The impact of digital technology on business operational performance: A study on Chinese SMEs

The existing research shows that digital technologies are effective in improving organizational performance. However, the current research is yet to answer exactly which dimensions of the firm's capabilities are shaped by the use of digital technologies and how these capabilities affect the firm's operational performance. Therefore, this thesis tries to address the following questions based on the above discussions: (1) How do digital technologies affect operational performance? (2) How do digital technologies shape different dimensions of firms' capabilities? (3) How do firms' capabilities affect firms' operational performance? (4) What factors moderate the relationship between digital technology and operational performance? In order to address the above questions, this study used a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Specifically, over 260,000 words of interview data from 46 senior corporate executives were collected. Then, following the steps of the procedural grounded theory analysis, this thesis proposes a model framework. Furthermore, based on the model framework, this thesis empirically validated how digital technologies affect the firms’ operational performance by using questionnaires and structural equation modeling. The results show that the application of digital technology is positively related to the ability of digital empowerment of enterprises. Employee engagement positively moderates the relationship between digital technology and digital technology-enabled capabilities. Digital technology-enabled dynamic capability in turn is positively related with organizational innovation performance. Industry competition enhances the role of digital technology-enabled dynamic capability in promoting innovation performance. Enterprise innovation performance is positively associated with enterprise operation performance.A investigação existente mostra que as tecnologias digitais são eficazes na melhoria do desempenho organizacional. No entanto, é ainda necessário identificar exatamente quais as dimensões das capacidades da empresa que são moldadas pelo uso de tecnologias digitais e como essas capacidades afetam o desempenho operacional da empresa. Portanto, esta tese tenta abordar as seguintes questões: (1) Como é que as tecnologias digitais afetam o desempenho operacional? (2) Como é que as tecnologias digitais moldam diferentes dimensões das capacidades das empresas? (3) Como é que as capacidades das empresas afetam o desempenho operacional das empresas? (4) Quais os fatores que atuam como moderadores da relação entre a tecnologia digital e o desempenho operacional? Com o objetivo de responder às questões acima, este estudo usou uma combinação de métodos de pesquisa qualitativos e quantitativos. Especificamente, foram recolhidas mais de 260.000 palavras a partir dos dados das entrevistas a 46 altos executivos empresariais. De seguida, tendo em conta a análise a "procedural grounded theory", esta tese propõe um modelo de enquadramento. Além disso, com base na estrutura do modelo, esta tese validou empiricamente como as tecnologias digitais afetam o desempenho operacional das empresas usando questionários e modelação de equações estruturais. Os resultados mostram que a aplicação da tecnologia digital está positivamente relacionada com a proficiência na digitalização das empresas. O envolvimento dos funcionários impacta positivamente a relação entre a tecnologia digital e os recursos ativados por essa tecnologia digital. O dinamismo potenciado pela tecnologia digital, está por sua vez, positivamente relacionado com o desempenho da inovação organizacional. A competição da indústria aumenta o papel da capacidade dinâmica habilitada pela tecnologia digital na promoção do desempenho da inovação. O desempenho da inovação empresarial está positivamente associado ao desempenho operacional da empresa

Effects of silicon on mechanical properties of AM60 magnesium alloy

Silicon was added to improve the tensile, wear and creep behaviors of AM60 magnesium alloy in this study. The investigation has been undertaken by means of universal testing machine, HBE-3000A Brinell hardness tester, M-2000 friction-wear machine, DMA-Q800 creep machine, optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the Chinese script type Mg2Si particles are formed by adding Si into the AM60 magnesium alloy. The ultimate tensile strength and hardness of the AM60 magnesium alloy increases with the Si addition, and the ultimate tensile strength and hardness of the AM60+1.0wt.%Si alloy are increased by 12% and 19.8%, respectively in comparison with that of the AM60 magnesium alloy. The wear property and the high temperature creep property of the AM60 magnesium alloy are also improved with Si addition. The wear mechanisms of the AM60 and AM60+1.0wt.%Si alloys are adhesive wear and abrasion wear, respectively. While, the elongation of the AM60 magnesium alloy decreases with the addition of Si. The optimum Si addition content is 1.0wt.%

Genome-wide screen for modifiers of Parkinson's disease genes in Drosophila

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mutations in <it>parkin </it>and <it>PTEN-induced kinase 1 </it>(<it>Pink1) </it>lead to autosomal recessive forms of Parkinson's disease (PD). <it>parkin </it>and <it>Pink1 </it>encode a ubiquitin-protein ligase and a mitochondrially localized serine/threonine kinase, respectively. Recent studies have implicated Parkin and Pink1 in a common and evolutionarily conserved pathway for protecting mitochondrial integrity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To systematically identify novel components of the PD pathways, we generated a genetic background that allowed us to perform a genome-wide F1 screen for modifiers of <it>Drosophila parkin </it>(<it>park</it>) and <it>Pink1 </it>mutant phenotype. From screening ~80% of the fly genome, we identified a number of cytological regions that interact with <it>park </it>and/or <it>Pink1</it>. Among them, four cytological regions were selected for identifying corresponding PD-interacting genes. By analyzing smaller <it>deficiency </it>chromosomes, available transgenic RNAi lines, and P-element insertions, we identified five PD-interacting genes. Among them, <it>opa1 </it>and <it>drp1 </it>have been previously implicated in the PD pathways, whereas <it>debra (dbr), Pi3K21B </it>and <it>β4GalNAcTA </it>are novel PD-interacting genes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We took an unbiased genetic approach to systematically isolate modifiers of PD genes in <it>Drosophila</it>. Further study of novel PD-interacting genes will shed new light on the function of PD genes and help in the development of new therapeutic strategies for treating Parkinson's disease.</p

The SH2/SH3 Adaptor Protein Dock Interacts with the Ste20-like Kinase Misshapen in Controlling Growth Cone Motility

AbstractRecent studies suggest that the SH2/SH3 adaptor Dock/Nck transduces tyrosine phosphorylation signals to the actin cytoskeleton in regulating growth cone motility. The signaling cascade linking the action of Dock/Nck to the reorganization of cytoskeleton is poorly understood. We now demonstrate that Dock interacts with the Ste20-like kinase Misshapen (Msn) in the Drosophila photoreceptor (R cell) growth cones. Loss of msn causes a failure of growth cones to stop at the target, a phenotype similar to loss of dock, whereas overexpression of msn induces pretarget growth cone termination. Physical and genetic interactions between Msn and Dock indicate a role for Msn in the Dock signaling pathway. We propose that Msn functions as a key controller of growth cone cytoskeleton in response to Dock-mediated signals

N-Benzyl­idenenordehydro­abietylamine

The title compound [systematic name: (1R,4aS,10aR,E)-N-benzyl­idene-7-isopropyl-1,4a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octa­hydro­phenanthren-1-amine], C26H33N, has been synthesized from nor-dehydro­abietylamine and benzaldehyde. The two cyclo­hexane rings form a trans ring junction with classic chair and half-chair conformations, respectively, the two methyl groups are on the same side of tricyclic hydro­phenanthrene structure. The dihedral angle between two benzene rings is 44.2 (4)°. The C=N bond is in an E configuration

N-(2-Pyridylmethyleneamino)dehydro­abietylamine

The title compound {systematic name: 1-[(1R,4aS,10aR)-7-isopropyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octa­hydro­phenanthren-1-yl]-N-[(E)-2-pyridylmethyleneamino]methanamine}, C26H33N2, has been synthesized from dehydro­abietylamine. The two cyclo­hexane rings form a trans ring junction with classic chair and half-chair conformations, respectively, whereas the benzene and pyridine rings are almost planar, and the dihedral angle between them is 80.4°. The two methyl groups directly attached to the tricyclic nucleus are on the same side of the tricyclic hydro­phenanthrene structure

The R Coronae Borealis stars - carbon abundances from forbidden carbon lines

Spectra of several R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars at maximum light were examined for the [C I] 9850 A and 8727 A absorption lines. The 9850 A line is variously blended with a Fe II and CN lines but positive identifications of the [C I] line are made for R CrB and SU Tau. The 8727 A line is detected in the spectrum of the five stars observed in this wavelength region. Carbon abundances are derived from the [C I] lines using the model atmospheres and atmospheric parameters used by Asplund et al. (2000). Although the observed strength of a C I line is constant from cool to hot RCB stars, the strength is weaker than predicted by an amount equivalent to a factor of four reduction of a line's gf-value. Asplund et al. dubbed this 'the carbon problem' and discussed possible solutions. The [C I] 9850 A line seen clearly in R CrB and SU Tau confirms the magnitude of the carbon problem revealed by the C I lines. The [C I] 8727 A line measured in five stars shows an enhanced carbon problem. The gf-value required to fit the observed [C I] 8727 A line is a factor of 15 less than the well-determined theoretical gf-value. We suggest that the carbon problem for all lines may be alleviated to some extent by a chromospheric-like temperature rise in these stars. The rise far exceeds that predicted by our non-LTE calculations, and requires a substantial deposition of mechanical energy.Comment: 11 pages (embedded 5 figures and 3 tables), accepted for publication in MNRA