Alexopoulos George , Koutsouris Alex , Tzouramani Irene
Published: December 2011

In the last few decades, within the rhetoric of the “information age”, there is a growing enthusiasm for the (potential) benefits of the dissemination of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This is further enhanced through eGovernment projects undertaken on a worldwide scale. However, a number of issues seem to defy such optimism as far as rural areas are concerned. The critical review of such issues question the thesis that ICTs undoubtedly benefit (human) development. In particular, this paper, drawing on data from a large-scale survey in Greece, identifies the marginal effects of a series of demographic, socioeconomic and spatial characteristics, and information sources on PC and Internet use on the part of young rural inhabitants, especially farmers. The results, pointing toward an emerging intra-rural digital divide, are consequently discussed vis-à-vis eGovernment projects, from the point of view of human development.
Pathways to Participatory Landscape Governance in Northern Laos
Authors: Watts John Daniel , Kanyasone Vilaphong , Vongkhamsao Vongvilay
Published: December 2011

The Landscape Mosaics Project is a global research project coordinated by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC). The project examines biodiversity in tropical, forested, multifunctional landscapes in sites adjacent to protected areas. A key thematic component of its research examines the governance of landscapes, and by using a Participatory Action Research approach, the project aspires to facilitate better landscape governance through improved communication between village and landscape level actors. This article examines the initial experiences of the project in its Northern Lao site, located in Vieng Kham District, Luang Prabang Province. The authors describe how the lack of access to information communication technologies have inhibited local actors levels of participation in landscape level governance as well as affected their abilities to effectively and adaptively manage their landscape. Community radio, that provides local actors with the relevant information for more substantially participating in landscape governance as well as information useful for adaptive management, is proposed as one potential solution for improving participatory landscape governance.
Using Actor-Network Theory to Research the Adoption of Inter-Organizational Information Systems
Authors: Underwood Jim , McCabe Bruce
Published: December 2011

Inter-organizational information systems depend at least as much on collaboration across organizational cultures as on the development of technical infrastructure for their success. Actor-network theory (ANT) is a useful approach for bringing together social and technical considerations. In this chapter we discuss key features of ANT and show how it might be applied to a particular case of IOIS adoption; this ANT approach is compared to co-evolutionary theory which was originally applied to this case. Some possible extensions to ANT are contemplated, and we offer advice to those attempting ANT-based research. We also give advice, based on ANT, to those undertaking IOIS development.
The Effect of Merger and Acquisitions on the IS Function
Authors: Genovese Andrea , Gwebu Khole , Shore Barry , Titz Sebastian , Venkatachalam Venky , Wang Jing
Published: December 2011

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity has many strategic and operational objectives. One operational objective is to develop common and efficient information systems that can be the source of creating significant cost savings for the joined companies. In combining the IS divisions of the acquiring firm with that of the acquired firm there are many hurdles when the technical and social system are to be integrated. Exactly how this process will evolve and exactly what results can be achieved is hard to determine. This chapter identifies some of the major factors associated with the integration process and proposes Agent Based Simulation as a possible methodology to study this phenomenon.
Public E-Procurement Implementation
Authors: Filho José Rodrigues , Mota Flavio Perazzo Barbosa
Published: December 2011

Today most e-government and e-procurement research and discussion are done in a quite utilitarian and technical way. This follows the worldwide positivist and utilitarian approach to research that neglects the social, organizational, cultural, and political aspects of social life. Therefore, most research initiatives are based on a market-driven and utilitarian approach in which technology is treated as a mere tool. So, under the use of a traditional top-down model or the “tool-approach,” information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been implemented in developing countries detached from their social and political context, as an instrumental, static, elitist, and uncritical utilitarian approach, neglecting a deep investigation of how social, economic, and political factors are embedded in technology. In addition, most of the literature on e-procurement has been studied primarily from a business-to-business (B2B) perspective, and the field of public sector procurement has been neglected. Although public e-procurement has similarities with the private sector, it also has some special characteristics that make it different. Therefore, it is not clear to what extent recent decisions on public e-procurement have been optimal. In the broad competing views of information technology (IT), interpretative or constructivist approaches see the use of IT as the result of conflicts, negotiations, and interpretations of various interests that make it socially constructed. These competing views of technology help the formulation of an appropriate debate on e-procurement that holds enormous potential for cost savings, efficiency and benefit gains, and transparency. In this work, an attempt was made to show how qualitative research traditions like structuration theory (specifically the perspective of “dialectic of control”) and qualitative research analysis can be used in the analysis of e-procurement in Brazil, leading to results that differ substantially from the mainstream positivist research that does not always touch the barriers and challenges that can constrain the adoption and implementation of public e-procurement projects.
Algorithmic Trading Strategy Making
Authors: Deng Xiaotie , Wang Feng , Dong Keren
Published: December 2011

Algorithmic trading strategy making is a very important research issue which attracts more and more people’s interests. This chapter will introduce several principal algorithms for algorithmic trading strategy making. How to design a trading strategy will also be discussed. Some latest research achievements on the algorithmic trading strategy making will be given with some examples and application results.
FPGA Speedup for Financial Network Models
Authors: Kelley Joe
Published: December 2011

We propose to use FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) to solve the nearly insurmountable computational challenges of Financial Network Models. Flow of funds models have been discussed for decades, but recently, the research activity has picked up due to international financial crises and the increased power of computers, mathematics, and economic models to address these crises. We survey many of these developments and discuss how FPGA can provide the critical technology to provide answers fast enough to be useable by managers in banks and regulatory agencies.
Remote Experiments in Freshman Engineering Education by Integrated e-Learning
Authors: Ožvoldová Miroslava , Schauer Franz
Published: December 2011

In this chapter, we present the outlines of the remote laboratory integrated in the INTe-L system, using the Internet School Experimental System (ISES) as hardware and an ISES WEB Control kit as software. We suggest an architecture for implementing remote laboratories, with data transfer across the Internet, based on standard and reusable ISES modules as hardware and Java supported ISES software. The Learning Management System (LMS) MOODLE turns out to be a highly effective means of organization of physics courses. The first experience on teaching units Free fall (http://remotelab4.truni.sk), Simple Pendulum (http://remotelab5.truni.sk), and Natural and driven oscillations (www.ises.info – see Remote laboratory) is presented.
Collaborative Development and Utilization of iLabs in East Africa
Authors: Mwikirize Cosmas , Tumusiime Arthur Asiimwe , Musasizi Paul Isaac , Tickodri-Togboa Sandy Stevens , Jiwaji Adnaan , Nombo Josiah , Maiseli Baraka , Sapula Teyana , Mwambela Alfred
Published: December 2011

Since 2005, Makerere University and the University of Dar es Salaaam have taken definitive steps toward the development and utilization of iLabs. This chapter presents the iLabs experiences of the two East African universities. The experiences presented here are characterized by: institutionalization of developer teams, development of ELVIS-based iLabs, staff & student exchanges, and utilization of iLabs to support curricula. The two universities have also undertaken to setup iLabs communities at peer universities and other higher institutions of learning in East Africa.
Evaluation of Remote Interface Component Alternatives for Teaching Tele-Robotic Operation
Authors: Ofir Goldstain , Irad Ben-Gal , Yossi Bukchin
Published: December 2011

This chapter discusses a remote learning study conducted at the Computer-Integrated-Manufacturing (CIM) Laboratory in Tel-Aviv University. The goal is to provide remote end-users with an interface that enables them to teleoperate a robotic arm in conditions as close as possible to hands-on operation in the laboratory. This study evaluates the contribution of different interface components to the overall performance and the learning ability of potential end-users. Based on predefined experimental tasks, the study compares alternative interface designs for teleoperation. The three performance measures of the robot operation task are (1) the number of steps that are required to complete the given task, (2) the number of errors during the execution stage, and (3) the improvement rate of users. Guidelines for a better design of remote learning interfaces in robotics are provided based on the experimental results.
Developing Remote Labs for Challenged Educational Environments
Authors: Kehinde Lawrence Olakunle , Chen Xuemin , Ayodele Kayode P. , Akinwale Olawale B.
Published: December 2011

Most publications on online laboratories assume that all institutions have similar scenarios. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Many developing countries and disadvantaged colleges have challenges that hinder successful deployment of remote laboratories, whereas these challenges may not be applicable in more developed environments. In this chapter, we highlight these challenges and propose solutions. In doing this, we will draw from our experiences, garnered while developing labs in selected challenged environments.
A Semantic Portal for Publication and Exchange of Educational Online Laboratories
Authors: Niederstätte Michael , Maier Christian
Published: December 2011

This chapter presents the research results focused on defining a general model for online laboratories and a Web repository based on Semantic Web technologies to facilitate the use of new tools to publish and exchange online laboratories and other related resources. The developed model is based on existing and well known standards like dc and FOAF, but new vocabularies also had to be created to describe the more specific resources related to online laboratories. Online laboratories are becoming important educational resources because of their increasing availability and diversity. Online laboratories also provide a flexible training option because they can be shared and are available on a 24/7 basis. Modern technologies in the area of online engineering are often prohibitively expensive and the possibility of sharing resources and sharing laboratory facilities is an increasingly attractive option, particularly for universities and other institutions with more limited financial resources. Furthermore this chapter describes in detail the Lab2go Web repository and its functionalities developed to facilitate the creation of semantic content and the search for online laboratories and other related resources.
The Emerging Story of the Machine
Authors: Carter Philip D.
Published: December 2011

In this paper, the author is concerned with “stories” society makes about “the machine”. A story that holds consensual elements is of great interest if one accepts the premise that story in itself has a strong influence on what we seek to create. Given that many popular stories present nightmare scenarios, a self-fulfilling prophesy would not want to be created. The psychodramatic method was used to produce several unscripted enactments of people’s feelings, thoughts and experiences concerning the machine. Certain elements of setting, character, metaphor and action were then drawn from the enactments and formed into a story.
Acceptance and Appropriation of Videoconferencing for E-Training
Authors: Fallery Bernard , Taddei Roxana , Gerbaix Sylvie
Published: December 2011

The purpose of this paper is to explore the acceptance and the appropriation of videoconferencing-mediated training during real training situations in a French company. The authors compare the acceptance and appropriation by 60 employees of two videoconferencing-mediated training systems: the virtual class (desktop videoconferencing) and the remote class (where learners are gathered together in the same room while the trainer is located at distance). In considering the acceptance of these videoconferencing-mediated training systems, a link was confirmed between perceived usefulness and the intention to use, but no relationship was established between the levels of acceptance and the required effort. The intention to use videoconferencing was associated with the expected benefits and not with the expected effort. Regarding appropriation, learners did not report a perception of technological distance. Moreover, this paper shows that learners and the trainer preferred the virtual class rather than the more classical remote class. The authors’ findings contradict the media richness theory, according to which the remote class, which is the “richer” medium in their research, should have been preferred.
Enhance Students’ Computing Skills via Web-Mediated Self-Regulated Learning with Feedback in Blended Environment
Authors: Lee Tsang-Hsiung , Shen Pei-Di , Tsai Chia-Wen
Published: December 2011

The vocational colleges in Taiwan regard professional certifications as a badge of skills achievement. To enhance student learning in this specific context, the authors conducted a quasi-experiment to explore effects of web-mediated self-regulated learning (SRL) with feedback, blended learning (BL) and their combinations on enhancing students’ skills of using Microsoft Word. Four classes in successive years, with a total of 190 freshmen, were divided into 2 (SRL with Feedback vs. SRL without Feedback) × 2 (Blended vs. Traditional) experimental groups. Results were generally positive. The results showed that students in the group of BL and SRL with feedback had better skills and higher pass rate on certification exams than those in the control group. It is hoped that the lesson learned is also useful for those teachers engaged in e-learning, specifically, in vocational colleges.