Adoption of managerial innovations: effect of adoption rationales on the adoption process

The aim of the research is to explore the complex phenomenon of the adoption of managerial innovations by organisations, with an attempt to identify relationships between various elements of this process. Four case studies were compiled using interview data from selected managers. The data provided a means of subjecting the rationales that Sturdy (2004) posited for the adoption of managerial innovations to empirical inquiry. The study also seeks to explore how the identified rationales may relate to two main characteristics of the subsequent adoption process, namely, the timing of adoption in the life cycle of the innovation and how long the adoption process takes. To our knowledge, this study represents the first empirical exploration of the adoption rationales posited by Sturdy and their subsequent impact on the adoption process. The findings of the study will be of value to academics interested studying the adoption of managerial innovations and also practising managers who must make adoption decisions and manage the adoption process. It is recognised that the study is exploratory in nature and suggestions for further research are proposed

The Ecology of the Dominant Tick Species in the Northwestern Portion of the Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Elements of the ecology of the two dominant man-biting ticks were studied during 1971-1973 in two locations in Southeastern Virginia, namely, what is now the Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Newport News City Park. Tick species composition, relative abundance, density, and distribution in the two areas were compared. In addition, the Dismal Swamp locality was used as a test area for studies on the survival of native, lab reared and translocated Dermacentor variabilis (Say) and Amblvomma americanum (L.) in relation to selected abiotic factors. The Newport News locality served as a control area for these studies. The species composition of ticks captured by flagging and host examination was as expected for this geographical region. In the Dismal Swamp, the most abundant species of tick was the American dog tick, D. variabilis, which was found throughout the area sampled. The second most abundant species, the lone star tick, A. americanum, however, was concentrated only in specific locations. Ixodes scaoularis (Say) and Haemaohvsalis leoorisoalustris (Packard) were also found in rare instances, but the sampling methods utilized precluded speculation on their abundance. Isolated colonization by D. variabilis of a suboptimal habitat via artificial openings (roads and ditches) is suggested by the highly significant density variation observed between the roadside and forest interior concentrations of this tick in the Dismal Swamp. In 1971 flagging of 39,100 m2 demonstrated a density of 15 D. variabilis/1000 m2 from the forest-road ecotone. In contrast flagging of 2500m2 of the forest interior indicated a density of only 1.2 D. variabilis/1000 m2. In 1972, density of 37 D. variabilis adults/1000 m2 was found along the roadside while a density of only 1.5 D. variabilis adults/1000 m2 was found within the forest interior during a total seasonal flagging effort covering 180,200 m2. A. americanum comprised only 3-6% of the total captive for the 2 years in the Dismal Swamp. No significant difference between roadside and forest interior densities of A. americanum adults was found at Newport News (113/1000 m2 vs 107/1000 m2 respectively) during a seasonal flagging effort of 17,800 m2. Survival and molting of adults and nymphs of laboratory reared A. americanum and D. variabilis and wild caught A. americanum were tested in environmental containers at two sites in the Swamp and one site in Newport News. The survival at 80% and molting at 94% were greatest for all ticks at Newport News ~ Survival and molting were much lower at the Dismal Town site (51% and 84% respectively), while few ticks survived and molted at the Lynn Ditch site (14% and 49% respectively). The time required to complete molting in the 2 Swamp sites was more than twice that of the laboratory controls. This tended to increase their vulnerability to adverse physical factors as well as predators. The abiotic factor of most significance was found to be inundation. Over 60% of those areas surveyed were inundated for 6 or more weeks during the winter months. Inundation did not occur until after the ticks had gone into diapause. Overwinter survival studies of ticks in inundated sites showed death within 8 days of submersion. Diapausing ticks made no observable effort to move from the substrate chosen for quiescence, even after inundation. Hosts for all stages of D. variabilis and A. americanum were observed. Limited data on these hosts suggest that they are very sparsely distributed. Wildlife management may alter this host-support system of these ticks, permitting a change in their populations

GEMPAK5 user's guide, version 5.0

GEMPAK is a general meteorological software package used to analyze and display conventional meteorological data as well as satellite derived parameters. The User's Guide describes the GEMPAK5 programs and input parameters and details the algorithms used for the meteorological computations

Letter from M[ary] M[c]H[enry] Keith to [Louie Strentzel] Muir, [1893 ?] Apr 19.

Berkeley, April 19thDear Mrs. Muir,I received your kind note this evening. I accept with pleasure. About the Scotland trip, I think it a fine idea and especially for Mr. Muir. If he dont go he will be sure to go to that horrid06171 Alaska, and perhaps climb that strap big mountain, that has never been climbed and you know how daring he is. As for Mr. Keith, I am sure it will do him good, and increase his reputation as it will that of Mr. Muir. Give my love to your mother, and we shall have a fine walk, tell Wanda and Helen.Aff[[illegible]Your friendM. McH. Keith P.S. Dear Mr. Muir How old is Johnnie? it has been a source of great study with me & I am interested to know how many decades he is older thanYours truly,[Wm?] KeithMrs. Keith suggests that we walk thro Scotland in Kilts & I [add?] on stilts, with R[illegible] on stilts, I rather like the ide

Production and perception of individual speaking styles

As explanation of between-speaker differences in speech production moves beyond sex-and age-related differences in physiology, discussion has focused on individual vocal tract morphology. While it is interesting to relate, say, variable recruitment of the jaw to extent of palate doming, there is a substantial residue of arbitrary differences that constitute the speaker's "style". Style differences observed across a well-defined social group indicate group membership. Other style differences are idiosyncratic "habits" of articulation, individual solutions to the many-to-many mapping between motoric and acoustic representations and to the many different attentional trading relationships that can exploit the typical patterns of redundant variation in independent acoustic correlates of any minimal contrast. Perceptual studies of social style differences suggest that perceptibility depends upon the task and upon the hearer's own group membership. The few studies of idiosyncratic differences suggest that speakers perceive each others' productions in terms of their own habits. Thus, perceptual compensation for speaker differences must go beyond mere vocal tract normalization. A promising route for describing how listeners compensate for the arbitrary variation of style is an instance-based (or exemplar) model of speech perception in which the distribution of exemplars is heavily weighted by instances of the speaker's own productions

Reexamination of Herpetofauna on Mormon Island, Hall County, Nebraska, with Notes on Natural History

The Platte River in central Nebraska, USA, was historically surrounded by mixed grass and tallgrass prairies and wet meadows, but many of those habitats were lost or altered during the last century with unknown effects on animals that reside in them. Researchers first surveyed herpetofauna on part of a large island preserve in the Platte River, Mormon Island, Hall County, Nebraska, in 1980 when the land was protected for conservation. They documented 10 species, including three species of amphibians and seven species of reptiles. We inventoried herpetofauna after 30 years of conservation management on Mormon Island and adjacent Shoemaker Island. We captured four species of amphibians and 11 species of reptiles, including five species not detected in the previous survey. New species documented on the preserve were the Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Eastern Racer (Coluber constrictor), Smooth Green Snake (Liochlorophis vernalis), Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata), and Lined Snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum). Smooth Green Snakes represent a new county record, and Redbelly Snakes represent the easternmost published distributional limit for this disjunct population in central Nebraska. Documentation of additional snake species likely reflects a more intensive trapping regime and possibly habitat changes since 1980. Presence of Bullfrogs on Mormon Island probably was linked to excavation of a backwater slough that created a site for overwintering tadpoles. Herein we describe the variable life-history characteristics, habitats, and seasonal activity patterns among these 15 species of herpetofauna on the large river islands. We also discuss how restoration activities and hydrologic changes may influence the presence and abundance of herpetofauna in the region. Understanding the occurrence, habitat use, and seasonality of amphibians and reptiles in this topographically unaltered (i.e., unplowed) reach of river will aid in managing the central Platte River ecosystem to protect and maintain its biological integrity for all organisms

A novel streamlined trauma response team training improves imaging efficiency for pediatric blunt abdominal trauma patients

Background/purpose The morbidity and mortality of children with traumatic injuries are directly related to the time to definitive management of their injuries. Imaging studies are used in the trauma evaluation to determine the injury type and severity. The goal of this project is to determine if a formal streamlined trauma response improves efficiency in pediatric blunt trauma by evaluating time to acquisition of imaging studies and definitive management. Methods This study is a chart review of patients < 18 years who presented to a pediatric trauma center following blunt trauma requiring trauma team activation. 413 records were reviewed to determine if training changed the efficiency of CT acquisition and 652 were evaluated for FAST efficiency. The metrics used for comparison were time from ED arrival to CT image, FAST, and disposition. Results Time from arrival to CT acquisition decreased from 37 (SD 23) to 28 (SD27) min (p < 0.05) after implementation. The proportion of FAST scans increased from 315 (63.5%) to 337 (80.8%) and the time to FAST decreased from 18 (SD15) to 8 (SD10) min (p < 0.05). The time to operating room (OR) decreased after implementation. Conclusion The implementation of a streamlined trauma team approach is associated with both decreased time to CT, FAST, OR, and an increased proportion of FAST scans in the pediatric trauma evaluation. This could result in the rapid identification of injuries, faster disposition from the ED, and potentially improve outcomes in bluntly injured children

Diseases of Alfalfa (Leaf Spots) Management Guide

NYS IPM Type: Field Crops Management GuideNYS IPM Type: BrochureNYS IPM Type: Field Crops IPM BrochureA brochure about managing alfalfa leaf spots using IPM method

Classroom Reintegration for Children and Adolescents with Traumatic Brain Injuries

The purpose of the poster presentation is to increase the present knowledge regarding the process of school-based reintegration for children and adolescents who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. As children and young adults spend an average of 32 hours per week in the school environment, parents, educators, and rehabilitation professionals are ideally positioned to collaborate with one another to facilitate the reintegration process and enable students to return to their primary occupations of educational participation, social participation, play, and leisure. The presentation includes information from the development and implementation of a program for parents, families, and educators of those involved with pediatric brain injury clients. The program explored and aimed to remedy the knowledge gap among parents and educators about the process of returning to a school environment following a neurological incident by providing educational modules and resources including general information on brain injuries and school-based reintegration, available school-based supports, school-based interventions, parent and educator guidelines to reintegration, and frequently asked questions for parents and educators. The program and presentation emphasize the unique position of occupational therapists and school-based personnel during the reintegration process and highlight their distinctive roles and contributions to easing the transition and return to a school environment.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1071/thumbnail.jp

Analysis of the roles of microtubules and actin in erythrophore intracellular motility

Journal ArticleThe Holocentrus erythrophore, a red pigment cell, represents a model system for the study of organized intracellular transport. We have investigated the possibility that microtubules and actin are integral components of the pigment translocating motility machine