scholarly journals A weighting system to build physical layer measurements maps by crowdsourcing data from smartphones

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 211
Author(s):  
Hosam Alamleh ◽  
Ali Abdullah S. AlQahtani
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Access Point ◽  
Physical Layer ◽  
Network Coverage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Radio Signals ◽  
Data Points ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Map Accuracy

<p>Mobile devices can sense different types of radio signals. For example, broadcast signals. These broadcasted signals allow the device to establish a connection to the access point broadcasting it. Moreover, mobile devices can record different physical layer measurements. These measurements are an indication of the service quality at the point they were collected. These measurements data can be aggregated to form physical layer measurement maps. These maps are useful for several applications such as location fixing, navigation, access control, and evaluating network coverage and performance. Crowdsourcing can be an efficient way to create such maps. However, users in a crowdsourcing application tend to have different devices with different capabilities, which might impact the overall accuracy of the generated maps. In this paper, we propose a method to build physical layer measurements maps by crowdsourcing physical layer measurements, GPS locations, from participating mobile devices. The proposed system gives different weights to each data point provided by the participating devices based on the data source’s trustworthiness. Our tests showed that the different models of mobile devices return GPS location with different location accuracies. Consequently, when building the physical layer measurements maps our algorithm assigns a higher weight to data points coming from devices with higher GPS location accuracy. This allows accommodating a wide range of mobile devices with different capabilities in crowdsourcing applications. An experiment and a simulation were performed to test the proposed method. The results showed improvement in crowdsourced map accuracy when the proposed method is implemented.</p>

Aspects of Management and Road Maintenance in Albania

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 266
Author(s):  
Alma Golgota ◽  
Diana Bardhi
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Road Infrastructure ◽  
The Road ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Types ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Degree Of Degradation

Safety of road network is an essential part of economic and social development of any industrialized country. Decisions to maintain and improve the reliability, functionality and infrastructure structures can only be achieved through integrated planning and management life cycle routes. Always it has been a tendency to revise road maintenance strategies, but there is still a serious and reliable administration not only because of the shortage of funds, but also problems due to the reorganization of the system. Safety and performance of the road system depends on the continuous activity of road maintenance management. For it to be effective, it is necessary to intervene before depreciation has caused irreparable damages, or damages with a high economic cost of repairs. Investment in road infrastructure during 2006-2014 show that the life of these projects presents problems with maintenance and performance management life cycle in a wide range of component elements. Maintenance planning involves various problems that depend on the degree of degradation of the asphalt layers, the degree of deterioration of road structures (roads, tunnels, culverts, and economic planning of resources to repair them. The aim of this study is the first to provide a brief summary of the issues in the field of maintenance and management of the life cycle of investments in road infrastructure, proposing ways to reorganize the sector of management and maintenance of roads in the next and second testing and evaluation of the work and the nature of the standards are different types of road infrastructure projects, through a methodology consisting of a) development, b) collection of data, and c) analysis.

scholarly journals Heterogeneous Distributed Big Data Clustering on Sparse Grids

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pfander ◽  
Gregor Daiß ◽  
Dirk Pflüger
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Density Estimation ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Sparse Grid ◽  
Peak Performance ◽  
Density Based Clustering ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Data Points ◽  
And Performance

Clustering is an important task in data mining that has become more challenging due to the ever-increasing size of available datasets. To cope with these big data scenarios, a high-performance clustering approach is required. Sparse grid clustering is a density-based clustering method that uses a sparse grid density estimation as its central building block. The underlying density estimation approach enables the detection of clusters with non-convex shapes and without a predetermined number of clusters. In this work, we introduce a new distributed and performance-portable variant of the sparse grid clustering algorithm that is suited for big data settings. Our compute kernels were implemented in OpenCL to enable portability across a wide range of architectures. For distributed environments, we added a manager-worker scheme that was implemented using MPI. In experiments on two supercomputers, Piz Daint and Hazel Hen, with up to 100 million data points in a 10-dimensional dataset, we show the performance and scalability of our approach. The dataset with 100 million data points was clustered in 1198s using 128 nodes of Piz Daint. This translates to an overall performance of 352TFLOPS. On the node-level, we provide results for two GPUs, Nvidia's Tesla P100 and the AMD FirePro W8100, and one processor-based platform that uses Intel Xeon E5-2680v3 processors. In these experiments, we achieved between 43% and 66% of the peak performance across all compute kernels and devices, demonstrating the performance portability of our approach.

scholarly journals Heterogeneous Distributed Big Data Clustering on Sparse Grids

Algorithms ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pfander ◽  
Gregor Daiß ◽  
Dirk Pflüger
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Density Estimation ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Sparse Grid ◽  
Peak Performance ◽  
Density Based Clustering ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Data Points ◽  
And Performance

Clustering is an important task in data mining that has become more challenging due to the ever-increasing size of available datasets. To cope with these big data scenarios, a high-performance clustering approach is required. Sparse grid clustering is a density-based clustering method that uses a sparse grid density estimation as its central building block. The underlying density estimation approach enables the detection of clusters with non-convex shapes and without a predetermined number of clusters. In this work, we introduce a new distributed and performance-portable variant of the sparse grid clustering algorithm that is suited for big data settings. Our computed kernels were implemented in OpenCL to enable portability across a wide range of architectures. For distributed environments, we added a manager–worker scheme that was implemented using MPI. In experiments on two supercomputers, Piz Daint and Hazel Hen, with up to 100 million data points in a ten-dimensional dataset, we show the performance and scalability of our approach. The dataset with 100 million data points was clustered in 1198 s using 128 nodes of Piz Daint. This translates to an overall performance of 352 TFLOPS . On the node-level, we provide results for two GPUs, Nvidia’s Tesla P100 and the AMD FirePro W8100, and one processor-based platform that uses Intel Xeon E5-2680v3 processors. In these experiments, we achieved between 43% and 66% of the peak performance across all computed kernels and devices, demonstrating the performance portability of our approach.

scholarly journals Joint AP Association and Bandwidth Allocation Optimization Algorithm in High-Dense WLANs

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Jianjun Lei ◽  
Jiarui Tao ◽  
Shanshan Yang
Keyword(s):  
Optimization Algorithm ◽  
Load Balance ◽  
Bandwidth Allocation ◽  
Access Point ◽  
Proportional Fairness ◽  
Performance Anomaly ◽  
Fair Bandwidth Allocation ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Significant Performance ◽  
And Performance

Regarding access point (AP) overload and performance anomaly which is caused by mobile terminals with different bitrates, a joint AP association and bandwidth allocation optimization algorithm is presented in this paper. Meanwhile, load balancing and proportional fairness are analyzed and formulated as an optimization model. Then, we present a Fair Bandwidth Allocation algorithm based on clients’ Business Priority (FBA-BP), which allocates bandwidth based on the bandwidth demand of clients and their business priority. Furthermore, we propose a Categorized AP Association algorithm based on clients’ demands (CAA-BD), which classifies APs by different types of clients and chooses an optimal associating AP for a new client according to AP categories and the aggregated demand transmission time that are calculated by the FBA-BP algorithm. The CAA-BD can achieve load balance and solve the performance anomaly caused by multi-rate clients coexisting. The simulation results show that our proposed algorithm obtains significant performance in terms of AP utilization, throughput, transmission delay and channel fairness in different client density levels compared with the categorized and Strong Signal First (SSF) algorithms.

An employee who was not there: a study of job boredom in white-collar work

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 374-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotta K. Harju ◽  
Jari J. Hakanen
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Job boredom is an amotivational state at work, where employees lack interest in their work activities and have difficulties concentrating on them. Although recent research suggests that job boredom may concern a wide range of industries, studies investigating the experience and its emergence in white-collar work are scarce. Thereby the purpose of this paper is to contextualize job boredom by exploring the experience and its preconditions in white-collar work. Design/methodology/approach – This inductive, exploratory study employed data from 13 focus group interviews (n=72) in four organizations to investigate the emergence and experience of job boredom. Findings – Three types of job boredom was found. Each type involved distinct temporal experiences: inertia, acceleration and disrupted rhythm at work. The findings suggest that different types of job boredom involve specific conditions that hamper the activation of individual capabilities and disrupt temporal experience accordingly. Research limitations/implications – Extending the conceptualization of job boredom may enable better understanding of the variety of consequences often associated with the phenomenon. Practical implications – It is also important for organizations to recognize that there are different types and various preconditions of job boredom in white-collar work, as it may have a negative impact on employee well-being and performance. Originality/value – The results indicate that job boredom is a more nuanced phenomenon than earlier believed. By identifying job boredom in white-collar work as an experience with various forms and respective preconditions, this study expands the understanding of the phenomenon and its emergence.

Characteristics of Physicians Referred for a Competence Assessment: A Comparison of State Medical Board and Hospital Referred Physicians

2010 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 8-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth S. Grace ◽  
Elizabeth J. Korinek ◽  
Zung V. Tran
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Competence ◽  
Competence Assessment ◽  
Average Performance ◽  
Medical Board ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Specialty Board ◽  
And Performance ◽  
State Medical Boards ◽  
State Medical Board

ABSTRACT This study compares key characteristics and performance of physicians referred to a clinical competence assessment and education program by state medical boards (boards) and hospitals. Physicians referred by boards (400) and by hospitals (102) completed a CPEP clinical competence assessment between July 2002 and June 2010. Key characteristics, self-reported specialty, and average performance rating for each group are reported and compared. Results show that, compared with hospital-referred physicians, board-referred physicians were more likely to be male (75.5% versus 88.3%), older (average age 54.1 versus 50.3 years), and less likely to be currently specialty board certified (80.4% versus 61.8%). On a scale of 1 (best) to 4 (worst), average performance was 2.62 for board referrals and 2.36 for hospital referrals. There were no significant differences between board and hospital referrals in the percentage of physicians who graduated from U.S. and Canadian medical schools. The most common specialties referred differed for boards and hospitals. Conclusion: Characteristics of physicians referred to a clinical competence program by boards and hospitals differ in important respects. The authors consider the potential reasons for these differences and whether boards and hospitals are dealing with different subsets of physicians with different types of performance problems. Further study is warranted.

Analysis of organic removal rates in the aerated submerged fixed film process

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 213-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed F. Hamoda ◽  
Ibrahim A. Al-Ghusain
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Hydraulic Loading ◽  
Organic Removal ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fixed Film ◽  
Cod Removal Rate ◽  
And Performance

Performance data from a pilot-plant employing the four-stage aerated submerged fixed film (ASFF) process treating domestic wastewater were analyzed to examine the organic removal rates. The process has shown high BOD removal efficiencies (&gt; 90%) over a wide range of hydraulic loading rates (0.04 to 0.68 m3/m2·d). It could also cope with high hydraulic and organic loadings with minimal loss in efficiency due to the large amount of immobilized biomass attained. The organic (BOD and COD) removal rate was influenced by the hydraulic loadings applied, but organic removal rates of up to 104 kg BOD/ m2·d were obtained at a hydraulic loading rate of 0.68 m3/m2·d. A Semi-empirical model for the bio-oxidation of organics in the ASFF process has been formulated and rate constants were calculated based on statistical analysis of pilot-plant data. The relationships obtained are very useful for analyzing the design and performance of the ASFF process and a variety of attached growth processes.

Nanoparticles Functionalized with Venom-Derived Peptides and Toxins for Pharmaceutical Applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana P. dos Santos ◽  
Tamara G. de Araújo ◽  
Gandhi Rádis-Baptista
Keyword(s):  
Oral Absorption ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Venom Peptides ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Direct Use ◽  
Animal Venoms ◽  
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Venom-derived peptides display diverse biological and pharmacological activities, making them useful in drug discovery platforms and for a wide range of applications in medicine and pharmaceutical biotechnology. Due to their target specificities, venom peptides have the potential to be developed into biopharmaceuticals to treat various health conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic pain. Despite the high potential for drug development, several limitations preclude the direct use of peptides as therapeutics and hamper the process of converting venom peptides into pharmaceuticals. These limitations include, for instance, chemical instability, poor oral absorption, short halflife, and off-target cytotoxicity. One strategy to overcome these disadvantages relies on the formulation of bioactive peptides with nanocarriers. A range of biocompatible materials are now available that can serve as nanocarriers and can improve the bioavailability of therapeutic and venom-derived peptides for clinical and diagnostic application. Examples of isolated venom peptides and crude animal venoms that have been encapsulated and formulated with different types of nanomaterials with promising results are increasingly reported. Based on the current data, a wealth of information can be collected regarding the utilization of nanocarriers to encapsulate venom peptides and render them bioavailable for pharmaceutical use. Overall, nanomaterials arise as essential components in the preparation of biopharmaceuticals that are based on biological and pharmacological active venom-derived peptides.

Wetting of glass surface using natural surfactants

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihar Ranjan Biswal
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Glass Surface ◽  
Pure Water ◽  
Amyl Alcohol ◽  
Synthetic Surfactant ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Natural Surfactants ◽  
Triton X ◽  
Solid Liquid

Background: Surfactant adsorption at the interfaces (solid–liquid, liquid–air, or liquid–liquid) is receiving considerable attention from a long time due to its wide range of practical applications. Objective: Specifically wettability of solid surface by liquids is mainly measured by contact angle and has many practical importances where solid–liquid systems are used. Adsorption of surfactants plays an important role in the wetting process. The wetting behaviours of three plant-based natural surfactants (Reetha, Shikakai, and Acacia) on the glass surface are compared with one widely used nonionic synthetic surfactant (Triton X-100) and reported in this study. Methods: The dynamic contact angle study of three different types of plant surfactants (Reetha, Shikakai and Acacia) and one synthetic surfactant (Triton X 100) on the glass surface has been carried out. The effect of two different types of alcohols such as Methanol and amyl alcohol on wettability of shikakai, as it shows little higher value of contact angle on glass surface has been measured. Results: The contact angle measurements show that there is an increase in contact angle from 47° (pure water) to 67.72°, 65.57°, 68.84°, and 68.79° for Reetha, Acacia, Shikakai, and Triton X-100 respectively with the increase in surfactant concentration and remain constant at CMC. The change in contact angle of Shikakai-Amyl alcohol mixtures are slightly different than that of methanol-Shikakai mixture, mostly there is a gradual increase in contact angle with the increasing in alcohol concentration. Conclusion: There is no linear relationship between cos θ and inverse of surface tension. There was a linear increase in surface free energy results with increase in concentration as more surfactant molecules were adsorbing at the interface enhancing an increase in contact angle.

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