Multi-level virtual ring : a foundation network architecture to support peer-to-peer application in wireless sensor network

Two main problems prevent the deployment of peer-to-peer application in a wireless sensor network: the index table, which should be distributed stored rather than uses a central server as the director; the unique node identifier, which cannot use the global addresses. This paper presents a multi-level virtual ring (MVR) structure to solve these two problems.

The index table in MVR is distributed stored by using the DHT technique. MVR is constructed decentralized and runs on mobile nodes themselves, requiring no central server or interruption. Naming system in MVR uses natural names rather than global addresses to identify sensor nodes. The MVR can route directly on the name identifiers of the sensor nodes without being aware the location. Some sensor nodes are selected as the backbone nodes by the backbone selection algorithm and are placed on the different levels of the virtual rings. MVR hashes nodes’ identifiers on the virtual ring, and stores them at the backbone nodes. Furthermore, MVR adopts cross-level routing to improve the routing efficiency.

Experiments using ns2 simulator for up to 200 nodes show that the storage and bandwidth requirements of MVR grow slowly with the size of the network. Furthermore, MVR has demonstrated as self-administrating, fault-tolerant, and resilient under the different workloads.

Foundation evidence of the relationship between entrepreneurs, financial issues and financial advisers

In this study financial advisers’ relative influence on entrepreneurs’ decisions have been investigated. Financial advisers are advisers, included in entrepreneurs’ discussion networks, with whom entrepreneurs discuss financial issues. The concept of financial adviser includes a range of different people with different functions, irrespective of whether these people provide the entrepreneur with finance or not. It may include people such as venture capitalists, business angels, bankers, accountants, advocates or management advisers. Based on follow-up surveys completed in relation to the Danish participation in Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), it was found that financial advisers only play a minor role in the two early phases of the entrepreneurial process before the venture is actually started. Entrepreneurs might have relationships with financial advisers in these stages, but only few of them are included in the discussion network. It was further revealed that the ties between financial advisers and entrepreneurs often are weaker than the ties entrepreneurs have with others in their discussion network. Two practical implications for financial advisers emerged from the study. First, they need to re-consider their role in the early phases of the entrepreneurial process in order to increase their influence and benefit from the co-operation. Second, they need to find a way to create a closer relationship with the entrepreneurs they advise.

Setting the foundation for molecular nuts and bolts

The thesis outlines effective methods of designing and constructing chiral nano-porous materials. These materials may facilitate cheaper and large-scale production of chiral molecules, such as pharmaceuticals and bioactives. Computer models of target materials correlated well with laboratory experiments and effective synthetic strategies for manufacture were developed.

The relevance of the Heart Foundation of Australia's dietary recommendations for adult Australians : a comparison of views of general practitioners, cardiologists and dietitians

PURPOSE: To compare the views of general practitioners, cardiologists and dietitians about the relevance of the Heart Foundation of Australia's dietary recommendations for adult cardiac patients.

BASIC PROCEDURES: Quantitative-cross sectional study. Postal questionnaires were self-completed by 248 Victorian general practitioners (30% response), 189 Australia-wide cardiologists (47% response) and 180 Victorian dietitians (45% response). Responses were represented as percentages and analyses of variance were conducted to explore the impact of the independent variables: age, work status and gender on the dependent variable: dietary recommendation.

MAIN FINDINGS: Approximately half of the recommendations were viewed as strongly important to implement; these related to lean meats, limiting takeaways and cakes/biscuits, and adjusting energy intake. Others of importance were eating fruits, vegetables and fish. However, most of these goals were seen as difficult to achieve. Dietitians appeared to share responses of doctors, except for greater importance of eating fruit and vegetables and a greater difficulty in limiting cakes and biscuits. There was a high level of agreement among the three groups (mean 87%) about patients having difficulty implementing adjusting energy intake.

CONCLUSIONS: There is agreement amongst these professionals that many of the recommendations lack importance, specifically those pertaining to unsaturated oils, low fat dairy products, cholesterol rich foods, intake of legumes and grains and the restriction of salt. This may reflect a need for further nutrition education.