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Realistic Large-Scale Network Optimisation
Get PDFThis paper considers communication network design problems that arise in the real world, with large numbers of nodes - and link and switch costs dependent upon their traffic capacity. Such costs, in turn, depend upon network topology so are not fixed at the start of, or through, any optimisation process. Realistic topological restrictions are also discussed. The limitations of conventional approaches – both constructive and search based – are noted and the requirements of practical optimisation methods explored. Two workable approaches to network design - one an established local search variant, another a more novel geometric approach – are introduced and combined. Various simple and compound algorithms, ranging from exhaustive search to fast heuristic are compared with experimental results given in conclusion
Including migrant worker children in the learning and social context of the rural primary school
No full textMany of the larger towns and cities within the UK have long experienced a cosmopolitan mix of cultures, resulting in ethnically and linguistically diverse schools. However, the wider expansion of the European Union in 2004 has brought about significant changes and challenges for many schools, particularly for those in more rural areas. This article arises out of a three year qualitative study (2008-2010) which focused on identifying the experiences of stake-holders (children and parents of Eastern European heritage and their teachers) where migrant children enter primary schools which have previously had limited exposure to cultural and linguistic diversity. Although many migrant children settle successfully and progress within the UK education system, much can be done in terms of educational policy and practice to ensure that these learners are appropriately supported. This paper examines some of the factors impacting upon migrant children’s learning and well-being, and offers guidance to practitioners as how to develop inclusive and individualized learning and social contexts for these learners
Ethnographic Approach to User-Centred Evaluation of Telecentres
Get PDFTelecentres are considered to be an important means for providing disadvantaged communities with access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enabled services. However, there is a limited understanding of how targeted beneficiaries perceive the roles of these telecentres. Using an ethnographic approach, this paper examines the services offered by two telecentres in Bangladesh. An intervention was initiated that enabled groups of farmers to use mobile phones to access services. Based on farmers’ experiences and opinions the authors develop a framework which explicates the dynamic nature of use and appropriation of ICT services
Developing communities of inquiry in the USA: Retrospective and prospective
Get PDFThis paper takes a board perspective on Community of Inquiry (CI), following the orientation of earlier pa- pers looking at progressive pedagogies (Morehouse, 1993a; 1993b). In those papers, I argued that Philosophy for Children should look for kindred spirits in order to both better understand its own position within pedagogic tradition and to “make friends” in order to positively influences the lives and learning of children. The whole language approaches to reading instruction was the major focus of those papers. Here I take a bolder perspec- tive arguing that in order to understand and appreciate what a community of inquiry is, how it operates, and its influence in the schools, one ought to look at applications of CI that are not within the Philosophy for Children literature. Some of these programs specifically discuss CI, others do not. In taking such an approach towards the literature of pedagogy, I have discovered and included programs that do use the words ‘community of inquiry’ as a part of the pedagogic lexicon
Pentecostal Education
Get PDFAt the start of the 20th century, as denominational resources were accumulated, Pentecostals provided basic bible training for their ministers and missionaries. The narrative shows how simple training schemes blossomed in some cultures into universities and colleges and, in others, into accredited institutions attached to secular bodies or, in the developing world, into more innovative schemes, some of which were church-based. The current challenge is for Pentecostalism to remain true to itself while incorporating mainstream scholarship
Developing new academic developers: doing before being?
No full textA small group of new academic developers reflected on their induction into the profession and wondered if things could have been done differently. The researchers decided to question the directors of three tertiary academic development units about how they recruited new developers, what skills and competences they looked for and how they inducted new appointees into the role. This article interrogates the interview data, employing Winter’s ‘dilemma analysis’ to tease out the ambiguities, judgments and problems inherent in the issues of employing new academic developers. Finally, the authors discuss ways of enhancing the induction experience for new academic developers
An action research study of the development of a Competency Framework in the context of district nursing
Get PDFThis report presents the results of a collaborative action research study into the development and perceived usefulness of a competency framework in the context of district nursing
E-Government vs. Ordinary Bureaucratic Government: A Comparative Study
Get PDFIn this century, e-government is drawing significant attention especially in administration and business and in other service organizations. This paper attempts to clarify the terms e-government, e-governance and bureaucratic government. It also pays the attention to establish the relationship between e-government and bureaucratic government, contrasts them and tries to clearly picturize each other. Both E-government and e-governance are based on ICTs whereas bureaucracy’s base concerns traditional pen-paper and hard-and-fast rigid rules and regulations. The authors finally found e-government more effective, efficient, and mature and time oriented. On the other hand, bureaucratic form takes care of inflexible constitution and it is afraid of change with time. However, the modified e-bureaucratic form was found to be better than ordinary bureaucratic one to replace its former version. This paper also searches for frameworks and adoption of e-government in this present time. Although e-government engulfs huge money in its initial stage for installation, it gives birth of huge benefits as compared to those from bureaucratic one in the long run
Electrospun fibers based on Arabic, karaya and Kondagogu gums
Get PDFNanofibers of natural tree polysaccharides based on three gums namely Arabic (GA), karaya (GK) and kondagogu (KG) have been prepared for the first time using electrospinning. Electrospinning solutions were prepared by mixing gum solutions of GA, GK & KG with eco-friendly polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polyethylene oxide (PEO). The present study focuses on the effect of electrospinning blended solutions of GA, GK or KG with PVA or PEO, additives which influence system parameters and process parameters. This has important effects on the electrospinning process and the resulting fibers whose morphology and physicochemical properties were evaluated. The mass ratios of 70:30 to 90:10 for PVA: GA, PVA: GK and PVA: KG were observed to establish an optimum blend solution ratio in order to fabricate uniform beadless nanofibers with an average diameter of 240 ± 50, 220 ± 40 and 210 ± 30 nm, respectively. Various structural and physicochemical properties of the electrospun fibers were investigated. Furthermore, the comparisons of various functionalities of the untreated and plasma treated electrospun fibers were assessed. The methane plasma treated nanofibers were shown to be of extremely specific surface area, improved water contact angle, high surface porosity and roughness and superior hydrophobic properties compared to untreated fibers
Global Optimization of Microwave Filters Based on a Surrogate Model Assisted Evolutionary Algorithm
Get PDFLocal optimization is a routine approach for full-wave optimization of microwave filters. For filter optimization problems with numerous local optima or where the initial design is not near to the optimal region, the success rate of the routine method may not be high. Traditional global optimization techniques have a high success rate for such problems, but are often prohibitively computationally expensive considering the cost of full-wave electromagnetic simulations. To address the above challenge, a new method, called surrogate model-assisted evolutionary algorithm for filter optimization (SMEAFO), is proposed. In SMEAFO, considering the characteristics of filter design landscapes, Gaussian process surrogate modeling, differential evolution operators, and Gaussian local search are organized in a particular way to balance the exploration ability and the surrogate model quality, so as to obtain high-quality results in an efficient manner. The performance of SMEAFO is demonstrated by two real-world design cases (a waveguide filter and a microstrip filter), which do not appear to be solvable by popular local optimization techniques. Experiments show that SMEAFO obtains high-quality designs comparable with global optimization techniques but within a reasonable amount of time. Moreover, SMEAFO is not restricted by certain types of filters or responses. The SMEAFO-based filter design optimization tool can be downloaded from http://fde.cadescenter.com