Social media within global logistics providers : perceptions from the generation X cohort

The rise of social media has significantly impacted organisations by providing the opportunity to market goods/services more cost effectively to a wider audience. It however appears that social media is not integrated into organisational strategy. Furthermore, employees from the Generation X cohort might show resistance to adopting social media as a marketing tool. This study investigates social media use in two global logistics providers, specifically seen from the perspective of Generation X employees. An exploratory research design was followed by means of conducting a multiple-case study in the logistics sector. Data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. The adapted instrument, utilising a Likert-scale, measured perceptions of social media usage in terms of ease of use, usefulness, intention to use, actual use and integration with corporate strategy. Results indicate Generation X employees perceive social media as a useful marketing tool, perceive social media as easy to use and indicated high intent to use social media. A lack of real social media strategies and lack of integration into corporate strategy was indicated. This paper also provides recommendations to enhance the benefits and effectiveness of social media usage.Paper presented at the 35th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 4-7 July 2016 "Transport ? a catalyst for socio-economic growth and development opportunities to improve quality of life", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.The Minister of Transport, South AfricaTransportation Research Board of the US

Gallium transformation under femtosecond laser excitation: Phase coexistence and incomplete melting

The reversible phase transition induced by femtosecond laser excitation of Gallium has been studied by measuring the dielectric function at 775 nm with ~ 200 fs temporal resolution. The real and imaginary parts of the transient dielectric function were calculated from absolute reflectivity of Gallium layer measured at two different angles of incidence, using Fresnel formulas. The time-dependent electron-phonon effective collision frequency, the heat conduction coefficient and the volume fraction of a new phase were restored directly from the experimental data, and the time and space dependent electron and lattice temperatures in the layer undergoing phase transition were reconstructed without ad hoc assumptions. We converted the temporal dependence of the electron-phonon collision rate into the temperature dependence, and demonstrated, for the first time, that the electron-phonon collision rate has a non-linear character. This temperature dependence converges into the known equilibrium function during the cooling stage. The maximum fraction of a new phase in the laser-excited Gallium layer reached only 60% even when the deposited energy was two times the equilibrium enthalpy of melting. We have also demonstrated that the phase transition pace and a fraction of the transformed material depended strongly on the thickness of the laser-excited Gallium layer, which was of the order of several tens of nanometers for the whole range of the pump laser fluencies up to the damage threshold. The kinetics of the phase transformation after the laser excitation can be understood on the basis of the classical theory of the first-order phase transition while the duration of non-thermal stage appears to be comparable to the sub-picosecond pulse length.Comment: 28 pages, including 9 figs. Submitted to Phys. Rev. B 14 March 200

The patriotism of gentlemen with red hair: European Jews and the liberal state, 1789–1939

European Jewish history from 1789–1939 supports the view that construction of national identities even in secular liberal states was determined not only by modern considerations alone but also by ancient patterns of thought, behaviour and prejudice. Emancipation stimulated unprecedented patriotism, especially in wartime, as Jews strove to prove loyalty to their countries of citizenship. During World War I, even Zionists split along national lines, as did families and friends. Jewish patriotism was interchangeable with nationalism inasmuch as Jews identified themselves with national cultures. Although emancipation implied acceptance and an end to anti-Jewish prejudice in the modern liberal state, the kaleidoscopic variety of Jewish patriotism throughout Europe inadvertently undermined the idea of national identity and often provoked anti-Semitism. Even as loyal citizens of separate states, the Jews, however scattered, disunited and diverse, were made to feel, often unwillingly, that they were one people in exile

Broad-Spectrum Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibition Curbs Inflammation and Liver Injury but Aggravates Experimental Liver Fibrosis in Mice

Background Liver fibrosis is characterized by excessive synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins, which prevails over their enzymatic degradation, primarily by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The effect of pharmacological MMP inhibition on fibrogenesis, however, is largely unexplored. Inflammation is considered a prerequisite and important co-contributor to fibrosis and is, in part, mediated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-converting enzyme (TACE). We hypothesized that treatment with a broad-spectrum MMP and TACE-inhibitor (Marimastat) would ameliorate injury and inflammation, leading to decreased fibrogenesis during repeated hepatotoxin-induced liver injury.Methodology/Principal Findings Liver fibrosis was induced in mice by repeated carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration, during which the mice received either Marimastat or vehicle twice daily. A single dose of CCl4was administered to investigate acute liver injury in mice pretreated with Marimastat, mice deficient in Mmp9, or mice deficient in both TNF-α receptors. Liver injury was quantified by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and confirmed by histology. Hepatic collagen was determined as hydroxyproline, and expression of fibrogenesis and fibrolysis-related transcripts was determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Marimastat-treated animals demonstrated significantly attenuated liver injury and inflammation but a 25% increase in collagen deposition. Transcripts related to fibrogenesis were significantly less upregulated compared to vehicle-treated animals, while MMP expression and activity analysis revealed efficient pharmacologic MMP-inhibition and decreased fibrolysis following Marimastat treatment. Marimastat pre-treatment significantly attenuated liver injury following acute CCl4-administration, whereas Mmp9 deficient animals demonstrated no protection. Mice deficient in both TNF-α receptors exhibited an 80% reduction of serum ALT, confirming the hepatoprotective effects of Marimastat via the TNF-signaling pathway.Conclusions/Significance Inhibition of MMP and TACE activity with Marimastat during chronic CCl4administration counterbalanced any beneficial anti-inflammatory effect, resulting in a positive balance of collagen deposition. Since effective inhibition of MMPs accelerates fibrosis progression, MMP inhibitors should be used with caution in patients with chronic liver diseases

Efficacy of gene therapy in a CLN5 sheep model using a dual route of administration supports a first-in-human clinical trial

CLN5 Batten disease is a rare, fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of vision, decline in intellectual and motor capabilities and seizures, with typical disease onset in early childhood. Pathogenic variants in the CLN5 gene are responsible for disease, therefore gene therapy represents a promising treatment approach. To establish efficacy and safety, an adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) gene therapy containing ovine CLN5 (AAV9/ oCLN5) was evaluated in an early and advanced symptomatic ovine model (CLN5−/−) recapitulating multiple facets of human CLN5 disease. Combined intraventricular (ICV) and intravitreal (IVT) routes of administration were used to maximize treatment outcomes. Animals were treated with a dose of either AAV9/oCLN5 of 2.9E11vg or 3.2E12vg ICV and 6.5E10vg IVT into a single eye. Disease progression was significantly slowed or halted as measured by clinical scoring. 6- and 9-month animals receiving the higher ICV dose had the most robust response. MRI results confirmed reduced brain atrophy. Disease-associated pathology (neuroinflammation and storage body accumulation) was improved. Vision was preserved in most treated sheep to 24months of age, with improvements in retinal pathology and function. On the basis of these data, we designed a first-in-human, open-label Phase 1/2 study, which aims to assess safety, tolerability and efficacy of NGN101, an AAV9 investigational product containing the human CLN5 transgene. 3 symptomatic individuals, ages 3–8 years, with confirmed biallelic pathogenic or likely pathogenic CLN5 variants, with disease onset age of ≤4 years will receive a single dose of NGN101 via ICV and IVT administration. Assessments will include physical and neurological examinations, Hamburg Scale, the Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale, visual acuity, Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography, and the Caregiver Global Impression of Severity Scale. Biomarker assessments will also be collected. Data from this study has the potential to advance development of a disease-modifying treatment for CLN5 Batten disease