On the radius of centrality in evolving communication networks

In this article, we investigate how the choice of the attenuation factor in an extended version of Katz centrality influences the centrality of the nodes in evolving communication networks. For given snapshots of a network, observed over a period of time, recently developed communicability indices aim to identify the best broadcasters and listeners (receivers) in the network. Here we explore the attenuation factor constraint, in relation to the spectral radius (the largest eigenvalue) of the network at any point in time and its computation in the case of large networks. We compare three different communicability measures: standard, exponential, and relaxed (where the spectral radius bound on the attenuation factor is relaxed and the adjacency matrix is normalised, in order to maintain the convergence of the measure). Furthermore, using a vitality-based measure of both standard and relaxed communicability indices, we look at the ways of establishing the most important individuals for broadcasting and receiving of messages related to community bridging roles. We compare those measures with the scores produced by an iterative version of the PageRank algorithm and illustrate our findings with two examples of real-life evolving networks: the MIT reality mining data set, consisting of daily communications between 106 individuals over the period of one year, a UK Twitter mentions network, constructed from the direct \emph{tweets} between 12.4k individuals during one week, and a subset the Enron email data set.

Obsessive Compulsive Treatment Efficacy Trial (OCTET) comparing the clinical and cost effectiveness of self-managed therapies: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background: UK National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) specify recommendations for the treatment and management of OCD using a stepped care approach. Steps three to six of this model recommend treatment options for people with OCD that range from low-intensity guided self-help (GSH) to more intensive psychological and pharmacological interventions. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), including exposure and response prevention, is the recommended psychological treatment. However, whilst there is some preliminary evidence that self-managed therapy packages for OCD can be effective, a more robust evidence base of their clinical and cost effectiveness and acceptability is required. Methods/Design: Our proposed study will test two different self-help treatments for OCD: 1) computerised CBT (cCBT) using OCFighter, an internet-delivered OCD treatment package; and 2) GSH using a book. Both treatments will be accompanied by email or telephone support from a mental health professional. We will evaluate the effectiveness, cost and patient and health professional acceptability of the treatments. Discussion: This study will provide more robust evidence of efficacy, cost effectiveness and acceptability of self-help treatments for OCD. If cCBT and/or GSH prove effective, it will provide additional, more accessible treatment options for people with OCD.

Hallucinations as a trauma-based memory: implications for psychological interventions

The relationship between hallucinations and life events is a topic of significant clinical importance. This review discusses the extent to which auditory and visual hallucinations may be directly related to traumatic events. Evidence suggests that intrusive images occur frequently within individuals who also report hallucinatory experiences. However, there has been limited research specifically investigating the extent to which hallucinations are the re-experiencing of a traumatic event. Our current theoretical understanding of these relationships, along with methodological difficulties associated with research in this area, are considered. Recent clinical studies, which adopt interventions aimed at the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in people diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, are reviewed. There is a need for the development of evidence-based interventions in this area.

Using mobile devices to enhance undergraduate field research

Mobile devices can enhance undergraduate research projects and students’ research capabilities. The use of mobile devices such as tablet computers will not automatically make undergraduates better researchers, but their use should make investigations, writing, and publishing more effective and may even save students time. We have explored some of the possibilities of using “tablets” and “smartphones” to aid the research and inquiry process in geography and bioscience fieldwork. We provide two case studies as illustration of how students working in small research groups use mobile devices to gather and analyze primary data in field-based inquiry. Since April 2010, Apple’s iPad has changed the way people behave in the digital world and how they access their music, watch videos, or read their email much as the entrepreneurs Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive intended. Now with “apps” and “the cloud” and the ubiquitous references to them appearing in the press and on TV, academics’ use of tablets is also having an impact on education and research. In our discussion we will refer to use of smartphones such as the iPhone, iPod, and Android devices under the term “tablet”. Android and Microsoft devices may not offer the same facilities as the iPad/iphone, but many app producers now provide versions for several operating systems. Smartphones are becoming more affordable and ubiquitous (Melhuish and Falloon 2010), but a recent study of undergraduate students (Woodcock et al. 2012, 1) found that many students who own smartphones are “largely unaware of their potential to support learning”. Importantly, however, students were found to be “interested in and open to the potential as they become familiar with the possibilities” (Woodcock et al. 2012). Smartphones and iPads could be better utilized than laptops when conducting research in the field because of their portability (Welsh and France 2012). It is imperative for faculty to provide their students with opportunities to discover and employ the potential uses of mobile devices in their learning. However, it is not only the convenience of the iPad or tablet devices or smartphones we wish to promote, but also a way of thinking and behaving digitally. We essentially suggest that making a tablet the center of research increases the connections between related research activities.

Utredning av nyttan med applicering av mobil enhet i organisationen : Utveckling av en handdator applikation

Denna examensrapport på magisternivå genomfördes under våren 2004, hos AB Borlänge Energi.Borlänge Energis servicetekniker behövde ett hjälpmedel för att effektivisera deras arbetsuppgifter. Tidigare sparades driftjournaler för varje servicekund lokalt hos kunden. Serviceteknikern behövde också åka tillbaka till huvudkontoret för att slutföra ett uppdrag. Borlänge Energi hade inte heller någon möjlighet att föra statistik över servicekunderna då alla driftjournaler sparades hos servicekunden.Vi utvecklade en prototyp av ett inrapporteringsverktyg för en handdator. I detta verktyg får serviceteknikern tillgång till all relevant information gällande serviceuppdraget. Efter slutfört uppdrag skickas driftjournalen in till en databas hos Borlänge Energi, samtidigt skickas ett email till servicekunden att serviceuppdraget är utfört.Utöver målet utredde vi nyttan med applicering av mobil enhet i organisationen. Borlänge Energi vill med detta veta om arbetet blev effektivare, samt om arbetsrutinerna förändrades. Resultatet vi kom fram till var att arbetet effektiviseras med användning av prototypen. Viktiga faktorer för att få serviceteknikern att använda prototypen var användarvänlighet samt förändring av arbetsrutiner.

Koordination och organisation : - två viktiga begrepp vid skapandet av en innehållsrik hemsida för kommunala myndigheter

Vi har undersökt vilket innehåll som socialtjänstens enhet individ-och familjeomsorgen inom olika kommuner har på sina hemsidor samt hur de har organiserat och koordinerat arbetet.Det visar sig att innehållsmässigt ser det väldigt lika ut med den information som erbjuds, det som skiljer hemsidorna åt är aktiviteter och kontaktmöjligheter för användarna. En del kommuner erbjuder sina användare möjligheten till kontakt via email till berörd handläggare medan andra valt att enbart ha email till själva enheten eller någon chef.Koordinationen kring själva arbetet sker i det flesta fall via muntlig kommunikation och ömsesidig anpassning. Endast en kommun har minskat koordinationen genom att använda standardprogram.Arbetets organisation utgår ifrån en grundläggande form av AD-hocracy.

Student satisfaction in tourism education : The case of Dalarna University, Borlänge, Sweden

The students' expectations must be met to ensure their overall satisfaction. Because of this student satisfaction has become a measurement tool with which the universities can compete against each other in order to attract potential students and also a higher level of internal and external funding. This thesis deals with students' overall satisfaction in tourism education at Dalarna University in Sweden. It is important to understand what it takes for the universities to be able to produce a motivated workforce for the communities and how satisfied students could help in achieving this goal. Sweden was selected because of the recent introduction of tuition fees, in 2010, which has made it even more crucial to understand the factors affecting students' satisfaction. The method chosen for conducting this study was a questionnaire where the students of Dalarna University were asked to rate different aspects of their overall experience on a Likert scale. The research was conducted via Facebook and email questionnaire. The results show different levels of satisfaction based on the tourism programmes and gender for example. The major finding from this research implicate that the social conditions and surrounding city categories are the most influential when it comes to the overall satisfaction of students at Dalarna University. The results give the university and the city of Borlänge an insight on issues that really matter to the students and how to improve them.

The Graphic Designer as (a)Digital Nomad : A qualitative study

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur digitala nomader utövar sitt yrke som grafiska designers, varför de valde att bli digitala nomader samt vilka fördelar och nackdelar som finns. Totalt intervjuades 10 före detta och nuvarande digitala nomader via email och svaren sammanställdes och analyserades för att finna teman och sammanhang. Resultatet visar att deltagarna valde en digital nomadisk livsstil främst på grund av den frihet det innebär. De är även helt beroende av internet, då det är den grundläggande teknologin som möjliggör distansarbete. Att vara digital nomad verkar inte ha en negativ inverkan på den grafiska designprocessen och alla verktyg som behövs anser de finns tillgängliga digitalt. Den del av det traditionella designyrket på en byrå som deltagarna i studien saknade mest var kreativa diskussioner med kollegor.

Student Thesis Level: Master’s Thesis in Business Administration Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) networking : A case study on why members join CSR network and why are they sharing their knowledge

Purpose – This research focuses on finding the reasons, why members from different sectors join a cross-sector/multi-stakeholder CSR network and what motivates them to share (or not to share) their knowledge of CSR and their best practices. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of the largest cross-sector CSR network in Sweden. The sample base of 15 people was chosen to be able to represent a wider variety of members from each participating sectors. As well as the CEO of the intermediary organization was interviewed. The interviews were conducted via email and telephone. Findings – The findings include several reasons linked to the business case of CSR such as stakeholder pressure, competitive advantage, legitimacy and reputation as well as new reasons like the importance of CSR, and the access of further knowledge in the field. Further reasons are in line with members wanting to join a network, such as access to contact or having personal contacts. As to why members are sharing their CSR knowledge, the findings indicate to inspire others, to show CSR commitment, to be visible, it leads to business opportunity and the access of others knowledge, and because it was requested. Reasons for not sharing their knowledge would be the lack of opportunity, lack of time and the lack of experience to do so. Originality/value – The research contributes to existing studies, which focused on Corporate Social Responsibility and cross-sector networking as well as to inter-organizational knowledge sharing in the field of CSR.

L’image comme outil didactique dans l’enseignement du français dans des collèges et des lycées en Suède

Le travail actuel a été rédigé dans le but d’éclaircir en quoi consiste le rôle de l’image comme outil didactique aux cours de français aux collèges et aux lycées suédois. Nous avons abordé notre thème sous des perspectives différentes : d’un côté, nous avons analysé les images dans deux livres, puisque les manuels font souvent partie de chaque leçon de français ; de l’autre côté, nous avons fait un questionnaire que nous avons distribué aux professeurs à travers les médias sociaux et par email. Nous avons également étudié les données récoltées aux cours des entretiens avec trois professeurs de français au lycée suédois, pour savoir comment les professeurs intègrent des images dans la pratique. Selon les résultats de notre étude, il nous a été possible d’affirmer que l’image est un outil qui n’est pas omniprésent, mais qui est parfois utilisé afin de rendre les leçons plus variées. La photographie est le type d’image le plus répandu dans la pratique des professeurs et dans les manuels ; le format numérique est le plus fréquent en tenant en compte de la révolution technologique et de l’habitude des jeunes à travailler avec les ordinateurs. Cependant, l’image n’est pas un outil indépendant. Elle est très souvent complétée par d’autres outils didactiques et sert principalement à accompagner la lecture, à développer l’expression orale et le vocabulaire et aussi à illustrer des phénomènes culturels. En conclusion, il ressort de notre mémoire, qu’il est important que le professeur accompagne le travail avec des images avec des instructions et des commentaires, afin de rendre l’apprentissage plus efficace.

Respostas à crise financeira de 2008 de uma perspectiva brasileira

Texto especialmente preparado para o 6º. Fórum de Economia 2009. § Professor da Escola de Economia de São Paulo (FGV-EESP) e Pesquisador CNPq. Email: marcio.holland@fgv.br. Professor da Escola de Economia de São Paulo (FGV-EESP). Email:rogerio.mori@fgv.br.

Ouvidoria fazendária : gestão social na administração pública de Pernambuco: teoria X prática

A pesquisa realizada abordou as relações entre Estado e sociedade, destacando a democracia como precursora de uma gestão participativa onde a sociedade interage com a gestão pública, onde a decisão compartilhada esteja voltada para o bem comum, a gestão social. Mostrou a evolução da administração pública, investigando mais precisamente a história das Ouvidorias como sendo um dos instrumentos dessa democracia crescente. O papel que as ouvidorias públicas, em especial a Ouvidoria Fazendária do Estado de Pernambuco desempenha na relação entre o cidadão e a gestão pública e a história da SEFAZ-PE – Secretaria da Fazenda do Estado de Pernambuco foram alvo de sua reflexão. Os resultados dos seus estudos baseados na literatura sobre o tema e na experiência da Ouvidoria Fazendária demonstram até que ponto estes órgãos são representantes da sociedade, contribuindo para a conscientização da participação cidadã na administração pública e no processo de tomada de decisão do gestor público. Quanto à metodologia, a pesquisa foi descritiva, explicativa, bibliográfica, documental e de campo. O universo foi composto pelos cidadãos que efetuaram reclamação à Ouvidoria Fazendária do Estado de Pernambuco no ano de 2011 e os servidores do que trabalhavam no setor estudado. Os dados foram coletados através da realização de entrevistas aos funcionários do órgão e questionários enviados por email aos reclamantes, sendo tratados com abordagem qualitativa e estatística descritiva. Verificou-se com os resultados obtidos que os cidadãos usuários da Ouvidoria Fazendária reconhecem que ela representa um canal de participação, um exemplo prático de gestão social entre o cidadão e a gestão pública da SEFAZ-PE. O estudo sugere uma análise da melhoria da qualidade da gestão da Secretaria da Fazenda de PE aliada ao papel atuante da Ouvidoria Fazendária.

Pré-decisão em políticas públicas: a entrada da temática da inclusão digital na agenda do Governo do Estado de São Paulo

O objetivo da presente dissertação é analisar como a temática da inclusão digital entrou na agenda governamental do Estado de São Paulo e como foi concebido o programa de inclusão digital Acessa São Paulo. Ao estudar essa política pública, buscou-se identificar quem foram às pessoas que discutiram esse tema, por que fizeram, como foi feito, quem participou, enfim, entrar nos bastidores dessas discussões que antecederam a concepção dessa política pública. Para se chegar aos atores relevantes que participaram da concepção da política pública de inclusão digital no Estado de São Paulo, foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico sobre o tema e vários contatos foram feitos via email e/ou redes sociais buscando nomes que participaram dessas discussões que antecederam a implantação do programa de inclusão digital no Estado de São Paulo. A partir da confirmação do envolvimento desses atores foi feito um convite para que esses participassem do trabalho através de uma entrevista. A entrada da temática da inclusão digital foi um processo lento e gradual que se iniciou desde a posse do governador Mario Covas para seu primeiro mandato (1995-1998). O uso da informatização pelo governo estava previsto em seu plano de governo em 1994 como forma de modernizar a maquina administrativa e aproximar o Estado dos cidadãos. A necessidade de se criar um programa de inclusão digital para que os cidadãos de baixa renda pudessem ter acesso à internet deve, sobretudo, as iniciativas de governo eletrônico promovidas pelo governo do Estado que tinha por objetivo disponibilizar serviços públicos via internet aos cidadãos. No inicio da década de 2000 acesso a internet era privilégio para poucos. Daí a necessidade de se pensar em uma política que promovesse a inclusão digital dessas pessoas. Essa foi a razão principal para que o governo assumisse que a questão da inclusão digital era um problema a ser resolvido. E entrasse definitivamente na agenda do governo e posteriormente dando origem ao Acessa São Paulo.

Processo Seletivo FIS 7 : Participe!

Participe do Processo Seletivo da Eletiva FIS - Formação Integrada para Sustentabilidade. Inscreva-se até dia 08/11 por meio do email: fis.selecao@fgv.br dinâmica presencial será dia 14/11 das 9h às 12h no Salão Nobre