bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulating Water Allocation and Cropping Decisions in Yemen’s Abyan Delta Spate Irrigation System
Authors: Marchant Derek , García Peña Alondra , Tamas Mihai , Harou Julien
Published: January 2018

Agriculture employs more Yemenis than any other sector and spate irrigation is the largest source of irrigation water. Spate irrigation however is growing increasingly difficult to sustain in many areas due to water scarcity and unclear sharing of water amongst users. In some areas of Yemen, there are no institutionalised water allocation rules which can lead to water related disputes. Here, we propose a proof-of-concept model to evaluate the impacts of different water allocation patterns to assist in devising allocation rules. The integrated model links simple wadi flow, diversion, and soil moisture-yield simulators to a crop decision model to evaluate impacts of different water allocation rules and their possible implications on local agriculture using preliminary literature data. The crop choice model is an agricultural production model of irrigation command areas where the timing, irrigated area and crop mix is decided each month based on current conditions and expected allocations. The model is applied to Yemen’s Abyan Delta, which has the potential to be the most agriculturally productive region in the country. The water allocation scenarios analysed include upstream priority, downstream priority, equal priority (equal sharing of water shortages), and a user-defined mixed priority that gives precedence to different locations based on the season. Once water is distributed according to one of these allocation patterns, the model determines the profit-maximising plant date and crop selection for 18 irrigated command areas. This aims to estimate the impacts different water allocation strategies could have on livelihoods. Initial results show an equal priority allocation is the most equitable and efficient, with 8% more net benefits than an upstream scenario, 10% more net benefits than a downstream scenario, and 25% more net benefits than a mixed priority.
A Heuristic Method for Measurement Site Selection in Sewer Systems
Authors: Vonach Tanja , Tscheikner-Gratl Franz , Rauch Wolfgang , Kleidorfer Manfred
Published: January 2018

Although calibration of a hydrodynamic model depends on the availability of measurement data representing the system behavior, advice for the planning of necessary measurement campaigns for model calibration is scarce. This work tries to address this question of efficient measurement site selection on a network scale for the objective of calibrating a hydrodynamic model case study in Austria. For this, a model-based approach is chosen, as the method should be able to be used before measurement data is available. An existing model is assumed to represent the real system behavior. Based on this extended availability of “measurement data” in every point of the system, different approaches are established to heuristically assess the suitability of one or more pipes in combination as calibration point(s). These approaches intend to find suitable answers to the question of measurement site selection for this specific case study within a relatively short time and with a reasonable computational effort. As a result, the relevance of the spatial distribution of calibration points is highlighted. Furthermore, particular efficient calibration points are identified and further measurement sites in the underlying network are recommended.
Mathematical Modeling of Non-Fickian Diffusional Mass Exchange of Radioactive Contaminants in Geological Disposal Formations
Authors: Suzuki Anna , Fomin Sergei , Chugunov Vladimir , Hashida Toshiyuki
Published: January 2018

Deep geological repositories for nuclear wastes consist of both engineered and natural geologic barriers to isolate the radioactive material from the human environment. Inappropriate repositories of nuclear waste would cause severe contamination to nearby aquifers. In this complex environment, mass transport of radioactive contaminants displays anomalous behaviors and often produces power-law tails in breakthrough curves due to spatial heterogeneities in fractured rocks, velocity dispersion, adsorption, and decay of contaminants, which requires more sophisticated models beyond the typical advection-dispersion equation. In this paper, accounting for the mass exchange between a fracture and a porous matrix of complex geometry, the universal equation of mass transport within a fracture is derived. This equation represents the generalization of the previously used models and accounts for anomalous mass exchange between a fracture and porous blocks through the introduction of the integral term of convolution type and fractional derivatives. This equation can be applied for the variety of processes taking place in the complex fractured porous medium, including the transport of radioactive elements. The Laplace transform method was used to obtain the solution of the fractional diffusion equation with a time-dependent source of radioactive contaminant.
La bataille de Cassel (1677)
Authors: Trénard Louis
Published: January 2018

Louis Trénard, "De slag om Kassel".

Dit artikel wil zeker geen nieuw verslag brengen van de veldslag voor de Kasselberg in 1677 tussen de prins van Oranje en Monsieur, de broer van de Franse koning. Het is wel de bedoeling een analyse op te stellen van de verschillende verslagen over deze veldslag opgesteld in de volgende drie eeuwen. Een gebeurtenis uit het verlenden wordt immers via een verhaal overgeleverd.

Er zijn natuurlijk de verslagen van de betrokkenen en van ooggetuigen. Maar in de 18de eeuw vindt men reeds politiek getinte verslagen : de graaf van Orléans wordt gerehabiliteerd terwijl de historici dan streng uitvallen tegen Lodewijk XIV dit in tegenstelling tot de vroegere lofbetuigingen aan de zonnekoning. In de 19de eeuw wordt de historische wetenschap precieser ; de Vlaamse geleerde De Smyttère geeft een helder beeld van de verschillende fasen van de slag maar toont een zekere sympatie voor de veroveraar, wat wrevel verwekt.

De huidige geschiedschrijving hecht slechts weinig belang aan deze slag die nochtans zeer bloedig was en de overwinning van de Koning, de inname van St. Omaars en de aanhechting van maritiem Vlaanderen bezegelde.
« Une école pour les sciences ». Le collège des Philalèthes et la tentation académique des élites maçonniques lilloises à la fin de l'Ancien Régime
Authors: Beaurepaire Pierre-Yves
Published: January 2018

Pierre- Yves Beaurepaire, « Eeen school voor wetenschap ». Het college van de fila- leten en de academische trend van de Rijselse vrijmetselaarsloges op het einde van het Ancien Regime.

De ontdekking van het archief van het college van de filaleten (liefhebbers van de waarheid) uit Rijsel in de stadsbibliotheek van Alençon heropent het débat over een originele vorm van sociabiliteit aan het einde van de Verlichting. Het was geen echte académie, ook geen vrijmetselaarsloge ; het college wou zowel binnen de formele als informele sociabiliteit, een apart centrum bieden waar vrijmetselaars die elkaar als gelijken erkennen, als « vrienden van de waarheid » (filaleten) zich voor de maatschappij nuttig konden maken, kunst en wetenschap bevorderen en een antenne zijn, in de provincie, voor de kennis op filosofisch, wetenschappelijk en technisch gebied van de Verlichting. Het college maakt zich stilaan vrij van de organische band met de vrijmetselarij en weigert de esoterische en hermetische toer op te gaan, die het Parijse college in 1785 verkoos. Als echte « wetenschapschool » werkt het college intens aan de promotie van de academische wereld, ontvangt corresponderende en ereleden en kiest voor het experiment en het utilitarisme van de Verlichting. Het college houdt ook rekening met de kritiek op de academische wereld en staat dichter bij de wereld van de musea die toen in Bordeaux en Parijs opgericht werden.
Élites sociales et grands notables dans le Pas-de-Calais au début du XIXe siècle
Authors: Grevet René
Published: January 2018

René Grevet, Sociale elite en hoge notabelen in Pas-de-Calais in het begin van de 19de eeuw.

In het begin van de 19de eeuw vormde de departementele elite van Pas-de-Calais een pyramide met drie trappen waarvan de 76 hoge notabelen de top waren. Hun hoge rang viel gewoonlijk ook samen met een belangrijke post in de administratie of de politiek. De middentrap werd ingenomen door 180 notabelen op het niveau van een canton of arrondissement. De basis vormde een massa van de 600 grootste belastingsbetalers, die vooral plaatselijk invloed hadden. Bij de hoge notabelen was een aantal « grondbezitters » en vroegere nobelen en een behoorlijk aantal ambtena- ren. Men kan onmogelijk driekwart van die groep als nieuwe mannen beschouwen. De heersende groep was dus grotendeels een afspiegeling van de oude sociale orde maar omvatte ook de nieuwe elite. De leden paarden vaak hun duidelijke sociale en politieke invloed aan een groot fortuin, wat toeliet de staat te vertegenwoordigen en de bevolking sociaal te begeleiden. De overheden hoopten dat er zo steun zou komen voor hun idéologie en ook voor het keizelijke regime. De restauratie toonde het tijdelijk karakter van die actie.
Escobecques (Nord), « La Fin de la Guerre » : un silo de La Tène ancienne
Authors: Loridant Frédéric
Published: January 2018

Frédéric Loridant, Escobecques (Nord), La Fin de la Guerre : een silo uit de oude Tèneperiode.

Tijdens de bouw van een rotonde in het gehucht « La Fin de la Guerre » in Escobecques, in 1995, ontdekten leden van de vereniging « Histoire et Archéologie des communes de la Haute-Deûle et des Weppes » een silo in de gracht rond de rotonde. De vondsten zijn dateerbaar in de tweede Ijzertijd en sluiten helemaal aan bij wat in andere sites in de streek gevonden werd.
Design of polar self-assembling lactic acid derivatives possessing submicrometre helical pitch
Authors: Bubnov Alexej , Vacek Cyril , Czerwiński Michał , Vojtylová Terezia , Piecek Wiktor , Hamplová Věra
Published: January 2018

Several new lactic acid derivatives containing the keto linkage group far from the chiral part and short alkyl chains have been synthesized and characterised by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, as well as electro-optic and dielectric spectroscopy. The materials possess a self-assembling behaviour on the nanoscale level as they form polar smectic liquid crystalline mesophases, namely the orthogonal paraelectric SmA* and the tilted ferroelectric SmC* phases, in a broad temperature range down to room temperature. A short helical pitch (≈120–320 nm), relatively high spontaneous polarisation (≈150 nC/cm2) and reasonable tilt angle values have been determined within the temperature range of the tilted ferroelectric SmC* phase. The obtained results make the new materials useful for the advanced mixture design and for further utilisation in electro-optic devices based on the deformed helix ferroelectric effect.
Long-term Outcomes of Partial Trapeziectomy With Capsular Interposition Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis of the Thumb Basal Joint
Authors: Moneim Moheb S. , Salas Christina , Lese Andrea B. , Thompson Norfleet B. , Mercer Deana M.
Published: January 2018

The purpose of this study was to describe long-term outcomes of partial trapeziectomy with capsular interposition (PTCI) arthroplasty for patients with osteoarthritis of the basal joint of the thumb. A total of 27 patients (20 women, 7 men; 32 thumbs) with a mean age of 61 years (range, 47–74 years) agreed to return for follow-up and were included in the study. Mean postoperative follow-up was 64.3 months (range, 28–112 months). Evaluation included tests for grip and pinch strength; range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint; measurement of the first web space; completion of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire; visual analog scale (VAS) measurements; and radiographic examination of the hand. A paired, 2-tailed
t
test was used to determine statistical significance (
P
<.05) of pre- and postoperative values. Postoperative values for grip strength were significantly increased from preoperative values. No significant loss of pinch strength was noted. Excessive hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joint did not occur, and the first web space was maintained. The mean DASH questionnaire and VAS scores were 5.06 (range, 0–26.5) and 0.32, respectively. Use of PTCI arthroplasty resulted in minimal loss in thumb height (7%) and significantly reduced thumb metacarpal subluxation (13%). There were no reported complications. The low DASH questionnaire and VAS scores compare well with other studies and indicate good functional outcomes. In treating thumb basal joint osteoarthritis, use of PTCI arthroplasty may result in improved thumb stability and grip strength, minimal subsidence of the thumb metacarpal, and reduced joint subluxation. [
Orthopedics.
2018; 41(2):e228–e233.]
Outcomes of Cementless Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Patel Nirav , Gwam Chukwuweike U. , Khlopas Anton , Sodhi Nipun , Sultan Assem A. , Navarro Sergio M. , Ramkumar Prem N. , Harwin Steven F. , Mont Michael A.
Published: January 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate implant survivorship, clinical outcomes, postoperative complications, and radiographic outcomes of cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients who underwent a primary cementless posterior-stabilized TKA and who had RA were reviewed. A total of 126 TKAs in 122 patients who had a mean follow-up of 4 years were analyzed. Implant survivorship was calculated. Postoperative clinical and radiographic follow-up was performed at approximately 6 weeks and 3 months and then annually. Changes in range of motion and Knee Society scores were noted. Radiographic evaluation was conducted as part of the follow-up process. Implant survivorship was 99.2%, with 1 aseptic failure. At final follow-up, mean extension and flexion were 2° (range, 0°–10°) and 124° (range, 95°–140°), respectively. Mean Knee Society pain and function scores were 92 points (range, 80–100 points) and 84 points (range, 70–90 points), respectively. There were no surgical complications. No progressive radiolucencies, loosening, or subsidence were noted except from the single aseptic failure reported. This study reports excellent survivorship and clinical and radiographic outcomes of cementless TKAs in RA patients. Although the decision regarding whether to use cemented or cementless TKAs in these patients should be based on surgeon experience and patient characteristics, the recent advances in implant fixation of cementless TKAs indicate no salient contraindications for RA patients. [
Orthopedics.
2018; 41(2):103–106.]
The Weblog Genre
Authors: Rabhi Hassen
Published: January 2018

This article aims at exploring the process of digital genre formation in general and weblogs in particular. While genre theory basically delimits genre features, it cannot handle their construction procedures. Approaching the weblog genre through the lens of Actor Network Theory (henceforth, ANT) provides practical tools for not only conducting a generic analysis of the blogging phenomenon but also following the network relations that shape the process of its construction. The results of a quantitative and qualitative analysis of a corpus of 497 blog entries by 39 A-list American political bloggers revealed that the key features of the weblog genre are relational effects of a process of interaction between a network of humans and non-human actors. Tracing all forms of negotiations and their effects shows how the actors involved in the formation of the weblog genre are assemblies or gatherings of myriad things brought together and linked through processes of translation. Therefore, foregrounding associations does not only deepen the exploration of the weblog genre but also furthers understanding of related, yet unexamined internet-based genre. It also draws attention to the affordances of the weblog technology and their effects in connection with a network of human and non-human entities.
Assemblage of CoreLife Skills Through Technological Innovation
Authors: Pillai Seema
Published: January 2018

With the increasing emphasis on developing graduate employability skills, termed as CoreLife Skills in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and growing use of technology in education; this research investigates the assemblage of CoreLife Skills through technological innovation in a vocational education and training (VET) institute in the UAE. This article draws on the concepts of the sociology of translation from an Actor-Network Theory as both methodological and analytical tool. The research unfolds the socio-material assemblages using existing frameworks: Levels of Teaching Innovation (LoTi) and HEAT (higher order thinking, engaged learning, authentic learning, and technology use). The research stirred the development of technology-enhanced learning and a CoreLife Skills development (TEL-CSD) framework for effective integration of technology to enhance students' CoreLife Skills. Based on the findings, two conclusions are drawn: CoreLife Skills cannot be developed independently of general learning and cognitive skills, and technology alone cannot promote CoreLife Skills.
Chinese English Teachers' Perspectives on “Distributed Flip MOOC Blends”
Authors: Orsini-Jones Marina Erica , Zou Bin , Hu Yuanyan , Wei Li
Published: January 2018

This article reports on a study involving experienced university lecturers from mainland China reflecting on how to blend FutureLearn MOOCs into their existing English Language Teaching (ELT) curricula while on an ‘upskilling' teacher education summer course in the UK in academic year 2016-2017. Linked to a British Council ELTRA (English Language Teaching Research Award) project, the study involved: a. the administration of a pre-MOOC survey relating to teachers' beliefs towards online learning in general and MOOCs in particular; b. ‘learning by doing': taking part in a FutureLearn MOOC; c. reflecting on the experience both face-to-face in workshops, in online forums and in a post-MOOC survey. The outcomes of this article highlight that the understanding of what a MOOC is might differ between the UK and China. The article concludes by presenting the perceived pros and cons of adopting a ‘distributed flip MOOC blend' as previously discussed in related work.
Becoming Autonomous Learners to Become Autonomous Teachers
Authors: Phi Minh Tuan
Published: January 2018

Autonomy appears to be a challenging concept for both language learners and teachers. This article attempts to ascertain the beliefs on learner autonomy (LA) and teacher autonomy (TA) of students on the MA in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics at Coventry University (UK) engaging with this concept while reflecting on a distributed MOOC blend flip. This article explores the extent to which a MOOC blended into an existing curriculum can support students in their transition between LA and TA for their professional practice. The paper discusses the interpretations of autonomy in language education, including “technical”, “psychological” and “political” orientations and illustrates two categorises of autonomous perspectives: independent learning and interdependent learning. The article also discusses how blended learning can support language teacher with re-thinking their role. It moreover illustrates, some constraints regarding fostering autonomy in practice and highlights some problematic areas in the reconceptualization of learning and teaching with a MOOC blend.
Content-Rich Versus Content-Deficient Video-Based Visuals in L2 Academic Listening Tests
Authors: Lesnov Roman Olegovich
Published: January 2018

This article compares second language test-takers' performance on an academic listening test in an audio-only mode versus an audio-video mode. A new method of classifying video-based visuals was developed and piloted, which used L2 expert opinions to place the video on a continuum from being content-deficient (not helpful for answering comprehension items) to content-rich (very helpful for answering comprehension items). The video for one testlet contained only the speaker's non-verbal cues and was found to be content-deficient. The other video contained non-verbal cues overlapping with PowerPoint text and was deemed content-rich. Seventy-three ESL learners participated in the study. The video type classification method was shown to be reliable and practical. The results of the Rasch analysis showed no significant impact of condition, either the content-deficient or the content-rich, either at the testlet level or at the item level. Possible reasons and implications of these findings are discussed.
Exploring Socio-Cultural Elements in Three Commercial English Language Learning Apps
Authors: Garnes-Tarazona Inmaculada
Published: January 2018

Second language teaching and learning has experienced a change towards the use of mobile technologies inside and outside the classroom. The goal of this article is twofold: to compare and evaluate three different commercial English language learning apps (Duolingo, Babbel, and Busuu) that cover the four skills (speaking, writing, listening, and reading), and to analyze the learning theory supporting their design. These applications include in their homepage the option of interactive learning with friends. However, as this article shows, each app offers a different level of interaction and collaboration. The theoretical framework for this analysis is grounded on Vygotsky's Socio-cultural theory.
Nobody Read or Reply Your Messages
Authors: Kato Yuuki , Kato Shogo , Ozawa Yasuyuki
Published: January 2018

In text messaging via mobile devices, many users face pressure to rapidly exchange messages. This article investigates reply speeds in smartphone messaging, focusing on messaging with a read receipt function, which notifies the sender of whether the recipient has read a sent message. The study also considered sender's degree of text-messaging dependency. Using a questionnaire of 317 college students in Japan, the authors investigate the times until negative emotions occur while waiting for a reply. Negative feelings were found to arise more quickly when a message was marked as read and there was no reply. Results indicated that people with greater text-messaging dependency generated stronger negative emotions in a shorter time than those with lower text-messaging dependency.
Architecture Board Practices in Adaptive Enterprise Architecture with Digital Platform
Authors: Masuda Yoshimasa , Shirasaka Seiko , Yamamoto Shuichiro , Hardjono Thomas
Published: January 2018

This article aims to investigate solutions incorporated by a group called an Architecture Board in the global healthcare enterprises (GHE) for solving issues and mitigating related architecture risks while implementing “Adaptive Integrated EA framework,” which can be applied in companies promoting IT strategy using Cloud/Mobile IT. The distribution of solutions is to mitigate risks from different categories across the architecture domains in enterprise architecture (EA) is revealed, thereby covering applications, involving ERP, and technologies using the Cloud/Mobile IT/Digital IT. An in-depth analysis of this distribution can act as practical guidance for companies that consider starting up an Architecture Board, by utilizing digital platforms, while moving toward a digital transformation in an adaptive EA aligned with an IT strategy, encompassing digital IT-related elements.
A Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Model Using Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Numbers and Attribute Correlation
Authors: Fu Sha , Qu Xi-long , Zhou Hang-jun , Fan Guo-bing
Published: January 2018

This article describes a decision analysis method with attribute correlation and attribute values of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IVIFN). This considers the correlation between attributes and undetermined attribute weight information was put forward against the case where solution attribute values are interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers. To achieve a comprehensive consideration of the undetermined evaluation attribute weight information, experts' positive and negative ideal solutions against each attribute are taken as reference points, attribute weight is obtained via decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method according to the direct relation matrix provided by experts against attribute sets. On this basis, evaluation information is aggregated by using weighted arithmetic average operators. Then, the closeness degree formula of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers relative to the maximum IVIFN is provided by combining the Euclidean distance of IVIFN, thus determining closeness degree and making an ordering of all solutions. Finally, the feasibility and validity of the method proposed in this study are verified via a case analysis of the best information system decision-making.
Optimizing Both the User Requirements and the Load Balancing in the Volunteer Computing System by using Markov Chain Model
Authors: Ledmi Abdeldjalil , Bendjenna Hakim , Mounine Hemam Sofiane
Published: January 2018

This article describes how in volunteer cloud computing systems, some resources are volunteered by the hosts. These systems became more powerful and attractive because they provide a highest power computing. However, to satisfy the user requirements and the system performance in this kind of the system is a crucial challenge. In this article, the authors propose a new architecture for the volunteer cloud computing systems to allow balancing the load between volunteer clouds in a decentralized manner, and between resources inside a volunteer cloud in centralized manner. Moreover, their proposal shows more advantages: First, selecting a resource according to the user requirements and to the system performance. Second, estimating the volunteer resource failure probability by using the stochastic process Markov chain model. Experimental results using the PeerSim Simulator is established to verify the efficacy of the proposed system and promising results are obtained.
Designing a Model for Implementation of Business Intelligence in the Banking Industry
Authors: Rezaie Salah , Mirabedini Seyed Javad , Abtahi Ataollah
Published: January 2018

Numerous researches have been carried out on implementation and employment of business intelligence, but in the past researches only specific aspects and dimensions have been studied while factors affecting implementation process and interactions between them are not widely considered. In such circumstances, it is vital to identify key factors affecting business intelligence implementation process and determine communication structures between these factors. In the present article, reviewing the related literature and obtaining experts' opinions using fuzzy Delphi techniques is first, followed by key factors affecting the process of business intelligence implementation and important criteria of effectiveness for business intelligence in the Iranian banking industry were identified, and then using a method of interpretive structural modeling, relationships between factors were determined and analyzed. Finally, the interactive structure of the factors, i.e. business intelligence implementation, a model is presented. Using confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis methods, model validation was conducted. Leading to the determination that while that transition for some companies has been attempted, not all current efforts have been successful.
An Optimal Missile Autopilot Design Model
Authors: Chen Yong-chao , Gao Xin-bao , Gao Min , Fang Dan
Published: January 2018

This article describes how one optimal design method is given to the design of missile autopilots. This method profits from an exhaustive method. By this method, the design process of a missile autopilot is simplified, and the design efficiency is improved. In the design process of this method, the performance indexes of autopilot are translated into constraint conditions, and the response speed is translated to an objective function. Thus, the optimal design of missile autopilot is translated into the optimal design of a nonlinear system with multiple constraints. The optimization algorithm is found to be out of controller parameter combinations which can satisfy constrained conditions. Firstly, calculations of the corresponding objective function values. Second, by the extract the optimal combination which has the minimal objective function value.
Saving Energy in Homes Using Wi-Fi Device Usage Patterns
Authors: Kothapalli Tejasvi
Published: January 2018

Reducing power usage in the residential sector is a global problem. Appliances used for space heating, cooling, and lighting are the primary sources of home energy consumption, increased costs, and CO2 emissions. Such devices are a significant source of energy wastage if they are left on and not being used. This article proposes a solution to reduce energy wastage in smart homes. The solution consists of a method to detect the presence of resident activities in the household based on Wi-Fi devices. It presents a model for identifying the Wi-Fi devices that are similar in usage compared to the resident's appliances using machine learning techniques. In addition to displaying the device usage charts, this solution helps in automatically turning off such appliances when they are not in use. A controlled experiment is conducted to evaluate the performance of the solution. The results indicate that this approach can significantly reduce energy wastage in the homes.
From Cloud Computing to Fog Computing
Authors: Ahuja Sanjay P. , Deval Niharika
Published: January 2018

This article describes how in recent years, Cloud Computing has emerged as a fundamental computing paradigm that has significantly changed the approach of enterprises as well as end users towards implementation of Internet technology. The key characteristics such as on-demand resource provision, scalability, rapid elasticity, higher flexibility, and significant cost savings have influenced enterprises of all sizes in the wide and successful adoption of Cloud Computing. Despite numerous advantages, Cloud Computing has its fair share of downsides as well. One of those major concerns is latency issues which has relevance to the Internet of Things (IoT). A new computing paradigm has been proposed by Cisco in early 2014 and termed 'Fog Computing'. Fog Computing otherwise known as Edge Computing is the integration of Cloud Computing and IoT. Being located in close proximity to the IoT devices, the Fog assists with latency requirements of IoT related applications. It also meets the data processing needs of IoT devices which are resource constrained by bringing computation, communication, control and storage closer to the end users. Clouds continue to offer support for data analytics. One can think of the IoT-Fog-Cloud as being part of a continuum. This article surveys the current literature on Fog Computing and provides a discussion on the background, details and architecture of Fog Computing, as well as the application areas of Fog Computing. The article concludes with some recommendations in the areas of future research.
Multi-Layer Token Based Authentication Through Honey Password in Fog Computing
Authors: Rayani Praveen Kumar , Bhushan Bharath , Thakare Vaishali Ravindra
Published: January 2018

This article describes how fog computing empowers network resource utilization by providing services to low bandwidth users in cloud environment. Here, authentication mechanisms are used by fog nodes while providing services to end users. In cloud computing there are several types of authentication mechanisms, in which token based authentication takes less time for validating password. The proposed technique uses token based authentication mechanism with honey password. The aim of this article is to focus on multi-layer token based authentication for identifying the authorized user at fog node. In authentication phase end user instantaneously frame his user account password with honey password that makes illusion to shoulder surfers password has changed. The proposed mechanism avoids and detects shoulder surfing attacks, password guessing attacks, and application denial of service attacks.
Utilizing Combined Claims and Clinical Datasets for Research Among Potential Cases of Rare Diseases
Authors: Bennett Kevin J. , Mann Joshua , Ouyang Lijing
Published: January 2018

With data quality issues with administrative claims and medically derived datasets, a dataset derived from a combination of sources may be more effective for research. The purposes of this article is to link an EMR-based data warehouse with state administrative data to study individuals with rare diseases; to describe and compare their characteristics; and to explore research with the data. These methods included subjects with diagnosis codes for one of three rare diseases from the years 2009-2014; Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, and Fragile X Syndrome. The results from the combined data provides additional information that each dataset, by itself, would not contain. The simultaneous examination of data such as race/ethnicity, physician and other outpatient visit data, charges and payments, and overall utilization was possible in the combined dataset. It is also discussed that combining such datasets can be a useful tool for the study of populations with rare diseases.
Open and Distance Education in India
Authors: Mukherjee Sovik
Published: January 2018

The goal of this article is to look into the effectiveness of ODL on the level of economic development across fifteen major states in India, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal by constructing an ODL Effectiveness Index (ODLEI). The variables considered here are — 1) number of ODL institutes in the state concerned, 2) number of students enrolled in such institutes, 3) logarithmic value of per-capita GSDP and 4) state-wise literacy rates. The index construction method employs Principal Component Analysis (PCA) given the high-degree of multicollinearity among the variables. Comparison of the value of ODLEI in 2015 with the value of ODLEI in 2010 is also something that this article talks about. Also, using a simple regression model, this article attempts to underline the nexus between growth, measured by means of change in the GDP growth with the level of enrolment in distance education in India.
Security Against Network Layer Attacks for Hierarchal Mesh Environments
Authors: Rathee Geetanjali , Saini Hemraj
Published: January 2018

This article aims to secure a routing mechanism by completing amendments in previously proposed efficient secure routing (ESR) protocols against networking layer attacks in mesh networking environments. Along with generating the tickets to prove the authenticity of communicating clients, each node proves the legitimacy of its succeeding node by computing the behaviour. The intermediate nodes selected for routing the data packets proves the legitimacy of each other by getting the passive acknowledgement process within a predefined time to live (TTL) time. Further, grey hole and black hole attacks are considered in the network simulation environment as they drastically affect the network metrics during the communication because of their severe attacking characteristics. The proposed mechanism is validated over conventional routing mechanisms against packet loss and network delay parameters in the presence of black hole and grey hole routing attacks.
GNSS Positioning Enhancement Based on NLOS Multipath Biases Estimation Using Gaussian Mixture Noise
Authors: Bassma Guermah , Tayeb Sadiki , Hassan El Ghazi
Published: January 2018

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) have been widely used in many applications where positioning plays an important role. However, the performances of these applications can be degraded in urban canyons, due to Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) and Multipath interference affecting GNSS signals. In order to ensure high accuracy positioning, this article proposes to model the NLOS and Multipath biases by Gaussian Mixture noise using Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm. In this context, an approach to estimate the Multipath and NLOS biases for real time positioning is presented and statistical tests for searching the probability distribution of NLOS and Multipath biases are illustrated. Furthermore, a hybrid approach based on PF (Particle Filter) and EM algorithm for estimating user position in hard environment is presented. Using real GPS (Global Positioning System) signal, the efficiency of the proposed approach is shown, and a significant improvement of the positioning accuracy over the simple PF estimation is obtained.
Malware Detection in Android Using Data Mining
Authors: Dasgupta Suparna , Saha Soumyabrata , Das Suman Kumar
Published: January 2018

This article describes how as day-to-day Android users are increasing, the Internet has become the type of environment preferred by attackers to inject malicious packages. This is content with the intention of gathering critical information, spying on user details, credentials, call logs, contact details, and tracking user location. Regrettably it is very hard to detect malware even with antivirus software/packages. In addition, this type of attack is increasing day by day. In this article the authors have chosen a Supervised Learning Classification Tree-based algorithm to detect malware on the data set. Comparison amongst all the classifiers on the basis of accuracy and execution time are used to build the classifier model which has the highest executed detections.
Selecting Demolition Waste Materials Disposal Alternatives Using Fuzzy TOPSIS Technique
Authors: Marzouk Mohamed , El-Razek Mohamed Abd
Published: January 2018

This article describes how in developing countries, millions of tons of construction and demolition wastes (CDWs) are lost every year due to lack of knowledge of recycling significance and/or procedures. Despite the high value of CDWs, high percentage of this waste is either dumped illegally or disposed in the landfills. Disposal methods should consider saving natural resources and maintaining the environmental conditions through maximizing the value of CDWs. This article aims at choosing the most sustainable disposal alternative using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) Process, considering several sustainability measure indicators. The research introduces a list containing the most relevant and significant sustainable indicators that affect the selection of alternative for disposal of CDWs. Then, fuzzy TOPSIS technique is applied considering the significant indicators on each alternative to rank and choose the best alternative for disposal of CDWs.
Information Urbanistic Perspective in the Context of Blue Economy
Authors: Anunciação Pedro Fernandes da , Peñalver Antonio Juan Briones
Published: January 2018

This article describes how the subject of the blue economy is currently on the political agenda of the European Union. Its strategic scope seeks to involve the various economic stakeholders whose activities are centered on the sea. From tourism to the exploitation of marine resources, economic operators should develop their activities in an integrated way and with a close respect for the sustainability of natural resources. The present article analyzes the level of integration of the economic activities, public and private, through the evaluation of the sites of the main stakeholders in tourism area, establishing a comparison between two important Portuguese and Spanish cities. Assuming that in the current information society, particularly in tourism, the competitiveness of economic activities is conditioned by the availability of integrated information among the various players, it is important to adopt appropriate models to share information and activities because this is an important critical success factor to the economic development of regions.
The Optimization by Using the Learning Styles in the Adaptive Hypermedia Applications
Authors: Hamza Lamia , Tlili Guiassa Yamina
Published: January 2018

This article addresses the learning style as a criterion for optimization of adaptive content in hypermedia applications. First, the authors present the different optimization approaches proposed in the area of adaptive hypermedia systems whose goal is to define the optimization problem in this type of system. Then, they present the architecture of their proposed system. The first step involves choosing a learning style model. The selection of this style is done by using a dedicated questionnaire answered by a learner. Then a modeling of the learner is completed based on his learning style. Finally, content that is to be presented to the learner is managed by a content generator module, depending on the model of the learner. Built on methods and techniques proposed for modeling and adaptation, the adaptive hypermedia system based on learning styles provides optimized adaptations. The authors' approach has been experimentally validated and the results are encouraging.
SVM and PCA Based Learning Feature Classification Approaches for E-Learning System
Authors: Khamparia Aditya , Pandey Babita
Published: January 2018

E-learning and online education has made great improvements in the recent past. It has shifted the teaching paradigm from conventional classroom learning to dynamic web based learning. Due to this, a dynamic learning material has been delivered to learners, instead of static content, according to their skills, needs and preferences. In this article, the authors have classified eight different types of student learning attributes based on National Centre for Biotechnical Information (NCBI) e-learning database. The eight types of attributes are Anxiety (A), Personality (P), Learning style (L), Cognitive style (C), Grades from previous sem (GP), Motivation (M), Study level (SL) and Student prior knowledge (SPK). In this article the authors have proposed an approach which uses principal components of student learning attributes and have later independently classified these attributes using feed forward neural network (NN) and Least Square –Support Vector Machine (LS-SVM).
Too Many Words, Too Little Support
Authors: Rice Mary F. , Deshler Donald D.
Published: January 2018

As online coursework become more popular, students with disabilities that need vocabulary support for reading comprehension will be among the increase in cyber school students. Researchers have some evidence that certain types of vocabulary support strategies are more efficacious for students with disabilities. The purpose of this article is determining if what was known about strategies for supporting vocabulary was being applied to online learning coursework. A content analysis of types of vocabulary and types of support strategies was performed on science courses from three online course vendors. The results of this study indicate a need for online course vendors to pay more explicit attention to the types of words supported and the strategies they use to do so and for those who support online learners (teachers, parents) to be more proactive about vocabulary support deficiencies that are likely to be present in the courses.
Blog Phenomenology
Authors: van Wyk Micheal M.
Published: January 2018

The higher education sector faces new opportunities and dilemmas such as budgetary constraints, changing student profiles, demanding quality assurance practices, efficient course delivery modes, the changing role of academics, and reliable assessment practices. At the same time, exciting opportunities are presented by Web 2.0, for example blogs, and information technology-integrated teaching and learning sites. This article explores the usefulness of blogs in supporting Postgraduate Certificate of Education and Bachelor of Education students who are learning to teach Economics in open distance-learning environments. An Economics blog was created for students during their teaching practice period to critically reflect on their learning processes and share teaching practice experiences to enhance professional growth. A qualitative research approach, employing an interpretive phenomenology, was used to study phenomena that are experienced by student teachers. Findings showed the usefulness of blogs as a supportive e-learning tool in constructing a teaching philosophy and the identity of student teachers. Furthermore, blogs emerged as an empowering and attractive way of fostering self-directed learning and providing evidence of achievement for warranting purposes – particularly in the context of a teacher education course at an open distance-learning university. The positive lived experiences of student teachers indicated that the subject teacher mentoring and coaching effectively facilitated teaching Economics. Moreover, it emerged that blogs embracing reflective practices presented the opportunity for self-appraisal on personal values, teaching styles and strategies of learning, thus enhancing self-efficacy.
Agronomic performance and nutritive value of millet silages
Authors: Moura Marielly Maria Almeida , Pires Daniel Ananias De Assis , Jayme Diogo Gonzaga , Costa Renê Ferreira , Rigueira João Paulo Sampaio , Rodrigues José Avelino Santos
Published: January 2018

The objective of this study was to assess agronomic characteristics and nutritional values of silages of millet genotypes. Planting was done in randomized blocks, with five replicates per genotype. Green matter yield for genotypes ADR 500 and CMS 01 was higher and similar to each other, with 40.16 and 41.36 t ha (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference for dry matter yield, with the mean being 9.93 t ha (p > 0.05). The silages were similar (p > 0.05) as to pH, Aw and N-NH3/TN, presenting values of 3.92, 0.97 and 7.64%, respectively. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) concerning the bromatological composition of the silages of the different genotypes, with a mean of 30.74% of dry matter, 10.21% for crude protein and 58.69% for neutral detergent fiber (p > 0.05). The dry matter digestibility mean stood at 59.90%. Based on the nutritional values and digestibility of the millet silages, the five genotypes are suitable for silage production, with potential for the North of Minas Gerais.
How the calving order of cows affects the performance of Nellore calves
Authors: Silveira Rafael Kill , Jangarelli Marcelo
Published: January 2018

This study aimed to verify the effect of age of dam on the performance of male and female Nellore calves, using the following variables: average daily gain (ADG), adjusted weight for 205 days of age (W205), and number of days to reach 160 kg (D160). Information were collected from a commercial herd consisting of 1,122 calves and 1,009 heifers and their mothers. To classify animals with similar performance based on the cows’ calving orders (age of dam), the multivariate cluster analysis was adopted through the complete linkage hierarchical method. The best performance was observed in the calves of cows in their sixth calving at most; for heifers, the best performance was seen in those born to cows in their eighth calving at most. Cows in their eighth calving should be discarded.