bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Higher Order Nonclassicality from Nonlinear Coherent States for Models with Quadratic Spectrum
Authors: Hertz Anaelle , Dey Sanjib , Hussin Véronique , Eleuch Hichem
Published: May 2016

Harmonic oscillator coherent states are well known to be the analogue of classical states. On the other hand, nonlinear and generalised coherent states may possess nonclassical properties. In this article, we study the nonclassical behaviour of nonlinear coherent states for generalised classes of models corresponding to the generalised ladder operators. A comparative analysis among them indicates that the models with quadratic spectrum are more nonclassical than the others. Our central result is further underpinned by the comparison of the degree of nonclassicality of squeezed states of the corresponding models.
ON A PLANAR DYNAMICAL SYSTEM ARISING IN THE NETWORK CONTROL THEORY
Authors: Atslega Svetlana , Finaskins Dmitrijs , Sadyrbaev Felix
Published: May 2016

We study the structure of attractors in the two-dimensional dynamical system that appears in the network control theory. We provide description of the attracting set and follow changes this set suffers under the changes of positive parameters µ and Θ.
CORRIGENDUM
Authors: Doungmo Goufo Emile Franc
Published: May 2016

"Corrigendum." Mathematical Modelling and Analysis, 21(3), p. 430
A NEW THREE–TERM CONJUGATE GRADIENT METHOD WITH DESCENT DIRECTION FOR UNCONSTRAINED OPTIMIZATION
Authors: Dong XiaoLiang , Liu HongWei , He YuBo , Babaie-Kafaki Saman , Ghanbari Reza
Published: May 2016

In this paper, we propose a three–term PRP–type conjugate gradient method which always satisfies the sufficient descent condition independently of line searches employed. An important property of our method is that its direction is closest to the direction of the Newton method or satisfies conjugacy condition as the iterations evolve. In addition, under mild condition, we prove global convergence properties of the proposed method. Numerical comparison illustrates that our proposed method is efficient for solving the optimization problems.
ASYMMETRY BETWEEN GALAXIES WITH CLOCKWISE HANDEDNESS AND COUNTERCLOCKWISE HANDEDNESS
Authors: Shamir Lior
Published: May 2016

While it is clear that spiral galaxies can have different handedness, galaxies with clockwise patterns are assumed to be symmetric to galaxies with counterclockwise patterns in all of their other characteristics. Here, we use data from SDSS DR7 to show that photometric data can distinguish between clockwise and counterclockwise galaxies. Pattern recognition algorithms trained and tested using the photometric data of a clean, manually crafted data set of 13,440 spiral galaxies with

can predict the handedness of a spiral galaxy in ∼64% of the cases, which is significantly higher than the mere chance accuracy of 50% (

). Experiments with a different data set of 10,281 automatically classified galaxies showed similar results of ∼65% classification accuracy, suggesting that the observed asymmetry is also consistent in data sets annotated in a fully automatic process, without human intervention. That shows that the photometric data collected by SDSS is sensitive to the handedness of the galaxy. Analysis of the number of galaxies classified as clockwise and counterclockwise by crowdsourcing shows that manual classification between spiral and elliptical galaxies can be affected by the handedness of the galaxy, and therefore the galaxy morphology analyzed by citizen science campaigns might be biased by the galaxy handedness. The code and data used in the experiment are publicly available, and the experiment can be easily replicated.
THE INCLINATION ANGLE AND EVOLUTION OF THE BRAKING INDEX OF PULSARS WITH PLASMA-FILLED MAGNETOSPHERE: APPLICATION TO THE HIGH BRAKING INDEX OF PSR J1640–4631
Authors: Ekşi K. Y. , Andaç I. C. , Çıkıntoğlu S. , Gügercinoğlu E. , Motlagh A. Vahdat , Kızıltan B.
Published: May 2016

The recently discovered rotationally powered pulsar PSR J1640–4631 is the first to have a braking index measured, with high enough precision, that is greater than 3. An inclined magnetic rotator in vacuum or plasma would be subject not only to spin-down but also to an alignment torque. The vacuum model can address the braking index only for an almost orthogonal rotator, which is incompatible with the single-peaked pulse profile. The magnetic dipole model with the corotating plasma predicts braking indices between 3 and 3.25. We find that the braking index of 3.15 is consistent with two different inclination angles, 18.°5 ± 3° and 56° ± 4°. The smaller angle is preferred given that the pulse profile has a single peak and the radio output of the source is weak. We infer the change in the inclination angle to be at the rate −0.°23 per century, three times smaller in absolute value than the rate recently observed for the Crab pulsar.
DETECTION OF LENSING SUBSTRUCTURE USING ALMA OBSERVATIONS OF THE DUSTY GALAXY SDP.81
Authors: Hezaveh Yashar D. , Dalal Neal , Marrone Daniel P. , Mao Yao-Yuan , Morningstar Warren , Wen Di , Blandford Roger D. , Carlstrom John E. , Fassnacht Christopher D. , Holder Gilbert P. , Kemball Athol , Marshall Philip J. , Murray Norman , Levasseur Laurence Perreault , Vieira Joaquin D. , Wechsler Risa H.
Published: May 2016

We study the abundance of substructure in the matter density near galaxies using ALMA Science Verification observations of the strong lensing system SDP.81. We present a method to measure the abundance of subhalos around galaxies using interferometric observations of gravitational lenses. Using simulated ALMA observations we explore the effects of various systematics, including antenna phase errors and source priors, and show how such errors may be measured or marginalized. We apply our formalism to ALMA observations of SDP.81. We find evidence for the presence of a M = 108.96±0.12
M
⊙ subhalo near one of the images, with a significance of 6.9σ in a joint fit to data from bands 6 and 7; the effect of the subhalo is also detected in both bands individually. We also derive constraints on the abundance of dark matter (DM) subhalos down to M ∼ 2 × 107
M
⊙, pushing down to the mass regime of the smallest detected satellites in the Local Group, where there are significant discrepancies between the observed population of luminous galaxies and predicted DM subhalos. We find hints of additional substructure, warranting further study using the full SDP.81 data set (including, for example, the spectroscopic imaging of the lensed carbon monoxide emission). We compare the results of this search to the predictions of ΛCDM halos, and find that given current uncertainties in the host halo properties of SDP.81, our measurements of substructure are consistent with theoretical expectations. Observations of larger samples of gravitational lenses with ALMA should be able to improve the constraints on the abundance of galactic substructure.
UNUSUAL POLAR CONDITIONS IN SOLAR CYCLE 24 AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR CYCLE 25
Authors: Gopalswamy Nat , Yashiro Seiji , Akiyama Sachiko
Published: May 2016

We report on the prolonged solar-maximum conditions until late 2015 at the north-polar region of the Sun indicated by the occurrence of high-latitude prominence eruptions (PEs) and microwave brightness temperature close to the quiet-Sun level. These two aspects of solar activity indicate that the polarity reversal was completed by mid-2014 in the south and late 2015 in the north. The microwave brightness in the south-polar region has increased to a level exceeding the level of the Cycle 23/24 minimum, but just started to increase in the north. The north–south asymmetry in the polarity reversal has switched from that in Cycle 23. These observations lead us to the hypothesis that the onset of Cycle 25 in the northern hemisphere is likely to be delayed with respect to that in the southern hemisphere. We find that the unusual condition in the north is a direct consequence of the arrival of poleward surges of opposite polarity from the active region belt. We also find that multiple rush-to-the-pole episodes were indicated by the PE locations that lined up at the boundary between opposite-polarity surges. The high-latitude PEs occurred in the boundary between the incumbent polar flux and the insurgent flux of opposite polarity.
Entrepreneurship and Family Business Phenomenon
Authors: Centeno-Caffarena Leonardo
Published: May 2016

Few authors have referred to the existing relationship between the topics of entrepreneurship and family business, but the number is in crescendo. In this work, we will make a description of each type of entrepreneurship offered by the literature, and select seven characteristics that most of them share. These characteristics are contrasted with every type of entrepreneurship and with the family business actors. At last, we will propose a study model, share some conclusions and recommendations for owner families.
Simulating an Incentive Framework for Scientific Production by Means of Adaptive Agents
Authors: Franklin Gabriel , Bonates Tibérius O.
Published: May 2016

This chapter describes an agent-based simulation of an incentive mechanism for scientific production. In the proposed framework, a central agency is responsible for devising and enforcing a policy consisting of performance-based incentives in an attempt to induce a global positive behavior of a group of researchers, in terms of number and type of scientific publications. The macro-level incentive mechanism triggers micro-level actions that, once intensified by social interactions, lead to certain patterns of behavior from individual agents (researchers). Positive reinforcement from receiving incentives (as well as negative reinforcement from not receiving them) shape the behavior of agents in the course of the simulation. The authors show, by means of computational experiments, that a policy devised to act at the individual level might induce a single global behavior that can, depending on the values of certain parameters, be distinct from the original target and have an overall negative effect. The agent-based simulation provides an objective way of assessing the quantitative effect that different policies might induce on the behavior of individual researchers when it comes to their preferences regarding scientific publications.
Creating a Framework to Analyze the Perception of Selfhood in Artistic Practice within Second Life
Authors: Wardle Pete
Published: May 2016

This chapter draws upon existing identity theories to create a framework with which to examine the expression of self via avatars within Second Life. The framework is then applied to the practice of a number of artists working with themes relating to identity using avatars within Second Life, by drawing upon the author's own experience of these works and the artists comments taken from their writings and from discussions and correspondence with them, to examine the role their work plays in changing our understanding of the way that identity is expressed and perceived within virtual worlds.
A Mobile-Based Attribute Aggregation Architecture for User-Centric Identity Management
Authors: Augusto Alexandre B. , Correia Manuel E.
Published: May 2016

The massive growth of the Internet and its services is currently being sustained by the mercantilization of users' identities and private data. Traditional services on the Web require the user to disclose many unnecessary sensitive identity attributes like bankcards, geographic position, or even personal health records in order to provide a service. In essence, the services are presented as free and constitute a means by which the user is mercantilized, often without realizing the real value of its data to the market. In this chapter the auhors describe OFELIA (Open Federated Environment for Leveraging of Identity and Authorization), a digital identity architecture designed from the ground up to be user centric. OFELIA is an identity/authorization versatile infrastructure that does not depend upon the massive aggregation of users' identity attributes to offer a highly versatile set of identity services but relies instead on having those attributes distributed among and protected by several otherwise unrelated Attribute Authorities. Only the end user, with his smartphone, knows how to aggregate these scattered Attribute Authorities' identity attributes back into some useful identifiable and authenticated entity identity that can then be used by Internet services in a secure and interoperable way.
MoBip Project
Authors: Altinpulluk Hakan , Eby Gulsun
Published: May 2016

This study aims to set forth a framework for how the design and scenarios should be handled, and how mHealth ecosystem and Universal Design principles should be used in the designing of an “interactive augmented reality 3-D pop-up book” that can be viewed on mobile devices. This book, which will pursue the goal of increasing university college professors' awareness about students with bipolar disorder, will be the first mHealth study handled in this scope in the literature. In the background section of the study, the authors first elaborate on the rapid advancement of mobile devices, their proliferation and their reflections on mHealth projects in the healthcare sector. Then the authors include mHealth-related applications that raise awareness, the authors analyze the importance of social awareness about mental health, and finally, the authors get to the core of bipolar disorder and present the current situation. Within the scope of this study, the authors construct a theoretical framework that will assume the guiding role in the completion of an interactive 3-D pop-up book.
Improving Socialization and Emotion Recognition for Children with Autism Using a Smartphone App
Authors: Lamm Cassidy , Lambert Lauren , Wolfe Joshua , Gray Jeff , Barber Angela , Edwards Gary
Published: May 2016

Smartphone apps are used with increased frequency to teach children a variety of skills and to supplement more traditional forms of instruction. In particular, children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) could benefit from applications suited to help them build social emotional skills that could contribute to more successful social interactions. In the study, the authors first investigated and compiled a list of existing apps to see where gaps exist in topic coverage. From this survey of existing smartphone apps for children with ASD, they developed a new app called LEA (Learning Emotions with Autism) that challenges children to interact in a social setting by responding to emotional cues, and having other children determine the emotion that is expressed. This app provides a new context to help children focus their attention on facial cues in order to recognize and interpret emotions through supported peer interaction. In this chapter, the authors discuss how this app was designed and implemented. They also provide a tutorial on how to develop smartphone apps that can be used for ASD research.
Neural Networks Predictive Controller Using an Adaptive Control Rate
Authors: Mnasser Ahmed , Bouani Faouzi , Ksouri Mekki
Published: May 2016

A model predictive control design for nonlinear systems based on artificial neural networks is discussed. The Feedforward neural networks are used to describe the unknown nonlinear dynamics of the real system. The backpropagation algorithm is used, offline, to train the neural networks model. The optimal control actions are computed by solving a nonconvex optimization problem with the gradient method. In gradient method, the steepest descent is a sensible factor for convergence. Then, an adaptive variable control rate based on Lyapunov function candidate and asymptotic convergence of the predictive controller are proposed. The stability of the closed loop system based on the neural model is proved. In order to demonstrate the robustness of the proposed predictive controller under set-point and load disturbance, a simulation example is considered. A comparison of the control performance achieved with a Levenberg-Marquardt method is also provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Two Diverse Swarm Intelligence Techniques for Supervised Learning
Authors: Gonsalves Tad
Published: May 2016

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Enhanced Fireworks Algorithm (EFWA) are two diverse optimization techniques of the Swarm Intelligence paradigm. The inspiration of the former comes from animate swarms like those of birds and fish efficiently hunting for prey, while that of the latter comes from inanimate swarms like those of fireworks illuminating the night sky. This novel study, aimed at extending the application of these two Swarm Intelligence techniques to supervised learning, compares and contrasts their performance in training a neural network to perform the task of classification on datasets. Both the techniques are found to be speedy and successful in training the neural networks. Further, their prediction accuracy is also found to be high. Except in the case of two datasets, the training and prediction accuracies of the Enhanced Fireworks Algorithm driven neural net are found to be superior to those of the Particle Swarm Optimization driven neural net.
Evaluating Emotional Stability as a Predictor of Chinese MTI Students' Interpreter Aptitude
Authors: Fengxia Jiang
Published: May 2016

It is necessary to find an effective way of testing interpreters' aptitude so as to enhance the efficiency in deciding his or her potential interpretation talents. This chapter proposes that variance in interpreter performance is dependent on factors of both general cognitive ability and personality. It reports on a study of 110 Chinese MTI students in the hope of finding out what traits play the most important role and to what extent these variables impact on learning and achievement. Psychological constructs of self-efficacy, goal orientation, and negative affectivity were measured, as were interpreter ratings of self-perceived competence as practitioners. The most significant finding revealed the dimension of emotional stability (represented on the negative end of the continuum by traits of anxiety and neuroticism, and measured in this study by the negative affectivity scale) as a predictor of interpreters' self-perceived competence. Based on these findings, recommendations for admission testing and interpreter education curricula are discussed.
Using Children's Literature to Support Social-Emotional Growth in the Classroom
Authors: Maich Kimberly , Belcher Christina , Sider Steve , Johnson Naomi
Published: May 2016

Within this chapter, bibliotherapy is presented as a tool to provide social-emotional support to children in school settings, including those who are experiencing chronic diseases. The history and process of bibliotherapy are both examined, as well as current and past research on the effectiveness of bibliotherapy. It also incorporates practical, everyday resources, such as examples of literature that is appropriate for varied age groups, and/or challenges that individuals may face, including suggested steps to using school-based bibliotherapy effectively in a classroom environment. The chapter concludes with considerations for future research in the field. By the end of this chapter, an understanding of bibliotherapy will be developed as well as the practical “how-to” of a bibliotherapeutic approach to discussing and coping with both everyday (e.g., making friends) and more serious issues (e.g., chronic illness) in the classroom environment.
Identity and E-Learning
Authors: Borzi Narelle
Published: May 2016

Globalisation is changing the worlds of work and education. Although the hospitality industry has always operated at an international level, today's educators must prepare future managers for an increasingly diverse global world where we are all connected via technology in ways that were unimaginable even 10 years ago. Educators face strategic decisions about how and when they integrate technology into their programs. Transnational e-learning spaces, which are affecting the way we operate in our daily lives both at work and learning, have opened up. Educators need to fully understand what happens within these spaces—to the learners and to learning—in order to ensure that the quality of learning and the learning systems. This chapter considers ways in which hospitality management education can be enhanced through a focus on e-learning and identity.
Exploring Three Measures of Student Wellbeing
Authors: Skrzypiec Grace , Askell-Williams Helen , Slee Phillip
Published: May 2016

There has been limited consensus on how young people's wellbeing should be measured (O'Hare & Gutierrez, 2012). One approach, suggested by Lau and Bradshaw (2010), is that people's subjective judgments capture the essence of wellbeing. Following from Lau and Bradshaw's approach, in this chapter the authors report on a study that sought young adolescents' subjective judgments using three different wellbeing instruments. A purposive sample of 1930 South Australian middle-school students aged 11-16 completed three different measures of wellbeing. Analysis of these instruments indicated that they all require some modification to make them better suited as measures of the subjective wellbeing of young people in the middle-school years. Using the three scales together, the study indicated that the majority (55%) of students were flourishing, a large proportion (39%) had moderate mental health, and a small proportion (about 6%) were languishing.
Face to Face(book)
Authors: Crisan Daniela
Published: May 2016

This chapter discusses personality traits of Facebook users, how personality traits and motivations explain Facebook use, and the potential beneficial and detrimental effects of Internet usage, in general, and online social networking sites usage, in particular, on social and psychological well-being. First, the author provides short definitions of concepts such as social media and Social Network Sites (SNS). Next, the author describes Nadkarni and Hofmann's (2012) two-factor model of motives associated with Facebook use, including the need to belong and the need for self-presentation. Afterwards, a literature review of the most cited studies on the association between Facebook use and personality traits, as conceptualized by the Big Five Model (Costa & McCrae, 1992), is provided, followed by research on the relationships between Facebook use and psychological dimensions, such as self-esteem, loneliness, narcissism, self-worth, and depression and suicide. Finally, conclusions are drawn and final remarks are made.
Picking up the Pieces
Authors: Pack Margaret
Published: May 2016

This chapter reports the findings from a review of contemporary assessment and treatment approaches with adult women who have experienced Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). The social worker who engages with women recovering from CSA in adulthood needs to address issues of trust, relationship, and safety. Services that provide culturally sensitive and appropriate models of intervention are likely to impact positively on client rapport and engagement with the social worker and, therefore, greater therapeutic gains are possible when a relationship of trust is established. The implications for social work practice are discussed in relation to a multi-systems and multi-theoretical approach involving the client and her social networks from within strengths-based and ecological systems perspectives. Future research is recommended on the impact of the availability of culturally appropriate services for CSA survivors and cultural safety supervision for social workers, as these variables influence the therapeutic outcomes for women survivors of CSA.
Utilizing Emotions for Ethical Decision Making in Leadership
Authors: Griffith Jennifer A. , Zeni Thomas A. , Johnson Genevieve
Published: May 2016

Modern organizational leaders must rise to the challenge of making both ethically sound decisions as well as traditional fiscal decisions in order to remain competitive in today's marketplace. It is critical for leaders to be mindful of how emotions may assist or hinder them throughout the ethical decision-making process. Attempting to ignore the emotional component of ethical decision making or pretending that emotions do not exert influence on decisions is foolhardy and disregards both empirical and theoretical research suggesting otherwise. The challenge for leaders is how to best incorporate emotion into ethical decision making. This chapter examines several theoretical models of emotion and ethical decision making, applies theoretical and empirical findings to explain how two common emotions—anger and anxiety—impact ethical decision making, and provides recommendations for leaders seeking to improve ethical decision-making outcomes.
Choices in Gamification of Therapy for PTSD
Authors: Thomsen Dan , Rye Jeffrey M. , Ott Tammy
Published: May 2016

Effective treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) already exist in the form of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PE). However, common symptoms of PTSD, like depression and avoidance, make finding and engaging patients in these treatments difficult. We have designed SAGA, an online game to help veterans suffering from PTSD. SAGA works to illustrate and educate players about effective therapy so they can successfully engage in evidence-based treatment. SAGA allows players to create and repeatedly edit stories to illustrate how exposure therapy works. This chapter presents the game design choices made to motivate and engage players with PTSD and reports the results of a small pilot study. We also present the design of our upcoming clinical trial, which will determine SAGA's effectiveness in changing attitudes toward evidence based PTSD therapy.
Could Emotions Be Modelled through Information Processing?
Authors: Alvandi Ebrahim Oshni
Published: May 2016

One way to evaluate cognitive processes in living or nonliving systems is by using the notion of “information processing”. Emotions as cognitive processes orient human beings to recognize, express and display themselves or their wellbeing through dynamical and adaptive form of information processing. In addition, humans behave or act emotionally in an embodied environment. The brain embeds symbols, meaning and purposes for emotions as well. So any model of natural or autonomous emotional agents/systems needs to consider the embodied features of emotions that are processed in an informational channel of the brain or a processing system. This analytical and explanatory study described in this chapter uses the pragmatic notion of information to develop a theoretical model for emotions that attempts to synthesize some essential aspects of human emotional processing. The model holds context-sensitive and purpose-based features of emotional pattering in the brain. The role of memory is discussed and an idea of control parameters that have roles in processing environmental variables in emotional patterning is introduced.
Help Seeking Behaviors of International Students
Authors: Boafo-Arthur Susan , Boafo-Arthur Ama
Published: May 2016

International students' pursuit of education in the United States (US) is mutually beneficial to both international students and the economy of the United States. Students often experience culture shock or transitional stress upon arrival. Despite these challenges, research indicates that international students are not likely to seek professional counseling to manage or resolve their issues. In the event that they seek help they are known to prefer medical instead of psychological help. Authors in this chapter review the influence of stigma and acculturational variables on help seeking behaviors of international students. The authors also discuss implications for international students and institutions of higher education, and conclude with recommendations that may be beneficial to international students, student counseling services, and institutions of higher education in the United States.
Personality, Relationships, and Decision Making with Relational Dynamics
Authors: Bathory David S.
Published: May 2016

Within the field of Economics there is great interest in predicting the future. In creating Economic Models the rationale has been to create fixed equations that can account for all variables associated with the issues of capital, labor, wages, prices, tariffs and taxes but few models explored the human variable. Probability Statistics bases decision making models upon mathematical predictions. Game Theory is an economic model that begins to explain the rationale of human decision making, but fails to account for flawed thinking and pathology. Relational Dynamics attempts to provide a means of understanding the strategies used in communication and decision making. Within humanity, not all decisions are made rationally and to account for illogical choices, psychology has provided theories of pathology to explain human idiosyncrasies. This paper will explore personality disorders as described by the DSM V and Relational Dynamics in an attempt to understand how pathology influences relationships, decision making and behavioral economics.
Analytical and Methodological Considerations for the Use of Social Categories in Identity Research
Authors: Benjamin Saija , Kuusisto Arniika
Published: May 2016

This paper examines the limitations of measuring identities as based on pre-selected categories, such as ‘immigrant' or ‘Third Culture Kid', within which the individuals are placed according to particular criteria. Simplified, etic categories fail to mirror the complex identifications of the contemporary individual and strengthen essentialism related to ethnicities, cultures and religions. This paper discusses the problematic related to categorization at both analytical and methodological levels. The need for critical reflection on the use of social categories to portray identities is highlighted in general. The adequacy of surveys to measure and examine identities is questioned in particular. This paper illustrates the need to approach identities from emic-etic perspectives and multiple angles in order to grasp a more multilayered view into the complex nature of identity.
From Learning Management System to Internet-Based Research in Mathematics Education
Authors: Cai Tianxing
Published: May 2016

A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of e-learning education courses or training programs. The traditional distance education for mathematics has heavily relied on the application of LMS. However, the Standards for Mathematical Practice have provided the requirements to mathematics educators at all levels for the students' development. This chapter presents the introduction of the transformation from LMS to Internet-based research in the mathematical education. This is the viewpoint of the patterns, developments, changes, or phenomena within their respective fields with regards to distance education of mathematics. It also creates a broad, multidisciplinary understanding of online education across educational boundaries and demonstrates the unique future trajectories that online education has within these mathematics.
The Use of Soft Computing in Management
Authors: Dostál Petr
Published: May 2016

The decision-making processes in management are very complicated because they include political, social, psychological, economic, financial, and other factors. Many variables are difficult to measure; they may be characterized by imprecision, uncertainty, vagueness, semi-truth, approximations, and so forth. Soft computing methods have had successful applications in management. Nowadays the new theories of soft computing are used for these purposes. The applications in management have specific features in comparison with others. The processes are focused on private corporate attempts at money making or decreasing expenses. The soft computing methods help in decentralization of decision-making processes to be standardized, reproduced, and documented. There are various soft computing methods used in management-classical ones and methods using soft computing. Among soft computing methods there belongs fuzzy logic, neural networks, and evolutionary algorithms. The use of the theories mentioned previous is important also in the sphere of analysis and simulation. The case studies are discussed in the article. It can be mentioned, for example, which way should be used to address the potential customer (fuzzy logic), which kind of customer could be provided by a loan or a mortgage (neural networks), the sorting of products according to the kind of customers (genetic algorithms), or solving the travelling salesman problem (evolutionary algorithms).
Efficient Risk Profiling Using Bayesian Networks and Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Klepac Goran , Mrsic Leo , Kopal Robert
Published: May 2016

Chapter introduce usage of particle swarm optimization algorithm and explained methodology, as a tool for discovering customer profiles based on previously developed Bayesian network (BN). Bayesian network usage is common known method for risk modelling although BN's are not pure statistical predictive models (like neural networks or logistic regression, for example) because their structure could also depend on expert knowledge. Bayesian network structure could be trained using algorithm but, from perspective of businesses requirements model efficiency and overall performance, it is recommended that domain expert modify Bayesian network structure using expert knowledge and experience. Chapter will also explain methodology of using particle swarm optimization algorithm as a tool for finding most riskiness profiles based on previously developed Bayesian network. Presented methodology has significant practical value in all phases of decision support in business environment (especially for complex environments).
Multi-Objective Higher Order Polynomial Networks to Model Insertion Force of Bevel-Tip Needles
Authors: Yousefi Hashem , Fallahnezhad Mehdi
Published: May 2016

Needle insertion has been a very popular minimal invasive surgery method in cancer detection, soft tissue properties recognition and many other surgical operations. Its applications were observed in brain biopsy, prostate brachytherapy and many percutaneous therapies. In this study the authors would like to provide a model of needle force in soft tissue insertion. This model has been developed using higher order polynomial networks. In order to provide a predictive model one-dimensional force sensed on enacting end of bevel-tip needles. The speeds of penetration for quasi-static processes have chosen to be in the range of between 5 mm/min and 300 mm/min. Second and third orders of polynomials employed in the network which contains displacement and speed as their main affecting parameters in the simplified model. Results of fitting functions showed a reliable accuracy in force-displacement graph.
The Psychology of Medical Tourism
Authors: Hieda M.
Published: May 2016

What can clinical psychology contribute to medical tourism? Well, of course, clinicians are a very important part of any form of medical treatment, but psychologists are important because of their training in the mental condition of the patient, an aspect of medicine that is often not valued as highly as that of physical intervention in disease control or accident recovery. And yet, the whole concept of health and wellness (of which medical tourism is increasingly a part) relies heavily on the addition of psychological support in the healing and rehabilitation process. This chapter provides some insights into the processes and value of psychological intervention in the physical and mental wellbeing of patients in the medical system, provides information on the Japanese variants of this, and seeks to extend understanding of the value of this intervention for medical tourists.
Introducing Educational Technology into the Higher Education Environment
Authors: Van Ryneveld Linda
Published: May 2016

Over the past decade or two advancements in educational technology have taken place so swiftly that it threatens to revolutionize the education system. This phenomena seem to drive higher education institutions to respond with costly roll out plans that bring state of the art computing hard- and software, together with other highly specialized educational technologies, to their campuses. The dilemma is that these investments in educational technology are often made in isolation, without consideration for imperative aspects such as professional development. To progress, educators need to acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to make optimal use of the technology. This can be achieved, among other, by means of well-structured professional development programmes. In this chapter the author explores the role of educational technology in higher education and establishes the need for capacity building by means of carefully designed professional development programmes. It furthermore suggests an alternative professional development framework.
A Framework for Supporting In-Service Teachers to Use Domain-Specific Technologies for Instruction
Authors: Yarnall Louise , Fusco Judith
Published: May 2016

Domain-specific technologies, which are used for analysis, representation, and production in real-world contexts, differ from basic technologies, such as word processing software and Internet search tools. They cannot be used effectively without adequate command of fundamental domain-specific content knowledge. They can be used to deepen students' understanding of content, but these technologies bring distinct classroom-integration challenges. This chapter presents a framework for supporting in-service teachers to integrate these technologies. The research team derived this framework from data collected during an extended TPACK-style (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) workshop that engaged 13 life science community college instructors in integrating bioinformatics technologies into courses. This chapter presents a case study about the challenges community college teachers faced in implementing these tools—and the strategies they used to address them. Challenges included activity translation, problem definition, implementation, and assessment.
Redesigning Teacher Education in the Context of Multiple Reform Initiatives
Authors: DeMink-Carthew Jessica , Hyler Maria E , Valli Linda
Published: May 2016

Numerous teacher educators are revising their programs by focusing on high-leverage practices (HLPs). Concurrently, edTPA has been adopted by a number of states as a way to assess teacher candidates' readiness to teach. There is considerable conceptual congruence in these reform strategies. Both are practice-based, focusing on the authentic work of teaching. Nonetheless, the origins of these strategies, language, and materials are not seamless. HLPs, and ways of teaching them, are generated by local teacher educators themselves; edTPA was developed on a national scale with one purpose being to provide a common assessment of readiness to teach. This chapter illustrates the collective efforts of one teacher education program to productively handle the challenges that emerge in this dual reform climate while simultaneously meeting accreditation association requirements, including a conceptual framework for educator preparation programs. A model is subsequently presented for meaningful integration of edTPA, HLPs, and institutional conceptual frameworks.
Supporting the Enactment of Standards-based Mathematics Pedagogies
Authors: Polly Drew , Martin Christie , Wang Chuang , Lambert Richard G. , Pugalee David
Published: May 2016

In order for professional development in the STEM fields to be effective, teachers need worthwhile experiences to simultaneously develop their knowledge of content, pedagogy, and understanding of how students' learn the content. In this chapter we provide an overarching framework of learner-centered professional development and describe the implementation of two mathematics professional development projects designed to support elementary school teachers' mathematics teaching. We follow our description by highlighting some of the findings from our line of professional development research and provide implications for the design of learner-centered professional development programs in mathematics.
Building Collaborative Virtual Communities in a University Department of Early Childhood Education for Wikipedia Article Authoring
Authors: Prentzas Jim , Rekalidou Galini
Published: May 2016

Collaborative and student-centered learning are endorsed by modern educational approaches and (to a certain degree) are applied to educational environments. Early childhood education puts emphasis on such issues. Wiki environments provide the infrastructure for supporting collaborative learning and student-centered learning tasks. Consequently, wiki activities are gradually becoming part of teacher education curriculum. This chapter discusses issues regarding the incorporation of wikis in teacher education curriculum. The most recent corresponding approaches are categorized according to different views, and the most important findings are discussed. An approach aiming to create collaborative virtual communities for Wikipedia article authoring is also presented. The approach has been applied to a university department of early childhood education. To support communication among participants, face-to-face, e-mail communication, and tools encompassed in an open source Learning Management System were employed. Preliminary results are presented showing a positive response of the pre-service early childhood teachers. Lastly, conclusions and future research directions are outlined.
Web Server Security for E-Commerce Applications
Authors: Balasubramanian Kannan
Published: May 2016

Most merchant Web servers are contacted by completely unknown, often even anonymous, users. Thus they cannot generally protect themselves by demanding client authentication, but rather by employing carefully configured access control mechanisms. These range from firewall mechanisms and operating system security to secured execution environments for mobile code. Generally, all types of mechanisms that allow a client to execute a command on the server should be either completely disabled or provided only to a limited extent. Denial-of-service attacks on Web servers have much more serious consequences for Web servers than for Web clients because for servers, losing availability means losing revenue. Web publishing issues include anonymous publishing and copyright protection. Web servers must take special care to protect their most valuable asset. Information. which is usually stored in databases and in some cases requires copyright protection.
Value and Risk in Business to Business E-Banking
Authors: Maroofi Fakhraddin , Kalhori Khodadad
Published: May 2016

The purpose of this paper is to examine the functional relationships between three types of risk (performance, financial and psychological) and the benefits and sacrifices components of value are tested within a broader nomological network that includes e-service quality and satisfaction, word-of-mouth and intention to switch. The hypothesized relationships are tested; using Partial Least Squares, on data collected through a postal survey from167 Iran-based SME organizations. The results confirm the significant but differential impact of the three types of risk on the two value components. Specifically, performance risk and financial risk are found to be significant determinants of benefits, while psychological risk impacts on perceptions of sacrifices. We also provide evidence of the differential impact of the benefits and sacrifices components of value on satisfaction, and the existence of both direct and indirect impact of these components on word-of-mouth and intention to switch.
Assessment of Chloride Ion Penetration of Alkali Activated Low Calcium Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete
Authors: Kumar Shravan , Ramujee Kolli
Published: May 2016

Fly ash–based geopolymer concrete (GPC) comprised of fly ash, Fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and an alkaline solution, which is a combination of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, can play a significant role with respect to environmental control of greenhouse effects. The reduction in the carbon dioxide emission from cement production can contribute significantly to global temperature reduction. Current studies on geopolymer concrete are primarily focused on geopolymer technology to prepare fly ash–based geopolymer concrete and its Engineering properties determination. However, no specific publications are available with respect to the durability of geopolymer concrete in the marine environment. Corrosion of reinforcing steel due to chloride ingress ion is one of the most common environmental attacks that lead to the deterioration of concrete structures. Therefore, wherever there is a potential risk of chloride induced corrosion, the concrete should be evaluated for chloride permeability. This paper describes an durability testing program, based on Rapid chloride permeability test technique to measure the chloride permeability of in-place concrete. To investigate the durability performance of geopolymer fly ash–based concretes and OPC concretes that have been subjected to natural seawater exposure. A series of 100x50mm specimen were cut from the 100x200mm cylinders of both GPC & OPC to fit them into the test set up. The test results indicated excellent resistance of the geopolymer concrete (GPC) to chloride ingress ion with a less charge passed through them relative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC concrete)
Engineered Cementitious Composites for Sustainable Construction
Authors: Arundhathy S. , Vasugi V.
Published: May 2016

Upcoming infrastructure and maintenance focuses on sustainable infrastructure. To solve this, certain cement – based materials are developed. Engineered Cementitious composite (ECC) has been developed as an improved version of Fiber Reinforced Cement. The most outstanding properties of ECC are its high tensile ductility and fine multiple cracking. It is basically a composite similar to mortar added with fine fibers such as steel fibers and polymer fibers. A composite with high ductility is made retaining the original properties of normal concrete leads to a sustainable and serviceable construction. The materials used for ECC are cement, fly ash, fine cement, admixtures, fibers and water. Sand used in this mix is very fine which have 0.1mm dia. The fibers used in this study are polypropylene and steel fiber. Fibers are added at the rate of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% volume of cement. This paper deals with the experimental investigation of compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength of ECC made with polypropylene and a mixed proportion of polypropylene with steel fiber with different volume percentages i.e., 2%, 1.5%, 1% and 0.5%. It is observed that addition of fibers increased the ductile behavior. ECC with polypropylene fiber had shown significant improvement in tensile and flexural strength while ECC with hybrid fiber had given appreciable compressive strength development. These efforts will focus on the development of sustainable green material, which reduces the negative impact of existing concrete on the environment. The potential application of ECC to achieve structural sustainability has been observed from the results obtained.