Experiences of misfit as cues for sensemaking of ERPs

The adoption of computer-based enterprise resource planning systems (ERPs) has become an important feature of large organisations in both the public and private sectors. Successfully embedding ERP systems in organisational structures does, however, pose a significant array of technical and social (human) challenges. Chief among these is ensuring that ERP users successfully adapt to new/changed work processes and tasks post-adoption. In this study Karl Weick's theory of Sensemaking is adopted to investigate the process by which users develop the meaningful understandings of ERPs. It is proposed that experiences of misfit, that result from user ignorance or organisation-artefact misalignment, act as triggers for sensemaking. Based on an integrated interpretive framework a case study of a South African Metropolitan Municipality is used to analyse 34 experiences of misfit and their consequences. Findings suggest that experiences of misfit trigger various types of response strategies during which users’ understanding of and beliefs about ERP technology are updated

The Wide-field High-resolution Infrared TElescope (WHITE)

The Wide-field High-resolution Infrared TElescope (WHITE) will be dedicated in the first years of its life to carrying out a few (well focused in terms of science objectives and time) legacy surveys. WHITE would have an angular resolution of ~0.3'' homogeneous over ~0.7 sq. deg. in the wavelength range 1 - 5 um, which means that we will very efficiently use all the available observational time during night time and day time. Moreover, the deepest observations will be performed by summing up shorter individual frames. We will have a temporal information that can be used to study variable objects. The three key science objectives of WHITE are : 1) A complete survey of the Magellanic Clouds to make a complete census of young stellar objects in the clouds and in the bridge and to study their star formation history and the link with the Milky Way. The interaction of the two clouds with our Galaxy might the closest example of a minor merging event that could be the main driver of galaxy evolution in the last 5 Gyrs. 2) The building of the first sample of dusty supernovae at z<1.2 in the near infrared range (1-5 um) to constrain the equation of state from these obscured objects, study the formation of dust in galaxies and build the first high resolution sample of high redshift galaxies observed in their optical frame 3) A very wide weak lensing survey over that would allow to estimate the equation of state in a way that would favourably compete with space projects.Comment: Invited talk to the 2nd ARENA Conference : "The Astrophysical Science Cases at Dome C" Potsdam 17-21 September, 200

Refrigeration Requirements for Precooling and Fermentation Control in Wine Making

A database is provided which can be used as a guide to determine the maximum refrigeration capacity required during wine making (precooling and fermentation control). Factors such as maximum daily grape intake, temperature of the grapes, precooling period, fermentation rate, heat gain in the fermentation building, heat gain in the refrigerated water distribution system as well as the efficiency of refrigeration systems are considered. Graphs, as well as equations, are provided from which the maximum refrigeration capacity required for grape intakes varying from 25 t - 1 000 t per day can be determined in kJ/h. Provision is made for three different precooling periods. Separate graphs are provided from which the influence of the temperature of the grapes, as well as the influence of heat gain in refrigerated water distribution systems on the overall refrigeration capacity required, can be determined respectively. The database cannot replace thorough detailed refrigeration system design and engineering. However, it provides wine makers with a simple guide whereby designs can be checked, or the use of the capacity of existing systems managed more effectively

Innovative education strategies implemented for large numbers of undergraduate nursing students: the case of one South African university nursing department

The nurse education and training landscape in South Africa has changed in different ways over the past century, with the result that education and training of nurses does not necessarily translate into an adequate supply of professional nurses for the health care service. Today there is a shortage in this category. Factors which contribute to this shortage include nurses moving from the public to the private sector due to perceived better conditions of service, migration, burden of disease, reduction in bed occupancy and an ageing nurse population. Many professional nurses are now reaching retirement, and it is imperative that the training and supply of young professional nurses for the country be reconsidered in the light of this. According to Pillay, the majority of nurses’ training begins in the public sector and their knowledge is grounded on this experience. When sufficient experience is gained, they seek out better opportunities in the private sector and migrate to the more developed countries. This loss of experience from the public sector impacts negatively on the capacity to mentor new graduates, which in turn results in the young, professional, trained nurses seeking better opportunities with organizations where they can develop further. The net result of this is that the public sector is left with overworked, older staff who are on the verge of retirement.Web of Scienc

Pig fecal and tonsil contamination of Yersinia enterocolita in one French slaughterhouse

Pig is considered to be the main animal reservoir of human pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains which is frequently isolated from tonsils, but can also be found in the feces and onto carcasses. In France, while the main pathogenic biotypes are known for humans, few data are available regarding their prevalence in the pork chain production, and generally focus on tonsils contamination

Influence of floor type during fattening on pig cleanliness and microbiological contamination of pigs and carcasses

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of cleanliness on microbiological contamination of pigs and corresponding pork carcasses. Pig cleanliness was assessed at farm and slaughterhouse using a five-point scale on 4 anatomical areas: rear, back and both flanks. Microbiological sampling was conducted by swabbing 100 cm2 on 4 sites (ham, loin, brisket, shoulder), on pigs and corresponding carcasses. On each sample, aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMC) and enterobacteriaceae (ENC) were enumerated, and presence of Salmonella detected

Modelling the impact of changes in the interest rates on the economy: An Austrian perspective

Even though econometric models and yield curve analysis are useful in assessing the impact of interest rate changes on the economic structure, their power to predict the magnitude and direction of swings in the business cycle is often restricted to the use of short-term interest rates. From an Austrian school perspective on interest rates, empirical evidence suggests that the profitability of heavy industries further downstream outperforms that of light industries in the initial stages of monetary easing, due to a rising demand for investment goods and a rise in capacity utilisation levels. This paper assesses the impact of interest rates changes on the productive structure of the economy by taking into account the effect thereof on sector earnings and ultimately share prices

Decontamination on pork carcasses: qualification of thermic treatment by thermal imaging

Singeing improves the visual quality of rind in pig slaughterhouses. In addition, the thermic inactivation allows the bacterial contamination of carcass surfaces to be reduced. However, the thermal image of pig carcasses shows temperature differences along the carcasses. The objective of this study was to develop a method to analyze a thermal image. After defining an imaging protocol adapted to pig slaughterhouses, image analysis was carried out with the free software: ImageJ©. Three methods were developed in order to preserve the spatial arrangement and time information for each measurement: (1) Method by line profile, (2) Method by mouse over, (3) Method by mouse over and line profile. Moreover, the method had to be simple and accurate. After a statistical comparison (mean, variance, distribution) between the three methods on 20 carcasses, the method by line profile was validated to analyze the characteristics of heat treatment in four pig slaughterhouses during process. This validated method of image acquisition and analysis was a tool used to measure the temperature variability on carcasses. The reference temperature was the temperature of carcasses after 90 minutes of continuous process. This method confirmed temperature differences on carcass surfaces (the top part of the carcass is warmer than the bottom part within a range of 2-7°C) and within a production day; the lowest temperatures were observed when the process started or re-started (after breaks), on average 4°C. These temperature variations along the working day were observed in every slaughterhouse studied. Bacterial contamination was evaluated on carcasses prior and following singeing for two heating settings. Results were similar to the literature (reduction of 3 Log10 CFU/cm² of the Aerobic colony counts). With this pragmatic method, companies could have access to a measurement tool not only for characterizing, checking, optimizing and qualifying the efficiency of singeing, but also for investigating all thermic treatments on meat in slaughterhouses

Lizard epidermal gland secretions II : chemical characterization of the generation gland secretion of the sungazer, Cordylus giganteus

The original publication is available at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/np1008366In lizards, the epidermal glands of the femoral and precloacal regions are involved in the production of semiochemicals. In addition to its femoral glands, the giant girdled lizard, or sungazer, Cordylus giganteus, which is endemic to South Africa, has generation glands as an additional potential source of semiochemicals. These epidermal glands are described as glandular scales that overlay the femoral glands and are included in the normal epidermal profile located in the femoral (thigh) and anterior antebrachial (fore-leg) regions of the male sungazer. GC-MS analysis of the generation gland secretions and the trimethylsilyl derivatives of some of the steroidal constituents was employed to identify 59 constituents, including alkenes, carboxylic acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters, amides, nitriles, and steroids. The quantitative differences of the volatile constituents of the fore- and hind-leg generation glands were compared between individuals. This is the first report on the chemical composition of generation glandular material of lizards. © 2011 The American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy.Post-prin