Efficient and Flexible Search in Large Scale Distributed Systems

Peer-to-peer (P2P) technology has triggered a wide range of distributed systems beyond simple file-sharing. Distributed XML databases, distributed computing, server-less web publishing and networked resource/service sharing are only a few to name. Despite of the diversity in applications, these systems share a common problem regarding searching and discovery of information. This commonality stems from the transitory nodes population and volatile information content in the participating nodes. In such dynamic environment, users are not expected to have the exact information about the available objects in the system. Rather queries are based on partial information, which requires the search mechanism to be flexible. On the other hand, to scale with network size the search mechanism is required to be bandwidth efficient. Since the advent of P2P technology experts from industry and academia have proposed a number of search techniques - none of which is able to provide satisfactory solution to the conflicting requirements of search efficiency and flexibility. Structured search techniques, mostly Distributed Hash Table (DHT)-based, are bandwidth efficient while semi(un)-structured techniques are flexible. But, neither achieves both ends. This thesis defines the Distributed Pattern Matching (DPM) problem. The DPM problem is to discover a pattern (\ie bit-vector) using any subset of its 1-bits, under the assumption that the patterns are distributed across a large population of networked nodes. Search problem in many distributed systems can be reduced to the DPM problem. This thesis also presents two distinct search mechanisms, named Distributed Pattern Matching System (DPMS) and Plexus, for solving the DPM problem. DPMS is a semi-structured, hierarchical architecture aiming to discover a predefined number of matches by visiting a small number of nodes. Plexus, on the other hand, is a structured search mechanism based on the theory of Error Correcting Code (ECC). The design goal behind Plexus is to discover all the matches by visiting a reasonable number of nodes

Unlocking the Digital Potential of Scholarly Monographs in 21st Century Research

Bargheer M, Dogan ZM, Horstmann W, Mertens M, Rapp A. Unlocking the Digital Potential of Scholarly Monographs in 21st Century Research. LIBER QUARTERLY. 2017;27(1):194-211

Lexico-Semantic Features in the Language of Religion and Advertising

This paper examined the lexico-semantic features of language of religion and advertising. The framework for this work is drawn from linguistic theories of Hutchinson and Waters, Dudley-Evans and St John and Strevens on English for Specific Purpose (ESP). Investigation reveals complexities that could cause semantic inconsistencies. The study used relevant data from these two disciplines to show the lexical complexities and semantic inconsistencies or difficulties. Through this study, it has been discovered that both the language of religion and advertising have certain features in common such as being informative, eulogistic and persuasive, figurative, employing unusual collocation and deviant forms, employing emotive, adjectives and ungrammatical structures. The study also revealed that the language of religion and advertising differ from each other in that, religion still retains archaic forms while advertising employs simple words. Moreover, religion is wordy and dignified in nature while advertising is brief and casual. It is also observed that religion does not admit fragmentation and deviant spelling patterns but this is observed commonly in advertising. The study further shows that lexical and semantic features of language of religion and advertising distinguish them from everyday use of English language. Hence, features of language of religion and advertising are worth studying and are qualified for unique variety of the English language

Nutzung von Sozialen Netzwerk-Plattformen für die Verteilung von Public Keys

Public Key Infrastrukturen (PKI) sind schon seit einigen Jahren bekannt, jedoch setzen sie sich nur sehr zögerlich durch, insbesondere im privaten Bereich. In diesem Artikel werden einige Hürden für die existierenden Ansätze (besonders das Web-of-Trust) beschrieben und es wird ein Lösungsansatz vorgestellt, der auf der Integration von sozialen Netzwerk-Plattformen mit den bestehenden Schlüssel-Servern beruht. Eine prototypische Umsetzung der genannten Ansätze zeigt, dass diese praktisch einsetzbar sind und die Usability von PKI verbessern können

Assess Irony Communication of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono through Political Cartoon

Irony is a figure of speech that states the meaning as opposed to the true meaning, and presented a mismatch between the atmosphere and the underlying reality. Irony communication is often done by our politicians. It seems to reveal the communication activities related to politics by presenting actual and potential consequences that set humans under conditions of conflict. The actual consequences means that activities actually performed by political actors, political communication or activity that is clearly located within the realm of political communication, such as campaign, presidential speeches, political advertising, and so on. Irony communication is that not only the language of political compromise merely rhetoric but also paralinguistic signs such as gestures and political action. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) as a political figure who had occupied the position as the number one in Indonesia during the two periods of leadership in the reform era, has a communication style of irony that interesting to study. Using Discourse Analysis approach, this study examines this issue through political cartoons, meanwhile political cartoons as a form of visual communication and journalism then the message is in the cartoon can also be used to understand the texts produced in discourse. Keywords: Irony Communication, Political Cartoon, Visual Discourse

Impact of a Flashback Non-Implicit Attempt-Oriented Theory on East Azerbaijan 5th Area on High Schools Teachers’ Concepts of Nature of Science in Iran

This study assessed the impact of a flashback, non-implicit, attempt-oriented approach to nature of science (NOS) instruction undertaken in the context of a secondary science methods course on pre-service teachers’ views of some aspects of NOS. These aspects included the empirical, tentative, subjective (theory-laden), imaginative and creative, and social and cultural NOS. Two additional aspects were the distinction between observation and inference, and the functions of and relationship between scientific theories and laws. Participants were 25 undergraduate and 25 graduate pre-service high school teachers enrolled in two sections of the investigated course. An open-ended NOS questionnaire coupled with individual interviews was used to assess participants’ NOS views before and at the conclusion of the course. Keywords; nature of science, concepts, flashback, non-implicit attempt-oriented approac

The Igbo Perception of Womanhood: Evidence from Sexist Proverbs

Sexist proverbs are proverbs which are laden with impertinent reference to any member of the opposite sex. As used in this study, such proverbs are targeted at the female. The Igbo language has a number of such proverbs. Fifteen of such proverbs from discourse contexts have been translated literally. The literal meanings of the proverbs conceptualise the image of female sexuality which the Igbo ascribe to women. The study therefore shows that Igbo sexist proverbs sustain the notion of male domination over the female. It concludes that it is difficult to change the cultural stereotype ingrained in these proverbs. Keywords: sexist, impertinent, domination, patriarchal, stereotype

Higher Learning Institute Module Organization Vis-à-vis the Criteria of Curriculum Development for Problem Solving Skill Development

In this paper, an attempt is made to disclose the state of philosophy and the nature of curriculum development in Higher Learning Institutes (hereafter HLIs) of Ethiopia. This paper also tries to reflect on the existing literature on the different views of authorities about the forms, values, and assumptions of using modules in HLI programs. Lastly, the theoretical framework for HLI module organization vis-à-vis the criteria of curriculum development for problem solving skill development is reviewed. The review is expected to benefit both decision makers at any educational level and practitioners in their attempt to bring the younger generation who passed through any higher learning institutes to teach the skill of ‘learning how to learn’ in this swiftly changing world. It is also of help for creating citizens who are well versed with the skill of problem solving which has been the vernacular of this nation since the inception of the current education policy.  It further shows the status of module organization in Ethiopian Higher Learning Institutes. Keywords: module organization, problem solving, curriculum development, Higher Learning Institutes, problem solving skil

The impact of racial representations in video game contexts: Identification with Gaming Characters.

Video games can impact individual’s identification with a character presented within that game. The following study examined the effect that racial representations (character race) in video games have upon identification, perceived similarity, and affective outcomes. Using two popular Grand Theft Auto video games participants rated their levels of identification and perceptions of similarity with characters of different races within that video game (White or Black characters/avatars). The results of this experiment show evidence that Black participants identified with and reported higher levels of perceived similarity with same race characters from a video game. Furthermore, the results showed significant differences for video games with racial representations (Black main character) for lower positive affect. This research shows significant and important findings for how individuals identify with characters in video game contexts. Furthermore, it extends research towards how identification with characters of race in media contexts impacts positive and negative outcomes. The theoretical implications of these results are discussed using the identification process of social influence. Keywords: Race, Video Games, Identification, Affec

Versatile interaction specification of tools and agents

Journal ArticleVista is a software infrastructure addressing the vexing problem of software tool interaction?especially how to get egocentric tools to work well together. Vista neither assumes nor requires that tools or tool-mediating agents understand a cooperative messaging protocol, only that they share some common means of interprocess communication. Most IPC mechanisms are too ad hoc and low-level for use by non (or non-expert) programmers. Vista helps by encapsulating such mechanisms in abstract data types obeying high-level protocols. This software framework cleanly integrates a visual language editor, a compiler, libraries, specification analysis tools, and a process control executive into a unified whole