422 research outputs found
An American instructor in an upper-level Italian physics class
In this paper, I report on my experience in teaching a 3rd-year undergraduate physics class at the University of Trento during the Spring 2014 semester. I address questions relating to the application of active-learning techniques, usage of English language in the classroom, and student reactions to an innovative style of pedagogy
Using effective field theory to analyse low-energy Compton scattering data from protons and light nuclei
Compton scattering provides important insight into the structure of the
nucleon. For photons up to about 300 MeV, it is parameterised by six dynamical
dipole polarisabilities which characterise the response of the nucleon to a
monochromatic photon of fixed frequency and multipolarity. Their zero-energy
limit yields the well-known static electric and magnetic dipole
polarisabilities \alpha and \beta, and the four dipole spin polarisabilities.
Chiral Effective Field Theory (ChiEFT) describes nucleon, deuteron and 3-He
Compton scattering, using consistent nuclear currents, rescattering and wave
functions. It can thus also be used to extract useful information on the
neutron amplitude from Compton scattering on light nuclei. We summarise past
work in ChiEFT on all of these reactions and compare with other theoretical
approaches. We also discuss all proton experiments up to about 400 MeV, as well
as the three modern elastic deuteron data sets, paying particular attention to
precision and accuracy of each set. Constraining the Delta(1232) parameters
from the resonance region, we then perform new fits to the proton data up to
omega(lab)=170 MeV, and a new fit to the deuteron data. After checking in each
case that a two-parameter fit is compatible with the respective Baldin sum
rules, we obtain, using the sum-rule constraints in a one-parameter fit,
\alpha=10.7\pm0.3(stat)\pm0.2(Baldin)\pm0.8(theory),
\beta=3.1\mp0.3(stat)\pm0.2(Baldin)\pm0.8(theory), for the proton
polarisabilities, and \alpha =10.9\pm 0.9(stat)\pm0.2(Baldin)\pm0.8(theory),
\beta =3.6\mp 0.9(stat)\pm0.2(Baldin)\pm0.8(theory), for the isoscalar
polarisabilities, each in units of 10^(-4) fm^3. We discuss plans for polarised
Compton scattering, their promise as tools to access spin polarisabilities, and
other future avenues for theoretical and experimental investigation.Comment: 82 pages LaTeX2e including 24 figures as .eps file embedded with
includegraphicx; review for Prog. Part Nucl Phys. Final version identical to
published areticle; spelling and grammar correcte
Qualitative Critical Realism in Information Systems Research
Currently, undertaking qualitative multi-disciplinary studies in Information Systems (IS) domain has
been increased. Accordingly, the congruence between research philosophy and methodology allows the
IS researchers to identify the overall strategy of the study and avoid unnecessary efforts. Consequently,
application of innovative research philosophies, such as critical realism, which benefits from ideas of
multiple philosophies (e.g. positivism and interpretivism) is reflected to be more to meet the
requirements of multi-disciplinary IS researches. Critical realism allows the use of a well-developed
and well-structured path to the research through identifying core elements including mechanisms,
structures, and events. This research attempts to provide a distinctive approach for unification of
critical realism philosophy and qualitative research through a literature analysis and according to the
supplies of qualitative approach and the idea of fishbone diagram. It also offers a novel strategy for the
validation of qualitative research based on the qualitative validity criteria and the requirements of the
empirical stratum of critical realism philosoph
A Framework for Addressing the Challenges of Business Process Change during Enterprise Systems Integration
Purpose- Enterprise Systems Integration (ESI) is necessary for today’s business environment to access real-time data and quickly respond to fluctuating market demand. Business Process Change (BPC) as a significant prerequisite of ESI encompasses various challenges that must be tackled by employing success factors, techniques, and approaches. This study focuses on BPC challenges and develops a conceptual framework for addressing BPC challenges in ESI.
Design/Methodology/Approach- BPC challenges and their success factors were firstly identified through a literature analysis. Then, the findings from the literature were thematically analysed and qualitatively validated through 35 unstructured interviews for developing the conceptual framework.
Findings- The findings from the literature suggested 17 BPC challenge along with their success factors. During the validation process, 15 BPC challenges were accepted by all interviewees, while most of the respondents disagreed with the two challenges of ‘consolidation of information system reengineering with BPR’, and ‘customisation’. Moreover, ‘risk’ was suggested as a BPC challenge by several interviewees. Thus, the study offered a modified list of BPC challenges that was empirically validated.
Originality/value- The study proposes a conceptual framework for addressing BPC challenges in ESI that enables enterprises to design their systems integration roadmap, based on an understanding of BPC challenges and their success factors; as well as supporting solution providers to develop solutions for effective and efficient BPC. Furthermore, the framework will act as a basis for BPC and developing a similar framework for other related contexts, such as smart cities
Deep space experiment to measure
Responding to calls from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for new
proposals to measure the gravitational constant , we offer an interesting
experiment in deep space employing the classic gravity train mechanism. Our
setup requires three bodies: a larger layered solid sphere with a cylindrical
hole through its center, a much smaller retroreflector which will undergo
harmonic motion within the hole and a host spacecraft with laser ranging
capabilities to measure round trip light-times to the retroreflector but
ultimately separated a significant distance away from the sphere-retroreflector
apparatus. Measurements of the period of oscillation of the retroreflector in
terms of host spacecraft clock time using existing technology could give
determinations of nearly three orders of magnitude more accurate than
current measurements here on Earth. However, significant engineering advances
in the release mechanism of the apparatus from the host spacecraft will likely
be necessary. Issues with regard to the stability of the system are briefly
addressed.Comment: 13 pp, 3 figs, accepted CQ
Urban Computing and Smart Cities: Towards Changing City Processes by Applying Enterprise Systems Integration Practices
For developing smart cities, it is necessary to integrate all components of a city as a system of systems. This is facilitated by urban computing as a technology to address the complexity of providing adequate services to citizens through various city sectors/systems. Since business processes across city sectors/systems should be aligned with the objectives of urban computing, Business Process Change (BPC) is also a significant prerequisite of city systems integration for Smart City Development (SCD). However, there is limited research on understanding of BPC and its challenges in SCD, while in the private sector, the BPC best practices for Enterprise Systems Integration (ESI) have already been recognised and implemented. By considering city as an enterprise, this research aims at providing an understanding of similarities and differences between BPC challenges in the two contexts: SCD and ESI. This study collects data through literature analyses, interviews, and document analyses and suggests that many BPC challenges in SCD have an equivalent from the ESI context. In addition, the findings provide new insights through some challenges that are only relevant to the SCD context, so-called unsolved challenges. Consequently, the study developed a comparison framework, which indicates that the learnings from ESI could be utilised for the SCD context, in order to address BPC challenges. This will assist city authorities in designing their SCD roadmap, prioritising BPC challenges based on the efforts employed for ESI, and thinking about addressing unsolved challenges; as well as smart city solution providers to develop solutions for changing city processes
Upgrade Decision Support Model (UDSM) for enterprise systems: drivers and processes
Enterprise Systems (ES) have matured over the years, offering continuous improvement to the underlying technology and functionality, hence, it is reasonable to anticipate that organisations would upgrade their systems to realise the benefits of these improvements. However, the range of benefits and risks involved within upgrade projects, motivates only few organisations to upgrade; indicating that upgrade decision-making is not trivial, and requires a comprehensive consideration of the impacts, efforts, and benefits. To date, research on ES upgrade recommends practical guidance for managing and supporting upgrade projects, with few studies focusing on upgrade decision-making, yet the upgrade decision process remains one of the areas in post-implementation that is least explored.
This research investigates the interrelated aspects of ES upgrade phenomena to explore the drivers and decision processes. A qualitative survey design was adopted to explore ES upgrade decision-making process and through web-based questionnaires and semistructured interviews, qualitative data from 41 respondents representing 23 organisations was collected, coded, and analysed. Drawing from the Technology-OrganisationEnvironment (T-O-E) framework and process view of decision-making to theorise the findings, this research proposes an Upgrade Decision Support Model (UDSM) to represent ES upgrade decision-making process. The model comprises of two phases namely exploration and evaluation. The evaluation phase consists of two processes, which are objective assessment and strategy selection. In addition, objective assessment includes three sub-processes these are technical analysis, functional gap-fit analysis, and impact assessment.
The study findings indicate that the decision to upgrade is an outcome of understanding the upgrade need, possible impacts, and benefits. Thus, asserting the importance of assessing the level of change, effort required and modifications to be reapplied prior to the upgrade decision. Additionally, the findings advocate that there is a relationship between upgrade drivers and the selection of an upgrade strategy, which guides the processes undertaken during the decision-making. This research contributes key insights on ES upgrade decisionmaking offering a thorough understanding of the drivers and processes. In addition, it presents decision makers with a methodical strategy for approaching upgrade decisions; hence, enables the identification of possible challenges and measures to overcome these issues
Superoperator Analysis of Entanglement in a Four-Qubit Cluster State
In this paper we utilize superoperator formalism to explore the entanglement
evolution of four-qubit cluster states in a number of decohering environments.
A four-qubit cluster state is a resource for the performance of an arbitrary
single logical qubit rotation via measurement based cluster state quantum
computation. We are specifically interested in the relationship between
entanglement evolution and the fidelity with which the arbitrary single logical
qubit rotation can be implemented in the presence of decoherence as this will
have important experimental ramifications. We also note the exhibition of
entanglement sudden death (ESD) and ask how severely its onset affects the
utilization of the cluster state as a means of implementing an arbitrary single
logical qubit rotation.Comment: 9 pages, 9 composite figures, presentation of results completely
rewritte
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