Error analysis of dynamical models in epidemiology

In this paper we conduct the error analysis of two models used to simulate the disease profiles in plant pathogen epidemics. The role of the various model parameters is discussed in relation to accurac

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS

This study was based on conceptualized relationship between strategic planning andperformance. Some researchers have argued that strategic planning influencesperformance positively while others contend that the influence is negative. Therefore,the past empirical studies have produced many contradictory findings and there is aneed for further studies to fix this empirical conundrum. These variables werecontextualized in the manufacturing firms in Kenya. Current study’s objective was todetermine the relationship between strategic planning and performance ofmanufacturing firms in Kenya. A corresponding hypothesis, there is a relationshipbetween strategic planning and performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya, wasformulated and tested at 95 percent confidence level. Through a cross-sectionaldescriptive survey, data were obtained using a structured questionnaire from 72manufacturing firms representing 52.17 percent response rate. Data obtained wereanalyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Hypothesis was tested usingboth simple and multiple regression analysis. Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) was used to analyze the data. The findings established that strategic planninghad a strong positive relationship with performance of manufacturing firms in Kenyaand the influence was statistically significant. However there were mixed results asregards the independent influence of various strategic planning indicators onperformance. But when combined, they have strong positive relationship withperformance and influence was statistically significant. The study suggested thatmanufacturing firms in Kenya should practice strategic planning for superiorperformance. For further study, it was suggested that the relationship to be moderatedwith organizational variables, external environment dynamics and also to try differentstrategic planning steps. Current study’s findings have theory, policy, managerialpractice and methodological implications. The current study findings added to theexisting body of literature by empirically corroborating that strategic planning andperformance had a positive relationship. Manufacturing firms should have policieswhich enforce various accreditations which for

Emulating opportunistic networks with KauNet Triggers

In opportunistic networks the availability of an end-to-end path is no longer required. Instead opportunistic networks may take advantage of temporary connectivity opportunities. Opportunistic networks present a demanding environment for network emulation as the traditional emulation setup, where application/transport endpoints only send and receive packets from the network following a black box approach, is no longer applicable. Opportunistic networking protocols and applications additionally need to react to the dynamics of the underlying network beyond what is conveyed through the exchange of packets. In order to support IP-level emulation evaluations of applications and protocols that react to lower layer events, we have proposed the use of emulation triggers. Emulation triggers can emulate arbitrary cross-layer feedback and can be synchronized with other emulation effects. After introducing the design and implementation of triggers in the KauNet emulator, we describe the integration of triggers with the DTN2 reference implementation and illustrate how the functionality can be used to emulate a classical DTN data-mule scenario

Relationship between dialytic parameters and reviewer confirmed arrhythmias in hemodialysis patients in the monitoring in dialysis study

Abstract Background Hemodialysis patients have high rates of sudden death, but relationships between serum electrolytes, the dialysis prescription, and intra-dialytic shifts in fluid and electrolyte with arrhythmia are uncertain. Methods We analyzed sixty-six hemodialysis patients who underwent loop recorder implantation with continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, weekly to bi-weekly testing of pre- and post-dialysis electrolytes, and detailed capture of dialysis prescription and flow sheet data for 6 months. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of reviewer confirmed arrhythmias (RCA) during dialysis through 8 h after dialysis and associations with serum chemistries and dialytic parameters were assessed using adjusted, negative-binomial regression. Results Among 66 individuals with a mean age of 56 years, 12,480 events were detected in 64 (97%) patients. RCA nadired 12–24 h after dialysis and increased during the final 12 h of the inter-dialytic interval through the first 8 h after dialysis. Higher pre-dialysis serum magnesium concentration was associated with lower incidence rate ratio for arrythmia (IRR per 1 mg/dL increase 0.49, 95% CI; 0.25, 0.94), as was dialysate calcium concentration > 2.5 mEq/L vs. 2.5 mEq/L (IRR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.70). Neither intradialytic serum potassium nor weight change were significantly associated with RCA rate. However, there was effect modification such that arrhythmia rate was maximal with concurrently high intradialytic volume and potassium removal (Pinteraction = 0.01). Conclusions Intra and post-dialytic arrhythmias are common in hemodialysis. Additional studies designed to further elucidate whether modification of the serum magnesium concentration, dialysate calcium concentration, and the extent of intradialytic potassium and fluid removal reduces the risk of per-dialytic arrhythmia are warranted. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01779856. Prospectively registered on January 22, 2013