Exploring proximity based peer clustering in BitTorrent-like Peer-to-Peer file sharing systems

A hierarchical clustered BitTorrent （CBT） system is proposed to improve the file sharing perior-mance of the BitTorrent system, in which peers are grouped into clusters in a large-scale BitTorrent-hke underlying overlay network in such a way that clusters are evenly distributed and that the peers within the cluster are relatively close to each other. A fluid model is developed to compare the performance of the proposed CBT system with the BitTorrent system, and the result shows that the CBT system can effectively improve the performance of the system. Simulation results also demonstrate that the CBT system improves the system scalabihty and efficiency while retaining the robustness and incentives of the original BitTorrent paradigm.

Preliminary Remarks on Transmission and Communication in Ancient Greece： A Case Study in Mediology

The scope of this paper lies primarily on the recognition of what Debray called transmission and communication, however, in this article exclusively with regard to the Ancient Greek literature and culture. Transmission understood as the process in which ＂agencies and human actors transmit the ideas in historical and diachronic order＂ and communication implying the ＂synchronic interchange by linguistic impact between senders and receivers＂ are presented as two paths in which cultural messages are introduced and transmitted by means of ＂literary production＂. Early Greek literature, which was based on the oral performance and mirrored the language in its prototypical form, seemed to be the main source of information for the reconstruction of the two above processes. In the proposed model, the new understanding of the media introduced by Debray plays the most important role, because in the theory of ＂cultural transmission＂, the medium can be not only ＂a symbolic process, a social code, a material device＂ but also a human being. Therefore, on the basis of this theory, mediology can be described as the way of 4M： message, medium, milieu, and mediation.

The Theory and Practice of Multicultural Education for Young Children by Means of Art Teaching Within the Artistic Education Classes

Due to the fast development of the Internet and other modern communication, people now interact easier than ever beyond the national boundaries and live in a global village. In the era of globalization, multicultural education has been important for all people around the world ever since their early childhood. Art is a necessary approach for young children to learn the world and expand their vision. It is also a good path for young children to learn different cultures, to foster respect for them, to enjoy cultures different from themselves, and to improve their skills for interacting with people from other cultural backgrounds. The main purposes of this article are to discuss the reason why art can be a potential approach to learning multi-cultural education and how an art approach can nourish young children＇s multi-cultural equipment. To reach these two purposes, literature review and case study analysis are adopted. There are five sections in this article. The first section introduces the background of this study. The second section explores the relation between art and multi-culture. The third section discusses how to use art in an antibias way and respect different cultures for young children. The fourth section analyzes two cases in order to know how to design curriculum, practice teaching and evaluate the efforts of multicultural education. The finally section is about the conclusion and some suggestions.

Intercultural Communication Competence Developed by Chinese in Communicating With Malays in Bangka Island, Indonesia

This study aims to explore the cultural identity of Chinese related to their self-perception, their perception of Malays, and their communication with the Malays in Bangka Island, Indonesia, emphasizing the Chinese intercultural communication competence in terms of their self-presentation in business relationships with the Malays. The study employed an interpretive approach, more specifically the symbolic interactionlst and dramaturgical tradition. The researchers focused on intercultural communication experiences and competence as enacted by the 25 Chinese in the area of the research. The study used in-depth interviews with the Chinese as the main method with some observation of the Chinese communication with the Malays. The researchers also interviewed eight Malays as additional subjects of the research to corroborate the research findings. The study found that the Chinese in Bangka Island perceived themselves as open and willing to mingle with the Malays They are hospitable, hardworking, tenacious, frugal, and fond of maintaining long-term relationships. In contrast, in the Chinese view, the Malays are open and willing to mingle with others, obedient to the teachings of Islam, but they are lazy and are keen on being flattered, consumptive, and easily seduced. In terms of their intercultural communication competence, the Chinese are skillful in their self-presentation by employing various verbal and nonverbal tactics to adjust themselves to the interpersonal, group, and business situations where they encounter the Malays in their everyday lives

Innovation of Knowledge-based Hyper-multimedia to Promote a Culture of Using ICT Creatively for Adolescents

The purpose of the present research was to develop an innovative knowledge-based hyper-multimedia to promote a culture of using information and communication Technology （ICT） creatively for adolescents. Their learning processes and attitudes toward such innovation in their community were also examined. Thirty juveniles, 13-18 years of age in each Hangdong and Maerim districts, Chiang Mai province were employed in the study. Data collections were made through questionnaires, interview, test, group discussion and brainstorming. Analysis and evaluation were carried out with the applications of sufficient economy philosophy, constructivism theory and Torrance＇s future problem-solving instructional model. Results showed that the learning innovation of hyper-multimedia presented by the use of animation, video, scene and sound with related action script synchronization was considerably effective. With the application of sufficient economy philosophy, the result indicated that performance efficiency （El/E2） was 92.228/9.83 and the adolescents learning processes and attitudes were very good. These included purchasing of moderate ICT equipments, information screening for self-immunity and creative using of internet and ICT morally and ethically according to the computer laws. This independent learning system was properly designed for the juveniles with the right to retrieve the data or stop using at anytime. By using Torrance＇s approach and constructivism theory emphasizing on brainstorming techniques, it was noted that learning process was very well adopted by the adolescents with high satisfaction. They had good attitudes toward the extension of sufficient ICT cultural using in their community with emphasis on brotherly relationship. Related organizations should educate their parents to instruct the juveniles to use the internet properly and encourage people to be aware of ICT business in order to protect social and cultural problems encountered in the future.

Digital Communication： The Conflicts in the Transmission and Distribution of Information in the Era of Knowledge Economy

This article analyzes the concentration of production and distribution of information, from the analysis of the news in major international news agencies.The biopolitics is more and more interconnected to social, cultural, economical, and political matters, which led us to see in the contemporary scenario the creation of new forms of social organization which will determine how we interact with each other and how we face the world. Additionally, questions emerge about the usage of the means of communication, particularly those related to Technology of Communication and Information （TICs）. The influence of the media over the social-cultural activities tends to create homogenizations of senses, aiming a planetary visibility in a process that can not only disfigure but destroy many symbolic representations and cultural forms. On the other hand, globalization tends to, instead of minimize the differences in the world, ended up creating new conflicts that, through the usage of new technologies of communication, expresses and articulate themselves.

天天在线：引领中国宽带未来

宽带已经成为中国信息产业实现跨越式发展的一个重大机遇。据中国互联网信息中心统计，截止到2003年底。中国互联网宽带用户已突破1700万，随着中国宽带产业的高速发展。宽带互联网将成为未来社会的通信基石之一。基于宽带互联网的文化产品也将成为人们日常生活的重要组成部分。为迎接时代挑战．中国网通集团携手IDG等跨国企业成立了天天在线有限公司。首次在中国通信行业提出“通信文化”的理念，并且于5月26日正式发布了中国首家宽带门户网站天天在线(www．116．com．cn)，进行了大量卓有成效的探索，一时间媒体好评如潮，网民反响强烈，引起了国内外业界高度关注。