A decade of Internet research — advances in models and practices

The complexity and heterogeneity of the current Internet have rendered traditional analytical models and techniques inadequate for networking researchers and engineers. Many within the networking research community feel that researchers investigating new protocols and architectures, either by simulation or test-bed implementation, need to use common models. Despite the lack of models with universal applicability, there are certain models that are more appropriate than others for analysing certain systems. Researchers in different areas tend to use established models, typically to allow comparison of results. In addition, researchers have made considerable progress in understanding the statistical nature of Internet traffic. Despite the widespread use of simulation and test-bed implementation for modelling the Internet, there is little consensus today on analysis techniques and their validation. This paper summarises the main advances made in the last ten years or so in understanding the nature of Internet traffic, models and practices developed for Internet topology and protocol dynamics analysis.     

Research-informed evidence and support for road safety legislation: Findings from a national survey

Public opinion is influential in the policymaking process, making it important to understand the factors that influence popular support or opposition to public health policies. Researchers and policymakers tend to agree that scientific evidence can inform decision-making, but this influence has not been explored sufficiently, especially in the area of injury prevention. This paper considers the potential for the communication of evidence-based research and public health data to influence opinion about legislation that could reduce road-related injury. We conducted a nationally-representative online survey to assess public attitudes toward four road-safety laws; ignition interlock, school zone red-light cameras, restrictions on infotainment systems, and children's bicycle helmets. For each law, we assessed initial support and then provided a research-informed statistic on either the injury risk posed or the law's efficacy reducing risk and re-examined the law's support or opposition. The survey was completed by 2397 U.S. adults. Each law was initially supported by a majority of respondents, with greatest support for ignition interlock (74.4%) and children's bicycle helmets (74.8%). Exposure to research-informed statements increased legislative support for 20–30% of respondents. Paired analyses demonstrate significant increases toward supportive opinions when comparing responses to the initial and research-informed statements. The study demonstrates considerable public support for evidence-based road-related laws. Overall support was augmented by exposure to research data. Injury prevention practitioners can capitalize on this support in efforts to build support for legislation that would prevent injury. Researchers should be encouraged to expand their efforts to share research results with both the public and policymakers.     

Interruption management: the use of attention-directing tactile cues

Previous research has suggested that providing informative cues about interrupting stimuli aids management of multiple tasks. However, auditory and visual cues can be ineffective in certain situations. The objective of the present study was to explore whether attention-directing tactile cues aid or interfere with performance. A two-group posttest-only randomized experiment was conducted. Sixty-one participants completed a 30-min performance session consisting of aircraft-monitoring and gauge-reading computer tasks. Tactile signals were administered to a treatment group to indicate the arrival and location of interrupting tasks. Control participants had to remember to visually check for the interrupting tasks. Participants in the treatment group responded to more interrupting tasks and responded faster than did control participants. Groups did not differ on error rates for the interrupting tasks, performance of the primary task, or subjective workload perceptions. In the context of the tasks used in the present research, tactile cues allowed participants to effectively direct attention where needed without disrupting ongoing information processing. Tactile cues should be explored in a variety of other visual, interrupt-laden environments. Potential applications exist for aviation, user-interface design, vigilance tasks, and team environments.     

Information technology and job design: a case study on computerized numerically controlled machine tool working

A detailed case study is presented of the use of CNC machine tools in an engineering factory. This examines what choices were made regarding the management and operation of CNC machines, and why, and the impact of these choices on the firm and its employees. Contrary to a deskilling hypothesis, the findings showed that CNC machinists exercised high levels of operational control, were very skilled, satisfied with the content of their jobs, but critical of work coordinating mechanisms. These job designs are linked to internal and external contingencies. The paper concludes with predictions concerning job designs associated with the move to complex information technology systems.     

An international survey of the use and effectiveness of modern manufacturing practices

We describe a survey of the use and effectiveness of 12 manufacturing practices. The survey was administered to a random, stratified sample of companies with 150 or more employees in the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and Switzerland, yielding a total sample of 898 companies. We report findings on the extent of use of the practices, when they were introduced, their predicted future use, their effectiveness, and the correlates of their use and effectiveness. The data are examined for differences by country of location and country of ownership, as well as by industrial sector. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Pink discoloration in canned pears I.—Role of tin in pigment formation

The major pigment in discoloured canned pears is identified as a purple-pink insoluble tin-anthocyanin complex from the effect of reagents for anthocyanins on the spectra of solid and syrup fractions of the product. This characterisation is supported by significant correlations between the intensity of reflected colour and the insoluble tin content of the solid fraction. It is suggested that formation of a tin complex is essential for the occurrence of pink discolorations in canned pears, and experiments are described designed to vary the intensity of discoloration by modifying the conditions controlling complex formation.     

Perturbations in hyperthermia temperature distributions associated with counter-current flow: numerical simulations and empirical verification

Two numerical techniques are used to calculate the effect of large vessel counter-current flow on hyperthermic temperature distributions. One is based on the Navier-Stokes equation for steady-state flow, and the second employs a convective-type boundary condition at the interface of the vessel walls. Steady-state temperature fields were calculated for two energy absorption rate distributions (ARD) in a cylindrical tissue model having two pairs of counter-current vessels (one pair with equal diameter vessels and another pair with unequal diameters). The first assumed a uniform ARD throughout cylinder; the second ARD was calculated for a tissue cylinder inside an existing four antenna Radiofrequency (RF) array. A tissue equivalent phantom was constructed to verify the numerical calculations. Temperatures induced with the RF array were measured using a noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging technique based on the chemical shift of water. Temperatures calculated using the two numerical techniques are in good agreement with the measured data. The results show: 1) the convective-type boundary condition technique reduces computation time by a factor of ten when compared to the fully conjugated method with little quantitative difference (approximately 0.3 degree C) in the numerical accuracy and 2) the use of noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (thermal imaging) to quantitatively access the temperature perturbations near large vessels is feasible using the chemical shift technique.     

Microprocessor Architecture

This marks the second issue of Computer devoted to the Asilomar Workshop on Microprocessors. As with the first such issue (January 1976), no attempt has been made to cover the workshop in toto (a summary report appeared in the July 1976 Computer). Rather, the goal has been to spotlight a few of the more interesting developments and philosophies that were explored during the April 1976 workshop.     

Gas absorption accompanied by a large heat effect and volume change in the liquid phase: the system hydrogen chloride/ethylene glycol

Using a predicted value of the liquid phase diffusivity, the Chiang and Toor model is shown to give a good estimate of the measured rate of absorption of hydrogen chloride by ethylene glycol. A liquid surface temperature rise of 20°C is calculated. Unlike the previously tested ammonia-water system, temperature and volume effects do not compensate, and the absorption rate in this system is considerably higher than the isothermal prediction.