This paper describes the current work on developing a generic framework and a prototype for resource selection in a grid computing environment that addresses the problems found in other work. Specifically, this work allows for customized application-specific mapping strategies that provide information on the dependencies that an application may have on certain resources or applications.

In this paper the efficiency of the electricity generation portfolio of BKW, a major Swiss utility, is analyzed. By applying mean-variance portfolio theory to the current and to possible future generation mixes, efficient frontiers are derived. The analysis based on relative changes in generation costs is complemented by an actual costs analysis. Moreover, a method that takes into account physi...

Emotion is considered a critical component in human computer interaction and intelligent interfaces. However, the social context in which the emotion is manifested is rarely taken into account. In this paper, we present a set of two empirical studies, taking a social network perspective to examine the contextual effect on emotional expression. In study 1, we conducted a scenario-based experimen...

Simulation of weather scenery in computer graphics (CG) is an important issue that has a wide range of applications related to image content, such as in movies and in various landscape simulations. In general, research to date into CG lightning has focused on generating a lightning pattern by applying probability and statistics techniques, which do not consider the generating mechanism of light...

This article describes the improvement of a model of collaborative design for the ceramic industry. A new stakeholder playing a crucial role is now included in the design process, i.e. the customer. Specifically, we present a pilot validation study for the framework that aims to analyse how the environment, experiences and reference criteria of different types of the customers (commercial deale...

Recently, displaying natural phenomena such as smoke has become a topic of interest in computer graphics. The ability to simulate the complex shapes and motion of the smoke particles is not only important but is also a difficult problem to solve. In this paper, we propose a method of displaying swirling smoke, including the consideration of its passage round obstacles. By using the idea of meta...

Theories of the meaning of life are divided into two categories: nihilistic and anti-nihilistic. The latter is divided, in turn, into the view that life is meaningful and the view that life can be made meaningful. In this paper, we deploy a descriptive-analytic method to discuss Jean-Paul Sartre’s view of nihilism. In his view, God does not exist, the human being is born and dies without a reas...

Online social networks have been gaining increasing economic importance in light of the rising number of their users. Numerous recent acquisitions priced at enormous amounts have illustrated this development and revealed the need for adequate business valuation models. The value of an online social network is largely determined by the value of its users, the relationships between these users, a...

The movements of animals, people, and vehicles are embedded in a geographic context. This context influences the movement and may cause the formation of certain behavioral responses. Thus, it is essential to include context parameters in the study of movement and the development of movement pattern analytics. Advances in sensor technologies and positioning devices provide valuable data not only...

We show that the “fractal” behavior of Internet traffic can be efficiently and practically employed to significantly reduce packetloss. Thanks to recent advances in the theory of self-similar processes, we define the probabilistic congestion of a link, based on an estimated computation of the packet-loss probability over that link. This congestion parameter allows valid predictions on the futur...