bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women at Sea: modesty, privacy, and sexual misconduct of passengers and sailors aboard Islamic ships
Authors: Khalilieh Hassan S.
Published: December 2012

Este artículo trata de la actitud de la ley islámica acerca del transporte marítimo de las mujeres y de cómo las autoridades jurídicas musulmanas consideraban su presencia en los barcos. Discute las condiciones bajo las cuales las mujeres eran acomodadas y tratadas en los barcos así como el comportamiento personal y social que se esperaba de ellas. Con el fin de aplicar la ética islámica y las normas marítimas, los juristas informaban a los armadores, tripulaciones y pasajeros de cómo actuar en el caso de comportamiento inmoral por alguna o varias de las partes. El trabajo se centra en el Mediterráneo Islámico, pero trata brevemente el castigo de la conducta social ofensiva en la Malasia islámica del siglo XIII. Por último, considera también la posición legal islámica sobre el transporte de musulmanes en barcos cristianos.
«Wa-waṣalnā ‘alā barakat Allāh ilā Īgīlīz»: à propos de la localisation d’Īgīlīz-Des-Harġa, le Ḥiṣn du Mahdī Ibn Tūmart
Authors: Van Staëvel Jean-Pierre , Fili Abdallah
Published: December 2012

El artículo se propone rebatir la propuesta que planteó Allen Fromherz en uno de los últimos números de Al-Qanṭara, al identificar Īgīlīz-Des-Harġa, lugar de nacimiento de Ibn Tūmart y primer foco de la revolución almohade, con la localidad de Īglī, ubicada en el valle del Sous. Al juntar el estudio de la documentación escrita, la evocación historiográfica de los pocos estudios eruditos dedicados a este yacimiento desconocido, con los primeros elementos de una encuesta de geografía histórica y arqueológica en curso, la presente contribución pretende demostrar : 1.º) que la teoría de Fromherz adolece de errores de apreciación de los materiales históricos empleados ; 2.º) que el pueblo natal de Ibn Tūmart no se ubica en el valle del Sous, sino en el Anti-Atlas central, tal como ya demostraron Huici Miranda y D. Jacques- Meunié ; 3.º) que el yacimiento de Īgīlīz-Des-Harġa, del cual se avanza aquí una ubicación precisa, encierra entre otros elementos un lugar fortificado de altura que sirvió de refugio a Ibn Tūmart y los miembros de su tribu durante los primeros enfrentamientos contra los Almorávides. Finalmente, se da una breve descripción arqueológica de los vestigios de este yacimiento inédito hasta ahora.
Orígen del corónimo Rayya
Authors: Correa José A.
Published: December 2012

No disponible.
Derecho y Religión en las monedas del Occidente Islámico. Presentación
Authors: Peña Martín Salvador , Vega Martín Miguel
Published: December 2012

No disponible.
La formalización del poder de los mulūk de Denia (siglo V h./XI d.C.) .
Authors: Retamero Félix
Published: December 2012

En este artículo se trata la formalización del poder político de las nuevas dinastías (mulūk al-ṭawā’if) que gobernaron en al-Andalus tras la desaparición del califato omeya. Para ello se ha tenido en cuenta el análisis de las inscripciones que aparecen en las monedas emitidas por estas dinastías, específicamente la de los ‘Āmiríes instalados en Denia, que acuñaron primeramente en Elota y treinta años después en la misma Denia y en Mallorca. Tanto las variables inscripciones reconociendo la autoridad de un imām, como los nombres inscritos de miembros de las familias gobernantes o del séquito palatino revelan de manera conspicua esta nueva legalidad, finalmente cuestionada.
Esclavos musulmanes en los hospitales de cautivos de la Orden Militar de Santiago (siglos XII y XIII)
Authors: Echevarría Arsuaga Ana
Published: December 2012

Las órdenes militares dispusieron desde su fundación de mano de obra esclava en sus tierras, pero la institución que mejor sirve para estudiar la esclavitud en los siglos XII y XIII en los reinos de León y Castilla son los hospitales para la redención de cautivos de la Orden de Santiago. Estas instituciones disponían de espacio para alojar a los cautivos mientras se negociaban rescates con los poderes islámicos, y atendían a la redistribución de aquellos musulmanes que, por no haber sido redimidos, pasaban a ser esclavos de la propia orden o a ser vendidos en los mercados de los reinos cristianos. Los escasos documentos de la sección de Órdenes Militares del Archivo Histórico Nacional dedicados a esclavos ayudan a comprender el funcionamiento del tráfico, trabajo y liberación de este colectivo.
Laṭā’if, Parénesis y profetas: una revisión del manuscrito de la Junta Kitāb laṭā’if al-Anbiy’ wa-fhi Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyā’
Authors: Ben-Ari Shosh
Published: December 2012

Trabajando sobre el género de “Historias de los Profetas” (Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyā’) en el proceso de elaboración de mi tesis sobre Abraham en la literatura islámica, el profesor J. Sadan me envió un manuscrito que había localizado en la British Library relacionado con este género. Posteriormente encontré versiones similares de la misma composición, lo que me animó a profundizar mi investigación sobre sus orígenes. La obra está próxima a la literatura de predicación (wa‘ẓ), que se ocupa principalmente de la educación moral, pero también incluye historias. Me planteé la posibilidad de que éste formarse un género que hubiera surgido como una ayuda, un material auxiliar concebido para entender la tradición oral y los estudios religiosos para, posteriormente, convertirse en un género independiente, más cercano a la Parénesis o al Specula Regis (Espejos de príncipes). Describiré el manuscrito para intentar alcanzar una conclusión sobre ciertas cuestiones: ¿es éste un género literario diferente?, ¿se trata de un género educativo o solamente es una versión simplificada de historias para ilustrar a niños o principiantes de la lengua árabe?, ¿buscaría el autor un nombre original para su compilación, haciendo referencia al reducido tamaño de la colección y descartando el de Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyā’ por ser conocido?
Granada en los atlas náuticos de al-Šarafī, e identificación de un modelo mallorquín para al-Mursī
Authors: Herrera Casais Mónica
Published: December 2012

La identificación de Granada con el icono del fruto del granado en los atlas náuticos de al-Šarafī (1551, 1571) alimenta una imagen evocadora del reino nazarí, a la vez que solidaria con los exiliados moriscos en el contexto de la defensa turco-otomana del Islam en el Mediterráneo. Tanto la imagen de Granada como de la Sierra de Segura en la cartografía náutica mediterránea plantea interesantes cuestiones de tipo conceptual y estilístico pero, sobre todo, documenta la interacción entre las tradiciones magrebí-andalusí y mallorquina. La carta de al-Mursī (1461) se presenta aquí como testimonio de ello.
Fuentes de la Filāḥa fārisiyya
Authors: Carabaza Julia Mª , García Expiración
Published: December 2012

En este artículo se tratan las fuentes que aparecen en la Filāḥa fārisiyya, obra de Casiano Baso Escolástico, de la que hasta el momento no existe ninguna edición árabe. Para ello, se ha partido de dos manuscritos: el número 540 de la Bibliotheca Universitatis Leidensis y el Selden Superius 21 de la Bodleian Library. De ambos se analiza brevemente su contenido y, tras el estudio pormenorizado de los diferentes autores, se aborda la transmisión de esta obra agronómica al mundo andalusí, principalmente a través de la figura del geópono Ibn al-‘Awwām. Finalmente, y a modo de conclusión, se destacan una serie de cuestiones relativas al citado estudio y se plantean algunos aspectos problemáticos conectados con dichas fuentes de información.
«I remember a Mahometan story of Ahmed ben Edris»: usos librepensadores del islam desde Stubbe a Toland
Authors: Champion Justin
Published: December 2012

Este artículo explora el contexto intelectual y las fuentes eruditas de un manuscrito clandestino, que ha pasado inadvertido hasta la fecha, que en 1701 pertenecía a Charles Hornby y que incluía una versión de la obra polémica de Henry Stubbe Account of the rise and progress of Mahometanism, además de una traducción de los siete primeros capítulos de la obra en castellano de Muḥammmad Alguazir (fl. 1610) Apología contra la ley Cristiana. El artículo propone examinar cómo las polémicas islámicas anticristianas fueron encontradas, utilizadas y cuestionadas, tanto por personajes librepensadores, como Stubbe y Toland, como por los estudiosos más ortodoxos. Para tal fin establece los distintos hábitos en la citación y utilización de la erudición “orientalista” que se emplearon entre 1650 y 1720, prestando especial atención a las grandes obras de Hotttinger y Pococke. El artículo argumenta que los librepensadores fueron perfectamente capaces de apropiarse de aspectos tanto de la erudición cristiana como de la teología islámica (en particular la que criticaba la corrupción paulina de la doctrina y las escrituras sagradas) para sus fines antireligiosos.
Los libros de los moriscos y los eruditos orientales
Authors: García-Arenal Mercedes , Rodríguez Mediano Fernando
Published: December 2012

Pretendemos, en este trabajo, mostrar cómo la erudición orientalista de árabes cristianos venidos a España desde Oriente (a través de Italia) se aproximó a la literatura de los moriscos, cómo la entendió y para qué la utilizó. Mostramos que estos eruditos, de entre los que elegimos los casos de Marcos Dobelio y Miguel Casiri, no pudieron realizar su trabajo orientalista, que se basa en una fuerte vinculación con los manuscritos árabes de la Biblioteca de El Escorial, sin evitar el problema morisco en forma de su producción escrita aparecida en diversos fondos requisados por la Inquisición. Sus saberes y su actividad sirven para trazar los contornos amplios de una historia intelectual de la lengua árabe en Europa, en la que el hecho morisco es interpretado en función de sus variables lingüsticas y doctrinales, a partir de la constitución de una disciplina erudita (el orientalismo), en medio de las polémicas religiosas entre Reforma y Contrarreforma, a partir, en fin, de la historia de la disidencia religiosa y del escepticismo en la Europa Moderna.
Dos fragmentos inéditos del volumen II del Muqtabis de Ibn Ḥayyān
Authors: Penelas Mayte , Molina Luis
Published: December 2012

No disponible
The Environment as Part of the E-Government Agenda
Authors: Gil-Egui Gisela , Vásquez William F. , Mebus Alissa M. , Sherrier Sarah C.
Published: December 2012

This paper explores national governments’ prioritization of environmental matters within their e-government websites, in order to provide empirical evidence related to the way “green” issues are articulated in different countries’ policymaking agendas. Through a multi-pronged methodological approach combining frame analysis, factor analysis, inferential statistics, and qualitative interpretation, explicit and visual allusions related to environmental policies, initiatives, challenges, and agencies in the home page or main portal of the national governments for 189 UN members were coded. Results show that only 39.1% of the analyzed e-government sites included environmental references, and no strong pattern characterized the framing of environmental concerns by governments. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that GDP per capita and contribution to global CO2 emissions have more weight than other variables in a nation’s propensity to highlight environmental issues within their e-government websites. Findings are discussed in light of framing theory, as well as in light of implications for governments’ public image and for actual environmental advocacy.
Transforming Public-Private Networks
Authors: de Winne Niels , Janssen Marijn , Bharosa Nitesh , van Wijk Remco , Hulstijn Joris
Published: December 2012

Companies are required by law to report all kinds of information to various public agencies. Since most public agencies are autonomous and define their information demands independent of each other, companies have to report information to various agencies in different ways. Accordingly, governments are initiating programs that aim to transform business-to government information exchange to reduce the administrative burden for companies and improve the accountability at the same time. Yet little research is available on the type of transformations needed and the role of the infrastructure. Drawing on a case study, this paper investigates the interplay between technical infrastructure and transformation. In this case study an information brokerage infrastructure based on the Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) was developed providing a one stop shop for companies and public agencies. The case study shows that the infrastructure should be flexible enough to accommodate changes over time but stable enough to attract a large user-base. The increase in efficiency and effectiveness of information exchange processes requires extensive transformation from both public and private parties.
Designing and Implementing Online Collaboration Tools in West Africa
Authors: Bentley Caitlin M.
Published: December 2012

This chapter explores how the Web 2.0 principle of the Web as a platform was applied in the context of a development aid-funded project aimed to enhance online collaboration capacities of 17 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in five West African Nations. The main issues confronted in the project related to the linear project design and a misconceptualisation of technology as an input, thus separating the design and implementation processes from the ultimate collaboration aims that are desired outcomes. It is therefore argued that technology-mediated collaboration initiatives within development cooperation contexts can draw from underlying Web 2.0 principles, but that these principles could more usefully be linked to development concepts in order to further enable critical reflection by primary stakeholders, so as to include them in all aspects of technology design. By focusing less on technology provision and more on the capacity of users to assess their own emergent needs has potentially more important long-term collaboration impacts.
The Use of Web 2.0 Technologies by Students from Developed and Developing Countries
Authors: Pillay Nuddy
Published: December 2012

Web 2.0 technologies have not had the impact many perceived they would in many higher learning institutions in both developing and developed countries. Its potentiality has hardly been realised. Great strides have been made in designing and using Web 2.0 technologies to help students learn in the cognitive (mental), behavioural (psychomotor), and affective (feeling) domains. The major challenge is the application of Web 2.0 technologies to the conative (will) domain, which relates to an individual’s intrinsic motivation to achieve goals. Students’ participation in the Web 2.0 learning environment is influenced by their cultural background, language proficiency, communication style, socio-economic and technological circumstances, learning styles, and prior knowledge. This chapter explores the participation from various groups of students from developed and developing countries. These students are located in learning environments within a tertiary institute, which are facilitated by Web 2.0 technologies. It observes that the students’ learning and successful participation in the Web 2.0 environment largely depends on the state of student’s conative domain and the interface between their cultural background and learning preference.
A Framework for Multidimensional Real-Time Data Analysis
Authors: Catley Christina , Smith Kathy , McGregor Carolyn , James Andrew , Eklund J. Mikael
Published: December 2012

In this paper, the authors present a framework to support multidimensional analysis of real-time physiological data streams and clinical data. The clinical context for the case study demonstration is neonatal intensive care, focusing specifically on the detection of episodes of central apnoea, a clinically significant problem. The model accounts for the multidimensional and real-time nature of apnoea of prematurity and the associated clinical rules. The framework demonstration includes: 1) defining rules that quantify concurrent behaviours between multiple synchronous data streams and asynchronous data values; 2) designing UML models to define present practice event processing for episodes of apnoea; 3) translating the model in SPADE to enable the deployment within the real-time processing layer of the Artemis platform, which utilizes IBM’s InfoSphere Streams; 4) demonstrating knowledge discovery with simple and complex temporal abstractions of the data streams; and 5) presenting results for early detection of episodes of apnoea across multiple physiological data streams.
The Role of Consumer Innovativeness and Trust for Adopting Internet Phone Services
Authors: Park JungKun , Chung Te-Lin , Hur Won-Moo
Published: December 2012

The Internet phone, which was recently introduced to the communication market, is characterized by its lower cost and increased compatibility. However, its popularity and diffusion is relatively low in the North American market compared with Asian or European markets. This study examines the adoption of Internet phone service in Korea to develop a better understanding of consumers’ acceptance of the Internet phone service application. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model (UTAUT) is used as theoretical background with two additional constructs (consumer innovativeness and perceived trust) in the proposed model. Using a mail survey with 437 responses collected in Korea, the results indicate that consumers’ trust is the major factor affecting adoption of new phone service. The results also indicate that consumers’ innovativeness would influence the effects of trust and facilitating conditions toward intention to use. The performance expectancy shows a dominant effect on trust toward phone services. Although effort expectancy and social influence also significantly contribute to consumers’ trust, the effects are relatively minor. The effect of performance expectancy would be stronger on consumers with lower income.
Examining Behavioral Intention Toward Mobile Services
Authors: Zarmpou Theodora , Saprikis Vaggelis , Vlachopoulou Maro
Published: December 2012

This study presents a conceptual model that combines perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, innovativeness, trust, demographic characteristics and relationship drivers in order to examine their influence on the mobile services’ adoption intention. The proposed model is empirically tested using data collected from a survey with questionnaires conducted in Greece. The results are analyzed through factor analysis, stepwise regression analysis, and ANOVAs. The findings show that individuals’ innovativeness, their educational level, and the relationship ties between the users and the mobile services are key factors to encourage m-services’ adoption. The results provide interesting insights and useful hints to practitioners and researchers.
Industrial Control Systems
Authors: Bridges Antony
Published: December 2012

As industrial control systems (ICSs) have been connected to wider organisational networks and the Internet, the threat from unauthorised access has increased. Protecting these systems from attack requires not just the use of appropriate technological solutions but also an understanding of the humans within the wider system. It is not sufficient that the human knows what they need to do. They must also be willing and able to do it. This chapter highlights some of the human vulnerabilities within Industrial Control Systems and suggests that greater consideration of and adaptation to the human limitations will enhance the future security of these systems.
ENISA Study
Authors: Leszczyna Rafal , Egozcue Elyoenai
Published: December 2012

In 2011, the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) conducted a study in the domain of Industrial Control Systems (ICS). Its objective was to obtain the current view on the ICS protection primarily in Europe but also in the international context. The ‘portrait’ included threats, risks, and challenges in the area of ICS protection as well as national, pan European, and international initiatives on ICS security. The study was performed through desktop research, survey and interviews, and a meeting with all involved stakeholders. This chapter highlights the most relevant parts of the final report of the study. It focuses on the challenges to securing ICS identified during the research, but also presents the context and the methodology of the study. In response to the challenges, the seven recommendations of ENISA for protecting ICS are proposed.
Designing a Security Audit Plan for a Critical Information Infrastructure (CII)
Authors: Gelbstein Eduardo E.
Published: December 2012

Critical Information Infrastructure Infrastructures (CII) have been recognized as potential targets for cyber-attacks since the late 1990s and many have already been successfully attacked since then. The attacks that took place on September 11, 2001 have increased the concerns of the impact such attacks could have and many governments, professional bodies, and vendors have put in place advisory and coordination mechanisms to share and encourage such good practices. Critical infrastructures are monitored and controlled by information systems, and this makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish a Critical Infrastructure from a Critical Information Infrastructure. It is also acknowledged that such information systems are complex, interdependent, and convergent as they share components that use a small number of products and standards. All of these systems and the products with which they are built are known to have known and unknown vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.
Technical Challenges of 3D Video Coding
Authors: Lee Cheon , Ho Yo-Sung
Published: December 2012

Three-dimensional video (3DV) is expected to be the next multimedia technology that provides depth impression of observed scenery with multi-view videos. In fact, studies on 3D video have a long history, heading back two hundred years; but recently, it has risen as the hottest issue due to rapid progresses of IT technologies. Particularly, 3D video systems are the most promising technology in multimedia area. An extension of typical stereoscopic imaging, realistic and natural 3D video technologies are currently under development. In this chapter, the authors describe overall technologies of 3D video systems from capturing to display, including coding standards. Mainly, the chapter focuses on the recent standardization activities by MPEG (moving picture experts group) associated with 3D video coding.
Information Systems Outsourcing in Large Companies
Authors: Leeney Mark , Varajão João , Ribeiro António Trigo , Colomo-Palacios Ricardo
Published: December 2012

Information systems outsourcing is an indispensable tool in the management of information systems. The set of services contracted to outside suppliers, originally more limited to services of an operational nature, has expanded over the past two decades, and today there is a wide range of services subject to outsourcing. Among them are: the hiring of software development; maintenance of applications; services and communications networks; security of information systems; and many others. Depending on the nature of the services contracted and on the range that the contracting of services has on departments of information systems, the issues involved in project management vary considerably. This article presents the results of a survey conducted among large companies in the Republic of Ireland to characterize, among other things, the range of services that are most often outsourced. The results are relevant in the sense that not only do they enable a better understanding of the reality of information systems departments of large Irish companies, but also enable the management to focus attention on specific services.
Global Community Extraction in Social Network Analysis
Authors: Zhang Xianchao , Wang Liang , Li Yueting , Liang Wenxin
Published: December 2012

Great efforts have been made in retrieving the structure of social networks, in which one of the most relevant features is community extraction. A community in social networks presents a group of people focusing on a common topic or interest. Extracting all communities in the whole network, one can easily classify and analyze a specified group of people, which yields amazing results. Global community extraction is due to this demand. In global community extraction (also global clustering), each person of the input network is assigned to a community in the output of the method. This chapter focuses on global community extraction in social network analysis, previous methods proposed by some outstanding researchers, future directions, and so on.
Managing and Cultivating Professional Online Learning Communities
Authors: Scott Anne L , Butler Helen , Olcay Millie
Published: December 2012

Three cohorts of preservice teachers, about 300 altogether, studying at an Australian tertiary institution, engaged in various community-based learning activities for 70 hours over a ten-month period. During this time, they reflected on and shared their experiences with peers via asynchronous online discussions. The three lecturers linked to these cohorts reflected on their managerial styles and inspected the nature of participants’ postings for evidence of the development of professional learning communities. They found that preservice teachers in all three cohorts developed attributes of professional learning communities as they shared their experiences. Many acted as guides, mentors, and companions for each other. The tool and approaches used to guide preservice teachers’ reflections were helpful, yet suggestions are offered to extend practices in the future.
Project Management for a University-Sponsored Online High School
Authors: Walker Bryce L. , Hartlep Nicholas D.
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this book chapter is to illustrate the effective use of online learning design in project management for a fully accredited online high school. This online high school was developed through a partnership of a national-accredited online K-12 educational institution and a prominent university located in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Within the high school, a course was created to measure the value of this online high school experience through the focal lens of its main stakeholders, the online high school students. The authors discuss the implementation and management that was used for the design of that online course. Drawing on a description of an online preparatory course and survey data from 3 participants, the objectives of this chapter are to highlight mission and goals of the online high school and the advantages/disadvantages of attending a synchronous online high school (Quillen, 2010). Findings illustrate the labor intensive commencement of an online high school through its first year.
Interface for Interaction and Knowledge Building on the Web
Authors: Mengalli Neli Maria , Camas Nuria Pons Vilardell
Published: December 2012

This study is a research context the observation of construction of the learning process in a specific group of PhD students in the use of the Moodle virtual learning tools and FlashMeeting. During the course the researcher worked with a participant observation methodology. There were seventeen face meetings with or without means of technology and know that in many studies, technology education curriculum and had no points of intersection, they are studied in different areas; i.e., there was no literature that encompassed the integration technology in the educational curriculum. Determining the basis for the use of technological resources in education could reveal significant contributions to education and to the design of educational curriculum with studies of human intentionality. This study is necessary to revisit the course curriculum design with the look to learn from the emerging technologies.
A New Incident Report Form Leads to Improved Foundation for the Lessons Learned Cycle
Authors: Pettersson Ulrica
Published: December 2012

Collection after incidents is regularly done through pre-printed incident report forms. The reports tend to be incomplete. They frequently lack fundamental information since they do not fulfill criteria’s of a scope and details. One consequence is that reports with inadequate information and do not fulfill requirements of analysts are transferred into the analysis process. To improve, the author designed a new structured incident reporting form, based upon witness psychology, interview, and questionnaire research with focus on analysts’ requests. This is the third experiment where they compared their new structured form to the form at present used in the Swedish Armed Forces (NATO standard). The two previous experiments showed significant enhanced results regarding quality of collected information, and that the new form could capture knowledge, regardless of the character or context of the incidents. The present experiment evaluates the form in a military context, and the significant result from an earlier experiment was replicated.
Coverage Maximization and Energy Conservation for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Aziz Nor Azlina Ab. , Mohemmed Ammar W. , Alias Mohamad Yusoff , Aziz Kamarulzaman Ab. , Syahali Syabeela
Published: December 2012

WSN is a group of low-cost, low-power, multifunctional and small size wireless sensor nodes that work together to sense the environment, perform simple data processing and communicate wirelessly over a short distance. Mobile wireless sensor networks (WSN) coverage can be enhanced by moving the sensors so that a better arrangement is achieved. However, movement is a high energy consumption task. To maximize coverage the sensors need to be placed not too close to each other so that the sensing capability of the network is fully utilised; however they must not be located too far from each other to avoid coverage holes. It is desired to achieve optimal coverage and at the same time not to relax the mobility energy consumption issue due to the fact that sensors have a limited energy supply. This research is interested in solving the coverage and energy conservation issues of mobile wireless sensors using PSO. In this paper the WSN coverage maximization problem is considered by taking into account the energy spent for sensor repositioning. Thus there are two objectives to be optimized, namely maximizing the coverage and conserving the energy. The two objectives are tackled one by one, starting with the coverage maximization followed by energy conservation. Hence a two-phase PSO approach is proposed. The results show that the proposed algorithm successfully achieves its objectives to reduce the energy usage while at the same time improve the coverage. The energy usage is reduced by cutting down the maximum distance moved.
A Heuristic Algorithm for Optimizing Business Matchmaking Scheduling
Authors: Huang Yingping , Zhang Xihui , Alexander Paulette S.
Published: December 2012

Business matchmaking is a service dedicated to providing one-on-one appointments for small businesses (or sellers) to meet with government agencies and large corporations (or buyers) for contracting opportunities. Business matchmaking scheduling seeks to maximize the total number of appointments with the maximum objective that weighs the preferences of both buyers and sellers. In this paper, the authors transformed the business matchmaking scheduling problem into a 3-dimensional planar assignment problem and solved it heuristically using a series of bipartite maximum weighted maximum cardinality matching problems. Simulation experiments and real data showed that this algorithm outperforms human experts and prior algorithm in terms of number of appointments, the objective that weighs buyer and seller’s preferences, and the execution time.
A Study on Consumer Intention in a Web Portal Game from the Perspective of Flow Experience
Authors: Chen Yi-Fen , Tsai Chia-Wen , Liao Pei-Chun , Chen Wen-Yu
Published: December 2012

Providing consumers with a positive and satisfying online shopping experience is the goal of the web operator. Therefore, in this paper, the authors use overhead construction to extend Csikszentmihalyi’s proposed flow theory (1975) to the computer intermediary environment and discuss the web portal game from the perspective of flow experience to identify possible causes and positive and negative results, as well as understand customer utility and hedonic motives in online shopping. In this research, the portal game is in play in the online consumer’s flow experience. This study also explores customer benefit and the effect on consumer behavior brought about by the identification of consumer preference and purchase intention. This study used an internet questionnaire survey to obtain 442 valid responses for data analysis. The results reveal that different Web site characteristics affect the flow experience and indirectly affect customer value; the results also indicate positive preferences and positive expense results. These results may serve as a reference for future Web site industry management policy and marketing strategy.
Frequency of Usage
Authors: Phillips Brandis , Shipps Belinda
Published: December 2012

The social networking population continues to expand at a phenomenal pace. Nevertheless, the question of how an organization gets people to spend long periods on a particular social networking website as well as return to the website is becoming increasingly important. Is the technological sophistication of the website or the social aspect most important? This study addresses technological and social factors. The authors examine social network use by employing a survey instrument to gather data about technological factors based on the technology acceptance model and social factors collecting data on constructs representing social involvement and the sheer enjoyment of using the social networking website. Results of the study suggest that users of social networks are more apt to frequently use a site based upon social/enjoyment factors as opposed to technology-related factors.
Prévalence de l’adénocarcinome de la jonction œso-gastrique à travers une étude marocaine
Authors: Amrani Laïla , Saké Khadidjatou , Kabbaj Nawal , Serraj Ilham , Salihoun Mouna , Chaoui Zakia , Nya Mohamed , Acharki Mohamed , Amrani Naïma
Published: December 2012

L’adénocarcinome de la jonction œsogastrique est une entité récente. Sa fréquence augmente dans le monde surtout occidental. Le but de cette étude marocaine est d’évaluer la prévalence de l’adénocarcinome de la jonction œso-gastrique et d’étudier les caractéristiques cliniques et pathologiques des patients. Patients et méthodes : Tous les patients ayant un adénocarcinome de la jonction oesogastrique, vu entre décembre 2005 et décembre 2011 étaient inclus. L’aspect endoscopique était décrit selon la classification de Siewert. Le diagnostic était posé sur l’étude anatomopathologique des biopsies réalisées. Etaient exclus de l’étude, tous les patients ayant un carcinome épidermoïde de l’œsophage. Résultats : 41 patients (0,26 %) sur les 15 387 ayant bénéficié d’une endoscopie digestive haute, étaient inclus. L’âge moyen de ces patients était de 58,9 ans ± 15,2 et 85,4 % étaient de sexe masculin. Les manifestations cliniques rapportées étaient : de la dysphagie chez 95,1 % des patients, un amaigrissement chez 85,4 % des patients, des épigastralgies chez 24,4 % des patients, une anémie chez 17,1 % des patients, des vomissements chez 14,6 % des patients, une hématémèse chez 12,2 % des patients et des douleurs thoraciques chez 4,9 % des patients. 27 patients (65,8 %) présentaient le type I de Siewert, 9 patients (22 %) le type II, et 5 patients (12,2 %) le type III. Conclusion : La prévalence de l’adénocarcinome de la jonction oeso-gastrique reste faible dans notre contexte. Ce cancer se voit chez le sujet de sexe masculin. Le type I de Siewert est le plus fréquent, suivi du type II.
Study and analysis of wavelet based image compression techniques
Authors: Yadav Rajesh K. , Gangwar S.P. , Singh Harsh V.
Published: December 2012

This paper presented comprehensive study with performance analysis of very recent Wavelet transform based image compression techniques. Image compression is one of the necessities for such communication. The goals of image compression are to minimize the storage requirement and communication bandwidth. Compression is achieved by the removal of redundant data. Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is a recently developed compression technique in image compression. DWT image compression includes decomposition (transform of image), Detail coefficients thresholding, and entropy encoding. This paper mainly describes the transform of an image using DWT and thresholding techniques. In this paper we have taken the standard image Lena of size 256X256 of 8 bit depth and applied DWT (haar). Then two results set are obtained by applying two different techniques of thresholding and then compare the result.Keywords: Discrete Cosine Transform, Wavelet Transform, JPEG Compression and Entropy Encoding
Load frequency control of three area interconnected hydro-thermal reheat power system using artificial intelligence and PI controllers
Authors: Prakash Surya , Sinha S.K.
Published: December 2012

This paper present analysis on dynamic performance of Load Frequency Control (LFC) of three area interconnected hydrothermal reheat power system by the use of Artificial Intelligent and PI Controller. In the proposed scheme, control methodology developed using conventional PI controller, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Fuzzy Logic controller (FLC) for three area interconnected hydro-thermal reheat power system. In this paper area-1 and area-2 consists of thermal reheat power plant whereas area-3 consists of hydro power plant. In this proposed scheme, the combination of most complicated system like hydro plant and thermal plant with reheat turbine are interconnected which increases the nonlinearity of the system. The performances of the controllers are simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK package. A comparison of PI controller, Fuzzy controller and ANN controller based approaches shows the superiority of proposed ANN based approach over Fuzzy and PI for same conditions. To enhance the performance of PI, Fuzzy and neural controller sliding surface is included. The simulation results also tabulated as a comparative performance in view of settling time and peak over shoot.Keywords: Load Frequency Control (LFC), Fuzzy Logic Controller, ANN Controller, PI controller, Area Control Error (ACE), Tie-line, MATLAB / SIMULINK
Robust discrete-time nonlinear sliding mode controller with plant uncertainties
Authors: Yadav Nikhil Kumar , Singh R.K.
Published: December 2012

This paper addresses the new control algorithm, by designing the asymptotically stable nonlinear sliding surface with investigation of the states. This proposed algorithm leads to solve the problem of unstable systems, by proving the asymptotic stability of a class of uncertain discrete-time systems. A particular linear transformation is being defined to transform the discrete-time system and asymptotic stability is proved for designed nonlinear sliding surface, which leads to show stability of the system. The states of the plant’s will be brought down on a proven asymptotic stable nonlinear sliding surface by the proposed control law and they will be remained on stable nonlinear sliding surface for all future times. This proposed technique will be more useful for enhancing the stability of the real world nonlinear systems. The application of proposed algorithm in magnetic tape drive-servo motors and avionic systems, where the parametric uncertainties are occurring frequently.Keywords: Discrete-time system, linear matrix inequality (LMI), nonlinear system. nonlinear sliding surface, sliding mode control
Latitudinal distribution of reactive iodine in the Eastern Pacific and its link to open ocean sources
Authors: Mahajan A. S. , Gómez Martín J. C. , Hay T. D. , Royer S.-J. , Yvon-Lewis S. , Liu Y. , Hu L. , Prados-Roman C. , Ordóñez C. , Plane J. M. C. , Saiz-Lopez A.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. Ship-based Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy measurements of iodine monoxide (IO) and atmospheric and seawater Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer observations of methyl iodide (CH3I) were made in the Eastern Pacific marine boundary layer during April 2010 as a part of the HaloCarbon Air Sea Transect-Pacific (HaloCAST-P) scientific cruise. The presence of IO in the open ocean environment was confirmed, with a maximum differential slant column density of 5 × 1013 molecules cm−2 along the 1° elevation angle (corresponding to approximately 1 pptv) measured in the oligotrophic region of the Southeastern Pacific. Such low IO mixing ratios and their observed geographical distribution are inconsistent with satellite estimates and with previous understanding of oceanic sources of iodine. A strong correlation was observed between reactive iodine (defined as IO + I) and CH3I, suggesting common sources. In situ measurements of meteorological parameters and physical ocean variables, along with satellite-based observations of Chlorophyll a (Chl a) and Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) were used to gain insight into the possible sources of iodine in this remote environment. Surprisingly, reactive iodine showed a negative correlation (> 99% confidence) to Chl a and CDOM across the cruise transect. However, a significant positive correlation (> 99% confidence) with sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity instead suggests a widespread abiotic source related to the availability of aqueous iodine and to temperature.
Investigation of diurnal patterns in vertical distributions of pollen in the lower troposphere using LIDAR technique
Authors: Noh Y. M. , Lee H. , Mueller D. , Lee K. , Shin D. , Shin S. , Choi T. J. , Choi Y. J. , Kim K. R.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. The diurnal patterns in pollen vertical distributions in the lower troposphere were investigated by the LIDAR remote sensing technique. Meteorological and pollen concentration data was measured at the surface using a Burkard 7 day recording volumetric spore sampler. An aerosol extinction coefficient and depolarization ratio of 532 nm was obtained from LIDAR measurements in spring (4 May–2 June) 2009 in Gwagnju, Korea. Depolarization ratios from 0.08 to 0.14 were observed only in daytime (09:00–17:00 local time (LT)) during high pollen concentration days from 4 to 9 May. Vertical distributions in the depolarization ratio with time showed a specific diurnal pattern. Depolarization ratios, which varied from 0.08 to 0.14, were measured near the surface in the morning. High depolarization ratios were detected even up to 2.0 km between 12:00 and 14:00 LT but subsequently were observed only close to the surface after 17:00 LT. Low values of depolarization ratios (≤ 0.05) were detected after 18:00 LT until next morning. During the measurement period, the daily variations in the high depolarization ratios close to the surface showed good agreement with those in surface pollen concentrations, which implies that high depolarization ratios can be attributed to high pollen concentrations. The diurnal characteristics in high values of depolarization ratios were closely associated with turbulent transport, which can be caused by increasing temperature and wind speed and decreasing relative humidity. Continuously measured diurnal and vertical characteristics of pollen data can be further used to enhance the accuracy of the pollen-forecasting model via data assimilation studies.
Democratic/Utopian Education
Authors: Sabia Dan
Published: December 2012

This article offers a conception of democratic education and an account of how that conception should inform our understanding of formal education for public schools. The goals of a democratic education are best secured by participating in self-government, as advocates of participatory democracy have always claimed. Broadly stated, those goals include encouraging and equipping individuals to become committed, self-governing, democratic citizens. More specifically, individuals gain through democratic participation political information and knowledge and, arguably, the skills, virtues, and normative commitments of democratic citizens. This conception of democratic education suggests in turn the desirability of what is here termed the democratic community school, in which students participate in the governance and pedagogy of their schools, the school and the local community it most directly serves become in various ways integrated, and the curriculum is politicized so as to advance democratic values and aspirations. The article concludes by identifying some of the key difficulties and obstacles that make the democratic school so difficult to achieve but also provides reasons for believing that working toward the utopian ideal of democratic schools is practically as well as normatively worthwhile.
“Life and the Dream”: Utopian Impulses Within the Irish Language Revival
Authors: Congáil Ríona Nic
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this essay is to examine the utopian impulses and constructions within the Irish-language social movement known as the Gaelic League, a movement that formed the nucleus of mass Irish cultural nationalism at the fin de siècle. It will determine the influence of utopian thought and action upon the social and political direction of Irish society in the early twentieth century. The conflicts between the Gaelic League's romanticization of all things Irish and the reality it faced will be highlighted, as will the fault lines that existed within its approach to achieving its vision for Ireland's future.
Flight Forward: The World of Ernst Jünger's Worker
Authors: Bullock Marcus Paul
Published: December 2012

The Weimar period in Germany produced speculative forms of political discourse that need to be read in their full radicalism rather than as alternatives to the forms of government to which we, living in a different history, restrict the meaning of politics. Walter Benjamin provides a model for this expansion of our ideas—there is no parliamentary version of the revolutionary work he imagines. Even though Benjamin himself wrote in exceedingly hostile terms about Ernst Jünger, unexpected similarities in their writing, and in their common opposition to bourgeois stasis in human development, may help to sharpen our understanding of both.
Orbital Decompression in Thyroid Eye Disease
Authors: Fichter N. , Guthoff R. F. , Schittkowski M. P.
Published: December 2012

Though enlargement of the bony orbit by orbital decompression surgery has been known for about a century, surgical techniques vary all around the world mostly depending on the patient's clinical presentation but also on the institutional habits or the surgeon's skills. Ideally every surgical intervention should be tailored to the patient's specific needs. Therefore the aim of this paper is to review outcomes, hints, trends, and perspectives in orbital decompression surgery in thyroid eye disease regarding different surgical techniques.
Sonnets for a City on a Hill
Authors: Derrick Paul Scott
Published: December 2012

One factor – one among many – that lends a work of art dynamism and interest is tension. Both the making and the reading of poems can be thought of as dynamic processes. Processes that begin with the gradual discovery of their own obstacles and, in finding satisfactory ways to overcome them, achieve completion by integrating resolved conflicts into an expanded field of understanding.