Time-Ordered Collaborative Filtering for News Recommendation

Faced with hundreds of thousands of news articles in the news websites,it is difficult for users to find the news articles they are interested in.Therefore,various news recommender systems were built.In the news recommendation,these news articles read by a user is typically in the form of a time sequence.However,traditional news recommendation algorithms rarely consider the time sequence characteristic of user browsing behaviors.Therefore,the performance of traditional news recommendation algorithms is not good enough in predicting the next news article which a user will read.To solve this problem,this paper proposes a time-ordered collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm(TOCF),which takes the time sequence characteristic of user behaviors into account.Besides,a new method to compute the similarity among different users,named time-dependent similarity,is proposed.To demonstrate the efficiency of our solution,extensive experiments are conducted along with detailed performance analysis.

Numerical Methods for a Class of Hybrid Weakly Singular Integro-Differential Equations

This paper proposes numerical methods for solving hybrid weakly singular integro-differential equations of the second kind. The terms in these equations are in the following order: derivative term of a state, integro-differential term of a state with a weakly singular kernel, a state, integral term of a state with a smooth kernel, and force. The original class of weakly singular integro-differential equations of the first kind is derived from aeroelasticity mathematical models. Among the proposed methods, the method for solving linear cases is fully based on previously reported approximation scheme for equations of the first kind. For nonlinear cases, a revised method is proposed. Examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods, and the results indicate that the proposed methods facilitate achieving satisfactory and accurate approximations.

Numerical Algorithms for Solving One Type of Singular Integro-Differential Equation Containing Derivatives of the Time Delay States

This study presents numerical algorithms for solving a class of equations that partly consists of derivatives of the unknown state at previous certain times, as well as an integro-differential term containing a weakly singular kernel. These equations are types of integro-differential equation of the second kind and were originally obtained from an aeroelasticity problem. One of the main contributions of this study is to propose numerical algorithms that do not involve transforming the original equation into the corresponding Volterra equation, but still enable the numerical solution of the original equation to be determined. The feasibility of the proposed numerical algorithm is demonstrated by applying examples in measuring the maximum errors with exact solutions at every computed nodes and calculating the corresponding numerical rates of convergence thereafter.

Eco-Environmental Impact Assessment of Pre-Leisure Beach Nourishment on the Benthic Invertebrate Community at Anping Coast

In recent years, owing to global warming and the rising sea levels, beach nourishment and groin building have been increasingly employed to protect coastal land from shoreline erosion. These actions may degrade beach habitats and reduce biomass and invertebrate density at sites where they were employed. We conducted an eco-environmental evaluation at the Anping artificial beach-nourishment project area. At this site, sand piles within a semi-enclosed spur groin have been enforced by use of eco-engineering concepts since 2003. Four sampling sites were monitored during the study period from July 2002 to September 2008. The environmental impact assessment and biological investigations that we conducted are presented here. The results from this study indicate that both biotic （number of species, number of individual organisms, and Shannon-Wiener diversity） and abiotic parameters （suspended solids, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total phosphorus, total organic carbon, median diameter, and water content） showed significant differences before and after beach engineering construction. Biological conditions became worse in the beginning stages of the engineering but improved after the restoration work completion. This study reveals that the composition of benthic invertebrates changed over the study period, and two groups of organisms, Bivalvia and Gastropoda, seemed to be particularly suitable to this habitat after the semi-enclosed artificial structures completion.

Precise Object Detection Using Iterative Superpixels Grouping Method

The region completeness of object detection is very crucial to video surveillance, such as the pedestrian and vehicle identifications. However, many conventional object detection approaches cannot guarantee the object region completeness because the object detection can be influenced by the illumination variations and clustering backgrounds. In order to overcome this problem, we propose the iterative superpixels grouping （ISPG） method to extract the precise object boundary and generate the object region with high completeness after the object detection. First, by extending the superpixel segmentation method, the proposed ISPG method can improve the inaccurate segmentation problem and guarantee the region completeness on the object regions. Second, the multi- resolution superpixel-based region completeness enhancement method is proposed to extract the object region with high precision and completeness. The simulation results show that the proposed method outperforms the conventional object detection methods in terms of object completeness evaluation.

Three-Dimensional Model Retrieval Using Dynamic Multi-Descriptor Fusion

In this paper, we propose a dynamic multi-descriptor fusion （DMDF） approach to improving the retrieval accuracy of 3-dimensional （3D） model retrieval systems. First, an independent retrieval list is generated by using each individual descriptor. Second, we propose an automatic relevant/irrelevant models selection （ARMS） approach to selecting the relevant and irrelevant 3D models automatically without any user interaction. A weighted distance, in which the weight associated with each individual descriptor is learnt by using the selected relevant and irrelevant models, is used to measure the similarity between two 3D models. Furthermore, a descriptor-dependent adaptive query point movement （AQPM） approach is employed to update every feature vector. This set of new feature vectors is used to index 3D models in the next search process. Four 3D model databases are used to compare the retrieval accuracy of our proposed DMDF approach with several descriptors as well as some well-known information fusion methods. Experimental results have shown that our proposed DMDF approach provides a promising retrieval result and always yields the best retrieval accuracy.

Optimization in Transition between Two Dynamic Systems Governed by a Class of Weakly Singular Integro-Differential Equations

This study presents numerical methods for solving the minimum energies that satisfy typical optimal requirements in the transition between two dynamic systems where each system is governed by a different kind of weakly singular integro-differential equation. The class of weakly singular integro-differential equations originates from mathematical models in aeroelasticity. The proposed numerical methods are based on earlier reported approximation schemes for the equations of the first kind and the second kind. The main result of this study is the development of numerical techniques for determining the stability between two dynamic systems in the minimum energy sense.

Appearance’s Aesthetic Appreciation to Inform Water Quality Management of Waterscapes

The appearance of the water is just one aspect of a waterscape that can be appreciated aesthetically. Water appearance is affected by water clarity and water colour. Here, an aesthetic assessment model of waterscape was suggested. In the model, water clarity and colour have direct effects, whereas water quality and phytoplankton biomass have indirect effects, on tourists’ aesthetic assessment of water bodies. The preferred water colour is aquamarine to blue, regardless of depth of clarity. Water colour ranges from pastel yellow to yellow-green are not favoured by tourists. Four water-quality parameters were correlated with water clarity and phytoplankton biomass. The coefficient of indirect effect of river pollution index on tourists’ aesthetic valuation of aquamarine to blue water colour was -0.457, and for pastel yellow to yellowgreen, it was -0.209. The research results showed observation of water colour could not only reflect waterscape aesthetic value, but also serve as a guide of judging water quality, and the status of phytoplankton benefited to simplify the process of water-quality management for waterscape.

MOBILE INFORMATION SYSTEMS

With the popularity of mobile infrastructures providing higher bandwidth and constant connection to the network from virtually anytime and everywhere,the way people use information resources is radically transformed.People can use mobile devices such as mobile phones,pocket PCs,laptops,etc.,to obtain services/applications which are based on the mobile

On the Well-Posedness of a Class of Hybrid Weakly Singular Integro-Differential Equations

In this study, a revised version of some numerical methods for a class of hybrid integro-differential equations with weakly singular kernels (Abel types) is presented. These equations were developed from a class of integro-differential equations of first kind originating from an aeroelasticity problem. By manipulating the bounds of initial conditions with random variations, this study numerically demonstrated the well-posedness properties of the equations. Finally, an assumption of separating variables, allowed for linear splines to be chosen as a basis and for the differentiation and integration of the integro-differential part to be interchanged;hence, a numerical scheme was constructed.

The Relationship between Visual Satisfaction and Water Clarity and Quality Management in Tourism Fishing Ports

Visual satisfaction of the tourists with a water body is strongly influenced by water clarity, which is in turn influenced by a number of water quality parameters. Visual satisfaction thus stands to benefit from having a water quality management tool that results in better water clarity. A Clarity Suitability Index of Water Quality (CSIWQ), derived from clarity suitability curves of selected water quality parameters, can allow estimation of optimal values for these parameters, while ensuring high visual satisfaction among tourists. The present study used sampling and survey methodologies to investigate water clarity and quality at five tourism fishing ports;simultaneously, tourists’ visual satisfaction with a water body was assessed through a questionnaire based on their perceptions. The relationship between tourists’ visual satisfaction and water clarity was found to be positive and strong, with water clarity having predictive power of 74.2%. The study showed that DO, BOD, TP, and SS were the most critical parameters for water clarity. A continued product approach of CSIWQ was found to be most appropriate for describing the relationship between water clarity and these four parameters. This enabled a CSIWQ Index value to be calculated. With a CSIWQ value of 0.6, water clarity would be more than 2.08 m, and tourists would experience very high satisfaction. CSI curves showed that DO would preferably be 9.0 mg/L, and BOD, TP, and SS less than 0.5 mg/L, 0.12 mg/L, and 45.0 mg/L, respectively. The model thus produced valuable insights for assessing and improving water quality and ensuring high levels of visual satisfaction among tourists in tourism fishing ports. This model identified only four parameters but could be improved by ensuring that other water quality parameters were included, to encourage an increase in the number of tourists and to include monitoring of more pollutant sources.

Optical Fiber Lasers and All Solid-State Passively Modulated Microchip Lasers

Erbium fiber lasers of continuous mode outputs and of pulsed picosecond and sub-picosecond pulses train are reported. Compact all solid state passively modulated microchip lasers are also developed to the same degree.

Probe frequency- and field intensity-sensitive coherent control effects in an EIT-based periodic layered medium

A periodic layered medium, with unit cells consisting of a dielectric and an electromagnetically-induced transparency （EIT）-based atomic vapor, is designed for light propagation manipulation. Considering that a destructive quantum interference relevant to a two-photon resonance emerges in EIT-based atoms interacting with both control and probe fields, an EIT-based periodic layered medium exhibits a flexible frequency-sensitive optical response, where a very small variation in the probe frequency can lead to a drastic variation in reflectance and transmittance. The present EIT-based periodic layered structure can result in controllable optical processes that depend sensitively on the external control field. The tunable and sensitive optical response induced by the quantum interference of a multi-level atomic system can be applied in the fabrication of new photonic and quantum optical devices. This material will also open a good perspective for the application of such designs in several new fields, including photonic microcircuits or integrated optical circuits.

Taipei:A Creative City Based on Innovation and Traditional Culture

Taipei is a city full of oriental traditional culture.Different from other Chinese cities,Taipei has a very specific urban fabric and development context that provides excellent conditions for the development of cultural and creative industries(CCIs).Since 2011,Taipei City Government has set up 11 creative quarters that have demonstrated the unique features and lifestyles of Creative Taipei.In this paper,the authors introduce Creative Taipei in 4 parts:examining the CCIs conditions of Taipei,identifying strengths of Taipei’s CCIs,understanding governance strategies and policies,and analyzing creative city governance through case studies.Looking into the future of Creative Taipei,this paper concludes that the clear leading policies,the attractive investment environment for private investors,and the cross-boundary integration are three dimensions to further strengthen the power of CCIs in Taipei.