Cosmology Using Galaxy Cluster Peculiar Velocities

Future multi-frequency microwave background experiments with arcminute resolution and micro-Kelvin temperature sensitivity will be able to detect the kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, providing a way to measure radial (line-of-sight) peculiar velocities of massive galaxy clusters. We show that measurement of cluster peculiar velocities have the potential to constrain several dark energy parameters. We also compare cluster peculiar velocities with other dark energy probes: the eventual constraints from radial peculiar velocity measurements on the dark energy parameters are comparable to constraints from supernovae measurements, and better than cluster counts and baryon acoustic oscillations; adding radial peculiar velocity to other dark energy probes improves constraints on the figure of merit by more than a factor of two.We also study the impact of the mass-observable relation (i.e the relation between the observed Sunyaev-Zeldovich flux and the mass of the galaxy cluster) and other systematic errors on cluster radial peculiar velocities. We find that cluster radial peculiar velocities closely trace the large-scale peculiar velocity field independent of cluster mass. On the other hand, cluster radial peculiar velocity determinations are complicated by microwave emission from dusty galaxies and radio sources, which may be correlated with clusters. Systematic errors due to these factors can give substantial biases in determination of dark energy parameters, although radial peculiar velocity surveys will contain enough information that the errors can be modeled using the data itself, with little degradation in cosmological constraints. An alternative to using the galaxy cluster radial peculiar velocity field directly is the cluster momentum distribution. Dark-matter cosmological simulations can provide the total cluster momentum distribution, while the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect gives the baryon momentum. Thus, to better understand the cluster momentum distribution, we study the effect of quasar feedback on the baryon fraction in galaxy groups using high-resolution numerical simulations. For a sample of ten galaxy group-sized dark matter halos , the total gas fraction in the two simulations generally differs by less than 10 percent. We conclude that the quasar feedback do not add any significant systematic errors to the cluster momentum

Designing value creating and sustainable business models: An investigation of telehealthcare service ecosystem in North East England

A rising elderly population in England, together with the prevalence of long-term chronic health conditions and higher demands for social care, is creating significant challenges for both the English National Health Service (NHS), and for Local Authorities. These challenges relate to the effective planning, commissioning and provisioning of services for people with complex social and health care needs, amidst a predominantly public-funded health and care system. Digital technology innovations, such as telecare and telehealth (telehealthcare) can facilitate assisted living through technology-mediated preventions, early detections of risks, timely interventions, and self-directed care. Policymakers acknowledge the potential of these technologies to drive greater operational efficiency and cost savings by supporting the policy agenda of ‘ageing in place’, as opposed to an increasing reliance on commissioning expensive institutional provisions such as care homes. In order to realise the opportunities of technology-enabled care, policymakers have started advocating faster adoption, provisioning and implementation of telehealthcare services on an increased population scale. A review of the relevant health technology and systems literature indicates that prior and current research does not sufficiently address the business model and service perspectives, which are considered critical to the practical justification and adoption of complex health service innovations such as telehealthcare. This research study and thesis brings together two interdisciplinary and complementary theoretical frames, synthesised from the extant literature on business models and service innovation. A new theoretical framework is developed in order to examine, interrogate and explain the phenomena of value creation and value realisation within a telehealthcare service ecosystem. Conventional business model-based thinking focuses on value propositions and the financial realisation of value. In contrast, service-dominant logic offers more relational and systemic insights on value co-creation (emphasising social as well as economic factors) through stakeholders’ resource integration within the entire service ecosystem. Using the principles of Critical Realism (CR) to inform a case study approach, this qualitative study employs a multiple case-based research design, resulting in five case studies of telehealthcare services (including one pilot) in the North East of England. The analysis of empirical data collected from the case studies, including a representative sample comprising forty key-informant stakeholder interviews, combined with documentary and observational evidence, reveals four main themes. In the next stage of analysis, following a critical realist perspective, abduction and retroduction based reasoning are applied, leading to a theoretical explanation concerning the underlying structures and their causal powers (mechanisms). Three most significant causal mechanisms, namely Organisational Inertia, Fragmented Ecosystem, and Quasi-market Characteristics, have been identified to explain the stratified reality within a telehealthcare service ecosystem. This research analysis results in both theoretical, and practitioner related contributions concerning the development of a typology for telehealthcare service business models with illustrations of three archetype business models and their related elements. These archetype models signify the dynamic possibilities or potential variations of business models and new service designs contingent upon the operational contexts in which the business models are to be situated

Intelligent e-Learning Systems: An Educational Paradigm Shift

Learning is the long process of transforming information as well as experience into knowledge, skills, attitude and behaviors. To make up the wide gap between the demand of increasing higher education and comparatively limited resources, more and more educational institutes are looking into instructional technology. Use of online resources not only reduces the cost of education but also meet the needs of society. Intelligent e-learning has become one of the important channels to reach out to students exceeding geographic boundaries. Besides this, the characteristics of e-learning have complicated the process of education, and have brought challenges to both instructors and students. This paper will focus on the discussion of different discipline of intelligent e-learning like scaffolding based e-learning, personalized e-learning, confidence based e-learning, intelligent tutoring system, etc. to illuminate the educational paradigm shift in intelligent e-learning system