bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between the Neighborhood Built Environment and Active Transportation among Adults: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Wang Luqi , Wen Chen
Published: August 2017

Active transportation (AT) has aroused great interest in recent years as it may benefit public health and reduce the dependency on cars. This article aims to summarize recent findings on the relationship between the objectively measured built environment and AT among adults, to examine if different study designs may generate different results, and to provide directions for future research. A systematic literature review of journal articles from different databases was conducted. Fifty-one articles published between 2005 and 2017 were identified, and twelve built environment factors were extracted. The results showed that residential density, land use mix, street connectivity, retail land use, walkability, sidewalk, and access to destinations had a convincing positive relationship with walking for transport. Regarding cycling for transport, while street connectivity and bike lane showed a convincing positive relationship, neighborhood aesthetics and access to destinations showed a convincing negative relationship. Studies that use different analyzed geographic units and different measurements of AT may generate different results, so choosing suitable geographic units and measurement of AT is necessary to reduce the mismatch in the relationships. In addition, we need more longitudinal studies, more studies on cycling for transport, and more studies in countries outside North America and Australasia.
How Behavioral Changes Can Indicate Serious Cerebral Pathology: A Case Report of Concomitant Olfactory Neuroblastoma and Distemper Virus Encephalitis in a Swiss Shepherd Dog
Authors: Candini Dario , Biasato Ilaria , Dell’Armelina Rocha Paulo , Grego Elena , Capucchio Maria , Vercelli Cristina
Published: August 2017

Behavioral alterations in dogs are not easy to understand and cure. The situation is more difficult when an encephalitis due to Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and a concomitant olfactory neuroblastoma are present. This case report deals with the story of a 5-year-old Swiss shepherd dog with behavioral changes, seizures, epistaxis and ataxia. Following clinical and laboratory exams, a suspected diagnosis of CDV infection was hypothesized, and a therapy based on Ω-interferon was administered. Every supporting therapy failed and the worsening of the clinical conditions led to the euthanasia of the patient. A neoformation in the right frontal lobe was found post mortem. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry investigation showed a non-suppurative demyelinating encephalitis, suggestive of CDV infection, and a desmoplastic epithelioid olfactory neuroblastoma. To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first clinical pathological report of a non-suppurative encephalitis due to CDV infection and olfactory neuroblastoma in a dog.
Sponge City Construction in China: A Survey of the Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Li Hui , Ding Liuqian , Ren Minglei , Li Changzhi , Wang Hong
Published: August 2017

Rapid urbanization in China has caused severe water and environmental problems in recent years. To resolve the issues, the Chinese government launched a sponge city construction program in 2015. While the sponge city construction initiative is drawing attention and is spreading fast nationwide, some challenges and risks remain. This study surveyed progress of all 30 pilot sponge cities and identified a broad array of challenges from technical, physical, regulatory, and financial, to community and institutional. The most dominant challenges involve uncertainties and risks. To resolve the issues, this study also identified various opportunities to improve China’s sponge city construction program. Based on the results, recommendations are proposed including urging local governments to adopt sponge city regulations and permits to alleviate water quality and urban pluvial flooding issues, fully measuring and accounting for economic and environmental benefits, embracing regional flexibility and results-oriented approaches, and focusing on a wider range of funding resources to finance the sponge city program. Coordination among other government agencies is critical, and this is true at all level of governments. Only through greater coordination, education, and broader funding could the sponge city program be advanced meaningfully and sustainably.
Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Water Jumping on the Local Scour beneath a Pipeline under Steady Flow
Authors: Fan Fei , Liang Bingchen , Li Yaru , Bai Yuchuan , Zhu Yanjun , Zhu Zhixia
Published: August 2017

Rigid-lid approximation is usually used to replace the free surface in scour simulation. The influence of the rigid lid assumption on the prediction precision of scour hole in steady flow is studied in this paper. Firstly, a local scour model was constructed based on the open sources Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model OpenFOAM, where both the bed load and suspended load were considered. In the present model, the bed shear stress was calculated by the Newton shear stress formula, instead of the traditional calculation method with the assumption that the flow velocity in vertical direction complies with a logarithmic distribution. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method was used to capture the free surface and a moving-mesh method was used to track the change of bed surface. Then, several experiments were chosen to validate the model, and the modeling results fitted well with the measured data. Lastly, the effect of the rigid lid assumption on surface elevation, bed shear stress and the profile of the scour hole in steady flow are studied. The result shows that the surface elevation suffers a drop above the pipeline, and the difference of surface elevation between the upstream and downstream increases with decreasing dimensionless depth. Compared with the free surface condition, the bed shear stress and scour hole depth computed with the rigid lid approximation were underestimated.
Enhanced Two Dimensional Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Model (CE-QUAL-W2) for Simulating Mercury Transport and Cycling in Water Bodies
Authors: Zhu Senlin , Zhang Zhonglong , Liu Xiaobo
Published: August 2017

CE-QUAL-W2 (W2) is a widely-used two-dimensional, laterally averaged, longitudinal/vertical, hydrodynamic and water quality model. This model was modified and enhanced to include a mercury (Hg) simulation module for simulating Hg transport and cycling in water bodies. The Hg simulation module in W2 is able to model the physical and biochemical processes including adsorption and desorption of Hg species on multi-solids, settling and resuspension, sediment burial of adsorbed Hg, diffusive exchange between water column and sediment layer, volatilization, and biogeochemical transformations among Hg species. This paper describes the Hg simulation module, W2 model validation and its application to the Xiaxi River, China, a historical Hg contaminated water body. The W2 model was evaluated using the Xiaxi River data collected in 2007 and 2008. Model results show that W2 was able to predict the total Hg and methylmercury concentrations observed for the Xiaxi River. The Xiaxi River W2 model also provides a foundation for the future investigations of Hg contamination in the Xiaxi River. This application demonstrated the W2 model capability in predicting complex transport and cycling of Hg species in water bodies.
OPERATIONAL SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE THROUGH DISTRIBUTED CLOUD COMPUTING
Authors: CRISTEA Dragos Sebastian , MOGA Liliana Mihaela , NECULITA Mihaela , PRENTKOVSKIS Olegas , MD NOR Khalil , MARDANI Abbas
Published: August 2017

This paper provides a conceptual architecture for a cloud based platform design, that implements continuously data storage and analysis services for large maritime ships, with the purpose to provide valuable insights for maritime transportation business. We do this by first identifying the need on the shipping market for such kind of systems and also the significance and impact of different factors related to shipping business processes. The architecture presented throughout this paper will be defined around some of the most currently used ICT technologies, like Amazon Cloud Services, Sql Server Databases, .NET Platform, Matlab 2016 or javascript visualization libraries. The proposed system makes possible for a maritime company to gain more knowledge for optimizing the efficiency of its operations, to increase its financial benefits and its competitive advantage. The platform architecture was designed to make possible the storage and manipulation of very large datasets, also allowing the possibility of using different data mining techniques for inferring knowledge or to validate already existent models. Ultimately, the developed methodology and the presented outcomes demonstrate a vast potential of creating better technological management systems for the shipping industry, starting from the challenges but also from the huge opportunities this sector can offer.
TRUST AS A BOOSTER
Authors: REIERSEN Jon
Published: August 2017

In his book Trust. The Evolutionary Game of Mind and Society, social psychologist Toshio Yamagishi (2011) states that trust can be viewed as a “booster rocket” that provides the necessary push for the take-off from the secure ground of committed relations. This article formalizes this idea with the help of a simple game theoretic model. The article looks at a situation where networks of personalized exchange relationships provide assurance against untrustworthy behaviour but reduce the opportunity to profit from trade in larger markets. Assuming that the anonymous market contains both trustworthy and untrustworthy types, it is demonstrated that mutual trust relations can emerge, even when there is a clear danger of opportunism and the possibility of repeated interaction is ruled out. From a more practical perspective, the model provides an insight into the role trust plays for the decision to transact in networks or markets. It is also demonstrated that networks appear as mixed blessings. Networks reduce the problems arising from incomplete contracts and behavioural risk, but they also restrict individuals’ possibility to reap potential gains produced in larger markets.
NON-EQUIDISTANT “BASIC FORM”-FOCUSED GREY VERHULST MODELS (NBFGVMS) FOR ILL-STRUCTURED SOCIO-ECONOMIC FORECASTING PROBLEMS
Authors: HASHEM-NAZARI Mohammad , ESFAHANIPOUR Akbar , FATEMI GHOMI S.M.T.
Published: August 2017

Multiple uncertainties complicate socio-economic forecasting problems, especially when relying on ill-conditioned limited data. Such problems are best addressed by grey prediction models such as Grey Verhulst Model (GVM). This paper resolves the incompatibility between GVM’s estimation and prediction by taking its basic form equation as the basis of both. The resultant “Basic Form”-focused GVM (BFGVM) is also further developed to create Direct Non-equidistant BFGVM (DNBFGVM) and, in turn, DNBFGVM with Recursive simulation (DNBFGVMR). Experimental analyses comprise 19 socio-economic time series with an emphasis on Iranian population, a low-frequency non-equidistant time series with remarkable strategic importance. Promisingly, the proposed DNBFGVM and DNBFGVMR provide accurate in-sample and out-of-sample socio-economic forecasts, show highly significant improvements over the best traditional GVM, and offer cost-effective intelligent support of decision-making. Final results suggest future trends of studied socio-economic time series. Specifically, they reveal Iranian population to grow even slower than anticipated, demanding an urgent consideration of policy-makers.
HFMADM METHOD BASED ON NONDIMENSIONALIZATION AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE EVALUATION OF INCLUSIVE GROWTH
Authors: LIU Xiaodi , WANG Zengwen , HETZLER Antoinette
Published: August 2017

Inclusive growth, which encompasses different aspects of life, is a growth pattern that allows all people to participate in and contribute to growth process. In this paper, a novel hesitant fuzzy multiple attribute decision making (HFMADM) approach based on the nondimensionalization of decision making attributes is presented and then applied to the evaluation of inclusive growth in China. Firstly, a novel generalized hesitant fuzzy distance measure is proposed to calculate the difference and deviation between two hesitant fuzzy elements (hfes) without adding any values into the shorter hesitant fuzzy element. Secondly, the coefficient of variation and efficacy coefficient method are extended to accommodate hesitant fuzzy environment and then used to cope with HFMADM. In the analysis process, non-dimensional treatment for hesitant fuzzy decision data is produced. Lastly, the method proposed in this paper is applied to an example of inclusive growth evaluation problem under hesitant fuzzy environment and the case study illustrates the practicality of the proposed method. Beyond that, a comparative analysis with some other approaches is also conducted to demonstrate the superiority and feasibility of the proposed method.
TREND ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL STOCK MARKET LINKAGE BASED ON A DYNAMIC CONDITIONAL CORRELATION NETWORK
Authors: YIN Kedong , LIU Zhe , LIU Peide
Published: August 2017

The paper analyses the trend of global stock market linkages via daily data of 51 stock indices spanning the period 22 July 2005 to 30 June 2016 which covers four regions: America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa. A dynamic conditional multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (DCC-MVGARCH) approach was used to calculate dynamic correlation coefficient in order to construct the volatility networks. The methods of minimum spanning tree (MST) and low pass filter were for the first time applied to analyze the variable periodicity of the comovement. The original contribution of this paper is that contrary to previous works, financial events such as Quantitative Easing (QE) and Bailouts are accounted for rather than only crisis factors such as the 2008 financial crisis and the European Debt crisis. The main findings of the paper are as follows: (1) Financial crisis promotes and strengthens global stock markets linkage in the short run; (2) Linkage cycles post crisis are significantly short, due to the effect of monetary policy spillover effects caused by QE from developed to developing countries; and (3) European stock markets are the information transmission hub for global stock market. The research conclusions would be significant for both government to regulate markets as well as for investors to diversify risks.
FACTOR ANALYSIS EVALUATION OF SCHEIN’S CAREER ORIENTATIONS INVENTORY IN COLOMBIA
Authors: Cortés Sánchez Julián David , Grueso Hinestroza Merlin Patricia
Published: August 2017

The Career Orientation Inventory model proposed by Edgar Schein is one of the most discussed methods for identifying individuals’ career orientations. However, there are several gaps related to its implementation for developing countries using factor analysis and digital open access data. We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis for a sample of 116 employees of a contact center in Colombia to test whether there were significant differences among career anchors (CAs) and gender, educational attainment, or age. The results show: a different number of factors from those proposed by Schein; variances in security/stability and managerial competence CAs concerning gender and educational attainment; and lifestyle is not the dominating CA in women.
Impaired Cognitive Processes Influence Expressive Language Skills In Attention Deficits
Authors: Villanueva Callyn
Published: August 2017

This research idea investigates neural interactions by utilizing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to disrupt neural activities between the frontal and temporal left hemisphere cortices in individuals when performing language related task. The initial purpose is to thoroughly examine how impaired cognitive processes alter expressive language skills in attention deficit disorder and create an experimental design suited for examination.
Helping Language Learners Put Concordance Data in Context
Authors: Jeaco Stephen
Published: August 2017

While corpus tools provide several different ways to display relationships between words within texts and across texts, the main format for viewing concordance data is Key Word in Context (KWIC). In Computer Aided Language Learning, concordance lines in KWIC format may be accessed inside a concordancer or within other software through links to corpus data. Language learners can and do gain useful insights from exploring concordance data in KWIC format, but some kinds of information may be harder to see, some patterning of use may not be so obvious, and reading of complete examples may not be very easy. The Prime Machine was developed for language learners and aims to make corpus data easier to access and interpret. This paper introduces the design of the Cards Tab, which provides an additional way of viewing concordance data. Results from three evaluations with language learners and teachers show positive attitudes towards this display.
Impact of AWE Rubrics and Automated Assessment on EFL Writing Instruction
Authors: Tang Jinlan‎ , Wu Yi'an
Published: August 2017

This paper addressed a gap in research literature on rubrics by investigating how the formative use of rubrics of an automated writing evaluation (AWE) tool, the Writing Roadmap, along with a novel type of meta-cognitive activity, i.e., automated assessment, assisted EFL writing instruction. A one-year teaching experiment incorporating the use of the tool was undertaken at the tertiary level. A mixed-methods research approach in the form of questionnaires, interviews, and the participants' interim project reports was employed to evaluate the efficacy of the teaching experiment. The research demonstrated that formative use of AWE rubrics along with automated assessment mediated writing instruction via offering timely and objective assessment, aligning teaching and assessment goals, aiding the feedback process, increasing student-teacher interactions, and promoting learner autonomy.
Growing Neural Forest-Based Color Quantization Applied to RGB Images
Authors: Benito-Picazo Jesús , López-Rubio Ezequiel , Domínguez Enrique
Published: August 2017

Although last improvements in both physical storage technologies and image handling techniques have eased image managing processes, the large amount of information handled nowadays constantly demands more efficient ways to store and transmit image data streams. Among other alternatives for such purpose, the authors find color quantization, which consists of color indexing for minimal perceptual distortion image compression. In this context, artificial intelligence-based algorithms and more specifically, Artificial Neural Networks, have been consolidated as a powerful tool for unsupervised tasks, and therefore, for color quantization purposes. In this work, a novel approach to color quantization is presented based on the Growing Neural Forest (GNF), which is a Growing Neural Gas (GNG) variation where a set of trees is learnt instead of a general graph. Experimental results support the use of GNF for image quantization tasks where it overcomes other self-organized models including SOM, GHSOM and GNG. Future work will include more datasets and different competitive models to compare to.
Predicting Room-Level Occupancy Using Smart-Meter Data
Authors: Nambi Akshay Uttama , Irawan Angga , Nurhidayat Arif , Humala Bontor , Dharmawan Tubagus Rizky
Published: August 2017

Occupancy information in buildings is a crucial information to enable automated load controlling resulting in significant energy savings. Unfortunately, current methods obtain occupancy data by using additional infrastructure, which can be expensive and inefficient. In this paper, we propose a method to predict room-level occupancy by utilizing only smart-meter data. Several classifiers are used to estimate room-level occupancy information. We identify the best feature set consisting of appliances energy data, appliances state, and house-level occupancy data. The features are obtained using only smart meter data along with non-intrusive load monitoring and house-level occupancy prediction. We show that the proposed methods can achieve up to 90% accuracy for room-level occupancy prediction using only smart meter data.
A Multinomial Logistic Regression Approach for Arrhythmia Detection
Authors: Behadada Omar , Trovati Marcello , Kontonatsios Georgios , Korkontzelos Yannis
Published: August 2017

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes on mortality in the world. Consequently, tools and methods providing useful and applicable insights into their assessment play a crucial role in the prediction and managements of specific heart conditions. In this article, we introduce a method based on multi-class Logistic Regression as a classifier to provide a powerful and accurate insight into cardiac arrhythmia, which is one of the predictors of serious vascular diseases. As suggested by our evaluation, this provides a robust, scalable, and accurate system, which can successfully tackle the challenges posed by the utilisation of big data in the medical sector.
Exploring Constrained Creative Communication
Authors: Sørensen Jannick Kirk
Published: August 2017

Creative collaboration via online tools offers a less ‘media rich' exchange of information between participants than face-to-face collaboration. The participants' freedom to communicate is restricted in means of communication, and rectified in terms of possibilities offered in the interface. How do these constraints influence the creative process and the outcome? In order to isolate the communication problem from the interface- and technology problem, we examine via a design game the creative communication on an open-ended task in a highly constrained setting, a design game. Via an experiment the relation between communicative constraints and participants' perception of dialogue and creativity is examined. Four batches of students preparing for forming semester project groups were conducted and documented. Students were asked to create an unspecified object without any exchange of communication except the placement of LEGO™ bricks.
Performance Analysis for Pareto-Optimal Green Consolidation Based on Virtual Machines Live Migration
Authors: Dhule Chetan , Shrawankar Urmila
Published: August 2017

Huge energy requirement of cloud data centers is prime concern. Dynamic Virtual Machine (VM) consolidation based on VM live migration to switched-off or put some of the under-loaded host Physical Machines (PMs) into a low power consumption mode can significantly save energy in data centers and achieve green cloud computing. Performance overheads imposed on source and destination hosts during and after VM live migration is the main focus of research. Existing VM consolidation approaches are inefficient regarding VM live migration time, application downtime, VM pre and post-migration overheads which results in Quality of Service (QoS) degradation. So, near-optimal solution which optimizes these overheads is main challenge. This paper discusses the causes of VM live migration performance overheads and comparison of different overhead optimization techniques on the basis of parameters like accuracy and migration cost. Pareto-Optimal solution is proposed to eliminate the VM performance overheads.
Service Level Agreements for Smart Healthcare in Cloud
Authors: Paul Mridul , Das Ajanta
Published: August 2017

With the advancement of Cloud computing, the adoption of cloud service in various industries is fast increasing. This is evident in the healthcare domain where the adoption is on the rise recently. However, the research contribution in this domain has been limited to certain functions. While cloud can increase availability, reachability of services, it is critical to design the healthcare service before provisioning. Besides, it is important to formulate Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure that consumers can get guaranteed service from the service provider. The objective of this paper is to design the cloud based smart services for patient diagnostics. This research specifically defines service architecture for patients, physicians and diagnostic centers. In order to measure the proposed services, metrics of each SLA parameter is described with its functional and non-functional requirements. This paper also explains a case study implementation of a basic patient service using Google App Engine.
Energy Aware Cluster Head Selection for Maximizing Lifetime Improvement in Internet of Things
Authors: Maddikunta Praveen Kumar Reddy , Madda Rajasekhara Babu
Published: August 2017

Energy efficiency is a major concern in Internet of Things (IoT) networks as the IoT devices are battery operated devices. One of the traditional approaches to improve the energy efficiency is through clustering. The authors propose a hybrid method of Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm to accomplish the efficient cluster head selection. The performance of the hybrid algorithm is evaluated using energy, delay, load, distance, and temperature of the IoT devices. Performance of the proposed method is analyzed by comparing with the conventional methods like Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and GSO algorithms. The performance of the hybrid algorithm is evaluated using of number of alive nodes, convergence estimation, normalized energy, load and temperature. The proposed algorithm exhibits high energy efficiency that improves the life time of IoT nodes. Analysis of the authors' implementation reveals the superior performance of the proposed method.
Toward Knowledge Technology Synchronicity Framework for Asynchronous Environment
Authors: Cleveland Simon , Block Gregory
Published: August 2017

While distance learning education continues to grow, online instructors face certain asynchronous uncertainties when it comes to knowledge exchange with students. To counteract such uncertainties and minimize teaching deficiencies expected to occur in asynchronous learning environments, this study examines a set of knowledge building blocks that play a role in the online knowledge exchange process. Knowledge technology synchronicity framework for asynchronous environment is proposed that integrates knowledge seeking behavior, knowledge properties, knowledge domains, knowledge types, knowledge tools, and technology synchronicity. A real-life case is provided to integrate the framework in practice.
The State of People and Knowledge in the GCC Countries per a New Index and the Future Ahead
Authors: Alfantookh Abdulkader , Bakry Saad Haj
Published: August 2017

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with their rich oil resources, are facing the problem of fallen oil prices on the one hand, and reduced oil reserves on the other. As a result, they are moving toward less dependence on oil, and increasing dependence on people and knowledge. This paper develops a wide scope “people and knowledge index (PKI)” using relevant international indicators made available by various international organizations. The index includes “ten building blocks.” Four of these blocks are concerned with the “core issues” of people and knowledge; while the other six blocks are related to the “environment issues” according to which people and knowledge interact. The paper assesses the GCC countries according to the index revealing their strengths and weaknesses, and enabling the derivation of guidelines for their future development. The resulting guidelines consider how the GCC countries can direct their future development toward a high and growing standard of living, while reducing dependence on oil. Finally, the future use of the new index is highlighted.
Framing the Conflict
Authors: Čiuladienė Gražina , Katkonienė Agata
Published: August 2017

Frame perspective can be used to contextualize action: to a certain degree it both explains, why individuals behave as they do, and emphasizes various restrictions upon individuals. “Its central feature is the experience of individuals and the organizing of experience when interacting with others” (Persson, 2015). The study aimed at revealing the ways of framing the conflict. Data were collected from undergraduate students at Mykolas Romeris University (N = 138). Findings show that most students perceived conflict in negative versus positive terms. Identifying the images of conflict students made statements mostly about the situations that have become aggressive, both verbally and physically.
Comparative Analysis of EMD and VMD Algorithm in Speech Enhancement
Authors: Ram Rashmirekha , Mohanty Mihir Narayan
Published: August 2017

Signal enhancement is useful in many areas like social, medicine and engineering. It can be utilized in data mining approach for social and security aspects. Signal decomposition method is an alternative choice due to the elimination of noise and signal enhancement. In this paper, two different algorithms such as Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) are used. The bands are updated concurrently and adaptively in each mode. That performs better than the traditional methods for non-recursive signals. Further it has been investigated that VMD outperforms EMD due to its self-optimization methods as well as adaptively using Wiener filter. It is shown in the result section. Different noise levels as 0dB, 5dB, 10dB and 15dB are considered for input signal.
Demographic Factors Associated with Online Shopping Experiences of Saudi Arabian Women
Authors: Hannon Ragad Abdulhameed , Schumm Walter Richard
Published: August 2017

Internet usage in Saudi Arabia is growing quickly; for example, e-commerce grew 300% between 2007 and 2009. However, very little research has been done considering online shopping within Middle Eastern countries, especially for Saudi Arabia. The survey relied on snowball sampling and was delivered electronically via emails. The sample analyzed here included 171 Saudi national women living in Saudi Arabia. Results show that education and income were significantly related to more frequent and extensive online shopping experiences while results were mixed for the remaining independent variables, which included age, parental status, marital status, length of employment, having a personal driver, and number of children. Implications for e-commerce in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East are discussed.
Function Projective Dual Synchronization with Uncertain Parameters of Hyperchaotic Systems
Authors: Othman A. Almatroud , Noorani M.S.M. , Al-sawalha M. Mossa
Published: August 2017

Function projective dual synchronization between two pairs of hyperchaotic systems with fully unknown parameters for drive and response systems is investigated. On the basis of the Lyapunov stability theory, a suitable and effective adaptive control law and parameters update rule for unknown parameters are designed, such that function projective dual synchronization between the hyperchaotic Chen system and the hyperchaotic Lü system with unknown parameters is achieved. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the validity and feasibility of the proposed method.
Dynamics and Improved Robust Adaptive Control Strategy for the Finite Time Synchronization of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Alain Kammogne Soup Tewa , Romanic Kengne , Bertrand Fotsin Hilaire
Published: August 2017

This letter addresses a robust adaptive control for the synchronization method based on a modified polynomial observer (slave system) which tends to follow exponentially the chaotic Colpitts circuits brought back to a topology of the Chua oscillator (master system) with perturbations. The authors derive some less stringent conditions for the exponential and asymptotic stability of adaptive robust control systems at finite time. They provide a proof of stability and convergence (hence, that synchronization takes place) via Lyapunov stability method. That is, the observer (slave system) must synchronize albeit noisy measurements and reject the effect of perturbations on the system dynamics. To highlight their contribution, the authors also present some simulation results with the purpose to compare the proposed method to the classical polynomial observer. Finally, numerical results are used to show the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Decision Making in Medical Diagnosis via Distance Measures on Interval Valued Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Dutta Palash
Published: August 2017

The uncertain and sometimes vague, imprecise nature of medical documentation and information make the field of medical diagnosis is the most important and interesting area for applications of fuzzy set theory (FST), intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS) and interval valued fuzzy set (IVFS). In this present study, first resemblance between IFS and IVFS has been established along with reviewed some existing distance measures for IFSs. Later, an attempt has been made to derive distance measures for IVFSs from IFSs and establish some properties on distance measures of IVFSs. Finally, medical diagnosis has been carried out and exhibits the techniques with a case study under this setting.
Transient Stability Enhancement for 20 MW PV Power Plant via Incremental Conductance Controller
Authors: Mohamed Rania Gamal , Ebrahim Mohamed Ahmed , Bendary Fahmy Metwally , Osman Saied Abd ALAziz
Published: August 2017

The inherited uncertainties in the Photovoltaic array (PV) system make it one of the most difficult nonlinear problems in the control theory. In this research work, a practical case study for 20 MW Egyptian PV solar power plant with battery backup system connected to the medium voltage distribution network is presented. This power plant installed in Komombo, Aswan, Egypt. The battery is used to provide the necessary power for the station's monitoring and control devices during the absence of the sun. Also, the battery system improves the steady state and dynamic behavior of PV array system. Proportional-Integral (PI) and Fractional Order Proportional-Integral (FOPI) with Incremental Conductance MPPT algorithm (IC)are used for extracting maximum power from PV power plant. The optimal gains of PI and FOPI based MPPT controllers are attained using Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO). Various types of disturbances are applied to the system to test the robustness of the systems based on the tuned controllers. The performance is promising.
A Generalized Framework for E-Contract
Authors: Tripathy Biswajit , Mishra Jibitesh
Published: August 2017

With the growth of internet technologies, e-commerce activities are growing exponentially. It is being used in different IT applications. Electronics contracting is a major part of the e-commerce activity. Contract between the exchanging sides have been adopted as a solution that guarantees the right of participants and increases mutual trust. Electronic contract (e-contract) or Trading Partner agreement (TPA) can be done between the stakeholders involved including the payment authority, buyer & seller. Since the year 1998, open buying on the internet (OBI) protocol is being used for business to business(B2B) internet commerce. XML based frameworks such as BizTalk, commerce XML, eXML, eCo frameworks are increasingly being used to bridge the gap between the buyer and seller. Multiple e-commerce standards need to be integrated in order to have a standard framework. In this paper, the authors have proposed a generalized framework for e–contract considering the domain of e-commerce like B2B, B2C & C2C into consideration.
Ivory Coast
Authors: Kouame Kouame Joseph Arthur , Yao Kouakou Alphonse , Jiang Fuxing , Feng Yu , Zhu Sitao
Published: August 2017

In Ivory Coast, mining is one of the major sources of income for local people. Because of mining, jobs have been created thus increasing employment opportunities in rural regions. Moreover, this is a job that does not require a lot of skills, so a lot of people are able to join at the same time earning huge money within a short amount of time. Not only does this occupation attract adults, children are also interested in this activity. However, the negative social impacts caused by this activity remain indisputable. Chemical products used by miners and unsanitary conditions are harmful not only to miners themselves but also to innocent local people. There is a large destruction of lands, and also prostitution, which leads to the spreading of many contagious diseases. The paper mainly focuses on the impact of artisanal gold mining and its affects to local livelihoods and the environment in Ivory Coast. Some key recommendations for addressing artisanal mining activities in order to have good options for sustainable management of mineral resources in the country will be discussed.
Quality Evaluation of Health Care Establishment Utilizing Fuzzy AHP
Authors: Azam Mohammad , Qureshi Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed , Talib Faisal
Published: August 2017

Quality evaluation of healthcare establishment (HCE) is a difficult process as it involves multiple components of quality criteria with various factors and sub-factors therein. Further, the quality criteria are not universally standardized. The subjective evaluation in itself is not reliable as a tool so that available HCEs may be investigated for selecting the best among them. Thus, to avoid vagueness and imprecision due to process of human cognition the need to evolve a useful method for evaluation of quality of HCE was essentially required. To achieve such an objective three well established HCEs from northern cities of India have been studied. An Integrated Quality Model designed for HCE (Azam et al., 2012a, 2012b) and specifically tested previously with the AHP study by the authors (Azam et al., 2015) with its components, parameters and factors sub-factors has been utilized to evaluate the quality aspects of HCEs forming subjects of the current study. Further, the standard formula of Fuzzy AHP methodology with the application of fuzzy set theory was applied to the multiple components of the quality criteria with various factors and sub-factors therein pertaining to various HCEs forming the subject of the study. Quality of the HCEs thus could be evaluated empirically avoiding vagueness due to human cognition factors. Utilizing this methodology respective rankings of HCEs could also be assigned among them with practical utility to maintain the required quality of their services. Quality evaluation of Health Care Establishment utilizing Fuzzy AHP along with fuzzy set theory is a unique method which will benefit the client patients to select the best HCE among the available alternatives of HCEs. It also helps the managers to improve the business by allocating scarce resources wherever critically required to improve various quality components criteria factors and sub-factors of their HCEs.
A Study of e-Commerce Transaction Risk Assessment Model in Mobile Internet
Authors: Huang Zhihong
Published: August 2017

With the continuous development of information technology, mobile e-commerce as a new economic and industrial mode has brought great benefits to the society. Mobile e-commerce does not need to bear the constraints of time and place, which has brought great benefits to the enterprise, from the point of trading, mobile e-commerce relies on convenient mobile terminal devices to provide convenience and unlimited trading environment for the user. However, there is a certain risk, mobile e-commerce is different from traditional e-commerce. It may bring many new problems and risks, and may lead to serious economic loss. So how to make reasonable assessment of mobile e-commerce transaction risk and then select strategy to minimize the risk is very important for the development of mobile e-commerce. In this paper, the risk of mobile e-commerce transactions is analyzed firstly, and then it uses a reasonable evaluation system to build a mobile e-commerce transactions risk assessment model. Finally, with the fact, it shows that the model has good feasibility and practical application value.
Measurement of Grid Mobile Commerce Process Based on Users
Authors: Chang Dan , Ji Xiaoling , Ma Yunfang
Published: August 2017

Aiming at defects of traditional mobile commerce process, grid management thoughts are applied in its optimization. Grid mobile commerce process measure model is put forward on the basis of mobile commerce process which studying from users' point and according to DIT (the Distance of Information-state Transition). Shopping online by mobile phone has been done in ways of traditional mobile commerce process and grid mobile commerce process respectively according to usual shopping on-line habits. Those two shopping' DIT values are measured and results are compared based on DIT theory. In conclusion, the measurement method provides a quantitative analysis thought on grid mobile commerce process, meanwhile, comparison results show that grid mobile commerce process constructed is superior to traditional mobile commerce process from a user's experience point of view.
Study on WeChat Marketing Strategy Based on the Purchase Intention of Youth Group
Authors: Zhao Jingkun , Liu Honglu , Pei Yilei
Published: August 2017

Recently, studies of WeChat Marketing Strategy based on the Purchase Intention have used TAM to help enterprises achieve high levels of marketing strategy but most have investigated only a component of TAM and neglect the role of entertainment, privacy and trustworthiness (belief in benevolence, belief in the competence, belief in the integrity) that are shown when people use WeChat. Therefore, a model that goes beyond TAM and include key relational concepts (entertainment, concern about privacy, trust,etc.) is developed. Entertainment,concern about privacy and trustworthiness are major parts of this model, which are based on strong theoretical foundations. Eleven hypotheses are formulated. Data on the constructs are collected from 384 respondents and analyzed by using regression analysis to test the hypotheses.
Factors Affecting Users' Release Behavior Intention Based on WeChat Innovation Platform
Authors: Xue Wanxin , Pei Yilei , Li Dandan , Li Yi
Published: August 2017

WeChat is a typical representative of mobile media technology, which changes the way people live and work. This paper explores influence factors of users' release behavior intention, from the perspective of recessive perception factors of technology acceptance and obvious factors of task technology fit based on the integration theory of Motivation Model theory (MM) and Need-Technology Fit theory (NTF). Some suggestions are put forward to improve users' behavior intention and actual behaviors, to provide the reference for the optimization of mobile social media information technology.
Assessment of Crystal Morphology on Uptake, Particle Dissolution, and Toxicity of Nanoscale Titanium Dioxide on Artemia Salina
Authors: Johnson Martha S. , Ates Mehmet , Arslan Zikri , Farah Ibrahim O. , Bogatu Coneliu
Published: August 2017

Knowledge of nanomaterial toxicity is critical to avoid adverse effects on human and environment health. In this study, the influences of crystal morphology on physico-chemical and toxic properties of nanoscale TiO2 (n- TiO2) were investigated. Artemia salina were exposed to anatase, rutile and mixture polymorphs of n-TiO2 in seawater. Short-term (24 h) and long-term (96 h) exposures were conducted in 1, 10 and 100 mg/L suspensions of n-TiO2 in the presence and absence of food. Anatase form had highest accumulation followed by mixture and rutile. Presence of food greatly reduced accumulation. n-TiO2 dissolution was not significant in seawater (p<0.05) nor was influenced from crystal structure. Highest toxic effects occurred in 96h exposure in the order of anatase>mixture>rutile. Mortality and oxidative stress levels increased with increasing n-TiO2 concentration and exposure time (p<0.05). Presence of food in the exposure medium alleviated the oxidative stress, indicating deprivation from food could promote toxic effects of n-TiO2 under long-term exposure.
Development and Validation of a GC-MS Method for the Quantitation of Nanoformulated Primaquine in Whole Blood and Plasma of Mouse Model
Authors: Owuor James Jorum , Oloo Florence , Ongas Martin , Kirimi Caroline , Omwoyo Wesley Nyaigoti , Gathirwa Jeremiah Waweru
Published: August 2017

A Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitation of the antimalarial drug, nanoformulated Primaquine (PQ), in whole blood and plasma. The analyte was extracted using a protein precipitation method followed by chromatographic separation on a Waters Xterra, RP C8, 2.5µm, 50mm x 4.6mm analytical column with a mobile phase consisting of A: 0.5% Formic acid in 20mM NH4COOH, B: Methanol pH adjusted to 3.0 with FA at a ratio of 3:7 (v/v), delivered at a constant flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. Mefloquine (MEF) was used as the internal standard. Compound reaction monitoring was performed using 260.4 Da for precursor ion and 175. 2 and 379.2 Da for product ions for the quantification of PQ and 379.2 Da for precursor ion and 175.2 and 379.2 Da for product ions for the quantification, respectively. Calibration curves were constructed over the concentration range 16.7–4300 ng/ml. The mean intra- and inter-assay accuracy values for the analysis of PQ in WB was 104% (%CV = 5.6) and 98.6% (%CV = 5.7), respectively. The mean intra- and inter-assay accuracy values for the analysis of PQ in plasma was 92.7% (%CV = 3.7) and 93.7% (%CV = 5.4), respectively. No significant matrix effect was observed during the method validation. The validated method was applied to an absorption study in mice, to determine and compare PQ concentrations in whole blood and plasma samples. Results of the statistical analysis using a linear mixed effects growth curve model concluded that there was no significant difference (p-value = 0.688) between WB and plasma PQ concentrations. This method utilizes a small sample volume of 20 µl, facilitating low blood collection volumes and a short chromatographic run time of 3 min which allows for high sample through put analysis.
Weight Bias and Psychosocial Implications for Acute Care of Patients With Obesity
Authors: Smigelski-Theiss Rachel , Gampong Malisa , Kurasaki Jill
Published: August 2017

Obesity is a complex medical condition that has psychosocial and physiological implications for those suffering from the disease. Factors contributing to obesity such as depression, childhood experiences, and the physical environment should be recognized and addressed. Weight bias and stigmatization by health care providers and bedside clinicians negatively affect patients with obesity, hindering those patients from receiving appropriate care. To provide optimal care of patients with obesity or adiposity, health care providers must understand the physiological needs and requirements of this population while recognizing and addressing their own biases. The authors describe psychosocial and environmental factors that contribute to obesity, discuss health care providers’ weight biases, and highlight implications for acute care of patients suffering from obesity.
Adiposity and the Role of Neuroendocrine Hormones in Energy Balance
Authors: Roff Heather , Jappy Colette
Published: August 2017

Obesity is a worldwide health concern and, given the risk for developing associated co-morbidities that increase mortality, obesity has health implications for individuals and populations. Obesity involves multifactorial regulatory mechanisms, and recognition of these mechanisms will enhance the care critical care nurses provide to their patients. This article reviews the general physiological mechanisms of energy storage and the regulation of adiposity related to key neuroendocrine hormones. The authors also highlight the implications for nursing care for critically ill patients suffering from obesity.