Design and Evaluation of Ballast Water Management Systems using Modified and Hybridised Axiomatic Design Principles

There are two major motivations to this research. The first is based on the concerns raised at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) MEPC 67 and 68 meetings regarding the capacity of some type-approved Ballast Water Management (BWM) Systems to meet the performance standard (D-2) of the BWM Convention at-all-times and in all conditions. The second is based on the reluctance expressed by some ship- owners to install the system onboard their ships as a Lloyd\u27s list survey suggested. In this work, an attempt was made to address these issues and concerns using a set of criteria stipulated in Regulation D-5.2 of the BWM Convention which provides the framework for reviewing and evaluating the practical concepts of managing ballast water, developing a conceptual model for managing ballast water and minimizing the contributions of human-error to BWM System performance by analyzing the associated operational human factors. Firstly, the design of a conceptual model of managing ballast water and the evaluation of some established practical concepts of BWM were achieved by using a suitable technique (Axiomatic Design or AD) which was selected via a robust procedure. The two axioms of Axiomatic Design (information and independence) were used to evaluate four different concepts of managing ballast water as well as develop a BWM Convention-compliant conceptual design matrix model respectively. Based on data collected from ballast water management experts, Post-loading Onshore Ballast Water Management System was shown to be the most appropriate ballast water management concept with respect to the Regulation D-5.2 set of criteria. This presents a paradigm shift in expert preference from traditional shipboard systems to onshore systems with respect to the IMO-criteria. The pathway for improved performance of the Convention-compliant design matrix was subsequently determined and prioritised using Sufield model of Altshuler\u27s theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ). Lastly, a 5-step algorithm was developed to minimise operator errors in the BWM System’s operation. Fatigue and training were found to have the greatest impact on operator performance

Self-Evaluation Applied Mathematics 2003-2008 University of Twente

This report contains the self-study for the research assessment of the Department of Applied Mathematics (AM) of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) at the University of Twente (UT). The report provides the information for the Research Assessment Committee for Applied Mathematics, dealing with mathematical sciences at the three universities of technology in the Netherlands. It describes the state of affairs pertaining to the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2008

Layered evaluation of interactive adaptive systems : framework and formative methods

Peer reviewedPostprin

IR theory, historical materialism, and the false promise of international historical sociology

The three-decades old call for an inter-disciplinary rapprochement between IR Theory and Historical Sociology, starting in the context of the post-positivist debate in the 1980s, has generated a proliferating repertory of contending paradigms within the field of IR, including Neo-Weberian, Post-Structuralist, and Constructivist approaches. Within the Marxist literature, this project comprises an equally rich and diverse set of theoretical traditions, including World-Systems Theory, Neo-Gramscian IR/IPE, the Amsterdam School, Political Marxism, Neo-Leninism, and Postcolonial Theory. More recently, a “third wave” of approaches has been announced from within the field of IR, suggesting to move the dialogue from inter-disciplinarity towards an integrated super-discipline of International Historical Sociology (IHS). This proposition has been most persistently advanced by advocates of the theory of Uneven and Combined Development (UCD), claiming to constitute a universal, unitary and sociological theory of IR. This article charts the intellectual trajectory of this ongoing IR/HS dialogue. It moves from a critique of Neo-Weberianism to a critique of UCD against the background of the original promise of the turn in IR to Historical Sociology: the supersession of the prevailing rationalism, structuralism, and positivism in extant mainstream IR approaches through the mobilization of alternative and non-positivistic traditions in the social sciences. This critique will be performed by setting UCD in dialogue with Political Marxism. By anchoring both approaches at opposite ends on the spectrum of Marxist conceptions of social science – respectively the scientistic and the historicist - the argument is that UCD reneges on the promise of Historical Sociology for IR by re-aligning, first by default and now by design, with the meta-theoretical premises of Neo-Realism. This is most visibly expressed in the articulation of a deductive-nomological covering law, leading towards acute conceptual and ontological anachronisms, premised on the radical de-historicisation of the fields of ontology, conceptuality and disciplinarity. This includes the semantic neutering and hyper-abstract re-articulation of the very category, which in IR’s self-perception lends legitimacy to its claim of disciplinary distinctiveness: the international. The article concludes by suggesting that an understanding of Marxism as a historicist social science subverts all calls for the construction of grand theories and, a fortiori, a unitary super-discipline of IHS, premised on a set of universal, space-time indifferent, and abstract categories that hold across the spectrum of world history. In contrast, recovering the historicist credentials of Marxism demands a constant temporalisation and specification of the fields of ontology, agency, conceptuality and disciplinarity. The objective is to lay the foundations for a historicist social science of geopolitics

Embodied interaction with visualization and spatial navigation in time-sensitive scenarios

Paraphrasing the theory of embodied cognition, all aspects of our cognition are determined primarily by the contextual information and the means of physical interaction with data and information. In hybrid human-machine systems involving complex decision making, continuously maintaining a high level of attention while employing a deep understanding concerning the task performed as well as its context are essential. Utilizing embodied interaction to interact with machines has the potential to promote thinking and learning according to the theory of embodied cognition proposed by Lakoff. Additionally, the hybrid human-machine system utilizing natural and intuitive communication channels (e.g., gestures, speech, and body stances) should afford an array of cognitive benefits outstripping the more static forms of interaction (e.g., computer keyboard). This research proposes such a computational framework based on a Bayesian approach; this framework infers operator\u27s focus of attention based on the physical expressions of the operators. Specifically, this work aims to assess the effect of embodied interaction on attention during the solution of complex, time-sensitive, spatial navigational problems. Toward the goal of assessing the level of operator\u27s attention, we present a method linking the operator\u27s interaction utility, inference, and reasoning. The level of attention was inferred through networks coined Bayesian Attentional Networks (BANs). BANs are structures describing cause-effect relationships between operator\u27s attention, physical actions and decision-making. The proposed framework also generated a representative BAN, called the Consensus (Majority) Model (CMM); the CMM consists of an iteratively derived and agreed graph among candidate BANs obtained by experts and by the automatic learning process. Finally, the best combinations of interaction modalities and feedback were determined by the use of particular utility functions. This methodology was applied to a spatial navigational scenario; wherein, the operators interacted with dynamic images through a series of decision making processes. Real-world experiments were conducted to assess the framework\u27s ability to infer the operator\u27s levels of attention. Users were instructed to complete a series of spatial-navigational tasks using an assigned pairing of an interaction modality out of five categories (vision-based gesture, glove-based gesture, speech, feet, or body balance) and a feedback modality out of two (visual-based or auditory-based). Experimental results have confirmed that physical expressions are a determining factor in the quality of the solutions in a spatial navigational problem. Moreover, it was found that the combination of foot gestures with visual feedback resulted in the best task performance (p\u3c .001). Results have also shown that embodied interaction-based multimodal interface decreased execution errors that occurred in the cyber-physical scenarios (p \u3c .001). Therefore we conclude that appropriate use of interaction and feedback modalities allows the operators maintain their focus of attention, reduce errors, and enhance task performance in solving the decision making problems

Utilization of automated location tracking for clinical workflow analytics and visualization

abstract: The analysis of clinical workflow offers many challenges to clinical stakeholders and researchers, especially in environments characterized by dynamic and concurrent processes. Workflow analysis in such environments is essential for monitoring performance and finding bottlenecks and sources of error. Clinical workflow analysis has been enhanced with the inclusion of modern technologies. One such intervention is automated location tracking which is a system that detects the movement of clinicians and equipment. Utilizing the data produced from automated location tracking technologies can lead to the development of novel workflow analytics that can be used to complement more traditional approaches such as ethnography and grounded-theory based qualitative methods. The goals of this research are to: (i) develop a series of analytic techniques to derive deeper workflow-related insight in an emergency department setting, (ii) overlay data from disparate sources (quantitative and qualitative) to develop strategies that facilitate workflow redesign, and (iii) incorporate visual analytics methods to improve the targeted visual feedback received by providers based on the findings. The overarching purpose is to create a framework to demonstrate the utility of automated location tracking data used in conjunction with clinical data like EHR logs and its vital role in the future of clinical workflow analysis/analytics. This document is categorized based on two primary aims of the research. The first aim deals with the use of automated location tracking data to develop a novel methodological/exploratory framework for clinical workflow. The second aim is to overlay the quantitative data generated from the previous aim on data from qualitative observation and shadowing studies (mixed methods) to develop a deeper view of clinical workflow that can be used to facilitate workflow redesign. The final sections of the document speculate on the direction of this work where the potential of this research in the creation of fully integrated clinical environments i.e. environments with state-of-the-art location tracking and other data collection mechanisms, is discussed. The main purpose of this research is to demonstrate ways by which clinical processes can be continuously monitored allowing for proactive adaptations in the face of technological and process changes to minimize any negative impact on the quality of patient care and provider satisfaction.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Biomedical Informatics 201

Hiding in Plain Sight: A Longitudinal Study of Combosquatting Abuse

Domain squatting is a common adversarial practice where attackers register domain names that are purposefully similar to popular domains. In this work, we study a specific type of domain squatting called "combosquatting," in which attackers register domains that combine a popular trademark with one or more phrases (e.g., betterfacebook[.]com, youtube-live[.]com). We perform the first large-scale, empirical study of combosquatting by analyzing more than 468 billion DNS records---collected from passive and active DNS data sources over almost six years. We find that almost 60% of abusive combosquatting domains live for more than 1,000 days, and even worse, we observe increased activity associated with combosquatting year over year. Moreover, we show that combosquatting is used to perform a spectrum of different types of abuse including phishing, social engineering, affiliate abuse, trademark abuse, and even advanced persistent threats. Our results suggest that combosquatting is a real problem that requires increased scrutiny by the security community.Comment: ACM CCS 1

Perceptive Loyalty System

This document is to study the compatibility and usability of a perceptive loyalty system using data mining technique. This system is an easy-to-use web-based business management solution that is designed to foster communication between Business Company and their customer. The perceptive loyalty system can be used daily, employs cost-effective technology to help advance business and transaction processes. It is a key tool for enabling data-driven decision-making. Business information such as customer's shopping habit can now be saved directly, via a standard web-browser, for ease of printing and electronic archival and later on can be used to make decision in marketing for example new product in the future. The report generated by the system will show customer's buying habit and pattern. It purposes is just to simplify and organized the work strategist of a company and also the marketing department as well as the top management in guiding to a better decision making. With the system business can monitor the sales they are making throughout the year and also the pattern generate by the customer's shopping activities.