Congestion Control in Packet Switched Wide Area Networks using a Feedback Model

ABSTRAC

Computational Modelling of Collaborative Resources Sharing in Grid System

In grid computing, Grid users who submit jobs or tasks and resources providers who provide resources have different motivations when they join the Grid system. However, due to autonomy both the Grid users' and resource providers' objectives often conflict. This paper proposes autonomous hybrid resource management algorithm for optimizing the resource utilization of resources providers using “what-yougive-is-what-you-get” Service Level Agreements resource allocation policy. Utility functions are used to achieve the objectives of Grid resource and application. The algorithm was formulated as joint optimization of utilities of Grid applications and Grid resources, which combines the resource contributed, incentive score, trustworthiness and reputation score to compute resource utilization. Simulations were conducted to study the performance of the algorithm using GridSim v5.0. The simulation results revealed that the algorithm yields significantly good result because no user can consume more than what it contributes under different scenarios; hence the problem of free riding has been addressed through this algorithm.Keywords: Resource scheduling, Grid System, Computational modellin

The role of industry and economic context in open innovation: Evidence from Nigeria

Using innovation survey data on a sample of UK manufacturing firms, Laursen and Salter [2006] documented a non-monotonous relationship between external search strategies and firm-level innovative performance. We find partially similar results in a combined sample of Nigerian manufacturing and service firms. A major discrepancy is that external search appears not to matter for radical innovation in our sample. Based on multiple research streams including economics of innovation and development economics, we develop and test new hypotheses on sectoral differences and the role of the economic context. We find that in a developing context, a wider range of innovation obstacles implies broader external search and more intense obstacles require deeper search. We explore the implications of these results for management research and theory

Early skin-to-skin contact for healthy full-term infants after vaginal and caesarean delivery : A qualitative study on clinician perspectives

Aims and objectives: This study aims to provide insight into key factors from a clinician's perspective that influence uninterrupted early skin-to-skin contact after vaginal and caesarean delivery of healthy full-term infants. Background: Early skin-to-skin contact of healthy full-term infants ideally begins immediately after birth and continues for the first hour or the first breastfeed as recommended by the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. However, adoption of early skin-to-skin contact is low in many settings and the barriers that hinder its universal use are not well understood. Design: An exploratory qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews. Methods: Eleven clinicians were interviewed, including five registered nurses and one medical doctor from the obstetrics and gynaecology unit as well as four registered nurses and one medical doctor from the neonatal intensive care unit. Core topics that were discussed included perceptions on early skin-to-skin contact and facilitating factors and barriers to early skin-to-skin contact after vaginal and caesarean delivery. Interview sessions were recorded, transcribed and analysed using a thematic analysis approach. A coding framework was developed from which subthemes emerged. The overall themes were adopted from Lee et al.'s thematic framework to categorise factors into institutional, familial-level and implementation factors. Findings: Critical institutional factors included inadequate staffing and education of clinicians on early skin-to-skin contact. On a familial level, parental education and motivation were identified as important factors. Barriers to implementation included the absence of a clinical algorithm and unclear definitions for eligible mothers and infants. Conclusions: Various facilitating factors and barriers to early skin-to-skin contact of healthy full-term infants born via vaginal and caesarean delivery were identified. Relevance to clinical practice: Addressing these factors can help to provide a better understanding of clinician perspectives on early skin-to-skin contact and help guide its implementation as standard of care for healthy full-term infants

Early skin-to-skin contact for healthy full-term infants after vaginal and caesarean delivery : A qualitative study on clinician perspectives

Aims and objectives: This study aims to provide insight into key factors from a clinician's perspective that influence uninterrupted early skin-to-skin contact after vaginal and caesarean delivery of healthy full-term infants. Background: Early skin-to-skin contact of healthy full-term infants ideally begins immediately after birth and continues for the first hour or the first breastfeed as recommended by the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. However, adoption of early skin-to-skin contact is low in many settings and the barriers that hinder its universal use are not well understood. Design: An exploratory qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews. Methods: Eleven clinicians were interviewed, including five registered nurses and one medical doctor from the obstetrics and gynaecology unit as well as four registered nurses and one medical doctor from the neonatal intensive care unit. Core topics that were discussed included perceptions on early skin-to-skin contact and facilitating factors and barriers to early skin-to-skin contact after vaginal and caesarean delivery. Interview sessions were recorded, transcribed and analysed using a thematic analysis approach. A coding framework was developed from which subthemes emerged. The overall themes were adopted from Lee et al.'s thematic framework to categorise factors into institutional, familial-level and implementation factors. Findings: Critical institutional factors included inadequate staffing and education of clinicians on early skin-to-skin contact. On a familial level, parental education and motivation were identified as important factors. Barriers to implementation included the absence of a clinical algorithm and unclear definitions for eligible mothers and infants. Conclusions: Various facilitating factors and barriers to early skin-to-skin contact of healthy full-term infants born via vaginal and caesarean delivery were identified. Relevance to clinical practice: Addressing these factors can help to provide a better understanding of clinician perspectives on early skin-to-skin contact and help guide its implementation as standard of care for healthy full-term infants