Enterprise application reuse: Semantic discovery of business grid services

Web services have emerged as a prominent paradigm for the development of distributed software systems as they provide the potential for software to be modularized in a way that functionality can be described, discovered and deployed in a platform independent manner over a network (e.g., intranets, extranets and the Internet). This paper examines an extension of this paradigm to encompass ‘Grid Services’, which enables software capabilities to be recast with an operational focus and support a heterogeneous mix of business software and data, termed a Business Grid - "the grid of semantic services". The current industrial representation of services is predominantly syntactic however, lacking the fundamental semantic underpinnings required to fulfill the goals of any semantically-oriented Grid. Consequently, the use of semantic technology in support of business software heterogeneity is investigated as a likely tool to support a diverse and distributed software inventory and user. Service discovery architecture is therefore developed that is (a) distributed in form, (2) supports distributed service knowledge and (3) automatically extends service knowledge (as greater descriptive precision is inferred from the operating application system). This discovery engine is used to execute several real-word scenarios in order to develop and test a framework for engineering such grid service knowledge. The examples presented comprise software components taken from a group of Investment Banking systems. Resulting from the research is a framework for engineering servic

Automated Visual Basic Application for Zipping and Backup

This study focuses on the visual basic zipping and backup application to improve and develop the way of life to a more convenient style. This approach can be applied to various areas such as different working platform or environment to develop a more secure project. The main target is to design an application to interface between the VBPZip with the visual basic project files working on the Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 and Microsoft Access 2002 terminal with data compression and backup functionality. The dictionary data compression technique and LZW method used to zip the project files before backups. It will act as a synergy between user and application with the server that complies with the overall application. The VBPZip application development involves several stages. Defining the methodology, there will be four phrases, which are analyzing, designing, coding and testing. The cores of the project are the data compression and backup functionality in the VBPZip source code, database development and its interface design. Data structure of the application is obtained through research and detailed assessment. Entirely the back end of the application is concerning the source code and its interface. To achieve those with fine results, there are tool required during the whole process. Thus, the result will be concluded based on the objective set. The application comprises of several form which will act as the interface between the user and database. The form encompass the VBZipping, File Type Options, Auto Zipping, date and time setting and related project files data. All of them have the same purpose which is to ease and create simplicity for the current visual basic platform applied at most development areas. Suggested works for further enhancement and realization are also stated. v

FPGA-based Image Analysis System for Cotton Classing

The design and implementation of an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) based image analysis system was undertaken to replace an older system whose components have become obsolete. Video from an analog camera is digitized by a video decoder. The data from the video decoder is stored in memory and then processed using an FPGA. The results are then transmitted over a universal serial bus (USB) to a host personal computer for additional processing. The system also controls the timing of a flash to correctly capture the images; it measures color and reflectance and is used to classify the quality of raw cotton by determining the concentration of impurities (e.g. leaves or trash). The original system is first described and the need for upgrading presented. The goals of the new system are then specified and its implementation presented along with the design space tradeoffs that were considered. Finally, the results obtained from using the new system are presented to demonstrate its effectiveness

Linking farmers to markets through valorisation of local resources:the case for intellectual property rights of indigenous resources

This is the scientific report from a research programme which explored the current lack of a suitable public system for protecting GIs in Southern Africa. In contrast to the European Union, the current South African legal framework only provides for the protection of GIs as collective and, in certain circumstances, as certification trademarks. The lack of a public system through which to valorize GIs was identified as excluding resource poor farmers (but also commercial larger scale farmers) from a potentially useful tool for improving their market access. The need for a public system of protection also emanates from the significance of the wild resources found in South Africa and Namibia, which are often the only source of income for resource poor communities and which is threatened by bio‐piracy. It thus appeared important to assess the merits of developing an institutional framework for protecting GIs in Southern Africa and to evaluate the needs for a sui generis legal system. Secondly, an analysis was done of the local dynamics based on specific agro‐food products. Two central questions were therefore addressed in this study: "How can local communities successfully protect their resources and differentiate their production through GIs?" and "What is the nature and extent of the required institutional and legal framework to achieve this objective?”.Geographical indications; indigenous resources; intellectual property rights; collectivae action; Southern Africa

Linking farmers to markets through valorisation of local resources: the case for intellectual property rights of indigenous resources

Agribusiness,

The effect of the emergency medical services vehicle location and response strategy on response times

Response time is currently considered to be an important performance indicator in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems. A number of factors may affect response times, including the location of emergency vehicles and the type of response system design used. This study aimed to assess the effects of emergency vehicle location and response system design on response time performance in a model of a large South African urban EMS system, using discrete-event simulation. Results indicated that both the emergency vehicle location and response system design factors had a significant effect on response time performance, with more decentralised vehicle location having a greater effect

Grid Service Discovery in the Financial Markets Sector

Investment Banking requires a diverse system set in supporting a range of markets from bonds to trading options on weather. The challenge to this community is the ability to adapt to new business requirements in an effective manner, utilizing their network of capabilities in a flexible, dynamic way. A semantic approach to discovery can be used in a pragmatic, practical manner. The use of richer explicit knowledge, that is system readable, provides the basis for discovering capabilities on this exemplar Business Grid—“the grid of services”. This design research project focuses on the utilization of disparate knowledge during discovery

Children's understandings of obesity, a thematic analysis

Childhood obesity is a major concern in today’s society. Research suggests the inclusion of the views and understandings of a target group facilitates strategies that have better efficacy. The objective of this study was to explore the concepts and themes that make up children’s understandings of the causes and consequences of obesity. Participants were selected from Reception (4-5 years old) and Year 6 (10-11 years old), and attended a school in an area of Sunderland, in North East England. Participants were separated according to age and gender, resulting in four focus groups, run across two sessions. A thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) identified overarching themes evident across all groups, suggesting the key concepts that contribute to children’s understandings of obesity are ‘‘Knowledge through Education,’’ ‘‘Role Models,’’ ‘‘Fat is Bad,’’ and ‘‘Mixed Messages.’’ The implications of these findings and considerations of the methodology are discussed in full