Effects of IT-Based Connectivity on Firms\u27 Innovation Capability and Performance

Firms have been investing in portal technologies to enhance employee operations, internal communication, supplier interactions, and customer service. However, the benefits of this expensive enterprise technology have yet to be quantified and the manner of their impact on organizations yet to be understood. Drawing upon social capital theory and the IT investments literature, we propose that firms\u27 investments in portal features that support connectivity internally, and with customers and suppliers enables the firms to develop their innovation capability, which, in turn, enhances firm performance. We test this model using data collected from announcements of firms\u27 portal investments

Detangling the Interrelationships Between Self-Regulation and Ill-Structured Problem Solving in Problem-Based Learning

One of the goals for problem-based learning (PBL) is to promote self-regulation. Although self-regulation has been studied extensively, its interrelationships with ill-structured problem solving have been unclear. In order to clarify the interrelationships, this article proposes a conceptual framework illustrating the iterative processes among problem-solving stages (i.e., problem representation and solution generation) and self-regulation phases (i.e., planning, execution, and reflection). The dynamics of the interrelationships are further illustrated with three ill-structured problem-solving examples in different domains (i.e., information problem solving, historical inquiry, and science inquiry). The proposed framework contributes to research and practice by providing a new lens to examine self-regulation in ill-structured problem solving and offering guidelines to design effective tools and strategies to scaffold and assess PBL

Season of the year influences infection rates following total hip arthroplasty

To research the influence of season of the year on periprosthetic joint infections. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of the entire Medicare files from 2005 to 2014. Seasons were classified as spring, summer, fall or winter. Regional variations were accounted for by dividing patients into four geographic regions as per the United States Census Bureau (Northeast, Midwest, West and South). Acute postoperative infection and deep periprosthetic infections within 90 d after surgery were tracked. RESULTS In all regions, winter had the highest incidence of periprosthetic infections (mean 0.98%, SD 0.1%) and was significantly higher than other seasons in the Midwest, South and West (P \u3c 0.05 for all) but not the Northeast (P = 0.358). Acute postoperative infection rates were more frequent in the summer and were significantly affected by season of the year in the West. CONCLUSION Season of the year is a risk factor for periprosthetic joint infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Understanding the influence of season on outcomes following THA is essential when risk-stratifying patients to optimize outcomes and reduce episode of care costs. © The Author(s) 2017

A Multilevel Investigation of the Social Aspects of Self-Regulation in the Context of Collaborative Ill-Structured Problem Solving

This study investigated the effect of the social aspects of self-regulation on students' ill-structured problem-solving performance in a collaborative learning environment. Specifically, two components of the social aspects of self-regulation were explored: self-regulation and co-regulation. One hundred thirty-one pre-service teachers participated in this study, which required them to collaborate with peers in groups of three or four students on an ill-structured problem-solving task. Multiple research methods were used for the study: descriptive statistics, case analysis, multilevel analyses, and correlation analyses.The results suggested there was a wide gap between students' self-reported behaviors and the actual behavioral counted coded by the researcher regarding self-regulation and co-regulation. The students rated themselves much higher self-regulators than the researcher's ratings, particularly at the problem representation phase. Furthermore, neither self-regulation nor co-regulation had a significant impact on ill-structured problem solving. In addition, the relationship between self-regulation and ill-structured problem solving was significantly weakened as co-regulation increased. The self-report measures and behavioral count measures of self-regulation and co-regulation were significantly correlated; however, directions of the impact of co-regulation on ill-structured problem solving were opposite: the self-report measures of co-regulation had a positive impact on ill-structured problem solving while the behavioral count measures of co-regulation had a negative impact on ill-structured problem solving. Issues and limitations of the study are discussed in this chapter. The results of this study provide valuable implications for instructional design and future research

Performing the Union: the Prüm Decision and the European dream

In 2005, seven European countries signed the so-called Prüm Treaty to increase transnational collaboration in combating international crime, terrorism and illegal immigration. Three years later, the Treaty was adopted into EU law. EU member countries are obliged to have systems in place to allow authorities of other member states access to nationally held data on DNA, fingerprints, and vehicles by August 2011. In this paper, we discuss the conditions of possibility for the Prüm network to emerge, and argue that rather than a linear story of technological and political convergence and harmonisation, the (hi)story of Prüm is heterogeneous and patchy. This is reflected also in the early stages of implementing the Prüm Decision which proves to be more difficult than it was hoped by the drivers of the Prüm process. In this sense, the Prüm network sits uncomfortably with success stories of forensic science (many of which served the goal of justifying the expansion of technological and surveillance systems). Instead of telling a story of heroic science, the story of Prüm articulates the European dream: One in which goods, services, and people live and travel freely and securely

Development of a Passive and Slope Adaptable Prosthetic Foot

Historically, users of prosthetic ankles have relied on actively operated systems to provide effective slope adaptability. However, there are many drawbacks to these systems. This research builds upon work previously completed by Hansen et al. as it develops a passive, hydraulically operated prosthetic ankle with the capability of adapting to varying terrain in every step. Using gait cycle data and an analysis of ground reaction forces, the team determined that weight activation was the most effective way to activate the hydraulic circuit. Evaluations of the system pressure and energy showed that although the spring damper system results in a loss of 9J of energy to the user, the footplate stores 34J more than a standard prosthesis. Therefore, the hydraulic prosthetic provides a 54% increase in stored energy when compared to a standard prosthesis. The hydraulic circuit manifold prototype was manufactured and tested. Through proof of concept testing, the prototype proved to be slope adaptable by successfully achieving a plantarflexion angle of 16 degrees greater than a standard prosthetic foot currently available on the market.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tata Center for Technology and Desig