Research on the strategy of multinational enterprises: Key approaches and new avenues

Over decades, research on multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) strategies has been anchored in internalization theory. Strongly grounded in transaction cost economics to explain foreign market entry, it hardly explains how MNEs can build and sustain a competitive advantage. Thus, this paper aims at understanding how the nature of strategic thinking has influenced the research in the field of MNEs’ strategy. A content analysis of 1116 papers was conducted. The intellectual structure and dynamics of research to date are provided, without losing sight of the key foundations of strategy and strategic management. The links between human capital and knowledge are the factors on which to underpin the explanation of the MNEs’ strategies and support the coevolving theory. This theory is a promising avenue of research under the umbrella of RBV and KBV approaches. The context-dependency of strategy implies that different contexts require different approaches. Accordingly, we provide insights for future research by combining main schools of strategy though

Investigation of immune response and protection induced by a combined vaccination of modified live and killed porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus vaccines and its potential use in a swine herd

Commercial modified live (MLV) and killed (KV) porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines induce slow development of effective immunity as measured by serum neutralizing (SN) antibody and cell-mediated immunity. The objective of the studies was to develop more effective vaccines or vaccination strategies based on commercial vaccines. The immune response and produced induced were characterized. Three separate studies were conducted to investigate the efficacy of vaccination protocols including vaccination with MLV and KV, either alone or in combination, KV with interleukin (IL)-12 added, and KV used as a booster vaccine in a PRRSV positive herd. The protection induced was also evaluated by challenging pigs with PRRSV.;It was found that the MLV followed by KV induced significantly higher SN antibody levels compared to either vaccine alone. This vaccination protocol significantly reduced serum viral RNA, severity of lung lesion, and clinical disease. In contrast, the addition of IL-12 did little to enhance the efficacy of the KV although clinical respiratory disease consistent with PRRSV following challenge was significantly reduced. However, no reduction of viral RNA in serum or reduced persistence of virus in tonsils or BAL was observed. The KV administration of gestational sows significantly increased SN antibodies in serum and colostrum at farrowing and at weaning compared to non-vaccinated sows. Furthermore, pigs farrowed from the vaccinated sows had significantly higher levels of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) as measured by both SN and ELISA assays than pigs farrowed from the non-vaccinated sows. Pigs farrowed from vaccinated sows and challenged at 10 days of age displayed the mildest clinical disease and had lower levels of serum viral RNA than pigs from non-vaccinated sows. Incomplete reduction of serum viral RNA and lung lesion suggests incomplete protection provided by MDA.;The present studies provide useful information to the swine industry as a combination vaccination protocol, MLV followed by KV, could be used to in the reduction of clinical disease and viremia. In addition, KV can be used as a booster vaccine to enhance the existing immunity of sows in a PRRSV positive herd resulting in enhanced MDA in piglets

Reports of the selectmen and superintending school committee of the town of Campton, for the year ending March 1, 1867.

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire

Cell-mediated immune response to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

The cell-mediated immune (CMI) response of pigs to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is low in magnitude and appears late after infection. The ability of PRRSV to suppress CMI response is not known. We reported in this dissertation that PRRSV has the ability to significantly suppress CD25, interferon gamma (IFNgamma), and tumor-necrosis factor alpha expression by T cells in response to concanavalin A and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus ionomycin, respectively. The suppressive ability of PRRSV associated with PRRSV virulence and type of myeloid antigen-presenting cells the virus infect. Virulent PRRSV significantly suppressed T cell response, whereas attenuated PRRSV did not. Monocytes supported T cell suppression more effectively than monocyte-derived macrophages and immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells. T cell suppression negatively associated with increased interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene expression. Neutralization of IL-10 activity by anti-swine IL-10 monoclonal antibodies inhibited T cell suppression;PRRSV modified-live Virus (MLV) vaccine is currently used in the field to control diseases caused by PRRSV. To enhance CMI response to PRRSV MLV vaccine, five different vaccine adjuvants (bacterial endotoxin-derived adjuvant, mixed open reading frame 5 (ORF5) peptides derived from 5 PRRSV isolates, porcine IFNalpha, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stabilized with polylysine and carboxymethylcellulose, and porcine IL-12) were studied. Administration of mixed ORF5 peptides at 14 and 28 days after PRRS MLV vaccination significantly increased IFNgamma production in CD4-CD8+gammadelta +, CD4-CD8-gammadelta+, and CD4-CD8+gammadelta- T cells. Administration of porcine IL-12 at 1 day after PRRS MLV vaccination significantly increased IFNgamma production in CD4+CD8 +gammadelta-, CD4-CD8+gammadelta +, and CD4-CD8+gammadelta - T cells. Significantly increased IFNgamma expression in CD4 +CD8+gammadelta-, CD4-CD8 +gammadelta+, CD4-CD8+gammadelta - T cells but not CD4-CD8-gammadelta + T cells were correlated significantly with the reduction of lung lesion scores and viremia after virulent PRRSV challenge. Administration of porcine IFNalpha at -1, 0, and 1 day and porcine IL,-12 at 1 day after PRRS MLV vaccination significantly increased CD25 expression in CD4-CD8 +gammadelta+ T cells. However, the increased CD25 expression did not correlate with protection. None of the vaccine adjuvants contributed to the reduction of lung lesion scores and viremia in comparison to PRRS MLV alone

New Prospects for Organizational Democracy? How the Joint Pursuit of Social and Financial Goals Challenges Traditional Organizational Designs

Some interesting exceptions notwithstanding, the traditional logic of economic efficiency has long favored hierarchical forms of organization and disfavored democracy in business. What does the balance of arguments look like, however, when values besides efficient revenue production are brought into the picture? The question is not hypothetical: In recent years, an ever increasing number of corporations have developed and adopted socially responsible behaviors, thereby hybridizing aspects of corporate businesses and social organizations. We argue that the joint pursuit of financial and social objectives warrants significant rethinking of organizational democracy’s merits compared both to hierarchy and to non-democratic alternatives to hierarchy. In making this argument, we draw on an extensive literature review to document the relative lack of substantive discussion of organizational democracy since 1960. And we draw lessons from political theory, suggesting that the success of political democracy in integrating diverse values offers some grounds for asserting parallel virtues in the business case

Social touch and human development.

Social touch is a powerful force in human development, shaping social reward, attachment, cognitive, communication, and emotional regulation from infancy and throughout life. In this review, we consider the question of how social touch is defined from both bottom-up and top-down perspectives. In the former category, there is a clear role for the C-touch (CT) system, which constitutes a unique submodality that mediates affective touch and contrasts with discriminative touch. Top-down factors such as culture, personal relationships, setting, gender, and other contextual influences are also important in defining and interpreting social touch. The critical role of social touch throughout the lifespan is considered, with special attention to infancy and young childhood, a time during which social touch and its neural, behavioral, and physiological contingencies contribute to reinforcement-based learning and impact a variety of developmental trajectories. Finally, the role of social touch in an example of disordered development -autism spectrum disorder-is reviewed

The relationship between organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation among employees of cement manufacturers in Johor

The purpose of the study is twofold. First, to examine the relationship between organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation, and second to examine the mediating effect of knowledge management enabler between organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation among employees of cement manufacturers in the state of Johor. Fifteen hypotheses were formulated; that there is significant relationships between organizational characteristics (work discretion, resource/time availability, management support and reward/reinforcement) and entrepreneurial orientation (innovativeness, risk- taking and proactiveness) and knowledge management enabler mediates the relationship between organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation. The data for the quantitative study were collected from an online internet-based web survey questionnaire through a simple random sampling method. The population consisted of all employees who were working in the three cement manufacturing companies under study. The total number of respondents was 257 out of 300 employees randomly selected. An overall response rate of 70.4 per cent was obtained. Multiple regression analysis was utilized to analyze the survey data while ensuring that all the necessary assumptions are met. The results indicated that nine out of fifteen hypotheses tested were supported. Generally, the study provides empirical evidence that there is significant relationship between organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation. Knowledge management enabler was also found to partially mediate the relationship between organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation. Theoretical and managerial contributions were discussed as well as study limitations and suggestions for future research

Detection of Quantitative Trait Loci for Marker-Assisted Selection of Soybean Isoflavone Genistein

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is an important crop throughout the world. Among the many seed quality traits contained in soybean are isoflavones, which are associated with numerous health benefits, including cancer prevention, improved cardiovascular health, improved bone health, and reduced menopausal symptoms. This study sought to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling soybean isoflavones genistein, daidzein, glycitein, and total isoflavone content to gain a better understanding of genetic regions controlling production of these compounds. The phenotypic data for QTL detection was generated in 2009 from a population of 274 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) separated into three field tests based on maturity (early, mid, and late) and grown in three locations (Knoxville, TN; Harrisburg, IL; and Stuttgart, AR). Genotypic data was obtained using 1,536 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, of which 480 were polymorphic. Overall, 21 QTL were detected for soybean isoflavones, including 7 for genistein, 5 for daidzein, 3 for glycitein, and 6 for total isoflavones. Of these 21 QTL, 8 were newly detected, while 13 were validated from previous studies. Marker-assisted selections (MAS) were made using the QTL for genistein, which is typically the most abundant isoflavone, for comparison with phenotypic selections. Challenges exist when considering MAS for quantitative traits such as isoflavones, including concerns with epistatic interactions and genotype × environment interactions. However, isoflavone improvement with MAS would be useful as phenotyping data is costly and time consuming. Comparisons of MAS and phenotypic selection methods were done in 2010 and 2011 in field tests grown in three locations (Knoxville, TN; Springfield, TN; Milan, TN). Results from this study indicate that phenotypic selections outperformed MAS for genistein. However MAS for genistein did show improvements in relation to parental lines, as well as unselected RILs included in field tests for comparison. Additionally, genistein was significantly correlated with other isoflavones, as well as with yield. More research should be done as the costly and time consuming process of collecting phenotypic data for isoflavones provides incentive to pursue MAS as an improvement strategy

The portrayal of the nature of science in early childhood instructional materials

One issue plaguing science education and science teaching is the way in which the nature of science is portrayed in science classrooms. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the nature of science is presented in early childhood instructional materials and the accuracy of those NOS portrayals. This study demonstrates that the current representation of NOS is accurate but implicit in most instances. The researcher describes several implications and suggestions for further research in this area