1,500 research outputs found
How Do Software Startups Pivot? Empirical Results from a Multiple Case Study
In order to handle intense time pressure and survive in dynamic market,
software startups have to make crucial decisions constantly on whether to
change directions or stay on chosen courses, or in the terms of Lean Startup,
to pivot or to persevere. The existing research and knowledge on software
startup pivots are very limited. In this study, we focused on understanding the
pivoting processes of software startups, and identified the triggering factors
and pivot types. To achieve this, we employed a multiple case study approach,
and analyzed the data obtained from four software startups. The initial
findings show that different software startups make different types of pivots
related to business and technology during their product development life cycle.
The pivots are triggered by various factors including negative customer
feedback.Comment: Conference publication, International Conference on Software Business
(ICSOB'16), Sloveni
Clover - A B-mode polarization experiment
Clover is a new instrument being built to detect the B-mode polarization of
the CMB. It consists of three telescopes operating at 97, 150, and 220 GHz and
will be sited in Chile at the Llano de Chajnantor. Each telescope assembly is
scaled to give a constant beam size of 8 arcmin and feeds an array of between
320 and 512 finline-coupled TES bolometers. Here we describe the design,
current status and scientific prospects of the instrument.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures. Proceedings of the Fundamental Physics With CMB
workshop, UC Irvine, March 23-25, 2006, to be published in New Astronomy
Review
Analysis of CMB foregrounds using a database for Planck
Within the scope of the Planck IDIS (Integrated Data Information System)
project we have started to develop the data model for time-ordered data and
full-sky maps. The data model is part of the Data Management Component (DMC), a
software system designed according to a three-tier architecture which allows
complete separation between data storage and processing. The DMC is already
being used for simulation activities and the modeling of some foreground
components. We have ingested several Galactic surveys into the database and
used the science data-access interface to process the data. The data structure
for full-sky maps utilises the HEALPix tessellation of the sphere. We have been
able to obtain consistent measures of the angular power spectrum of the
Galactic radio continuum emission between 408 MHz and 2417 MHz.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the MPA/ESO/MPE
Joint Astronomy Conference "Mining The Sky
Self and Shared Leadership in Decision Quality: A Tale of Two Sides
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between shared leadership (SL) and decision quality, utilizing shared leadership theory (SLT) and behavioral decision theory (BDT). The authors will explore the mediating role of “decision comprehensiveness” in the SL–decision quality linkage. Additionally, the authors will examine how individual “self-leadership” and “debate” among team members moderate the relationship between SL and decision comprehensiveness.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors tested the hypothesized moderated mediation model using a sample of 506 professionals employed in 112 research and development (R&D) teams, along with their direct managers from large Italian firms. To examine the relationships, the authors employed confirmatory factor analyses and path analyses. In order to address endogeneity concerns, the authors incorporated an instrumental variable, namely delegation, into the analysis.
Findings
SL positively influences decision quality, mediated by decision comprehensiveness, where teams include comprehensive information in decision-making. The level of debate among team members positively moderates the SL–decision comprehensiveness relationship. High levels of self-leadership can harm SL by reducing decision comprehensiveness, indicating a downside. However, low or moderate levels of self-leadership do not harm decision comprehensiveness and can even benefit SL.
Originality/value
This is the first work to investigate the relationship between SL and decision quality, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying this association. By integrating SLT and BDT, the authors provide insights into how managers can make higher-quality decisions within self-leading teams. Moreover, this research makes a distinct contribution to the field of self-leadership by delineating its boundaries and identifying a potentially negative aspect within the self-influence process
Complement system network in cell physiology and in human diseases
The complement system is a multi-functional system representing the first line host defense against pathogens in innate immune response, through three different pathways. Impairment of its function, consisting in deficiency or excessive deregulated activation, may lead to severe systemic infections or autoimmune disorders. These diseases may be inherited or acquired. Despite many diagnostic tools are currently available, ranging from traditional, such as hemolytic or ELISA based assays, to innovative ones, like next generation sequencing techniques, these diseases are often not recognized. As for therapeutic aspects, strategies based on the use of targeted drugs are now widespread. The aim of this review is to present an updated overview of complement system pathophysiology, clinical implications of its dysfunction and to summarize diagnostic and therapeutic approaches
Evidence from field measurements and satellite imaging of impact of Earth rotation on Lake Iseo chemistry
During an initial field survey in 2012, we observed an unexpected asymmetry of dissolved oxygen distribution between the western and eastern side in northern Lake Iseo. Motivated by this apparent anomaly, we conducted a detailed field investigation, and we used a physical model of the northern part of the lake to understand the in- fluences that might affect the distribution of material in the northern section of the lake. These investigations sug- gested that the Earth's rotation has significant influence on the inflow of the lake's two main tributaries. In order to further crosscheck the validity of these results, we conducted a careful analysis at a synoptic scale using images acquired during thermally unstratified periods by Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 satellites. We retrieved and post- processed a large set of images, providing conclusive evidence of the role exerted by the Earth's rotation on pol- lutant transport in Lake Iseo and of the greater environmental vulnerability of the north-west shore of this lake, where important settlements are located. Our study confirms the necessity for three-dimensional hydrodynamic models including Coriolis effect in order to effectively predict local impacts of inflows on nearshore water quality of medium-sized elongated lakes of similar scale to Lake Iseo
Impact of upstream landslide on perialpine lake ecosystem: An assessment using multi-temporal satellite data
Monitoring freshwater and wetland systems and their response to stressors of natural or anthropogenic origin is critical for ecosystem conservation. A multi-temporal set of 87 images, acquired by Sentinel-2 satellites over three years (2016–2018), provided quantitative information for assessing the temporal evolution of key ecosystem variables in the perialpine Lake Mezzola (northern Italy), which has suffered from the impacts of a massive landslide that took place upstream of the lake basin in summer 2017. Sentinel-2 derived products revealed an increase in lake turbidity triggered by the landslide that amounted to twice the average values scored in the years preceding and following the event. Hotspots of turbidity within the lake were in particular highlighted. Moreover, both submerged and riparian vegetation showed harmful impacts due to sediment deposition. A partial loss of submerged macrophyte cover was found, with delayed growth and a possible community shift in favor of species adapted to inorganic substrates. Satellite-derived seasonal dynamics showed that exceptional sediment load can overwrite climatic factors in controlling phenology of riparian reed beds, resulting in two consecutive years with shorter than normal growing season and roughly 20% drop in productivity, according to spectral proxies. Compared to 2016, senescence came earlier by around 20 days on average in 2017 season, and green-up was delayed by up to 50 days (20 days, on average) in 2018, following the landslide. The approach presented could be easily implemented for continuous monitoring of similar ecosystems subject to external pressures with periods of high sediment loads
Hardware prototyping and validation of a W-ΔDOR digital signal processor
Microwave tracking, usually performed by on ground processing of the signals coming from a spacecraft, represents a crucial aspect in every deep-space mission. Various noise sources, including receiver noise, affect these signals, limiting the accuracy of the radiometric measurements obtained from the radio link. There are several methods used for spacecraft tracking, including the Delta-Differential One-Way Ranging (ΔDOR) technique. In the past years, European Space Agency (ESA) missions relied on a narrowband ΔDOR system for navigation in the cruise phase. To limit the adverse effect of nonlinearities in the receiving chain, an innovative wideband approach to ΔDOR measurements has recently been proposed. This work presents the hardware implementation of a new version of the ESA X/Ka Deep Space Transponder based on the new tracking technique named Wideband ΔDOR (W-ΔDOR). The architecture of the new transponder guarantees backward compatibility with narrowband ΔDOR
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