Seasonal and nutritional changes in the short form of the leptin receptor expression and VEGF system in the choroid plexus, arcuate nucleus, and anterior pituitary in MTS-leptin and resistin-treated sheep

The short form of the leptin receptor (LeptRa) plays a key role in the transport of leptin to the central nervous system (CNS). Here, MTS-leptin and recombinant ovine (ro) leptin-mediated expression of LeptRa and VEGFA and VEGFR2 concentration in selected hypothalamic nuclei, choroid plexus (ChP), and anterior pituitary (AP) were analyzed considering the photoperiod and acute-fasting (experiment 1), and nutritional status (experiment 2) of ewes. In experiment 1, 60 sheep were fed normally or fasted for 72 h and received one injection of saline, MTS-leptin, or roleptin 1 h prior to euthanasia. LeptRa mRNA transcript levels and VEGF system protein concentrations were detected in the ARC, ChP predominantly in the SD, and AP for the LD without detection of LeptRa in the POA and VMH/DMH. In experiment 2, an altered diet for 5 months created lean or fat sheep. Twenty sheep were divided into four groups: the lean and fat groups were given saline, while the lean-R and fat-R groups received resistin 1 h prior to euthanasia. Changes in adiposity influenced the lowering effect of resistin on the expression of LeptRa and VEGF system protein concentrations. Overall, both photoperiodic and nutritional signals influence the effects of MTS-leptin/roleptin and resistin-mediated leptin transport to the CNS via LeptRa. Resistin seems to be another adipokine involved in the adaptive/pathological phenomenon of leptin resistance in sheep

Knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) and their role in the knowledge-based economy

The development of knowledge-intensive business services in recent decades can be interpreted as one of the indicators of a transformation from an industrial economy into a knowledge-based one. Not only do quantitative measures, whether in the form of sales or employment figures (e.g. Chadwick, Glasson and Lawton Smith, 2008), undoubtedly show the expansion of these services; but also their characteristics make it clear that they significantly affect the formation and spread of knowledge throughout the economy. This article presents an analysis of the KIBS sector based on a literature review. In the first section, it presents the issues connected with defining and categorizing KIBS. In the second one, it shows the significance of this type of service, highlighting its influence on the innovativeness of the companies which it serves. The third section consists of a detailed review of the literature devoted to research on KIBS

Mapping knowledge risks: towards a better understanding of knowledge management

This conceptual paper aims to identify, present, and analyze potential knowledge risks organizations might face. With the growing complexity of organizational environments and the plethora of new knowledge risks emerging, this critical but under-researched field of knowledge management (KM) deserves closer attention. The study is based on a critical analysis of the extant literature devoted to knowledge risks, discusses potential outcomes of these risks and proposes a concept map of knowledge risks. The map shows a number of knowledge risks organizations should be aware of. Knowledge risks can be assigned to three categories: human, technological and operational. The research is the first systematic and comprehensive review of knowledge risks at the organizational level. By aggregating and consolidating the knowledge risks covered, the study does not only provide a knowledge risk taxonomy but also promising directions for future research. The study also contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of KM

The effect of environmental turbulence on cyber security risk management and organizational resilience

Even though there is a plethora of research on the role of environmental turbulence in organizational performance in general, little attention has been paid to the effect of environmental turbulence on cyber security risk management and further - organizational resilience. Drawing on the resource-based view and contingency theory, this study investigates how technological and market turbulence influence organizational cyber security risk management (CSRM) and then organizational resilience. Using a data set from 150 European companies, the study findings show how the two types of turbulence have different effects on CSRM in the companies studied. Technological turbulence directly impacts the firms’ cyber security risk maturity while market turbulence has a direct positive affect on firms’ cyber security risk perception. The study also determines the interplay between risk perception and risk maturity and subsequent resilience.CC BY 4.0Corresponding author: E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Durst).The study was supported by a research grant from the National Science center (Poland) in the context of a research project ’Knowledge risks in modern organizations’ (No. 2019/33/B/HS4/02250).</p

Knowledge Management and barriers to its implementation in small and medium-sized KIBS firms \u2013 evidence from Poland

Even if the notion of knowledge management (KM) has been introduced more than three decades ago, the application of this concept in the context of small firms has still not been sufficiently explored. The relatively few contributions, however, agree on the fact that small companies do not manage knowledge the same way as their larger counterparts. In order to fill this gap, the present paper aims to the investigate the if and how different aspects of knowledge management in small enterprises offering knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) \u2013 such as: type of adopted KM practices, barriers to KM implementation and use \u2013 are related with some characteristics of the companies such as: their size, the business sector they belong, the kind of adopted strategic knowledge approach followed. Specifically, paper examines some features of KM in companies belonging to various KIBS sectors (ICT, architectural and engineering services, professional services, R&D services and marketing and communication services) in Poland. The findings are based on a quantitative survey conducted among 104 small companies of this type. Investigated KM-related aspects were: the role played by knowledge and KM, the KM practices adopted, the factors that have hindered the adoption of such practices, the way they are used. KIBS companies were investigated because knowledge and its management are vital for their operations and they are perceived as intensive users of KM tools and practices. The findings of the survey show that the approaches to KM followed by small KIBS companies results to be rather differentiated. Concerning the factors that influence the KM approach adopted by the individual company, the size and the kind of followed strategy help in explaining the differences between companies more than the sector of belonging. In particular, the size seems to act as a constraint (in terms of number of adopted practice and of role of promoters) while the kind of strategy as an enabler (a more reflected strategy is connected with a greater number of adopted practices). The study offers food for thought about KM features in the KIBS sector and moreover, it contributes to a better understanding of KM in small enterprises. The knowledge presented in the paper may be of use to managers and owners wishing to better understand their KM practices and implement more suitable solutions