Abstract: It well recognized that one feature that makes a
successful company is its ability to successfully align its business goals with its information communication technologies platform.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems contribute to achieve better performance by integrating various business functions and
providing support for information flows. However, the technological
systems complexity is known to prevent the business users to exploit in an efficient way the Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP).
This paper aims to investigate the role of training in improving the
usage of ERP systems. To this end, we have designed an instrument
survey to employees of a Norwegian multinational global provider of
technology solutions. Based on the analysis of collected data, we have delineated a training model that could be high relevance for
both researchers and practitioners as a step towards a better
understanding of ERP system implementation.
Abstract: Transport and land use are two systems that are
mutually influenced. Their interaction is a complex process
associated with continuous feedback. The paper examines the
existing land use around an under construction metro station of the
new metro network of Thessaloniki, Greece, through the use of field
investigations, around the station-s predefined location. Moreover,
except from the analytical land use recording, a sampling
questionnaire survey is addressed to several selected enterprises of
the study area. The survey aims to specify the characteristics of the
enterprises, the trip patterns of their employees and clients, as well as
the stated preferences towards the changes the new metro station is
considered to bring to the area. The interpretation of the interrelationships
among selected data from the questionnaire survey takes
place using the method of Principal Components Analysis for
Categorical Data. The followed methodology and the survey-s results
contribute to the enrichment of the relevant bibliography concerning
the way the creation of a new metro station can have an impact on the
land use pattern of an area, by examining the situation before the
operation of the station.
Abstract: To illustrate diversity of methods used to extract relevant (where the concept of relevance can be differently defined for different applications) visual data, the paper discusses three groups of such methods. They have been selected from a range of alternatives to highlight how hardware and software tools can be complementarily used in order to achieve various functionalities in case of different specifications of “relevant data". First, principles of gated imaging are presented (where relevance is determined by the range). The second methodology is intended for intelligent intrusion detection, while the last one is used for content-based image matching and retrieval. All methods have been developed within projects supervised by the author.
Abstract: One approach to assess neural networks underlying the cognitive processes is to study Electroencephalography (EEG). It is relevant to detect various mental states and characterize the physiological changes that help to discriminate two situations. That is why an EEG (amplitude, synchrony) classification procedure is described, validated. The two situations are "eyes closed" and "eyes opened" in order to study the "alpha blocking response" phenomenon in the occipital area. The good classification rate between the two situations is 92.1 % (SD = 3.5%) The spatial distribution of a part of amplitude features that helps to discriminate the two situations are located in the occipital regions that permit to validate the localization method. Moreover amplitude features in frontal areas, "short distant" synchrony in frontal areas and "long distant" synchrony between frontal and occipital area also help to discriminate between the two situations. This procedure will be used for mental fatigue detection.
Abstract: Along with the basic features of students\' culture
information, with its widely usage oriented on implementation of the
new information technologies in educational process that determines
the search for ways of pointing to the similarity of interdisciplinary
connections content, aims and objectives of the study. In this regard,
the article questions about students\' information culture, and also
presented information about the aims and objectives of the
information culture process among students. In the formation of a
professional interest in relevant information, which is an opportunity
to assist in informing the professional activities of the essence of
effective use of interactive methods and innovative technologies in
the learning process. The result of the experiment proves the
effectiveness of the information culture process of students in
training the system of higher education based on the credit
technology. The main purpose of this paper is a comprehensive
review of students\' information culture.
Abstract: Using bottom-up image processing algorithms to predict human eye fixations and extract the relevant embedded information in images has been widely applied in the design of active machine vision systems. Scene text is an important feature to be extracted, especially in vision-based mobile robot navigation as many potential landmarks such as nameplates and information signs contain text. This paper proposes an edge-based text region extraction algorithm, which is robust with respect to font sizes, styles, color/intensity, orientations, and effects of illumination, reflections, shadows, perspective distortion, and the complexity of image backgrounds. Performance of the proposed algorithm is compared against a number of widely used text localization algorithms and the results show that this method can quickly and effectively localize and extract text regions from real scenes and can be used in mobile robot navigation under an indoor environment to detect text based landmarks.
Abstract: Corner detection and optical flow are common techniques for feature-based video stabilization. However, these algorithms are computationally expensive and should be performed at a reasonable rate. This paper presents an algorithm for discarding irrelevant feature points and maintaining them for future use so as to improve the computational cost. The algorithm starts by initializing a maintained set. The feature points in the maintained set are examined against its accuracy for modeling. Corner detection is required only when the feature points are insufficiently accurate for future modeling. Then, optical flows are computed from the maintained feature points toward the consecutive frame. After that, a motion model is estimated based on the simplified affine motion model and least square method, with outliers belonging to moving objects presented. Studentized residuals are used to eliminate such outliers. The model estimation and elimination processes repeat until no more outliers are identified. Finally, the entire algorithm repeats along the video sequence with the points remaining from the previous iteration used as the maintained set. As a practical application, an efficient video stabilization can be achieved by exploiting the computed motion models. Our study shows that the number of times corner detection needs to perform is greatly reduced, thus significantly improving the computational cost. Moreover, optical flow vectors are computed for only the maintained feature points, not for outliers, thus also reducing the computational cost. In addition, the feature points after reduction can sufficiently be used for background objects tracking as demonstrated in the simple video stabilizer based on our proposed algorithm.
Abstract: Using activity theory, organisational theory and
didactics as theoretical foundations, a comprehensive model of the
organisational dimensions relevant for learning and knowledge
transfer will be developed. In a second step, a Learning Assessment
Guideline will be elaborated. This guideline will be designed to
permit a targeted analysis of organisations to identify the status quo
in those areas crucial to the implementation of learning and
knowledge transfer. In addition, this self-analysis tool will enable
learning managers to select adequate didactic models for e- and
blended learning. As part of the European Integrated Project
"Process-oriented Learning and Information Exchange" (PROLIX),
this model of organisational prerequisites for learning and knowledge
transfer will be empirically tested in four profit and non-profit
organisations in Great Britain, Germany and France (to be finalized
in autumn 2006). The findings concern not only the capability of the
model of organisational dimensions, but also the predominant
perceptions of and obstacles to learning in organisations.
Abstract: With the explosive growth of information sources available on the World Wide Web, it has become increasingly difficult to identify the relevant pieces of information, since web pages are often cluttered with irrelevant content like advertisements, navigation-panels, copyright notices etc., surrounding the main content of the web page. Hence, tools for the mining of data regions, data records and data items need to be developed in order to provide value-added services. Currently available automatic techniques to mine data regions from web pages are still unsatisfactory because of their poor performance and tag-dependence. In this paper a novel method to extract data items from the web pages automatically is proposed. It comprises of two steps: (1) Identification and Extraction of the data regions based on visual clues information. (2) Identification of data records and extraction of data items from a data region. For step1, a novel and more effective method is proposed based on visual clues, which finds the data regions formed by all types of tags using visual clues. For step2 a more effective method namely, Extraction of Data Items from web Pages (EDIP), is adopted to mine data items. The EDIP technique is a list-based approach in which the list is a linear data structure. The proposed technique is able to mine the non-contiguous data records and can correctly identify data regions, irrespective of the type of tag in which it is bound. Our experimental results show that the proposed technique performs better than the existing techniques.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to propose a mathematical
model to determine invariant sets, set covering, orbits and, in
particular, attractors in the set of tourism variables. Analysis was
carried out based on a pre-designed algorithm and applying our
interpretation of chaos theory developed in the context of General
Systems Theory. This article sets out the causal relationships
associated with tourist flows in order to enable the formulation of
appropriate strategies. Our results can be applied to numerous cases.
For example, in the analysis of tourist flows, these findings can be
used to determine whether the behaviour of certain groups affects that
of other groups and to analyse tourist behaviour in terms of the most
relevant variables. Unlike statistical analyses that merely provide
information on current data, our method uses orbit analysis to
forecast, if attractors are found, the behaviour of tourist variables in
the immediate future.
Abstract: The request for a sustainable development challenges
both managers and consumers to rethink habitual practices and
activities. While consumers are challenged to develop sustainable
consumption patterns, companies are asked to establish managerial
systems and structures considering economical, ecological, and social
issues. As this is in particular true for housing associations, this paper
aims first, at providing an understanding of sustainability strategy in
residential trade and industry (RTI) by identifying relevant facets of
this construct and second, at conceptually analyzing the impact of
sustainability strategy in RTI on operational efficiency and
performance of municipal housing companies. The author develops a
model of sustainability strategy in RTI and its effects and further,
sheds light in priorities for future research.
Abstract: The paper outlines the drivers behind the movement
from products to solutions in the Hi-Tech Business-to-Business
markets. The paper lists out the challenges in enabling the
transformation from products to solutions and also attempts to explore
strategic and operational recommendations based on the authors-
factual experiences with Japanese Hi-tech manufacturing
organizations. Organizations in the Hi-Tech Business-to-Business
markets are increasingly being compelled to move to a solutions model
from the conventional products model. Despite the added complexity
of solutions, successful technology commercialization can be achieved
by making prudent choices in defining a relevant solutions model, by
backing the solution model through appropriate organizational design,
and by overhauling the new product development process and
supporting infrastructure.
Abstract: Speckle noise affects all coherent imaging systems
including medical ultrasound. In medical images, noise suppression
is a particularly delicate and difficult task. A tradeoff between noise
reduction and the preservation of actual image features has to be made
in a way that enhances the diagnostically relevant image content.
Even though wavelets have been extensively used for denoising
speckle images, we have found that denoising using contourlets gives
much better performance in terms of SNR, PSNR, MSE, variance and
correlation coefficient. The objective of the paper is to determine the
number of levels of Laplacian pyramidal decomposition, the number
of directional decompositions to perform on each pyramidal level and
thresholding schemes which yields optimal despeckling of medical
ultrasound images, in particular. The proposed method consists of the
log transformed original ultrasound image being subjected to contourlet
transform, to obtain contourlet coefficients. The transformed
image is denoised by applying thresholding techniques on individual
band pass sub bands using a Bayes shrinkage rule. We quantify the
achieved performance improvement.
Abstract: Passive systems were born with the purpose of the
greatest exploitation of solar energy in cold climates and high
altitudes. They spread themselves until the 80-s all over the world
without any attention to the specific climate and the summer
behavior; this caused the deactivation of the systems due to a series
of problems connected to the summer overheating, the complex
management and the rising of the dust.
Until today the European regulation limits only the winter
consumptions without any attention to the summer behavior but, the
recent European EN 15251 underlines the relevance of the indoor
comfort, and the necessity of the analytic studies validation by
monitoring case studies.
In the porpose paper we demonstrate that the solar wall is an
efficient system both from thermal comfort and energy saving point
of view and it is the most suitable for our temperate climates because
it can be used as a passive cooling sistem too. In particular the paper
present an experimental and numerical analisys carried out on a case
study with nine different solar passive systems in Ancona, Italy.
We carried out a detailed study of the lodging provided by the
solar wall by the monitoring and the evaluation of the indoor
conditions.
Analyzing the monitored data, on the base of recognized models
of comfort (ISO, ASHRAE, Givoni-s BBCC), is emerged that the
solar wall has an optimal behavior in the middle seasons. In winter
phase this passive system gives more advantages in terms of energy
consumptions than the other systems, because it gives greater heat
gain and therefore smaller consumptions. In summer, when outside
air temperature return in the mean seasonal value, the indoor comfort
is optimal thanks to an efficient transversal ventilation activated from
the same wall.
Abstract: School homework has been synonymous with students- life in Chinese national type primary schools in Malaysia. Although many reports in the press claimed that students were burdened with too much of it, homework continues to be a common practice in national type schools that is believed to contribute to academic achievement. This study is conducted to identify the relationship between the burden of school homework and academic achievement among pupils in Chinese National Type Primary School in the state of Perak, Malaysia. A total of 284 students (142 from urban and 142 from rural) respectively were chosen as participants in this study. Variables of gender and location (urban/rural areas) has shown significant difference in student academic achievement. Female Chinese student from rural areas showed a higher mean score than males from urban area. Therefore, the Chinese language teachers should give appropriate and relevant homework to primary school students to achieve good academic performance.
Abstract: In this article, the authors reviewed and analyzed the survey materials similarities ornament proto-Turkic and northern Indians. The study examined the materials scientists - geneticists, archaeologists, anthropologists. Numerous studies of scientists from different directions once again prove the relevance of the topic. The authors approached the subject from an artistic side. The study authors have made the appropriate conclusions. This publication is based on the proceedings of the investigation.
Abstract: Enterprise Wide Information Systems (EWIS)
implementation involves the entire business and will require changes
throughout the firm. Because of the scope, complexity and
continuous nature of ERP, the project-based approach to managing
the implementation process resulted in failure rates of between 60%
and 80%. In recent years ERP systems have received much attention.
The organizational relevance and risk of ERP projects make it
important for organizations to focus on ways to make ERP
implementation successful. Once these systems are in place,
however, their performance depends on the identified macro
variables viz. 'Business Process', 'Decision Making' and 'Individual
/ Group working'. The questionnaire was designed and administered.
The responses from 92 organizations were compiled. The
relationship of these variables with EWIS performance is analyzed
using inferential statistical measurements. The study helps to
understand the performance of model presented. The study suggested
in keeping away from the calamities and thereby giving the
necessary competitive edge. Whenever some discrepancy is
identified during the process of performance appraisal care has to be
taken to draft necessary preventive measures. If all these measures
are taken care off then the EWIS performance will definitely deliver
the results.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to suggest some optimal
waterfront scales around small rivers by reviewing domestic and
foreign survey reports about concept and relevant systems of the
ecological cities, analyzing the data collected from a survey about
scales and facilities of waterfront green zones around small rivers. The
questionnaire survey was conducted by sampling professional
designers, developers, the citizens living in the GunpoSanbon district
covered by no river system and the citizens living in such districts
covered by a river system. The question items were about need, uses,
scale and facilities of waterfront in common, and about satisfaction
with waterfront in case of citizen groups. In short, most of the subjects
in 5 groups preferred 10~20 wide waterfront green zone. And it is
judged that the results of this study about uses and facilities of the
waterfront green zone and its scales would provide for some basic data
useful to future waterfront green zone and urban development plans.
Abstract: In this paper we present a new approach to detecting a
flaw in T.O.F.D (Time Of Flight Diffraction) type ultrasonic image
based on texture features. Texture is one of the most important
features used in recognizing patterns in an image. The paper
describes texture features based on 2D Gabor functions, i.e.,
Gaussian shaped band-pass filters, with dyadic treatment of the radial
spatial frequency range and multiple orientations, which represent an
appropriate choice for tasks requiring simultaneous measurement in
both space and frequency domains. The most relevant features are
used as input data on a Fuzzy c-mean clustering classifier. The
classes that exist are only two: 'defects' or 'no defects'. The proposed
approach is tested on the T.O.F.D image achieved at the laboratory
and on the industrial field.
Abstract: Due to the increasing penetration of wind energy, it is
necessary to possess design tools that are able to simulate the impact
of these installations in utility grids. In order to provide a net
contribution to this issue a detailed wind park model has been
developed and is briefly presented. However, the computational costs
associated with the performance of such a detailed model in
describing the behavior of a wind park composed by a considerable
number of units may render its practical application very difficult. To
overcome this problem integral manifolds theory has been applied to
reduce the order of the detailed wind park model, and therefore
create the conditions for the development of a dynamic equivalent
which is able to retain the relevant dynamics with respect to the
existing a.c. system. In this paper integral manifold method has been
introduced for order reduction. Simulation results of the proposed
method represents that integral manifold method results fit the
detailed model results with a higher precision than singular
perturbation method.