Designing Facilities to Improve Flexibility: Zone-based Dynamic Facility Layout

This paper considers solving the unequal area Dynamic Facility Layout Problem (DFLP) using a zone-based structure. Zone-based layouts have significant advantages, such as being easily transferable to a detailed layout with innately included possible aisle structures; therefore, they can be fitted to the unique needs of the layout designers. The unequal area DFLP is modeled and solved using a zone-based structure, which is referred to as ZDFLP, where the dimensions of the departments and material handling system input/output (I/O) points are decision variables. A two-phase matheuristic, which directly operates on Problem ZDFLP without requiring an encoding scheme of the problem, is proposed to solve the ZDFLP with promising results

Designing Facilities to Improve Flexibility: Zone-based Dynamic Facility Layout with Embedded Input/Output Points

This paper considers solving the unequal area Dynamic Facility Layout Problem (DFLP) using a zone-based structure. Zone-based layouts have significant advantages, such as being easily transferable to a detailed layout with innately included possible aisle structures; therefore, they can be fitted to the unique needs of the layout designers. The unequal area DFLP is modeled and solved using a zone-based structure, which is referred to as ZDFLP, where the dimensions of the departments and material handling system input/output (I/O) points are decision variables. A two-phase matheuristic, which directly operates on Problem ZDFLP without requiring an encoding scheme of the problem, is proposed to solve the ZDFLP with promising results

Experiential Learning Builds Cybersecurity Self-Efficacy in K-12 Students

In recent years, there have been increased efforts to recruit talented K-12 students into cybersecurity fields. These efforts led to many K-12 extracurricular programs organized by higher education institutions. In this paper, we first introduce a weeklong K-12 program focusing on critical thinking, problem-solving, and igniting interest in information security through hands-on activities performed in a state-of-the-art virtual computer laboratory. Then, we present an inquiry-based approach to design hands-on activities to achieve these goals. We claim that hands-on activities designed based on this inquiry-based framework improve K-12 students’ self-efficacy in cybersecurity as well as their problem-solving skills. The evaluation of the program showed that the participants made significant progress towards achieving the learning outcomes of the program and developed self-efficacy in cybersecurity

Measuring the Effectiveness of Entrepreneurship Education

This study explores a multi-dimensional model for measuring the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education. The proposed model was validated through an empirical study involving 298 college students who have participated in entrepreneurship courses in China. The research results show that the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education can be observed through the improvement of participants\u27 entrepreneurial competencies, the reduction of their entrepreneurial barriers and the change of their entrepreneurial intention. On this basis, this study draws on the approach of the Triangulation widely used in qualitative research and develops a ‘Triangle Measurement Model for the Entrepreneurship Education Effectiveness’. The Model provides an effective tool for the development and upgrading of entrepreneurship education courses, as well as a standard framework for cross-cultural or cross-regional comparative studies of entrepreneurship education

Building Inclusive Student Innovation Competitions, Exhibitions, and Training Programs

There has been an emerging trend of expanding entrepreneurship educational programs/events to broader student populations. Similarly, the focus of this paper is broadening participation in student innovation competitions, exhibitions, and training programs. Therefore, through student surveys, factors and barriers affecting student participation in these co-curricular programs were explored, with a particular interest being students who are underrepresented in entrepreneurship. The survey items were crafted based on the known scales and theories in the literature, such as the Expectancy-Value-Cost Scale and Self-Determination Theory. The findings revealed that the time commitment and lack of awareness were significant barriers to participation in these activities. To make student innovation competitions, exhibitions, and training programs more accessible and relatable to all students, higher education institutions should consider reframing these events and developing them, requiring less time commitment. The Expectancy-Value-Cost-based framework used in this study is also promising to study students’ engagement with entrepreneurship and innovation-focused co-curricular activities

Anogenital Distance in Turkish Newborns

Objective: Anogenital distances are considered to be a sensitive indicator of external genitalia exposure to factors such as anti-androgens, and/or endocrine distruptors during the prenatal period. Exposure to such factors can lead to changes in the anogenital measurements (AGM) of newborn infants. These measurements can be used to predict masculinization of the external genitalia in healthy newborns. The goal of this study was to determine normal values for AGM in Turkish newborns of both genders

Impact of R&D Expences on Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from the Bist Information Technology Index

The relationship between R&D expenses and firm performance has been discussed and carefully studied for many years.  Vast amount of research have been carried to figure out whether this relationship exist or not. Some researchers suggest that there is no relationship between R&D expenses and firm performance, others put forward the existence of negative or positive realtionship. It can be asserted that possible existence as an useful information can be consumed by managers to increase the market value of firms. In that respect, the main aim of this research is to reveal the relationship between R&D and  firm performance by taking into account 10 companies that are listed on the BIST Information Index for 5 years periods (between 2009 and 2013). In order to accomplish this purpose, we employed pooled regresion model and cross sectional time series analysis technique. In general, although negative and positive coefficients are found, almost, all of them is not statistically significant. In other words, according to outcomes, it can be claimed that there is no  relationship  between R&D and firm performance which is line with previous studies