Using complex events to represent domain concepts in graphs

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015. We have developed an event based visualisation model for analysing patterns between news story data and stock prices. Visual analytics systems generally show a direct mapping from data to visualisation. We show that by inserting an intermediate step, which models an expert manipulating data, we can provide unique results that display patterns within the data being investigated and assist less expert users

Cage row arrangement affects the performance of laying hens in the hot humid tropics

Although the traditional cage system of housing laying hens is gradually being faced out due to welfare reasons, cages are still common in most developing tropical countries in different arrangements. In a 12-week experiment, the effects of a three cage row arrangement on hen-day production and egg qualities of Shaver Brown hens was studied. Data were collected from 2 layer sheds housing 9,000 hens in a 3-cage row arrangement (southern row, northern row and middle row) with 3,000 hens per row. Data were analysed for a randomized complete block design where cage rows were the treatments and weeks the blocks. Results showed no significant effects of cage row arrangement on feed intake, hen-day production, per cent yolk and Haugh unit (P>0.05). Egg weight, egg mass and per cent shell were significantly reduced and feed conversion ratio increased on the middle row (P<0.05). Egg weight, egg mass, per cent shell and feed conversion ratio did not differ between the side rows (P>0.05). These results suggest that battery cage row arrangement may not affect the rate of lay but egg weight, egg mass and efficiency of feed utilisation may be adversely affected in hens housed in the middle row. These findings have both economic and welfare implications

The influence of representation control on task performance and learning

Although infographics are often used in digital newspapers or magazines to communicate information, users frequently have difficulties identifying the relevant information. Moreover, the spatial organization of the information in the infographic and the users ́ requirements rarely match. One way to overcome these challenges might be to offer the users interactive control over the format and content of the representations. Representation control can be used to modify the infographics in order to externalize transformations that would usually have to be performed cognitively. This can enhance task performance, but it is unknown whether it facilitates or hinders learning of the underlying structure of the task. The objective of this dissertation was to examine the usage of representation control options and its effects on task performance and learning. In order to do so, I conducted three experimental studies with 650 participants in total. All studies revealed that users took the option to reorganize and reduce information in infographics in a strategic way. However, the availability of representation control improved only the performance in the task with a specific goal but not in the goal-free task. To test whether representation control also influences learning, I adapted a two- phase design with a practice and a testing phase in the third study. This experimental series revealed that practicing with representation control in general did not benefit learning. Participants who did not have representation control during testing could not benefit from their prior experience with representation control neither when solving the same task nor when doing a near transfer task. Comparing different forms of representation control revealed that the more automated types led to the best performance during the practice phase, but not during the testing phase. The results of my dissertation suggest that it is important to consider the type of task to be performed and to differentiate between task performance and learning when investigating representation control or deciding whether representation control should be offered to the user

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN ROMANIA

The purpose of this paper is to identify the main opportunities and limitations of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The survey was defined with the aim to involve the highest possible number of relevant CSR topics and give the issue a more wholesome perspective. It provides a basis for further comprehension and deeper analyses of specific CSR areas. The conditions determining the success of CSR in Romania have been defined in the paper on the basis of the previously cumulative knowledge as well as the results of various researches. This paper provides knowledge which may be useful in the programs promoting CSR.Corporate social responsibility, Supportive policies, Romania

Knowledge and Management Models for Sustainable Growth

In the last years sustainability has become a topic of global concern and a key issue in the strategic agenda of both business organizations and public authorities and organisations. Significant changes in business landscape, the emergence of new technology, including social media, the pressure of new social concerns, have called into question established conceptualizations of competitiveness, wealth creation and growth. New and unaddressed set of issues regarding how private and public organisations manage and invest their resources to create sustainable value have brought to light. In particular the increasing focus on environmental and social themes has suggested new dimensions to be taken into account in the value creation dynamics, both at organisations and communities level. For companies the need of integrating corporate social and environmental responsibility issues into strategy and daily business operations, pose profound challenges, which, in turn, involve numerous processes and complex decisions influenced by many stakeholders. Facing these challenges calls for the creation, use and exploitation of new knowledge as well as the development of proper management models, approaches and tools aimed to contribute to the development and realization of environmentally and socially sustainable business strategies and practices

Safety and Reliability - Safe Societies in a Changing World

The contributions cover a wide range of methodologies and application areas for safety and reliability that contribute to safe societies in a changing world. These methodologies and applications include: - foundations of risk and reliability assessment and management - mathematical methods in reliability and safety - risk assessment - risk management - system reliability - uncertainty analysis - digitalization and big data - prognostics and system health management - occupational safety - accident and incident modeling - maintenance modeling and applications - simulation for safety and reliability analysis - dynamic risk and barrier management - organizational factors and safety culture - human factors and human reliability - resilience engineering - structural reliability - natural hazards - security - economic analysis in risk managemen

Interpretive investigation into the implementation of Sustainable Business Models within Saudi housing construction industry

Sustainable Practices (SPs) in the Housing Construction Industry (HCI) have been the subject of significant innovation, resolving housing problems and reducing the negative impacts of the built environment. These enhancements have targeted the value creation process. Addressing isolated parts of the Business Models (BMs) used by Housing Construction Companies (HCCs). The BM approach describes the logic organisations create, deliver and capture value. However, ways in which HCCs can develop and introduce fundamental changes to create profitable Sustainable Business Models (SBMs) remain poorly researched. This research explores the transition to SBMs in the Saudi Arabian HCI empirically by adopting nine elements extracted from business and management. Twenty-two interviews take place with a diverse sample of three groups of stakeholders in the HCI. The emergent outcomes are validated and refined by focus group, following Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) procedures. A BM is considered sustainable when a business aligns socio-environmental responsibility with economic benefits by focussing on sustained value creation. For this, the role of clients/participants is key; they must be incentivised and engaged in the value chain to minimise waste and environmental damage for the long-term benefits of the organisation. The key outcomes show that the SBMs framework can link business cases with sustainability in an organised approach. This indicates that SBM transition needs changes in the business environment, i.e., awareness, top management mindsets, political change, value chain upgrade, media support, engagement and collaboration with the public sector. Discussions on challenges facing implementation highlight the global challenges driven by a broad set of social, political, legal, economical, technological innovation and general trends towards a deteriorating environmental resource. The research establishes the association between various SBM elements, confirming that the SVP, TC and CS represent the groundwork of the SBMs framework. The guideline followed the experts recommendations to supports the implantation with set of recommendations begins with the cognisance of top management and promotes sustainable demand converted into SVPs. It highlights both the role of a panel to support the movement and the importance of identifying partner stakeholders for the transformation. Finally, the guideline recommends reviewing and monitoring points to be fed to top management