bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fourier-Based Assessment Strategies for Simulated Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Fazio M. , Villari M. , Puliafito A.
Published: May 2011

An ad hoc network comprises mobile devices with limited computing and energy resources together with wireless communication, which have to cooperate to provide networking services. This communication scenario presents many specific challenges that make ad hoc networks very different from traditional wired and wireless data networks. It makes classical approaches for network analysis insufficient. To deal with the design, implementation and test of this innovative communication paradigm, simulation techniques are of primary importance, since they allow to specify the level of detail of the simulated model. At the same time, the complex interaction among different entities make the performance evaluation of real ad hoc systems through simulation very hard. This chapter discusses traditional simulation strategies for ad hoc networks, highlighting their limits, drawbacks and possible overcoming. It presents efforts of the research community in improving the quality of simulation analysis according to different aspects, such as metrics definition, model design and simulation tools extensions. Then, the chapter focuses its attention on the benefits that the Discrete Fourier Transform analysis can produce if it is applied on simulation data. It describes a detailed methodology to gather and elaborate simulation measurements in order to avoid loss of information on rare events that occur in simulations. The presented methodology gets advantages (such as simplicity and flexibility) from simulative investigation approaches and, at the same time, offers a new analysis tool suitable for both protocol debugging and system performances evaluation. In fact, it transfers time-dependent measurements into the frequency domain, allowing to point out the occurrence of events which take place only under particular conditions and to detect occasional misbehaviors of the system.
Slot Allocation Algorithms for Minimizing Delay in Alarm-Driven WSNs Applications
Authors: Macedo Mário , Grilo António , Nunes Mário
Published: May 2011

Energy-efficiency and latency requirements in alarm-driven Wireless Sensor Networks often demand the use of TDMA protocols with special features such as cascading of timeslots, in a way that the sensor-to-sink delay bound can stay below the duration of a single frame. However, this single TDMA frame should be as small as possible. The results presented in this paper, point to the conclusion that a largest-distances-first strategy can achieve the smallest single frame sizes, and also the lowest frame size variations. A quite simple distributed version of this algorithm is presented, which obtains the same results of its centralized version. Simulations also show that this discipline presents the best results in terms of sensor-to-sink slot distance, even if they require a few more slots than breadth-first in multi-frame scenarios.
On Demand Bandwidth Reservation for Real-Time Traffic in Cellular IP Network using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Anbar Mohammad , Vidyarthi D.P.
Published: May 2011

Cellular IP network deals with micro mobility of the mobile devices. An important challenge in wireless communication, especially in cellular IP based network, is to provide good Quality of Service (QoS) to the users in general and to the real-time users (users involved in the exchange of real-time packets) in particular. Reserving bandwidth for real time traffic to minimize the connection drop (an important parameter) is an activity often used in Cellular IP network. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm simulates the social behavior of a swarm or flock to optimize some characteristic parameter. PSO is effectively used to solve many hard optimization problems. The work, in this paper, proposes an on demand bandwidth reservation scheme to improve Connection Dropping Probability (CDP) in cellular IP network by employing PSO. The swarm, in the model, consists of the available bandwidth in the seven cells of the cellular IP network. The anytime bandwidth demand for real-time users is satisfied by the available bandwidth of the swarm. The algorithm, used in the model, searches for the availability of the bandwidth and reserves it in the central cell of the swarm. Eventually, it will allocate it on demand to the cell that requires it. Simulation experiments reveal the efficacy of the model.
Identity and the New Communication Technologies
Authors: Ogechi Nathan Oyori , Bosire-Ogechi Emily
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the use of short text messages on cell phones and e-mail conversations among social networks to negotiate identities in Kenya. It shows that these New Communication Technologies have revolutionised the way of doing things in Kenya, including politics. It comes out that Old Communication Technologies are being complemented by the new technologies which are now taking over and which can be used to negotiate both narrow ethnic-blocks and national identities. The chapter shows that the new technology is not always used to portray and perpetuate narrow ethnic identities; rather, instances exist when the users want to project professional and national identities. Supported with data that focus on the pre- and post-2007 elections, the chapter argues that inasmuch as the New Communication Technologies are good, great caution should be exercised when using them since unchecked use might bring untold suffering to society.
Whose TV Is It Anyway?
Authors: Malleus Rick
Published: May 2011

The thesis of this chapter is that the rise in popularity of satellite television in Zimbabwe was not mainly driven by the capabilities of the new technology, but by dissatisfaction with Zimbabwe Television (ZTV). The chapter will begin with a discussion that problematises the idea of what constitutes new technology in the African and Zimbabwean contexts. The focus then moves to the content broadcast locally and how a segment of the Zimbabwean population have turned away from ZTV to have their media needs and gratifications met from satellite TV. There is an extended discussion of propaganda and quality of programming, which are hypothesized as the driving factors for satellite TV’s rise in popularity. A discussion of the cultural influences that satellite TV programming has on the Zimbabwean viewing public is included, and the chapter will conclude with some thoughts on the future of satellite television in Zimbabwe if changes in local broadcast TV programming come about.
Veganporn.com & “Sistah”
Authors: Harper Amie Breeze
Published: May 2011

Cyberspace can be a central site for excavating the invisibility of covert whiteness (a tacit form of racialized consciousness), which does not manifest itself at the surface level in the same overt manner that extreme white cyber hate “imagined communities” do. Through the application of Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist methodology-based discursive analysis, this chapter investigates performances of whiteness in a vegan/animal-rights-oriented website called Veganporn.com. As a progressive forum associated with social justice, Veganporn.com provides a radically different environment in which to examine white supremacist ideologies; ideologies typically found in more overtly-racist, “extremist” online dialogues already examined by critical research. Discourse analysis of a specific Veganporn.com forum topic revealed three major themes in the computer-mediated discussion: (1) discursive patrolling of epistemic borders to “protect” Standard English and colorblind expressions (whiteness) of veganism/animal rights from non-Standard English and non-white racialized expressions; (2) the use of blackface cyber-minstrelsy to reinforce the “superiority” of Standard English (whiteness) over the “inferiority” of speakers of Black English and Ebonics; (3) the premise among several white-identified Veganporn.com participants that a vegan- and animal-rights ideology is “colorblind” thus making invisible the current socio-historical implications of power structures created around white skin color. Though this chapter focuses on one discussion within a forum, the analysis of this event offers insight relevant to understanding whiteness as a system, an ideology, and a structure. Specifically, by employing certain theoretical components of critical race studies (racialized consciousness, social ontology of whiteness, and racial mapping), my analysis reveals how the World Wide Web can be an effective site for cyber-ethnographers focusing on “decoding” whiteness within progressive social justice movements.
Developing a Grassroots Cross-Cultural Partnership to Enhance Student Experiences
Authors: Pentina Iryna , Guilloux Veronique
Published: May 2011

Increased globalization of the world economy makes international aspects of marketing an important priority. A growing number of business colleges provide cross-cultural experiences in marketing disciplines that help students better understand other cultures while applying their academic preparation to real-life settings. Today’s students represent the first generation that has been born into the digital age, and freely use multiple technologies in preparing for classes, sharing notes, shopping, rating professors, and accomplishing multiple everyday tasks. This case discusses a class project on developing integrated marketing communications conducted by American and French cross-cultural student groups to promote environmentally-sustainable products in international markets. Modern social networking technologies were widely used both as tools for accomplishing the project, as means for presenting and displaying the results and as a medium for international marketing communications.
When Going Online Isn’t Going
Authors: Osika Elizabeth , Johnson Rochelle , Buteau Rosemary
Published: May 2011

Over the last few years, Southern State University (SSU) has experienced a decline in enrollment and state funding. However, one aspect that holds promise, based on past enrollment data, is the potential movement towards providing online degree programs. While SSU provides rewards and encouragement for the development of online courses and programs, and students consistently are quick to fill the online sections, there has only been a small cohort of faculty who embrace teaching online. Therefore, there has been little to no growth in the number of online courses compared to other schools in the area, and not a single program has been established as being offered completely online. SSU is now faced with the issue of how to convince the heavily unionized faculty and other stakeholders that movement to the offering of online programs is a vital aspect of the university’s future success.
Electronic Government Adoption Paradigms
Authors: Shareef Mahmud Akhter , Dwivedi Yogesh K.
Published: May 2011

This chapter reviews literature on electronic-government (EG) and information and communication technology (ICT) regarding several management issues in general and adoption in particular. Since EG is a comparatively new area to investigate, many researchers have been addressing implementation, development, and adoption criteria. This chapter has five sections with sub-sections that delineate: 1) introductory information of EG development; 2) management issues related to EG; 3) EG implementation strategies and objectives; 4) design perspectives of adoption models, and 5) literature on online service quality, adoption, and related issues.
Are Cities in India Digital Yet?
Authors: Sridhar Varadharajan , Sridhar Kala Seetharam
Published: May 2011

JEL Classification: L86, L96
Comparative Study of E-Government Implementation in two Public Agencies in Oman
Authors: Al-Busaidy Moaman , Weerakkody Vishanth
Published: May 2011

Electronic government has been established as an effective mechanism for increasing government productivity and efficiency and a key enabler of citizen-centric services. Like the rest of the world, in Gulf countries, public sector transformation efforts are focused towards increasing accessibility, availability, competitive advantage, and enhancing services in civil administration. The e-government initiative in Oman was officially started in 2003 and has achieved mixed results due to various challenges faced by the different ministries engaged in implementation. Using a semi-structure interview, this chapter examines some of these challenges from the perspective of two government ministries. The chapter investigates the improvements that have been made to facilitate electronic services in the chosen public ministries and their resulting impact within the organization. The results of the empirical study reveal that some of the challenges faced by the Omani government in implementing e-services are generic, while other specific challenges faced by the individual ministries such as top management support, IT integration, and IT staff skills and capabilities are more significant in terms of facilitating e-government success in the Omani public sector.
Web-Based Group Decision Support for Crisis Management
Authors: French Simon , Bayley Clare , Zhang Nan
Published: May 2011

The early designs for crisis management decision support systems used data-based or model-based methodologies and architectures. We argue that the complexity of crisis management situations means that a greater emphasis on collaboration is needed. Moreover, modern interactive Web 2.0 technologies allow group decision support to be offered to geographically dispersed teams. Given that crisis management often requires teams to be drawn together from a number of organisations sited at different locations, we reflect upon the potential of these technologies to support the early stages of crisis management without the need to draw the team together at a common location. We also report on a small scale experiment using GroupSystems ThinkTank to manage an emerging food safety event. We conclude that such systems have potential and deserve more careful evaluation.
Exploring Socio-Technical Design of Crisis Management Information Systems
Authors: Harnesk Dan , Lindström John
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we explore design foundations and conceptualize a design approach to examine the socio-technical knowledge that crisis organizations have about crisis management Information Systems. We use findings from a case study across four crisis organizations to illustrate how the network of knowledge, information management, and integration of technology and information were interpreted by stakeholders during a large wild fire in 2006. The design approach illustrates that design foundations of crisis management Information Systems encompass: a network of knowledge, IT management, and information integration. We argue that the design foundation is promising for analysis and explanation of the enrolment of actors, adaptation of technology/processes, and stabilization of crisis management Information Systems.
Context-Aware Smartphone Services
Authors: Bisio Igor , Lavagetto Fabio , Marchese Mario
Published: May 2011

The contribution of this chapter is to propose a survey of several methods to extract context information, by employing a smartphone, based on Digital Signal Processing and Pattern Recognition approaches, aimed at answering to the following questions about the user’s surroundings: what, who, where, when, why and how. It represents a fundamental part of the overall process needed to provide a complete context-aware service.
Building and Deploying Self-Adaptable Home Applications
Authors: Yu Jianqi , Bourret Pierre , Lalanda Philippe , Bourcier Johann
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the design of a framework to simplify the development of smart home applications featuring self-adaptable capabilities. Building such applications is a difficult task, as it deals with two main concerns a) application design and development for the business logic part, and b) application evolution management at runtime for open environments. In this chapter, the authors propose a holistic approach for building self-adaptive residential applications. They thus propose an architecture-centric model for defining home application architecture, while capturing its variability. This architecture is then sent to a runtime interpreter which dynamically builds and autonomously manages the application to maintain it within the functional bounds defined by its architecture. The whole process is supported by tools to create the architecture model and its corresponding runtime application. This approach has been validated by the implementation of several smart home applications, which have been tested on a highly evolving environment.
A Platform for Pervasive Building Monitoring Services Using Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Abolghasem Asgari (Hamid)
Published: May 2011

At the core of pervasive computing model, small, low cost, robust, distributed, and networked processing devices are placed, which are thoroughly integrated into everyday objects and activities. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have emerged as pervasive computing technology enablers in several field, including environmental monitoring and control. Using this technology as a pervasive computing approach, researchers have been trying to persuade people to be more aware of their environment and energy usage in the course of their every day life. WSNs have brought significant benefits as far as monitoring is concerned, since they are more efficient and flexible compared to wired sensor solutions. In this chapter, the authors propose a Service Oriented Architecture for developing an enterprise networking environment used for integrating enterprise level applications and building management systems with other operational enterprise services and functions for the information sharing and monitoring, controlling, and managing the enterprise environment. The WSN is viewed as an information service provider not only to building management systems but also to wider applications in the enterprise infrastructure. The authors also provide specification, implementation, and deployments of the proposed architecture and discuss the related tests, experimentations, and evaluations of the architecture.
Adaptation Technologies in Mobile Learning
Authors: Salomoni Paola , Mirri Silvia
Published: May 2011

This chapter will introduce issues and standards for adaptation mechanisms for mobile learning resources, and it will describe some notable existing projects and software tools. Finally, it will present some case studies and open trends about m-learning.
Open Source for Mobile Devices and Mobile Learning
Authors: Steger Hal
Published: May 2011

Open source software is increasingly used for many types of mobile apps and wireless devices. A leading example is Funambol, the world’s most popular mobile open source server project. This chapter discusses the background of the Funambol project and how it applies to mobile learning in three specific areas: wireless device compatibility, data and content synchronization, and mobile device management. The chapter also discusses major trends that are affecting mobile open source software for mobile learning, challenges that are confronting mobile software developers and content authors, and the benefits of using open source software for mobile learning systems.
An Augmented Reality Library for Mobile Phones and its Application for Recycling
Authors: Juan M. Carmen , Furió David , Alem Leila , Ashworth Peta , Giménez Miguelon
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the Augmented Reality (AR) library developed for mobile phones. The authors explain the used tools, how they have ported ARToolKit for running on the mobile phone Nokia N95 with 8 GB, and the functionalities they have added. The authors present the mobile phone game they have developed for learning how to recycle using this AR library, ARGreenet. Forty-five children with a mean(SD) age of 11.02(2.33) years played the ARGreenet as well as a ‘Team’ version of the ARGreenet. The children answered questionnaires both before and after using each game. Several aspects were examined including the level of engagement, fun and ease of use. Analysis of the results showed significant differences between the ARGreenet and the Team ARGreenet with higher means for the Team ARGreenet. A majority of children (59.1%) expressed a preference for the Team ARGreenet.
Exploring the Pedagogical Affordances of Mobile Web 2.0
Authors: Cochrane Thomas
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores the potential of Mobile Web 2.0 to enhance tertiary education today, outlining both research-informed principles, as well as providing case study examples of Mobile Web 2.0 participants’ experiences of how the use of Mobile Web 2.0 within a pedagogical framework has transformed both students’ and lecturers’ conceptions of teaching and learning.
Learning and Satisfaction in Online Communities of Inquiry
Authors: Akyol Zehra , Garrison D. Randy
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to explain the capability of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework as a research model to study student learning and satisfaction. The framework identifies three elements (social, cognitive, and teaching presence) that contribute directly to the success of an e-learning experience through the development of an effective CoI. It is argued that a CoI leads to higher learning and increased satisfaction. The chapter presents findings from two online courses designed using the CoI approach. Overall, the students in these courses had high levels of perceived learning and satisfaction, as well as actual learning outcomes.
An Introduction to Path Analysis Modeling Using LISREL
Authors: Eom Sean B.
Published: May 2011

Over the past decades, there has been a wide range of empirical research in the e-learning literature. The use of multivariate statistical tools has been a staple of the research stream throughout the decade. Path analysis modeling is part of four related multivariate statistical models, including regression, path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation models. This chapter focuses on path analysis modeling for beginners using LISREL 8.70. Several topics covered in this chapter include foundational concepts, assumptions, and steps of path analysis modeling. The major steps in path analysis modeling explained in this chapter consist of specification, identification, estimation, testing, and modification of models.
A Method for Adapting Learning Objects To Students Preferences
Authors: Esteban Ana Sanz , Ramos Javier Saldaña , Seco Antonio de Amescua
Published: May 2011

The development of information and communications technologies (ICT) in recent years has led to new forms of education, and consequently, e-learning systems. Several learning theories and styles define learning in different ways. This chapter analyzes these different learning theories and styles, as well as the main standards for creating contents with the goal of developing a proposal for structuring courses and organizing material which best fits students’ needs, in order to increase motivation and improve the learning process.
Linkage between Biodiversity, Land Use Informatics and Climate Change
Authors: Trisurat Yongyut , Shrestha Rajendra P. , Alkemade Rob
Published: May 2011

Biodiversity is the variety and variability among living organisms and ecological complexes in which they occur, and it can be divided into three levels – gene, species and ecosystems. Biodiversity is an essential component of human development and security in terms of proving ecosystem services, but also it is important for its own right to exist in the globe. Failure to conserve and use biological diversity in a sustainable manner would result in degrading environments, new and more rampant illnesses, deepening poverty and a continued pattern of inequitable and untenable growth. This chapter provides a coherent presentation of the essential concepts, key terminology, historical background of biodiversity, and drivers to biodiversity loss, especially land use/land cover and climate change. A number of land use change models and a general circulation model for prediction of future climate change and its effects on individuals, populations, species, and ecosystems are briefly described. The chapter also introduces the structure of the book including summaries of each chapter.
Consequences of Deforestation and Climate Change on Biodiversity
Authors: Cochard Roland
Published: May 2011

Ever since their evolution, forests have been interacting with the Earth’s climate. Species diversity is particularly high in forests of stable moist tropical climates, but patterns of diversity differ among various taxa. Species richness typically implies high ecosystem resilience to ecosystem disturbances; many species are present to fill in newly created niches and facilitate regeneration. Species loss, on the other hand, often entails environmental degradation and erosion of essential ecosystem services. Until now species extinction rates have been highest on tropical islands which are characterized by a high degree of species endemism but comparatively low species richness (and therefore high vulnerability to invasive species). Deforestation and forest degradation in many countries has lead to forest fragmentation with similar effects on increasingly insularized and vulnerable forest habitat patches. If forest fragments are becoming too small to support important keystone species, further extinctions may occur in cascading ways, and the vegetation structure and composition may eventually collapse. Until now relatively few reported cases of species extinctions can be directly attributed to climate change. However, climate change in combination with habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation may lead to new waves of species extinctions in the near future as species are set on the move but are unable to reach cooler refuges due to altered, obstructing landscapes. To mitigate the future risks of extinctions as well as climate change, major efforts should be undertaken to protect intact large areas of forests and restore wildlife corridors. Carbon sequestration may be seen as just one of many other environmental services of forest biodiversity that deserve economic valuation as alternatives to conversion to often unsustainable agricultural uses.
Geo-Informatics for Land Use and Biodiversity Studies
Authors: Joshi P. K. , Priyanka Neena
Published: May 2011

The dynamics of land use/land cover (LU/LC) is a manifestation of the cyclic correlation among the kind and magnitude of causes, impacts, responses and resulting ecological processes of the ecosystem. Thus, the holistic understanding of the complex mechanisms that control LU/LC requires synergetic adoption of measurement approaches, addressing issues, and identifying drivers of change and state of art technologies for mitigation measures. As the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the LU/LC increases, its impact on biodiversity becomes even more difficult to anticipate. Thus, in order to understand the spatio-temporal dynamics of change in landscape and its relationship to biodiversity, it is necessary to reliably identify and quantify the indicators of change. In addition, it is also important to have better understanding of the technologies and techniques that serve as complimentary tool for land mitigation and conservation planning. Against this background, the chapter aims to synthesize LU/LC studies worldwide and their impacts on biodiversity. This chapter explores identification and analysis of key natural, socio-economic and regulatory drivers for LU/LC. Finally, it attempts to collate some LU/LC studies involving usage of geospatial tools, such as satellite remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and integrative tools, besides conventional approaches that could assist decision makers, land managers, stakeholders and researchers in better management and formulation of conservation strategies based on scientific grounds.
The Current and Future Status of Floristic Provinces in Thailand
Authors: van Welzen P.C. , Madern A. , Raes N. , Parnell J.A.N. , Simpson D.A. , Byrne C. , Curtis T. , Macklin J. , Trias-Blasi A. , Prajaksood A. , Bygrave P. , Dransfield S. , Kirkup D.W. , Moat J. , Wilkin P. , Couch C. , Boyce P.C. , Chayamarit K. , Chantaranothai P. , Esser H-J. , Jebb M.H.P. , Larsen K. , Larsen S.S. , Nielsen I. , Meade C. , Middleton D.J. , Pendry C.A. , Muasya A.M. , Pattharahirantricin N. , Pooma R. , Suddee S. , Staples G.W. , Sungkaew S. , Teerawatananon A.
Published: May 2011

Two databases containing distribution data of species and specimens show that within Thailand preferably four floristic or phytogeographical regions can be discriminated (areas with a typical, unique and distinct plant composition): the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Central Region. They differ from the seven regions used at present in the Flora of Thailand Project. Modelling the effects of slight climate changes due to global warming shows that the floristic regions will be different in 2050. Not only will the areas differ, but the numbers of species per area will decrease dramatically, although species from outside Thailand may migrate into Thailand. Predictions contain a high degree of uncertainty, and they may never come true as they are strongly influenced by small, currently unpredictable effects. Nevertheless, the loss of biodiversity and its consequences for climate, economies, health, et cetera, are already becoming noticeable. Therefore, the protection and improvement of biodiversity should become the main focus of attention for all governments in the region.
Land Degradation and Biodiversity Loss in Southeast Asia
Authors: Shrestha Rajendra P.
Published: May 2011

Land degradation and biodiversity loss are important global change issues because of their enormous effect on the functioning of ecosystem. Despite the fact that there have been tremendous concerns on land degradation and biodiversity loss for nearly two decades, there is still the need of having a sound data and information base, specifically in developing countries. The need has been more pronounced in the face of climate change as these three issues are intricately interlinked. Southeast Asia is an important geographic region from all these perspectives, as it has high biodiversity on the verge of rapid loss, continuing rapid land degradation due to desire of higher economic development, and of climate change importance with a large tract of forest areas in the region. This chapter, first of all, examines general status of land degradation and biodiversity in the region and goes on presenting two case studies. The first case study, based on secondary data, presents land degradation assessment in the Lower Mekong Basin demonstrating the use of spatial data and technologies and various land degradation indicators. The second case study specifically documents plant diversity and examines the relationship of plant diversity with biomass and soil erosion by making use of field surveyed primary data. Both studies aim at producing additional information which can help make better landuse allocation and planning for ecosystem maintenance without compromising much on regional or local livelihood through production.
Evidence Sources, Methods and Use Cases for Learning Lightweight Domain Ontologies
Authors: Weichselbraun Albert , Wohlgenannt Gerhard , Scharl Arno
Published: May 2011

By providing interoperability and shared meaning across actors and domains, lightweight domain ontologies are a cornerstone technology of the Semantic Web. This chapter investigates evidence sources for ontology learning and describes a generic and extensible approach to ontology learning that combines such evidence sources to extract domain concepts, identify relations between the ontology’s concepts, and detect relation labels automatically. An implementation illustrates the presented ontology learning and relation labeling framework and serves as the basis for discussing possible pitfalls in ontology learning. Afterwards, three use cases demonstrate the usefulness of the presented framework and its application to real-world problems.
Automated Learning of Social Ontologies
Authors: Kotis Konstantinos , Papasalouros Andreas
Published: May 2011

Learned social ontologies can be viewed as products of a social fermentation process, i.e. a process between users who belong in communities of common interests (CoI), in open, collaborative, and communicative environments. In such a setting, social fermentation ensures the automatic encapsulation of agreement and trust of shared knowledge that participating stakeholders provide during an ontology learning task. This chapter discusses the requirements for the automated learning of social ontologies and presents a working method and results of preliminary work. Furthermore, due to its importance for the exploitation of the learned ontologies, it introduces a model for representing the interlinking of agreement, trust and the learned domain conceptualizations that are extracted from social content. The motivation behind this work is an effort towards supporting the design of methods for learning ontologies from social content i.e. methods that aim to learn not only domain conceptualizations but also the degree that agents (software and human) may trust these conceptualizations or not.
Model of Funcionalities for the Development of B2B E-Commerce Solutions
Authors: Pinto Marlene , Rodrigues Ana , Varajão João , Gonçalves Ramiro
Published: May 2011

The explosive growth of the Internet has revolutionized the way of conducting business in several areas, acting nowadays as an important channel of communication and for the trading of goods and services. Therefore, electronic commerce (EC), defined as the execution of transactions of goods and services which rely on computers mediated by informatics networks, assumes particular importance due to the benefits that it may imply for companies. In this chapter we focus on a particular type of electronic commerce: business to business (B2B). B2B describes electronic commerce associated to operations of buying and selling products and services through the Internet or through the use of private networks shared between business partners, thus replacing the physical process around commercial transactions. This type of EC facilitates conducting electronic transactions between companies. There are several B2B solutions that enable companies to make transactions from buying and selling goods and services, to participating in auctions. The analysis of such solutions enabled us to verify that there are big differences in the amount of the supported functionalities, and significant opportunities for development, with the aim of helping companies to evaluate their electronic commerce solutions and to conceive new and more complete systems. In this chapter, a new model of functionalities for the development of B2B EC solutions is presented.
Critical Success Factors to Yield Business Benefits from Semantic Technologies
Authors: Beckett Ronald C , Rowland-Campbell Anni , Strahl Paul
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to explore opportunities offered by and issues associated with the use of emergent semantic technologies in enhancing an enterprise’s business position. These technologies include a foundation level set of standards and descriptive languages supporting interpretive connections to applications. The chapter is more oriented towards applications and the human side of the human/machine interface. We draw on both the literature and case material available to us as active practitioners to illustrate benefits realized and potential barriers to the uptake of semantic technologies. Critical success factors are related to user learning capabilities, the establishment of trust in the technology and its providers, and factors influencing the nature of potential engagement with users and markets.
The Semantic Integration of Information
Authors: Paredes-Moreno Antonio , Martínez-López Francisco J. , Schwartz David
Published: May 2011

Nowadays, firms need to refocus the way they manage the knowledge generated from business processes in order to optimize their Information Systems’ performance. Business ontologies are an excellent tool for this. In this chapter, we briefly treat and highlight how important is companies invest efforts in a closer integration of their systems, with the aim of improving their performance and cooperation. This implies moving towards more efficient systems in their knowledge management. The big challenge for firms now is the semantic integration of information. Essential questions related to this question are synthetically introduced. Then, some of the most significant initiatives and projects on semantic integration of information are presented and compared with a business ontology we have developed for commercial use.
Electronic Surveillance, Privacy and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
Authors: Pina Pedro
Published: May 2011

In cyberworld, intellectual property rights and the right to informational self determination have become two realities in tension. Nevertheless, they are two main concerns of the e-commerce stakeholders. From the industry point of view, new digital technologies, left unregulated, may allow a free flow of information and unauthorized access to contents both from consumers or competitors; from the consumers’ perspective, security and privacy concerns are the major barriers to contracting on-line. The goal of the present chapter is to understand the relationship between anti-piracy oriented private electronic surveillance and consumers’ privacy. If, on the one hand, the enforcement of intellectual property is a laudable activity – since the recognition of economic exclusive rights is an incentive to artistic or scientific creation and the protection of the investments is an ICT industry’s legitimate interest –, on the other hand, the individual’s privacy sphere is one of the most important values and personal freedoms that law, including intellectual property law, must preserve.
Coalitional Added Services in a Linear Neutral e-Marketplace
Authors: Renna Paolo , Argoneto Pierluigi
Published: May 2011

The increase of transactions by electronic commerce (e-commerce) in Business to Business applications has a constant trend during last years. Many research reports have focused on negotiation and auction mechanisms in this context, but a smaller number of related research attempts, has chosen to develop coalition approaches This research attempt tries to overcome this gap by an innovative coalition model for a private neutral linear e-marketplace that combines a full integration between customer’s request and supplier’s planning activity. The Shapley value approach is proposed to manage the profit sharing activity among the coalition participants. The Shapley value is an approach of game theory used to share a gain in coalition games. A proper simulation environment has been designed and modeled in order to measure the “stay-together economy” achievable within the proposed innovative e-marketplace. The simulation results highlight how the proposed approach increases the performance level of the e-marketplace: specifically the suppliers gain more benefits than the customers through the possibility of establishing coalitions.
Constrained Optimization of JIT Manufacturing Systems with Hybrid Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Xanthopoulos Alexandros , Koulouriotis Dimitrios E.
Published: May 2011

This research explores the use of a hybrid genetic algorithm in a constrained optimization problem with stochastic objective function. The underlying problem is the optimization of a class of JIT manufacturing systems. The approach investigated here is to interface a simulation model of the system with a hybrid optimization technique which combines a genetic algorithm with a local search procedure. As a constraint handling technique we use penalty functions, namely a “death penalty” function and an exponential penalty function. The performance of the proposed optimization scheme is illustrated via a simulation scenario involving a stochastic demand process satisfied by a five–stage production/inventory system with unreliable workstations and stochastic service times. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the sensitivity of the objective function in respect of the arrival rate, the service rates and the decision variable vector.
Internet in Marketing Strategy in Greek Tourism Industry
Authors: Samanta Irene
Published: May 2011

The web tourists have the chance to do comparative e – travel shopping from suppliers from all over the world fast and easily. Based on this assumption, the purpose of this study is to examine whether internet is a powerful communicational tool for people over the other forms of gathering information for a destination. Furthermore a main objective is to identify whether the available information in the web can promote adequately Greece. Results of the study confirmed that internet is a powerful communicational tool in tourism industry, as per young people’s perspectives. However, booking a holiday through the web might be tricky for an inexperienced user. The negative aspects of e –bookings are the factors that reinforce the validity of the other sources of information.
The Role of Architecture on Tourism Industry
Authors: Çetin Murat
Published: May 2011

This chapter aims to shed light on the nature of architecture, its technological and cultural ramifications on tourism industry. It elucidates the background of issues regarding the interaction between the fields of cultural production (architecture) and cultural consumption (tourism). The chapter argues that power of tourism industry has reached, under the pressure of global economics, to a capacity to turn even daily architecture into instruments of touristic show. In this context, technology is utilized as an instrument to produce such iconography only as a surface articulation. Thus, architecture becomes a commodity of touristic consumption in this current socio-economic and cultural context. The pressure of tourism industry seems to create a significant split between the architecture and its location in terms of specific cultural roots. This tendency is discussed as a potential threat to sustainability of tourism industry itself since it damages its own very source, that is to say, richness of cultural differences.
A Study on Tourist Management in China Based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology
Authors: Leong Aliana M W , Li Dr. Xi
Published: May 2011

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a non-contact, automatic identification technology. Through its radio frequency signal, RFID offers automatic target recognition and access to relevant and without human intervention identification of work is made. RFID can work in various environments. It can identify fast moving objects and is capable of identifying multiple tags, in a rapid and convenient operation. Since the 1990s, RFID technology has been widely used in commercial, logistics, property management and other fields, but interest towards potential application to the needs of the tourism industry only began in recent years.
Understanding Risk and Risk-Taking Behavior in Virtual Worlds
Authors: Farahmand Fariborz , Spafford Eugene H.
Published: May 2011

Virtual worlds have seen tremendous growth in recent years. However, security and privacy risks are major considerations in different forms of commerce and exchange in virtual worlds. The studies of behavioral economics and lessons from markets provide fertile ground in the employment of virtual worlds to demonstrate study and examine behaviors. In this chapter, we address user and organizational concerns about security and privacy risks by exploring the relationships among risk, perception of risk, and economic behavior in virtual worlds. To make their interaction more effective, we recommend organizations to understand perceptions of risk in virtual worlds and then implement policies and procedures to enhance trust and reduce risk. Such understanding depends in turn on the multidisciplinary nature of cyber security economics and online behavior
Feature Selection and Sensor Array Optimization in Machine Olfaction
Authors: Vergara Alexander , Llobet Eduard
Published: May 2011

In this context, the main objective of this chapter is to provide the reader with a thorough review of feature or sensor selection for machine olfaction. The organization of the chapter is as follows. First the ‘curse of dimensionality’ and the need for variable selection in gas sensor and direct mass spectrometry based artificial olfaction is discussed. A critical review of the different techniques employed for reducing dimensionality follows. Then, examples taken from the literature showing how these techniques have actually been employed in machine olfaction applications are reviewed and discussed. This is followed by a section devoted to sensor selection and array optimization. The chapter ends with some conclusions drawn from the results presented and a visionary look toward the future in terms of how the field may evolve.
Evolutionary Algorithms for Multisensor Data Fusion
Authors: Yang Jianhua , Hines Evor L. , Sloper John E. , Iliescu D. D. , Leeson Mark S.
Published: May 2011

The aim of Multisensor Data Fusion (MDF) is to eliminate redundant, noisy or irrelevant information and thus find an optimal subset from an array of high dimensionality. An important feature of MDF is that the signals are constantly evolving instead of being static. This provides an opportunity for Evolutionary Computation (EC) algorithms to be developed to solve MDF tasks. This chapter describes the application of three EC algorithms to widely used datasets. Comparative studies were performed so that relative advantage and disadvantages of the different approaches could be investigated. From this study, authros found that ECs performed in the feature selection stage can greatly reduce the dataset dimensionality and hence enhance the MDF system performance; when being used in a way to represent knowledge, ECs can dramatically increase rules when input data are not clustered.
Making an Electronic Nose Versatile
Authors: Bhattacharyya Nabarun , Tudu Bipan , Bandyopadhyay Rajib
Published: May 2011

Because of these factors, it is necessary to make the system flexible in such a way that the system is able to update an existing classifier without affecting the classification performance on old data, and such classifiers should have the property as being both stable and plastic. Conventional pattern classification algorithms require the entire dataset during training, and thereby fail to meet the criteria of being plastic and stable at the same time. The incremental learning algorithms possess these features, and thus, the electronic nose systems become extremely versatile when equipped with these classifiers. In this chapter, the authors describe different incremental learning algorithms for machine olfaction.
Odor Reproduction with Movie and Its Application to Teleolfaction
Authors: Nakamoto Takamichi , Yamanaka Takao
Published: May 2011

The authors of this chapter study the odor reproduction system synchronously with a movie. The system is made up of an odor sensing system and an olfactory display. The fruit flavors were recorded with movies using a digital video camera and the odor sensing system. The results of the sensory tests showed that the odor information recorded using the proposed method is appropriate for the smell regeneration associated with the movie. Next, the authors propose a tele-olfaction system synchronous with visual information. The olfactory display system was placed remotely from the odor sensing system, and both of them were connected via Internet. In addition to the olfactory system, a Web camera captures image around the sniffing point and that image appears at the computer display connected to the olfactory display at remote site. Moreover, the mobile stage with its sniffing point and the Web camera remotely controlled by a user was introduced so that he/she could interactively approach a smelling object. The questionnaire survey at the exhibition revealed that a user can enjoy smell synchronous with movie in real time even if he/she stays at the remote site.