Abstract
Computer-supported online 3-D virtual world environments have been waxed and waned in interest and representativeness for supporting collaborative- and simulation-based practices. In a post-modern societal framework that requires inexpensive solutions for high-risk situations, research efforts in virtual worlds have developed a basis for understanding the use of virtual reality for multidisciplinary scenarios such as distance learning, training, therapy treatments, and social interaction. Complex relationships can be established simultaneously between several students functioning as integrated learning units using different media, and interacting with their physical environment in the context of real-world settings. In this sense, a recurrently updated research agenda for virtual worlds can characterize the current needs at a systematic way. This paper presents a meta-analysis of 35 publications to identify gaps and opportunities for research in collaborative three-dimensional environments based on content analysis. At a general perspective, there is a lack of established approaches to measure the influence and research potential of sociocultural factors in virtual worlds’ usage, autism spectrum and other healthcare-related settings, learning outcomes, content characteristics, task support for groups and crowds, and online data collection.

Abstract
There is an increasing concern about transient errors in deep sub-micron processor architectures. Software-only error detection approaches that exploit program invariants for silent error detection incur large execution overheads and are unreliable as state can be corrupted after invariant check points. In this paper we explore the use of configurable hardware structures for the continuous evaluation of high-level program invariants at the assembly-level. We evaluate the resource requirements and performance of the proposed hardware structures on a contemporary reconfigurable hardware device. The results, for a small set of kernels codes, reveal that these hardware structures require a very small number of resources and are fairly insensitive to the complexity of the invariants thus making the proposed hardware approach an attractive alternative to software-only invariant checking by integrating them in traditional processor architectures. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland.

Abstract
Raven is a Multi Object Adaptive Optics (MOAO) technical and science demonstrator which had its first light at the Subaru telescope on May 13-14, 2014. Raven was built and tested at the University of Victoria AO Lab before shipping to Hawai`i. Raven includes three open loop wavefront sensors (WFSs), a central laser guide star WFS, and two independent science channels feeding light to the Subaru IRCS spectrograph. Raven supports different kinds of AO correction: SCAO, open-loop GLAO and MOAO. The MOAO mode can use different tomographic reconstructors, such as Learn-&-Apply or a model-based reconstructor. This paper presents the latest results obtained in the lab, which are consistent with simulated performance, as well as preliminary on-sky results, including echelle spectra from IRCS. Ensquared energy obtained on sky in 140mas slit is 17%, 30% and 41% for GLAO, MOAO and SCAO respectively. This result confirms that MOAO can provide a level of correction in between GLAO and SCAO, in any direction of the field of regard, regardless of the science target brightness.

Abstract

Abstract
This paper presents the state of the art on interoperability developments for the social and solidarity economy (SSE) community web based information systems (WIS); it also presents a framework of interoperability for the SSE' WIS and the developments made in a research-in-progress PhD project in the last 3 years. A search on the bibliographic databases showed that so far there are no papers on interoperability initiatives on the SSE, so it was necessary to have other sources of information: a preliminary analysis of the WIS that support SSE activities; and interviews with the representatives of some of the world's most important SSE organisations. The study showed that the WIS are still not interoperable yet. In order to become interoperable a group of the SSE community has been developing a Dublin Corre Application Profile to be used by the SSE community as reference and binding to describe their resources. This paper also describes this on-going process. Copyright © 2014, IGI Global.

Abstract
This work focuses on the development of a pressure-loop controller for a hybrid brake-by-wire system, composed of a hydraulic link and an electro-mechanical actuator. Towards this goal, we will start by constructing a reduced model that is capable of capturing the fundamental dynamics of the actuator, which is particularly useful for control design purposes. Motivated by the large friction disturbances that affect the system, we also investigate linear-in-the-parameter models suitable for (online) model-based friction compensation. More specifically, results from the theory of function approximation, together with optimization techniques, are explored to approximate the Stribeck friction model through a linear-in-the-parameter model. This new linear-in-the-parameter model is then employed in the design of a control law for tracking the braking pressure of the hybrid brake-by-wire. The main features of this controller are the robustness to parametric uncertainties, thanks to the inclusion of a switching-sigma adaptive mechanism, and the attenuation of non-parametric disturbances with a continuous sliding mode action. The stability and robustness properties of the closed-loop system are investigated with the help of the Lyapunov method. Finally, experimental tests demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and its ability to handle disturbances.