Performance Evaluation of a Markovian Policy for Macro/Femto User Allocation Considering Aspects of QoS,QoE and Energy Efficiency

The advancement of wireless networks offers mobile users a diversity connectivity options, but the choice of the best connection should consider classics QoS aspects and, with increasing multimedia applications, should also consider QoE metrics. Another important parameter to choose the best connection is the energy efficiency by reducing the battery consumption of the devices and reducing CO2 emissions （green network）. This paper validates a Markovian policy for distribution of user load balancing in femtocell/macrocell networks considering QoS/QoE and energy consumption providing quality for multimedia applications. The results obtained by simulation proved the benefits.     

An Activity to Encourage Writing in Mathematics

Abstract

This article discusses an activity designed to encourage writing to learn in mathematics. There were three stages of data collection. An assessment, requiring basic algebra only, was completed by118 undergraduates from statistics and calculus courses. Students were given summaries of all participant responses, along with the correct answers. After discussing the results, 25 students wrote about the underlying concepts needed to answer the questions correctly and 38 gave reasons someone might answer the questions incorrectly. The written responses were easy to evaluate and revealed much about misunderstandings. A follow-up survey was given to students to elicit their attitudes.     

Electrocoagulation for the removal of copper from distillery waste streams

Electrocoagulation, an electrochemical technique used to remove heavy metals from wastewaters, was explored in relation to its potential to remove copper from distillery waste streams. An initial laboratory‐scale study demonstrated that copper in spent lees could be reduced by up to 95% using electrocoagulation. Copper could not be removed from caustic washwater, as passivation of the electrodes meant that no floc was formed. However, the washwaters could be treated if mixed with spent lees, with an 80% reduction in copper being obtained. The electrocoagulation system was scaled up and its performance evaluated in a trial at a large Scotch malt whisky distillery. Copper reductions of 88% were achieved at low power consumption (34 W h/m³), while at 112 W h/m³ residual copper levels were reduced by 96%. This trial was carried out at a flow rate of 1000 L/h, demonstrating that the technology could readily handle the volumes and flow rates required in practice. Both the capital and running costs of an electrocoagulation system are low, while the technique presents other advantages over the existing copper removal technologies currently in use in the distilled spirits sector. Copyright © 2014 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Rational (successive) <Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>-indices: An application to economics in the Republic of Ireland

We rank economics departments in the Republic of Ireland according to the number of publications, number of citations, and successive h-index of research-active staff. We increase the discriminatory power of the h ₁-index by introducing three generalizations, each of which is a rational number. The first (h ₁ ⁺) measures the excess over the actual h-index, while the other two (h ₁*, h ₁ ^Δ) measures the distance to the next h-index. At the individual level, h* and h ^Δ coincide while h ⁺ is undefined.     

Directed evolution converts subtilisin E into a functional equivalent of thermitase

We used directed evolution to convert Bacillus subtilis subtilisinE into an enzyme functionally equivalent to its thermophilichomolog thermitase from Thermoactinomyces vulgaris. Five generationsof random mutagenesis, recombination and screening created subtilisinE 5-3H5, whose half-life at 83°C (3.5 min) and temperatureoptimum for activity (T_opt, 76°C) are identical with thoseof thermitase. The T_opt of the evolved enzyme is 17°C higherand its half-life at 65°C is >200 times that of wild-typesubtilisin E. In addition, 5-3H5 is more active towards thehydrolysis of succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-p-nitroanilide than wild-typeat all temperatures from 10 to 90°C. Thermitase differsfrom subtilisin E at 157 amino acid positions. However, onlyeight amino acid substitutions were sufficient to convert subtilisinE into an enzyme equally thermostable. The eight substitutions,which include known stabilizing mutations (N218S, N76D) andalso several not previously reported, are distributed over thesurface of the enzyme. Only two (N218S, N181D) are found inthermitase. Directed evolution provides a powerful tool to unveilmechanisms of thermal adaptation and is an effective and efficientapproach to increasing thermostability without compromisingenzyme activity.     

Agents and Service-Oriented Computing for Autonomic Computing: A Research Agenda

Autonomic computing is the solution proposed to cope with the complexity of today's computing environments. Self-management, an important element of autonomic computing, is also characteristic of single and multiagent systems, as well as systems based on service-oriented architectures. Combining these technologies can be profitable for all — in particular, for the development of autonomic computing systems.     

Local Response to the Global Challenge: Comparing Local Economic Development Policies in a Regional Context

This article reports on a study that examined and compared the responses of six Greater Toronto Area (GTA) municipalities (two central, four suburban) to the challenges of global economic change. The study was carried out in a context characterized by the transfer to municipal governments of both administrative and financial responsibilities for local services by the government of the Province of Ontario. It found a strong tendency for the municipalities to compete with each other for economic advantage, despite efforts to convince them of the need for a cooperative region‐wide approach. Suburban governments relied principally on strategies to draw businesses away from the core, and this type of activity seemed likely to increase because of the municipalities' increased dependence on local property taxes. Nonetheless, study findings suggested several ways in which regional organizations or senior governments might help to strengthen regional economies without expecting municipal governments to surrender control over economic development policy.     

Structured brief therapy with a focus on dreams or loss for clients with troubling dreams and recent loss.

The authors tested whether a focus on dreams added something specific to the therapy process beyond the structure of a 3-stage approach. Fourteen distressed clients with troubling dreams and recent loss of a loved one participated in brief structured therapy focused on dreams or loss. After therapy, clients in both conditions reported being satisfied with therapy, having lowered impact of the loss, gaining new insights about themselves, and having made changes. In addition, clients in the dream condition rated the process of therapy higher, became involved in the therapeutic process more quickly, gained more understanding of their dreams, liked the structure of therapy more, and kept fewer secrets from their therapists than clients in the loss condition. In contrast, clients in the loss condition gained more insight about the effects of the past and their loss and liked therapist guidance more than clients in the dream condition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical implications of internet monitoring: A comparative study

Organizations have become increasingly concerned about employee use of the Internet for personal reasons while at work. Monitoring Internet usage has become more and more prevalent in the workplace. While there may be legitimate business functions such as employee performance appraisal that are served by monitoring, poorly designed and communicated monitoring practices can have negative effects on employee morale and may be considered an invasion of privacy. Universities are another venue where Internet monitoring occurs. This paper explores whether there was a significant difference in attitude towards Internet usage and monitoring at the university as compared to the workplace. It is the result of a comparative study.