Association of Management Tools with the Financial Performance of Companies: The Example of the Slovenian Construction Sector

The research problem dealt with in this article addresses the association of management tools with the financial performance of companies in the Slovenian construction sector. The aim of the quantitative empirical survey is to collect data on five of the most relevant accounting scores and indicators in the construction sector for the studied period 2001–2005, and to analyse their correlation with the management tools of Slovenian construction companies. The analysis of the relationship between quantitative indicators and scores with the dimensions of the factors in choosing management tools proved no strong correlation. The resultsof the analysis showthat the dimensions of undesirable consequences of transformation and the financial performance of the companies are essentially unrelated. A comparative study of the arithmetic mean of the indicators and scores with the disadvantages in introducing the management tools, however, indicated that there is a certain relationship between them.indicators, scores, financial performance, construction industry, Slovenia

T Cell Migration in Three-dimensional Extracellular Matrix: Guidance by Polarity and Sensations

The locomotion of T lymphocytes within 3-D extracellular matrix (ECM) is a highly dynamic and flexible process following the principles of ameboid movement. Ameboid motility is characterized by a polarized yet simple cell shape allowing high speed, rapid directional oscillations, and low affinity interactions to the substrate that are coupled to a low degree of cytoskeletal organization lacking discrete focal contacts. At the onset of T cell migration, a default program, here described as migration-associated polarization, is initiated, resulting in the polar redistribution of cell surface receptors and cytoskeletal elements. Polarization involves protein cycling either to the leading edge (i.e. LFA-1, CD45RO, chemokine receptors, focal adhesion kinase), to a central polarizing compartment (MTOC, PKC, MARCKS), or into the uropod (CD44, CD43, ICAM- and –3, β1 integrins). The function of such compartment formation may be important in chemotactic response, scanning of encountered cells, and a flexible and adaptive interaction with the ECM itself. Due to the simple shape and a diffusely organized cytoskeleton, the interactions to the surrounding extracellular matrix are rapid and reversible and appear to allow a broad spectrum of molecular migration strategies. These range from (1) adhesive and haptokinetic following i.e. chemokine-induced motility across 2-D surfaces to (2) largely integrin-independent migration predominantly guided by shape change and morphological flexibility, as seen in 3-D type I collagen matrices. Their prominent capacity to rapidly adapt to a given structural environment coupled to contact guidance mechanisms set T cell locomotion apart from slow, focal contact-dependent and more adhesive migration strategies established by fibroblast-like cells and cell clusters. It is therefore likely that, within the tissues, besides chemotactic or haptotactic gradients, the preformed matrix structure has an important impact on T cell trafficking and positioning in health and disease

Plasticity of Cell Migration in Vivo and in Silico

Cell migration results from stepwise mechanical and chemical interactions between cells and their extracellular environment. Mechanistic principles that determine single-cell and collective migration modes and their interconversions depend upon the polarization, adhesion, deformability, contractility, and proteolytic ability of cells. Cellular determinants of cell migration respond to extracellular cues, including tissue composition, topography, alignment, and tissue-associated growth factors and cytokines. Both cellular determinants and tissue determinants are interdependent; undergo reciprocal adjustment; and jointly impact cell decision making, navigation, and migration outcome in complex environments. We here review the variability, decision making, and adaptation of cell migration approached by live-cell, in vivo, and in silico strategies, with a focus on cell movements in morphogenesis, repair, immune surveillance, and cancer metastasi

Odzivi projektnih ravnateljev na organizacijsko strukturo podjetja v singularni študiji primera

It is very difficult to follow the procedures or rules regarding the implementation of the effective organisational structure in the company. The characteristics of the company, business environment or specific project need independent evaluation and analyses. The usage of the quantitative analyses based on half-structured interview shows that the choice of the effective organisational structure in the holding company is a very complex task. The article also explains which organisational structure is most widely implemented and why it is a choice used so widely among Slovenian managers. The article additionally evaluates and analyses the consequences why the specific organisational structure was implemented in a specific case. My research is also based on the analyses if negative reactions of the employees affect the implementation of the specific organisational structure or its withdrawal.Pravila ali postopke, ki bi vodili do pravilne izbire organizacijske strukture, ni mogoče natančno določiti, saj unikatnost podjetja, projekta in poslovnega okolja zahteva samostojno obravnavo situacije. V okviru kvalitativne raziskave je bila uporabljena metoda dela polstrukturiran intevju, kar je med drugim pokazalo, da je izbira primerne organizacijske oblike v okviru krovnega podjetja precej težavna naloga. V prispevku gre za razpravo, katera vrsta organizacijske strukture v splošnem prevladuje, oziroma zakaj jo udeleženci v procesu ravnanja projektov najpogosteje uporabljajo. Hkrati so me zanimali vzročni dejavniki, zaradi katerih je bila uporabljena konkretna organizacijska struktura. Raziskal sem tudi, ali lahko (negativni) odzivi zaposlenih vplivajo na izbrano organizacijsko strukturo in njeno morebitno zamenjavo

A new approach to classification of 40 years of Antarctic sea ice concentration data

In this paper, we present a characterization of Antarctic sea ice based on the classification of annual sea ice concentration (SIC) data from 1979 to 2018. A clustering algorithm was applied to provide a climatological description of significant annual cycles of SIC and their spatial distribution around the Southern Ocean. Based on these classification results, we investigate the variability of SIC cycles on decadal and inter‐annual time scales. First, we discuss significant spatial shifts of SIC cycles during 1979–1998 and 1999–2018. In the Weddell Sea and in large parts of the Ross Sea, we observed higher SIC during the summer season, and an extension of sea ice cover in winter compared to the long‐term average. Second, we introduce the Climatological Sea Ice Anomaly Index (CSIAI), which is an annual measure for year‐round sea ice anomalies of the Southern Ocean and its regional sub‐sectors. By relating selected years of significant sea ice conditions (1981, 2007 and 2014) with atmospheric influences, we demonstrate that the CSIAI is very useful for assessing inter‐annular Antarctic SIC variability. Positive and negative sea ice anomalies can be qualitatively explained by atmospheric circulation anomalies in the years 1981 and 2007. However, in 2014, the year with the largest observed sea ice extent in our time series, we found that this positive sea ice anomaly was surprisingly not associated with a stationary and inter‐seasonally persistent pattern of circulation anomaly. This suggests that sub‐seasonal to seasonal circulation anomalies and ocean‐related processes favoured the formation of the sea ice maximum in 2014. With this study we provide additional information on the long‐term annual SIC variability around Antarctica. Furthermore, our classification approach and its results have potential for application in the evaluation of sea ice model results

Peptide Bbeta(15-42) preserves endothelial barrier function in shock

Loss of vascular barrier function causes leak of fluid and proteins into tissues, extensive leak leads to shock and death. Barriers are largely formed by endothelial cell-cell contacts built up by VE-cadherin and are under the control of RhoGTPases. Here we show that a natural plasmin digest product of fibrin, peptide Bß15-42 (also called FX06), significantly reduces vascular leak and mortality in animal models for Dengue shock syndrome. The ability of Bß15-42 to preserve endothelial barriers is confirmed in rats i.v.-injected with LPS. In endothelial cells, Bß15-42 prevents thrombin-induced stress fiber formation, myosin light chain phosphorylation and RhoA activation. The molecular key for the protective effect of Bß15-42 is the src kinase Fyn, which associates with VE-cadherin-containing junctions. Following exposure to Bß15-42 Fyn dissociates from VE-cadherin and associates with p190RhoGAP, a known antagonists of RhoA activation. The role of Fyn in transducing effects of Bß15-42 is confirmed in Fyn -/- mice, where the peptide is unable to reduce LPS-induced lung edema, whereas in wild type littermates the peptide significantly reduces leak. Our results demonstrate a novel function for Bß15-42. Formerly mainly considered as a degradation product occurring after fibrin inactivation, it has now to be considered as a signaling molecule. It stabilizes endothelial barriers and thus could be an attractive adjuvant in the treatment of shock