Quality of service in the internet

Internet is currently the most popular technology for global communication and information retrieval. Hence, networking technologists involved in Internet research have the responsibility of developing technologies that support multimedia networking applications such as audio and video streaming, video emails, real-time interactive audio and video conferencing and virtual reality. This article discusses the underlying mechanisms that have been developed which augment packet switching in supporting the smooth functioning of these real-time applications.     

Points at Which Continuous Functions Have the Same Height

As an easy application of the intermediate value theorem, one can show that for any continuous function f: [0, 1] → ? with f (0) = f (1), there are points a, a + 1/2 both in [0, 1] such that f (a) = f (a + 1/2). In this note, we show that this property holds with 1/2 replaced by any number of the form 1/n for a positive integer n. More interestingly, we show that this is false for every number not of the form 1/n.     

Denying rumors of organizational change: A higher source is not always better

Source appropriateness in denying rumors of organizational change was investigated in a laboratory context. As predicted, results revealed that the denial by the source highest in organizational position was not the most effective. Instead, the source most successful in reducing anxiety associated with the rumor and belief in the rumor was the one whose position level matched the scope of the rumor.     

Information technology adoption behavior life cycle: Toward a Technology Continuance Theory (TCT)

For over a decade, researchers have devoted much effort to construct theoretical models, such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) for explaining and predicting user behavior in IS acceptance and continuance. Another model, the Cognitive Model (COG), was proposed for continuance behavior; it combines some of the variables used in both TAM and ECM. This study applied the technique of structured equation modeling with multiple group analysis to compare the TAM, ECM, and COG models. Results indicate that TAM, ECM, and COG have quite different assumptions about the underlying constructs that dictate user behavior and thus have different explanatory powers. The six constructs in the three models were synthesized to propose a new Technology Continuance Theory (TCT). A major contribution of TCT is that it combines two central constructs: attitude and satisfaction into one continuance model, and has applicability for users at different stages of the adoption life cycle, i.e., initial, short-term and long-term users. The TCT represents a substantial improvement over the TAM, ECM and COG models in terms of both breadth of applicability and explanatory power.     

Routers in internetworks

Internetwork is a collection of individual networks, connected by intermediate networking devices, which function as a single large network. The advent of packet switching has revolutionized the manner in which an internetwork can be created. One of the most prominent packet switching devices is the router. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the necessity and working of a conventional router deployed in today’s Internetwork.     

The concept of public goods,the state,and higher education finance: a view from the BRICs

Because higher education serves both public and private interests, the way it is conceived and financed is contested politically, appearing in different forms in different societies. What is public and private in education is a political–social construct, subject to various political forces, primarily interpreted through the prism of the state. Mediated through the state, this construct can change over time as the economic and social context of higher education changes. In this paper, we analyze through the state’s financing of higher education how it changes as a public/private good and the forces that impinge on states to influence such changes. To illustrate our arguments, we discuss trends in higher education financing in the BRIC countries—Brazil, Russia, India, and China. We show that in addition to increased privatization of higher education financing, BRIC states are increasingly differentiating the financing of elite and non-elite institutions.