bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linguistic Certainty in Managerial Announcements
Authors: Demers Elizabeth , Yu Julia
Published: June 2014

This chapter provides a review of the prior literature examining the relations between text-based measures of risk and uncertainty in managerial announcements and various economic measures of risk. The authors also present new empirical analyses examining the antecedents, characteristics of contemporaneous numerical disclosures, and market consequences of linguistic certainty in managerial forecast announcements. The results show that prior forecast accuracy increases the certainty of the diction accompanying management's current period forecast, that linguistic certainty reinforces the precision of the contemporaneously provided numerical forecast, and that higher levels of managerial textual uncertainty increase the market's uncertainty regarding the value of the firm. The review of the limited extant literature, together with the new results presented here, suggest numerous additional avenues for further investigation of the economic risk relevance of linguistic measures of uncertainty.
Design Patterns and Design Principles for Internal Domain-Specific Languages
Authors: Günther Sebastian
Published: June 2014

Internal DSLs are a special kind of DSLs that use an existing programming language as their host. To build them successfully, knowledge regarding how to modify the host language is essential. In this chapter, the author contributes six DSL design principles and 21 DSL design patterns. DSL Design principles provide guidelines that identify specific design goals to shape the syntax and semantic of a DSL. DSL design patterns express proven knowledge about recurring DSL design challenges, their solution, and their connection to each other – forming a rich vocabulary that developers can use to explain a DSL design and share their knowledge. The chapter presents design patterns grouped into foundation patterns (which provide the skeleton of the DSL consisting of objects and methods), notation patterns (which address syntactic variations of host language expressions), and abstraction patterns (which provide the domain-specific abstractions as extensions or even modifications of the host language semantics).
An Exploration about Krashen's Input Hypothesis in the Computer Network Environment
Authors: Junyuan Cui
Published: June 2014

Krashen's second language acquisition theory is the most influential theory in foreign or second language learning. The input hypothesis is an essential hypothesis in his theory. The research and debate on input hypothesis never ends. This paper tries to explore the input hypothesis in the computer network environment. It detects computer and network technology can be applied to further explain the input hypothesis. The computer and internet have the function of assisting acquisition, providing enough comprehensible input and improving production ability. This discovery has further implication on improving the English learning in non-English speaking countries. Computer Assisted Language Learning has new demands on both national education investment and college education management; on both teachers and students.
Two Distinct Sequence Learning Mechanisms for Syntax Acquisition and Word Learning
Authors: Walk Anne McClure , Conway Christopher M.
Published: June 2014

The ability to acquire spoken language depends in part on a sensitivity to the sequential regularities contained within linguistic input. In this chapter, the authors propose that language learning operates via two distinct sequence-learning processes: probabilistic sequence learning, which supports the acquisition of syntax and other structured linguistic patterns, and repetition sequence learning, which supports word learning. First, the authors review work from their lab and others illustrating that performance on tasks that require participants to learn non-linguistic sequential patterns is empirically associated with different measures of language processing. Second, they present recent work from their lab specifically highlighting the role played by probabilistic sequence learning for acquiring syntax in a sample of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Finally, the authors demonstrate that the learning of repeating sequences is related to vocabulary development in these children. These findings suggest that there may be at least two relatively distinct domain-general sequential processing skills, with each supporting a different aspect of language acquisition.
About the Use of the DMs in CLIL Classes
Authors: Consonni Anna
Published: June 2014

This chapter is a contribution to the discussion regarding the implementation of the CLIL methodology in school classes, particularly as far as the traditional tension between language and content learning is concerned. It starts with an overview of the development and diffusion of this methodology in European schools, lingers over what is going on in the countries of the MIH project (Spain, Italy, Germany, Poland, France, and Austria), and finally, it focuses on its results, the Digital Modules. It shows how it is possible to overcome the above-mentioned dichotomy, language versus contents, by using a cultural approach that enables students to move their own thinking forward. In fact, even if the basic principle of the CLIL is that the content comes before the language, in school practices this is not always the case, as documented in several surveys.
Advanced Question-Answering and Discourse Semantics
Authors: Saint-Dizier Patrick
Published: June 2014

In this chapter, the authors develop the paradigm of advanced question-answering that includes how-to, why, evaluative, comparative, and opinion questions. They show the different parameters at stake in answer production, involving several aspects of cooperativity. These types of questions require quite a lot of discourse semantics analysis and domain knowledge. The second part of this chapter is devoted to a short presentation of those text semantics aspects relevant to answering questions. The last part of this chapter introduces , a platform the authors have developed for discourse semantics analysis that they use for answering complex questions, in particular how-to and opinion questions.
The Opinions and Attitudes of the Foreign Language Learners and Teachers Related to the Traditional and Digital Games
Authors: Uzun Levent , Ekin M. Tugba Yildiz , Kartal Erdogan
Published: June 2014

The present study aimed at investigating the differences between the teachers and the ‘new generation' of learners, their opinions about which language skills would benefit more from games, and the nuances of the two genders (male and female), while also revealing the profiles and tendencies of different age groups in relation to their fascination with playing traditional or digital games. The subjects were 131 foreign language learners or teachers from five different age groups, ranging between 7 and 50. The data were collected and analysed through both qualitative and quantitative constructions. Results suggested that female subjects were mostly in favour of traditional games, and liked to play educational games more than their male counterparts, while also it was revealed that from among the six language skills, vocabulary seemed to have the potential to benefit most considerably from games.
The Use of VLE for Monitoring Independent Language Learning in Large Cohort Provision
Authors: Franc Catherine , Morton Annie
Published: June 2014

The Department of French at the University of Manchester is currently innovating in eLearning in order to enhance both language provision and student performance. Within the context of the core language module Independent Learning Programme, they are exploring ways to enhance new technologies to address following questions: how to encourage our large cohort of French studies students throughout their degree to engage in regular and systematic independent learning; how to equip them with appropriate language specific and transferable skills for lifelong independent learning; and how to enhance intrinsic motivation particularly with extrinsic motivational factors such as feedback and feedforward.
LingoBee Mobile App
Authors: Procter-Legg Emma , Petersen Sobah Abbas , Cacchione Annamaria
Published: June 2014

This chapter describes case studies conducted in five European countries, where language learners were invited to use “LingoBee,” a mobile app, as a means of supporting their language learning. Assuming that today's language learners are mobile savvy and “Digital Natives” and that they should be able to engage in language learning autonomously using technology, initial studies were conducted with little or no intervention by the language teachers. However, the support and guidance provided within a teacher-led context can impact positively on learner engagement. The case studies confirm this hypothesis. This chapter addresses the research question: Does the level of the support and guidance and pedagogical approach impact on learners' engagement and the synergy between formal and informal learning? Based on the experiences from the five case studies, recommendations are provided for teachers and designers of educational technologies.
A Proposal to Study of Cross Language Information Retrieval (CLIR) System Users' Information Seeking Behavior
Authors: Ha YooJin
Published: June 2014

There has been an enormous increase for information written in different languages by users from various backgrounds and disciplines. This chapter proposes a research design to examine multilingual information users' information behaviors when using a Cross Language Information Retrieval (CLIR) system. Development of a true CLIR is absolutely necessary so that the system would allow users to access information written in the user's languages of choice. Kuhlthau's Information Search Process (ISP) model was borrowed as a theoretical framework. Of particular concern are those users who want information represented by a language different than the users' original query or for those users who would like to retrieve additional information written in a second and/or third language or in a language which cannot be understood by them. This research is expected to yield a revised or new ISP model applicable to CLIR environments. It is expected that this study will also increase our understanding of CLIR users. The expected CLIR users include many of non-English speakers, especially users in developing countries who need this kind of CLIR system due to lack of materials in their own language. It is possible that the results of this research could inform CLIR system designers. The chapter is composed of purpose of study, literature review, theory, research questions, methodology, and discussion section. In the literature review section, pertinent research studies from information seeking behavior, cross language information retrieval, and general relevance studies are presented. Kuhlthau's ISP model is introduced in detail in the theory section. A possible application of Kuhlthau's ISP Model to the CLIR environment is presented in a table format. Research questions are developed from the literature reviews and Kuhlthau's model. Each research question, premises/assumptions, and its correspondent methodology are proposed in the methodology section. Limitations are discussed in the discussion section.
Statistical Machine Translation
Authors: Specia Lucia
Published: June 2014

Statistical Machine Translation (SMT) is an approach to automatic text translation based on the use of statistical models and examples of translations. SMT is the current dominant research paradigm for machine translation and has been attracting significant commercial interest in recent years. In this chapter, the authors introduce the rationale behind SMT, describe the currently leading approach (phrase-based SMT), and present a number of emerging approaches (tree-based SMT, discriminative SMT). They also present popular metrics to evaluate the performance of SMT systems and discuss promising research directions in the field.
Parsing Bangla Grammar Using Context Free Grammar
Authors: Al-Mahmud  , Sarker Bishnu , Hasan K. M. Azharul
Published: June 2014

Parsing plays a very prominent role in computational linguistics. Parsing a Bangla sentence is a primary need in Bangla language processing. This chapter describes the Context Free Grammar (CFG) for parsing Bangla language, and hence, a Bangla parser is proposed based on the Bangla grammar. This approach is very simple to apply in Bangla sentences, and the method is well accepted for parsing grammar. This chapter introduces a parser for Bangla language, which is, by nature, a predictive parser, and the parse table is constructed for recognizing Bangla grammar. Parse table is an important tool to recognize syntactical mistakes of Bangla sentences when there is no entry for a terminal in the parse table. If a natural language can be successfully parsed then grammar checking of this language becomes possible. The parsing scheme in this chapter works based on a top-down parsing method. CFG suffers from a major problem called left recursion. The technique of left factoring is applied to avoid the problem.
Technology-Mediated Tasks in English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
Authors: Sarré Cédric
Published: June 2014

Although many researchers have focused their attention on task-based language teaching (TBLT) in recent years, there is little published research on TBLT in technology-mediated contexts, and on how to design and implement tasks in online settings. In addition, very little can be found in the literature about learner perception of technology-mediated tasks in these new virtual learning environments. The objective of this paper is to bridge these gaps by reporting on the design, implementation and learner perception of English For Biologists (EFB), an online module based on tasks and aimed at French biology students enrolled on a first year Master's degree programme. The principles underlying the design of EFB (a combination of three action-based approaches) as well as its implementation (tutor mediation in particular) are presented in this paper. This article also offers insight in the learners' perception of task-based language learning through the analysis of the answers they gave to a post-course online questionnaire. Overall, technology-mediated task reception was positive but learner feedback enabled to uncover specific problems, notably regarding the type of support provided.
Multi-Objective Genetic and Fuzzy Approaches in Rule Mining Problem of Knowledge Discovery in Databases
Authors: Kalia Harihar , Dehuri Satchidananda , Ghosh Ashish
Published: June 2014

Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) is the process of automatically searching patterns from large volumes of data by using specific data mining techniques. Classification, association, and associative classification (integration of classification and association) rule mining are popularly used rule mining techniques in KDD for harvesting knowledge in the form of rule. The classical rule mining techniques based on crisp sets have bad experience of “sharp boundary problems” while mining rule from numerical data. Fuzzy rule mining approaches eliminate these problems and generate more human understandable rules. Several quality measures are used in order to quantify the quality of these discovered rules. However, most of these objectives/criteria are conflicting to each other. Thus, fuzzy rule mining problems are modeled as multi-objective optimization problems rather than single objective. Due to the ability of finding diverse trade-off solutions for several objectives in a single run, multi-objective genetic algorithms are popularly employed in rule mining. In this chapter, the authors discuss the multi-objective genetic-fuzzy approaches used in rule mining along with their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, some of the popular applications of these approaches are discussed.
A Semantic Approach to LinkedIn Profiles
Authors: Kapareliotis Ilias , Crosbie Patricia
Published: June 2014

Language is essential in allowing us to analyze and make sense of our everyday lives. The development and increased use of social media now means that the way language is structured online can facilitate communication; however, it can also hinder communication. This chapter examines LinkedIn as an example of an online platform which uses verbal and visual linguistic expressions to aid communication. A number of linguistic theories and their impact on LinkedIn as a social media platform are examined. LinkedIn, and its use of user profiles, has been chosen over other social media because it encapsulates the majority of theories presented. The theories are strongly linked to the linguistic background appropriate for the online environment and recommendations and discussions are presented.
Corpus Linguistics
Authors: Madongonda Angeline M. , Denhere Sithembeni
Published: June 2014

This chapter is an attempt to investigate the possibility of integrating computer-assisted ESL (English as a Second Language) learning and teaching in the Zimbabwean high school. With the ever-growing number of schools acquiring computers, even in the rural areas, quite a significant number of high schools in Zimbabwe are now ready to implement language programmes like corpus-based studies. The research attempts to show how concordancing technology could be integrated in ESL learning and teaching by including some practical activities using a computer. Findings after the study have indicated that computer-aided language programmes do help in ESL, and incorporating Corpus Linguistics would bring a major boost to students' (and teachers') ESL levels at a much faster rate than conventional methods. If such programmes were to be integrated in the high school, then the computer would become an indispensable teaching and learning tool.
Telling Tales with Talking Texts
Authors: Flihan Sheila
Published: June 2014

Using a case study design, this study examined how Microsoft Photo Story 3 for digital storytelling influenced the language and literacy development of an eighteen-year-old English Language Learner. It describes the role of digital storytelling in the development of oral fluency, word knowledge, grammar, and language use. Data included semi-structured participant interviews, conversations with the parent as key informant, and artifacts including the participant's notes, written and recorded drafts, and final digital text. From a sociocognitive perspective, findings indicate that Microsoft Photo Story 3 is a collaborative tool that creates student centered teaching and learning experiences. Findings indicate that multiple written and recorded drafts composed during the digital storytelling process provided focus for language and literacy instruction and encouraged use of reading, writing, listening, and speaking during all stages of the composing process. Findings have the potential to inform how we teach and learn with digital tools and texts.
Corporate Linguistic Rights through the Prism of Company Linguistic Identity Capital
Authors: Bielenia-Grajewska Magdalena
Published: June 2014

The aim of this chapter is to draw the attention of the readers to the linguistic side of modern organizations. Taking into account modern companies that consist of workers and stakeholders representing different cultures and speaking various languages, the notion of linguistic liberties within a corporate setting requires deeper consideration. To study corporate linguistic rights and their implications, the concept of company linguistic identity capital has been created and discussed.
Building Collaborations between University Pre-Service Student-Teachers and English Language Students through a Socially Mediated Network
Authors: De Felice Dustin , Alcocer Luz María Ortiz
Published: June 2014

Cooperative learning has evolved over the years to include computer-supported elements within traditional and virtual classrooms. In this chapter, the authors discuss a collaboration that used computer-supported collaborative learning through a socially mediated network. This collaboration served as a bridge between two universities from different countries. Not only did this collaboration link the students from each university together, but it provided language learners and pre-service student-teachers with the ability to benefit from the unique connection between them (i.e. students needing to learn language and teachers needing to practice teaching a language). They discuss the collaboration, the framework, and the format of this collaborative project. Much of this discussion is rooted in the experiences of some of the students who participated in its evolution with the intent to provide a direction for implementing such a collaboration in other institutions.
Language Processing in the Human Brain of Literate and Illiterate Subjects
Authors: Li Xiujun , Lin Zhenglong , Wu Jinglong
Published: June 2014

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or positron emission tomography (PET), much knowledge has been gained in understanding how the brain is activated during controlled experiments of language tasks in educated healthy subjects and in uneducated healthy subjects. While previous studies have compared performance between alphabetic subjects, few data were about Chinese-speaking individuals. In alphabetic subjects, studies indicate that the literates surpass the illiterates, especially in tasks involving phonological processing, and that different activation regions in fMRI are located between Broca's area and the inferior parietal cortex, as well as the posterior-mid-insula bridge between Wernicke's and Broca's area. In Chinese subjects, the results were shown in silent word recognition tasks (the left inferior/middle frontal gyrus and bilateral superior temporal gyri) and in silent picture-naming tasks (the bilateral inferior/middle fontal gyri and left limbic cingulated gyrus). In this study, the authors use some recent fMRI data to investigate language processing in the human brain of literate and illiterate subjects.
Abstraction of Computer Language Patterns
Authors: Porubän Jaroslav , Kollár Ján , Sabo Miroslav
Published: June 2014

In general, designing a domain-specific language (DSL) is a complicated process, requiring the cooperation of experts from both application domain and computer language development areas. One of the problems that may occur is a communication gap between a domain expert and a language engineer. Since domain experts are usually non-technical people, it might be difficult for them to express requirements on a DSL notation in a technical manner. Another compelling problem is that even though the majority of DSLs share the same notation style for representing the common language constructs, a language engineer has to formulate the specification for these constructs repeatedly for each new DSL being designed. The authors propose an innovative concept of computer language patterns to capture the well-known recurring notation style often seen in many computer languages. To address the communication problem, they aim for the way of proposing a DSL notation by providing program examples as they would have been written in a desired DSL. As a combination of these two ideas, the chapter presents a method for example-driven DSL notation specification (EDNS), which utilizes computer language patterns for semi-automated inference of a DSL notation specification from the provided program examples.
Towards a Bio-Inspired Theoretical Linguistics to Model Man-Machine Communication
Authors: Bel-Enguix Gemma , Jiménez-López M. Dolores
Published: June 2014

The article provides an overview of what could be a new biological-inspired linguistics. The authors discuss some reasons for attempting a more natural description of natural language, lying on new theories of molecular biology and their formalization within the area of theoretical computer science. The authors especially explore three bio-inspired models of computation –DNA computing, membrane computing and networks of evolutionary processors (NEPs) – and their possibilities for achieving a simpler, more natural, and mathematically consistent theoretical linguistics.
Towards Dynamic Semantics for Synthesizing Interpreted DSMLs
Authors: Clarke Peter J. , Wu Yali , Allen Andrew A. , Hernandez Frank , Allison Mark , France Robert
Published: June 2014

Domain-specific languages (DSLs) provide developers with the ability to describe applications using language elements that directly represent concepts in the application problem domains. Unlike general-purpose languages, domain concepts are embedded in the semantics of a DSL. In this chapter, the authors present an interpreted domain-specific modeling language (i-DSML) whose models are used to specify user-defined communication services, and support the users' changing communication needs at runtime. These model changes are interpreted at runtime to produce events that are handled by the labeled transition system semantics of the i-DSML. Specifically, model changes are used to produce scripts that change the underlying communication structure. The script-producing process is called synthesis. The authors describe the semantics of the i-DSML called the Communication Modeling Language (CML) and its use in the runtime synthesis process, and briefly describe how the synthesis process is implemented in the Communication Virtual Machine (CVM), the execution engine for CML models.
Data Hiding for Text and Binary Files
Authors: Hirohisa Hioki
Published: June 2014

This chapter presents an overview of text-based and binary-based data hiding methods. Text methods, through which secret information is embedded into innocent-looking textual data, are mostly used for steganography. Binary methods are applied to program binary codes: executables and libraries. In binary methods, information is embedded into a binary code so that its functionality is preserved. Data hiding methods for binary codes have been studied intensively to perform watermarking for protecting software from piracy acts. A message can also be embedded into a binary code in a steganographic manner. Another method is also introduced, which is proposed for enhancing the performance of an executable file.
Dependency Parsing in Bangla
Authors: Garain Utpal , De Sankar
Published: June 2014

A grammar-driven dependency parsing has been attempted for Bangla (Bengali). The free-word order nature of the language makes the development of an accurate parser very difficult. The Paninian grammatical model has been used to tackle the free-word order problem. The approach is to simplify complex and compound sentences and then to parse simple sentences by satisfying the Karaka demands of the Demand Groups (Verb Groups). Finally, parsed structures are rejoined with appropriate links and Karaka labels. The parser has been trained with a Treebank of 1000 annotated sentences and then evaluated with un-annotated test data of 150 sentences. The evaluation shows that the proposed approach achieves 90.32% and 79.81% accuracies for unlabeled and labeled attachments, respectively.
A Preliminary Study of Neuro-Linguistic Programming in Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Kong Eric , Farrell Mark
Published: June 2014

Knowledge and learning capabilities assist organizations to become more innovative and adaptive as the capabilities help organizations to recognize and assimilate knowledge and apply it toward new ends. The development of the capabilities becomes critical if organizations are to become and remain competitive. Previous literature-based research suggests that Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) helps to facilitate the development of knowledge and learning capabilities in organizations. NLP suggests that subjective experience is encoded in terms of three main representation systems namely: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic (VAK). Based on 15 qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews across 7 Australian nonprofit organizations, this chapter argues that NLP may be used as a key approach for nurturing organizational knowledge and learning capabilities for innovation in the knowledge economy. Examples are used in the chapter to illustrate the possible benefits of utilizing NLP in developing the capabilities for organizational innovativeness. Future research direction and limitations are also discussed.
Technology and Second Language Writing
Authors: Yim Soobin , Warschauer Mark
Published: June 2014

This chapter aims to synthesize research on technology and second language writing through the lenses of three common and broad discourses surrounding literacy and technology: achievement, change, and power (modified from Warschauer & Ware, 2008). The authors discuss the meaning and relationship of each perspective to the field of technology and second language writing as well as provide an overview of recent research under each category. This framework-based analysis sheds new light on current research, offering researchers and teachers an opportunity to consider the weaknesses and strengths of each research focus as well as the gaps in the literature. Through examining the interwoven relationship between technology and second language writing under different perspectives, the authors ultimately aim to explore the ways we can maximize the educational benefits of technology use for non-native speakers of English.
“Evaluator”
Authors: Ferrero Paz , Whittaker Rachel , Alda Javier
Published: June 2014

Computational linguistics can offer tools for automatic grading of written texts. “Evaluator” is such a tool. It uses FreeLing as a morpho-syntactic analyzer, providing words, lemmas, and part of speech tags for each word in a text. Multi-words can also be identified and their grammar identified. “Evaluator” also manages leveled glossaries, like the one developed by the Instituto Cervantes, as well as other electronically available dictionaries. All these glossaries enable the tool to identify most words in texts, grading them into the six levels scale of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. To assign a lexical level to the text under analysis, a statistical distribution of leveled qualified lemmas is used. Other ways to assign a lexical level to a text by using corpora of a preset level are also suggested. The syntactic analysis is based on a collection of grammar structures leveled by following the descriptors given by the Instituto Cervantes. These grammar structures are identified within the text using quantitative indices which level a text by comparing it with a given corpus. Finally, semantic identification is done using semantic fields as defined by the Instituto Cervantes. Latent Semantic Analysis is also used to group texts dealing with the same topic together. All these methods have been tested and applied to real texts written in Spanish by native speakers and learners.
Words that Fascinate the Listener
Authors: Weninger Felix , Staudt Pascal , Schuller Björn
Published: June 2014

In a large scale study on 843 transcripts of Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) talks, the authors address the relation between word usage and categorical affective ratings of lectures by a large group of internet users. Users rated the lectures by assigning one or more predefined tags which relate to the affective state evoked in the audience (e. g., ‘fascinating', ‘funny', ‘courageous', ‘unconvincing' or ‘long-winded'). By automatic classification experiments, they demonstrate the usefulness of linguistic features for predicting these subjective ratings. Extensive test runs are conducted to assess the influence of the classifier and feature selection, and individual linguistic features are evaluated with respect to their discriminative power. In the result, classification whether the frequency of a given tag is higher than on average can be performed most robustly for tags associated with positive valence, reaching up to 80.7% accuracy on unseen test data.
Ontology-Based Multimodal Language Learning
Authors: Milutinović Miloš , Stojiljković Vukašin , Lazarević Saša
Published: June 2014

L2 language learning is an activity that is becoming increasingly ubiquitous and learner-centric in order to support lifelong learning. Applications for learning are constrained by multiple technical and educational requirements and should support multiple platforms and multiple approaches to learning. This chapter investigates the possibility of applying ontology-based, dynamically generated learning objects implemented on a cloud computing infrastructure in order to satisfy these requirements. Previous work on using mobile learning objects is used as a starting point in an attempt to design a system that will preserve all of the advantages of utilizing learning objects, while eliminating any flaws and maximizing compatibility with existing systems. A model of a highly modular, flexible, multiplatform language learning system is presented along with some implementation remarks and advices for future implementation.
Learning Words from Experience
Authors: Henderson Annette M. E. , Sabbagh Mark A.
Published: June 2014

How does experience influence children's acquisition of word meanings? In this chapter, the authors discuss the evidence from two bodies of literature that take different perspectives to answer this question. First, they review evidence from the “experience” literature, which has demonstrated that different experiential factors (e.g., differences in the quantity and quality of maternal speech) are related to individual differences in children's early vocabularies. Although the results of the studies within this literature are interesting, the authors argue that they do not clarify how experience influences children's vocabulary development. They posit that this question can best be answered by marrying the “experience” literature and the “cognitive” literature, which has identified the skills and knowledge that children possess that help them determine the meanings of words. The authors demonstrate how integrating both literatures will provide a valuable framework from which research can be designed and hypotheses tested. In doing so, their framework will provide a comprehensive understanding of how experience influences children's lexical development.
Modeling a Simple Self-Organizing System
Authors: Georgantzas Nicholas C. , Katsamakas Evangelos
Published: June 2014

This chapter presents a System Dynamics (SD) simulation model that not only replicates self-organizing system uncertainty results but also looks at self-organization causally. The SD simulation and model analysis results show exactly how distributed control leads positive feedback to explosive growth, which ends when all dynamics have been absorbed into an attractor, leaving the system in a stable, negative feedback state. The chapter's SD model analysis helps explain why phenomena of interest emerge in agent-based models, a topic crucial in understanding and designing Complex Adaptive Self-Organizing Systems (CASOS).
Development Framework Pattern for Pervasive Information Systems
Authors: Fernandes José Eduardo , Machado Ricardo J.
Published: June 2014

During last decade, the world watched a social acceptance of computing and computers, enhanced information technology devices, wireless networks, and Internet; they gradually became a fundamental resource for individuals. Nowadays, people, organizations, and the environment are empowered by computing devices and systems; they depend on services offered by modern Pervasive Information Systems supported by complex software systems and technology. Research on software development for PIS-delivered information, on issues and challenges on software development for them, and several other contributions have been delivered. Among these contributions are a development framework for PIS, a profiling and framing structure approach, and a SPEM 2.0 extension. This chapter, revisiting these contributions, provides an additional contribution: a pattern to support the use of the development framework and profiling approach on software development for PIS. This contribution completes a first series of contributions for the development of PIS. This chapter also presents a case study that allowed demonstrating the applicability of these contributions.
Multidimensional Data Analysis Based on Links
Authors: Caetano da Silva Paulo
Published: June 2014

Analytical processing (OLAP) tools typically only deal with relational data. Hence, the analytical processing systems on XML data do not have all the functionality provided by OLAP tools to traditional data (i.e. relational). In addition, current commercial and academic OLAP tools do not process XML data that contains XLink. Therefore, there is a need to develop a solution for OLAP systems in order to assist in the strategic analysis of the organizational data represented in XML format. Aiming at overcoming this issue, this chapter proposes an analytical system composed by LMDQL (Link-Based Multidimensional Query Language), an analytical query language; XLDM (XLink Data Metamodel), a metamodel given to model cubes of XML documents with XLink and to deal with syntactic, semantic, and structural heterogeneities commonly found in XML documents; and XLPath (XLink Path Language), a navigation language for XML documents connected by XLink. As current W3C query languages for navigating in XML documents do not support XLink, XLPath is discussed in this chapter to provide features for the LMDQL query processing and a prototype system enabling OLAP queries over XML documents linked by XLink and XML schema. This prototype includes a driver, named sql2xquery, which performs the mapping of SQL queries into XQuery in a relational OLAP server. In order to validate the proposed system, a case study and its performance evaluation are presented to analyze the impact of analytical processing over XML/XLink documents.
A Scouting-Based Multi-Agent System Model to Deal with Service Collaboration in Cloud Computing
Authors: Paletta Mauricio
Published: June 2014

Cloud computing addresses the use of scalable and often virtualized resources. It is based on service-level agreements that provide external users with requested services. Cloud computing is still evolving. New specific collaboration models among service providers are needed for enabling effective service collaboration, allowing the process of serving consumers to be more efficient. On the other hand, Scout Movement or Scouting has been a very successful youth movement in which the collaboration of its members can be observed. This motivated a previous work aiming to design MAS-Scout, a framework that defines Multi-Agent Systems based on the principles of Scouting. In this chapter, MAS-Scout is used to design a system to deal with service collaboration in a cloud computing environment focusing on the premise that Scouting has been a very successful social movement in the world and that collaboration is part of its principles. The results presented in this chapter show that MAS-Scout, which is based on the Scouting principles, can be satisfactorily used to automate cloud computing needs.
An Empirical Study on Pertinent Aspects of Sketch Maps for Navigation
Authors: Wang Jia , Li Rui
Published: June 2014

Navigation systems which employ sequence-based directions have been found not effective in facilitating the spatial ability for humans to be aware of themselves in an environment. Traditional maps are found easily conveying the configuration of spatial objects but having difficulty to facilitate the correspondence to spatial objects in the real world. Sketch maps as schematic map-like representations have been suggested being a possible way of achieving goals of facilitating both navigation and spatial awareness. Moreover, sketch maps as externalizations of cognitive maps have been proved as reliable representations for human spatial thinking. In this study, the authors investigate the characteristics of directions given in two different forms: sketch maps and verbal descriptions (turn-by-turn instructions). The investigation addresses three aspects of spatial relations which are orientation, street topology and sequential order and their representations using existing qualitative reasoning calculi. The results of this study demonstrate sketch maps as a better direction-giving method and provide insights of applying sketch-map-like components for navigation.
The Expansion of Paths in the Mutual Transformation Mechanism of Music and Narrative
Authors: Akimoto Taisuke , Endo Jun , Ogata Takashi
Published: June 2014

For a mechanism of the surface expression phase in the authors' narrative generation system architecture, this paper proposes an approach to the circulative generation by the mutual transformation between music and narrative. In the concept for musical mechanism, music is not just the accompaniment for narrative and the authors extremely aim at using musical knowledge & techniques and conceptual knowledge & techniques in fusion by the medium of music. Depending on this concept, in this paper, the authosr introduce the newest prototyping system composed of eight routes of transformation modules between narrative and music including automatic composition and musical variation mechanisms. In addition, through the simple preliminary evaluations, the authors consider several insufficient points in the quality of music and the correspondence of music to narrative.
“Planning” or e-Planning?
Authors: Alexander Ernest R.
Published: June 2014

Planning theory is hardly relevant for E-Planning, because generic “planning” does not exist for practical purposes, except as distinct planning practices. E-Planning is such a practice, with implications for E-Planning theory, education and practice. Defining planning as “what planners do” makes planning a socially recognized practice; for such practices “planning” always has a qualifyer: urban-, environmental- or strategic planning. Meaningful discussion of planning demands contingent referents not abstract generalizations. Diverse planning practices are identifyable on several dimensions: sector, level or domain, and country. With various actors and blends of usable knowledge, planning practices contribute expertise to the co-construction of knowledge. The case for E-Planning follows the prototype of spatial planning, including tools: knowledge that E-planners contribute; practice: the E-Planner's role and social purpose; and context: E-planners' workplaces and their institutional environment. Evidence of institutionalization (including the IJEPR) confirms that E-Planning is a real planning practice, with E-Planning theory in development and awaiting integration.
Public Spaces, Private Spaces, and the Right to the City
Authors: Moroni Stefano , Chiodelli Francesco
Published: June 2014

Two arguments have recently strongly influenced the theory and practice of planning: (i) public space is what basically characterises any city (the citizen's right to the city is first and foremost a claim on public space); (ii) public space is crucial because it provides the physical fulcrum for public interaction and political debate. This article takes a critical look at these two ideas, highlighting: (i) that private spaces have also crucially contributed (and continue to do so) to defining and determining what a city is – the city cannot be conceived without considering both public and private spaces and the crucial synergy between these two spheres; (ii) that the public sphere does not come into being solely in public spaces (as testified by the Internet); furthermore, public spaces perform other roles and functions (besides making debate and confrontation possible), and these various roles may at times clash with each other. All these aspects suggest a more balanced approach to the understanding of urban spaces and their importance.
Liquefaction Potential for Kolkata City
Authors: Jakka Ravi Sankar , Shiuly Amit , Das Ranjit
Published: June 2014

This paper presents the liquefaction potential of densely populated Kolkata city, which is situated on the world's largest delta island with very soft and thick alluvial soil deposits. Due to presence of soft alluvium deposits at shallow depths, soil resistance against liquefaction is expected to be less. Additionally, large thickness of soil layers may amplify the ground shaking resulting in high seismic demand on the soil. Here in this study, variation of factor of safety against liquefaction is evaluated with depth at different locations in Kolkota city. The study founds striking results that the Kolkata city soils are less prone to liquefaction even though there is significant ground amplification due to presence of thick soil deposits.
A Case Study of Accelerometric Records Analysis of May 21st, 2003, Boumerdes (Algeria) Earthquake
Authors: Khellafi Abdelwahab Mourad , Harichane Zamila , Afra Hamid , Sadouki Amina
Published: June 2014

On May 21st, 2003, the north Algeria was stricken by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake which was felt over a distance of 250 km from the epicenter, which is localized in Mediterranean Sea at 10 km from the coast. During this event, several ground accelerations were recorded by the instrumentation network of the National Center of Applied Research in Earthquake Engineering (CGS). The records analysis revealed an important difference in peak ground acceleration (PGA) between two close stations (0.58g and 0.33g, respectively, in East-West direction) at about 20 km from the earthquake epicenter. Also, two other record stations, located in the Mitidja basin, at about 29 km and 86 km from the earthquake epicenter, respectively, showed a high level of acceleration: PGAs of 0.54g and 0.16g. So, the authors attempt in this paper to analyze these records through the characteristics of strong ground motions, the effects of different parameters such as damping ratios, soil conditions and epicentral distance on normalized response spectra. Also, the quantification of site effects during this earthquake is analyzed. Then, the authors compare the near-field mean response spectra obtained during this earthquake with the Algerian seismic design spectra (RPA99 – 2003 version) and with two other well-known design spectra: Eurocode 8 and UBC97 in order to contribute to the future revision of RPA99.
Military Robots and the Question of Responsibility
Authors: Royakkers Lambèr , Olsthoorn Peter
Published: June 2014

Most unmanned systems used in operations today are unarmed and mainly used for reconnaissance and mine clearing, yet the increase of the number of armed military robots is undeniable. The use of these robots raises some serious ethical questions. For instance: who can be held morally responsible in reason when a military robot is involved in an act of violence that would normally be described as a war crime? In this article, The authors critically assess the attribution of responsibility with respect to the deployment of both non-autonomous and non-learning autonomous lethal military robots. The authors will start by looking at the role of those with whom responsibility normally lies, the commanders. The authors argue that this is no different in the case of the above mentioned robots. After that, we will turn to those at the beginning and the end of the causal chain, respectively the manufacturers and designers, and the human operators who remotely control armed military robots from behind a computer screen.