Geospatial Standardized Services for Integration of Weather Data Coming From Public and Voluntary Stations

The observation of the meteorological phenomena has evolved over the time time in the course of continuous technological change: - Visual reading and manual annotations. - The use of automated equipment which register and transmit observations. - The implementation of remote sensing - Algorithms that allow defining weather values. At the same time, all of those processes are some of the actual meteorological data sources. Despite of this, it is well known that the best weather values at surface are observed by stations located on earth, but this type of observations have the inconvenience of a low geographic distribution. An alternative information source for climate values at ground level could be the Volunteer Weather Observations (VWO) Networks. In Spain, we have detected several VWO networks covering an important area. But all of them have their own several features which imply complexity at working with all networks at the same time

Can Twitter sentiment predict stock market behaviour?

There are some positive indications, but this relationship is neither linear nor simple, writes Francesco Corea

Humpty Dumpty

This music clip is from the LP entitled Montreux Magic. The band, directed by Dr. Robert Washut, performed the music at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on July 5, 1985.https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jazzband/1064/thumbnail.jp

Technological Capacitation in Customer Service Work: A Sociotechnical Approach

This research effort seeks to extend current understanding within the sociotechnical perspective. It investigates the inter-relationship between various aspects of both individual and technology roles in the workplace. A main focus of research is the notion of technological capacitation, the support employees derive from the use of IT systems. An analysis of survey data on the work environment of customer service representatives (CSRs) is undertaken. The study adopts a direct measure of self-assessed user performance, the customer satisfaction ability of CSRs. The findings indicate that technological capacitation is positively correlated with customer satisfaction ability. Role clarity, preparation, and supervisory support are found to be positively correlated with technological capacitation. Role conflict however, displays a negative correlation with technological capacitation. Autonomy, motivation, and influence over technology deployment are all found to be positively correlated with technological capacitation. Technology capacitation is also related positively with the user- friendliness and flexibility of technology, as well as the utility of technology performance-monitoring. However, it appears to be unrelated to independence from technology, creativity, and role involvement. The flexibility of technology and the utility of technology performance-monitoring also demonstrate positive correlations with customer satisfaction ability. Customer satisfaction ability, however, is found to be unrelated to the user-friendliness of technology. The results of this study thus highlight the coherence required between aspects of individual and technology roles for effective individual performance in the workplace

Blue Miles

This music clip is from the CD entitled Field of Play. The band was directed by Dr. Robert Washut.https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jazzband/1022/thumbnail.jp

Myth and Dissymmetry in the Use of Information Technology

This paper introduces the concept of myth, a dominant image on which an organizing vision may be formulated. It is proposed that organizational myths can be used to evaluate the nature and outcomes of information tech- nology use in particular operating contexts, by permitting an enframing or disclosure of critical contradictions and tensions arising in such contexts. An analytical schema, the semiotic square, is described for clarifying oppositional and associative relationships between elements of work performance or IT usage, from the standpoint of mythical framing. The paper’s proposition is illustrated through a case study analysis of customer service operations at a call center, pivoted on the discrepancies between the rhetorical formulation of the center’s organizing vision (i.e., its myth) and the complex realities of IT-based work organization and performance. The deconstruction of a myth presents a relatively inclusive standpoint from which an analyst can take into account the contested nature of performance evaluation in IT usage. This approach also addresses the ontological basis of the significance (or value) of performance, which is seen to be constituted negatively. This study suggests that fruitful scope exists for investigating the way rhetorical forms articulate with IT use in the contemporary workplace

The Combined Elevation Test (CET) in Adolescent School Children: A Pilot Study

The Combined Elevation Test (CET) is a musculoskeletal screening technique (MST) that replicates the streamline position in swimming and is commonly used in various sports. Although CET is widely used, no normative data exist within an adolescent population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a large data set for the CET within an adolescent population and to evaluate the influence of various demographic and anthropometric variables. Data were collected for 416 participants aged between 8 and 18 years old. Age and arm span showed a significant correlation with CET scores (arm span rs (105) = 0.478, p = 0.000; age rs (416) = 0.238, p = 0.000). Regression analysis further quantified the influence of arm span and age on CET scores, accounting for 23.1% and 5.3% of variability respectively. These results can be used as a reference point for clinicians and coaches who are using the CET within their assessments