Middleware for managing a large, heterogeneous programmable network

The links between BTexact Technologies and the Department of Computing Science at University College London are becomingincreasingly beneficial for the development of the middleware area for the management of programmable networks. This paperdescribes the work that has been done to date, and outlines the plans for future research

Globalization and Maritime Security Conference Report

Portions of this work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344, LLNL-AR-409177.LLNL-AR-409177DE-AC52-07NA2734

Confronting the Global Plastics Problem Threatening the Marine Environment – A Framework and Elements of an International Legal Response

At present, international law does not contain any one instrument that would have been designed to target the global plastics problem as a whole. Existing efforts remain fragmented and fail to establish a coherent legal regime, yet a globally recognized need to construct a coordinated and comprehensive international legal response exists. The problem and related regulatory challenges are tremendously complex and multifaceted. The aim of this dissertation is to understand the science and root causes behind the problem and the role of international law and States in contributing to solutions. Unlike earlier legal research, this study approaches the global plastics problem threatening the marine environment as a continuum of three sub-problems comprising extensive plastics wastes generation, plastics leakage to the oceans, and accumulating marine plastics pollution (MPP). It argues that each sub-problem has their distinctive features that require their own set of legal measures. This approach unfolds a problem-based doctrinal and interdisciplinary assessment of international law. While respecting the intricacies of the problem, the study offers a three-fold framework to examine the global plastics problem and elements of international law. An international legal response to the global plastics problem arises from a mix of diverse measures coming together

Emergence in active networks

Any complex system may potentially exhibit unpredicted and undesirable behaviour as a result of certain combinations of input stimuli. An Active Network, being a communication network in which user requested operations are undertaken in the netwOIk nodes themselves, is a candidate to exhibit such behaviour. For example, resource utilisation will be influenced by the specific combination of activities triggered by the users and may develop undesirable characteristics such as a self-sustaining profile. Conventional simulation tools do not detect such characteristics. This thesis proposes a solution based on a Petri-Net model in which the resource utilisation of the Active Network is abstracted above the link level communication element. It is then suggested that a certain type of Emergence in resource utilisation may manifest itself as Self-Similarity. The Hurst Parameter (H) of the resource utilisation profile for each node in the network can then be used to identify the presence of this characteristic. The RlS Statistic is used to estimate sets of H values for a range of different Active Application scenarios. It is subsequently seen that a self-sustaining resource utilisation profile (termed a "Cascading Effect") occurs when a significant subset of the nodes display high values of H. This thesis takes the view that Emergence in Active Networks is a problem that has to be approached with a global comprehension of the system as opposed to the conventional approach of a piecemeal development of solutions. This view is reinforced by the hypothesis that an Active Network is a Complex System and Emergence is noncomplex self-organisation within it. It proposes that the high-level abstraction of the Active Network forms a view by which global comprehension can be obtained and is used for the detection of anomalous behaviour (Le. Emergence). The key enabler for self-organisation is proposed to be 'the resources' within the Active Network nodes and hence the detection technique was focused on the utilisation characteristics of these.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

The decision making process involved when changing career: A qualitative study of registered nurses who have left the profession

Career choice is an important decision an individual has to make during their lifetime. Personal, environmental and organisational factors all assist this decision process as individuals strive for a work-life balance within careers that meet their needs and realise their potential. This research study investigated which factors contributed to the decision process of Registered Nurses (RNs) who have left the profession for a career change. There is currently a global shortage of RNs, which is of major concern to healthcare policy makers in most countries, including Australia. This qualitative study examined the narrative interviews often females over the age of25 years who qualified as RNs but no longer work in nursing. Previously the majority of studies have focused on RNs still employed in the profession and their leaving intentions, rather than decisions made by nurses who have already left nursing. The results suggested that there were several influential factors which related to the work environment, managerial function, and nursing challenges. However, financial remuneration identified in several previous studies as a significant factor, was not supported in this research. Understanding the issues faced by RNs may further assist health organisations, universities and managers to develop strategies to recruit and retain health care professionals