Cloud Computing Service Selection Algorithm

In modern world Cloud Computing is one of the most promising and evolving areas of computer science. As time passes by more and more cloud devices are being setup. Similarly more companies and industries are opting for cloud services, etc. Cloud has made up a virtual reality of the practical world. It oers online storage space, online infrastructure, online platforms, etc to make our everyday computing experience easier and cheaper. One of the aspects of cloud computing is provision of servers to execute our programs which comes under Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). In this project we have focused on devising an algorithm to schedule jobs and allocate servers in cloud systems. The algorithm is ecient as it provides optimal allocation. It maximizes the number of job requests that can be processed in unit time while conserving energy and keeping the costs low. The said optimal allocation is achieved by reducing the idle time of nodes of active servers and reducing the total number of servers used. We implemented our algorithm using random data sets of job requests with dierent attributes and generated simulations in forms of graphs. The graphs prove the eciency of job scheduling algorithm and the server allocation for which we used Best Fit algorithm of the Bin Packing problem. Finally a detailed analysis is given and future works are stated

Introducing Distance Education in Science and Technology by offering Special Programs

Indonesia started distance education at the tertiary level in 1984 when Universitas Terbuka (the Indonesian Open Learning University) was officially opened on September 4, 1Y84 by the President of the Hepublic of Indonesia The Mathematics and Science Faculty of Universitas Terbuka ofters at present one study prograrr1 in Applied Statistics and one in Mathematics. In both study programs not any laboratory work is involved, because it is understood that laboratory work as part of a study program in distance education will imply a number of problems. Two types of special programs are being identified which seem to look prondsing in introducing study programs by distance education which include courses in science and technology with the involvement of laboratory work. One type of special programs arises from the need of upgrading a large number of employees like secondary school teachers and field consultants to farmers of the ministery of agriculture. Recently Universitas Terbuka and the Ministery of Agriculiure started to study the feasability of offering by distance education a program at the diploma level (a non-degree/program of six semesters at a conventional university) for the upgrading of field consultants to farmers of the ministery of agriculture. A preliminary study indicates that the need for facilities for laboratory work and field practice as well as manpower for tutors and instructors can be provided for. The main problem in conducting the program might be the organizing of the laboratory work and field practice. The second type of special programs is related to the demand from high school graduates for relatively short training in certain skills which might increase one's chances in getting job. Preparations are being made for studying the feasability of offering so called certificate programs. These programs will be relatively short programs of three to tive semesters. Programs in Biotechnology, Food Technology, Computer Applications and Electronics will be studied. These program might be divided into two parts, the first part comprising the course work and the second part consists of laboratory work and practical exercises. Successful completion of the course work can be made a prerettuisite tor taking the laboratory work and practical exercises. Students who have completed the course work successfully will receive a certificate, and after having completed the laboratory work and practical exercises successfully one will receive a second certificate. If these kinds of programs can be conducted successfully, the time will then be ripe to develop degree programs in science and teclmology

A Cost Effective Approach to Taxonomic Resolution For Bioassessment and Monitoring Programs in the State of Georgia

The Georgia Ecoregions Reference Sites Project has developed biological criteria for streams in Georgia according to the Rapid Bioassessment Protocols For Wadeable Streams and Rivers. Streams will ultimately be classified into categories of impairment so that management decisions can be made in accordance with the Clean Water Act. A cost-effective approach to accomplish mandates set forth by the Clean Water Act must be employed, as state budgets are limited. One means of examining costs is to assess taxonomic resolution. Taxonomic resolution not only assesses the sensitivity of biocriteria, it also allows one to make recommendations to state agencies regarding the costs and benefits of recommended taxonomic identification requirements. Due to the broad diversity in geology, topography, climate, soils and geography within Georgia, taxonomic resolution requirements may vary. Thirty macroinvertebrate samples from five reference condition streams and five or six impaired streams from three Georgia sub-ecoregions were identified to lowest possible or lowest practical level. Lowest practical level includes many taxonomic levels determined by the group identified and the availability of peer-reviewed keys. Specific data from lowest practical level were reduced to generic level then further reduced to familial level so that three identification levels, incorporated into sub-ecoregional specific invertebrate indices, were assessed for discriminatory ability. Time spent on identification was recorded at each taxonomic level so that identification costs versus benefits or degree of information could be used in conjunction with the indices in determining recommended taxonomic resolution requirements. Final analysis indicated taxonomic resolution requirements vary among subecoregions within Georgia and future benthic work, at least in some subecoregions, will require less time and money. By performing cost/benefit analyses, agencies involved in bioassessment and biomontioring programs can identify regions that may require less taxonomic effort

Determination of variables which predict success on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).

Nursing is one of the most frequently chosen programs by those entering postsecondary institutions in preparation for a career. This is in part due to the job opportunities available, interest in healthcare, and a pending shortage of nurses in healthcare. One strategy for meeting this shortage is the career pathway which encompasses the concept of lifelong learning and provides a mechanism for advancement of nurses along a continuum. Regardless of the level that a student enters the nursing education continuum, failure on the national licensure exam becomes a burden to both graduates and faculty in time and resources expended. Whereas many empirical research studies have been conducted related to the registered nurse, few studies have been done related to the practical nurse. Therefore, this research study addresses the issue of background and curricular variables which predict success on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and logistic regression were used to determine the predictive value of the demographic (age, gender, race) and admission requirements (math, reading); curriculum variables (pre-requisite, foundation, specialty, and advanced nursing courses); and Exit Comprehensive Exam on NCLEX-PN status. The sample consisted of 411 students from 14 practical nursing programs within ten Kentucky Community and Technical Colleges. Independent Sample t Tests, Chi-square, and Correlation suggested statistically significant relationships/differences for all variables with the exception of gender, the mathematics admission exam, and number of attempts on the exit examination. The results of the logistic regression model indicated that age (p = .002) and the Exit Comprehensive Exam (p = .035) made a significant contribution to prediction of success on the NCLEX-PN on the first attempt. The demographic (gender, race); admission (math, reading); curricular, (pre-requisite, foundation, specialty, and advanced nursing courses); and mediating (number of attempts on the Exit Comprehensive Exam) variables were not significant predictors in the logistic model. These results may be used as an advisement tool for at-risk students to direct them toward interventions and resources to increase success on the NCLEX-PN

Soft skills in health careers programs: a case study of a regional vocational technical high school

The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the ways in which educational experiences might differ between a regional vocational technical high school (RVTH) and short-term career-training programs. A particular regional vocational technical high school was selected for its outstanding academic records and placement rates, and a particular industry--healthcare--was chosen for its high demand and short supply of labor in the state. The study is a qualitative case study that primarily utilized in-depth, one-on-one interviews with semi-structured questions. The participants of this study fall into one of three groups: seniors in RVTH health services, students in the RVTH postsecondary practical nursing (PN) program, and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who received CNA training from short-term career-training programs in Massachusetts. The researcher collected additional qualitative data through various sources such as classroom observation, field notes, program descriptions, lesson plans, syllabi, and class materials. The interview data were transcribed, segmented, and coded; any relevant qualitative data were later added to supplement the interview data. There were four consistent areas raised across participants that suggest salient components of their experiences. First, school choice was made by students themselves in the cases of RVTH seniors, which might have influenced the culture of togetherness and acceptance at RVTH. Second, shop instructors played an important role in creating a school culture where students helped each other and accepted everyone. In particular, the instructors’ emotional support seemed to differentiate the educational experiences of RVTH seniors from the students in other programs. Third, all RVTH seniors frequently identified soft skills such as communication and time-management skills when reflecting on their education experiences whereas participants in the short-term programs focused on technical skills. Lastly, RVTH seniors strongly believed they were career-ready. The findings of the current research on the workplace skills students acquired in the programs showed some congruencies with the existing inter-industry literature that described the importance of certain skills, such as communication and professionalism. Participants from alternative career-training programs did not identify the same types of elements in their educational experiences. The study ends with implications by contemplating what aspects of RVTH can be replicated in which settings