Use of Hirsch Index for Measuring the Impact of IS Academic Research and Journals

This study examines the use of journal rankings and a relatively new method of measuring impact of research as a surrogate of scholarly impact: the Hirsch Index (Hirsch 2005). Journal rankings are a very important exercise in academia since they impact tenure and promotion decisions. Current methods employed to rank journal influence are shown to be subjective. We propose that the Hirsch Index be adopted as a more objective journal ranking method. To demonstrate the results of using the Hirsch Index, it is applied to the “pure MIS” journals ranked by Rainer and Miller (2005). The authors find substantial differences between the scholar rankings and those obtained using the Hirsch index. This provides weak support for the current journal ranking system but also suggests that other factors are at play

A SIMULATION FOR UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION QUALITY IN THE MOVE TOWARDS A GREEN SUPPLY CHAIN

This research in progress aims at investigating the role that information system (IS) and information quality (IQ) can play for the transformation of a Supply Chain. A case study was conducted to identify the supply chain evolution of a major French retailer that initiated consolidation centres for shared deliveries between several small suppliers to its warehouses. This initiative aims at developing just-in-time delivery for economic benefits and the retailer explains that this evolution meets environmental benefits through CO2 reduction. However, the promised benefits for suppliers depend upon the development of information sharing and information quality and they have the choice to adopt the ?green supply chain? or to continue delivering directly without using the consolidation centers. Therefore this paper presents the simulation of the research that is currently being performed in order to identify the necessary conditions for the benefits realization. For future research, we propose a multi-agent based modelling for understanding how IS and IQ are pushing towards the adoption of a green supply chain

Soft X-ray Absorption and Photoemission Studies of Ferromagnetic Mn-Implanted 3CC-SiC

We have performed x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and resonant photoemission spectroscopy (RPES) measurements of Mn-implanted 3$C$-SiC (3$C$-SiC:Mn) and carbon-incorporated Mn$_{5}$Si$_{2}$ (Mn$_{5}$Si$_{2}$:C). The Mn 2$p$ core-level XPS and XAS spectra of 3$C$-SiC:Mn and Mn$_{5}$Si$_{2}$:C were similar to each other and showed "intermediate" behaviors between the localized and itinerant Mn 3$d$ states. The intensity at the Fermi level was found to be suppressed in 3$C$-SiC:Mn compared with Mn$_{5}$Si$_{2}$:C. These observations are consistent with the formation of Mn$_{5}$Si$_{2}$:C clusters in the 3$C$-SiC host, as observed in a recent transmission electron microscopy study.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism of ferromagnetic Co4N epitaxial films on SrTiO3(001) substrates grown by molecular beam epitaxy

5-nm thick Co4N layers capped with 3-nm thick Au layers were grown epitaxially on SrTiO3(001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy using solid Co and a radio-frequency NH3 plasma. Spin and orbital magnetic moments of the Co4N layers were estimated using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements at 300 K. The site-averaged Co 3d spin magnetic moment is evaluated to be about 1.4 μB, which is smaller than that predicted theoretically (1.58 μB). The element-specific XMCD intensities for the Co L3 edge and N K edge show that the magnetic moment is induced at the N atoms

THE HIRSCH FAMILY OF BIBLIOMETRIC INDICES AS AN IMPROVED MEASURE OF IS ACADEMIC JOURNAL IMPACT

This study examines the use of journal rankings and proposes a new method of measuring IS journal impact based on the Hirsch family of indices (Hirsch 2005; Sidiropoulos et al. 2006). Journal rankings are a very important exercise in academia since they impact tenure and promotion decisions. Current methods employed to rank journal influence are shown to be subjective. We propose that the Hirsch Index (2005) and Contemporary Hirsch Index (Sidiropoulos et al. 2006) based on data from Publish or Perish be adopted as a more objective journal ranking method. To demonstrate the results of using this methodology, it is applied to the “pure MIS” journals ranked by Rainer and Miller (2005). The authors find substantial differences between the scholar rankings and those obtained using the Hirsch family of indices. They also find that the contemporary Hirsch Index allows researchers to identify journals that are rising or declining in influence

An analytical model to investigate the economic and environmental benefits of a supply chain resource-sharing scheme based on collaborative consolidation centres

International audienceThis study evaluates the cost and carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions of different supply chainconfigurations to determine when suppliers should move to a greener resource-sharing scheme.We build an analytical model based on a case study of a retailer that has developed a resourcesharinginitiative introducing collaborative consolidation centres (CCC) between its suppliersand its warehouses (WH). We compare the costs and carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions ofusing a pair of CCCs with direct delivery to twenty WHs. Our parameters include the distancesbetween suppliers, CCCs, and WHs, in addition to the volumes delivered. This model determineswhen there should be a switch to the CCC system. We also compare the actual CCC locationswith better alternatives, the centres of gravity of the regions. On a real cost basis, economicgains, but not environmental ones, occur, highlighting a need for alternative models for optimallocations, which would include economic and environmental constraints

Influence of custom-made and stock mouthguard thickness on biomechanical response to a simulated impact

Background/Aims: Mouthguards (MGs) are devices that can reduce the risks of facial trauma. However, the large variety of MG types and thicknesses raises the question of which type is the most effective and beneficial for the athletes. The aim of this study was to evaluate stress distribution in the skull, teeth, and jaws as a consequence of a direct impact. Material and Methods: Using modeling software, a human skull was modeled and a human jaw was created with all teeth inserted into the respective alveolus. The models were divided according to the MG type (custom-made or stock) and thickness (1, 2, and 4 mm). Two models without MG were evaluated with and without teeth contact. The geometries were exported to analysis software and the materials were considered ideal. Fixation occurred at the base of the foramen magnum. The load (500 N) was applied on the canine tooth with a ball. Maximum principal (MPa) and Von-Mises results were obtained. Results: Without any protection, the generated tensile stress was of greater magnitude causing more damage in the absence of teeth contact. The presence of a MG significantly reduced the generated stress in all structures, and the customized/individualized type was more efficient than stock MGs. Conclusions: In extreme situations when it is impossible to use a MG, keeping the teeth in maximum intercuspal position is less harmful. Despite this, the use of any MG is beneficial and assists in dampening the generated stress. The thicker the device, the greater the capacity for decreasing the damage in all structures. The use of individual protectors for each patient is even more beneficial for preventing trauma during at-risk activities of impact

IFN-γ-mediated negative feedback regulation of NKT-cell function by CD94/NKG2

Activation of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells with CD1d-restricted T-cell receptor (TCR) ligands is a powerful means to modulate various immune responses. However, the iNKT-cell response is of limited duration and iNKT cells appear refractory to secondary stimulation. Here we show that the CD94/NKG2A inhibitory receptor plays a critical role in down-regulating iNKT-cell responses. Both TCR and NK-cell receptors expressed by iNKT cells were rapidly down-modulated by priming with a-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) or its analog OCH [(2S,3S,4R)-1-O-(α-D-galactopyranosyl)-N-tetracosanoyl-2-amino- 1,3,4-nonanetriol)]. TCR and CD28 were re-expressed more rapidly than the inhibitory NK-cell receptors CD94/NKG2A and Ly49, temporally rendering the primed iNKT cells hyperreactive to ligand restimulation. Of interest, α-GalCer was inferior to OCH in priming iNKT cells for subsequent restimulation because α-GalCer-induced interferon γ (IFN-γ) up-regulated Qa-1 expression and Qa-1 in turn inhibited iNKT-cell activity via its interaction with the inhibitory CD94/ NKG2A receptor. Blockade of the CD94/ NKG2-Qa-1 interaction markedly augmented recall and primary responses of iNKT cells. This is the first report to show the critical role for NK-cell receptors in controlling iNKT-cell responses and provides a novel strategy to augment the therapeutic effect of iNKT cells by priming with OCH or blocking of the CD94/ NKG2A inhibitory pathway in clinical applications