Abstract: Cloud computing is a style of computing which is formed from the aggregation and development of technologies such as grid computing distributed computing, parallel computing and service-oriented architecture. And its aim is to provide computing, communication and storage resources in a safe environment based on service, as fast as possible, which is virtually provided via Internet platform. Considering that the provided Services in e-government are available via the Internet, thus cloud computing can be used in the implementation of e-government architecture and provide better service with the lowest economic cost using its benefits. In this paper, the Methods of using cloud computing in e-government has been studied and it's been attempted to identify the challenges and benefits of the cloud to get used in the e-government and proposals have been offered to overcome its shortcomings, encourage and partnership of governments and people to use this economical and new technology.
Abstract: E-governance is an emerging and challenging initiative in developing countries. It is not only concerning the provision of services through the use ICT but rather entails building external interactions with citizen and businesses, enhancing democracy and trust of the political institutions of government. It embraces among other principles, openness, accountability and citizen engagement in public policy process. This study aims at finding users’ satisfaction with three chosen dimensions of e-governance, namely: openness, collaborative governance, and participation. These dimensions of e-governance are neither studied before in the context of Arab countries and nor explored earlier in relation to some demographics variables. A study of 900 users of e-government in United Arab Emirates (UAE) was undertaken to examine how gender, age, education, nationality, and employment affect their satisfaction with e-governance. Generally, satisfaction ratings vary significantly with these variables. However, the overall level of satisfaction with the three attributes was less favorable. Knowing the differences of citizen’s perceptions towards e-governance services would help policymakers in the design of effective e-governance strategy.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to find out the efficacy
of selected mobility exercises and participation in special games on psychomotor abilities, functional abilities and skill performance
among intellectually disabled children of age group under 14. Thirty male students who were studying in Balar Kalvi Nilayam and YMCA
College Special School, Chennai, acted as subjects for the study.
They were only mild and moderate in intellectual disability. These
students did not undergo any special training or coaching programme apart from their regular routine physical activity classes as a part of
the curriculum in the school. They were attached at random, based on
age in which 30 belonged to under 14 age group, which was divided
into three equal group of ten for each experimental treatment. 10
students (Treatment group I) underwent calisthenics and special
games participation, 10 students (Treatment group II) underwent
aquatics and special games participation, 10 students (Treatment
group III) underwent yoga and special games participation. The subjects were tested on selected criterion variables prior (pre test)
and after twelve weeks of training (post test). The pre and post test
data collected from three groups on functional abilities(self care,
learning, capacity for independent living), psychomotor
variables(static balance, eye hand coordination, simple reaction time
test) and skill performance (bocce skill, badminton skill, table tennis
skill) were statistically examined for significant difference, by
applying the analysis ANACOVA. Whenever an 'F' ratio for
adjusted test was found to be significant for adjusted post test means,
Scheffe-s test was followed as a post-hoc test to determine which of
the paired mean differences was significant. The result of the study
showed that among under 14 age groups there was a significant improvement on selected criterion variables such as, Balance,
Coordination, self-care and learning and also in Bocce, Badminton & Table Tennis skill performance, due to mobility exercises and
participation in special games. However there were no significant
differences among the groups.
Abstract: This paper explores the changing trend in citizenship
norms among young citizens from various ethnic groups in Malaysia
and the extent to which it influences the participation of young
citizens in political and civil issues. Embedded in democratic
constitutions are the rights and freedoms that accompany citizenship,
and these rights and freedoms include participation. Participation in
democracies should go beyond voting; it should include taking part in
the governance process. The political process is not at risk even
though politics does not work as it did in the past. A national sample
of 1697 respondents between the ages of 21 and 40 years were
interviewed in January 2011. The findings show that respondents
embrace an engaged-citizenship norm more than they do the
traditional duty-citizen norm. Among the ethnic groups, the Chinese
show lower means in both citizenship norms compared with other
ethnic groups, namely, the Malays and the Indians. The duty-citizen
norm correlates higher with political participation than with civic
participation. On the other hand, the engaged-citizen norm correlates
higher with civic participation than with political participation.
Abstract: In recent years, “Bottom-up Planning Approach" has been widely accepted and expanded from planning theorists. Citizen participation becomes more important in decision-making in informal settlements. Many of previous projects and strategies due to ignorance of citizen participation, have been failed facing with informal settlements and in some cases lead physical expansion of these neighbourhoods. According to recent experiences, the new participatory approach was in somehow successful. This paper focuses on local experiences in Iran. A considerable amount of people live in informal settlements in Iran. With the previous methods, the government could not solve the problems of these settlements. It is time to examine new methods such as empowerment of the local citizens and involve them to solve the current physical, social, and economic problems. The paper aims to address the previous and new strategies facing with informal settlements, the conditions under which citizens could be involved in planning process, limits and potentials of this process, the main actors and issues and finally motivations that are able to promote citizen participation. Documentary studies, observation, interview and questionnaire have been used to achieve the above mentioned objectives. Nearly 80 percent of responder in Saadi Community are ready to participate in regularising their neighbourhoods, if pre-conditions of citizen involvement are being provided. These pre-conditions include kind of problem and its severity, the importance of issue, existence of a short-term solution, etc. Moreover, confirmation of dweller-s ownership can promote the citizen engagement in participatory projects.
Abstract: The purposes of this research were to study the citizen
participation in preventing illegal drugs in one of a poor and small
community of Bangkok, Thailand and to compare the level of
participation and concern of illegal drugs problem by using
demographic variables. This paper drew upon data collected from a
local citizens survey conducted in Bangkok, Thailand during summer
of 2012. A total of 200 respondents were elicited as data input for,
and one way ANOVA test. The findings revealed that the overall
citizen participation was in the level of medium. The mean score
showed that benefit from the program was ranked as the highest and
the decision to participate was ranked as second while the follow-up
of the program was ranked as the lowest.
In terms of the difference in demographic such as gender, age,
level of education, income, and year of residency, the hypothesis
testing’s result disclosed that there were no difference in their level
of participation. However, difference in occupation showed a
difference in their level of participation and concern which was
significant at the 0.05 confidence level.
Abstract: Chronic conditions carry with them strong emotions
and often lead to charged relationships between patients and their
health providers and, by extension, patients and health researchers.
Persons are both autonomous and relational and a purely cognitive
model of autonomy neglects the social and relational basis of chronic
illness. Ensuring genuine informed consent in research requires a
thorough understanding of how participants perceive a study and
their reasons for participation. Surveys may not capture the
complexities of reasoning that underlies study participation.
Contradictory reasons for participation, for instance an initial claim
of altruism as rationale and a subsequent claim of personal benefit
(therapeutic misconception), affect the quality of informed consent.
Individuals apply principles through the filter of personal values and
lived experience. Authentic autonomy, and hence authentic consent
to research, occurs within the context of patients- unique life
narratives and illness experiences.
Abstract: The new framework the Higher Education is
immersed in involves a complete change in the way lecturers must
teach and students must learn. Whereas the lecturer was the main
character in traditional education, the essential goal now is to
increase the students' participation in the process. Thus, one of the
main tasks of lecturers in this new context is to design activities of
different nature in order to encourage such participation. Seminars
are one of the activities included in this environment. They are active
sessions that enable going in depth into specific topics as support of
other activities. They are characterized by some features such as
favoring interaction between students and lecturers or improving
their communication skills. Hence, planning and organizing strategic
seminars is indeed a great challenge for lecturers with the aim of
acquiring knowledge and abilities. This paper proposes a method
using Artificial Intelligence techniques to obtain student profiles
from their marks and preferences. The goal of building such profiles
is twofold. First, it facilitates the task of splitting the students into
different groups, each group with similar preferences and learning
difficulties. Second, it makes it easy to select adequate topics to be a
candidate for the seminars. The results obtained can be either a
guarantee of what the lecturers could observe during the development
of the course or a clue to reconsider new methodological strategies in
certain topics.
Abstract: Only recently have water ethics received focused interest in the international water community. Because water is metabolically basic to life, an ethical dimension persists in every decision related to water. Water ethics at once express human society-s approach to water and act as guidelines for behaviour. Ideas around water are often implicit and embedded as assumptions. They can be entrenched in behaviour and difficult to contest because they are difficult to “see". By explicitly revealing the ethical ideas underlying water-related decisions, human society-s relationship with water, and with natural systems of which water is part, can be contested and shifted or be accepted with conscious intention by human society. In recent decades, improved understanding of water-s importance for ecosystem functioning and ecological services for human survival is moving us beyond this growth-driven, supplyfocused management paradigm. Environmental ethics challenge this paradigm by extending the ethical sphere to the environment and thus water or water Resources management per se. An ethical approach is a legitimate, important, and often ignored approach to effect change in environmental decision making. This qualitative research explores principles of water ethics and examines the underlying ethical precepts of selected water policy examples. The constructed water ethic principles act as a set of criteria against which a policy comparison can be established. This study shows that water Resources management is a progressive issue by embracing full public participation and a new planning model, and knowledgegeneration initiatives.
Abstract: The purpose is to study the model and characteristic of
participation of the suitable community to lead to develop permanent
water marketing in Bang Noi Floating Market, Bangkonti District,
Samutsongkhram Province. A total of 342 survey questionnaire was
administered to potential respondents. The researchers interviewed
the leader of the community. Appreciation Influence Control (AIC)
was used to talk with 20 villagers on arena. The findings revealed
that overall, most people had the middle level of the participation in
developing the durable Bang Noi Floating Market, Bangkonti,
Samutsongkhram Province and in aspects of gaining benefits from
developing it with atmosphere and a beautiful view for tourism. For
example, the landscape is beautiful with public utilities. The
participation in preserving and developing Bang Noi Floating Market
remains in the former way of life. The basic factor of person affects
to the participation of people such as age, level of education, career,
and income per month. Most participants are the original hosts that
have houses and shops located in the marketing and neighbor. These
people involve with the benefits and have the power to make a water
marketing strategy, the major role to set the information database. It
also found that the leader and the villagers play the important role in
setting a five-physical database. Data include level of information
such as position of village, territory of village, road, river, and
premises. Information of culture consists of a two-level of
information, interesting point, and Itinerary. The information occurs
from presenting and practicing by the leader and villagers in the
community.All of phases are presented for listening and investigating
database together in both the leader and villagers in the process of
participation.
Abstract: This is a survey research using quantitative and qualitative methodology. There were three objectives: 1) To study participatory level of community in water and waste environment management. 2) To study the affecting factors for community participation in water and waste environment management in Ampawa District, Samut Songkram Province. 3) To search for the participatory patterns in water and waste management. The population sample for the quantitative research was 1,364 people living in Ampawa District. The methodology was simple random sampling. Research instrument was a questionnaire and the qualitative research used purposive sampling in 6 Sub Districts which are Ta Ka, Suanluang, Bangkae, Muangmai, Kwae-om, and Bangnanglee Sub District Administration Organization. Total population is 63. For data analysis, the study used content analysis from quantitative research to synthesize and build question frame from the content for interview and conducting focus group interview. The study found that the community participatory in the issue of level in water and waste management are moderate of planning, operation, and evaluation. The issue of being beneficial is at low level. Therefore, the overall participatory level of community in water and waste environment management is at a medium level. The factors affecting the participatory of community in water and waste management are age, the period dwelling in the community and membership in which the mean difference is statistic significant at 0.05 in area of operation, being beneficial, and evaluation. For patterns of community participation, there is the correlation with water and waste management in 4 concerns which are 1) Participation in planning 2) Participation in operation 3) Participation in being beneficial both directly and indirectly benefited 4) Participation in evaluation and monitoring. The recommendation from this study is the need to create conscious awareness in order to increase participation level of people by organizing activities that promote participation with volunteer spirit. Government should open opportunities for people to participate in sharing ideas and create the culture of living together with equality which would build more concrete participation.
Abstract: The dynamics of Min proteins plays a center role in
accurate cell division. Although the nucleoids may presumably play
an important role in prokaryotic cell division, there is a lack of
models to account for its participation. In this work, we apply the
lattice Boltzmann method to investigate protein oscillation based on a
mesoscopic model that takes into account the nucleoid-s role. We
found that our numerical results are in reasonably good agreement
with the previous experimental results On comparing with the other
computational models without the presence of nucleoids, the
highlight of our finding is that the local densities of MinD and MinE
on the cytoplasmic membrane increases, especially along the cell
width, when the size of the obstacle increases, leading to a more
distinct cap-like structure at the poles. This feature indicated the
realistic pattern and reflected the combination of Min protein
dynamics and nucleoid-s role.
Abstract: The purposes of this research were 1) to investigate
behavior of media exposure and participation in environmental
activities of King Mongkut-s University of Technology Thonburi
(KMUTT) dormitory students, 2) to compare the correlation between
faculties and participation in environmental activities of KMUTT
dormitory students, and 3) to compare the correlation between media
exposure and participation in environmental activities of KMUTT
dormitory students. The tool used for collecting data was
questionnaire. The research findings revealed that dormitory students
were mostly exposed to the environmental media via public relations
boards for general media and KMUTT dormitory media. Dormitory
students were daily exposed to media via websites on the internet and
weekly for other media. Dormitory students participation in the
environmental activities was at high level (x = 3.65) on an
individual basis and was at medium level (x = 2.76) on a collective
basis. Faculties did not correlate with the participation in
environmental activities of dormitory students at the .01 statistical
level and media exposure via various media correlated with
participation in environmental activities of dormitory students at the
.01 statistical level.
Abstract: Green- spaces might be very attractive, but
where are the economic benefits? What value do nature and
landscape have for us? What difference will it make to jobs,
health and the economic strength of areas struggling with
deprivation and social problems? [1].There is a need to consider
green spaces from a different perspective. Green planning is not just
about flora and fauna, but also about planning for economic benefits
[2]. It is worth trying to quantify the value of green spaces since
nature and landscape are crucially important to our quality of life and
sustainable development. The reality, however, is that urban
development often takes place at the expense of green spaces.
Urbanization is an ongoing process throughout the world; however,
hyper-urbanization without environmental planning is destructive,
not constructive [3]. Urban spaces are believed to be more valuable
than other land uses, particular green areas, simply because of the
market value connected to urban spaces. However, attractive
landscapes can help raise the quality and value of the urban market
even more. In order to reach these objectives of integrated planning,
the Green-Value-Gap needs to be bridged. Economists have to
understand the concept of Green-Planning and the spinoffs, and
Environmentalists have to understand the importance of urban
economic development and the benefits thereof to green planning. An
interface between Environmental Management, Economic
Development and sustainable Spatial Planning are needed to bridge
the Green-Value-Gap.
Abstract: The term Enterprise 2.0 (E2.0) describes a collection of organizational and IT practices that help organizations establish flexible work models, visible knowledge-sharing practices, and higher levels of community participation. E2.0 parallels and builds on another term commonly being used in the industry – Web 2.0. E2.0 represents also new packaging for strategic collaboration and Knowledge Management (KM). Organizations rely on collaboration and KM initiatives to attain innovation, growth, productivity, and performance goals.