Organizational Configurations and Performance: A Meta-Analysis

The link between organizational configurations and performance has become a central and somewhat controversial focus of research in the strategic management literature, We statistically aggregated results from 40 original tests of the configurations-performance relationship. In contrast to previous qualitative reviews, this meta-analysis demonstrated that an organization\u27s performance is partially explained by its configuration. Tests of four potential moderators showed that organizations\u27 configurations contributed more to performance explanation to the extent that studies used (1) broad definitions of configurations, (2) single-industry samples, and (3) longitudinal designs, Results highlight the need for programmatic research

Stakeholder reflections of the tourism and nation-branding legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup for South Africa

Over the past decade there has been a growing awareness of the significant impact that hosting mega sport eventscan have on a nation’s brand.This paper discusses the context of nationbranding as a tourism legacy and the role of mega sport events in generating a tourism and nation-branding legacy in relation to the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. A nation brand is not owned or controlled by a single organisation, but rather jointly developed and delivered by a network of public and private sector organisations. A number of event and brand stakeholders play a role in co-creating the imagery portrayed during a mega sport event. The examination of stakeholder perceptions was therefore identified as an important research area. This paper discusses the findings from in-depth interviews conducted with 2010 event and destination stakeholders from national and regional South African Government departments that detail their perceptions, experiences and reflections of the tourism and branding legacies for the host nation. Stakeholders specialising in event management, tourism, operations and communications reflect on the branding and exposure for the nation achieved as a result of the event and the degree to which this was coordinated and co-created between various stakeholders. Insights are also given as to the degree to which the branding gains achieved during the event have been leveraged post 2010. The paper concludes with an assessment of the degree to which the branding opportunity translated into a tourism legacy for the nation.National Research Foundation (NRF

Researching hospital patient data to enhance operational management

For the purposes of funding and policy development, the Victorian Department of Human Services expects Victorian health care institutions to capture patient data at all levels. These data can be extracted from hospital information systems and potentially offer a business role within a health service organisation. However, there are many issues to be addressed at the organisational level in order that operational directors can be enabled to use hospital data to solve health service operational problems. In this paper, we discuss some of those considerations and give practical examples of how patient data can be used for research and management purposes

An analysis of high cost users at an Australian public health service organisation

High-cost users generate extremely high costs when compared with average users in the same diagnostic-related group (DRG). They represent a major financial loss for a health service organization. The research was conducted using an area health service patient database for online analytical processing to produce descriptive statistics and graphs of 'high-cost' and 'non-high-cost users'. Trends and patterns were identified across key variables derived from clinical, financial and operational categories..

Accepted for the Council:

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Tracking the origin of metasomatic and ore-forming fluids in IOCG deposits through apatite geochemistry (Nautanen North deposit, Norrbotten, Sweden)

International audienceThe relative contribution of magmatic and non-magmatic fluids to the metasomatic and ore-forming processes in iron-oxide copper‑gold (IOCG) deposits is still widely debated. In this study, the petrography, detailed composition and Usbnd Pb ages of various apatite occurrences from the Nautanen North IOCG deposit, Norrbotten, Sweden, were determined to decipher the evolution of fluid sources in the area. The hydrothermal apatite grains grow over muscovite, intergrow with magnetite, amphibole, K-feldspar, chalcopyrite and sericite, and are replaced by epidote, allanite and/or chlorite along the grain margins. Irregular patterns of the apatite grains were revealed by cathodoluminescence imaging. Fluorine in all apatite occurrences is the dominant halogen (1.62-3.58 wt%), chlorine is depleted (up to 0.34 wt%), while bromine and iodine are found in traces (0.7-72 ppm and 0.15-4.2 ppm respectively). The δ37Cl value of the apatite grains ranges between -0.8 and 3.4‰. Uranium-Pb data yield ages between 1.63 and 1.55 Ga (with one exception at 1.49 Ga showing large age errors). Textural evidences show that the apatite grains have been precipitated during the potassic alteration of the D2 event (1.81-1.78 Ga), which is considered a regional, IOCG-related, high-temperature event. Cathodoluminescence textures reveal that all the apatite occurrences have been chemically modified by the late-stage metasomatic and ore-forming fluids during the nucleation of epidote ± allanite ± chlorite. The Br/I and δ37Cl values of the apatite grains can be considered representative of the associated fluid values and show a trend between two end-members, which indicates the contribution and progressive mixing of two different fluids during late-stage ore-related hydrothermal circulation. The ore-forming fluids were mainly issued from exsolved magmatic fluids from S-type bodies, as revealed by the strong affinity of the Br/I ratio of the ore zone with the pegmatite-related apatite. The other end-member associated with the apatite occurrences that co-exist with metasomatic assemblages, is consistent with fluids linked to evaporite dissolution. Apatite dating is interpreted to reflect resetting ages

Digital Microfluidics for Immunoprecipitation

Immunoprecipitation (IP) is a common method for isolating a targeted protein from a complex sample such as blood, serum, or cell lysate. In particular, IP is often used as the primary means of target purification for the analysis by mass spectrometry of novel biologically derived pharmaceuticals, with particular utility for the identification of molecules bound to a protein target. Unfortunately, IP is a labor-intensive technique, is difficult to perform in parallel, and has limited options for automation. Furthermore, the technique is typically limited to large sample volumes, making the application of IP cleanup to precious samples nearly impossible. In recognition of these challenges, we introduce a method for performing microscale IP using magnetic particles and digital microfluidics (DMF-IP). The new method allows for 80% recovery of model proteins from approximately microliter volumes of serum in a sample-to-answer run time of approximately 25 min. Uniquely, analytes are eluted from these small samples in a format compatible with direct analysis by mass spectrometry. To extend the technique to be useful for large samples, we also developed a macro-to-microscale interface called preconcentration using liquid intake by paper (P-CLIP). This technique allows for efficient analysis of samples >100× larger than are typically processed on microfluidic devices. As described herein, DMF-IP and P-CLIP-DMF-IP are rapid, automated, and multiplexed methods that have the potential to reduce the time and effort required for IP sample preparations with applications in the fields of pharmacy, biomarker discovery, and protein biology

Physical activity as a predictor of clinical trial outcomes in bipolar depression : a subanalysis of a mitochondrial-enhancing nutraceutical randomized controlled trial

Objectives: Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) generally engage in low levels of physical activity (PA), and yet few studies have investigated the relationship between PA and change in BD symptom severity. The aim of this subanalysis of an adjunctive nutraceutical randomized controlled trial for the treatment of bipolar depression was to explore the relationship between PA, the active adjunctive treatments (a nutraceutical “mitochondrial cocktail”), and clinical outcomes. Methods: Participants with bipolar depression were randomized to receive N-acetylcysteine alone, N-acetylcysteine with a combination of nutraceuticals (chosen for the potential to increase mitochondrial activity), or placebo for 16 weeks. Participants (n ¼ 145) who completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF; measured at Week 4) were included in this exploratory subanalysis. Assessments of BD symptoms, functioning, and quality of life were completed at monthly visits up until Week 20. Generalised Estimating Equations were used to explore whether IPAQ-SF scores were a moderator of treatment received on outcomes of the study. Results: Week-4 PA was not related to changes in MontgomeryA ° sberg Depression Rating Scale scores across the study until Week 20. However, participants who engaged in more PA and who received the combination treatment were more likely to have a reduction in scores on the Bipolar Depression Rating Scale (P ¼ 0.03). However, this was not consistent in all domains explored using the IPAQ-SF. Participants who engaged in higher levels of PA also experienced greater improvement in social and occupational functioning and less impairment in functioning due to their psychopathology and improvement in quality of life at Week 20, irrespective of treatment. Conclusions: This study provides novel evidence of the association between PA and reduction in BD symptoms in a nutraceutical clinical trial. However, further research assessing the potential synergistic effects of PA in BD is required