Abstract: Trust management and Reputation models are
becoming integral part of Internet based applications such as CSCW,
E-commerce and Grid Computing. Also the trust dimension is a
significant social structure and key to social relations within a
collaborative community. Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) is
a difficult task in the context of distributed environment (information
across different geographical locations) and multidisciplinary
decisions are involved such as Virtual Organization (VO). To aid
team decision making in VO, Decision Support System and social
network analysis approaches are integrated. In such situations social
learning helps an organization in terms of relationship, team
formation, partner selection etc. In this paper we focus on trust
learning. Trust learning is an important activity in terms of
information exchange, negotiation, collaboration and trust
assessment for cooperation among virtual team members. In this
paper we have proposed a reinforcement learning which enhances the
trust decision making capability of interacting agents during
collaboration in problem solving activity. Trust computational model
with learning that we present is adapted for best alternate selection of
new project in the organization. We verify our model in a multi-agent
simulation where the agents in the community learn to identify
trustworthy members, inconsistent behavior and conflicting behavior
of agents.
Abstract: Several studies have shown the association between
ambient particulate matter (PM) and adverse health effects and
climate change, thus highlighting the need to limit the anthropogenic
sources of PM. PM Exposure is commonly monitored as mass
concentration of PM10 (particle aerodynamic diameter < 10μm) or
PM2.5 (particle aerodynamic diameter < 2.5μm), although increasing
toxicity with decreasing aerodynamic diameter has been reported due
to increased surface area and enhanced chemical reactivity with other
species. Additionally, the light scattering properties of PM increases
with decreasing size. Hence, it is important to study the chemical
characterization of finer fraction of the particulate matter and to
identify their sources so that they can be controlled appropriately to a
large extent at the sources before reaching to the receptors.
Abstract: Buildings and associated construction methods have a significant impact on the environment. As construction activity increases in Kuwait, there is a need to create design and construction strategies which will minimize the environmental impact of new buildings. Green construction is a design philosophy intended to improve the sustainability of construction by the minimization of resource depletion and CO2 emissions throughout the life cycle of buildings. This paper presents and discusses the results of a survey that was conducted in Kuwait, with the objective of investigating the awareness of developers and other stakeholders regarding their understanding and use of green construction strategies. The results of the survey demonstrate that whilst there seems to be a reasonable level of awareness amongst the stakeholders, this awareness is not currently well reflected in the design and construction practices actually being applied. It is therefore concluded is there is a pressing need for intervention from Government in order that the use of sustainable green design and construction strategies becomes the norm in Kuwait.
Abstract: During the year 1999, Serbia (ex Yugoslavia) and their northern province, Vojvodina, has been bombarded. Because of that general public believe is that this region was contaminated by depleted uranium and that there is a potential contaminant of agricultural products due to soil radioactivity. This paper presents the repeated analysis of agricultural soil samples in Vojvodina. The same investigation was carried out during the year 2001, and it was concluded that, based on the gamma-spectrometric analysis of 50 soil samples taken from the region of Vojvodina, there haven-t been registered any increase of radioactivity that could endanger the food production. We continue with the monitoring of this region. The comparison between those two sets of results is presented.
Abstract: It is important problems to increase the detection rates
and reduce false positive rates in Intrusion Detection System (IDS).
Although preventative techniques such as access control and
authentication attempt to prevent intruders, these can fail, and as a
second line of defence, intrusion detection has been introduced. Rare
events are events that occur very infrequently, detection of rare
events is a common problem in many domains. In this paper we
propose an intrusion detection method that combines Rough set and
Fuzzy Clustering. Rough set has to decrease the amount of data and
get rid of redundancy. Fuzzy c-means clustering allow objects to
belong to several clusters simultaneously, with different degrees of
membership. Our approach allows us to recognize not only known
attacks but also to detect suspicious activity that may be the result of
a new, unknown attack. The experimental results on Knowledge
Discovery and Data Mining-(KDDCup 1999) Dataset show that the
method is efficient and practical for intrusion detection systems.
Abstract: This paper is aimed to study the roles of leadership and innovation in the development of local people based ecotourism
services. The survey is conducted in Candirejo village, Borobudur District, Magelang Regency. The study of a descriptive approach is employed to identify people's behavior in ecotourism services. The results showed that ecotourism services have developed and provided benefits to the people. The roles of leadership and innovation interact positively with a cooperative to organize an ecotourism services management. The leadership is able to identify substances, to do the vision and missions of environmental and cultural conservation. The innovation provides alternative development efforts and increases the added value of ecotourism. The cooperative management was able to support a process to realize the goals of ecotourism, to build participation and communication, and to perform organizational learning. The phenomenon of the leadership in the Candirejo ecotourism enriches the studies of the ecotourism management. During this time, the ecotourism management is always associated
with the standard management of national park. The ecotourism management of Candirejo is considered successful even outside the national park management.
Abstract: The right information at the right time influences the
enterprise and technical success. Sharing knowledge among members
of a big organization may be a complex activity. And as long as the
knowledge is not shared, can not be exploited by the organization.
There are some mechanisms which can originate knowledge sharing.
It is intended, in this paper, to trigger these mechanisms by using
semantic nets. Moreover, the intersection and overlapping of terms
and sub-terms, as well as their relationships will be described through
the mereology science for the whole knowledge sharing system. It is
proposed a knowledge system to supply to operators with the right
information about a specific process and possible risks, e.g. at the
assembly process, at the right time in an automated manufacturing
environment, such as at the automotive industry.
Abstract: Lectins have a good scope in current clinical
microbiology research. In the present study evaluated the
antimicrobial activities of a D-galactose binding lectin (PnL) was
purified from the annelid, Perinereis nuntia (polychaeta) by affinity
chromatography. The molecular mass of the lectin was determined to
be 32 kDa as a single polypeptide by SDS-PAGE under both reducing
and non-reducing conditions. The hemagglutinating activity of the
PnL showed against trypsinized and glutaraldehyde-fixed human
erythrocytes was specifically inhibited by D-Gal, GalNAc,
Galβ1-4Glc and Galα1-6Glc. PnL was evaluated for in vitro
antibacterial screening studies against 11 gram-positive and
gram-negative microorganisms. From the screening results, it was
revealed that PnL exhibited significant antibacterial activity against
gram-positive bacteria. Bacillus megaterium showed the highest
growth inhibition by the lectin (250 μg/disc). However, PnL did not
inhibit the growth of gram-negative bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae
and Pseudomonas sp. PnL was also examined for in vitro antifungal
activity against six fungal phytopathogens. PnL (100 μg/mL) inhibited
the mycelial growth of Alternaria alternata (24.4%). These results
indicate that future findings of lectin applications obtained from
annelids may be of importance to life sciences.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize a futureoriented
human work environment and organizational activity in
deep mines that entails a vision of good and safe workplace. Futureoriented
technological challenges and mental images required for
modern work organization design were appraised. It is argued that an
intelligent-deep-mine covering the entire value chain, including
environmental issues and with work organization that supports good
working and social conditions towards increased human productivity
could be designed. With such intelligent system and work
organization in place, the mining industry could be seen as a place
where cooperation, skills development and gender equality are key
components. By this perspective, both the youth and women might
view mining activity as an attractive job and the work environment
as a safe, and this could go a long way in breaking the unequal
gender balance that exists in most mines today.
Abstract: This paper describes a research project on Year 3 primary school students in Malaysia in their use of computer-based video game to enhance learning of multiplication facts (tables) in the Mathematics subject. This study attempts to investigate whether video games could actually contribute to positive effect on children-s learning or otherwise. In conducting this study, the researchers assume a neutral stand in the investigation as an unbiased outcome of the study would render reliable response to the impact of video games in education which would contribute to the literature of technology-based education as well as impact to the pedagogical aspect of formal education. In order to conduct the study, a subject (Mathematics) with a specific topic area in the subject (multiplication facts) is chosen. The study adopts a causal-comparative research to investigate the impact of the inclusion of a computer-based video game designed to teach multiplication facts to primary level students. Sample size is 100 students divided into two i.e., A: conventional group and B conventional group aided by video games. The conventional group (A) would be taught multiplication facts (timetables) and skills conventionally. The other group (B) underwent the same lessons but with supplementary activity: a computer-based video game on multiplication which is called Timez-Attack. Analysis of marks accrued from pre-test will be compared to post- test using comparisons of means, t tests, and ANOVA tests to investigate the impact of computer games as an added learning activity. The findings revealed that video games as a supplementary activity to classroom learning brings significant and positive effect on students- retention and mastery of multiplication tables as compared to students who rely only upon formal classroom instructions.
Abstract: Climate change is one of the greatest environmental,
economic, and social challenges of our time. Urban transportation has
had a major negative impact on our environment—most of our air
pollution comes from transport.
This paper explores ways to move toward a more sustainable
transport system by focusing on creating a more efficient and livable
city and improving the environmental efficiency of transport activity.
The analytical study covers some international examples of applying
sustainable transportation and uses them to suggest a frame work to
develop the transportation system in Egypt to be sustainable and more
intelligent.
Abstract: This paper evaluates the association between
economic environment in the districts of Madrid (Spain) and physical
inactivity, using income per capita as indicator of economic
environment. The analysis included 6,601 individuals aged 16 to 74
years. The measure of association estimated was the prevalence odds
ratio for physical inactivity by income per capita. After adjusting for
sex, age, and individual socioeconomic characteristics, people living
in the districts with the lowest per capita income had an odds ratio for
physical inactivity 1.58 times higher (95% confidence interval 1.35 to
1.85) than those living in districts with the highest per capita income.
Additional adjustment for the availability of sports facilities in each
district did not decrease the magnitude of the association. These
findings show that the widely believed assumption that the
availability of sports and recreational facilities, as a possible
explanation for the relation between economic environment and
physical inactivity, cannot be considered a universal observation.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to emphasize the opportunities in space design under the aspect of HCI as performance areas. HCI is a multidisciplinary approach that could be identified in many different areas. The aesthetical reflections of HCI by virtual reality in space design are the high-tech solutions of the new innovations as computational facilities by artistic features. The method of this paper is to identify the subject in 3 main parts. In the first part a general approach and definition of interactivity on the basis of space design; in the second part the concept of multimedia interactive theater by some chosen samples from the world and interactive design aspects; in the third part the samples from Turkey will be identified by stage designing principles. In the results it could be declared that the multimedia database is the virtual approach of theatre stage designing regarding interactive means by computational facilities according to aesthetical aspects. HCI is mostly identified in theatre stages as computational intelligence under the affect of interactivity.
Abstract: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is one of the
most vital planning processes of the project management since it
is considered to be the fundamental of other processes like
scheduling, controlling, assigning responsibilities, etc. In fact
WBS or activity list is the heart of a project and omission of a
simple task can lead to an irrecoverable result. There are some
tools in order to generate a project WBS. One of the most
powerful tools is mind mapping which is the basis of this article.
Mind map is a method for thinking together and helps a project
manager to stimulate the mind of project team members to
generate project WBS. Here we try to generate a WBS of a
sample project involving with the building construction using the
aid of mind map and the artificial intelligence (AI) programming
language. Since mind map structure can not represent data in a
computerized way, we convert it to a semantic network which can
be used by the computer and then extract the final WBS from the
semantic network by the prolog programming language. This
method will result a comprehensive WBS and decrease the
probability of omitting project tasks.
Abstract: The benefits of physical activity for children are promoted widely and well understood; however factors which impact on children-s beliefs and attitudes towards physical education need to be explored in more detail. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how primary school children value and perceive their involvement in physical education (PE) classes through the use of drawings. While this type of data collection has been used previously to determine a child-s response to specific health education classes, such as drug education, to the best of our knowledge it has not been used in the context of PE. Results from this study showed that kindergarten children found PE classes fun and engaging. Children in Year 4 and Year 6 were less satisfied with PE classes because of the activities offered, the lack of opportunity to play sport, and perception that teachers did not appear to value this area of the curriculum.
Abstract: The application of Neural Network for disease
diagnosis has made great progress and is widely used by physicians.
An Electrocardiogram carries vital information about heart activity and physicians use this signal for cardiac disease diagnosis which
was the great motivation towards our study. In our work, tachycardia
features obtained are used for the training and testing of a Neural
Network. In this study we are using Fuzzy Probabilistic Neural
Networks as an automatic technique for ECG signal analysis. As
every real signal recorded by the equipment can have different
artifacts, we needed to do some preprocessing steps before feeding it
to our system. Wavelet transform is used for extracting the
morphological parameters of the ECG signal. The outcome of the
approach for the variety of arrhythmias shows the represented
approach is superior than prior presented algorithms with an average
accuracy of about %95 for more than 7 tachy arrhythmias.
Abstract: Emerging Bio-engineering fields such as Brain
Computer Interfaces, neuroprothesis devices and modeling and
simulation of neural networks have led to increased research activity
in algorithms for the detection, isolation and classification of Action
Potentials (AP) from noisy data trains. Current techniques in the field
of 'unsupervised no-prior knowledge' biosignal processing include
energy operators, wavelet detection and adaptive thresholding. These
tend to bias towards larger AP waveforms, AP may be missed due to
deviations in spike shape and frequency and correlated noise
spectrums can cause false detection. Also, such algorithms tend to
suffer from large computational expense.
A new signal detection technique based upon the ideas of phasespace
diagrams and trajectories is proposed based upon the use of a
delayed copy of the AP to highlight discontinuities relative to
background noise. This idea has been used to create algorithms that
are computationally inexpensive and address the above problems.
Distinct AP have been picked out and manually classified from
real physiological data recorded from a cockroach. To facilitate
testing of the new technique, an Auto Regressive Moving Average
(ARMA) noise model has been constructed bases upon background
noise of the recordings. Along with the AP classification means this
model enables generation of realistic neuronal data sets at arbitrary
signal to noise ratio (SNR).
Abstract: This research aimed to study the competency of health
and wellness hotels and resorts in developing use the local natural
resources and wisdom to conform to the national health and wellness
tourism (HWT) strategy by comparing two independent samples,
from Aumpur Muang, Ranong province and Aumpur Muang,
Chiangmai province. And also study in the suggestive direct path to
lead the organization to the sustainable successful.
This research was conduct by using mix methodology; both
quantitative and qualitative data were used. The data of competency
of health and wellness hotels and resorts (HWHR) in developing use
the local natural resources for HWT promoting were collected via
300 set of questionnaires, from 6 hotels and resorts in 2 areas, 3
places from Aumpur Muang, Ranong province and another 3 from
Aumpur Muang, Chiangmai province.
Thestudy of HWHR’s competency in developing use the local
natural resources and wisdom to conform to the national HWT
strategycan be divided into fourmain areas, food and beverages
service, tourism activity, environmental service, and value adding.
The total competency of the Chiangmai sample is importantly
scoredp. value 0.01 higher than the Ranong one while the area of
safety, Chiangmai’s competency is importantly scored 0.05 higher
than the Ranong’scompetency. Others were rated not differently.
Since Chiangmai perform better, then it can be a role model in
developing HTHR or HWT destination.
From the part of qualitative research, content analysis of business
contents and its environments were analyzed. The four stages of
strategic development and plans, from the smallest scale to the largest
scale such a national base were discussed. The HWT: Evolution
model and strategy for lodging Business were suggested. All those
stages must work harmoniously together. The distinctive result
illustrates the need of human resource development as the key point
to create the identity of Thainess on Health and wellness service
providing. This will add-on the value of services and differentiates
ourselves from other competitors. The creative of Thailand’s health
and wellness brand possibly increase loyalty customers which agreed
to be a path of sustainable development.
Abstract: Social networking is one of the most successful and popular tools to emerge from the Web 2.0 era. However, the increased interconnectivity and access to peoples- personal lives and information has created a plethora of opportunities for the nefarious side of human nature to manifest. This paper categorizes and describes the major types of anti-social behavior and criminal activity that can arise through undisciplined use and/or misuse of social media. We specifically address identity theft, misrepresentation of information posted, cyber bullying, children and social networking, and social networking in the work place. Recommendations are provided for how to reduce the risk of being the victim of a crime or engaging in embarrassing behavior that could irrevocably harm one-s reputation either professionally or personally. We also discuss what responsibilities social networking companies have to protect their users and also what law enforcement and policy makers can do to help alleviate the problems.
Abstract: Effect of viscosity of media on kinetic parameters of the coupled enzyme system NADH:FMN-oxidoreductase–luciferase was investigated with addition of organic solvents (glycerol and sucrose), because bioluminescent enzyme systems based on bacterial luciferases offer a unique and general tool for analysis of the many analytes and enzymes in the environment, research and clinical laboratories and other fields. The possibility of stabilization and increase of activity of the coupled enzyme system NADH:FMN-oxidoreductase–luciferase activity in vicious aqueous-organic mixtures have been shown.