Münster University of Applied Sciences

About: Münster University of Applied Sciences is a education organization based out in Münster, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Luminescence & Laser. The organization has 694 authors who have published 1067 publications receiving 12597 citations.

Congestion and Flow Control in the Context of the Message-Oriented Protocol SCTP

Abstract: Congestion and flow control are key mechanisms used to regulate the load in modern packet networks. The new IETF Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) inherited these algorithms from the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). Although the principles used are the same, some issues arise from the fact that SCTP operates message-oriented whereas TCP operates byte-stream oriented. SCTP also supports bundling of multiple small user messages into one SCTP packet. As a consequence, the overall overhead of an SCTP packet depends on the user message size and the number of user messages that are bundled into the packet. RFC 4960 defining SCTP does not specify whether the message specific headers have to be considered when updating the parameters for congestion control. We will show that neglecting the additional headers when calculating outstanding bytes can lead to unfairness towards TCP connections. We will also show that incorrect handling of the additional memory needed to process each message in the flow control calculations will lead to an exhaustion of the receiver window resulting in a huge amount of unnecessary retransmissions. Based on experiments with the flow control of the SCTP implementations available in several operating systems, we will identify the issues and analyze them by using simulations. As a result, we will present solutions that will lead to fairness towards TCP and reduce the number of retransmissions substantially. Although we will focus on SCTP, the results are also true for other message-oriented protocols using bundling.

Kinetic Analysis Crystallization of α-Al2O3 by Dynamic DTA Technique

Abstract: The phase transformation of seeded (5 mass% Fe2O3 as a Fe(NO3)3 solution) boehmite derived alumina gel to α-Al2O3 was studied with DTA technique and compared with unseeded and α-Al2O3 seeded boehmite gels. Data for kinetic analysis of α-Al2O3 crystallization were obtained from quantitative DTA curves. The kinetic parameters were analysed by traditional Kissinger analysis and Friedman and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall methods using the Netzsch Thermokinetics program. Results of the comparison of values of activation energies for all three gels and methods are the process of α-Al2O3 transformation for originally γ-AlOOH/Fe(NO3)3 gels goes like that of unseeded boehmite gels,only under lower temperatures (lower about 200°C).

Body mass index and mortality in women: follow-up of the Canadian National Breast Screening Study cohort.

Abstract: Body mass index and mortality in women: follow-up of the Canadian National Breast Screening Study cohort

Effect evaluation of an interprofessional medication therapy management approach for multimorbid patients in primary care: a cluster-randomized controlled trial in community care (WestGem study protocol)

Abstract: Background: Pharmaceutical practice worldwide is developing towards patient care. Medication Review (MR) and Medication Therapy Management (MTM) are evolving as the most prominent services in pharmaceutical care and have a strong potential to provide a large benefit for patients and society. MTMs can only be performed in an interprofessional, collaborative setting. Several international studies have explored the effects of a MTM on the quality of therapy and costs. For Germany the data is still deficient. This study aims to provide data on the effects of an interprofessional MTM regarding quality of therapy, quality of life, costs and cost-effectiveness. Method/Design: The study is designed as a cluster-randomized controlled trial in primary care, involving 12 outpatient clinics (clusters) and 165 patients. Primary care units are allocated to interventions using a Stepped Wedge Design. All units are initially assigned to the control group. After a 6 month observation period, general practitioners (GP) are randomly allocated to one of three groups and the interprofessional medication therapy management approach is implemented sequentially per each group with a lag of 3 months between. The primary outcome is the change in the quality of therapy measured by the MAI (Medication Appropriateness Index). Secondary outcomes include changes in the number of drug related problems, medication complexity, changes in drug-adherence, changes in health-status and function, quality of life, direct costs and the incremental costeffectiveness ratio. The acceptance of the interprofessional Medication Therapy Management approach is assessed by qualitative methods. Discussion: The patient interview and brown bag review are activities, typically provided by the pharmacist. In this trial the patient is blinded to the pharmacist. The strength of having the patient blinded to the pharmacists is to exclude skepticism of the patient toward unknown pharmacies, which might be a major confounder in a regional and community setting. A weakness is that some patient related data might reach the pharmacists in a way, which might differ from self-acquired data. Trial registration: Current controlled trials ISRCTN41595373.