bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discordance of Global Assessments by Patient and Physician Is Higher in Female than in Male Patients Regardless of the Physician’s Sex: Data on Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Axial Spondyloarthritis, and Psoriatic Arthritis from the DANBIO Registry
Authors: Lindström Egholm Cecilie , Krogh Niels Steen , Pincus Theodore , Dreyer Lene , Ellingsen Torkell , Glintborg Bente , Kowalski Marcin Ryszard , Lorenzen Tove , Madsen Ole Rintek , Nordin Henrik , Rasmussen Claus , Hetland Merete Lund
Published: August 2015

Objective.

To assess the frequency of discordance in patient’s (PtGA) and physician’s (PGA) global assessment, and to investigate whether higher discordance in female patients compared with male patients is associated with the physician’s sex in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods.

PtGA, PGA, and other patient-related variables were retrieved from the Danish DANBIO registry, used nationwide to monitor patients with RA, axSpA, and PsA. A questionnaire was sent to all physicians registering in DANBIO (n = 265) regarding individual physician characteristics including sex and age. Discordance was defined as PtGA > 20 mm higher (or lower) than PGA. First encounters between patients and physicians were analyzed using descriptive statistics and mixed model regression analysis.

Results.

Ninety physicians (34%) returned the questionnaire and were pairwise matched with 10,282 first patient encounters (8300 patients with RA, 524 axSpA, and 1458 PsA). The frequency of discordant (PtGA > PGA) encounters (not including PGA > PtGA seen in < 2%) in RA, axSpA, and PsA was 49.0%, 48.3%, and 56.5%, respectively. Discordance was more common in female patients with high scores on functional disability, pain, and fatigue across the 3 diseases, whereas it was independent of the physician’s sex.

Conclusion.

In this study on Danish patients with RA, axSpA, and PsA, the PtGA was > 20 mm higher than the PGA in about half of the encounters, and more common in female patients of both female and male physicians. This finding highlights one of the challenges in shared decision making.
Work Disability in Early Systemic Sclerosis: A Longitudinal Population-based Cohort Study
Authors: Sandqvist Gunnel , Hesselstrand Roger , Petersson Ingemar F. , Kristensen Lars Erik
Published: August 2015

Objective.

To study work disability (WD) with reference to levels of sick leave and disability pension in early systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods.

Patients with SSc living in the southern part of Sweden with onset of their first non-Raynaud symptom between 2003 and 2009 and with a followup of 36 months were included in a longitudinal study. Thirty-two patients (26 women, 24 with limited SSc) with a median age of 47.5 years (interquartile range 43–53) were identified. WD was calculated in 30-day intervals from 12 months prior to disease onset until 36 months after, presented as the prevalence of WD per year (0–3) and as the period prevalence of mean net days per month (± SD). Comparisons were made between patients with different disease severity and sociodemographic characteristics, and between patients and a reference group (RG) from the general population.

Results.

Seventy-eight percent had no WD 1 year prior to disease onset, which decreased to 47% after 3 years. The relative risk for WD in patients with SSc compared with RG was 0.95 (95% CI 0.39–2.33) at diagnosis, and increased to 2.41 (1.28–4.55) after 3 years. There were no significant correlations between WD and disease severity, but between WD and years at workplace (rs= −0.72; p = 0.002), education (rs= −0.51; p = 0.004), and sickness absence the month before disease onset (rs= 0.58; p = 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion.

Considerable increase in WD was noted 3 years after disease onset. Limited education, fewer years at workplace, and sickness absence before disease onset may be risk factors for sustained WD.
Comparison of Photo Optical Imaging with Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and Clinical Examination in the Assessment of Inflammatory Activity in Proximal Interphalangeal Joints in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
Authors: Amitai Isabella , Werner Stephanie , Schicke Bernd , Burmester Gerd-Rüdiger , Minet Olaf , Zabaryło Urszula , Backhaus Marina , Ohrndorf Sarah
Published: August 2015

Objective.

Lightscan is a novel, rapid, low-cost, easily operated and noninvasive imaging technology used to assess inflammatory activity in proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. The results are calculated automatically. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative study of photo optical imaging (POI), with clinical examination (CE), disease activity score at 28 joints (DAS28)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and musculoskeletal ultrasonography (US) in healthy subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods.

There were 688 PIP joints of both hands examined in 87 subjects (38 RA, 21 OA, 28 healthy) by Lightscan and compared with CE for clinically swollen and tender joints, DAS28-ESR (only RA), and US.

Results.

With US as reference, POI had a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 93%. In the receiver-operating curve (ROC) analysis, the Lightscan showed a higher sensitivity and specificity [area under the curve (AUC) 0.879] for the distinction of healthy subjects versus patients (OA, RA) than US in greyscale (GSUS; AUC 0.797) and power Doppler (PDUS; AUC 0.67). POI correlated significantly with GSUS (r 0.473, p < 0.01) and PDUS (r 0.486, p < 0.01). The agreement rates between POI and GSUS were up to 79%, between POI and PDUS up to 92%, and between POI and CE up to 66%. POI did not correlate with DAS28-ESR.

Conclusion.

The Lightscan is a new technology offering sensitive imaging detection of inflammatory changes in subjects with RA and OA with PIP arthritis. POI was more sensitive than CE and correlated significantly to GSUS and PDUS, while presenting a higher sensitivity and specificity for the detection of healthy subjects versus patients (RA, OA) based on the ROC analysis.
An Observational Study of Gout Prevalence and Quality of Care in a National Australian General Practice Population
Authors: Robinson Philip C. , Taylor William J. , Dalbeth Nicola
Published: August 2015

Objective.

The central strategy for effective gout management is longterm urate-lowering therapy to maintain the serum urate at a level below 0.36 mmol/l. We sought to determine the prevalence of gout and the quality of care in a national Australian general practice population.

Methods.

Data were from general practice point-of-care electronic records over a 5-year period (n = 1,479,449). Information was collected on patients with gout according to a validated definition. All patients who visited the same general practices over the study period formed the denominator group. We determined the estimated prevalence of gout, the frequency of allopurinol prescription, and serum urate testing, and the percentage of patients achieving a target serum urate level.

Results.

The crude prevalence of gout in this general practice population was 1.54% (95% CI 1.52–1.56). Prevalence in men was 2.67% and in women 0.53%. Prevalence increased with age in both men and women (4.90%, 95% CI 4.82–4.99, in men > 65 yrs). Allopurinol was prescribed to 57% of patients with gout during the 5 years of the study. Only 55% of patients with gout had their serum urate tested at any time during the 5-year study period. A target serum urate concentration of < 0.36 mmol/l at any time during the 5-year study period was documented in 22.4% of all people with gout.

Conclusion.

Gout is managed poorly in Australian primary care, with low levels of allopurinol prescribing and serum urate testing. Collectively, these factors probably contribute to low achievement of serum urate targets.
La iniciación fulani a través de los relatos iniciáticos recopilados por Amadou Hampâté Bâ
Authors: Montes Nogales Vicente E.
Published: August 2015

Nuestro objetivo es examinar la función de ciertos relatos orales fulani cuyos personajes experimentan procesos iniciáticos, describir sus principales características y precisar el motivo que conduce al escritor Hampâté Bâ a recopilarlos. Dichas narraciones son obras literarias, herramientas de las que se sirven los maestros iniciadores para mostrar una particular visión del mundo y del camino a seguir para acercarse a la perfección moral. Como tradiciones que son, analizaremos el entorno social en el que surgen y nos detendremos en aquellos que se las transmiten a Amadou Hampâté Bâ.
Cuando los cuerpos hablan. La corporalidad en las narraciones sobre la violencia sexual en las guerras de la República Democrática del Congo
Authors: García Mingo Elisa
Published: August 2015

Las noticias, los documentales y las campañas mediáticas de la industria humanitaria se han convertido en los principales relatos sobre la violencia sexual sistemática que se ha perpetrado contra las mujeres en la República Democrática del Congo desde el año 1996 hasta el día de hoy. Las narraciones, ya sean políticas o mediáticas, explotan los hechos concretos que tienen que ver con los ataques contra los cuerpos y rara vez dan cuenta del auténtico impacto que tiene la violencia sexual en las vidas de las mujeres, más allá de las lesiones y la enfermedad. Este hecho ha contribuido a forjar la visión, que ya de por sí goza de cierta potencia histórica y está cómodamente instalada en los foros internacionales, que identifica a la mujer congoleña como víctima pasiva, como mero cuerpo violable. Esta visión moviliza la lástima y la compasión en el público general y genera enfoques inmovilistas en los sectores de la ayuda internacional, en lugar de promover marcos que consideren a las mujeres congoleñas como actoras relevantes de transformación social y de construcción de paz. Este artículo analiza las diferentes narrativas que se han puesto a circular sobre la violencia sexual desde la perspectiva de los «cuerpos sociales» con el fin de visibilizar los problemas que surgen del abuso de este tipo de prácticas narrativas.
Perception and ICTs
Authors: Drigas Athanasios , Diatsigkos Dimitrios
Published: August 2015

Perception as a thought process has been one of the most popular fields of study and therefore much has been stated about it. Perhaps the most fundamental cognitive function is perception, in the sense that, is one of the basic elements that constitute the structure of mental states and activities. This chart review examines the extent of the interaction of ICTs with special needs and brain perception itself. For this scope a thorough search and comprehensive review of numerous articles was conducted with respect to the aforementioned aspects in order to survey the findings. The various tests of perception such as n-back, illusions and simulation tests … are representative examples of the knowledge acquired through this study regarding the current trend of research. Six different approaches of perception have been discussed over the past century. In that respect the questions which concern us at least most of all are, firstly, which are the types of perceptual phenomena that we use to form conjunctions with special needs and, secondly, what are the causes of these interesting phenomena. These studies indicate that, for the purpose of tests, participants are related to mind procedures such as verbal or visual processing strategies as well as their combination.
Multiple Choice Tests: More than a Time Saver for Teachers
Authors: Fellin Wolfgang , Medicus Gertraud
Published: August 2015

Multiple choice tests are usually used as an assessment tool for courses with many students. However, such tests bear much more potential for education. We have used them as online training tool in the form of a geotechnical quiz. Students can use this test in addition to the regular face-to-face classroom classes, in which traditional engineering calculation examples are trained, in the sense of blended learning. The test tries to emphasise that learning can be fun. Right and wrong answers are commented immediately after submitting the choices and hints are given to understand the correct solution. A second independent online test is provided, which directly simulates the multiple choice part of the written exam. The exam is completed by calculation examples similar to those trained in the regular classes. We have evaluated both multiple choice tests in terms of acceptance and learning impact. They have proofed to be a useful additional tool in teaching. Online multiple choice tests can be recommended although their preparation needs a huge amount of work power.
Apples and Oranges: A Framework to Explore the Practiced Pedagogy in Experiential Learning
Authors: Banky George Peter , Blicblau Aaron S
Published: August 2015

Experimental learning, traditionally conducted in on-campus laboratory venues, is the cornerstone of science and engineering education. To satisfy online student and accreditation requirements, the common practice has been to offer equivalent remote and/or simulated laboratory experiments in lieu of the ones delivered, face-to-face, on campus. The current implementations of both remote and simulated laboratories tend to be specified with a focus on technical characteristics, instead of pedagogical requirements. This work attempts to redress this situation by detailing a framework for the investigation of quality teaching and learning in existing and proposed experimental educational environments. For the tertiary education sector, involved with technical or scientific training, a tool capable of comparatively assessing the pedagogical limitations of laboratory venues is an important aid during the planning, designing and evaluating stages of face-to-face and online environments that facilitate student experimentation. Providing quality experimental learning venues has been identified as one of the distance-education providers’ greatest challenges.
The Pupils' Academy of Serious Gaming: Strengthening Study Skills
Authors: Utesch Matthias Christoph
Published: August 2015

The Pupils' Academy of Serious Gaming at the ‘Technische Universität München’ TUM is a reliable instrument to successfully strengthen the study skills of students from the upper vocational schools of Bavaria. Based on the pedagogy of a practical application of sciences, we enable the participants to change their learning perspective from ‘school student’ to ‘university student’: For two days they take part in a regular course at TUM based on our in-house business game Go4C. The goal is to learn how to self-assess and develop important aspects of their personal study skills. This paper presents the Pupils´ Academy and Go4C as a tool to strengthen the study skills at an early stage before leaving school.
Assignments and Grading in Engineering Graphics Courses
Authors: Kukk Peeter , Heikkinen S.
Published: August 2015

An assignment analysis was carried out according to Bloom’s taxonomy for basic and advanced Engineering Graphics courses. Assignments for the first basic course cover the first three levels of Bloom’s taxonomy: remembering, understanding and applying, with some elements of creativity. Assignments for the advanced course cover the upper three levels of Bloom’s taxonomy: analysing, evaluating and creating. To stimulate student interest in purposeful learning it is essential to strike a balance between student engagement and the courses’ learning outcomes as determined by the curriculum. To achieve these goals the following course structure possibilities were analysed: creative elements in assignments; continuous and formative assessment with two-phase feedback; premium grading points; and external motivators. Dependence of the final grade on the prior subject matter knowledge of students was also analysed.
A Competence-Oriented Approach to Subject-Matter Didactics for Software Engineering
Authors: Sedelmaier Yvonne , Landes Dieter
Published: August 2015

Instructors not only in higher education are regularly faced with the problem that they need to develop a new course or adapt an existing one to changed requirements. This is especially true for topics related to information technology (IT) due to the fast technological progress. Instructors, however, are not prepared really well for this task since they typically have a professional and educational background in areas different from pedagogy. Therefore, some sort of methodological framework to support the systematic development and refinement of courses would be highly appreciated.

This paper presents such a model, called Competence-Oriented Subject-Matter Didactics. This didactical theory builds upon several concepts from general didactics, most notably Klafki’s Didactic Analysis, and combines and extends these concepts. As a proof of concept, Competence-Oriented Subject-Matter Didactics is applied to the refinement of an introductory course on information systems. This case study indicates, among other things, that this theoretical model has the potential to be applicable for course (re-)design in other domains beyond IT as well.
Curriculum Redesign Process for an Industrial Engineering Program Seeking ABET Accreditation
Authors: Aoudia Mouloud , Abu-Alqahsi Deya Al-Deen
Published: August 2015

The objective of this paper is to describe the process to follow by a program seeking ABET accreditation for the redesign of its curriculum. The first step in this process is to clearly identify the reasons behind the need for redesigning the curriculum. These reasons should be originated from three levels of analysis. The high level deals with the review of the Program Educational Objectives. The medium level concerns the assessment and Evaluation of the Student Outcomes. The low level interests the Assessment and Evaluation of the course learning outcomes. The second step is to define all the requirements and constraints that will be used as inputs to the development of concentrations, area of study and courses. The case study presented and discussed in this paper to illustrate the curriculum redesign process is drawn from the Industrial Engineering Department at the Northern Border University (Saudi Arabia).
Design and Implementation of a Comprehensive Educational Model: Project Based Engineering School (PBES)
Authors: Terrón-López María-José , Velasco-Quintana Paloma-Julia , García-García María-José , Gaya-López María-Cruz , Escribano-Otero Juan-José
Published: August 2015

The School of Engineering at the Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM) implemented a change in the pedagogical model applied in its degrees at the 2012/2013 period: the "Project Based Engineering School" (PBES). It consists on the application of the Project-Based Learning (PBL) methodology in at least several subjects each course in all its degrees. Each academic year, the students develop a capstone project covering partially the content of several subjects; faculty board and teachers were involved in the designing of a global framework and implementation adapted to each degree. How this process was made is explained in this paper. Positive results were obtained at the end of the first year that include further development of key skills, a deeper understanding of the specific skills and an increase on the motivation of students and teachers. There were also identified some areas for improvement for the coming years. This article will also show some of those results (both qualitative and quantitative) obtained after a year of experience from the students’ point of view.
ICT Based Screening Tools and Etiology of Dyscalculia
Authors: Drigas Athanasios , Pappas Marios
Published: August 2015

Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) is a specific learning disability of childhood, which is mainly related to problems in arithmetic skills and numerosity. It is estimated that the prevalence of dyscalculia range between 3 and 6 % of the world population. DD is a cognitive disorder, observed during the development of the individual. Mathematical achievement of children with DD fall far short of their mental capacity. In this study we present an approach to genetic, neurological and environmental factors associated with DD, as well as the computerized screening tools that have been developed and used so far, according to the literature review of the past two decades.
Preparing Preservice Teachers to Become Self-Reflective of Their Technology Integration Practices
Authors: Amador Julie M. , Kimmons Royce , Miller Brant G. , Desjardins Christopher David , Hall Cassidy
Published: August 2015

The purpose of this chapter is to further understand how preservice teachers critically think about technology and their competence in technology integration. A mixed methods research design was employed to gather survey and performance task reflection data from preservice teachers. Data were analyzed using a categorization process based on preservice teachers' conceptualizations of technology as replacement, amplification, and transformation. Results revealed a significant overall effect of the selection of performance task upon whether it was applied in a transformative manner, but that no such overall effect existed for amplification and replacement. Descriptive analyses indicate preservice teachers were self-reflective about the extent to which technology influences students' learning. Conclusions indicate that teacher education programs should consider how they support preservice teachers to become self-reflective consumers of technology.
“Pretty Good Practices” for the Design of Teacher Portfolio Courses
Authors: Greenhalgh Spencer P. , Koehler Matthew J.
Published: August 2015

In this chapter, the authors argue that although portfolios are a popular means of teacher evaluation, they, like any other assessment, must be properly implemented if they are to realize their full potential. Accordingly, they offer seven “pretty good practices” (Mishra, 2008) for designing portfolio courses: peer feedback, authentic audience, diverse resources, learning by doing, open access, confidential spaces, and self-pacing. These practices were developed from the authors' extensive work helping teachers to develop portfolios that demonstrate their learning in their graduate studies, and they help students create portfolios that have value as both summative assessments and places for formative growth. In the spirit of “pretty good practices,” however, the authors invite others to modify these practices for other contexts or to carry out research that would help refine and improve them.
Game Network Analysis
Authors: Foster Aroutis N. , Shah Mamta , Duvall Matthew
Published: August 2015

Teachers report experiencing frustrating issues in using games for instructional purposes. Teachers' inability to use games is further compounded by the lack of teacher education or professional development programs that focus on developing teacher competence in adopting game-based learning, particularly at the pre-service level. Thus, in this chapter, the Game Network Analysis (GaNA) framework is presented as a methodological approach developed to aid teachers in teaching and learning with games in educational contexts. The application of GaNA is highlighted through case studies with pre-service and in-service teachers. The case studies illustrate how GaNA, through a focus on game analysis, game integration, and ecological conditions impacting game use, can empower teachers to adopt game-based learning in a systematic, but adaptive manner. The chapter concludes with a discussion of future directions for teacher educators and educational researchers who are interested in developing teachers' knowledge and skills in game-based learning.
Exploring Technological Knowledge of Office Data Processing Teachers
Authors: Adegbenro Janet Bolaji , Gumbo Mishack T. , Olugbara Oludayo O.
Published: August 2015

This study applied factor analysis for exploring technological knowledge of beginner and veteran Office Data Processing (ODP) teachers at Further Education and Training (FET) or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in South Africa. These ODP teachers use Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the technology-enhanced classrooms. The Mishra & Koehler (2006) Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework was extended by replacing Technological Knowledge with Procedural Functional Knowledge (PrFK) to realise the PrFPACK theoretical framework that enabled the researchers to holistically explore the contextual technological knowledge of teachers in the digital classroom environment. We developed an inventory of 65 comprehensive measures based on the PrFPACK framework and validated the inventory on a dataset of responses from 107 ODP teachers. The findings of this study generally revealed that Procedural Functional Content Knowledge is the most important factor in explaining the technological knowledge of ODP teachers.
Addressing the Shortage of Teachers of Color
Authors: Byrd David A. , Louis Dave A.
Published: August 2015

To address the higher education access gap, post-secondary institutions must be aware and address the shortage of teachers of color in K-12 education. Within this chapter, the authors argue that community colleges must play an inherent role in identifying and preparing the new generation of teachers who identify as racially or ethnically under-represented in the field. Evidence of the teaching shortage along with workable strategies are presented to help administrators both understand the current shortage and ways to medicate the lack of diversity in the K-12 teaching force.
Data Mining Techniques on Earthquake Data
Authors: Zakeri Negar Sadat Soleimani , Pashazadeh Saeid
Published: August 2015

Active faults are sources of earthquakes and one of them is north fault of Tabriz in the northwest of Iran. The activation of faults can harm humans' life and constructions. The analysis of the seismic data in active regions can be helpful in dealing with earthquake hazards and devising prevention strategies. In this chapter, structure of earthquake events along with application of various intelligent data mining algorithms for earthquake prediction are studied. Main focus is on categorizing the seismic data of local regions according to the events' location using clustering algorithms for classification and then using intelligent artificial neural network for cluster prediction. As a result, the target data were clustered to six groups and proposed model with 10 fold cross validation yielded accuracy of 98.3%. Also, as a case study, the tectonic stress on concentration zones of Tabriz fault has been identified and five features of the events were used. Finally, the most important points have been proposed for evaluation of the nonlinear model predictions as future directions.
Developing Young EFL Learners' Writing Skill in Wikis' Collaborative Environment
Authors: Khoii Roya , Arabsarhangi Zahra
Published: August 2015

In this chapter the impact of corpus-based vocabulary teaching/learning on vocabulary retention among EFL learners with different levels of language proficiency is studied. Four groups of students (two experimental and two control) participated in the study. The experimental groups received vocabulary instruction based on the techniques and procedures of the lexical approach. The control groups were taught with conventional techniques of vocabulary teaching. Vocabulary learning and retention were assessed by two vocabulary tests taken immediately after the treatment and with a 2-month delay respectively. The result showed that the lower proficiency experimental group outperformed other groups in the first vocabulary test, while in the second vocabulary test no significant difference was found between the experimental groups with different language proficiencies.
Brazilian FL Teachers through the Lens of the Diffusion of Innovations Theory
Authors: Martins Claudia Beatriz Monte Jorge , Moreira Herivelto
Published: August 2015

This chapter describes the technological profile of foreign language (FL) teachers from Modern Languages university courses of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Several features were investigated: teachers' personal characteristics, teachers' beliefs and attitudes towards technology, teachers' digital literacy, teachers' prior CALL/ technology education and Rogers' (1995) adopter categories. The theoretical framework used was the Diffusion of Innovations theory. A quantitative methodological approach was employed to collect data and a survey questionnaire was developed. Statistical analyses examined the relationships between attitudes and digital literacy, adopter categories and attitudes, adopter categories and personal characteristics. The results provided a detailed picture of the ones responsible for the education of future FL teachers in Brazil. With this technological profile, it was possible to reveal the “who” in the process of CALL integration.
The Games People Play
Authors: Virkar Shefali
Published: August 2015

The recent global diffusion of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) has dramatically raised expectations for technological change to support widespread global socio-economic progress and political reform. Against this backdrop, the chapter seeks to, through the use of a case study based in the Indian city of Bangalore, unravel the social, economic, and political dynamics shaping e-government projects used to reform public sector institutions, and to the further application of this knowledge as elements of game design used in the conception, development, and eventual implementation of associated software and hardware platforms. In particular, the work aims to determine whether the day-to-day use of the new digital technologies in the public sector leads eventually to radical transformations in administrative functioning, policymaking, and the body politic, or merely to modest, unspectacular political and bureaucratic reform and to the emergence of technology-based, obsessive-compulsive pathologies and maladjustive Internet-based behaviours amongst individuals in society.
The Paradox of Self in the Imagination of Goa Trance
Authors: Constança Sara , Simão Emília
Published: August 2015

This chapter deals with the second part of the investigation concerning the experience of self in the Goa Trance dance-floor. The authors present and develop the presentation of Goa Trance parties with a general view and special emphasis on the relationship between the DJs performance and the participation of the trancers. The genre is explained wile the connections between all participants on the party or festival are explored, with regards to Goa Trance. We eventually come to the conclusion that this genre facilitates a self-conscious analyses and its subsequent non conceptual elevation towards a self which is shared in a non-egocentric experience. This investigation proposes that the DJ is not really the shaman figure that people usually assume to be but in fact this shaman figure has to be a result of the collective efforts that build the spirit of the dance-floor. In conclusion, we realize that the DJ is the one which has the responsibility to keep this level of connection.
Flying Away
Authors: Guerra Paula
Published: August 2015

The EDM has been growing since the 1980s with a set of features that work simultaneously as distinctive features, but also as the basis from which the genre obtains its legitimacy, from within the contemporary music production field. Starting from this approach, our main goal is to highlight an important proposition of post-subcultural studies: although electronic dance music, club culture and psytrance are globalized, there is no doubt that local appropriations are of the utmost importance. So our focus in this chapter will be to analyze the emergence and dynamics of psytrance at a global level and at the Portuguese level, based on the inputs from post-subcultural studies. By addressing psytrance, we propose to discuss these theories taking into consideration their potential heuristic nature in view of the interpretation of these contemporary musical and cultural manifestations, characterized by being complex, global, and local in nature.
The Augmented Reality Marketing
Authors: Dadwal Sumesh S. , Hassan Azizul
Published: August 2015

This chapter elaborates on augmented reality marketing (ARM) as a digital marketing campaign and a strategic trend in tourism and hospitality. The computer assisted augmenting of perception by means of additional interactive information levels in real time is known as augmented reality. Augmented reality marketing is a constructed worldview on a device with blend of reality and added or augmented themes interacting with five sense organs and experiences. The systems and approaches of marketing are integrating with technological applications in almost all sectors of economies and in all phases of a business's value delivery network. Trends in service sector marketing provide opportunities in generating technology led tourism marketing campaigns. Also, the adoption, relevance and significance of technology in tourism and hospitality value delivery network can hardly be ignored. Many factors are propelling the functionalities of diverse actors in tourism. This paper explores the use of technology at various phases of tourism and hospitality marketing, along with the role of technology in enhancing consumer experience and value addition. It further supports the view that technology is aiding in faster diffusion of tourism products, relates destinations or attractions and thus benefiting the entire society. The augmented reality in marketing can create effective and enjoyable interactive experience by engaging the customer through a rich and rewarding experience of virtually plus reality. Such a tool has real potential in marketing in tourism and hospitality sector. Thus, this study discusses the ARM as a promising trend in tourism and hospitality and how this will meet future needs of tourism and hospitality products or offerings.
Smart Technologies
Authors: Çeltek Evrim
Published: August 2015

The growing number of applications available through smart devices provides an increasing diversity of travel-related services like looking up menus for restaurants, finding directions, making reservations, marketing, advertising and using translations. In the last decade, marketers have developed more creative practices to attract consumers. One of these new marketing tools is augmented reality application with the smart technologies, which is considered as an advertising and new marketing communication instrument that increases awareness and helps get information. This chapter presents the profile of AR applications and marketing benefits in tourism industry.
Susceptibility to Email Fraud
Authors: Jones Helen S. , Towse John N. , Race Nicholas
Published: August 2015

The authors review the existing literature on the psychology of email fraud, and attempt to integrate the small but burgeoning set of research findings. They show that research has adopted a variety of methodologies and taken a number of conceptual positions in the attempt to throw light on decisions about emails that may be in best-case scenarios, sub-optimal, or in the worst-case scenarios, catastrophic. They point to the potential from cognitive science and social psychology to inform the field, and attempt to identify the opportunities and limitations from researcher's design decisions. The study of email decision-making is an important topic in its own right, but also has the potential to inform about general cognitive processes too.
Assertiveness and Anxiety Effects in Traditional and Online Interactions
Authors: Baker Amy E. , Jeske Debora
Published: August 2015

The present study explored the extent to which self-esteem is a significant predictor of social network use and the level of anxiety and assertiveness participants feel during traditional and online interactions. Using a survey design (N=184), it was found that lower self-esteem was not associated with more intensive social network use, in contrast to the social compensation theory. Self-esteem was a significant negative predictor of social anxiety as well as a positive predictor of assertiveness in traditional and online settings. Higher social anxiety was also associated with lower social assertiveness in both settings. Exploratory results showed that participants who engaged more frequently in online activities also reported significantly higher levels of assertiveness and lower levels of anxiety. These findings suggest that online behaviors reflect different personality characteristics, with self-esteem being an important variable to consider in the exploration of online behaviors and experiences.
Benefit and Cost Analysis of Massive Open Online Courses
Authors: Xia Belle Selene
Published: August 2015

There has been much research done on online learning including research on online educational activities and methods. The use of technology is gaining rising importance in higher education due to the benefits that it brings. In terms of adopting new technologies to teaching, new forms of teaching, such as massive open online courses (MOOCs), are increasingly seen as a feasible future form of learning. The importance of MOOCs in higher education has caused debates in the computing education research. This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the pedagogical implications of MOOCs to higher education. Research in MOOCs is of vital importance because these courses may offer meaningful learning opportunities for those otherwise impossible through means of distance learning. The concepts of e-learning, online learning and distance learning have been previously addressed where previous research has indicated that the integration of online technologies to higher education do not automatically support learning. Many education institutions still question the sustainability of courses using extensive online technologies in higher education. The authors open up new research opportunities in a student-centered design in MOOCs incorporating a personalized learning environment to online education.
Social Media Usage, Social Relations, and a Sense of Community in Indonesia
Authors: Molaei Hamideh
Published: August 2015

Because of their participatory nature, social media can facilitate and accelerate social relationships, but their functions may vary from one cultural context to another. This article aims to investigate whether social media usage affects social relations and a sense of community in Indonesia, a country dominated by a collectivist culture. Based on a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with Indonesian journalists, social media experts, and media scholars, the author concludes that social media enhance social relationships in Indonesia in two different ways: first, by facilitating and extending social relationships within the existing offline networks of friends; and, second, by contributing to the spirit of togetherness and solidarity among the members of a community.
A Research on Dual Hydraulic Motor Synchronizing Driving System with Pressure Coupling
Authors: Dong Yan Liang , Qian Zhan Song
Published: August 2015

This paper introduces a new concept about pressure coupling in dual hydraulic motor synchronizing driving system. The mathematic models of systems are established in together-drive mode where two hydraulic motors together drive one common load and peer-to-peer mode where two motors drive one load respectively. Based on these mathematic models, a simulation analysis is conducted to probe the influence exerted by pressure coupling on the frequency response and the model consistency of two hydraulic motors, which gets verified by simulations and experiments later. The results show that pressure coupling reconstructing mathematic models of systems improves the model consistency of two motors and ameliorates synchronization performances.
Research on Hydraulic Free Piston Engine with High Scavenging Efficiency
Authors: Ren Hao Ling , Lin Tian Liang , Xie Hai Bo
Published: August 2015

The poor scavenging process of the hydraulic free piston engine which uses two-stroke engine as its driver was presented. A two-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine was proposed to drive the single-piston hydraulic free piston engine to improve the scavenging process. The intake and release valves mechanism and fuel injection system were redesigned to adapt the performance of the single-piston hydraulic free piston engine. Feasibility and reliability of this new structure are verified through simulation.
Simulation of LQR Controller on Magnetorheological Landing Gear
Authors: Tian Jing , Liu Zhao Xi , Zhu Shi Xing
Published: August 2015

The LQR controller is designed to control magnetorheological damper through controlling the output damping force of magnetorheological damper. Simulation models of LQR controller is built. The results of LQR models and simulation model of landing gear is compared that LQR have a good control effect.
Etch Performance of KRF Excimer Laser Micromachining Characterization on Silicon Material
Authors: Zainol M.Z. , Wahab Yufridin , Fazmir H. , Anuar A.F.M. , Johari S. , Najmi M. , Mazalan M.
Published: August 2015

Excimer laser micromachining enables us to overcome the conventional lithography-based microfabrication limitations and simplify the process of creating three dimensional (3D) microstructures.The objective of this study is to investigate the relation between the number of laser pulses, number of laser passes through the channel of ablation site and their etch performance. Parameters such as frequency, fluence and velocity were retained as constants. In this paper, we present a parametric characterization study on silicon using KrF excimer laser micromachining. From the result, the etch rate change were recorded as the two major laser parameters (Number of laser pulses and number of laser passes) were varied. Both parameters were showing declination profile however from comparing both graphs, it showed that etch rate dropped more steeply when varied number of laser passes rather than number of pulses.
Inverse Kinematics Simulation for a Surgical Robot Using CATIA
Authors: Liu Shao Gang , Farah Edris
Published: August 2015

Robotic arm with six degrees of freedom can be successfully used to do a surgical task through a small incision called (RCM point) on the patient's body. Inverse Kinematics modeling and simulating of a 6 DOF surgical robot is developed in this paper. The mathematical model equations are built using geometric approach and the Denavit-Hartenberg convention. The 3D model of the robot is created by CATIA5 to simulate the motion of the robot in surgical environments. The inverse kinematics equations model is validated through the simulating model. Result confirms that the proposed robot mechanism is applicable for minimally invasive surgery applications.
On the Realization of CMOS Current-Controlled Current Conveyor Transconductance Amplifier (CCCCTA) with Linear Control of gm
Authors: Duangmalai Danupat
Published: August 2015

In this paper, arealizationcurrent controlled current conveyor transconductance amplifier (CCCCTA)is presented astheactiveelement.Thisdesignwas based on aCMOStechnology of AMIS 0.35μm (MOSIS).The PSPICE simulation was used to study the performances of the proposed circuit. It was found that the abilities of differential-pair CCCII circuit and Electronically current-tunable (EOTA) can be achieved using the supply voltages of ±1.5volts and the transconductance gain of the circuit can be linearly tuned.
DSSCs Fabrication Using Nano-Structured Titania as Photoanode
Authors: Thabuot Mallika , Kruehong Chaiyaput
Published: August 2015

This project aimed to fabricate the nanostructure of titanium dioxide by one-step anodization for DSSCs. PCC and BCC set up were investigated for the oxidation of Ti-sheet in EG electrolyte consisting of 0.38%wt. NH4F and 1.79 %wt. DI water for 3 hrs, under applied potential of 10-40 V. Anodized TiO2 films were annealed at 600°C for 3 hrs to crystallize the initially amorphous anodized films. The as-prepared nanoporous-TiO2 layer obtained from anodization of Ti by using PCC was detachment flaking film, while using BCC gave the films adhered on the Ti-substrates. The most perfectly adherent nanoporous-TiO2 film was fabricated via BCC under the applied potential of 40 V for 3 hrs. This attached film on Ti substrate was used as the anode of DSSC cell which having the active area of 0.5x0.5 cm2, the investigation was done under one sun condition (AM 1.5, Pin 100 mW/cm2). A photoconversion efficiency (ɳ) of 1.198% was obtained by using annealed Ti/TiO2-nanotube/FTO based DSSC as a photoanode with a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 2.871 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.794 V and fill factor (FF) of 0.526. This overall photoconversion efficiency (ɳ) was approximately 0.7 times as much as that of a corresponding DSSC fabricated with P25 (commercial TiO2).
Study the Effect of Stripe Height and Read Track Width on Blocking Temperature
Authors: Kulpromsaro Chayapim , Vichienchom Kasin , Pijitrojana Wanchai
Published: August 2015

The magnetic read head technology is continuously designed to become smaller in order to get the highest areal density. Due to small volume the thermal stability is investigate for this study. The objective of this research is to study the relationship between the dimension of read head sensor and its blocking temperature. Stripe Height and Read track width were considered for this study. The result is blocking temperature decreasing with short stripe height. Advantage of this study is the reliability issue especially blocking temperature was captured by using resistance.
Performance Weighted of CMA Algorithm Based on MIMO Channel Measurement for 2.45 GHz Wireless RFID System
Authors: Duangsuwan Sarun , Promwong Sathaporn
Published: August 2015

The constant modulus algorithm (CMA) is an unsupervised adaptive filter that achieves interference cancellation in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication systems. This paper studies the performance weighted of CMA algorithm based on the measuring data of MIMO channel. By analyzing both the asymptotic mean square error (MSE) and bit error rate (BER) of the efficient weighted channel of the CMA algorithm, also simulation and measurement results are compared with a different of the antenna orientation. Experimental results demonstrate that the CMA algorithm can reduce the MSE and BER at 2.45 GHz for wireless RFID system very well.
Time Series Pattern Learning and Forecasting for Long-Term Peak Electricity by Spectral Mixture Gaussian Kernel
Authors: Ploysuwan Tuchsanai , Teekaput Prasit , Atsawathawichok Pramukpong
Published: August 2015

This paper presents the mathematical model for forecasting of future long-term peak electricity load from January 2014 to December 2024 with totally 132 months from the past knowledge data of training 156 months. The new kernel method is proposed by the combination ofsummed weight spectral mixture Gaussian in the frequency domain and squared exponential in the time domain, which are used as components in the answer of Gaussian Process (GP). Finally, the results show the prediction error mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) by 2.3283%.