Organizational Paradoxes and Metamorphosis in Collective Action

This paper addresses the subject of organizational paradoxes through the lens of complexity theory. The first part of the study focuses on the formalization of the key elements in order to better understand the concept of organizational tension through the presentation of related constructs, i.e., dilemmas, dialectics and paradoxes. The second part of the paper introduces the key to interpreting complexity theory, highlighting how the characteristic of emergence in complex systems makes it possible to identify two different levels: that of organizational elements and that of organizational forms, both of which are impacted by tension. That reflection leads the authors to postulate that metamorphosis is the process by which organizations, constantly crossed by tension, regenerate the organizational forms’ level on the basis of evolving tensions between organizational elements

Monitoring the Petermann Ice Island with TanDEM-X

This paper presents the processing of TanDEM-X acquisitions for the monitoring of the topography of the Petermann ice island. In this particular case the area under study is continuously moving and the acquisition geometry is changing, so the processing of the iceberg’s DEMs is challenging and additional effects are to be considered. The SAR processing chain used is presented and the results obtained summarized, showing the effects and limitations observed during the process

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

A first assessment of genetic variability in the longhorn beetle Rosalia alpina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from the Italian Apennines

The Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina) is a strictly protected saproxylic beetle, widely distributed in Central and Southern Europe and mainly associated with ancient beech forests. To improve knowledge about the conservation status of R. alpina in Italy, available molecular markers (microsatellites and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I(COI)) were tested for the first time on Italian populations. The study was performed in four sampling sites distributed in two areas placed in Northern (“Foreste Casentinesi” National Park) and Central Apennines (“Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise” National Park) where populational data about Rosalia longicorn were collected in the framework of the European LIFE MIPP Project. The genetic relationship among Apennine and Central/South-eastern European populations was explored by a comparison with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data from literature. Microsatellite markers were only partially informative when applied to R. alpina Italian individuals, although providing some preliminary indication on an extensive gene flow among populations from the Apennines and local ongoing processes of genetic erosion. Genetic data are consistent with previous ecological data suggesting that the maintenance of variability in this species could be related to both habitat continuity and preservation of large senescent or standing dead trees in forests. Finally, a peculiar origin of the Apennine populations of R. alpina from a putative “Glacial Refugium” in Italy was inferred through COI data. The high genetic distance scored among the analysed populations and those from Central and South-eastern Europe indicates that the R. alpina deme from Apennine Mountains might represent a relevant conservation unit in Europe. Further genetic analyses will allow assessing other possible conservation units of R. alpina and, thus, defining large-scale conservation strategies to protect this endangered longhorn beetle in Europe

Experiencia y resultados preliminares en el uso de cilindros intersomáticos para la artrodesis lumbar

El dolor lumbar crónico es una patología que puede llegar a ser incapacitante y en la que a menudo fracasan los tratamientos conservadores. Como alternativa entre las cirugías que pretenden atajar este problema mediante una artrodesis está la fusión intersomática con cilindros, que presenta algunas ventajas respecto a otras técnicas de fijación. Esta técnica ha sido introducida recientemente en nuestro país. Se presentan los primeros resultados obtenidos tras esta cirugía en los primeros 16 pacientes operados. Desde 1997 a diciembre de 2000 se han implantado 11 cilindros BAK y 5 LIFEC. Diez pacientes tenían un seguimiento mínimo de 1 año y éstos constituyen la serie evaluada. Siete pacientes (70%) no presentaban dolor. Cuatro pacientes (40%) se habían incorporado a sus trabajos respectivos. Seis pacientes (60%) no precisaban tratamiento médico. Los buenos resultados obtenidos hasta el momento nos invitan a pensar que esta técnica, de menor agresividad y que no cierra la puerta a otros tipos de instrumentación, es una opción válida para el tratamiento del dolor lumbar crónico.Chronic low back pain is a medical cause of disability in which conservative management is often not effective. As an alternative, interbody fusion with cylinders offers several advantages as compared to other surgical methods of fusion. This technique has been recently introduced in our Country. The preliminary results of 16 patients managed in our Department are shown. From 1997 to December 2000, eleven BAK devices and 5 LIFEC have been implanted. Ten patients had a minimum follow-up of 1 year and these constitute the series evaluated. Seven patients (70%) were free of pain. Four patients (40%) returned to their previous job. Six patients (60%) did not need medical treatment. The good results with this technique encourage us and suggest that these devices are a valid option for the management of chronic low back pain

Guidelines for the monitoring of Rosalia alpina

Copyright Alessandro Campanaro et al. Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758) is a large longhorn beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) which is protected by the Habitats Directive and which typically inhabits beech forests characterised by the presence of mature, dead (or moribund) and sun-exposed trees. A revision of the current knowledge on systematics, ecology and conservation of R. alpina is reported. The research was carried out as part of the LIFE MIPP project which aims to find a standard monitoring method for saproxylic beetles protected in Europe. For monitoring this species, different methods were tested and compared in two areas of the Apennines, utilising wild trees, logs and tripods (artificially built with beech woods), all potentially suitable for the reproduction of the species. Even if all methods succeeded in the survey of the target species, these results showed that the use of wild trees outperformed other methods. Indeed, the use of wild trees allowed more adults to be observed and required less intensive labour. However, monitoring the rosalia longicorn on wild trees has the main disadvantage that they can hardly be considered “standard sampling units”, as each tree may be differently attractive to adults. Our results demonstrated that the most important factors influencing the attraction of single trunks were wood volume, sun-exposure and decay stage. Based on the results obtained during the project LIFE MIPP, as well as on a literature review, a standard monitoring method for R. alpina was developed

Prótesis unicondílea de rodilla: Valoración clínica preliminar

Los pacientes afectados de artrosis unicompartimetal de rodilla pueden ser tratados con diferentes métodos quirúrgicos. Los más habituales son la osteonomía tibial en jóvenes y la prótesis total de rodilla en ancianos. Una alternativa que va adquiriendo adeptos es la prótesis unicondílea. Tras un período inicial de gran euforia se pasó a otro de escepticismo, dando los resultados. El propósito del presente estudio es evaluar un nuevo diseño de prótesis de rodilla unicondílea (Alpina, IQL) a corto plazo siguiendo criterios clínicos y de calidad de vida. Se revisan 13 pacientes intervenidos entre Junio de 2000 a Marzo del 2002. Siete eran varones y seis mujeres. La edad media fue de 65 años (r=55-72ª). En doce casos la etiología fue artrosis y en uno necrosis del cóndilo interno. La evaluación clínica se realizó mediante el cuestionario sobre la calidad de vida SF-12. Todos los pacientes consiguieron una flexión de 110º y extensión completa. Sólo un paciente presentó molestias leves.Patients who have unicompartimental knee osteoarthritis can be manager by different surgical techniques. Young people are usually treated by tibial osteotomy and elderly people by total knee replacement. Unicondylar knee prosthesis is becoming an attractive recognized alternative. After a period of enthusiastic regarding this technique, scepticism took place based on the clinical results. The aim of this study is to evaluate, in firs instance, a new knee unicondylar knee prosthesis design (Alpine, IQL) following clinical criteria and quality of life. Thirteen patients, managed in between June 2000 and March 2002, are reviewed. Seven were males and six females. The mean age was 65 years (range 55-77 years). Osteoarthritis was the aetiology in twelve cases and necrosis of the medial condyle in one patient. The clinical evaluation was based on quality of life through a questionnaire SF-12. All patients improved a knee flexion of 110º and a complete extension. Only one patient had slight pain and had some limitation

Dual energy imaging and intracycle motion correction for CT coronary angiography in patients with intermediate to high likelihood of coronary artery disease

We explored whether intracycle motion correction algorithms (MCAs) might be applicable to dual energy computed tomography coronary angiography in patients with intermediate to high likelihood of coronary artery disease. MCA reconstructions were associated with higher interpretability rates (96.7% vs 87.9%, P < .001), image quality scores (4.12±0.9 vs. 3.76±1.0; P < .0001), and diagnostic performance [area under the curve of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92-0.97) vs 0.89 (95% CI 0.86-0.92); P < .0001] compared to conventional reconstructions. In conclusion, application of intracycle MCA reconstructions to dual energy computed tomography acquisitions was feasible and resulted in significantly higher image quality scores, interpretability, and diagnostic performance.Fil: Carrascosa, Patricia. Diagnóstico Maipú; ArgentinaFil: Deviggiano, Alejandro. Diagnóstico Maipú; ArgentinaFil: Leipsic, Jonathon A.. St. Paul's Hospital; CanadáFil: Capunay, Carlos. Diagnóstico Maipú; ArgentinaFil: De Zan, Macarena C.. Diagnóstico Maipú; ArgentinaFil: Goldsmit, Alejandro. Sanatorio Güemes; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez Granillo, Gaston Alfredo. Diagnóstico Maipú; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; Argentin

Managing Change and Master Plans: Machu Picchu Between Conservation and Exploitation

Machu Picchu is among the world\u2019s most controversial heritage sites. It represents a case where raising money through ticket sales and other activities, rather than an opportunity to fund site preservation, in fact constitutes a major threat to the survival of the site through overexploitation. Unesco has been very critical in recent decades about the management of Machu Picchu. International pressure resulted in the establishment of two master plans, in 1998 and in 2005. In this paper we investigate in depth the contents and rhetoric of the two plans, comparing changes in the two different versions, and linking the change in planning attitude to actual changes taking place in the site. This is also an opportunity to open a discussion on the interdisciplinarity of master plans in heritage sites

Hemodiafiltration maintains a sustained improvement in blood pressure compared to conventional hemodialysis in children-the HDF, heart and height (3H) study

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is prevalent in children on dialysis and associated with cardiovascular disease. We studied the blood pressure (BP) trends and the evolution of BP over 1 year in children on conventional hemodialysis (HD) vs. hemodiafiltration (HDF). METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of the "3H - HDF-Hearts-Height" dataset, a multicenter, parallel-arm observational study. Seventy-eight children on HD and 55 on HDF who had three 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) measures over 1 year were included. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated and hypertension defined as 24-h MAP standard deviation score (SDS) ≥95th percentile. RESULTS: Poor agreement between pre-dialysis systolic BP-SDS and 24-h MAP was found (mean difference - 0.6; 95% limits of agreement -4.9-3.8). At baseline, 82% on HD and 44% on HDF were hypertensive, with uncontrolled hypertension in 88% vs. 25% respectively; p < 0.001. At 12 months, children on HDF had consistently lower MAP-SDS compared to those on HD (p < 0.001). Over 1-year follow-up, the HD group had mean MAP-SDS increase of +0.98 (95%CI 0.77-1.20; p < 0.0001), whereas the HDF group had a non-significant increase of +0.15 (95%CI -0.10-0.40; p = 0.23). Significant predictors of MAP-SDS were dialysis modality (β = +0.83 [95%CI +0.51 - +1.15] HD vs. HDF, p < 0.0001) and higher inter-dialytic-weight-gain (IDWG)% (β = 0.13 [95%CI 0.06-0.19]; p = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Children on HD had a significant and sustained increase in BP over 1 year compared to a stable BP in those on HDF, despite an equivalent dialysis dose. Higher IDWG% was associated with higher 24-h MAP-SDS in both groups