bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virus contamination from operation and maintenance events in small drinking water distribution systems
Authors: Lambertini Elisabetta , Spencer Susan K. , Kieke Burney A. , Loge Frank J. , Borchardt Mark A.
Published: November 2012

We tested the association of common events in drinking water distribution systems with contamination of household tap water with human enteric viruses. Viruses were enumerated by qPCR in the tap water of 14 municipal systems that use non-disinfected groundwater. Ultraviolet disinfection was installed at all active wellheads to reduce virus contributions from groundwater to the distribution systems. As no residual disinfectant was added to the water, any increase in virus levels measured downstream at household taps would be indicative of distribution system intrusions. Utility operators reported events through written questionnaires. Virus outcome measures were related to distribution system events using binomial and gamma regression. Virus concentrations were elevated in the wells, reduced or eliminated by ultraviolet disinfection, and elevated again in distribution systems, showing that viruses were, indeed, directly entering the systems. Pipe installation was significantly associated with higher virus levels, whereas hydrant flushing was significantly associated with lower virus levels. Weak positive associations were observed for water tower maintenance, valve exercising, and cutting open a water main. Coliform bacteria detections from routine monitoring were not associated with viruses. Understanding when distribution systems are most vulnerable to virus contamination, and taking precautionary measures, will ensure delivery of safe drinking water.
Microbiological assessment of private drinking water supplies in Co. Cork, Ireland
Authors: Bacci Fabio , Chapman Deborah V.
Published: November 2012

The microbiological quality of 75 private drinking water supply boreholes in Co. Cork, Ireland was assessed in order to determine the incidence of contamination and the potential pathways of such contamination. Microbiological analysis was carried out using the membrane filtration technique for the recovery of thermotolerant (faecal) coliforms. The sanitary protection of the supplies was evaluated by means of systematic inspections and subsequent qualitative sanitary risk assessment. Almost a quarter of all supplies investigated (24%, n = 18) was found positive for thermotolerant coliforms. Weather conditions had a significant impact on microbiological water quality, increasing both contamination incidence and gross contamination frequency. Over half of the supplies had nine or more sanitary hazards and most had rudimentary sanitary protection measures at the head of the borehole. These low sanitary protection measures suggest that boreholes can pose a significant hazard to valuable groundwater resources by providing direct contamination routes.
Quantitative PCR-based detection of pathogenic Leptospira in Hawai'ian coastal streams
Authors: Viau Emily J. , Boehm Alexandria B.
Published: November 2012

Pathogenic Leptospira, the causative agents of leptospirosis, are mainly associated with tropical freshwaters, but little is known about their fate in the environment. This study analyzed the distribution of pathogenic Leptospira genomes in 22 tropical coastal streams using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Statistical analyses were conducted to understand pathogenic Leptospira associations with water quality parameters, land use, microbial source tracking (MST) markers, and fecal indicators. Results indicated that pathogenic Leptospira genomes were widespread in O'ahu coastal streams during the Hawai'ian rainy season, with slightly higher concentrations in December when compared with March. Leptospira showed a strong positive association to turbidity, a finding consistent with studies showing increased Leptospira survival when aggregated to particles. Positive correlations to salinity may also indicate survival of Leptospira in relatively saline stream waters. A positive association to the human Bacteroidales fecal marker, no correlation to pig or cow Bacteroidales markers, and a negative association to agricultural land coverage may suggest human or other non-agricultural animal sources of Leptospira (e.g., rats or dogs). Future studies of Leptospira in the Hawai'ian environment are recommended to investigate Leptospira survival in saline waters, to determine both primary and secondary Hawai'ian animal hosts of Leptospira, and to correlate environmental exposures with epidemiological studies of leptospirosis.
Hand-pumps as reservoirs for microbial contamination of well water
Authors: Ferguson Andrew S. , Mailloux Brian J. , Ahmed Kazi M. , van Geen Alexander , McKay Larry D. , Culligan Patricia J.
Published: November 2012

The retention and release of total coliforms and Escherichia coli was investigated in hand-pumps removed from tubewells tapping a faecally contaminated aquifer in Matlab, Bangladesh, and from a new hand-pump deliberately spiked with E. coli. All hand-pumps were connected to reservoirs of sterile water and flushed. Faecal coliforms were observed in the discharge from all three of the previously used hand-pumps, at concentrations comparable to levels measured in discharge when they were attached to the tubewells. During daily flushing of one of the previously used hand-pumps, the concentration of total coliforms in the discharge remained relatively constant (≈103 MPN/100 mL). Concentrations of E. coli in the pump discharge declined over time, but E. coli was still detectable up to 29 days after the start of flushing. In the deliberately spiked hand-pump, E. coli was observed in the discharge over 125 days (t50 = 8 days) and found to attach preferentially to elastomeric materials within the hand-pump. Attempts to disinfect both the village and new hand-pumps using shock chlorination were shown to be unsuccessful. These results demonstrate that hand-pumps can act as persistent reservoirs for microbial indicator bacteria. This could potentially influence drinking water quality and bias testing of water quality.
New USEPA water quality criteria by 2012: GOMA concerns and recommendations
Authors:   Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA), Water Quality Priority Issue Team, GOMA Pathogens Workgroup Writing Team:, Gooch-Moore Janet , Goodwin Kelly D. , Dorsey Carol , Ellender R. D. , Mott Joanna B. , Ornelas Mark , Sinigalliano Chris , Vincent Bob , Whiting David , Wolfe Steven H.
Published: November 2012

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) was tasked by the five Gulf State Governors to identify major issues affecting the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and to set priorities for ameliorating these problems. One priority identified by GOMA is the need to improve detection methods for water quality indicators, pathogens and microbial source tracking. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is tasked with revising water quality criteria by 2012; however, the locations traditionally studied by the USEPA are not representative of the GoM and this has raised concern about whether or not the new criteria will be appropriate. This paper outlines a number of concerns, including deadlines associated with the USEPA Consent Decree, which may prevent inclusion of research needed to produce a well-developed set of methods and criteria appropriate for all regulated waters. GOMA makes several recommendations including ensuring that criteria formulation use data that include GoM-specific conditions (e.g. lower bather density, nonpoint sources), that rapid-testing methods be feasible and adequately controlled, and that USEPA maintains investments in water quality research once the new criteria are promulgated in order to assure that outstanding scientific questions are addressed and that scientifically defensible criteria are achieved for the GoM and other regulated waterbodies.
Impact of cleaning regimes on dental water unit contamination
Authors: Abdallah Soad A. , Khalil Ahmed I.
Published: November 2012

Microorganisms that have been identified in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) are of concern because they can cause infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to assess the incidence of microbial contamination in DUWLs before and after intervention to reduce contamination, and to investigate the presence of coliforms, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Water samples were collected aseptically from the waterlines. The high-speed hand-piece and dental chair units were served by one distillation apparatus, which was fed by the potable tap water of four dental clinics. Different interventions were used: chlorination, flushing before clinics and between patients, draining at the end of the day, and freshly distilled water on a daily basis. There was a significant difference between the level of contamination in the high-speed hand-piece (1.5–2.7 log CFU/ml) and dental chair unit water (2.0–3.5 log CFU/ml). Coliforms (0.9%) E. coli (0.9%) and Pseudomonas (1.8%) were detected during 2008. This study indicates the need to monitor water quality regularly and prevent stagnation in DUWLs to reduce the number of viable bacteria to <100 CFU/ml. We recommend flushing the DUWL for 2 min before the first patient and for 10–20 s between patients, flushing the dental unit at the end of the day and draining it overnight to reduce the development of biofilms, and chlorination of the DUWLs.
Virulence genes of Aeromonas isolates, bacterial endotoxins and cyanobacterial toxins from recreational water samples associated with human health symptoms
Authors: Berg Katri A. , Lyra Christina , Niemi R. Maarit , Heens Benoit , Hoppu Kalle , Erkomaa Kirsti , Sivonen Kaarina , Rapala Jarkko
Published: November 2012

Exposure to cyanobacterial water blooms has been associated with various kinds of adverse health effects. In addition to cyanobacteria and their toxins, the bacteria associated with cyanobacteria could also be the etiological agents. We isolated Aeromonas strains (n = 176) from water samples (n = 38) taken from sites where cyanobacteria were suspected to have caused human health symptoms, of which fever and gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common. The isolates were screened by PCR for six virulence gene types (12 genes). The majority (90%) of the strains contained at least one of the virulence genes. Most common amplification products were those of genes (act/aerA/hlyA) that encode cytotoxic enterotoxin and haemolytic products. The genes encoding cytotonic enterotoxins (ast and alt), phospholipase (lip/pla/lipH3/alp-1), elastase (ahyB) and flagellin subunits (flaA/flaB) were also present in 5–37% of the Aeromonas strains. Analysed toxins (cyanobacterial hepatotoxins and neurotoxins, and bacterial endotoxins) were not detectable or were present in only low concentrations in the majority of the samples. The results indicated that the toxins were unlikely to be the main cause of the reported adverse health effects, whereas more attention should be paid to bacteria associated with cyanobacteria as a source of health effects.
On the Smoothed Minimum Error Entropy Criterion
Authors: Chen Badong , Principe Jose
Published: November 2012

Recent studies suggest that the minimum error entropy (MEE) criterion can outperform the traditional mean square error criterion in supervised machine learning, especially in nonlinear and non-Gaussian situations. In practice, however, one has to estimate the error entropy from the samples since in general the analytical evaluation of error entropy is not possible. By the Parzen windowing approach, the estimated error entropy converges asymptotically to the entropy of the error plus an independent random variable whose probability density function (PDF) corresponds to the kernel function in the Parzen method. This quantity of entropy is called the smoothed error entropy, and the corresponding optimality criterion is named the smoothed MEE (SMEE) criterion. In this paper, we study theoretically the SMEE criterion in supervised machine learning where the learning machine is assumed to be nonparametric and universal. Some basic properties are presented. In particular, we show that when the smoothing factor is very small, the smoothed error entropy equals approximately the true error entropy plus a scaled version of the Fisher information of error. We also investigate how the smoothing factor affects the optimal solution. In some special situations, the optimal solution under the SMEE criterion does not change with increasing smoothing factor. In general cases, when the smoothing factor tends to infinity, minimizing the smoothed error entropy will be approximately equivalent to minimizing error variance, regardless of the conditional PDF and the kernel.
Analysis and Design of Stimulus Response Curves of E. coli
Authors: Kremling Andreas , Goehler Anna , Jahreis Knut , Nees Markus , Auerbach Benedikt , Schmidt-Heck Wolfgang , Kökpinar Öznur , Geffers Robert , Rinas Ursula , Bettenbrock Katja
Published: November 2012

Metabolism and signalling are tightly coupled in bacteria. Combining several theoretical approaches, a core model is presented that describes transcriptional and allosteric control of glycolysis in Escherichia coli. Experimental data based on microarrays, signalling components and extracellular metabolites are used to estimate kinetic parameters. A newly designed strain was used that adjusts the incoming glucose flux into the system and allows a kinetic analysis. Based on the results, prediction for intracelluar metabolite concentrations over a broad range of the growth rate could be performed and compared with data from literature.
A Geospatial Appraisal of Ecological and Geomorphic Change on Diego Garcia Atoll, Chagos Islands (British Indian OceanTerritory)
Authors: Hamylton Sarah , East Holly
Published: November 2012

This study compiled a wide range of modern and historic geospatial datasets to examine ecological and geomorphic change at Diego Garcia Atoll across a 38-year period (1967–2005). This remarkable collection of spatially referenced information offered an opportunity to advance our understanding of the nature and extent of environmental change that has taken place with the construction of the military airbase at Diego Garcia. Changes assessed included movements of the lagoon rim shorelines, changes in the terrestrial vegetation on the lagoon rim and amendments to the bathymetry of the lagoon basin through dredging activities. Data compiled included detailed shoreline and vegetation maps produced as part of the H.M.S. Vidal Indian Ocean Expedition (1967), three Ikonos satellite images acquired in 2005 that collectively covered the complete Atoll area, a ground truthing field dataset collected in the northern section of the lagoon for the purpose of seafloor mapping (2005), observational evidence of shoreline erosion including photographs and descriptions of seawater inundations and bathymetric soundings from five independent surveys of the lagoon floor (1967, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1997). Results indicated that much of the change along the lagoon rim is associated with the expansion of the inner lagoon shoreline as a result of the construction of the military airbase, with an estimated increase in land area of 3.01 km2 in this portion of the atoll rim. Comparisons of 69 rim width transects measured from 1967 and 2005 indicated that shorelines are both eroding (26 transects) and accreting (43 transects). Within a total vegetated area of 24 km2, there was a notable transition from Cocos Woodland to Broadleaf Woodland for a land area of 5.6 km2. From the hydrographic surveys, it was estimated that approximately 0.55 km3 of carbonate sediment material has been removed from the northwest quadrant of the lagoon, particularly in the vicinity of the Main Passage. As no previous record of benthic character exists, a complete benthic habitat map of the atoll was derived through classification of the three IKONOS satellite images. Management implications arising from this overall appraisal of geomorphic and ecological change at Diego Garcia included the need for ongoing monitoring of shoreline change at a representative set of sites around the atoll rim, monitoring of the water flow regime through the northern channels between the open ocean and the lagoon basin and an ongoing mapping campaign to record periodic changes in the character of the benthic surface ecology.
Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Viruses are Differentially Affected by Parasitoids Depending on the Mode of Transmission
Authors: Dáder Beatriz , Moreno Aránzazu , Viñuela Elisa , Fereres Alberto
Published: November 2012

Relationships between agents in multitrophic systems are complex and very specific. Insect-transmitted plant viruses are completely dependent on the behaviour and distribution patterns of their vectors. The presence of natural enemies may directly affect aphid behaviour and spread of plant viruses, as the escape response of aphids might cause a potential risk for virus dispersal. The spatio-temporal dynamics of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV), transmitted by Aphis gossypii in a non-persistent and persistent manner, respectively, were evaluated at short and long term in the presence and absence of the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius colemani. SADIE methodology was used to study the distribution patterns of both the virus and its vector, and their degree of association. Results suggested that parasitoids promoted aphid dispersion at short term, which enhanced CMV spread, though consequences of parasitism suggest potential benefits for disease control at long term. Furthermore, A. colemani significantly limited the spread and incidence of the persistent virus CABYV at long term. The impact of aphid parasitoids on the dispersal of plant viruses with different transmission modes is discussed.
DUAL EQUATION AND INVERSE PROBLEM FOR AN INDEFINITE STURM–LIOUVILLE PROBLEM WITH M TURNING POINTS OF EVEN ORDER
Authors: Marasi Hamidreza , Akbarfam Aliasghar Jodayree
Published: November 2012

In this paper the differential equation y″ + (ρ 2 φ 2 (x) –q(x))y = 0 is considered on a finite interval I, say I = [0, 1], where q is a positive sufficiently smooth function and ρ 2 is a real parameter. Also, [0, 1] contains a finite number of zeros of φ 2 , the so called turning points, 0 < x 1 < x 2 < … < x m < 1. First we obtain the infinite product representation of the solution. The product representation, satisfies in the original equation. As a result the associated dual equation is derived and then we proceed with the solution of the inverse problem.
ESTIMATION OF TURNING POINT LOCATION OF CONVEX SOLUTIONS FOR NONLINEAR SECOND-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: Vrabel Robert
Published: November 2012

In this paper, we study the existence and location of turning points of the convex solutions for a certain class of the ordinary differential equations subject to the Dirichlet boundary conditions. We propose a practical and effective method for calculating the lower and upper bounds of turning point location.
JOINT UNIVERSALITY OF DIRICHLET L-FUNCTIONS AND PERIODIC HURWITZ ZETA-FUNCTIONS
Authors: Janulis Kęstutis , Laurinčikas Antanas , Macaitienė Renata , Šiaučiūnas Darius
Published: November 2012

In the paper, we prove that every system of analytic functions can be approximated simultaneously uniformly on compact subsets of some region by a collection consisting of shifts of Dirichlet L-functions with pairwise non-equivalent characters and periodic Hurwitz zeta-functions with parameters algebraically independent over the field of rational numbers.
PRODUCT QUASI-INTERPOLATION IN LOGARITHMICALLY SINGULAR INTEGRAL EQUATIONS
Authors: Vainikko Eero , Vainikko Gennadi
Published: November 2012

A discrete high order method is constructed and justified for a class of Fredholm integral equations of the second kind with kernels that may have boundary and logarithmic diagonal singularities. The method is based on the improving the boundary behaviour of the kernel with the help of a change of variables, and on the product integration using quasi-interpolation by smooth splines of order m. Properties of different proposed calculation schemes are compared through numerical experiments using, in particular, variable precision interval arithmetics.
Mechanical behavior of concrete columns reinforced with rheoplastic mortar
Authors: Foti D. , Vacca S.
Published: November 2012

The present research fits in the general thematic of the renovation of existing building with special attention to concrete structures.
A series of tests have been performed with the aim to define the best solution in strengthening a deteriorated structure with a rheoplastic mortar reinforcement.
Three types of possible structural reinforcing renovation on reinforced concrete pillars have been considered, with special attention to adhesion between materials with different chemical-physical and mechanical characteristics.
The crack patterns obtained on the specimens have been analyzed to demonstrate the relevance of an appropriate thickness of the reinforcement to obtain an effective mechanical behavior of the reinforced concrete element over time.
Communities, Communication, and Online Identities
Authors: Jäkälä Mikko , Berki Eleni
Published: November 2012

Social media and online communities offer increased possibilities for connection, interaction and participation but also new media with tools for self-presentation and identity management. Interacting anonymously or eponymously, having one, none or many identities online expresses richness in online communication. Contentious identities for communication are part of everyday online and offline interaction. The authors examine critically five types of online identity and analyse the differences, similarities, advantages, pitfalls, and disadvantages of using them. Examples illustrate the usage of these identity types, clarify possible misconceptions, and provide the reader with an improved understanding, increasing at the same time the usage awareness and knowledge on their distinctive features.
Digital Identity Built on a Cooperative Relationship
Authors: Maia Ivan Ferrer , Valente José Armando
Published: November 2012

Digital identity may be classified as weak or strong. The weak digital identity is limited to virtual characters, avatars, or fakes, which play digital roles with no significant impact on the subjects’ lives. The strong digital identity is constructed when subjects use digital technologies as a support to convey meanings that extend into the subjects’ lives, and reach beyond a virtual concept. The cooperative relationship within a Virtual Environment may be an important method to build a strong digital identity. When the parties involved are genuinely interested, the cooperative relationship may lead to joint constructions of meanings and changes in the sociocultural context. In this chapter, the authors examine the conditions under which cooperative relationships may contribute to the construction of a strong digital identity in digitally excluded subjects. To this end, they present practices in the TelEduc Virtual Environment conducted together with community health agents, who used to be excluded from the information technology universe. The chapter discusses elements that may encourage the construction of a strong digital identity and how the process, which the authors refer to as spiral of transformation, reaches beyond the virtual environment.
Images, Self-Images, and Idealized Identities in the Digital Networked World
Authors: Pauwels Luc
Published: November 2012

This chapter examines the impact of digital technology on the way in which families present themselves in an online mode. Rooting family photography in its analogue and digital past, where it mainly served a ‘socialization’ and ‘integration’ function confined to next of kin and propagating mainly domestic values to a fairly secluded audience, the author discusses how the expressive means have increased dramatically as the practice moved into the public or semi-public realm, catering for an anonymous mass of Web surfers. At any rate, family self-representations on the Web present a fascinating area of research into cultural change and reproduction, and into the complex role of technology in those processes at the ‘grassroots’ level. However, this of course implies a new challenge to researchers who need to be able to decode/interpret the various multimodal aspects of these hybrid constructions as to their social and cultural meaning. This chapter discusses both the social and scientific impact of the change in functions and make a contribution to the development of a tool to adequately decode the Internet as a socio-cultural space.
Space for Lurking
Authors: Warburton Steven
Published: November 2012

Despite its negative connotations, lurking is a valid activity for individuals entering an unfamiliar online social space, especially when deciding how to present themselves and their identity online. Providing the space and time for individuals to acclimatise to extant social rules and behaviours is an important design consideration. This chapter outlines key issues surrounding non-participative behaviour in online social spaces and describes the participatory design pattern approach that was used to develop a transferable solution to this recurring problem in the form of a design pattern.
Situated E-Learning
Authors: Adams Anne
Published: November 2012

E-learning can free us from bound concepts of who we are. However, our digital identities relate back to varied real world situations within which we live. Situated implications of identity changes are frequently not understood by e-learning systems. This chapter provides a detailed review of situated learning concepts and identity reformation accounts within five case-study situations (i.e. within healthcare, prisons, developing worlds, field based, and virtual worlds) with varied e-learning technologies (i.e. Web2, virtual learning environments, mobile, tabletops1, and virtual worlds). Issues of situated identity, practices, and the impact on real world contexts are reviewed. Findings identify that e-learning systems must be designed to support variations in situations, student awareness, and reflection around implications of identity reformation. A theory and practice approach supports understanding e-learning impacts and future dilemmas. The chapter also provides a review on issues of support and coping mechanisms for impacts from situated learning identity changes.
Students as Communities of Non-Practice
Authors: Hatzipanagos Stylianos
Published: November 2012

The concept of communities of practice has been particularly influential in education, particularly in online learning, where it has been adopted enthusiastically. This also applies to social media, where often engagement in online activities is interpreted somewhat uncritically as a set of behaviours and tendencies exhibited by virtual communities of practice. The notion is that social media can facilitate formal and informal learning because they are not content-centred but people-centred, open, and participative. On the other hand if embedding social media within learning set-ups sustains communities of practice that support learning, it is important to explore how and when this happens. The chapter explores the correspondence between the key constituent components of the CoP framework and the attributes of social media that allow claims about formation/sustenance of CoPs.
Improving Students’ Computing Skills and Attitudes toward Learning via Web-Mediated Self-Regulated Learning with Feedback in an Online Problem-Solving Environment
Authors: Tsai Chia-Wen , Shen Pei-Di
Published: November 2012

Online learning is generally a solitary process without teachers’ on-the-spot assistance. To help students achieve sustained learning effects, the authors conducted a quasi-experiment to explore the effects of web-mediated self-regulated learning (SRL) with feedback on enhancing students’ computing skills, and their attitudes toward blended learning through online problem-solving. In this study, two cases were studied and compared, one a class deploying web-mediated SRL with feedback and the other without. The results showed that students who received web-mediated SRL with feedback outperformed those without feedback on computing skills and exhibited positive attitudes toward this instruction integrated with innovative teaching methods and technologies.
Development of a Complex Geospatial/RF Design Model in Support of Service Volume Engineering Design
Authors: Boci Erton S. , Sarkani Shahram , Mazzuchi Thomas A.
Published: November 2012

Today’s National Airspace System (NAS) is managed using an aging surveillance radar system. The radar technology is not adequate to sustain the support of aviation growth and cannot be adapted to use 21st century technologies Therefore, FAA has begun to implement the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) that would transform today’s aviation and ensure increased safety and capacity. The first building block of the NextGen system is the implementation of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system. One of the most important design aspects of the ADS-B program is the design of the terrestrial radio station infrastructure. This design determines the layout of the terrestrial radio stations throughout the United States and is optimized to meet system performance, safety and security. Designing this infrastructure to meet system requirements is at the core of Service Volume (SV) Engineering. In this paper, the authors present a complex Geospatial/RF design ER Development model-based ADS-B SV Engineering design that captures radio sites layout and configuration parameters. CORE software is selected to implement the model-based SV Engineering environment.
Location Management in PCS Networks Using Base Areas (BAs) and 2 Level Paging (2LP) Schemes
Authors: Ali Hesham A. , Saleh Ahmed I. , Ali Mohammed H.
Published: November 2012

The main objective of PCS networks is to provide “anytime-anywhere” cellular services. Accordingly, lost calls as well as the network slow response have become the major problems that hardly degrade the network reliability. Those problems can be overcome by perfectly managing the Mobile Terminals (MTs) locations. In the existing location management (LM) scheme, Location Area (LA) is the smallest unit for registration. A MT must register itself when passing through its LA boundary to a neighboring one. Moreover, such registration takes place at the MTs’ master HLR (even though currently managed by another HLR), which increases communication costs. As a result, existing LM scheme suffers from; (1) excessive location registrations by MTs located around LA boundaries (ping-pong effect) and (2) requiring the network to poll all LA cells to locate the callee MT. In this paper, a novel LM strategy is introduced by restructuring LAs into smaller areas called Base Areas (BAs), which impacts the paging cost. The proposed LM strategy uses caching to reduce unwanted updates and 2LP to reduce paging cost. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme introduces a distinct improvement in network response and tracing process.
Machine-to-Machine Communications and Security Solution in Cellular Systems
Authors: Saedy Mahdy , Mojtahed Vahideh
Published: November 2012

This paper introduces an efficient machine-to-machine (M2M) communication model based on 4G cellular systems. M2M terminals are capable of establishing Ad Hoc clusters wherever they are close enough. It is also possible to extend the cellular coverage for M2M terminals through multi-hop Ad Hoc connections. The M2M terminal structure is proposed accordingly to meet the mass production and security requirements. The security becomes more critical in Ad Hoc mode as new nodes attach to the cluster. A simplified protocol stack is considered here, while key components are introduced to provide secure communications between M2M and the network and also amongst M2M terminals.
Modeling and Simulation of Traffic with Integrated Services at Media Getaway Nodes in Next Generation Networks
Authors: Lokshina Izabella
Published: November 2012

This paper is devoted to modeling and simulation of traffic with integrated services at media gateway nodes in the next generation networks, based on Markov reward models (MRM). The bandwidth sharing policy with the partial overlapped transmission link is considered. Calls arriving to the link that belong to VBR and ABR traffic classes, are presented as independent Poisson processes and Markov processes with constant intensity and/or random input stream, and exponential service delay time that is defined according to MRM. Traffic compression is calculated using clustering and learning vector quantification (e.g., self-organizing neural map). Numerical examples and simulation results are provided for communication networks of various sizes. Compared with the other methods for traffic compression calculations, the suggested approach shows substantial reduction in numerical complexity.
Representing Music as Work in Progress
Authors: Roma Gerard , Herrera Perfecto
Published: November 2012

In this chapter, the authors discuss an approach to music representation that supports collaborative composition given current practices based on digital audio. A music work is represented as a directed graph that encodes sequences and layers of sound samples. The authors discuss graph grammars as a general framework for this representation. From a grammar perspective, they analyze the use of XML for storing production rules, music structures, and references to audio files. The authors describe an example implementation of this approach.
A Lost Dimension in the Open Scholarly World
Authors: Gul Sumeer , Shah Tariq Ahmad
Published: November 2012

The movement of free accessibility of scholarly literature on the public Web has brought uprising in the intellectual class of the digital world. Though several studies have been carried out to understand the end-users’ awareness level and the benefits they avail from this revolution, researchers/authors who play a pivotal role and without whom Open Access (OA) could not have seen the dawn and could not have been successful so far, have remained least studied, if not, unnoticed. Regardless of the use of OA platforms, earlier research has to some extent indicated the experiences, behaviour, and attitudes of authors towards open access. The way they think about OA has been explored by authorities from various dimensions. The current chapter is an attempt to understand their experiences, perceptions, and the opinions they hold about open access publishing. The chapter highlights the growing awareness, views, and perceptions of 336 authors in the field of medicine towards OA publishing. The survey instrument, an online questionnaire covering e-mail invitation to participate, was sent to the authors publishing their works in OA journals. The authors who had made recent submissions in the open access journals were consulted and the journals were selected from the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). The study explores the attitudes of authors to open publishing models, including OA journals and OA repositories. The research work is not a reflection of all the authors in the field of medicine, and hence, the findings should not be generalized to represent the views of all the authors contributing to open access platforms in the field of medicine. Neither should the findings be generalized to represent the views of all the authors in the open access world. The study can further be extended to divulge the views of authors in the field of medicine on the basis of geographical locations and gender. A follow up study can also be taken to monitor the opinion shifts of the authors in the sub-fields of medicine.
The I5P Visualisation Framework for Performance Estimation through the Alignment of Process Maturity and Knowledge Sharing
Authors: Georgiadou Elli , Siakas Kerstin , Balstrup Bo
Published: November 2012

This paper argues that Knowledge Management (KM) and Knowledge Sharing (KS) are strongly linked to organisational maturity. The mechanisms that enable this upward movement and depict measurable effects of performance as the organisation climbs from ad hoc levels to institutionalised high levels of process maturity are investigated. The I5P visualisation framework which aligns a Knowledge Sharing level to the appropriate maturity level and characterises the process from incidental to innovative is examined. This framework provides the basis, in terms of preparedness and disposition towards knowledge sharing, for estimating and measuring organisational performance. In today’s competitive global business environment organisations are increasingly dependent on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and particularly vulnerable to knowledge dilution. The framework links knowledge sharing to process maturity providing a framework that aims to encapsulate tacit accumulated knowledge in the organisation by preserving it for future needs. The framework will be useful to Information Technology (IT) organisations that are familiar with maturity models, such as CMMI.
Success Factors for the Management of Global Virtual Teams for Software Development
Authors: Guzmán Javier García , Ramos Javier Saldaña , Seco Antonio Amescua , Esteban Ana Sanz
Published: November 2012

The management of globally distributed software teams is complex because of problems of linguistic differences, geographical dispersion, different time zones, and the cultural diversity of the team members; what is particularly common in software development environments. These problems are amplified when a single software development team is composed of highly skilled individuals working in dispersed geographical locations, and they have to work as a team across distances. This paper describes several of the most important factors that contribute to the correct and effective management of global virtual teams for software development and underlying solutions are addressed to reduce cultural and time barriers. These factors are obtained from an industrial case study, which lasted 36 months, corresponding to a huge software development project that involved several global virtual teams. These success factors consider different perspectives as technology, human factors and process.
Invention in Two Parts
Authors: Lee Sohui , Alfano Christine , Carpenter Russell G.
Published: November 2012

In writing about new media during the last decade, new media scholars in composition studies have focused on pedagogical challenges of teaching multimodal communication such as reconsidering literacy conventions, creating multimodal assignments, or considering material infrastructure. However, composition literature has not explored in depth multimodal production in the invention stage. Derived from the Latin word invenire (“to find”), invention is critical in composition studies, not only because of its role in creating new knowledge, but also because of its role in helping us discover heuristic practices leading to persuasive texts. As more writing centers begin to consult multimodal products, practitioners have begun to grapple with ways to help students become “inventive” in producing new media texts, particularly storyboards or ePortfolios. This chapter explores in what ways the invention process of digital media composition may be different from that of traditional written texts and implications for designing effective writing center spaces.
Innovation on a Shoe String
Authors: Petit Joan , Bielavitz Thomas
Published: November 2012

Even in a low-funding and space-constrained environment, Portland State University (PSU) Library has created and renovated new technology-rich learning spaces for students. Collaboration with other campus departments and an entrepreneurial spirit were essential for many of these efforts. First, the library developed a list of desired improvements and space use ideas. Then, the library used a phased approach, taking advantage of opportunities and planning for others as possible, resulting in a series of high-impact space updates. PSU Library offers a space-planning model that allows academic libraries to be agile, entrepreneurial, and collaborative, and to improve learning spaces in a difficult economic environment.
Model for Power Shortage Estimation in Electric Power Systems
Authors: Perzhabinsky Sergey , Zorkaltsev Valery
Published: November 2012

This paper addresses the model for power shortage estimation in electric power systems. The model’s main component of methodology for analysis of electric power system (EPS) reliability that has been developed at the Energy Systems Institute, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy Sciences. The methodology is based on the Monte-Carlo method. Quality and implementation time of reliability analysis depend on realization of the model. The model is implemented in the computational software for electric power systems reliability analysis. The history of evolution of the model for power shortage estimation and mathematical properties of the model are discussed. The results of the state-of-the-art studies of the model for power shortage estimation in EPS are presented. The model for power shortage estimation in EPS with quadratic power losses in power lines is considered. Algorithms of the interior point method with quadratic approximations of constraints applied for realization of the model are discussed. Results of experimental studies of the algorithms are presented.
Recent Techniques to Identify the Stator Fault Diagnosis in Three Phase Induction Motor
Authors: Kumar K. Vinoth , Kumar S. Suresh , Selvakumar A. Immanuel , Kumar R. Saravana
Published: November 2012

Induction motors have gained its popularity as a suitable industrial workhorse, due to its ruggedness and reliability. With time, these workhorses are susceptible to faults, some are incipient and some are major. Such fault can be catastrophic, if unattended and may develop serious problems that may lead to shutdown to the machine causing production and financial losses. To avoid such breakdown, an early stage prognosis can help in preparing the maintenance schedule, which will lead to an improve life span. Scientist and engineers worked with different scheme to diagnose the machine faults. The authors diagnose the turn-to-turn faults condition of the stator through symmetrical component analysis. The results of the analysis are also verified through Power Decomposition Technique (PDT) in Matlab /SIMULINK. The results are compatible with the published results for known faults.
An Empirical Investigation on Internet Privacy on Social Network Sites among Malaysian Youths
Authors: Salleh Norsaremah , Hussein Ramlah , Mohamed Norshidah
Published: November 2012

People have been using Social Network Sites (SNS) to communicate and make friends online. Although SNS offer many benefits to users, information privacy seems to be overlooked. Based on the Protection Motivation Theory, this study investigated the factors that might influence youths to disclose information about themselves on the SNS. Four factors were investigated to determine whether there are significant relationships between them and information disclosure. The factors were perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, perceived benefits and self-efficacy. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to capture useful information pertaining to the subject matter. Using university students as sample, five hundred questionnaires were distributed and four hundred and eighty six were collected for further analysis. The results revealed that perceived vulnerability, perceived benefits and self-efficacy were significantly related to information disclosure, while perceived severity was not significantly related.
ICT Based Communication Channels Preferences towards Knowledge Sharing among Multicultural Students
Authors: Ayu Media , Omari Swaleh Maulid
Published: November 2012

Many researches conducted in knowledge sharing have been focusing on organisational context. Yet, not many studies exist that explore knowledge sharing in education institutions. This paper provides an insight of how attitude, environment, motivation indicators, and individual factors (culture, age, and gender) would help in determining the preferences of information and communication technology (ICT) based communication channels among the students in multicultural institutions. The study uses quantitative design approach where data is collected from students studying in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Gombak Campus. The participants consisted of students originating from the regions of Middle East, West Africa, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Information was solicited by the use of a survey. The survey was administered to a total of 184 participants. The research model designed for the study is based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Social Cognitive Theory. Factors involved in this study are attitude, environment, motivation, and demography, which includes cultural background. Six different communication channels have been looked through this study, i.e., instant messaging chat, social network, email, e-bulletin board, VOIP service, Telephone, and SMS. The results of the study can be used as a guide for identifying appropriate ICT based communication channels to be provided to the students for their knowledge sharing activities.
Solutions of Optical Transmission Analysis
Authors: Li Yong Jie
Published: November 2012

This article described the basic technology of optical fiber, dense wavelength division multiplexing, and focus on the loss, dispersion optical transmission constraints to analyze, and to overcome the constraints corresponding to the system power is limited, dispersion limited technical measures.
Block Sand Mechanism Experiment and Analysis of Vegetation Flexible Dam
Authors: Liu Feng , Wei Guang Hui , Ma Liang , Chen Liang Liang
Published: November 2012

By the indoor flume model experiment, this paper analyzed the block sand mechanism of turbid water appearance. The experiment was done under 1/150, 1/100 and 1/50 three base slopes with 5.09L/s, 9.08L/s and 13.08L/s three discharges. Carried on an observation to the variety that vegetation dam’s in front and back single grain sediment sport speed, and silted up appearance with the sediment in the dam to carry on analysis before the dam to the plant. The experiment showed that the base slope is more big, the damping extent in sport in sediment in upper stream of vegetation dam’s reduce more small, the sediment attains to lose the sand early more equilibrium, and the blocks sand result of vegetation dam is more bad.
Ethanol and Diesel Fuel Mix the Preparation and Physical and Chemical Properties of Research
Authors: Li Qiang
Published: November 2012

To ethanol fuel engine performance and the physical and chemical properties were introduced, and the mixed fuel ethanol diesel phase solublecharacteristic test, hybrid fuel mixture fuel of cold, mixed fuel filter point of viscosity and lubricity, mixed fuel distillation range and hybrid hexadecane value, hybrid density and calorific value and mixed fuel phase separation and stability analysis of numerical calculation.
Prediction Scheme of Torsional Strength of Reinforced Concrete Beam
Authors: Huang Han Chen
Published: November 2012

This study proposes a artificial neural network with genetic algorithm (GA-ANN) for predicting the torsional strength of reinforced concrete beam. Genetic algorithm is used to the optimal network structure and parameters. A database of the torsional failure of reinforced concrete beams with a rectangular section subjected to pure torsion was obtained from existing literature for analysis. This study compare the predictions of the GA-ANN model with the ACI 318 code used for analyzing the torsional strength of reinforced concrete beam. The results show that the proposed model provides reasonable predictions of the ultimate torsional strength of reinforced concrete beams and offers superior torsion accuracy compared to that of the ACI 318-89 equation.