Exploring the Influential Determinants of IoT Adoption in the U.S. Manufacturing Sector

Manufacturers have been hesitant to adopt the Internet of Things (IoT) due to a lack of understanding of factors related to IoT adoption. This correlational study uses a combination of diffusion of innovation theory and technology–organization–environment framework to examine if a relationship exists between relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, technology readiness, top management support, firm size, competitive pressure, and regulatory support and intent to adopt IoT in U.S. manufacturing organizations. A sample of 168 IT leaders was used. Multiple regression analysis indicated significant relationships between intent to adopt IoT and three variables: technology readiness, top management support, and competitive pressure. The model was able to predict approximately 44% of the variation of IT leaders’ intent to adopt IoT. The results can help IT leaders in the U.S. manufacturing sectors understand the factors that influence IoT adoption

Ecological memory and relocation decisions in fungal mycelial networks: responses to quantity and location of new resources

Saprotrophic cord-forming basidiomycetes, with their mycelial networks at the soil/litter interface on the forest floor, play a major role in wood decomposition and nutrient cycling/relocation. Many studies have investigated foraging behaviour of their mycelium, but there is little information on their intelligence. Here, we investigate the effects of relative size of inoculum wood and new wood resource (bait) on the decision of a mycelium to remain in, or migrate from, inoculum to bait using Phanerochaete velutina as a model. Experiments allowed mycelium to grow from an inoculum across the surface of a soil microcosm where it encountered a new wood bait. After colonisation of the bait, the original inoculum was moved to a tray of fresh soil to determine whether the fungus was still able to grow out. This also allowed us to test the mycelium’s memory of growth direction. When inocula were transferred to new soil, there was regrowth from 67% of the inocula, and a threshold bait size acted as a cue for the mycelium’s decision to migrate for a final time, rather than a threshold of relative size of inoculum: bait. There was greater regrowth from the side that originally faced the new bait, implying memory of growth direction

Influential Determinants of Internet of Things Adoption in the U.S. Manufacturing Sector

Manufacturers have been hesitant to adopt Internet of things (IoT) due to a lack of understanding about the innovate characteristics, technology, organizational and environmental factors related to IoT adoption and how their organizations can apply IoT correctly. This quantitative, correlational study used a combination of diffusion of innovation theory and technology–organization–environment framework as the foundation to examine if a relationship exists between relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, technology readiness, top management support, firm size, competitive pressure, and regulatory support and IT leaders\u27 intent to adopt IoT in U.S. manufacturing organizations. A sample of 168 information technology (IT) leaders from the U.S. manufacturing sectors was used. Multiple regression analysis indicated significant relationships between the intent to adopt IoT by IT leaders of manufacturing organizations and only 3 of the 8 independent variables: technology readiness, top management support, and competitive pressure. The model was able to predict approximately 44% of the variation of IT leaders\u27 intent to adopt IoT. The results of this study might help IT leaders in the U.S. manufacturing sectors understand the factors that influence IoT adoption. The findings from this study might contribute to positive social change by contributing to economic growth that results from increased efficiency gained from the adoption of IoT in key business areas

Can anodal tDCS of the motor cortex affect exercise performance of the ipsilateral or contralateral knee extensors?

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has risen in popularity over the past two decades, in part due to research suggesting it can be used to provide muscular performance improvements; namely increased maximal voluntary force production and reduced fatigue. While substantial conflict in the literature exists as to whether tDCS is truly an effective ergogenic aid, studies almost exclusively examine performance in muscles contralateral to the stimulated cortical area. This leaves a substantial gap in understanding about how muscles ipsilateral to the stimulated site are affected. Additionally, with most participants involved in studies utilizing tDCS being male, and no studies directly comparing the effects between sexes, the viability of tDCS to increase exercise performance for female participants is not well understood

A J-band detection of the donor star in the dwarf nova OY Carinae, and an optical detection of its `iron curtain'

Purely photometric models can be used to determine the binary parameters of eclipsing cataclysmic variables with a high degree of precision. However, the photometric method relies on a number of assumptions, and to date there have been very few independent checks of this method in the literature. We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the P=90.9 min eclipsing cataclysmic variable OY Carinae obtained with X-shooter on the VLT, in which we detect the donor star from K I lines in the J-band. We measure the radial velocity amplitude of the donor star K2 = 470.0 +/- 2.7 km/s, consistent with predictions based upon the photometric method (470 +/- 7 km/s). Additionally, the spectra obtained in the UVB arm of X-shooter show a series of Fe I and Fe II lines with a phase and velocity consistent with an origin in the accretion disc. This is the first unambiguous detection at optical wavelengths of the `iron curtain' of disc material which has been previously reported to veil the white dwarf in this system. The velocities of these lines do not track the white dwarf, reflecting a distortion of the outer disc that we see also in Doppler images. This is evidence for considerable radial motion in the outer disk, at up to 90 km/s towards and away from the white dwarf.Comment: MNRAS accepted. 11 pages with 10 figures and 2 table

A Radial Velocity Study of CTCV J1300-3052

We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the eclipsing, short period cataclysmic variable CTCV J1300-3052. Using absorption features from the secondary star, we determine the radial velocity semi-amplitude of the secondary star to be K2 = 378 \pm 6 km/s, and its projected rotational velocity to be v sin i = 125 \pm 7 km/s. Using these parameters and Monte Carlo techniques, we obtain masses of M1 = 0.79 \pm 0.05 MSun for the white dwarf primary and M2 = 0.198 \pm 0.029 MSun for the M-type secondary star. These parameters are found to be in excellent agreement with previous mass determinations found via photometric fitting techniques, supporting the accuracy and validity of photometric mass determinations in short period CVs.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS (24th January 2012). 10 pages, 9 figures (black and white

Inoculum volume effects on competitive outcome and wood decay rate of brown- and white-rot basidiomycetes

Theory predicts that the energetic cost of competition between fungal mycelia might accelerate or retard the rate of wood decomposition, depending on various factors. To evaluate the effect of occupied territory on wood decay rate and competitive outcome, we set up a pairing competition experiment using beech wood blocks colonised by three brown-rot and three white-rot basidiomycetes. All white-brown combinations (totalling nine), and five ratios of wood volume (4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3, 0:4) were performed. Pairings were incubated in the dark at 20 °C for 3 months, and then competition outcome and wood weight loss were determined. Mycelia occupying larger territory were more competitive than mycelia occupying smaller territory. There were negative relationships between wood volume and percentage wood weight loss. Wood decay was slower at the competition front than at the rear of the wood blocks in some cases. These results suggest that wood volume (territory size) affects both competition outcome and wood decay rate in basidiomycete communities

Highly competitive fungi manipulate bacterial communities in decomposing beech wood (Fagus sylvativa)

The bacterial communities in decomposing wood are receiving increased attention, but their interactions with wood-decay fungi are poorly understood. This is the first field study to test the hypothesis that fungi are responsible for driving bacterial communities in beech wood (Fagus sylvatica). A meta-genetic approach was used to characterise bacterial and fungal communities in wood that had been laboratory-colonised with known wood-decay fungi, and left for a year at six woodland sites. Alpha-, Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria were the proportionally dominant bacterial taxa, as in previous studies. Pre-colonising wood with decay fungi had a clear effect on the bacterial community, apparently via direct fungal influence; the bacterial and fungal communities present at the time of collection explained nearly 60% of their mutual covariance. Site was less important than fungal influence in determining bacterial communities, but the effects of pre-colonisation were more pronounced at some sites than at others. Wood pH was also a strong bacterial predictor, but was itself under considerable fungal influence. Burkholderiaceae and Acidobacteriaceae showed directional responses against the trend of the bacterial community as a whole

Effects of pre-colonisation and temperature on interspecific fungal interactions in wood

Understanding the effects of changing abiotic conditions on assembly history in wood decay communities is especially important with predicted environmental changes. Interspecific interactions drive community development, so it is important to understand how microclimatic environment affects outcomes of interactions between species from different successional stages in natural substrata. Interactions between eight wood decay fungi were performed in beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood at seven temperatures (12–30 °C), and in soil microcosms and wood that had been pre-colonised for different lengths of time. The hierarchy of combative ability could be altered by changes in temperature: at higher temperatures early secondary colonisers were able to outcompete usually later colonising cord-forming species. Length of pre-colonisation had a species-specific effect on combative ability, probably attributable to biochemical changes rather than the state of decay of the resource. Abiotic variables have clear effects on fungal interactions, underlining the importance of stochastic factors in fungal community succession