Østfold University College

About: Østfold University College is a education organization based out in Halden, Norway. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Health care. The organization has 438 authors who have published 1213 publications receiving 12510 citations. The organization is also known as: HiØ.

ModEAS: Towards A Modular Enterprise App Store

Abstract: Mobile technologies and more precisely apps have disrupted technology scenario. Bring your own application (BYOA) is a new trend that has emerged after the "bring your own device" (BYOD) vogue. However, and in spite of its intrinsic benefits, the trend presents also several caveats and Enterprise app stores are seen as a way to tackle these risks. In this paper, authors present ModEAS, a system designed to serve as a modular and scalable architecture when developing a middle scale or personal Enterprise app store.

Handling nonconforming individuals in search-based model-driven engineering: nine generic strategies for feature location in the modeling space of the meta-object facility

Abstract: Lately, the model-driven engineering community has been paying more attention to the techniques offered by the search-based software engineering community. However, even though the conformance of models and metamodels is a topic of great interest for the modeling community, the works that address model-related problems through the use of search metaheuristics are not taking full advantage of the strategies for handling nonconforming individuals. The search space can be huge when searching in model artifacts (magnitudes of around $$10^{150}$$ for models of 500 elements). By handling the nonconforming individuals, the search space can be drastically reduced. In this work, we present a set of nine generic strategies for handling nonconforming individuals that are ready to be applied to model artifacts. The strategies are independent from the application domain and only include constraints derived from the meta-object facility. In addition, we evaluate the strategies with two industrial case studies using an evolutionary algorithm to locate features in models. The results show that the use of the strategies presented can reduce the number of generations needed to reach the solution by 90% of the original value. Generic strategies such as the ones presented in this work could lead to the emergence of more complex fitness functions for searches in models or even new applications for the search metaheuristics in model-related problems.

Explaining Social Phenomena: Emergence and Levels of Explanation

Abstract: Causality is a thorny issue in debates about explanation, and a quote from an introductory textbook on economics may serve as an example on how it is sometimes used. It states that “higher interest rates cause people to save more” (Lipsey, Chrystal, Economics. Oxford University Press, Oxford, p 15, 2004). How do higher interest rates cause this change in people? Exactly how are we to explain this? This chapter is a constructive expansion of the contributions by Malnes, Valsiner, and Zickfeld and Schubert to the volume.

Learning Outcome After Different Combinations of Seven Learning Activities in Basic Life Support on Laypersons in Workplaces: a Cluster Randomised, Controlled Trial

Abstract: The goal for laypersons after training in basic life support (BLS) is to act effectively in an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest situation. However, it is still unclear whether BLS training targeting laypersons at workplaces is optimal or whether other effective learning activities are possible. The primary aim was to evaluate whether there were other modes of BLS training that improved learning outcome as compared with a control group, i.e. standard BLS training, six months after training, and secondarily directly after training. In this multi-arm trial, lay participants (n = 2623) from workplaces were cluster randomised into 16 different BLS interventions, of which one, instructor-led and film-based BLS training, was classified as control and standard, with which the other 15 were compared. The learning outcome was the total score for practical skills in BLS calculated using the modified Cardiff Test. Four different training modes showed a significantly higher total score compared with standard (mean difference 2.3–2.9). The highest score was for the BLS intervention including a preparatory web-based education, instructor-led training, film-based instructions, reflective questions and a chest compression feedback device (95% CI for difference 0.9–5.0), 6 months after training. BLS training adding several different combinations of a preparatory web-based education, reflective questions and chest compression feedback to instructor-led training and film-based instructions obtained higher modified Cardiff Test total scores 6 months after training compared with standard BLS training alone. The differences were small in magnitude and the clinical relevance of our findings needs to be further explored. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03618888. Registered August 07, 2018—Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03618888

Demographic change: towards a framework to manage IT-personnel in times of scarcity of talent

Abstract: The skill shortage is becoming an ever-increasing challenge for every industry and even more for IT departments, given that IT is personnel-intense. Therefore, the allocation of these scarce resources in the best possible way is even more important. The challenge for companies is to improve the enterprise not only on the side of the organizational and process level, but to develop new strategies and approaches in human resource management. Only a symbiosis of the disciplines information technology, economics and psychology will enable relevant and indispensable employees to promote loyalty to the company. For a well-trained professional, frequent change of the work place, is as long associated with normality until they find the most suitable environment for fulfilling their needs and expectations. These expectations are no longer just based on financial incentives, consequently companies need to anticipate these expectations and align their strategies to them. This paper states the status of a dissertation project which aims to build a framework for managing scarce resources in the best possible way.