Analysis of Chaotic Synchronization Stability and Its Application to a Two-dimensional Advertising Competing Model

A class of map in which chaotic synchronization can occur is defined. The transverse Lyapunov exponents are used to determine the stability of synchronized trajectories. Some complex phenomena closely related to chaotic synchronization, namely riddled basin, riddling bifurcation and blowout bifurcation are theoretically analyzed. Riddling bifurcation and blowout bifurcation may change the synchronization stability of the system. And two types of riddled basins, i.e., global riddled basin and local riddled basin, may come into being after riddling bifurcation. An advertising competing model based on Vidale-Wolfe model is proposed and analyzed by the above theories at the end of the paper.     

Mathematical Challenge in the Eyes of the Beholder: Mathematics Teachers’ Views

Abstract

This study is based on our belief that mathematics should be challenging in any classroom and that mathematical challenge is among the central factors that determine the quality of mathematics lessons. Choosing challenging mathematical problem for the students is central in teachers’ work while their conception of mathematical challenge can determine the quality of a mathematics lesson. At the same time, little is known about teachers’ views on mathematical challenge. Thus, we explored conceptions of mathematical challenge in two groups of experienced mathematics teachers. The first group (N₁ = 9) was asked to define the notion of mathematical challenge and give examples of challenging mathematical tasks. Later the members of the group discussed these examples and definitions. A written response questionnaire was administered to a second group of teachers (N₂ = 41) based on answers given by teachers in the first group. We found that the teachers have a broad conception of mathematical challenge and appreciate the relativity of mathematical challenge but are not always convinced that it is possible to incorporate challenging mathematics in everyday teaching in the classroom.     

Solution Spaces of Multiple-Solution Connecting Tasks as a Mirror of the Development of Mathematics Teachers’ Knowledge

Abstract

This study aims to deepen our understanding of the development of teacher knowledge in systematic (through learning) and craft (through teaching) modes. The main research tools of this study were multiple-solution connecting tasks. We used the notion of solution spaces to analyze the data and demonstrated that modifications of the teachers’ solution spaces were situated in their practices of varying types. We found that the implementation of multiple-solution connecting tasks in systematic mode meaningfully developed teachers’ problem-solving performance due not only to the reproduction of solutions offered during the course but to the production of new solutions. Furthermore, in creating opportunities for students to solve tasks with multiple solutions, teachers expanded their personal solution spaces. We conclude that the combining of systematic and craft modes is an optimal condition for the development of teachers’ knowledge.     

Engaging Elementary Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge: Adopting Problem-Based Learning in the Context of Science Teaching and Learning

Abstract

This study examined how facets of elementary teachers' pedagogical content knowledge are “engaged in practice” in the context of Problem-Based Learning (PBL). A secondary objective was to identify challenges teachers experienced during the development and implementation of PBL learning experiences. Collaborative Inquiry (Bray, Lee, Smith, & Yorks, 2000), a participatory, action-based inquiry approach was used as a means to develop and implement PBL. Outcomes report on how teachers developed and engaged various facets of their pedagogical content knowledge, including orientations to teaching science, and knowledge of and beliefs about curriculum, student learning, instruction, and assessment.     

Predicting customer behavior in the market-space: a study of Rayport and Sviokla’s framework

The rapidly evolving phenomenon of the World Wide Web and the creation of a new international arena for electronic commerce have expanded the possibilities for the marketing of products and services. The role played by customer behavior in the market-space is still not entirely understood and calls for investigations into the significance of customer attitudes and loyalty. In this article, a model is developed; it examines the significance of content, context, and infrastructure in determining customer loyalty. An empirical study involving 145 subjects was conducted to test this model and to gain a better understanding of the relationship between customer belief about a Web site (specifically, an e-publishing site) and customer behavior (such as attitudes toward brand and customer loyalty).The results indicate that customer attitude is influenced by belief about brand equity (value), which is affected by the content, context, and infrastructure. Customer loyalty is determined by attitude and belief about the context in which the products or services are offered. These findings provide a better understanding of customer behavior associated with Web sites in the market-space, also confirm the proposition of Rayport and Sviokla that ‘customer loyalty is developed at the context level’.     

Making the ‘MOST’ out of RFID technology: a research agenda for the study of the adoption,usage and impact of RFID

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology dramatically increases the ability of the organization to acquire a vast array of data about the location and properties of any entity that can be physically tagged and wirelessly scanned within certain technical limitations. RFID can be applied to a variety of tasks, structures, work systems and contexts along the value chain, including business-to-business logistics, internal operations, business-to-consumer marketing, and after-sales service applications. As industry adoption of RFID increases there is an emerging interest by academic researchers to engage in scholarly investigation to understand how RFID relates to mobility, organizational and systems technologies (MOST). In this paper, we explore RFID and propose a research agenda to address a series of broad research questions related to how RFID technology: (1) is developed, adopted, and implemented by organizations; (2) is used, supported, and evolved within organizations and alliances; and (3) impacts individuals, business processes, organizations, and markets. As with many technological innovations, as the technical problems associated with implementing and using RFID are addressed and resolved, the managerial and organizational issues will emerge as critical areas for IS research.

Teachers Constructing Concepts of Mathematics for Teaching and Learning: “It's like the roots beneath the surface,not a bigger garden”

Abstract

Conceptually rich classroom learning environments can only be supported by teachers with appropriate mathematical knowledge. A lack of clarity exists as to whether or how such teacher knowledge might go beyond knowledge of the relevant curriculum. This study contributes to the field by investigating further examples of what appropriate teacher mathematical knowledge might be, as rooted and contextualized in teachers’ daily classroom practices. Teacher journaling, individual meetings, and teacher focus-group discussions were used to identify relevant examples, and ultimately continue to collectively describe, in a specific, contextually based and practitioner-developed manner, the mathematical knowledge required for elementary teaching.     

Visually impaired people and the emerging connected TV: a comparative study of TV and Web applications’ accessibility

With the TV signal digitization and the current market growth of connected TVs, the authors envision the appearance of accessibility barriers to visually impaired persons. The paper addresses the following hypothesis: (1) visually impaired users want to extend their TV usage to explore new TV features; (2) TV applications are in less conformance with accessibility guidelines compared to their Desktop versions. Additionally, the authors wanted to assess whether guideline conformance reflected real TV accessibility problems experienced by users. The methods used for this study included surveys aimed at characterizing the interest of the visually impaired population regarding the use of TV, and specifically of Web applications on TV, an automated accessibility evaluation to compare TV and Desktop versions of the same Web application, to understand their conformance with accessibility guidelines, and a user study where participants with visual impairments were asked to perform some tasks on both versions. From the survey, we confirmed that people with visual disabilities are interested in extra features on their TV. Results from the automated accessibility evaluation show that TV applications are in a significantly better level of conformance with accessibility guidelines. The user study has illustrated that users were unable to complete any task using the TV versions of the applications. The results from these studies demonstrated that the new features that come with connected TVs still have a long way to go in order to be accessible by all. Furthermore, they lead us to concur with other works that automated evaluations are not enough to assess the accessibility of a Web page.     

In Search of the ‘Magic Carpet’: Design and Experimentation of a Bimanual 3D Navigation Interface

Hardware and software advances are making real-time 3D graphics part of all mainstream computers. World Wide Web sites encoded in Virtual Reality Modeling Language or other formats allow users across the Internet to share virtual 3D ‘worlds’. As the supporting software and hardware become increasingly powerful, the usability of the current 3D navigation interfaces becomes the limiting factor to the wide-spread application of 3D technologies. In this paper, we analyze the human factors issues in designing a usable navigation interface, including interface metaphor, integration and separation of multiple degrees of freedom, mode switching, isotonic versus isometric control, seamless merger of the 3D navigation devices with the GUI pointing and scrolling devices, and two-handed input. We propose a dual joystick navigation interface design based on a real-world metaphor (bulldozer), and present an experimental evaluation. The results show that the proposed bulldozer interface outperformed the status quo mouse-mapping interface in maze travelling and free flying tasks by 25–50%. Limitations of and possible future improvements to the bulldozer interface are also presented.     

Design and evaluation of a digital wearable ring and a smartphone application to help monitor and manage the effects of Raynaud’s phenomenon

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This paper presents the iterative research, design and evaluation phases of a digital wearable health system for monitoring, managing and possibly assisting in...     

Online auction: the effects of transaction probability and listing price on a seller’s decision-making behavior

This study seeks to the answer the question of how an individual would trade off between listing fee (i.e., cost of listing an auction item) and transaction probability (i.e., the chance that a product will be sold). Applying the trade-off decision-making paradigm into the auction context, we examine a seller’s choice of online auction outlet and subsequent starting price strategies when facing the trade-off between transaction probability and listing fee. Results from a set of laboratory experiments suggest that a seller would be willing to incur a high cost in exchange for a higher transaction prospect. Furthermore, if the expected transaction probability is high, a seller is more likely to set a high starting price despite incurring a high listing fee. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.     

Intelligent agents and liability: is it a doctrinal problem or merely a problem of explanation?

The question of liability in the case of using intelligent agents is far from simple, and cannot sufficiently be answered by deeming the human user as being automatically responsible for all actions and mistakes of his agent. Therefore, this paper is specifically concerned with the significant difficulties which might arise in this regard especially if the technology behind software agents evolves, or is commonly used on a larger scale. Furthermore, this paper contemplates whether or not it is possible to share the responsibility with these agents and what are the main objections surrounding the assumption of considering such agents as responsible entities. This paper, however, is not intended to provide the final answer to all questions and challenges in this regard, but to identify the main components, and provide some perspectives on how to deal with such issue.     

Understanding determinants of information systems users’ behaviour: a comparison of two models in the context of integrated accounting and budgeting software

This study examines determinants that affect the behaviour of information systems (IS) users, and influence of the users’ decisions to continue using IS by two models: the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the expectation-confirmation model of IS continuance (ECM-IS). The behaviour of professionals who utilise complex software solutions for performing their working tasks has been in the focus of this research. Based on data gathered from questionnaires filled-out by users of the integrated accounting and budgeting software (IABS), the confirmatory factor analysis has shown that both models demonstrate good factor, convergence and discriminatory validity, respectively. The comparison of the obtained results has been performed, and it shows that ECM-IS has a larger explanatory power (R²) over TAM, explaining 49% of the dependent variable (IS continuance intention) in relation to 29%. The IS continuance intention is determined by the users’ satisfaction and perceived usefulness. The user satisfaction is influenced by perceived usefulness and confirmation. The confirmation of the user's expectations has had a positive influence on perceived usefulness. The perceived ease of use has not exerted a significant influence on the user's intention of IS continuance.     

Exploring the online bidder’s repurchase intention: a cost and benefit perspective

The success of online auctions is founded on bidders enjoying shopping benefits and on creating bidders’ loyalty. This study investigates the importance of bidders’ repurchase intention along with the corresponding cost and benefit aspects. Therefore, this study integrates transaction cost economics and expectancy confirmation theory to understand the determinants of bidders’ repurchase intention in online auctions. We collected data from a survey questionnaire, and a total of 594 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to assess the relationships of the research model. The findings show that satisfaction has a significant influence on bidders’ repurchase intention, while transaction cost is negatively associated with repurchase intention. Bidders’ satisfaction is determined by confirmation and by the e-service quality of both auctioneers and sellers. Moreover, an auctioneer’s asset specificity and product uncertainty are positively associated with the bidder’s perceived transaction cost. The interaction frequency between bidder and seller is negatively associated with the bidder’s transaction costs. The research results provide a novel approach to understanding bidders’ benefit and cost dimensions in online auction marketplaces. Our findings could guide online auctioneers and sellers in enhancing their offerings.     

Application of astigmatic method and snell’s law on the thickness and refractive index measurement of a transparent plate

In this study, a thickness and refractive index measuring system for the transparent plate has been proposed. The measuring system is composed of an astigmatic measurement module and a light spot measurement module using a DVD optical pickup, a laser diode and a quadrant photodiode detector. Both of the thickness and refractive index of a transparent plate are converted into the focusing error of DVD pickup based on astigmatic method and the light spot displacements based on snell’s law in our proposed system. The thickness and the refractive index are simultaneously calculated by means of two nonlinear formulas. The accuracy of the proposed system is 99 % verified by a height Gauge and the refractive index by the TF-166.     

Visualization of curvature plots and evaluation of fairness: an analysis of the effect of ‘scaling’

Changing the aspect-ratio (scale) of a graphical plot significantly affects the “messages” getting across to a viewer. This is true also for curvature plots and other graphs currently used in Curve & Surface Modeling to evaluate fairness. In particular, the sharp corners appearing in such graphs, employed as local fairness indicators by current practices, are significantly affected by nonuniform scaling. A detailed study of this phenomenon is presented offering specific guidelines for correctly “reading” curvature plots.     

The digitization of a food package’s life cycle: Existing and emerging computer systems in the logistics and post-logistics phase

At present, the food and food packaging industry is increasingly confronted with and gently forced by consumers and governmental organizations to resolve issues related to food fraud, counterfeit, theft, food quality and safety, and package reuse and recycling. This requires the development and/or integration of new or existing technologies such as intelligent food packages or wireless sensor networks to improve monitoring capabilities during logistics and sales and consumption, allow interaction with consumers, and improve the reuse or recycling of food packages. In this review paper, an extensive overview is provided of computer systems that are used in the logistics and post-logistics phase of a food package’s life cycle and that to a certain extent integrate the aforementioned technologies. These systems offer the perspective to improve the efficiency of logistics operations on food packages to reduce food loss, better inform consumers through food packages, and support package reuse and recycling. The main purpose of this review paper is to encourage the academia and engineers to tackle existing research challenges and resolve technical issues related to the development of new integrated computer systems.     

Controllers of a Given Radius of Stability Margin: Their Design by the H ∞-approach with Regard for External Disturbances

Output controllers for multivariate linear systems are designed such that they ensure, besides a given radius of stability margin for the physical input or output of the controlled object, a given radius of steady state characterized by the operation accuracy of a closed-loop system for adjusted variables. This design problem is reduced to a special H -optimization problem and the result is purely of sufficient type. It is solved numerically in the state space by the linear matrix inequalities method of MATLAB.     

Modeling and estimating the subjects’ diversity of opinions in video quality assessment: a neural network based approach

Subjective experiments are considered the most reliable way to assess the perceived visual quality. However, observers’ opinions are characterized by large diversity: in fact, even the same observer is often not able to exactly repeat his first opinion when rating again a given stimulus. This makes the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) alone, in many cases, not sufficient to get accurate information about the perceived visual quality. To this aim, it is important to have a measure characterizing to what extent the observed or predicted MOS value is reliable and stable. For instance, the Standard deviation of the Opinions of the Subjects (SOS) could be considered as a measure of reliability when evaluating the quality subjectively. However, we are not aware of the existence of models or algorithms that allow to objectively predict how much diversity would be observed in subjects’ opinions in terms of SOS. In this work we observe, on the basis of a statistical analysis made on several subjective experiments, that the disagreement between the quality as measured by means of different objective video quality metrics (VQMs) can provide information on the diversity of the observers’ ratings on a given processed video sequence (PVS). In light of this observation we: i) propose and validate a model for the SOS observed in a subjective experiment; ii) design and train Neural Networks (NNs) that predict the average diversity that would be observed among the subjects’ ratings for a PVS starting from a set of VQMs values computed on such a PVS; iii) give insights into how the same NN based approach can be used to identify potential anomalies in the data collected in subjective experiments.