bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ON THE INDUCED GRAVITATIONAL COLLAPSE SCENARIO OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUPERNOVAE
Authors: Becerra L. , Bianco C. L. , Fryer C. L. , Rueda J. A. , Ruffini R.
Published: December 2016

Following the induced gravitational collapse (IGC) paradigm of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) associated with type Ib/c supernovae, we present numerical simulations of the explosion of a carbon–oxygen (CO) core in a binary system with a neutron-star (NS) companion. The supernova ejecta trigger a hypercritical accretion process onto the NS thanks to a copious neutrino emission and the trapping of photons within the accretion flow. We show that temperatures of 1–10 MeV develop near the NS surface, hence electron–positron annihilation into neutrinos becomes the main cooling channel leading to accretion rates of 10−9–

s−1 and neutrino luminosities of 1043–1052 erg s−1 (the shorter the orbital period the higher the accretion rate). We estimate the maximum orbital period,

as a function of the NS initial mass, up to which the NS companion can reach by hypercritical accretion the critical mass for gravitational collapse leading to black hole formation. We then estimate the effects of the accreting and orbiting NS companion onto a novel geometry of the supernova ejecta density profile. We present the results of a

particle simulation which show that the NS induces accentuated asymmetries in the ejecta density around the orbital plane. We elaborate on the observables associated with the above features of the IGC process. We apply this framework to specific GRBs: we find that X-ray flashes (XRFs) and binary-driven hypernovae are produced in binaries with

and

respectively. We analyze in detail the case of XRF 060218.
Partenariat et coordination pluriprofessionnelle – Approche relationnelle et interlocutive de la personne
Authors: Martinez Marie-Louise , Terraz Tommy
Published: December 2016

Face aux enjeux éthiques, démocratiques et sociétaux concernant l’inclusion des enfants en situation de handicap dans le domaine de l’école et du soin, les avancées du droit sont réelles, mais le bilan est mitigé. Les difficultés de coordination entre les différents partenaires des réseaux du médico-social, et de co-action avec les familles, soulignent les besoins en formation. En recourant à la parole de professionnels, l’article s’attache d’abord à comprendre les enjeux du partenariat et des réseaux, les avancées et les ratés de la communication dans les pratiques sociales de référence. Il rappelle ensuite l’intérêt de l’approche philosophique relationnelle et interlocutive de la personne, pratiques vers un agir collectif, coordonné, favorisant l’intercompréhension et la prise en compte adéquate de l’Autre : le jeune enfant, les parents, mais aussi les autres professionnels, présents ou absents.
Eficiencia energética de fachadas ventiladas con baldosas cerámicas reflectantes al infrarrojo cercano
Authors: Silva G. , Bengochea M. A. , Guaita L. , Segarra C. , Corrales J.
Published: December 2016

La creciente concienciación social respecto a la construcción sostenible y el ahorro energético en edificios está conduciendo a prescriptores y usuarios finales a tomar en consideración nuevas soluciones constructivas. Sin embargo, su introducción en el mercado es lenta y difícil, debido tanto a las limitaciones de las herramientas reconocidas de simulación térmica, que no permiten efectuar estimaciones integrando sistemas innovadores, como a la dificultad para validar su eficiencia en edificios reales previamente a su comercialización. En el presente trabajo se analiza la eficiencia energética de una fachada ventilada resuelta con baldosas cerámicas reflectantes al infrarrojo cercano, mediante la integración en el programa EnergyPlus de un modelo matemático que ha sido validado en el edificio experimental CIES Living Lab de Castellón.
Integración arquitectónica de colectores solares térmicos cerámicos para clima mediterráneo
Authors: Roviras J. , Sarrablo V. , Casanovas M. M. , Armengou J.
Published: December 2016

El trabajo aquí presentado se orienta a demostrar la viabilidad técnica, arquitectónica y energética de colectores solares térmicos realizados con materiales cerámicos y adecuados al clima mediterráneo para la producción de agua caliente sanitaria (ACS) y de calefacción en edificios. Se propone el diseño de una envolvente cerámica formada por paneles captadores y paneles no captadores, que forman parte de un mismo sistema constructivo que es capaz de dar respuesta a los requerimientos básicos de un cerramiento exterior y de captar la energía solar. La cerámica consigue reducir considerablemente el coste final del sistema captador y ofrece al nuevo sistema una gran variedad de juego compositivo y cromático dado que, con un menor rendimiento frente al de un colector convencional metálico, puede ocupar toda la superficie de fachada y obtener un elevado grado de integración arquitectónica. También se ha definido una herramienta que permite evaluar el sistema de captación solar térmica cerámico desde un punto de vista multicriterio, económico, ambiental y social, para compararlo con los sistemas de captación solar térmica comerciales bajo distintas condiciones climáticas y de demanda.
Envolvente del Centro de Arte Botín en Santander. Estudio de viabilidad de la solución con discos cerámicos roscados sobre chapa de aluminio
Authors: Sarrablo V. , Roviras J. , Sánchez F. , Gil Ll.
Published: December 2016

El Centro de Arte Botín de Santander presenta una envolvente compleja geométricamente y sofisticada constructivamente de la que destaca su última capa cerámica de reflejos nacarados. Esta capa consiste en un novedoso sistema de anclaje de discos cerámicos a una bandeja de aluminio mediante varilla roscada fijada con resina epoxi. En este artículo se tratan los aspectos de desarrollo técnico y montaje en obra de este cerramiento continuo y se muestran algunos de los resultados de la campaña de ensayos realizada para demostrar la viabilidad de esta capa ante los requerimientos del clima marítimo en Santander.
“But We've Got No Power”
Authors: Torrisi-Steele Geraldine
Published: December 2016

Program directors are academic leaders at “the coal-face” of a university's teaching activities. Responsible for curriculum design and co-ordination of the programs into which students enroll, program directors play a crucial role not only in the success of the programs offered, but potentially, in the survival of their respective faculties/schools. As oftentimes occurs in university settings, appointment to leadership positions is made on the basis of academic, rather than leadership, expertise – program directors are no exception. Hence, some program directors arrive into their leadership role with little or no experience/knowledge of leadership strategies. Lack of leadership skills aside, program directors are additionally challenged by the current ‘difficult' state of higher education. Interestingly, although the importance of the program director's role is being recognized and institutions are beginning to invest in developing program directors leadership skills, there remains relatively little literature surrounding program directors' leadership. The present chapter thus seeks to raise discussion around leadership and program directors. Challenges are identified and useful theoretical frameworks to guide leadership development for program directors are explored. The chapter serves as a primer for establishing foundational understanding of what the program leadership entails and for identifying the key capacities of a program director.
Cultivation of Leadership in Higher Education Students
Authors: Torrisi-Steele Geraldine
Published: December 2016

In the midst of great and rapid change, it is no longer sufficient to equip higher education students with discipline knowledge and skills. Instead, it is imperative that graduates not only cope with change, but they should also drive and incite change. Given leadership is about dealing with change, it is argued that each and every student should develop leadership capabilities throughout the course of their tertiary studies since, during their careers, they will be required to engage in leadership activity, regardless of the ‘rung' they occupy within an organization. Although approaches to leadership development such as specific programs of study or extra-curricular activities have been shown to be useful, leadership can, and should also be cultivated as an integral part of students' studies in whatever discipline is being pursued. If instructors adopt a social constructivist philosophy of teaching and learning, then conditions become favourable for the cultivation of leadership within the classroom in such a way that is integrated with learning and discipline knowledge. The conditions include teacher as leader, role model and mentor, and emphasis on reflection and on metacognitive activity.
Educational Leadership Sustainability
Authors: Storey Valerie A. , Dambo Neffisatu J. C.
Published: December 2016

Leaders have a high propensity to experience stress due to the design of their career, duties, and accountability measures. Extended exposure to stress without the appropriate resources involves strains that can potentially become burdensome and begin to weigh on an individual. This chapter explores the relationship between wellness and burnout through the application of social stress theory to critical stress factors, as well as suggesting coping strategies for enhancing wellness and maintaining one's life balance.
Leadership as a Wicked Problem
Authors: Hitch Leslie P.
Published: December 2016

In 1973, Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber put forth the term ‘wicked problems' to define situations where there was no concrete solution and where any attempt to ‘solve' the problem often resulted in the spiraling of additional wicked problems. John C. Camillus (2008) expands upon this concept and applied it to what he considered the near-impossibility to design coherent organizational strategy. Further exploration into the literature of wicked problems indicates the budding of new configurations of leadership to address wicked problems. As organizational strategy, in most industries, is inherently connected to leadership, this chapter suggests that the teaching of leadership, described often as one person in control or seen as the primary guide, needs to be revitalized, renewed and redirected as a process. Leadership may no longer be a person or hierarchy in order to contend with the wicked problems mounting in many industries, organizations, governments and society. The chapter concludes with suggestions on ways to teach leadership that are based upon Rittel and Webber's 10 characteristics of wicked problems.
Leadership in Foreign Language Departments
Authors: Blattner Geraldine , White Justin P.
Published: December 2016

In spite of common beliefs in higher education, language departments may not be the best places to learn languages given that the majority of faculty specialize in literary and cultural studies and a minority specialize Linguistics (VanPatten, 2015). The Chair is the assigned leader in foreign language (FL) departments which is not a field specific position, regardless of the make-up of faculty profiles. However, one assigned/emergent leadership role is that of the Language Program Director (LPD) which has a related scientific field of its own: Second Language Acquisition (SLA), a subfield of linguistics whose empirical research findings fuel language-teaching decisions and innovations. Traditionally, nonetheless, this leadership role has been held by faculty out of discipline and thereby this role is often emergent in nature. The purpose of the present chapter is to discuss strategic leadership in the FL department, common misperceptions, and approaches for improvement to ensure a successful pedagogically sound future addressing many scholars' concerns.
Leadership Learning through Virtual Play
Authors: Torrisi-Steele Geraldine
Published: December 2016

Understanding the complexities of leadership and its development is an ongoing challenge. Some researchers are turning to virtual gaming environments for the purposes of researching how leadership arises and how it plays out in the context of the large, dynamic and intricate social systems found in massive online multiplayer gaming environments. The potential of these virtual gaming environments to shed light on leadership and its processes is evident in literature and is the focus of the present chapter. Some design considerations for the development of serious virtual gaming environments to help learn leadership through play are highlighted.
Personal Growth and Leadership
Authors: Esquivel Mariana I. Vergara , Tjernstad Carl D. Brustad , Mac Quarrie Adam , Tamariz Mariana I.
Published: December 2016

In this study, in order to facilitate personal growth in participants, we are using Vygotsky's social development theory. We would like to explore the personal growth in participants by their apparent cognitive transformational experience over a period of four weeks after the implementation of an intervention called Mindfulness into Action (MIA). This study is a continuation of previous research done with the implementation of this methodology (Vergara, 2016a). In this study, the MIA intervention was done at three universities at the same time. In two of them, the MIA methodology was done as a volunteer basis at the University del Norte in Ecuador and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. On the other hand, at Columbia University, the MIA methodology was implemented as an action research course for masters and doctoral students. In all interventions, participants achieved what is identified as “the third head” (Vergara, Wallace, Du, Marsick, Yorks, & Tamariz, 2016b). Our research question is: How can indigenous knowledge, hourly reflection exercises, and weekly meetings, help facilitate harmony within participants? The research methodology we used to analyze the data from this action research is grounded theory. Through first and second level coding, we found that participants went through the same intra-subjective, inter-subjective, intra-objective, inter-objective dimensions (Vergara, Wallace, Du, Marsick, Yorks, & Tamariz, 2016d) and phases. The initial “reactive” state in phase one had unknown characteristics to participants who were just reacting to everyday life experiences. In phase two, participants became aware of their behaviors, but could not stop non-beneficial behaviors. In phase three, they could observe their unknown behaviors and then change their sabotaging behaviors. Other salient characteristics from phase three were love, harmony and appreciation, which are new themes that were found in this research. In the conclusion, we describe how there is a tendency to believe that change does not come easily, especially for adults, because our mental models rule our lives (subconsciously). However, in this study participants were all adults who observed their unknown assumptions (observing behaviors that were sabotaging their efforts to succeed in life) who also reported change in their lives and in perceptions of their world. The researchers implemented the MIA methodology by following its procedure (Vergara, 2016a). This shows the sustainability of the MIA methodology, as all participants were able to achieve the “third head”. In addition, during the implementation of the MIA methodology in the action research course at Columbia University, participants achieved the “third head” in person and online. Since participants were able to achieve the “third head” online this has expanded the possibilities to implement MIA globally.
Sylvanus Thayer
Authors: Boice Gillian S.
Published: December 2016

The research examines the educational leadership approach of the historical figure Sylvanus Thayer, also commonly known as the “Father of the Military Academy” and the “Father of Technology in the United States.” The author uses contemporary leadership concept of Strategic Vision and the modern theory of Servant Leadership as a basis of analysis. The author uses a retrospective case-study to explain Thayer's leadership with saliency for enduring and modern application for global leaders (especially educational leaders). A detailed discussion of Thayer's Strategic Vision and the 6 key characteristics of Servant Leadership are examined. This qualitative study, with descriptive report was accomplished by historical literature review and observations.
Workforce Education Leadership in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Gibson Patricia K.
Published: December 2016

Workforce education leadership has new and specific challenges in the twenty-first century. Leadership is needed in the internally generated employee education event, commercially provided employee education events, by the providers of commercial employee educational event, in re-education for employment by the unemployed or the under-employed, as well as education for employment in secondary and post-secondary settings. The use of twenty-first century skills, creativity, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration, are essential to workforce education leadership in all areas of its application due to the radical change in societies view of the relationship between leaders and followers.
Challenges in Leading and Managing Design Teams
Authors: Siu Kin Wai Michael , Sharma Satyakam
Published: December 2016

Design has become an indispensable part of any business today. While the designers deliver creative solutions to enable the businesses to survive in the highly competitive market, their unique “designerly” style of thinking and working potentially poses several challenges to management in the corporate environment. Designers are right-brainers (creative personalities), who rely on their artistic, irrational, and amorphous creative process to devise meaningful creations. Their non-conforming, independent, playful nature and their passion towards the creative profession equip them to address complex challenges through their creative process. The creative nature of designers is oftentimes at odds with the more strictly constrained approach of the business and may lead clashes of views and to the development of a seemingly. The chapter discusses the diverse facets of these challenges and associated rationalities behind them. It elaborates and recounts these by sharing relevant experiences, particularly from the consumer durables sector, where industrial designers play a key role in the success of the organization. It is based on the learning from a decade-long experience in practicing and managing design across consultancies and corporates.
Data Analytics for Strategic Management
Authors: Farmer Lesley S. J.
Published: December 2016

To direct and maintain smooth operations in coordination with internal and external sectors, strategic managers need to collect and analyze data about those operations and stakeholders so they can improve current management practices and determine new management direction. Particularly in today's data-driven society where evidence-based practice is expected, numbers and other evidence abound. However, data by itself is not very useful or even informative. Managers need to strategically conduct data analytics, that is the process of knowing the right questions to ask, determining the relevant data to collect, choosing the appropriate instruments to collect those data, analyzing that data, recommending appropriate actions, implementing them, and evaluating the implementation. This chapter also emerging technology issues and tools that impact data analytics.
Effecting Change in a Politically Charged Environment
Authors: Noelk Debra Vance
Published: December 2016

While it is accepted that those individuals with large amounts of money are able to exert power more easily than those without money, there are other resources available that assist strategic leaders in making effective change. Thousands of local and national education groups have formed in recent years to protest current education policies and to have a voice in the policy and decision making process. Strategic leadership enables these groups to have a positive impact on educational policies and decisions. This chapter will examine the process by which two groups, United Opt Out and the Loudoun Education Association, were able to utilize social media in conjunction with strategic leadership in order to effect change in a politically charged environment.
Effective Management of Generational Dynamics in the Workplace
Authors: Bowman Sandra G. , Mulvenon Sean W.
Published: December 2016

For the first time in history there are four generations co-existing in the workplace. Each generation, Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y, has very distinct attitudes, values, ideas, behaviors, ways of communicating, and expectations. These generational differences can affect everything in the organization including recruiting and retaining employees, team building, communicating, motivating, and managing. To successfully integrate these diverse generations, companies will need to embrace changes that actively demonstrates respect and inclusion for all generations. Organizations that find a way to accommodate all generations may create a more productive work environment resulting in a powerful competitive advantage.
Leadership and Management in a Workshop-Based Educational Project
Authors: Siu Kin Wai Michael , Wong Yi Lin
Published: December 2016

The current project management literature seldom addresses the leadership and management strategies used in educational project. The knowledge specialized for workshop-based educational project is even more limited. As one of the most complicated educational projects, this chapter aims to define what workshop-based educational project and its uniqueness is, examine the concerns in such workshop and analyze possible roles of project manager through the case study of the environmental sustainability project. The parties involved and their relationship in work are also clearly revealed. Six unique concerns which specifically exist in such kind of project and five roles of its project managers are identified are discussed and explained by using the case study. It is hoped that the discussion in this chapter is able to give references for educators or administrators who plan to hold projects which involve hands-on workshops as the core of educational activities.
Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Career Transitions
Authors: Joseph Lynn M. , Rutigliano Nancy Kymn Harvin , Frost Amy
Published: December 2016

Leaders, managers, professionals, and employees throughout organizations worldwide often face a large number of job transitions, many unexpected, in their careers. Job loss is widely recognized as one of life's more traumatic experiences. It is a stressful, life-changing event—one that can lead to negative mental and physical health consequences and jeopardize financial security and relationships. In addition, mid- and late-career job seekers face unique job-search issues and challenges. Career transition, however, can also be a positive event and growth opportunity, especially when one has prepared in advance for the possible personal impact of widespread organizational restructuring and downsizing. Advance preparation supports career and emotional resilience. This chapter presents challenges surrounding job loss, discusses proven strategies and processes for those in transition, and offers the research-based tool of guided imagery as a means to increase resilience, perceptions of personal control, and job search self-efficacy along with speed of reemployment.
The Influence of Spirituality in the Workplace and Perceived Organizational Support on Organizational Citizenship Behaviors for Strategic Success
Authors: Norris Sharon E. , Porter Tracey H.
Published: December 2016

In today's competitive organizational environment, strategic leaders depend upon employees with the capacity to continually change, innovate and improve, making highly engaged workers more valuable than ever (Norris, 2013). These changing conditions require the strategic cultivation of a workforce willing to contribute to the effective functioning of the organization through discretionary organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). Using the survey method, we obtained data from 232 working professionals from a large metropolitan area in the Midwest and tested the extent to which spirituality in the workplace and perceived organizational support influenced the exhibition of OCBs. Our findings show that spirituality in the workplace exerts influence on altruism, conscientiousness, and courtesy, which represent interpersonally directed OCBs, and perceived organizational support exerts influence on civic virtue, which is an organizationally directed OCB.
When Management Policies Collide
Authors: Larkin Brittany
Published: December 2016

The public desire for school choice has led to the staggering growth of charter schools. Yet, charter schools are often criticized for their inability to maintain autonomy in the face of the requirements to provide special education services. This chapter will explore empirical research on charter schools and special education uncovering themes in policy, practice, access, funding, and parent satisfaction. The research recommendations also cluster into themes including governance, service delivery model, operations and technical assistance. Next, the charter school laws in each of the 43 states that allow charter schools were examined for evidence of the four recommended themes. The results indicated how some states were bridging the autonomous nature of charter school laws with the inflexible mandates of special education law.
A Strategic Approach to Decision Making
Authors: O'Connor Jr. Johnny R.
Published: December 2016

This chapter seeks to inform the reader as it relates to strategic decision making and its inherent influence on strategic leadership, offering insights on the implications, barriers, and related outcomes embedded within this multifaceted process. Decision-making is often a key responsibility of a strategic leader, and requires careful thought and facilitation, in order to ensure maximum benefit and outcomes. Specifically, effective strategic decision-making is a multi-dimensional approach that includes collaboration with key stakeholders both internal and external to the organization. The use of strategic decision-making throughout an organization can assist in the establishment of a strategic culture that is cognizant of the impact of focused decision-making, on the direction and needs of the organization.
Mindfulness into Action
Authors: Esquivel Mariana I. Vergara , Wallace Barbara , Du Xiaoxue , Chang Yi-Hui , Brito Aurora , Ong Fung Ling , Gordon Edmund W. , Mac Quarrie Adam , Tjernstad Carl D. Brustad , Klempe Hroar , Dong Jingyi , Hagen Ingunn , Hoveid Marit Honerød , Tamariz Mariana I. , Williams Daniel , Lauri David , Galvan Rosario , Dennis Yvonne , Morales-Abbud Julia A.
Published: December 2016

Our Mindfulness into Action (MIA) research includes indigenous practices in exploring the potential for developing reflective leaders. When conducting research, Flood (2006) describes the system thinking approach as having two components: system thinking and systemic thinking. Understanding the difference between these two influences would provide a more comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon (intangible) and how it relates to research. System thinking is objective (tangible). This objective data is measured by quantitative and qualitative research method approaches. On the other hand, systemic thinking is subjective (intangible) as in the case with our taken-for-granted assumptions, which in this dissertation are measured qualitatively. The power of effective problem solving not only involves efficiency (tangible data), but also evaluates perspectives. Scholars such as, Senge (1990) describes this involuntary habitual life as mental models, yet we continue to operate within “the Veil” (Du Bois, 1989). Peter Senge (1990) questions if we are prisoners of the system or prisoners of our own thinking. In his book “The Fifth Discipline” he describes mental models as deeply engrained assumptions, generalizations or even pictures or images that influence how we understand the world and how we take action. If we can identify our mental models, this information can help in appreciating the forces that are shaping reality and how we are part of those forces and therefore, we can in turn affect them. Identifying our mental models allows for a neutral ground where different perspectives can meet to find a possible solution to the issue at hand. As participants identify their mental models, we describe the data from a MIA exploratory study; this chapter develops in four dimensions: subjectivity (e.g. mental models), objectivity (e.g. behavior), inter-subjectivity (e.g., culture), and inter-objectivity (e.g. systems).
More Lessons without Borders
Authors: Plante Jarrad D. , Murray Lauren I. , Cox Thomas D.
Published: December 2016

This paper utilizes the grounded theory method to study the ways in which service-learning participants internalize their experiences four months after returning from a three-week trip to Botswana. Grounded theory has both positivistic and phenomenological roots which sometimes leads to confusion about the method. Charmaz's social constructionist (1990) approach to the theory was used to develop and refine the research and interview protocol, identify terms and concepts, ask conceptual questions and ultimately develop results based on the levels and themes identified. Four themes were identified after engaging participants in a focus group discussion of their experiences completing international service learning: education, reorientation and acknowledgement of privilege, self-efficacy, and career goals. Additional themes were also identified after the completion of interviews with participants: cultural understanding individuals within cultures, and understanding individual lessons.
Prevalence of Campus Rape
Authors: Neimann Theresa D. , Stelson Uta M.
Published: December 2016

Most educators are aware of the statistics about the prevalence of campus sexual assault and rape. While the focus is usually on remedies many educators fail to see the connection between psychological ramifications, grade deflation and college non-completion as some of the possible outcomes. The authors suggest that educators, administrators and strategic leadership need to understand how Social Norms Theory, sports, and rape culture play into the prevalence of campus sexual assault and rape on students' ability to thrive in college and complete and the need to adopt a proactive stance whereby they can help to offset the gloomy statistics in campus sexual assault and rape. This chapter will also focus on the legal and risk management impact of neglecting to establish and/or non-enforcement of policies to both prevent and address campus sexual assault and rape. Many educators and administrators fail to understand the potential costs of Title IX Violations and benefits to colleges and universities from the Violence Against Women laws, especially the Amended Clery Act. Lastly, recommendations are forthcoming in helping leaders and risk management employees be proactive and strategically plan to reduce the occurrences of campus sexual assault and rapes.
Strategic Leadership
Authors: Ellington Linda
Published: December 2016

In this chapter, I introduce my probing inquisitiveness into the connection between organic intellect and strategic leadership. I am an advocate of organic practices and intellectual virtues which include integrity, humility, empathy, and fairmindedness. There is enthusiasm which has come to embrace organic intellect as a central leitmotif of strategic leadership; thus, the purpose of this chapter is to neatly articulate the basic idea and the value attached to organic intellect as it relates to strategic management and leadership. Given the importance of the virtues, this chapter has the intention to include a set of intellectual qualities and habits of mind, which I refer to as the overall disposition of an organic intellect.
Strategic Leadership
Authors: Howell Marcus Paul , Reames Ellen H.
Published: December 2016

Windham Elementary School underwent a wholesale shift towards student and teacher leadership, student centered instruction, and the adoption of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) based best practices. The use of strategic leadership was instrumental in facilitating the changes undergone at Windham. This article explored how strategic leadership was used to facilitate the development of the Chromebook Initiative. The six essential skills of strategic leadership: anticipation, challenging, interpreting, deciding, aligning and learning were used to lead school faculty through planning, implementation and evaluation of the initiative (Schoemaker, Krupp, & Howland 2013). Anticipation, challenging and interpreting, brought about faculty utilizing action research to uncover the fact that low cost Google Chromebooks would provide an easily managed, electronic environment. Using the essential strategic skills of deciding, aligning and learning, Windham Elementary established an educational account and implemented a 1:1 Google Chromebook initiative in grades 3-6 to meet the collaborative 21st century needs of students and faculty.
Strategic Use of Mindset and Efficacy Theory
Authors: Gordon Linda
Published: December 2016

Achievement theory and goal orientation have wide-ranging implications for every human endeavor because they speak to the motivation and responses to challenges that every person encounters. From the classroom professor to the operations manager, there is a need to understand the interaction of people's mindsets regarding achievement, and how those may influence the goals they set. Additionally, the interaction of the mindset, goal, and challenges that occur, creates responses as varied as quitting to responding with redoubled effort. After understanding this mechanism of motivation, leaders will need concrete practices that orient students/employees/volunteers towards mindsets and goals that enhance effort and perseverance while minimizing the practices that result in individuals giving up. This chapter will draw from the theories of Carol Dweck and Albert Bandura to provide a theoretical framework for the strategic design and implementation of practices to enhance positive goal setting and responses when the going gets tough.
Monitoring Changes in Urban Cover Using Landsat Satellite Images and Demographical Information
Authors: Srivastava Prashant K. , Suman Swati , Pandey Smita
Published: December 2016

The monitoring of urban cover is very important for the planner, management, governmental and non-governmental organizations for optimizing the use of urban resources and minimizing the environmental losses. The study here aims at analyzing the changes that occurred in urban green cover over a time span of 1991-2001 using multi-date Landsat satellite images data over the Varanasi district, India and its relation to demographical changes. The Support Vector Machines (SVMs) classifier has been used for image classification. The urbanization indicators such as Land Consumption Ratio (LCR) and Land Absorption Coefficient (LAC) were also used in order to understand the changes in urban cover and population dynamics. All the analysis indicates significant changes in the urban cover values with increasing population at both spatial and temporal scale.
Genetically Modified Crops
Authors: Srivastava Amit , Torres-Vargas Claudia Edith
Published: December 2016

Genetic engineering and modification of food crops has been emerged as one of the most relevant issue for debate due to concern over its direct impact on human health and environment. The striking development and advancement of biotechnological techniques lead to the generation and production of genetically modified plants with improved features such as increased resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. In spite of all the success made by plant geneticist, the genetic engineering of food crops is still in its infancy and there is a need to carefully notice the issues that can be directly detrimental to the environment and human health. Further, from a basic genetics perspective, genetically modified foods may possess unpredictable components and their unintended amount that can be far different than the desired alteration. Open questions and challenges for production and application of genetically modified crops will be discussed in the current chapter.
Exploratory Practice in Continuing Professional Development
Authors: Miller Ines K. , Cunha Maria Isabel A.
Published: December 2016

This chapter is constructed as a reflective professional narrative coming from the context of public and private continuing professional development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The authors start the text by making explicit their involvement and alignment with the rationale of Exploratory Practice, within the broader horizon of language Teacher Development (Allwright, 2001). The text establishes a theoretical dialogue with Reflective Practice, Action Research and Exploratory Action Research, considering them as recent trends in teacher education and other possible modes of Practitioner Research (Allwright & Hanks, 2009). The authors expand on Exploratory Practice as a paradigm that foregrounds inclusivity, ethics and criticality. Examples of Potentially Exploitable Pedagogic/Professional Activities (PEPAs) and Potentially Exploitable Reflexive Activities (PERAs) will be shared by showing that they result from integrating the ‘work for understanding' with regular pedagogic activities or broader educational practice.
Professional Designing as One of Key Competencies of Modern Teacher
Authors: Voroshilov Valentin
Published: December 2016

Questions such as “How to determine the professionalism of a teacher?”, and “What forms of a teacher professional development are the most efficient?” have been a subject of many publications. In this chapter, the author focuses on the approach based on a professional designing as a central tool for improvement of professionalism of a teacher. The discussion involves analysis of factors helping teachers to achieve his or her professional goals, such as an ability to model their own practice, analyze students' motives, describe professional goals and challenges, as well as description of various events helping to strengthen those factors.
Microbial Fuel Cells Using Agent-Based Simulation
Authors: Machado Diogo Ortiz , Adamatti Diana Francisca , Gonçalves Eder Mateus Nunes
Published: December 2016

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) could generate electrical energy combined with the wastewater treatment and they can be a promising technological opportunity. This chapter presents an agent-based model and simulation of MFC comparing it with analytical models, to show that this approach could model and simulate these problems with more abstraction and with excellent results.
Using Probability Distributions in Parameters of Variables at Agent-Based Simulations
Authors: Fonseca de Moraes Marcilene , Adamatti Diana Francisca , Oliveira de Borba Albano , Werhli Adriano Velasque , von Groll Andrea
Published: December 2016

Even treatable and preventable with medication, tuberculosis (TB) continues to infect and cause deaths globally, especially in the poorest countries and in most vulnerable parts of the rich countries. Given this situation, the study of the growth curve of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, can be a strong ally against TB. This study models the growth curve of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using simulation based agents, aiming to simulate the curve with the minimum possible error when compared to in vitro results. To implement this model, the agents represent the bacteria in their habitat and how they interact with each other and the environment. Some parameters of the agents are modelled with probability distributions.
Strategic Turning Points in ICT Business
Authors: Rusko Rauno
Published: December 2016

This chapter is studying strategic turning points in ICT business using Nokia as an example. Though several transformational phases of Nokia, the business is going on and being profitable. The main branch in the business has changed several times, also during the last decades. The activities of Nokia are still in the ICT, however. The previous main branch of Nokia, mobile and smart phones, has changed into networks technology and business. The case of Nokia proved to be the good example about the business development, transformation and evolution possibilities in the ICT business. This chapter also introduces a long-term perspective strategic turning points and path dependency in the case of Nokia and considers the potential (unintentional) co-evolution development between Nokia and Ericsson.
The Importance of Electronics News Brand Trust
Authors: Ardyan Elia , Aryanto Vincent Didiek Wiet
Published: December 2016

The purpose of this book chapter is to test the importance of trust to increase the loyalty of e-news brand readers in Indonesia and to test its antecedents. Trust becomes a central factor in the electronics news brand to increase the loyalty of its readers. Within this chapter, trust in news electronics brand influenced by the reader's experience and customer confusion. Exciting experience and unforgettable experiences influenced by the attributes of the news brand electronics. The readers' experiences will be able to reduce customer confusion and will increase confidence in the electronics news brand significantly. Basically, consumers are not confused in the electronics news brand. Other results showed that the attached attributes to electronics news brand will be able to significantly increase readers' loyalty.
Cybernetic Approach for the Stock Market
Authors: Choudhury Masudul Alam
Published: December 2016

The old idea of segmented macroeconomics of the financial sector competing with the real economy is replaced by a new model. This model formalizes the new architecture for the macro economy, and its relationship to the stock market. In this model relating to a reconstructed state of the economy and the emergent structure of the financial architecture, money and spending are treated as complementary elements of growth and development. The overarching structure in the end is the Money, Finance, Spending and Real Economy (MFSRE) with its extensively complementary inter-variables relationship in a general system and cybernetic form of interrelationships. The stock market, exemplified by the empirical case study of Bangladesh's state of the economy and the Dhaka Stock Exchange, bring out the true example of the macroeconomic analysis. The new financial architecture with its stabilization, sustainability and growth and wellbeing as basic-needs regime of development is contrasted with old macroeconomic belief and policies based on outmoded macroeconomic beliefs and futures.
A Techno-Economic Perspective of Constrained Application Protocol
Authors: Levä Tapio , Ilaghi Mahya , Looga Vilen , Komu Miika , Beijar Nicklas , Mazhelis Oleksiy
Published: December 2016

Among billions of Internet enabled devices that are expected to surround us in the near future, many will be resource constrained, i.e., will have limited power supply, processing power and memory. To cope with these limitations, the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) has been recently introduced as a lightweight alternative to HTTP for connecting the resource limited devices to the Web. Although the new protocol offers solid technical advantages, it remains uncertain whether a successful uptake will follow, as it depends also on its economic feasibility for the involved stakeholders. Therefore, this paper studies the techno-economic feasibility of CoAP using a systematic methodological framework. Based on eleven expert interviews complemented with a literature survey, the paper identifies potential deployment challenges for CoAP, both technical and business-related, and suggests approaches to overcome them. The findings should facilitate the uptake of CoAP by supporting the potential adopters of the protocol in their decision-making.
Performance Evaluation of Different Rectifying Antenna Systems for RF Energy Harvesting
Authors: Ghosh Saswati
Published: December 2016

The radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting is found as an attractive alternative to existing energy resources. This chapter deals with the design and performance evaluation of different rectifying antenna circuits for RF energy harvesting. The rectifying antenna i.e. rectenna consists of an antenna to grab the RF energy and rectifier to convert the RF energy to DC power. Different circularly polarized microstrip antennas e.g. shorted square ring slot antenna and crossed monopole antenna with step ground plane are studied. The antennas are combined with voltage doubler circuits with various stages and bridge rectifier. The electromagnetic simulator CST Microwave Studio is used to design and optimization of antenna structures. The rectifier circuits are designed using SPICE software. Later the prototype of the antennas and rectifiers are fabricated and tested in the laboratory environment. The detailed study on the performance of the rectenna circuits are evaluated in terms of conversion efficiency.
Implementing Leader Election Algorithm after Evaluation of Node Trust in MANETs
Authors: Das Jayanta , Das Abhijit
Published: December 2016

Security and trust are two inevitable concepts for secure Manet. There are various systems used for ensuring security and trust in case of Manet. These systems have several advantages as well as several disadvantages in terms high communication and computation overhead. In this proposed trust based system, trust of node is evaluated on the basis of ratio of signal sent and acknowledgement received. After that, priority of each node is calculated and at last Leader Election algorithm is applied to select node leader.
Fuzzy-Topsis-Based Cluster Head Selection in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Khan Bilal Muhammad , Bilal Rabia
Published: December 2016

One of the critical and vital parameter of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is its lifetime. There are various methods to increase WSN lifetime, clustering technique is one of them. In clustering, selection of desired percentage of Cluster Head (CHs) is performed among the sensor nodes (SNs). Selected CHs are responsible to collect data from its member nodes, aggregates the data and finally send to the sink. In this chapter, Fuzzy-TOPSIS techniques based on multi criteria decision making to choose CH efficiently and effectively to maximize the WSN lifetime are presented. These five criteria includes; residual energy, node energy consumption rate, number of neighbor nodes, average distance between neighboring nodes and distance from sink. Threshold based intra-cluster and inter-cluster multi-hop communication mechanism is used to decrease energy consumption. Moreover impact of node density and different type mobility strategies are presented in order to investigate impact over WSN lifetime.
Micro-Electromechanical Systems for Underwater Environments
Authors: Tuna Gurkan , Gungor Vehbi Cagri
Published: December 2016

Underwater networking technologies have brought us unforeseen ways to explore the unexplored aquatic environment and this way provided us with a large number of different kinds of applications for environmental, scientific, commercial, and military purposes. Although precise and continuous aquatic environment monitoring capability is highly important for various underwater applications, due to the unique characteristics of underwater networks such as low communication bandwidth, high error rate, node mobility, large propagation delay, and harsh underwater environmental conditions, existing solutions cannot be applied directly to underwater networks. Therefore, new solutions considering the unique features of underwater environment are highly demanded. In this chapter, the authors mainly focus on the use of wireless micro-electromechanical systems for underwater networks and present its advantages. In addition, the authors investigate the challenges and open research issues of wireless MEMS to provide an insight into future research opportunities.