bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Permeation Properties and Pore Structure of Surface Layer of Fly Ash Concrete
Authors: Liu Jun , Qiu Qiwen , Xing Feng , Pan Dong
Published: May 2014

This paper presents an experimental study on the nature of permeation properties and pore structure of concrete surface layers containing fly ash. Concretes containing different dosages of fly ash as a replacement for cement (15% and 30% by weight of total cement materials, respectively) were investigated. Concrete without any fly ash added was also employed as the reference specimen. Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the surface layer properties of concrete including chloride transport, apparent water permeability and pore structure. The results demonstrate that incorporation of fly ash, for the early test period, promotes the chloride ingress at the surface layer of concrete but substituting proportions of fly ash may have little impact on it. With the process of chloride immersion, the chloride concentration at the surface layer of concrete with or without fly ash was found to be nearly the same. In addition, it is suggested that the water permeability at the concrete surface area is closely related to the fly ash contents as well as the chloride exposure time. Pore structure was characterized by means of mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The modification of pore structure of concrete submersed in distilled water is determined by the pozzolanic reaction of fly ash and the calcium leaching effect. The pozzolanic reaction was more dominant at the immersion time of 180 days while the calcium leaching effect became more evident after 270 days.
Violapyrones H and I, New Cytotoxic Compounds Isolated from Streptomyces sp. Associated with the Marine Starfish Acanthaster planci
Authors: Shin Hee , Lee Hwa-Sun , Lee Jong , Shin Junho , Lee Min , Lee Hyi-Seung , Lee Yeon-Ju , Yun Jieun , Kang Jong
Published: May 2014

Two new α-pyrone derivatives, violapyrones H (1) and I (2), along with known violapyrones B (3) and C (4) were isolated from the fermentation broth of a marine actinomycete Streptomyces sp. The strain was derived from a crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, collected from Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. The structures of violapyrones were elucidated by the analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESIMS data. Violapyrones (1–4) exhibited cytotoxicity against 10 human cancer cell lines with GI50 values of 1.10–26.12 μg/mL when tested using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. This is the first report on the cytotoxicity of violapyrones against cancer cell lines and the absolute configuration of violapyrone C.
An Unusual Conversion of Paramagnetic [3-Cl-3,3,8-{Ph2P(CH2)nPPh-µ-(C6H4-ortho)}-1,2-(CH3)2-closo-3,1,2-RuIIIC2B9H8] (n = 3 and 4) to Form the First 18-Electron P-Phenylene ortho-Cycloboronated closo-Ruthenacarboranes with a Dioxygen Ligand
Authors: Kostukovich Alexander , D'yachihin Dmitrii , Dolgushin Fedor , Smol'yakov Alexander , Godovikov Ivan , Chizhevsky Igor
Published: May 2014

Treatment of [3-Cl-3,3,8-[Ph2P(CH2)nPPh-µ-(C6H4-ortho)]-1,2-Me2-closo-3,1,2-RuIIIC2B9H8] (1, n = 3; 2, n = 4) with an excess of KOH in a 1:1 benzene/methanol mixture at room temperature in air affords new dioxygen closo-ruthenacarborane complexes [3-(η2-O2)-3,3,8-[Ph2P(CH2)nPPh-µ-(C6H4-ortho)]-1,2-Me2-closo-3,1,2-RuIIIC2B9H8] (3, n = 3) and (4, n = 4) in 42.5% and 45.8% yield respectively. The structures of dioxygen complexes 3 and 4 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The IR and multinuclear NMR data [1H, 13C{1H}, 31P{1H} and 11B{1H}] along with 2D HSQC correlation spectra for the new dioxygen closo-ruthenacarboranes are discussed.
Laccase Functionalization of Flax and Coconut Fibers
Authors: Acero Enrique , Kudanga Tukayi , Ortner Andreas , Kaluzna Iwona , De Wildeman Stefaan , Nyanhongo Gibson , Guebitz Georg
Published: May 2014

Natural fibers have gained much attention as reinforcing components in composite materials. Despite several interesting characteristics like low cost, low density, high specific properties and biodegradability they show poor compatibility with the polymer matrix. We have shown that it is possible to use a laccase from Trametes hirsuta as a biocatalyst to attach different types of functional phenolic molecules onto the fibers. A 5% incorporation of the functional molecules was achieved as measured via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in flax although it was lower in coconut fibers. In combination with different mediators it was possible to broaden the activation scope and graft hydrophobic molecules like dimer fatty amines. Among the different mediators tested 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT), 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yloxy (TEMPO) and 2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), TEMPO were the most effective achieving a 10% increase in carbon as measured by XPS.
Atmospheric Corrections for Altimetry Studies over Inland Water
Authors: Fernandes M. , Lázaro Clara , Nunes Alexandra , Scharroo Remko
Published: May 2014

Originally designed for applications over the ocean, satellite altimetry has been proven to be a useful tool for hydrologic studies. Altimeter products, mainly conceived for oceanographic studies, often fail to provide atmospheric corrections suitable for inland water studies. The focus of this paper is the analysis of the main issues related with the atmospheric corrections that need to be applied to the altimeter range to get precise water level heights. Using the corrections provided on the Radar Altimeter Database System, the main errors present in the dry and wet tropospheric corrections and in the ionospheric correction of the various satellites are reported. It has been shown that the model-based tropospheric corrections are not modeled properly and in a consistent way in the various altimetric products. While over the ocean, the dry tropospheric correction (DTC) is one of the most precise range corrections, in some of the present altimeter products, it is the correction with the largest errors over continental water regions, causing large biases of several decimeters, and along-track interpolation errors up to several centimeters, both with small temporal variations. The wet tropospheric correction (WTC) from the on-board microwave radiometers is hampered by the contamination on the radiometer measurements of the surrounding lands, making it usable only in the central parts of large lakes. In addition, the WTC from atmospheric models may also have large errors when it is provided at sea level instead of surface height. These errors cannot be corrected by the user, since no accurate expression exists for the height variation of the WTC. Alternative and accurate corrections can be computed from in situ data, e.g., DTC from surface pressure at barometric stations and WTC from Global Navigation Satellite System permanent stations. The latter approach is particularly favorable for small lakes and reservoirs, where GNSS-derived WTC at a single location can be representative of the whole lake. For non-timely critical studies, for consistency and stability, model-derived tropospheric corrections from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis ERA Interim, properly computed at surface height, are recommended. The instrument-based dual-frequency ionospheric correction may have errors related with the land contamination in the Ku and C/S bands, making it more suitable to use a model-based correction. The most suitable model-based ionospheric correction is the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) global ionosphere map (GIM) model, available after 1998, properly scaled to the altimeter height. Most altimeter products provide the GIM correction unreduced for the total electron content extending above the altitude of these satellites, thus overestimating the ionospheric correction by about 8%. Prior to 1998, the NIC09 (NOAA Ionosphere Climatology 2009) climatology provides the best accuracy.
Robust Sensing of Approaching Vehicles Relying on Acoustic Cues
Authors: Mizumachi Mitsunori , Kaminuma Atsunobu , Ono Nobutaka , Ando Shigeru
Published: May 2014

The latest developments in automobile design have allowed them to be equipped with various sensing devices. Multiple sensors such as cameras and radar systems can be simultaneously used for active safety systems in order to overcome blind spots of individual sensors. This paper proposes a novel sensing technique for catching up and tracking an approaching vehicle relying on an acoustic cue. First, it is necessary to extract a robust spatial feature from noisy acoustical observations. In this paper, the spatio-temporal gradient method is employed for the feature extraction. Then, the spatial feature is filtered out through sequential state estimation. A particle filter is employed to cope with a highly non-linear problem. Feasibility of the proposed method has been confirmed with real acoustical observations, which are obtained by microphones outside a cruising vehicle.
Novel Algorithm for Identifying and Fusing Conflicting Data in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhang Zhenjiang , Liu Tonghuan , Chen Dong , Zhang Wenyu
Published: May 2014

There is continuously increasing interest in research on multi-sensor data fusion technology. Because Dempster’s rule of combination can be problematic when dealing with conflicting data, there are numerous issues that make data fusion a challenging task, including the exponential explosion, Zadeh Paradox, and one-vote veto. These issues lead to a great difference between the fusion results and real results. This paper applies the idea of analyzing distance-based evidence conflicts, introduces the concept of vector space, and proposes a new cosine theorem-based method of identifying and expressing conflicting data. In addition, this paper proposes a new data fusion algorithm based on the degree of mutual support between beliefs, which is based on the Jousselme distance-based combination rule proposed by Deng et al. Simulation results demonstrate that the presented algorithm achieves great improvements in both the accuracy of identifying conflicting data and that of fusing conflicting data.
How can We Tackle Energy Efficiency in IoT BasedSmart Buildings?
Authors: Moreno M. , Úbeda Benito , Skarmeta Antonio , Zamora Miguel
Published: May 2014

Nowadays, buildings are increasingly expected to meet higher and more complex performance requirements. Among these requirements, energy efficiency is recognized as an international goal to promote energy sustainability of the planet. Different approaches have been adopted to address this goal, the most recent relating consumption patterns with human occupancy. In this work, we analyze what are the main parameters that should be considered to be included in any building energy management. The goal of this analysis is to help designers to select the most relevant parameters to control the energy consumption of buildings according to their context, selecting them as input data of the management system. Following this approach, we select three reference smart buildings with different contexts, and where our automation platform for energy monitoring is deployed. We carry out some experiments in these buildings to demonstrate the influence of the parameters identified as relevant in the energy consumption of the buildings. Then, in two of these buildings are applied different control strategies to save electrical energy. We describe the experiments performed and analyze the results. The first stages of this evaluation have already resulted in energy savings of about 23% in a real scenario.
Multimodal Wireless Sensor Network-Based Ambient Assisted Living in Real Homes with Multiple Residents
Authors: Tunca Can , Alemdar Hande , Ertan Halil , Incel Ozlem , Ersoy Cem
Published: May 2014

Human activity recognition and behavior monitoring in a home setting using wireless sensor networks (WSNs) provide a great potential for ambient assisted living (AAL) applications, ranging from health and wellbeing monitoring to resource consumption monitoring. However, due to the limitations of the sensor devices, challenges in wireless communication and the challenges in processing large amounts of sensor data in order to recognize complex human activities, WSN-based AAL systems are not effectively integrated in the home environment. Additionally, given the variety of sensor types and activities, selecting the most suitable set of sensors in the deployment is an important task. In order to investigate and propose solutions to such challenges, we introduce a WSN-based multimodal AAL system compatible for homes with multiple residents. Particularly, we focus on the details of the system architecture, including the challenges of sensor selection, deployment, networking and data collection and provide guidelines for the design and deployment of an effective AAL system. We also present the details of the field study we conducted, using the systems deployed in two different real home environments with multiple residents. With these systems, we are able to collect ambient sensor data from multiple homes. This data can be used to assess the wellbeing of the residents and identify deviations from everyday routines, which may be indicators of health problems. Finally, in order to elaborate on the possible applications of the proposed AAL system and to exemplify directions for processing the collected data, we provide the results of several human activity inference experiments, along with examples on how such results could be interpreted. We believe that the experiences shared in this work will contribute towards accelerating the acceptance of WSN-based AAL systems in the home setting.
Urban Flood Vulnerability and Risk Mapping Using Integrated Multi-Parametric AHP and GIS: Methodological Overview and Case Study Assessment
Authors: Ouma Yashon , Tateishi Ryutaro
Published: May 2014

This study aims at providing expertise for preparing public-based flood mapping and estimating flood risks in growing urban areas. To model and predict the magnitude of flood risk areas, an integrated Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis techniques are used for the case of Eldoret Municipality in Kenya. The flood risk vulnerability mapping follows a multi-parametric approach and integrates some of the flooding causative factors such as rainfall distribution, elevation and slope, drainage network and density, land-use/land-cover and soil type. From the vulnerability mapping, urban flood risk index (UFRI) for the case study area, which is determined by the degree of vulnerability and exposure is also derived. The results are validated using flood depth measurements, with a minimum average difference of 0.01 m and a maximum average difference of 0.37 m in depth of observed flooding in the different flood prone areas. Similarly with respect to area extents, a maximum error of not more than 8% was observed in the highly vulnerable flood zones. In addition, the Consistency Ratio which shows an acceptable level of 0.09 was calculated and further validated the strength of the proposed approach.
Synthesis of 1-[bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphine]-1’-oxazolinylferrocene ligands and their application in regio- and enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of monosubstituted allyl substrates
Authors: Lai Zeng-Wei , Yang Rong-Fei , Ye Ke-Yin , Sun Hongbin , You Shu-Li
Published: May 2014

A class of novel, easily accessible and air-stable 1-[bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphine]-1’-oxazolinylferrocene ligands has been synthesized from ferrocene. It became apparent that these ligands can be used in the regio- and enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of monosubstituted allyl substrates in a highly efficient manner. Excellent regio- and enantioselectivity could be obtained for a wide range of substrates.
Sofia entre mujeres
Authors: García Serrano Yolanda
Published: May 2014

Sofia Coppola ha tenido que luchar para lograr un reconocimiento propio como guionista y directora. Con tan sólo tres largometrajes en su haber, ha demostrado al público y a la crítica que su talento es independiente de su apellido. El aislamiento, la juventud, los hijos o el erotismo son temas coincidentes en las tres películas, donde la mujer brilla por encima de todo. Sus protagonistas nos hablan de las preocupaciones inherentes a su edad: qué hacer con el futuro, lo difícil que es amar, las primeras relaciones, el sexo, las relaciones materno-filiales, el miedo. En una palabra: la vida. Y de todo ello nos habla con personalidad propia y un punto de vista original, lo más difícil de encontrar en esta profesión.
Notas al margen: leyendo a Wisława Szymborska
Authors: Santos Care
Published: May 2014

La poetisa polaca Wisława Szymborska, premio Nobel desde 1996, califica como «la catástrofe» el galardón que la convirtió en una mujer conocida en el mundo entero. Amante de su soledad, su sencillez y las calles de la ciudad que la vio crecer –Cracovia–, ha logrado mantener su estilo de vida a pesar de todo. Su poesía se caracteriza por la ironía y la ausencia de solemnidad. En este artículo, la novelista Care Santos aborda algunos de sus textos desde una mirada personal y también cargada de lirismo.
A History of How U.S. Academics, Laws, and Business Have Created the Current Approach to Organizational Diversity with Some Ideas for Moving Forward
Authors: Tran Ben
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this chapter is to clearly define and address the original intended usage of terms among academicians, the law, and businesses regarding diversity: workforce diversity (cultural diversity and gender diversity) and global diversity (cultural diversity and multicultural diversity). The proposed comprehensive Guidelines for Diversity Training Program as common ground to shared gain takes into consideration different paradigms of various parties (academicians, politicians, and practitioners) in two ways. First, the Diversity Training Program utilizes the academicians' rhetorical definitions of diversity, incorporates the legality component of diversity, and transforms it into a functional strategy to assist firms with hiring diverse competent staffs who possess the appropriate KSAOs qualifications as common ground to shared gain. Second, the Diversity Training Program starts with diversity from the beginning (with the recruiting and selecting), supports diversity through its process (with diversity appreciation), and continues to promote diversity thereafter (with mentorship).
Preparation and Assessment of Individuals to Work with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Others
Authors: Gilpin Lorraine S.
Published: May 2014

Education, in any setting, must prepare individuals to sensitively relate to and productively collaborate with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Individuals (CLDI) on multiple levels in various contexts. Undergirded in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and constructivism, the study upon which the chapter is based, uses narrative analysis to determine resonant concepts: level appropriate key understandings derived by learners as a result of interactions (with peers and instructor, course activities and materials) within a course or program of study. Learners must unravel information, make sense of interactions, engage in critical reflection, and come to understandings upon which they act as citizens. Thus, learning takes place in the context of critical reflection and self and societal confrontations. Analysis of a capstone assignment in a course that prepares pre-service and in-service teachers to work with CLDI evidenced four clusters of resonant concepts relating to foundations of education, awareness, response, and advocacy.
Automatic Mammographic Parenchyma Classification According to BIRADS Dictionary
Authors: Anter Ahmed M. , Abu ElSoud Mohamed , Hassanien Aboul Ella
Published: May 2014

Internal density of the breast is a parameter that clearly affects the performance of segmentation and classification algorithms to define abnormality regions. Recent studies have shown that their sensitivity is significantly decreased as the density of the breast is increased. In this chapter, enhancement and segmentation process is applied to increase the computation and focus on mammographic parenchyma. This parenchyma is analyzed to discriminate tissue density according to BIRADS using Local Binary Pattern (LBP), Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrix (GLCM), Fractal Dimension (FD), and feature fusion technique is applied to maximize and enhance the performance of the classifier rate. The different methods for computing tissue density parameter are reviewed, and the authors also present and exhaustively evaluate algorithms using computer vision techniques. The experimental results based on confusion matrix and kappa coefficient show a higher accuracy is obtained by automatic agreement classification.
An Efficient System for Blocking Pornography Websites
Authors: Mahmoud Tarek M. , Abd-El-Hafeez Tarek , Omar Ahmed
Published: May 2014

The Internet is a powerful source of information. However, some of the information that is available on the Internet cannot be shown to every type of public. For instance, pornography is not desirable to be shown to children; pornography is the most harmful content affecting child safety and causing many destructive side effects. A content filter is one of more pieces of software that work together to prevent users from viewing material found on the Internet. In this chapter, the authors present an efficient content-based software system for detecting and filtering pornography images in Web pages. The proposed system runs online in the background of Internet Explorer (IE) for the purpose of restricting access to pornography Web pages. Skin and face detection techniques are the main components of the proposed system. Because the proposed filter works online, the authors propose two fasting techniques that can be used to speed up the filtering system. The results obtained using the proposed system are compared with four commercial filtering programs. The success rate of the proposed filtering system is better than the considered filtering programs.
Securing Digital Image with Authentication Code
Authors: Muraharirao Siva Charan , Das Manik Lal
Published: May 2014

The recent advances in multimedia technology demand protection of digital images from unintentional manipulation for content integrity, copyright, and ownership. Digital watermarking technique has wide acceptance in the industry for anti-piracy, ownership verification, and digital image authentication. There have been a large number of schemes in the literature proposed for digital watermarking using non-cryptographic and cryptographic primitives. Use of Least Significant Bits (LSB) is one of the oldest but classical approaches for digital image authentication. Although LSB approach is efficient, it does not provide adequate security. Cryptographic primitives such as hash function, digital signature, and message authentication codes have been used in several applications including multimedia for data authentication. Digital signature-based image authentication provides strong security, but the approach requires managing public key infrastructure, which is a costly operation. Partial data protection is also an optimal approach for protecting important data while leaving unimportant data unprotected. Considering security weakness of the LSB-based approach and cost overhead of the public key-based approach, the authors present in this chapter a digital image authentication scheme using LSB, keyed hash, and partial encryption. They show that the proposed watermarking scheme is secure and efficient in comparison to other related schemes.
A Fast New Rotation Insensitive WP-Based Method for Image Indexing and Retrieval
Authors: alZahir Saif
Published: May 2014

Large multimedia databases and digital image archival systems are being created in government, academia, military, hospitals, digital libraries, and businesses. Efficient methods to retrieve images from such large databases have become indispensable. In this chapter, the authors present a novel Wavelet Packet (WP)-based method for image identification and retrieval that enables the recovery of the original image from a database even if the image has been subjected to geometric transformations such as size-conserving rotation or flipping operations. The proposed method uses the correlation of wavelet packet coefficients to create an image signature. This signature is comprised of two parts. The first part is a short signature, SS, that represents the location of specific values of the WP coefficient correlations in each frequency band. The second portion is the basis signature of the image, which is a long signature, LS, of 1296 correlation points produced by summing up the correlation values along all frequency bands. Computer simulation results show that the method is extremely fast, has a perfect image retrieval rates (100%), and perfect geometric transformations recognition, if any. In addition, the simulation results show that target images are perfectly identified from an image database of 7500 image signatures within a short period of time (nearly 8 seconds on the average). This method is robust against geometric transformation and requires minimal data transfer and can be used for online image retrieval.
Security Issues in Tactical Software-Defined Radios
Authors: da Silva Fabrício A. B. , Moura David F. C. , Galdino Juraci F.
Published: May 2014

In recent years, the development of radio communication technology solutions has experienced a huge paradigm change – the Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technology upspring, in which previously hardware-based features became software-defined and users may also introduce new application waveforms on-the-fly. Given its growing importance for SDR application vendors and developers in different project domains, one of first steps in engineering a secure SDR system is the identification of classes of attacks on a SDR, along with the associated threats and vulnerabilities. Therefore, the identification of classes of attacks is necessary for the definition of realistic and relevant security requirements. One contribution of this chapter is to identify classes of attacks that Software Communications Architecture (SCA) compliant Software-Defined Radios (SDR) can suffer. It is noteworthy that, with the advancement of technology, new vulnerabilities emerge every day, and with them, new forms of threats and attacks on systems. The authors intend, however, to highlight in this chapter the classes of attacks that are more relevant for tactical software-defined radios, taking into account expected losses for legitimate radio network users. They also discuss, in this chapter, mitigation strategies for several identified attacks and how attack mitigation strategies can affect a SCA-compliant operating environment. Finally, the authors present several case studies, along with simulation results, illustrating the identified attack classes.
A Multi-Hop Software Update Method for Resource Constrained Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Laukkarinen Teemu , Määttä Lasse , Suhonen Jukka , Hännikäinen Marko
Published: May 2014

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) require automated over the air software updates for fixing errors or adding new features. Reprogramming nodes manually is often impractical or even impossible. Current update methods require an external memory, additional computation, and/or external WSN transport protocol. In this chapter, the authors propose Program Image Dissemination Protocol (PIDP) for WSNs. Combining PIDP with an application description language provides a complete method for WSN firmware management. PIDP is reliable, lightweight, and supports multi-hopping. PIDP does not require external memory, is independent of the WSN implementation, transfers firmware reliably, and reprograms the whole program memory. In addition, PIDP allows several levels of WSN node heterogeneity. PIDP was implemented on an 8-bit node platform with a 2.4 GHz radio. Implementation requires 22 bytes of data memory and less than 7 kilobytes of program memory. PIDP updates 178 nodes within 5 hours. One update consumes under 1% of the energy of two AA batteries.
Asymmetric Link Routing in Location-Aware Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks
Authors: Mitra Pramita , Poellabauer Christian
Published: May 2014

Recent experimental research has revealed that the link conditions in realistic wireless networks vary significantly from the ideal disk model, and a substantial percentage of links are asymmetric. Many existing geographic routing protocols fail to consider asymmetric links during neighbor discovery and thus discount a significant number of potentially stable routes with good one-way reliability. This chapter provides a detailed overview of a number of location-aware routing protocols that explicitly use asymmetric links in routing to obtain efficient and shorter (low latency) routes. An asymmetric link routing protocol, called Asymmetric Geographic Forwarding (A-GF) is discussed in detail. A-GF discovers asymmetric links in the network, evaluates them for stability (e.g., based on mobility), and uses them to improve the routing efficiency.
Information Filter-Assisted Indoor Bluetooth Positioning
Authors: Chen Liang , Kuusniemi Heidi , Chen Yuwei , Pei Ling , Liu Jingbin , Tang Jian , Ruotsalainen Laura , Chen Ruizhi
Published: May 2014

This chapter studies wireless positioning using a network of Bluetooth signals. Fingerprints of Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI) are used for localization. Due to the relatively long interval between the available consecutive Bluetooth signal strength measurements, the authors applied an information filter method with speed detection, which combines the estimation information from the RSSI measurements with the prior information from the motion model. Speed detection is assisted to correct the outliers of position estimation. The field tests show the effectiveness of the information filter-assisted positioning method, which improves the horizontal positioning accuracy of indoor navigation by about 17% compared to the static fingerprinting positioning method, achieving a 4.2 m positioning accuracy on the average, and about 16% improvement compared to the point Kalman filter. In RSSI fingerprinting localization, building a fingerprint database is usually time-consuming and labour-intensive. In the final section, a self-designed autonomous SLAM robot platform is introduced to be able to carry out the Bluetooth RSS data collecting.
Model-Based Testing of Highly Configurable Embedded Systems
Authors: Streitferdt Detlef , Kantz Florian , Nenninger Philipp , Ruschival Thomas , Kaul Holger , Bauer Thomas , Hussain Tanvir , Eschbach Robert
Published: May 2014

This chapter reports the results of a cycle computer case study and a previously conducted industrial case study from the automation domain. The key result is a model-based testing process for highly configurable embedded systems. The initial version of the testing process was built upon parameterizeable systems. The cycle computer case study adds the configuration using the product line concept and a feature model to store the parameterizable data. Thus, parameters and their constraints can be managed in a very structured way. Escalating demand for flexibility has made modern embedded software systems highly adjustable. This configurability is often realized through parameters and a highly configurable system possesses a handful of those. Small changes in parameter values can often account for significant changes in the system's behavior, whereas in some other cases, changed parameters may not result in any perceivable reaction. The case studies address the challenge of applying model-based testing to configurable embedded software systems in order to reduce development effort. As a result of the case studies, a model-based testing process was developed. This process integrates existing model-based testing methods and tools such as combinatorial design and constraint processing as well as the product line engineering approach. The testing process was applied as part of the case studies and analyzed in terms of its actual saving potentials, which turned out to reduce the testing effort by more than a third.
Classification-Based Optimization of Dynamic Dataflow Programs
Authors: Yviquel Hervé , Casseau Emmanuel , Wipliez Matthieu , Gorin Jérôme , Raulet Mickaël
Published: May 2014

This chapter reviews dataflow programming as a whole and presents a classification-based methodology to bridge the gap between predictable and dynamic dataflow modeling in order to achieve expressiveness of the programming language as well as efficiency of the implementation. The authors conduct experiments across three MPEG video decoders including one based on the new High Efficiency Video Coding standard. Those dataflow-based video decoders are executed onto two different platforms: a desktop processor and an embedded platform composed of interconnected and tiny Very Long Instruction Word-style processors. The authors show that the fully automated transformations presented can result in a 80% gain in speed compared to runtime scheduling in the more favorable case.
Sense of Community
Authors: Kommers Piet
Published: May 2014

This chapter addresses the relation community-society in the case of Web-based constellations; how is society represented if we meet Web-based communities? Why are Web-based societies kept invisible while Web-communities emerge as a quasi-natural consequence of Web presence? Did Web-communities flourish because society is absent on the Web? How can we expect the equivalent of societies to penetrate life on the Web? Will there be rules on pre-emptive strike of cyber hackers? etc.
Microeconomics of Education and the Effect of Government Intervention
Authors: Bishop Jonathan
Published: May 2014

While the concept of Classroom 2.0 has been around for over a decade, the concept of electronic and distance learning as a mode to improve education outcomes has existed ever since the first broadcast of television programs carrying educational content. The governments in the United Kingdom have always sought to intervene in education, whether this has been allowing schools to opt-out of local authority control with grant-maintained schools under Margaret Thatcher, co-operative trusts under Tony Blair, or free schools under David Cameron. Not all government interventions are as successful. Homogenized one-size-fits-all education based on catchment areas such as Comprehensive Schools and state-run projects like the UK e-University have been shown to lack the return on investment of Specialist and Independent Schools and the Open University. This chapter reviews some of the microeconomic models used by governments to intervene in the market for instructional services, including e-participation in education, namely Classroom 2.0. It also looks at some of the possibilities of Classroom 2.0 in education systems that have been affected by UK and respective devolved government's education policy.
Using the Internet to Make Local Music More Available to the South Wales Community
Authors: Bishop Jonathan , Mannay Lisa
Published: May 2014

Wales is the “land of the poets so soothing to me,” according to its national anthem. The political and economic landscape does not on the whole provide for the many creative people that are in Welsh communities. Social media Websites like MySpace and YouTube as well as Websites like MTV.com, eJay, and PeopleSound, whilst providing space for artists to share their works, but do not usually consider the needs of local markets, such as in relation to Welsh language provision through to acknowledgement of Welsh place names and Wales's status as a country. The chapter finds that there are distinct issues in relation to presenting information via the Web- or Tablet-based devises and suggests some of the considerations needed when designing multi-platform environments.
Blackout in the Name of Sunshine
Authors: Sherman William R.
Published: May 2014

Local governments, and particularly local public officials, have adopted online social networking tools en masse in an effort to communicate with constituents. As this chapter shows, the resulting information flow consists of communication from the public official to constituents, from constituents to the public official, and among constituents, but in the context of the public official's social network. This environment constitutes a “civic social network,” which operates as the new public square. Many local governments, however, are attempting to bar officials' use of civic social networks because they risk violation of open government laws, such as open meeting and open records laws. This effort to stifle valuable civic communication harms norms of transparency and accountability – the very values that open government laws should promote. These laws should be revised or reinterpreted to allow civic social networks to fulfill their promise as the new public square.
Collaborative Response Model on Business Event of Multi-Core Enterprise Cluster for SaaS Platform
Authors: Shuying Wang , Shuai Cao , Sun Yufang
Published: May 2014

To achieve the needs of business collaboration between business-related multi-core enterprise clusters based on Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, a multi-core management mechanism based on single-core collaboration relationship and business-related multi-core collaboration relationships were erected for the modern industrial system. On base of implicit authority of business functions, a collaborative response model on business event of multi-core enterprise cluster for SaaS platform was established, and an event-based business collaboration process and its algorithms for multi-core enterprise cluster were presented. The model and algorithms had been used in quality problems of auto warranty which needs multi-agent collaborative diagnosis. Business-related agents include after-sales provider, OEM, the assembly parts supplier and the culprit supplier could collaborative diagnosis on base of the SaaS platform.
Dynamic FCFS ACM Model for Risk Assessment on Real Time Unix File System
Authors: Patra Prashant Kumar , Pradhan Padma Lochan
Published: May 2014

The access control is a mechanism that a system grants, revoke the right to access the object. The subject and object can able to integrate, synchronize, communicate and optimize through read, write and execute over a UFS. The access control mechanism is the process of mediating each and every request to system resources, application and data maintained by a operating system and determining whether the request should be approve, created, granted or denied as per top management policy. The AC mechanism, management and decision is enforced by implementing regulations established by a security policy. The management has to investigate the basic concepts behind access control design and enforcement, point out different security requirements that may need to be taken into consideration. The authors have to formulate and implement several ACM on normalizing and optimizing them step by step, that have been highlighted in proposed model for development and production purpose. This research paper contributes to the development of an optimization model that aims and objective to determine the optimal cost, time and maximize the quality of services to be invested into security model and mechanisms deciding on the measure components of UFS. This model has to apply to ACM utilities over a Web portal server on object oriented and distributed environment. This ACM will be resolve the uncertainty, un-order, un formal and unset up (U^4) problems of web portal on right time and right place of any where & any time in around the globe. It will be more measurable and accountable for performance, fault tolerance, throughput, bench marking and risk assessment on any application.
Leadership for the church: The shepherd model
Authors: Resane K. Thomas
Published: May 2014

The scope of this article is to expand the shepherd model of leadership functions as portrayed by the shepherd metaphor. The identification and the biblical usage of the shepherd and the sheep is explored, with special focus on the role of the shepherd. This role is identified as that of caring, courage, and guidance. The caring function includes activities such as restoration, feeding, watering, grooming, shearing, delivering lambs, leading, and protection. The function of courage focuses on activities of assuming responsibility, serving and participating in change. The function of guidance gives a special highlight on hodegos [leader or guide] – to lead or to guide in regard to a decision or future course of action. This is where the leadership training is based. The conclusion is the call for leaders in the ecclesiastical community to pursue the shepherd-leader model for the advance and the effectiveness of the mission Dei [mission of God] in the world.
Positive Sociology and Appreciative Empathy: History and Prospects
Authors: Thin Neil
Published: May 2014

This paper explores the contributions of sociology (and overlapping disciplines such as anthropology, social policy, and cultural studies) to happiness scholarship from the Enlightenment through to the present day. Pre-20th century thinkers whose work led to the formation of social science tended to take the theme of happiness seriously as a central challenge of social scholarship. Over the past century, sociologists have made important contributions to understanding happiness, although its absence from textbooks, encyclopedias, and conferences suggests that happiness has never been a major theme in mainstream sociology. The discipline's role in happiness scholarship could be greatly strengthened through more systematic and explicit approaches, especially in qualitative research. These will doubtless be developed soon, as sociology catches up with the other social sciences (most notably psychology and economics) that have already made great progress in convincing general publics and politicians that something so elusive as happiness can be analysed and assessed in robust and illuminating ways. A ‘happiness lens’ is recommended as a way of making sociology more transparent regarding its contributions to understanding and promoting good societies and good lives. This lens complements pathologism with positivity; insists on empathic effort to respect first-person subjectivity; and promotes holism and lifecourse perspectives.
Cognitive, Affective and Eudemonic Well-Being in Later Life: Measurement Equivalence over Gender and Life Stage
Authors: Vanhoutte Bram , Nazroo James
Published: May 2014

The hedonic view on well-being, consisting of both cognitive and affective aspects, assumes that through maximizing pleasurable experiences, and minimizing suffering, the highest levels of well-being can be achieved. The eudemonic approach departs from the concept of a good life that is not just about pleasure and happiness, but involves developing one-self, being autonomous and realizing one's potential. While these approaches are often positioned against each other on theoretical grounds, this paper investigates the empirical plausibility of this two dimensional view on subjective well-being. The interrelations between common measures such as the General Health Questionnaire, the CES-D inventory of depressive symptoms, the satisfaction with life scale and the eudemonic CASP scale are examined in a confirmatory factor analysis framework using the third wave of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). A multidimensional structure of well-being, distinguishing cognitive, affective and eudemonic well-being, is shown to be the best fitting empirical solution. This three dimensional second order structure is neutral to gender in its measurement. A lower influence of feeling energetic on self-actualisation, and of somatic symptoms of depression on affective well-being was noted for respondents in the fourth age () in comparison to respondents in the third age (). These small measurement artefacts underline that somatic symptoms of later life depression should be distinguished from mood symptoms. Two main social facts are confirmed when we compare the different forms of well-being over gender and life stage: men tend to have a higher level of well-being than women, and well-being is lower in the fourth age than in the third age. Although the three measures are very closely related, with high correlations between .74 and .88, they each have their specific meaning. While affective and cognitive well-being emphasize the use of an internal yardstick to measure well-being, the eudemonic perspective adds an external dimension. As each measure has an own story to tell, we advocate the use of these multiple assessments of well-being.
Learning to be Affected: Masculinities, Music and Social Embodiment
Authors: De Boise Sam
Published: May 2014

Connell's concept of hegemonic masculinity remains a pervasive influence in critical studies on men and masculinities (CSMM). However as Connell and Messerschmidt note, one of the key drawbacks of the approach is that it lacks an adequate theory of ‘social embodiment’. Subsequent authors have explored how masculinities entail bodily control and regulation but this often reproduces the Cartesian divide between mind and body that CSMM is highly critical of. On the other hand, poststructuralist critiques often see the body as entirely constructed through discourse, undermining the problem of gendered, embodied experience. This article suggests that literature on affect is a means of moving between these two approaches in order to see masculinities as corporeally experienced through power relations, but ultimately not entirely reducible to them. Drawing on 6 life history case studies from a larger research project, the article demonstrates how ‘learning to be affected’ by music is an embodied process which relies fundamentally on learning physiological experience through social interaction. This highlights the potential for both re-producing and transforming gendered performances and offers a new theoretical framework for conceptualising masculinities in the field of CSMM.
Where Happiness Varies: Recalling Adam Smith to Critically Assess the UK Government Project Measuring National Well-Being
Authors: Eichhorn Jan
Published: May 2014

This paper provides a constructive critique of the work on the Office for National Statistic's Measuring National Well-being project. Recalling Adam Smith's work on happiness highlights how the work in this project, as well as most of the dominant work in the field remains based on an economic utility model of well-being, failing to distinguish between individual- and aggregate-based levels of analysis and continuing to postulate well-being as a form of utility that essentially is the outcome of market interactions only. Using data from the first wave of Understanding Society, this paper will investigate the appropriateness of the approach empirically. A breakdown of the variation in life-satisfaction shows that ranking a split of the UK into 36 regions has little meaning, as there is hardly any variation of life-satisfaction at the regional level. Using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA), an alternative way of engaging with the cross-regional analysis is presented.