Corporate Influencers in Business-to-Business Sales: A Grounded Theory Study

The importance of professional social media usage by business-to-business (B2B) sales employees has been well acknowledged, but the understanding of corporate influencers in B2B marketing a more thorough investigation. Literature has primarily focused on salespeople’s social media behavior, performance outcomes and effects on customer relations. However, little is known about salespeople’s motivation to act as corporate influencers, their actual activities on social media when they enact this role, as well as opportunities and challenges of salespeople who purposefully take on a corporate influencer role. We use a grounded theory approach to investigate this phenomenon. Based on in-depth interviews with experts from various B2B industries, we identify intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors that drive LinkedIn usage as well as opportunities and challenges of corporate influencer activities. These findings extend previous corporate influencer research. Moreover, we offer actionable practical implications

Spectral broadening of 2 mJ femtosecond pulses in a compact air-filled convex-concave multi-pass cell

Multi-pass cell (MPC) based temporal pulse compressors have emerged in the last years as a powerful and versatile solution to the intrinsic issue of long pulses from Yb-based high-power ultrafast lasers. However, the spectral broadening of high-energy (typically more than 100 uJ) pulses has only been realized in complex setups, i.e., in large and costly, pressure-controlled vacuum chambers to avoid strong focusing, ionization, and damage on the mirrors. Here, we present spectral broadening of 2 mJ pulses in a simple and compact (60 cm long) multi-pass cell operated in ambient air. Instead of the traditional Herriott cell with concave-concave (CC/CC) mirrors, we use a convex-concave (CX/CC) design, where the beam stays large at all times allowing both to minimize damage and operate in ambient air. We demonstrate spectral broadening of 2.1 mJ pulses at 100 kHz repetition rate (200 W of average power) from 2.1 nm (pulse duration of 670 fs) to a spectral bandwidth of 24.5 nm, supporting 133 fs pulses with 96% transmission efficiency. We show the compressibility of these pulses down to 134 fs, and verify that the spectral homogeneity of the beam is similar to previously reported CC/CC designs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a CX/CC MPC compressor, operated at high pulse energies in air. Because of its simplicity, small footprint and low cost, we believe this demonstration will have significant impact in the ultrafast laser community.Comment: The following article has been submitted to Optics Letters. 4 pages, 4 figure

A rede transnacional de desenvolvimento via empreendedorismo na América Latina e Caribe

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro Sócio-Econômico. Relações Internacionais.Redes transnacionais consistem em canais de interação e cooperação entre distintos atores do Sistema Internacional que se estendem para além das fronteiras nacionais. Quando são focadas em desenvolvimento socioeconômico recebem um nome específico, o de redes transnacionais de desenvolvimento. O presente trabalho propõe-se a estudar uma dessas redes: a rede transnacional de desenvolvimento via empreendedorismo na América Latina e Caribe que, formada sob a égide do Fundo Multilateral de Investimentos, um dos braços do Grupo Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento, reúne diferentes atores com o intuito de promover o empreendedorismo na região latino-americana e caribenha e alcançar o desenvolvimento econômico e social. Será abordado o surgimento da rede, seus integrantes e a forma como se articulam, além de alguns dos projetos que desenvolveram em conjunto, bem como o processo histórico que contribuiu para a emergência desse fenômeno

50-W average power Ho:YAG SESAM-modelocked thin-disk oscillator at 2.1 um

Ultrafast laser systems operating with high-average power in the wavelength range from 1.9 um to 3 um are of interest for a wide range of applications for example in spectroscopy, material processing and as drivers for secondary sources in the XUV spectral region. In this area, laser systems based on holmium-doped gain materials directly emitting at 2.1 um have made significant progress over the past years, however so far only very few results were demonstrated in power-scalable high-power laser geometries. In particular, the thin-disk geometry is promising for directly modelocked oscillators with high average power levels that are comparable to amplifier systems at MHz repetition rate. In this paper, we demonstrate Semiconductor Saturable Absorber Mirror (SESAM) modelocked Ho:YAG thin-disk lasers (TDLs) emitting at 2.1 um wavelength with record-holding performance levels. In our highest average power configuration, we reach 50 W of average power, with 1.13 ps pulses, 2.11 uJ of pulse energy and ~1.9 MW of peak power. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the highest average power, as well as the highest output pulse energy so far demonstrated from a modelocked laser in the 2 um wavelength region. This record performance level was enabled by the recent development of high-power GaSb-based SESAMs with low loss, adapted for high intracavity power and pulse energy. We also explore the limitations in terms of reaching shorter pulse durations at high power with this gain material in the disk geometry and using SESAM modelocking, and present first steps in this direction, with the demonstration of 30 W of output power, with 692 fs pulses in another laser configuration.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

Low-noise, 2-W average power, 112-fs Kerr-lens mode-locked Ho:CALGO laser at 2.1 um

We report on an in-band pumped soft-aperture Kerr-lens mode-locked Ho:CALGO bulk laser at 2.1 um, generating 2 W of average power with 112 fs pulses at 91-MHz repetition rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest average power from a 100-fs class mode-locked laser based on a Tm3+ or Ho3+ doped bulk material. We show that the laser has excellent noise properties with an integrated relative intensity noise of 0.02% and a timing jitter of 950 fs (RMS phase noise 0.543 mrad) in the integration interval from 10 Hz to 10 MHz. The demonstrated combination of high average power, short pulses, and low-noise make this an outstanding laser source for spectroscopy and many other applications at 2.1 um.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

GHz repetition rate, sub-100-fs Ho:CALGO laser at 2.1 um with watt-level average power

We report on a GHz fundamental repetition rate Kerr-lens mode-locked Ho:CALGO laser emitting at 2.1 um. The laser employs a ring-cavity to increase the fundamental repetition rate to 1.179 GHz and can be made to oscillate in both directions stably with nearly identical performance: for counterclockwise oscillation, it generates 93-fs pulses at 1.68 W of average power, whereas 92 fs and 1.69 W were measured for clockwise operation. Our current results represent the highest average power from a 2-um GHz oscillator and the first sub-100-fs pulse duration from a Ho-based oscillator.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Effect of different rates of quercetin and rutin on the biology of Anticarsia gemmatalis

Durante os anos de 1994 e 1995, foram realizados três ensaios de laboratório, na Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Soja, em Londrina, PR, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de rutina e de quercetina - compostos fenólicos (flavonóides) encontrados em folhas jovens dos genótipos de soja PI 227687 e 229358, resistentes a insetos -, na biologia da lagarta-da-soja, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Cada flavonóide foi incorporado, em diferentes concentrações, na dieta artificial do inseto, sendo um experimento conduzido com adição de rutina, e dois, com adição de quercetina. Tanto a quercetina quanto a rutina causaram aumento do número de dias de duração do terceiro ao sexto ínstar, do ciclo total (terceiro ínstar até fase adulta) e aumento da taxa de mortalidade de lagartas, de forma crescente, de acordo com o acréscimo das doses incorporadas à dieta artificial. Com a adição de quercetina, foi observada mortalidade de pupas e redução do peso de pupas em um dos experimentos, porém a duração da fase não foi alterada pelos tratamentos. Os resultados indicaram que os efeitos dos flavonóides sobre os insetos se manifestam a partir do terceiro ou quarto ínstar, porém são mais intensos no quinto e sexto ínstar.Along the years of 1994 and 1995, three laboratory experiments were set up at Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Soja, in Londrina, PR, Brazil, aiming to evaluate the effect of different rates of rutin and quercetin, phenolic compounds (flavonols) found in young leaves of the resistant soybean genotypes PI 227687 and 229358, on the biology of the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Each flavonol was incorporated in the diet, in diferent rates; one experiment was set up incorporating rutin and two incorporating quercetin. Both quercetin and rutin lead to an increase on the duration of larval instars, and from 3rd instar to adult emergence, as well as to increased mortality of larvae, being the effects related to the increasing incorporated rates. Addition of quercetin to the diet caused pupal mortality and also pupal weight reduction in one of the tests, but the duration of this stage was not affected by treatments. Results indicated that effects of the flavonols on the insects begin on the 3rd or 4th instar, but they are more evident during the 5th and 6th instars

Diffusion-weighted MRI reflects proliferative activity in primary CNS lymphoma

Purpose: To investigate if apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values within primary central nervous system lymphoma correlate with cellularity and proliferative activity in corresponding histological samples. Materials and Methods: Echo-planar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images obtained from 21 patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma were reviewed retrospectively. Regions of interest were drawn on ADC maps corresponding to the contrast enhancing parts of the tumors. Biopsies from all 21 patients were histologically analyzed. Nuclei count, total nuclei area and average nuclei area were measured. The proliferation index was estimated as Ki-67 positive nuclei divided by total number of nuclei. Correlations of ADC values and histopathologic parameters were determined statistically. Results: Ki-67 staining revealed a statistically significant correlation with ADCmin (r = -0.454, p = 0.038), ADCmean (r = -0.546, p = 0.010) and ADCmax (r = -0.515, p = 0.017). Furthermore, ADCmean correlated in a statistically significant manner with total nucleic area (r = -0.500, p = 0.021). Conclusion: Low ADCmin, ADCmean and ADCmax values reflect a high proliferative activity of primary cental nervous system lymphoma. Low ADCmean values—in concordance with several previously published studies—indicate an increased cellularity within the tumor

Effect of soil management on the white grub population and damage in soybean

Foram realizados vários experimentos para avaliar o efeito de diferentes sistemas de manejo de solo na população de corós (Phyllophaga cuyabana Moser), e seus danos em soja, em áreas de plantio direto e de preparo convencional do solo (preparo primário com arado de discos e uma gradagem niveladora). Vários implementos utilizados no preparo primário de solo, como arado de aivecas, arado de discos, escarificador e grade aradora também foram avaliados. A flutuação populacional de corós e a intensidade de dano causado por eles foram similares nas áreas de plantio direto e de preparo convencional. Os implementos de preparo primário do solo afetaram a população de corós diferentemente, dependendo da época em que o preparo de solo foi executado. A mortalidade larval pode ser atribuída mais à exposição a fatores adversos logo após o preparo, do que a mudanças nas condições do solo. A redução na população de corós foi mais evidente nas parcelas preparadas com implementos mais pesados, como arado de aivecas. O manejo de solo pode ser um componente dentro do manejo de pragas do solo em soja, porém sua utilização não pode ser generalizada.To evaluate the effect of soil management systems on population of white grubs, (Phyllophaga cuyabana Moser), and on its damage in soybean, experiments were set up under no-tillage and conventional tillage (one disk plow, and a leveling disk harrow) areas. Primary tillage equipment, used in other soil management systems, such as moldboard plow, disk plow, chisel plow and heavy duty disk harrow were also tested. Fluctuation of P. cuyabana population and the extent of its damage to soybean was similar under no-tillage and conventional tillage systems. Results comparing a range of primary tillage equipment showed that it affected soil insect populations differently, depending on the time during the season in which tillage was executed. Larval mortality could mostly be attributed to their exposure to adverse factors, soon after tillage, than to changes in soil conditions. Reduction of white grub population was more evident in plots managed by heavier equipment, such as the moldboard plow. Soil tillage could be one component within the soil pest management system in soybean, however, its use can not be generalized