RECODIS : Resilient communication services protecting end-user applications from disaster-based failures

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Numerical treatment of two‐parameter singularly perturbed parabolic convection diffusion problems with non‐smooth data

[EN]In the present work, we consider a parabolic convection-diffusion-reaction problem where the diffusion and convection terms are multiplied by two small parameters, respectively. In addition, we assume that the convection coefficient and the source term of the partial differential equation have a jump discontinuity. The presence of perturbation parameters leads to the boundary and interior layers phenomenawhose appropriate numerical approximation is themain goal of this paper. We have developed a uniform numerical method, which converges almost linearly in space and time on a piecewise uniform space adaptive Shishkin-type mesh and uniform mesh in time. Error tables based on several examples show the convergence of the numerical solutions. In addition, several numerical simulations are presented to show the effectiveness of resolving layer behavior and their locations

A novel content-based image retrieval system based on Bayesian logistic regression

In this work, a novel content-based image retrieval (CBIR) method is presented. It has been implemented and run on “Qatris IManager” [14], a system belonging to SICUBO S.L. (spin-off from University of Extremadura, Spain). The system offers some innovative visual content search tools for image retrieval from databases. It searches, manages and classifies images using four kinds of features: colour, texture, shape and user description. In a typical CBIR system, query results are a set of images sorted by feature similarities with respect to the query. However, images with high feature similarities to the query may be very different from the query in terms of semantics. This discrepancy between low-level features and high-level concepts is known as the semantic gap. The search method presented here, is a novel supervised image retrieval method, based in Bayesian Logistic Regression, which uses the information from the characteristics extracted from the images and from the user’s opinion who sets up the search. The procedure of search and learning is based on a statistical method of aggregation of preferences given by Arias-Nicolás et al. [1] and is useful in problems with both a large number of characteristics and few images. The method could be specially helpful for those professionals who have to make a decision based in images, such as doctors to determine the diagnosis of patients, meteorologists, traffic police to detect license plate, etc

Degradation of Organics in a Glow Discharge Under Martian Conditions

The primary objective of this project is to understand the consequences of glow electrical discharges on the chemistry and biology of Mars. The possibility was raised some time ago that the absence of organic material and carbonaceous matter in the Martian soil samples studied by the VikinG Landers might be due in part to an intrinsic atmospheric mechanism such as glow discharge. The high probability for dust interactions during Martian dust storms and dust devils, combined with the cold, dry climate of Mars most likely results in airborne dust that is highly charged. Such high electrostatic potentials generated during dust storms on Earth are not permitted in the low-pressure CO2 environment on Mars; therefore electrostatic energy released in the form of glow discharges is a highly likely phenomenon. Since glow discharge methods are used for cleaning and sterilizing surfaces throughout industry, the idea that dust in the Martian atmosphere undergoes a cleaning action many times over geologic time scales appears to be a plausible one

Nucleon-Nucleon interaction, charge symmetry breaking and renormalization

We study the interplay between charge symmetry breaking and renormalization in the NN system for s-waves. We find a set of universality relations which disentangle explicitly the known long distance dynamics from low energy parameters and extend them to the Coulomb case. We analyze within such an approach the One-Boson-Exchange potential and the theoretical conditions which allow to relate the proton-neutron, proton-proton and neutron-neutron scattering observables without the introduction of extra new parameters and providing good phenomenological success.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

State of the art in the determination of trace elements in seawater: a worldwide proficiency test

This manuscript presents the results of the International Measurement Evaluation Programme 40 (IMEP-40) study, a proficiency test (PT) which was organised to assess the worldwide performance of laboratories for the determination of trace elements in seawater. This PT supports the implementation of the European Union Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, which aims at achieving a long-term high level protection of the aquatic environment, covering lakes, ground water and coastal waters. Forty-six participants reported results. The test item was seawater containing the trace elements As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn. The trace elements in the test item were present in very low concentrations to mimic natural levels. The results of the participants were rated with z and zeta (zeta) scores in accordance with ISO 13528 and ISO 17043. The standard deviation for proficiency assessment, , was set at 25 % of the respective assigned values for the 12 measured elements based on previous experience with similar PTs. The low levels of the trace elements combined with the high salt concentration of the seawater made the measurements challenging. Many laboratories were unable to detect or quantify the elements and reported "lower than X" values. The percentage of satisfactory performances (expressed as z scores) ranged from 41 % (Cr, Fe) to 86 % (Mo). The PT study showed that the use of proper standard methods, like ISO 17294-2, and sensitive techniques, like inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), contributed to performing well in this PT round

Using privacy calculus theory to explore entrepreneurial directions in mobile location-based advertising: Identifying intrusiveness as the critical risk factor

Location-based advertising is an entrepreneurial and innovative means for advertisers to reach out through personalised messages sent directly to mobile phones using their geographic location. The mobile phone users' willingness to disclose their location and other personal information is essential for the successful im- plementation of mobile location-based advertising (MLBA). Despite the potential enhancement of the user ex- perience through such personalisation and the improved interaction with the marketer, there is an increasing tension between that personalisation and mobile users' concerns about privacy. While the privacy calculus theory (PCT) suggests that consumers make privacy-based decisions by evaluating the benefits any information may bring against the risk of its disclosure, this study examines the specific risks and benefits that influence consumers' acceptance of MLBA. A conceptual model is proposed based on the existing literature and a stan- dardised survey was developed and targeted at individuals with known interests in the subject matter. From these requests, 252 valid responses were received and used to evaluate the key benefits and risks of MLBA from the users' perspectives. While the results confirmed the importance of internet privacy concerns (IPC) as an important determinant, they also indicate that monetary rewards and intrusiveness have a notably stronger impact on acceptance intentions towards MLBA. Intrusiveness is the most important risk factor in determining mobile users' intentions to accept MLBA and therefore establishing effective means of minimising the perceived intrusiveness of MLBA can be expected to have the greatest impact on achieving effective communications with mobile phone users

A Five-year Performance Study of Low VOC Coatings over Zinc Thermal Spray for the Protection of Carbon Steel at the Kennedy Space Center

The launch facilities at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) are located approximately 1000 feet from the Atlantic Ocean where they are exposed to salt deposits, high humidity, high UV degradation, and acidic exhaust from solid rocket boosters. These assets are constructed from carbon steel, which requires a suitable coating to provide long-term protection to reduce corrosion and its associated costs. While currently used coating systems provide excellent corrosion control performance, they are subject to occupational, safety, and environmental regulations at the Federal and State levels that limit their use. Many contain high volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants, and other hazardous materials. Hazardous waste from coating operations include vacuum filters, zinc dust, hazardous paint related material, and solid paint. There are also worker safety issues such as exposure to solvents and isocyanates. To address these issues, top-coated thermal spray zinc coating systems were investigated as a promising environmentally friendly corrosion protection for carbon steel in an acidic launch environment. Additional benefits of the combined coating system include a long service life, cathodic protection to the substrate, no volatile contaminants, and high service temperatures. This paper reports the results of a performance based study to evaluate low VOC topcoats (for thermal spray zinc coatings) on carbon steel for use in a space launch environment