A case-based model for assessing the effectiveness of information systems outsourcing

Cataloged from PDF version of article.The objective of the research reported in this paper is to construct a model for assessing the effectiveness of Information Systems (IS) outsourcing. “Lack of in-house expertise” and “cost effectiveness” are widely accepted as major factors of motivation for IS outsourcing. In contrast with the decision models which are executed before an outsourcing engagement (a-priori), this effectiveness assessment model will be an a-posteriori guide which will enable clients to assess their outsourcing performance and re-evaluate their business and management strategies. Although various decision models and analytical frameworks have been proposed before, the literature is not abundant on a complete qualitative model. This paper examines the factors for outsourcing effectiveness through qualitative research conducted with multiple case studies for information systems developed for public organizations in the specific context of Turkey. A conceptual model consisting of various hypotheses is constructed and qualitatively evaluated

Étude thermique expérimentale d'un capteur solaire du type mur trombe

Considérations théoriques sur les échanges thermiques -- Caractéristiques physiques de l'air et des différents matériaux -- Échanges par thermosyphon -- Échanges par convection libre -- Échanges par conduction -- Travail expérimental -- Organisation matérielle -- Instrumentation -- Procédure expérimentale -- Résultats et discussion

Étude expérimentale et simulation thermique d'un mur trombe

Travail expérimental -- Description du système -- Caractéristiques physique du vitrage -- Caractéristiques du mur trombe -- Instrumentation -- Programme expérimental

Effectiveness of information systems outsourcing: An exploratory case study

The objective of this research is to construct an assessment model for measuring the effectiveness of Information Systems (IS) outsourcing. "Lack of expertise" and "cost effectiveness" constitute the major points of motivation for IS outsourcing. Although various decision models and analytical frameworks have been modeled before, the literature is not abundant on a complete qualitative model. In contrast with the decision models which are executed before an outsourcing engagement (a-priori), an effectiveness assessment model will be an a-posteriori guide which will enable the clients to measure their outsourcing performance and re-evaluate their business and management strategies. This paper examines the factors for outsourcing effectiveness through the framework of an exploratory case study for an IS developed by a major Turkish software house for a public organization. © 2012 IADIS

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging of the porcine temporomandibular joint disc

This is the published version. Copyright © 2014 The British Institute of RadiologyObjectives: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an MRI modality for characterizing the property, microstructural organization and function in tissues such as the brain and spinal cord. Prior to this investigation, DTI had not been adapted for studies of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc. Objectives were to test the feasibility of DTI to evaluate the porcine TMJ disc and to use DTI to observe differences in magnitude of anisotropy of water diffusion between TMJ disc regions. Methods: Five adult pig TMJs were scanned on a 9.4 Tesla horizontal bore MRI scanner using an inductively coupled surface coil. High-resolution gradient-echo and diffusion-weighted spin-echo based images were obtained. The mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy (FA) were computed in different regions of the disc. Two observers were calibrated to review the two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. Polarized light microscopy was used as the gold standard for collagen fibre orientation. Results: In the sagittal plane, the mean diffusivity was higher in the posterior (1.28±0.10×10−3 mm−2 s−1) and anterior (1.27±0.08×10−3 mm−2 s−1) bands compared with the intermediate zone (0.96±0.01×10−3 mm−2 s−1), and the FA index was also lowest in the intermediate zone. In the coronal plane, the mean diffusivity was higher in the medial (1.42±0.01×10−3 mm−2 s−1) and lateral (1.21±0.12×10−3 mm−2 s−1) aspects than in the centre (1.09±0.08×10−3 mm−2 s−1), and the FA index was also lowest in the centre. Conclusions: DTI is a useful method for non-invasively characterizing the structure/property relationships of the porcine TMJ disc

Regular and chaotic vibration in a piezoelectric energy harvester

We examine regular and chaotic responses of a vibrational energy harvester composed of a vertical beam and a tip mass. The beam is excited horizontally by a harmonic inertial force while mechanical vibrational energy is converted to electrical power through a piezoelectric patch. The mechanical resonator can be described by single or double well potentials depending on the gravity force from the tip mass. By changing the tip mass we examine bifurcations from single well oscillations, to regular and chaotic vibrations between the potential wells. The appearance of chaotic responses in the energy harvesting system is illustrated by the bifurcation diagram, the corresponding Fourier spectra, the phase portraits, and is confirmed by the 0–1 test. The appearance of chaotic vibrations reduces the level of harvested energy

Experimental analysis of direct thermal methane cracking

The analysis of the viability of Hydrogen production without CO2 emissions is one of the most challenging activities that have been initiated for a sustainable energy supply. As one of the tracks to fulfil such objective, direct methane cracking has been analysed experimentally to assess the scientific viability and reaction characterization in a broad temperature range, from 875 to 1700 ?C. The effect of temperature, sweeping/carrier gas fraction proposed in some concepts, methane flow rate, residence time, and tube material and porosity has been analysed. The aggregation of carbon black particles to the reaction tube is the main technological show-stopper that has been identified