Web Structure Reorganization to Improve Web Navigation Efficiency

The study aims to improve Web navigation efficiency by reorganizing Web structure. Navigation efficiency is defined mathematically for both navigation with / without target destination pages, e.g. for experienced and new users. To help experienced users not to lose their orientation, structure stability is taken into consideration. Stability constraint can also help website designers control the maintaining effort of Web. This study proposes a mathematical programming method to reorganize Web structure in order to achieve better navigation efficiency. Designer can specify the user requirements and how stable the website structure should be. An e-banking example is given to illustrate how the method works in scenarios where user surfs with target destination. This study has the advantage of assessing and improving navigation efficiency and of relieving the designer of tedious chore to modify the structure in transformation

Relational Study of Information Technology and Production Management: - The Case of Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Mainland China and Hong Kong

In the last few decades, many large corporations have been moving part of the supply chains, especially manufacturing, offshore to take advantage of the low cost resources and labor. For example, the southern part of China, such as Pearl River Delta (PRD), has been attracting the enterprises from all over the word in the last two decades and has become the world manufacturing hub. The types of the manufacturing extend the spectrum from light industry (e.g. toy and garment) originally to high-tech (e.g. semi-conductor wafer) recently and such transition triggers the changes of the technology requirements. In addition, joining WTO has opened up the gate to China and sped up the process of technology advancement as well. The paper investigates the relationships between technology adoption and production management by examining production technology, information systems, and information qualities in a study based on the review of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Hong Kong and China. The paper concludes the recommendations for the capability building to bridge the gap for information systems and operations management in China

The Effects of Website Personalization on User Intention to Return through Cognitive Beliefs and Affective Reactions

This study developed a fine-grained, multidimensional view of perceived personalization of website design based on and extending upon previous research. Moreover, we have drawn from the vast body of research on elaboration likelihood model, the technology acceptance model (TAM), and flow theory to (i) develop an integrated model of the stimuli of personalization, and the alternative modes of influence processes which lead to the intention to continue to use a website (i.e. user intention to return); (ii) empirically test the integrated model (iii) suggest a personalization model that enhances the positive environmental and psychological determinants of user intention to return. In particular, we investigate the role of information personalization, presentation personalization, and navigation personalization in influencing the cognitive and affective determinants of the intention to continue to use a website. Our findings have important implications for Information Systems (IS) research and managerial decision making on personalization implementation issues in website design

Rapid Multiplex Testing for Upper Respiratory Pathogens in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background:Acute upper respiratory tract infections are a common cause of emergency department (ED) visits and often result in unnecessary antibiotic treatment. Methods:We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of a rapid, multipathogen respiratory panel (RP) test vs usual care (control). Patients were eligible if they were ≥12 months old, had symptoms of upper respiratory infection or influenza-like illness, and were not on antibiotics. The primary outcome was antibiotic prescription; secondary outcomes included antiviral prescription, disposition, and length of stay (ClinicalTrials.gov# NCT02957136). Results:Of 191 patients enrolled, 93 (49%) received RP testing; 98 (51%) received usual care. Fifty-three (57%) RP and 7 (7%) control patients had a virus detected and reported during the ED visit (P = .0001). Twenty (22%) RP patients and 33 (34%) usual care patients received antibiotics during the ED visit (-12%; 95% confidence interval, -25% to 0.4%; P = .06/0.08); 9 RP patients received antibiotics despite having a virus detected. The magnitude of antibiotic reduction was greater in children (-19%) vs adults (-9%, post hoc analysis). There was no difference in antiviral use, length of stay, or disposition. Conclusions:Rapid RP testing was associated with a trend toward decreased antibiotic use, suggesting a potential benefit from more rapid viral tests in the ED. Future studies should determine if specific groups are more likely to benefit from testing and evaluate the relative cost and effectiveness of broad testing, focused testing, and a combined diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship approach

Towards Analytical Approach to Effective Website Designs: A Framework for Modeling, Evaluation and Enhancement

Conference Theme: I.T. and Value CreationEffective website design is critical to the success of electronic commerce and digital government. Most prior website design research has taken a computational or cognitive/behavioral approach which may not yield optimal designs demanded by specific requirements. We consider website design as a structural problem which can be examined using analytical approach, such as mathematical optimization. Specifically, we propose a framework which classifies real-world design problems into generic website design categories and maps each resulting category into a graph model which can be analyzable or solved using appropriate analytical techniques. Our framework consists of generic designs and graph models, together with the necessary mapping. We classify the Web site applications and review their features proposed by previous research. We describe a generic website design category using its objective and key constraints that correspond to important design requirements. By modeling website design problems using well-defined structures and rigorous analysis methods, this framework is able to measure website accessibility in a systematic and quantifiable manner, arguably more desirable than existing qualitative ad-hoc practices. Overall, our framework can facilitate the website design process, enhance design quality, and increase ease of analysis, implementation and continuous improvement.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Bloated bodies and broken bricks: power, ecology, and inequality in the political economy of natural disaster recovery

Disaster recovery efforts form an essential component of coping with unforeseen events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and typhoons, some of which will only become more frequent or severe in the face of accelerated climate change. Most of the time, disaster recovery efforts produce net benefits to society. However, depending on their design and governance, some projects can germinate adverse social, political, and economic outcomes. Drawing from concepts in political economy, political ecology, justice theory, and critical development studies, this study first presents a conceptual typology revolving around four key processes: enclosure, exclusion, encroachment, and entrenchment. Enclosure refers to when disaster recovery transfers public assets into private hands or expand the roles of private actors into the public sphere. Exclusion refers to when disaster recovery limits access to resources or marginalize particular stakeholders in decision-making activities. Encroachment refers to when efforts intrude on biodiversity areas or contribute to other forms of environmental degradation. Entrenchment refers to when disaster recovery aggravates the disempowerment of women and minorities, or worsen concentrations of wealth and income inequality within a community. The study then documents the presence of these four inequitable attributes across four empirical case studies: Hurricane Katrina reconstruction efforts in the United States, recovery efforts for the 2004 tsunami in Thailand, Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, and the Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand. It then offers three policy recommendations for analysts, program managers, and climate researchers at large: spreading risks via insurance, adhering to principles of free prior informed consent, and preventing damage through punitive environmental bonds. The political economy of disaster must be taken into account so that projects can maximize their efficacy and avoid marginalizing those most vulnerable to those very disasters

Stereocontrolled enantioselective total synthesis of the [2+2] quadrigemine alkaloids.

A unified strategy for enantioselective total synthesis of all stereoisomers of the 2+2 family of quadrigemine alkaloids is reported. In this approach, two enantioselective intramolecular Heck reactions are carried out at the same time on precursors fashioned in four steps from either meso- or (+)-chimonanthine to form the two critical quaternary carbons of the peripheral cyclotryptamine rings of these products. Useful levels of catalyst control are realized in either desymmetrizing a meso precursor or controlling diastereoselectivity in elaborating C2-symmetic intermediates. None of the synthetic quadrigemines are identical with alkaloids isolated previously and referred to as quadrigemines A and E. In addition, we report improvements in our previous total syntheses of (+)- or (-)-quadrigemine C that shortened the synthetic sequence to 10 steps and provided these products in 2.2% overall yield from tryptamine

Transfer of Development Rights Programs 2022

This study explores Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) programs across the United State and their implementation, investigating TDR programming and ordinance development. Some of the key findings from this research include that TDR programs can be effective at preserving agricultural lands as part of a larger toolbox of planning and zoning measures. Broad criteria for successful TDRs include setting specific, clear preservation goals and understanding local real estate markets. Effective TDR incentives include a mix of market-based and regulatory approaches. Intergovernmental TDR agreements are a potential tool to enhance regional collaboration on preservation efforts and are not expressly prohibited by Idaho Code