Quality model for semantic IS standards

Semantic IS (Information Systems) standards are essential for achieving\ud interoperability between organizations. However a recent survey suggests that\ud not the full benefits of standards are achieved, due to the quality issues. This\ud paper presents a quality model for semantic IS standards, that should support\ud standards development organizations in assessing the quality of their\ud standards. Although intended for semantic IS standards the potential use of\ud this quality model is much broader and might be applicable to all kind of\ud standards

Managers and Students as Newsvendors - How Out-of-Task Experience Matters

We compare how freshmen business students, graduate business students and experienced procurement managers perform on a simple inventory ordering task. We find that, qualitatively, managers exhibit ordering behavior similar to students, including biased ordering towards average demand. Experience, however, affects subjects’ utilization of information. The managers’ work experience seems most valuable when there is only historical demand data to guide decision making, while students better utilize analytical information and task training. As a result, when information necessary to solve the problem to optimality is added to historical information, students catch up to the managers, and students with classroom experience in operations management outperform managers.

Investigating the Effects of Attribute Level Framing and Changing Cost Levels in Choice Experiments

Choice experiments (CE) are increasingly used to estimate the values of non-market goods and services. A cost attribute is typically included in a CE questionnaire to estimate monetary values for changes in the non-market attributes presented. Although the cost attribute is centrally important, there has been limited research into the impacts of varying cost attribute levels on respondents’ choices in CE surveys. The context in which non-market attributes are presented to respondents (the ‘attribute frame’) may also affect value estimates. The challenge for CE practitioners is to identify the ‘appropriate’ attribute frames and cost level range. Results from a CE study in Tasmania show that respondents’ preferences are not impacted by describing an attribute in ‘presence’ versus ‘loss’. The absolute attribute levels, therefore, were most important in this study. Comparisons between different split samples are evidence that changing the cost attribute level does affect respondents’ preferences – higher levels lead to significantly higher estimates of willingness to pay for one of the three environmental attributes.Choice experiments, Mixed Logit models, Environmental valuation, Attribute framing, Cost bias, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

The Impacts of Attribute Level Framing and Changing Cost Levels on Choice Experiments Value Estimates

Choice Experiments (CE) are increasingly used to estimate the values of environmental goods and services. CE questionnaires represent the environmental good under valuation by varying levels of non-market attributes. Inclusion of a cost attribute enables the estimation of monetary values for changes in the non-market attributes presented. The ways in which the levels of the attributes are described in the survey - the ‘attribute frame’ - may affect respondents’ choices. Furthermore, varying levels of the cost attribute may impact CE value estimates. The challenge for CE practitioners is to identify the ‘appropriate’ attribute frames and cost levels. In this paper, the impacts of changing cost levels and the impacts of describing non-market attributes as absolute levels or in relative terms are assessed. These tests were performed using data from a CE on catchment management in Tasmania, Australia. Contrary to a priori expectations, including explicit information cues about relative attribute levels in the choice sets is found not to affect stated preferences. However, comparisons between different split samples provide evidence that respondents’ preferences are impacted by changing the range in cost attribute levels, with higher levels leading to significantly higher estimates of WTP for one of the three environmental attributes.Choice Experiments, Environmental Valuation, Bias, Tasmania, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Charge separation: From the topology of molecular electronic transitions to the dye/semiconductor interfacial energetics and kinetics

Charge separation properties, that is the ability of a chromophore, or a chromophore/semiconductor interface, to separate charges upon light absorption, are crucial characteristics for an efficient photovoltaic device. Starting from this concept, we devote the first part of this book chapter to the topological analysis of molecular electronic transitions induced by photon capture. Such analysis can be either qualitative or quantitative, and is presented here in the framework of the reduced density matrix theory applied to single-reference, multiconfigurational excited states. The qualitative strategies are separated into density-based and wave function-based approaches, while the quantitative methods reported here for analysing the photoinduced charge transfer nature are either fragment-based, global or statistical. In the second part of this chapter we extend the analysis to dye-sensitized metal oxide surface models, discussing interfacial charge separation, energetics and electron injection kinetics from the dye excited state to the semiconductor conduction band states

Behavioural determinants of Foreign Direct Investment

The paper presents a behavioural economics approach to foreign direct investment. Starting from the behavioural finance literature, it uses content analysis based on interviews and questionnaires covering 12% of the Portuguese firms with investments abroad. The study presents evidence of several behavioural rules (e.g., herding, cascading, anchoring, overconfidence, mental accounting) in firms’ location decisions that originate a new set of determinants of FDI flows and complement the neo classical paradigm. Moreover, it confirms the Heiner model (1983, 1985, 1989) by showing that the higher is the uncertainty faced by decision makers the more frequent is the use of behavioural rules. The central role of uncertainty helps explaining why FDI flows occur more frequently among developed countries.Behavioural, Foreign Direct Investment, Uncertainty

BEHAVIOURAL DETERMINANTS OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

The paper presents a behavioural economics approach to foreign direct investment. Starting from behavioural finance theory, it uses content analysis from interviews made to Portuguese managers with investments abroad. The study presents evidence of herding, anchoring, overconfidence, mental accounting and other behaviour rules in firms’ location decisions that originate a set of determinants of FDI flows and complement the neoclassical paradigm. Moreover, it confirms the Heiner model (1983, 1985, 1989) by showing that the higher the uncertainty faced by decision makers the more frequent will be the use of behavioural rules. The central role of uncertainty helps explain why FDI flows occur more frequently among developed countries.Foreign Direct Investment, Behavioural economics, Uncertainty.

Stromule extension along microtubules coordinated with actin-mediated anchoring guides perinuclear chloroplast movement during innate immunity.

Dynamic tubular extensions from chloroplasts called stromules have recently been shown to connect with nuclei and function during innate immunity. We demonstrate that stromules extend along microtubules (MTs) and MT organization directly affects stromule dynamics since stabilization of MTs chemically or genetically increases stromule numbers and length. Although actin filaments (AFs) are not required for stromule extension, they provide anchor points for stromules. Interestingly, there is a strong correlation between the direction of stromules from chloroplasts and the direction of chloroplast movement. Stromule-directed chloroplast movement was observed in steady-state conditions without immune induction, suggesting it is a general function of stromules in epidermal cells. Our results show that MTs and AFs may facilitate perinuclear clustering of chloroplasts during an innate immune response. We propose a model in which stromules extend along MTs and connect to AF anchor points surrounding nuclei, facilitating stromule-directed movement of chloroplasts to nuclei during innate immunity

Digital Twin and Cloud BIM-XR Platform Development: From Scan-to-BIM-to-DT Process to a 4D Multi-User Live App to Improve Building Comfort, Efficiency and Costs

Digital twins (DTs) and building information modelling (BIM) are proving to be valuable tools for managing the entire life cycle of a building (LCB), from the early design stages to management and maintenance over time. On the other hand, BIM platforms cannot manage the geometric complexities of existing buildings and the large amount of information that sensors can collect. For this reason, this research proposes a scan-to-BIM process capable of managing high levels of detail (LODs) and information (LOIs) during the design, construction site management, and construction phases. Specific grades of generation (GOGs) were applied to create as-found, as-designed, and as-built models that interact with and support the rehabilitation project of a multi-level residential building. Furthermore, thanks to the sharing of specific APIs (Revit and Autodesk Forge APIs), it was possible to switch from static representations to novel levels of interoperability and interactivity for the user and more advanced forms of building management such as a DT, a BIM cloud, and an extended reality (XR) web platform. Finally, the development of a live app shows how different types of users (professionals and non-expert) can interact with the DT, in order to know the characteristics with which the environments have been designed, as well as the environmental parameters, increasing their degree of control, from the point of view of improving comfort, use, costs, behaviour, and good practices. Finally, the overall approach was verified through a real case study where the BIM-XR platform was built for energy improvements to existing buildings and facade renovations