bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Affecting Reversible Pollution of Immersed Ultrafiltration Membrane in Treatment of Surface Water: Pilot Scale Studies
Authors: Lihua Sun , Xing Li , Ruiping Liu , Wenpeng Sun , Guibai Li
Published: September 2010

The main factors (i.e., permeate flux, mixture characteristics, and membrane materials) affecting the pollution of immersed ultrafiltration membrane (immersed-UF) during the treatment of surface water were investigated through pilot scale studies. The variation of the running pressure was used as an indicator of membrane fouling. It is indicated that the rate of running pressure increased rapidly when the actual flux exceeded the critical flux, which exhibited to be 20 L·m−2·h−1 as for the membrane used in this study. The higher concentrations of turbidity and organic matter in the mixture contributed to the more significant increase of running pressure and the more serious membrane fouling. The higher temperature could lessen the membrane fouling to a certain extent. It was observed that membrane materials showed obvious effects on membrane fouling. The running pressure of Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) membrane was lower than that of chemically-modified Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) at the same permeate flux, indicating the more promising potential of anti-pollution for PVDF membrane.
Experimental Study of a Novel Fast Gas-Solid Separator for Pyrolysis Reactors
Authors: Huard Martin , Berruti Franco , Briens Cedric
Published: September 2010

From escalating global concern over the exhaustion of non-renewable energy sources comes an imperative need for the use of renewable resources. Biomass pyrolysis has emerged as a very promising renewable alternative for fuel and chemical production. Previous work has shown that the most effective biomass pyrolysis processes require a careful control of temperature and residence times, and downer reactors appear to be the best technology to achieve such goals. Ongoing research at the Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR) has led to the development of a new downer reactor design for the pyrolysis of biomass feedstock. However, this process requires a gas-solid separator that achieves a minimum spread of the gas residence time distribution  i.e., as near to plug flow as possible.As a result, a novel integrated gas-solid inertial separator has been designed for implementation in the downer reactor. This new separator combines both primary separation and solids stripping within the same device. This is intended to decrease the product vapor residence time and to reduce the severity of vapor overcracking compared to other fast separation methods. The gas-solid separation section of the new device features a uniflow configuration and a vertical, axial entry with either swirl vanes or a deflector cone.In the current study, various geometry configurations and operating conditions were tested for their effect on separation efficiency and pressure drop. A 70 mm-diameter separator was tested under cold flow modeling conditions using silica sand, glass beads or FCC catalyst particles as solid material. The sand, glass beads and FCC particles had Sauter mean diameters of 200 ?m, 63 ?m and 43 ?m, respectively. Air was used in all cases with a gas inlet velocity varying from 0.95 to 13 m/s and solid loadings ranging between 0.075 and 19 wt/wt. The separation length was adjusted from 0.1 to 2 separator diameters.Initial cold flow experiments using silica sand revealed that the separator performance was influenced greatly by the separator geometry. The measured separation efficiency was greater using flow deflector blades (i.e. swirl vanes) than all tested cone deflectors. Solids recovery in excess of 99.99% was achieved. Particle collection efficiency decreased steadily as the separation length increased, but was in general not as strongly affected by solid loadings or gas inlet velocity. Experimental cold testing of glass beads in air gave typical efficiencies above 98.50%. Recovery of the lighter and smaller FCC catalyst was also very high, with a minimum measured efficiency of 98.80%.
Performance of Sludge Based Activated Carbons in Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation of Phenol
Authors: Marques R. R. N. , Font J. , Fortuny A. , Bengoa C. , Fabregat A. , Stuber F.
Published: September 2010

The catalytic potential of sludge based materials produced by steam or CO2 activation from non-treated dewatered raw sludge or dewatered mesophilic anaerobically digested sludge were tested in the oxidation of phenol. Batch and continuous experiments were conducted to assess activity and stability of these novel carbons in terms of phenol conversion, carbon burn-off and metal leaching. Overall, their catalytic activity can be considered satisfactory when compared to commercial carbons. However, further research on the preparation, activation and hardening of these sludge based materials is required to improve their thermal and mechanical stability and resistance to metal leaching during the catalytic wet air oxidation of phenol.
Maternal calcium supplementation during pregnancy and dental caries of children at 12 years of age: follow‐up of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bergel Eduardo , Gibbons Luz , Rasines María G. , Luetich Alejandra , Belizán José M.
Published: September 2010

Objectives. To evaluate if calcium supplementation during pregnancy could have any influence on primary dentition measured as the reduction of dental caries of the child. Design. Individual randomized controlled trial. Setting. One hospital in Rosario, Argentina. Population. Random sample of 195 12‐year‐old children from a follow‐up study of 614 women who were randomized during pregnancy to calcium supplementation or placebo. Methods. An independent researcher blinded to the group where the mothers were assigned performed a dental examination of the children. Main outcome measures. Proportion of children with at least one decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT/dmft) and mean number of decayed, missing or filled surfaces (DMFS/dmfs) per children. Results. Ninety‐eight children were assessed in the calcium supplementation group and 97 in the placebo group. 63.3% of the children whose mother took calcium supplementation had at least one DMFT/dmft compared to 86.6% in the placebo group (<0.001). The children whose mother received the intervention had a 27% reduction in the risk of developing at least one DMFT/dmft (RR: 0.73, CI 95%: [0.62; 0.87]). Conclusions. This study shows a modeling effect of calcium intake during pregnancy on dental caries of the offspring. At around 12 years of age children whose mothers received calcium supplementation when pregnant showed a significant reduction in dental caries.
Skelettdiagnostik mittels 18F-Natriumfluorid-PET und -PET/CT
Authors: Krause B.-J. , Schirrmeister H. , Freesmeyer M. , Hellwig D.
Published: September 2010

In nuclear medicine, bone scanning is based on the principle of scintigraphy using boneseeking radiopharmaceuticals which accumulate in sites of increased bone formation. From a historical point of view, 18F-fluoride was one of the first osteotropic tracers which was replaced by 99mTc-labelled polyphosphonates. With the development of modern PET equipment the superior diagnostic performance of 18F-fluoride PET for the detection and characterization of osseous lesions was proven in comparison to conventional bone scanning. Recently, its importance as a substitute of conventional skeletal scintigraphy increased in a time with limited availability of 99Mo/ 99mTc. To ensure health care during this period, 18F-fluoride PET currently became part of common outpatient care.

This guideline comprehends recommendations on indications, protocols, interpretation and reporting of 18F-fluoride PET and PET/CT.
Écoles de réfugiés ou intégration dans les écoles locales ?
Authors: Chelpi-den Hamer Magali
Published: September 2010

L’offre éducative internationale pour les réfugiés tend à être standardisée et à prendre une forme unique. Or il est fréquent d’observer plusieurs types de trajectoires scolaires parmi les élèves réfugiés, certains pouvant commencer dans un système éducatif et finir dans un autre. D’autres formes d’offre éducatives existent aussi, en parallèle de l’offre internationale, et sont essentiellement promues par des acteurs locaux, même si elles sont rarement mises en avant. À partir de l’exemple des Libériens réfugiés en Côte d’Ivoire, cet article analyse les modalités d’un type d’offre éducative internationale soutenu par le Haut-commissariat des Nations-Unies pour les Réfugiés (HCR). Il montre d’abord l’émergence de véritables dispositifs éducatifs parallèles, puis, quand il a été question de promouvoir l’intégration des élèves réfugiés dans les écoles ivoiriennes, les enjeux implicites en termes d’équivalence et de certification des acquis scolaires. Il montre aussi certains effets inattendus, tant sur les trajectoires scolaires des élèves que sur le pays hôte, notamment avec le phénomène de multiplication d’« écoles clandestines », qui s’évertuent à continuer à transmettre une certaine culture libérienne. L’auteur inscrit sa réflexion dans le temps long et analyse l’évolution de cette offre entre 1992 et 2007.
L'éducation en crise au Sud du Congo-Brazzaville : quel réinvestissement de l'État ?
Authors: Joncheray Mathilde , Dorier Elisabeth
Published: September 2010

Au Congo-Brazzaville, les populations du Sud du pays, et plus particulièrement celles des pays du Niari, ont été très affectées par les guerres successives des années 1990 et le désengagement de l’État dans ces zones. Le système éducatif n’a pas été épargné. Alors que l’État cherche depuis peu à établir une nouvelle « union nationale » dans les régions du Sud-ouest du Congo, ses intentions ne sont pas dénuées de stratégies politiques, même si cela permet un certain regain d’attention pour cette région. Mais les manques à combler restent grands : à l’hyper visibilité de quelques réalisations de prestige s’oppose le délabrement du système éducatif en zones rurales et dans les petites villes. Cet article fait ressortir les logiques territorialisées de l’État et des organisations internationales, qui, sans le vouloir pour ces dernières, marginalisent les anciens foyers d’opposition et contribuent à renforcer les disparités régionales et sociales, comme les mobilités scolaires des élèves et des enseignants.
Les enjeux de la réconciliation
Authors: Papadopoulos Mando
Published: September 2010

L’école élémentaire de Saint-Antoine constitue une des premières expériences liées à l’ouverture de points de passage entre les deux zones de l’île de Chypre et à la volonté politique de dépasser les vieilles querelles et les idées nationalistes. Il s’agit de la première école chypriote grecque à prendre l’initiative d’accueillir des enfants turcophones, et à prôner la coexistence entre les deux communautés insulaires conduites à se rencontrer après plus de trente-cinq ans de séparation. Questionnant la mise en place d’une éducation multiculturelle et la révision des pratiques éducatives traditionnelles, cet article examine les stratégies de légitimation et les types de relations qui s’élaborent entre les différents acteurs de l’école – le personnel, les élèves et leurs parents – dans les différents temps de la vie scolaire.
A Conceptual Framework for Developing and Evaluating ERP Implementation Strategies in Multinational Organizations
Authors: Kelzenberg Kai , Wagner Thomas , Reimers Kai
Published: September 2010

The chapter develops generic strategies for the specification and implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in a multinational company. After the presentation of a framework for categorizing companies by their global business orientation, ERP strategies corresponding to each category are derived. Subsequently, various implementation strategies are developed for each type of ERP strategy; they provide decision makers with a high degree of freedom in specifying an implementation strategy in accordance with a company’s strategic goals. The results are summarized in a phase model; the overall approach is illustrated by two polar cases.
Achieving Business Benefits from ERP Systems
Authors: Mishra Alok
Published: September 2010

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are becoming popular in medium and large-scale organizations all over the world. As companies have to collaborate across borders, languages, cultures, and integrate business processes, ERPs will need to take globalization into account, be based on a global architecture, and support the features required to bring all the worldwide players and processes together. Due to the high cost of implementation for these systems, organizations all over the world are interested in evaluating their benefits in the short and long terms. This chapter discusses various kinds of business benefits in a comprehensive way in order to justify the acquisition and implementation of ERP systems in organizations in the present global context.
Feral Systems and Other Factors Influencing the Success of Global ERP Implementations
Authors: Kerr Don
Published: September 2010

In this chapter we look at the factors that influence the successful implementation of a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. We identify 12 issues that need to be considered when implementing such systems. Each one of these issues is expanded upon with relevant literature and examples. In this chapter we also look at factors that lead to the development of information systems by employees in addition to or outside the implemented ERP. We introduce the concept of feral systems to explain this phenomenon. Other factors such as employee mistrust of the system are also discussed. Finally we look at future directions with respect to ERP implementations.
The Utilization of Semantic Web for Integrating Enterprise Systems
Authors: Tektonidis Dimitrios , Bokma Albert
Published: September 2010

Integrating enterprise system has become an issue of sharing information rather than transforming information due to the increasing complexity and the heterogeneity of the applications. The transition from application centric to integration centric enterprise application integration (EAI) requires methods and technologies that will enable and facilitate the definition of shared information. The use of ontologies Semantic Web and technologies can improve the existing EAI methods by providing a framework capable to define shared information. Ontologies based Enterprise application integration (ONAR) framework utilizes Semantic Web technologies to define shared information among heterogeneous systems. The present paper presents the utilization of ontologies for the formation of ONAR framework and its application for service oriented application integration (SOAI)
Supply Chain Information Systems and Decision Support
Authors: Doyle Liam
Published: September 2010

Supply chains have become have become increasingly important as organisations have moved from competing on a stand-alone basis to recognizing that their success depends upon their trading partners. This includes their upstream suppliers and downstream customers. A supply chain involves a number of tiers of suppliers and customers that extends from the initial source of raw materials through to the final consumer of the finished product. Supply chain management involves the coordination of a number of functional areas in multiple organisations. Large amounts of information can be captured describing the activities in these organisations. It is possible to use this information in order to assist in decision making at strategic, tactical, and operational levels of the supply chain. The large volume of information available and the interdependencies between the activities within these multiple organisations means that it is necessary to employ computerized decision support systems to optimize supply chain activities.
Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence Systems in the Context of E-HRM
Authors: Burgard Martin , Piazza Franca
Published: September 2010

The increased use of information technology leads to the generation of huge amounts of data which have to be stored and analyzed by appropriate systems. Data warehouse systems allow the storage of these data in a special multidimensional data base. Based on a data warehouse, business intelligence systems provide different analysis methods such as online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining to analyze these data. Although these systems are already widely used and the usage is still growing, their application in the area of electronic human resource management (e-HRM) is rather scarce. Therefore, the objective of this article is to depict the components and functionality of these systems and to illustrate the application possibilities and benefits of these systems by selected application examples in the context of e-HRM.
Transforming Compensation Management Practices through Web-Based Enterprise Technologies
Authors: Liang Xiaoya
Published: September 2010

Human resources management system (HRMS) is one of the core components in any major enterprise resource planning (ERP) application suite since its earliest development. As information communications technologies progress, ERP vendors are able to incorporate more sophisticated HR functions into their products in an increasingly user-friendly manner. HRM modules in ERP suites cover a full spectrum of conventional HR functions ranging from recruitment, selection, compensation, and so on. Meanwhile, there is also an explosion of growth in the number of specialized HR software products and application service providers in the market place. The goal of this article is to provide a current, non-technical review and comparison of major compensation software products and services developed using Internet technology, and to offer some insights on understanding emerging HRIS trends and new strategic roles compensation professionals play. To do this, I will start with an overview of key features of a good Web-based compensation program and main benefits of such program. I compare common and unique features in performing compensation functions offered by both major ERP vendors. Implications for HR professionals and researchers will be discussed in the concluding section.
Enterprise Information System Security
Authors: Mazumdar Chandan
Published: September 2010

There has been an unprecedented thrust in employing Computers and Communication technologies in all walks of life. The systems enabled by Information Technology are becoming more and more complex resulting in various threats and vulnerabilities. The security properties, like confidentiality, integrity, and availability, are becoming more and more difficult to protect. In this chapter, a life-cycle approach to achieve and maintain security of enterprises has been proposed. First, enterprise information systems are looked at in detail. Then, the need for enterprise information system security and problems associated with security implementation are discussed. The authors consider enterprise information system security as a management issue and detail the information security parameters. Finally, the proposed security engineering life-cycle is described in detail, which includes, Security Requirement Analysis, Security Policy Formulation, Security Infrastructure Advisory Generation, Security Testing and Validation, and Review and Monitoring phases.
Specifying Software Models with Organizational Styles
Authors: Kolp Manuel , Wautelet Yves , Faulkner Stéphane
Published: September 2010

Organizational Modeling is concerned with analyzing and understanding the organizational context within which a software system will eventually function. This chapter proposes organizational patterns motivated by organizational theories intended to facilitate the construction of organizational models. These patterns are defined from real world organizational settings, modeled in i* and formalized using the Formal Tropos language. Additionally, the chapter evaluates the proposed patterns using desirable qualities such as coordinability and predictability. The research is conducted in the context of Tropos, a comprehensive software system development methodology.
Towards Identifying the Most Important Attributes of ERP Implementations
Authors: Soja Piotr
Published: September 2010

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have been implemented in various and diverse organizations. The size of companies, their industry, the environment, and the number of implemented modules are examples of their heterogeneity. In consequence, a single procedure which leads to the success of implementation does not appear to exist. Therefore, there have been many implementations that have failed during, and also after, the implementation process. As a result, a considerable amount of research has been trying to identify issues influencing ultimate project success and also to recognize the best implementation projects. The aim of this work is to identify the most important characteristics of ERP implementation which affect project success. This study builds on data gathered using a questionnaire directed toward people playing leading roles in ERP implementations in a few dozen companies. Twelve attributes were identified and divided into three sets representing: effort, effect, and the synthetic measure of success calculated on the basis of the obtained data. Two agglomeration methods were employed to identify exemplar and anti-exemplar groups and objects. These elements were thoroughly analyzed, which led to identifying the most and the least desired attributes of an ERP implementation project. The findings are discussed and related with the results of prior research. Finally, implications for practitioners and concluding remarks summarise the chapter.
Achieving System and Business Interoperability by Semantic Web Services
Authors: Krogstie John , Veres Csaba , Sindre Guttorm
Published: September 2010

Much of the early focus in the area of Semantic Web has been on the development of representation languages for static conceptual information; while there has been less emphasis on how to make Semantic Web applications practically useful in the context of knowledge work. To achieve this, a better coupling is needed between ontology, service descriptions, and workflow modeling, including both traditional production workflow and interactive workflow techniques. This chapter reviews the basic technologies involved in this area to provide system and business interoperability, and outlines what can be achieved by merging them in the context of real-world workflow descriptions.
Integrated Research and Training in Enterprise Information Systems
Authors: Cheng Chen-Yang
Published: September 2010

The success of implementing Enterprise Information System (EIS) depends on exploring and improving the EIS software, and EIS software training. However, the synthesis of the EIS implementation approach has not been investigated. In this chapter, the authors propose an integrated research and training approach for students and employees about enterprise information systems (EIS) that are encountered in an organization. Our integrated approach follows the different stages of a typical EIS project from inception to completion. These stages, as identified, are modeling, planning, simulation, transaction, integration, and control. This ensures that an employee who is trained by this plan has an acquaintance with the typical information systems in an organization. Further, for training and research purposes the authors developed prototype information systems that emulate the ones usually found in organizations. This ensures the EIS software logic is consistent with the business logic. This chapter also discuss some of the case studies conducted with the prototype systems.
Enterprise Systems, Control and Drift
Authors: Ignatiadis Ioannis , Nandhakumar Joe
Published: September 2010

Enterprise Systems are widespread in current organizations and seen as integrating organizational procedures across functional divisions. An Enterprise System, once installed, seems to enable or constrain certain actions by users, which have an impact on organizational operations. Those actions may result in increased organizational control, or may lead to organizational drift. The processes that give rise to such outcomes are investigated in this chapter, which is based on a field study of five companies. By drawing on the theoretical concepts of human and machine agencies, as well as the embedding and disembedding of information in the system, this chapter argues that control and drift arising from the use of an Enterprise System are outcomes of the processes of embedding and disembedding human actions, which are afforded (enabled or constrained) by the Enterprise System.
Real Time Decision Making and Mobile Technologies
Authors: Sherringham Keith , Unhelkar Bhuvan
Published: September 2010

For business decision making to occur, data needs to be converted to information, then to knowledge and rapidly to wisdom. Whilst Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions facilitate business decision making, ICT has not always been effective in providing the critical “data to wisdom” conversion necessary for real-time decision making on any device anywhere anytime. This lack of effectiveness in real-time decision making has been further hampered by a dependence upon location and time. Mobile technologies provide an opportunity to enhance business decision making by freeing users from complex information management requirements and enabling real-time decision making on any device anywhere anytime. This chapter discusses the role of mobile technologies in real time decision making.
Business Driven Enterprise Architecture and Applications to Support Mobile Business
Authors: Sherringham Keith , Unhelkar Bhuvan
Published: September 2010

Information Communication Technology (ICT) needs to provide the knowledge worker with an integrated support system of information management and work-flow. This challenge, however, is further exacerbated in mobile business wherein the knowledge work is not identified with a particular location. Information systems need to be analyzed and modeled, keeping the location-independence of the users in mind. A Model Driven Architecture (MDA) approach, aligned with Object-Orientated Design principles, and driven dynamically as the user interacts, has immense potential to deliver solutions for the systems used by the knowledge worker. An MDA approach provides a unified approach to solutions architecture, information management, and business integration. At the enterprise level, the desktop, the mobile device and at the emerging marketplace level, the evolving need for realtime decision making on any device, anywhere, anytime, to support mobile business is providing a framework for aligning ICT to business. Further details are presented in this chapter together with some of the challenges and opportunities to be seen within mobile business.
Mobile Technologies Extending ERP Systems
Authors: Werth Dirk , Makuch Paul
Published: September 2010

Nowadays the majority of enterprises use Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to improve their business processes. Simultaneously, mobile technologies which can be used within ERP have gained further importance. This is because ERP, together with mobile technologies, offers a wide spectrum of synergies and both have a significant impact on enterprise efficiency. The improvement possibilities in ERP due to mobility range from sales activities, over logistic processes, up to effects on the human resource management.
Extending Enterprise Architecture with Mobility
Authors: Wu Ming-Chien (Mindy) , Unhelkar Bhuvan
Published: September 2010

The Enterprise Architecture (EA) brings together various business processes, technologies, standards, systems, and IT infrastructure of the organization. This chapter considers extending the EA with mobility so that it would facilitate easier implementation of applications that overcomes the boundaries of time and location. This extension of EA with mobility will result in a comprehensive Mobility Enterprise Architecture (M-EA) that will provide the business with advantages of real-time business processes, reduced costs, increased client satisfaction, and better control. This chapter outlines the M-EA framework, which is based on the literature review, initial modeling, and a case study carried out by the lead authors. Later, the framework is validated by another case study carried out at international software development organization. Further validation of the model is envisaged through action research in multinational organizations.
Convergence in Mobile Internet with Service Oriented Architecture and Its Value to Business
Authors: Garito Marco
Published: September 2010

The word “convergence” refers to the combination of fixed and mobile communication, a situation where a private or business user can take advantage of being constantly connected and be able to retrieve applications and data by swapping device, with the limitations that a mobile device may have such as smaller screen and keyboard, reduced storage capability, and limited power provided by batteries. Convergence can also include imagining how mobile technology can be a component of everyday items and how data, applications, and services can be delivered via the network infrastructure. This chapter aims to cover RFID technology, Bar code and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): the first two technologies are dealt with in parallel to provide an overall view of advantages and disadvantages, while SOA will be part of a distinct discussion and analysis. Eventually, some practical examples of these discussed technologies are provided.
Migrating Legacy Systems to Web Services Architecture
Authors: Li Shing-Han , Huang Shi-Ming , Yen David C. , Chang Cheng-Chun
Published: September 2010

The lifecycle of information system (IS) became relatively shorter compared with earlier days as a result of information technology (IT) revolution and advancement. It is tremendous difficult for an old architecture to catch up with the dynamic changes occurred in the market. To match with the fast pace of challenges, enterprises have to use the technology/concept of information system reengineering (ISR) to preserve the value of their legacy systems. Consequently, web services-based systems with Service- Oriented Architecture (SOA) are widely accepted as one of the possible solutions for an enterprise information system to retain/keep its old legacy systems. Using this aforementioned architecture, enterprise information systems tend to be more flexible and agile to fit into the capricious business environment, and thus, be easier to integrate with additional applications. In other words, it is indeed an essential requirement for an enterprise to establish such a system to further improve corporation’s productivity and operational efficiency. In specific, the requirement is simply to migrate the legacy systems to be SOA architecture. However, it is a trade-off between the value of legacy systems and the compatibility with SOA to decide whether this alternative is a feasible one. The purpose of this manuscript is to propose a migrating solution to convert the architecture of the legacy system into SOA with a systematic approach. This proposed methodology is different from the traditional object-oriented approaches, which migrates the system to have a services-oriented focus without incorporating general objected-oriented (OO) or functional oriented feature. In this study, a case study and information capacity theory were employed to verify/validate that this approach is indeed an effective and a practicable one.
Data Reengineering of Legacy Systems
Authors: Millham Richard C.
Published: September 2010

Legacy systems, from a data-centric view, could be defined as old, business-critical, and standalone systems that have been built around legacy databases, such as IMS or CODASYL, or legacy database management systems, such as ISAM (Brodie & Stonebraker, 1995). Because of the huge scope of legacy systems in the business world (it is estimated that there are 100 billion lines of COBOL code alone for legacy business systems; Bianchi, 2000), data reengineering, along with its related step of program reengineering, of legacy systems and their data constitute a significant part of the software reengineering market. Data reengineering of legacy systems focuses on two parts. The first step involves recognizing the data structures and semantics followed by the second step where the data are converted to the new or converted system. Usually, the second step involves substantial changes not only to the data structures but to the data values of the legacy data themselves (Aebi & Largo, 1994).
Semantically Modeled Databases in Integrated Enterprise Information Systems
Authors: Dunn Cheryl L. , Gerard Gregory J. , Grabski Severin V.
Published: September 2010

Semantically modeled databases require their component objects to correspond closely to real world phenomena and preclude the use of artifacts as system primitives (Dunn and McCarthy, 1997). Enterprise information systems (also known as enterprise resource planning systems) based on semantically modeled databases allow for full integration of all system components and facilitate the flexible use of information by decision-makers. Researchers have advocated semantically designed information systems because they provide benefits to individual decision-makers (Dunn and Grabski, 1998, 2000), they facilitate organizational productivity and inter-organizational communication (Cherrington et al., 1996; David, 1995; Geerts and McCarthy, 2002), and they allow the database to evolve as the enterprise does through time (Abrial, 1974).
Enterprise Application Integration (EAI)
Authors: Bussler Christoph
Published: September 2010

As long as businesses only have one enterprise application or back end application system there is no need to share data with any other system in the company. All data that has to be managed is contained within one back end application system and its database. However, as businesses grow, more back end application systems find their way into their information technology infrastructure managing different specialized business data, mainly introduced due to the growth. These back end application systems are not independent of each other; in general they contain similar or overlapping business data or are part of business processes. Keeping the data in the various application systems consistent with each other requires their integration so that data can be exchanged or synchronized. The technology that supports the integration of various application systems and their databases is called Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) technology. EAI technology is able to connect to back end application systems in order to retrieve and to insert data. Once connected, EAI technology supports the definition of how extracted data is propagated to back end application systems solving the general integration problem.
Analyzing Diffusion and Value Creation Dimensions of a Business Case of Replacing Enterprise Systems
Authors: Cua Francisco Chia , Garrett Tony C.
Published: September 2010

This chapter introduces the Firm-Level Value Creation Model as a means of planning Information Systems projects based on their potential for generating business value. It presents a review of economic literature on firm-level value creation based on the premise that ex-ante economic inefficiencies embedded in the firm processes are the key enabler of effectiveness in IT project implementations. After presenting a detailed case study in the banking industry to discuss the argument, the chapter describes how to implement a practical assessment of the potential effectiveness of any IT project. By presenting the underlying theoretical foundations of the business value generation mechanism, the author intends to contribute to the academy by bringing the economic theories to the center of the analysis of IT value generation. On the other hand, the chapter also assists practitioners by presenting a tool that can identify projects more likely to deliver value.
A Model of Knowledge Management Success
Authors: Jennex Murray E. , Olfman Lorne
Published: September 2010

This chapter describes a knowledge management (KM), Success Model that is derived from observations generated through a longitudinal study of KM in an engineering organization, KM success factors found in the literature, and modified by the application of these observations and success factors in various projects. The DeLone and McLean (1992, 2003) IS Success Model was used as a framework for the model as it was found to fit the observed success criteria and it provided an accepted theoretical basis for the proposed model.
Validating Distinct Knowledge Assets
Authors: Freeze Ron , Kulkarni Uday
Published: September 2010

Identification and measurement of organizational Knowledge Management capabilities is necessary to determine the extent to which an organization utilizes its knowledge assets. We developed and operationalized a set of constructs to measure capabilities associated with management of knowledge assets identified as distinct Knowledge Capabilities (KCs) comprising the overall Knowledge Management (KM) capability of an organizational unit. Each KC represents a distinct kind of knowledge that requires different organizational process and technological support. This delineation of knowledge allows targeted improvement to a specific KC. We present validation of these capability constructs with empirical evidence from two separate business units in a large semi-conductor manufacturing company, providing the basis of measurement standardization for KM Capability improvement. Confirmatory factor analysis affirmed four KCs, each identified as an overall factor influencing a set of latent descriptor variables. Second Order and General-Specific Structural Equation Models of each capability provide evidence as to the validity of measurement of these knowledge assets. A standardized instrument for measuring knowledge capabilities would not only allow benchmarking, but also allow tracking capabilities over time and linking them to those performance metrics that are deemed appropriate by the organization.
Strategies for Successful Implementation of KM in a University Setting
Authors: Anantatmula Vittal S. , Kanungo Shivraj
Published: September 2010

Research has identified enabling factors and inhibitors for implementing knowledge management successfully and to accomplish its strategic objectives. However, it is important to understand how these factors interact with each other to improve or inhibit the performance. With this in mind, this chapter presents a model, based on a research study, to determine underlying relations among these factors and develop strategies implementing KM initiatives.
DYONIPOS
Authors: Weiß Silke , Makolm Josef , Ipsmiller Doris , Egger Natalie
Published: September 2010

Traditional knowledge management is often combined with extra work to recollect information which is already electronically available. Another obstacle to overcome is to make the content of the collected information easily accessible to enquiries, as conventional searching tools provide only documents and not the content meaning. They are often based on the search for character strings, usually resulting in many unnecessary hits and no or less context information. The research project DYONIPOS focuses on detecting the knowledge needs of knowledge users and automatically providing the required knowledge just in time, while avoiding additional work and violations of the knowledge worker’s privacy, proposing a new way of support. This knowledge is made available through semantic linkage of the relevant information out of existing artifacts. In addition DYONIPOS creates an individual and an organizational knowledge base just in time.
Methodological Proposals for Simulation Games
Authors: Fregola Cesare
Published: September 2010

This chapter introduces the transcoding pattern, used in simulation games, to organize the language, the setting and the learning environment, defining the course of learning on various levels of abstraction. The aim is to facilitate the construction of a language that can be used in the processes of the mathematicization of reality and in math teaching in general. In order to give the reader a better understanding of the ideas and components of this process, an example of the transcoding pattern is provided before going on to describe the objective of our research the simulation game.
Design of a Simulation Game for the Learning of Mathematics
Authors: Piu Angela
Published: September 2010

This chapter provides the theoretical and methodological background for the design of simulation games; within this context attention will be focused on the teaching model and the characteristics of the games that have been used in the research. Although aware of the fact that the process of acquiring mathematical knowledge is both complex and non linear, we present the guided stages of the work, in each of which we shall describe the teaching materials employed to help further the didactic aims.
A Review of Previous Studies
Authors: Piu Angela
Published: September 2010

The chapter presents a critical analysis of the literature on simulation games identifying the research direction along which the studies conducted up until now have been following and the issues that have emerged during the research. On the basis of these considerations, a choice can be made of the most suitable simulation games to employ in a specific learning context.
Research Outline
Authors: Piu Angela
Published: September 2010

This chapter describes how the research was developed: the hypotheses and the decisions taken in the planning stage are explained and the documentation on the carrying out of the project provided along with the research protocols.
Optimizing and Managing Digital Telecommunication Systems Using Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery Approaches
Authors: Al Rabea Adnan I. , El Emary Ibrahiem M. M.
Published: September 2010

This chapter is interested in discussing and reporting how one can be benefited by using Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery techniques in achieving an acceptable level of quality of service of telecommunication systems. The quality of service is defined as the metrics which is predicated by using the data mining techniques, decision tree, association rules and neural networks. Digital telecommunication networks are highly complex systems and thus their planning, management and optimization are challenging tasks. The user expectations constitute the Quality of Service (QoS). To gain a competitive edge on other operators, the operating personnel have to measure the network in terms of QoS. In current times, there are three data mining methods applied to actual GSM network performance measurements, in which the methods were chosen to help the operating staff to find the essential information in network quality performance measurements. The results of Pekko (2004) show that the analyst can make good use of Rough Sets and Classification and Regression Trees (CART), because their information can be expressed in plain language rules that preserve the variable names of the original measurement. In addition, the CART and the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) provide effective visual means for interpreting the data set.
Data Mining System Execution Traces to Validate Distributed System Quality-of-Service Properties
Authors: Hill James H.
Published: September 2010

System Execution Modeling (SEM) tools enable distributed system testers to validate Quality-of-Service (QoS) properties, such as end-to-end response time, throughput, and scalability, during early phases of the software lifecycle. Analytical capabilities of QoS properties, however, are traditionally bounded by a SEM tool’s capabilities. This chapter discusses how to mine system execution traces, which are a collection of log messages describing events and states of a distributed system throughout its execution lifetime, generated by distributed systems so that the validation of QoS properties is not dependent on a SEM tool’s capabilities. The author uses a real-life case study to illustrate how data mining system execution traces can assist in discovering potential performance bottlenecks using system execution traces.
Opinion Mining with SentiWordNet
Authors: Ohana Bruno , Tierney Brendan
Published: September 2010

Opinion Mining is an emerging field of research concerned with applying computational methods to the treatment of subjectivity in text, with a number of applications in fields such as recommendation systems, contextual advertising and business intelligence. In this chapter the authors survey the area of opinion mining and discuss the SentiWordNet lexicon of sentiment information for terms derived from WordNet. Furthermore, the results of their research in applying this lexicon to sentiment classification of film reviews along with a novel approach that leverages opinion lexicons to build a data set of features used as input to a supervised learning classifier are also presented. The results obtained are in line with other experiments based on manually built opinion lexicons with further improvements obtained by using the novel approach, and are indicative that lexicons built using semi supervised methods such as SentiWordNet can be an important resource in sentiment classification tasks. Considerations on future improvements are also presented based on a detailed analysis of classification results.
Analysis and Integration of Biological Data
Authors: Milone Diego , Stegmayer Georgina , Gerard Matías , Kamenetzky Laura , López Mariana , Carrari Fernando
Published: September 2010

The volume of information derived from post genomic technologies is rapidly increasing. Due to the amount of involved data, novel computational methods are needed for the analysis and knowledge discovery into the massive data sets produced by these new technologies. Furthermore, data integration is also gaining attention for merging signals from different sources in order to discover unknown relations. This chapter presents a pipeline for biological data integration and discovery of a priori unknown relationships between gene expressions and metabolite accumulations. In this pipeline, two standard clustering methods are compared against a novel neural network approach. The neural model provides a simple visualization interface for identification of coordinated patterns variations, independently of the number of produced clusters. Several quality measurements have been defined for the evaluation of the clustering results obtained on a case study involving transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles from tomato fruits. Moreover, a method is proposed for the evaluation of the biological significance of the clusters found. The neural model has shown a high performance in most of the quality measures, with internal coherence in all the identified clusters and better visualization capabilities.