Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2008

University of Wollongong

Discipline
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type

Articles 1 - 30 of 328

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Automatic Reaction To A Chemical Event Detected By A Low-Cost Wireless Chemical Sensing Network, Stephen Beirne, King Tong Lau, Brian Corcoran, Dermot Diamond Dec 2008

Automatic Reaction To A Chemical Event Detected By A Low-Cost Wireless Chemical Sensing Network, Stephen Beirne, King Tong Lau, Brian Corcoran, Dermot Diamond

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

A test-scale wireless chemical sensor network (WCSN) has been deployed within a controlled Environmental Chamber (EC). The combined signals from the WCSN were used to initiate a controllable response to the detected chemical event. When a particular sensor response pattern was obtained, a purging cycle was initiated. Sensor data were continuously checked against user-defined action limits, to determine if a chemical event had occurred. An acidic contaminant was used to demonstrate the response of the sensor network. Once the acid plume was simultaneously detected by a number of wireless chemical sensor nodes, an automatic response action, which was the purging …


Rfid-Enabled Warehouse Optimization: Lessons From Early Adopters In The 3pl Industry, S. F. Wamba, T. R. Coltman, Katina Michael Dec 2008

Rfid-Enabled Warehouse Optimization: Lessons From Early Adopters In The 3pl Industry, S. F. Wamba, T. R. Coltman, Katina Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

This paper presents the impact of RFID technology on the picking and shipping processes of one RFID-enabled warehouse in the 3PL industry. The findings from our study confirm initial results from many studies where RFID implementation has been shown to enable business process redesign, improve data quality, real-time data collection and synchronization and enhance system integration. In this study we show that the full potential of RFID technology is dependent upon the involvement of all supply chain members involved in implementation. Moreover, firms considering implementing RFID technology need to take into account their investment in complementary assets such as employee …


Developing Real Time Applications With Java Based Sun Spot, L. Chen, Phillip J. Mckerrow, Q. Lu Dec 2008

Developing Real Time Applications With Java Based Sun Spot, L. Chen, Phillip J. Mckerrow, Q. Lu

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Most researchers develop real-time applications with C, including programming hardware with C and using a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) that is written in C to manage the task environment. In this paper, we research a different approach by using Java to develop a real-time application. We implement an example real-time project, onboard computation of a coaxial helicopter Lama, with a Java based Sun SPOT to control the hardware and a Java RTOS (JARTOS) running on top of the Sun SPOT to manage the processes. This project enables us to answer several questions regarding to real-time system development with the …


Head-Pose Tracking With A Time-Of-Flight Camera, Simon Meers, Koren Ward Dec 2008

Head-Pose Tracking With A Time-Of-Flight Camera, Simon Meers, Koren Ward

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Intelligent interfaces that make use of the user's head pose or facial features in order to interpret the user's identity or point of attention, are finding increasing application in numerous fields. Although various techniques exist to passively track the user's gaze or head pose using monocular or stereo cameras, these systems generally cannot perceive in detail the characteristic three-dimensional (3D) profile of the user's head or face. Time-of-flight cameras, such as the Swiss Ranger SR-3000, are a recent innovation capable of providing three-dimensional image data from a single sensor. The advent of such sensors opens up new possibilities in the …


Dynamics Of Apomyoglobin In The Α-To-Β Transition And Of Partially Unfolded Aggregated Protein, E. Fabiani, A. M. Stadler, D. Madern, M. M. Koza, M. Tehei, M. Hirai, G. Zaccai Oct 2008

Dynamics Of Apomyoglobin In The Α-To-Β Transition And Of Partially Unfolded Aggregated Protein, E. Fabiani, A. M. Stadler, D. Madern, M. M. Koza, M. Tehei, M. Hirai, G. Zaccai

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Changes of molecular dynamics in the α-to-β transition associated with amyloid fibril formation were explored on apo-myoglobin (ApoMb) as a model system. Circular dichroism, neutron and X-ray scattering experiments were performed as a function of temperature on the protein, at different solvent conditions. A significant change in molecular dynamics was observed at the α-to-β transition at about 55 ˚C, indicating a more resilient high temperature β structure phase. A similar effect at approximately the same temperature was observed in holo-myoglobin, associated with partial unfolding and protein aggregation. A study in a wide temperature range between 20 K and 360 K …


An Information System Design Theory For And Rfid University-Based Laboratory, S. F. Wamba, Katina Michael Oct 2008

An Information System Design Theory For And Rfid University-Based Laboratory, S. F. Wamba, Katina Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

RFID technology is defined as a wireless automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology and is considered as “the next big thing” in the management and “the next revolution in supply chain”. Recently, the topic has attracted the interest of the industrial community as well as the scientific community. Following this tendency, this paper applies an Information Systems Design Theory (ISDT) for an RFID-based University Laboratory. For practitioners, the paper provides some insights into the set-up and use of RFID laboratory in university settings, and at the same time, it offers a set of hypotheses that can be empirically tested.


Strategic Approaches For Management Of Risk In Geomechanics, R. Chowdhury, P. Flentje Oct 2008

Strategic Approaches For Management Of Risk In Geomechanics, R. Chowdhury, P. Flentje

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

This paper outlines the challenges facing geomechanics and advocates some strategies for dealing with these challenges. Advancement of geomechanics and its application in the past may be seen in a historical context as serving the needs of society such as the development of infrastructure and natural resources. The needs of society are changing rapidly due to population growth, increasing urbanisation and globalisation. Climate change poses specially challenges, the impacts increasing with time. Therefore, development of new strategies is essential. For example, greater attention should be given to the development of interdisciplinary approaches. It is vitally important that systematic methods be …


Acoustic Flow, Phillip J. Mckerrow Sep 2008

Acoustic Flow, Phillip J. Mckerrow

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

As an echolocating sensor moves through an environment the pattern of echoes reflected by objects to that sensor changes continuously, creating acoustic flow. Acoustic flow has been observed in both bats and humans. In this paper, we develop a theory of acoustic flow, and discuss measuring it with a Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) ultrasonic sensor.


A Software Architecture For Mobile Robot Navigation, Phillip J. Mckerrow, Sherine M. Antoun Sep 2008

A Software Architecture For Mobile Robot Navigation, Phillip J. Mckerrow, Sherine M. Antoun

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Directed sensing poses the problem of sensing in specific directions in synchronisation with robot motion while avoiding collisions with objects in other directions. The rebuild of an outdoor mobile robot, with the goal of mimicking a blind person navigating with echolocation, has provided the opportunity to experiment with a state machine based software architecture for landmark navigation. In this paper, we discuss the rebuild of the robot, the software architecture and an initial experiment in collision avoidance.


M Protein Mediated Plasminogen Binding Is Essential For The Virulence Of An Invasive Streptococcus Pyogenes Isolate, Martina L. Sanderson-Smith, K. Dinkla, J. N. Cole, Amanda J. Cork, P. G. Maamary, Jason D. Mcarthur, G. S. Chhatwal, Mark J. Walker Sep 2008

M Protein Mediated Plasminogen Binding Is Essential For The Virulence Of An Invasive Streptococcus Pyogenes Isolate, Martina L. Sanderson-Smith, K. Dinkla, J. N. Cole, Amanda J. Cork, P. G. Maamary, Jason D. Mcarthur, G. S. Chhatwal, Mark J. Walker

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The human protease plasmin plays a crucial role in the capacity of the group A streptococcus (Streptococus pyogenes; GAS) to initiate invasive disease. The GAS strain NS88.2 was isolated from a case of bacteremia from the Northern Territory of Australia, a region with high rates of GAS invasive disease. Mutagenesis of the NS88.2 plasminogen binding M protein Prp was undertaken to examine the contribution of plasminogen binding and cell surface plasmin acquisition to virulence. The isogenic mutant NS88.2prp was engineered whereby four amino acid residues critical for plasminogen binding were converted to alanine codons in the GAS genome sequence. The …


Small Heat Shock Protein Activity Is Regulated By Variable Oligomeric Substructure, J. L. Benesch, M. Ayoub, C. V. Robinson, J. A. Aquilina Aug 2008

Small Heat Shock Protein Activity Is Regulated By Variable Oligomeric Substructure, J. L. Benesch, M. Ayoub, C. V. Robinson, J. A. Aquilina

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The alpha-crystallins are members of the small heat shock protein (sHSP) family of molecular chaperones which have evolved to minimize intracellular protein aggregation, however they are also implicated in a number of protein deposition diseases. In this study we have employed novel mass spectrometry techniques to investigate the changes in quaternary structure associated with this switch from chaperone to adjuvant of aggregation. We have replicated the oligomeric rearrangements observed for in vivo disease-related modifications, without altering the protein sequence, by refolding the alpha-crystallins in vitro. This refolding results in a loss of dimeric substructure concomitant with an augmentation of substrate …


Cell Wall-Bound Ultraviolet-Screening Compounds Explain The High Ultraviolet Tolerance Of The Antarctic Moss, Ceratodon Purpureus, L. J. Clarke, Sharon A. Robinson Aug 2008

Cell Wall-Bound Ultraviolet-Screening Compounds Explain The High Ultraviolet Tolerance Of The Antarctic Moss, Ceratodon Purpureus, L. J. Clarke, Sharon A. Robinson

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Studies of ultraviolet (UV) light-induced DNA damage in three Antarctic moss species have shown Ceratodon purpureus to be the most UV tolerant, despite containing lower concentrations of methanol-soluble UV-screening compounds than the co-occurring Bryum pseudotriquetrum. In this study, alkali extraction of cell wall-bound phenolics, combined with methanol extraction of soluble phenolics, was used to determine whether cell wall-bound UV screens explain the greater UV tolerance of C. purpureus. The combined pool of UV screens was similar in B. pseudotriquetrum and C. purpureus, but whilst B. pseudotriquetrum had almost equal concentrations of MeOH-soluble and alkali-extractable cell wall-bound UV-screening compounds, in C. …


Überveillance: 24/7 X 365 People Tracking & Monitoring, Mg. Michael, K. Michael Jul 2008

Überveillance: 24/7 X 365 People Tracking & Monitoring, Mg. Michael, K. Michael

Associate Professor Katina Michael

No abstract provided.


The Paradigm Shift In Transnational Organised Crime, K. Michael Jul 2008

The Paradigm Shift In Transnational Organised Crime, K. Michael

Associate Professor Katina Michael

The definition of “organized crime” remains contentious because it has meant different things to different stakeholders over time. Does “organized crime” refer to illegal activities, relations between illegal organizations, how actors work together to engage in crimes, the infrastructure supporting crimes, or to the bricks and mortar of an illegal organization? Depending on the definition embraced by a stakeholder, their unit of analysis (eg crime group under investigation), and the particular time the study was conducted, an analyst may well be led to believe that some organized crime is really “disorganized” in nature. The two typologies of “organized” versus “disorganized” …


Mid-Holocene Enso: Issues In Quantitative Model-Proxy Data Comparisons, J Brown, A W. Tudhope, M Collins, H V. Mcgregor Jul 2008

Mid-Holocene Enso: Issues In Quantitative Model-Proxy Data Comparisons, J Brown, A W. Tudhope, M Collins, H V. Mcgregor

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Evaluation of climate model simulations using observed data contributes to the assessment of confidence in model predictions of future climate change. The mid-Holocene represents an opportunity to evaluate model simulations of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in comparison with coral proxy evidence of reduced ENSO amplitude. Quantitative comparisons between coral records and model output have been limited by (1) the use of different measures of ENSO amplitude, (2) possible sampling of natural variability in short records, and (3) uncertainty about the stationarity of the relationship between central Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) variability and ENSO signals at the coral site. We …


Understanding The Impact Of Emerging Technologies On Process Optimization: The Case Of Rfid Technology, S. F. Wamba, Y. Bendavid Jul 2008

Understanding The Impact Of Emerging Technologies On Process Optimization: The Case Of Rfid Technology, S. F. Wamba, Y. Bendavid

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

This paper examines the case of one supply chain in the electricity sector where RFID technology integrated with firm’s information systems acts as an enabler of process optimization. Using a business process approach and laboratory simulation, we explain how the implementation of RFID technology can increase the visibility of information at various layers of the supply chain, allowing members to gather precise information on real demand and improve replenishment processes. On the other hand, while RFID technology has the potential to automate some processes, human intervention is still required. Therefore, use case scenarios and sensitivity analysis should be carefully considered …


Outbound Tourism From China: Literature Review And Research Agenda, Byron W. Keating, A. Kriz Jul 2008

Outbound Tourism From China: Literature Review And Research Agenda, Byron W. Keating, A. Kriz

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

The rapid growth of China's outbound tourism market has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. However, the academic literature is still sparse in this area. Using a theoretical framework that synthesises the key processes related to destination choice, the authors undertake a systematic review of the academic literature on outbound tourism from China. Stemming from this review, the article provides some direction for future empirical research on this important topic. The authors also suggest that a new model for travel planning could be developed, suggesting that traditional destination choice models may inadequately capture the nuances of destination …


The Social Implications Of Humancentric Chip Implants: A Scenario - ‘Thy Chipdom Come, Thy Will Be Done’, Rodney Ip, Katina Michael, M G. Michael Jun 2008

The Social Implications Of Humancentric Chip Implants: A Scenario - ‘Thy Chipdom Come, Thy Will Be Done’, Rodney Ip, Katina Michael, M G. Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Radio frequency identification (RFID) chip implants for humans are no longer the tales of science fiction. Already preliminary findings have shown that the number of people willing to get chipped has increased since the technology’s commercial arrival in 2002, despite the fact that adoption rates have been very low. This investigation presents three case studies of the main users/ innovators of humancentric chip implants. The first case is of a British researcher in an academic institution who has conducted several implant experiments; the second case, is of a hobbyist and entrepreneur who has focused on the use of RFID implants …


Amal Graafstra- The Do-It-Yourselfer Rfid Implantee: The Culture, Values And Ethics Of Hobbyist Implantees: A Case Study, R. Ip, Katina Michael, M G. Michael Jun 2008

Amal Graafstra- The Do-It-Yourselfer Rfid Implantee: The Culture, Values And Ethics Of Hobbyist Implantees: A Case Study, R. Ip, Katina Michael, M G. Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

This paper provides insights into the culture, values and ethics of do-it-yourself microchip implantees. Microchip implantees are people who have opted to bear a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device beneath their skin for particular electronic applications. This paper uses a single case study of the most prominent hobbyist microchip implantee, Mr Amal Graafstra of the United States, to explore the preliminary motivations for being implanted, the actual chip experience, and the subsequent repercussions of being an implantee. The data for this paper was collected using two main techniques, a primary interview with the case subject, complemented by secondary documentary evidence available …


The Rfid Value Proposition, Benjamin D. Renegar, Katina Michael Jun 2008

The Rfid Value Proposition, Benjamin D. Renegar, Katina Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has the potential to revolutionize the retail industry, yet the linking of this automatic identification (auto-ID) technology to consumer goods has resulted in widespread concern over the potential privacy threats, primarily due to the aspect of traceability it could impose on consumers. As a consequence, privacy has come to be perceived as a barrier stopping RFID adoption in retail in its tracks. When investigating other complex information and communication technologies (ICT), it becomes apparent that consumers often sacrifice privacy in order to take advantage of some form of value afforded by the technology. This interplay between …


Allelic Variants Of Streptokinase From Streptococcus Pyogenes Display Functional Differences In Plasminogen Activation., Jason D. Mcarthur, F. C. Mckay, V. Ramachandran, P. Shyam, Amanda J. Cork, Martina L. Sanderson-Smith, J. N. Cole, U. Ringdahl, U. Sjobring, M. Ranson, Mark J. Walker May 2008

Allelic Variants Of Streptokinase From Streptococcus Pyogenes Display Functional Differences In Plasminogen Activation., Jason D. Mcarthur, F. C. Mckay, V. Ramachandran, P. Shyam, Amanda J. Cork, Martina L. Sanderson-Smith, J. N. Cole, U. Ringdahl, U. Sjobring, M. Ranson, Mark J. Walker

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

A common mammalian defence mechanism employed to prevent systemic dissemination of invasive bacteria involves occlusion of local microvasculature and encapsulation of bacteria within fibrin networks. Acquisition of plasmin activity at the bacterial cell surface circumvents this defence mechanism allowing invasive disease initiation. To facilitate this process, S. pyogenes secrete streptokinase, a plasminogen activating protein. Streptokinase polymorphism exhibited by S. pyogenes isolates is well characterised. However, the functional differences displayed by these variants and the biological significance of this variation has not been elucidated. Phylogenetic analysis of ska sequences from 28 S. pyogenes isolates revealed two main sequence clusters (clusters 1 …


Down To Atomic-Scale Intracellular Water Dynamics, M. Jasnin, M. Moulin, M. Haertlein, G. Zaccai, M. Tehei May 2008

Down To Atomic-Scale Intracellular Water Dynamics, M. Jasnin, M. Moulin, M. Haertlein, G. Zaccai, M. Tehei

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Water constitutes the intracellular matrix in which biological molecules interact. Understanding its dynamic state is a main scientific challenge, which continues to provoke controversy after more than 50 years of study. We measured water dynamics in vivo in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli by using neutron scattering and isotope labelling. Experimental timescales covered motions from pure water to interfacial water, on an atomic length scale. In contrast to the widespread opinion that water is ‘tamed’ by macromolecular confinement, the measurements established that water diffusion within the bacteria is similar to that of pure water at physiological temperature.


Advanced Location-Based Services, Miguel A. Labrador, Katina Michael, Axel Kuepper Apr 2008

Advanced Location-Based Services, Miguel A. Labrador, Katina Michael, Axel Kuepper

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

This special issue of Computer Communications presents state-of-the-art research and applications in the area of location-based services (LBS). Initial location-based services entered the market around the turn of the millennium and for the greater part appeared in the form of restaurant finders and tourist guides, which never gained widespread user acceptance. The reasons for this were numerous and ranged from inaccurate localization mechanisms like Cell-ID, little creativity in the design and functions of such services, to a generally low acceptance of data services. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing market penetration of GPS-capable mobile phones and devices, …


Microchip Implants For Humans As Unique Identifiers: A Case Study On Verichip, Katina Michael, M G. Michael, Rodney Ip Apr 2008

Microchip Implants For Humans As Unique Identifiers: A Case Study On Verichip, Katina Michael, M G. Michael, Rodney Ip

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Microchip implants for humans are not new. The installation of pacemakers in humans and a great number of other medical innovations for prosthesis are now considered straightforward procedures. Today we have even realised the potential for microchip implants to be embedded inside the body of humans for the purpose of acting as unique lifetime identifiers (ULI). Tiny radiofrequency identification (RFID) devices are now being utilised to store a unique 16-digit identification number.


A Research Note On Ethics In The Emerging Age Of Überveillance, M. G. Michael, Sarah Jean Fusco, Katina Michael Apr 2008

A Research Note On Ethics In The Emerging Age Of Überveillance, M. G. Michael, Sarah Jean Fusco, Katina Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Advanced location-based services (A-LBS) for humancentric tracking and monitoring are now emerging as operators and service providers begin to leverage their existing infrastructure and invest in new technologies, toward increasingly innovative location application solutions. We can now point to humancentric tracking and monitoring services where the person (i.e. subject) has become an active node in the network. For example, in health applications through the use of embedded technologies such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) or in campus applications through the use of electronic monitoring techniques in the form of global positioning systems (GPS). These technologies, for the greater part, have been …


Privacy, Value And Control Issues In Four Mobile Business Applications, Benjamin D. Renegar, Katina Michael, M G. Michael Apr 2008

Privacy, Value And Control Issues In Four Mobile Business Applications, Benjamin D. Renegar, Katina Michael, M G. Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

This paper presents four case studies that explore the adoption and acceptance of mobile technologies and services within the context of the privacy-value-control (PVC) trichotomy. The technologies studied include: the mobile phone, electronic toll payment tags, e-passports, and loyalty card programs. The study shows that despite the potential barriers to adoption in each of the depicted cases, the applications were embraced with great success soon after their introduction. An understanding of why these mobile innovations succeeded in spite of the concerns surrounding them will serve to help practitioners understand other issues currently plaguing emerging technologies like radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags …


The Rfid-Enabled Dairy Farm: Towards Total Farm Management, Adam Trevarthen, Katina Michael Apr 2008

The Rfid-Enabled Dairy Farm: Towards Total Farm Management, Adam Trevarthen, Katina Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is currently being deployed in government mandated livestock identification schemes across the world. RFID in its basic function can help authorities identify animals, especially when traceability becomes paramount during disease outbreaks across regions. This paper provides a view of how an RFID-enabled dairy farm can leverage mobile network infrastructure towards achieving total farm management. The data for the study was collected from two case studies, both NLIS (national livestock identification system) compliant dairy farms on the South Coast of New South Wales in Australia. The Cochrane and Strong Farms were used as models to illustrate the core …


Rfid And Supply Chain Management: Introduction To The Special Issue, Tim Coltman, R. Gadh, K. Michael Apr 2008

Rfid And Supply Chain Management: Introduction To The Special Issue, Tim Coltman, R. Gadh, K. Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Much of the received wisdom emanating from modern corporations indicates that business competition is being fought “supply chain versus supply chain” rather than “firm versus firm”. The ability to deliver goods and services in full, on time and error free to customers is therefore of increasing strategic importance to any organization, independent of size or sector. From demand forecasting, to the sourcing of raw materials, right through to manufacture and dispatch- visibility in the supply chain is becoming an important facet of any modern operation. How to leverage emerging information technologies, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) to create innovative …


Location Constraints In Digital Rights Management, Adam Muhlbauer, Reihaneh Safavi-Naini, Farzad Salim, Nicholas Paul Sheppard, Martin Jan Surminen Apr 2008

Location Constraints In Digital Rights Management, Adam Muhlbauer, Reihaneh Safavi-Naini, Farzad Salim, Nicholas Paul Sheppard, Martin Jan Surminen

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Digital rights management allows information owners to control the use and dissemination of electronic documents via a machine-readable licence. This paper describes the design and implementation of a system for creating and enforcing licences containing location constraints that can be used to restrict access to sensitive documents to a defined area. Documents can be loaded onto a portable device and used in the approved areas, but cannot be used if the device moves to another area. Our contribution includes a taxonomy for access control in the presence of requests to perform non-instantaneous controlled actions.


Social And Organizational Aspects Of Information Security Management, Katina Michael Apr 2008

Social And Organizational Aspects Of Information Security Management, Katina Michael

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

This paper aims to explore social and organizational aspects of information security management. The changing nature of security is revealed against the backdrop of globalization. It provides a thorough review of literature on the topics of cyberethics as related to information security and transnational law. The objective of the paper is to cover broadly socio-organizational themes providing for the purpose of definition and a basis for further research. It thus raises a number of pressing issues facing organizations today, and offers an overview discussion on potential solutions. The main outcome of the paper is in showing that successful security strategies …