Levels Of Analysis Research Articles

Focus on analytical equipment and diagnostics

Focus on analytical equipment and diagnostics

Methods for analyzing decision-making: a framework approach

In political science an eternal question concerns how decisions and policies arise. Modern society, characterized by more uncertainty and complexity than before, increases the challenge of providing valid answers. However, the general lack of methodological concern in several previous studies in this area stresses the need for elaborations of more suitable approaches. In this article we add a methodological perspective that deals with this very question. By reviewing and analyzing earlier research on how decision-making is reached, the overall ambition of this article is to create a framework that can lay the methodological foundation for further studies. Such a framework, which takes into account both the complexity of modern multi-governance societies and adds methodological perspectives of macro and micro standpoints as well as of causal mechanisms, can be used in future research to achieve richer pictures of how decision-making is carried out. In addition, we show how a certain technique of analysis is highly compatible to this framework and that jointly these features provide solutions for a better understanding of the complexity of modern decision-making. All in all, applying this strategy can be used to better systematize complex causal chains that reflect different analytical levels and thereby increase leverage on how to understand and explain the process of political decisions.

Le management stratégique des compétences dans un processus d'innovation : le cas d'une TPE touristique

Cet article vise à apporter des éléments de réponse à la question de recherche suivante : comment se construisent et s’articulent dans le temps les quatre niveaux de compétences (individuel, collectif, organisationnel et environnemental) lors d’un processus d’innovation ? Pour ce faire, notre recherche, de type exploratoire, repose sur une démarche qualitative, centrée sur l’étude de cas longitudinale d’une TPE touristique, l’entreprise H2H (Hotel2Hotel). Notre étude empirique offre une identification des compétences mobilisées lors du processus d’innovation H2H, à partir des quatre niveaux d’analyse que sont l’individuel, le collectif, l’organisationnel et l’environnemental. Elle révèle également l’existence d’un quatrième modèle de management stratégique des compétences : le modèle de « combinaison temporelle ». Ce modèle serait une quatrième voie de relations (entre stratégie et compétences) aux trois autres modèles déjà existants dans la littérature (déduit, émergent et mixte). Nos résultats permettent ainsi d’aller au-delà de la simple identification des compétences requises pour développer une innovation, en analysant également les différentes stratégies d’émergence, de développement et d’articulation des compétences dans un processus d’innovation.

Ontological modeling of spatial shaft-position knowledge for steam turbine rotor

Large business enterprises rely heavily on their human capital. The human capital consists of domain knowledge, experience, analytical and creativity levels. It is recognized that, creativity levels and analytical skills are traits of individuals. All these need to be captured by the use of suitable knowledge capturing techniques, particularly due to exponential knowledge growth in all domains of technology. Ontological modeling has the potential to capture such knowledge, and organize it in a structured format based on the concepts and their mutual relations. It can capture the analytical and creative rationale of design and troubleshooting, besides incorporating specific design sub-routines for tasks. This paper discusses an ontology based model, which stores knowledge for the positioning-system of steam turbine rotor. The efficacy of the model has been demonstrated in capturing this domain knowledge, which can be used by the design and the maintenance personnel and thereby, increase their efficiency.

Effects of the magnetic field direction and anisotropy on the interband light absorption of an asymmetric quantum dot

In this paper, the direct interband transition and the threshold frequency of absorption in a two-dimensional anisotropic quantum dot are studied under the influence of a tilted external magnetic field. We first calculate the analytical wave functions and energy levels using a transformation to simplify the Hamiltonian of the system. Then, we obtain the analytical expressions for the light interband absorption coefficient and the threshold frequency of absorption as a function of the magnetic field, magnetic field direction, and anisotropy of the system. According to the results obtained from the present work, we find that (i) the absorption threshold frequency (ATF) increases when the magnetic field increases for all directions. (ii) When anisotropy is increased, ATF increases. (iii) At small anisotropy, the magnetic field direction has no important effect on the ATF. In brief, the magnetic field, magnetic field direction, and anisotropy play important roles in the ATF and absorption coefficient.

Unravelling music in Hitchcock’s Rope

The article explores the dramatic employment of musicalized guilt in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope (1948). In particular, as Phillip plays Francis Poulenc’s Mouvements Perpétuels (1918) at the piano he is cross-examined by his ex-school teacher. Adhering closely to C. Gorbman’s theoretical approach to studying film music in her groundbreaking text, Unheard Melodies in 1987, the ‘cat-and-mouse’ interrogation scene is analysed on three different analytical levels: (1) ‘Pure’ musical codes, with an emphasis on linear and non-linear structural forces stemming from the sound of the music itself; (2) ‘Cultural’ musical codes that move beyond the notes themselves and take into consideration how Poulenc’s music and biography resonates with the cultural milieu of Hollywood in the 1940s; and (3) ‘Cinematic’ musical codes that directly considers the anchorage in which the music relates to the filmic narrative. The article fills in a gap of Hitchcock criticism since an in-depth study of the use of music in Rope has yet to be undertaken in the scholarly literature.

Through, against and beyond the racial state: the transnational stratum of race

Though race is most commonly associated with domestic politics, the concept itself was born in the transnational realm. This article conceptualizes race as a system of global power relations that has changed over time, manifests differently across space and exists on multiple analytical levels. Drawing from the insights of international relations, comparative politics and critical race theory, it argues that race is a transnational norm or idea that can independently affect both domestic policy outcomes and international relations among nation-states. The article explores several promising avenues of research in the examination of the varied manifestations of race in international and domestic realms and ends with a brief discussion of continuing challenges and future research agendas in the comparative and international study of race.

An analytical framework for common-pool resource–large technical system (CPR-LTS) constellations

This paper introduces an analytical framework for a special phenomenon: when a common-pool resource (CPR) institution and a large technical system (LTS) are connected and mutually interdependent. The CPR in this case is a node managed by its appropriators within a centrally planned and managed system; here named CPR-LTS constellations. Our framework is empirically derived from two historical investigations of CPR institutions within two LTSs, the agricultural-technical system and the road transport system of Sweden. By comparing similarities and differences it is possible to identify paths to successes and failures. To understand why one survived and the other disappeared we connect Elinor Ostrom’s theories about management of CPRs with Thomas P. Hughes’s theories about LTSs. We are proposing a framework that can bridge the gap between theories about management of CPRs and LTSs. By combining the two theories it should be possible to better understand how small-scale producers using bottom-up CPRs can be linked to top-down LTSs.We will argue that to fit within an LTS, a CPR needs alignment between different parts or components within the constellation/system and alignment with other systems and institutions in society. We propose three analytical levels to deal with the phenomenon of aligning a CPR project to an existing, large sociotechnical system: Local alignment (CPR): How are CPRs organized and managed at local sites? Sociotechnical alignment (CPR-LTS): How are CPRs connected to the sociotechnical system? Contextual alignment: How are CPR-LTS constellations aligned with neighboring institutions and systems in society? Our work indicates that for successful management of a CPR-LTS constellation it is important that the CPR be included in legislation and that government agencies support the CPR in alignment with the LTS. Legislators must recognize the CPR-part in the CPR-LTS constellation so that its institutional body is firmly established in society. In this study, we have used the framework ex-post; however, we anticipate that the framework could be a diagnostic tool ex-ante for CPR-LTS constellations.

The impact of e-learning on workplace capability: creating a framework of development

Since 2007, the Waikato Institute of Technology has conducted a range of research studies investigating the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in building New Zealand workforce capability. This research has revealed both employers and employees require assurance the e-activities they engage in are effective, efficient and provide value for the resources invested. This paper will focus on three aspects integral to such assurance – quality, impact and reflection. Quality explores the processes used in the creation of the workplace e-learning event and proposes a model, the 5-Ds, to create quality learning experiences. Measurement of impact investigates how the effectiveness of e-learning events is evaluated at two analytical levels – individual and organisational. A model, Return on Investment, Impact, Application, Accomplishment, Satisfaction (R.I.A.A.S.), based on slight modifications to the widely-applied Kirkpatrick-Philips evaluation pyramid, is presented. Reflection is presented as a conscious engagement wherein individuals and organisations review their existing activities against acknowledged frameworks and are able to identify actions to improve their capability. A reflection-action-measurement cyclical model, Reflection, Action, Measurement (R.A.M.), is proposed.

Development and validation of TaqMan probe based real time PCR assays for the specific detection of genotype A and B small ruminant lentivirus strains

BackgroundSmall ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) are members of the Retroviridae family and infect goats and sheep worldwide. Detection of specific antibodies using AGID and ELISA is the most commonly used means of diagnosing SRLV infection. The most frequent molecular method for detecting the provirus genome is PCR, using peripheral blood leucocytes as target cells. Real time PCR has also recently been used. The aim of this study was to develop a real time PCR for detection of SRLV in order to improve molecular diagnostics of SRLV infections in sheep and goats.ResultsTwo new real time PCR assays using TaqMan probes for the specific detection of genotype A (MVV assay) and genoptype B (CAEV assay) SRLV strains and differentiation between them were developed and validated at both analytical and diagnostic levels following MIQE guidelines. The validation results showed that the new real time PCR is 100% specific, with a reliable limit of detection of 26 (CAEV assay) and 72 (MVV assay) plasmid DNA copies, while compared to ELISA the diagnostic sensitivity of both assays was 79% when tested with Slovenian SRLV field samples. Intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation showed overall good repeatability and reproducibility of the new real time PCR assays, except for the highest dilutions.ConclusionsTwo new TaqMan probe based real time PCR assays for the specific detection of genotype A and B SRLV strains and differentiation between them were developed and validated. They can serve as an additional tool for confirming infection with SRLV and may also be useful for early detection of infected animals prior to seroconversion.

Assessing Access

Identifying sources of variation has been used extensively in educational research as a tool to identify potential drives of variances in student achievement. However, prior research predominantly relied on findings from national- or international-level data, and thus their conclusions remain very broad-based. This study contributes new insight by assessing if and where there is variation in standardized testing performance for entire populations of cohorts of students in a single, large urban school district in the United States. Specifically, this study evaluates variance in Stanford Achievement Test Ninth Edition (SAT9) reading and math scores for all elementary school students in the School District of Philadelphia over four academic years and within three analytical levels of the educational experience—student, classroom, and school. To do so, this study employs three-level hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to determine how the overall variance in testing performance can be partitioned within classrooms, between classrooms, and between schools. The initial results indicate that the overwhelmingly largest contributor to total variance in achievement is within classrooms at the student level. However, incorporating a full span of covariates into a three-tiered model of student achievement explains the majority of the between classroom and between school variance, though only half of the within classroom variance. Implications are discussed.

Strategic HRM in building micro-foundations of organizational knowledge-based performance

Strategic HRM research has a strong potential to further our understanding of how organizational knowledge processes influence performance at various analytical levels. Drawing on ability–motivation–opportunity research and linking it to knowledge sharing behaviors, we discuss the micro-foundations in the link between strategic HRM practices and knowledge-based organizational performance. We thus describe a research agenda for future micro-foundational research that links strategic HRM and knowledge-based performance.

Maximizing allele detection: Effects of analytical threshold and DNA levels on rates of allele and locus drop-out

Interpretation of DNA evidence depends upon the ability of the analyst to accurately compare the DNA profile obtained from an item of evidence and the DNA profile of a standard. This interpretation becomes progressively more difficult as the number of 'drop-out' and 'drop-in' events increase. Analytical thresholds (AT) are typically selected to ensure the false detection of noise is minimized. However, there exists a tradeoff between the erroneous labeling of noise as alleles and the false non-detection of alleles (i.e. drop-out). In this study, the effect ATs had on both types of error was characterized. Various ATs were tested, where three relied upon the analysis of baseline signals obtained from 31 negative samples. The fourth AT was determined by utilizing the relationship between RFU signal and DNA input. The other ATs were the commonly employed 50, 150 and 200 RFU thresholds. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) plots showed that although high ATs completely negated the false labeling of noise, DNA analyzed with ATs derived using analysis of the baseline signal exhibited the lowest rates of drop-out and the lowest total error rates. In another experiment, the effect small changes in ATs had on drop-out was examined. This study showed that as the AT increased from ∼10 to 60 RFU, the number of heterozygous loci exhibiting the loss of one allele increased. Between ATs of 60 and 150 RFU, the frequency of allelic drop-out remained constant at 0.27 (±0.02) and began to decrease when ATs of 150 RFU or greater were utilized. In contrast, the frequency of heterozygous loci exhibiting the loss of both alleles consistently increased with AT. In summary, for samples amplified with less than 0.5ng of DNA, ATs derived from baseline analysis of negatives were shown to decrease the frequency of drop-out by a factor of 100 without significantly increasing rates of erroneous noise detection.

Parametric Evaluation of Design Input Parameters on the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide Predicted Performance

The objective of this study was to conduct a sensitivity analysis to identify the input parameters with the greatest effects on the predicted pavement performance from the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). Three levels of analysis (low, medium, and high) with five input parameters (traffic level, hot-mix asphalt (HMA) thickness, E*, base course thickness, and subgrade type) were evaluated through a full factorial design. The main influence of each individual input parameter and the combinational interaction effects of the input parameters on the predicted distress response were quantified. It was determined that the traffic level input parameter was the main effect on all predicted pavement distresses in the MEPDG. The second main effect for international roughness index (IRI), fatigue cracking, and total pavement rutting was HMA thickness. For asphalt concrete (AC) rutting, the mixture dynamic modulus ranked second for the main effect followed by HMA thickness. For top-down cracking, it was observed that the base course thickness ranked second for the main effect followed by the HMA dynamic modulus. The influence of base thickness on top-down cracking was not expected but it may be due that the MEPDG adopted a traditional fatigue cracking model to describe this failure mechanism.

Operativizzare il capitale sociale degli immigrati e delle organizzazioni degli immigrati

The theoretical disorientation concerning the concept of social capital is contrasted with its application to the study of a rich variety of empirical phenomena. Methodologically, social capital has been usefully employed at various analytical levels, micro, meso and macro. The goal of this essay is to emphasize the modalities used to operationalize this concept in the immigration field and so to discuss its impact on immigrants' political integration. Analytically, we will consider two dimensions related to social capital: structure and relationship. Empirically, we will present immigrants' social capital both with respect to its meso level dimension concerning immigrants' organizations and with respect to its individual dimension.

Large Projects Integrators. Analysis and Management of the Data for Risk Assessment

This paper shows the tools developed to collect, analyse and manage the data needed for risk assessment, within a large project integration activity in a country not covered by the safety regulations typical of European countries and the US. The project, an aluminium mill, was a complex project with the contribution of worldwide machines suppliers, but not involving major risk processes; thus the safety data requirements, the level of analysis to be performed by the equipment providers, first, from the integrator and then from the final user in the end, was not stated. The paper thus shows the framework and the tools developed to manage in the more complete and systematic way as possible the collection of data for safety, their analysis and their communication to the client.

TAGMEMICS (An Introduction to Tagmemics Concepts)

The tagmemics is a unit comprising a function and a class of items fulfilling that function. It is most suitable in describing languages and applied to the description of a very large number of hitherto unrecorded languages. Tagmemics differs from alternative systems of grammatical analysis in that it defines the basic units of language (tagmemes) as composite elements, one part being the “slot,” or “function,” and the other the “filler,” or “class.” One such tagmeme, at the syntactic level of analysis, might be the noun-as-subject (in which the noun is a class that “fills” the subject “slot” in a construction). This article also introduce how tagmemics show for a syntactical counterpart to the phonological and morphological terms, phoneme and morpheme--something at the sentence level which could function as a key identifying unit in the same way that these well- established terms functioned

The EU and the Arctic: European foreign policy in the making

The EU is currently reviewing its interests in the High North and has recently started developing an Arctic policy. This article aims at explaining this foreign policy expansion by applying a theoretical framework consisting of three levels: (1) the internal level – viewing EU foreign policy (EFP) as the product of an “organization;” (2) the state level – in specifically accounting for the role played by external actors, primarily states; and (3) the systemic level – viewing the EU and its foreign policy as dependent on structural conditions within the global system. Through interviews, document studies, as well as existing scholarly research, the article identifies impact from all three analytical levels, including how the supranational and member-state level combined has been decisive in shaping the final policy outcome. The research identifies the crucial role played by other Arctic states, particularly Canada and Norway. Finally, on the systemic level, key conditions such as global warming and economic forces are recognized as relevant explanatory factors behind the development of the EU’s Arctic policy.Keywords: EU Arctic policy, European foreign policy (EFP), International rela- tions (IR).Citation: Arctic Review on Law and Politics, vol. 3, 1/2012 p. 6–29. ISSN 1891-6252

Semiótica, paisaje social y arte rupestre de época incaica en la cuenca superior del Río Aconcagua, Chile central

This article presents a semiotic approach to study three petroglyphs sites in Cerro Tuququre, Valle de Putaen-do, central Chile with the aim of detecting internal spatial structuring patterns and determine the role of these places in the construction of social landscape during Incas occupation in the region. A theoretic-methodological frame based on Pierce’s semiotics is proposed, emphasizing two different levels of analysis: syntactic and prag-matic. The results from syntactic analysis show that there is a dual structure constructed by the same spatial logic in the three sites. To achieve pragmatic analysis, regional contextual data and previous stylistic analysis are considered, taking into account two different levels of structural variation in rock art: landscape and style. Some contextual similarities with another petroglyph site of the region suggests that both places played an active role in the re-signification of social landscape in Aconcagua upper basin during Inca expansion. In this context, stylistic changes may reflect the circulation of messages under a novel situation shared with other regions of Collasuyu, which produced the modification of iconographic codes.

Application of an integrated traceability system accessible on a web platform for the buffalo dairy products found on the free market.

The global complexity based on traceability relate d problems, considering the multitude of interactions, the knowledge involved and the operat ors' distribution in the food safety departments implies a scientific and systematic approach of mod eling and implementing the product's quality and properties, models that must be accessible for both processors and consumers. The goal of this study was to make a compositional characterization of buf falo dairy products and to imagine an integrated model system accessible through the web platform for all the processors as well as for the consumers. The need of making such a research resides from the fact that the buffalo dairy products found on the market are not properly labeled , this system helpi ng in an easy and accessible way the data integrati on and value display. The integrated traceability syst em made on a web platform allows the users to calculate the protein, fat, cholesterol and calorie s percentages according to the database introduced from the experiments made. This conformity check with the help of the integrated system is a safe and accurate way of informing the consumer on the compositional qualities of the buffalo dairy products, being able to extend on a higher level by adopting an integrated informatics system at all levels of analysis.