A Preliminary Assessment of the Impact of eGovernment Technologies in Governmental Agencies

This study involves an empirical assessment of the impact of eGovernment technologies in local and state government agencies throughout the State of Texas using the following major constructs: eGov system quality, eGov information quality, eGov system usage, and eGov user satisfaction. An IS success model for these agencies were proposed using the DeLone and McLean framework. The data for validating the model was collected from a sample of 300 government agencies in Texas. The structural equation modeling (SEM) approach using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) was used to analyze the data. Overall, the model fits the data indicating its veracity. With the exception of the relationship between eGov information quality and eGov user satisfaction, all other associations among other constructs were found statistically significant. The manuscript concludes by providing recommendations for future research and practice

A Cross-National Comparison E-government Success Measures: A Theory-Based Empirical Research

The continuing rapid convergence of government and e-technologies presents new opportunities for research to investigate the ways citizens interact with e-government. The literature in the area is, however, still in its infancy with little or no theoretically grounded empirical research conducted in the area. The present research investigates citizen experience with e-government in the United States and Spain by utilizing difference tests. Results of the difference tests show that the Spanish e-government citizens put more emphasis on information quality in terms of relevance, reliability, timeliness, clarity, conciseness, and currency. Results of the difference tests also show that for the system usage construct, e-government citizens on both side of the Atlantic agree that their e-government should provide superior user training, facilitate use of extranets to communicate with governmental agencies, allow automated transmitting and processing of data, and allow real time monitoring of citizen request for information in an e-government integrated with governmental agencies environment

Chemical evidence for the tradeoff-in-the-nephron hypothesis to explain secondary hyperparathyroidism

Background Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) complicates advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and causes skeletal and other morbidity. In animal models of CKD, SHPT was prevented and reversed by reduction of dietary phosphate in proportion to GFR, but the phenomena underlying these observations are not understood. The tradeoff-in-the-nephron hypothesis states that as GFR falls, the phosphate concentration in the distal convoluted tubule ([P]DCT]) rises, reduces the ionized calcium concentration in that segment ([Ca++]DCT), and thereby induces increased secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) to maintain normal calcium reabsorption. In patients with CKD, we previously documented correlations between [PTH] and phosphate excreted per volume of filtrate (EP/Ccr), a surrogate for [P]DCT. In the present investigation, we estimated [P]DCT from physiologic considerations and measurements of phosphaturia, and sought evidence for a specific chemical phenomenon by which increased [P]DCT could lower [Ca++]DCT and raise [PTH]. Methods and findings We studied 28 patients (“CKD”) with eGFR of 14–49 mL/min/1.73m2 (mean 29.9 ± 9.5) and 27 controls (“CTRL”) with eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73m2 (mean 86.2 ± 10.2). In each subject, total [Ca]DCT and [P]DCT were deduced from relevant laboratory data. The Joint Expert Speciation System (JESS) was used to calculate [Ca++]DCT and concentrations of related chemical species under the assumption that a solid phase of amorphous calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2 (am., s.)) could precipitate. Regressions of [PTH] on eGFR, [P]DCT, and [Ca++]DCT were then examined. At filtrate pH of 6.8 and 7.0, [P]DCT was found to be the sole determinant of [Ca++]DCT, and precipitation of Ca3(PO4)2 (am., s.) appeared to mediate this result. At pH 6.6, total [Ca]DCT was the principal determinant of [Ca++]DCT, [P]DCT was a minor determinant, and precipitation of Ca3(PO4)2 (am., s.) was predicted in no CKD and five CTRL. In CKD, at all three pH values, [PTH] varied directly with [P]DCT and inversely with [Ca++]DCT, and a reduced [Ca++]DCT was identified at which [PTH] rose unequivocally. Relationships of [PTH] to [Ca++]DCT and to eGFR resembled each other closely. Conclusions As [P]DCT increases, chemical speciation calculations predict reduction of [Ca++]DCT through precipitation of Ca3(PO4)2 (am., s.). [PTH] appears to rise unequivocally if [Ca++]DCT falls sufficiently. These results support the tradeoff-in-the-nephron hypothesis, and they explain why proportional phosphate restriction prevented and reversed SHPT in experimental CKD. Whether equally stringent treatment can be as efficacious in humans warrants investigation

The Impact of Enterprise System Implementations on Enterprise Risk

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A smart grids knowledge transfer paradigm supported by experts' throughput modeling artificial intelligence algorithmic processes

This paper presents an artificial intelligence algorithmic knowledge transfer approach to the models that have been developed throughout the world for smart grid networks. Many nations are moving forward to implement smarter ways to generate, distribute and network energy, while others are expecting the leading countries to take the initiative and then follow suit. Therefore, we theoretically identify three dimensions of experts' competencies—perception, judgment, and decision choice supported by the Throughput Model algorithms for knowledge transfer. Integrating the Throughput Model algorithmic framework and Deming Cycle (i.e., plan, do, check, act), we propose that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems influence experts' decision making towards implementation of Smart Grids (SG). This model was backed up with the perspectives of 32 global experts as surveyed using Carnegie Mellon Maturity model questions and analyzed the results using PLS to validate the findings and compare them to our enhanced knowledge transfer developed from Deming's PDCA cycle. Our results suggest that these key algorithmic decision-making components are critical in explaining the successful application of planning, doing, checking/ acting, and planning of renewable energy technology as well as for a greener environment

Harcèlement scolaire : évaluation de l’efficacité d’une intervention basée sur la méthode systémique et stratégique de Palo Alto

peer reviewedLe harcèlement scolaire touche de nombreux élèves et a de multiples conséquences sur les jeunes qui en sont victimes. La méthode systémique et stratégique de Palo Alto propose de faire face à cette problématique de façon innovante : en entrainant les victimes à se défendre elles-mêmes face aux harceleurs. Bien que les rares études sur ce sujet aient fourni des résultats encourageants, elles ont pour principale limite d’avoir interrogé le point de vue des professionnels ayant mis en place la méthode ou celui des parents des jeunes, plutôt que le point de vue des jeunes eux-mêmes. L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer l’efficacité d’une intervention basée sur la méthode de Palo Alto tout en questionnant les élèves ayant bénéficié de celle-ci. 19 jeunes âgés de 11 à 14 ans ont participé à cette étude longitudinale comprenant un prétest et deux post-tests, respectivement un mois et quatre mois après l’intervention. À chacun des trois moments, les jeunes ont complété les échelles d’estime de soi, de dépression, d’idéations suicidaires, d’acceptation par les pairs, de victimisation et de degré de souffrance. Lors des deux post-tests, des questions ouvertes ont également été posées aux jeunes afin de mieux comprendre leur situation. Les résultats quantitatifs et qualitatifs permettent de confirmer que la méthode systémique et stratégique de Palo Alto a un effet significatif à moyen terme sur l’estime de soi, les symptômes dépressifs, le sentiment de victimisation et le degré de souffrance des jeunes. Ces résultats rejoignent ceux précédemment obtenus et soulignent l’importance de poursuivre les recherches visant à déterminer plus précisément quels sont les processus qui sous-tendent l’efficacité de cette méthode dans la problématique de harcèlement scolaire