Studies on the optimization of deformation processed metal metal matrix composites

A methodology for the production of deformation processed metal metal matrix composites from hyper-eutectic copper-chromium alloys was developed. This methodology was derived from a basic study of the precipitation phenomena in these alloys encompassing evaluation of microstructural, electrical, and mechanical properties. The methodology developed produces material with a superior combination of electrical and mechanical properties compared to those presently available in commercial alloys;New and novel alloying procedures were investigated to extend the range of production methods available for these material. These studies focused on the use of High Pressure Gas Atomization and the development of new containment technologies for the liquid alloy. This allowed the production of alloys with a much more refined starting microstructure and lower contamination than available by other methods;The knowledge gained in the previous studies was used to develop two completely new families of deformation processed metal metal matrix composites. These composites are based on immissible alloys with yttrium and magnesium matrices and refractory metal reinforcement. This work extends the physical property range available in deformation processed metal metal matrix composites. Additionally, it also represents new ways to apply these metals in engineering applications

Linking EDI Implementation to Corporate Strategy

A corporate strategy provides the key thrusts the business must select in order to profitably provide a product or service that customers will want to buy. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) can be described as a way to automate the information transfers that must be undertaken to complete the tasks identified in value chain analysis. EDI applications therefore should be linked to corporate strategy. In this paper we describe the relationship between a firm’s core strategy and EDI efforts

The Role of Microblogging Capacities in Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration in Virtual Teams

To combat loss of knowledge, organizations are investing in social media technologies, such as microblogging platforms, to help facilitate knowledge transfer. While literature indicates that knowledge sharing and collaboration attitudes are impacted by many factors, there is a dearth of research investigating the relationships between technology capacities and individual attitudes toward knowledge sharing and collaboration in virtual teams. To narrow the research gap, this study explores five potential microblogging capacities, and proposes a model to test the impacts of these factors on employees’ attitudes to share knowledge. Specifically, the study identifies microblogging ubiquity, brevity, communication, subscription, and source identity and suggests these may positively influence knowledge sharing attitudes in virtual teams

Causal Model for Predicting Knowledge Sharing via ICTs

Research has identified numerous constructs impacting employees’ use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the purposes of knowledge seeking and knowledge contributing. Presently, there is a significant gap in the literature that examines factors that contribute to the most commonly accepted barriers to knowledge sharing and how these factors impact organizational knowledge management practices. This research examines three knowledge sharing barriers (lack of time, poor communications skills, and lack of trust) and proposes three shared contributing factors among them (role conflict, role ambiguity, and locus of control) and a moderator (ICT). A theoretical model is presented to explain the causal relationships between the contributors and ICT users’ knowledge seeking and knowledge contributing behaviors

The Analysis of Telecommuting Ethics Using a Multidimensional Ethics Scale

With the increased concerns over the use of information technology as a means of allowing employees to work at home or some remote location, a new dimension of ethics has evolved -- telecommuting ethics. Telecommuting is sometimes used to refer solely to working at home, we define telecommuting as working from any remote site, including a remote office, home, a hotel room, or anywhere there is a telephone line available to access the corporate network

Home-based physical therapy with an interactive computer vision system

In this paper, we present ExerciseCheck. ExerciseCheck is an interactive computer vision system that is sufficiently modular to work with different sources of human pose estimates, i.e., estimates from deep or traditional models that interpret RGB or RGB-D camera input. In a pilot study, we first compare the pose estimates produced by four deep models based on RGB input with those of the MS Kinect based on RGB-D data. The results indicate a performance gap that required us to choose the MS Kinect when we tested ExerciseCheck with Parkinson’s disease patients in their homes. ExerciseCheck is capable of customizing exercises, capturing exercise information, evaluating patient performance, providing therapeutic feedback to the patient and the therapist, checking the progress of the user over the course of the physical therapy, and supporting the patient throughout this period. We conclude that ExerciseCheck is a user-friendly computer vision application that can assist patients by providing motivation and guidance to ensure correct execution of the required exercises. Our results also suggest that while there has been considerable progress in the field of pose estimation using deep learning, current deep learning models are not fully ready to replace RGB-D sensors, especially when the exercises involved are complex, and the patient population being accounted for has to be carefully tracked for its “active range of motion.”Published versio

Towards a framework of literature review process in support of information systems research

This paper introduces an initial effort towards developing a framework for writing an effective literature review. The target audience for the framework are novice IS researchers or other researchers who are constantly struggling with the development of an effective literature-based foundation for the proposed research. The proposed framework follows the systematic data processing approach comprised of three major stages: 1) inputs (literature gathering and screening), 2) processing (Blooms Taxonomy), and 3) outputs (writing the review). This paper provides the rationale for developing a solid literature review and addresses the central stage, processing the literature. The paper concludes by providing arguments for the value of an effective literature review as well as implications for future work in this proposed framework

Data sources for scholarly research: Towards a guide for novice researchers

One of the biggest challenges the novice researcher faces is determining just where and how to start her or his research. During the research design stage, a novice researcher must take into consideration three key factors: a) literature; b) research-worthy problem; and c) data. While the role of the problem and literature in research has been explored previously, inadequate attention has been given to the centrality of data and access to collecting data in the context of research design. This paper explores data as a vital element of scholarly enquiry by outlining the role of data in research in the informing sciences, identifying some issues with access to data collection, and their impact on the design of a proposed research. This paper explores the categories of data, organized in a 2x2 taxonomy: the Qualitative-Quantitative-Indirect-Direct (Q2 ID) Taxonomy of Data Sources. This paper concludes with examples from literature for some research studies and explanations for the types of data used in the context of the proposed Q2 ID Taxonomy of Data Sources are provided

Framework of problem-based research: A guide for novice researchers on the development of a research-worthy problem

This paper introduces the importance of a well-articulated, research-worthy problem statement as the centerpiece for any viable research. The aim of this work is to help novice researchers understand the value of problem-based research by providing a practical guide on the development of a well articulated and viable statement of a research-worthy problem as the starting point for all research. Additionally, this paper explores the interaction of the problem with the other fundamental elements of scholarly research including the research topic, goals, research questions, methodology, results, and conclusions. Scaffolding for articulating a ‘research-worthy problem’ is provided in the form of a deconstruction of the expression into definitions of its component terms, followed by a discussion of what is not a research-worthy problem. A roadmap on locating problems that could support scholarly research is provided. The theoretical foundation is placed into practice by examining some problem statements and proposing a template for crafting an effective statement