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PERIMETER: Privacy-Preserving Contract-less, User Centric, Seamless Roaming for Always Best Connected Future Internet
Get PDFPERIMETER is a new EU FP7 project, whose main objective is to establish a new paradigm of user-centricity for advanced networking. In contrast to network-centric approaches, user-centric strategies could achieve true seamless mobility. Putting the user at the centre rather than the operator enables the user to control his or her identity, preferences and credentials, and so seamless mobility is streamlined, enabling mobile users to be “Always Best Connected” in multiple-access multiple-operator networks of the Future Internet.
For this purpose, PERIMETER will develop and implement protocols designed to cope with increased scale, complexity, mobility and requirements for privacy, security, resilience and transparency of the Future Internet. These include appropriate mechanisms for network selection based on Quality of Experience; innovative implementation of “Distributed A3M” protocols for Fast Authentication, Authorisation and Accounting based on privacy-preserving digital identity models. All these mechanisms will be designed to be independent from the underlying networking technology and service provider, so that fast, inter-technology handovers will be possible
Augmentation of Macular Pigment following Implantation of Blue Light–Filtering Intraocular Lenses at the Time of Cataract Surgery
Get PDFPURPOSE. (Photo)-oxidative stress is believed to play a role in
the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD),
with the threshold for retinal damage being lowest for shortwavelength
(blue) light. Macular pigment (MP), consisting of
the carotenoids lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z) and meso-Z, has a
maximum absorption at 460 nm and protects the retina from
(photo)-oxidative injury. This study was designed to investigate
whether the blue light–filtering properties of the Alcon Acry-
Sof Natural intraocular lens (ANIOL) implanted during cataract
surgery affects MP optical density (MPOD).
METHODS. Forty-two patients scheduled for cataract surgery
were recruited for the study. These patients all had a preoperative
best corrected visual acuity rating (BCVAR) of at least 0.5
(logMAR) in the study eye. The patients were randomized to
have either the standard Alcon AcrySof three-piece acrylic
intraocular lens (AIOL) (controls) or the ANIOL implanted at
the time of cataract surgery. The spatial profile of MPOD (i.e.,
at 0.25°, 0.5°, 1.0°, and 1.75° eccentricity) was measured with
customized heterochromatic flicker photometry (cHFP) 1
week before and 1 week after surgery, and at 3, 6, and 12
months after surgery. Serum concentrations of L and Z were
also measured at each study visit.
RESULTS. There was a highly significant and positive correlation
between all MPODs (e.g., at 0.25°) recorded 1 week before and
after surgery in eyes with an AIOL implant (r � 0.915, P �
0.01; paired samples t-test, P � 0.631) and in those ANIOL
implants (r � 0.868, P � 0.01; paired samples t-test, P �
0.719). Average MPOD across the retina increased significantly
with time (after 3 months) in the ANIOL group (repeatedmeasures,
general linear model, P � 0.05), but remained stable
in the AIOL group (repeated-measures, general linear model,
P � 0.05). There were no significant time or lens effects
observed for serum L over the study period (P � 0.05). There
was a significant time effect for serum Z over the study perio
A note on a one-parameter family of Catalan-like numbers
Get PDFWe study a family of sequences of Catalan-like numbers based on the series reversion process. Properties of these sequences are derived, including continued fraction
expansions, associated orthogonal polynomials and associated Aigner matrices, which
turn out to be Riordan arrays
The influence of life coaching on entrepreneurs goal planning and attainment
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was is to explore the extent to which life coaching influences an entrepreneur’s behaviour as regards goal planning and attainment. This involves exploring the influence of a coaching intervention on an entrepreneur’s goal and planning behaviour, the issues which influence their goals and the measurement of the attainment of goals.
Previous research has indicated that life coaching is about fostering behaviour change in an individual (Grant, 2006). However, there is also much debate that indicates that the claims of coaching relative to behaviour change are largely unfounded and are based on anecdotal evidence. This indicates the need for more research on the effects of life coaching. With these factors in mind the current research focused on exploring the influence of coaching on an individual’s behaviour and in particular on goal attainment behaviour of entrepreneurs. To the best of this researcher’s knowledge such a study has not been previously explored within an Irish context.
The co-researchers for the current study were entrepreneurs in the early stage of start up, who were divided into an intervention and non-intervention group. Only those in the intervention group received coaching. A qualitative approach was used in data collection with both groups where a series of semi-structured interviews were utilised. This research method was deemed the most appropriate as it gave greater access to the lived experience and behaviour of entrepreneurs and allowed for meanings to be explored in depth.
A number of significant findings materialised from the current study where it was found that life coaching does influence the behaviour of entrepreneurs. This influence was evident in a number of areas amongst the entrepreneurs who received the coaching intervention as opposed to the non-intervention group where no such influence was evident. After the coaching intervention, entrepreneurs in the intervention group had more specific and manageable goals and were more structured and formal in their goal and planning behaviour. In addition, as a result of the coaching intervention, these entrepreneurs in the intervention group showed that they had extended and refined their measurement of goal attainment.
The current research adds to the body of research on life coaching in general. It also contributes specifically to the emerging area of life coaching and entrepreneurs. The outcome from this research has implications for life coaches, entrepreneurs, enterprise support agencies as well as those who provide training and incubation programmes for entrepreneurs
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE UPTAKE AND BENEFIT OF VIRTUAL LEARNING NETWORK OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SMALL BUSINESS TOURISM SECTOR - RIKON Group
Get PDFWhile there is a growing interest in learning networks, relatively little research has been published with a specific tourism focus. Thus, this paper is concerned with tourism learning networks (TLN) and the role of virtual learning environments (VLE) in sustaining member viability following facilitated TLN interaction. The authors investigate user adoption and uptake of Fáilte Ireland2’s VLE, commencing with a comprehensive literature review, relating to virtual learning network (VLN) environments, and resulting in a VLN framework for a small firm environment.
A mixed method approach enabled the authors to comprehensively uncover quantitative measurements with qualitative insights through the use of key informant interviews, census questionnaire, click stream data analysis and semi-structured interviews. Findings classified the nature of the network in both physical and virtual capacities, through the identification of modes of communication, level of membership, intentions to seek advice, make contact and contribute within the networking community. In terms of VLN usage, time was identified as the lead barrier to using the VLE, followed by a lack of training, and a low usage level among TLN members. Furthermore, findings suggest that while participants are willing to seek advice and share information, most felt they made only limited contributions to the VLN community.
From a theoretical perspective, this research offers a framework for VLN facilitation in the tourism sector, and indicates the necessary dimensions involved in promotion of interactive learning online. The study also provides an in-depth analysis of participants’ perspectives in relation to virtual collaboration (activity, barriers, and adoption levels), participants’ perspectives in relation to the TLN support structure, and any underlying behavioral mediators, that may be responsible for poor VLN activity
PERIMETER: A Quality of Experience Framework
Get PDFAlthough Quality of Experience (QoE) is perceived as a subjective measure of a user’s experience, it is the only measure that actually counts to a user of a service. For the success of the Future Internet, it is essential to identify, quantify and ultimately improve the perception of QoE for a user, in a given situation. PERIMETER pushes the boundaries to improve a user’s experience by identifying a more user-centric network selection based on QoE preferences, high level rules and policies. With the fundamental focus on the user’s preferences, PERIMETER will support generic QoE definition, QoE signalling, and QoE based content adaptation. This paper provides an insight into PERIMETER’s QoE model and management system which are responsible for the definition, gathering, description and management of QoE-related parameters, indicators and enablers. This paper will demonstrate how PERIMETER will proceed beyond the state of the art in the QoE thematic research area and contribute to research of the Future Internet
Agile Principles Applied to a Complex Long Term Research Activity - The PERIMETER Approach
Get PDFAgile software development is a group of software development methodologies that are based on similar principles, as defined in the Agile Manifesto. Agile software projects are characterized by iterative and incremental development, accommodation of changes and active customer participation.
The popularity of agile principles is steadily increasing. Their adopters report that this development process leads to higher software quality and customer satisfaction ratings when compared to using traditional methods, with more productive and motivated developers. Whilst smaller developer teams have cited higher success rates than larger teams, agile principles can and have been applied successfully to large scale projects and distributed teams.
Despite these advantages, there are very few research activities that apply agile principles in their development. Perhaps this is due to the nature of research projects, which usually span years rather than months, frequently involve experimental work, and consist of team members with varying levels of experience, often coming from different organizations, research groups and countries. This paper examines how agile principles can be adapted to suit one such long term research activity; PERIMETER
Practical low-cost marketing measures: the experience of Waterford Institute of Technology Libraries
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A Modelling and Reasoning Framework for Representing and Orchestrating Service Level Agreement Behaviour
Get PDFThis paper describes a new electronic Service Level Agreement model that is part of the DEN-ng information model. A new knowledge representation method is used to extract knowledge from the model and associate it with knowledge from ontologies, enabling a system to reason about how to best orchestrate behaviour to meet the terms and conditions of the Service Level Agreement, even if business, user,
and/or environmental conditions change. Such intelligent automation can save significant operational expenditures and ensure that customers receive the services that they have contracted for, thereby reducing customer churn