The nature and value of knowledge

Purpose: This paper aims to explain and discuss the complex nature and value of knowledge as an exploitable resource for business. Design/methodology/approach: The authors propose a conceptual explanation of knowledge based on three pillars: the plurality of its nature, understood to be conservative, multipliable and generative, its contextual value and the duality of carrier incorporating business knowledge, objects or processes. After conceptualizing the nature of knowledge, the authors offer a metaphor based on the classic transformation from \u201cpotential\u201d to \u201ckinetic\u201d energy in an inclined plane assuming that the conservative nature of knowledge makes it act as energy. Findings: The metaphor uses the concept of potential and kinetic energy: if energy is only potential, it has a potential value not yet effective, whereas if the potential energy (knowledge) becomes kinetic energy (products and/or services), it generates business value. In addition, business value is a function of the speed acquired and caused by the angle of inclined plan, namely, the company\u2019s business model. Knowledge is the source of the value and can be maintained and regenerated only through continuous investments. Several years later the value extraction reaches a null value of the company (potential energy) which will cease to act (kinetic energy) for triggering both the value generated and the value extracted. Originality/value: The paper proposes an initial attempt to explain the meaning of the transformation of knowledge using a metaphor derived from physics. The metaphor of the energy of knowledge clearly depicts the managerial dilemma of balancing a company\u2019s resources for both the generating and extracting value. Similarly, future study should try to associate other knowledge peculiarities to physical phenomena

Paroxysmal eye–head movements in Glut1 deficiency syndrome

Objective:To describe a characteristic paroxysmal eye–head movement disorder that occurs in infants with Glut1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1 DS).Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 101 patients with Glut1 DS to obtain clinical data about episodic abnormal eye movements and analyzed video recordings of 18 eye movement episodes from 10 patients.Results:A documented history of paroxysmal abnormal eye movements was found in 32/101 patients (32%), and a detailed description was available in 18 patients, presented here. Episodes started before age 6 months in 15/18 patients (83%), and preceded the onset of seizures in 10/16 patients (63%) who experienced both types of episodes. Eye movement episodes resolved, with or without treatment, by 6 years of age in 7/8 patients with documented long-term course. Episodes were brief (usually &lt;5 minutes). Video analysis revealed that the eye movements were rapid, multidirectional, and often accompanied by a head movement in the same direction. Eye movements were separated by clear intervals of fixation, usually ranging from 200 to 800 ms. The movements were consistent with eye–head gaze saccades. These movements can be distinguished from opsoclonus by the presence of a clear intermovement fixation interval and the association of a same-direction head movement.Conclusions:Paroxysmal eye–head movements, for which we suggest the term aberrant gaze saccades, are an early symptom of Glut1 DS in infancy. Recognition of the episodes will facilitate prompt diagnosis of this treatable neurodevelopmental disorder.</jats:sec

The impact of implementation process on the perception of enterprise resource planning success

Purpose \u2013 The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the implementation process on the ERP\u2019s success in the post-adoption stage, measured as system\u2019s acceptance, reliability and utility perceived by users, inside the organizations. Design/methodology/approach \u2013 The authors adopted a multiple case study research design. The data collected, provided by IT managers and 120 key-users from four companies, has been used to investigate the impact of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation phases on selected constructs of the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The empirical evidences highlight a direct relation between the effectiveness of the implementation phases and the ERP\u2019s success. Findings \u2013 The research results emphasize the importance of the quality of the software, but especially the importance of the implementation phases\u2019 management, which require technical and managerial ability of the team made up of people from the system integrator and the company\u2019s key-users. Evidences suggest that the higher will be the organizational diffusion of an ERP implemented during a successful implementation project, the higher will be the perception of ERP success in the post-adoption stage. Moreover, the users\u2019 perception of ERP quality will be maintained over time. Research limitations/implications \u2013 The research has some limits due to its exploratory nature and to the chosen research approach, so the results may lack generalizability; consequently future research will concern with enlargement of the sample that will allow a better generalization of the results. Practical implications \u2013 This exploratory study suggest that companies\u2019 managers should be aware that a correct methodology of implementation, strongly influenced by the team, impacts on the technology consistency and therefore, on the ERP system success. So an appropriate choice is to invest more in the creation and development of internal and external project team than in the ERP\u2019s brand. Originality/value \u2013 This paper fulfils an identified need to clarify the explicit relationship between the quality of implementation phases and the subsequent ERP success in the post-adoption stage measured in terms of users\u2019 perception of information system qualit

Development of a Disposable Gold Electrodes-Based Sensor for Electrochemical Measurements of cDNA Hybridization

AbstractThis work deals with the development of a disposable electrochemical biosensor for the specific detection of short DNA sequences. The sensor is an amperometric transducer with three planar electrodes, comprising a working, a counter and a pseudo-reference electrode, all made of a gold layer over a polycarbonate substrate. For the development of the genosensor, the working electrode was modified using thiol-tethered 33-mer DNA probe by chemisorptions, in a concentration range from 0.1 μM to 5 μM. Immobilization of ssDNA on gold surface was monitored with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in Fe(CN)64−/13− and Ruthenium(II)/(III) solutions. The time dependence of ssDNA probe immobilization was also studied. The hybridization detection is then compared with EIS and DPV measurements

A methodology for the assessment of experiential learning lean: The lean experience factory case study

Purpose \u2013 The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology to assess the experiential learning processes of learning lean in an innovative learning environment: the lean model factories. Design/methodology/approach \u2013 A literature review on learning and lean management literatures was carried out to design the methodology. Then, a case study methodology was used to test the framework. Findings \u2013 The methodology permitted to asses learning processes and course contents of educational dynamics carried out in model factories and to theoretically ground such learning processes. The test showed that learning lean management is supported through a complete coverage of the eight phases of the learning path. Research limitations/implications \u2013 The methodology contributes to the literatures of lean management and experiential learning, proposing a methodology of assessment. Part of the framework could also be applied to other disciplines. Practical implications \u2013 The methodology could be used for two purposes: to design training courses or to assess existing experiential learning courses. Originality/value \u2013 Due to its intrinsic complexity, learning literature presents few practical framework or tools. Among them, none have provided practical and theoretical-based advice on how to use experiential learning precepts to teach lean managemen

Supersymmetric AdS_3 solutions of type IIB supergravity

For every positively curved Kahler-Einstein manifold in four dimensions we construct an infinite family of supersymmetric solutions of type IIB supergravity. The solutions are warped products of AdS_3 with a compact seven-dimensional manifold and have non-vanishing five-form flux. Via the AdS/CFT correspondence, the solutions are dual to two-dimensional conformal field theories with (2,0) supersymmetry. The corresponding central charges are rational numbers.Comment: Dedicated to Rafael Sorkin in celebration of his 60th birthday; 5 pages, latex. v2, typos corrected, to appear in PR

Multiview video representations for quality-scalable navigation

Interactive multiview video (IMV) applications offer to users the freedom of selecting their preferred viewpoint. Usually, in these systems texture and depth maps of captured views are available at the user side, as they permit the rendering of intermediate virtual views. However, the virtual views' quality depends on the distance to the available views used as references and on their quality, which is generally constrained by the heterogeneous capabilities of the users. In this context, this work proposes an IMV scalable system, where views are optimally organized in layers, each one offering an incremental improvement in the interactive navigation quality. We propose a distortion model for the rendered virtual views and an algorithm that selects the optimal views' subset per layer. Simulation results show the efficiency of the proposed distortion model, and that the careful choice of reference cameras permits to have a graceful quality degradation for clients with limited capabilities

Histological analysis of thrombi retrieved after acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion: from research to clinical practice

Emergent reperfusion therapies have improved acute ischemic stroke prognosis, but many patients are still bound to bad clinical outcome, probably because of our incomplete knowledge of its pathophysiology. Thanks to mechanical thrombectomy, occluding material is available for histological analysis. Several studies investigated the possible relationship between thrombus composition and clinical, procedural, and radiological variables of acute ischemic stroke. The potential value of thrombus analysis as a tool for clinical practice and research is still not defined, as data from the literature are heterogeneous and sometimes conflicting. We propose a review of the existing literature regarding histological analysis of thrombi in acute ischemic stroke. We classified articles on clot composition according to the clinical variable explored in each study. We first distinguished articles about etiology, procedural, and radiological variables, and then we performed a subclassification for each group. This review could help both in the interpretation of thrombus analysis in clinical practice and in its usage for future researc

Utility of the QT interval in predicting outcomes in patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether prolongation of the heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) is an independent risk factor for predicting future acute coronary syndrome (ACS) occurrence or mortality in patients with at least one cardiac risk factor presenting with chest pain to the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective study of patients presenting with chest pain to the ED of Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, between 2011 and 2012. Proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for occurrence of ACS or death within 1 year. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to determine the time to event for QTc low (\u3c460 \u3ems) versus QTc high (≥460 ms) groups. RESULTS: A total of 595 patients met the inclusion criteria. Older age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia were more common in the QTc high group. Patients in the QTc high group were more likely to experience subsequent ACS or death (HR 8.12, 95% confidence interval 4.00-16.72), even after adjusting for traditional cardiac risk factors (HR 7.68, 95% confidence interval 3.57-16.61). CONCLUSION: QTc prolongation at ED presentation with chest pain and at least one cardiac risk factor predicts subsequent ACS and death