Creating a Relational Distributed Object Store

In and of itself, data storage has apparent business utility. But when we can convert data to information, the utility of stored data increases dramatically. It is the layering of relation atop the data mass that is the engine for such conversion. Frank relation amongst discrete objects sporadically ingested is rare, making the process of synthesizing such relation all the more challenging, but the challenge must be met if we are ever to see an equivalent business value for unstructured data as we already have with structured data. This paper describes a novel construct, referred to as a relational distributed object store (RDOS), that seeks to solve the twin problems of how to persistently and reliably store petabytes of unstructured data while simultaneously creating and persisting relations amongst billions of objects.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Modelling the influence of personality and culture on affect and enjoyment in multimedia

Affect is evoked through an intricate relationship between the characteristics of stimuli, individuals, and systems of perception. While affect is widely researched, few studies consider the combination of multimedia system characteristics and human factors together. As such, this paper explores the influence of personality (Five-Factor Model) and cultural traits (Hofstede Model) on the intensity of multimedia-evoked positive and negative affects (emotions). A set of 144 video sequences (from 12 short movie clips) were evaluated by 114 participants from a cross-cultural population, producing 1232 ratings. On this data, three multilevel regression models are compared: a baseline model that only considers system factors; an extended model that includes personality and culture; and an optimistic model in which each participant is modelled. An analysis shows that personal and cultural traits represent 5.6% of the variance in positive affect and 13.6% of the variance in negative affect. In addition, the affect-enjoyment correlation varied across the clips. This suggests that personality and culture play a key role in predicting the intensity of negative affect and whether or not it is enjoyed, but a more sophisticated set of predictors is needed to model positive affect with the same efficacy

Shape optimization of damping layers

Shape optimization of unconstrained and constrained damping layers is completed. The specific problem analyzed is a cantilever beam loaded at its tip by a harmonic force. Finite element modeling and mathematical programming techniques are used to obtain the solution. Performance measures are taken to be reduction of maximum diplacement and increase in fatigue lifetime. Results include the improvement, over the uniform treatment case, of these measures when the profile of the damping layer is optimized

Identification of Optimal Locations for Sampling Ground Water for Pesticides in the Mississippi Delta Region of Eastern Arkansas

Concerns about the presence of pesticides in the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer in the Arkansas Delta have generated the need to develop a map of ground water vulnerability for this region comprised of approximately 10 million acres. Based on the availability of digital data and the scale of this study. we used a modified Pesticide DRASTIC model in a GRASS GIS environment to identify areas that were physically more sensitive to pesticide contamination than other areas within the Delta. Spatial distribution of pesticide loading was estimated from pesticide application rates in different crops and crop distribution map interpreted from satellite imagery. Relative ground water vulnerability index was expressed as a product of aquifer sensitivity index and pesticide loading index. The resulting map showing the spatial distribution of relative ground water vulnerability index values was intended for use in selecting optimal locations for sampling ground water for pesticides in the Arkansas Delta and for aid in implementing the Arkansas Agricultural Chemical Ground-Water Management Plan. The most sensitive areas in the Delta are distributed mostly along major streams where a combination of shallow depth to ground water, thin confining unit, permeable soils, and high recharge rate usually prevails. It is also in many of these areas where large acres of crops are grown, and pesticides are used. Consequently, many areas along major streams are also most vulnerable. These vulnerable areas may be targeted by planners and governmental agencies for further detailed evaluation. Uncertainties in the methodology and mapped input data, plus the dynamic nature of model factors, require continued and improved efforts in ground water vulnerability assessment for the Arkansas Delta