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A Theoretical Framework for a Dynamic Team Learning and Adaptation System
Full text linkThis paper will discuss a model for team learning and adaptation by applying sociotechnical and cognitive systems concepts to a model previously developed by [1] to facilitate double-loop learning in teams and organizations. Organizational knowledge assets will be explained relative to team learning followed by an explanation of the sociotechnical system that the model is based upon. An overview of the team cognitive systems model will be provided as a precursor to explaining the learning and adaptation system. The team learning and adaptation model combines sociotechnical and cognitive systems elements to provide a model explaining how team learning at the tactical level can be aligned with other organizational resources while aligning these efforts towards organizational strategy. The proposed model also provides a holistic means for implementing a problem-solving methodology within the sociotechnical and cognitive systems contexts.
The aim of this paper is to aid practitioners seeking to improve how his or her team learns, collaborates, and innovates at all levels of the organization. The paper is geared mainly towards practitioners interested in improving his or her team's performance. Academics interested in team learning and knowledge sharing may also find the model of interest in academic pursuits related to team learning and adaptation. Practitioners can use this model to identify shortcomings in team learning and adaptation performance relative to specific work requirements. Academicians can use the model to explain sociotechnical and environmental interactions relative to how teams perform learning and adapting behaviors
The Power of Private Label in Retail Market
Full text linkGlobally, own store brands or private labels are rapidly gaining share at the cost of manufacture brands. In India, where the share of organised retail is minuscule, manufacture brands still dominate. With the retail sector poised for growth, national brand manufacturers will have to contend with competition within distribution channel, which calls for revised marketing strategy locally, to thwart the threat of the private label in a store. The phenomenon also offers national brand manufacturers the opportunity to service the production needs of the private labels efficiently. The problem is India's internet-savvy consumers aren't as convinced about Private labels as their global counterparts. Consumers may be happy with the quality of private label when it comes to kitchen towels and staples like wheat flour but are wary when it comes to buying a store version of, say, baby food or shampoo. The paper has also discussed the different types branding strategies used by retailers in the developing countries. The manufacturer brands have an advantage relative to own brand where symbolic association and/or product innovation are important to customers. Conversely, where symbolic associations and product innovations are less important there is an opportunity for retailers to compete successfully with manufacturer brands if they can demonstrate comparable product quality and provide value or money. This paper deals with the power of private label in modern retail market
Cloud Computing and K-12 School IT Infrastructure in Western Canada: From Challenges to Opportunities
Full text linkThis paper is based on the findings of an exhaustive study of all 75 large K-12 districts in Canada's three western-most provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. This study encompassed over 1.1 million students and a geographical area of 2,258,483 square kilometers. Facilitating teaching and learning activities for so many students across such a large territory, with diverse provincial regulations, is an impressive feat achieved by the information technology leaders of the K-12 school districts. Multiple case study analysis, followed by correlation analysis, were used to explore the nature of IT infrastructure and cloud computing use in Western Canada. A data transformation model mixed methods triangulation design methodology was used. This paper discusses the strategies used in Western Canada to deliver educational technology resources through to students, teachers, parents, and district staff. The findings of this study are that cloud computing is the primary IT infrastructure in Western Canadian K-12 education. All school districts in the three provinces studied use cloud computing for some aspects of their infrastructure. In instances where cloud computing infrastructure is not used, school-level LAN and server infrastructure is used. In addition to being an alternative to cloud computing, the rare instances of school-level server use are either to supplement or complement a district’s centralized cloud computing infrastructure, with cloud computing infrastructure existing in parallel
A Lightweight Block Cipher Algorithm for Secure SDN Environment
Full text linkSoftware Defined Network is a next-generation networking technology that transforms a closed network environment based on existing network vendors into a flexible, software-based, centralized management environment that can be simplified by abstracting and programming. Although these advantages can be applied to some security problems rather than existing networks, most of the security problems and vulnerabilities of existing networks are present and various attacks are taking place. In this paper, we propose a structure to enhance the security function of SDN by checking how to implement the network security function using SDN technology and lightening the existing block cipher algorithm for this security problem. Lightweight-AES algorithm, which is a lightweight block cipher algorithm based on the AES-256 algorithm, which can simultaneously satisfy the quality of high level of security. In the case of simply reducing the number of round operations of the AES algorithm, the difference diffusion effect of the KeySchedule function generating the round key is reduced, and the security of the encryption algorithm is degraded due to the related key attack using the related key difference characteristic. The Lightweight-AES algorithm proposed in this paper improves the rate of cancellation and decryption by reducing the number of round operations, and the round internal function is supplemented to increase the differential diffusion effect of the KeySchedule function. In order to evaluate the performance of the Lightweight-AES algorithm proposed in this paper, a comparison simulation is performed with the existing AES algorithm. As a result, we confirmed that the Lightweight-AES algorithm can provide SDN content security equal to the encryption / decryption rate and algorithm security strength of the AES-128 algorithm. Therefore, it is considered that the proposed Lightweight-AES algorithm can provide better security service in SDN environment quality and security than the existing AES-128 algorithm
Analysis of Failure of Democracies in Africa
Full text linkThe western model of democracy is considered by many Africans to be extremely narrow and even alien to African cultures. Democracy is not just about the right to vote and be voted for, but it is about a whole complex of rights and duties that citizens must exercise if government is to be open and accountable and. Despite the rapid spread of liberal democracy in Africa there have been failures where all the opportunities are right for success. This paper in its analysis of the failure of democracies in Africa explores the views of the modernization theory in general and the culturalist perspective in particular which argues that African traditional political institutions are autocratic, personalized and corrupt, and therefore cannot provide appropriate historical and cultural formulation for democracy in modern societies. Relying on secondary data from journals and other literary sources, the paper disagrees with the modernization and culturalist perspectives and argues that Africa's colonial experience displaced the indigenous democratic practices and replaced them with first, dictatorship and subsequently, western liberal democracy which was and has continued to be alien and as a consequence has been failing across the continent. The paper therefore, recommends that the path to democratization in Africa must be home grown and that outsiders should only help move the process forward
Analysis of the relationship between Inflation and unemployment rate: Case study USA
Full text linkUSA has the biggest economy in the world supposed the power of the GDP, making plenitude of common resources and a great dedicated productivity. The USA is considered as a post-modern, USA is distinguished worldwide in both monetary and military command, an unmistakable political and social compel, and a pioneer in advancements. In our research, we ponder about the connection amongst expansion and joblessness. There are different types of unemployment, can be shortened as Basic type, Local type, Traditional type, Regular types, Frictional types, Repetitive types. And inflation be present as a long haul ascend on the costs of merchandise and ventures affected by the cheapening of cash. However, there are focal points for expansion, we will talk about it later, we need first to concentrate in a portion of the harmful parts of swelling. Inflationary questions arise once happenstance surprising swelling that isn't acceptably synchronized thru a rise in people's incomes. on the occasion that salaries do not match the increment of the goods prices, everyone's acquiring power have been successfully decreased, that be able to thusly rapid a narrowing or else stale budget. Moreover, over the top growth be able to similarly cause obliteration in departure reserve reserves by way of it decreases the obtaining impact the cash that investors besides financial specialists have hoarded absent. the case study will be applied on United Nations of America which will cover the period of time starting from 1929 until 2011 utilizing relapse and correlation analysis examination. In this study an investigation for the examined statistics is led, Three viewpoints are practical in the examination, control charts, Pareto charts, correlation analysis and box plot with curve fitting results
A Secure Communication through Quantum Key Distribution Protocols
Full text linkQuantum cryptography is a new method of communication offering the security of the inviolability by using Law of Nature.Quantum Cryptography uses different secure communication by applying the phenomena of quantum physics. Unlike traditional classical cryptography, which uses mathematical techniques to restrict eavesdroppers, quantum cryptography is focused on the properties of physics of light for information. Quantum cryptography depends only on the validity of quantum theory, i.e., it is guarantied directly by the laws of physics. This is a different from any classical cryptographic techniques. This paper summarizes the current state of quantum cryptography and provides potential extensions of its feasibility as a mechanism for securing existing communication systems
Time to Attrition and Factors Associated among Adults enrolled in Pre-Anti- Retroviral Therapy Care in Tepi General Hospital, Ethiopia
Full text linkPre-antiretroviral therapy (Pre-ART) patient attrition is a growing concern in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, there is little information that assesses the magnitude and its related factors. This study assessed time to attrition and factors associated among adults enrolled in pre ART care at Tepi General Hospital in South West Ethiopia. Records of adult pre-ART patients enrolled at Tepi General Hospital from October 2010 to September 2013 were reviewed to find factors linked with time to attrition. We defined time to attrition as the period a patient was enrolled in pre-ART service till attrition. We Used Kaplan Meir curve to estimate survival time, and log-rank test to compare the time to attrition among different categories of patients. We used Cox hazard model to assess factors related with time to attrition. We followed 652 pre-ART patients for 337.6 person years of follow-up from start up to pre-ART outcomes. Of these, 179 patients were lost to follow up and 37 patients died, contributing to an overall attrition of 33.13%. During the early six months the attrition rate was 89.8%. Not starting cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (AHR=1.51, 95% CI, 1.02-2.25), being co-infected with tuberculosis (TB) (AHR=2.16, 95%CI, 1.35-3.45), living further than 10 km away from the hospital (AHR=1.44, 95%CI, 1.07-2.0), and not disclosed status of HIV(AHR=3.04) were factors significantly associated with time to attrition.
Pre-ART patient attrition rate was high among clients not using cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, TB/HIV co-infected, living > 10 km from a health care facility and with undisclosed HIV status. Close follow-up of clients during the early months' follow-up period is greatly recommended
Study of Convert Waste Stabilization Pond Geometry to Treated Wastewater Efficiency, (El- Burullus Lake, Egypt) As a Case Study
Full text linkThe simulation of hydrodynamics water quality in ponds is a developing tool that worth studying in order to understand their internal processes and interactions. Pond design involves several physical, hydrological, geometrical, biological and dynamic variables to provide high hydrodynamic efï¬ciency and maximum substrate utilization rates. Computational fluid dynamic modelling (CFD) allows the combination of these factors to predict the behavior of ponds by using different configurations. In this research mathematical model developed by Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI), was formulated to simulate WQ parameter. This model was calibrated and used to simulate a scenario to improve study reach water quality in polluted lakes. The study applied on El-Burullus Lake, which is the second largest northern lake in Egypt which belongs to high eutrophic lake type and suffers from several problems. The model was run at steady and variable state with raw wastewater to study the real effect of the polluted drains, which discharge high amount of polluted wastewater into the El-Burullus Lake and know the lake situation after make baffles scenario. The major functions performed by baffles are to reduce hydraulic short-circuiting and to provide a submerged surface which can encourage the growth of attached biomass. Attached biomass growing on the surface of the baffles could increase the total mass of organisms in the pond and thus improve the treatment efficiency and therefore reduce the eutrophication rate in the pond such as (NH3-N, PO4-P and NO3-N). Results showed that there are a significant variance between the rate of NH3-N, PO4-P and NO3-N before and after make baffles, and the overlap between baffles (L=0.50 baffle) is more efficient than no overlap. In conclusion, waste ponds and be improved easily and economically to be more efficient by making baffles in the lake which can increase the water velocity, avoided the dead zones area and reduce the eutrophic concentration
Ventilation Requirements for Today's Mechanized Underground Metal Mines
Full text linkVentilation is a basic part of all underground mine operations. The main objective of underground mine ventilation is to provide sufficient quantities of air to all the working areas. Today, in modern mechanized underground metal mines, diesel-powered mobile equipment is extensively used for high production rates. Ore can be extracted from many production stopes due to the production rate in a mine. Amount of airflow required for an underground mine depends on several factors, including daily production capacity, number of diesel equipment, ambient temperature, mining method, mining depth and airway type. After implementation of Stage IV Emission Standards for nonroad diesel engines, it is getting more complex to determine airflow quantities required for underground mines wherefore reduced diesel emissions. Required amount of airflow for a mine is obtained by ventilation fans and the largest cost aspect in mine ventilation is the power costs of running the ventilation fans which can reach as high as 50 percent of a mine’s entire electrical power cost. The cost of electrical power has increased significantly in recent years and is likely to continue increasing in the future. That is why it is getting more important to determine proper ventilation design for underground metal mines