Visualization `a la Unix

A visualization framework can be seen as a solution to a specialized data flow problem. Spiegel1 is a visualization framework which uses the Unix pipeline model to execute programs that visualize scientific data. A visualization program in Spiegel is constructed out of simple components with communication endpoints which can be con- nected together. Spiegel provides a graphical pro- gramming environment, which can be used to write programs using these components. This paper de- scribes the language used to define a Spiegel pro- gram, the graphical programming environment, and the Spiegel architecture

How Team Player Styles Impacts Followership Behavior

This empirical research study examines the effect of Parker’s (2008) team player styles on followership behavior. While most research focuses on the team leader, most of the work accomplishments are attributed to the team players on the team. Of the four team player styles, only one, contributor significantly increases followership behavior. However, it does not add enough to raise the followership behavior into the exemplary range. Discussion of the findings is provided coupled with a post hoc analysis and ideas for future research

Coming to Grips with the Management of Information: A Classroom Exercise

Managers and decision makers often claim to be starved for good information while they are also victims of “information overload.” The challenge for most decision makers in the early 21st century is the tsunami of data and information received from a multitude of internal and external sources that must be managed on an almost constant basis. The difficulty is distinguishing the good information from the bad, and in developing criteria to assist in this process. This experiential exercise has been used for undergraduate, graduate, MBA, and management training and development courses. The exercise introduces participants to some of the basic concepts about information and the importance of managing information as a resource. It addresses evaluating information on the basis of its quality (i.e., accuracy), quantity, timeliness, and relevance. In addition, the exercise helps participants to recognize the different information needs of managers in different functional areas of the organization as well as at different levels within the organization. This paper provides the reader with the instructions and materials to use this exercise in the classroom setting and discusses related examples from business

Information Systems and Health Care VII - When Success Results in Failure: The Challenge of Extending the IT Infrastructure to Support Organ Procurement and Transplantation

Xpedite was a computer-based information system developed by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to enhance organ procurement and placement from cadavers. Using state-of-the-art development approaches and technology at the time of its development, Xpedite was built around Lotus Notes, facsimile machines, and alphanumeric pagers. It was developed to integrate and streamline the collection, transfer, and exchange of data on available organs more fully. The concept was to shorten the time from organ availability (i.e., donor death) to transplant, thus reducing organ wastage. Xpedite met design and operational performance goals (i.e., a reduction in placement times and data errors), yet its operation was terminated after barely twenty-four months of operation. Adoption of the new technology throughout the transplant community was limited due to inexperience with integrated information technology systems and the resistance to change that accompanied Xpedite\u27s launch. The individual and organizational resistance was a surprise to UNOS. The technical and organizational lessons learned from this experience helped UNOS with developing subsequent information technology infrastructure components. The complexity of the technology support environment and low levels of user adoption for Xpedite ultimately led to an evolution beyond this tool, resulting in an Internet-based environment that would be more robust, easier to maintain, and better able to support user needs

Groundwater Sensitivity to Climate Variations Across Australia

Groundwater response to climate variations is often pivotal to managing groundwater sustainably. However, this relationship is rarely explicitly examined because of the complexity of surface to subsurface processes and the diverse impacts of multiple drivers, such as groundwater pumping and land use changes. In this paper, we address this challenge by proposing methods to quantify the sensitivity of groundwater level and recharge to temporal climate variability across Australia. Using the HydroSight groundwater hydrograph toolbox we first identify 1,143 out of a total of 4,350 bores as climate-driven, where historically, head was primarily driven by climate variations. Streamflow elasticity measures are then adapted to groundwater to quantify the long-term head and recharge sensitivity. We find that the national median sensitivity of head and recharge to precipitation change are 42 and 0.43 mm mm$^{−1}$, respectively (interquartiles: 20–77 and 0.30–0.55 mm mm$^{−1}$); both of which are ∼8 times that of potential evapotranspiration. Nationally, the results are spatially correlated, suggestive of large-scale effects. The responses of head and recharge appear to be primarily related to climate type and hydrogeology. The more arid the climate, the higher the head sensitivity but the lower the recharge sensitivity. Porous media generally show higher head sensitivity than fractured media due to smaller aquifer specific yield, and again contrarily for that of recharge. These findings contribute to understanding the long-term impact of climate change on groundwater and thus provide valuable insights for sustainable groundwater management

The Impact of Situational Factors On Information System (Is) Managerial Leader Behaviors: What Information Systems Employees Want

Information systems leadership has evolved dramatically over the past 40 years. Early in the era of computing most attention was focused on the technical skills of IS managers. As IS has become ubiquitous in our organizations and increasingly embedded in our everyday lives, the need for a broader approach to IS management has emerged with an increasing emphasis on non-technical skills in business practices and an appreciation of the impact of organizational culture. Further, information systems managers increasingly find themselves in crisis situations that may require different leadership skills to successfully navigate. These crises may be caused by the physical destruction of computer hardware, the loss of critically sensitive data, sophisticated hacking of company computers, or a coding error in a mission critical software program. The research on managerial leadership in crisis situations is relatively sparse; however, the research on managerial leadership behaviors for the information systems sector is essentially nonexistent. This research study attempts to fill that gap, finding that there are a few desired managerial leadership behaviors in common between the information systems group and other studied groups, as well as differences and desired shifts in priorities

A Portable Electronic Nose For Hydrazine and Monomethyl Hydrazine Detection

The Space Program and military use large quantities Hydrazine (Hz) and monomethyl hydrazine (MMI-I) as rocket propellant. These substances are very toxic and are suspected human carcinogens. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist set the threshold limit value to be 10 parts per billion (ppb). Current off-the-shelf portable instruments require 10 to 20 minutes of exposure to detect 10 ppb concentration. This shortcofriing is not acceptable for many operations. A new prototype instrument using a gas sensor array and pattern recognition software technology (i.e., an electronic nose) has demonstrated the ability to identify either Hz or MM}{ and quantify their concentrations at 10 parts per billion in 90 seconds. This paper describes the design of the portable electronic nose (e-nose) instrument, test equipment setup, test protocol, pattern recognition algorithm, concentration estimation method, and laboratory test results

Planning guidelines for koala conservation and recovery: A guide to best planning practice

The information contained in the guide is a synthesis of four years research into the conservation and restoration of koala populations in fragmented landscapes of eastern Australia. The guidelines also capture a decade of practical research and planning experience by the Australian Koala Foundation in mapping koala habitat and developing koala conservation and management plans for local government areas in New South Wales. They draw on the collective knowledge of researchers who wanted to see their results put into action with practical outcomes for koala conservation