1522 research outputs found
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On a one-parameter family of Riordan arrays and the weight distribution of MDS codes
Get PDFWe use the formalism of the Riordan group to study a one-parameter family of lower-triangular matrices related to
the weight distribution of maximum distance separable codes. We
obtain factorization results for these matrices. We then derive
alternative expressions for the weight distribution of MDS codes. We
define related weight ratios and show that they satisfy a certain
linear recurrence
An Investigation into Irish Internet Users' Perception regarding the Data Privacy Policies of Virtual Firms operating in Ireland
Get PDFThe growth of the Internet and database technologies have raised questions about the analysis storage and use of user’s inputted data. The growth in the use of virtual companies (i.e. a company that does not have a physical footprint and exists mainly online) have introduced new elements of trust and risk. The purpose of this research study was to understand Irish consumer attitude toward on-line personal information requests, comfort and willingness to disclose information, the attitude toward the storage of the information, and to establish consumer knowledge as to their rights in relation to information storage and distribution. The research was undertaken using a positivist, quantitative approach, using a questionnaire conducted face-to-face, in selected cities and towns of various sizes around the south-east of Ireland to ensure a varied demographic. The findings revealed that Internet usage is high, with over 80% of the respondents using the Internet daily or weekly. 67.7% of the respondents who used the Internet had shopped on the virtual sites featured in the study, Amazon, Ryanair and Ticketmaster. The length of time respondents had been using the Internet, and the frequency of their use had an impact on their comfort levels when asked for information not related to their transaction. The longer and more frequently the respondent had used the Internet, the less comfortable they were in disclosing this information. Comfort levels in disclosing information were also impacted by the type of information requested, some service quality dimensions of the website, presentation elements and the virtual firms’ reputation. Privacy policies had little impact on comfort levels when disclosing personal information, just 30.6% of respondents had read a privacy policy. Respondents who had read a privacy policy indicated they were not easy to read or understand, and they did not always read one before using a website. Comfort levels and the beliefs expressed about use of information by companies suggest there is a consistent lack of consumer knowledge about the storage and use of personal information once it is disclosed
The Design & Synthesis of a Graphical System for the Visual Representation of Automotive Data
Get PDFThis report investigates the design and implementation of a system that visually represents automotive data upon a connected graphical display. The devised system obtained vehicle data from numerous CAN nodes that were constructed to formulate an automotive network. The data was transmitted on this network and was interpreted by an intelligent-device. The intelligent-device manipulated the CAN data into an appropriate digital video stream. This stream was then converted into analogue format for display upon a monitor’s screen. This report details all aspects of the design, testing and synthesis of this automotive application
Small firm cooperative constructs: addressing industry power relationships
Get PDFPURPOSE- The purpose of this paper is to examine the Irish community pharmacy sector in the context of power relationship theory. Specifically, the paper analyses the relationship between dispensary software vendors and the independent community pharmacist; and explore dominant industry partners' influence on individual pharmacies in terms of technology adoption. The core objective is to ascertain whether the potential for a cooperative construct can be realised in this milieu. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH- A comprehensive literature review precedes a full investigation and analysis of the Irish community pharmacy sector's competitive environment, in the context of the pre-mentioned power relationship theory. FINDINGS- This research uncovered a potential alternative to the industry's existing power imbalance in the form of a cooperative construct between a team of independent community pharmacists and an employed software vendor. The purpose of this partnership was to ensure the installed software focused on the pharmacist's strategic needs rather than those of the dominant partners. The paper goes on to discuss the failure of this partnership in the context of independent pharmacist's future competitive survival. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS- Data collection was limited to the community pharmacy sector in the Republic of Ireland. Therefore, care should be taken in making generalisations from this study. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS- In the absence of cooperative constructs, power relationship imbalances will continue to exist in this competitive environment, to the detriment of the small firm. ORIGINALITY/VALUE- Little research has been completed in the area of small business cooperative constructs as a means of competing successfully in a power relationship scenario. This paper goes some way to redressing this
Electron and hole dynamics of InAs/GaAs quantum dot semiconductor optical amplifiers
Get PDFSingle-color and two-color pump-probe measurements are used to analyze carrier dynamics in InAs/GaAs quantum dot amplifiers. The study reveals that hole recovery and intradot electron relaxation occur on a picosecond time scale, while the electron capture time is on the order of 10 ps. A longer time scale of hundreds of picoseconds is associated with carrier recovery in the wetting layer, similar to that observed in quantum well semiconductor amplifiers. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics
Evenness drives consistent diversity effects in intensive grassland systems across 28 European sites
Get PDF1. Ecological and agronomic research suggests that increased crop diversity in speciespoor
intensive systems may improve their provision of ecosystem services. Such general
predictions can have critical importance for worldwide food production and agricultural
practice but are largely untested at higher levels of diversity.
2. We propose new methodology for the design and analysis of experiments to quantify
diversity-function relationships. Our methodology can quantify the relative strength of
inter-specific interactions that contribute to a functional response, and can disentangle
the separate contributions of species richness and relative abundance.
3. Applying our methodology to data from a common experiment at 28 European sites,
we show that the above-ground biomass of four-species mixtures (two legumes and two
grasses) in intensive grassland systems was consistently greater than that expected from
monoculture performance, even at high productivity levels. The magnitude of this effect
generally resulted in transgressive overyielding.
4. A combined analysis of first-year results across sites showed that the additional performance
of mixtures was driven by the number and strength of pairwise inter-specific
interactions and the evenness of the community. In general, all pairwise interactions contributed equally to the additional performance of mixtures; the grass-grass and
legume-legume interactions were as strong as those between grasses and legumes.
5. The combined analysis across geographical and temporal scales in our study provides
a generality of interpretation of our results that would not have been possible from
individual site analyses or experimentation at a single site.
6. Our four-species agricultural grassland communities have proved a simple yet
relevant model system for experimentation and development of methodology in
diversity-function research. Our study establishes that principles derived from biodiversity
research in extensive, semi-natural grassland systems are applicable in intensively
managed grasslands with agricultural plant species
Book Review: Encyclopedia of Punk Music and Culture
No full textRancid, Iron Prostate, Vibrators, Chumbawamba, 4-Skins, Flesh Eaters, Devil Dogs are just some of the entries that can be found in Brian Cogan's Encyclopedia, brought to us by award winning publishers Greenwood Press. Cogan, a New York professor and self-avowed punk scene member for over 20 years, has presented us with a fascinating overview of the punk world from its origins in the early 1970s until the present day. Written from the perspective of an “insider”, writing about “outsiders”, this is a considerable and comprehensive resource that well captures the spirit and influence of punk and its manifold cultures and subcultures. It is a timely contribution, most commentators agreeing that punk is now 30 years old [...
THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR IRISH CONSTRUCTION ORGANISATIONS THROUGH GROUNDED THEORY
Get PDFThe construction industry is recognised as being poor at learning on a consistent basis and improving performance and is notoriously slow in adapting to progressive change. Knowledge Management (KM) has been promoted as a means of harnessing and utilising intellectual resources to address these challenges, in addition to improving innovation, business performance and client satisfaction. Two categories requiring KM in the construction industry have been identified; within projects, across temporary, multi-discipline project organisations; and within individual firms. It is accepted that there may be much greater potential for KM within individual companies. Despite the recognised need to adopt KM, it is considered to be in its
infancy in the construction industry and is seen as a recent and evolving practice for construction organisations.
The lack of a working definition of knowledge within construction organisations and awareness of the importance and potential advantages of KM reflects a casual approach, and indicates the need for further exploration of knowledge and KM-related issues. There is a dearth of empirical
research and KM models for construction, resulting in the continuing need for the development and testing of such models. One theoretical model which was developed for, and tested by the leading Australian construction organisations was found to be conceptually too complex to understand and implement, even by some KM specialists within the contributing organisations. This paper reports upon ongoing research into KM within the leading Irish construction
organisations, and presents a strategic framework for the development of a KM model through a grounded theory approach. To-date, the research has engaged many of the leading construction organisations and has gained the support of Engineers Ireland (the country’s leading professional body), the Construction Information Technology Alliance (CITA). The research has confirmed
the need for a more coherent approach to managing knowledge and has highlighted a lack of understanding of KM and knowledge within the organisations involved. Through a cooperative approach between industry, academia and a professional body, the strategic framework aims to
develop and test a model of KM for construction. The adoption of grounded theory will aid the practicality of the developed model as it produces explanations that are recognisable to the subjects of the research. A key objective of the research is to devise CPD accredited education and guidance resources based on the developed model, to improve awareness, understanding, and implementation of KM within construction organisations. The delivery of such resources will contribute towards the
evaluation of the developed model in terms of its usefulness and credibility with industry. It is
expected that the research will contribute to the current body of KM research while having a real impact on the development and implementation of KM in construction organisations. The value which academic research can deliver to organisations has been questioned by a number of the research participants. By demonstrating that a collaborative approach between industry, academia and professional bodies can lead to be mutually beneficial, a new agenda for research may emerge in what is a traditional, conservative industry
Assessing the potential for Construction Collaboration Technologies (CCTs) in Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) involved in project management in the Irish Construction Industry
Get PDFThis research focused on the actual and potential use of Construction Collaboration Technologies (CCTs) in Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for project management purposes. The adoption of CCTs has been posited as a solution to the poor levels of communication and information exchange between organisations in the construction process, the vast majority of who are SMEs
The application of knowledge management practices in the procurement and construction of cleanroom projects
Get PDFThis thesis stemmed from the researcher’s experience in managing cleanroom projects with one of Ireland’s largest construction companies. The lack of knowledge sharing practices in this division was a concern. It was expected that the findings and recommendations would be used by the company to improve their skills in delivering cleanroom projects and to assist in implementing better procedures