An e‐Science data infrastructure for simulations within Grid computing environment: methods,approaches and practice

Grid‐based simulation usually involves large quantities of data at each stage of the simulation process. These data include simulation input and output files, intermediate results files, log and error files, associated metadata, and information capturing the processes that generate the data. The question of how to effectively store and manage data files within a Grid computing environment is increasingly becoming an important issue. This paper illustrates how we built a lightweight e‐Science infrastructure for data management within a Grid computing environment, including the integration of data curation activities into the entire Grid‐based simulation process. Rather than focusing on specific implementation details, we aim to identify the key issues and research challenges, describing how various existing technologies and tools can be best integrated to address these requirements and challenges. Although the case of quantum mechanical simulation of materials properties is used in the paper, much of the discussion is as generic as possible so that approaches, methods and practice (e.g. integrated approach, workflow taxonomy and development approach, simple but useful semantic annotation approach) can be applied to wider domains and disciplines to facilitat the digital research. A comparison between our approach and Cloud computing, and lessons learned in data management within the Grid computing environment, are also presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于IO与信息内容的语义Web服务发现

随着web服务数量大幅增长,如何快速准确的发现并满足用户需求的服务已经成为一个亟待解决的问题.现有的基于语义的web服务发现通常使用混合的方法,先在本体层面上进行语义匹配,当语义匹配失败的时候再采取其他的方法(基于关键字的匹配、基于结构分析)来弥补这个缺陷,在补救的过程当中由于现有的方法并未准确的反应两个概念之间的相似性,从而导致web服务的发现的准确率不高.将信息内容语义相似度计算的思想考虑在内,提出了采用基于服务的IO(input, output)语义匹配和基于信息内容语义相似计算相结合的方法,并以owls-tc2.0作为测试集合对该方法进行测试,实验结果表明该方法能有效提高服务发现的准确率.     

Using multimedia for e‐learning

This paper reviews 12 research‐based principles for how to design computer‐based multimedia instructional materials to promote academic learning, starting with the multimedia principle (yielding a median effect size of d = 1.67 based on five experimental comparisons), which holds that people learn better from computer‐based instruction containing words and graphics rather than words alone. Principles aimed at reducing extraneous processing (i.e., cognitive processing that is unrelated to the instructional objective) include coherence (d = 0.70), signalling (d = 0.46), redundancy (d = 0.87), spatial contiguity (d = 0.79) and temporal contiguity (d = 1.30). Principles for managing essential processing (i.e., mentally representing the essential material) include segmenting (d = 0.70), pre‐training (d = 0.46) and modality (d = 0.72). Principles for fostering generative processing (i.e., cognitive processing aimed at making sense of the material) include personalization (d = 0.79), voice (d = 0.74) and embodiment (d = 0.36). Some principles have boundary conditions, such as being stronger for low‐ rather than high‐knowledge learners.     

基于语义距离度量模型的语义Web服务匹配排序机制

随着语义Web服务技术研究工作的不断深入,因特网上语义Web服务数量急剧增加。如何快速便捷地定位可用语义Web服务已经成为一个迫切且关键的问题。在语义Web服务匹配技术研究中,其中一个重要的研究主题就是语义Web服务匹配结果的排序机制。本文在综合概括和分析各种关于语义Web服务匹配结果排序机制的基础上,提出了一种基于语义距离度量模型的语义Web服务匹配结果排序机制,利用该排序机制,计算待匹配语义Web服务的语义相似度量,并依据此度量对语义Web服务匹配结果进行排序。该度量模型将语义Web服务引用概念间的语义关系转换成可精确比较的量化度量值,对属于相同语义匹配类型的匹配候选服务也能够分别计算语义距离,区分出相同匹配类型的候选服务与服务请求的匹配程度,从而达到改善用户对语义Web服务的搜索体验的目的。     

Semantic network management for next‐generation networks

To accommodate the proliferation of heterogeneous network models and protocols, the use of semantic technologies to enable an abstract treatment of networks is proposed. Network adapters are employed to lift network specific data into a semantic representation. Semantic reasoning integrates the disparate network models and protocols into a common data model by making intelligent inferences from low‐level network and device details. Automatic discovery of new devices, monitoring of device state, and invocation of device actions in a generic fashion that is agnostic of network types is enabled. A prototype system called SNoMAC is described that employs the proposed approach operating over UPnP, TR‐069, and heterogeneous sensors. These sensors are integrated by means of a sensor middleware named SIXTH that augments the capabilities of SNoMAC to allow for intelligent management and configuration of a wide variety of sensor devices. A major benefit of this approach is that the addition of new models, protocols, or sensor types merely involves the development of a new network adapter based on an ontology. Additionally, the semantic representation of the network and associated data allows for a variety of client interfaces to facilitate human input to the management and monitoring of the system.     

Learning with an active e‐course in the Knowledge Grid environment

An active e‐course is an open, self‐representable and self‐organizable media mechanism. Its kernel idea is to organize learning materials in a concept space rather than in a page space. The tailored content and flexible structure of the e‐courses can be dynamically formed to cater for different learners with different backgrounds, capabilities and expectations, at different times and venues. The active e‐course can also assess learners' learning performances and give appropriate suggestions to guide them in further learning. An authoring tool for constructing course ontology and a system prototype have been developed to support an active e‐course, enabling a learner‐centred, highly interactive and adaptive learning approach. The results of an empirical study show that the system can help enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of learning. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Managing e‐Government: value positions and relationships

Public sector managers take much of the responsibility for selecting, commissioning, implementing and realising benefits from information technology (IT) projects. However, e‐Government initiatives often suffer from complexity, vision failure, lack of goal clarity and insufficient commitment. These problems may stem from value traditions that are deeply ingrained in managers' cultural environments but not always in harmony with each other. A first step towards working with value complexity is to understand it; we synthesise a model of value positions for e‐Government derived from major traditions in the public administration literature. Four value positions relevant to e‐Government together with their IT assumptions are identified; they reflect the ideals of professionalism, efficiency, service and engagement. A qualitative investigation of Danish local authority managers displays both value congruence and value divergence. The interpretive study results in a theoretical model that combines value positions and relationships, and the model's implications for researchers and practitioners in focusing successful e‐Government initiatives are outlined.     

A proxy approach to e‐mail security

New Internet applications and new releases of existing Internet applications appear with bewildering rapidity. Adding functionality to such applications can therefore be a time‐consuming process. By contrast, Internet protocols are significantly less volatile. In some circumstances, the additional functionality can be provided by ‘tapping into’ the protocol exchanges rather than modifying the applications themselves. We claim that this represents a more manageable approach to the problem of adding additional facilities to applications. We demonstrate this approach using the example of e‐mail security. Whenever possible, a proxy sitting between a mail client and server signs and encrypts outgoing mail. Incoming secured mail is automatically decrypted and verified. This means that any software that works with standard mail protocols gains security without requiring separate upgrading. The proxy attempts to keep the amount of user interaction required to a minimum providing security functionality for users without the need to learn a complex new user interface.Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enhancing formal e‐learning with edutainment on social networks

This paper reports on the investigation of the possibilities of enhancing the formal e‐learning process by harnessing the potential of informal game‐based learning on social networks. The goal of the research is to improve the outcomes of the formal learning process through the design and implementation of an educational game on a social network and its integration with a learning management system (LMS) of an educational institution. As a proof of concept, a Facebook educational game that enables students to learn and test their knowledge was developed. Furthermore, the game was integrated with the Moodle LMS and the evaluation was performed within the e‐learning system at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade. The results show that the application of social network edutainment in an e‐learning ecosystem has a positive impact on both the students' results and their satisfaction with the learning process as a whole.     

Vivid image projection system using e‐Paper active screen

Projected image on a screen is not always vivid enough when it is projected in a bright room. We generally have to choose either vivid image in a dark room or dull image in a bright room. We have suggested a new projection system which can realize high contrast image projection in a bright room. It is consisted of electronic paper screen, projector, and light‐emitting diode room light. The electronic paper (e‐Paper) screen alternates its whole surface white/black with 120 Hz. Room lights are controlled with the same frequency of 120 Hz with the opposite phase as that of the e‐Paper screen. We have confirmed that our new system has achieved higher contrast than the conventional projection system and also enough readability of paper documents in the room simultaneously. We have thus confirmed that our new system can bring an ideal condition, for audience, which can realize a vivid image projection in a bright room.     

A study of e‐mail patterns

Although electronic mail is an increasingly important service, there are few empirical studies of e‐mail traffic. We have observed over 2.85 million messages passing through our departmental servers over the course of seven months, and derived distributions that approximate several important e‐mail parameters including message sizes, message senders and receivers and the burstiness of message deliveries. Our work is unique in that we also analyse message payloads: attachment content types, e‐mail redundancy, and the use of e‐mail as a sharing mechanism. These data can be used in developing e‐mail workloads for mail system engineering or benchmarking. To this end, we provide an improved version of Postmark, a small‐file Internet benchmark, that better approximates mail server characteristics. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A scalable manufacturing process for flexible active‐matrix e‐paper displays

Abstract— A scalable manufacturing process for fabricating active‐matrix backplanes on low‐cost flexible substrates, a key enabler for electronic‐paper displays, is presented. This process is based on solution processing, ink‐jet printing, and laser patterning. A multilayer architecture is employed to enable high aperture ratio and array performance. These backplanes were combined with E Ink electrophoretic media to create high‐performance displays that have high contrast, are bistable, and can be flexed repeatedly to a radius of curvature of 5 mm.     

COIVA: context‐aware and ontology‐powered information visualization architecture

This paper exploits semantics to apply context in run‐time adaptation, particularly for services in a user‐centered smart environment. Context‐sensitive services are usually focused on their own information without interoperation pretensions. It is necessary to enable common context models and systems in order to make context‐aware applications interoperable. Moreover, context management systems need to implement mechanisms to support the dynamic behavior of the users and their surroundings, including techniques to adapt the model to their future needs, to maintain the context information at run‐time and to be interoperable with external context models. By adapting web semantic technologies we can enable smarter and more proactive operation of context management systems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quality in e‐learning: a framework for promoting and assuring quality in virtual institutions

With the growing demand for e‐learning along with striving for excellence associated with globalization, there are worldwide calls for enhancing and assuring quality in e‐learning, specifically in the context of the developing countries. Such calls for quality enhancement, accountability, added value, value for money, self‐evaluation, and role players' satisfaction in higher education settings cannot go unheeded. Addressing the concerns regarding enhancing and assuring quality in e‐learning, a comprehensive e‐quality framework is developed by taking into account the pros and cons of the previous models, frameworks, and studies of e‐quality. This e‐quality framework offers a structured set of factors and benchmarks as a tool for practical quality work with e‐learning in virtual institutions.     

面向语义Web的描述逻辑本体构建

随着计算机技术和网络技术的不断发展,网络信息技术已经成了人们生活中不可分割的一部分,但是,如何构建一个更加科学合理的描述逻辑本体,方便人们在数以万计的网络信息中快速、高效的找出所需要的信息和资源是当前世界范围内的迫切性问题。该文就面向语义Web的描述逻辑本体的构建做相关的讨论和研究,希望为我国网络技术中的本体构建技术问题提供一些借鉴和参考。     

A Semantic Matchmaker for Ranking Web Services

This paper is concerned with the matchmaker for ranking web services by using semantics. So far several methods of semantic matchmaker have been proposed. Most of them, however, focus on classifying the services into predefined categories rather than providing a ranking result. In this paper, a new method of semantic matchmaker is proposed for ranking web services. It is proposed to use the semantic distance for estimating the matching degree between a service and a user request. Four types of semantic distances are defined and four algorithms are implemented respectively to calculate them. Experimental results show that the proposed semantic matchmaker significantly outperforms the keyword based baseline method.     

Belief‐rule‐based expert systems for evaluation of e‐government: a case study

Little knowledge exists on the impact and results associated with e‐government projects in many specific‐use domains. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of e‐government systems. Because the development of e‐government is a continuous process of improvement, it requires continuous evaluation of the overall e‐government system as well as evaluation of its various dimensions such as determinants, characteristics and results. E‐government development is often complex, with multiple stakeholders, large user bases and complex goals. Consequently, even experts have difficulties in evaluating these systems, especially in an integrated and comprehensive way, as well as on an aggregate level. Expert systems are a candidate solution to evaluate such complex e‐government systems. However, it is difficult for expert systems to cope with uncertain evaluation data that are vague, inconsistent, highly subjective or in other ways, challenging to formalize. This paper presents an approach that can handle uncertainty in e‐government evaluation: the combination of Belief Rule Base knowledge representation and Evidential Reasoning. This approach is illustrated with a concrete prototype, known as the Belief Rule Based Expert System (BRBES) and implemented in the local e‐government of Bangladesh. The results have been compared with a recently developed method of evaluating e‐government, and it is demonstrated that the results of the BRBES are more accurate and reliable. The BRBES can be used to identify the factors that need to be improved to achieve the overall aim of an e‐government project. In addition, various ‘what if’ scenarios can be generated, and developers and managers can obtain a foretaste of the outcomes. Thus, the system can be used to facilitate decision‐making processes under uncertainty.     

Transfer printing for fabrication of flexible RGB color e‐paper

Electrophoretic display (EPD) has been a prevailing paper‐like display technology for years, owing to its advantages of flexibility, low‐power consumption, and good sunlight readability. However, it is regrettable that the black/white EPD still dominates the majority of the market while a commercially sold full‐color EPD is still unavailable. In this paper, we proposed a facile yet feasible method to fabricate a color EPD by a tape‐assisted transfer method, which is the first demonstration using transfer method to achieve color micro‐encapsulated EPD.     

Critical issues for e‐learning delivery: what may seem obvious is not always put into practice

Abstract The successful adoption of information and communication technology to enhance learning can be very challenging, requiring a complex blend of technological, pedagogical and organizational components, which may at times require the resolution of contradictory demands and conflicting needs. The research reported in this paper investigated and analysed critical success factors (CSFs) that are required to deliver e‐learning within higher education (HE) courses and programmes. The research design adopted a critical research approach, instantiated by focus group discussions with e‐learning experts drawn from administrative, educational, technology and research domains. The findings revealed that staffing issues, pedagogically sound delivery models and training of both tutors and students cannot be treated as trivial issues and are critical to the success of e‐learning. Furthermore, this research also shows that there is a strong relationship between these factors and inspirational institutional leadership. The findings also suggest that in order to assure the success of e‐learning, this leadership should guarantee the presence of institutional enablers. It is hoped that the CSFs, described and discussed in depth in this paper, will provide a suitable theoretical foundation to underpin the successful delivery of e‐learning within HE.     

Facilitating Service Discovery with Semantic Overlay

Service Oriented Architecture （SOA） and Peer-to-Peer （P2P） computing share many common characteristics. It is believed that the combination of the two emerging techniques is a very promising method in promoting the web services （WS）. Because the service discovery plays a key role in the integration, here a P2P-based framework to manage the knowledge of service and locating services is proposed. In this paper, the details of the principle, constructing and maintaining of service semantic overlay architecture have been described, and the way how the semantic overlay facilitates discovery of service resources is illustrated. To enable the semantic web service superiority, Service Ontology, which is considered as the service semantic model, is employed to depict service. The service discovery includes two phases： searching on the service semantic overlay; and local discovery in peer＇s service repository. Various solutions have been proposed to realize those two phases. Furthermore, tests are carried out to evaluate service discovery on the architecture.