Smart Environments (SmE) are a growing combination of various computing frameworks (ubiquitous, pervasive etc), devices, control algorithms and a complex web of interactions. It is at the core of user facilitation in a number of industrial, domestic and public areas. Based on their application areas, SmE may be critical in terms of correctness, reliability, safety, security etc. To achieve erro...

The properties of light have proved to be a valuable testing ground for special relativity for more than a century. Contemporary experiments are motivated in part by a possible breakdown of special relativity with origins in Planck-scale physics [1, 2, 3]. These experiments include modern versions of the classic Michelson-Morley and Kennedy-Thorndike experiments that use highly stable resonant ...

We invent a new science which is better than physics. It is even better than chocolate. It is not illegal, immoral, or fattening. However, thinking about it too hard does tend to give you a headache. On the other hand, thinking about it even harder makes your brain numb. <-------------------------------------150mm--------------------------------------> WARNING: Do not read this paper before ope...

This work first investigates two existing check node unit (CNU) architectures for LDPC decoding: self-message-excluded CNU (SME-CNU) and two-minimum CNU (TM-CNU) architectures, and analyzes their area and timing complexities based on various realization approaches. Compared to TM-CNU architecture, SME-CNU architecture is faster in speed but with much higher complexity for comparison operations....

Which is the best, impartially most plausible consensus view to serve as the basis of democratic group decision when voters disagree? Assuming that the judgment aggregation problem can be framed as a matter of judging a set of binary propositions (“issues”), we develop a multi-issue majoritarian approach based on the criterion of supermajority efficiency (SME). SME reflects the idea that smalle...

We propose a new integrated ensemble machine learning (ML) method, i.e., RS-RAB (Random Subspace-Real AdaBoost), for predicting the credit risk of China’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) in supply chain finance (SCF). The sample of empirical analysis is comprised of two data sets on a quarterly basis during the period of 2012–2013: one includes 48 listed SMEs obtained from the SME Board...

We propose a new discriminative learning framework, called soft margin estimation (SME), for estimating parameters of continuous density hidden Markov models. The proposed method makes direct usage of the successful ideas of soft margin in support vector machines to improve generalization capability, and of decision feedback learning in minimum classification error training to enhance model sep...

In line with the priorities set by the OECD Bologna Process on SME & Entrepreneurship Policies and the Istanbul Ministerial Declaration (June 2004), the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development (CFE) participates actively in Working Group 4 of the MENA-OECD Investment Initiative on Investment and Governance for Development through Output 3: “Improving the Policy Environment ...

A strategic approach to how small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) use their marketing networks during a time of change in their operating context is the focus of this article. SME networking is analysed using the structural, relational and usage dimensions associated with network frameworks. Specifically, the paper examines marketing network processes (MNPs) that are investigated through th...

We present a study of ownership and governance structure in the growing Chinese entrepreneurial SMEs sector. The study examines the structures that are embedded in the traditional Chinese values and culture, as well as the institutional environment for Chines SME's and the limitation they present towards the growth SMEs in China. Our findings suggest that Chinese SME ownership, and ownership tr...