Rethinking Consistency Management in Real-time Collaborative Editing Systems

Networked computer systems offer much to support collaborative editing of shared documents among users. Increasing concurrent access to shared documents by allowing multiple users to contribute to and/or track changes to these shared documents is the goal of real-time collaborative editing systems (RTCES); yet concurrent access is either limited in existing systems that employ exclusive locking or concurrency control algorithms such as operational transformation (OT) may be employed to enable concurrent access. Unfortunately, such OT based schemes are costly with respect to communication and computation. Further, existing systems are often specialized in their functionality and require users to adopt new, unfamiliar software to enable collaboration. This research discusses our work in improving consistency management in RTCES. We have developed a set of deadlock-free multi-granular dynamic locking algorithms and data structures that maximize concurrent access to shared documents while minimizing communication cost. These algorithms provide a high level of service for concurrent access to the shared document and integrate merge-based or OT-based consistency maintenance policies locally among a subset of the users within a subsection of the document – thus reducing the communication costs in maintaining consistency. Additionally, we have developed client-server and P2P implementations of our hierarchical document management algorithms. Simulations results indicate that our approach achieves significant communication and computation cost savings. We have also developed a hierarchical reduction algorithm that can minimize the space required of RTCES, and this algorithm may be pipelined through our document tree. Further, we have developed an architecture that allows for a heterogeneous set of client editing software to connect with a heterogeneous set of server document repositories via Web services. This architecture supports our algorithms and does not require client or server technologies to be modified – thus it is able to accommodate existing, favored editing and repository tools. Finally, we have developed a prototype benchmark system of our architecture that is responsive to users’ actions and minimizes communication costs

Giving a Beginner a Chance in the 2007 Farm Bill

This report outlines training, support and programs that could help more young people enter agriculture. The report outlines how existing programs could be targeted for beginning and new farmers, as well as suggestions for new programs, such as individual development accounts. The study was supported by the Leopold Center\u27s Policy Initiative (P2006-09)

Voice in Radio

“Voice in Radio” is a practice-based thesis. It reflects on a series of participatory media projects involving community groups and secondary school students working together to produce radio shows. The thesis offers an analysis of those projects through the academic prism of ‘voice’, a term defined in both the personal and socio-political senses. Further, it reflects on the possibilities for voice offered by Participatory Community Radio (PCR) practice. Having devised and led this practice, I occupy the position of a ‘reflexive practitioner’ in the study. The thesis is presented as a linear narrative: through PCR, a participant hears their own physical voice as others do, externally; they first become accustomed to and then comfortable with the sound of their own voice; they gain agency, becoming able to vocalise their stories through the radio project work; they gain further agency through socio-political Voice as their work is aired in a series of radio shows. The participant groups are from a selection of cohorts encompassing a ‘Senior Citizens West Indian Luncheon and Social club’, a boys’ secondary school, a hospice, an Arts school and a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). The data presented were collected through a mixed methods strategy. Project work and participant reflections are offered, together with comments from associated professionals. This material features in both written and aural form. The ideas of authors including Berry, Chomsky, Couldry, Coyer, Dowmunt, Mayo and Rodenburg are drawn upon to establish the project work within a framework for discussion. Conclusions are offered on the possibilities of PCR in a neo-liberal economic and cultural climate specifically in relation to empowerment, voice and exchange. An hour-long audio CD accompanies the written thesis as an illustration of the PCR practice under review. Combined, these two elements offer an investigation into “Voice in Radio”

Smart Classroom Technology: Instructional Effectiveness and Faculty and Student Satisfaction

Numerous designs, practices, stakeholders, and technology options make it difficult for higher education institutions to find direction and established standards for classroom construction and remodeling projects. Different models of technology-enhanced classrooms are being adopted as various managers, integrators, and architects develop new classroom spaces. A planning process, standardized classroom model, and effective support structure will be valuable elements in meeting the needs of faculty and students. The goal was to establish a best practices classroom model to meet the needs of community college faculty, students, and technology support personnel. Information collected from community colleges was used to determine the state of installed classroom technology that includes standard practices, policies and procedures, stakeholder involvement, ongoing budget and equipment replacement, and technical support. Community college faculty and students provided data related to the effectiveness of and their satisfaction with different technology classroom models. A case study approach was employed. The cases included two different electronic classroom models (Model 1: remodel of rooms in existing buildings in 2004 and Model 2: new building construction in 1995). Data were collected from faculty and students related to the effectiveness of and their satisfaction with the particular environment. Background information on classroom design, standards, technology integration, and support was gathered from other community colleges to be included as part of the foundation provided by the review of literature. These data, together with the local data, were used to develop a classroom standards document. Faculty and student data were used to determine the effectiveness of the technology components, room and system design, and overall integration of technology in the electronic classroom. Faculty and students reported a high level of satisfaction with the electronic classrooms as well as a perceived high level of instructional effectiveness. Some design considerations related to screen placement and lighting control were raised by both populations. There were no other significant differences between the two classroom models used in the investigation. Faculty and student preferences were incorporated into the classroom standards document developed at the conclusion of the research. Community college instructional support personnel reported a fairly consistent basic model for their electronic classrooms. The use of any form of standards document was rare. A team approach to planning, design, installation and support was widely used

Improving the use of USDA programs among Hispanic and Latino farmers and ranchers

Key findings: Latino farmers and ranchers in both states are very entrepreneurial and are seeking ways to expand their farming and ranching operations, both in size and scope. However, significant barriers exist for them to realize their ideas. The barriers for Latino farmers and ranchers are similar to those expressed by all beginning farmers and ranchers -- a lack of resources such as land, capital, equipment and knowledge. Latino farmers and ranchers lack awareness of where to get assistance to address these barriers. Latino farmers and ranchers in both states face barriers other beginning farmers and ranchers do not, language and cultural barriers chief among them. Latino farmers and ranchers in both states have, at best, a limited knowledge of USDA programs. Latino farmers and ranchers and USDA officials in both states have had minimal experience dealing with each other. USDA has minimal outreach to Latino farmers and ranchers in both states. USDA officials in both states have limited knowledge of who Latino farmers and ranchers are and where they are located. Language and cultural awareness are the major barriers on both sides of the relationship

Prospectus, March 2, 2005

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2005/1006/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, February 2, 2005

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2005/1002/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, February 16, 2005

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2005/1004/thumbnail.jp

Chemical Substructure in the Milky Way Halo: A New Population of Old Stars

We report the results of a coherent study of a new class of halo stars defined on the basis of the chemical compositions of three metal-poor objects ([Fe/H] -2) that exhibit unusually low abundances of α-element (Mg, Si, Ca) and neutron-capture (Sr, Y, Ba) material. Our analyses confirm and expand on earlier reports of atypical α- and neutron-capture abundances in BD +80°245, G4-36, and CS 22966-043. We also find that the latter two stars exhibit unusual relative abundance enhancements within the iron peak (Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn), along with what may be large abundances of Ga, an element not previously reported as being observed in any metal-poor star. These results provide further evidence that chemical enrichment and star formation histories varied from region to region within the Milky Way halo. Comparing the chemical abundances of the newly identified stellar population to supernova model yields, we derive supernova ratios of Type Ia versus Type II events in the range of 0.6 (NIa/NII)New Pop 1.3. For the Sun, we derive 0.18 ± 0.01 < (NIa/NII)☉ < 0.25 ± 0.06, supernova ratios in good agreement with values found in the literature. Given the relatively low metallicity and relatively high NIa/NII ratios of the low-α stars studied here, these objects may have been born from material produced in the yields of the earliest Type Ia supernova events. We also report the results of a preliminary attempt to employ the observed chemical abundances of low-metallicity stars in the identification, and possible cosmic evolution, of Type Ia supernova progenitors, and we discuss the limitations of current model yields