bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultivating Recognition
Authors: Tossy Titus , Brown Irwin T.J.
Published: July 2016

The E-learning provision in East Africa including Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda is rapid gaining its way. E-learning providers are all groups tasked with e-learning activities including design, delivery, implementation and others. The e-learning providers are surrounded by issues and challenges (main concerns). The purposed of this study was to identify and examine the main concern amongst e-learning providers in East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda). In this study the Classic Grounded Theory Research Methodology was used in order to identify the main concern of e-learning providers. In the course of repeated encounters with e-learning providers, this study found the concept of Cultivating Recognition to emerge as the main concern or core variable amongst these e-learning providers. The core variable within the Classic Grounded Theory research methodology is the main entity that accounts for most of the variation in the data. The core variable of the theory, the basic social psychological process of Cultivating Recognition is characterized by Legitimizing and Credentializing. The process of legitimizing involves convincing the e-learning stakeholders that the e-learning programs and projects will be delivered in a timely, valid and sustainable manner. Legitimizing process is achieved through Collaborating (reciprocal and asymmetric), Referral Networking and Strategic alliancing. Credentializing aims to enhance the stakeholders' belief in the e-learning providers' competence prior to the provision of the e-learning programs and projects. While Credentializing is achieved through Endorsementizing, Result Orienting and Prioritizing Duties, Result Orienting itself is achieved through Visualizing, Professionalizing, Focalizing and Role Delineating. This study will help e-learning providers and other groups to cultivate recognition and pave a way for their success in implementation of e-learning.
Assessment of Contribution of ICT for Sustainable Livelihoods in Kilosa District
Authors: Shirima C. , Sanga Camilius Aloyce
Published: July 2016

ICT plays a key role in socio-economic development and ensuring sustainable livelihoods. The purpose of this chapter was to assess the contribution of ICT for sustainable livelihood in Kilosa district. Data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources of data. Structured questionnaires were used in collection of primary data. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS. A sample size of 60 respondents was interviewed. The study determined various contributions resulting from using ICT by rural people to enhance their livelihoods. In addition, this study highlighted several constraints which rural people face in accessing and using ICT. The results from this chapter revealed that majority of respondents are using ICT tools in their daily activities but the socio-economic development through ICT are yet to be realized fully.
Introduction to Time Series
Authors: Žáček Martin
Published: July 2016

The goal of this chapter is a description of the time series. This chapter will review techniques that are useful for analyzing time series data, that is, sequences of measurements that follow non-random orders. Unlike the analyses of random samples of observations that are discussed in the context of most other statistics, the analysis of time series is based on the assumption that successive values in the data file represent consecutive measurements taken at equally spaced time intervals. There are two main goals of time series analysis: (a) identifying the nature of the phenomenon represented by the sequence of observations, and (b) forecasting (predicting future values of the time series variable). Both of these goals require that the pattern of observed time series data is identified and more or less formally described. Once the pattern is established, we can interpret and integrate it with other data.
Modeling and Language Support for the Pattern Management
Authors: Telnarova Zdenka
Published: July 2016

Patterns are mentioned usually in the extraction context. Little stress is posed in their representation and management. This chapter is focused on the representation of the patterns, manipulation with patterns and query patterns. Crucial issue can be seen in systematic approach to pattern management and specific pattern query language which takes into consideration semantics of patterns. In the background we discuss two different approaches to the pattern store and manipulation (based on inductive database and PANDA project). General pattern model is illustrated using abstract data type implemented in Oracle. In the following chapters the introduction to querying patterns and simple scheme of the architecture PBMS is shown.
The Crowd Economy
Authors: Nekaj Epi Ludvik
Published: July 2016

A digital transformation is underway. One that is redefining the essence of human interaction and with ideas, share unused resources and create new on-demand services that are customisable and unique. These are only a few examples of real productivity that when layered on the Internet creates an abundance of resources and opportunity. This people-powered abundance is called the crowd economy. It is the way the society lives, works and plays. There is a new paradigm shift that challenges traditional notions of the “norm” while expanding possibilities. The hallmark of the digital age is social connections that are boosted by the web and mobile networks. These technological advances have taken collaboration and cooperation to a level never seen before. Social connections through the web have gone beyond social media likes and shares and has evolved into social productivity - a phenomenon that arises when networked crowds collaborate to solve problems, raise funds, and come up with innovative ideas and solutions.
The Crowdfunding Communities and the Value of Identification for Sustainability of Co-Creation
Authors: Demiray Melek , Aslanbay Yonca
Published: July 2016

For a sustainable future, the actors of the market need a change in spirit that will elevate the life-chances of people by being an “empowered part” of the economic system. A participative, open knowledge economic and market system that will ensure the material well-being, the social visibility, the happiness and the consciousness of the individual is essential. Crowdfunding, as a recent online social community network market model is to be a new socio-technical system of co-creation through self “making and funding”. The aim of this study is to discuss the role of identification in co-creation for sustainability of newly rising crowdfunding communities. In line with this objective, the following two aspects are clarified: the key characteristics of crowdfunding platforms as online communities and the role of identification for co-creation in online crowdfunding communities.
Crowdfunding as a Marketing Tool
Authors: Allegreni Fabio
Published: July 2016

Most people, at a first sight, perceive Crowdfunding as a specific and exciting process to raise money. Of course, this is correct, but it is not the whole truth. A successful crowdfunding campaign must be addressed to a community of people, rather than to an indiscriminate crowd, which is also typical for any marketing strategy. Leveraging on this key element, crowdfunding can amplify almost any kind of communication activity, provided it is able to meet the needs of a community and to provide the benefits that the community expects. Therefore, if well exploited, crowdfunding is a powerful tool in the hands of marketers, whose potential goes far beyond the evidence of pre-selling a new product, to reach new marketing horizons such as branding, business development, CRM, credit scoring and even HR management.
Legal Aspects and Regulation in Crowdfunding
Authors: Lerro Alessandro Maria
Published: July 2016

Crowdfunding started with the donation-based and reward-based models, but soon its disruptive capacity to innovate the traditional approach to finance made it evolve into an alternative finance instrument, suitable to fund new business. Peer to peer lending and equity crowdfunding are investment instrument that can truly sustain the growth of businesses and generate profits. As any investment instrument, lending and equity crowdfunding are heavy regulated in order to protect investors and maintain a proper trust in the system. This chapter will go through the American and European main regulatory principles, offering a picture of the overall approach to this innovative and disruptive financing tool.
How to Launch a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
Authors: Kleverlaan Ronald
Published: July 2016

This chapter provides insights into the important characteristics of a successful crowdfunding campaign. It starts with providing the fundamentals of crowdfunding and shows the reasons why it is important to find the right target groups and communities for a campaign. It describes in details the Return on Involvement model, what the funders want in return for their support. In the second part the additional results of crowdfunding are discussed, such as market research, marketing, brand loyalty and the possibility to use crowdfunding to raise additional funding. The last part of this chapter will focus on the background of setting up and running a successful campaign.
The Application of Crowdfunding to the Energy Sector
Authors: Candelise Chiara
Published: July 2016

Crowdfunding in energy begins as a response to reduced investments (both governmental and private) into the transition to decarbonized energy systems and to the spread of innovative business models and approaches conductive of greater participation of citizens and communities in distributed renewable energy projects. This chapter presents results of a worldwide overview of the use of crowdfunding in the energy industry. Evidence gathered from available energy crowdfunding platforms highlight a very new, but quite dynamic sector. The crowdfunding tool has been applied in most of its forms, ranging from peer-to-business lending to pure donation, with strong environmental and social mission and the explicit aim of increasing participation of citizens in sustainable energy investment. Evidence also shows that, despite maintaining their environmental and clean energy focus, some energy platforms have begun to move from niche, grass root initiatives into larger projects and collaboration with energy private sector and institutional finance.
Using Social Media for Participatory City Branding
Authors: Uzunoglu Ebru
Published: July 2016

With the rapid explosion of Internet, social media has emerged as a new communication venue for city branding initiative. The aim of this chapter is to provide a deeper understanding of today's communication environment, and in particular, to focus the greater interactivity, engagement and responsiveness of resources in relation to city branding. Thus, this chapter firstly outlines the participatory city branding, which can be considered as an appropriate approach for involving wide range of stakeholders in promoting cities as brands. Secondly, the role of social media and its influential users are scrutinized to better present their importance for city branding. Following this, the examined Instagram campaign to promote the city of Izmir intends to allow greater insight into how to utilize online platforms in order to communicate a city both to its citizens and to global arena. And finally, the chapter leads to practical implications regarding how to benefit from social media for effective participatory city branding.
A Brief History of City Branding in Istanbul
Authors: Uysal Ülke Evrim
Published: July 2016

This chapter analyzes city branding efforts in Istanbul in the context of urban tourism. The chapter focuses on the evolution of promotional practices from disorderly and inconsistent marketing strategies to a coherent city brand. This relatively brief but complex history of city branding in Istanbul is divided into three analytical and interrelated phases: Self-Orientalism, the City of Religions and the Multi-Faceted City. In analyzing this process, the main representations, themes, slogans and other methods of city branding are discussed. In doing so, this study attempts to introduce a historical/chronological approach to the city branding literature in the case of Istanbul. Next, in the light of this approach and the case study, the study aims to discuss general implications and reasons about changes of city brands over time.
Whose City Is It Anyway?
Authors: Chirisa Innocent , Bandauko Elmond , Mandisvika Gladys , Maphosa Aaron , Mukarwi Liaison
Published: July 2016

The purpose of this chapter is describe why and how a multiplicity of especially diverging forces, ‘voices' and rationalities can work against effective place branding. Specifically, it aims to demonstrate by the case of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, that economic hardships are the major place shaper rather than the wishes and marketing strategies that may be put in place by the state. An ailing economy will naturally see the terrain and fabric of a place, in this case, a city deteriorating both in terms of its service performance and in terms of outlook. This is in contrast with the main urban planning philosophies of order, amenity, functionality, aesthetics and convenience. The post-colonial Harare has suffered major blows of trying to retain its vividness and functionality due to a number of forces including state control and interference, the consistently perturbed political economy that explains rising retrenchments, unemployment and underemployment, which has seen the ushering in of rampant informality. Both the state and the non-state actors, including politicians and households have laid claim on the affairs of the city without approaching the same with a sense of place stewardship. Proper city branding presupposes shared visioning and moving on an agreed path and trajectory. However, characteristic of Harare is disparate and fragmented efforts, most of which work against the cause of city branding. Street vending, of late, is the major cancer haemorrhaging the city fabric and outlook. Even the politicians, who have assumed a major seat in the decision-making of the affairs of the city, seem not to agree on the way forward. Although, the city is under the leadership of the opposition – MDC-T councilors, their role has not been subsumed, within the council chambers as one that matters. The councilors have largely been silenced, if not technically, co-opted. The role of physical planning, on the other side of the story, has become increasingly nullified. Some real estate investors are considering reducing their portfolios. The dramatis personæ and the effects it is inflicting on the ground needs adequate scholarly interrogation hence the line of the argument in this paper: Whose city is it anyway? Unless, the city is seen as a collective responsibility), efforts to brand will simply prove futile and a waste of time. Overall, there is an economy that needs first to be fixed and players that need aligning their inspirations, aspirations and actions for achieving a branded city. Planning has to be given its place because it provides a solid foundation upon which actions are built.
Challenges in Promoting Cities through Culture within the New Global Economy
Authors: Hocaoğlu Dilek
Published: July 2016

The deindustrialization period observed in the cities of North America, United Kingdom and Europe has led to changes in city economies. Urban industry was replaced by service sectors like marketing, finance and communication in this period. The new circumstances not only have changed the urban economy, but also images of the cities. The new image has raised the urban regeneration projects in partnership with municipalities and private organizations. The local governments and the private sectors have handled culture as a power to regenerate the images of cities. City branding based on culture is encouraged mostly by tourism. In this chapter, the role of culture in the city promoting strategies is evaluated through the analysis of cases. The stakeholders' approaches to the culture in the context of city branding strategies are handled and the challenges that the stakeholders have to overcome are listed.
Promoting America
Authors: Fall Lisa T. , Lubbers Charles A.
Published: July 2016

The purpose of this study is to illustrate how college student perspectives with regard to promoting the United States as an international tourism destination can be fruitful for destination communication managers. This chapter presents the results of a survey of 691 foreign and domestic college students and identifies categories of terms to describe America that these students reported. The term categories are also examined to see if the respondents' year in school, gender or foreign/domestic student status impacts their identification of terms. The findings offer suggestions for campaign themes that support or run contrary to images currently held by the respondents.
Leveraging Sport to Build City Brands
Authors: Knott Brendon , Hemmonsbey Janice
Published: July 2016

This chapter sets out strategic implications for emerging city brand stakeholders wishing to leverage sport. Sport is already acknowledged as having a significant impact for city brands, particularly through the hosting of sport events, as a means of creating global awareness, improved image and differentiation. However, there has been little examination of the contribution of sport more broadly and especially within an emerging African city context. This chapter identifies the major challenges facing city brands and proposes how sport may provide solutions. It reveals the findings of an empirical study that assessed the strategic value of sport to the Cape Town city brand. The qualitative study featured semi-structured, in-depth interviews (n=12), conducted with definitive stakeholders. The chapter identifies the contribution of sport as a competitive differentiator for a city brand. It further reveals the contribution of the different sport elements to this brand benefit, namely: sport events and facilities (that can be used to showcase a city brand); teams/ franchises and personalities (that act as brand ambassadors for a city and contribute to the city brand identity); and sponsors and sport brands (that can be viewed as brand partners as they play a crucial role of supporting and enabling sport through their investment).
Pomegranate Peel and Fruit Extracts
Authors: Ismail Tariq , Akhtar Saeed , Riaz Muhammad
Published: July 2016

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), the fruit and its peel have been shown to hold tremendous potential for the treatment of various ailments. Incorporation of pomegranate, peel and their extracts, as key functional ingredients in various ethnopharmacological formulations are widely accepted in almost all cultures of the World. In addition to their disease ameliorating features, pomegranate and the peel extracts have gained significant popularity in functional food market as ingredient of choice in foods designed to prevent onset of various non-communicable diseases. Health promoting features of the pomegranate peel and fruit extracts define the scope of this natural reserve in global nutraceutical and functional food industry. On account of their unique phytochemicals profile, plentiful pool of antioxidants, dietary fibers, minerals and natural colors, both the valuable reserves have been remained as highly explored plant material in last two decades. Building levels of interest in this fruit has created a deeper insight among researchers to understand actual potential and pathways of pomegranate biomolecules reactivity in human models. The chapter in hand meticulously deals with pomegranate and its extracts as source of innovative healthy components responsible for averting cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory and non-inflammatory disorders, type 2 diabetes, gastric ulcers, various types of cancers and neurodegenerative disorders.
Functional Foods of the Indian Subcontinent
Authors: Sidhu Jiwan S. , Zafar Tasleem A.
Published: July 2016

The medicinal effects of food have been recognized on the Indian subcontinent since many centuries. The current thinking on functional foods can easily be applied to many traditional Indian subcontinent foods as these are based on whole grains, legumes, oilseeds, nuts, vegetables, fruits, spices, condiments, and many fermented milk products. Consumption of such foods on a regular basis not only provides most of nutrients in adequate quantities but also improve gastrointestinal health, boost immune functions, improve bone health, lower cholesterol, oxidative stress, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, various types of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, ill-effects of obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Various chemical and biological components present in Indian subcontinent traditional foods, such as phytochemicals, dietary fiber, oligosaccharides, lignins, omega-3 fatty acids, phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and probiotic bacteria play an important role in improving the health of consumers of these foods. The history of Indian traditional foods has been adequately reviewed by Srinivasan (2011). The traditional food habits of each specific area of the Indian subcontinent have been influenced by the culture and the availability of locally grown food materials. Some of the important functional foods of India subcontinent will be briefly discussed in this chapter.
Competition in Defence Practice
Authors: Taylor Trevor
Published: July 2016

This chapter compares theory about the consequences of competition with market structures and procurement experiences in the defence sector. The arguments are largely theoretical, reflecting commercial logic and propositions about behaviour in highly imperfect market structures. They are meant to illuminate what can happen, and sometimes does occur, rather than what must result. A crucial theoretical question is how competition is likely to work when there is only one immediate customer (and only a few possible customers in the longer run) and only a small number of potential suppliers (for each of whom an order may be of strategic significance). However, the US and the UK have published empirical data on the use of competition in defence, and appropriate reference is made to this.
Acquisition and Its Theoretical Foundations
Authors: Lefeez Sophie
Published: July 2016

Armament issues are hardly dealt with by the French academics, there is thus no specific theoretical framework available. Existing theories to study technical objects have been designed for civilian artefacts and the specific features of the military market challenge their full applicability to a military research object. As for existing approaches to armament, they are either insufficient or have become obsolete. This questions the need of specific theories to fit with military specificities. Given how complex defence acquisition is there is a case to be made for introducing more disciplines and practising mix-theories in order to gain richer insights.
Collaborative Defence Procurement
Authors: Heuninckx Baudouin
Published: July 2016

In collaborative defence procurement, a number of states agree to acquire a weapon system and/or its support in cooperation. Such programs have over the last decades become a prominent feature of defence procurement in Europe, but are often considered inefficient because of large cost overruns and delays in capability delivery. After introducing the reader to the concept of collaborative procurement from a European perspective, this chapter analyses the management structure and procurement process of those programs and makes proposals to increase their efficiency, essentially by ensuring a more efficient preparation phase, adopting more inventive financing principles, setting-up more integrated management structures, streamlining their decision-making process, avoiding monopoly creation on the side of industry, and moving away from the ‘juste retour' work allocation principle used in most of those programs.
Innovation, Technology, and Defence Procurement
Authors: Bellais Renaud , Droff Josselin
Published: July 2016

In the main arms-producing countries, Ministries of Defence are looking for alternative ways to acquire defence capabilities. Over the past two decades, several reform projects have been experimented to go beyond the model inherited from the Cold War, but they did not succeed in delivering expected results. One may wonder whether such defence acquisition systems correspond to their core mission: supplying boots on the ground with adequate capacities. The research agenda and reforms programmes are biased since they focus mainly on “how” to procure. While reforming existing mechanisms seems to fail or to deliver well below expectations, one may wonder in fact whether the true question should concern “why” and “what” to buy with regard to military needs but also the place that technology takes in conceiving defence capabilities.
Professionalism in Defence Acquisition
Authors: Moore David M
Published: July 2016

This chapter discusses the nature of professionalism generally and then in the contextual setting of defence acquisition. Changing socio-political and economic pressures have resulted in a paradigm shift in the way that the public sector based business of defence acquisition is undertaken. There is policy movement towards greater commercialism but the rhetoric has not necessarily led to improvement in performance. Indeed, criticism of acquisition performance has been constant for some time. With improved professionalism, and the legitimisation of the professional prerogative and practice of personnel within the acquisition community, a move away from reliance upon process led decision making, could result in enhanced acquisition performance. This requires the development of relevant knowledge, in a suitable format, such that acquisition professionalism can enable an ‘Intelligent Customer' perspective. It recognises the need for education and training, balanced with relevant experience as the basis of professional knowledge and the concept of an ‘Intelligent Customer'.
The Rationale for Offsets in Defence Acquisition from a Theoretical Perspective
Authors: Balakrishnan Kogila
Published: July 2016

Offsets are an economic development tool used to seek technology from foreign suppliers as part of an international sale of equipment. Although offsets practice has been in existence for long, offsets have only become increasingly popular in the past two decades; thus a vital component of defence acquisition for many governments around the world. Most scholarly work on offsets have not clearly addressed the theoretical underpinnings behind why offsets are required as part of defence acquisition. What is the rationale for offsets being incorporated as part of a defence acquisition? This paper addresses the rationale for offsets in defence acquisition from a theoretical perspective. The chapter defines offsets, discusses the role of offsets in defence acquisition, outlines costs and benefits of offsets and undertakes an in-depth discussion on the various theories on the rationale for offsets in defence acquisition. This chapter argues rationale for offsets as a discipline within the defence acquisition framework can be discussed on a solid theoretical framework.
Social Workers and Agencies
Authors: Anthony Becky , Galarza Jayleen
Published: July 2016

Social media are shaping and changing the way social workers interact with clients; therefore, it is important for social workers to think about their own personal and professional presence on social media. The focus of this chapter is to provide social workers with strategies and guidelines about how best to utilize social media in hopes of avoiding sexual misconduct violations. One of the key factors involved in preventing sexual misconduct issues on social media is a well-thought out and critically designed presence. In order to establish an agenda for appropriately integrating and utilizing social media, agencies are recommended to develop the following: goals, social media policy, and publically posted guidelines. With implementation of policies and guidelines, human service agencies can more effectively prevent allegations of sexual misconduct.
Exploring the Role of School Counselors in Preventing and Addressing Educator Sexual Misconduct in K-12 School Systems
Authors: Edwards Charles Charlton
Published: July 2016

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model for School Counseling highlights the role of professional school counselors in supporting the academic, personal social and career development of students. The ASCA Model further emphasizes the role of school counselors as leaders, advocates, consultants and collaborators for student development. The 2010 Ethical Standards for School Counselors further highlights students' rights to be treated with respect and dignity as well as their entitlement to a safe school environment that is free from abuse. This chapter explores the role of school counselors in working collaboratively to prevent and address sexual misconduct in schools. The author takes the position that the existence of sexual misconduct in any form hinders student development and directly undermines the efforts of educators to support their growth. The chapter emphasizes the importance collaboration, collective responsibility and the adoption of policies that effectively prevent and address sexual misconduct in schools.
Mastering Consumer Attitude and Sustainable Consumption in the Digital Age
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: July 2016

This chapter presents the overview of consumer attitude; the aspects of consumer attitude, trust propensity, purchasing behavior, and consumer confidence; the perspectives of consumer attitude, social media, and online brand community; the facets of consumer attitude and technology adoption; the emerging trends of consumer attitude and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); the concept of sustainable consumption; the characteristics of sustainable fashion consumption and sustainable apparel consumption; sustainable energy consumption; sustainable food consumption; the challenges of sustainable development; and the importance of sustainable consumption and sustainability. The chapter argues that mastering consumer attitude and sustainable consumption has the potential to enhance organizational performance and reach strategic goals in the digital age.
Factors Influencing Consumer Acceptance of Internet of Things Technology
Authors: Liew Chung Sim , Ang Ju Min , Goh Yee Teen , Koh Wai Kin , Tan Shy Yin , Teh Ru Yi
Published: July 2016

The aim of this research is to examine factors influencing consumer acceptance of Internet of Things Technology (IoT) guiding by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This quantitative research involves 204 respondents approached via convenience sampling at a public higher learning institution. Data was analyzed using multiple regression and results revealed that the dimension of perceived usefulness is the most influencing factor on the consumers' acceptance of IoT technology and consumers' behavioural intention to use. In the Malaysian context, this research provides additional information in narrowing the research gap with regard to understanding behavioural intention to use the IoT technology. Next, the framework will be used for future exploration to address the issue of people who have never utilized an IoT innovation react.
Consumer Perception towards Internet Health Information Resources
Authors: Han Khor Sheng , Lung Wong Sie , Ling Michelle Wong Hui , Chii Ooi Jing , Wei Zhang Xuan , Yang CongNi
Published: July 2016

This research aims to examine consumer perception towards Internet health information resources. Data was collected among 205 respondents by using convenience sampling and was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Descriptively, there was more females' respondent than males' respondent in this survey where all of them are recently undertaking degree courses. The result shows perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness was the main factor that motivates students in using internet health information resources.
Accelerating Geospatial Modeling in ArcGIS with Graphical Processor Units
Authors: Tischler Michael A.
Published: July 2016

Geospatial data can be enormous in size and tedious to process efficiently on standard computational workstations. Distributing the processing tasks through highly parallelized processing reduces the burden on the primary processor and processing times can drastically shorten as a result. ERSI's ArcGIS, while widely used in the military, does not natively support multi-core processing or utilization of graphic processor units (GPUs). However, the ArcPy Python library included in ArcGIS 10 provides geospatial developers with the means to process geospatial data in a flexible environment that can be linked with GPU application programming interfaces (APIs). This research extends a custom desktop geospatial model of spatial similarity for remote soil classification which takes advantage of both standard ArcPy/ArcGIS geoprocessing functions and custom GPU kernels, operating on an NVIDIA Tesla S2050 equipped with potential access to 1792 cores. The author will present their results which describe hardware and software configurations, processing efficiency gains, and lessons learned.
Applying Geospatial Information and Services Capabilities Beyond the Battlespace
Authors: Cullis Brian J. , LaBranche David F.
Published: July 2016

While geospatial information resources have traditionally imparted situational awareness in the battlespace, the past twenty years has witnessed broad adoption in other defense environments as well. This paper describes the major catalysts spurring broader investment and use of geospatial information and services (GI&S) beyond the battlespace and into a parallel defense installation mission area known as basingspace. Furthermore, the paper details how the benefits of GI&S for delivering shared situational awareness in both battlespace and basingspace has the National Guard poised to exploit geospatial technologies in a more strategic manner. This paper presents a concise history of how social and technical factors influenced the diffusion of applied geospatial technologies within the defense sector and the potential for greater unity of geospatial efforts for the Department of Defense and the nation.
Using a Bio-Inspired Algorithm to Resolve the Multiple Sequence Alignment Problem
Authors: Zemali El-amine , Boukra Abdelmadjid
Published: July 2016

One of the most challenging tasks in bioinformatics is the resolution of Multiple Sequence Alignment (MSA) problem. It consists in comparing a set of protein or DNA sequences, in aim of predicting their structure and function. This paper introduces a new bio-inspired approach to solve such problem. This approach named BA-MSA is based on Bat Algorithm. Bat Algorithm (BA) is a recent evolutionary algorithm inspired from Bats behavior seeking their prey. The proposed approach includes new mechanism to generate initial population. It consists in generating a guide tree for each solution with progressive approach by varying some parameters. The generated guide tree will be enhanced by Hill-Climbing algorithm. In addition, to deal with the premature convergence of BA, a new restart technique is proposed to introduce more diversification when detecting premature convergence. Balibase 2.0 datasets are used for experiments. The comparison with well-known methods as MSA-GA MSA-GA (w\prealign), ClustalW, and SAGA and recent method (BBOMP) shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
An Agent-Based Model of Insurance and Protection Decisions on IT Systems
Authors: Santos Juan Luis
Published: July 2016

This paper discusses the key role of incentives in information systems security. Vulnerabilities can be reduced, and even removed, if individual motivations are taken into account in the process of protection and insurance design. The article first discusses the importance of externalities, free-riding behavior, uncertainty and the incentives mismatch between individuals and organizations involved in information systems security. Previous works perform this study using a game theoretical approach but the paper shows that an agent-based model is capable of including the heterogeneity and interrelations among individuals, not focusing on the reached equilibrium but on the dynamics prior to its emergence.
(HR)^2
Authors: Garimella Uma , Paruchuri Praveen
Published: July 2016

Finding the right candidate for a job has always been a hard task that Human Resources (HR) managers of a company face regularly. In this paper, the authors propose that the field of multi-agents can play a significant role in a) elaborating the job description b) getting an applicant to submit competencies relevant to the job c) shortlisting applicants and d) identifying the right hire. They propose the model of (HR)^2, an automated agent for Helping HR with Recruitment that could perform the following key steps: (a) Generate Specific Position Contract (SPC) from a Master Position Contract (MPC) using Infer1 procedure (b) Use the SPC to provide a graded and iterative feedback to applicant using Infer2 procedure. They situate (HR)^2 in the context of LinkedIn. To enable better inference, they propose to modify the information being collected by LinkedIn, using the ontology provided by the free online database O*NET. The (HR)^2 agent will be able to help the employer rank order the SPCs and identify areas for assessment, potentially easing the interview process and leading to high quality hires.
Simulation of Stock Prediction System using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Mumini Omisore Olatunji , Adebisi Fayemiwo Michael , Edward Ofoegbu Osita , Abidemi Adeniyi Shukurat
Published: July 2016

Stock trading, used to predict the direction of future stock prices, is a dynamic business primarily based on human intuition. This involves analyzing some non-linear fundamental and technical stock variables which are recorded periodically. This study presents the development of an ANN-based prediction model for forecasting closing price in the stock markets. The major steps taken are identification of technical variables used for prediction of stock prices, collection and pre-processing of stock data, and formulation of the ANN-based predictive model. Stock data of periods between 2010 and 2014 were collected from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and stored in a database. The data collected were classified into training and test data, where the training data was used to learn non-linear patterns that exist in the dataset; and test data was used to validate the prediction accuracy of the model. Evaluation results obtained from WEKA shows that discrepancies between actual and predicted values are insignificant.
Unusually Small F-Statistic in Analysis of Variance and Regression Analysis
Authors: Ozgur Ceyhun
Published: July 2016

All textbooks and articles dealing with classical tests in the context of linear models stress the implications of a significantly large F-ratio since it indicates that the mean square for whatever effect is being evaluated contains significantly more than just error variation. In general, though, with one minor exception, all texts and articles, to the authors' knowledge, ignore the implications of an F-ratio that is significantly smaller than one would expect due to chance alone. Why this is so difficult to explain since such an occurrence is similar to a range value falling below the lower limit on a control chart for variation or a p-value falling below the lower limit on a control chart for proportion defective. In both of those cases the small value represents an unusual and significant occurrence and, if valid, a process change that indicates an improvement. Therefore, it behooves the quality manager to determine what that change is in order to have it continue. In the case of a significantly small F-ratio some problem may be indicated that requires the designer of the experiment to identify it, and to take “corrective action.” While graphical procedures are available for helping to identify some of the possible problems that are discussed they are somewhat subjective when deciding if one is looking at an actual effect; e.g., interaction, or whether the result is merely due to random variation. A significantly small F-ratio can be used to support conclusions based on the graphical procedures by providing a level of statistical significance as well as serving as a warning flag or warning that problems may exist in the design and/or analysis.
Cross-Cultural Comparison of Adolescents' Online Self-Presentation Strategies
Authors: Boz Nevfel , Uhls Yalda T. , Greenfield Patricia M.
Published: July 2016

Studying how social network site (SNS) users from different countries present themselves is crucial for inquiring into the dynamics of culture and youth. This study of 100 adolescents age 14-18 (Mage= 15.90, SD = .1.48) was designed to determine whether cultural differences between adolescents in the U.S. and Turkey would manifest themselves in their online self-presentation strategies on Facebook. Snowball sampling was used to reach U.S. and Turkish adolescents (50 participants from each country) who were using Facebook. The study provides novel insights into how adolescents from each country, in relation to its specific cultural framework, display certain kinds of self-presentation strategies. By coding Facebook profiles of adolescents, the authors found that the sharpest cross-cultural contrast was found in the frequency of the self-promotion strategy, which was more frequent in the United States. There was also a significant difference in use of exemplification strategy between the two countries; it was more widely used in Turkey. The high level of the ingratiation strategy in both countries may reflect the importance of “likes” in the Internet culture. There was also a significant cross-national difference in the ingratiation strategy, which U.S. teens used more. Finally, the authors also found a low level of use of the intimidation and supplication strategies in both countries. The study highlights the importance of self-exploration in constructing identities that conform to desirable cultural roles.
Linking Psychological Attributes, Gratifications and Social Networking Site Use to Social Capital of the Net Generation in China
Authors: Zheng Pei , Leung Louis
Published: July 2016

How narcissism, communication anxiety, and gratifications impact SNS use and social capital was examined through a survey of Net-geners in China (N=568). Firstly, factor analysis identified four gratifications-sought from SNS: self-presentation, peer pressure, social network maintenance, and information seeking. Then regression analyses showed that narcissism significantly predicted all gratifications and intensity of SNS use, while communication anxiety only related to peer pressure and information seeking motivations. Narcissism, network maintenance motive, and intensity of SNS use were positively related to social capital, whereas communication anxiety and peer pressure motivation negatively predicted social capital. Theoretical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Enhanced Artificial Social Cockroaches (EASC) for Modern Information Retrieval
Authors: Bouarara Hadj Ahmed , Hamou Reda Mohamed , Abdelmalek Amine
Published: July 2016

This article deals on an improved version of the recently developed Artificial Social Cockroaches (ASC) algorithm based on several modifications. The EASC has as input a set of artificial cockroaches and N selected shelters. It is based on a random displacement step and a set of operators (selection cockroaches, shelter attraction, congener's attraction, shelter permutation). Each cockroach must be hidden in the shelter where it feels safer (evaluation function). In the recent years with the coming of the world wide web, the amount of unstructured documents available in the digital society increases and becomes easily accessible, all this has led that satisfy the needs of users in terms of relevant information has become a substantial problem in the scientific community. The second component of the authors' study is to apply the algorithm (EASC) as an information retrieval system using multilingual pre-processing and thesaurus to solve the problems of multilingual query and searching with synonymy. The relevant documents will be rendered as a list of ranked and classified documents from the most relevant to the least relevant. Lastly the authors apply the benchmark Medline and a series of valuation measures (precision, recall, f-measure, entropy, error, accuracy, specificity, TCR, ROC) for the experimentation, also they have compared their results with the outcomes of set of existed systems (social worker bees, taboo search, genetic algorithm, simulating annealing, naïve method). The third component of the authors' system is the visualization step that ensures the presentation of the result in the form of a cobweb with some realism to be understandable by users.
Inter-hemispherical Investigations on the Functional Connectivity of Autistic Resting State fMRI
Authors: Vidhusha S  , Anandan Kavitha
Published: July 2016

Autism spectrum disorders are connected with disturbances of neural connectivity. Functional connectivity is typically examined during a cognitive task, but also exists in the absence of a task i.e., “rest.” Adults with ASD have been found to show weaker connectivity relative to controls. This work focuses on analyzing the brain activation for autistic subjects, measured by fMRI during rest, relative to the control group using interhemispherical analysis. Though both groups activated similarly in cortical areas, indications of under connectivity were exhibited by the autistic group measured by Granger Causality and Conditional Granger Causality. Results show that as connectivity decreases, GC and CGC values also get decreased. The left hemisphere exhibits depreciation in the connectivity in comparison to that of right hemisphere for the autistic individuals whose GC and CGC values keeps decreasing in the left hemisphere seed regions. Finally, the results provide an approach for analyzing the cortical underconnectivity, in clinical relevance for diagnosing autism in children.
Smart Spaces Enabled Mobile Healthcare Services in Internet of Things Environments
Authors: Korzun Dmitry G. , Borodin Alexander V. , Paramonov Ilya V. , Vasilyev Andrey M. , Balandin Sergey I.
Published: July 2016

The article studies the smart spaces approach applied for development of mobile healthcare (m-Health) services deploying in Internet of Things (IoT) environments. The authors consider a reference architecture model of the service ecosystem with focus on intelligent utilization of multi-source data originated from the IoT environment. Based on the architecture the authors introduce two reference scenarios: assistance in providing the first aid and communication with the hospital information system. For the architectural model and the scenarios pilot implementations are developed on the open source Smart-M3 platform.
Fault Mitigation in Reconfigurable NoC Routers with Thin Design Rules
Authors: Suvorova Elena , Sheynin Yuriy , Matveeva Nadezhda
Published: July 2016

Modern networks-on-chip (NoC) for embedded systems are manufactured by thin design rules; they should be resistant to failures due to the specific aspects of the technology. In the paper we consider failure mitigation approaches, evaluate them for thin design rules. Most fault mitigation approaches are based on reconfiguration of NoC and its main components – routers. We suggest the methodology for development of reconfigurable routers with fault mitigation, estimate them using simulation that enables dynamic failure injection. The proposed method can be used for routers with different structures in NoC with various interconnection graphs.