702 research outputs found
Activity Recognition based on a Magnitude-Orientation Stream Network
The temporal component of videos provides an important clue for activity
recognition, as a number of activities can be reliably recognized based on the
motion information. In view of that, this work proposes a novel temporal stream
for two-stream convolutional networks based on images computed from the optical
flow magnitude and orientation, named Magnitude-Orientation Stream (MOS), to
learn the motion in a better and richer manner. Our method applies simple
nonlinear transformations on the vertical and horizontal components of the
optical flow to generate input images for the temporal stream. Experimental
results, carried on two well-known datasets (HMDB51 and UCF101), demonstrate
that using our proposed temporal stream as input to existing neural network
architectures can improve their performance for activity recognition. Results
demonstrate that our temporal stream provides complementary information able to
improve the classical two-stream methods, indicating the suitability of our
approach to be used as a temporal video representation.Comment: 8 pages, SIBGRAPI 201
Employees’ satisfaction between 1996 and 2008 within the Portuguese financial sector
This research includes two complementary studies. Study 1 intends to analyze the stability of the latent construct job satisfaction over time, through four facets - satisfaction with relationships, rewards, human resources management practices and work itself. Study 2 aims to compare the results obtained with an aggregate weighted measure of job satisfaction (Aggregated Job Satisfaction) and a single item measure (Overall Job Satisfaction). Both are cross-sectional studies with repeated measures on six time moments over a twelve years period (1996-2008) in the Portuguese financial sector organizations. Results from study 1 evidences the structural invariance of the latent construct job satisfaction and the different loading pattern on each facet, over time. Study 2 evidences that the overall job satisfaction and the aggregated job satisfaction measures displays a similar pattern of results overtime. Moreover, job satisfaction facets predicts overall job satisfaction. Theoretically, this research presents a wider view on job satisfaction issues: its facets, the debate on aggregated vs overall measures and relationships patterns over time. Moreover, satisfaction with human resources management emerges as the stronger predictor of overall job satisfaction in all the six time periods. Results suggest that managers can improve satisfaction through performance appraisal systems and training.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Entrepreneurial self-efficacy in Italy: an empirical study from a gender perspective
Entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) is a key factor for the promotion of entrepreneurship. Literature emphasizes the need for and, indeed, recommends a gender perspective in the study of ESE. The aim of this study is twofold: To begin analyzing some of the psychometric properties of the McGee, Peterson, Mueller, and Sequeira (2009) ESE scale in the Italian context, and to explore the gender differences in the ESE levels in an Italian sample of entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs. Confirmatory factor analysis, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis and a 2 Ă— 2 MANOVA were conducted. The results support the possible use of McGee et al.'s ESE scale in the Italian context. Furthermore, they reveal that the gender difference in the sample of non-entrepreneurs is greater than in the entrepreneur sample. The main practical implication is that women entrepreneurs should receive specific training both before and after creating a new venture.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Prototypical dimensions of business opportunity in early stages of the entrepreneurial process
The purpose of this paper is to describe how individuals with no entrepreneurial experience use prototypical dimensions of business opportunities at the first two stages of the entrepreneurial process: recognition and decision to launch a venture. Previous studies have described the business opportunity prototype (Baron & Ensley, 2006); however, they do not describe how it is used and rely on retrospective data and entrepreneurs' prior experience. We intend to overcome these gaps by using two hypothetical scenarios and three conditions, creating a first entrepreneurial experience for individuals, having thus a 2 (scenario A and B) X 3 (condition: "Problem solving", "Cash flow", "Manageable risk") design plan with a total of six groups. Our results allow us to describe how individuals use the prototype in the first two stages of the entrepreneurial process. Specifically, we have a better understanding of the importance of risk, customers, and profit in both stages. Both in the recognition and the decision stages, risk is the most important factor, but profit and customers are considered differently in the two stages. In recognition, profit is more important than customers; however, in the decision stage, customers are a major concern for the participants. These results provide relevant information on the first entrepreneurial experience of individuals, which is crucial given the recognized need to promote entrepreneurial initiatives and behavior
Entrepreneurship as a career option: do temporary workers have the competencies, intention and willingness to become entrepreneurs?
This study analyses the entrepreneurial intentions and the willingness of temporary workers to consider entrepreneurship as a career option. Specifically, we analyse the self-perception of entrepreneurial competencies of a group of temporary workers. A total of 184 temporary workers participated in the study. We performed a multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to identify profiles of entrepreneurial competencies according to temporary workers' entrepreneurial intention and willingness to consider entrepreneurship as a career option. We conclude that temporary workers do not always perceive themselves as having the necessary competencies to choose for entrepreneurship in their occupational paths. The self-perception of different levels of entrepreneurial competencies is also associated with different intentions and willingness to consider entrepreneurship as a career option. Finally, we provide insights for practice, which can be considered as a starting point for activities aiming to develop entrepreneurial competencies at the individual or organisational levels.info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersio
Conservation of Orbital Angular Momentum in Stimulated Down-Conversion
We report on an experiment demonstrating the conservation of orbital angular
momentum in stimulated down-conversion. The orbital angular momentum is not
transferred to the individual beams of the spontaneous down-conversion, but it
is conserved when twin photons are taken individually. We observe the
conservation law for an individual beam of the down-conversion through
cavity-free stimulated emission.Comment: Submitted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Recognizing opportunities across campus: the effects of cognitive training and entrepreneurial passion on the business opportunity prototype
We analyze the effects of the program Cognitive Entrepreneurial Training in Opportunity Recognition on the accurate assessment of prototypical viability of business opportunities. The training integrates the principles of experiential learning and is designed to reach students across campus. We also investigate the moderating role of entrepreneurial passion on opportunity recognition learning. We use a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test in two European universities. The results demonstrate that the training has positive significant effects on the accurate identification of business opportunities' prototypical viability. Intense positive feelings about entrepreneurship moderate the learning process. We provide insights into entrepreneurship education practice across campus.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Micro-firms way to succeed: How owners manage people
This study explores the configurations of people management practices in micro-firms and their relation with
entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance in a four-year window. Based on the ability-, motivation- and
opportunity-focused practices framework, we identify configurations of HRM practices used in micro-firms and,
in conjugation with entrepreneurial orientation, how they affect employee growth and net income. We analyzed
data collected from 114 micro-firm owners combined with firm objective performance measures using Multiple
Correspondence Analysis and Cluster Analysis. Results show a taxonomy of three configurations of HRM practices
associated with different entrepreneurial orientation strategic postures in micro-firms: “Financial centric
HRM practices”, “Operations centric HRM practices”, and “People centric HRM practices”. We assume that
configurational methods can help uncover the complexity of the interplay between HRM practices and strategic
postures on micro-firm performance. This study contributes to the literature in micro-firms by revealing effective
people-related managerial practices on performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Reducing Volume to Increase Capacity—Measures to Reduce Transport Energy for Recyclable Waste Collection
The production of municipal waste is increasing all over the world. Although a significant part of the waste is collected as commingled waste, much of it is recyclable if disposed of properly. Thus, separate deposition and collection plays an extremely important role today, more than ever, not only in terms of preventing pollution but also from the point of view of recycling as a driver of circular economy and of efficient use of resources. This work is focused on the development of compaction equipment to be applied to containers, which allows a more efficient approach to the process of collecting waste for recycling. As a management option, recycling depends on collective behavior which is based on individual acts. Therefore, individual use of plastic/metal compaction systems can help meet recycling targets, even as a complement to conventional bins. Thus, herein a proposal is presented for a plastic/metal collection station with a built-in compaction element that allows for the compacting of the separated waste, individually, in an easily accessible drawer. Sorting and compacting waste before collection will result in a reduction of the number of collection/transport stops, which will also translate into higher energy efficiency, cost savings, optimization of the transported tons/km ratio, and profitability.This work was financially supported by Base Funding–UIDB/50022/2020 (LAETA) of INEGI–Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Portugal, and UIDB/04730/2020 of CIETI–Center for Innovation in Industrial Engineering and Technology, LA/P/0045/2020 (ALiCE), UIDB/00511/2020 and UIDP/00511/2020 (LEPABE), funded by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC), Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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