bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UV Light–Induced Aggregation of Titania Submicron Particles
Authors: Zhou Can , Bashirzadeh Yashar , Bernadowski Timothy , Zhang Xiaoyu
Published: November 2016

In this study, aggregation of TiO2 (rutile and anatase) submicron particles in deionized (DI) water under ultra-violet (UV) light irradiation was investigated. While no aggregation was observed in the dark, rutile and anatase submicron particles started aggregating upon application of UV light and ceased aggregation in about 2 and 8.4 h, respectively. It has been demonstrated that UV light directly mitigated the particle mobility of TiO2, resulting in a neutralization effect of the Zeta potential. It was also observed that rutile particles aggregated much faster than anatase particles under UV radiation, indicating that the Zeta potential of as-prepared rutile is less than that of anatase in deionized (DI) water. In addition, the interaction energy of rutile and anatase particles was simulated using the Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) model. The results showed a significant reduction of barrier energy from 118.2 kBT to 33.6 kBT for rutile and from 333.5 kBT to 46.1 kBT for anatase, respectively, which further validated the remarkable influence of UV irradiation on the aggregation kinetics of rutile and anatase submicron particles. This work presents a further understanding of the aggregation mechanism of light-controlled submicron particles and has a promising potential application in environmental remediation.
The Cooperative Effect of Genistein and Protein Hydrolysates on the Proliferation and Survival of Osteoblastic Cells (hFOB 1.19)
Authors: Wang Shuo , Fu Yu , Zhao Xin-Huai
Published: November 2016

Chum salmon skin gelatin, de-isoflavoned soy protein, and casein were hydrolyzed at two degrees of hydrolysis. Genistein, the prepared hydrolysates, and genistein-hydrolysate combinations were assessed for their proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects on human osteoblasts (hFOB 1.19) to clarify potential cooperative effects between genistein and these hydrolysates in these two activities. Genistein at 2.5 μg/L demonstrated the highest proliferative activity, while the higher dose of genistein inhibited cell growth. All hydrolysates promoted osteoblast proliferation by increasing cell viability to 102.9%–131.1%. Regarding etoposide- or NaF-induced osteoblast apoptosis, these hydrolysates at 0.05 g/L showed both preventive and therapeutic effects against apoptosis. In the mode of apoptotic prevention, the hydrolysates decreased apoptotic cells from 32.9% to 15.2%–23.7% (etoposide treatment) or from 23.6% to 14.3%–19.6% (NaF treatment). In the mode of apoptotic rescue, the hydrolysates lessened the extent of apoptotic cells from 15.9% to 13.0%–15.3% (etoposide treatment) or from 13.3% to 10.9%–12.7% (NaF treatment). Gelatin hydrolysates showed the highest activities among all hydrolysates in all cases. All investigated combinations (especially the genistein-gelatin hydrolysate combination) had stronger proliferation, apoptotic prevention, and rescue than genistein itself or their counterpart hydrolysates alone, suggesting that genistein cooperated with these hydrolysates, rendering greater activities in osteoblast proliferation and anti-apoptosis.
Micromechanical Properties of Nanostructured Clay-Oxide Multilayers Synthesized by Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly
Authors: Hou Dongwei , Zhang Guoping , Pant Rohit , Wei Zhongxin , Shen Shuilong
Published: November 2016

Clay-based nanostructured multilayers, such as clay-polymer multilayers and clay-oxide multilayers, have attracted growing attention owing to their remarkable mechanical properties and promising application in various fields. In this paper, synthesis of a new kind of nanostructured clay-oxide multilayers by layer-by-layer self-assembly was explored. Nano-mechanical characterization of 18 clay-based multilayer samples, prepared under as-deposited (i.e., air-dried) and annealing conditions at 400 °C/600 °C with different precursor cations and multilayer structure, were carried out using nanoindentation testing, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The influencing factors, including as-deposited and annealing conditions and clay concentrations on the mechanical properties were analyzed. Results show that all of the multilayers exhibit high bonding strength between interlayers. Higher modulus and hardness of clay-based multilayers were obtained with lower clay concentrations than that with higher clay concentrations. Different relationships between the modulus and hardness and the annealing temperature exist for a specific type of clay-oxide multilayer. This work offers the basic and essential knowledge on design of clay-based nanostructured multilayers by layer-by-layer self-assembly.
Preparation of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (MIONs) with Improved Saturation Magnetization Using Multifunctional Polymer Ligand
Authors: Majeed Muhammad , Guo Jiaojiao , Yan Wei , Tan Bien
Published: November 2016

This paper describes the preparation of ultra-small magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (MIONs) coated with water-soluble thioether end-functionalized polymer ligand pentaerythritol tetrakis 3-mercaptopropionate-polymethacrylic acid (PTMP-PMAA). The MIONs were prepared by co-precipitation of aqueous iron precursor solution at a high temperature. The polymer modified MIONs were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometery (VSM). It was found that these MIONs were successfully modified by this water-soluble polymer ligand with a fairly uniform size and narrow size distribution. The dried powder of MIONs could be stored for a long time and re-dispersed well in water without any significant change. Additionally, the polymer concentration showed a significant effect on size and magnetic properties of the MIONs. The saturation magnetization was increased by optimizing the polymer concentration. Furthermore, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-assay demonstrated that these MIONs were highly biocompatible and they could be successfully coupled with fluorescent dye Rhodamine due to the formation of amide bond between carboxylic acid groups of MIONs and amine groups of dye. The obtained results indicated that these multifunctional MIONs with rich surface chemistry exhibit admirable potential in biomedical applications.
Unpacking Donor Retention: Individual Monetary Giving to U.S.-Based Christian Faith-Related, International Nongovernmental Organizations
Authors: Ramanath Ramya
Published: November 2016

This article examines an important but relatively overlooked aspect in the field of international giving in the U.S.—individual monetary donations to Christian faith-related international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs)—and outlines the cognitive process influencing donors who choose to keep up their financial support to Christian faith-related INGOs. The propositions forwarded in this article draw on existing literature on Christian giving to international causes, INGO management, donor retention and finally, the logic of self-perception to highlight how existing donors might evaluate their repeat giving decision. The more existing donors of Christian faith-related INGOs can identify themselves with the INGO’s identity—comprising its beliefs and values, its claims to legitimacy, and performance—the more likely it is for donors to be satisfied and decide to maintain a stable relationship with the specific INGO.
Spirituality in the Undergraduate Curricula of Nursing Schools in Portugal and São Paulo-Brazil
Authors: Caldeira Sílvia , Simões Figueiredo Amélia , Da Conceição Ana , Ermel Célia , Mendes João , Chaves Erika , Campos de Carvalho Emília , Vieira Margarida
Published: November 2016

Spirituality is considered a dimension of nursing care, which is often recognized as being neglected, mainly due to a lack of education. Several studies have addressed nursing students’ perceptions and skills for providing spiritual care, but there is little evidence on how spirituality is addressed in undergraduate nursing curricula. This study comprised Portuguese and Brazilian nursing schools (from São Paulo) and describes how spirituality is addressed in undergraduate nursing curricula. It is descriptive and the survey research was performed in 2014–2015. The questionnaire was composed of closed and open-ended questions and was sent by e-mail. A total of 129 answers were obtained, mostly from Portugal. Results indicated that several curricular units include spirituality, although having different contents. The learning outcomes are consistent with improving nursing students’ integral education, developing the clinical reasoning regarding spirituality, and improving the assessment of the patient across the life span. Nevertheless, it seems that spirituality is poorly addressed in clinical practice. Few nursing schools have courses or curricular units specifically dealing with spirituality, but they do provide some form of teaching on the subject. No standard curriculum exists, but teachers believe that it is a very important subject that should be included in the courses taught.
Comparing Approaches for the Integration of Stakeholder Perspectives in Environmental Decision Making
Authors: Scolobig Anna , Lilliestam Johan
Published: November 2016

Including stakeholder perspectives in environmental decision making is in many countries a legal requirement and is widely seen as beneficial as it can help increase decision legitimacy, likelihood of implementation, and quality of the outcome. Whereas the theoretical literature on stakeholder engagement is large, less attention has been devoted to comparing and discussing different methodological approaches. Here, we compare three approaches—multi-criteria analysis, plural rationality theory, and scenario construction—that include stakeholders’ perspectives in environmental decision making. We find differences between the approaches concerning the assumptions about stakeholder rationality and whether experts and/or stakeholders are in charge of framing the problem. Further differences concern the type of data input from stakeholders and how it is used by the experts, as well as the role of stakeholders and whether they are involved early—already for identifying options—or later in the process, for evaluating or ranking alternatives analyzed by the experts. The choice of approach thus predetermines the type and depth of stakeholder engagement. No approach is “better” than another, but they are suited for different problems and research aims: the choice of the approach, however, has a large impact on the results.
Rural Economy and Bioethanol Production
Authors: Ștefănescu-Mihăilă Ramona
Published: November 2016

Biofuels are considered part of the potential sources of mitigation for the serious threat of global warming, by reducing human reliance on oil imported from unsafe sources at ever increasing costs. For the classic fuel supplier countries, biofuels are a source for the future, as local materials are used in their production. They generate jobs for the local population and do not require the importation of costly equipment and relevant expertise. A pioneer in the use of biofuels, Brazil has eliminated all oil imports and become energy independent. Recognising the positive effects of biofuel use, the EU and other countries are rapidly developing potential sources of their own biofuels. One of these sources could be agricultural cultures that are able to be developed under optimum conditions by endorsing and using modern and sustainable means and techniques in the rural economy. The sustainable use of the resources and the maintenance of the ecosystems in a good working order claims both the protection of the environment itself and the success of the farmers via the provision of fertility and productivity of the agricultural ecosystems, which will give them the leverage of competitiveness on the market and food safety in the long term. The paper herein intends to point out at a sustainable manner of having the economy’s engine function—i.e., agriculture—by means of advocating for the efficient use of the resources within the farms and their associations, along with the support for the transition to a low-carbon economy, thanks to the progress in the bioethanol production.
Trimethylamine N-Oxide: The Good, the Bad and the Unknown
Authors: Velasquez Manuel , Ramezani Ali , Manal Alotaibi , Raj Dominic
Published: November 2016

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a small colorless amine oxide generated from choline, betaine, and carnitine by gut microbial metabolism. It accumulates in the tissue of marine animals in high concentrations and protects against the protein-destabilizing effects of urea. Plasma level of TMAO is determined by a number of factors including diet, gut microbial flora and liver flavin monooxygenase activity. In humans, a positive correlation between elevated plasma levels of TMAO and an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events and death is reported. The atherogenic effect of TMAO is attributed to alterations in cholesterol and bile acid metabolism, activation of inflammatory pathways and promotion foam cell formation. TMAO levels increase with decreasing levels of kidney function and is associated with mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. A number of therapeutic strategies are being explored to reduce TMAO levels, including use of oral broad spectrum antibiotics, promoting the growth of bacteria that utilize TMAO as substrate and the development of target-specific molecules with varying level of success. Despite the accumulating evidence, it is questioned whether TMAO is the mediator of a bystander in the disease process. Thus, it is important to undertake studies examining the cellular signaling in physiology and pathological states in order to establish the role of TMAO in health and disease in humans.
Development of a New Generation of Flood Inundation Maps—A Case Study of the Coastal City of Tainan, Taiwan
Authors: Doong Dong-Jiing , Lo Weicheng , Vojinovic Zoran , Lee Wei-Lin , Lee Shin-Ping
Published: November 2016

Flood risk management has become a growing priority for city managers and disaster risk prevention agencies worldwide. Correspondingly, large investments are made towards data collection, archiving and analysis and technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing play important role in this regard. GIS technologies offer valuable means for delineation of flood plains, zoning of areas that need protection from floods and identification of plans for development and scoping of various kinds of flood protection measures. Flood inundation maps (FIMs) are particularly useful in planning flood disaster risk responses. The purpose of the present paper is to describe efforts in developing new generation of FIMs at the city scale and to demonstrate effectiveness of such maps in the case of the coastal city of Tainan, Taiwan. In the present work, besides pluvial floods, the storm surge influence is also considered. The 1D/2D coupled model SOBEK was used for flood simulations. Different indicators such as Probability of Detection (POD) and Scale of Accuracy (SA) were applied in the calibration and validation stages of the work and their corresponding values were found to be up to 88.1% and 68.0%, respectively. From the overall analysis, it came up that land elevation, tidal phase, and storm surge are the three dominant factors that influence flooding in Tainan. A large number of model simulations were carried out in order to produce FIMs which were then effectively applied in the stakeholder engagement process.
Hitting the nail on the head: Force vectors in verb semantics
Authors: Goldschmidt Anja , Zwarts Joost
Published: November 2016

We present an analysis of force verbs, like hit, as involving paths with force-dynamic properties, modelled through force vectors. This allows us to explain a number of observations about the lexical meaning and composition of these verbs. For instance, force adverbs such as hard specify the magnitude of the force vectors, while certain prepositions contribute information about their direction. The interpretation of resultative sentences with force verbs can also be explained. Resultative sentences like to hit the nail into the door are analysed as complex events with caused results. This requires a force-dynamic computation with the force vectors involved in the first event, leading to the second event, and might explain otherwise mysterious incompatibilities of force modifiers and results that we observe for German.
Article selection and anaphora in the German relative clause
Authors: Grove Julian , Hanink Emily
Published: November 2016

German definite articles are able to contract with prepositions under certain conditions. When a noun phrase is discourse anaphoric, contraction is blocked. In the current paper we present a puzzle: restrictive relative clauses require the use of the non-contracted (strong) article form, despite their apparent lack of anaphoricity; both the determiner of the head noun and the relative pronoun (which is, in most cases, syncretic with the definite article) surface with the strong form. We provide a uniform analysis of discourse anaphoric and relative clause uses that makes use of contexts, as defined in the dynamic framework of de Groote (2006). We argue that a lexical item, which we call “anaph”, whose purpose is to make reference to an individual provided by the context, intervenes between the noun and the article in the strong form. anaph makes reference to an individual provided by the global context in cases of anaphora, and to an individual provided by an updated local context in the case of relative clauses.
On root modality and thematic relations in Tagalog and English
Authors: Abenina-Adar Maayan , Angelopoulos Nikos
Published: November 2016

The literature on modality discusses how context and grammar interact to produce different flavors of necessity primarily in connection with functional modals e.g. English auxiliaries. Hence the grammatical properties of lexical modals (i.e. thematic verbs) are less understood. In this paper, we use the Tagalog necessity modal kailangan and English need as a case study in the syntax-semantics of lexical modals. Kailangan and need enter two structures, which we call ‘thematic’ and ‘impersonal’. We show that when they establish a thematic dependency with a subject, they express necessity in light of this subject’s priorities, and in the absence of an overt thematic subject, they express necessity in light of priorities endorsed by the speaker. To account for this syntax-flavor mapping, we propose a single lexical entry for kailangan / need that uniformly selects for a ‘needer’ argument. In thematic constructions, the needer is the overt subject, and in impersonal constructions, it is an implicit speaker-bound pronoun.
Realis and Non-Realis Modalities in Daakie (Ambrym, Vanuatu)
Authors: Krifka Manfred
Published: November 2016

This paper analyzes the system of modality marking in Daakie, an Austronesian (Oceanic) language spoken on Ambrym (Vanuatu). Daakie has a fiveway distinction that expresses both temporal and modal notions. In addition to a realis marker there is a potentialis marker for events that are expected to happen, a distal marker for temporally or modally remote events, a realis negation, and a potentialis negation. These markers are used in main and dependent clauses, where they express factive and negative interpretations
Presuppositions and salience: An experimental approach
Authors: Jayez Jacques , Reinecke Robert
Published: November 2016

We present an EEG-based experimental investigation on additive dis course continuations of factive sentences according to a pattern: "Paul knows that Peter takes the bus. Louis too takes/knows . . ." . We want to determine whether reference to the main content (with "knows") or to the presupposition (with "takes") elicits a different brain response. We conclude from the data that there is no trace of electrical waveforms usually associated with deviation from a norm or reprocessing, although there is an observable moderate contrast in the 250-400 ms time window at frontal sites, which is in need of controlled replication to be properly interpreted.
Visual Performance in the Long Term With Secondary Add-on Versus Primary Capsular Bag Multifocal Intraocular Lenses
Authors: Schrecker Jens , Langenbucher Achim
Published: November 2016

PURPOSE:

To compare the long-term results of a secondary sulcus-placed, multifocal add-on intraocular lens (IOL) with those of a multifocal IOL implanted in the capsular bag.

METHODS:

In this prospective clinical trial, 30 pseudophakic eyes were treated with a multifocal add-on IOL and 30 cataractous eyes with a standard multifocal IOL. The main outcome measures comprised manifest refraction, visual acuity, defocus curves, and contrast sensitivity. Patients who had bilateral implantation of the same lens type were asked to complete a questionnaire.

RESULTS:

One year postoperatively, all eyes from the multifocal add-on IOL group (add-on group) and 97% from the standard multifocal IOL group (standard group) were within ±0.50 diopters (D) of emmetropia. In both groups, median uncorrected distance and intermediate visual acuity were 20/20 and 20/25, respectively. Median uncorrected near visual acuity was 20/20 in the add-on group and 20/25 in the standard group. The survey analysis resulted in a slightly higher patient satisfaction in the standard group regarding distance and near vision without glasses. Contrast sensitivity measures were comparable in both groups. Halos were the most commonly reported visual disturbance, but the perceived impairment by light effects was minimal even in the early postoperative period and the majority of patients got used to it relatively quickly.

CONCLUSIONS:

Secondary multifocal add-on IOL implantation provides the opportunity for multifocal imaging in already pseudophakic eyes. The functional outcomes are comparable to those achieved after primary multifocal IOL implantation in the capsular bag.

[
J Refract Surg.
2016:32(11):742–747.]
Double-Pass Retina Point Imaging for the Evaluation of Optical Light Scatter, Retinal Image Quality, and Staging of Keratoconus
Authors: Leonard Anthony P. , Gardner Scott D. , Rocha Karolinne M. , Zeldin Evan R. , Tremblay David M. , Waring George O.
Published: November 2016

PURPOSE:

To measure retinal image quality using point spread function (PSF) analysis by double-pass retina point imaging in patients with keratoconus and to correlate visual quality with disease severity.

METHODS:

Patients diagnosed as having keratoconus by clinical examination, topography, and tomography and normal eyes were included in this study. A commercially available double-pass retina point imaging instrument (OQAS 108 II AcuTarget HD; Visiometrics S.L., Terrassa, Spain) was used to collect Objective Scatter Index (OSI) values in 21 keratoconic and 22 normal eyes. Eyes were also subjected to corneal topography and tomography, and staged using the Keratoconus Severity Score (KSS) and Amsler–Krumeich (AK) scales.

RESULTS:

The OSI was increased in keratoconic eyes (5.85 ± 0.98) versus control eyes (0.83 ± 0.12; mean ± SEM), in AK stages 1 to 4, and KSS stages 3 and 4. Receiver-operator characteristic analysis obtained an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.859 when evaluating the OSI as a unimodal diagnostic indicator for any KSS stage and 0.993 for KSS stages 3 and higher. An AUC of 0.949 was obtained in comparing eyes with lower severity topographic aberrations (KSS 1 and 2) versus mild to moderate keratoconus (KSS 3 and 4). Increasing corneal steepening patterns on tomography and topography were associated with PSF broadening and increased OSI.

CONCLUSIONS:

Double-pass retina point imaging is useful in correlating retinal image quality with keratoconus severity. The OSI may represent a clinically significant parameter for staging keratoconus with a unique ability to directly evaluate quality of vision in this population.

[
J Refract Surg.
2016;32(11):760–765.]
De l’hybridité générique dans Les gommes (1953) d’Alain Robbe-Grillet et Les tambours de la mémoire (1987) de Boubacar Boris Diop
Authors: COLY Augustin
Published: November 2016

Cet article pose la problématique de la modernité des écritures francophones contemporaines mises en rapport avec l’hybridité. En s’appuyant sur Les Gommes (1953) et Les Tambours de la mémoire (1987) de Boubacar Boris Diop, notre étude, dans une démarche comparatiste, montre comment le Nouveau Roman français et les nouvelles écritures africaines se fondent sur l’exploration d’une pluralité de genres pour développer une poétique nouvelle.
Public-Private Partnership Principles Applied to Industry-School Partnership to Support Technical and Vocational Education
Authors: Pillay Hitendra , Watters James J. , Flynn Matthew C. , Hoff Lutz
Published: November 2016

The term partnership is increasingly used by governments, industry, community organizations and schools in supporting their daily activities. Similar to the terms ICT and learning, partnerships are now ubiquitous in policy discourse. Yet, the term remains ill-defined and ambiguous. This chapter reviews and reflects on a government-led industry-school partnership initiative in the state of Queensland, Australia, to understand how the concept was applied and the consequences. PPP principles derived from the literature were used as a framework to review this initiative. The methodology of this qualitative case study involved consultations with stakeholders and an analysis of Gateway schools' policy documents, and research literature. The review suggests that despite the use of terminology akin to PPP projects in Gateway school program and policy documents, the implicit suggestion that this initiative is a public-private partnership can be interpreted as partially tenable. The majority of principles shaping a PPP have not been considered in any significant manner in the Gateway schools program. Although the review recognizes the legitimate and sincere purpose of the Gateway schools program, a more explicit adoption of a PPP framework during the design, monitoring, and evaluation stages could have strengthened the initiative in terms of outcomes, benefits, and sustainability.
The Demand, Content, and Entrance Criteria of Operations Management Programmes under the Context of Internationalization
Authors: Wang Chengbo , Chen Xuezhong , Edgar David , Zhao Yang
Published: November 2016

Operations Management Programmes (OMPs) are among those teaching provisions attracting a substantial amount of international student enrollment, in contemporary Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). With the current situation that the government is reducing its funding input, the UK HEIs' financial balance relies more than before on the international students who pay higher tuition fees; meanwhile, with the increased number of the international students, the whole nation's economy will be indirectly benefited from the increased consumption capacity associated with them. Thus to have more overseas students is not only educationally meaningful but also economically significant. In order to increase the international student number in HEIs, it becomes more critical to have a thorough understanding of the stakeholders' demand of operations management professionals and/or preference on such an education programme's content and its graduates' competence. This chapter focuses on postgraduate level OMP, through comparing viewpoints obtained from stakeholders (hereon refer to the potential employers, academics and students) in UK and China, presents an empirical comparative investigation on the demand trend of the graduates from OMPs, as well as the preferred programme content, necessary student capability/skills and admission criteria for joining the study of such a programme.
Internet Technologies and Online Learning
Authors: Wang Victor X. , Neimann Theresa
Published: November 2016

This study analyzes whether or not active learning can be taught online. There are many definitions of learning, all reflecting the academic specialties from which each discipline is conducted: It is the process and the sum total of acquiring knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, beliefs, and emotions. However, active online learning is also defined as methods by which learners actively participate in the learning process (e.g., online discussion groups, problem-solving, experimentation, and the like). Many Web 2.0 platforms help promote active as differentiated from passive learning in which learners are unparticipatory learners. Among theoretical presuppositions such as informal learning, contiguity, reinforcement, repetition, social-cultural principles and andragogy guide the assumption that active learning can take place online. It is widely believed that active learning may lead to the creation of new knowledge and new skills needed by learners. Because of this belief in active learning, both educators and practitioners have been avidly promoting active online learning since Web 2.0 Technologies were used for online teaching and learning.
Generation of Authentic Learning and Learners
Authors: Fitzsimmons Phil , Kilgour Peter
Published: November 2016

A study of 100 pre-service teacher's attitudes to self-managed online forums on pastoral care of students in schools was undertaken. This assessment activity involved the students in contributing to forums under the leadership of one of their group, whose responsibility it was to guide the discussion and then mark the members of their online group. After an initial reticence to engage in the task, students reported their satisfaction at managing their own learning and having input into the actual assessment process. This paper recommends that more possibilities for self-managed learning be made available to tertiary learners.
Can Online Education Be the Answer?
Authors: Guler Nilufer
Published: November 2016

The number of English Language Learners (ELLs) is increasing rapidly in American schools, and mostly, they are enrolled in mainstream classes. This means that mainstream teachers have an important role in the academic success of these students. However, research on mainstream teachers and ELL students suggests that mainstream teachers may have negative perceptions of ELLs, and they may use the wrong approach to teaching these students, owing to their lack of knowledge in ELL education. This study aims to demonstrate how online classes on ELL education, and developing online communities of practice, might change mainstream teachers' methods of instruction of ELLs. The results showed that mainstream teachers significantly changed their perceptions and instructional strategies for teaching ELLs as a result of taking online classes, and particularly, online discussions had an important role in this change of perception. Some implications for developing online ELL education courses for pre-service and in-service teachers are also provided.
Humanizing Learning for All
Authors: Hunter Carole , Hard Louise , Douglas Fiona
Published: November 2016

This chapter examines the complexities associated with achieving large scale change in online learning in a way that is humanizing for all stakeholders. Whilst rapid changes in online learning over the past decade have resulted in a more personalized and inclusive learning experience for students, leaders of these initiatives often fail to put in place strategies to ensure the change process itself is a humanizing one for those involved, including academic leaders and educators. Part of the reason for this is arguably the increasing and pragmatic need to achieve outcomes within short timeframes; this is compounded by the diverse skill base, influences and perceptions of individuals involved in changes of this kind. This chapter examines these complexities and offers strategies for humanizing large scale change in online learning following lessons learned from the Online Course Innovation project, a faculty-based initiative to redesign over 280 subjects in a two-and-a-half-year timeframe.
Supporting Student Self-Regulation
Authors: Kenney Jane , Newcombe Ellen
Published: November 2016

Research studies are discovering the importance of self-regulation for successful online learning. Self-regulation requires learners to be actively involved in the management of their learning and includes setting, monitoring, and evaluating learning goals, and making any necessary modifications to learning strategies (Zimmerman, 2008). This chapter discusses students' perceptions of the effectiveness of different types of learning supports that the authors used in a blended, flipped undergraduate education course to help students with self-regulation. The perceptions of high and low self-regulated students are compared and recommendations made about what supports to include when designing an online course to ensure successful learning.
Using Value-Based Approach for Managing Cloud-Based Services
Authors: Murad Salah Eddin , Dowaji Salah
Published: November 2016

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers are influenced by a variety of characteristics and capabilities of the available cloud infrastructure resources (IaaS). As a result, the decision made by business service owners to lease and use certain resources is an important one in order to achieve the planned outcome. This chapter uses value based approach to manage the SaaS service provided to the customers. Based on our approach, customer satisfaction is modeled not only based on the response time, but also based on the allotted budget. Using our model, the application owner is able to direct and control the decision of renting cloud resources as per the current strategy. This strategy is led by a set of defined key performance indicators. In addition, we present a scheduling algorithm that can bid for different types of virtual machines to achieve the target value. Furthermore, we proposed the required Ontology to semantically discover the needed IaaS resources. We conduct extensive simulations using different types of Amazon EC2 instances with dynamic prices.
Cloud Security Issues and Challenges
Authors: Sethi Srinivas , Sruti Sai
Published: November 2016

Cloud computing refers to the basic setup for an emerging model of service delivery, that has the advantage of decreasing the cost by sharing computing, infrastructure including storage resources. This can be combined with on-demand delivery mechanism relying on a pay-per-use model. Cloud computing offers an added level of risk because of essential services provided by it to a third party, which makes it difficult to maintain data privacy and security. Security in cloud computing is a critical aspect, which has various issues and challenges related to it. Cloud service providers/ brokers and the cloud service users should make aware of safety cloud. That is the cloud is safe enough from all kinds of the threats, so that the users do not face any problem like; loss of data or data theft. There is a possibility that, a malicious user can enters the cloud by imitating an authentic user, thus corrupt the entire cloud. It can affect many users who are sharing these types of clouds. This chapter mentions the list of parameters that disturb the security of the cloud. This also explores the cloud security issues and challenges faced by cloud service provider/brokers and cloud service users like; data, privacy, and infected application. Finally, it discusses the countermeasure for handling these issues and its challenges.
Resource and Energy Efficient Virtual Machine Migration in Cloud Data Centers
Authors: Dhal Subrat Kumar , Verma Harshit , Addya Sourav Kanti
Published: November 2016

Cloud computing service has been on the rise over the past few decades, which has led to an increase in the number of data centers, thus consuming more amount of energy for their operation. Moreover, the energy consumption in the cloud is proportional to the resource utilization. Thus consolidation schemes for the cloud model need to be devised to minimize energy by decreasing the operating costs. The consolidation problem is NP-complete, which requires heuristic techniques to get a sub-optimal solution. The authors have proposed a new consolidation scheme for the virtual machines (VMs) by improving the host overload detection phase. The resulting scheme is effective in reducing the energy and the level of Service Level Agreement (SLA) violations both, to a considerable extent. For testing the performance of implementation, a simulation environment is needed that can provide an environment of the actual cloud computing components. The authors have used CloudSim 3.0.3 simulation toolkit that allows testing and analyzing Allocation and Selection algorithms.
Software as a Service, Semantic Web, and Big Data
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: November 2016

This chapter explains the overview of software as a service (SaaS); SaaS and application service provision (ASP); the security concern of SaaS; the perspectives on SaaS adoption; the challenges of SaaS in the digital age; the overview of the Semantic Web; the current trends in the Semantic Web services; the overview of Big Data; the concept of Big Data analytics; and the prospects of Big Data in the digital age. SaaS offers a wide range of business applications through the cloud computing service providers toward enhancing organizational performance. The Semantic Web extends beyond the capabilities of the current Web 2.0, thus enabling more effective collaborations and smarter decision making in modern operations. Big Data from the cloud computing platforms provides the significant advantage, if the essential data sources are hosted by the same SaaS and enhanced by the Semantic Web technologies.
Software Development Methodology for Cloud Computing and Its Impact
Authors: Panigrahi Chhabi Rani , Mall Rajib , Pati Bibudhendu
Published: November 2016

This chapter emphasizes mainly on the software development methodology basically agile methods of software development in cloud computing platforms and its impact on software development processes. This chapter also covers the benefits of agile development methodology in cloud computing platform. Along with this all traditional software development phases are analyzed to discuss the differences between the traditional software development processes and software development in cloud computing environment. This chapter also includes a brief description of programming models such as MapReduce, BSPCloud, and Dryad etc. available in the literature to handle big data in SaaS cloud. Finally, we highlight the challenges and future scope of software development process in cloud computing environment.
Application of Geographical Information System and Interactive Data Visualization in Healthcare Decision Making
Authors: Zhu Zhecheng
Published: November 2016

This paper focuses on two techniques and their applications in healthcare systems: geographic information system (GIS) and interactive data visualization. GIS is a type of technique applied to manipulate, analyze and display spatial information. It is a useful tool tackling location related problems. GIS applications in healthcare include evaluation of accessibility to healthcare facilities, site planning of new healthcare services and analysis of risks and spreads of infectious diseases. Interactive data visualization is a collection of techniques translating data from its numeric format to graphic presentation dynamically for easy understanding and visual impact. Compared to conventional static data visualization techniques, interactive data visualization techniques allow user to self-explore the entire data set by instant slice and dice, quick switching among multiple data sources. Adjustable granularity of interactive data visualization allows for both detailed micro information and aggregated macro information displayed in a single chart. Animated transition adds extra visual impact that describes how system transits from one state to another. When applied to healthcare system, interactive visualization techniques are useful in areas such as information integration, flow or trajectory presentation and location related visualization, etc. One area both techniques intersect is location analysis. In this paper, real life case studies will be given to illustrate how these two techniques, when combined together, help in solving quantitative or qualitative location related problem, visualizing geographical information and accelerating decision making procedures.
Using the Business Ontology to Develop Enterprise Standards
Authors: von Rosing Mark , von Scheel Henrik
Published: November 2016

The Business Ontology presented in this publication has taken the Global University Alliance's members over a decade to research and develop, spending hundreds of ‘man years' to create. One of the major challenges facing practitioners and their interactions with academia is overcoming a presently fragmented way of thinking, working and modelling around enterprise concepts. Business frameworks, methods, approaches and concepts currently have their own vocabulary. Each of these vocabularies has its own definition of terms, including conflicting visual representations. (Moody, 2009) This paper therefore elaborates on how the academics have created a rich business taxonomy, defined enterprise meta objects, semantics, enterprise layers as well as the related artefacts. These artefacts have been constructed rigorously to meet up to academic standards and need to be relevant for practitioners as well. (Sein, Henfridsson, Purao, Rossi, & Lindgren, 2011) The objectives are therefore to share the business ontology and elaborate on its research and development journey, and how the business ontology helps to remedy the inconsistent use of business relevant terms and the semantic relations between them to create the basis for enterprise relevant models and meta-models. In addition to that, it provides practitioners with the ability to map them to their various ways of thinking, working and modelling. The business ontology will be introduced as a domain ontology and the paper shows how it can be used to develop enterprise standards and industry standards.
An Intelligent Traffic Engineering Method over Software Defined Networks for Video Surveillance Systems Based on Artificial Bee Colony
Authors: Mohammadi Reza , Javidan Reza
Published: November 2016

In applications such as video surveillance systems, cameras transmit video data streams through network in which quality of received video should be assured. Traditional IP based networks cannot guarantee the required Quality of Service (QoS) for such applications. Nowadays, Software Defined Network (SDN) is a popular technology, which assists network management using computer programs. In this paper, a new SDN-based video surveillance system infrastructure is proposed to apply desire traffic engineering for practical video surveillance applications. To keep the quality of received videos adaptively, usually Constraint Shortest Path (CSP) problem is used which is a NP-complete problem. Hence, heuristic algorithms are suitable candidate for solving such problem. This paper models streaming video data on a surveillance system as a CSP problem, and proposes an artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm to find optimal solution to manage the network adaptively and guarantee the required QoS. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method in terms of QoS metrics.
Consumers' Perceptions of Item-Level RFID Use in FMCG
Authors: Kukard Wesley , Wood Lincoln
Published: November 2016

This research explores how perceived consumer benefits affect the perceived privacy risks from implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags at an item-level in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry. Two new categories measure the benefits and risks: in-store and after-sales. These specific categories allow the respondents' willingness to accept RFID to be evaluated using a quantitative survey focused on the primary household grocery purchasers within the USA. The results suggest differences in perceptions of the in-store and after-sales risks and benefits of RFID use. While consumers are aware of privacy risks while using RFID technology, they would be willing to use the technology if sufficient benefits are available. This research moves the discussion away from a focus on consumer privacy issues to a balanced privacy/benefits approach for consumers and how that might affect their technology acceptance, suggesting that careful management of consumer benefits might allow FMCG firms to introduce RFID technology to support their global supply chains.
Understanding Online Banking Adoption in a Developing Country
Authors: Khan Ikram Ullah , Hameed Zahid , Khan Safeer Ullah
Published: November 2016

The massive growth in digital devices and communication has spotlighted the wisdom of doing financial transactions through online banking. In developing Asian economies, online banking technology can strengthen financial systems by developing a solid connection between financial institutions and the local populace. Technology acceptance studies are under-researched in this region, especially with innovative models. Filling the gap, this paper uses a comprehensive model of extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2), moderated by cultural variables. This will provide new insights into the determinants of technology acceptance by considering cultural effects on individual customers. The authors analyzed the model through structural equation modeling. The results validated performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, habit, perceived security, and price value as important antecedents of behavioral intentions. The cultural dimensions, collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance were found to be significant moderators in explaining behavioral intention and usage behavior for online banking.
Electrochemical Behaviour of Cr and W Fischer Ethoxy Carbene Complexes: A Comparative Study
Authors: Gostynski Roxanne , Landman Marilé , Conradie Jeanet
Published: November 2016

A comparative electrochemical study of a series Fischer carbene complexes (FCCs) of Cr and W containing an ethoxy and an aryl group as carbene substituents, showed that the Cr-FCCs generally exhibit two one-electron oxidation processes, namely Cr (0) to Cr (I) to Cr (II) while W-FCCs are oxidized in two two-electron oxidation processes, namely W(0) to W(II) to W(IV). The first one-electron oxidation processes of Cr-FCCs is generally reversible, while the first two-electron oxidation processes of all W-FCCs are found to be irreversible. The first reduction process observed for both the W-FCCs and Cr-FCCs is a one-electron process located on the carbene ligand. Both the metal oxidation, as well as the carbene reduction of Cr-FCCs, occurs at lower potentials than for W-FCCs. Substitution of carbonyls coordinated to the metal, or the group attached to the carbene ligand, led to similar trends related to the ease of oxidation or reduction of Cr-FCC and W-FCCs. Density functional theory calculations support and led to a better understanding of experimental electrochemical behaviour.
Evaluation of Novel Nanophase Ce0.8Sr0.2Fe0.9Ir0.1O3-δ as Cathode Material for Low Temperature SOFC
Authors: Njoku Chima Benjamin , Ndungu Patrick Gathura
Published: November 2016

In this study, Ce0.8Sr0.2Fe0.9Ir0.1O3-δ (CSFI) perovskite type material was prepared by sol-gel technique, characterised, and then tested as a cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells operating between 300 – 500 °C. The materials were studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Samples showed changes in the overall structure and defect chemistry with an increase in calcination temperature. When tested as cathode materials, the material calcined at 1000 °C had the greatest performance at a test temperature of 500 °C, with a current density of 774.47 mA/cm2, a power density of 483.07 mW/cm2 and an area specific resistance (ASR) of 0.342 Ω/cm2.