A set of patterns for the web-based interfaces of an employee services system

The provision of Human Resource (HR), especially payroll, is a core function in every organization. Previously, providers of HR/payroll have offered their services to their clients via conventional modes of communication, such as telephones, facsimile, and courier services. In recent years, with the advent of the Internet and the emergence of web-based electronic commerce, there has been a rise in the adoption of web-based technology and information
systems by service providers, thereby enabling them to interact with their clients through this medium. This development necessitates the use of web-based user interfaces as workspaces between the HR/payroll providers and their clients, and thus, raises certain concerns that determine the effectiveness of web-based workflow systems. These concerns, related to the use of web interfaces, form the basis of the patterns discussed in this paper

Design of user interfaces for job shop environment

User-computer interface development has gone through rapid development in recent years. These developments, however, have not yet been fully implemented in management information system (MIS) design for job shop manufacturing situations. Most of the commercially available MISs are operationally inflexible and do not support management in report generation and decision making, particularly in job shops. This paper describes a framework in developing system user interfaces for job shop manufacturing situations to highlight how a generic information system can be made more useful to managerial decision making. Object-oriented programming technology has been used to provide flexible access to information stored by a generic MIS. Twenty interfacing programs have been developed. For illustration, only three of those interface programs relating to generation of strategic level management reports are discussed here.

Management information systems in job shops : design of interfaces

A study of management information system technology suitable for the job shop environment, highlighting deficiencies in generic software with respect to supplying users the information they actually require. To solve this problem a set of flexible interfaces was developed through the use of object-oriented programming. The methods used were simple enough to be adopted by vendors of any generic MIS application.

Combined continuous wave and pulsed plasma modes : For more stable interfaces with higher functionality on metal and semiconductor surfaces

A novel approach to producing improved bio-interfaces by combining continuous wave (CW) and pulsed plasma polymerization (PP) modes is reported. This approach has enabled the generation of stable interfaces with a higher density of primary amine functionality on metal, ceramic and semiconductor surfaces. Heptylamine (HA) was used as the amine-precursor. In this new design, a thin CW PPHA layer is introduced to provide strong cross-linking and attachment to the metal or semiconductor surfaces and to provide a good foundation for better bonding a pulsed PPHA layer with high retention of functional groups. The combined mode provides the pulsed mode advantage of a 3-fold higher density of primary amines, while retaining much of the markedly higher stability in aqueous solutions of the continuous mode.

A potential novel rapid screening NMR approach to boundary film formation at solid interfaces in contact with ionic liquids

The boundary films generated on a series of inorganic compounds, typical of native films on metal and ceramic surfaces, when exposed to various ionic liquids (ILs) based on the trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium cation have been characterized using multinuclear solid-state NMR. The NMR results indicate that SiO₂ and Mg(OH)₂ interact strongly with the anion and cation of each IL through a mechanism of adsorption of the anion and subsequent close proximity of the cation in a surface double layer (as observed through ¹H−²⁹Si cross polarization experiments). In contrast, Al₂O₃, MgO, ZnO, and ZrO₂ appear less active, strongly suggesting the necessity of hydroxylated surface groups in order to enhance the generation of these interfacial films. Using solid-state NMR to characterize such interfaces not only has the potential to elucidate mechanisms of wear resistance and corrosion protection via ILs, but is also likely to allow their rapid screening for such durability applications.

Trade and industrial policy in developing countries : what scope for interfaces between agent-based models and computable-general equilibrium models

How best to assess trade and industrial policy in developing countries is a controversial question that unlocks a host of modelling complexities. Large computable general-equilibrium (CGE) models dominate many economic policy debates, but recent developments in the field have demonstrated that it is by no means clear that they give reliable results to questions of how trade reforms affect the poor. Over the last decade or so, a new approach to modelling complex systems has emerged using agent-based models (ABMs). This paper explores the question of whether ABMs are useful for economic policy-makers seeking to quantitatively model the effects of trade and industrial policies and whether constructive interfaces could be developed between CGE models and ABMs. The paper argues that in developing economic policy, ABMs can and should be used in conjunction with CGE models and that there is much to be gained from a greater understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different modelling approaches, and what domains are most appropriate for their use. It concludes with some reflections on the reasons for the success of CGE approaches and ways in which ABMs could be made more widely understood and used among economists.

Analysis of self-assembled monolayer interfaces by electrospray mass spectrometry : a gentle approach

A general mass spectrometry technique for the characterization of alkanethiol-modified surfaces is presented. Alkanethiol self-assembled onto a gold surface (in this case, peptides were attached to the gold surface via a thiolate bond) was reductively desorbed in 0.05 M KOH in the presence of octadecyl-derivatized silica gel. The peptide adsorbed onto the silica gel, whereupon it could be filtered, washed to remove any salts, and then eluted using a mixture of 4:1 v/v methanol/water. The eluant containing the peptide was injected into a Fourier transform ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FTICR/MS) via electrospray ionization. The spectrum showed no fragmentation of the peptide, demonstrating the gentleness of the technique. This simple procedure is not limited to FTICR/MS and could be adapted to other mass spectrometers.

Through the looking glass : immersive interfaces for participant engagement in blended e-learning environments

This chapter outlines current research profiling students and educators participating in and constructing immersive interfaces in blended e-learning settings. Multi User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) and real world settings augmented with virtual information can generate problem-solving communities where participants gain greater technical knowledge and skills through meaningful and frequent interaction. MUVEs can also generate technical innovation amongst students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds provided students are encouraged to help each other and learn together. After detailing some false assumptions about computer literacy that can stifle meaningful exploration with new technologies in contemporary education, this chapter documents an exemplar involving extensive collaboration between students from different educational backgrounds with diverse technical competencies. The success of this initiative hinges on the willingness of educators to provide a shared learning experience where technology is used to facilitate increased student communication and offers a site for invention, informed critique, industry participation, and a sense of community.

Pressurized internal lenticular cracks at healed mica interfaces

The equilibrium states of internal penny cracks at interfaces in thin-sheet bodies are investigated. Consideration is given to cracks held open by a center-loading force from an entrapped particle in combination with a uniform pressure from a fixed mass of entrapped gas. A fracture mechanics analysis indicates that under these conditions the cracks are stable, but are amenable to growth from an enhancement in net pressure (increase in internal pressure or decrease in external pressure) or effective particle size. Essential details of the theory are confirmed by experiments on lenticular cracks at healed interfaces in muscovite mica. The results are pertinent to flaw responses in brittle ceramic systems where structural integrity is an issue.

Energy efficiency methods in electrified railways based on recovery of regenerated power

Various attempts have been made to minimise energy consumption of rail vehicles by means of regenerative power from electric braking of traction motors. This paper describes energy efficiency methods in electrified railways based on recovery of energy. Direct recovery methods that return regenerative power to electrified networks, and recovery methods based on energy storage systems are elaborated. The benefits of developing recovery methods and advantages of energy storage systems are discussed.

Immersive interfaces for art education teaching and learning in mixed reality virtual and real world environments

Selected ubiquitous technologies encourage collaborative participation between higher education students and educators within a virtual socially networked e-learning landscape. Multiple modes of teaching and learning, ranging from real world experiences, to text and digital images accessed within the Deakin Studies Online learning management system and a constructed virtual world in which the user’s creative imagination transports them to the “other side” of their computer screens is discussed in this paper. These constructed environments support interaction between communities of learners and enable multiple simultaneous participants to access graphically built 3D environments, interact with digital artifacts and various functional tools and represent themselves through avatars, to communicate with other participants and engage in collaborative art learning. A narrative interpretative research approach was used to profile the 21st century higher education student learner, to investigate the lived experience and multiple art learning perspectives documented in student visual journal entries and art educator observations to ascertain if an e-technology rich augmented learning environment resulted in the establishment of more effective e-learning communities of practice.