Analysis of Web Protocols Evolution on Internet Traffic

This research focus on the analysis of ten years of Internet traffic, from 2004 until 2013, captured and measured by Mawi Lab at a link connecting Japan to the United States of America. The collected traffic was analysed for each of the days in that period, and conjointly in that timeframe. Initial research questions included the test of the hypothesis of weather the change in Internet applications and Internet usage patterns were observable in the generated traffic or not. Several protocols were thoroughly analysed, including HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, UDP, IPv4, IPv6, SMTP, DNS. The effect of the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 was also analysed. Conclusions were drawn and the research questions were answered and the research hypothesis was confirmed.Esta pesquisa foca-se na análise de dez anos de tráfego de Internet, a partir de 2004 até 2013, capturado e medido pelo Mawi Lab numa ligação de fibra óptica entre o Japão e os Estados Unidos da América. O tráfego recolhido foi analisado para cada um dos dias nesse período, e também conjuntamente nesse período. As questões de pesquisa iniciais incluíram testar a hipótese de ser observável no tráfego gerado, a alteração das aplicações em uso na Internet e a alteração dos padrões de uso da Internet. Vários protocolos foram analisados exaustivamente, incluindo HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, UDP, IPv4, IPv6, SMTP e DNS. O efeito da transição do IPv4 para o IPv6 também foi analisado. As conclusões foram tiradas, as questões de pesquisa foram respondidas e a hipótese de pesquisa foi confirmada

Design of blended learning for civilian and military trauma care

Violence in society is increasing, but action plans to mitigate this problem are insufficient in several countries. New educational strategies, such as blended learning which integrate face-to-face and online education are needed. Knowledge about how to design such strategies and learning environments can contribute to strengthening and coordinating medical resources, sharing competences and more collaboration in the development of civilian and military trauma care. The model in Nordic countries, of necessity share specialized healthcare professionals between the civilian and military medical systems. The overall aim of this thesis was to increase knowledge about the design of blended learning and builds on four studies: Study I explored the similarities and differences in education and training at military medical services in the Nordic countries and to what degree blended learning was used. Results showed opposing views; some were negative to e-learning, whereas others were much more positive and saw potentials for innovating education. Contextual knowledge of healthcare was identified as the crucial key to success, but in order to blend education and training into blended learning, modern pedagogical competencies were needed. Study II identified educational challenges in civilian and military trauma care, expressed by health care professionals and was studied through observations, interviews and survey during education. The most difficult aspect of learning in management of complex trauma patients was perceived as the lack of real practice in extreme environments. Blended learning was seen as the potential of supporting learning processes. Study III, through interviews and video recordings investigated what internationally trauma experts described as challenging in teaching. Eight educational challenges were identified which represented particularly difficult aspects to teach and master in the area, and which were viewed as crucial for decision making. The results contributed as basis for identifying and introducing design principles for the design of virtual patients. Study IV introduced these design principles, then developed and tested two virtual patients. The virtual patients addressed the specific educational challenges in complex trauma care, provided possibilities for unlimited training, and supported decision making. They were integrated with the existing face-to-face education into one example of a blended learning model. Conclusions and implications: Key persons in the Nordic military medical systems, senior healthcare professionals and educators identify different and sometimes contradictory educational challenges and solutions, but share the view that there is an urgent need for developing education and training in the area. A particular mindset when managing complex trauma patients was identified as crucial by trauma experts. Two virtual patients were designed to address some of the challenges. Course participants appreciated the virtual patient cases and viewed them as realistic but expressed a need for more feedback. A pilot test confirmed that the decision-making in the cases posed challenging for the target group in the way the educators had predicted. Design principles and an educational model for blended learning for civilian and military trauma care are suggested

Implementing an integrated e-government functionality for a marginalized community in the Eastern Cape South Africa

Traditional methods of providing public services to disadvantaged rural communities in South Africa have, over the years, proven to be inefficient and in most such communities, simply non-existent. Although the South African government has taken initiatives to make these public services cheaply and conveniently available online at national level, access at local municipal level is still lacking. The goal of this study is to develop a cost-effective e-government system that will contribute to improved provision of public services to the Dwesa area, a rural community in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, by the government. A prototype construction approach was used, to develop a cost-effective four-modular web application. Interviews were conducted in the field, resulting in four e-government system modules, based on open-source software, developed and integrated to form a single, dynamic web component that will act as a one-stop shop for Dwesa community members. These are the Dwesa Online Application Centre (DOAC) to apply for important government documents and grants, the Dwesa Online Reporting Centre (DORC) to report various grievances to the responsible agencies, the Dwesa Forum Corner (DFC), a digital community, and the management back-end module. The Dwesa e-government portal was developed using Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP (LAMP) technology, a Zoop framework to model the individual components and a JQUERY JavaScript library to increase the responsiveness of the user interfaces. The most significant contributions of this thesis have been the development of a cost-effective, integrated e-government functionality, applicable to disadvantaged communities, and the greater understanding this has given of the tools and methodologies that can be used to deliver public services efficiently to citizens. The final evaluation of this e-government system gives significant evidence that the e-government portal provides a solid foundation that will allow e-government implementation to raise the provision of public services to a higher level