Organisational capital and competence building.

The value of an organisation’s capital, widely considered to comprise its knowledge and intangible assets, is increasingly recognised in relation to its realised and potential contribution to competitive advantage. At the same time, our understanding of how to develop and manage these assets over time remains limited to-date. The aim of this chapter is to assess this challenge from both an intellectual capital and a capabilities perspective respectively. Both perspectives highlight the imperative for an integrative approach to competence development given that competence building is itself reliant upon the complex interaction of supporting resources and capabilities as well as the integration of individual and organisation level knowledge that underpins them

Information systems innovation research and the case of RFID

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a complex ICT application. Adoption by organizations has been relatively slow. This paper assesses the contribution that research into information systems adoption and diffusion can make to understanding and predicting the diffusion of RFID. The paper concludes that traditional research methods are inappropriate for such applications. Information systems stage research and diffusion research offer morepromising models

Low-voltage nanodomain writing in He-implanted lithium niobate crystals

A scanning force microscope tip is used to write ferroelectric domains in He-implanted single-crystal lithium niobate and subsequently probe them by piezoresponse force microscopy. Investigation of cross-sections of the samples showed that the buried implanted layer, $\sim 1$\,\textmu m below the surface, is non-ferroelectric and can thus act as a barrier to domain growth. This barrier enabled stable surface domains of $< 1$\,\textmu m size to be written in 500\,\textmu m-thick crystal substrates with voltage pulses of only 10\,V applied to the tip

Competitive advantage in new markets: the case of on-line business

Understanding how firms gain competitive advantage is perhaps the central question faced by strategy researchers (Rouse and Daellenbach, 1999; Powell, 2001). An examination of competitive advantage within the context of new markets presents an important and interesting dimension of this problem. It offers the opportunity to examine the potential for different types of entrant to establish competitive advantage. While competitive advantage in new markets has been addressed from a number of different theoretical perspectives, the suggestion here is that a resource-based conceptual lens can better explain the nature of the competitive challenge facing firms. A theoretical model of competitive advantage in new markets is developed, which highlights the importance of a firm's resource and capability endowments at the time of market entry, although it is argued that the main challenge faced by firms is the ability to adapt, where this refers to a firm's ability to develop the capabilities that are critical for success in new markets. Empirical research is carried out in respect of two UK-based on-line sectors, the Internet Service Provider sector and the online broking sector. The results of the survey research provide further evidence and support for the role of initial endowments of resources and capabilities at the time of new market entry, while the main findings of the case study research develop theory in respect of capability development in both new and established firms, suggesting that the process of capability development is itself an evolutionary one

Cooling of high-power-density computer components

This report summarizes work carried out during the first two years of a research program sponsored by IBM Corporation. This study has elucidated a number of the heat-transfer characteristics of several fluorochemicals which have potential application as coolants for high power density computer components. Single-phase heat-transfer coefficients have been determined for Freon-113 and FC-78 flowing in a rectangular channel with one of the wide sides heated. Heat-transfer coefficients for the short channels are significantly higher than those predicted by conventional correlations due to entrance effects and superimposed free convection. Uncertainties as to the actual values of certain thermophysical properties introduce corresponding uncertainty in correlation. Subcooled flow boiling data were taken with the rectangular channel for a wide variety of fluid-surface combinations, and over a wide range of flow conditions. These data should facilitate a close estimate of surface temperatures in actual systems. Data taken with an annular test section delineated hysteresis effects which were tentatively identified in the rectangular channel tests. Pool boiling tests indicated large temperature overshoots in the boiling curve with Freon-113. It was found that conventional correlations do not adequately describe critical heat flux data for horizontal circular heaters. The critical heat flux increases as diameter decreases, and increases as the wall thickness increases. The observed hysteresis effects in pool and flow boiling were examined in detail. It is suggested that the phenomenon of temperature overshoot hysteresis is due to two causes: a) the existence of metastable bubbles which are triggered only at sufficiently high disturbance level, and b) the deactivation of larger nucleation sites by displacing the vapor by liquid during subcooling.(cont.) Under conditions of low velocity or pool boiling, a) is probably most important, but at high velocity b) should be controlling. Increased heat-transfer coefficients observed prior to nucleation appear to be due to thermocapillary circulation induced by the metastable bubbles. It is demonstrated that a random array of Teflon pits on the surface is effective in augmenting heat transfer for pool boiling or low velocity flow boiling of water; however, there is no improvement in heat transfer with boiling of Freon-113 or FC-78. The mechanism of augmentation is examined from the standpoint of incipient boiling, and a plausible explanation for this behavior is suggested. An investigation of the factors controlling the void fraction for subcooled boiling was carried out with a horizontal visual section using Freon-113 and Freon TA. The observed point of net vapor generation was much farther upstream than that indicated by a recent prediction, due primarily to the dominance of the buoyant force. An examination of the void collapse in the unheated downstream portion of the tube revealed that bubble collapse theory cannot be used to predict the void fraction. The large void fractions produced by boiling fluorochemicals can be minimized by using twisted-tape inserts.Heat Transfer Development Laboratory, Systems Development Division, International Business Machines Corporation Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Division of Sponsored Researc

Sex bias in CNS autoimmune disease mediated by androgen control of autoimmune regulator

Male gender is protective against multiple sclerosis and other T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. This protection may be due, in part, to higher androgen levels in males. Androgen binds to the androgen receptor (AR) to regulate gene expression, but how androgen protects against autoimmunity is not well understood. Autoimmune regulator (Aire) prevents autoimmunity by promoting self-antigen expression in medullary thymic epithelial cells, such that developing T cells that recognize these self-antigens within the thymus undergo clonal deletion. Here we show that androgen upregulates Aire-mediated thymic tolerance to protect against autoimmunity. Androgen recruits AR to Aire promoter regions, with consequent enhancement of Aire transcription. In mice and humans, thymic Aire expression is higher in males compared with females. Androgen administration and male gender protect against autoimmunity in a multiple sclerosis mouse model in an Aire-dependent manner. Thus, androgen control of an intrathymic Aire-mediated tolerance mechanism contributes to gender differences in autoimmunity

Effects of Smoking and Cessation on Subclinical Arterial Disease: A Substudy of a Randomized Controlled Trial

The mechanisms by which smoking cessation reduces cardiovascular disease risk are unclear. We evaluated longitudinal changes in carotid intima-media thickness among current smokers enrolled in a prospective, randomized smoking cessation clinical trial.Subjects were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 5 smoking cessation pharmacotherapies and underwent carotid ultrasonography with carotid intima-media thickness measurement. Subjects were classified as continuously abstinent (biochemically confirmed abstinence at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years post-quit attempt), intermittently abstinent (reported smoking at one of the three time points), or smoked continuously (reported smoking at all three time points). The primary endpoint was the absolute change (mm) in carotid intima-media thickness (ΔCIMT(max)) before randomization and 3 years after the target quit date. Pearson correlations were calculated and multivariable regression models (controlling for baseline CIMT(max) and research site) were analyzed. Among 795 subjects (45.2 ± 10.6 years old, 58.5% female), 189 (23.8%) were continuously abstinent, 373 (46.9%) smoked continuously, and 233 (29.3%) were abstinent intermittently. There was a greater increase in carotid intima-media thickness among subjects who were continuously abstinent than among those who smoked continuously (p = 0.020), but not intermittently (p = 0.310). Antihypertensive medication use (p = 0.001) and research site (p<0.001) independently predicted ΔCIMTmax--not smoking status. The greatest increase in carotid intima-media thickness among continuous abstainers was related to increases in body-mass index (p = 0.043).Smoking status did not independently predict ΔCIMT(max); increasing body-mass index and antihypertensive medication use were the most important independent predictors. The rapid reduction in cardiovascular disease events observed with smoking cessation is unlikely to be mediated by changes in subclinical atherosclerosis burden.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00332644

Optimizing Critical Illness Recovery: Perspectives and Solutions from the Caregivers of ICU Survivors

Objectives: To understand the unmet needs of caregivers of ICU survivors, how they accessed support post ICU, and the key components of beneficial ICU recovery support systems as identified from a caregiver perspective. Design: International, qualitative study. Subjects: We conducted 20 semistructured interviews with a diverse group of caregivers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, 11 of whom had interacted with an ICU recovery program. Setting: Seven hospitals in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Content analysis was used to explore prevalent themes related to unmet needs, as well as perceived strategies to improve ICU outcomes. Post-ICU care was perceived to be generally inadequate. Desired caregiver support fell into two main categories: practical support and emotional support. Successful care delivery initiatives included structured programs, such as post discharge telephone calls, home health programs, post-ICU clinics, and peer support groups, and standing information resources, such as written educational materials and online resources. Conclusions: This qualitative, multicenter, international study of caregivers of critical illness survivors identified consistently unmet needs, means by which caregivers accessed support post ICU, and several care mechanisms identified by caregivers as supporting optimal ICU recovery