bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Recommender Systems
Authors: Rafaeli Sheizaf , Dan-Gur Yuval , Barak Miri
Published: February 2011

Recommendation systems can play an extensive role in online learning. In such systems, learners can receive guidance in locating and ranking references, knowledge bits, test items, and so forth. In recommender systems, users’ ratings can be applied toward items, users, other users’ ratings, and, if allowed, raters of raters of items recursively. In this chapter, we describe an online learning system — QSIA — an active recommender system for Questions Sharing and Interactive Assignments, designed to enhance knowledge sharing among learners. First, we lay out some of the theoretical background for social, open-rating mechanisms in online learning systems. We discuss concepts such as social versus black-box recommendations and the advice of neighbors as opposed to that of friends. We argue that enabling subjective views and ratings of other users is an inevitable phase of social collaboration systems. We also argue that social recommendations are critical for the exploitation of the value associated with recommendation.
A Chronobot for Time and Knowledge Exchange in E-Learning
Authors: Chang Shi-Kuo
Published: February 2011

The chronobot is a device for time and knowledge exchange. The concept of the chronobot first appeared in a science fiction short story, “Nocturne,” written by the author some 20 years ago [2]. Recently, the Industry Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and Institute for Information Industry (III), two leading research institutes in Taiwan, invited the author to lead a pioneering project to put the ideas into practice to build a realistic device. The chronobot thus was conceived. The chronobot allows a group of people to exchange time and knowledge. This paper describes the basic concept of the chronobot, its mechanism for time/knowledge exchange, and its application to e-learning. Research issues are also discussed.
A 3D Situation Language Exercising System in the WWW Environment
Authors: Keh Huan-Chao , Chang Jia-Lin , Lin Kun-Yi , Hsu Hun-Hui
Published: February 2011

Situated learning is a very effective method in learning a language. Applying the multimedia technology to the World Wide Web (WWW) for situated learning is a widely discussed topic and has been extensively researched in recent years. This paper has analyzed the requirements for situated learning and has built an architecture that can help to support linguistic situated learning over the Internet. This architecture does not only preserve the original advantages of the WWW in multimedia and interactive Web pages, but it also includes a 3D environment to simulate real life scenario. Finally, the paper builds a prototype of Internet education’s research plan in French to reveal the possibility of the presented architecture.
A Data Mining Approach to Diagnosing Student Learning Problems in Sciences Courses
Authors: Hwang Gwo-Jen
Published: February 2011

In recent years, researchers have attempted to develop more effective distance education systems. Nevertheless, students in network-based learning environments may need additional guidance and assistance when they encounter problems in learning certain concepts. Therefore, it is important to provide learning guidance in a distance learning environment. In this paper, we propose a data mining approach that is capable of assisting teachers to provide information needed for guiding students during the learning process. Several experiments on science courses have shown the effectiveness of applying the novel approach.
Motivation to E-Learn Within Organizational Settings
Authors: Rentroia-Bonito M. A. , Jorge J. , Ghaoui C.
Published: February 2011

E-learning is expected to support organizations and individuals so they can become more adaptable and competitive. However, in order for organizations to realize the full potential of this technology, they should create and sustain the right context to foster learning in articulation with business objectives. This requires active participation and engagement of workers. This work explores a variable called motivation-to-e-learn, a key component of this process. Our goal is to identify what motivation-related variables are critical for users’ engagements in the process. To this end, we explored the importance of a set of motivation-to-e-learn variables for a group of participants at our university. From this activity, an exploratory four-factor structure emerged that explains 67% of motivation to e-learn variance. We discuss our results, together with their implications for designing technology-supported learning experiences, lessons learned, and future work. Our contribution is a step toward integrating business processes, learners, and e-learning systems into an effective and harmonious whole.
Web-Based Seamless Migration for Task-Oriented Mobile Distance Learning
Authors: Zhang Degan , Li Yuan-chao , Zhang Huaiyu , Zhang Xinshang , Zeng Guangping
Published: February 2011

As a new kind of computing paradigm, pervasive computing will meet the requirements of human being that anybody maybe obtain services in anywhere and at anytime, task-oriented seamless migration is one of its applications. Apparently, the function of seamless mobility is suitable for mobile services, such as mobile Web-based learning. In this article, under the banner of seamless mobility, we propose a kind of approach supporting task-oriented mobile distance learning paradigm. Web-based seamless migration, which has the capability that task for mobile distance learning (MDL) dynamically follows the learner from place to place and machine to machine without learner’s awareness or intervention by active service. Our key idea is this capability can be achieved by architecture of component smart platform and agent-based migrating mechanism. In order to clarify the approach, firstly, a description of the task for mobile distance learning and migrating granularity of task has been suggested. Then, the mechanism of seamless migration has been described, including solving several important sub-problems, such as transferring delay, transferring failure, residual computation dependency. Finally, our implemented platform for Web-based seamless migration has been explained, the validity comparison and evaluation of this kind of mobile distance learning paradigm is shown by an experimental demo. Suggested Web-based learning paradigm by seamless migration is convenient to distance learn during mobility and is useful for the busy or mobile distance learner.
QoS Adaptation in Multimedia Multicast Conference Applications for E-Learning Services
Authors: Deusdado Sérgio , Carvalho Paulo
Published: February 2011

The evolution of the World Wide Web service has incorporated new distributed multimedia conference applications, powering a new generation of e-learning development and allowing improved interactivity and prohuman relations. Groupware applications are increasingly representative in the Internet home applications market, however, the Quality of Service (QoS) provided by the network is still a limitation impairing their performance. Such applications have found, in multicast technology, an ally contributing for their efficient implementation and scalability. Additionally, considering QoS as a design goal at the application level becomes crucial for groupware development, enabling QoS productivity to applications. The applications’ ability to adapt themselves dynamically according to the resources availability can be considered a quality factor. Tolerant real-time applications, such as video conferences, are in the frontline to benefit from QoS adaptation. However, not all include adaptive technology able to provide both end-system and network quality awareness. Adaptation, in these cases, can be achieved by introducing a multiplatform middleware layer responsible for tutoring the applications’ resources (enabling adjudication or limitation) based on the available processing and networking capabilities. Congregating these technological contributions, an adaptive platform has been developed integrating public domain multicast tools, applied to a Web-based distance learning system. The system is user-centered (e-student), aiming at good pedagogical practices and proactive usability for multimedia and network resources. The services provided, including QoS adapted interactive multimedia multicast conferences (MMC), are fully integrated and transparent to end-users. QoS adaptation, when treated systematically in tolerant real-time applications, denotes advantages in group scalability and QoS sustainability in heterogeneous and unpredictable environments such as the Internet.
Grounding Collaborative Learning in Semantics-Based Critiquing
Authors: Cheung William K. , Mørch Anders I. , Wong Kelvin C. , Lee Cynthia , Liu Jiming , Lam Mason H.
Published: February 2011

In this article we investigate the use of latent semantic analysis (LSA), critiquing systems, and knowledge building to support computer-based teaching of English composition. We have built and tested an English composition critiquing system that makes use of LSA to analyze student essays and compute feedback by comparing their essays with teacher’s model essays. LSA values are input to a critiquing component to provide a user interface for the students. A software agent can also use the critic feedback to coordinate a collaborative knowledge-building session with multiple users (students and teachers). Shared feedback provides seed questions that can trigger discussion and extended reflection about the next phase of writing. We present the first version of a prototype we have built and report the results from three experiments. We end the paper by describing our plans for future work.
Adaptive Synchronization of Semantically Compressed Instructional Videos for Collaborative Distance Learning
Authors: Phung Dan , Valetto Giuseppe , Kaiser Gail E. , Liu Tiecheng , Kender John R.
Published: February 2011

The increasing popularity of online courses has highlighted the need for collaborative learning tools for student groups. In this article, we present an e-Learning architecture and adaptation model called AI2TV (Adaptive Interactive Internet Team Video), which allows groups of students to collaboratively view instructional videos in synchrony. Video player actions, like play, pause and stop, can be initiated by any group member and and the results of those actions are synchronized with all the other students. These features allow students to review a lecture video in tandem, facilitating the learning process. AI2TV upholds the invariant that each student will receive semantically equivalent content at all times. Experimental trials show that AI2TV successfully synchronizes instructional videos for distributed students while concurrently optimizing the video quality, even under conditions of fluctuating bandwidth, by adaptively adjusting the quality level for each student while still maintaining the semantic content of the instructional videos.
Choosing MOODLE
Authors: Stewart Brian , Briton Derek , Gismondi Mike , Heller Bob , Kennepohl Dietmar , McGreal Rory , Nelson Christine
Published: February 2011

Athabasca University—Canada’s Open University evaluated learning management systems (LMS) for use by the university. Evaluative criteria were developed in order to ensure that different platforms were tested against weighted criteria representing the needs of the university. Three LMSs (WebCt, LotusNotes, and Moodle) were selected for the evaluation. Moodle was chosen with 11 first place ratings and with only one third place rating. Lotus Notes was second with five first place ratings. Moodle garnered 40% of the total weighted score with Lotus Notes getting 32%, and WebCT 29%. The first place preferences within individual criteria show the following: WebCT 6; LotusNotes 7; and Moodle 58.
Enhancing the IMS QTI to Better Support Computer Assisted Marking
Authors: Clark Damien , Baillie-de Byl Penny
Published: February 2011

Computer aided assessment is a common approach used by educational institutions. The benefits range into the design of teaching, learning, and instructional materials. While some such systems implement fully automated marking for multiple choice questions and fill-in-the-blanks, they are insufficient when human critiquing is required. Current systems developed in isolation have little regard to scalability and interoperability between courses, computer platforms, and learning management systems. The IMS Global Learning Consortium’s open specifications for interoperable learning technology lack functionality to make it useful for computer assisted marking. This article presents an enhanced set of these standards to address the issue.
A Changed Economy with Unchanged Universities? A Contribution to the University of the Future
Authors: Cunha Maria Manuela , Putnik Goran D.
Published: February 2011

Individualised open and distance learning at the university continuing education and post-graduate education levels is a central issue of today. The advanced information and communication technologies together with several applications offer new perspectives, such as the so-called virtual university. Simultaneously, to gain market share, several organisational arrangements are emerging in the virtual university field, like consortia arrangements and joint venture initiatives between and among institutions and organisations. The dynamically changing social and economical environment where we live claims for new approaches to virtual and flexible university continuing and post-graduate education, such as the concept of Agile/Virtual University proposed by the authors. However, the implementation of this concept (and of other similar concepts) does not rely just on basic information and communication infrastructure, neither on dispersedly developed applications. Although absolutely necessary as support, the added value comes from the higher-level functions to support individualised learning projects. The implementation of the Agile/Virtual University concept requires a framework and a specific supporting environment, a Market of Teaching Resources, which are discussed in the article.
Rationale, Design and Implementation of a Computer Vision-Based Interactive E-Learning System
Authors: Xu Richard Y.D. , Jin Jesse S.
Published: February 2011

This article presents a schematic application of computer vision technologies to e-learning that is synchronous, peer-to-peer-based, and supports an instructor’s interaction with non-computer teaching equipments. The article first discusses the importance of these focused e-learning areas, where the properties include accurate bidirectional interaction and low cost hardware; system portability and versatile vision technology are emphasized. In the subsequent sections, we present some results aiming to achieve these goals. In particular, we highlight the most recent advancements in the interactive PTZ camera control from both the instructor and remote student. We also illustrated how these results have successfully addressed the challenges.
Using a User-Interactive QA System for Personalized E-Learning
Authors: Hu Dawei , Chen Wei , Zeng Qingtian , Hao Tianyong , Min Feng , Wenyin Liu
Published: February 2011

A personalized e-learning framework based on a user-interactive question-answering (QA) system is proposed, in which a user-modeling approach is used to capture personal information of students and a personalized answer extraction algorithm is proposed for personalized automatic answering. In our approach, a topic ontology (or concept hierarchy) of course content defined by an instructor is used for the system to generate the corresponding structure of boards for holding relevant questions. Students can interactively post questions, and also browse, select, and answer others’ questions in their interested boards. A knowledge base is accumulated using historical question/answer (Q/A) pairs for knowledge reuse. The students’ log data are used to build an association space to compute the interest and authority of the students for each board and each topic. The personal information of students can help instructors design suitable teaching materials to enhance instruction efficiency, be used to implement the personalized automatic answering and distribute unsolved questions to relevant students to enhance the learning efficiency. The experiment results show the efficacy of our user-modeling approach.
A Methodology for Developing Learning Objects for Web Course Delivery
Authors: Stauffer Karen , Lin Fuhua , Koole Marguerite
Published: February 2011

This article presents a methodology for developing learning objects for web-based courses using the IMS Learning Design (IMS LD) specification. We first investigated the IMS LD specification, determining how to use it with online courses and the student delivery model, and then applied this to a Unit of Learning (UOL) for online computer science courses. We developed an editor and runtime environment to apply the IMS LD to a UOL. We then explored the prospect for advancement of the basic IMS LD UOL. Finally, we discussed how to construct ontology-based software agents to use with the learning objects created with the IMS LD Units of Learning.
New Functions for Stimulating Learners' Motivation in a Web-Based e-Learning System
Authors: Matsuo Keita , Barolli Leonard , Xhafa Fatos , Koyama Akio , Durresi Arjan
Published: February 2011

Due to the opportunities provided by the Internet, people are taking advantage of e-learning courses and during the last few years enormous research efforts have been dedicated to the development of e-learning systems. So far, many e-learning systems are proposed and used practically. However, in these systems the e-learning completion rate is low. One of the reasons is the low study desire and motivation. In our previous work, we implemented an e-learning system that is able to increase the learning efficiency by stimulating learners’ motivation. In this work, we designed and implemented new functions such as: interface changing function, new ranking function and learner’s learning situation checking function to improve the system performance.
Distance-Learning for Advanced Military Education
Authors: Keh Huan-Chao , Wang Kuei-Min , Wai Shu-Shen , Huang Jiung-yao , Hui Lin  , Wu Ji-Jen
Published: February 2011

Distance learning in advanced military education can assist officers around the world to become more skilled and qualified for future challenges. Through well-chosen technology, the efficiency of distance-learning can be improved significantly. In this paper we present the architecture of Advanced Military Education – Distance Learning (AME-DL) prototype for advanced military distance-learning, it combines advanced e-learning tool, simulation technology, and Web technology to provide a set of military learning and training subjects that can be accessed easily anywhere, anytime through a Web browser. The major goal of AME-DL is to provide a common standard framework for military training program, and the major contribution for such a prototype is to reduce training cost while providing high quality learning experience.
A Chinese Interactive Feedback System for a Virtual Campus
Authors: Chen Jui-Fa , Lin Wei-Chuan , Jian Chih-Yu , Hung Ching-Chung
Published: February 2011

Considering the popularity of the Internet, an automatic interactive feedback system for Elearning websites is becoming increasingly desirable. However, computers still have problems understanding natural languages, especially the Chinese language, firstly because the Chinese language has no space to segment lexical entries (its segmentation method is more difficult than that of English) and secondly because of the lack of a complete grammar in the Chinese language, making parsing more difficult and complicated. Building an automated Chinese feedback system for special application domains could solve these problems. This paper proposes an interactive feedback mechanism in a virtual campus that can parse, understand and respond to Chinese sentences. This mechanism utilizes a specific lexical database according to the particular application. In this way, a virtual campus website can implement a special application domain that chooses the proper response in a user friendly, accurate and timely manner.
A Novel Architecture for E-Learning Knowledge Assessment Systems
Authors: Gierlowski Krzysztof , Nowicki Krzysztof
Published: February 2011

In this article we propose a novel e-learning system, dedicated strictly to knowledge assessment tasks. In its functioning it utilizes web-based technologies, but its design differs radically from currently popular e-learning solutions which rely mostly on thin-client architecture. Our research proved that such architecture, while well suited for didactic content distribution systems is ill-suited for knowledge assessment products. In our design we employed loosely-tied distributed system architecture, strict modularity, test and simulation-based knowledge and skill assessment and an our original communications package called Communication Abstraction Layer (ComAL), specifically designed to support communication functions of e-learning systems in diverse network conditions (including offline environment).The system was tested in production environment on Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, Technical University of Gdansk with great success, reducing staff workload and increasing efficiency of didactic process. Tests also showed system’s versatility as the system was deployed in environments of classroom, remote, and blended learning.
Supporting Interoperability and Context-Awareness in E-Learning through Situation-Driven Learning Processes
Authors: Dietze Stefan , Gugliotta Alessio , Domingue John
Published: February 2011

Current E-Learning technologies primarily follow a data and metadata-centric paradigm by providing the learner with composite content containing the learning resources and the learning process description, usually based on specific metadata standards such as ADL SCORM or IMS Learning Design. Due to the design-time binding of learning resources, the actual learning context cannot be considered appropriately at runtime, what limits the usability and interoperability of learning resources. This paper proposes Situation-driven Learning Processes (SDLP) which describe learning processes semantically from two perspectives: the user perspective considers a learning process as a course of learning goals which lead from an initial situation to a desired situation, whereas the system perspective utilizes Semantic Web Services (SWS) technology to semantically describe necessary resources for each learning goal within a specific learning situation. Consequently, a learning process is composed dynamically and accomplished in terms of SWS goal achievements by automatically allocating learning resources at runtime. Moreover, metadata standard-independent SDLP are mapped to established standards such as ADL SCORM and IMS LD. As a result, dynamic adaptation to specific learning contexts as well as interoperability across different metadata standards and application environments is achieved. To prove the feasibility, a prototypical application is described finally.
Adaptivity in ProPer
Authors: Kazanidis Ioannis , Satratzemi Maya
Published: February 2011

Adaptive Educational Hypermedia Systems provide personalized educational content to learners. However most of them do not support the functionality of Learning Management Systems (LMS) and the reusability of their courses is hard work. On the other hand some LMS support SCORM specifications but do not provide adaptive features. This article presents ProPer, a LMS that conforms to SCORM specifications and provides adaptive hypermedia courses. ProPer manages and delivers SCORM compliant courses and personalizes them according to learner’s knowledge, goals and personal characteristics. In addition learner’s progress and behavior is monitored and useful feedback is returned to tutors. ProPer will be used for an adaptive Java Programming course distribution to CS1 students. Statistical feedback will be gathered by tutors in order to improve course effectiveness. The technology background is briefly given and the system’s architecture and functionality are analyzed.
A 3D Geometry Model Search Engine to Support Learning
Authors: Tam Gary K.L. , Lau Rynson W.H. , Zhao Jianmin
Published: February 2011

Due to the popularity of 3D graphics in animation and games, usage of 3D geometry deformable models increases dramatically. Despite their growing importance, these models are difficult and time consuming to build. A distance learning system for the construction of these models could greatly facilitate students to learn and practice at different time and geographical locations. In such a system, an important component is the search engine, which serves as both the source of teaching materials and a platform for sharing resources. Although there have been a lot of works on text and multimedia retrieval, search engines for 3D models are still in its infant stage. In this article, we investigate two important issues: feature analysis, which affects the general usage of a system, and speed, which affects the number of concurrent users. Our method offers a mechanism to extract, index, match and efficiently retrieve features from these models.
Research and Conceptualization of Ontologies in Intelligent Learning Systems
Authors: Deliyska Boryana , Manoilov Peter
Published: February 2011

The intelligent learning systems provide direct customized instruction to the learners without the intervention of human tutors on the basis of Semantic Web resources. Principal roles use ontologies as instruments for modeling learning processes, learners, learning disciplines and resources. This paper examines the variety, relationships, and conceptualizations of ontologies used in intelligent learning systems. The domain and application of ontologies assist in the building of learning content (courseware) and in the process of knowledge acquisition (learning session). In this paper, the conceptualization of the domain ontologies is presented by the upper levels of its taxonomies, a method and an algorithm intended for the generation of application ontologies of structural learning objects, that is, curriculum, syllabus, and lesson plan, are developed. Examples of curriculum and syllabus application ontologies are given.
Development of Adaptive Kanji Learning System for Mobile Phone
Authors: Li Mengmeng , Ogata Hiroaki , Hou Bin , Hashimoto Satoshi , Liu Yuqin , Uosaki Noriko , Yano Yoneo
Published: February 2011

This paper describes an adaptive learning system based on mobile phone email to support the study of Japanese Kanji. In this study, the main emphasis is on using the adaptive learning to resolve one common problem of the mobile-based email or SMS language learning systems. To achieve this goal, the authors main efforts focus on three aspects: sending the contents to a learner following his or her interests, adjusting the difficulty level of the tests to suit the learner’s proficiency level, and adapting the system to his or her learning style. Additionally, this system has already been evaluated by the learners and the results show that most of them benefited from the system and would like to continue using it.
A Knowledge Engineering Approach to Develop Domain Ontology
Authors: Yun Hongyan , Xu Jianliang , Xiong Jing , Wei Moji
Published: February 2011

Ontologies are one of the most popular and widespread means of knowledge representation and reuse. A few research groups have proposed a series of methodologies for developing their own standard ontologies. However, because this ontological construction concerns special fields, there is no standard method to build domain ontology. In this paper, based on discussing and analyzing representative ontology building methodologies, the authors propose a knowledge engineering approach to build domain ontology by combining software development life cycle standard IEEE 1074-2006 with design ontology criteria proposed by T. R. Gruber. The authors use the ontology editor Hozo to develop a marine biology ontology for an e-learning course. They verify the validity and rationality of marine biology ontology by applying it to a practical system called OASIS. The authors then demonstrate the applicability of their proposed knowledge engineering approach.
Beyond the Media Literacy
Authors: Giovannella Carlo
Published: February 2011

The advent of new media and web technologies made both contents and “containers” more “liquid” and requires an in depth reflection on the multi-facets concept of literacy in which the author tries to develop from an education point of view that can be defined as “experiential”. According to such reflection, in the present scenarios, the “design” becomes central to education, underlining the need of educational activities, which should include among their objectives the dissemination of what one may call “design literacy”.
Wikipedia as Training Resource for Developing Digital Competences
Authors: Petrucco Corrado
Published: February 2011

It seems improbable that Wikipedia could be considered a valid resource for educational institutions like schools and universities because of the risk of incurring mistakes, inaccuracies, and plagiarism. The bad reputation of the free encyclopedia is false, Wikipedia is reliable and can be used in the curriculum as a new approach for social and collaborative construction of knowledge. It can enter fully into educational contexts, which will represent an opportunity to reflect on the verification of information, the ethical use of technology, and the role of democratic participation of people that use social software. In fact, the creation and maintenance of the articles of Wikipedia as classroom activities offer higher processes of cognitive development and on-line relationships, allowing the development of essential digital competences for life-long learning, like Information Literacy, Participation Literacy, and Ethical Literacy.
Perspectives on Media Literacy, Digital Literacy and Information Literacy
Authors: Fantin Monica
Published: February 2011

The cultural landscape poses different challenges for teachers. Beyond developing reading and writing skills, it is necessary to emerge in the digital culture and master the different codes of different languages. In this context, media education studies discuss the educational possibilities of interpreting, problematizing, and producing different kinds of texts in critical and creative ways, through the use of all means, languages and technologies available. Considering that media cannot be excluded from literacy programs, it is essential to reflect on the definition of “literate” today. These reflections examine the resignification of concepts like literacy, media literacy, digital literacy and information literacy.
Integrating Educational and ICT Innovations
Authors: Tateo Luca , Adinolfi Paola
Published: February 2011

The paper explores the effectiveness of a new computer-supported collaborative problem solving educational approach in higher education at a master’s course level. After outlining the technological and pedagogical characteristics of a new digital cooperative environment, as well as the constructivist, learner-centered philosophy of the Daosan Master (Management of Health-care Services) at the University of Salerno, the integration of the educational approach and the technological support is reported and discussed in an exploratory case-study. The authors show that a large number of post-graduate students have been able to participate in a dense collaborative problem solving activity within a relatively short lesson period, working and reflecting on a real problem of healthcare management. This indicates that the experience is effective in fostering reflexivity, collaboration and situated learning in management training.
The Development of Ordered SQL Packages to Support Data Warehousing
Authors: Ng Wilfred , Levene Mark
Published: February 2011

Data warehousing is a corporate strategy that needs to integrate information from several sources of separately developed Database Management Systems (DBMSs). A future DBMS of a data warehouse should provide adequate facilities to manage a wide range of information arising from such integration. We propose that the capabilities of database languages should be enhanced to manipulate user-defined data orderings, since business queries in an enterprise usually involve order. We extend the relational model to incorporate partial orderings into data domains and describe the ordered relational model. We have already defined and implemented a minimal extension of SQL, called OSQL, which allows querying over ordered relational databases. One of the important facilities provided by OSQL is that it allows users to capture the underlying semantics of the ordering of the data for a given application. Herein we demonstrate that OSQL aided with a package discipline can be an effective means to manage the inter-related operations and the underlying data domains of a wide range of advanced applications that are vital in data warehousing, such as temporal, incomplete and fuzzy information. We present the details of the generic operations arising from these applications in the form of three OSQL packages called: OSQL_TIME, OSQL_INCOMP and OSQL_FUZZY.
Common Sense Reasoning in Automated Database Design
Authors: Storey Veda C. , Goldstein Robert C. , Ding Jason
Published: February 2011

A great deal of work on automating systems design and development has been carried out, especially in the database area. Systems that semi-automate the database design process have been developed. These systems are interactive in that they may need to ask the user (usually, a database designer) for clarification. The result is that the system asks questions to the user that make the system look less intelligent than it should. This general type of problem has long been recognized with a proposed approach to overcoming it being the incorporation of common sense knowledge into a design system. The View Creation System is an expert system that plays the role of a database designer. With it, a user knowing little about database technology can express his or her database design requirements, which are represented by an entity-relationship model and then translated into a normalized relational model. The system contains a great deal of knowledge about database design, but little, if any, about the user’s application. This forces the user to specify many trivial facts that would be known by any human designer. To overcome this limitation, a Common Sense Business Reasoner is being developed that has a knowledge base containing general knowledge about the world and a reasoning tool to apply this knowledge to a database design task. An empirical study is carried out to simulate and assess the effectiveness of adding the Common Sense Business Reasoner to the View Creation System.
The Soprano Extensible Object Storage System
Authors: Ahn Jung-Ho , Kim Hyoung-Joo
Published: February 2011

An efficient object manager, a middle layer on top of a storage system, is essential to ensure acceptable performance of object-oriented database systems, since a traditional record-based storage system is too simple to provide object abstraction. In addition, an object storage system–object managers in combination with storage systems - should be extensible to meet the various requirements of emerging applications. In this research, we design and implement an extensible object storage system, called Soprano, in an object-oriented fashion which has shown great potential in extensibility and code reusability. Soprano provides a uniform object abstraction and gives us the convenience of persistent programming through many useful persistent classes. Also, Soprano supports efficient object management and pointer swizzling for fast object access. This paper investigates several aspects of the design and implementation of the extensible object storage system. Our experience shows the feasibility of using an object-oriented design and implementation in building an object storage system that should have both extensibility and high performance.
Regression Testing of Database Applications
Authors: Haraty Ramzi A. , Mansour Nashat , Daou Bassel A.
Published: February 2011

Database applications features such as Structured Query Language or SQL, exception programming, integrity constraints, and table triggers pose difficulties for maintenance activities; especially for regression testing that follows modifications to database applications. In this work, we address these difficulties and propose a two-phase regression testing methodology. In phase 1, we explore control flow and data flow analysis issues of database applications. Then, we propose an impact analysis technique that is based on dependencies that exist among the components of database applications. This analysis leads to selecting test cases from the initial test suite for regression testing the modified application. In phase 2, further reduction in the regression test cases is performed by using reduction algorithms. We present two such algorithms. The Graph Walk algorithm walks through the control flow graph of database modules and selects a safe set of test cases to retest. The Call Graph Firewall algorithm uses a firewall for the inter-procedural level. Finally, a maintenance environment for database applications is described. Our experience with this regression testing methodology shows that the impact analysis technique is adequate for selecting regression tests and that phase 2 techniques can be used for further reduction in the number of theses tests.
Using Harel's Statecharts to Model Business Workflows
Authors: Mok Wai Y. , Paper David
Published: February 2011

In this paper, we model business workflows using Harel’s statecharts. Mapping to statecharts allows us to systematically identify potential workflow problems. It also allows us to investigate specific properties inherent in actual business workflows. Our research focuses on three desirable properties of active database systems — termination, confluence, and observable determinism. For termination and confluence, we develop algorithms to provide a theoretical lens linking desirable active database system properties to workflow management systems problems. We initially validate our algorithms by mapping business workflows from a case study. Our research thus builds preliminary theory by developing a systematic method for identifying workflow problems.
Online Analytical Mining of Path Traversal Patterns for Web Measurement
Authors: Fung Joseph , Wong H. K.
Published: February 2011

The WWW and its associated distributed information services provide rich world-wide online information services, where objects are linked together to facilitate interactive access. Users seeking information of Internet traverse from one object via links to another. It is important to analyze user access patterns which will help improve Web page design by providing an efficient access between highly correlated objects, and also assist in better marketing decisions by placing advertisements in frequently visited document. We need to study the user surfing behavior by examining the Web access log, browsing frequency of Web pages and computing the average duration time of visit. This paper offers an architecture to store the derived web user access paths in a data warehouse, and facilitates its view maintainability by use of a metadata. The system will update the user access paths pattern with the data warehouse by the data operation functions in the metadata. Whenever a new user access path occurs, the view maintainability is triggered by a constraint class in the metadata. The data warehouse can be analyzed on the frequent pattern tree of user access paths on the Website within a period and duration. The result is an online analytical mining path traversal pattern. Our experimental and performance studies have demonstrated the effectiveness and efficiency of our system with the following contributions: an architecture of online analytical mining (OLAM) using frame model metadata, a methodology (stepwise procedure) of implementing OLAM and the resultant cluster of web pages frequently visited by users for marketing use.
Database Technology for Global Support of a Medical Registry
Authors: Conrad Steven A. , Lin Binshan , Rycus Peter T.
Published: February 2011

Medical data registries serve an important role in the support, investigation and application of emerging treatments and technologies in health care, and in the study of rare or unusual diseases or treatments. By consolidating information of interest into databases designed to support a specialized role, they seek to improve the delivery of health care to specialized groups. By enabling exchange of information, and interrogation of large databases, health care workers can probe for knowledge not available in traditional medical record systems. The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization maintains a registry of patients treated with an extraordinary therapy for life-threatening cardiopulmonary failure, known as extracorporeal life support (ECLS). The registry is a database on patients from 120 domestic and international centers. Its initial implementation as a localized relational database imposed significant limits on dissemination of information for benchmarking, and for ad hoc queries to support on-going patient care. This paper reviews the legacy implementation of the database, and the development and transformation of the database from a limited localized database into a global information management and decision support tool to assist domestic U.S. and international centers in their application of this dynamic technology.
Federated Process Framework in a Virtual Enterprise Using an Object-Oriented Database and Extensible Markup Language
Authors: Bae Kyoung-Il , Kim Jung-Hyun , Huh Soon-Young
Published: February 2011

Process information sharing is a beneficial tool through which participating organizations in a virtual enterprise can improve their customer services and business performance. However, autonomy and agility of the organizations have placed limitations in the development of process information sharing, which the previous research has not satisfactorily addressed. This paper proposes a federated process framework and its system architecture that provide a conceptual design for effective implementation of process information sharing supporting the autonomy and agility of the organizations. First, in terms of autonomy, the federated process framework supports a flexible sharing policy to control the amount of shared data so that the framework can be applied to a wide variety of practical situations from loosely-coupled cases to tightly-coupled cases. Second, in terms of agility, the system architecture based on the federated process framework supports the entire life cycle of process information sharing by allowing sufficient adaptability to the changes of business environments. We develop the framework using an object-oriented database and Extensible Markup Language to accommodate all the constructs and their interactions within object-oriented message exchange model.
Transaction-Relationship Oriented Log Division for Data Recovery from Information Attacks
Authors: Patnaik Satyadeep , Panda Brajendra
Published: February 2011

The survivability of database systems in case of information attacks depends exclusively on the logging mechanism. The recovery methods specifically designed for recovery from information attacks require that the log must record all operations of every transaction and that the log should never be purged, thus incurring enormous growth of the log. In this paper, we have developed a model for accurate and fast data recovery from information attacks in order to reduce denial-of-service while providing consistent values of data items. Our model divides the log based on transaction relationships and stores each segment as a separate file, which can then be accessed independently as required. We have proved that only one of these segments will be accessed during damage assessment and recovery process. Appropriate damage assessment and recovery methods are also presented. Through simulation we have validated that our model significantly reduces recovery time.
Integrating Digital Signatures with Relational Databases
Authors: Reid Randal , Dhillon Gurpreet
Published: February 2011

This paper explores the nature and scope of integration of digital signatures with relational databases, such as integration is essential if Internet commerce is to succeed. While evaluating the pros and cons of the integration and the related technologies, this paper identifies challenges, both technological and organizational. The paper proposes that any implementation needs to consider the organizational policies and the related rules. Careful consideration of these aspects will ensure a successful integration and implementation.
The Contribution of IT Governance Solutions to the Implementation of Data Warehouse Practice
Authors: Sujitparapitaya Sutee , Janz Brian D. , Gillenson Mark
Published: February 2011

Information systems (IS) strategic planners debate what is the most appropriate data warehouse (DW) topology for an organization. The primary question is whether to start DW projects with enterprise-wide data warehouses (EDWs) or with smaller-scale data marts (DMs). This article examines the relationship between modes of IT governance and DW topology to determine whether or not the implementation differences in DW topology can be described by differences in IT governance arrangements. Three primary modes of IT governance–centralized, decentralized, and hybrid – were used to arrange key IT activities. A replicated case study approach coupled with a research survey was used to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between modes of IT governance and DW topology. Utilizing information from six organizations, the empirical evidence presented indicates that the organizations with higher levels of centralized IT authority are likely to implement a more centralized data warehousing approach. Key implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Data Protection Using Watermarking in E-Business
Authors: Pons Alexander P. , Aljifri Hassan
Published: February 2011

In the past decade, the business community has embraced the capabilities of the Internet for a multitude of services that involve access to data and information. Of particular concern to these businesses have been the protection and authentication of digital data as it is distributed electronically. This paper proposes a novel approach that combines the reactive rule-based scheme of an active database management system (ADBMS) with the technology of digital watermarking to automatically protect digital data. The ADMBS technology facilitates the establishment of Event-Condition-Action (ECA) rules that define the actions to be triggered by events under certain conditions. These actions consist of the generation of unique watermarks and the tagging of digital data with unique signatures. Watermarking is a technology that embeds, within the digital data’s context, information identifying its owner and/or creator. The integration of these two technologies is a powerful mechanism for protecting digital data in a consistent and formal manner with applications in e-business in establishing and authenticating the ownership of images, audio, video, and other digital materials.