bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kosovo and Metohija: Serbia’s troublesome province
Authors: Batakovic Dusan
Published: April 2011

Kosovo and Metohija, the heartland of medieval Serbia, of her culture politics and economy (1204-1455), experienced continuous waves of
spiralling violence, forced migration and colonization under centuries-long
Ottoman rule (1455-1912). A region which symbolizes the national and
cultural identity of the Serbian nation as a whole now has an Albanian
majority population, who consider it an ancient Albanian land, claiming
continuity with ancient Illyrians. Kosovo was reincorporated into Serbia
(1912) and Yugoslavia (1918) as a region lacking tradition of interethnic
and interreligious tolerance and cooperation. The two rivalling Kosovo
nations, Albanians and Serbs, remained distant, maintaining limited
interethnic communication throughout the twentieth century. The mounting
national and ideological conflicts, reinforced by the communist ideology made coexistence almost impossible, even after the 1999 NATO bombing
campaign and establishment of KFOR-secured UN administration. Kosovo?s
unilateral declaration of independence in February 2008 is a dangerous
attempt to establish a second Albanian state extended into the heartland of
Serbia, a failed state cleansed of both Serbs and other major non-Albanian
communities.
Women vaqfs in the sixteenth-century Sanjak of Krusevac (Alaca Hisâr)
Authors: Amedoski Dragana
Published: April 2011

The role of the vaqf in the Ottoman Empire, as in the whole Islamic world,
was quite significant, especially in a period marked by the founding of new
orien?tal settlements. The first endowers in the newly-conquered lands were
sultans, begs and prominent government officials. Affluent citizens also
took part in endowing their cities, and women are known to have been among
them. The aim of the paper, based on Ottoman sources, is to shed light on
the participation of Muslim women in this kind of humanitarian and lucrative
activity using the example of the Sanjak of Krusevac (Alaca His?r) in the
sixteenth century.
The sixteenth-century altar painting of the Cattaran (Kotor) fraternity of leather-makers
Authors: Zivkovic Valentina
Published: April 2011

The altar painting that the Cattaran Fraternity of Leather-makers
commissioned from the Venetian painter Girolamo da Santa Croce in the first
half of the sixteenth century contains the images of Sts Bartholomew, George
and Antoninus. The presence of the first two saints is looked at from the
perspective of a long-established religious tradition, while the reasons for
depicting the archbishop Antoninus giving alms to the poor appear to reside
in the then prevailing religious policy and the local social situation.
Anglophiles in Balkan Christian states (1862-1920)
Authors: Markovich Slobodan
Published: April 2011

The life stories of five Balkan Anglophiles emerging in the nineteenth
century - two Serbs, Vladimir Jovanovic (Yovanovich) and Cedomilj Mijatovic
(Chedomille Mijatovich); two Greeks, Ioannes (John) Gennadios and Eleutherios
Venizelos; and one Bulgarian, Ivan Evstratiev Geshov - reflect, each in its
own way, major episodes in relations between Britain and three Balkan
Christian states (Serbia, the Hellenic Kingdom and Bulgaria) between the
1860s and 1920. Their education, cultural patterns, relations and models
inspired by Britain are looked at, showing that they acted as intermediaries
between British culture and their own and played a part in the best and worst
moments in the history of mutual relations, such as the Serbian-Ottoman
crisis of 1862, the Anglo-Hellenic crisis following the Dilessi murders,
Bulgarian atrocities and the Eastern Crisis, unification of Bulgaria and the
Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885, the Balkan Wars 1912-13, the National Schism in
Greece. Their biographies are therefore essential for understanding
Anglo-Balkan relations in the period under study. The roles of two British
Balkanophiles (a Bulgarophile, James David Bourchier, and a Hellenophile,
Ronald Burrows) are looked at as well. In conclusion, a comparison of the
Balkan Anglophiles is offered, and their Britain-inspired cultural and
institutional legacy to their countries is shown in the form of a table.
The aspects of French literature in the Belgrade journal "Delo" 1894-1915
Authors: Kolakovic Aleksandra
Published: April 2011

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the press in Serbia
underwent a substantial change and began to reflect cultural trends in
society. Delo, defined as a magazine for science, literature and social life,
attracted a wide circle of contributors, intellectuals with different
outlooks and views. Its editors and contributors, mostly educated and trained
in European cultural centres, contributed to the creation of a climate
conducive to the modernization of Serbian culture. This paper focuses on the
role of French cultural and literary trends launched in the Delo, whose
editors and contributors closely followed the leading French journals,
translating and publishing the texts they deemed important for Serbia?s
cultural development. French literature offered guidelines and models to the
realist and naturalist movements, subsequently also to modernist and
avantgarde tendencies in Serbian literature. The start of the journal in 1894
is associated with the Radical Party, but the Radical ideological influence
on the journal was not as strong as might be expected. Choosing science,
literature and social life as the journal?s areas of interest the founders
and editors demonstrated their commitment to modernizing the young Serbian
state and society by way of culture.
Neurosensory outcome of prematurely born children following intracranial hemorrhage
Authors: Velisavljev-Filipovic Gordana
Published: April 2011

Introduction. More and more survival of newborns with small or extremely
small body mass at birth, as well as increasing percent of prematurely born
babies, have emphasized the significance of intracranial haemorrhage problem.
Prematurely born infants are under increased risk for strabismus, amblyopia,
blinding and hearing loss. Objective. Establishing the frequency of sensory
damages (damage of sight and hearing) in prematurely born infants with
various degrees of intracranial haemorrhage. Methods. The study is
prospective, controlled and included 120 prematurely born infants with
diagnosed four different grade intracranial haemorrhage on ultrasonic
examination of the central nervous system. The study excluded prematurely
born children from twin pregnancies with congenital malformations and
stoppage of intrauterine growth. Ophthalmological examination was done at 9,
12, and 36 months of postnatal age. Audilogical examination was done after
delivery, at 2 months of age. Results. There are statistically significant
differences (p<0.01) related to the presence of strabismus among groups of
examinees with vairious hemorrhage degrees. Strabismus was present only in
one premature infant with 1st and in 10 children (33.3%) with the 4th degree.
Amblyopia occurred only among examinees with 4th degree hemorrhage. There
were statistically significant differences (p<0.01) related to the finding of
transitory otoacoustic emission of the left ear and the right ear among the
groups. The finding of the right ear was not usual in 7 examinees from the
4th degree hemorrhage. The finding of the left ear was not usual in 1
examinee from the third and in 7 examinees from the fourth group. Conclusion.
Prematurely born children with a higher degree intracranial hemorrhage have
a greater risk for the loss of hearing and development of visual handicap.
Evaluation of results in coronary surgery using EuroSCORE
Authors: Mihajlovic Bogoljub , Nicin Svetozar , Kovacevic Pavle , Susak Stamenko , Velicki Lazar , Kovacevic Dragan , Fabri Miklos
Published: April 2011

Introduction. The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation
(EuroSCORE) was developed in order to predict operative risk in cardiac
surgery and to assess the quality of the cardio-surgical care. Introduction
of the uniform terminology in result evaluation process leads to the
significant improvement in measuring and evaluation of surgical treatment
quality. Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate our results in
isolated coronary surgery using the EuroSCORE. Methods. The study was done
respectively by analyzing predicted mortality according to the EuroSCORE
model and observed operative risk in 4,675 coronary patients operated at our
Clinic during the period 2001-2008. For statistical analyses, the Pearson,
Chisquare and ANOVA tests were used. Results. The total postoperative
mortality predicted by the EuroSCORE was 2.9?2.25, while the observed one was
2.2%. When the scoring system and observed results were compared over the
years, a considerably lower observed mortality was found during the last 4
years. Overall average number of distal anastomoses was 2.62?0.84. During the
period 2004-2008, the average number of coronary anastomoses increased over
the years reaching the value of 2.77?0.88. The difference is at the level of
statistical significance with the trend of further increase. Percentage of
the patients with single or double graft myocardial revascularization
decreases, while the number of the patients with triple or more bypasses
increases. Conclusion. During the last years, the results in isolated
coronary surgery have considerably improved. The EuroSCORE overestimates
operative risk. In order to improve its predictive value, the model should be
recalibrated.
Comparison of two different types of hormone therapy effects on haemostatic parameters in early postmenopausal women
Authors: Tasic Lidija , Dunjic Radica , Vasiljevic Mladenko , Dikic Svetlana , Jurisic Aleksandar , Tasic Dijana
Published: April 2011

Introduction. Most postmenopausal women have some of menopausal symptoms due
to oestrogen deprivation. Many therapeutic options are available for managing
menopausal problems. However, hormone therapy is associated with a heightened
risk for thromboembolic events. Objective. To investigate the effects of
different types of hormone therapy on some haemostatic parameters. Methods.
This randomized, controlled study included 56 healthy, early postmenopausal
women aged 46-58 years on different types of hormone therapy (tibolone 2.5
mg/day, 25 women, or CCHT 2 mg estradiol plus 1 mg norethisteron acetate, 31
women) and 20 healthy postmenopausal women of the same age receiving placebo.
Effects of these 2 medicaments on some haemostasis parameters were measured 3
and 6 months after the onset of treatment. Results. Short-term use (3 months)
of both tibolone and CCHT had a detrimental effect on antithrombin, protein C
and protein S levels (decreased), and even more so in the group treated with
CCHT. Plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 1 levels were decreased by both
tibolone and CCHT, but more so by CCHT; thrombin-antithrombin complex were
increased in both groups. There were no changes in haemostatic parameters
between 3-month and 6-month treatment in any group. Conclusion. Both
therapeutic options are associated with an activation of thrombogenic and
fibrinolytic markers within 3 months of use. Tibolone appears to produce a
better balance between thrombogenesis and fibrinolysis. Since our results
show a lower incidence of thrombotic events, further studies are required.
Results of surgical treatment of developmental dysplasia of hip considering child’s age
Authors: Milasinovic Sonja
Published: April 2011

Introduction. Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) represents one of
common diseases of the locomotor system. Late discovery and inadequate
healing of this defect leads to serious disability in the best years of human
life. Objective. The aim of this study was to analyze the quality of
functional and anatomic restitution of the diseased hip, depending on the age
of the patient at the time of surgery. Methods. Our retrospective study was
developed on 78 children surgically treated for DDH. The examiners were
distributed in three groups according to age in which they had been operated.
The data were produced on the basis of full-scale medical documents for each
patient. Results. We analyzed and compared anatomic and functional results of
surgeries treating DDH in the group of examiners. On examination, we got data
that the most prevalent were distorted gait, inequality of the legs and
positive Trendelendburg?s sign in the group of children who had been operated
in the oldest age. The patients who were surgically treated in older age had
worse postoperative results in aspect value angle of flexion and abduction in
treated hip, higher frequency in manifesting pain and asymmetric gait. Better
corrective results on aspect of dimension of the colodiaphyseal and
Hilgenrainer?s angle will be obtained if DDH treatment is conducted in
younger age of patients. In 94.95%, the patients were treated with Salter
innominate osteotomy of pelvis with osteotomy of the femur involving its
shortening and reverse rotation. Preoperative treatment with Pavliks harness
was provided in 44.02% children, with abduction of Hilgenrainer?s apparatus
in 2.6%, with abductions ?Niva? slips in 2.6% and preoperative extension in
28.2%. Conclusion. The surgical treatment of DDH in the observed patients
done at the earlier age of growth resulted in the evidently better anatomical
and functional results at postoperative observation.
Fever of unknown origin in elderly patients
Authors: Turkulov Vesna , Brkic Snezana , Sevic Sinisa , Maric Daniela , Tomic Slavica
Published: April 2011

Introduction. Causes of fever of unknown origin are different. It is
considered that it can be caused with over 200 different clinical entities.
Aetiological causes differ according to different categories of age.
Febricity in the elderly is at most the result of autoimmune processes,
malignancies, bacterial infections and vasculitis. Objective. The aim of this
study was to determine the most common characteristics of fever, the most
common laboratory, bacterial and viral tests and to analyze applied therapy
in patients with unknown febrile state, and to affirm final diagnosis in
elderly patients, as well as younger than 65 years old, and to define outcome
of disease in both groups of patients. Methods. Research comprised 100
patients who had been treated at the Infectious Disease Clinic of the
Clinical Centre of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, during a three-year period, and in
whom fever of unknown origin had been diagnosed. Patients were divided into
two homogenous groups of 50 people. The first one (S) consisted of patients
older than 65 years, and the second, control group (K) was constituted of
patients younger than the age of 65. All of them were chosen by random sample
method. Results. Average results of standard laboratory parameters of
infection were obtained, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),
fibrinogen, CRP, and especially leukocyte, and those were significantly
higher in the group of elderly patients. The cause had not been found in 10%
of elderly patient group, and in the younger group, not even in the third of
patients. Among known causative agents dominant were infections, usually of
respiratory and urinary tract, in both tested groups. Even 28% of the elderly
had sepsis, and 10% endocarditis. Malignant diseases were more frequent in
group of the elderly patients, and immune i.e. systematic disorders were
evenly noticed in both groups of patients. Conclusion. Despite advanced
studies in medicine, and existence of modern diagnostic procedures, fever of
unknown origin is still today differential diagnostic problem.
Development of polytoxicomania in function of defense from psychoticism
Authors: Nenadovic Milutin , Sapic Rosa
Published: April 2011

Introduction. Polytoxicomanic proportions in subpopulations of youth have
been growing steadily in recent decades, and this trend is pan-continental.
Psychoticism is a psychological construct that assumes special basic
dimensions of personality disintegration and cognitive functions.
Psychoticism may, in general, be the basis of pathological functioning of
youth and influence the patterns of thought, feelings and actions that cause
dysfunction. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the
distribution of basic dimensions of psychoticism for commitment of youth to
abuse psychoactive substances (PAS) in order to reduce disturbing
intrapsychic experiences or manifestation of psychotic symptoms. Methods. For
the purpose of this study, two groups of respondents were formed, balanced by
age, gender and family structure of origin (at least one parent alive). The
study applied a DELTA-9 instrument for assessment of cognitive disintegration
in function of establishing psychoticism and its operationalization. The
obtained results were statistically analyzed. From the parameters of
descriptive statistics, the arithmetic mean was calculated with measures of
dispersion. A cross-tabular analysis of variables tested was performed, as
well as statistical significance with Pearson?s ?2-test, and analysis of
variance. Results. Age structure and gender are approximately represented in
the group of polytoximaniacs and the control group. Testing did not confirm
the statistically significant difference (p>0.5). Statistical methodology
established that they significantly differed in most variables of
psychoticism, polytoxicomaniacs compared with a control group of respondents.
Testing confirmed a high statistical significance of differences of variables
of psychoticism in the group of respondents for p<0.001 to p<0.01.
Conclusion. A statistically significant representation of the dimension of
psychoticism in the polytoxicomaniac group was established. The presence of
factors concerning common executive dysfunction was emphasized.
Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty in keratoconus
Authors: Nikolic Ljubisa , Jovanovic Vesna
Published: April 2011

Introduction. Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is intended for the
surgical treatment of corneal pathology without the involvement of the
endothelium. Sparing of the healthy host endothelium for lifetime is of
utmost importance in young patients. Therefore, keratoconus is among the main
indications for DALK. Outline of Cases. Two men, 22 and 28 years of age,
underwent DALK for the treatment of progressive keratoconus, with low visual
acuity, impossible to be corrected with gas-permeable contact lenses, due to
the extreme conical protrusion of the cornea. Baring of Descemet?s membrane
was achieved with lamellar dissection and peeling off the stroma. An 8.5 mm
graft without the endothelium was sutured into an 8.0 mm bed. Both grafts
remained clear and attached, without either ocular surface pathology or
problems arising from sutures. The best corrected visual acuity was 20/25 and
20/40, with the astigmatism of 2.5 and 3.0 diopters, respectively. The
follow-up was one year. Conclusion. This is the first presentation of DALK in
our literature. The restoration of corneal transparency and stability, with
sparing of the host endothelium, has put DALK among successful corneal
tranplantation procedures. Together with Descemet stripping endothelial
keratoplasty, which already accounts for almost a half of all our
keratoplasties, it offers an alternative to penetrating keratoplasty.
Oral manifestations of acute leukaemia
Authors: Ivanovic Mirjana , Jovicic Olivera , Mandic Jelena , Bogetic Dusko , Maddalone Marcello
Published: April 2011

Acute leukaemia is the most common form of chilhood cancer. The aim of this
paper was to underline the importance of oral manifestations in children with
acute leukaemia. The disease and its treatment can directly or indirectly
affect oral health. Oral manifestations are gingival inflammation and
enlargement. Leukaemic cells are capable of infiltrating the gingiva and the
deeper periodontal tissues which leads to ulceration and infection of oral
tissues. Gingival bleeding is a common sign in patients with leukaemia.
Symptoms include local lymphadenopathy, mucous membrane Petechiae and
ecchymoses. Cytotoxic drugs have direct effects like mucositis, involving
atrophy, desquamation and ulceration of the mucosa, with increasing the risk
for local and systemic infections. Leukaemia can directly influence dental
care and dental treatment, while oral lesions may have life-threatening
consequences. Knowledge and skills among dentists may also not be adequate to
treat children with acute leukaemia. It is therefore imperative that all
stomatologists be aware of dental problems that occur in leukaemia in order
to be able to effectively carry out appropriate measures to mitigate these
problems.
Persistent Lateral Foot Pain in a Patient With a Fifth Metatarsal Fracture
Authors: Weinberg Rami , Reischl Stephen F.
Published: April 2011

The patient was a 28-year-old man with a history of a fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal. At the time of the initial physical therapist evaluation, review of the patient's most recent radiographic findings demonstrated nearly complete healing of the fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal. After 3 weeks of physical therapist intervention, minimal pain reduction was noted. Therefore, the patient was referred for a new series of foot radiographs, which demonstrated complete healing of the fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal and no insult to the os peroneum. These radiographic findings allowed the physical therapist to confidently proceed with conservative management. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(5):365. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.0410
Kinetic evaluation of the solvolysis of isobutyl chloro- and chlorothioformate esters
Authors: D’Souza Malcolm J , McAneny Matthew J , Kevill Dennis N , Kyong Jin Burm , Choi Song Hee
Published: April 2011

The specific rates of solvolysis of isobutyl chloroformate (1) are reported at 40.0 °C and those for isobutyl chlorothioformate (2) are reported at 25.0 °C, in a variety of pure and binary aqueous organic mixtures with wide ranging nucleophilicity and ionizing power. For1, we also report the first-order rate constants determined at different temperatures in pure ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH), 80% EtOH, and in both 97% and 70% 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). The enthalpy (ΔH≠) and entropy (ΔS≠) of activation values obtained from Arrhenius plots for1in these five solvents are reported. The specific rates of solvolysis were analyzed using the extended Grunwald–Winstein equation. Results obtained from correlation analysis using this linear free energy relationship (LFER) reinforce our previous suggestion that side-by-side addition–elimination and ionization mechanisms operate, and the relative importance is dependent on the type of chloro- or chlorothioformate substrate and the solvent.
Innovation and Change Management
Authors: Singh Mohini
Published: April 2011

E-business is an innovation that modern day organisations cannot do without. It is based on technology, evolves with technological developments, digitises and automates business processes, is global and leads to improved competitiveness, efficiencies, increased market share, and business expansion. E-businesses models include business-to-business, business-to-consumer, government-to-government, government-to-business, government-to-consumer and numerous others that evolve with new developments. Technological developments applied to e-business results in new issues in the organisation, in dealing with business partners and customers, requires new laws and regulations and automated business processes. Conducting business electronically is a change from traditional ways of doing things, leading to large scale transformation of existing business. To attain business efficiencies from e-business, it is imperative that organisations effectively manage the e-business environment, and all associated changes to digitize and maintain the environment. This chapter discusses management paradigms essential for e-business change management.
Leadership in an E-Business Environment
Authors: Cope Owen , Waddell Dianne
Published: April 2011

Inevitably, the adoption of any new technology brings about change, but e-business is significantly different in that it completely shifts global business into a fast-paced electronic environment. The old notions of management are totally ineffective and a new style, focused on ‘leadership’, is required—but what style of leadership? To determine the most appropriate leadership style, senior managers from the top 250 e-commerce companies in Australia were selected and surveyed. Using a change management matrix, each manager was positioned within this framework. This model consists of a four-by-four matrix encompassing the scales of change and the styles of change management. The model covers the broad spectrum of levels of change that an organisation can go through. The authors found that within the most successful organisations, leaders had a distinctive style that facilitated the appropriate change and established a conducive e-business environment. The data highlights that qualities such as visionary, consultative, ability to listen to others opinions, inclusive, risk taking, approachable, forward thinking, open to change, committed, determined, and the ability to communicate are required in leaders to lead an e-business transition.
Executive Judgment and the E-Business Advantage
Authors: Baker Valerie , Coltman Tim , Cooper Joan
Published: April 2011

Although several leading corporations have reported sizeable gains from their decisions to invest in the Internet and related e-business technology, many other similarly situated firms have failed to realize any real advantage. This inconsistency has long been a source of frustration for corporate executives, as benefits appear to exist, but the best way to get there, remains unknown. One possible cause for this inconsistency is that scholars have largely ignored the messy process of strategic judgment and instead chosen to presume that strategic outcomes are due to strategic choice. We argue that this omission is problematic and set out a research agenda that offers two main benefits. Firstly, we begin to open up the ‘black box’ of strategic choice by deliberately measuring the impact of strategic judgment. Secondly, we outline a methodological approach that is capable of more accurately measuring the impact of mediating factors like strategic judgment.
A Change Management Framework for E-Business Solutions
Authors: Sharma Sushil K.
Published: April 2011

Over the last decade, a significant number of companies have implemented e-business solutions because an investment in e-business technologies provides the promise of a competitive advantage through lower transaction costs and the integration of processes. Many of these companies have experienced failures, a few have closed down, and only a few have succeeded in achieving the objectives. Studies undertaken to examine the reasons for these failures have highlighted that most of these companies could not handle change. One of the major challenges with the implementation of e-business solutions is managing change. A successful e-transformation represents the greatest value-creation potential for any company. In this chapter, I present a change management framework that suggests how firms can manage their transition to e-business and prepare them for e-transformation. The change management framework may provide managers or change agents with structured and measurable implementation tools, techniques and approaches for managing and evaluating the change process.
Using Actor-Network Theory to Identify Factors Affecting the Adoption of E-Commerce in SMEs
Authors: Tatnall Arthur , Burgess Stephen
Published: April 2011

Just because e-commerce seems like a useful tool that may assist a small to medium enterprise (SME) do its business better, it does not necessarily follow that it will be adopted by this business. The implementation of an e-commerce system in an SME necessitates change in the way the business operates, and so should be considered as an innovation and studied using innovation theory. In this chapter we will argue that the decision to adopt, or not to adopt, a new technology, has more to do with the interactions and associations of both human and non-human actors involved in the project than with the characteristics of the technology. Information systems are complex socio-technical entities and research into their implementation needs to take account of this complexity. This chapter describes three case studies of adoption (or, in one case, of non-adoption) of e-commerce by small business. The chapter describes a research approach based on actor-network theory and innovation translation that we show can be usefully employed in many socio-technical situations involving technological innovation.
The Application of the Innovative Mobile Technologies in the Business Environment
Authors: Al-Qirin Nabeel A.Y.
Published: April 2011

This chapter looks at mobile business (MoB) from technological, social, economical, and environmental perspectives. The issues that surround MoB and hence, influence its success at the wider scale in the long run, are dependent on significant factors addressed in this chapter. The chapter defines MoB and looks at different mobile technologies and standards that enable MoB. The chapter then looks at the different factors and contexts that would influence MoB success at a broader level, highlighting issues, gaps, and challenges. It is emphasised that unless such implications are addressed, the wide diffusion of MoB will not materialise in the near future. Despite the rapid technological development and the enthusiasm about the MoB innovation among researchers and professionals, the road toward true MoB is still a long one. What exist now in the market are just complementary solutions. At this level, at the lower end, MoB is the toy of the teenagers; at the higher end it is the toy of the rich or the executive who cannot tolerate to be away from his/her e-mail. There are indeed some useful business applications for MoB, especially in logistics and distribution, but the remaining potential masses that have tasted the beauty of Internet browsing are not yet prepared to compromise that with ill-specified mobile technologies, e.g., devices, wireless communications, and deficient and stripped down contents. Still, MoB stands strong as a futuristic direction and one day we will be there, wearing MoB.
Small Businesses as Social Formations
Authors: Castleman Tanya
Published: April 2011

Small-business adoption of electronic business has been analyzed largely in conventional business terms such as benefits and costs, returns on investment, and competitive advantage. While these factors are important, small businesses are also embedded in social contexts which shape the rationalities with which they approach e-business. These rationalities are different from those that characterize larger businesses. They involve personal relationships, social esteem, lifestyle issues, and family considerations. Drawing on the theoretical work of Granovetter and Weber, this chapter examines interview data from a number of Australian studies of e-commerce by small businesses. These interviews illustrate the influence of the social context on the adoption (or deferral) of e-commerce. By recognizing that small businesses are social as well as economic formations, governments can tailor their programs to assist this important group of businesses in their approach to e-business.
Solutions to Support Procurement Activities within Industrial Districts
Authors: Ravarini Aurelio , Tagliavini Marco , Zanaboni Carlo , Faverio Paolo , Moro Jennifer , Sciuto Donatella
Published: April 2011

The evolution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is thought to bring new development opportunities for enterprises by enabling the development of new industrial districts and consolidating existing ones. In fact, small to medium-sized enterprises could largely benefit from this potential innovation, and, specifically, from the improvement of the management of supply chain activities. ICTs, and especially Internet-based technologies, can support the flow of materials with a more efficient way of communicating and sharing information.In spite of these premises, pioneering organizations providing e-commerce solutions for procurement have experienced many difficulties in sustaining their business. One relevant reason can be identified in the existing misalignment between the characteristics of the available technological solutions and the actual requirements characterizing the industrial district as a whole. The development of these solutions has been mainly based on the specifications of larger companies, which often turn out to be very different from the needs and requirements of SMEs. This chapter analyzes the characteristics of industrial districts and the features of existing e-procurement solutions, and cross-matches the two dimension in order to verify the adequacy of vendors’ offer to demand’s needs. The deriving assessment represents the basis to propose a set of prescriptive models of e-procurement solutions that should properly cover industrial districts requirements.
SMEs and the Internet
Authors: Fife Elizabeth , Pereira Francis
Published: April 2011

This chapter provides in-depth profiles of two representative small firms and one medium-sized firm from a variety of industry sectors in order to delineate the workflow processes, cost structures, and other aspects about these companies that affect their e-commerce potential. We seek to identify specifically how SMEs can feasibly re-engineer and engage in e-commerce. We consider re-engineering internal business processes as a prerequisite for firms trying to move to e-commerce on the Internet. However, even after re-engineering has occurred, our primary data gathered from key cases—Schober’s Machine and Engineering, a small business that designs and builds custom-engineered machines; Castle Press, a small firm specializing in high-quality printing; and Dilbeck Realtors, a medium-sized real estate brokerage—all show that the value proposition for e-commerce still has yet to be realized.
Community and Regional Portals in Australia
Authors: Tatnall Arthur , Burgess Stephen , Singh Mohini
Published: April 2011

The importance of Web portals to small business has increased considerably in recent years. There are many different types of portals, but this chapter examines the use of community and regional portals by small businesses in Australia. In the chapter, two Australian regional portals are contrasted with the more generic e-malls, and the advantages of each are discussed. We show how portals can be used to advantage by small businesses in several different settings. Benefits to small business include: greater customer loyalty, improved business relationships, enhanced e-business trust, lower cost of infrastructure, ease of access to advice, and expanded business opportunities.
The Role of Application Service Providers in the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Authors: Yao Yuroung , DeSouza Kevin C. , Watson Edward
Published: April 2011

This chapter explores the role of application service providers (ASPs) in the development of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in e-commerce era and guides clients to successfully collaborate with ASPs for competitive advantages. It extensively discusses the advantages and risks SMEs will take when renting applications from ASPs. Furthermore, a five-stage model is presented to investigate the process by which SMEs can establish cooperation with ASPs. At each stage, the factors SMEs need to account for when choosing ASPs, as well as management strategies during relationship building, are examined in detail. Practical recommendations are provided for SMEs to follow in order to set up a successful relationship with ASPs. By understanding this relationship establishment process through the stage model, practitioners facing the real challenge may learn a well-grounded methodology for ASP selection based on particular characteristics of their organizations.
Kawasaki Disease: Giant Aneurysm with a Large Thrombus of the Left Coronary Artery
Authors: Ghosh Alakananda , Agarwala Brojendra N.
Published: April 2011

We report a six-month-old febrile infant presenting with stridor. Later on, he developed typical Kawasaki disease with giant aneurysm of the coronary artery with thrombosis that resolved with an aggressive anticoagulation therapy. The giant aneurysm still persisted a year later. Respiratory illness with stridor is an unusual presentation of Kawasaki disease.
A Quadrature-Based Kinetic Model for Dilute Non-Isothermal Granular Flows
Authors: Passalacqua Alberto , Galvin Janine E. , Vedula Prakash , Hrenya Christine M. , Fox Rodney O.
Published: April 2011

A moment method with closures based on Gaussian quadrature formulas is proposed to solve the Boltzmann kinetic equation with a hard-sphere collision kernel for mono-dispersed particles. Different orders of accuracy in terms of the moments of the velocity distribution function are considered, accounting for moments up to seventh order. Quadrature-based closures for four different models for inelastic collision-the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook, ES-BGK, the Maxwell model for hard-sphere collisions, and the full Boltzmann hard-sphere collision integral-are derived and compared. The approach is validated studying a dilute non-isothermal granular flow of inelastic particles between two stationary Maxwellian walls. Results obtained from the kinetic models are compared with the predictions of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a nearly equivalent system withfinite-sizeparticles. The influence of the number of quadrature nodes used to approximate the velocity distribution function on the accuracy of the predictions is assessed. Results for constitutive quantities such as the stress tensor and the heat flux are provided, and show the capability of the quadrature-based approach to predict them in agreement with the MD simulations under dilute conditions.
Convergent Adaptive Finite Element Method Based on Centroidal Voronoi Tessellations and Superconvergence
Authors: Huang Yunqing , Qin Hengfeng , Wang Desheng , Du Qiang
Published: April 2011

We present a novel adaptive finite element method (AFEM) for elliptic equations which is based upon the Centroidal Voronoi Tessellation (CVT) and superconvergent gradient recovery. The constructions of CVT and its dual Centroidal Voronoi Delaunay Triangulation (CVDT) are facilitated by a localized Lloyd iteration to produce almost equilateral two dimensional meshes. Working with finite element solutions on such high quality triangulations, superconvergent recovery methods become particularly effective so that asymptotically exact a posteriori error estimations can be obtained. Through a seamless integration of these techniques, a convergent adaptive procedure is developed. As demonstrated by the numerical examples, the new AFEM is capable of solving a variety of model problems and has great potential in practical applications.
Distributional Sensitivity for Uncertainty Quantification
Authors: Narayan Akil , Xiu Dongbin
Published: April 2011

In this work we consider a general notion ofdistributional sensitivity, which measures the variation in solutions of a given physical/mathematical system with respect to the variation of probability distribution of the inputs. This is distinctively different from the classical sensitivity analysis, which studies the changes of solutions with respect to the values of the inputs. The general idea is measurement of sensitivity of outputs with respect to probability distributions, which is a well-studied concept in related disciplines. We adapt these ideas to present a quantitative framework in the context of uncertainty quantification for measuring such a kind of sensitivity and a set of efficient algorithms to approximate the distributional sensitivity numerically. A remarkable feature of the algorithms is that they do not incur additional computational effort in addition to a one-time stochastic solver. Therefore, an accurate stochastic computation with respect to a prior input distribution is needed only once, and the ensuing distributional sensitivity computation for different input distributions is a post-processing step. We prove that an accurate numericalmodel leads to accurate calculations of this sensitivity, which applies not just to slowly-converging Monte-Carlo estimates, but also to exponentially convergent spectral approximations. We provide computational examples to demonstrate the ease of applicability and verify the convergence claims.
An Interface-Fitted Finite Element Level Set Method with Application to Solidification and Solvation
Authors: Li Bo , Shopple John
Published: April 2011

A new finite element level set method is developed to simulate the interface motion. The normal velocity of the moving interface can depend on both the local geometry, such as the curvature, and the external force such as that due to the flux from both sides of the interface of a material whose concentration is governed by a diffusion equation. The key idea of the method is to use an interface-fitted finite element mesh. Such an approximation of the interface allows an accurate calculation of the solution to the diffusion equation. The interface-fitted mesh is constructed from a base mesh, a uniform finite element mesh, at each time step to explicitly locate the interface and separate regions defined by the interface. Several new level set techniques are developed in the framework of finite element methods. These include a simple finite element method for approximating the curvature, a new method for the extension of normal velocity, and a finite element least-squares method for the reinitialization of level set functions. Application of the method to the classical solidification problem captures the dendrites. The method is also applied to the molecular solvation to determine optimal solute-solvent interfaces of solvation systems.
Numerical Methods for Two-Fluid Dispersive Fast MHD Phenomena
Authors: Srinivasan Bhuvana , Hakim Ammar , Shumlak Uri
Published: April 2011

The finite volume wave propagation method and the finite element Runge-Kutta discontinuous Galerkin (RKDG) method are studied for applications to balance laws describing plasma fluids. The plasma fluid equations explored are dispersive and not dissipative. The physical dispersion introduced through the source terms leads to the wide variety of plasma waves. The dispersive nature of the plasma fluid equations explored separates the work in this paper from previous publications. The linearized Euler equations with dispersive source terms are used as a model equation system to compare the wave propagation and RKDG methods. The numerical methods are then studied for applications of the full two-fluid plasma equations. The two-fluid equations describe the self-consistent evolution of electron and ion fluids in the presence of electromagnetic fields. It is found that the wave propagation method, when run at a CFL number of 1, is more accurate for equation systems that do not have disparate characteristic speeds. However, if the oscillation frequency is large compared to the frequency of information propagation, source splitting in the wave propagation method may cause phase errors. The Runge-Kutta discontinuous Galerkin method providesmore accurate results for problems near steady-state aswell as problems with disparate characteristic speeds when using higher spatial orders.
Local Discontinuous Galerkin Methods for the Degasperis-Procesi Equation
Authors: Xu Yan , Shu Chi-Wang
Published: April 2011

In this paper, we develop, analyze and test local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) methods for solving the Degasperis-Procesi equation which contains nonlinear high order derivatives, and possibly discontinuous or sharp transition solutions. The LDG method has the flexibility for arbitrary h and p adaptivity. We prove the L2stability for general solutions. The proof of the total variation stability of the schemes for the piecewise constant P0 case is also given. The numerical simulation results for different types of solutions of the nonlinear Degasperis-Procesi equation are provided to illustrate the accuracy and capability of the LDG method.
Spatiotemporal distribution of light-absorbing carbon and its relationship to other atmospheric pollutants in Stockholm
Authors: Krecl P. , Targino A. C. , Johansson C.
Published: April 2011

Abstract. Carbon-containing particles have deleterious effects on both Earth's climate and human health. In Europe, the main sources of light-absorbing carbon (LAC) emissions are the transport (67%) and residential (25%) sectors. Information on the spatiotemporal variability of LAC particles in urban areas is relevant for air quality management and to better diagnose the population exposure to these particles. This study reports on results of an intensive field campaign conducted at four sites (two kerbside stations, one urban background site and a rural station) in Stockholm, Sweden, during the spring 2006. Light-absorbing carbon mass concentrations (MLAC) were measured with custom-built Particle Soot Absorption Photometers (PSAP). The spatiotemporal variability of MLAC concentrations was explored by examining correlation coefficients (R), coefficients of divergence (COD), and diurnal patterns at all sites. Simultaneous measurements of NOx, PM10, PM2.5, and meteorological variables were also carried out at the same locations to help characterize the LAC emission sources. Hourly mean and standard deviation MLAC concentrations ranged from 0.36 (rural) to 5.39 μg m−3 (street canyon) and from 0.50 to 3.60 μg m−3, respectively. Concentrations of LAC between urban sites were poorly correlated even for daily averages (R<0.70), combined with highly heterogeneously distributed concentrations (COD>0.30) even at spatial scales of few kilometers. This high variability is connected to the distribution of emission sources and processes contributing to the LAC fraction at these sites. At urban sites, MLAC tracked NOx levels and traffic density well and mean MLAC/PM2.5 ratios were larger (26–38%) than at the background sites (4–10%). The results suggest that vehicle exhaust emissions are the main responsible for the high MLAC concentrations found at the urban locations whereas long-range transport (LRT) episodes of combustion-derived particles can generate a strong increase of levels at background sites. To decrease pollution levels at kerbside and urban background locations in Stockholm, we recommend abatement strategies that target reductions of vehicle exhaust emissions, which are the main contributors to MLAC and NOx concentrations.
Links between MIS 11 millennial to sub-millennial climate variability and long term trends as revealed by new high resolution EPICA Dome C deuterium data – A comparison with the Holocene
Authors: Pol K. , Debret M. , Masson-Delmotte V. , Capron E. , Cattani O. , Dreyfus G. , Falourd S. , Johnsen S. , Jouzel J. , Landais A. , Minster B. , Stenni B.
Published: April 2011

Abstract. We expand here the description of the Antarctic temperature variability during the long interglacial period occurring ~400 thousand years before the present (Marine Isotopic Stage, MIS 11). Our study is based on new detailed deuterium measurements conducted on the EPICA Dome C ice core, Antarctica, with a ~50 year temporal resolution. Despite an ice diffusion of a length reaching ~8 cm at MIS 11 depth, the data allow us to highlight a variability at multi-centennial scale for MIS 11, as it has already been observed for the Holocene period (MIS 1). The differences between MIS 1 and MIS 11 are analysed regarding the links between multi-millennial trends and sub-millennial variability. The EPICA Dome C deuterium record shows an increased variability and the onset of millennial to sub-millennial periodicities at the beginning of the final cooling phase of MIS 11. Our findings are robust with respect to sensitivity tests on the somewhat uncertain MIS 11 duration.