Abstract: This paper discusses the intake of combining multi-criteria
decision analysis (MCDA) with OLAP systems, to generate
an integrated analysis process dealing with complex multi-criteria
decision-making situations. In this context, a multi-agent modeling is
presented for decision support systems by combining multi-criteria
decision analysis (MCDA) with OLAP systems. The proposed
modeling which consists in performing the multi-agent system
(MAS) architecture, procedure and protocol of the negotiation model
is elaborated as a decision support tool for complex decision-making
environments. Our objective is to take advantage from the multi-agent
system which distributes resources and computational
capabilities across interconnected agents, and provide a problem
modeling in terms of autonomous interacting component-agents.
Thus, the identification and evaluation of criteria as well as the
evaluation and ranking of alternatives in a decision support situation
will be performed by organizing tasks and user preferences between
different agents in order to reach the right decision. At the end, an
illustrative example is conducted to demonstrate the function and
effectiveness of our MAS modeling.
Abstract: Cloud computing is a business model which provides
an easier management of computing resources. Cloud users can
request virtual machine and install additional softwares and configure
them if needed. However, user can also request virtual appliance
which provides a better solution to deploy application in much faster
time, as it is ready-built image of operating system with necessary
softwares installed and configured. Large numbers of virtual
appliances are available in different image format. User can
download available appliances from public marketplace and start
using it. However, information published about the virtual appliance
differs from each providers leading to the difficulty in choosing
required virtual appliance as it is composed of specific OS with
standard software version. However, even if user choses the
appliance from respective providers, user doesn’t have any flexibility
to choose their own set of softwares with required OS and
application. In this paper, we propose a referenced architecture for
dynamically customizing virtual appliance and provision them in an
easier manner. We also add our experience in integrating our
proposed architecture with public marketplace and Mi-Cloud, a cloud
management software.
Abstract: Reinforced cement concrete is getting extensively used
for construction of different type of structures for the last one century.
During this period, we have constructed many structures like
buildings, bridges, industrial structures, pavement, water tanks etc.
using this construction material. These structures have been created
with huge investment of resources. It is essential to maintain those
structures in functional condition. Since deterioration in RCC
Structures is a common and natural phenomenon it is required to have
a detailed plan, methodology for structural repair and rehabilitation
shall be in place for dealing such issues. It is important to know exact
reason of distress, type of distress and correct method of repair
concrete structures. The different methods of repair are described in
paper according to distress category which can be refereed for repair.
Major finding of the study is that to protect our structure we need to
have maintenance frequency and correct material to be chosen for
repair. Also workmanship during repair needs to be taken utmost care
for quality repair.
Abstract: The UK has had its fair share of the shale gas
revolutionary waves blowing across the global oil and gas industry at
present. Although, its exploitation is widely agreed to have been
delayed, shale gas was looked upon favorably by the UK Parliament
when they recognized it as genuine energy source and granted
licenses to industry to search and extract the resource. This, although
a significant progress by industry, there yet remains another test the
UK fracking resource must pass in order to render shale gas
extraction feasible – it must be economically extractible and
sustainably so. Developing unconventional resources is much more
expensive and risky, and for shale gas wells, producing in
commercial volumes is conditional upon drilling horizontal wells and
hydraulic fracturing, techniques which increase CAPEX. Meanwhile,
investment in shale gas development projects is sensitive to gas price
and technical and geological risks. Using a Two-Factor Model, the
economics of the Bowland shale wells were analyzed and the
operational conditions under which fracking is profitable in the UK
was characterized. We find that there is a great degree of flexibility
about Opex spending; hence Opex does not pose much threat to the
fracking industry in the UK. However, we discover Bowland shale
gas wells fail to add value at gas price of $8/ Mmbtu. A minimum gas
price of $12/Mmbtu at Opex of no more than $2/ Mcf and no more
than $14.95M Capex are required to create value within the present
petroleum tax regime, in the UK fracking industry.
Abstract: Pain management is a question of quality of life and
an indicator for nursing quality. Chronic pain which is predominant
in oncology and palliative nursing situations is perceived today as a
multifactorial, individual emotional experience with specific
characteristics including the sociocultural dimension when dealing
with migrant patients. This dimension of chronic pain is of major
importance in professional nursing of migrant patients in hospices or
palliative care units. Objectives of the study are: 1. To find out more
about the sociocultural views on pain and nursing care, on customs
and nursing practices connected with pain of both Turkish Muslim
and German Christian women, 2. To improve individual and family
oriented nursing practice with view to sociocultural needs of patients
in severe pain in palliative care. In a qualitative-explorative comparative study 4 groups of women,
Turkish Muslims immigrants (4 from the first generation, 5 from the
second generation) and German Christian women of two generations
(5 of each age group) of the same age groups as the Turkish women
and with similar educational backgrounds were interviewed (semistructured
ethnographic interviews using Spradley, 1979) on their
perceptions and experiences of pain and nursing care within their
families. For both target groups the presentation will demonstrate the
following results in detail: Utterance of pain as well as “private” and
“public” pain vary within different societies and cultures. Permitted
forms of pain utterance are learned in childhood and determine
attitudes and expectations in adulthood. Language, especially when
metaphors and symbols are used, plays a major role for
misunderstandings. The sociocultural context of illness may include
specific beliefs that are important to the patients and yet seem more
than far-fetched from a biomedical perspective. Pain can be an
influential factor in family relationships where respect or hierarchies
do not allow the direct utterance of individual needs. Specific
resources are often, although not exclusively, linked to religious
convictions and are significantly helpful in reducing pain. The discussion will evaluate the results of the study with view to
the relevant literature and present nursing interventions and
instruments beyond medication that are helpful when dealing with
patients from various socio-cultural backgrounds in painful end-oflife
situations.
Abstract: Our purpose is to investigate how the relationship
between employees and innovation management processes can drive
organizations to successful innovations. This research is deeply
related to a new way of thinking about human resources management
practices. It’s not simply about improving the employees’
engagement, but rather about a different and more radical
commitment: the employee can take on the role traditionally played
by the customer, namely to become the first tester of an innovative
product or service, the first user/customer and eventually the first
investor in the innovation. This new perception of employees could
create the basis of a novelty in the innovation process where
innovation is taken to a next level when the problems with customer
driven innovation on the one hand, and employees driven innovation
on the other can be balanced. This research identifies an effective
approach to innovation where the employees will participate
throughout the whole innovation process, not only in the idea
creation but also in the idea definition and development by giving
feedback in parallel to that provided by customers and lead-users.
Abstract: The process of human resources management in the structures of corporate groups demonstrates certain specificity, resulting from the division of decision-making and executive competencies, which occurs within these structures between a parent company and its subsidiaries. The subprocess of employee assessment is considered crucial, since it provides information for the implementation of personnel function. The empirical studies conducted in corporate groups, within which at least one company is located in Poland, confirmed the critical significance of employee assessment systems in the process of human resources management in corporate groups. Parent companies, most often, retain their decision-making authority within the framework of the discussed process and introduce uniform employee assessment and personnel controlling systems to subsidiary companies. However, the instruments for employee assessment applied in corporate groups do not present such specificity.
Abstract: Purpose: The key aim of the research was to identify
the secondary stressors experienced by businesses affected by single
or repeated flooding and to determine to what extent businesses were
affected by these stressors, along with any resulting impact on health.
Additionally the research aimed to establish the likelihood of
businesses being re-exposed to the secondary stressors through
assessing awareness of flood risk, implementation of property
protection measures and level of community resilience. Design/methodology/approach: The chosen research method
involved the distribution of a questionnaire survey to businesses
affected by either single or repeated flood events. The questionnaire
included the Impact of Event Scale (a 15-item self-report measure
which assesses subjective distress caused by traumatic events). Findings: 55 completed questionnaires were returned by flood
impacted businesses. 89% of the businesses had sustained internal
flooding, while 11% had experienced external flooding. The results
established that the key secondary stressors experienced by
businesses, in order of priority, were: flood damage, fear of
reoccurring flooding, prevention of access to the premise/closure,
loss of income, repair works, length of closure and insurance issues.
There was a lack of preparedness for potential future floods and
consequent vulnerability to the emergence of secondary stressors
among flood affected businesses, as flood resistance or flood
resilience measures had only been implemented by 11% and 13%
respectively. In relation to the psychological repercussions, the
Impact of Event scores suggested that potential prevalence of posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) was noted among 8 out of 55
respondents (l5%). Originality/value: The results improve understanding of the
enduring repercussions of flood events on businesses, indicating that
not only residents may be susceptible to the detrimental health
impacts of flood events and single flood events may be just as likely
as reoccurring flooding to contribute to ongoing stress. Lack of
financial resources is a possible explanation for the lack of
implementation of property protection measures among businesses,
despite 49% experiencing flooding on multiple occasions. Therefore
it is recommended that policymakers should consider potential
sources of financial support or grants towards flood defences for
flood impacted businesses. Any form of assistance should be made
available to businesses at the earliest opportunity as there was no
significant association between the time of the last flood event and
the likelihood of experiencing PTSD symptoms.
Abstract: Energy has a prominent role for development of
nations. Countries which have energy resources also have strategic
power in the international trade of energy since it is essential for all
stages of production in the economy. Thus, it is important for
countries to analyze the weaknesses and strength of the system. On
the other side, international trade is one of the fields that are analyzed
as a complex network via network analysis. Complex network is one
of the tools to analyze complex systems with heterogeneous agents
and interaction between them. A complex network consists of nodes
and the interactions between these nodes. Total properties which
emerge as a result of these interactions are distinct from the sum of
small parts (more or less) in complex systems. Thus, standard
approaches to international trade are superficial to analyze these
systems. Network analysis provides a new approach to analyze
international trade as a network. In this network, countries constitute
nodes and trade relations (export or import) constitute edges. It
becomes possible to analyze international trade network in terms of
high degree indicators which are specific to complex networks such
as connectivity, clustering, assortativity/disassortativity, centrality,
etc. In this analysis, international trade of crude oil and coal which
are types of fossil fuel has been analyzed from 2005 to 2014 via
network analysis. First, it has been analyzed in terms of some
topological parameters such as density, transitivity, clustering etc.
Afterwards, fitness to Pareto distribution has been analyzed via
Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Finally, weighted HITS algorithm has
been applied to the data as a centrality measure to determine the real
prominence of countries in these trade networks. Weighted HITS
algorithm is a strong tool to analyze the network by ranking countries
with regards to prominence of their trade partners. We have
calculated both an export centrality and an import centrality by
applying w-HITS algorithm to the data. As a result, impacts of the
trading countries have been presented in terms of high-degree
indicators.
Abstract: Scripts are one of the basic text resources to understand
broadcasting contents. Topic modeling is the method to get the
summary of the broadcasting contents from its scripts. Generally,
scripts represent contents descriptively with directions and speeches,
and provide scene segments that can be seen as semantic units.
Therefore, a script can be topic modeled by treating a scene segment
as a document. Because scene segments consist of speeches mainly,
however, relatively small co-occurrences among words in the scene
segments are observed. This causes inevitably the bad quality of
topics by statistical learning method. To tackle this problem, we
propose a method to improve topic quality with additional word
co-occurrence information obtained using scene similarities. The
main idea of improving topic quality is that the information that
two or more texts are topically related can be useful to learn high
quality of topics. In addition, more accurate topical representations
lead to get information more accurate whether two texts are related
or not. In this paper, we regard two scene segments are related
if their topical similarity is high enough. We also consider that
words are co-occurred if they are in topically related scene segments
together. By iteratively inferring topics and determining semantically
neighborhood scene segments, we draw a topic space represents
broadcasting contents well. In the experiments, we showed the
proposed method generates a higher quality of topics from Korean
drama scripts than the baselines.
Abstract: With the advancement of knowledge about the utility
and impact of sustainability, its feasibility has been explored into
different walks of life. Scientists, however; have established their
knowledge in four areas viz environmental, economic, social and
cultural, popularly termed as four pillars of sustainability. Aspects of
environmental and economic sustainability have been rigorously
researched and practiced and huge volume of strong evidence of
effectiveness has been founded for these two sub-areas. For the social
and cultural aspects of sustainability, dependable evidence of
effectiveness is still to be instituted as the researchers and
practitioners are developing and experimenting methods across the
globe. Therefore, the present research aimed to identify globally used
practices of social and cultural sustainability and through evidence
synthesis assess their outcomes to determine the effectiveness of
those practices. A PICO format steered the methodology which
included all populations, popular sustainability practices including
walkability/cycle tracks, social/recreational spaces, privacy, health &
human services and barrier free built environment, comparators
included ‘Before’ and ‘After’, ‘With’ and ‘Without’, ‘More’ and
‘Less’ and outcomes included Social well-being, cultural coexistence,
quality of life, ethics and morality, social capital, sense of
place, education, health, recreation and leisure, and holistic
development. Search of literature included major electronic
databases, search websites, organizational resources, directory of
open access journals and subscribed journals. Grey literature,
however, was not included. Inclusion criteria filtered studies on the
basis of research designs such as total randomization, quasirandomization,
cluster randomization, observational or single studies
and certain types of analysis. Studies with combined outcomes were
considered but studies focusing only on environmental and/or
economic outcomes were rejected. Data extraction, critical appraisal
and evidence synthesis was carried out using customized tabulation,
reference manager and CASP tool. Partial meta-analysis was carried
out and calculation of pooled effects and forest plotting were done.
As many as 13 studies finally included for final synthesis explained
the impact of targeted practices on health, behavioural and social
dimensions. Objectivity in the measurement of health outcomes
facilitated quantitative synthesis of studies which highlighted the
impact of sustainability methods on physical activity, Body Mass
Index, perinatal outcomes and child health. Studies synthesized
qualitatively (and also quantitatively) showed outcomes such as
routines, family relations, citizenship, trust in relationships, social
inclusion, neighbourhood social capital, wellbeing, habitability and
family’s social processes. The synthesized evidence indicates slight
effectiveness and efficacy of social and cultural sustainability on the
targeted outcomes. Further synthesis revealed that such results of this
study are due weak research designs and disintegrated implementations. If architects and other practitioners deliver their
interventions in collaboration with research bodies and policy
makers, a stronger evidence-base in this area could be generated.
Abstract: Digital images are widely used in computer
applications. To store or transmit the uncompressed images
requires considerable storage capacity and transmission bandwidth.
Image compression is a means to perform transmission or storage of
visual data in the most economical way. This paper explains about
how images can be encoded to be transmitted in a multiplexing
time-frequency domain channel. Multiplexing involves packing
signals together whose representations are compact in the working
domain. In order to optimize transmission resources each 4 × 4
pixel block of the image is transformed by a suitable polynomial
approximation, into a minimal number of coefficients. Less than
4 × 4 coefficients in one block spares a significant amount of
transmitted information, but some information is lost. Different
approximations for image transformation have been evaluated as
polynomial representation (Vandermonde matrix), least squares +
gradient descent, 1-D Chebyshev polynomials, 2-D Chebyshev
polynomials or singular value decomposition (SVD). Results have
been compared in terms of nominal compression rate (NCR),
compression ratio (CR) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR)
in order to minimize the error function defined as the difference
between the original pixel gray levels and the approximated
polynomial output. Polynomial coefficients have been later encoded
and handled for generating chirps in a target rate of about two
chirps per 4 × 4 pixel block and then submitted to a transmission
multiplexing operation in the time-frequency domain.
Abstract: Result from the constant dwindle in natural resources,
the alternative way to reduce the costs in our daily life would be urgent
to be found in the near future. As the ancient technique based on the
theory of solar chimney since roman times, the double-skin façade are
simply composed of two large glass panels in purpose of daylighting
and also natural ventilation in the daytime. Double-skin façade is
generally installed on the exterior side of buildings as function as the
window, so there is always a huge amount of passive solar energy the
façade would receive to induce the airflow every sunny day. Therefore,
this article imposes a domestic double-skin window for residential
usage and attempts to improve the volume flow rate inside the cavity
between the panels by the frame geometry design, the installation of
outlet guide plate and the solar energy collection system. Note that the
numerical analyses are applied to investigate the characteristics of flow
field, and the boundary conditions in the simulation are totally based
on the practical experiment of the original prototype. Then we
redesign the prototype from the knowledge of the numerical results
and fluid dynamic theory, and later the experiments of modified
prototype will be conducted to verify the simulation results. The
velocities at the inlet of each case are increase by 5%, 45% and 15%
from the experimental data, and also the numerical simulation results
reported 20% improvement in volume flow rate both for the frame
geometry design and installation of outlet guide plate.
Abstract: Environmental concerns about the scarcity of marine
resources are critical driving forces for firms aiming to prepare their
supply chains for sustainability. Building on previous work, this
paper highlights the implementation of good practices geared towards
sustainable operations in the seafood department, which were
pursued in an exploratory retailer case. Outcomes of the adopted
environmentally and socially acceptable fish retailing strategies,
ranged from traceability, to self-certification and eco-labelling. The
consequences for business were, as follows: stronger collaboration
and trust across the chain of custody, improvement of sponsors’
image and of consumers’ loyalty and, progress in the Greenpeace
retailers’ evaluation ranking.
Abstract: Small-size and low-power sensors with sensing, signal
processing and wireless communication capabilities is suitable for the
wireless sensor networks. Due to the limited resources and battery
constraints, complex routing algorithms used for the ad-hoc networks
cannot be employed in sensor networks. In this paper, we propose
node-disjoint multi-path hexagon-based routing algorithms in wireless
sensor networks. We suggest the details of the algorithm and compare
it with other works. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme
achieves better performance in terms of efficiency and message
delivery ratio.
Abstract: Large quantities of solid wastes being generated
worldwide from sources such as household, domestic, industrial,
commercial and construction demolition activities, leads to
environmental concerns. Utilization of these wastes in making
building construction materials can reduce the magnitude of the
associated problems. When these waste products are used in place of
other conventional materials, natural resources and energy are
preserved and expensive and/or potentially harmful waste disposal is
avoided. Recycling which is regarded as the third most preferred waste
disposal option, with its numerous environmental benefits, stand as a
viable option to offset the environmental impact associated with the
construction industry. This paper reviews the results of laboratory tests and important
research findings, and the potential of using these wastes in building
construction materials with focus on sustainable development.
Research gaps, which includes; the need to develop standard mix
design for solid waste based building materials; the need to develop
energy efficient method of processing solid waste use in concrete; the
need to study the actual behavior or performance of such building
materials in practical application and the limited real life application
of such building materials have also been identified. A research is being proposed to develop an environmentally
friendly, lightweight building block from recycled waste paper,
without the use of cement, and with properties suitable for use as
walling unit. This proposed research intends to incorporate,
laboratory experimentation and modeling to address the identified
research gaps.
Abstract: Laura Island, which is located about 50 km away from
downtown, is a source of water supply in Majuro atoll, which is the
capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Low and flat Majuro
atoll has neither river nor lake. It is very important for Majuro atoll to
ensure the conservation of its water resources. However, upconing,
which is the process of partial rising of the freshwater-saltwater
boundary near the water-supply well, was caused by the excess
pumping from it during the severe drought in 1998. Upconing will
make the water usage of the freshwater lens difficult. Thus,
appropriate water usage is required to prevent up coning in the
freshwater lens because there is no other water source during drought. Numerical simulation of water usage applying SEAWAT model
was conducted at the central part of Laura Island, including the water
supply well, which was affected by upconing. The freshwater lens was
created as a result of infiltration of consistent average rainfall. The lens
shape was almost the same as the one in 1985. 0 of monthly rainfall
and variable daily pump discharge were used to calculate the
sustainable pump discharge from the water supply well. Consequently,
the total amount of pump discharge was increased as the daily pump
discharge was increased, indicating that it needs more time to recover
from upconing. Thus, a pump standard to reduce the pump intensity is
being proposed, which is based on numerical simulation concerning
the occurrence of the up-coning phenomenon in Laura Island during
the drought.
Abstract: Increase of emergency incidents and crisis situations
requires proactive crisis management of authorities and for its
solution. Application Business Continuity Management helps the
crisis management authorities to quickly and responsibly respond to
threats. It also helps effectively and efficiently planning powers and
resources. The main goal of this article is describing Military
Continuity Management System (MCMS) based on the principles of
Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) for dealing with
floods in the territory of the selected municipalities. There are
explained steps of loading, running and evaluating activities in the
software application MCMS. Software MCMS provides complete
control over the tasks, contribute a comprehensive and responsible
approach solutions to solution floods in the municipality.
Abstract: Ensuring of continuity of business is basic strategy of
every company. Continuity of organization activities includes
comprehensive procedures that help in solving unexpected situations
of natural and anthropogenic character (for example flood, blaze,
economic situations). Planning of continuity operations is a process
that helps identify critical processes and implement plans for the
security and recovery of key processes. The aim of this article is to
demonstrate application of system approach to managing business
continuity called business continuity management systems in military
issues. This article describes the life cycle of business continuity
management which is based on the established cycle PDCA (Plan-
Do-Check-Act). After this is carried out by activities which are
making by University of Defence during activation of forces and
means of the integrated rescue system in case of emergencies -
accidents at a nuclear power plant in Czech Republic. Activities of
various stages of deployment earmarked forces and resources are
managed and evaluated by using MCMS application (Military
Continuity Management System).
Abstract: Now, the use of renewable energy power generation
has been advanced. In this paper, we compared the usable amount of
resource for photovoltaic power generation which was estimated using
the NEDO formula and the expansion support policy of photovoltaic
power generation which was researched using Internet in the
municipality level in Hokkaido and Aichi Prefecture, Japan. This
paper will contribute to grasp the current situation especially about the
policy. As a result, there were municipalities which seemed to be no
consideration of fitting the amount of resources. We think it would
need to consider the suitability between the resources and policies.