Digital Product-Service Systems:The Role of Data in the Transition to Servitization Business Models

The Circular Economy, as a guiding model for business processes, is attracting interest due to its potential for aligning business and societal goals as it offers companies the opportunity to simultaneously focus on economic value creation and on the mitigation of environmental damage. It is becoming increasingly clear that digital technologies are an essential component of this model as they enable transparency and efficiency in closing material and energy cycles. Additionally, digitalization leads to efficient business models that revolve around adapting the value proposition to the insights gained from the continual analysis of data, shifting the emphasis of Product-Service Systems towards the service end of the spectrum. As such, these new business models are categorized as forms of Servitization. Despite the increasing importance of Servitization and digitalizing business processes, such as the move towards what is referred to as Industry 4.0 in the manufacturing industry, the associated transition towards widespread adoption of the principles of the Circular Economy is slow. This explorative study investigates key themes and challenges in transitioning towards digitally-enabled Servitization in the manufacturing industry and the relationship with the Circular Economy. Through interviews with experts from the realms of digital technology, Industry 4.0, and business sustainability, a set of research questions is developed that forms a research agenda

Students\u27 and Teachers\u27 Perceptions of the Engagement of Creativity in Secondary Choral Ensemble Classes

The purposes of this study were (a) to explore the individualized meanings of creativity of students within choral ensembles; and (b) to identify the effects that teachers’ perceptions and classroom environment have on helping students shape the meaning of creativity. The study took the form of the Explanatory Sequential mixed methods design of Creswell and Plano Clark (2011). The first phase of research was a survey administered to middle/high school chorus students (N = 314) and middle/high school chorus teachers (N = 11). Participants were selected from 6 middle schools and 5 high schools across 3 different school districts in the southern United States. The Measures of Creativity Perceptions Assessment survey was researcher-created and validated by an earlier pilot study. It consisted of Likert-scaled questions measuring the importance of purposes of music education and frequency of certain musical topics address in class. Participants also rated their perceptions of how they found certain activities to be creative, as well as how much student input and musical decision making were present in chorus class. Findings showed that most students found their chorus class to contain creative activities. They were unable to explain through which activity creativity occurred. Findings from the quantitative survey helped to form a qualitative second phase, including teacher interviews and student focus groups. 2 teachers were interviewed. 2 focus groups were conducted, comprised of 4 students from each of the interviewed teachers (total of 8 students across the 2 focus groups). Qualitative findings suggested that middle school students viewed creativity differently inside chorus than they did in general. This likely came from the influence of their teacher as well as a process-oriented view of creativity. High school students had traditional understandings yet noted that creative activities, like improvisation and composition, were absent from their chorus classes. Teacher participants stated that they felt unconfident in leading such lessons, and were most affected by their undergraduate professors. Implications include additional focus on creativity in undergraduate music teacher preparation programs. This would also address the recent revision of the music education national standards. Further research involving student perceptions of creativity is necessary

Digital Roadmapping:Purpose, Phase and Perspectives

Developing digital roadmaps help managers to explore and determine the direction of digital transformation for their organizations. The act of developing a systematic digital roadmap fosters an understanding of the purpose of digitalization, how to attain digital skills and resources needed to attain the digital transformation goals, and drives organizational change in a coordinated and effective way. Digital transformation is a risky and uncertain journey, full of unexpected events, where important decisions rely on imperfect information

Digital Roadmapping:Purpose, Phase and Perspectives

Developing digital roadmaps help managers to explore and determine the direction of digital transformation for their organizations. The act of developing a systematic digital roadmap fosters an understanding of the purpose of digitalization, how to attain digital skills and resources needed to attain the digital transformation goals, and drives organizational change in a coordinated and effective way. Digital transformation is a risky and uncertain journey, full of unexpected events, where important decisions rely on imperfect information

Large Wet Lab Converted to Computer Lab for Studying Microscopic Anatomy

Virtual microscopy has replaced microscopes representing a sea change in how microscopic anatomy is taught at Thomas Jefferson University (TJU). The class of 2009 inaugurated virtual microscopy made possible by updating a wet laboratory with new computer stations. Virtual microscopy retains the learning features of microscopes while promoting the learning of relationships through small group interactions. Multi-station computers, equipped with new hardware technology that allows up to 5 monitors and keyboards to run from a single CPU, were installed providing a cost and space effective way to bring virtual microscopy to a large number of students in a small group setting. Students have access to the same resources for independent study on the University\u27s public computers available in a 24/7 computer lab and in the library. Access to the lab manual with linked histology images along with individuals\u27 saved images and linked textbook can be used at TJU\u27s public computers

Population genomic analysis of base composition evolution in Drosophila melanogaster.

The relative importance of mutation, selection, and biased gene conversion to patterns of base composition variation in Drosophila melanogaster, and to a lesser extent, D. simulans, has been investigated for many years. However, genomic data from sufficiently large samples to thoroughly characterize patterns of base composition polymorphism within species have been lacking. Here, we report a genome-wide analysis of coding and noncoding polymorphism in a large sample of inbred D. melanogaster strains from Raleigh, North Carolina. Consistent with previous results, we observed that AT mutations fix more frequently than GC mutations in D. melanogaster. Contrary to predictions of previous models of codon usage in D. melanogaster, we found that synonymous sites segregating for derived AT polymorphisms were less skewed toward low frequencies compared with sites segregating a derived GC polymorphism. However, no such pattern was observed for comparable base composition polymorphisms in noncoding DNA. These results suggest that AT-ending codons could currently be favored by natural selection in the D. melanogaster lineage