bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dye-sensitized Solar Cells with New One-Dimensional Halide-Bridged Cu(I)–Ni(II) Heterometal Coordination Polymers Containing Hexamethylene Dithiocarbamate Ligand
Authors: Okubo Takashi , Tanaka Naoya , Anma Haruho , Kim Kyung Ho , Maekawa Masahiko , Kuroda-Sowa Takayoshi
Published: September 2012

One-dimensional (1D) halide-bridged Cu(I)–Ni(II) heterometal coordination polymers containing a hexamethylene dithiocarbamate (Hm-dtc) ligand have been synthesized and crystallographically characterized. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels of the coordination polymers were estimated using UV-Vis-NIR and photoelectron spectroscopies, and it was revealed that these coordination polymers have appropriate HOMO levels for use as dye sensitizers. Direct-current electrical conductivity measurements and impedance measurements indicated that these 1D Cu(I)–Ni(II) heterometal coordination polymers were insulators (σ300K < 10−12 S cm−1). In addition, the coordination polymers were used as sensitizing materials in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs with 1D Cu(I)–Ni(II) heterometal coordination polymers showed lower performances than those with 1D halide-bridged Cu(I)–Cu(II) mixed-valence coordination polymers.
Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among married non-pregnant women living in a low-income suburb of Beirut, Lebanon
Authors: Ramia Sami , Kobeissi Loulou , El Kak Faysal , Shamra Sarah , Kreidieh Khalil , Zurayk Huda
Published: September 2012

Introduction: This study aimed to identify reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in married, non-pregnant women, aged 18 to 49 years, living in a low-income suburb of Beirut, and to investigate the relationship between demographic and socioeconomic factors and these infections. Methodology: Among 1,015 women recruited for the study, 502 were found eligible and 441 were medically examined. Appropriate specimens were collected for Nisseria gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis. Results: The results showed a relatively high prevalence of RTIs (28.2%). The prevalence rates of different agents were as follows: 22.9% of the women were positive for T. vaginalis, 8.8% for candidiasis, 4.5% for bacterial vaginosis, and 1% for N. gonorrhea; none of the women were positive for C. trachomatis. Regression analysis showed that women between the ages of 30 and 39 were twice more likely to have T. vaginalis as compared to younger women. Furthermore, women whose husbands were taxi drivers were at higher risk of acquiring T. vaginalis (OR = 2.2) as compared with women whose husbands occupation was listed as skilled/unskilled. This conclusion can be drawn for the odds of developing any RTI (OR = 2.15). Moreover, those participants with the lowest income were twice as likely to have any RTI compared to those with higher incomes. Conclusions: This study shows a relatively high prevalence of RTIs (T. vaginalis mainly). It urges further in-depth research on cultural practices and economic factors to understand the pattern of sexual behavior in this community.
Assessment of the impact of malaria on CD4+ T Cells and haemoglobin levels of HIV-malaria co-infected patients
Authors: Tagoe Daniel Nii Aryee , Boachie Joseph
Published: September 2012

Introduction: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and malaria destroy important cells required for proper immunological and haematological functioning of the body. This research therefore aimed to assess the effect of malaria on CD4+ and haemoglobin (Hb) levels of HIV-malaria co-infected patients. Methodology: The study was performed by sampling 220 adult HIV patients on highly active anti retroviral therapy (HAART) who routinely visited the Tema General Hospital in Ghana. Blood samples were obtained for both blood film microscopy identification of malaria parasites and analysis using rapid diagnostic test kits. A BD Facscount Analyzer was used in the quantification of CD4+ levels. Results: Of the 220 patients sampled, 34 (15.5%) were HIV-malaria co-infected, all of whom (34; 100%) had CD4+ counts below the normal range, while 23 (12.9%) of the HIV mono-infected patients had normal CD4+ counts. Almost all HIV-malaria co-infected patients (33; 97.1%) had low Hb levels, whereas 79 (42.5%) of the HIV mono-infected patients had normal Hb. Malaria infection strongly correlated positively and significantly with both low CD4+ count (χ2 = 0.828, P = 0.003) and Hb (χ2 = 0.817, P = 0.004) levels. Conclusion: Malaria co-infection with HIV decreases CD4+ T cells and Hb levels in patients. It is therefore recommended that HIV patients in malaria endemic areas should adhere to malaria preventive measures.
An approach to histology-based diagnosis and treatment of Madura foot
Authors: Chufal Sanjay Singh , Thapliyal Naveen Chandra , Gupta Manoj Kumar
Published: September 2012

Madura foot is a deep mycosis commonly seen in tropical and subtropical countries such as India. Its incidence is likely to rise in temperate regions as well, due to the increase in worldwide travel. The cases presented here are all agricultural workers from a rural part of northern India who had induration, fibrosis and minimal discharge from sinuses over the foot. Although culture remains the gold standard diagnostic test, this case report highlights the importance of histopathology in the early diagnosis and differentiation of common causative agents in Madura foot as repeated cultures are sometimes negative. Thus for mycetomas in which causative infectious agents cannot be isolated, histology may prove beneficial by avoiding inadvertent use of combined antifungal and antimicrobial agents so that a correct therapeutic modality can be decided, prognostic outcome be explained to the patient, and a preventable cause of deformity and disability can be identified and treated at an early stage.
La psychologie au-delà des épistémologies
Authors: Leal Ferreira Arthur Arruda , Gomes Correia Eduardo Bazilio , Magalhães Juliana de Moura Quaresma , Zornoff Gavazza Patrícia , Azevedo Gomes Geovana de , Barbosa Pereira Natalia , Viola Coelho Paulo Santos , Pires Madeira Rodrigo José
Published: September 2012

La finalité de cet article est d’aborder la question de la multiplicité radicale de la psychologie, qui se présente comme un réseau de savoirs et de pratiques trop diverses et même contradictoires. Pour accomplir cet objectif, sera tout d’abord présenté le débat épistémologique relatif à cette pluralité radicale, en envisageant le rapport de cette discussion avec la question de la scientificité de la psychologie. Par la suite, il s’agira de mettre en scène une autre façon de considérer cette multiplicité radicale : la Théorie de l’Acteur-Réseau de Bruno Latour, Annemarie Mol et John Law et l’épistémologie politique d’Isabelle Stengers et Vicianne Despret qui considèrent les diverses psychologies comme des dispositifs de production ontologique de subjectivités. Afin d’étudier ces dispositifs théoriques, un ensemble de recherches sera présenté pour évaluer l’existence (et les formes) des manières de subjectivation psychologisée parmi des lycéens de la ville de Rio de Janeiro. Finalement, les résultats de cette recherche seront mis en débat en considérant les politiques ontologiques présentées dans les choix méthodologiques de recherche.
Inoculations, processions religieuses et quarantaines
Authors: Martín Santos Guillermo , Thomas Hernán Eduardo
Published: September 2012

Cet article analyse comment la circulation des connaissances hétérogènes en matière de diagnostic et traitement des varioles entre l’Amérique, l’Europe et l’Afrique a forgé l’ensemble des pratiques implantées, développées et utilisées en Amérique latine au XVIIIe siècle. Il démontre comment les procédés mis en place pour faire face aux épidémies de varioles – l’inoculation, la procession religieuse, l’isolement et la mise en quarantaine – ont été différemment compris par les acteurs sociaux et que ces interprétations dépendaient, à leur tour, du type de problème pour lequel les procédés étaient considérés comme une solution. Les pratiques d’inoculation avec des varioles humaines, dans le but de générer une immunité ultérieure, ont façonné des ensembles complexes d’acteurs aux intérêts particuliers (parfois contradictoires), de connaissances variées (savoirs traditionnels et savoirs académiques), d’institutions politiques, médicales, religieuses, commerciales, de controverses et de luttes micropolitiques.Ce travail contribue à la sociologie de la science et à l’anthropologie des connaissances, tout en empruntant une approche théorique et méthodologique issue de la sociologie constructiviste de la technologie. Il permet de dépasser les visions évolutionnistes linéaires, déconstruisant ainsi l’unicité des procédés socio-techniques, et, en même temps, il rend possible l’identification des nouvelles explications, la reconstruction de procédés socio‑cognitifs pour le dialogue des savoirs et la visibilisation des phénomènes complexes de transculturalité.
Colères et ordo amoris dans les styles rock
Authors: Seca Jean-Marie
Published: September 2012

Résumé Le but de cet article est d’interpréter le sens socio-anthropologique de l’énergétique et de l’esthétisation de la colère dans le rock. On définira d’abord le rock, au sens large, de façon structurale et par son état d’esprit créatif, puis, la notion d’esthétique de la colère ; la pulsion colérique sera conçue comme un phénomène devant être nécessairement sublimée pour entrer sur la scène sociale. Puis, nous verrons dans quelle mesure cette sublimation de la colère s’articule à une philosophie de l’ordo amoris. Ce qui reconfigurera les fonctions et le sens de la rage dans l’expression et la création rock. Nous aborderons, dans une troisième partie, quelques exemples illustratifs.
Les approches des cultural studies et de Simon Frith. Des subcultures à la musique comme accompagnateur du quotidien
Authors: Ferrand Laure
Published: September 2012

Résumé Cet article dresse le tableau des travaux britanniques issus du courant des Cultural Studies de 1957 à nos jours. Le regard est plus particulièrement porté sur l’appréciation et l’étude de la musique rock des travaux de Richard Hoggart, pionnier du courant, à Simon Frith considérant la musique comme accompagnateur du quotidien. De la conception des cultures populaires aux modes de consommation des jeunes, en passant par la subculture punk étudiée par D. Hedbige, les Cultural Studies opèrent un tournant épistémologique en considérant le rock et plus largement les musiques populaires, comme des objets sociologiques à part entière.
Musique et télévision : vers une légitimité des genres ? Étude de la représentation des genres et sous-genres musicaux sur les chaînes généralistes françaises
Authors: Maschio Laura
Published: September 2012

Résumé Mettre en relation culture et masses a toujours été délicat. La télévision, medium de masse par excellence, s’est cependant bien vite détournée de ce clivage historique pour diffuser des contenus culturels. Parmi eux figure inévitablement la musique, dont la prédisposition au canal sonore implique une certaine adaptation entraînant la naissance de dispositifs hybrides empruntant à la fois aux scènes de concert et aux plateaux habituels. À l’inverse, les genres musicaux vont être réappropriés, codifiés et hiérarchisés par le medium. Cette hétérogénéité de traitement ramène alors inévitablement à s’interroger sur la notion bourdieusienne de légitimité culturelle et le bien-fondé de l’opposition entre arts savant et populaire habituellement avancée par la sociologie classique.
De l'identité musicale à la représentation politique : le rock argentin pendant la dictature
Authors: Markman Eliel
Published: September 2012

Résumé En Amérique latine, les années 1970 sont des années noires dont le souvenir reste douloureux. Le Sud du continent est sous le joug de dictatures plus ou moins violentes à fortes dimensions idéologiques. Dans ce contexte, l’Argentine, dont les nombreux disparus restent un douloureux souvenir, représente une exception. À Buenos Aires, le temps de la dictature est également un moment d’effervescence musicale sans précédent, de véritables légendes se forment malgré la sévère répression ambiante. Cet article propose donc de donner un aperçu de ce qu’a pu représenter le rock pendant la dictature de 1976-1983 en termes d’identification collective et de construction politique.
Location-Based Services
Authors: Hanke Henrik , Neumann Alf
Published: September 2012

The provisioning of Location-Based Services (LBS) follows the chain of determination of a position, mapping this information onto a natural language-based description of this position and performing the service itself. The evolution of technologies regarding applications and infrastructure, standards and contents has brought up various streams that have influenced the development of this chain over the past years (Zeimpekis et al., 2003). On the one hand, emerging theoretical concepts have been showing the way for many commercial and non-commercial services. On the other hand, the conceptual evolution has been accompanied by significant investments of mobile technology companies and service providers to the further development of practical solutions (Gessler and Jesse, 2001).
GIS, Grid Computing and RFID in Healthcare Information Supply Chain
Authors: Chen Yenming J.
Published: September 2012

Several healthcare disasters have occurred in the past decade, and their occurrence has become more frequent recently due to one natural catastrophe after another. The medical application requirement for such a disaster management system includes effective, reliable, and coordinated responses to disease and injury, accurate surveillance of area hospitals, and efficient management of clinical and research information. Based on the application requirements, this case study describes a grid-based system in a health information supply chain that monitors and detects national infectious events using geographical information system (GIS), radio-frequency identification (RFID), and grid computing technology. This system is fault-tolerant, highly secure, flexible, and extensible, thus making it capable of operation in case of a national catastrophe. It has a low cost of deployment and is designed for large-scale and quick responses. Owing to the grid-based nature of the network, no central server or data centre needs to be built. To reinforce the responsiveness of the national health information supply chain, this case study proposes a practical, tracking-based, spatially-aware, steady, and flexible architecture, based on GIS and RFID, for developing successful infectious disaster management plans to tackle technical issues. The architecture achieves a common understanding of spatial data and processes. Therefore, the system can efficiently and effectively share, compare, and federate—yet integrate—most local health information providers and results in more informed planning and better outcome.
Framework for Graphical User Interfaces of Geospatial Early Warning Systems
Authors: Hammitzsch Martin
Published: September 2012

An important component of Early Warning Systems (EWS) for man-made and natural hazards is the command and control unit’s Graphical User Interface (GUI). All relevant information of an EWS is concentrated in this GUI and offered to human operators. However, when designing the GUI, not only the user experience and the GUI’s screens are relevant, but also the frameworks and technologies that the GUI is built on and the implementation of the GUI itself are of great importance. Implementations differ based on their applications in different domains but the design and approaches to implement the GUIs of different EWS often show analogies. The design and development of such GUIs are performed repeatedly on some parts of the system for each EWS. Thus, the generic GUI framework of a geospatial EWS for tsunamis is introduced to enable possible synergistic effects on the development of other new related technology. The results presented here could be adopted and reused in other EWS for man-made and natural hazards.
GeoCache
Authors: Savary Lionel , Gardarin Georges , Zeitouni Karine
Published: September 2012

GML is a promising model for integrating geodata within data warehouses. The resulting databases are generally large and require spatial operators to be handled. Depending on the size of the target geographical data and the number and complexity of operators in a query, the processing time may quickly become prohibitive. To optimize spatial queries over GML encoded data, this paper introduces a novel cache-based architecture. A new cache replacement policy is then proposed. It takes into account the containment properties of geographical data and predicates, and allows evicting the most irrelevant values from the cache. Experiences with the GeoCache prototype show the effectiveness of the proposed architecture with the associated replacement policy, compared to existing works.
Multicast over Location-Based Services
Authors: Hegedüs Péter , Orosz Mihály , Hosszú Gábor , Kovács Ferenc
Published: September 2012

This chapter details the potential found in combining to different technologies. The two basically different technologies, LBSs in mobile communication and the well-elaborated multicast technology are merged in the multicast via LBS solutions. As this chapter demonstrates, this emerging new area has a lot of possibilities, which have not been completely utilized.
Map Matching Algorithms for Intelligent Transport Systems
Authors: Quddus Mohammed A.
Published: September 2012

Map matching algorithms integrate positioning data with spatial road network data to support the navigation modules of intelligent transport systems requiring location and navigation data. Research on the development of map matching algorithms has significantly advanced over the last few years. This article looks at different methods that have been adopted in map matching algorithms and highlights future trends in map matching and navigation research.
Cognitive Mapping and GIS for Community-Based Resource Identification
Authors: Kathlene Lyn
Published: September 2012

This chapter describes and analyzes the effectiveness of two methodological techniques, cognitive mapping and geographical information systems (GIS), for identifying social service resources. It also examines the processes used to integrate hand-drawn map information into geocoded data points and provides recommendations for improving efficiency and precision. As a first step to integrate Jefferson County social service delivery into community-based child welfare “systems of care” (SOC), both formal and informal services had to be identified. Cognitive mapping, a process by which participants draw visual representations of geographical areas, was conducted with 247 participants in Jefferson County, Colorado. Over 3,500 resources were identified and entered into a GIS to analyze the availability, capacity, and distribution of social services in the county and within communities. Identification of community resources via cognitive mapping and GIS analysis provide: (1) a comprehensive database of existing services; (2) a basis to build communication networks and cooperation among government and community providers; (3) the ability to create an efficient system that avoids duplication of efforts; (4) an understanding of the geographical distribution of resources; (5) the identification of resources lacking in the county and specific communities; and (6) knowledge differences among diverse participant groups.
Last Online Deposits Spatial Data in the Web
Authors: Kholladi Mohamed-Khireddine
Published: September 2012

The posting of interactive mapping is essential for the dissemination of information to the general public and in all areas. All the elements constituting a spatial object are represented by agreements with symbols. Each element is represented at the level of reality. The posting of maps on the Internet can take many forms. It can be static maps, as a picture. Interactions with the user can be included on the maps produced. These are movements and functions of the zoom presentation (display information, change of scale, global view). At this level, it is also possible to examine, by selection of the objects represented on the map (common facilities). This level is commonly known as Web mapping. The dynamic mapping is used when information is to be renewed or if the geographical extent of the area is large. In this case, a server handles in real-time updated database to provide users answers to their complaints. The functions proposed in this case are close to those of GIS software (acquisition, manipulation, management and processing of geographical data). In this chapter we will explore the possibility of integrating a dynamic mapping on the Web.
Geographic Visual Query Languages and Ambiguities Treatment
Authors: D’Ulizia Arianna , Ferri Fernando , Grifoni Patrizia
Published: September 2012

The main issues of spatial databases and Geographic Information System (GIS), concern the representation, the management and the manipulation of a large and complex number of spatial objects and spatial relationships. In these systems many concepts are spatial and, therefore they are intrinsically related with a visual representation, which makes also easier to formulate queries by non-expert users. The main problems in visual query languages for spatial databases concern imprecision, spatial integrity and ambiguities in query formulation. Our concern in this chapter is with the ambiguity of visual geographical queries. In particular, a review of existing visual query languages for spatial databases and their classification on the grounds of the methodology adopted to resolve the ambiguity problem are provided.
OOSTethys/Oceans IE Service Registry Based on Catalog Service for Web
Authors: Maskey Manil , Conover Helen , Keiser Ken , Bermudez Luis , Graves Sara
Published: September 2012

Service registries can play a big role in helping developers, collaborators and agencies find deployed resources without difficulty. A service registry is especially useful if it follows a well-known, predefined specification that allows for automatic machine interactions and interoperability, such as the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) specification for Catalog Services for the Web (CSW). This chapter discusses a CSW-compliant registry developed as part of an OGC-sponsored interoperability experiment involving the ocean sciences community. The development approach for selecting, adapting and enhancing an open source implementation of the CSW is described. Implementation goals for the registry included support for OGC Sensor Observation Services (SOS) and additional functionality to minimize requirements on service providers and maximize the robustness of the registry. The registry’s role in the OGC Ocean Science Interoperability Experiment is also discussed.
A Multi-Criteria GIS Site Selection for Sustainable Cocoa Development in West Africa
Authors: Alabi Tunrayo , Sonder Kai , Oduwole Olusoji , Okafor Christopher
Published: September 2012

Cocoa occupies 6 million hectares in humid coastal West Africa where 70% of the world supply is grown, 90% of which is produced on 2 million family farms of 2 hectares or less. Here, at least 16 million people depend on cocoa but earn only $100/person/year from the crop. There is need to optimize the farming system, minimize the environmental impact of technologies, and improve socio-economic dynamics. This study identifies areas with potential for intensified cocoa farming and where maximum impact to household income could be achieved without deforestation. The selection involves defining suitability criteria, preparing an inventory of available data, determining suitability based on identified criteria, and combining suitability into hierarchical preferences based on weights proposed by local experts. GIS and Multi-Criteria land Evaluation technique using biophysical, socioeconomic, and demographic variables were employed in selection. Nineteen administrative units were selected in Nigeria where the intervention project could be implemented.
Application of Topographical Capture Techniques for Modelling Virtual Reality
Authors: Abadía Mercedes Farjas , Quintana Manuel Sillero , Calvo Pedro Ángel Merino
Published: September 2012

Since the dawn of time man has attempted to represent the human figure with techniques ranging from simple drawings to techniques that manage to reflect the movement of body segments. In parallel, cartographic techniques have developed very advanced capture and 3D representation systems, but even though they have been applied in recent years to other sciences, they have not been applied yet to virtual reality. The appearance of the laser acquisition systems has enabled us to acquire data without discrimination on points and to get quick 3D models. This situation allows us to work directly on the concept of surface and to analyze it from the uniqueness of the detail, compared to traditional systems which capture points for, later, imaging surfaces from them. Under this prism, a research group was formed by graduates in Physical Activity and Sport and in Cartography, in order to bring together both sciences and to improve techniques of capture and representation of the human body. The road is not completely gone, but some results have been obtained and are presented in this work.
The Digital Geography Lab at Salem State University
Authors: Pappathanasi Kym , Young Stephen S.
Published: September 2012

Established in 1983, the Digital Geography Lab (DGL) at Salem State University (SSU) is one of the oldest higher-education digital spatial labs. This paper details the evolution of the DGL as well as its current status as one of the best computer labs at Salem State University. This paper describes the changing technology of the DGL over the past 28 years. The DGL not only provides SSU students with cutting edge geospatial technology, but it is a research lab for faculty and is extensively used in community outreach programs. The DGL is being used more and more by other departments such as Geology, Criminal Justice, Computer Science and Inter-disciplinary Studies which reflects the expansion of the geo-spatial sciences beyond geography. The success of the DGL lies in part with the University’s management of the facility where major decisions are made in consultation with the Department and DGL staff. The configuration and technology of the DGL has changed considerably through the years, reflecting the transformations in technology and educational philosophies, but the core mission of the DGL has not, which is to serve the students, faculty and the local community with cutting edge geospatial technology.
Automatic Classification of Decorative Patterns in the Minoan Pottery of Kamares Style
Authors: Stanco Filippo , Tanasi Davide , Guarnera Giuseppe Claudio , Gallo Giovanni
Published: September 2012

An important feature of the Minoan culture is the pottery of Kamares style, that documents the Cretan cultural production between the first half of the 2nd millennium BC. This high level painted production, characterized by the combination of several diverse motifs, presents an enormous decorative repertoire. The extraordinary variety of combinations between elementary motifs according to a complex visual syntax makes interesting the automatic identification of the motifs, particularly upon potsherds. A complete pipeline to accomplish this task is still a challenge to Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition. Starting from a digital image ROI identification, motif extraction, robust contour detection should be performed to obtain a bag of digital shapes. In a second phase each of the extracted shapes has to be classified according to prototypes in a database produced by an expert. The co-occurrence of the different shapes in a specimen will, in turn, be used to help the archaeologists in the cultural and even chronological setting.
A Component-Based 3D Geographic Simulation Framework and its Integration with a Legacy GIS
Authors: Guo Zhen-Sheng , Tanaka Yuzuru
Published: September 2012

There is an increasing demand for 3D geographic simulation systems. Most systems currently available are closed and based on fixed architectures. Some systems allow us to develop and customize a 3D geographic simulation system, but this usually requires the writing of extensive program code. Especially in 3D geo-disaster simulations, for example, we need to dynamically integrate 2D legacy GIS with 3D geographic simulation systems in order to investigate the details about the damaged areas and the consequences of the disasters. The authors propose a component-based application framework for 3D geographic simulation that can integrate a legacy 2D GIS with geographic simulation systems in a 3D visual environment. Their framework provides a set of 3D visual components required for the development of a new interactive 3D visual geographic simulation. In their framework, component integrators can construct 3D geographic simulation systems by composing the 3D visual components. Moreover, the authors’ integration framework provides two fundamental integration mechanisms, view integration and query integration mechanisms, to integrate it with legacy 2D systems. The view integration function maps the 2D rendering of a legacy 2D GIS onto the surface of the 3D geography used in a 3D visual geographical simulator, and then dispatches every event on the geographic surface to the original 2D GIS. The query integration automatically converts each 3D simulation result that is shown as a set of highlighted regions on the surface of the geography to the corresponding regional query to the 2D GIS. The proposed framework is based on their 3D meme media architecture in which components are represented as meme media objects, and their interoperation is defined by slot connections between them. As a result, their framework enables users to compose 3D geographic simulation systems and to integrate a legacy 2D GIS with a 3D geographic simulation system simply by composing display objects in a 3D visual environment.
Provision of Web 2.0 Services by Interoperable GIS-Powered Local Administration Portal Systems
Authors: Tsitsanis Anastasios , Koussouris Sotirios , Peters Rob
Published: September 2012

eGovernment for municipalities, a rather mature field when talking about the traditional and plain service delivery to citizens, is nowadays seeking ways to provide more quality based services to the citizens and to become more direct in terms of communication and interaction. In this direction, the most modern implementations are already coming up with the utilisation of various Web 2.0 services in an attempt to become more attractive to the users and to gain a larger user base. However, the introduction of Web 2.0 application to eGovernment portals does not seem to be the solution on its sole; in contrast, when these solutions are accompanied with GIS powered technology, participation and utilisation of those portals seems to reach the anticipated figures, as interoperable GIS systems are able to offer added-value and more “personalised” services to users.
A Neural Network for Modeling Multicategorical Parcel Use Change
Authors: Lu Kang Shou , Morgan John , Allen Jeffery
Published: September 2012

This paper presents an artificial neural network (ANN) for modeling multicategorical land use changes. Compared to conventional statistical models and cellular automata models, ANNs have both the architecture appropriate for addressing complex problems and the power for spatio-temporal prediction. The model consists of two layers with multiple input and output units. Bayesian regularization was used for network training in order to select an optimal model that avoids over-fitting problem. When trained and applied to predict changes in parcel use in a coastal county from 1990 to 2008, the ANN model performed well as measured by high prediction accuracy (82.0-98.5%) and high Kappa coefficient (81.4-97.5%) with only slight variation across five different land use categories. ANN also outperformed the benchmark multinomial logistic regression by average 17.5 percentage points in categorical accuracy and by 9.2 percentage points in overall accuracy. The authors used the ANN model to predict future parcel use change from 2007 to 2030.
Cartography and Stability to Enhance and Self Regulate Proactive Routing in MANETs
Authors: Abid Mohamed Amine , Belghith Abdelfettah
Published: September 2012

In this chapter, the authors propose a novel proactive routing protocol where routing advertisement frequency is self regulated locally at and by each node depending on its mobility level. The proposal relays on an asynchronous distributed cartography gathering algorithm and a link stability criterion. The cartography of the network is kept constantly valid in time and for all applied speeds. Each node senses its own dynamics and locally chooses an appropriate routing advertisement period size. As such stationary nodes generate little signaling traffic while fast moving nodes prefer small routing periods to mitigate the effect of their mobility.
A Reflection on the Ph.D. Program in Spatially Integrated Social Science at the University of Toledo
Authors: Alam Bhuiyan Monwar , Eckert Jeanette , Lindquist Peter S.
Published: September 2012

The use of spatial analysis tools is on the rise in many academic fields and practical applications. These tools enhance the ability to examine data from spatial perspectives. Though the study of place and space has traditionally been the domain of the field of geography, growing numbers of researchers are turning to these tools in the social sciences and beyond. The University of Toledo has established a unique Ph.D. granting program to encompass the theories, tools, and applications of spatially integrated social science. In the first couple of years of its inception the program has attracted students from different places and diverse backgrounds. It is expected that the program will continue to thrive in attracting diverse students, securing external grants, and positively impacting on the economy of Northwest Ohio. This paper is a personal reflection of the views of the authors on the Ph.D. program in Spatially Integrated Social Science at the University of Toledo two years after its inception in fall 2009. The views, by no means, are of the University of Toledo, its SISS program, or any of the participating departments and faculty members.
Technical and Economical Feasibility of Biomass Use for Power Generation in Sicily
Authors: Messineo Antonio , Panno Domenico , Volpe Roberto
Published: September 2012

Biomass can provide a reliable support for production of biofuels while contributing to sustainable management of natural resources. Many countries, including Italy, have introduced important incentive schemes to support the use of biomass for electricity, heat and transportation. This has raised considerable interest towards the use of biomass for energy generation purposes. Nonetheless, the design and installation of biomass-fuelled power plants present several critical issues, such as choice and availability of biomass, choice of technology, power plant localization and logistics. The case study tackled in this paper evaluates the economies originated by a 1MWel Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbine coupled with a biomass fuelled boiler, installed in an area close to Palermo (Italy). A Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to localize the power plant and to optimize logistics. The thermodynamics of the plant as a whole were also analyzed. Finally, two different scenarios were simulated for project financial evaluation.
Managing Uncertainty in Geospatial Predictive Models
Authors: Sikder Iftikhar U.
Published: September 2012

Geospatial predictive models often require mapping of predefined concepts or categories with various conditioning factors in a given space. This chapter discusses various aspects of uncertainty in predictive modeling by characterizing different typologies of classification uncertainty. It argues that understanding uncertainty semantics is a perquisite for efficient handling and management of predictive models.
Global Emergency-Response System Using GIS
Authors: Al-Marri Salem , Ramachandran Muthu
Published: September 2012

Emergency needs occur naturally, manually (error and terror) and accidentally in addition to worldwide death by hunger and poverty. These situations can arise anytime, any place and thus globally, people are in need of any emergency help by every second. This paper proposes a model for Disaster Classification system of Natural Disasters and Catastrophic Failures activity. This model also proposes the use of emerging technologies such as ubiquitous computing and wireless communications systems that are used by people in recent years to communicate in event of any disaster. The use of emerging technologies also depends on the role of the people and their culture and global support. Furthermore, the paper will propose the deployment of Global Information Systems (GIS) as an aid to emergency management by identifying the related areas pertaining to disaster and thus to help the personnel involved to analyze disasters more accurately by developing a tool. The aim of this tool is to determine potential and affected disaster areas using the GIS technology and to provide support for decision makers during emergencies. Due to the significant development of computerization, networking and mobile systems, reporting a disaster, nowadays, is only a matter of seconds whereas, in the past it would take days or even weeks for the news to reach the people.
Leveraging the Science of Geographic Information Systems
Authors: Bunch Rick , Tapp Anna , Pathak Prasad
Published: September 2012

The Center for Geographic Information Science (CGISc) at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) was established in the Summer of 2006. CGISc is an educational research entity that relies on the use of GIS and the science of geographic information to conduct research on human and natural phenomena distributed on the Earth’s surface. CGISc welcomes interdisciplinary collaboration, and emphasizes the development of public-private sector partnerships. CGISc also places a high priority on research that involves students. This paper first provides an overview of the CGISc. This section is followed by a discussion on the fundamental approach to conducting geographic research using GIS. The paper concludes with several significant projects and a discussion on future directions.
Temporal and Spatial Consistency
Authors: Duke-Williams Oliver , Stillwell John
Published: September 2012

One of the major problems challenging time series research based on stock and flow data is the inconsistency that occurs over time due to changes in variable definition, data classification and spatial boundary configuration. The census of population is a prime example of a source whose data are fraught with these problems, resulting in even the simplest comparison between the 2001 Census and its predecessor in 1991 being difficult. The first part of this chapter introduces the subject of inconsistencies between related data sets, with general reference to census interaction data. Various types of inconsistency are described. A number of approaches to dealing with inconsistency are then outlined, with examples of how these have been used in practice. The handling of journey to work data of persons who work from home is then used as an illustrative example of the problems posed by inconsistencies in base populations. Home-workers have been treated in different ways in successive UK censuses, a factor which can cause difficulties not only for researchers interested in such working practices, but also for those interested in other aspects of commuting. The latter set of problems are perhaps more pernicious, as users are less likely to be aware of the biases introduced into data sets that are being compared. In the second half of this chapter, we make use of a time series data set of migration interaction data that does have temporal consistency to explore how migration propensities and patterns in England and Wales have changed since 1999 and in particular since the year prior to the 2001 Census. The data used are those that are produced by the Office of National Statistics based on comparisons of NHS patient records from one year to the next and adjusted using data on NHS patients re-registering in different health authorities. The analysis of these data suggests that the massive exodus of individuals from major metropolitan across the country that has been identified in previous studies is continuing apace, particularly from London whose net losses doubled in absolute terms between 1999 and 2004 before reducing marginally in 2005 and 2006. Whilst this pattern of counterurbanisation is evident for all-age flows, it conceals significant variations for certain age groups, not least those aged between 16 and 24, whose migration propensities are high and whose net redistribution is closely connected with the location of universities. The time series analyses are preceded by a comparison of patient register data with corresponding data from the 2001 Census. This suggests strong correlation between the indicators selected and strengthens the argument that patient register data in more recent years provide reliable evidence for researchers and policy makers on how propensities and patterns change over time.
An Assessment of Several Taxonomies of Volunteered Geographic Information
Authors: Cooper Antony K , Coetzee Serena , Kourie Derrick G
Published: September 2012

User-Generated Content (UGC) in general, and Volunteered Geographical Information (VGI) in particular, are becoming more important as sources for official data bases, such as those used in national Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs). Discovering and assessing VGI as suitable geospatial resources for one’s purposes is hence becoming more important, but can be difficult. One way of assessing VGI resources is by classifying them into different types of resources, i.e. a taxonomy of resources. The question is whether such taxonomies can accurately identify suitable VGI resources. We assess five taxonomies both subjectively and using formal concept analysis to determine their discrimination adequacy, that is, how well the taxonomies discriminate between repositories containing UGC in general, or VGI in particular.
The Efficacy of Aerial Search during the Battle of Midway
Authors: Dean Denis J.
Published: September 2012

The Battle of Midway (June 4 – 6, 1942) is considered one of the pivotal naval encounters of the Second World War. The battle has been examined in detail within both popular and scholarly literature, and a common opinion found in virtually all of these examinations is that Japanese search efforts on the morning of June 4, which were intended to determine if any U.S. naval forces were present, were inadequate. Japanese search procedures have been criticized on many separate grounds, but one fault implicit in many of these criticisms is that Japanese search plans were based upon the assumption that a searching aircraft that came within a predefined range of an enemy surface ship would inevitably sight that vessel. Intuitively, a 100% detection rate seems highly unlikely. It seems more probable that a myriad of factors influence detection probability, including characteristics of cloud cover, number and sizes of surface ships involved, relative courses, and speeds of the search aircraft and surface ships. This study employed a Monte Carlo approach built around modified GIS viewshed analyses techniques to investigate the influence of these and other factors had upon detection probability.
Relating Transportation Quality Indicators to Economic Conditions in the South-Central U.S.
Authors: Comer Jonathan C. , Graham Amy K. , Brown Stacey R.
Published: September 2012

Investment in transportation infrastructure is widely assumed to spur economic growth, a belief that persists among both the general public and government officials. However, research has provided inconsistent evidence to date, and many researchers believe that good transportation is a necessary but insufficient condition for regional growth. This study examines the issue from a different perspective than the majority of past research, using spatial regression techniques to explore the relationship between transportation quality and regional economic development at an intermediate spatial resolution. Using federal highway statistics on pavement roughness and bridge quality, this research examines the relationship between measurable results of transportation spending, as evidenced by better quality roads and bridges, and various indicators of economic health. This relationship is examined in the South-Central U.S. (Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas) at the county level and uncovers moderate to weak regression coefficients overall but with notable spatial variations across the study area.
Neogeography
Authors: Gelernter Judith
Published: September 2012

Neogeography refers to geography in the Web 2.0 style. The practice of neogeography shares the characteristics of other social interactive technologies as it represents a collaborative effort by the general public rather than professionals. Volunteer-supplied geographic tags may assume informational value beyond entertainment. Their potential is tempered by problems stemming from its novelty. For instance, neogeography-related websites provide different ways for people to contribute tags, photographs, locations, and commentary. More serious concerns are whether data and commentary are accurate and whether photographs can be an invasion of privacy. Assuming we come to terms with these concerns and there is a future for neogeography, the next generation of applications might change in appearance, mode of access, and the sorts of layered geographical information that might be added above a map.
Towards a Rwandan NSDI
Authors: Akinyemi Felicia O.
Published: September 2012

Awareness of the importance of spatial data in achieving development strategies is high in Rwanda. Government and non-governmental institutions are aspiring to use Geographic Information Technologies (GITs) in their day-to-day activities. The non-existence of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) in Rwanda brings to light serious issues for consideration. Still lacking is a spatial data policy relating to spatial data use. A mechanism to ease spatial data access and sharing is imperative. This paper describes SDI related efforts in Rwanda in a bid to establish the NSDI. Employing a multi-stakeholder approach to drive the process is advocated. To support this, SDI models in some countries are presented that could be applicable to the Rwandan context. Key players with potential roles in the NSDI were identified.
Sustainable Land Use and Watershed Management in Response to Climate Change Impacts
Authors: Loi Nguyen Kim
Published: September 2012

With the changes in climatic, biophysical, socio-cultural, economic, and technological components, paradigm shifts in natural resources management are unavoidably and have to be adapted/modified to harmonize with the global changes and the local communities’ needs. This chapter focuses on sustainable land use and watershed management in response to climate change impacts. The first part covers some definitions and background on sustainable land use, watershed management approach, and sustainable watershed management. The second part describes the use of the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) model focusing on the framework for a planning and decision making, computer-based system for supporting spatial decisions. The mathematical programming has been reviewed focusing on optimization algorithms that include optimization modeling and simulation modeling for decision making. Finally, the example of methodology development for sustainable land use and watershed management in response to climate change in Dong Nai watershed, Vietnam is presented.