bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A QSQL-Based Service Collaboration Method for Automatic Service Composition, and Optimized Execution
Authors: Ren Kaijun , Chen Jinjun , Xiao Nong , Zhang Weimin
Published: May 2011

In scientific computing environments such as service grid environments, services are becoming basic collaboration components which can be used to construct a composition plan for scientists to resolve complex scientific problems. However, current service collaboration methods still suffer from low efficiency for automatically building composition plans because of the time-consuming ontology reasoning and incapability in effectively allocating resources to executing such plans. In this chapter, the authors present a QSQL-based collaboration method to support automatic service composition and optimized execution. With this method, for a given query, abstract composition plans can be created in an automatic, semantic, and efficient manner from QSQL (Quick Service Query List) which is dynamically built by previously processing semantic-related computing at service publication stage. Furthermore, concrete service execution instances can be dynamically bound to abstract service composition plans at runtime by comparing their different QoS(Quality of Service) values. Particularly, a concrete collaboration framework is proposed to support automatic service composition and execution. Totally, the authors’ proposed method will not only facilitate e-scientists quickly create composition plans from a large scale of service repository; but also make resource’s sharing more flexible. The final experiment has illustrated the effectiveness of their proposed method.
Ontology-Based Construction of Grid Data Mining Workflows
Authors: Brezany Peter , Janciak Ivan , Tjoa A Min
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces an ontology-based framework for automated construction of complex interactive data mining workflows as a means of improving productivity of Grid-enabled data exploration systems. The authors first characterize existing manual and automated workflow composition approaches and then present their solution called GridMiner Assistant (GMA), which addresses the whole life cycle of the knowledge discovery process. GMA is specified in the OWL language and is being developed around a novel data mining ontology, which is based on concepts of industry standards like the predictive model markup language, cross industry standard process for data mining, and Java data mining API. The ontology introduces basic data mining concepts like data mining elements, tasks, services, and so forth. In addition, conceptual and implementation architectures of the framework are presented and its application to an example taken from the medical domain is illustrated. The authors hope that the further research and development of this framework can lead to productivity improvements, which can have significant impact on many real-life spheres. For example, it can be a crucial factor in achievement of scientific discoveries, optimal treatment of patients, productive decision making, cutting costs, and so forth.
Optimization Algorithms for Data Transfer in the Grid Environment
Authors: Xiong Muzhou , Jin Hai
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, two algorithms have been presented for supporting efficient data transfer in the Grid environment. From a node’s perspective, a multiple data transfer channel can be formed by selecting some other nodes as relays in data transfer. One algorithm requires the sender to be aware of the global connection information while another does not. Experimental results indicate that both algorithms can transfer data efficiently under various circumstances.
Data Protection and Data Security Regarding Grid Computing in Biomedical Research
Authors: Mohammed Yassene , Viezens Fred , Dickmann Frank , Falkner Juergen , Lingner Thomas
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes security and privacy issues within the scope of biomedical Grid Computing. Grid Computing is of rising interest for life sciences (Konagaya, 2006) and has been used since many years in sciences like high energy physics. Anyhow, medical applications on the grid require a special focus on data security and data protection issues. Based on general security and privacy rules, the authors describe the current state of the art of grid security. Then they describe which additional security measures have to be established in different biomedical grid scenarios. Legal aspects have to be taken into account as well as the current possibilities and flaws of grid security technology. Describing the enhanced security concept in MediGRID (MediGRID, 2005) they outline how medical Grid Computing could fulfill privacy regulations used in more demanding environments.
High Performance BLAST Over the Grid
Authors: Breton Vincent , Caron Eddy , Desprez Frederic , Le Mahec Gael
Published: May 2011

As grids become more and more attractive for solving complex problems with high computational and storage requirements, bioinformatics starts to be ported on large scale platforms. The BLAST kernel, one of the main cornerstone of high performance genomics, was one the first application ported on such platform. However, if a simple parallelization was enough for the first proof of concept, its use in production platform needed more optimized algorithms. In this chapter, we review existing parallelization and “gridification” approaches as well as related issues such as data management and replication, and a case study using the DIET middleware over the Grid’5000 experimental platform.
High-Throughput Data Analysis of Proteomic Mass Spectra on the SwissBioGrid
Authors: Quandt Andreas , Maffioletti Sergio , Pautasso Cesare , Stockinger Heinz , Lisacek Frederique
Published: May 2011

Proteomics is currently one of the most promising fields in bioinformatics as it provides important insights into the protein function of organisms. Mass spectrometry is one of the techniques to study the proteome, and several software tools exist for this purpose. The authors provide an extendable software platform called swissPIT that combines different existing tools and exploits Grid infrastructures to speed up the data analysis process for the proteomics pipeline.
A Graphical Workflow Modeler for Docking Process in Drug Discovery
Authors: Wang Qiang , Ye Yunming , Yu Kunqian , Huang Joshua Zhexue
Published: May 2011

A drug discovery process is aimed to find from a large set of molecules the candidate leads that have strong interaction with the target proteins. The process of drug discovery is characterized by its complexity in data and computation. A useful tool to simplify the handling of intensive data and complex algorithms is necessary for domain scientists to build proper drug discovery procedures, carry through the data intensive computation tasks and produce fruitful results. This chapter presents a graphical workflow modeler for domain scientists to perform drug discovery tasks on high performance grid computing grid platforms. A client/server system is described as the platform for implementation of the graphical workflow modeler. A case study on drug discovery for avian influenza virus is given to demonstrate the use of this tool in drug discovery research.
Aspects of Visualization and the Grid in a Biomedical Context
Authors: Greenshields Ian , El-Sayed Gamal
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces some aspects of visualization and the grid. Visualization --the art and science of representing data visually-- is now recognized as an equal partner in the conduct of science via the simulation and modeling paradigm. Although not usually associated with Grid-scale problems, there are a number of Grid-dominant issues which subtend visualization. Evidently, certain data grooming issues (e.g., image preprocessing/analysis, certain computational geometric processes, certain computational topological processes) are amenable to deployment over compute Grids, but there has been equal focus on the collaborative aspect of Grid computing which is driving collaboration-based visualization systems. Here we survey some of the roles of visualization as they relate to the role of Grid computing within a biomedical context. We conclude by examining certain scheduling strategies we believe to have value in terms of the distribution of visualization tasks over Grid fabrics.
Hybrid Mock Circulatory System to Test Cardiovascular Prostheses on the Grid
Authors: Colacino Francesco Maria , Arabia Maurizio , Fragomeni Gionata
Published: May 2011

In the last decades cardiovascular diseases greatly increased worldwide, and bioengineering provided new technologies and cardiovascular prostheses to medical doctors and surgeons. The design of active and passive devices aroused notable interests becoming more and more challenging as well as crucial. In this framework, it is important to faithfully reproduce the interaction between the prostheses and the cardiovascular system when in-vitro experiments are performed. For this reason, a new and improved kind of test benches becomes necessary. Purely hydraulic mock circulatory systems showed low flexibility to allow tests of different cardiovascular devices and low precision when a reference mathematical model must be reproduced. In this chapter a new bench is described. It combines the computer model of the cardiovascular system and its real-time interaction with the device to be tested. The solution adopted can be exploited in a Grid environment to allow remote experimentation.
Interoperability and Constituents of Interoperable Systems in Public Sector
Authors: Ray Dibakar , Gulla Umesh , Gupta M. P. , Dash Shefali S.
Published: May 2011

This chapter, based on analysis of literature, introduces a definition and a layered architecture for government information systems. It argues that the interoperability of information systems is essential in providing integrated government services, but unfortunately there is no consensus on what interoperability is and what constitutes interoperable information systems. By analysing available academic literature and government reports on interoperability, the authors have attempted to address this problem. Based on the study, a comprehensive definition of interoperability is presented here. Further, the authors have identified four constituents of interoperable system and finally, a layered architecture for interoperability of government information systems has been presented. The authors believe that an unambiguous definition and clear idea about constituent of interoperability would remove much confusion in conceptualisation, design, and development of interoperable systems in government.
Communities of Purpose
Authors: Broganza Ashley
Published: May 2011

The integration of organizational knowledge across functional communities is increasingly seen as important. The frameworks to do so are often referred to as a ‘higher order set of principles’ or as ‘overarching architectures.’ While recognizing these frameworks as a source of competitive advantage, this chapter underlines the importance of linking organizational knowledge to practice. At the operational level, actual practices are rarely aligned with canonical practices contained in manuals, training programmes, and computer systems. In this theoretical chapter we show that the divergence between actual and canonical practices is exacerbated by a number of communities of practice addressing conflicting stakeholder interests. It is the link between knowledge and actual practice that is of central interest to this chapter. Exploring this relationship necessitates a reexamination of the role of communities of practice and frameworks for bringing together conflicting stakeholder interests. Drawing upon literatures from knowledge management, communities of practice, stakeholder, and resource-based theory this chapter suggests an integrative Purposive Community metaframework. The proposed conceptual framework contributes to the resource-based view of the firm by linking organizational knowledge to actual practices and enhancing organizational capabilities by integrating diverse stakeholder interests and expectations through a shared common goal. Such a metaframework can enhance an organisation’s dynamic capability to respond to and create change in its external environment.
Measuring Transformational Use of ICTs at Regional Level
Authors: Gareis Karsten , Hüsing Tobias
Published: May 2011

The experience of recent years has shown that take-up of ICT, for example within strategies to implement online public services, is a necessary but not sufficient condition for making progress towards regional development goals. What is of interest is not ICT use per se, but applications of technology which exert a transformational impact on users, that is which support people, firms, and the public sector by opening up new, more effective ways for achievement of goals rather than simply making existing structures and processes more efficient. This chapter focuses on use of ICT by individuals in their roles as citizens, workers, learners, patients, consumers, and so forth. We argue that here, the transformational potential of ICTs is rooted in its effect in terms of empowerment of users, that is, “the process of granting people the power to take responsible initiatives to shape their own life and that of their community or society in economic, social, and political terms.” The chapter presents a conceptual framework for analysing ICT-enabled empowerment. It also presents some results of an Internet user survey conducted in early 2008 in 12 selected regions in the EU.
Individual Differences and Web-Based Learning
Authors: Grimley Michael , Riding Richard
Published: May 2011

This chapter considers a range of individual difference variables that have potential relevance to specifically designed Web-based learning packages. These include: cognitive style, working memory efficiency, anxiety, gender, and current knowledge. It discusses, in general terms, the conditions under which the variables are important, and the potential interaction between them in affecting learning performance. The roles of the variables within the context of Web-based learning are then examined. It is argued that technical developments in computer technology that allow materials that can accommodate learning preferences by responding to the student’s choices and learning performance combined with a better psychological understanding of individual differences in learning should result in improved educational effectiveness.
Cognitive Styles and Design Interactions in Web-Based Education
Authors: Workman Michael
Published: May 2011

Online education has experienced phenomenal growth, but some researchers and practitioners, as well as some students, have raised serious questions about the efficacy of online education. The research literature shows a clear division between those who maintain that the quality of online education is at least on par with traditional classroom education, while another body is more dubious about that conclusion. In this chapter, we will examine some of the personal and situational variables that confound these findings –both positive and negative, and suggest that media and their interactions with individual learning styles and instructor educational philosophies need to be taken into account in the design and delivery of online education.
Diagnosing Students' Learning Style in an Educational Hypermedia System
Authors: Popescu Elvira
Published: May 2011

Individualizing the learning experience for each student is an important goal for educational systems and accurately modeling the learner is the first step towards attaining this goal. This chapter addresses learner modeling from the point of view of learning styles, an important factor for the efficiency and effectiveness of the learning process. A critical review of existing modeling methods is provided, outlining the specificities and limitations of current learning style based adaptive educational systems (LSAES). The controversy regarding the multitude of partially overlapping learning style models proposed in the literature is addressed, by suggesting the use of a complex of features, each with its own importance and influence (the so called Unified Learning Style Model). An implicit modeling method is introduced, based on analyzing students’ behavioral patterns. The approach is validated experimentally and good precision rates are reported.
Measurements Used in Wireless Sensor Networks Localization
Authors: Gustafsson Fredrik , Gunnarsson Fredrik
Published: May 2011

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) localization relies on measurements. Availability of, and the information content in, these measurements depend on the network architecture, connectivity, node time synchronization and the signaling bandwidth between the sensor nodes. This chapter addresses wireless sensor networks measurements in a general framework based on a set of nodes, where each node either emits or receives signals. The emitted signal can for example be a radio, acoustic, seismic, infrared or sonic wave that is propagated in a certain media to the receiver. This general observation model does not make any difference between localization of sensor network nodes or unknown objects, or whether the nodes or objects are stationary or mobile. The information available for localization in wireless cellular networks (WCN) is in literature classified as direction of arrival (DOA), time of arrival (TOA), time difference of arrival (TDOA) and received signal strength (RSS). This chapter generalizes these concepts to the more general wireless sensor networks.
Calibration and Measurement of Signal Strength for Sensor Localization
Authors: Patwari Neal , Agrawal Piyush
Published: May 2011

A number of practical issues are involved in the use of measured received signal strength (RSS) for purposes of localization. This chapter focuses on device effects and modeling problems which are not well covered in the literature, such as transceiver device manufacturing variations, battery effects on transmit power, nonlinearities in RSSI circuits, and path loss model parameter estimation. The authors discuss both the negative impacts of these effects and inaccuracies, and adaptations used by particular localization algorithms to be robust to them, without discussing any algorithm in detail. The authors present measurement methodologies to characterize these effects for wireless sensor nodes, and report the results from several calibration experiments to quantify each discussed effect and modeling issue.
Statistical Location Detection
Authors: Ray Saikat , Lai Wei , Guo Dong , Paschalidis Ioannis Ch.
Published: May 2011

The authors present a unified stochastic localization approach that allows a wireless sensor network to determine the physical locations of its nodes with moderate resolution, especially indoors. The area covered by the wireless sensor network is partitioned into regions; the localization algorithm identifies the region where a given sensor resides. The localization is performed using an infrastructure of stationary clusterheads that receive beacon packets periodically transmitted by the given sensor. The localization algorithm exploits the statistical characteristics of the beacon signal and treats the localization problem as a multi-hypothesis testing problem. The authors provide an asymptotic performance guarantee for the system and use this metric to determine the optimal placement of the infrastructure nodes. The placement problem is NP-hard and they leverage special-purpose algorithms from the theory of discrete facility location to solve large problem instances efficiently. They also show that localization decisions can be taken in a distributed manner by appropriate collaboration of the clusterheads. The approach is validated in a Boston University testbed.
Beyond Localization
Authors: Watteyne Thomas , Dohler Mischa , Augé-Blum Isabelle , Barthel Dominique
Published: May 2011

This chapter deals with self-organization and communication for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). It shows that nodes do not always need to know their true physical coordinates to be able to communicate in an energy-efficient manner. They can be replaced by coordinates which are not related to their geographical position, yet are easier to obtain and more efficient when used by routing protocols. The authors start by analyzing the techniques used by a node to infer its geographical location from a small number of location-aware anchor nodes. They describe how nodes can use their geographical locations to self-organize the network. The authors then present an anchor-free positioning algorithm in which nodes acquire virtual coordinates. Through a continuous updating process, virtual coordinates of neighbor nodes are brought close together. Although not related to the nodes’ geographical location, routing using these coordinates outperforms routing using true physical coordinates. This chapter hence shows that localization algorithms are not per se required when considering communication in a WSN. A better strategy is to use geographic routing protocols over non-physical virtual coordinates which are easier to obtain.
Discovering Protein Complexes in Protein Interaction Networks
Authors: Pizzuti Clara , Rombo Simona Ester
Published: May 2011

In this chapter a survey on the main graph-based clustering techniques proposed in the literature to mine proteinprotein interaction networks (PINs) is presented. The detection of putative protein complexes is an important research problem in systems biology. In fact it may help in understanding the mechanisms regulating cell life, in deriving conservations across species, in predicting the biological functions of uncharacterized proteins, and, more importantly, for therapeutic purposes. Different kind of approaches are described and classified. Furthermore, some validation techniques commonly exploited in this context are illustrated. The goal of the chapter is to provide a useful guide and reference for both computer scientists and biologists. Computer scientists may have a complete vision of what has already been made and which are the new challenges about PINs clustering, taking them as a starting point for further researches and new proposals; on the other hand, biologists may find in the chapter the necessary material to select the most appropriate methods to apply for their specific purposes.
Predicting Protein Functions from Protein Interaction Networks
Authors: Chua Hon Nian , Wong Limsoon
Published: May 2011

Functional characterization of genes and their protein products is essential to biological and clinical research. Yet, there is still no reliable way of assigning functional annotations to proteins in a high-throughput manner. In this chapter, the authors provide an introduction to the task of automated protein function prediction. They discuss about the motivation for automated protein function prediction, the challenges faced in this task, as well as some approaches that are currently available. In particular, they take a closer look at methods that use protein-protein interaction for protein function prediction, elaborating on their underlying techniques and assumptions, as well as their strengths and limitations.
Technical Risk Management
Authors: Hylton Pete
Published: May 2011

In today’s highly competitive industrial environment, many high-tech businesses are using Technical Risk Management (TRM) in their engineering design programs as a means of improving the chances of success. TRM allows program mangers to pinpoint potential failure modes of a project early in the process, so that corrective actions can be taken in the most effective manner. TRM also allows managers to appropriately prioritize program tasks so as to achieve optimum use of available technical resources. TRM requires that a methodology of practices and processes be implemented on an ongoing basis. These processes identify, evaluate, mitigate, and manage technical risks affecting program success. This chapter will discuss implementation of the TRM process and provide a simple example to show how the process works.
Project Management Assessment Methods
Authors: Narayanan Mysore
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, the author describes how one can implement and incorporate creative techniques to design, develop, document and disseminate a systematic process for conducting assessment, whether it be in a multinational corporation or it be in a small business environment. The author accomplishes this by providing models, samples and established guidelines for effectively using assessment results for continuous quality improvement. The author focuses on the importance of adopting modern techniques and stresses that technology should not be viewed just as a growing trend. The author shows how technology can be intelligently implemented as an invaluable assessment tool that can quickly identify areas for improvement so that a given corporation can continue to climb the ladder of success in a competitive global market of the 21st Century.
Lean and Global Product Development in Auto Industry
Authors: Nepal Bimal P. , Monplaisir Leslie
Published: May 2011

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in automotive industry are faced with the conflicting goals of creating vehicles with higher reliability, increased feature content and quality while lowering model runs, reducing costs, and shorter developmental times. However, to achieve these goals is very difficult in a global product development environment that involves globally distributed OEMs and suppliers working on the components and subsystems of the same but a complex product like an automobile. This is especially true with regard to electronic systems in automotive industry due to the continued and significant increase in overall electrical content in a vehicle, and the historical short lifecycle of enabling technologies. For example, in the last three decades, electrical/electronics control has gone from 100% analog to primarily digital microprocessor based controls (Paras et al., 2004). As the level of integration occurs, automotive electronics are going to be challenged by software development and integration. As a result, it is going to increase overall product development time and cost. While it has been a growing concern for both academician and practitioners, the prior literature is still very limited in terms providing a clear or sufficiently structured framework to address the issues of global product development system. This chapter attempts to narrow down this gap by presenting a lean and global product development (GPD) framework and the necessary enablers to achieve this end. The framework is demonstrated through an automotive industry case study.
Future Trends
Authors: Orosbullard Debra D.
Published: May 2011

The business world is running at a faster pace than ever before. Globalization has partnered the world and new ways of doing business to meet increasing demands are inevitable. Teams now have members dispersed around the globe, distanced by location and brought together by technology. Where these geographically dispersed teams work is known as a “virtual” world. The “virtual” team is different from the traditional team many are familiar with requiring that new skills be learned to be a successful member. This chapter will introduce the virtual team and discuss how it is different from traditional teams. The skills required of the leadership and members of a virtual team will be identified and detailed. The various types of virtual teams will be examined to determine how they are utilized in today’s business world.
QROC
Authors: Prati Ronaldo Cristiano
Published: May 2011

Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) graph is a popular way of assessing the performance of classification rules. However, as such graphs are based on class conditional probabilities, they are inappropriate to evaluate the quality of association rules. This follows from the fact that there is no class in association rule mining, and the consequent part of two different association rules might not have any correlation at all. This chapter presents an extension of ROC graphs, named QROC (for Quality ROC), which can be used in association rule context. Furthermore, QROC can be used to help analysts to evaluate the relative interestingness among different association rules in different cost scenarios.
Meta-Knowledge Based Approach for an Interactive Visualization of Large Amounts of Association Rules
Authors: Yahia Sadok Ben , Couturier Olivier , Hamrouni Tarek , Nguifo Engelbert Mephu
Published: May 2011

Providing efficient and easy-to-use graphical tools to users is a promising challenge of data mining, especially in the case of association rules. These tools must be able to generate explicit knowledge and, then, to present it in an elegant way. Visualization techniques have shown to be an efficient solution to achieve such a goal. Even though considered as a key step in the mining process, the visualization step of association rules received much less attention than that paid to the extraction step. Nevertheless, some graphical tools have been developed to extract and visualize association rules. In those tools, various approaches are proposed to filter the huge number of association rules before the visualization step. However both data mining steps (association rule extraction and visualization) are treated separately in a one way process. Recently different approaches have been proposed that use meta-knowledge to guide the user during the mining process. Standing at the crossroads of Data Mining and Human-Computer Interaction, those approaches present an integrated framework covering both steps of the data mining process. This chapter describes and discusses such approaches. Two approaches are described in details: the first one builds a roadmap of compact representation of association rules from which the user can explore generic bases of association rules and derive, if desired, redundant ones without information loss. The second approach clusters the set of association rules or its generic bases, and uses a fisheye view technique to help the user during the mining of association rules. Generic bases with their links or the associated clusters constitute the meta-knowledge used to guide the interactive and cooperative visualization of association rules.
Digital Sport
Authors: Mueller Florian ‘Floyd’
Published: May 2011

Recent advances in computing technology have contributed to a new trend that merges digital gaming with physical sports activities and combines the advantages of both; such as contributing a health benefit and supporting distributed participants. This chapter describes prominent examples, and their underlying theoretical concepts and perspectives. In particular, it presents a design prototype, “Jogging over a Distance,” which offers social joggers the opportunity to run together, although being in two different locations. This approach demonstrates the potential for the merging of computer gaming technology with sports activities, to offer combined effects that have traditionally been limited to each respective domain. Future work on enhancing existing sports and gaming activities will support novel experiences previously not possible. This exciting new field has the potential to enhance users’ lives by making positive health contributions.
Integration of Libre Software Applications to Create a Collaborative Work Platform for Researchers at GET
Authors: Berger Olivier , Bac Christian , Hamet Benoît
Published: May 2011

Libre software provides powerful applications ready to be integrated for the build-up of platforms for internal use in organizations. We describe the architecture of the collaborative work platform which we have integrated, designed for researchers at GET. We present the elements we have learned during this project in particular with respect to contribution to external libre projects, in order to better ensure the maintainability of the internal applications, and to phpGroupware as a framework for specific applications development.
Open Source in Web-Based Applications
Authors: Ardagna Claudio Agostino , Frati Fulvio , Gianini Gabriele
Published: May 2011

Business and recreational activities on the global communication infrastructure are increasingly based on the use of remote resources and services, and on the interaction between different, remotely located parties. In such a context, Single Sign-On technologies simplify the log-on process allowing automatic access to secondary domains through a unique log-on operation to the primary domain. In this paper, we evaluate different Single Sign-On implementations focusing on the central role of Open Source in the development of Web-based systems. We outline requirements for Single Sign-On systems and evaluate four existing Open Source implementations in terms of degree of fulfilment of those requirements. Finally we compare those Open Source systems with respect to some specific Open Source community patterns.
Hierarchical Scheduling in Heterogeneous Grid Systems
Authors: Al-Zoubi Khaldoon
Published: May 2011

This paper proposes hierarchal scheduling schemes for Grid systems: a self-discovery scheme for the resource discovery stage and an adaptive child scheduling method for the resource selection stage. In addition, we propose three rescheduling algorithms: (1) the Butterfly algorithm in order to reschedule jobs when better resources become available, (2) the Fallback algorithm in order to reschedule jobs that had their resources taken away from the Grid before the actual resource allocation, and (3) the Load-Balance algorithm in order to balance load among resources. We also propose a hybrid system to combine the proposed hierarchal schemes with the well-known peer-to-peer (P2P) principle. We compare the performance of the proposed schemes against the P2P-based Grid systems through simulation with respect to a set of predefined metrics.
Engineering Conceptual Data Models from Domain Ontologies
Authors: El-Ghalayini Haya , Odeh Mohammed , McClatchey Richard
Published: May 2011

This paper studies the differences and similarities between domain ontologies and conceptual data models and the role that ontologies can play in establishing conceptual data models during the process of information systems development. A mapping algorithm has been proposed and embedded in a special purpose Transformation Engine to generate a conceptual data model from a given domain ontology. Both quantitative and qualitative methods have been adopted to critically evaluate this new approach. In addition, this paper focuses on evaluating the quality of the generated conceptual data model elements using Bunge-Wand-Weber and OntoClean ontologies. The results of this evaluation indicate that the generated conceptual data model provides a high degree of accuracy in identifying the substantial domain entities along with their relationships being derived from the consensual semantics of domain knowledge. The results are encouraging and support the potential role that this approach can take part in the process of information system development.
Modeling Defects in E-Projects
Authors: Ferguson John D. , Miller James
Published: May 2011

It is now widely accepted that software projects utilizing the Web (e-projects) face many of the same problems and risks experienced with more traditional software projects, only to a greater degree. Further, their characteristics of rapid development cycles combined with high frequency of software releases and adaptations make many of the traditional tools and techniques for modeling defects unsuitable. This paper proposes a simple model to explain and quantify the interaction between generic defect injection and removal processes in e-projects. The model is based upon long standing and highly regarded work from the field of quantitative ecological population modeling. This basic modeling approach is then subsequently tailored to fit the software production process within an e-project context.
Introduction to Current Techniques for Effective ICT Development
Authors: Koh S.C. Lenny , Maguire Stuart
Published: May 2011

The development of information systems (IS) has for many years been regarded as the domain of the technical expert. In what appears to be a growing number of instances systems appear to be having negative effects on the organization. A regular spate of system failures may have identified serious flaws in the system development process. Organizations may often be significantly affected by the implementation of IS. Future IS development may increasingly be trans-organizational and therefore increase the potential for dysfunctionality. Even changing one line of code may have repercussions within a department/organization. To implement a totally integrated system within an organization without adequate preparation could have serious consequences for the financial well-being of the company. The development of information systems is a complex process, one with many opportunities for things to go wrong. To try and control this complex process a methodology was required that would bring more discipline to the IS development process. There is a need to make more efficient use of the resources that are available. Historically, IS has been developed using the system.development.life.cycle. (SDLC). This has been the prevailing methodology for medium and large system projects. However, the use of accepted methodologies for IS development have not guaranteed the successful implementation of information systems.
Learning From Failures
Authors: Koh S.C. Lenny , Maguire Stuart
Published: May 2011

Strategic.failures can be defined as failures of achieving the expected benefits from the organizational, size and industrial sectors or countries’ perspectives at a higher level. At an organizational level, such failures could be related to a scenario where the ICT implementation has failed to enhance an enterprise’s image and recognition in the specific industry. From the angle of size and industrial sectors, such failures could be related to a phenomenon where ‘sectorial divide’ is apparent owing to the different stages of ICT adoption and hence affecting the possibility of integrating with suppliers and customers in a supply chain. Strategic failures can also be extended to failures at the countries level.
The Expansion Plan of TeleDoc
Authors: Koh S.C. Lenny , Maguire Stuart
Published: May 2011

The TeleDoc project of Jivan Institute has combined mobile commerce and the ancient concepts of Ayurveda for treatment of rural residents of India for whom health services are still available only in dreams. Using GPRS network and J2ME applications on Nokia 6800 mobile phones, TeleDoc field workers are reaching the remotest villages of India with the promise of possible Ayurvedic treatments for subsequent illnesses. With cash-positive results in the first year of operations, TeleDoc wants to expand in a big-bang way by covering 10,000 villages in 2006. They also want to improve the service quality by using real-time video streaming. But many members of the TeleDoc technical team are skeptical whether the existing GPRS-based solution will serve the purpose or not. There are different priorities in the team (e.g., cost-effectiveness, quality of service, availability, immediacy, cost-ofchange, etc.). The IT consultant has many options, but getting the priorities sorted out is the daunting task at hand.
The Influences and Impacts of Societal Factors on the Adoption of Web Services
Authors: Umapathy Karthikeyan
Published: May 2011

The objective of this chapter is to identify and analyze implications of social factors on the adoption of Web services technology. Web services allow organizations to streamline their business process applications and expand their market boundaries to global level. Currently, adoption of Web service technology is in the early phase, as organizations are experimenting with it behind secured firewall. Technological immaturity and cost of adoption are considered as primary factors for slow adoption of Web services technology. However, global reach of Web services allows it to be used in different cultural, geopolitical, and infrastructural conditions. Therefore, this chapter explores influences and impacts of societal factors on the adoption of Web service technology. Societal factors considered in this study are culture, social structure, geography, ethics, and trust. Common themes identified across these factors are need for mechanisms to support globalization management, to monitor and assess trustworthiness, and relationship management.
The Geospatial Semantic Web
Authors: Moreno-Sanchez Rafael
Published: May 2011

The Semantic Web (SW) and Geospatial Semantic Web (GSW) are considered the next step in the evolution of the Web. For most non-Web specialists, geospatial information professionals, and non-computer-science students these concepts and their impacts on the way we use the Web are not clearly understood. The purpose of this chapter is to provide this broad audience of non-specialists with a basic understanding of: the needs and visions driving the evolution toward the SW and GSW; the principles and technologies involved in their implementation; the state of the art in the efforts to create the GSW; the impacts of the GSW on the way we use the Web to discover, evaluate, and integrate geospatial data and services; and the needs for future research and development to make the GSW a reality. A background on the SW is first presented to serve as a basis for more specific discussions on the GSW.
Modeling Objects of Industrial Applications
Authors: Landryová Lenka , Babiuch Marek
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the development and design of an industrial application based on new technologies and explores the technological dimension of data acquisition, storing, access, and use; the data structure and integration and aggregating values from data necessary for the control of production processes. The demo application presented here was designed according to the Enterprise-Control System Integration Standard (ISA-95) with the goal of maintaining a standard that defines the interface between control functions and other enterprise management and business functions. The component-based object-oriented development concept was implemented in order to utilize advantages provided by creating a complete plant equipment model. The value of semantics was rediscovered in applications, which communicate among their system modules on Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), the standard defined by W3C, whose initiative has provided standard semantics markup languages based on XML as well. The data format and the format of standard XML messages that are used in industrial applications are defined by Business To Manufacturing Markup Language (B2MML) as W3C XML Schema for implementation of ISA-95, while offering the framework for project integration, the separation of business processes from manufacturing processes and focusing on functions instead of systems, organizations or individuals themselves.
Towards Process Mediation in Semantic Service Oriented Architecture (SSOA)
Authors: Mahmoud Tariq , Gómez Jorge Marx
Published: May 2011

Nowadays, it becomes very hard for anybody in the digital world to search and find suitable Web Services fit into his/her needs, since there is a huge amount of data on the Web caused by the enormous increasing of the Web providers and Web Services widespread in this digital community, and one of the most difficulties Web Services have to overcome, in the attempt to use the contents of the World Wide Web, is heterogeneity which is caused by the nature of the Web itself, and has two origins: data or public process heterogeneity. So it is highly required in such environment to have an intelligent mechanism in which every user can search according to his/her needs and later on can fulfill it in a semantic way. The authors will focus in this chapter on the public process heterogeneity which describes the behavior of the participants during a conversation, and propose a solution for dealing with it, explaining the functionality of the process mediator developed as a part of the Web Service Execution Environment (WSMX) and its mediation scenario, and will also apply this proposed solution on Federated Enterprise Resource Planning (FERP) system to get the semantic extension from it.
Resurrecting Graduate Conversation through an Online Learning Community
Authors: Thoms Brian , Garrett Nathan , Soffer Mariana , Ryan Terry
Published: May 2011

This article reports on action research that implements online learning community (OLC) software to foster conversation at a specific graduate school. The design of the research is informed by theories of conversation, online learning, and social networking, as well as by popular Web 2.0 technologies. A distinguishing feature of this application is that it is oriented toward and controlled by individuals rather than being centered on courses. Results indicate that stakeholders—graduate students and faculty—appreciate and find value in the OLC we implemented.
An Ontology Approach to Collaborative Engineering For Producibility
Authors: Elgh Fredrik , Sunnersjo Staffan
Published: May 2011

With today’s high product variety and shorter life cycles in automobile manufacturing, every new car design must be adapted to existing production facilities so that these facilities can be used for the manufacturing of several car models. In order to ensure this, collaboration between engineering design and production engineering has to be supported. Sharing information is at the core of collaborative engineering. By implementing an ontology approach, work within domains requirement management, engineering design, and production engineering can be integrated. An ontology approach, based on an information model implemented in a computer tool, supports work in the different domains and their collaboration. The main objectives of the proposed approach are supporting the formation of requirement specifications for products and processes, improved and simplified information retrieval for designers and process planners, forward traceability from changes in product systems to manufacturing systems, backward traceability from changes in manufacturing systems to product systems, and the elimination of redundant or multiple versions of requirement specifications by simplifying the updating and maintenance of the information.
A Paradox of Virtual Teams and Change
Authors: McAvoy John , Butler Tom
Published: May 2011

During a longitudinal participant observation study of a virtual software development team, a strange paradox was noted. A new software development methodology was introduced to the project and the developers were initially committed to its use. Over time, the commitment gradually decreased to the stage where aspects of the new methodology were practically ignored. As the team was a virtual team, with group members rarely congregating as a whole for any length of time, it was hard to explain why this diminishing of commitment occurred. The remoteness and part-time participation of group members meant that the team deciding themselves to ignore aspects of the methodology was not a likely possibility. A review of existing research suggested that the concepts behind the diffusion of innovations (specifically software process innovations) may have a bearing. Although pertinent to the area of introducing new software development methodologies, diffusion theories did not provide a complete explanation for the decrease in commitment that was observed. The theory of competing commitments was applied, and it was discovered that one cause of the decreased commitment among team members was groupthink. Groupthink should not be a problem with virtual teams as there should be less cohesion—the lack of contact between members dictating the low level of cohesion. Further analysis showed that traditional peer groupthink was not the issue, but hierarchical groupthink influenced by the project manager had a large influence. These findings are in contrast to most expectations regarding virtual teams, including the project management of virtual teams.