Characteristics of pervasive learning environments in museum contexts

There is no appropriate learning model for pervasive learning environments (PLEs), and museums maintain authenticity at the cost of unmarked information. To address these problems, we present the LieksaMyst PLE developed for Pielinen Museum and we derive a set of characteristics that an effective PLE should meet and which form the basis of a new learning model currently under development. We discuss how the characteristics are addressed in LieksaMyst and present an evaluation of the game component of LieksaMyst. Results indicate that, while some usability issues remain to be resolved, the game was received well by the participants enabling them to immerse themselves in the story and to interact effectively with its virtual characters

New synchronization metrics for packet networks

Tämä työ esittelee verkkojen synkronoinnin haasteet pakettikytkentäisten siirto-verkkojen yli esimerkiksi mobiili-verkon tukiasemiin, joka tunnetaan nimellä ToP (timing over packet). Tässä yhteydessä synkronisaatio tarkoittaa yhteisen taajuuden, vaiheen tai ajan mahdollistamista, jotka vaativat hieman erilaisia menetelmiä ja metriikoita. Työssä keskitytään mobiili-verkkojen synkronointiin, joissa tekniikka asettaa tarkat vaatimukset synkronoinnin tarkkuudelle. Siirtoverkkojen muuttuminen aikajakoisista tekniikoista pakettikytkentäiseen vaatii synkronoinnin uudelleen miettimistä. Synkronointimetriikat ovat tärkeitä suorituskykyindikaattoreita ja -ennustajia, joita tarvitaan ToP -järjestelmän suunnittelussa ja testauksessa. Perinteisistä kellometriikoista johdetut pakettimetriikat sekä täysin uudet pakettimetriikat on tutkittu ja analysoitu tarkkaan. Näiden lisäksi uutta MATIE -metriikkaa yritettiin parantaa paremman suorituskyvyn toivossa. Tutkimuksessa on tehty useita mittauksia ja tietokoneella toteutettuja metriikoita sovellettiin saatuihin mittaustuloksiin sekä verrattiin itse toteutettuihin simuloituihin orjakelloihin. Tuloksena saatiin, että MAFE osoittautui kestäväksi ja toimivaksi taajuusstabiilisuusmittariksi ja MATIE (tai paranneltu MATIE) on toimiva, mutta ei kovin käyttö-kelpoinen perinteisten maskien kanssa. Parhaaksi ratkaisuksi osoittautui MTIE -metriikka simuloidun orjakellon ulostulosta.This thesis introduces the challenging research area of network synchronization over packet-switched transport networks (also known as timing over packet (ToP)). Synchronization in telecom terminology consists of frequency, phase and time synchronization which require different approaches and performance metrics. Since the focus is on cellular network synchronization, technology requirements pose a strict demand for the new packet-based mobile backhaul replacing a traditional TDM-based infrastructure as a common timing reference distributor. Consequently, synchronization metrics are the crucial performance indicators and estimators needed for system designing and performance verification related to ToP solutions. Packet metrics derived from the traditional synchronization metrics as well as completely new metrics such as MATIE and MAFE are analyzed and studied in great detail. Furthermore, an improved MATIE is also developed in a search for better performance. Several measurements are conducted and from the several data recorder the implemented synchronization metrics are calculated and analyzed against simulated and real packet slave clock implementations etc. As a result, MAFE is proven to be the best frequency stability estimate and MATIE (or MATIE modification) one of the best phase stability estimates but not that applicable to satisfy the traditional MTIE masks. MTIE from simulated clock output would be the most applicable

Editorial: Journal of Pragmatic Constructivism creates understanding about functioning practices

This editorial introduces the journal and the content of the issu

Balance revisited: towards deeply functioning practices for actors and organisations

This essay revisits the concept of balance and seeks to understand balance as a meta-level principle of any management control and performance measurement system. The essay builds a conceptual background for the concept of balance and unveils several perspectives to be taken to achieve balance, i.e., the different perspectives and viewpoints that should be somehow set into purposeful proportions regarding each other. The relevance of revisiting the concept of balance lies in the possibility to form practices that are deeply and sustainably functioning and constructive for different actors, organisations or other entities. This thought is addressed by using a lighthouse metaphor, in this essay

FEASIBILITY OF B2C CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP ANALYTICS IN THE B2B INDUSTRIAL CONTEXT

Abstract The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the feasibility of business-to-consumer (B2C) customer relationship analytics in the industrial business-to-business (B2B) context, in particular spare part sales. The contribution of the paper is twofold; the article identifies analytics approaches with value potential for B2B decision-making, and illustrates their value in use. The identified analytics approaches, customer segmentation, market basket analysis and target customer selection, are common in the B2C marketing and e-commerce. However, in the industrial B2B marketing, the application of these approaches is not yet common.. The different kinds of analytics under examination in this paper use machine learning (ML) techniques. The examination takes into account the applicability and usefulness of the techniques as well as implementation challenges. The research suggests that the identified analytics may serve different business purposes and may be relatively straightforward to implement. This requires careful examination of the desired purposes of use in a particular business context. However, the continuous and real-time use of such analyses remains a challenge for further examination also in information systems research. Keywords: Business analytics, B2B decision-making, Machine learning, Data mining, Artificial intelligence, CR

Imprisonment, community sanctions and mortality by cause of death among patients with substance use disorder – a 28-year follow-up using Finnish register data

Background The first few weeks’ post-imprisonment are associated with high mortality, particularly among individuals with a history of substance use. Excess risk may vary by societal context due to a range of penal systems and substance use patterns. Using data on Finnish individuals who had sought treatment for substance use, we studied the association between criminal sanctions with cause-specific mortality. Methods The database contained 10887 individuals who had sought treatment between 1990 and 2009. Their treatment data were combined with register data on imprisonments and community sanctions and weekly mortality between 1992 and 2015. Mortality was analysed using discrete-time survival models. We controlled for age and sociodemographic factors, and analysed whether education, type of substance used and the type of latest sentence modified the associations. Findings Mortality was high in the first two weeks after sanctions (all-cause odds ratio [OR] 2.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67-4.07; drug-related deaths OR 8.52, 95% CI 4.64-15.7). Excess risk declined over time (OR after 12 weeks: 1.19, 95% CI 1.07-1.31). Most of the excess risk was attributable to external causes. Mortality was low during imprisonment, but not during community sanctions. The patterns were similar by level of education, substance use and the type of latest sentence. Conclusions Community sanctions were not associated with mortality among people with substance use disorders. Mortality was low during imprisonment, but high post-release. Criminal sanctions should be better utilised as intervention touchpoints and follow-up resources should target prisoners with substance use treatment history to reduce post-release mortality.Peer reviewe

Preservation of fatty acid signatures in three vertebrate species after six months of storage at various temperatures

Fatty acid (FA) signatures (FAS) are important tools to assess the foraging ecology of wild animals. The present study was conducted to assess how well the general FAS and the proportions of individual FA are preserved in fat samples stored at different temperatures (196, -80, -20, +4 and +20 degrees C). Using three species (laboratory rat, American mink and rainbow trout), FAS were determined immediately upon sampling. Thereafter, eight subsamples per storage temperature from the inner part of the sample unaffected by oxygen and light were re-analyzed after 1, 2, 3, 7, 28, 84 and 168 days. Each time the remaining sample was sealed in its vial after replacing air with nitrogen gas. The results were tested with the mixed model and discriminant analyses. Generally, the FAS were well preserved regardless of storage temperature, and only a few major FA showed significant changes even after the 6-month period at room temperature. After an initial first-day change in proportions, presumably due to post-mortem enzymatic activities, the remaining minor changes could not be clearly attributed to either further autolysis, decomposition or autoxidation. In the discriminant analysis, the species-specific differences dominated and remained distinct even after 6 months. Furthermore, the analysis mostly classified the samples preserved at sub- and above-freezing temperatures separate from each other, and the general deviation from the initial analysis results was present as early as after 1 day. If FAS are to be analyzed in a very precise manner, the analysis should be performed immediately upon sampling. However, FAS remain adequately reliable for long periods of time even without preservation in deep freeze, widening the availability of potential samples for studies on foraging ecology and related disciplines.Peer reviewe