The role of corporate identity management in the higher education sector: an exploratory case study

This paper examines the corporate identity concept from a multidisciplinary perspective and presents an empirical test of Melewar’s (2003) corporate identity model in creating competitive advantage in the context of the higher education sector. The various components of corporate identity are investigated and the results are presented in diagrammatic form in the proposed and updated corporate identity taxonomy. A qualitative exploratory approach was taken, comprising in-depth interviews with key informants involved in the implementation of corporate identity at a major UK university. The taxonomy illustrates communication, design, culture, behaviour, structure, industry and strategy as the main components of corporate identity. The study also demonstrates how and where issues of corporate identity are discussed within an organization and how the results of these discussions are fed into management structure. As with any such exploratory case study, there are limits to the generalizability of the findings. Further research is required to ascertain whether the findings of this study also apply in other settings. The results will be helpful to communication professionals who deal with an organization’s corporate identity, branding, and communication and who aim to enhance the consistency of messages both written and visual within their organization

Shear thinning in dilute and semidilute solutions of polystyrene and DNA

The viscosity of dilute and semidilute unentangled DNA solutions, in steady simple shear flow, has been measured across a range of temperatures and concentrations. For polystyrene solutions, measurements of viscosity have been carried out in the semidilute unentangled regime, while results of prior experimental measurements in the dilute regime have been used for the purpose of data analysis, and for comparison with the behaviour of DNA solutions. Interpretation of the shear rate dependence of viscosity in terms of suitably defined non-dimensional variables, is shown to lead to master plots, independent of temperature and concentration, in each of the two concentration regimes. In the case of semidilute unentangled solutions, defining the Weissenberg number in terms of a concentration dependent large scale relaxation time is found not to lead to data collapse across different concentrations. On the other hand, the use of an alternative relaxation time, with the concentration dependence of a single correlation blob, suggests the existence of universal shear thinning behaviour at large shear rates.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures, supplementary material (see ancillary directory), to appear in Journal of Rheolog

Identifying QTLs Associated and Marker-Assisted Selection for Salinity Tolerance at the Seedling, Vegetative and Reproductive Stages in Rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

Salinity affects rice growth in all growth stages, with the seedling and reproductive stages being the most sensitive. Genetically improving salt tolerance of rice is an important objective of rice breeding programs. Hence, mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) will be useful for marker-assisted selection in rice breeding programs. An advanced backcross population (BC2F2) was developed with the parents included OM5629 as a donor of salt tolerance and OM7347 as a recurrent parent with good quality traits and drought tolerance. Molecular markers associated with both qualitative and quantitative trait loci (QTL) salt tolerance were identified by using 416 polymorphic SSR markers. QTLs, associated with stress tolerance at EC = 15 dS/m at seedling stage, detected from the BC2F2 population of OM7347/OM5629, were located on chromosomes 1 and 3. Three QTLs were identified at the intervals of RM3252-S1-1 - RM10694, RM3740-RM5336 and RM11125-RM9 with genetic distance of 4.4, 4.5 and 18 cM on chromosome 1, respectively. Two QTLs at the intervals of RM3867-RM6959 and RM6876-RM4425 with genetic distance of 4.5 and 18.0 cM on chromosome 3, respectively. One QTL on chromosome 5 was detected at the interval of RM874 - RM10359, it was associated with salt stress tolerance under EC = 8dS/m at vegetative stage. Three QTLs at the regions of RM1324-RM2412, RM1185-RM24, and RM1282-RM2560 on chromosome 1, and one QTL of RM453-RM511 on chromosome 12, were related to salt tolerance under EC = 8dS/m at reproductive stage. Two tightly linked markers as RM3252-S1-1 and RM3867, were exhibited their effectiveness in identification of salt tolerance genotypes in BC3F6 population of OMCS2000/ Pokkali. The identification of new QTLs associated with salt tolerance will provide important information for the functional analysis of rice salinity stress

Development of mathematical techniques for the analysis of remote sensing data

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

A holistic framework of corporate website favourability

This paper extends the current knowledge of corporate website favourability (CWF) by developing a comprehensive conceptual model of its influence on corporate image, corporate reputation, loyalty and identification. The paper reviews previous studies on corporate websites from the perspectives of marketing, management, corporate identity and corporate visual identity in order to inform our understanding of the antecedents and consequences of CWF. The propositions and the conceptual framework present an approach by which a corporation can design and manage a favourable corporate website. A number of important contributions are offered: First, the paper adds to the understanding of CWF; second, it discusses the antecedents of CWF by drawing upon the existing literature; third, it is beneficial for practitioners in shaping CWF strategies, and fourth, it offers possible consequences of CWF and provides a framework for future testing

Probing Relativity using Space-Based Experiments

An overview of space tests searching for small deviations from special relativity arising at the Planck scale is given. Potential high-sensitivity space-based experiments include ones with atomic clocks, masers, and electromagnetic cavities. We show that a significant portion of the coefficient space in the Standard-Model Extension, a framework that covers the full spectrum of possible effects, can be accessed using space tests. Some remarks on Lorentz violation in the gravitational sector are also given.Comment: 12 pages, invited talk at International Workshop, From Quantum to Cosmos, Warrenton, VA, USA, May 22-24, 200

Petrographic Characteristics and Depositional Environment Evolution of Middle Miocene Sediments in the Thien Ung - Mang Cau Structure of Nam Con Son Basin

This paper introduces the petrographic characteristics and depositional environment of Middle Miocene rocks of the Thien Ung - Mang Cau structure in the central area of Nam Con Son Basin based on the results of analyzing thin sections and structural characteristics of core samples. Middle Miocene sedimentary rocks in the studied area can be divided into three groups: (1) Group of terrigenous rocks comprising greywacke sandstone, arkosic sandstone, lithic-quartz sandstone, greywacke-lithic sandstone, oligomictic siltstone, and bitumenous claystone; (2) Group of carbonate rocks comprising dolomitic limestone and bituminous limestone; (3) Mixed group comprising calcareous sandstone, calcarinate sandstone, arenaceous limestone, calcareous claystone, calcareous silty claystone, dolomitic limestone containing silt, and bitumen. The depositional environment is expressed through petrographic characteristics and structure of the sedimentary rocks in core samples. The greywacke and arkosic sandstones are of medium grain size, poor sorting and roundness, and siliceous cement characterizing the alluvial and estuarine fan environment expressed by massive structure of core samples. The mixed calcareous limestone, arenaceous dolomitic limestone, and calcareous and bituminous clayey siltstone in the core samples are of turbulent flow structure characterizing shallow bay environment with the action of bottom currents. The dolomitic limestones are of relatively homogeneous, of microgranular and fine-granular texture, precipitated in a weakly reducing, semi-closed, and relatively calm bay environment

Different techniques of distal aortic repair in acute type A dissection: impact on late aortic morphology and reoperation

Objective: To compare three different techniques of distal aortic repair in acute type A (de Bakey type I) aortic dissection and to evaluate their impact on the late morphology of the aortic arch and descending aorta and on the incidence of reoperation. Methods: From 65 patients operated on due to an acute type A aortic dissection between 1989 and 1993, 54 long-term survivors underwent clinical and radiologic follow-up examination after a mean postoperative interval of 62±16 months. The surgical techniques of distal aortic reconstruction included closed repair using Teflon felt reinforcement under moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (n=20) and open repair in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest using either Teflon felt reinforcement (n=16) or gelatin-resorcin-formaldehyde (GRF) glue (n=18) to readapt the dissected aortic layers. In all patients, MR imaging was performed on a 1.5-T whole body imaging system for the evaluation of the morphology and function of the heart, aorta and supraaortic branches. Results: Overall hospital mortality following surgical repair of type A aortic dissection was 15.4% during this time period. The highest rate of persistent false lumen perfusion (17/20, 85%) and presence of an intimal flap in the aortic arch (13/20, 65%) was observed in patients following closed repair of acute ascending aortic dissection, whereas the lowest rate of such findings was demonstrated in patients who had undergone open distal aortic repair using biological glue (false lumen perfusion 10/18, 55% and intimal flap in the arch 2/18, 11%). Redo-surgery was significantly reduced in the open repair group using GRF glue (1/18, 5.5%) as compared with the Teflon felt repair group (3/16, 18%) and the closed repair group (6/20, 30%). Conclusions: In patients with acute type A dissection, open distal aortic repair using GRF-glue favourably influences both (1) the severity of late morphologic alterations in the downstream aorta and (2) the incidence of reoperatio