144 research outputs found
Problematizing fit and survival: transforming the law of requisite variety through complexity misalignment
The law of requisite variety is widely employed in management theorizing and is linked with core strategy themes such as contingency and fit. We reflect upon requisite variety as an archetypal borrowed concept. We contrast its premises with insights from the institutional literature and commitment literature, draw propositions that set boundaries to its applicability, and review the ramifications of what we call âcomplexity misalignment.â In this way we contradict foundational assumptions of the law, problematize adaptation- and survival-centric views of strategizing, and theorize the role of human agency in variously complex regimes
International Business as disciplinary tautology: an ontological perspective
The identity, legitimacy, and sustainability of international business (IB) as a research field are at stake. IB is being overtaken by the evolution of industries and technology, and critical voices challenge its distinctiveness and value. We identify IBâs ambiguous conceptual space, articulate the roots of the problem, and suggest a perspective for re-legitimizing the discipline. Specifically, we contend that redrawing legitimate knowledge boundaries for IB requires an ontological shift. In this respect, we promote a focus on the processual constitution of international entities across time and a reconceptualization of IB as the amalgamation of local and international forces. The perspective we advocate aims to counterbalance the disciplinary tautology suffered by current IB conceptualizations and to open up the discussion on boundary identification in the field
Agentic misfit: an empirical demonstration of non-matching human agency amid complexity
Alignment of organizations with external imperatives is seen as a sine qua non of proper organizing and strategizing by many fit and complexity scholars. Any deviation from this management mantra engenders organizational decline and, ultimately, mortality. We put this axiomatic principle under empirical scrutiny and use the law of requisite variety as our organizing principle to do so. The law is an iconic cornerstone of this matching contingency logic and it has served to legitimize a wide range of fit decisions in e.g., leadership, organizational learning or corporate governance. Inspired by organizational vignettes inhabiting antithetical complexity regimes, we introduce a novel concept, which we label as âagentic misfitâ. In this way, we deconstruct deterministic assumptions related to environmental fittingness, we challenge teleological orientations in the fit literature and, we flesh out the viability of non-matching human agency amid complexity
Value migration: digitalization of shipping as a mechanism of industry dethronement
In this conceptual paper, we review latest developments related to unmanned vessels and sketch potential scenarios that implicate with the existing maritime industry structure. On the one hand, we isolate a range of challenges that make the imminent realization of unmanned vessels seem like a rather utopian pursuit. On the other hand, we explain the reasons that may catalyse their emergence. Inspired by these opposing tensions, we highlight that the digital transformation of the shipping industry has the potential to enhance value within the industryâs ecosystem. However, we also contend that unmanned vessels -if realized- pose a very particular threat to the identity of the shipping industry as we know it. In particular, we build upon the concept of value migration and we highlight the drastic existential changes that may likely stem from a shift to non-seafarer-centric shipping. We conclude with questions that matter for industry dethronement purposes i.e., the possibility that existing industry structures may be substantially reconfigured following a removal of the seafarer as the nucleus of value creation in shipping
Polarized Deformed Nuclei Studied via Coincidence Polarized Electron Scattering: The case of 21 Ne
Coincidence reactions of the type \svec{A}(\svec{e},e'N)B involving the
scattering of polarized electrons from deformed polarized targets are discussed
within the context of the plane--wave impulse approximation. A general
expression for the polarized spectral function for transitions leaving the
residual nucleus in discrete states is presented. General properties and
angular symmetries exhibited by the polarization observables are discussed in
detail. Results for unpolarized cross sections as well as for polarization
ratios (asymmetries) are obtained for typical quasi--free kinematics. The
dependences of the polarization observables on the bound neutron momentum,
target polarization orientation, nuclear deformation and value of the momentum
transfer are discussed in detail for various different kinematical
situations.Comment: 37 pages in Plain TeX, MIT-CTP-209
Scaling and confinement aspects of tadpole improved SU(2) lattice gauge theory and its abelian projection
Using a tadpole improved SU(2) gluodynamics action, the nonabelian potential
and the abelian potential after the abelian projection are computed. Rotational
invariance is found restored at coarse lattices both in the nonabelian theory
and in the effective abelian theory resulting from maximal abelian projection.
Asymptotic scaling is tested for the SU(2) string tension. Deviation of the
order of is found, for lattice spacings between 0.27 and 0.06 fm. Evidence
for asymptotic scaling and scaling of the monopole density in maximal abelian
projection is also seen, but not at coarse lattices. The scaling behavior is
compared with analyses of Wilson action results, using bare and renormalized
coupling schemes. Using extended monopoles, evidence is found that the gauge
dependence of the abelian projection reflects short distance fluctuations, and
may thus disappear at large scales.Comment: 28 pages, RevTeX, 12 figures using epsfig (included); accepted for
publication in Physical Revie
Multiscale analysis of human tissue engineered matrices for heart valve tissue engineering applications
Human tissue-engineered matrices (hTEMs) have been proposed as a promising approach for in-situ tissue engineered heart valves (TEHVs). However, there is still a limited understanding on how ECM composition in hTEMs develops over tissue culture time. Therefore, we performed a longitudinal hTEM assessment by 1) multiscale evaluation of hTEM composition during culture time (2, 4, 6-weeks), using (immuno)histology, biochemical assays, and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); 2) analysis of protein pathways involved in ECM development using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA); and 3) assessment of hTEM mechanical characterization using uniaxial tensile testing. Finally, as proof-of-concept, TEHVs manufactured using 6-weeks hTEM samples were tested in a pulse duplicator. LC-MS/MS confirmed the tissue culture time-dependent increase in ECM proteins observed in histology and biochemical assays, revealing the most abundant collagens (COL6,COL12), proteoglycans (HSPG2,VCAN), and glycoproteins (FN,TNC). GSEA identified the most represented protein pathways in the hTEM at 2-weeks (mRNA metabolic processes), 4-weeks (ECM production), and 6-weeks (ECM organization and maturation). Uniaxial mechanical testing showed increased stiffness and stress at failure, and reduction in strain over tissue culture time. hTEM-based TEHVs demonstrated promising in vitro performance at both pulmonary and aortic pressure conditions, with symmetric leaflet coaptation and no stenosis. In conclusion, ECM protein abundance and maturation increased over tissue culture time, with consequent improvement of hTEM mechanical characterics. These findings suggest that longer tissue culture impacts tissue organization, leading to an hTEM that may be suitable for high-pressure applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : It is believed that the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the human tissue engineered matrices (hTEM) may favor tissue engineered heart valve (TEHV) remodeling upon implantation. However, the exact protein composition of the hTEM, and how this impacts tissue mechanical properties, remains unclear. Hence, we developed a reproducible rotation-based tissue culture method to produce hTEM samples. We performed a longitudinal assessment using different analytical techniques and mass spectrometry. Our data provided an in-depth characterization of the hTEM proteome with focus on ECM components, their development, and how they may impact the mechanical properties. Based on these results, we manufactured functional hTEM-based TEHVs at aortic-like condition in vitro. These outcomes pose an important step in translating hTEM-based TEHVs into clinics and in predicting their remodeling potential upon implantation
String breaking by dynamical fermions in three-dimensional lattice QCD
The first observation is made of hadronic string breaking due to dynamical
fermions in zero temperature lattice QCD. The simulations are done for SU(2)
color in three dimensions, with two flavors of staggered fermions. The results
have clear implications for the large scale simulations that are being done to
search (so far, without success) for string breaking in four-dimensional QCD.
In particular, string breaking is readily observed using only Wilson loops to
excite a static quark-antiquark pair. Improved actions on coarse lattices are
used, providing an extremely efficient means to access the quark separations
and propagation times at which string breaking occurs.Comment: Revised version to appear in Physical Review D, has additional
discussion of the results, additional references, modified title, larger
figure
Relativistic Effects in the Electromagnetic Current at GeV Energies
We employ a recent approach to the non-relativistic reduction of the
electromagnetic current operator in calculations of electronuclear reactions.
In contrast to the traditional scheme, where approximations are made for the
transferred momentum, transferred energy and initial momentum of the struck
nucleon in obtaining an on-shell inspired form for the current, we treat the
problem exactly for the transferred energy and transferred momentum. We
calculate response functions for the reaction at CEBAF (TJNAF)
energies and find large relativistic corrections. We also show that in Plane
Wave Impulse Approximation, it is always possible to use the full operator, and
we present a comparison of such a limiting case with the results incorporating
relativistic effects to the first order in the initial momentum of the struck
nucleon.Comment: 31 pages, 8 figures, Revte
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