Effects of Thymus vulgaris and Mentha pulegium on colour, nutrients and peroxidation of meat in heat-stressed broilers

This study was designed to investigate the effects of Thymus vulgaris (thyme) and Mentha pulegium (mentha) powders on meat colour, nutrient composition and malondialdehyde (MDA) where broiler chickens were under heat stress. Two hundred one-day-old male chicks were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates each (10 birds per replication). Treatments were the control diet, 0.5% mentha, 0.5% thyme and 0.5% mixture of the two plants. The results showed no effect of dietary supplements on thigh meat redness and yellowness. Both plant products diminished the thigh lightness significantly compared with the control. No significant differences between treatments were observed for the ash, ether extract and crude protein content of the thigh muscle. Supplementation of thyme and mentha separately or together increased the moisture of the thigh muscle significantly, compared with the control. The combination of the plant products resulted in a higher thigh pH and significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the thigh muscle compared with the control. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of thyme and mentha separately or in combination improved the meat quality of broiler chickens under heat stress through decreasing the MDA concentration and increasing the pH and moisture content of the thigh muscl

Direct measurement of the fundamental rotational transitions of the OH radical by laser sideband spectroscopy

We report for the first time the direct (zero-field) spectra of the fundamental rotational transitions of the OH radical in its Ω = 3/2 and 1/2 states at 2509.9 and 1834.7 GHz using a recently developed far-infrared laser sideband spectrometer. These measurements have verified and refined the predictions of previous laser magnetic resonance (LMR) work, thereby confirming the far-infrared detection of interstellar OH. The increased accuracy of these direct measurements will be useful to future astronomical and atmospheric studies of these important transitions

The Structural Impact of Information Techology on the Air Travel Distribution Industry

Rapid advances in technology profoundly affect the way businesses are conducted and the way industry structures evolved. The air travel distribution industry experienced two major technology waves in its evolution, the Computer Reservations System (CRS) and electronic commerce. This paper considers various frameworks used to explain structural features of the US air travel distribution industry and the competitive forces within it. We then describe the historical context within which the structural changes occurred as a result of IT innovations. The current and relative strengths of the industry forces are examined to explain an IT-induced power shift in the industry. We then consider the impact of IT on the air travel distribution industry in the Asia-Pacific region. Based on a comparison with the US experience, we forecast that variances in geography, culture and psychology will limit the extent to which IT can be used to manipulate the balance of power in the industry in the short- to medium-term. We expect, however, that a uniform industry structure will prevail in the long-run

Improving management information systems research: Question order effects in surveys

This paper demonstrates the impact that question order can have in using survey research in management information systems (MIS). Using data from a survey of 379 companies concerning electronic data interchange (EDI), significant differences are found in the evaluation of successful implementations. The overall evaluation of success is increased (or decreased) depending upon alternative versions of question order. In addition, the analyses show that the main effects from question order interact in different ways with respondent characteristics, including functional area, educational background and being a systems user. The bias tends to be consistent for some types of respondents, such as systems users. However, other classes of respondents, especially persons with professional backgrounds in systems or MIS, are influenced in more complex ways by question order. The order in which queries regarding systems output and quality occur tends to be especially important in anchoring subsequent responses and overall assessments. The final section addresses corrective actions and future research.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Information technology push/pull reactions

Innovation has not only become the domain of a few progressive enterprises but the key to success of many others. Innovative changes in management practices can assist in ensuring survival in an increasingly competitive world. Management information systems are critical to exploiting technological, process, and product innovations. Improvements in information technology continue to have a major impact on information systems. The relationships between different sources of new information technology and reactions of organizations are critical to adopting and exploiting innovations. These relationships are empirically tested using a growing and important systems innovation, Electronic Data Interchange. Two principal types of impetus are explored, technological-push and demand-pull forces. They are found to produce different external, internal, and cost/benefits. Further, the impetus for the usage of the system affects evaluations of systems, information, and management of systems. Technological-push requires user accessibility and support. The benefits are more clearly identifiable with demand-pull. Internal demand-pull results in the highest levels of benefits but is infrequently the major source of impetus. Comparisons of organization reactions to technological-push and demand-pull indicate that different management strategies and practices are required. Industries are affected differently depending on the impetus for change. Recommendations are made for managing the changing pattern of information technology innovation.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Administrative innovation applied to systems adoption

Innovation has become not only the domain of a few progressive enterprises but the key to survival and success of the many. Innovative changes in management practices can assist in ensuring survival in an increasingly competitive world. The systems in place to manage and administer organizations are critical to exploiting technological, process, and product innovations. This paper examines the adoption and non-adoption of a particular systems innovation, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This empirical study of 379 companies compares adopters, adopters-in-process, and non-adopters of EDI. The focus is on the internal characteristics of firms. It is found that larger firms have a knowledge advantage which is a key factor in the adoption process. This knowledge advantage overcomes some of the misconceptions regarding EDI perceived by non-adopters. Further, critical barriers to adoption such as management support, systems cost, and implementation are important, but overcome by adopters, whereas non-adopters have difficulties in these areas. Adopters and non-adopters are compared according to their satisfaction and experience with internal systems. The exception is when implementation issues are involved. Non-adopters' perceptions are found to differ from adopters on this critical dimension. The results suggest that systems innovations may not be consistent with traditional taxonomies of innovations.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Innovation Diffusion and Implementation

Economic progress continues to be greatly influenced by the development and adoption of innovations. Maintaining momentum necessitates understanding factors that influence the choices made by organisations. Diffusion and implementation research have each sought to understand necessary conditions and motivations and to identify obstacles. Whether these two areas of research have the same determinants, overlap, or are separate is controversially affecting the interpretation of current research. This issue is the subject of this paper. The empirical investigation compares variables of the diffusion chronology with the choice decision in implementation. This macro-level analysis reveals that the two areas are connected but there are also substantial differences. The results of this study reconfirm the emerging evidence in the literature that the innovation adoption decision should not be treated as a dichotomous organisational choice. Furthermore, the evidence strongly points to the need to develop integrative theories that include the chronological aspects of the innovation adoption process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR