{"title":"Ontological model for the acoustic management in a smart environment","authors":"Gabriela Santiago, José Aguilar","doi":"10.1108/aci-09-2021-0246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-09-2021-0246","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose The Reflective Middleware for Acoustic Management (ReM-AM), based on the Middleware for Cloud Learning Environments (AmICL), aims to improve the interaction between users and agents in a Smart Environment (SE) using acoustic services, in order to consider the unpredictable situations due to the sounds and vibrations. The middleware allows observing, analyzing, modifying and interacting in every state of a SE from the acoustics. This work details an extension of the ReM-AM using the ontology-driven architecture (ODA) paradigm for acoustic management.Design/methodology/approach This work details an extension of the ReM-AM using the ontology-driven architecture (ODA) paradigm for acoustic management. In this paper are defined the different domains of knowledge required for the management of the sounds in SEs, which are modeled using ontologies.Findings This work proposes an acoustics and sound ontology, a service-oriented architecture (SOA) ontology, and a data analytics and autonomic computing ontology, which work together. Finally, the paper presents three case studies in the context of smart workplace (SWP), ambient-assisted living (AAL) and Smart Cities (SC).Research limitations/implications Future works will be based on the development of algorithms for classification and analysis of sound events, to help with emotion recognition not only from speech but also from random and separate sound events. Also, other works will be about the definition of the implementation requirements, and the definition of the real context modeling requirements to develop a real prototype.Practical implications In the case studies is possible to observe the flexibility that the ReM-AM middleware based on the ODA paradigm has by being aware of different contexts and acquire information of each, using this information to adapt itself to the environment and improve it using the autonomic cycles. To achieve this, the middleware integrates the classes and relations in its ontologies naturally in the autonomic cycles.Originality/value The main contribution of this work is the description of the ontologies required for future works about acoustic management in SE, considering that what has been studied by other works is the utilization of ontologies for sound event recognition but not have been expanded like knowledge source in an SE middleware. Specifically, this paper presents the theoretical framework of this work composed of the AmICL middleware, ReM-AM middleware and the ODA paradigm.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42097308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The systems architecture ontology (SAO): an ontology-based design method for cyber–physical systems","authors":"D. Sales, L. Becker, Cristian Koliver","doi":"10.1108/aci-09-2021-0249","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-09-2021-0249","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeManaging components' resources plays a critical role in the success of systems' architectures designed for cyber–physical systems (CPS). Performing the selection of candidate components to pursue a specific application's needs also involves identifying the relationships among architectural components, the network and the physical process, as the system characteristics and properties are related.Design/methodology/approachUsing a Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) approach is a valuable asset therefore. Within this context, the authors present the so-called Systems Architecture Ontology (SAO), which allows the representation of a system architecture (SA), as well as the relationships, characteristics and properties of a CPS application.FindingsSAO uses a common vocabulary inspired by the Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL) standard. To demonstrate SAO's applicability, this paper presents its use as an MDE approach combined with ontology-based modeling through the Ontology Web Language (OWL). From OWL models based on SAO, the authors propose a model transformation tool to extract data related to architectural modeling in AADL code, allowing the creation of a components' library and a property set model. Besides saving design time by automatically generating many lines of code, such code is less error-prone, that is, without inconsistencies.Originality/valueTo illustrate the proposal, the authors present a case study in the aerospace domain with the application of SAO and its transformation tool. As result, a library containing 74 components and a related set of properties are automatically generated to support architectural design and evaluation.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47350945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modeling of mobile channels using TIMS in IT education","authors":"M. Rákus, Peter Farkaš, Tomáš Páleník","doi":"10.1108/aci-04-2021-0089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-04-2021-0089","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to directly link information technology (IT) education with real-world phenomena.Design/methodology/approachThe selected objectives are achieved by modeling line of sight (LOS) and nonline of sight (NLOS) mobile channels using corresponding distributions. Within the described experiments, students verify whether modeled generators generate random variables accordingly to the selected distribution. The results of observations are directly compared with theoretical expectations. The methodology was evaluated by students via questionnaires.FindingsThe results show that the proposed methodology can help graduate or undergraduate students better comprehend lectured material from mobile communications or mathematical statistics.Originality/valueThe hands on experience using the EMONA system make the approach original.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42752898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clustering as feature selection method in spam classification: uncovering sick-leave sellers","authors":"M. Elhussein, Samiha Brahimi","doi":"10.1108/aci-09-2021-0248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-09-2021-0248","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThis paper aims to propose a novel way of using textual clustering as a feature selection method. It is applied to identify the most important keywords in the profile classification. The method is demonstrated through the problem of sick-leave promoters on Twitter.Design/methodology/approachFour machine learning classifiers were used on a total of 35,578 tweets posted on Twitter. The data were manually labeled into two categories: promoter and nonpromoter. Classification performance was compared when the proposed clustering feature selection approach and the standard feature selection were applied.FindingsRadom forest achieved the highest accuracy of 95.91% higher than similar work compared. Furthermore, using clustering as a feature selection method improved the Sensitivity of the model from 73.83% to 98.79%. Sensitivity (recall) is the most important measure of classifier performance when detecting promoters’ accounts that have spam-like behavior.Research limitations/implicationsThe method applied is novel, more testing is needed in other datasets before generalizing its results.Practical implicationsThe model applied can be used by Saudi authorities to report on the accounts that sell sick-leaves online.Originality/valueThe research is proposing a new way textual clustering can be used in feature selection.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46323311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Predicting student performance in a blended learning environment using learning management system interaction data","authors":"Kiran Fahd, S. Miah, Khandakar Ahmed","doi":"10.1108/aci-06-2021-0150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-06-2021-0150","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeStudent attritions in tertiary educational institutes may play a significant role to achieve core values leading towards strategic mission and financial well-being. Analysis of data generated from student interaction with learning management systems (LMSs) in blended learning (BL) environments may assist with the identification of students at risk of failing, but to what extent this may be possible is unknown. However, existing studies are limited to address the issues at a significant scale.Design/methodology/approachThis study develops a new approach harnessing applications of machine learning (ML) models on a dataset, that is publicly available, relevant to student attrition to identify potential students at risk. The dataset consists of the data generated by the interaction of students with LMS for their BL environment.FindingsIdentifying students at risk through an innovative approach will promote timely intervention in the learning process, such as for improving student academic progress. To evaluate the performance of the proposed approach, the accuracy is compared with other representational ML methods.Originality/valueThe best ML algorithm random forest with 85% is selected to support educators in implementing various pedagogical practices to improve students’ learning.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44106213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Using transfer learning for diabetic retinopathy stage classification","authors":"Enas M. F. El Houby","doi":"10.1108/aci-07-2021-0191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-07-2021-0191","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the dangerous complications of diabetes. Its grade level must be tracked to manage its progress and to start the appropriate decision for treatment in time. Effective automated methods for the detection of DR and the classification of its severity stage are necessary to reduce the burden on ophthalmologists and diagnostic contradictions among manual readers.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, convolutional neural network (CNN) was used based on colored retinal fundus images for the detection of DR and classification of its stages. CNN can recognize sophisticated features on the retina and provides an automatic diagnosis. The pre-trained VGG-16 CNN model was applied using a transfer learning (TL) approach to utilize the already learned parameters in the detection.FindingsBy conducting different experiments set up with different severity groupings, the achieved results are promising. The best-achieved accuracies for 2-class, 3-class, 4-class and 5-class classifications are 86.5, 80.5, 63.5 and 73.7, respectively.Originality/valueIn this research, VGG-16 was used to detect and classify DR stages using the TL approach. Different combinations of classes were used in the classification of DR severity stages to illustrate the ability of the model to differentiate between the classes and verify the effect of these changes on the performance of the model.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45168452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Longitudinal estimation of stress-related states through bio-sensor data","authors":"V. Mozgovoy","doi":"10.1108/aci-03-2021-0070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-03-2021-0070","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThe authors aim to develop a conceptual framework for longitudinal estimation of stress-related states in the wild (IW), based on the machine learning (ML) algorithms that use physiological and non-physiological bio-sensor data.Design/methodology/approachThe authors propose a conceptual framework for longitudinal estimation of stress-related states consisting of four blocks: (1) identification; (2) validation; (3) measurement and (4) visualization. The authors implement each step of the proposed conceptual framework, using the example of Gaussian mixture model (GMM) and K-means algorithm. These ML algorithms are trained on the data of 18 workers from the public administration sector who wore biometric devices for about two months.FindingsThe authors confirm the convergent validity of a proposed conceptual framework IW. Empirical data analysis suggests that two-cluster models achieve five-fold cross-validation accuracy exceeding 70% in identifying stress. Coefficient of accuracy decreases for three-cluster models achieving around 45%. The authors conclude that identification models may serve to derive longitudinal stress-related measures.Research limitations/implicationsProposed conceptual framework may guide researchers in creating validated stress-related indicators. At the same time, physiological sensing of stress through identification models is limited because of subject-specific reactions to stressors.Practical implicationsLongitudinal indicators on stress allow estimation of long-term impact coming from external environment on stress-related states. Such stress-related indicators can become an integral part of mobile/web/computer applications supporting stress management programs.Social implicationsTimely identification of excessive stress may improve individual well-being and prevent development stress-related diseases.Originality/valueThe study develops a novel conceptual framework for longitudinal estimation of stress-related states using physiological and non-physiological bio-sensor data, given that scientific knowledge on validated longitudinal indicators of stress is in emergent state.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43886326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Why and how informatics and applied computing can still create structural changes and competitive advantage","authors":"S. Mitropoulos, C. Douligeris","doi":"10.1108/aci-06-2021-0149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-06-2021-0149","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeIn the new digital age, enterprises are facing an increasing global competition. In this paper, we first examine how Information Technology (IT) can play an important role in giving significant competitive advantage in the modern enterprises. The business value of IT is examined, as well as the limitations and the trade-offs that its applicability faces. Next, we present the basic principles for a successful IT strategy, considering the development of a long-term IT renovation plan, the strategic alignment of IT with the business strategy, and the adoption of an integrated, distributed, and interoperable IT platform. Finally, we examine how a highly functional and efficient IT organization can be developed.Design/methodology/approachOur methodological approach was based to the answers of the following questions: 1. Does IT still matter? 2. What is the business value created by IT along with the corresponding limitations and trade-offs? 3. How could a successful IT Strategy be build up? 4. How could an effective? T planning aligned with the business strategy be build up? 5. How could a homogenized and distributed corporate IT platform be developed? and finally, 6. How could a high-performance IT-enabled enterprise be build up?FindingsThe enterprises in order to succeed in the new digital area need to: 1. synchronize their IT strategy with their business strategy, 2. formulate a long-term IT strategy, 3. adopt IT systems and solutions that are implemented with elasticity, interoperability, distribution, and service-orientation. 4. keep a strategic direction towards the creation of an exceptional organization based on IT.Originality/valueThis paper is original with respect to the integrated approach the overall problem is examined. There is a prototype combined investigation of all perspectives for an effective enforcement of IT in a way that causes acceleration in competitive advantage when conducting business.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43154464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samuel Heuchert, B. Rimal, M. Reisslein, Yong Wang
{"title":"Design of a small-scale and failure-resistant IaaS cloud using OpenStack","authors":"Samuel Heuchert, B. Rimal, M. Reisslein, Yong Wang","doi":"10.1108/aci-04-2021-0094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-04-2021-0094","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeMajor public cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure or Google, offer seamless experiences for infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS). With the emergence of the public cloud's vast usage, administrators must be able to have a reliable method to provide the seamless experience that a public cloud offers on a smaller scale, such as a private cloud. When a smaller deployment or a private cloud is needed, OpenStack can meet the goals without increasing cost or sacrificing data control.Design/methodology/approachTo demonstrate these enablement goals of resiliency and elasticity in IaaS and PaaS, the authors design a private distributed system cloud platform using OpenStack and its core services of Nova, Swift, Cinder, Neutron, Keystone, Horizon and Glance on a five-node deployment.FindingsThrough the demonstration of dynamically adding an IaaS node, pushing the deployment to its physical and logical limits, and eventually crashing the deployment, this paper shows how the PackStack utility facilitates the provisioning of an elastic and resilient OpenStack-based IaaS platform that can be used in production if the deployment is kept within designated boundaries.Originality/valueThe authors adopt the multinode-capable PackStack utility in favor of an all-in-one OpenStack build for a true demonstration of resiliency, elasticity and scalability in a small-scale IaaS. An all-in-one deployment is generally used for proof-of-concept deployments and is not easily scaled in production across multiple nodes. The authors demonstrate that combining PackStack with the multi-node design is suitable for smaller-scale production IaaS and PaaS deployments.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48938683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Audiogmenter: a MATLAB toolbox for audio data augmentation","authors":"Gianluca Maguolo, M. Paci, L. Nanni, Lu Bonan","doi":"10.1108/aci-03-2021-0064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aci-03-2021-0064","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeCreate and share a MATLAB library that performs data augmentation algorithms for audio data. This study aims to help machine learning researchers to improve their models using the algorithms proposed by the authors.Design/methodology/approachThe authors structured our library into methods to augment raw audio data and spectrograms. In the paper, the authors describe the structure of the library and give a brief explanation of how every function works. The authors then perform experiments to show that the library is effective.FindingsThe authors prove that the library is efficient using a competitive dataset. The authors try multiple data augmentation approaches proposed by them and show that they improve the performance.Originality/valueA MATLAB library specifically designed for data augmentation was not available before. The authors are the first to provide an efficient and parallel implementation of a large number of algorithms.","PeriodicalId":37348,"journal":{"name":"Applied Computing and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43708366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}