HSDN‐GRA: A hybrid software‐defined networking‐based geographic routing protocol with multi‐agent approach

We propose in this paper a Hybrid Software‐Defined Networking‐based Geographical Routing Protocol (HSDN‐GRA) with a clustering approach. It takes into account three different criteria to select the best relay to send data: (1) the contact duration between vehicles, (2) the available load of each vehicle, (3) and the log of encountered communication errors embedded in each cluster head. The multi‐criteria strategy allows the selection of the most reliable vehicles by avoiding communication problems and ensuring connection availability. Once the hybrid control plane has found out the next eligible neighbor, the data plane will be in charge of dividing and sending data. To validate our approach, HSDN‐GRA has been modeled and implemented in JADE, a multi‐agent platform, to be compared to other multi‐agent based protocols. Simulation results show that HSDN‐GRA achieves good performance with respect to the average routing overhead, the packet drop rate, and the throughput.     

物联网环境下基于情境的语义Web服务选择

当前Web服务海量增加，物联网应用技术快速发展、不断普及，而现有的Web服务选择算法低效、用户匹配度低。针对该问题提出一种物联网环境下基于情境的语义Web服务选择方法。该方法应用QoS参数的无量纲化与语义Web服务动态选择方式，将物联网环境下服务与语义Web服务相结合，并根据用户需求针对QoS选择最优的服务集。实验表明，该方法能有效地提高用户服务动态选择的成功率。     

Throughput-based fair bandwidth allocation in OBS networks

Fair bandwidth allocation (FBA) has been studied in optical burst switching (OBS) networks, with the main idea being to map the max-min fairness in traditional IP networks to the fair-loss probability in OBS networks. This approach has proven to be fair in terms of the bandwidth allocation for differential connections, but the use of the ErlangB formula to calculate the theoretical loss probability has made this approach applicable only to Poisson flows. Furthermore, it is necessary to have a reasonable fairness measure to evaluate FBA models. This article proposes an approach involving throughput-based-FBA, called TFBA, and recommends a new fairness measure that is based on the ratio of the actual throughput to the allocated bandwidth. An analytical model for the performance of the output link with TFBA is also proposed.     

一种基于OPNET的DiffServ+WLAN网络多媒体端到端QoS性能仿真方法

提出一种基于OPNET的Diff Serv+WLAN网络多媒体端到端Qo S性能验证方法。该方法主要包括网络拓扑搭建和仿真配置两个模块。其中网络拓扑模块主要完成业务在Diff Serv+WLAN网络的传输过程;仿真配置模块的功能是在Diff Serv+WLAN网络拓扑中进行业务参数的配置、收集统计数据等。利用Pro-C高级语言和Visual C++6.0软件搭建Diff Serv与WLAN网络环境,对原网络和加入IPv6流标签的网络进行多媒体业务端到端Qo S性能验证方法仿真,结果表明该方法具有简单、方便等特点。     

Consumer perception of extruded snacks containing brown rice and dried mushroom

Effects of mushroom type, seasoning and health benefit information (HBI) on consumers’ saltiness expectation, sensory liking, elicited emotions and purchase intent (PI) of extruded snacks were investigated. Five snacks were evaluated: straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) extrudates without (SME) or with seasoning (SMES), phoenix mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius) extrudates without (PME) or with seasoning (PMES), and the control without mushroom and seasoning. Hedonic scores and positive emotions were generally higher for seasoned mushroom-containing snacks (SMES and PMES) with 65% and 75.83% of consumers reporting willingness to purchase, respectively, after receiving HBI. Bored, interested and satisfied were identified as significant emotional predictors for PI odds. Flavour, saltiness, overall liking, bored, good and interested were critical attributes, differentiating snacks. This study demonstrated that sensory liking and PI of extruded brown rice-based snacks containing mushroom could be improved through savoury seasoning addition, which also allowed saltiness expectations to be met.     

Social licence: power imbalances and levels of consciousness – two case studies

ABSTRACT

Social licence to operate (SLO) is a term that is finding increasing acceptance in a number of industries. Like all new terms, its precise meaning and implications are still being investigated. Using data from previous studies, this paper offers an analysis of the SLO of two case studies with each study being viewed separately through the grid of a distinct theoretical framework. Case study 1 looks at the development of differential social licence negotiated in the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, as a result of an impact and benefit agreement negotiated between Tahera Diamond Corp. and the Kitikmeot Inuit Organisation in 2004. The study demonstrates that general acceptance of resource development can be uneven and reflect an unequal distribution of decision-making power. In case study 2, stakeholders of a failed mineral development project were queried across time about the specifics of the proposed mine development and were queried about resource development across different levels of consciousness. Perhaps, SLO is variable across different levels of consciousness. The paper concludes with observations about the variable nature of SLO acceptance across populations and across levels of consciousness within individuals. Perhaps, the concept of SLO is, in fact, complex, difficult to define and measure and, at this point, of limited utility as a measure of resource development acceptance.     

Beyond information seeking: Consumers’ online deliberation about the risks and benefits of red meat

Successfully engaging consumers in a dialogue may provide opportunities for better tailored and more effective communication about food-related risks and benefits. Using an online deliberation concept and software, VIZZATA™, we explored the validity of a behavioral measure of deliberation in an online environment in the context of consumers’ perceptions and information seeking about the risks and benefits of red meat. Participants from Belgium, Portugal and the United Kingdom (n = 150) were given the opportunity to engage in an asynchronous interaction with the research team about the information provided. Online deliberation was operationalized as an individual metric based on the number of questions asked in relation to the information, the number of comments left, the number of glossary terms accessed, and the time spent on deliberative activity. This operationalization provided a coherent measure of deliberation which was positively correlated with information recall about the risks and benefits of red meat. Participants who perceived the information about red meat risks and benefits as too complex engaged less with the information. The study herewith presents a novel method of investigating consumers’ deliberation about food issues that conceptualizes consumer engagement as more than just information seeking.     

Machine learning assisted OSP approach for improved QoS performance on 3D charge-trap based SSDs

Three-dimensional (3D) charge-trap based solid-state-drivers (SSDs) have become an emerging storage solution in recent years. One-shot-programming in 3D charge-trap based SSDs could deliver a maximized system input/output (I/O) throughput at the cost of degraded Quality-of-Service (QoS) performance. This paper proposes reinforcement-learning based one-shot-programming (RLOSP), a reinforcement learning based approach to improve the QoS performance for 3D charge-trap based SSDs. By learning the I/O patterns of the workload environments as well as the device internal status, the proposed approach could properly choose requests in the device queue, and allocate physical addresses for these requests during one-shot-programming. In this manner, the storage device could deliver an improved QoS performance. Experimental results reveal that the proposed approach could reduce the worst-case latency at the 99.9th percentile by 37.5%–59.2%, with an optimal system I/O throughput.     

九仗沟金矿上向进路采场结构参数优化

针对九仗沟金矿采场结构参数合理性差、采矿成本偏高等问题,采用FLAC~(3D)数值模拟对采场结构参数进行优化研究,得到较优的采场跨度。在九仗沟金矿进行现场工业性试验,并在试验采场开展经济效益统计和计算工作,得到试验采场的经济效益。数值模拟结果说明九丈沟金矿上向进路采场的极限跨度为8.0m,采场破坏程度较轻。现场工业试验结果说明7.0m作为采场跨度具有较好的经济效益,保证安全生产的同时提高采矿效率。     

Telesurgery QoS improvement over SDN based on a Type‐2 fuzzy system and enhanced cuckoo optimization algorithm

Telemedicine is a new area based on the information and communication technology for collecting, storing, organizing, retrieving and exchanging medical information. One of the most important applications of telemedicine is indeed telesurgery in which an efficient telecommunication infrastructure between the surgery room and remote surgeons need to be established. One of the most important issues to be tackled in telesurgery is to find favorable links for routing as well as providing high Quality of Service (QoS). In this paper, an efficient model based on the hybridization of Type‐2 Fuzzy System (T2FS) and Cuckoo Optimization Algorithm (COA) over the Software Defined Networks (SDN) is proposed in order to achieve optimal and reliable routes for telesurgery application. Using T2FS, the fitness of the links is determined; then, a COA is conducted over the Constraint Shortest Path (CSP) problem to find the best routes. Delay is considered as a CSP problem which is satisfied by trying to find the paths with minimum cost. Due to the NP‐completeness of the CSP problem, an Enhanced COA (so‐called E‐COA) is proposed and utilized as a metaheuristic solver. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first SDN‐based communication model that applies both T2FS and E‐COA for assigning proper costs to the network's links, and solves the consequence CSP problem according to the QoS requirement for telesurgery. The model also recognizes and preserves the second‐best routes in order to keep the reliability for such a critical application. In addition to the simulations, the performance evaluation is also conducted on a real experimental scenario. Many comparisons are carried out between the proposed model and other conventional methods, and the evaluation study shows the superiority of the proposed model on all the three QoS‐related metrics, i.e. average end‐to‐end delay, packet loss ratio and PSNR.