bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Usability and User Experience Evaluation Methods
Authors: Bernhaupt Regina
Published: May 2010

Usability and user experience are two important factors in the development of mass-customizable personalized products. A broad range of evaluation methods is available to improve products during an user-centered development process. This chapter gives an overview on these methods and how to apply them to achieve easy-to-use, efficient and effective personalized products that are additionally fun to use. A case study on the development of a new interaction technique for interactive TV helps to understand how to set up a mix of evaluation methods to cope with some of the limitations of current usability and user experience evaluation methods. The chapter concludes with some guidelines of how to change organizations to focus on usability and user experience.
Knowledge Producing Megamachines
Authors: Karvalics Laszlo Z.
Published: May 2010

This chapter addresses the control crisis of science whose resolution requires radical social innovation. The only possible way for achieving this is the partial fusion of certain portions of scientific activity with the system of public education, by means of organizing scientists, teachers, as well as middle and highschool students into hybrid, knowledge producing mega-machines. The authors of the chapter subsequently argue that doing so will at the same time bring about a pragmatic shift in public education, for which professionals in the field of pedagogy have long been ready in principle and in theory.
Bridging the Gap between Mobile Application Contexts and Semantic Web Resources
Authors: Dietze Stefan , Gugliotta Alessio , Domingue John
Published: May 2010

Context-awareness is highly desired, particularly in highly dynamic mobile environments. Semantic Web Services (SWS) address context-adaptation by enabling the automatic discovery of distributed Web services based on comprehensive semantic capability descriptions. Even though the appropriateness of resources in mobile settings is strongly dependent on the current situation, SWS technology does not explicitly encourage the representation of situational contexts. Therefore, whereas SWS technology supports the allocation of resources, it does not entail the discovery of appropriate SWS representations for a given situational context. Moreover, describing the complex notion of a specific situation by utilizing symbolic SWS representation facilities is costly, prone to ambiguity issues and may never reach semantic completeness. In fact, since not any real-world situation completely equals another, a potentially infinite set of situation parameters has to be matched to a finite set of semantically defined SWS reso rce descriptions to enable context-adaptability. To overcome these issues, the authors propose Mobile Situation Spaces (MSS) which enable the description of situation characteristics as members in geometrical vector spaces following the idea of Conceptual Spaces (CS). Semantic similarity between situational contexts is calculated in terms of their Euclidean distance within a MSS. Extending merely symbolic SWS descriptions with context information on a conceptual level through MSS enables similarity-based matchmaking between real-world situation characteristics and predefined resource representations as part of SWS descriptions. To prove the feasibility, the authors provide a proof-of-concept prototype which applies MSS to support context-adaptation across distinct mobile situations.
Blending Virtual Campuses Managing Differences through Web 2.0 Experiences in Transnational Cooperation Projects
Authors: Kazepov Yuri , Torris Giovanni
Published: May 2010

Starting from the increasingly widespread need to develop effective teaching in complex transnational settings, this chapter presents an innovative blended model with Web 2.0 collaborative learning strategies built in. The model balances pedagogical, technical and content related issues into an ad hoc institutionally designed 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) curriculum of the European Masters in Comparative Urban Studies (E-Urbs). The chapter aims at disentangling the different dimensions involved in the curriculum delivery, highlighting the pros and cons of all dimensions of the model adopted. In doing so the chapter is divided into three sections. The first section addresses the challenges that effective teaching in complex transnational settings has to face, in particular it highlights the crucial need of managing differences. In the E-Urbs project we had 24 students from 14 countries, 5 continents, 6 disciplinary backgrounds, 32 scholars from 9 partner institutions in 8 countries. The second section deals with the way in which challenges and differences have been addressed and describes the dimensions of the blended model the authors adopted, arguing that a sound virtual campus arrangement should address the pedagogical, technical and content related dimensions in a balanced way considering the institutional setting within which they are embedded. The third section addresses the way in which the blended approach has been enriched through a Web 2.0 perspective, promoting p2p (peer-to-peer) collaboration in the generation of knowledge. The main argument is that an increasingly fluid society generates and treats information differently and learning agencies should not only acknowledge these differences but should address them with balanced learning models which take advantage of the new 2.0 paradigms. The authors argue that the result of a balanced blended Web 2.0 approach helps to transform the challenges into a resource for each of the stakeholders involved (e.g., students, scholars, partners, institutions) providing an added value in each dimension of the learning process (pedagogical, technical, content related and institutional).
Rule Markup Languages and Semantic Web Rule Languages
Authors: Paschke Adrian , Boley Harold
Published: May 2010

Rule markup languages will be the vehicle for using rules on the Web and in other distributed systems. They allow publishing, deploying, executing and communicating rules in a network. They may also play the role of a lingua franca for exchanging rules between different systems and tools. In a narrow sense, a rule markup language is a concrete (XML-based) rule syntax for the Web. In a broader sense, it should have an abstract syntax as a common basis for defining various concrete languages addressing different consumers. The main purposes of a rule markup language are to permit the publication, interchange and reuse of rules. This chapter introduces important requirements and design issues for general Web rule languages to fulfill these tasks. Characteristics of several important general standardization or standards-proposing efforts for (XML-based) rule markup languages including W3C RIF, RuleML, R2ML, SWRL as well as (human-readable) Semantic Web rule languages such as TRIPLE, N3, Jena, and Prova are discussed with respect to these identified issues.
Using Rules in the Narrative Knowledge Representation Language (NKRL) Environment
Authors: Zarri Gian Piero
Published: May 2010

NKRL is a semantic language expressly designed to deal with all sort of ‘narratives’, in particular with those (‘non-fictional narratives’) of an economic interest. From a knowledge representation point of view, its main characteristics consists in the use of two different sorts of ontologies, a standard, binary ontology of concepts, and an ontology of n-ary templates, where each template corresponds to the formal representation of a class of elementary events. Rules in NKRL correspond to high-level reasoning paradigms like the search for causal relationships or the use of analogical reasoning. Given i) the conceptual complexity of these paradigms, and ii) the sophistication of the underlying representation language, rules in NKRL cannot be implemented in a (weak) ‘inference by inheritance’ style but must follow a powerful ‘inference by resolution’ approach. After a short reminder about these two inference styles, and a quick introduction of the NKRL language, the chapter describes in some depth the main characteristics of the NKRL inference rules.
Semantic Web Rule Languages for Geospatial Ontologies
Authors: Smart Philip D. , Abdelmoty Alia , El-Geresy Baher A.
Published: May 2010

Geospatial ontologies have a key role to play in the development of the geospatial-Semantic Web, with regard to facilitating the search for geographical information and resources. They normally hold large volumes of geographic information and undergo a continuous process of revision and update. Limitations of the OWL ontology representation language for supporting geospatial domains are discussed and an integrated rule and ontology language is recognized as needed to support the representation and reasoning requirements in this domain. A survey of the current approaches to integrating ontologies and rules is presented and a new framework is proposed that is based on and extends Description Logic Programs. A hybrid representational approach is adopted where the logical component of the framework is used to represent geographical concepts and spatial rules and an external computational geometry processor is used for storing and manipulating the associated geometric data. A sample application is used to demonstrate the proposed language and engine and how they address the identified challenges.
A Logic Programming Perspective on Rules
Authors: Sterling Leon , Taveter Kuldar
Published: May 2010

Logic programming emerged from the realization that expressing knowledge in an appropriate clausal form in logic was akin to programming. The basic construct of a logic program can be viewed as a rule. This chapter will review rules from a logic programming perspective with an eye to developments within modern rule languages. It mentions rule interpreters, hybrid computing, interaction with the Web, and agents. An extended example is given concerning rule-based modelling and simulation of traffic at airports.
Rules Capturing Events and Reactivity
Authors: Paschke Adrian , Boley Harold
Published: May 2010

Event-driven reactive functionalities are urgently needed in present-day distributed systems and dynamic Web-based environments. Reaction rules constitute a promising approach to specify and program such reactive systems in a declarative manner. In particular, they provide the ability to reason over events, actions and their effects, and allow detecting events and responding to them automatically. Various reaction rule approaches have been developed, which for the most part have been advanced separately, hence led to different views and terminologies. This chapter surveys and classifies the wide variety of rule-based calculi approaches, engines and languages for event, action and state processing, and describes their main features. Founded on the original formalisms, major lines of development are traced to the present and extrapolated to the future.
Modeling of Web Services using Reaction Rules
Authors: Ribaric Marko , Sheidaei Shahin , Milanovic Milan , Gasevic Dragan , Giurca Adrian , Lukichev Sergey
Published: May 2010

The development process of Web services needs to focus on the modeling of business processes rather than on low-level implementation details of Web services, and yet it also needs to incorporate the support for frequent business changes. This chapter presents the UML-based Rule Language (URML) and REWERSE Rule Markup Language (R2ML), which use reaction rules (also known as Event-Condition- Action rules) for modeling Web services in terms of message exchange patterns. Web services that are being modeled in this way can easily be integrated in the wider context of modeling orchestration and choreography. In order to achieve proposed solution, we have developed a plug-in for the Fujaba UML tool (so called Strelka) and a number of model transformations for round-trip engineering between Web services and reaction rules. Also, the paper presents mappings of models of Web services with reaction rules into the Drools rule language, thus enabling the run time execution semantics for our rule-based models.
Distributed Business Rules within Service-Centric Systems
Authors: Rosenberg Florian , Michlmayr Anton , Nagl Christoph , Dustdar Schahram
Published: May 2010

Business rules enable a clear separation of concerns between the core business knowledge and the underlying application code. Service-oriented Computing, on the other side, enables flexible software systems and provides support for business processes based on software services with well-defined interface, descriptions and communication protocols. Yet, the alignment of software services and business rules has not been addressed in literature. In this chapter we present the ViDRE system that bridges the gap between these two paradigms by exposing business rules as Web services. In contrast to existing rule engines, our approach supports distributed rule execution using meta-rules which includes automatic transformation of rules on both client- and server-side.
Using the Semantic Web Rule Language in the Development of Ontology-Driven Applications
Authors: O’Connor Martin , Musen Mark , Das Amar
Published: May 2010

The Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL) is an expressive OWL-based rule language. SWRL allows users to write Horn-like rules that can be expressed in terms of OWL concepts to provide more powerful deductive reasoning capabilities than OWL alone. Semantically, SWRL is built on the same description logic foundation as OWL and provides similar strong formal guarantees when performing inference. Due to its description logics foundation, rule-based applications developed using SWRL have a number of relatively novel characteristics. For example, SWRL shares OWL’s open world assumption so certain types of rules that assume a closed world may be difficult or impossible to write in SWRL. In addition, all inference in SWRL is monotonic so deductions cannot be updated or retracted. These formal characteristic have a strong influence on the development and use of SWRL rules in ontology-driven applications. In this chapter, we describe the primary features of SWRL and outline how, despite some limitations, SWRL can be used to dramatically increase amount of knowledge that be represented in OWL ontologies.
Mapping Policies to Web Rules
Authors: Kaviani Nima , Gasevic Dragan , Hatala Marek
Published: May 2010

Web rule languages have recently emerged to enable different parties with different business rules and policy languages to exchange their rules and policies. Describing the concepts of a domain through using vocabularies is another feature supported by Web rule languages. Combination of these two properties makes web rule languages appropriate mediums to make a hybrid representation of both context and rules of a policy-aware system. On the other hand, policies in the domain of autonomous computing are enablers to dynamically regulate the behaviour of a system without any need to interfere with the internal code of the system. Knowing that policies are also defined through rules and facts, Web rules and policy languages come to a point of agreement, where policies can be defined through using web rules. This chapter focuses on analyzing some of the most known policy languages (especially, KAoS policy language) and describes the mappings from the concepts for KAoS policy language to those of REWERSE Rule Markup Language (R2ML), one of the two proposals to Web rule languages.
Languages and Tools for Rule Modeling
Authors: Nalepa Grzegorz
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents selected practical issues of rule modeling. This field combines both classic artificial intelligence methods and software engineering. The chapter gives a concise presentation of selected relevant methods, and approaches, put in an engineering perspective. The modeling language used in the communication between business analysts and experts for analyzing the system requirements should not be too technical. It should allow for visual rule expressions, which can be understood by experts without an extensive technical training. The main goals of this chapter are: to summarize the formal foundations of rules found in the field of AI, including decision tables and trees; discuss main challenges in practical rule design, and modeling; introduce selected recent research in the field of rule design, focusing on visual modeling; and observe some important future trends in rule design and integration. In the chapter it is argued that efficient visual rule modeling methods are crucial for developing complex rule systems.
A Service Oriented Ontological Framework for the Semantic Validation of Web Accessibility
Authors: Lopes Rui , Votis Konstantinos , Carriço Luís , Likothanassis Spiridon
Published: May 2010

The Web serves as the principal mediator for information sharing and communication on a worldwide scale. Its highly decentralized nature affords a scale free growth, where each endpoint (i.e., Web site) is created and maintained independently. Web designers and developers have the onus of making sure that users can interact without accessibility problems. However, coping with users with disabilities poses challenges on how to ensure that a Web site is accessible for any kind of user. When (and if) this is done, designers and developers do it in a post-hoc way, (i.e., verify and tweak Web sites according to guidelines such as WCAG). In this Chapter the authors present SWAF, the Semantic Web AccessibilityFramework, a base framework for supporting the integration of accessibility services into Web design and development processes. SWAF affords both tailoring accessibility to user needs and specifying the semantic validation of accessibility guidelines in different application situations.
Introduction to GRNs
Authors: Ala Ugo , Damasco Christian
Published: May 2010

The post-genomic era shifted the main biological focus from ‘single-gene’ to ‘genome-wide’ approaches. High throughput data available from new technologies allowed to get inside main features of gene expression and its regulation and, at the same time, to discover a more complex level of organization. Analysis of this complexity demonstrated the existence of nonrandom and well-defined structures that determine a network of interactions. In the first part of the chapter, we present a functional introduction to mechanisms involved in genes expression regulation, an overview of network theory, and main technologies developed in recent years to analyze biological processes are discussed. In the second part, we review genes regulatory networks and their importance in system biology.
Nonlinear Stochastic Differential Equations Method for Reverse Engineering of Gene Regulatory Network
Authors: Climescu-Haulica Adriana , Quirk Michelle
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, we present a method to infer the structure of the gene regulatory network that takes in account both the kinetic molecular interactions and the randomness of data. The dynamics of the gene expression level are fitted via a nonlinear stochastic differential equation (SDE) model. The drift term of the equation contains the transcription rate related to the architecture of the local regulatory network. The statistical analysis of data combines maximum likelihood principle with Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) through a forward selection Strategy to yield a set of specific regulators and their contribution. Tested with expression data concerning the cell cycle for S. Cerevisiae and embryogenesis for the D. melanogaster, this method provides a framework for the reverse engineering of various gene regulatory networks.
Modelling Gene Regulatory Networks Using Computational Intelligence Techniques
Authors: Ram Ramesh , Chetty Madhu
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents modelling gene regulatory networks (GRNs) using probabilistic causal model and the guided genetic algorithm. The problem of modelling is explained from both a biological and computational perspective. Further, a comprehensive methodology for developing a GRN model is presented where the application of computation intelligence (CI) techniques can be seen to be significantly important in each phase of modelling. An illustrative example of the causal model for GRN modelling is also included and applied to model the yeast cell cycle dataset. The results obtained are compared for providing biological relevance to the findings which thereby underpins the CI based modelling techniques.
Structural Learning of Genetic Regulatory Networks Based on Prior Biological Knowledge and Microarray Gene Expression Measurements
Authors: Dai Yang , Almasri Eyad , Larsen Peter , Chen Guanrao
Published: May 2010

The reconstruction of genetic regulatory networks from microarray gene expression measurements has been a challenging problem in bioinformatics. Various methods have been proposed for this problem including the Bayesian Network (BN) approach. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive survey of the current development of using structure priors derived from high-throughput experimental results such as protein-protein interactions, transcription factor binding location data, evolutionary relationships, and literature database in learning regulatory networks.
Problems for Structure Learning
Authors: Wimberly Frank , Danks David , Glymour Clark , Chu Tianjiao
Published: May 2010

Machine learning methods to find graphical models of genetic regulatory networks from cDNA microarray data have become increasingly popular in recent years. We provide three reasons to question the reliability of such methods: (1) a major theoretical challenge to any method using conditional independence relations; (2) a simulation study using realistic data that confirms the importance of the theoretical challenge; and (3) an analysis of the computational complexity of algorithms that avoid this theoretical challenge. We have no proof that one cannot possibly learn the structure of a genetic regulatory network from microarray data alone, nor do we think that such a proof is likely. However, the combination of (i) fundamental challenges from theory, (ii) practical evidence that those challenges arise in realistic data, and (iii) the difficulty of avoiding those challenges leads us to conclude that it is unlikely that current microarray technology will ever be successfully applied to this structure learning problem.
Abstraction Methods for Analysis of Gene Regulatory Networks
Authors: Kuwahara Hiroyuki , Myers Chris J.
Published: May 2010

With advances in high throughput methods of data collection for gene regulatory networks, we are now in a position to face the challenge of elucidating how these genes coupled with environmental stimuli orchestrate the regulation of cell-level behaviors. Understanding the behavior of such complex systems is likely impossible to achieve with wet-lab experiments alone due to the amount and complexity of the data being collected. Therefore, it is essential to integrate the experimental work with efficient and accurate computational methods for analysis. Unfortunately, such analysis is complicated not only by the sheer size of the models of interest but also by the fact that gene regulatory networks often involve small molecular counts making discrete and stochastic analysis necessary. To address this problem, this chapter presents a model abstraction methodology which systematically performs various model abstractions to reduce the complexity of computational biochemical models resulting in substantial improvements in analysis time with limited loss in accuracy.
A Linear Programming Framework for Inferring Gene Regulatory Networks by Integrating Heterogeneous Data
Authors: Wang Yong , Wang Rui-Sheng , Joshi Trupti , Xu Dong , Zhang Xiang-Sun , Chen Luonan
Published: May 2010

There exist many heterogeneous data sources that are closely related to gene regulatory networks. These data sources provide rich information for depicting complex biological processes at different levels and from different aspects. Here, we introduce a linear programming framework to infer the gene regulatory networks. Within this framework, we extensively integrate the available information derived from multiple time-course expression datasets, ChIP-chip data, regulatory motif-binding patterns, protein-protein interaction data, protein-small molecule interaction data, and documented regulatory relationships in literature and databases. Results on synthetic and real experimental data both demonstrate that the linear programming framework allows us to recover gene regulations in a more robust and reliable manner.
Dynamic Links and Evolutionary History in Simulated Gene Regulatory Networks
Authors: Steiner T. , Jin Y. , Schramm L. , Sendhoff B.
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, we describe the use of evolutionary methods for the in silico generation of artificial gene regulatory networks (GRNs). These usually serve as models for biological networks and can be used for enhancing analysis methods in biology. We clarify our motivation in adopting this strategy by showing the importance of detailed knowledge of all processes, especially the regulatory dynamics of interactions undertaken during gene expression. To illustrate how such a methodology works, two different approaches to the evolution of small-scale GRNs with specified functions, are briefly reviewed and discussed. Thereafter, we present an approach to evolve medium sized GRNs with the ability to produce stable multi-cellular growth. The computational method employed allows for a detailed analysis of the dynamics of the GRNs as well as their evolution. We have observed the emergence of negative feedback during the evolutionary process, and we suggest its implication to the mutational robustness of the regulatory network which is further supported by evidence observed in additional experiments.
Petri Nets and GRN Models
Authors: Koch Ina
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, modeling of GRNs using Petri net theory is considered. It aims at providing a conceptual understanding of Petri nets to enable the reader to explore GRNs applying Petri net modeling and analysis techniques. Starting with an overview on modeling biochemical networks using Petri nets, the state-of-the-art with focus on GRNs is described. Other modeling techniques, for example, hybrid Petri nets are discussed. Basic concepts of Petri net theory are introduced involving special analysis techniques for modeling biochemical systems, for example, MCT-sets, T-clusters, and Mauritius maps. To illustrate these Petri net concepts, a more complex case study–the gene regulation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy–is explained in detail, considering the biological background and the interpretation of analysis results. Considering both, advantages and disadvantages, the chapter demonstrates the usefulness of Petri net modeling, in particular for GRNs.
Experimental Error Measurement in Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Cassettari Lucia , Mosca Roberto , Revetria Roberto
Published: May 2010

This chapter describes the set up step series, developed by the Genoa Research Group on Production System Simulation at the beginning of the ’80s, as a sequence, through which it is possible at first statistically validate the simulator, then estimate the variables which effectively affect the different target functions, then obtain, through the regression meta-models, the relations linking the independent variables to the dependent ones (target functions) and, finally, proceed to the detection of the optimal functioning conditions. The authors pay great attention to the treatment, the evaluation and control of the Experimental Error, under the form of Mean Square Pure Error (MSPE), a measurement which is always culpably neglected in the traditional experimentation on the simulation models but, that potentially can consistently invalidate with its magnitude the value of the results obtained from the model.
Teaching Principles of Petri Nets in Hardware Courses and Students Projects
Authors: Kubátová Hana
Published: May 2010

The paper presents the principles of using Petri Net formalism in hardware design courses, especially in the course “Architecture of peripheral devices”. Several models and results obtained by student individual or group projects are mentioned. First the using of formalism as a modeling tool is presented consecutively from Place/Transition nets to Coloured Petri nets. Then the possible Petri Nets using as a hardware specification for direct hardware implementation (synthesized VHDL for FPGA) is described. Implementation and simulation results of three directly implemented models are presented.
An Introduction to Reflective Petri Nets
Authors: Capra Lorenzo , Cazzola Walter
Published: May 2010

Most discrete-event systems are subject to evolution during lifecycle. Evolution often implies the development of new features, and their integration in deployed systems. Taking evolution into account since the design phase therefore is mandatory. A common approach consists of hard-coding the foreseeable evolutions at the design level. Neglecting the obvious difficulties of this approach, we also get system’s design polluted by details not concerning functionality, which hamper analysis, reuse and maintenance. Petri Nets, as a central formalism for discrete-event systems, are not exempt from pollution when facing evolution. Embedding evolution in Petri nets requires expertise, other than early knowledge of evolution. The complexity of resulting models is likely to affect the consolidated analysis algorithms for Petri nets. We introduce Reflective Petri nets, a formalism for dynamic discrete-event systems. Based on a reflective layout, in which functional aspects are separated from evolution, this model preserves the description effectiveness and the analysis capabilities of Petri nets. Reflective Petri nets are provided with timed state-transition semantics.
Virtual Reality
Authors: Al-Hudhud Ghada
Published: May 2010

The chapter introduces a modern and advanced view and implementations of Virtual reality systems. Considering the VR systems as tools that can be used in order to alter the perceived information from real world and allow perceiving the information from virtual world. Virtual Reality grounds the main concepts for interactive 3D simulations. The chapter emphasizes the use of the 3D interactive simulations through virtual reality systems in order to enable designers to operationalize the theoretical concepts for empirical studies. This emphasize takes the form of presenting most recent case studies for employing the VR systems. The first emphasizes the role of realistic 3D simulation in a virtual world for the purpose of pipelining complex systems production for engineering application. This requires highly realistic simulations, which involves both realism of object appearance and object behaviour in the virtual world. The second case emphasizes the evolution from realism of virtual reality towards additional reality. Coupling interactions between virtual and real worlds is an example of using the VR system to allow human operators to interactively communicate with real robot through a VR system. The robots and the human operators are potentially at different physical places. This allows for 3D-stereoscopic robot vision to be transmitted to any or all of the users and operators at the different sites.
Using Simulation Systems for Decision Support
Authors: Tolk Andreas
Published: May 2010

This chapter describes the use of simulation systems for decision support in support of real operations, which is the most challenging application domain in the discipline of modeling and simulation. To this end, the systems must be integrated as services into the operational infrastructure. To support discovery, selection, and composition of services, they need to be annotated regarding technical, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, dynamic, and conceptual categories. The systems themselves must be complete and validated. The data must be obtainable, preferably via common protocols shared with the operational infrastructure. Agents and automated forces must produce situation adequate behavior. If these requirements for simulation systems and their annotations are fulfilled, decision support simulation can contribute significantly to the situational awareness up to cognitive levels of the decision maker.
The Simulation of Spiking Neural Networks
Authors: Gamez David
Published: May 2010

This chapter is an overview of the simulation of spiking neural networks that relates discrete event simulation to other approaches and includes a case study of recent work. The chapter starts with an introduction to the key components of the brain and sets out three neuron models that are commonly used in simulation work. After explaining discrete event, continuous and hybrid simulation, the performance of each method is evaluated and recent research is discussed. To illustrate the issues surrounding this work, the second half of this chapter presents a case study of the SpikeStream neural simulator that covers the architecture, performance and typical applications of this software along with some recent experiments. The last part of the chapter suggests some future trends for work in this area.
Performance Modeling of IEEE 802.11 WLAN using OPNET
Authors: Sarkar Nurul I.
Published: May 2010

Computer simulation is becoming increasingly popular among computer network researchers for performance modeling and evaluation of computer and telecommunication networks. This popularity is due to the availability of various sophisticated and powerful simulators, and also because of the flexibility in model construction and validation offered by simulation. While various network simulators (both open source and commercial) exist for modeling and performance evaluation of communication networks, OPNET is becoming popular network simulator as the package is available to academic institutions at no cost, especially OPNET IT Guru. This chapter aims to provide a tutorial on OPNET focusing on the simulation and performance modeling of IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs). Results obtained show that OPNET provides credible simulation results close to a real system.
On the Use of Discrete-Event Simulation in Computer Networks Analysis and Design
Authors: Al-Bahadili Hussein
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents a description of a newly developed research-level computer network simulator, which can be used to evaluate the performance of a number of flooding algorithms in ideal and realistic mobile ad hoc network (MANET) environments. It is referred to as MANSim. The simulator is written in C++ programming language and it consists of four main modules: network, mobility, computational, and algorithm modules. This chapter describes the philosophy behind the simulator and explains its internal structure. The new simulator can be characterized as: a process-oriented discrete-event simulator using terminating simulation approach and stochastic input-traffic pattern. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness and flexibility of MANSim, it was used to study the performance of five flooding algorithms, these as: pure flooding, probabilistic flooding, LAR-1, LAR-1P, and OMPR. The simulator demonstrates an excellent accuracy, reliability, and flexibility to be used as a cost-effective tool in analyzing and designing wireless computer networks in comparison with analytical modeling and experimental tests. It can be learned quickly and it is sufficiently powerful, comprehensive, and extensible to allow investigation of a considerable range of problems of complicated geometrical configuration, mobility patterns, probability density functions, and flooding algorithms.
Queuing Theory and Discrete Events Simulation for Health Care
Authors: Kolker Alexander
Published: May 2010

This chapter describes applications of the discrete events simulation (DES) and queuing analytic (QA) theory as a means of analyzing healthcare systems. There are two objectives of this chapter: (i) to illustrate the use and shortcomings of QA compared to DES by applying both of them to analyze the same problems, and (ii) to demonstrate the principles and power of DES methodology for analyzing both simple and rather complex healthcare systems with interdependencies. This chapter covers: (i) comparative analysis of QA and DES methodologies by applying them to the same processes, (ii) effect of patient arrival and service time variability on patient waiting time and throughput, (iii) comparative analysis of the efficiency of dedicated (specialized) and combined resources, (iv) a DES model that demonstrates the interdependency of subsystems and its effect on the entire system throughput, and (v) the issues and perspectives of practical implementation of DES results in health care setting.
Modelling a Small Firm in Jordan Using System Dynamics
Authors: Al-Qirem Raed M. , Yaseen Saad G.
Published: May 2010

The Jordanian banks and the risk analysts in particularly are seeking to adapt and buy new analytical techniques and information systems that help in identifying, monitoring and analysing the credit risk especially for the small firms that represents the biggest firms’ base in the Jordanian markets. This chapter supports that what analysts need is a thinking tool that allow the user to simulate, understand and control different policies or strategies. It will then enable better decision to be made. A simulator based on system dynamics methodology is the thinking tool produced by this chapter. The system dynamics methodology allows the bank to test “What If” scenarios based on a model which captures the behaviour of the real system over time. The objectives of this chapter is to introduce new performance measures using systems thinking paradigm that can be used by the Jordanian banks to assess the credit worthiness of firms applying for credit.
Applications of Second Life
Authors: Buzzetto-More Nicole
Published: May 2010

Second Life is a massive three dimensional online virtual world with a complex and realistic digital landscape where individuals create and author avatars that interact with one another. Recognizing the potential of this virtual reality, the applications of Second Life are being examined by the business and educational communities. The following chapter will provide readers with a better understanding of Second Life; the applications and implications of Second Life for teaching, learning, and professional development training; project examples; best practices; a model for the development of education and/ or training projects in Second Life; pitfalls and potential problems; how Second Life can offer a linkage between education, professional development training, and organizational development; and future directions for Second Life.
Using Concept Maps to Enhance Students' Prior Knowledge in Complex Learning
Authors: Zheng Robert Z. , Dahl Laura B.
Published: May 2010

As an instructional tool, concept map has been widely used to teach complex subjects in schools. Research suggests that concept mapping can help bridge learners’ prior knowledge with new learning, reduce the cognitive load involved in learning and improve comprehension, content retention, and knowledge transfer. Existing literature focuses on cognitive features, cognitive styles and differences between instructor provided and student generated concepts. However, little is known about the effects of concept maps as a cognitive tool to influence learners’ learning, specifically before and after the learning takes place. This chapter offers a discussion of general research in concept mapping and theories that support such instruction. Finally, an empirical study is presented with suggestions for future research in concept mapping.
Amateur Radio in Education
Authors: Skoric Miroslav
Published: May 2010

The intention of this chapter is to increase capacities in educators for using computer- and communicationrelated technologies and to help them to acquire systematic knowledge in basic computer networking and communicating with their peers, other teachers, students and their parents. In form of introducing ‘packet-radio’, one of the most popular amateur radio computer-related communication modes, the mission of this chapter is to motivate teachers and students to use the amateur radio hardware and software for designing AMUNETs – the Amateur Radio University computer Networks – within their school buildings and around university campuses. The purpose of this chapter is to involve scholars to the world of amateur data exchange in an easy way by describing simple experiments related to networking simulations in local area networks. The goal of those experiments is to provide enough knowledge and experience with the amateur radio software before starting experimentations with real radio devices.
Online Studio Design Pedagogy
Authors: Zalewski Sullivan Bridget
Published: May 2010

ART765 Design for the WWW serves as the capstone course in the online post-baccalaureate certificate Interactive Media Design at Towson University. The course and program provide students with the opportunity to advance their web and interactive media design knowledge. The opportunity to design and produce a four course graduate certificate prompted the careful consideration and creation of an online course design system intended to enhance student learning and usability. ART765 Design for the WWW became the design prototype for the IAMD certificate. The pedagogical and design strategies used to create ART765 Design for the WWW include: creating a sense of community and personality, considering the needs of the online learner, graphic design, information architecture, web usability, appropriate multimedia methods, Web 2.0 technology and MUVE’s, and the Quality Matters® peer review. These strategies serve to unify the online teaching and learning environment for all four of the Interactive Media Design courses.
Using Ontology for Personalized E-Learning in K-12 Education
Authors: Askar Petek , Altun Arif , Kalinyazgan Kagan , Pekince S. Serkan
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces the development of a K-12 education ontology for e-learning environments. It presents design and implementation processes, followed by several recommendations for future directions for ontology development. E-learning environments incorporate the notion of semantic Web-based ontologies into their future directions. Semantic Web uses ontologies to show the interconnectedness in a Web environment. Within the concept of semantic mapping, domain ontology is at the core of intelligent e-learning systems. In order to achieve an ontology for K-12 education, the authors propse a domainspecific ontology PoleONTO (Personalized Ontological Learning Environment) with the emphasis on its development and incorporation into an e-learning environment.
A Practical Guide to Evaluate Quality of Online Courses
Authors: Hao Yungwei , Borich Gary
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces a graphic approach to define quality in online courses. The Decomposition Model (Borich & Jemelka, 1982) is used to illustrate course structure and the salient characteristics of an effective online course. The constraints that influence the success of online courses are discussed. Salient transactions (activities) that occur in online courses are described. And the means-end continuum in the process of online learning is illustrated graphically. The chapter is expected to provide readers with a whole picture of a quality online course through an architectural framework.
Web Accessibility Policy for Students with Disabilities in U.S. Postsecondary Distance Education
Authors: Wilkes Heidi L.
Published: May 2010

“Web accessibility” is the ability to access information online. In distance education, most instructional material is located online, and anything that prevents a person from accessing these materials becomes a barrier to distance education. Demand for distance education is growing, and the Web is the most common mechanism for its delivery. Not all Websites are accessible, despite the availability of design guidelines. The purpose of this chapter is to inform Web accessibility policy decisions at U.S. postsecondary institutions by increasing the awareness of Web accessibility issues in distance education, examining societal implications, and discussing methods for improvement. This chapter also reviews the current U.S. legal context and provides alternative cost-justification and cost-benefit frameworks for consideration by policymakers.
Object-Oriented Faculty Development
Authors: Walsh Karen
Published: May 2010

The study outlined in this chapter simulated a faculty development program that utilized a demonstration/ simulation -- a learning object that digitally demonstrates a task then asks the student to replicate it. In this learning environment, participants were given the chance to learn a skill from a teaching tool that they in turn could use in their classrooms. In addition, half the participants were asked to evaluate their learning styles by taking a Multiple Intelligence inventory before working with the demonstration/ simulation. Overall, the participants felt that this study was an enlightening experience for them -- they became more aware of how they learn, which gave them insight on how their students learn. Faculty development designers, human performance training professionals, and instructional technology designers can use the results of this study to gain a greater understanding of object-oriented faculty development programs that improve human performance and appropriate ways to implement them.
ICT Instruments as Possible Support for the Equal Distribution of Population
Authors: Djukic Aleksandra , Tomic Vesna
Published: May 2010

Unequal city development, namely the faster development of large centers and concentration of power, globalization and local specificities in certain locations, have caused a lack of balance between large city centers and smaller settlements and villages. In Serbia, there are major differences in the level of development, as well as in cultural features of settlements. There are significant economic differences between settlements in the north, the east, and the south of the country, since settlements developed in valleys and hence had better traffic communication, and could therefore be competitive and stay abreast of transformations. Smaller settlements and villages (especially those along the borders, in National parks and in difficult to access rural regions), are marginalized, and face many problems, most often caused by lack of infrastructure, decrease of the number of inhabitants, the dissolution of the secondary and tertiary sector. Today, a quarter of the total population lives in the capital city of Belgrade, while a considerable number of settlements are completely shutting down. These settlements once had their identity and a harmonious balance of all elements constituting the life of the community and the individual. A distinctive social aspect contributed to a rich cultural heritage, but over time this was gradually lost and begins to disappear. The question is if any of the processes (globalization, technological revolution), which contribute to the demographic and economic decline of rural regions, could form a basis for renewal. A classical planner’s approach would imply the networking of settlements and providing equal population distribution by investing in infrastructure and providing conditions for settlements through the development of central functions, requiring considerable investments. The other possibility relies on the development of information and communication technologies (ICT), which could provide for many necessities: access to and exchange of information, paying bills and ordering products from a distance, working from home, meetings via Internet conferences, etc. The use of Internet technologies in order to develop settlements, by converting traditional into “net” technologies, can make up for disadvantages of life in smaller settlements and enable their revitalization, by networking them into a global net of settlements, without geographical borders and limits.