bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Semantic-Enabled Framework for E-Government Systems Development
Authors: Fonou-Dombeu Jean Vincent , Huisman Magda
Published: September 2015

The ultimate goal of e-Governance is to reach the stage of seamless service delivery in one-stop e-Government. This raises the engineering issues of integration, reusability, maintenance, and interoperability of autonomous e-Government systems of government departments and agencies. Therefore, appropriate methodologies that consistently address the aforementioned engineering issues throughout clearly defined e-Government development phases are needed. This chapter provides the design and specification, of a framework that amalgamates features from maturity models, software engineering and Semantic Web domains for semantic-enabled development of e-Government systems. Firstly, the methods and techniques used for the planning, design, and implementation of e-Government systems worldwide are investigated; a critical analysis is carried out to identify their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their contribution towards addressing the aforementioned engineering issues. Secondly, the proposed framework is drawn and specified. Finally, support tools including a business process model, an alignment matrix of stages and phases of development, and a weighting matrix of the intensity of semantic activities at various phases of development is drawn and described.
Information Architecture
Authors: Zhou Xiaoying , Zhang Xiumei
Published: September 2015

This chapter analyzes the definition, origins, and evolution of Information Architecture (IA), discusses IA principles, the need to understand IA, the problems that can be solved by IA, and IA in practice. It also discusses the characteristic patterns of IA to comprehensively understand IA from five aspects, such as core concepts, research objects, disciplinary viewpoint, effects, and the human's role in IA. In terms of implementing IA, the chapter analyzes two guiding theoretic principles and the common process of IA and summarizes and concludes with tools, methods, and measures of IA.
Innovative Architecture to Enhance Quality of Service for Laboratory Management Information Systems
Authors: Mahoto Naeem A. , Shaikh Faisal K. , Chowdhry B. S.
Published: September 2015

Technological improvements have changed the life style in the modern era, where communication has become easier compared with olden days. Technological solutions have been deployed in every sector including business, education, and health services. Although a number of solutions are proposed for improvements in the healthcare sector, the complexity and growing interest in this sector have created new approaches. This chapter proposes an innovative architecture for the laboratory management information system to enhance the quality and management issues. The proposed architecture integrates two major fields, namely wireless technology and data mining. The wireless technology enables the collection of data easily and wirelessly, and data mining ensures meaningful and novel knowledge discovery from the collected data. In particular, the architecture helps management in three different ways: (1) prevention of risks/errors using technological solutions, (2) an environment to respond rapidly to adverse events, and (3) construction of knowledge base for future guidelines.
Using Website Analysis as a Tool for Computer Assisted Language Learning in a Foreign Language Classroom
Authors: Roy Debopriyo
Published: September 2015

This research explored how website analysis and design pedagogy could help support analytical thinking and English language production in an EFL context. In this study, 28 EFL-based computer science students took part in a website analysis experiment. The study investigated if students could analyze English websites and comprehend and produce responses in English for eight open-ended questions, divided into two sets of design and inference-based queries. Additionally, students answered a questionnaire on their own awareness about the use of metacognitive reading strategies, during website analysis and questionnaire responses. Results have demonstrated reasonable ability for students to answer most design and inference set queries. Questions on design, organization, audience analysis, and importance of the website were answered with better efficiency, when compared to few others. However, accuracy scores in neither set showed any significant practice effect, and rather performance dropped over the weeks. Further, self-reports indicated use of metacognitive reading strategies and significant correlations with accuracy scores during website analysis.
Sacrificing Credibility for Sleaze
Authors: Mackay Jenn Burleson , Bailey Erica
Published: September 2015

This chapter uses an experiment to analyze how mainstream journalists' use of sensationalized or tabloid-style writing techniques affect the credibility of online news. Participants read four news stories and rated their credibility using McCroskey's Source Credibility Scale. Participants found stories written with a tabloid style less credible than more traditional stories. Soft news stories written with a tabloidized style were rated more credible than hard news stories that also had a tabloidized style. Results suggest that online news media may damage their credibility by using tabloidized writing techniques to increase readership. Furthermore, participants were less likely to enjoy stories written in a tabloidized style. The authors conclude by utilizing act utilitarianism to argue that tabloidized writing is an unethical journalistic technique.
What Makes Students to Participate in Online Collaborative Settings through Second Life?
Authors: Pellas Nikolaos
Published: September 2015

Motivational factors that may affect adult participation in educational activities have attracted educators' interests and probably are one of the most discussed topics in the field of adult education. The current study seeks to investigate the students' participation in collaborative online activities based on the interpretive framework of adult participation theories stapling to interpret motivational factors, and recommended by McGivney (1993). A qualitative (comprehensive) research was conducted and a voluntary sample of Higher education by eighty students (n=80) who participated in online collaborative settings through the virtual world of Second Life and wanted to share experiences from their participation. The added value of this effort is to understand the educational community theoretically based on the utilization of adult theories that might motivate adult participation in different aspects and more practically to enunciate the key factors influencing their decisions to participate in team-based activities held in Second Life.
Challenges, Opportunities, and Trends in Quality K-12 Online Environments
Authors: Boboc Marius
Published: September 2015

This chapter provides background information related to K-12 online education, ranging from definitions to benefits and challenges. An in-depth analysis of the virtual learning landscape reveals the multitude of dimensions by which it could be evaluated, including the range of programs, service provider types, approaches to blended learning, kinds of instruction delivery, as well as levels of interaction within cyberspace. A proposed theoretical framework identifies academic programs/curricula, student support services, and virtual program/school administration as categories that connect the relevant literature review to recommendations for future research intended to inform policy-setting efforts aimed at supporting the further development of high quality K-12 online environments.
Promoting Human-Computer Interaction and Usability Guidelines and Principles through Reflective Journal Assessment
Authors: Issa Tomayess , Isaias Pedro
Published: September 2015

This chapter aims to examine the challenges to, and opportunities for, promoting Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and usability guidelines and principles through reflective journal assessment by information systems students from the Australian and Portuguese higher education sectors. In order to raise students' awareness of HCI and aspects of usability, especially in the Web development process, a new unit was developed by the first researcher called Information Systems 650 (IS650) in Australia. From this unit was derived the Web Site Planning and Development (WSPD) course introduced in Portugal. The reflective journal assessment approach was employed to enhance students' learning and knowledge of HCI and its usability aspects. This study provides empirical evidence from 64 students from Australia and Portugal, based on quantitative and qualitative data derived from three sources: students' formal and informal feedback and an online survey. Students confirmed that the use of reflective journal assessment consolidated their understanding of HCI and usability guidelines and principles and improved their reading, searching, researching, and writing skills, and their proficiency with the endnote software.
Transformative Professional Development
Authors: Kissel Brian T. , Thunder Kateri , Tassell Linde Rickert , Hansen Jane
Published: September 2015

This chapter begins by describing the authors' professional development team and its influence in schools where they have engaged in professional development partnerships. Next, the authors offer literature that supports the need for professional development teams in educational settings. Then, referring to the excited conversation above, they show how they study students, write about them, share writings, and share this work in schools. The authors end by explaining how this recursive process—study, write, share—might serve as a PD prototype for other collaborative teams within Professional Development Schools.
Teaching and Assessing Problem Solving in Online Collaborative Environment
Authors: Rosen Yigal , Rimor Rikki
Published: September 2015

Online teacher programs are diverse in their models, expressing a variety of learning objectives, pedagogies, technological platforms, and evaluation methods. Promoting and assessing collaborative learning of an online teacher programs is one of the major challenges, in part because collaboration includes complex cognitive and social-emotional dimensions. This chapter focuses on teachers' academic program in online learning environment and examines the conditions for effective teaching and assessing collaborative problem solving. The chapter provides readers a look at the rationale, implementation, and assessment of collaborative learning in online teacher program and presents the conditions for effective design of collaborative learning for pre- and in-service teachers. Examples from two empirical studies will be provided on how the collaborative learning environment leverages teachers' constructivist teaching, ongoing feedback, and evaluation to prepare teachers for instruction in technology-rich environments.
Developing a More Systematic Approach to Professional Development School Partnerships
Authors: Polly Drew , Spooner Melba , Chapman Marvin
Published: September 2015

In this chapter, the authors describe the growth and development of a Professional Development School network between a large urban university and its school partners. This partnership included a variety of grade levels, ranging from Pre-Kindergarten through High School (PK-12). This chapter provides a historical overview, decisions that shaped the current status of PDS partnerships, and provides implications for systematic approaches to PDS partnerships.
Development Curriculum for Knowledge-Based Organizations
Authors: Toiviainen Hanna , Kerosuo Hannele
Published: September 2015

This article presents arguments for designing tutoring models for learning networks of knowledge-based organizations, whose tasks increasingly involve the development of expertise and knowing. The potential is examined of a curriculum, when the object of learning, in-house development, is deeply situated in the knowledge practices of organizations, is cross-disciplinary and is beyond formal education. A sociocultural understanding of a curriculum is used to analyze a model that the authors developed in collaboration with the learning network of the South Savo region in Finland. The model in question applies the theory of expansive learning and developmental work research (Engeström, 1987) by specifying it in a learning network setting. The cultural-historical activity theory approach is used to elaborate on the notion of multi-mediation as the main challenge for the pedagogical modeling of a learning network. The outcome of the analysis is summarized in terms of four tension-laden dimensions of learning to be mediated by a development curriculum.
Teachers Learn How to Effectively Integrate Mobile Technology by Teaching Students Using Math Snacks Animations and Games
Authors: Trujillo Karen M. , Wiburg Karin , Savic Milos , McKee Kerry
Published: September 2015

The time for teachers to use mobile devices is now. However, in order to ensure that yet another technological transition in the classroom is as effective as possible, there is an undeniable need for effective professional development. The models the authors propose in this chapter offer teachers experiences that require curriculum design and delivery, experience with mobile hardware and software, and opportunities to consider the pedagogical implications of integration for effective teaching and learning. The Math Snacks Summer Camp Model and the Math Snacks 3-Day Gradual Release Model offer experiences where teachers and students work together to learn challenging mathematics concepts using mobile devices, laptop computers, and hands-on activities. A description of these models, including benefits and limitations is discussed. An adaptation of each model for pre-service teachers and higher education faculty is also included.
Google Scholar as the Co-Producer of Scholarly Knowledge
Authors: van Dijck José
Published: September 2015

Search engines in general, and Google Scholar in particular, are co-producers of academic knowledge. They have a profound impact on the way knowledge is generated, transmitted, and distributed. This chapter first explores how Google Scholar works as a human-technological system in order to analyze the site's technology in combination with its inscribed usage and its actual use and users. The chapter then scrutinize the complex power relationships of digital networks with Google at its epicenter. Following Manuel Castells's (2009) proposal to “unwire” the construction of academic knowledge through the coded dynamics of search engines, the author examines the larger legal and political-economic implications of the platform's architecture and organized structure. Combining these two layers of analysis should inform an enriched type of information literacy.
Clinical Virtual Worlds
Authors: Heinrichs LeRoy , Fellander-Tsai Li , Davies Dick
Published: September 2015

The deployment of virtual worlds into clinical practice is gradually becoming an accepted if innovative approach. This chapter offers an overview of the application of virtual worlds in a healthcare settings with specific focus on the application of virtual worlds in clinical practice. When combined with dynamic patient data models, facilitators are able to customize and deliver real time immersive clinical training experiences in a range of contexts. Given that virtual worlds are now being implemented in some of the more complex areas of healthcare, this chapter then explores how the lessons being learnt in this context could be applied more widely to other areas of professional development in the healthcare sector and concludes that direct and valuable lessons from mainstream clinical practice with virtual worlds are ready to be applied now more widely in the healthcare sector.
Digital Library in a Collaborative Context
Authors: Repanovici Angela , Landoy Ane
Published: September 2015

In this paper, the authors report on collaboration between two universities from 2003 and beyond. The collaborations have been carried out in four main spheres: in the area of Staff training programmes, in the area of Development and research in information literacy, in the area of Developing Models of Digital Repositories and also in the domain of Research in Library Leadership. This cooperation started in 2003 when the authors worked on developing the first Leonardo da Vinci program in the field of continued education, and is still ongoing. The collaborations have been funded by different national and international funding agencies, as well as from the institutions of the authors.
The Integration of Digital Tools during Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction
Authors: Kilpatrick Jennifer Renėe , Saulsburry Rachel , Dostal Hannah M. , Wolbers Kimberly A. , Graham Steve
Published: September 2015

The purpose of this chapter is to gain insight from the ways a group of elementary teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing chose to integrate digital tools into evidence-based writing instruction and the ways these technologies were used to support student learning. After professional development that exposed these teachers to twelve new digital tools, they were observed incorporating several new tools into their instruction; however, most of the tools were not the ones targeted during professional development. There are factors related to both teacher perspectives and professional development design that seem to play a role in what digital tools are used, how they are used, and who uses them. Based on these factors, suggestions are made for the design of future professional development that more effectively introduces technologies to teachers and supports their efforts to integrate these tools into classroom instruction.
Removing Barriers
Authors: Putman S. Michael , Cassady Jerrell C. , Smith Lawrence L. , Heller Monica L.
Published: September 2015

The purpose of this chapter is to articulate the success of a partnership facilitated by a PDS relationship in serving at-risk students in a collection of schools proximal to a university in the Midwest. The authors begin by describing characteristics of community partnerships, including professional development schools, which both enable and hinder schools and stakeholders when they attempt to build innovative partnerships promoting positive school and community outcomes. They then discuss how they leveraged the resources of the local community, a teacher education program, and the local schools to develop and implement an afterschool academic support program targeting students at-risk for school failure. In addition to explaining the procedural elements that were found to be useful in breaking down traditional barriers to effective partnerships (e.g., space, finance, staff, quality curriculum support), the authors present the results of their study that demonstrate student gains in both math and reading.
Blended Learning Over Two Decades
Authors: Zhonggen Yu
Published: September 2015

The 21st century has witnessed vast amounts of research into blended learning since the conception of online learning formed the possibility of blended learning in the early 1990s. The theme of this paper is blended learning in mainstream disciplinary communities. In particular, the paper reports on findings from the last two decades which looked at origination, development and future of blended learning through articles and other research publications. Based on over thirty journal articles indexed in Social Sciences Citation Index and other important databases, coupled with other related publications, this study explored the definition, advantages and problems of blended learning, arriving at the conclusion that more deficits may exist in either sole online or classroom learning compared with blended learning which combines both approaches although there may still be a certain number of disputes over blended learning. Educational and non-educational institutions may be wise to innovate their pedagogy towards a blended mode despite economic costs and other possible losses.
Information Literacy Support for Online Students in Higher Education
Authors: Kumar Swapna , Heathcock Kristin
Published: September 2015

As online education grows, so does the need for institutional support for online students. Information literacy support is one support that is infrequently addressed. Though students are familiar with the Internet, they often do not have the information literacy skills necessary for research. A collaborative effort involving program faculty and librarians was undertaken to address the information literacy needs of students in an online doctoral program. This chapter provides an overview of the first step of this project – an assessment of incoming students' information literacy skills. The results of the assessment indicate a need for comprehensive instruction to familiarize students with online library resources at the university, access to relevant scholarly databases, quality assessment of such resources, and the use of bibliographic management software. Recommendations are made for higher education institutions and online programs wishing to integrate information literacy support for incoming students.
Distance Educators and Librarians
Authors: Thull James
Published: September 2015

Well-developed research skills are essential to our student's educational success. For a generation that will create more information than was created by all those who came before them access to information is not an issue, at least for those on the access side of the digital divide. However as that wealth of information grows so does the need for the skill sets that allows one to pull the drops of needed information from the ocean that they have available to search. Students, who have not known a world without Google, smart phones, and abundant wireless internet access, often feel their research skills are good enough but usually fail, not in the search for information, but in the ability to determine what the best information is and how to find it most efficiently. Online library research classes are one of the best methods for providing students with the skills they need to succeed. Designing, implementing, and teaching library research classes allows librarians to communicate research skills that meet our students at their point of need. This paper will provide an examination of the benefits for students, libraries and faculty in providing these classes, an overview on how they can be structured to meet the information literacy needs of any student and basic information on how to create library research classes at any institution of higher education.
Teachers' Use of Social Networking Sites for Continuing Professional Development
Authors: Xerri Daniel
Published: September 2015

On the basis of the results of a study conducted amongst secondary school teachers of English in Malta, this chapter explores the use of Social Networking Sites (SNS) for professional development purposes. In the digital era, SNS provide teachers with the opportunity of creating a Personal Learning Network (PLN), which is an increasingly significant way of acquiring new knowledge and enhancing pedagogical skills while also having the capacity of making teachers feel they belong to a Community of Practice (CoP). This chapter shows how despite their regular use of SNS for personal reasons, teachers do not always exploit these sites to achieve professional development. It is argued that training is a necessary means of not only enabling teachers to learn how to use such tools for such a purpose but also of redefining the way they think about the process of acquiring and sharing knowledge and skills in the 21st century.
Keeping It Social
Authors: Muyia Helen M. , Nafukho Fredrick Muyia
Published: September 2015

The rapid change and competition in the business world is fundamentally challenging the workplace. Consequently, organizations have begun to adopt a continuous learning philosophy which has resulted in a rise in both formal and informal learning. As social media penetrates our everyday lives, organizations and human resource development professionals are looking at how to leverage social media tools to enhance workplace learning and development. Using such tools also fits in with current initiatives to move learning to a more employee-centered learning. This chapter explores a number of social media tools that can be used to enhance workplace learning and development. First, social media definitions in the workplace context are provided and discussed. This is followed by a discussion on challenges associated with the use of social media for workplace learning and development. A framework of social media effectiveness, grounded in the learning and training processes, is propsed in the chapter.
Exploring Workplace Experiences of Information Literacy through Environmental Scanning Process
Authors: Zhang Xue , Majid Shaheen , Foo Schubert
Published: September 2015

Information Literacy (IL), as a key component of education for decades, has been underemphasized at the workplace. This chapter reports on a study aimed to explore workplace experiences of IL through the environmental scanning process adopted by the travel industry in Singapore. Some 42 travel agent companies responded to the survey, and 13 employees, representing various functional units and hierarchical levels, participated in the follow up interviews after the survey. It was found that IL skills had significant influence on the quality of information for decision-making. Senior Managers were satisfied with their employees' overall level of IL skills. However, many problems still surfaced during the environmental scanning process, such as inability to find the needed information, overreliance on habitual information sources, and improper storage of information.
Using Technology to Address Workforce Readiness Skills
Authors: Reio Jr. Thomas G. , Whitehead Chaundra L.
Published: September 2015

All too often, students either drop out of school or graduate with poor workplace readiness skills. The lack of preparedness is costly both on a short- and long-term basis to students, families, employers, and societies in general. In the workplace, employers are forced to be at the vanguard of addressing critical basic skill deficiencies related to reading, writing, mathematics, and using computers, among others, to remain competitive. Addressing these worker skills gaps through training and development activities can be cost prohibitive to organizations, especially in tough economic times. Understandably, business leaders are becoming more critical of an education system that produces individuals with such gaps. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the use of technology as a productive means of meeting the developmental or remedial educational needs of various underprepared workers entering the job market.
Zones of Intervention
Authors: Taylor Jonathan E. , McKissack Jonathan C.
Published: September 2015

This article identifies four distinct zones in which workplace problems can be addressed through education and training. These zones enable educators to address workplace learning more widely and broadly. Very often, problems arising in the workplace are dealt with through training in the classroom, but other options exist. The theoretical framework is drawn from social learning literature (e.g., Wenger, 2000) and is created by examining the intersections of two tensions -- classroom intervention vs. community intervention, and classroom context vs. systemic context. These intersections produce different arenas (zones) through which the problem can be addressed in educationally innovative ways: (1) applying classroom interventions to address the classroom context, (2) applying community interventions to address the classroom context, (3) applying classroom interventions to address the systemic context, and (4) applying community interventions to address the systemic context. A significant implication of this approach is that nearly all actions taken by administrators and supervisors, including policy formation, are “teaching acts” and should be viewed as such. Overall, the strength of this concept is that it significantly broadens the playing field when attempting to mitigate work-related problems through education and training.
Library Instruction in the 21st Century
Authors: Cordell Rosanne M.
Published: September 2015

The adoption of Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) information literacy standards, the rapid development of teaching and learning technologies, and the movement toward assessment of academic programs have shaped library instruction programs as formal, conceptual areas of study with increasingly greater presences in their institutions.
Comparison of Methods to Display Principal Component Analysis, Focusing on Biplots and the Selection of Biplot Axes
Authors: Barbosa Carla , Alves M. Rui , Oliveira Beatriz
Published: September 2015

Principal components analysis (PCA) is probably the most important multivariate statistical technique, being used to model complex problems or just for data mining, in almost all areas of science. Although being well known by researchers and available in most statistical packages, it is often misunderstood and poses problems when applied by inexperienced users. A biplot is a way of concentrating all information related to sample units and variables in a single display, in an attempt to help interpretations and avoid overestimations. This chapter covers the main mathematical aspects of PCA, as well as the form and covariance biplots developed by Gabriel and the predictive and interpolative biplots devised by Gower and coworkers. New developments are also presented, involving techniques to automate the production of biplots, with a controlled output in terms of axes predictivities and interpolative accuracies, supported by the AutoBiplot.PCA function developed in R. A practical case is used for illustrations and discussions.
Land Use, Economic Welfare and Property Values
Authors: Morano Pierluigi , Tajani Francesco , Locurcio Marco
Published: September 2015

In the paper an analysis of functional correlations of property prices with the main locational and socio-economic variables, which generally contribute to define the market value of properties, has been developed. Locational characteristics are represented by the surfaces of soil used for the main functions, borrowing the logic of the system of classification of CORINE Land Cover (European Commission). The analysis has been contextualized to the 258 municipalities of the Apulia region (Southern Italy), and has been referred to two different moments (years 2006 and 2011), and two different market segments (residential and retail). The functional relationships between property prices and explanatory variables considered, estimated through a software that implements a genetic algorithm, are particularly interesting. The methodology outlined constitutes a valuable reference for the definition of models aimed at supporting, in a more rational and convenient way, public planning decisions and private investment choices.
Smart Cities and Municipal Building Regulation for Energy Efficiency
Authors: Sanseverino Eleonora Riva , Scaccianoce Gianluca , Vaccaro Valentina , Carta Maurizio , Sanseverino Raffaella Riva
Published: September 2015

The “Smart Cities & Communities Initiative” of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan is the strategic European response to lead cities and regions to a carbon free future. In this contest energy efficiency in buildings has a crucial role and must be considered in a holistic approach to the urban planning. In order to implement the minimum requirements stated by the European Directive about the Energy Performance of Buildings, and in order to consider different planning layers with the view to a smart city planning, local regulations are a key factor aiming at sustainable territorial planning. This paper investigates the possibility to draft a basic structure of Municipal Building Regulations in order to guide local administrators and technicians and to limit discretionary power of bureaucracy. The paper is organized as follows. First, a review of the most common practices for building regulations in Europe is proposed, then the basic structure of a municipal building regulation for the city of Palermo (Southern Italy) accounting for sustainability is discussed.
The Research on Aggregate Analysis of the Regulatory Detailed Planning by considering the Traffic Capacity
Authors: Lou Xiangqiang , Hou Quanhua
Published: September 2015

The regulatory detailed planning is substantive legal planning stage of urban planning in China. The first problem is the need to check and inheritance the indicators of total planning land about construction in the process of compiling. According to city zoning rules establishment work reality, the basic thought of the system analysis, the traffic engineering and urban planning in the related theory and method on the basis of macroscopic traffic flow classification, using the road network capacity calculation method and traffic distribution forecasting method proposed with interregional channel planning level of service and the internal road network planning level of service as the control target, proposes the method by using the master planning road network control to inversely calculate the total amount for the construction of district land use. The calculation example is also given. Studies show that the presented control rules compiled for checking algorithm can play check function about the amount of land used for construction master planning achieve under the premise of the control overall situation trunk road network level of service, to avoid the amount of unnecessary in the subsequent units, neighbourhood planning adjustments.
Analysis for the Teaching-Method Reformation of Degree Students Based on PBL Theory
Authors: Wang Ying , Jiang Xin
Published: September 2015

Under the current circumstances of foreign academic degree students in University of Science and Technology Liaoning (the foreign academic degree students come from different countries and have different foundations, different languages and different learning habits), based on the PBL theory, this work has proposed the teaching-method reformation of foreign degree students, which is combining the group study and assignment-oriented study together to reinforce students' learning process, and to improve the teaching effect. There are five steps in teaching-method reformation: questions prepared by instructors, references researching, group communication and study, in- class discussion and teacher's evaluation and summary. It is conducive to the rational allocation of the proportion of “teaching” and “learning”, promoting students' active learning. The methodology would help improve the quality of the teachers and evoke self-esteem and self-confidence of the students, stimulate their enterprising spirit.
Performance Testing of Mobile Applications on Smartphones
Authors: Albasir Abdurhman , Mahinthan Valuppillai , Naik Kshirasagar , Abogharaf Abdulhakim , Goel Nishith , Plourde Bernard J.
Published: September 2015

Smartphones became the preferred means of communication among users due to the availability of thousands of applications (apps). Although the hardware and software capabilities of smartphones are on the rise, the apps are primarily constrained by the wireless bandwidth and battery life. In this paper, the authors present a test architecture to: (i) evaluate the energy performance of two different designs of the same mobile app service; and (ii) evaluate the bandwidth and energy impacts of advertisements (ads) on smartphones. The authors' measurements on two video players show that, the proper design results a more energy efficient video players. Next, they compare the bandwidth and energy performance news and magazine websites with ads and without ads. In some cases, ads bandwidth cost reaches 50%, whereas ads energy cost reaches 17.8%. The authors also identified the challenges in reliably performing such tests on a large scale. App developers, users, manufacturers, and Internet Service Providers will benefit from this research.
Rapid Development of Service-based Cloud Applications
Authors: Gonidis Fotis , Paraskakis Iraklis , Simons Anthony J. H.
Published: September 2015

Cloud application platforms gain popularity and have the potential to alter the way service-based cloud applications are developed involving utilisation of platform basic services. A platform basic service provides certain functionality and is usually offered via a web API. However, the diversification of the services and the available providers increase the challenge for the application developers to integrate them and deal with the heterogeneous providers' web APIs. Therefore, a new approach of developing applications should be adopted in which developers leverage multiple platform basic services independently from the target application platforms. To this end, the authors present a development framework assisting the design of service-based cloud applications. The objective of the framework is to enable the consistent integration of the services, and to allow the seamless use of the concrete providers. The optimal service provider each time can vary depending on criteria such as pricing, quality of service and can be determined based upon Big Data analysis approaches.
Machining of Thin Walls and Thin Floor Aerospace Components Made of Aluminum Alloy with High Aspect Ratio
Authors: Jain Anil Kumar , Narasaiah Kasala , Gopinath Shibu
Published: September 2015

In present scenario most of airframe components employ aluminum alloy materials having wall thickness of 1.2 to 3mm. With advancement of manufacturing techniques such as high speed machining, it is possible to machine components with wall/floor thickness up to 0.3 to 0.5 mm with high aspect ratio. The aim of making such parts is to reduce weight of payload. The machining of monolithic structure involves removing of material up to 95% from the raw material. The objective of the study is to achieve maximum material removal rate without compromise on geometry, dimensional accuracy while machining the part. This paper proposes a working methodology for high speed machining which includes efficient process planning, based on static and dynamic analysis. This paper provides insight knowledge of selection of cutting tool, fixture design, clamping method, cutting process parameters; machine tool and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) strategy, optimum stock for minimal bending and distortion. This technology has been demonstrated in hexagonal test specimen of 0.5 mm thin wall and also proven on the indigenous developed global positioning system (GPS) components.
Effect of Reversion Heat Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Thermally Embrittled UNS S32760 Duplex Stainless Steel
Authors: Natesh Mogra , Shamanth V. , Ravishankar K.S.
Published: September 2015

Duplex Stainless Steels contain very high chromium contents (19-30% by weight) and exhibit excellent corrosion resistance and extremely good mechanical properties. Embrittlement of duplex stainless steels due to precipitation of αʹ upon prolonged exposure in the temperature range of 280°C to 500°C has been a serious limiting factor for its long term usage in the nuclear industry, where the operating temperatures of cooling pipes is around 300°C. In this investigation, the effect of reversion heat treatment on the mechanical properties of a thermally embrittled duplex stainless steel has been studied. The specimens were solutionized, aged and then reversion treated for varying periods. The aged specimens showed significant increase in tensile strength and decrease in ductility in comparison to the ones in solutionized condition. The specimens which were reversion treated showed marginal decrease in tensile strength and significant increase in ductility after 5 minutes of holding time. As the holding time increased, the tensile strength rapidly decreased and ductility increased initially up to 30 minutes of reversion, after which there was no significant change in strength and ductility.
Heat Transfer during Immersion Quenching in MWCNT Nanofluids
Authors: Vignesh Nayak U. , Prabhu K.N.
Published: September 2015

Quench heat treatment consists of rapid cooling of steel alloys after austenetization by subjecting them to cooling in a suitable cooling medium. At the heart of quench treatment is the transient heat transfer that occurs between the metal surface and the quenchant at their interface. This governs the quality of the component as it influences phase transformation, residual quench stresses and mechanical properties developed. In the present research work, spatially dependent transient heat flux in the axial direction was estimated using cooling curve analyses coupled with inverse heat conduction technique. A standard Inconel 600 probe instrumented with multiple thermocouples and heated to 865°C was quenched in distilled water (DW) and DW based multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) quench media. For evaluating the cooling performance, nanoquenchants with concentrations of 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0g/lt. were prepared. The cooling rate curve calculated from the measured temperature at the geometric center of the probe and the estimation of spatially dependent heat fluxes showed that the heat extraction during quenching with MWCNT nanoquenchant (0.1g/lt.) was higher than the other quenchants. The measured values of thermal conductivity and viscosities of quenchants did not show any significant variation.
Effect of Annealing on Hardness Penetration of Caliber Rolled Mg-3Al-1Zn (AZ31) Alloy
Authors: Doiphode Rajendra , Narayana Murty S.V.S. , Prabhu Nityanand , Kashyap Bhagwati Prasad
Published: September 2015

– Mg-3Al-1Zn (AZ31) alloy was caliber rolled isothermally at the temperature of 300 °C to develop fine grains of 3.6 μm. Annealing was carried out at various times and temperatures. Along with microstructure, annealing affects the hardness and hardness penetration depth. The hardness penetration depth of caliber rolled bar during annealing at 300 to 450 °C was investigated for 5 to 60 minutes. The change in hardness penetration depth were analysed and the mechanisms involved were discussed.
Creep-Rupture Behavior of SUS 304H – IN 617 Dissimilar Metal Welds for AUSC Boiler Applications
Authors: Pavan A.H.V. , Ravibharath R. , Singh Kulvir
Published: September 2015

Advanced Ultra Super-Critical (AUSC) power plants are envisaged for achieving higher thermodynamic efficiency by operating at temperatures and pressures of 710/720 °C and 310 ata, respectively which are significantly higher than sub-critical (conventional) and supercritical power plants. This has led to tremendous research in selection of new and advanced materials to meet high temperature requirements. Ni-base superalloys having known to have excellent creep-rupture behavior were selected for high temperature sections of boiler while austenitic stainless steels were selected for moderately high temperature sections considering the economical feasibility. Since both these materials have to be fabricated for application in boiler tubes, dissimilar metal welding is inevitable. This work discusses creep-rupture evaluation of one such case of dissimilar welds, i.e., between Inconel 617 (IN 617) and SUS 304H. IN 617 is a Ni-base superalloy while SUS 304H is a Cu-precipitated austenitic stainless steel. Welding was carried out using IN 617 filler material for producing defect free welds. Creep-rupture samples were prepared incorporating the complete cross-weldment for understanding mechanical behavior as a result of prolonged exposure to elevated temperature and stresses. Creep-rupture testing was carried out at 600, 650 and 700°C at suitable stresses to obtain rupture times in the excess of 3000 hours in a few test conditions. Detailed characterization studies when carried out on ruptured samples revealed the weakest zone to be heat affected zone towards SUS 304H which led to failure. This work also provides insight into the possible creep-mechanisms that operate in various zones of weldments. Phases formed as a result of exposure to stress and temperature for a prolonged duration are also discussed. Comparison of the data obtained with data available in literature was carried out and performance of weldments was analyzed and reported.
Compressive Behaviour of Al-Si-Mg/SiCP Foams
Authors: Ravi Kumar N.V. , Gokhale Amol A.
Published: September 2015

Aluminium foams are of interest due to their ultra low density, high structural stiffness per unit weight. Like conventional Al foams having Ca, ceramic particle (e.g. SiC, Al2O3) containing Al alloy metal matrix composite (MMC) foams can be produced. In this approach, parameters such as particle type, size, and volume fraction need to be optimized to get good quality foams with high foam expansions. However, the role of them on the compression properties of MMC foams is seldom reported. With this objective, the present study explores the effect of SiCP size and vol. % on compression behavior of various Al-Si/SiCP foams prepared at DMRL. From the large number of compression tests, it is observed that the reinforcement parameters don’t seem to play any effective role with respect to foam properties, although they are very important in foam manufacture.
Effect of Varying Process Parameters on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cu-Cr-Zr-Ti Alloy Brazed Using Cu-Mn-Ni-Sn-Fe Foil
Authors: Venkateswaran T. , Thinesh Babu T. , Agilan M. , Sivakumar D. , Pant Bhanu , Sudhakar D.P.
Published: September 2015

Cu-Cr-Zr-Ti alloy is being used widely in aerospace engines, due to its synergetic combination of high strength and thermal conductivity. Brazing is the preferred process being adopted to realize intricate shapes and complex dimensions. In the present work, Cu-Cr-Zr-Ti alloy was brazed using Cu-Mn-Ni-Sn-Fe base brazing foil. This braze foil exhibits liquidus temperature of ~980°C. Brazing experiments were carried out at 1030°C under high vacuum condition. The effect of varying load (0.5-2 kg) has been studied in the current experiment. Microstructural study of the parent materials and joints were carried out using optical microscope (OM). Lap shear testing (1T configuration) of the brazed joints was evaluated to obtain shear strength values. Also, micro-hardness traverse has been carried out across the brazed joint. Applied load plays a significant role in obtaining defect free braze joint.
Development of Thin Walled A-356 Components by New Rheocasting Semi-Solid Metal Processing Technology (NRC)
Authors: Nimbalkar V.M. , Bhanushali B. , Mohape M. , Pandav S.G. , Deshmukh V.P. , Dineshraj S. , Acharya Mayukh , Agarwal Alok , Govind  , Sharma S.C.
Published: September 2015

Rheocasting refers to a process in which a liquid metal is vigorously agitated during initial stage of solidification to produce globular semisolid slurry which remains highly fluid. This slurry is directly fed into any shaping operation to obtain SSM parts. Rheocasting is an energy saving as well as cost saving, good surface finish and negligible porosity for a specialized casting, in which heating step of thixocasting is completely eliminated. Rheocasting also offers shot size flexibility and amenable for processing of wrought alloys and metal matrix composites, which are otherwise difficult to process by thixocasting route. A slurry with globular shape of the solid phase particles and hence injected directly into the die. In the present development, Al base thin wall components for electronic packaging applications were produced by rheocasting process. The paper presents the die designing aspects, optimization of rheocasting process parameters to achieve the sound casting and mechanical property. Thin walled Al-Alloy components lot was realized by the novel processing technology, meeting dimensional accuracy, desired microstructure, mechanical property, value for high integrity component needed for space applications.