bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of feeding silages from different plant raw materials on the profile of fatty acids, cholesterol, and vitamins A and E in lamb meat
Authors: Milewski Stanisław , Purwin Cezary , Pysera Barbara , Lipiński Krzysztof , Antoszkiewicz Zofia , Sobiech Przemysław , Ząbek Katarzyna , Fijałkowska Maja , Tański Zenon , Illek Josef
Published: December 2014

Recently, the quality of lamb meat has been regarded with attention to the content of intramuscular fat, and its fatty acid profile. These indicators are determined by the feed administered to the animals. Apparently, the type of silage used in animal nutrition may be important. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding lambs with silages produced from different plant species on selected meat quality traits. The experiment was conducted on 24 ram lambs, divided into 3 equal groups fed with red clover silage, alfalfa silage, and grass silage, respectively. After 60 days of fattening, the lambs were slaughtered. Samples collected from musculus longissimus lumborum were assayed for: contents of intramuscular fat, cholesterol, the vitamins retinol and α-tocopherol, and the fatty acid profile of intramuscular fat. The meat of lambs fed red clover silage was characterized by a higher content of fat compared to lambs receiving grass silage (P ≤ 0.05). The concentration of vitamin E in the group fed grass silage was the highest and differed significantly (P ≤ 0.01) compared to the group fed alfalfa silage. Intramuscular fat of lambs fed red clover silage contained more polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 and was characterized by a lower ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids n-6:n-3 compared to the lambs fed grass silage. The concentration of conjugated linoleic acid was higher in lambs fed grass silage compared to fat of lambs from the other groups (P ≤ 0.05). Feeding lambs with silages produced from various plant species had a positive effect on traits characterizing the health quality of meat. Until now, only a few studies have been conducted in this species; this is the first such comprehensive study in sheep.
Assessment of motor recovery and MRI correlates in a porcine spinal cord injury model
Authors: Šulla Igor , Bačiak Ladislav , Juránek Ivo , Cicholesová Tatiana , Boldižár Martin , Balik Vladimír , Lukáčová Nadežda
Published: December 2014

The study concentrated on behavioral and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics in a porcine spinal cord injury model. Six adult minipigs weighing 32–35 kg were narcotized by thiopental, intubated, and placed on a volume-cycled ventilator. Anaesthesia was maintained by 1.5% sevoflurane with oxygen. Following location of the 1st lumbar vertebra animals were fastened in an immobilization frame. The spinal cord, exposed through a laminectomy, was compressed by a 5 mm thick circular rod with a peak force of 0.8 kg at a velocity of 3 cm·s-1. The next day the minipigs were paraplegic but improved rapidly to paraparesis. On the 12th postoperative day they were euthanasied. Neural tissue changes were evaluated by post mortem MRI, which showed damage to the spinal cord white and/or gray matter in the epicentre of compression with longitudinal spreading over one segment cranially and caudally. Statistical analyses performed by Spearman’s rho test revealed positive correlations between damaged areas and the whole area of the spinal cord white/gray matter (P = 0.047; rs = 0.742) and (P = 0.002; rs = 0.943), respectively. The study confirmed the reliability and reproducibility of the utilised model of spinal cord trauma. The structural changes in the epicentre of injury did not impede the rapid but incomplete recovery of motor functions.
Prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae in dogs in the Czech Republic
Authors: Fialová Iva , Paninárová Michaela , Nečas Alois , Stehlík Ladislav , Proks Pavel
Published: December 2014

Lumbosacral transitional vertebra is a common congenital anomaly of the spine in dogs. It is a predisposing factor for degeneration of the lumbosacral spine and development of cauda equina syndrome or hip dysplasia in affected dogs. The aim of the study was to determine breed predisposition, types, and prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae in the canine population in the Czech Republic. The value of laterolateral radiographs of the lumbosacral junction in the diagnosis of LTV was also evaluated. Prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae was determined by reviewing ventrodorsal radiographs of pelvis with an extended hip of 1,878 dogs. Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae were detected in 188 dogs (10%). German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute and Bohemian Shepherd were found to be highly predisposed breeds. The most common type of lumbosacral transitional vertebra was type II with separation of the first sacral vertebra from sacrum and presence of rudimentary intervertebral space between S1 and the sacral median crest (37.8% of the lumbosacral transitional vertebrae). Type I was detected in 29.2% and the asymmetric type of the lumbosacral transitional vertebra (type III) in 33%. Laterolateral radiograph of the lumbosacral spine was evaluated in 126 dogs from 188 with lumbosacral transitional vertebrae. Rudimentary intervertebral disc space between S1 and S2 in laterolateral radiographs was detected in 100% of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae with type II and III, and was not detected in type I. The findings on lumbosacral transitional vertebrae in the Czech Republic will extend knowledge about the disease. Both ventrodorsal hip-extended and laterolateral radiographs should be recommended for routine screening and reliable differentiation among the three different types of lumbosacral transitional vertebra.
Ketone bodies in blood of dairy cows: Prevalence and monitoring of subclinical ketosis
Authors: Krempaský Marek , Maskaľová Iveta , Bujňák Lukáš , Vajda Vladimír
Published: December 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between concentration of non-esterified fatty acid and ketone bodies in blood of dairy cows, and to evaluate these concentrations for the detection of prevalence of subclinical ketosis. The second aim was to compare the concentration of β-hydroxybutyric acid determined by an electronic handheld meter Precision Xtra® with serum concentration of β-hydroxybutyric acid analysed in laboratory with izotachometric and photometric method, respectively. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein 4–6 h after morning feeding in three groups of Holstein cows (n = 909) according to the lactation phase from 51 different herds with similar husbandry characteristics. High lipomobilization (non-esterified fatty acid ≥ 0.35 mmol·l-1, mean concentration 0.34 ± 0.15 mmol·l-1) was detected in 30.3% of antepartum cows, while increased concentrations of β-hydroxybutyric acid (≥ 1.0 mmol·l-1, prevalence of subclinical ketosis) were detected in 18.5% and 14.1% of the early lactation and mid lactation cows, respectively. The correlation coefficient (r = 0.84, P < 0.001; r = 0.93, P < 0.001) was found between measurements of whole blood β-hydroxybutyric acid of 60 and 38 dairy cows determined with the Precision Xtra® test and plasma or serum β-hydroxybutyric acid concentration determined by isotachophoresis and photometrical method, respectively. Our results show that the monitoring of changes in the blood concentration of β-hydroxybutyric acid in high-yielding cows in the early postpartum period by the electronic handheld meter Precision Xtra® may be effective in reducing the incidence of ketosis and health problems associated with ketosis in dairy cattle herds.
Health Impact Assessment Practice and Potential for Integration within Environmental Impact and Strategic Environmental Assessments in Italy
Authors: Linzalone Nunzia , Assennato Giorgio , Ballarini Adele , Cadum Ennio , Cirillo Mario , Cori Liliana , De Maio Francesca , Musmeci Loredana , Natali Marinella , Rieti Sabrina , Soggiu Maria , Bianchi Fabrizio
Published: December 2014

Avoiding or minimizing potential environmental impact is the driving idea behind protecting a population’s health via Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs). However, both are often carried out without any systematic approach. This paper describes the findings of a review of HIA, EIA and SEA experiences carried out by the authors, who act as institutional competent subjects at the national and regional levels in Italy. The analysis of how health is tackled in EIA and SEA procedures could support the definition of a protocol for the integration of HIA with EIA and SEA. Although EIA and SEA approaches include the aim of protecting health, significant technical and methodological gaps are present when assessing health systematically, and their basic principles regarding assessment are unsatisfactory for promoting and addressing healthcare concepts stated by the WHO. HIA is still poorly integrated into the decision-making process, screening and monitoring phases are only occasionally implemented, and operational details are not well-defined. The collaborative approach of institutions involved in environment and health is a core element in a systematic advancement toward supporting effective decisions and effective protection of the environment and health. At the Italian national level, the definition of guidelines and tools for HIA, also in relation with EIA and SEA, is of great interest.
Highly Soluble Monoamino-Substituted Perylene Tetracarboxylic Dianhydrides: Synthesis, Optical and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Chen Kew-Yu , Chang Che-Wei
Published: December 2014

Three dialkylamino-substituted perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydrides with different n-alkyl chain lengths (n = 6, 12 or 18), 1a–1c, were synthesized under mild conditions in high yields and were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and high resolution mass spectroscopy. Their optical and electrochemical properties were measured using UV-Vis and emission spectroscopic techniques, as well as cyclic voltammetry (CV). This is the first time that the structures and the properties of monoamino-substituted perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydrides have been reported. These molecules show a deep green color in both solution and the solid state and are soluble in most organic solvents. They all show a unique charge transfer emission in the near-infrared region, and the associated peaks exhibit solvatochromism. The dipole moments of the compounds have been estimated using the Lippert-Mataga equation, and upon excitation, they show slightly larger dipole moment changes than those of corresponding perylene diimides, 2a–2c. Additionally, Compounds 1a–1c undergo two quasi-reversible one-electron oxidations and two quasi-reversible one-electron reductions in dichloromethane at modest potentials. Complementary density functional theory calculations performed on these chromophores are reported in order to gain more insight into their molecular structures and optical properties.
Refractive Index Measurement of Liquids Based on Microstructured Optical Fibers
Authors: Silva Susana , Roriz Paulo , Frazão Orlando
Published: December 2014

This review is focused on microstructured optical fiber sensors developed in recent years for liquid RI sensing. The review is divided into three parts: the first section introduces a general view of the most relevant refractometric sensors that have been reported over the last thirty years. Section 2 discusses several microstructured optical fiber designs, namely, suspended-core fiber, photonic crystal fiber, large-core air-clad photonic crystal fiber, and others. This part is also divided into two main groups: the interferometric-based and resonance-based configurations. The sensing methods rely either on full/selective filling of the microstructured fiber air holes with a liquid analyte or by simply immersing the sensing fiber into the liquid analyte. The sensitivities and resolutions are tabled at the end of this section followed by a brief discussion of the obtained results. The last section concludes with some remarks about the microstructured fiber-based configurations developed for RI sensing and their potential for future applications.
Satellite Observations of Wind Farm Impacts on Nocturnal Land Surface Temperature in Iowa
Authors: Harris Ronald , Zhou Liming , Xia Geng
Published: December 2014

Wind farms (WFs) are believed to have an impact on lower boundary layer meteorology. A recent study examined satellite-measured land surface temperature data (LST) and found a local nighttime warming effect attributable to a group of four large WFs in Texas. This study furthers their work by investigating the impacts of five individual WFs in Iowa, where the land surface properties and climate conditions are different from those in Texas. Two methods are used to assess WF impacts: first, compare the spatial coupling between the LST changes (after turbine construction versus before) and the geographic layouts of the WFs; second, quantify the LST difference between the WFs and their immediate surroundings (non-WF areas). Each WF shows an irrefutable nighttime warming signal relative to the surrounding areas after their turbines were installed, and these warming signals are generally coupled with the geographic layouts of the wind turbines, especially in summer. This study provides further observational evidence that WFs can cause surface warming at nighttime, and that such a signal can be detected by satellite-based sensors.
Generic Learning-Based Ensemble Framework for Small Sample Size Face Recognition in Multi-Camera Networks
Authors: Zhang Cuicui , Liang Xuefeng , Matsuyama Takashi
Published: December 2014

Multi-camera networks have gained great interest in video-based surveillance systems for security monitoring, access control, etc. Person re-identification is an essential and challenging task in multi-camera networks, which aims to determine if a given individual has already appeared over the camera network. Individual recognition often uses faces as a trial and requires a large number of samples during the training phrase. This is difficult to fulfill due to the limitation of the camera hardware system and the unconstrained image capturing conditions. Conventional face recognition algorithms often encounter the “small sample size” (SSS) problem arising from the small number of training samples compared to the high dimensionality of the sample space. To overcome this problem, interest in the combination of multiple base classifiers has sparked research efforts in ensemble methods. However, existing ensemble methods still open two questions: (1) how to define diverse base classifiers from the small data; (2) how to avoid the diversity/accuracy dilemma occurring during ensemble. To address these problems, this paper proposes a novel generic learning-based ensemble framework, which augments the small data by generating new samples based on a generic distribution and introduces a tailored 0–1 knapsack algorithm to alleviate the diversity/accuracy dilemma. More diverse base classifiers can be generated from the expanded face space, and more appropriate base classifiers are selected for ensemble. Extensive experimental results on four benchmarks demonstrate the higher ability of our system to cope with the SSS problem compared to the state-of-the-art system.
Design Concepts, Fabrication and Advanced Characterization Methods of Innovative Piezoelectric Sensors Based on ZnO Nanowires
Authors: Araneo Rodolfo , Rinaldi Antonio , Notargiacomo Andrea , Bini Fabiano , Pea Marialilia , Celozzi Salvatore , Marinozzi Franco , Lovat Giampiero
Published: December 2014

Micro- and nano-scale materials and systems based on zinc oxide are expected to explode in their applications in the electronics and photonics, including nano-arrays of addressable optoelectronic devices and sensors, due to their outstanding properties, including semiconductivity and the presence of a direct bandgap, piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity and biocompatibility. Most applications are based on the cooperative and average response of a large number of ZnO micro/nanostructures. However, in order to assess the quality of the materials and their performance, it is fundamental to characterize and then accurately model the specific electrical and piezoelectric properties of single ZnO structures. In this paper, we report on focused ion beam machined high aspect ratio nanowires and their mechanical and electrical (by means of conductive atomic force microscopy) characterization. Then, we investigate the suitability of new power-law design concepts to accurately model the relevant electrical and mechanical size-effects, whose existence has been emphasized in recent reviews.
Definition of an Ontology Matching Algorithm for Context Integration in Smart Cities
Authors: Otero-Cerdeira Lorena , Rodríguez-Martínez Francisco , Gómez-Rodríguez Alma
Published: December 2014

In this paper we describe a novel proposal in the field of smart cities: using an ontology matching algorithm to guarantee the automatic information exchange between the agents and the smart city. A smart city is composed by different types of agents that behave as producers and/or consumers of the information in the smart city. In our proposal, the data from the context is obtained by sensor and device agents while users interact with the smart city by means of user or system agents. The knowledge of each agent, as well as the smart city’s knowledge, is semantically represented using different ontologies. To have an open city, that is fully accessible to any agent and therefore to provide enhanced services to the users, there is the need to ensure a seamless communication between agents and the city, regardless of their inner knowledge representations, i.e., ontologies. To meet this goal we use ontology matching techniques, specifically we have defined a new ontology matching algorithm called OntoPhil to be deployed within a smart city, which has never been done before. OntoPhil was tested on the benchmarks provided by the well known evaluation initiative, Ontology Alignment Evaluation Initiative, and also compared to other matching algorithms, although these algorithms were not specifically designed for smart cities. Additionally, specific tests involving a smart city’s ontology and different types of agents were conducted to validate the usefulness of OntoPhil in the smart city environment.
International Partnerships to Promote Quality Care: Faculty Groundwork, Student Projects, and Outcomes
Authors: Bosworth Terry L. , Haloburdo Esther P. , Hetrick Christine , Patchett Karen , Thompson Mary Ann , Welch Marylouise
Published: December 2014

Global health care is now considered a component of core knowledge for 21st century professional nursing practice. The authors describe laying the groundwork for an international experience and projects resulting from a partnership with a nursing program in the developing country of Guyana. In addition, the outcomes from undergraduate nursing international learning experiences for students and practicing nurses are reported. These outcomes provide support for the integration of study abroad as a strategy for enhancing the undergraduate nursing curriculum and ultimately professional nursing practice during the early years of practice.
Evidence-Based Nursing in Clinical Practice: Implications for Nurse Educators
Authors: Penz Kelly L. , Bassendowski Sandra L.
Published: December 2014

To improve patient outcomes currently and in the future, it is important that an evidence-based approach to nursing care be incorporated into clinical practice settings. Nurse educators and clinical nurse educators have a mandate to model and facilitate evidence-based nursing through learning activities. Unfortunately, issues present within clinical practice settings have made this approach difficult for registered nurses to fully incorporate into practice. This article outlines issues inhibiting evidence-based nursing, such as time factors, access to information and resources, nurses’ research knowledge, skills, and learning opportunities, and the current nursing culture. Strategies for change that can be used by clinical nurse educators to enhance the use of evidence-based nursing in clinical practice areas are also described.
Pediatric Ankle Sprains and Their Imitators
Authors: Halstead Mark E.
Published: December 2014

Ankle injuries are common in sports, and the ankle sprain is the most common of ankle injuries, but there are many injuries that can mimic a sprain. In the skeletally immature athlete, bone injuries, particularly those that affect the physis, are more likely to occur than a ligamentous injury. Knowledge of relevant anatomy, physical exam, and appropriate imaging can assist the primary care provider in accurately diagnosing the majority of ankle injuries in the young athlete.

[
Pediatr Ann.
2014;43(12):e291–e296.]
Chikungunya Virus: Is This the Next Emerging Disease Threat to the Americas?
Authors: Girimont Trina M.
Published: December 2014

Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne infection for which no cure or vaccine is available. It made its first appearance in the Americas in December 2013. Seven months later, two locally acquired cases of the disease emerged in the United States. The emergence of chikungunya fever cases in the Americas emphasizes the need for sustained vector control, clear public health information, and disease awareness and surveillance.
White House Executive Order Protects Transgender Workers in the Federal Government
Authors: Maher Alexandra , Bower Kelly , Fitzgerald Sheila T.
Published: December 2014

Occupational and environmental health nurses should be aware of the unique challenges and potential discrimination faced by transgender workers.
Cloud Libraries
Authors: Yuvaraj Mayank
Published: December 2014

On-demand computing power at modest cost, tied with faster Internet accessibility in the Cloud has offered the future of Cloud libraries. This chapter presents a snapshot of what is happening in the arena of Cloud libraries. It presents the features, its promises, components that drive a Cloud library, users and the services, infrastructure, information sources, and retrieval strategies in the Cloud. Further, it presents a Cloud strategic planning model for its realization in libraries. Whereas a lot of work has been done on the technical aspects and implications in health and medical services, there is lack of focus on the implication of Cloud computing in a library setting. This chapter is a self-conscious attempt in filling some of the gaps.
Libraries and Cloud Computing Models
Authors: Sharma Satish C. , Bagoria Harshila
Published: December 2014

Cloud computing is a new breed of service offered over the Internet, which has completely changed the way one can use the power of computers irrespective of geographic location. It has brought in new avenues for organizations and businesses to offer services using hardware or software or platform of third party sources, thus saving on cost and maintenance. It can transform the way systems are built and services delivered, providing libraries with an opportunity to extend their impact. Cloud computing has become a major topic of discussion and debate for any business or organization which relies on technology. Anyone connected to the Internet is probably using some type of cloud computing on a regular basis. Whether they are using Google's Gmail, organizing photos on Flickr, or searching the Web with Bing, they are engaged in cloud computing. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to give an overview of this technology, its connection with libraries, the models in which libraries can deploy this technology for providing services and augment the productivity of library staff and case studies.
A Cloud-Oriented Reference Architecture to Digital Library Systems
Authors: Palanivel K. , Kuppuswami S.
Published: December 2014

Cloud computing is an emerging computing model which has evolved as a result of the maturity of underlying prerequisite technologies. There are differences in perspective as to when a set of underlying technologies becomes a “cloud” model. In order to categorize cloud computing services, and to expect some level of consistent characteristics to be associated with the services, cloud adopters need a consistent frame of reference. The Cloud Computing Reference Architecture (CCRA) defines a standard reference architecture and consistent frame of reference for comparing cloud services from different service providers when selecting and deploying cloud services to support their mission requirements. Cloud computing offers information retrieval systems, particularly digital libraries and search engines, a wide variety of options for growth and reduction of maintenance needs and encourages efficient resource use. These features are particularly attractive for digital libraries, repositories, and search engines. The dynamic and elastic provisioning features of a cloud infrastructure allow rapid growth in collection size and support a larger user base, while reducing management issues. Hence, the objective of this chapter is to investigate and design reference architecture to Digital Library Systems using cloud computing with scalability in mind. The proposed reference architecture is called as CORADLS. This architecture accelerates the rate at which library users can get easy, efficient, faster and reliable services in the digital environment. Here, the end user does not have to worry about the resource or disk space in cloud computing.
Cloud-Enabled Software Testing Based on Program Understanding
Authors: Chiang Chia-Chu , Yu Shucheng
Published: December 2014

Cloud computing provides an innovative technology that enables Software as a Service (SaaS) to its customers. With cloud computing technologies, a suite of program understanding tools is suggested to be deployed in a cloud to aid the generation of test cases for software testing. This cloud-enabled service allows customers to use these tools through an on-demand, flexible, and pay-per-use model. Lastly, the issues and challenges of cloud computing are presented.
Integration of Cognitive Radio Sensor Networks and Cloud Computing
Authors: Saleem Yasir , Salim Farrukh , Rehmani Mubashir Husain
Published: December 2014

Cognitive Radio Sensor Networks (CRSNs) are composed of sensor nodes equipped with Cognitive Radio (CR) technology with limited resources (e.g., storage, computational speed, bandwidth, security, etc.). In order to overcome resource limitation, cognitive radio sensor nodes are integrated with cloud computing, which provides computing resources (e.g., storage, computation, security, etc.) to sensor nodes. Therefore, the focus of this chapter is integration of cognitive radio sensor networks with cloud computing. In this chapter, the authors first provide background on cloud computing, cognitive radio networks, wireless sensor networks, and cognitive radio sensor networks. This chapter also describes benefits of this integration to both cognitive radio sensor networks and cloud computing, followed by advantages of using cloud computing in cognitive radio sensor networks. Furthermore, it provides applications of cloud-based cognitive radio sensor networks. In the end, the authors provide some issues, challenges, and future directions for such integration.
Bioinformatics Clouds for High-Throughput Technologies
Authors: Cava Claudia , Gallivanone Francesca , Salvatore Christian , Della Rosa Pasquale Anthony , Castiglioni Isabella
Published: December 2014

Bioinformatics traditionally deals with computational approaches to the analysis of big data from high-throughput technologies as genomics, proteomics, and sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis allows extraction of new information from big data that might help to better assess the biological details at a molecular and cellular level. The wide-scale and high-dimensionality of Bioinformatics data has led to an increasing need of high performance computing and repository. In this chapter, the authors demonstrate the advantages of cloud computing in Bioinformatics research for high-throughput technologies.
Secure Network Solutions for Enterprise Cloud Services
Authors: Huang Chengcheng , Smith Phil , Sun Zhaohao
Published: December 2014

Securing a cloud network is an important challenge for delivering cloud services to enterprise clouds. There are a number of secure network protocols, such as VPN protocols, currently available, to provide different secure network solutions for enterprise clouds. For example, PPTP, IPSec, and SSL/TLS are the most widely used VPN protocols in today's securing network solutions. However, there are some significant challenges in the implementation stage. For example, which VPN solution is easy to deploy in delivering cloud services? Which VPN solution is most user-friendly in enterprise clouds? This chapter explores these issues by implementing different VPNs in a virtual cloud network environment using open source software and tools. This chapter also reviews cloud computing and cloud services and looks at their relationships. The results not only provide experimental evidence but also facilitate the network implementers in deployment of secure network solutions for enterprise cloud services.
Mobile Cloud Computing and Its Security and Privacy Challenges
Authors: Takabi Hassan , Zargar Saman Taghavi , Joshi James B. D.
Published: December 2014

Mobile cloud computing has grown out of two hot technology trends, mobility and cloud. The emergence of cloud computing and its extension into the mobile domain creates the potential for a global, interconnected mobile cloud computing environment that will allow the entire mobile ecosystem to enrich their services across multiple networks. We can utilize significant optimization and increased operating power offered by cloud computing to enable seamless and transparent use of cloud resources to extend the capability of resource constrained mobile devices. However, in order to realize mobile cloud computing, we need to develop mechanisms to achieve interoperability among heterogeneous and distributed devices. We need solutions to discover best available resources in the cloud servers based on the user demands and approaches to deliver desired resources and services efficiently and in a timely fashion to the mobile terminals. Furthermore, while mobile cloud computing has tremendous potential to enable the mobile terminals to have access to powerful and reliable computing resources anywhere and anytime, we must consider several issues including privacy and security, and reliability in realizing mobile cloud computing. In this chapter, the authors first explore the architectural components required to realize a mobile cloud computing infrastructure. They then discuss mobile cloud computing features with their unique privacy and security implications. They present unique issues of mobile cloud computing that exacerbate privacy and security challenges. They also discuss various approaches to address these challenges and explore the future work needed to provide a trustworthy mobile cloud computing environment.
Virtualization and Cloud Computing
Authors: Chaka Chaka
Published: December 2014

This chapter explores the interface between virtualization and cloud computing for global enterprise mobility. It also investigates the potential both virtualization and cloud computing hold for global enterprises. In this context, it argues that the virtualization of computing operations, applications, and services and the consumerization of digital technologies serve as one of the key drivers of cloud computing. Against this backdrop, the chapter first provides an overview of virtualization, consumerization, and cloud computing. Second, it showcases real life instances in which five enterprises leverage virtualization and cloud computing as part of their cloud business solutions. Third, it outlines some of the hollows and pain points characterizing cloud computing. Fourth and last, the chapter briefly presents possible future trends likely to typify cloud computing.
The Economics of Cloud Computing
Authors: Etro Federico
Published: December 2014

This chapter examines the economic impact of the diffusion of a new technology as cloud computing. This will allow firms to rent computing power and storage from service providers, and to pay on demand, with a profound impact on the cost structure of all the industries, turning some of the fixed costs in marginal costs of production. Such a change will have a substantial impact on the incentives to create new business, and through this, on: investments and macroeconomic growth, job creation in all industries and job reallocation in the ICT sector, and public finance accounts, through the direct impact on the public sector spending and the indirect one on the tax revenues. In this study, the author investigates the consequences of the diffusion of cloud computing on market structures and competition and tries to disentangle the above mentioned aspects with a particular focus on a simulation run for the European economy.
Streamlining Cloud Management Automation by Unifying the Invocation of Scripts and Services Based on TOSCA
Authors: Wettinger Johannes , Binz Tobias , Breitenbücher Uwe , Kopp Oliver , Leymann Frank
Published: December 2014

Today, there is a huge variety of script-centric approaches, APIs, and tools available to implement automated provisioning, deployment, and management of applications in the Cloud. The automation of all these aspects is key for reducing costs. However, most of these approaches are script-centric and provide proprietary solutions employing different invocation mechanisms, interfaces, and state models. Moreover, most Cloud providers offer proprietary APIs to be used for provisioning and management purposes. Consequently, it is hard to create deployment and management plans that integrate multiple of these approaches. The goal of the authors work is to come up with an approach for unifying the invocation of scripts and services without handling each proprietary interface separately. A prototype realizes the presented approach in a standards-based manner using the Topology and Orchestration Specification for Cloud Applications (TOSCA).
Mobile and Cloud Technologies for Smarter Governance
Authors: Raj Pethuru
Published: December 2014

There are hordes of data-driven, context-aware, and people-centric applications and services for smarter environments such as smarter homes, governments, buildings, cities, and organizations. With the exponential growth of smart phones, there are service repositories and application stores in remote mobile clouds. Similarly, with the ceaseless advancements in the device ecosystem and in the IT field, government-specific applications will flourish and be deployed and maintained in special cloud stores, platforms, and infrastructures to be found, bound, and used by any input/output devices for a variety of everyday personal and professional purposes. Smart, sustainable, intuitive, and citizen-aware services can be dynamically created from the ground up as well as orchestrated or choreographed out of multiple atomic and discrete software services. Such composite services are directly fulfilling government activities. Thus, clouds emerge as the most common and minimum requirement for not only producing and stocking services but also for hosting application platforms. Further, clouds facilitate provisioning and renting out their configurable and customizable assets on demand. Through self-service portals, the cloud usage is to pick up fast in the days to unfold. In this chapter, the authors write about how cloud adoption is to ring in delectable transformations for worldwide governments as well as their citizens, that is, how governments can accomplish more with less, how people can experience high quality, technology-sponsored digital living, how the cloud idea becomes a centre of attraction for more ingenuity towards newer and nimbler service conceptualization, concretization, and delivery.
3D Hilbert Space Filling Curves in 3D City Modeling for Faster Spatial Queries
Authors: Ujang Uznir , Anton Francois , Azri Suhaibah , Rahman Alias Abdul , Mioc Darka
Published: December 2014

The advantages of three dimensional (3D) city models can be seen in various applications including photogrammetry, urban and regional planning, computer games, etc. They expand the visualization and analysis capabilities of Geographic Information Systems on cities, and they can be developed using web standards. However, these 3D city models consume much more storage compared to two dimensional (2 D) spatial data. They involve extra geometrical and topological information together with semantic data. Without a proper spatial data clustering method and its corresponding spatial data access method, retrieving portions of and especially searching these 3D city models, will not be done optimally. Even though current developments are based on an open data model allotted by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) called CityGML, its XML-based structure makes it challenging to cluster the 3D urban objects. In this research, the authors propose an opponent data constellation technique of space-filling curves (3D Hilbert curves) for 3D city model data representation. Unlike previous methods, that try to project 3D or n-dimensional data down to 2D or 3D using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) or Hilbert mappings, in this research, they extend the Hilbert space-filling curve to one higher dimension for 3D city model data implementations. The query performance was tested for single object, nearest neighbor and range search queries using a CityGML dataset of 1,000 building blocks and the results are presented in this paper. The advantages of implementing space-filling curves in 3D city modeling will improve data retrieval time by means of optimized 3D adjacency, nearest neighbor information and 3D indexing. The Hilbert mapping, which maps a sub-interval of the ([0,1]) interval to the corresponding portion of the d-dimensional Hilbert's curve, preserves the Lebesgue measure and is Lipschitz continuous. Depending on the applications, several alternatives are possible in order to cluster spatial data together in the third dimension compared to its clustering in 2 D.
The Construction of Economic Intelligence as an Academic Discipline
Authors: Fougy Florian
Published: December 2014

Whereas “intelligence économique” was unknown in France up until the 1990s, it is now the subject of many scientific publications and professional courses. This article addresses the institutionalization of economic intelligence and its construction as a field of study over the last twenty years. It maintains that economic intelligence constitutes a discipline and that there is no geographical diffusion of economic intelligence but national emergences. This work interests in its appearance in France since the 1990s through the dual process of standardization of economic intelligence practices and the establishment of a scientific community characterized, as explained by Jovanovic (2008), by the creation of researchers groups, a common training and the affirmation of a specific method.
Enterprise Modeling for Business and IT Alignment
Authors: Kaidalova Julia , Siegerroth Ulf , Bukowska Elżbieta , Shilov Nikolay
Published: December 2014

In order to achieve Business and IT Alignment (BITA) it is required to capture and analyze both business and IT dimensions of enterprises. In this regard Enterprise Modeling (EM) is acknowledged as one useful mean. One of the central roles during EM is EM practitioner who drives and coordinates the EM project. Conducting EM is a highly collaborative activity that requires considerable skills and experience since EM practitioner has to deal with various challenges throughout the project. Despite a quite wide range of research, EM challenges needs to be further investigated, in particular concerning practical recommendations related to creation and usage of enterprise models. This article presents a framework with challenges and recommendations for EM that is aimed on facilitating business and IT alignment. The empirical base for the study consists of interviews with EM practitioners that have significant experience in EM. In order to achieve Business and IT Alignment (BITA) it is required to capture and analyze both business and IT dimensions of enterprises. In this regard Enterprise Modeling (EM) is acknowledged as one useful mean. One of the central roles during EM is EM practitioner who drives and coordinates the EM project. Conducting EM is a highly collaborative activity that requires considerable skills and experience since EM practitioner has to deal with various challenges throughout the project. Despite a quite wide range of research, EM challenges needs to be further investigated, in particular concerning practical recommendations related to creation and usage of enterprise models. This article presents a framework with challenges and recommendations for EM that is aimed on facilitating business and IT alignment. The empirical base for the study consists of interviews with EM practitioners that have significant experience in EM.
Allocation Criteria for Increasing Electronic Toll Collection Gates on Freeways Determined Using Simulation Analysis
Authors: Tseng Pin-Yi , Chang Chiung-Wen , Wu Chi-Hung , Chen Wan-Hui , Chang Sheng-Hsiung
Published: December 2014

In Taiwan, the electronic toll collection (ETC) system for freeway toll plazas that commenced operation in February 2006 will operate on all freeways by 2014. When the ETC system was first implemented, each toll plaza was allocated 1 small-vehicle ETC gate and 1 large-vehicle ETC gate. Determining how to allot the gates to ETC and manual toll collection when the number of ETC vehicles increases is crucial. By conducting a simulation using the toll plaza simulation model, the authors observed that 1 ETC gate for passenger cars had to be added to the small toll plaza when the traffic exceeded 1,450 vehicles/hr/gate. The medium and large toll plazas required 1 more ETC gate for passenger cars when the traffic exceeded 1,600 vehicles/hr/gate, whereas 1 non-ETC gate for passenger cars could be removed.
Protocol for Transferability of Driver Simulator Results to Real Traffic Conditions
Authors: Gemou Maria , Bekiaris Evangelos
Published: December 2014

The current manuscript presents the research protocol that has been developed in order to enable the valid transferability of driver simulator results in real traffic conditions. It responds to the weaknesses that have been recognised in the driving simulator validity research field, with respect to the validity of the experimental process being followed as well as to the methodology applied for the comparative analysis of the collected measurements. A case study concerning a semi-dynamic driving simulator is presented. The research hypotheses, the experimental plan and the basic conditions of the analysis methodology that have supported it are described. Trials have been conducted in a semi-dynamic simulator and on-road with 36 drivers (12 trainees, 12 novice and 12 experienced), in “following vehicle” and “free driving” scenarios in highway, rural and urban roads in order to prove the established research hypotheses for a series of driving behaviour metrics.
Simulator for Electric Drives Research
Authors: Ziuzev Anatoliy , Nesterov Konstantin , Mudrov Mikhail
Published: December 2014

The simulator of power part of electric drive for research purposes of electric drives is under consideration in the paper. It is based on the software and hardware of National Instruments Company and includes mathematical model of converter, motor and load. The simulator is designed to setting up the electric drive and to explore the modes of its operation.
Efficiency Upgrading Techniques of Diesel Engine Start-Up Process Analysis
Authors: Makarov Stanislav V. , Gurov Michail G. , Smirnov Michail A.
Published: December 2014

This paper deals with the research aimed at the efficiency upgrading techniques of start-up process of the diesel engines of shunt locomotives. The application features are indicated and methods of reliable start of the diesel engines with using of the supercapacitors are developed. The issues of reliability and lifetime of the supercapacitors stacks in start-up systems improvement are considered. The mathematical and simulation modelsare developed, changing of current - and speed-time curve charts are also presented.
Analysis of Higher Harmonic Components Influence on the Electric Circuit at Induction Motor Functioning Equipped with Adjustable-Frequency Electric Drive
Authors: Myateg Tatyana Vladimirovna
Published: December 2014

This paper deals with analyzing the operating modes peculiarities of induction motor equipped with ACS 550 frequency converter. Great attention is given to the study of higher current harmonics behavior at changing rotation velocity and momentum of the induction motor. Advantages and disadvantages of frequency converter application are discussed in detail. Wetry to define the main trends in higher harmonics behaviorand give general recommendations to quench such higher harmonics.
Research of MHD Influence during Preparation and Casting Aluminum Melt in Electromagnetic Field
Authors: Khatsayuk Maksim , Timofeev Victor , Mikhaylov Dmitry
Published: December 2014

The present article describes the developed mathematical models and results of the theoretical research of electromagnetic and thermo-hydrodynamic processes carried out with the help of the models. The research has been made with the account of their turbulent pattern and crystallization in an induction unit with MHD-impact at stages of preparation and pouring of the melt.
Electroplastic Effect
Authors: Beridze Elizaveta , Gennari C. , Michieletto F. , Forzan M.
Published: December 2014

Realization of final products frequently involves severe bulk deformation steps and, therefore, methods aimed to improve and increase the materials formability are required. In industry, for bulk material forming, a commonly used method is hot working, where deformations are observed at or above recrystallization temperature of the material; alternatively, incremental forming can be employed, in which intermediate cold deformation steps are followed by annealing to restore the material workability [1].
Influence of Laser Cladding Parameters on γ-TiAl Coatings
Authors: Maliutina Iuliia N. , Si-Mohand Hocine , Piolet Romain
Published: December 2014

Relationships between laser cladding parameters (i.e. powder density) and structural characteristics as well as mechanical properties of γ-TiAl-based clads on titanium alloys were investigated. The conducted study revealed that the height of the formed clads increases linearly with powder density. The maximum value of microhardness corresponds to clad produced at the lowest powder density.