In many Voice over IP (VoIP) systems, the end-to-end voice Quality of Service (QoS) is largely dictated by the packet loss rate and the Packet Loss Concealment (PLC) method at the receiver. Typical PLC algorithms are usually based on simple signal extrapolation methods that can produce perceptually annoying artifacts. We present a taxonomy of PLC artifacts that degrade voice quality, and demonstra

To accurately model the effect on the dynamic behavior of a floor when using glue in the joints between the chipboards and beams in a lightweight structure can be a daunting task. It is however important to have a model that can simulate these junctions with high fidelity. The behavior of T-junctions with different geometries and methods of adhesion has been previously investigated via measurement

The concept of a holistic innovation policy is defined in this paper, and it is discussed what it is, why it is relevant and how it can be implemented. One of the main conclusions is that the innovation policies in European countries are still linear (and not holistic), in spite of the fact that the linear view has been completely abandoned by innovation researchers - and replaced by a systemic vi

The paper is devoted to modeling and optimization of reliable wireless mesh networks that employ directional antennas. We introduce two mixed-integer programming formulations that allow to simultaneously characterize routing patterns and transmission schedules. The first model allows for maximizing the minimal flow in a network. The second model involves reliability constraints and aims at minimiz

The greater cities’ outer transitional zones are ephemeral and dynamic. With Malmö (Sweden) as an example this paper discusses how coastal and agricultural landscapes in the urban fringe can develop into something new and closer to actual needs of the inhabitants. This is done by opening up for a use of new concepts when describing these areas, for example among planners/designers and exploiters.

Within cognitive science, two approaches currently dominate the problem of modeling representations. The symbolic approach views cognition as computation involving symbolic manipulation. Connectionism, a special case of associationism, models associations using artificial neuron networks. Peter Gardenfors offers his theory of conceptual representations as a bridge between the symbolic and connecti

Good health is crucial for human and economic development. In particular poor health in childhood seems to be of utmost concern since it causes irreversible damage and have implications later in life. Recent research suggests globalization is a strong force affecting adult and child health outcomes. Yet, there is much unexplained variation with respect to the globalization eect on child health, in

This book develops “Macroeconomic Uncertainty Strategy” (MUST) as a tool for coping with the impact of macroeconomic fluctuations on risk management, performance assessment, and strategies for value enhancement. The essential elements of a corporate strategy for managing uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment includes setting corporate objectives for risk management, measuring risk, choosing

The paper presents sufficient and almost necessary conditions for the presence of periodic solutions for zero dynamics of virtually constrained under-actuated Euler-Lagrange system. This result is further extended to detect periodic solutions for a class of hybrid systems in the plane and analyze their orbital stability and instability. Illustrative examples are given.

Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) are passive samplers capable of concentrating hydrophobic chemicals from water, sediments, soil and air. They consist of layflat polymeric membrane such as polyethylene containing a thin film of synthetic lipid such as triolein. The transport of hydrophobic chemicals through the membrane into the lipid is governed by the process of passive diffusion. Therefor