bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monetary Transfers in the U.S.: How Efficient Are Tax Rebates?
Authors: Vacaflores Diego
Published: November 2013

Recent debate on the effectiveness of tax rebates has concentrated on the degree to which they can affect economic activity, which depends on the methodology, the state of the economy, and the underlying assumptions. A better approach to assess the effectiveness of these monetary transfers is by comparing this method to alternative policies—like the traditional monetary injections through the financial intermediaries. A limited participation model calibrated to the U.S. economy is used to show that the higher the proportion of the monetary injection channeled through the consumers—instead of banks—leads to a less vigorous recovery of output but softens the detrimental effect on the utility of the representative household from the inherent inflationary pressure. This result is robust to the relative importance of the injection (utilization of resources) and alternative utility functions.
An Update on Translating Stem Cell Therapy for Stroke from Bench to Bedside
Authors: Dailey Travis , Metcalf Christopher , Mosley Yusef , Sullivan Robert , Shinozuka Kazutaka , Tajiri Naoki , Pabon Mibel , Acosta Sandra , Kaneko Yuji , Loveren Harry , Borlongan Cesar
Published: November 2013

With a constellation of stem cell sources available, researchers hope to utilize their potential for cellular repair as a therapeutic target for disease. However, many lab-to-clinic translational considerations must be given in determining their efficacy, variables such as the host response, effects on native tissue, and potential for generating tumors. This review will discuss the current knowledge of stem cell research in neurological disease, mainly stroke, with a focus on the benefits, limitations, and clinical potential.
Phylogeny and Biogeography of Cyanobacteria and Their Produced Toxins
Authors: Moreira Cristiana , Vasconcelos Vitor , Antunes Agostinho
Published: November 2013

Phylogeny is an evolutionary reconstruction of the past relationships of DNA or protein sequences and it can further be used as a tool to assess population structuring, genetic diversity and biogeographic patterns. In the microbial world, the concept that everything is everywhere is widely accepted. However, it is much debated whether microbes are easily dispersed globally or whether they, like many macro-organisms, have historical biogeographies. Biogeography can be defined as the science that documents the spatial and temporal distribution of a given taxa in the environment at local, regional and continental scales. Speciation, extinction and dispersal are proposed to explain the generation of biogeographic patterns. Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that inhabit a wide range of ecological niches and are well known for their toxic secondary metabolite production. Knowledge of the evolution and dispersal of these microorganisms is still limited, and further research to understand such topics is imperative. Here, we provide a compilation of the most relevant information regarding these issues to better understand the present state of the art as a platform for future studies, and we highlight examples of both phylogenetic and biogeographic studies in non-symbiotic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins.
Elements in the Development of a Production Process for Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara
Authors: Jordan Ingo , Lohr Verena , Genzel Yvonne , Reichl Udo , Sandig Volker
Published: November 2013

The production of several viral vaccines depends on chicken embryo fibroblasts or embryonated chicken eggs. To replace this logistically demanding substrate, we created continuous anatine suspension cell lines (CR and CR.pIX), developed chemically-defined media, and established production processes for different vaccine viruses. One of the processes investigated in greater detail was developed for modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). MVA is highly attenuated for human recipients and an efficient vector for reactogenic expression of foreign genes. Because direct cell-to-cell spread is one important mechanism for vaccinia virus replication, cultivation of MVA in bioreactors is facilitated if cell aggregates are induced after infection. This dependency may be the mechanism behind our observation that a novel viral genotype (MVA-CR) accumulates with serial passage in suspension cultures. Sequencing of a major part of the genomic DNA of the new strain revealed point mutations in three genes. We hypothesize that these changes confer an advantage because they may allow a greater fraction of MVA-CR viruses to escape the host cells for infection of distant targets. Production and purification of MVA-based vaccines may be simplified by this combination of designed avian cell line, chemically defined media and the novel virus strain.
The Seasonal Variation of the Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Porcelia macrocarpa R.E. Fries (Annonaceae) and Their Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Da Silva Erica , Soares Marisi , Mariane Bruna , Vallim Marcelo , Pascon Renata , Sartorelli Patricia , Lago João
Published: November 2013

This study investigates the impact of seasonal variation on the chemical composition of essential oils from the leaves of Porcelia macrocarpa (Annonaceae) obtained over the course of one year (January–December 2011) and the chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from the ripe fruits of the same plant. Furthermore, the essential oils of the leaves were investigated with respect to their antimicrobial activity. The essential oils of the leaves contain a mixture of monoterpenes, one diterpene and several sesquiterpenes. The main components were identified as the sesquiterpenes germacrene D (29%–50%) and bicyclogermacrene (24%–37%). No significant variation was observed for the composition of the essential oil of the leaves over the course ofthe year, except for the month of November, when the ripe fruit were collected. In this month, substantially decreased concentrations of germacrene D (28.8 ± 0.8%) and bicyclogermacrene (23.9 ± 0.6%) were measured and the emergence of spathulenol (10.4 ± 0.2%) was observed. The essential oils extracted from the ripe fruit revealed the presence of a variety of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and hydrocarbons. The main constituents of these oils were neryl (8.8 ± 0.2%) and geranyl (27.3 ± 0.7%) formates, γ-muurolene (10.3 ± 0.9%) and dendrolasin (8.23 ± 0.06%). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of P. macrocarpa towards a range of bacterial and yeast strains was examined. In order to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of essential oils obtained from the January collection of the leaves, broth microdilution assays were carried out, which showed a significant antimicrobial activity towards Cryptococcus neoformans serotypes A and D as well as C. gattii serotypes B and C.
A Review of Ten Years of the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) from 2002 to 2011
Authors: Morrissey Ian , Hackel Meredith , Badal Robert , Bouchillon Sam , Hawser Stephen , Biedenbach Douglas
Published: November 2013

Surveillance of antimicrobial agent resistance provides important information to guide microbiologists and infectious disease specialists understanding of the control and the spread of resistance mechanisms within the local environment. Continued monitoring of antimicrobial resistance patterns in the community and in local hospital environments is essential to guide effective empiric therapy. The Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) has monitored the in vitro susceptibility patterns of clinical Gram-negative bacilli to antimicrobial agents collected worldwide from intra-abdominal infections since 2002 and urinary tract infections since 2009. Resistance trends, with a particular focus on carbapenem resistance and the rate of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), were analyzed. Isolates from intra-abdominal infections (n = 92,086) and urinary-tract infections (n = 24,705) were collected and tested using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute methods. This review presents carbapenem susceptibility and ESBL rates over ten years of SMART study analysis, including key publications during this period. The SMART study has proved to be a valuable resource in determining pathogen prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility over the last ten years and continues to provide evidence for regulatory susceptibility breakpoints and clinical decision making.
PANATIKI: A Network Access Control Implementation Based on PANA for IoT Devices
Authors: Sanchez Pedro , Lopez Rafa , Skarmeta Antonio
Published: November 2013

Internet of Things (IoT) networks are the pillar of recent novel scenarios, such as smart cities or e-healthcare applications. Among other challenges, these networks cover the deployment and interaction of small devices with constrained capabilities and Internet protocol (IP)-based networking connectivity. These constrained devices usually require connection to the Internet to exchange information (e.g., management or sensing data) or access network services. However, only authenticated and authorized devices can, in general, establish this connection. The so-called authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) services are in charge of performing these tasks on the Internet. Thus, it is necessary to deploy protocols that allow constrained devices to verify their credentials against AAA infrastructures. The Protocol for Carrying Authentication for Network Access (PANA) has been standardized by the Internet engineering task force (IETF) to carry the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), which provides flexible authentication upon the presence of AAA. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first deep study of the feasibility of EAP/PANA for network access control in constrained devices. We provide light-weight versions and implementations of these protocols to fit them into constrained devices. These versions have been designed to reduce the impact in standard specifications. The goal of this work is two-fold: (1) to demonstrate the feasibility of EAP/PANA in IoT devices; (2) to provide the scientific community with the first light-weight interoperable implementation of EAP/PANA for constrained devices in the Contiki operating system (Contiki OS), called PANATIKI. The paper also shows a testbed, simulations and experimental results obtained from real and simulated constrained devices.
Peritoneal Residual Volume Induces Variability of Ultrafiltration with Icodextrin
Authors: Akonur Alp , Holmes Clifford J. , Leypoldt John K.
Published: November 2013

Background

Icodextrin induces ultrafiltration (UF) during long-dwell exchanges by creating a difference in oncotic pressure between the peritoneal cavity and plasma; however, the mechanisms governing intra-patient and inter-patient variability in UF when icodextrin is used remain largely unexplained. In the present study, we show theoretically that differences in peritoneal residual volume ( VR) have a more profound effect on UF with icodextrin use than with glucose use. This phenomenon is attributed to a differential effect of VR on oncotic, rather than osmotic, pressure between the peritoneal cavity and plasma.

Methods

The three-pore model was used to calculate the effect on UF of VR between 150 mL and 1200 mL when 7.5% icodextrin (ICO) or 3.86% glucose solution is used at the end of a 12-hour dwell in the four patient transport groups (that is, fast to slow). Oncotic (with ICO) and osmotic (with glucose) pressure differences averaged over the entire dwell were also calculated.

Results

As expected, at a nominal VR of 300 mL, UF with glucose differed substantially between the four patient transport groups (2 – 804 mL), whereas UF with ICO did not (556 – 573 mL). When VR was increased to 1200 mL from 150 mL, the concentrations of the oncotic and osmotic agents at the start of the dwell with an infusion volume of 2 L decreased to 4.9% from 7.0% with ICO and to 2.5% from 3.6% with glucose. The decrease in UF on average was greater with ICO [to 252 mL from 624 mL: that is, a reduction of 372 mL (60%)] than with glucose [to 292 mL from 398 mL: that is, a reduction of 106 mL (27%)]. Those trends agreed with the calculated reductions in the oncotic pressure difference with ICO [reduction of 12 mmHg (49%)] and the osmotic pressure difference with glucose [reduction of 19 mmHg (33%)].

Conclusions

When ICO is used, VR modifies the oncotic pressure difference between the peritoneal cavity and plasma to substantially alter UF. This modification suggests that potential causes of increased VR should be considered when UF with ICO is considerably less than expected. Prospective clinical studies evaluating the relationship between VR and UF with ICO are warranted to validate the theoretical predictions in this report.
Ankylosing Spondylitis and Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: Part of a Common Spectrum or Distinct Diseases?
Authors: Wallis Dinny , Haroon Nigil , Ayearst Renise , Carty Adele , Inman Robert D.
Published: November 2013

Objective.

To investigate the features of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in a Canadian cohort of 639 patients with AS and 73 patients with nr-axSpA.

Methods.

Clinical and laboratory data were compared for patients with AS and nr-axSpA enrolled in a longitudinal SpA cohort.

Results.

The proportion of male patients was higher in AS than in nr-axSpA (76.2% vs 47.9%; p < 0.0001). There was no difference in the presence of HLA-B27 between AS (78.9%) and nr-axSpA (72.5%) patients, nor in age at the time of diagnosis, although AS patients were younger at the time of symptom onset (23.9 yrs vs 26.4 yrs; p = 0.03). Disease duration at the time of last clinic visit was longer for AS than for nr-axSpA patients (17.7 yrs vs 12.1 yrs; p = 0.0002). Acute-phase reactants were higher in AS than in nr-axSpA (C-reactive protein 11.4 vs 5.2, p < 0.0001; erythrocyte sedimentation rate 13.7 vs 9.9, p = 0.02). The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index was higher in patients with AS (2.84 vs 1.35, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion.

Patients with nr-axSpA were more likely to be female and to have lower inflammatory markers than patients with AS. When restricted to female patients only, acute-phase reactants did not differ significantly between AS and nr-axSpA. The evidence provides indirect support for the concept that nr-axSpA may represent an early form of AS, but that also has features of a distinct disease entity with significant burden of symptoms.
La gestion de la performance du personnel de création : mieux comprendre les défis pour mieux les relever
Authors: Dubois Louis-Étienne
Published: November 2013

Si le développement de la créativité d’une bonne partie du personnel constitue aujourd’hui une priorité pour beaucoup d’organisations, les défis qu’entraîne sa maîtrise sont tout aussi considérables pour les gestionnaires et les dirigeants. Cet article se penche sur les pratiques mises en œuvre pour déterminer les attentes, exercer un suivi, évaluer le rendement, reconnaître la performance et développer les compétences du personnel de création. En nous appuyant sur les propos de gestionnaires chevronnés de créatifs, nous indiquons que le succès de la gestion de performance de ces employés particuliers passe par une sélection attentive des candidats, une modulation des attentes, une formation à la communication avec les créatifs et une culture organisationnelle propice à la créativité.
Comment stimuler des projets d'innovation environnementale ?
Authors: Chassagnon Virgile , Haned Naciba
Published: November 2013

Cet article vise à montrer les formes d’organisation créative qui doivent être mises en place pour favoriser l’émergence d’idées nouvelles et la conduite d’un projet d’innovation environnementale. Ce travail empirique a été réalisé à partir de l’étude de la stratégie de l’entreprise Michelin en matière de créativité. La réussite des projets d’innovation environnementale réside dans le fait que la performance environnementale se concrétise sans nuire aux autres formes de performance, mais au contraire en les faisant progresser ensemble grâce, notamment, aux collaborations externes.
Le financement participatif : atouts, risques et conditions de succès
Authors: Onnée Stéphane , Renault Sophie
Published: November 2013

À l’heure où l’internaute devient de plus en plus actif, le financement participatif connaît une véritable montée en puissance. Face aux atermoiements d’une économie en crise, il permet à des particuliers ou à des organisations de s’appuyer sur le soutien financier de la foule pour concrétiser des projets de toutes natures : jeu vidéo, film, musique, création d’entreprise, etc. S’appuyant sur des cas concrets, cet article dessine les contours du financement participatif, en décrit les principaux atouts mais aussi les faiblesses. Des recommandations sont également apportées afin d’éclairer les praticiens sur ce mode de financement de projets.
Utilization of Project Management Software in Qatari government Organizations
Authors: Salaheldin Salaheldin Ismail , Sharif Khurram , Al Alami Maysarah
Published: November 2013

This study aims to explore the critical driving and resisting forces that promote or inhibit the implementation and use of project management (PM) software in Qatari Government Organizations in an attempt to determine whether software-based PM methodologies are being effectively implemented in the public sector organizations or not. Research hypotheses were evaluated using ANOVA and Mann- Whitney test. Findings indicated that forces that promote or inhibit software based PM implementation are significantly affected by the managerial interest and nature of existing (traditional or contemporary) PM practices. More importantly our findings identified some driving forces that promote the implementation of software-based PM methodology (SPMM) in Qatari government organizations and also identified some roadblocks that prohibit such implementations. Finally managerial implications for the successful implementation of SPMM are provided and avenues for further research are suggested.
Identification of Patterns for the Formation of Software Development Projects Teams
Authors: Ampuero Margarita André , Baldoquín de la Peña María G. , Castillo Silvia T. Acuña
Published: November 2013

The formation of software development project teams is carried out, conventionally, in an empiric manner; however, in this process, multiple factors should be considered. In literature, the works where this process is modeled are scarce, and most do not consider aspects linked to the formation of the team as a whole. In this paper, a group of patterns that contribute to the formation of software development projects teams are identified through the use of the Delphi method, psychological tests, and data mining tools. The paper identifies patterns that are validated experimentally, while psychological characteristics in the process of software team formations are exemplified.
Geographic Information Networks in American Indian Governments and Communities
Authors: Palmer Mark H. , Hanney Jack
Published: November 2013

This article describes advantages and disadvantages of federal government centralized geographic information networks and decentralized peer-to-peer geographic information networks as they pertain to North American Indian tribal governments and communities. Geographic information systems (GIS) are used by indigenous groups for natural resource management, land claims, water rights, and cultural revitalization activities on a global-scale. North American groups use GIS for the same reasons, but questions regarding culturally appropriate GIS, cross-cultural understandings of geographic knowledge, and cultural assimilation through Western digital technologies have been raised by scholars. Two network models are germane to American Indian government operations and community organizations. The first is a prescriptive top-down network emanating from federal government agencies. Federal agencies are responsible for the diffusion of nationwide GIS programs throughout indigenous communities in the United States. A second, potentially more inclusive model is a decentralized peer-to-peer network in which all nodes are responsible for the success of the network.
The Role of Virtual Communities in the Customization of e-Services
Authors: Karakostas Bill , Kardaras Dimitris K. , Zichová Adéla
Published: November 2013

Virtual communities are groups of people with similar interests who meet online and together act as a learning environment, place for social support, or as bodies for influencing public opinion. In this paper, the authors identify characteristics of a virtual community that influence its members to customize e- services provided to or received by the virtual community. The authors propose a theoretical framework of factors influencing service customization in a virtual community that has been validated with two case studies conducted in health-focused virtual communities. The findings confirm that the quality of the learning environment, social support, and the virtual community’s ability to influence public opinion, positively contribute to the perceived usefulness and active participation in the community by its members. In turn, these factors were found to have a positive influence on customization of e-services by the members, based on the community’s suggestion. The research also suggests several areas of focus to enhance e-service customization through virtual communities.
Networking Identities
Authors: Simour Lhoussain
Published: November 2013

Electronic connections allow the individual to be at various global sites while sitting in front of his or her computer. By being electronically connected, one’s participation in virtual worlds raises important questions about the nature of our communities and problematizes our identities. This paper examines how experiences in virtual interactions affect people’s real lives and what impact computer mediated communication has on the formation of a virtual community and its relation to individuals’ identities. Virtual communities stimulate experiences that redefine the basic concepts and contexts that have characterized the essence of human societies. They offer new contexts for rethinking the concept of identity and provide a new space for exploring the extent to which participation in computer mediated interaction modifies the subject in terms of identity, leading to a reconstruction and a reconstitution of self.
Managing Collaborative Research Networks
Authors: Dimitrova Dimitrina , Koku Emmanuel
Published: November 2013

This analysis is a test case for the broader issue of how distributed communities function. It shows that even highly distributed CoPs may have a dual life: they exist both online and offline, in both face-to-face meetings and email exchanges of their participants. The study examines a dispersed community engaged in conducting and managing collaborative research. The analysis uses data from a social network survey and interviews to examine its managerial practices, information exchanges and communication practices.
Some Research Challenges for Studies of Virtual Communities Using On-Line Tells
Authors: Kimble Chris
Published: November 2013

This article reports on a study of learning and the coordination of activities in a geographically distributed community (a research consortium) using survey / Social Network Analysis methods combined with interviews. This article comments on and expands some of the important issues that were raised. After outlining the wider context, it highlights two broad themes related to research in the area of Virtual Communities: the nature of the communities themselves and the way in which they are studied. Following this, four areas for future research are outlined: the continuing role of face-to-face communication in Virtual Communities; the significance of the dual nature of such groups; the importance (or otherwise) of the structure of such communities; and the role played by exogenous factors. The article concludes with some comments on where this field relates to the debate among social theorists about the role of agency and structure in human activities.
Interview
Authors: Mora Manuel , Kljajic Miroljub
Published: November 2013

In this short article, we present an e-interview to a well-recognized system scientist Barry G. Silverman, who is Professor of Systems Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and Director of the Ackoff Collaboratory for Advancement of the Systems Approach (ACASA) in the same university. In this e-interview, Professor Silverman, teach us on the origins, and still applicability and need of the Systems Approach, but now focused on the present complex social systems. A Systems Approach must and can provide a white-box research approach and advance on the limitations of the reductionist black-box research approaches. Professor Silverman, also alert us on the scarcity of PhD academic programs covering these systems approaches and makes a call for continuing the “difficult missionary effort” of teaching and doing research on the Systems Approach .
Deploying Privacy Improved RBAC in Web Information Systems
Authors: Mavridis Ioannis
Published: November 2013

Access control technology holds a central role in achieving trustworthy management of personally identifiable information in modern information systems. In this article, a privacy-sensitive model that extends Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to provide privacy protection through fine-grained and just-in-time access control in Web information systems is proposed. Moreover, easy and effective mapping of corresponding components is recognized as an important factor for succeeding in matching security and privacy objectives. Such a process is proposed to be accomplished by capturing and modeling privacy requirements in the early stages of information system development. Therefore, a methodology for deploying the mechanisms of an access control system conforming to the proposed Privacy Improved Role-Based Access Control (PIRBAC) model is presented. To illustrate the application of the proposed methodology, an application example in the healthcare domain is described.
Towards The New Episteme
Authors: Król Zbigniew
Published: November 2013

The usual horizon of knowledge science is limited to nominalism, empiricism, and naturalistic and evolutionary epistemologies. I propose to broaden this horizon by applying some other philosophical attitudes, such as a non-nominalistic philosophy of language. A basic methodology for the new episteme, including (non-nominalistic) typology and a definition of knowledge and of tacit knowledge, is proposed. Several types of knowledge and the corresponding tacit knowledge are discussed within a broadened philosophical context. There are many types of knowledge and tacit knowledge using different methods of sharing. The main problem with the effective sharing of tacit knowledge is sharing knowledge relevant to the given problem. The transfer, change and transformation of tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge are possible. An example of such a transition, which I call conceptualization, is described. Conceptualization exemplifies how new knowledge can be created with the use of tacit knowledge. A need also exists for a professional collaboration between knowledge science, knowledge management and philosophy.
Ontology Alignment
Authors: Ivanova Tatyana
Published: November 2013

A grand number of ontologies have been developed and are publicly accessible on the Web making techniques for mapping between various ontologies more significant. Research has been made in the area of ontology alignment, a grand number of approaches, algorithms, and tools have been developed in recent years, but are still not “perfect” and excellent knowledge. In this article, the author makes an overall view of the state of ontology alignment, including the latest research, comparing many approaches, and analyzing their strengths and drawbacks. The main motivation behind this work is the fact that despite many component matching solutions that have been developed so far, there is no integrated solution that is a clear success, which can be used for ontology mapping in all cases, making knowledge about developed ontology mapping methods and their clear classification needed.
Exploration and Exploitation in Parallel Problem Solving
Authors: Zhang Hua , Xi Youmin
Published: November 2013

In previous studies on coordinating exploration-exploitation activities, much attention has been paid on network structures while the roles played by actors’ strategic behavior have been largely ignored. In this paper, the authors extend March’s simulation model on parallel problem solving by adding structurally equivalent imitation. In this way, one can examine how the interaction of network structure with agent behavior affects the knowledge process and finally influence group performance. This simulation experiment suggests that under the condition of regular network, the classical trade-off between exploration and exploitation will appear in the case of the preferentially attached network when agents adopt structure equivalence imitation. The whole organization implicitly would be divided into independent sub-groups that converge on different performance level and lead the organization to a lower performance level. The authors also explored the performance in the mixed organization and the management implication.
Expert Mining and Traditional Chinese Medicine Knowledge
Authors: Jifa Gu , Wuqi Song , Zhengxiang Zhu , Rui Gao , Yijun Liu
Published: November 2013

Expert mining is an emergent theory and technique that is useful for collecting the ideas, experiences, knowledge and wisdom from experts. Thus, in this paper, the authors have applied expert mining to solve problems related to social system and knowledge systems pertaining to specific types of information. TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) masters accumulated useful knowledge in medicine from ancient China paying close attention to collecting and maintaining the ideas, experiences, knowledge and wisdom from famous elder masters in TCM. In collecting this information, a large project was conducted from 100 famous elder masters in TCM supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Due to the enormity of this project, subprojects have been established using advanced IT technology, Artificial Intelligence, Knowledge Science and Systems Science to analyze and express these masters’ experiences and theories. One of the subprojects uses expert mining and other techniques to analyze both individual and group ideas and knowledge. This paper will describe results and future planning in how this subproject will be conducted while introducing methods and tools used for expert mining.
A Formalised Approach to the Management of Risk
Authors: Brownsword Mike , Setchi Rossitza
Published: November 2013

Taking pragmatic, systems engineering approach, this paper identifies a number of fundamental issues that presently arise in risk management, primarily as a result of the overly complex approach conventionally taken in process definition and a lack of coherence within the current risk management vocabulary. The aim of the paper is to enable a fundamental simplification of the risk management process and an improved understanding of the associated terminology. The outcome of this work is a formalised but pragmatic approach to risk management resulting in the development of a conceptual framework and an associated ontology, which emphasises the understanding of people and their environment as part of risk management. The approach has been validated in a number of case studies of varying depth and breadth from the IT domain, defence, rail industry, and education, covering health and safety, business, project and individual needs.
Gamers’ Motivations and Problematic Gaming
Authors: Kwok Nikole Wing Ka , Khoo Angeline
Published: November 2013

This study explores the factors that contribute to problematic gaming among players of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMOs for short), in particular, the game World of Warcraft. It examines motivations based on the Self Determination Theory (SDT) and motivations based on Yee’s player orientations. A total of 128 gamers participated in the online survey. Results showed that achievement and immersion player orientations are correlated with extrinsic motivation in terms of external, introjected and identified regulations, as well as intrinsic motivation. Social orientation is only correlated with identified regulation and intrinsic motivation. Problematic gaming is also correlated with all types of extrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation, as well as with achievement and immersion player orientations but not with social player orientation. Achievement orientation and introjected regulation both positively predicted problematic gaming, while identified regulation negatively predicted it.
From Compliance to Concordance and Beyond
Authors: Greenop Daz , Thomas Katherine
Published: November 2013

This commentary begins with a brief overview of recent developments in healthcare policy and practice in the UK. Particular attention is paid to the demise of the concept (and practice) of compliance along with and rise of the concept (and practice) of concordance. Analysis suggests that despite considerable changes in the organisation and delivery of healthcare there remains a clear gap between rhetoric and reality. Drawing on insights from qualitative health research issues of identity, embodiment and self-care are explored and synthesised in a single descriptive framework. Neither compliance nor concordance alone adequately captures the reality of patient experiences in everyday life. The framework of understanding proposed here contextualises compliance and concordance and their corollaries within distinct horizons of expectation. For a truly user-driven healthcare it is not a question of either/or but both and more and asking, in reality, what can a body do?
DSS for Health Emergency Response
Authors: Oikonomou Dimitris , Moulianitis Vassilis , Lekkas Dimitris , Koutsabasis Panayiotis
Published: November 2013

This paper presents the design approach and architecture of a Decision Support System (DSS) for the Hellenic Centre for Emergency Health Care (????, http://www.ekab.gr). The DSS supports the cooperation and decision-making processes at the EKAB call centre concerning the effective activation and allocation of appropriate resources mainly: ambulances, healthcare personnel and other public emergency resources like fire fighting and police. The DSS is a geographic web-based mash-up that builds on top of existing information systems and databases, and collects, aggregates, records, and presents various types of dynamic information about medical incidents in real time, promoting evidence-based medicine. The system provides a number of user interfaces (web-based and mobile) for call centre operators, radio centre operators, ambulance personnel, and administration. A contextual approach was necessary for the design of the system based on various related methods. Field observation of the current ways of work at EKAB sites, design, and development of data resources and user interfaces were conducted.
Health Professional ‘Web Based Conversational Learning’ on Unusual Forms of Lupus
Authors: Elpern David , Foong Henry
Published: November 2013

This article illustrates a web-based conversational learning system termed, “Virtual Grand Rounds in Dermatology” (VGRD), that was developed by two dermatologist colleagues from the United States and Malaysia, respectively, over the past decade. Two blog posts discussing the diagnostic uncertainty around possible dermatological manifestations of lupus are highlighted along with a few conversational comments from other health professionals. The posts, as they appear on VGRD are presented verbatim and illustrate a health professional narrated website that relies heavily on images and pattern recognition. We show that health professional learning may thrive on feedback from colleagues, even if minimal.
Creating Secondary Learning Resources from Web Based Conversational Learning Around ‘Rational Usage of Medicines’ in Diabetes
Authors: Dayan Yaron Bar , de Oliveira Jose Mario F. , Jenkins Dean , Malik Sabreena , Biswas Rakesh
Published: November 2013

This paper is an exploratory approach to creating stimulating medical education resources in the form of interactive conversational learning between health professionals who present topics related to their practice either in the form of a case uncertainty or a general uncertainty around treatment decisions. Through these conversations, health professionals discover newer insights into the topic being discussed and learn actively along with an online group of health professionals who guide each other contextually through the discussion. doc2doc, BMJ Group’s global clinical online community, presents a unique platform for the above described activity. In this illustrative example, the authors look at the topic of ‘rational usage of medicines’ in diabetes.
Social Media-based Communities of Practice for Education in Citizenship and Sustainability
Authors: Florou Dimitra , Gouscos Dimitris
Published: November 2013

Finally the chapter reinforces the view that the development of such communities in education offers on the long run the ability to remodel the public sphere, strengthen public consultation, promote proposals from the citizens, promote the policy of sustainability, and finally, the efficient use of new technologies, both in society and education.
IT Progress Stage and Management Level Growth in Local Governments
Authors: Kubo Sadaya , Akebe Tomohide , Nakagawa Keiko
Published: November 2013

This chapter considers the management of local governments in a growing information society. We highlight two proposed models for the management of local governments. The first model is the IT progress stage. This stage considered the previously published literature. The second model is the management level model. This model indexed the appearance of management activities learned from an original empirical survey completed in 2009. We analyzed the relationship between the IT progress stage and the management level model. Thereafter, we proposed a common progress stage model for local governments.
Students’ Evaluation of Online Discussion
Authors: Xia Yun
Published: November 2013

This chapter reports on a study in which different learning contexts in an online discussion were constructed, and the effects of these contexts on learning were explored. From a qualitative analysis of data, six themes emerged and were organized to four learning contexts in online discussion: (1) social cultural context; (2) face-to-face classroom context; (3) online context; (4) technological context. The learning contexts in online discussion were then classified into two categories: emotive context and cognitive context.
USDL
Authors: Kona Srividya , Bansal Ajay , Simon Luke , Mallya Ajay , Gupta Gopal , Hite Thomas D.
Published: November 2013

Web services and Service-Oriented Computing is being widely adopted. In order to effectively reuse existing services, we need an infrastructure that allows users and applications to discover, deploy, compose, and synthesize services automatically. This automation can take place only if a formal description of the Web services is available. In this article we present an infrastructure using USDL (Universal Service-Semantics Description Language), a language for formally describing the semantics of Web services. USDL is based on the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and employs WordNet as a common basis for understanding the meaning of services. USDL can be regarded as formal service documentation that will allow sophisticated conceptual modeling and searching of available Web services, automated service composition, and other forms of automated service integration. A theory of service substitution using USDL is presented. The rationale behind the design of USDL along with its formal specification in OWL is presented with examples. We also compare USDL with other approaches like OWL-S, WSDL-S, and WSML and show that USDL is complementary to these approaches.
XML Data Binding for C++ Using Metadata
Authors: Payrits Szabolcs , Dornbach Péter , Zólyomi István
Published: November 2013

Mapping XML document schemas and Web Service interfaces to programming languages has an important role in effective creation of quality Web Service implementations. The authors present a novel way to map XML data to the C++ programming language. The proposed solution offers more flexibility and more compact code that makes it ideal for embedded environments. The article describes the concept and the architecture of the solution and compares it with existing solutions. This article is an extended version of the paper from ICWS 2006. The authors include a broader comparison with existing tools on Symbian and Linux platforms and evaluate the code size and performance.
Early Capacity Testing of an Enterprise Service Bus
Authors: Ueno Ken , Tatsubori Michiaki
Published: November 2013

An enterprise service-oriented architecture is typically done with a messaging infrastructure called an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB). An ESB is a bus which delivers messages from service requesters to service providers. Since it sits between the service requesters and providers, it is not appropriate to use any of the existing capacity planning methodologies for servers, such as modeling, to estimate the capacity of an ESB. There are programs that run on an ESB called mediation modules. Their functionalities vary and depend on how people use the ESB. This creates difficulties for capacity planning and performance evaluation. This article proposes a capacity planning methodology and performance evaluation techniques for ESBs, to be used in the early stages of the system development life cycle. The authors actually run the ESB on a real machine while providing a pseudo-environment around it. In order to simplify setting up the environment we provide ultra-light service requestors and service providers for the ESB under test. They show that the proposed mock environment can be set up with practical hardware resources available at the time of hardware resource assessment. Our experimental results showed that the testing results with our mock environment correspond well with the results in the real environment.
Web Service Enabled Online Laboratory
Authors: Yan Yuhong , Liang Yong , Roy Abhijeet , Du Xinge
Published: November 2013

Online experimentation allows students from anywhere to operate remote instruments at any time. The current techniques constrain users to bind to products from one company and install client side software. We use Web services and Service Oriented Architecture to improve the interoperability and usability of the remote instruments. Under a service oriented architecture for online experiment system, a generic methodology to wrap commercial instruments using IVI and VISA standard as Web services is developed. We enhance the instrument Web services into stateful services so that they can manage user booking and persist experiment results. We also benchmark the performance of this system when SOAP is used as the wire format for communication and propose solutions to optimize performance. In order to avoid any installation at the client side, the authors develop Web 2.0 based techniques to display the virtual instrument panel and real time signals with just a standard Web browser. The technique developed in this article can be widely used for different real laboratories, such as microelectronics, chemical engineering, polymer crystallization, structural engineering, and signal processing.
An Image Retrieval Model Combining Ontology and Probabilistic Ranking
Authors: Fan Lisa , Li Botang
Published: November 2013

The demand for image retrieval and browsing online is growing dramatically. There are hundreds of millions of images available on the current World Wide Web. For multimedia documents, the typical keyword-based retrieval methods assume that the user has an exact goal in mind in searching a set of images whereas users normally do not know what they want, or the user faces a repository of images whose domain is less known and content is semantically complicated. In these cases it is difficult to decide what keywords to use for the query. In this chapter, we propose a user-centered image retrieval method based on the current Web, keyword-based annotation structure, and combining ontology guided knowledge representation and probabilistic ranking. A Web application for image retrieval using the proposed approach has been implemented. The model provides a recommendation subsystem to support and assist the user modifying the queries and reducing the user’s cognitive load with the searching space. Experimental results show that the image retrieval recall and precision rates are increased and therefore demonstrate the effectiveness of the model.
Towards a Dynamic Semantic and Complex Relationship Modeling of Multimedia Data
Authors: Jia Dawen , Liu Mengchi
Published: November 2013

Multimedia data is a challenge for data management. The semantics of traditional alphanumeric data are mostly explicit, unique, and self-contained, but the semantics of multimedia data are usually dynamic, diversiform, and varying from one user’s perspective to another’s. When dealing with different applications in which multimedia data is involved, great challenges arise. We first introduce a novel data model called Information Networking Model (INM), which can represent the dynamic and complex semantic relationships of the real world. In this chapter, we show how to use INM to capture dynamic and complex semantics relationship of multimedia data. Using INM, we present a multimedia modeling mechanism. The general idea of this novel mechanism is to place the multimedia data in a complex semantic environment based on the real world or application requirements, and then users can make use of both contextual semantics and multimedia metadata to retrieve the precise results they expect.
Latent Semantic Analysis for Text Mining and Beyond
Authors: Kao Anne , Poteet Steve , Wu Jason , Ferng William , Tjoelker Rod , Quach Lesley
Published: November 2013

Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) or Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI), when applied to information retrieval, has been a major analysis approach in text mining. It is an extension of the vector space method in information retrieval, representing documents as numerical vectors but using a more sophisticated mathematical approach to characterize the essential features of the documents and reduce the number of features in the search space. This chapter summarizes several major approaches to this dimensionality reduction, each of which has strengths and weaknesses, and it describes recent breakthroughs and advances. It shows how the constructs and products of LSA applications can be made user-interpretable and reviews applications of LSA beyond information retrieval, in particular, to text information visualization. While the major application of LSA is for text mining, it is also highly applicable to cross-language information retrieval, Web mining, and analysis of text transcribed from speech and textual information in video.
Mobile Education
Authors: Velikovsky Ariel , Shammass Shaunie
Published: November 2013

The mobile phone is fast becoming an invaluable educational tool that is available the world over. Owing to the diverse applications that are available, educational content and experiences can be provided on the mobile that are simply not attainable elsewhere. Education on the mobile has the potential for becoming one of the main components of mobile functionality, and as such, represents a sizeable niche for mobile application and content developers as well as mobile operators and providers. Aspects indigenous to mobile consumption such as the use of voice and rich media can be judiciously incorporated into the mobile teaching arena, with close attention paid to best practices of effective pedagogy that is well suited and specifically tuned for mobile capabilities but that also take mobile limitations into consideration.