Family Businesses and Adaptation: A Dynamic Capabilities Approach

The main objective of this research was to propose a framework centred on the dynamic capabilities approach, and to be applied in the context of family businesses’ adaption to their changing business environment. Data were gathered through interviews with ten FBs operating in Western Australia. Based on the findings, the clusters of activities, sensing, seizing, and transforming emerged as key factors for firms’ adaptation, and were reinforced by firms’ open culture, signature processes, idiosyncratic knowledge, and valuable, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable attributes. Thus, the usefulness of the proposed framework was confirmed. Implications and future research opportunities are presented. © 2018, The Author(s)

MicroRNA Involvement in Immune Activation During Heart Failure

Heart failure is one of the common end stages of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in developed countries. Molecular mechanisms underlying the development of heart failure remain elusive but there is a consistent observation of chronic immune activation and aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression that is present in failing hearts. This review will focus on the interplay between the immune system and miRNAs as factors that play a role during the development of heart failure. Several studies have shown that heart failure patients can be characterized by a sustained innate immune activation. The role of inflammatory signaling is discussed and TLR4 signaling, IL-1β, TNFα and IL-6 expression appears to coincide with the development of heart failure. Furthermore, we describe the implication of the renin angiotensin aldosteron system in immunity and heart failure. In the past decade microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs that translationally repress protein synthesis by binding to partially complementary sequences of mRNA, have come to light as important regulators of several kinds of cardiovascular diseases including cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. The involvement of differentially expressed miRNAs in the inflammation that occurs during the development of heart failure is still subject of investigation. Here, we summarize and comment on the first studies in this field and hypothesize on the putative involvement of certain miRNAs in heart failure. MicroRNAs have been shown to be critical regulators of cardiac function and inflammation. Future research will have to point out if dampening the immune response, and the miRNAs associated with it, during the development of heart failure is a therapeutically plausible route to follow

Prevalência e fatores associados à percepção de ocorrência de corrimento vaginal patológico entre gestantes

This study aims to determine the prevalence self-reported abnormal vaginal discharge and to identify associated risk factors in pregnant women in the municipality of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A standardized questionaire was applied to all pregnant women admit ted for delivery in local maternity hospitals. The chi-square test was used to compare proportions, and Poisson regression was applied using multivariate analysis. Prevalence of vaginal discharge was 40%. Adjusted analysis showed the follow- ing prevalence ratios for vaginal discharge: 1.6 (1.4-1.8) for adolescents; 1.3 (1.1-1.6) for 8 years of schooling or less; 1.3 (1.1-1.5) for alcohol con- sumption; 2.0 (1.8-2.2) for vaginal discharge in the previous pregnancy; 1.4 (1.3-1.6) for urinary tract infection in the current pregnancy; and 0.8 (0.7-0.9) for history of prematurity. Local health services should target adolescent women, those with low schooling or low family income, and those with a history of vaginal discharge in the previous pregnancy or urinary tract infection in the current pregnancy

Corrimento vaginal referido entre gestantes em localidade urbana no Sul do Brasil: prevalência e fatores associados

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with selfreported vaginal discharge among pregnant women in the city of Rio Grande, South Brazil. Using a cross-sectional design, a standard interview was applied to pregnant women at home by previously trained interviewers, covering the following: demographic, reproductive, and socioeconomic data, household conditions, health care, and illnesses during pregnancy, including vaginal discharge. The chi-square test was used to compare proportions, and Poisson regression was used in the multivariate analysis. Among the 339 pregnant women interviewed, 52% reported vaginal discharge. The following variables were significantly associated with the outcome: age (prevalence rate, PR = 1.49), marital status (PR =1.31), urinary tract infection (PR = 1.56),hyperglycemia (PR = 1.48), use of an intrauterine device (PR = 2.35), and history of preterm delivery (PR = 1.37), with oral contraception showing a protective effect (PR = 0.79). Prevalence of selfreported discharge was high among this group of pregnant women. Several risk factors were also identified for the disease under study. These findings can contribute to the implementation of preventive interventions.Por intermédio de delineamento transversal, buscouse determinar a prevalência e identificar fatores associados à ocorrência de corrimento vaginal referido entre gestantes da cidade de Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Utilizando-se de questionário padrão, foram investigadas características sócio-econômicas, demográficas, reprodutivas, condições de moradia, assistência recebida e ocorrência de corrimento vaginal referido entre estas gestantes. Para as comparações entre proporções utilizou-se teste do qui-quadrado e para análise multivariada regressão de Poisson. Dentre as 339 gestantes estudadas, 51,6% referiram corrimento vaginal na gestação. As seguintes variáveis mostraramse significativamente associadas à ocorrência de corrimento vaginal referido: idade (razão de prevalências: RP= 1,49), estado civil (RP = 1,31), ocorrência de infecção urinária (RP = 1,56), hiperglicemia na gestação atual (RP = 1,48), uso de dispositivo intra-uterino (RP =2,35), ocorrência prévia de parto prematuro (RP =1,37) e utilização de anticoncepcional oral como fator de proteção (RP = 0,79). Este estudo mostrou prevalência elevada de corrimento vaginal referido entre as gestantes estudadas e permitiu identificar aquelas com maior risco de adoecer por esta causa, o que pode contribuir para a adoção de medidas preventivas

Exploring the cloud computing loop in the strategic alignment model

Since its emergence, Cloud Computing (CC) has revolutionized organization through offering them a large range of easily accessible, scalable, and non-expensive services. As CC has been gaining popularity, it has an impact on the strategic and operational level of every organization. Thus, wondering about its impact on the organizational strategic alignment is a must. This study develops the Cloud Computing framework of Strategic Alignment Model, where strategic fit between operational and strategic levels in organization is achieved through cloud-enabled multiple iterative processes. The study aims to understand whether cloud computing increases operational and strategic efficiencies of organization and if yes then how. After presenting the theoretical background, the hypotheses, and the built cloud framework, we discuss the way strategic alignment theory helps us to better understand how information flows within the strategic fit of business and IT and what is the role of CC in it. This study addresses the strategic alignment as well as the cloud computing literature

Invasion Success in a Marginal Habitat:An Experimental Test of Competitive Ability and Drought Tolerance in Chromolaena odorata

<p>Climatic niche models based on native-range climatic data accurately predict invasive-range distributions in the majority of species. However, these models often do not account for ecological and evolutionary processes, which limit the ability to predict future range expansion. This might be particularly problematic in the case of invaders that occupy environments that would be considered marginal relative to the climatic niche in the native range of the species. Here, we assess the potential for future range expansion in the shrub Chromolaena odorata that is currently invading mesic savannas (>650 mm MAP) in South Africa that are colder and drier than most habitats in its native range. In a greenhouse experiment we tested whether its current distribution in South Africa can be explained by increased competitive ability and/or differentiation in drought tolerance relative to the native population. We compared aboveground biomass, biomass allocation, water use efficiency and relative yields of native and invasive C. odorata and the resident grass Panicum maximum in wet and dry conditions. Surprisingly, we found little differentiation between ranges. Invasive C. odorata showed no increased competitive ability or superior drought tolerance compared to native C. odorata. Moreover we found that P. maximum was a better competitor than either native or invasive C. odorata. These results imply that C. odorata is unlikely to expand its future range towards more extreme, drier, habitats beyond the limits of its current climatic niche and that the species' invasiveness most likely depends on superior light interception when temporarily released from competition by disturbance. Our study highlights the fact that species can successfully invade habitats that are at the extreme end of their ranges and thereby contributes towards a better understanding of range expansion during species invasions.</p>