15,880 research outputs found

    UMSL Bulletin 2023-2024

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    The 2023-2024 Bulletin and Course Catalog for the University of Missouri St. Louis.https://irl.umsl.edu/bulletin/1088/thumbnail.jp

    A Privacy Calculus Perspective

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    Sandhu, R. K., Vasconcelos-Gomes, J., Thomas, M. A., & Oliveira, T. (2023). Unfolding the Popularity of Video Conferencing Apps: A Privacy Calculus Perspective. International Journal Of Information Management, 68(February), 1-17. [102569]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102569. Funding: This work was supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) under the project - UIDB/04152/2020 - Centro de Investigação em Gestão de Informação (MagIC).Videoconferencing (VC) applications (apps) have surged in popularity as an alternative to face-to-face communications especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although VC apps offer myriad benefits, it has caught much media attention owing to concerns of privacy infringements. This study examines the key determinants of working professional’s intentions to use VC apps in the backdrop of this conflicting duality. A conceptual research model is proposed that is based on theoretical foundations of privacy calculus and extended with conceptualizations of mobile users’ information privacy concerns (MUIPC), trust, technicality, ubiquity, as well as theoretical underpinnings of social presence theory. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is used to empirically test the model using data collected from 487 working professionals. For researchers, the study offers insights on the extent to which social richness and technological capabilities afforded by the virtual environment serve as predictors of the continuance intentions of using VC apps. Researchers may also find the model applicable to other studies of surveillance-based technologies. For practitioners, key recommendations pivotal to the design and development mobile video-conferencing apps are presented to ensure higher acceptance and continued usage of VC apps in professional settings.preprintauthorsversionepub_ahead_of_prin

    Executable Models and Instance Tracking for Decentralized Applications on Blockchains and Cloud Platforms -- Metamodel and Implementation

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    Decentralized applications rely on non-centralized technical infrastructures and coordination principles. Without trusted third parties, their execution is not controlled by entities exercising centralized coordination but is instead realized through technologies supporting distribution such as blockchains and serverless computing. Executing decentralized applications with these technologies, however, is challenging due to the limited transparency and insight in the execution, especially when involving centralized cloud platforms. This paper extends an approach for execution and instance tracking on blockchains and cloud platforms permitting distributed parties to observe the instances and states of executable models. The approach is extended with (1.) a metamodel describing the concepts for instance tracking on cloud platforms independent of concrete models or implementation, (2.) a multidimensional data model realizing the concepts accordingly, permitting the verifiable storage, tracking, and analysis of execution states for distributed parties, and (3.) an implementation on the Ethereum blockchain and Amazon Web Services (AWS) using state machine models. Towards supporting decentralized applications with high scalability and distribution requirements, the approach establishes a consistent view on instances for distributed parties to track and analyze the execution along multiple dimensions such as specific clients and execution engines.Comment: This is an unpublished preprint; both versions archived on arXiv.org have not been published. Although initially intended for publication, the preprint has undergone further improvements and has been utilized as input for new publications. (see also: https://www.unifr.ch/inf/digits/en/group/team/haerer.html

    Interactive visualizations of unstructured oceanographic data

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    The newly founded company Oceanbox is creating a novel oceanographic forecasting system to provide oceanography as a service. These services use mathematical models that generate large hydrodynamic data sets as unstructured triangular grids with high-resolution model areas. Oceanbox makes the model results accessible in a web application. New visualizations are needed to accommodate land-masking and large data volumes. In this thesis, we propose using a k-d tree to spatially partition unstructured triangular grids to provide the look-up times needed for interactive visualizations. A k-d tree is implemented in F# called FsKDTree. This thesis also describes the implementation of dynamic tiling map layers to visualize current barbs, scalar fields, and particle streams. The current barb layer queries data from the data server with the help of the k-d tree and displays it in the browser. Scalar fields and particle streams are implemented using WebGL, which enables the rendering of triangular grids. Stream particle visualization effects are implemented as velocity advection computed on the GPU with textures. The new visualizations are used in Oceanbox's production systems, and spatial indexing has been integrated into Oceanbox's archive retrieval system. FsKDTree improves tree creation times by up to 4x over the C# equivalent and improves search times by up to 13x compared to the .NET C# implementation. Finally, the largest model areas can be viewed with current barbs, scalar fields, and particle stream visualizations at 60 FPS, even for the largest model areas provided by the service

    Efferocytes release extracellular vesicles to resolve inflammation and tissue injury via prosaposin-GPR37 signaling.

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    Macrophages release soluble mediators following efferocytic clearance of apoptotic cells to facilitate intercellular communication and promote the resolution of inflammation. However, whether inflammation resolution is modulated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) and vesicular mediators released by efferocytes is not known. We report that efferocyte-derived EVs express prosaposin, which binds to macrophage GPR37 to increase expression of the efferocytosis receptor Tim4 via an ERK-AP1-dependent signaling axis, leading to increased macrophage efferocytosis efficiency and accelerated resolution of inflammation. Neutralization and knockdown of prosaposin or blocking GRP37 abrogates the pro-resolution effects of efferocyte-derived EVs in vivo. Administration of efferocyte-derived EVs in a murine model of atherosclerosis is associated with an increase in lesional macrophage efferocytosis efficiency and a decrease in plaque necrosis and lesional inflammation. Thus, we establish a critical role for efferocyte-derived vesicular mediators in increasing macrophage efferocytosis efficiency and accelerating the resolution of inflammation and tissue injury

    Monitoring software usage and usage behaviour based on SaaS data: case Gemini Water portfolio

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    Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms paired with cloud-based storage is a common schema used among software providers across the globe. Such solutions usually accumulate vast amounts of usage and usage behaviour data. Utilizing this data in the form of monitoring solutions can potentially generate great value for both software users and software providers. Swedish authorities have taken a restrictive standpoint against incorporating cloud-based storage solutions into software used in the public sector. The project aims to identify a practical and reusable way of utilizing cloud data and to demonstrate to Swedish authorities how cloud-based storage models can be beneficial. The case of this project is the SaaS solution Gemini Portal+, a water and sewage management solution. The end result was a monitoring module to Gemini Portal+ where users can view the digital maturity of their Gemini Portal+ usage. The digital maturity is conveyed in an easily digested manner, with concrete and actionable information on how to increase digital maturity. The result has passed the requirements and stakeholders are satisfied with the result

    Perennializing Information Technology Infrastructures: A Dynamic Capabilities Perspective

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    In an era of heightened uncertainty and urgency, robust and flexible information technology infrastructures (ITI) – arrangements of shared IT services and technical components that power and support an organization’s strategy and processes – are vital to organizations. ITI play key strategic roles, are at the core of business operations and directly affect performance. However, managing the evolution and sustaining transformations of ITI can be very challenging. To cope with this sustainability challenge, organizations must develop specific dynamic capabilities to sustain ITI and their evolution under turbulent and changing business contexts. Still, the question for managers is: What actions should be deployed to sustain ITI and their transformations? Twenty key organizational actions that were identified by twenty-nine ITI experts, were grouped into three interrelated vectors: (1) Watching and developing knowledge and know-how to sustain ITI; (2) Visioning and governing ITI; (3) Standardizing and adopting a flexible approach to ITI

    Digital orientation and environmental performance in times of technological change

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    Digitalization is increasingly seen as a strategic means for firms to yield competitive and environmental advantages. Still, current empirical research does not yet provide ample evidence on how a firm's strategic posture towards digitalization connects to environmental performance. This study examines the link between digital orientation and environmental performance as well as the moderating role of technological turbulence. The natural-resource-based view and literature on strategic orientations provide the conceptual foundations. The hypotheses are tested with data from 515 U.S. Standard and Poor's 500 companies with 2,800 firm observations from 2009 to 2019. The results indicate that, first, a firm's digital orientation has a significant and positive effect on environmental performance and, second, this effect is even more pronounced in technologically turbulent business environments. In sum, our findings suggest that managers can improve their firm's environmental performance and competitive position by increasing the digital orientation within their organizations. We thus add to the literature on the natural-resource-based view by identifying digital orientation as a strategy aligned with the natural environment. Finally, we derive practical implications for managers and policymakers aiming to bring together digitalization and green strategies

    Modelo prolab: El Amauta, una propuesta que revolucionará la forma de aprender

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    En la actualidad, existe una problemática educativa respecto al desarrollo de competencias de los estudiantes en edad escolar, lo que limita su desempeño académico y se evidencia en indicadores tales como la prueba PISA. Esto se ha visto agravado por el COVID 19, lo que ocasionó el cierre de escuelas, aumento de la deserción escolar, etc., y trajo consigo una nueva forma de impartir la educación adaptándose al entorno digital. El presente proyecto tiene como fin demostrar que los padres y madres de familia están dispuestos a contratar servicios de reforzamiento académico que incentiven el interés de sus hijos, los cuales pueden contribuir en su aprendizaje y desarrollo de sus habilidades personales. Para ello, se utilizaron herramientas como el design thinking, business model canvas, lean startup, entre otras, lo que permitió tener un mejor entendimiento del usuario y su necesidad, dando como resultado una plataforma que ofrece contenidos virtuales alineados a la malla educativa oficial que integran recursos tecnológicos adaptados a un mercado carente de ofertas educativas digitales. Es así como nace El Amauta, una solución enfocada al acompañamiento de los estudiantes de hoy y líderes del mañana, potenciando su aprendizaje y competencias que contribuya a su desarrollo integral. Por su parte, los resultados económicos que acompañan la decisión de implementación demuestran la rentabilidad del proyecto en un periodo de cinco años, expresada en un valor actual neto económico (VANE) que asciende a S/2’524,189. Finalmente, la solución es sostenible porque además de su viabilidad financiera, impacta positivamente en la ODS 4 (Educación de calidad) y estima un valor actual neto social (VANS) de S/695,686, contribuyendo a la reducción del índice de la repitencia escolar.At the Present, there is an educational problem regarding the development of competences of students at school age students, which limits their academic performance and is evidenced in international indicators, such as the PISA test. This has been aggravated by COVID-19, which led to school closures, increased dropout rates, etc. Being a new way of imparting education adapting to the digital environment. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate that parents are willing to hire academic reinforcement services in a digital environment that adopts methodologies valued by their children, which contribute to their learning and the development of their personal skills. To do this, tools such as design thinking, business model canvas, lean startup, among others, were used, which allowed a better understanding of the user and their needs, resulting in a platform that offers virtual content through the integration of various technological resources and learning methodologies adapted to a market lacking digital educational offers. This is how El Amauta was born, a solution focused on the accompaniment of today's students and tomorrow's leaders, enhancing their learning and skills that guarantee their integral development. On the other hand, the economic results that accompany the implementation decision demonstrate the profitability of the project in a period of 5 years. On the other hand, the economic results that accompany the implementation decision demonstrate the profitability of the project in a period of 5 years, expressed in an economic net present value (ENPV) amounting to S/2’524,189. Finally, the solution is sustainable because in addition to its financial viability, it has a positive impact on SDG 4 (Quality education) and estimates a social net present value (SNPV) of S/695,686, contributing to the reduction of the school repetition index

    Learning Analytics for Teacher’s Dashboard in a Course Result System

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    With the digital transformation of learning and the spread of online learning under the impact of COVID-19, huge amounts of learning data are being generated. How to utilize and analyze this learning data has led to a new field -- Learning Analytics (LA). LA demonstrates the collection, use and analysis of data generated by students in the learning process to predict student behavior and provide feedback. The goal of this thesis is to redesign a course result system (OSR) with LA functions. OSR is a results registration system used by the Department of Computer Science at Aalto University for over a decade. The development technology used by OSR is outdated and does not have the satisfying LA features for teachers. Meanwhile, this thesis tries to build a prototype of the new system based on the cloud platform (Salesforce). The research questions are: what is the state of art of the old system, what LA functions the new system needs, and what are the requirements of the new system. In order to answer these three research questions, this thesis first conducts a literature review. This thesis reviews the literature on OSR, A+, LA, cloud service models, and Salesforce. Through literature review and practical experience of OSR, this thesis obtains the state of art of the existing system as well as possible functional requirements and LA requirements. This thesis uses the constructive research method to design the new system. To gather functional needs and LA requirements from users, this thesis performed semi-structured interviews with teachers. After analyzing and summarizing the interview results, this thesis concludes the user needs. After comparing, merging and screening the requirements from the OSR and LA reviews in the Literature Review chapter, the requirements of the new system are summarized in this thesis. As for final requirements, the following three findings are made in this thesis. First of all, teachers are satisfied with the final grade calculation function and database function provided by the old system. The new system can follow the design of final grade calculation function of the old system. Second, although teachers were satisfied with most of the features of the old system, they spent a lot of time verifying the results. This suggests that they need a more reassuring system. Third, the old system provided only some statistical functions, and few teachers used them. Teachers hope the new system will provide them with more LA features, such as producing periodic reports for them to monitor students' progress in real time
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