MIS AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES: Research Patterns and Prescriptions

Many of the questions of concern to information system (IS) researchers and practitioners are, in essence, behavioral questions. Behavioral considerations in the design and implementation of information systems and in the management of IS professionals are crucial to the successful development and delivery of quality services to users. Implementation of IS may provide a benefi-cial means to facilitate changes in task design, organizational structure, and social relations. Guidance for interpreting past MIS behavioral research and suggestions for future studies are provided by a proposed research framework. The importance of adopting behavioral science research standards, e.g. , theory-based- research questions and appropriate methodology, is stressed

A STRUCTURAL MODEL OF IMPLEMENTATION

A general model of the management science implementation process is presented based on the results of more than ten years of implementation research. A multiple-equation representation of that model is developed for one important class of implementation, the two-stage implementation, in which it is necessary to gain both user and management acceptance of the system being implemented. The postulated model represents an advance in at least three ways: (a) it integrates previous findings; (b) it generalizes across settings; and (c) it is testable as a whole.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

TESTING AN INTEGRATED IMPLEMENTATION MODEL WITH DATA FROM A GENERALIZED DSS

A model proposed by Schultz, Ginzberg & Lucas (1984) that integrates the factor and process approaches to implementation was field tested with data from a generalized decision support system. Significant associations were found between manager acceptance and user perceptions of support, user personal stake and system use. The results suggest that voluntary and non-voluntary use of a system have different precursors and may be encouraged in different ways. Although the overall model receives only partial support, the results of the study suggest approaches for further testing of network models of implementation.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Mass-Radius Relation for Magnetic White Dwarfs

Recently, several white dwarfs with very strong surface magnetic fields have been observed. In this paper we explore the possibility that such stars could have sufficiently strong internal fields to alter their structure. We obtain a revised white dwarf mass-radius relation in the presence of strong internal magnetic fields. We first derive the equation of state for a fully degenerate ideal electron gas in a magnetic field using an Euler-MacLaurin expansion. We use this to obtain the mass-radius relation for magnetic $^{4}$He, $^{12}$C, and $^{56}$Fe white dwarfs of uniform composition.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures and 1 table, To appear in Ap

Geometric cues influence head direction cells only in conditions of disorientation

The influential hypothesis that environmental geometry is critical for spatial orientation has been extensively tested behaviorally, and yet findings have been conflicting. Head direction (HD) cells, the neural correlate of the “sense of direction”, offer a window into the processes underlying directional orientation, and may help clarify the issue. In the present study, HD cells were recorded as rats foraged in enclosures of varying geometry, with or without simultaneous manipulation of landmarks and self-motion cues (path integration). All geometric enclosures had single-order rotational symmetry and thus completely polarized the environment. They also had unique features, such as corners, which could, in principle, act like landmarks. Despite these strongly polarizing geometric cues, HD cells in non-disoriented rats never rotated with these shapes. By contrast, when a cue card (white or grey) was added to one wall, HD cells readily rotated with the enclosure. When path integration was disrupted by disorienting the rat, HD cells now did rotate with the enclosure even without the landmark. Collectively these findings indicate that geometry exerts little or no influence on heading computations in non-disoriented rats, but it can do so in disoriented rats. We suggest that geometric processing is only a weak influence, providing a backup system for heading calculations and being recruited only under conditions of disorientation

ABOUT RECONSTRUCTION OF UNFINISHED BUILDING ON THE TERRITORY OF WORSTED PLANT

Unfinished building – an essential problem of many cities. There is a proposal reconstruction of unfinished building of textile factory belonging to Sverdlovsk Worsted Plant. It is proposed to organize based thereon industrial and logistics complex. Strength characteristics of its bearing skeleton allow to make reconstruction activities. It was suggested to build extensions, to organize an adjacent territory, provide maneuvering to supersize transport and form an interesting facade. The project is executed according to recommendations of the Sverdlovsk Worsted Plant Directorate acting as a customer. The project covers one aspect of the solution of problem with abandoned industrial zones.«Недострои» – насущная проблема многих городов. Недостроенное здание чесального цеха Камвольного Комбината г. Екатеринбурга предлагается реконструировать с организацией на его основе промышленно-логистического комплекса. Состояние несущего остова объекта позволяет произвести реконструкционные мероприятия. Предлагается возвести пристрои, организовать прилегающую территорию, обеспечить маневрирование большегрузного длинномерного транспорта, а также сформировать интересные выразительные фасады. Проект выполнен в соответствии с рекомендациями руководства Камвольного комбината, выступающего в качестве заказчика. Проект освещает один из аспектов решения проблемы заброшенных промышленных зон на территории города.Сборник выпущен при поддержке Фонда содействия развитию УрФУ имени первого Президента России Б.Н. Ельцин

Distributed computing building blocks for rational agents

Following [4] we extend and generalize the game-theoretic model of distributed computing, identifying different utility functions that encompass different potential preferences of players in a distributed system. A good distributed algorithm in the game-theoretic context is one that prohibits the agents (processors with interests) from de-viating from the protocol; any deviation would result in the agent losing, i.e., reducing its utility at the end of the algorithm. We dis-tinguish between different utility functions in the context of dis-tributed algorithms, e.g., utilities based on communication prefer-ence, solution preference, and output preference. Given these pref-erences we construct two basic building blocks for game theoretic distributed algorithms, a wake-up building block resilient to any preference and in particular to the communication preference (to which previous wake-up solutions were not resilient), and a knowl-edge sharing building block that is resilient to any and in partic-ular to solution and output preferences. Using the building blocks we present several new algorithms for consensus, and renaming as well as a modular presentation of the leader election algorithm of [4]

Modern Modular Building

Весь мир, и в частности Россия, уже более века испытывают дефицит жилых площадей. На протяжении этого времени, страны стремятся решить эту проблему различными способами, стараясь увеличить скорость строительства и доступность для населения. В середине XX века технический прогресс позволил поэтапно максимально укрупнить строительные элементы зданий, что привело к созданию новых индустриальных строительных систем и повышению темпов ввода жилья в разы. Тем не менее, вопрос полностью решен не был и остается актуальным по сей день. Существующее сегодня «модульное строительство» из легких блок-модулей не является столь массовым, но видится многими зарубежными архитекторами, строителями и инвесторами, наряду с другими традиционными способами разрешения жилищного кризиса с учетом современных требований по архитектуре и дизайну, комфорту и функциональности, энергоэффективности и экологичности. Вопросы сокращения издержек и влияния на окружающую среду, а также сроков реализации проектов, сегодня более чем актуальны для строительных компаний и нашли свое отражение, в том числе, в современном «модульном строительстве», в связи с чем России следовало бы обратить внимание на данную современную строительную систему, как один из способов решения проблем нехватки новых и расселения ветхих жилых площадей.The whole world and Russia, in particular, is lacking in accommodation units for more than a century. All this time countries tend to solve this problem in alternative ways trying to accelerate the housebuilding and to make housing more available for people. In the middle of the 20th century technical progress gradually enlarged the construction elements of buildings to the maximum which resulted in creation of new industrial construction systems and a multiple increase in the commissioning of housing. Nevertheless the issue hasn’t been completely resolved and remains relevant to this day. The current existing “modular construction” of light block-modules is not so massive but many foreign architects, housebuilders and investors see it along with the other traditional ways of solving the housing crisis based on modern requirements for architecture and design, comfort and functionality, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. The issues of cost saving, environmental impact and project duration are very up-to-date for construction companies and also reflected in modern “modular construction” therefore Russia should draw its attention to this current construction system that positively proved itself abroad for the last decade as one of the solutions to the shortage of new accommodation and the resettlement of old housing

IceCube Science

We discuss the status of the kilometer-scale neutrino detector IceCube and its low energy upgrade Deep Core and review its scientific potential for particle physics. We subsequently appraise IceCube's potential for revealing the enigmatic sources of cosmic rays. After all, this aspiration set the scale of the instrument. While only a smoking gun is missing for the case that the Galactic component of the cosmic ray spectrum originates in supernova remnants, the origin of the extragalactic component remains as inscrutable as ever. We speculate on the role of the nearby active galaxies Centaurus A and M87.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures; Talk at Discrete 08, Valencia, Spai

Peer expectations about outstanding competencies of men and women medical students

Men and women enrolled in a combined premedical-medical school programme were asked as they began their clinical training to rate their anticipated competence on sixteen criteria relevant to medical practice. Competence dimensions tapped scientific/technical skills, dedication/commitment, and interpersonal skills. Students then were asked to nominate one classmate whom they expected might be‘the best’in each area. Self-ratings revealed few differences among men and women. Peer nominations, however, revealed a preponderance of male nominees in ten competence areas. Women dominated nominations only in the category of sensitivity to patients. Patterns persisted when peer nominations were controlled for students’academic standing and self-ratings on parallel dimensions. The data suggest that medical school peer groups share expectations about competencies of men and women as physicians which are consistent with generalized sex stereotypes and career patterns of men and women physicians.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74843/1/1467-9566.ep11340055.pd