Integrating Explanatory/Predictive and Prescriptive Science in Information Systems Research

The scholarly information systems (IS) field has a dual role. As an explanatory and predictive science, the field contributes to explaining the pervasive IS that shape the digital age and sometimes also makes predictions about those phenomena. As a prescriptive science, it participates in creating IS-related innovations by identifying means-ends relationships. The two can beneficially interact, such as when explanatory theory provides the basis for generating prescriptions or when applicable knowledge produces explanatory insights. In this commentary, we contribute to integrating these two roles by proposing a framework to help IS researchers navigate the field’s duality to extend the cumulative scholarly knowledge that it creates in terms of justified explanations and predictions and justified prescriptions. The process we describe builds on ongoing, dynamic, iterative, and interrelated research cycles. We identify a set of integrative research practices that occur at the interface between explanatory and predictive science and prescriptive science—the explanation-prescription nexus. We derive guidelines for IS research

The role of T2-FLAIR mismatch sign in the diagnosis of adult gliomas

O sinal de incompatibilidade T2-FLAIR é um sinal radiológico altamente específico para a mutação IDH, especificamente gliomas IDH-mutados 1p19q co-deletados. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o desempenho deste sinal e a sua possível associação com outras características imagiológicas em gliomas. Selecionámos retrospetivamente 49 pacientes com diagnóstico histopatológico de glioma difuso e RM pré-operatória disponível. Incompatibilidade T2-FLAIR foi observada em 6 casos (12.24%): dois astrocitomas grau 2, dois astrocitomas grau 4 e dois oligodendrogliomas grau 2. O sinal de incompatibilidade T2-FLAIR foi um marcador de mutação IDH com 54.5% de sensibilidade, 100% de especificidade, 100% de valor preditivo positivo e 88% de valor preditivo negativo; O envolvimento da zona subventricular foi associado significativamente com incompatibilidade T2-FLAIR (p=0.010). Este estudo reforça o potencial diagnóstico e aplicabilidade clínica do sinal de incompatibilidade T2-FLAIR, especialmente em combinação com outras ferramentas radiogenómicas, e revela uma possível conexão entre gliomas positivos para incompatibilidade T2-FLAIR, envolvimento da zona subventricular e uma célula estaminal de origem diferente,T2-FLAIR mismatch sign is a highly specific radiological sign for IDH mutation, specifically IDH-mutated 1p19q non-codeleted gliomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of this sign and possible association with other tumor imaging features in gliomas. We retrospectively selected 49 adult patients with histopathologic diagnosis of diffuse glioma and available pre-operative MRI. T2-FLAIR mismatch sign was observed in 6 cases (12,24%): two grade 2 astrocytomas, two grade 4 astrocytomas and two grade 2 oligodendrogliomas. T2-FLAIR mismatch sign was a marker for IDH mutation with 54.5% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 88% negative predictive value; Subventricular zone involvement was significantly associated with T2-FLAIR mismatch sign (p=0.010). This study reinforces the diagnostic potential and clinical applicability of the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign, especially in combination with other radiogenomic tools, and reveals a possible connection between T2-FLAIR mismatch-positive gliomas, subventricular zone involvement and a different origin stem cell

Protecting the Ladies: Benevolent Sexism, Heteronormativity, and Partisanship in Online Discussions of Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

The recent adoption of bathroom bills restricting trans* people’s access to public bathrooms of their choice in the United States has elicited a vigorous public debate invoking benevolent sexism, heteronormativity, and partisanship. This analysis includes 9,764 online comments posted on the 13 most-shared articles or blog posts about trans* bathroom accommodation from September 2015 to September 2016. The common themes in such discussions were arguments promoting benevolent sexism, including that women and girls need protection by men and from men and that sex differences are natural. Results showed that support for trans* access to public bathrooms was most prevalent in discussions on left-leaning sites, whereas opposition was most prevalent in discussions on right-leaning sites. Most, but not all, benevolent-sexism themes were prevalent in comments on right-leaning sites. The results are discussed in the context of their theoretical implications for the literature of benevolent sexism and heteronormativity

Pricing the Cloud: An Auction Approach

Cloud computing has changed the processing and service modes of information communication technology and has affected the transformation, upgrading and innovation of the IT-related industry systems. The rapid development of cloud computing in business practice has spawned a whole new field of interdisciplinary, providing opportunities and challenges for business management research. One of the critical factors impacting cloud computing is how to price cloud services. An appropriate pricing strategy has important practical means to stakeholders, especially to providers and customers. This study addressed and discussed research findings on cloud computing pricing strategies, such as fixed pricing, bidding pricing, and dynamic pricing. Another key factor for cloud computing is Quality of Service (QoS), such as availability, reliability, latency, security, throughput, capacity, scalability, elasticity, etc. Cloud providers seek to improve QoS to attract more potential customers; while, customers intend to find QoS matching services that do not exceed their budget constraints. Based on the existing study, a hybrid QoS-based pricing mechanism, which consists of subscription and dynamic auction design, is proposed and illustrated to cloud services. The results indicate that our hybrid pricing mechanism has potential to better allocate available cloud resources, aiming at increasing revenues for providers and reducing expenses for customers in practice

Imagine your perfect park: how would it be? A qualitative study on the preferences, barriers and facilitators of green spaces' use by adolescents in a southern European urban context

Os espaços verdes são elementos essenciais das cidades. Estes espaços contribuem significativamente para a saúde e bem-estar dos adolescentes no meio urbano, constituindo modos de intervenção custo-efetiva para a redução das iniquidades em saúde e a transformação de cidades resilientes às alterações climáticas. No que concerne o planeamento e design dos espaços verdes urbanos, as necessidades e interesses dos adolescentes tendem a ser negligenciados. Foi objetivo deste estudo identificar facilitadores, barreiras e promotores de uso de espaços verdes urbanos pelos adolescentes da Área Metropolitana do Porto. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo com recolha de dados através de grupos focais. Os participantes foram selecionados da coorte Geração XXI (G21) e foram estratificados de acordo com estatuto socioeconómico. Os dados foram analisados tematicamente, usando-se uma abordagem dedutivo-indutiva. A proximidade e multifuncionalidade dos espaços verdes urbanos foram os facilitadores de uso mais citados pelos adolescentes; enquanto que elevada pressão de visitantes, falta de vegetação e falta de manutenção foram identificados como importantes barreiras. Os adolescentes destacaram a necessidade de aumentar em número e tamanho os espaços verdes na Área Metropolitana do Porto, potenciando simultaneamente a sua multifuncionalidade através da provisão de equipamentos.Green spaces are an essential element in cities. They can significantly contribute to adolescents' health and wellbeing in the urban setting, being at the same time a cost-effective intervention to reduce health inequities and contributing to climate-resilient cities. Adolescents needs and desires regarding the planning and design of urban green spaces tend to be neglected. We aimed to identify facilitators, barriers and promoters of use of urban green spaces by adolescents in the Porto Metropolitan Area. A focus group design was used. Participants were selected from the Generation XXI cohort (G21) and were stratified according to their socioeconomic status. Data were analyzed thematically using a deductive-inductive approach. Proximity and multifunctionality of urban green spaces were the most cited facilitators of use, by adolescents; whilst high visitors' pressure, lack of vegetation and lack of maintenance were identified as important barriers. Adolescents enhance the need to increase the number and size of urban green spaces in the Porto Metropolitan Aera, while potentiating their multifunctionality by means of equipment provision

Newsworthiness Guidelines for a Socially Responsible Press: Aligning Definitions at the Intersection of Journalism, Ethics, and the Law

Journalism, ethics, and the law all function in tandem. While media scholars have previously focused on traditional news values, ethical issues, and on the development of communication law, there exists a gap in academic literature concerning these three fields and their shared relationship to “newsworthiness.” This dissertation, using textual analysis and social responsibility of the press theory, examines how journalism textbooks, journalism ethics textbooks, journalism professional codes of ethics, and U.S. Supreme Court cases define and describe newsworthiness and story selection. The goal of the project is to draw from these sources to develop theoretically-informed newsworthiness criteria and make recommendations to the journalism professional codes of ethics concerning news value and story selection. The dissertation narrows down newsworthiness factors in categories of objective news values (who, what) and evaluative values (presentation and storytelling) in light of ethical and socially responsible considerations (what should be considered newsworthy and of public interest). These findings will be helpful to working journalists and journalism students, as refined criteria will serve as professional and ethical guidelines concerning socially responsible story selection and reporting