Forming an Effective Information Systems Advisory Board

An increasing number of accreditation agencies are requiring institutions of higher learning to have program specific advisory boards. This paper describes a systematic approach that administrators can strategically use for recruiting, nurturing, and strengthening relationships with targeted advisory board members. This systematic approach was successfully implemented at universities where the author has held administrative duties

E-learning tools for andragogy: a scale model of technology-based active learning

Andragogy is an educational philosophy on how to facilitate active learning for adult students. It requires instructors to engage students in various learning activities, including problem solving, essay writing, discussions, group projects, and so on. The challenge is how to facilitate student participation and assess learning outcomes. The emergence of e-learning tools, such as Discussion Board, Wiki, Blogs, and Wimba provide technical support for the new learning approach. Based on the review of information systems and education literature, this study develops a taxonomy of e-learning tools. In particular, it proposes a scale model based on the premise that e-learning tools must facilitate both content contribution and content appraisal for students. The taxonomy is validated with a simulation study based on the premises of media synchronicity theory. This framework provides a guideline on how to choose appropriate e-learning tools for various learning activities in the design of online and hybrid courses

Superfluid Optomechanics with Phononic Nanostructures

In quantum optomechanics, finding materials and strategies to limit losses has been crucial to the progress of the field. Recently, superfluid 4He was proposed as a promising mechanical element for quantum optomechanics. This quantum fluid shows highly desirable properties (e.g. extremely low acoustic loss) for a quantum optomechanical system. In current implementations, superfluid optomechanical systems suffer from external sources of loss, which spoils the quality factor of resonators. In this work, we propose a new implementation, exploiting nanofluidic confinement. Our approach, based on acoustic resonators formed within phononic nanostructures, aims at limiting radiation losses to preserve the intrinsic properties of superfluid 4He. In this work, we estimate the optomechanical system parameters. Using recent theory, we derive the expected quality factors for acoustic resonators in different thermodynamic conditions. We calculate the sources of loss induced by the phononic nanostructures with numerical simulations. Our results indicate the feasibility of the proposed approach in a broad range of parameters, which opens new prospects for more complex geometries.Comment: 20 pages, 19 figure

Salaries of information technology managers; A trend analysis

During the economic boom of the last decade, companies and organizations have to offer lucrative salaries and a wide variety of incentive programs to attract and to retain highly skilled IT workers. While it is true that the economic downturn has affected the dramatic rise in salary trends, determining the worth of an employee as measured by wages will always remain a critical management issue. History has shown that irrespective of economic conditions, salaries will continue to rise. As the economy recovers and given the projected mass exodus of governmental information technology workers in the coming years, managers will need to be ready to deal with the difficult issue of high salary again. This study examines national and regional salary trends of IT managers. Specifically, the salaries examined are for the years 1991 through 2000, the period where salaries were often adjusted because of the imbalance between the supply of and the demand for IT professionals. From the employee who is looking for a reasonable salary package to the employer who must determine a sufficient pay raise to retain an IT manager, the findings and trends reported in this study should be useful and interesting

A Study of the Demand for Information Technology Professionals in Selected Internet Job Portals

The demand for information technology (IT) professionals has grown rapidly in the last decade. Parallel to this increasing need for IT personnel is the continuous change in the type of skills that are brought about by innovations in cutting edge technologies. However, the type of new IT skills and knowledge needed to keep companies competitive in the global market extend beyond the ability to apply the updated hardware and software to make business processes more efficient. Communication excellence and managerial expertise are just two of the other more commonly needed skills demanded by employers. This study identifies and classifies information technology related job listings that are disclosed in the databases of two leading e-recruiting services. Two secondary variables, written and oral communications and experience, were also collected and examined in this study. The results of this research should be of interest to job seekers, human resources administrators, career counselors, corporate trainers, information systems consultants, labor attorneys, immigration and naturalization officers, and agency recruiters. Educators will find the outcomes of this study useful for the design and development of new curricula that can prepare students for the job market. Students will find this study particularly helpful since the trends identified in this research can have important implications for them in their selection of elective courses and in choosing a track for specialization

Towards a Framework for Perceived Effectiveness of Mobile Learning

Recent years have witnessed rapid advancement in mobile learning technology. A major issue is the identification of thefactors that would relate to the diverse needs of users. If mobile learning is intended to enhance distance, interactive, andcollaborative learning, then it is mission critical to understand the impact of individual, social, and technological factors thatwould play a role in the effectiveness of this learning model as perceived by its users. This paper addresses this need byproposing an integrated and a holistic model that depicts the factors that may have the potential to impact the perceivedmobile learning effectiveness. To operationalize the model constructs, a survey-based instrument will be developed based ona review of frameworks pertinent to technology acceptance, diffusion of innovation, and media richness, and of literaturerelated to e-learning. The conceptual model will be discussed, and the study conclusion, implications, and limitations will bepresented

Some Observations on Internet Addiction Disorder Research

Internet addiction is a contemporary problem brought about by easy access to computers and online information. Individuals addicted to the Internet can develop many types of disorders. In extreme cases, persons addicted to the Internet may be destructive to themselves, their families, and their place of employment. Corporate executives need to have a better understanding of Internet addiction because employees with Internet addiction can be highly counter-productive as well as cause other legal problems. This study examines research trends in the area of Internet addiction and provides management implications for policy development and planning. Specifically, this study identifies the leading researchers, institutions, specialization, and information dissemination outlets for Internet addiction research in the last quarter of the 20th Century to the present. This study should be of interest to educators at academic institutions, students interested in institutions offering Internet addiction courses and programs, and researchers specializing in online addiction studies. Clinical psychologists, behavioral counselors, psychiatrists, clergy, and addiction therapists will find the results of this study useful. In particular, corporate attorneys dealing with addiction cases, human resource specialists seeking rehabilitation facilities for addicted employees, health related policy makers, computing consultants, and risk assessors of insurance companies will find the results of this study to be valuable

Fundamental Limits to Coherent Photon Generation with Solid-State Atomlike Transitions

Coherent generation of indistinguishable single photons is crucial for many quantum communication and processing protocols. Solid-state realizations of two-level atomic transitions or three-level spin-$\Lambda$ systems offer significant advantages over their atomic counterparts for this purpose, albeit decoherence can arise due to environmental couplings. One popular approach to mitigate dephasing is to operate in the weak excitation limit, where excited state population is minimal and coherently scattered photons dominate over incoherent emission. Here we probe the coherence of photons produced using two-level and spin-$\Lambda$ solid-state systems. We observe that the coupling of the atomic-like transitions to the vibronic transitions of the crystal lattice is independent of driving strength and detuning. We apply a polaron master equation to capture the non-Markovian dynamics of the ground state vibrational manifolds. These results provide insight into the fundamental limitations for photon coherence from solid-state quantum emitters, with the consequence that deterministic single-shot quantum protocols are impossible and inherently probabilistic approaches must be embraced.Comment: 16 pages [with supplementary information], 8 figure

Исследование характеристик приповерхностной лазерной плазмы в зависимости от угла падения сдвоенных лазерных импульсов на многокомпонентную металлическую мишень

To determine the effects exerted by double laser pulses on the formation of a component and charge composition of the surface laser plasma, it has been studied using the method of laser spark spectrometry at different incidence angles on a flat multicomponent target (D16T aluminum alloy). The possibility for the increased contribution of aluminum ions with different charges to the surface laser plasma has been examined in the regime of D16T alloy ablation by double laser pulses at the particular radiation incidence angles. = Для установления влияния параметров воздействия сдвоенных лазерных импульсов на формирование компонентного и зарядового состава приповерхностной лазерной плазмы проведены ее исследования методом лазерной искровой спектрометрии при различных углах падения лазерного излучения на плоскую многокомпонентную мишень (алюминиевый сплав Д16Т). Показана возможность увеличения доли ионов алюминия различной зарядности в приповерхностной лазерной плазме в режимах абляции сплава Д16Т сдвоенными лазерными импульсами при определенных углах падения излучения

Orthovoltage intraoperative radiation therapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>To analyze the outcomes of patients from a single institution treated with surgery and orthovoltage intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively reviewed 23 consecutive patients from 1990-2001 treated with IORT to 23 discrete sites with median and mean follow up of 6.5 and 21 months, respectively. Most tumors were located in the head of the pancreas (83%) and sites irradiated included: tumor bed (57%), vessels (26%), both the tumor bed/vessels (13%) and other (4%). The majority of patients (83%) had IORT at the time of their definitive surgery. Three patients had preoperative chemoradiation (13%). Orthovoltage X-rays (200-250 kVp) were employed via individually sized and beveled cone applicators. Additional mean clinical characteristics include: age 64 (range 41-81); tumor size 4 cm (range 1.4-11); and IORT dose 1106 cGy (range 600-1500). Post-operative external beam radiation (EBRT) or chemotherapy was given to 65% and 76% of the assessable patients, respectively. Outcomes measured were infield control (IFC), loco-regional control (LRC), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS) and treatment-related complications.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Kaplan-Meier (KM) 2-year IFC, LRC, DMFS and OS probabilities for the whole group were 83%, 61%, 26%, and 27%, respectively. Our cohort had three grade 3-5 complications associated with treatment (surgery and IORT).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Orthovoltage IORT following tumor reductive surgery is reasonably well tolerated and seems to confer in-field control in carefully selected patients. However, distant metastases remain the major problem for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.</p