746 research outputs found
Assessing the value dimensions of social enterprise networks
Purpose
Despite the importance gained by social enterprises (SEs) and the increased number of social enterprise networks (SENs) in the UK, there is a paucity of research into the role of these networks in enhancing the sector and creating value. The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence assessing this value.
Design/methodology/approach
The assessment and insights were derived through a concurrent mixed method data collection strategy with 241 responses from members of SEs in the UK.
Findings
In terms of frequency, the use of SENs is still sporadic, denoting an immature stage of network lifecycle development. Moreover, it was identified that usage was affected primarily by the perceived usefulness of the information available. The ultimate value created was primarily of an informative nature rather than knowledge exchange.
Practical implications
A framework is developed describing the structure, content and interaction dimensions of value of SENs. The understanding of this value offers opportunities to shape government interventions and current practices of SENs in assisting SEs and providing an active, knowledge sharing community.
Originality/value
By exploring the value perceived by social entrepreneurs of being part of an SEN, the paper considered an under-researched area of SE literature that can maximised the impact of the sector
An Actor-Network Theory perspective to study the non-adoption of a collaborative technology intended to support online community participation
Infinite-dimensional representations of the rotation group and Dirac's monopole problem
Within the context of infinite-dimensional representations of the rotation
group the Dirac monopole problem is studied in details. Irreducible
infinite-dimensional representations, being realized in the indefinite metric
Hilbert space, are given by linear unbounded operators in infinite-dimensional
topological spaces, supplied with a weak topology and associated weak
convergence. We argue that an arbitrary magnetic charge is allowed, and the
Dirac quantization condition can be replaced by a generalized quantization rule
yielding a new quantum number, the so-called topological spin, which is related
to the weight of the Dirac string.Comment: JHEP style. Extended version of hep-th/0403146. Revised version,
title and some notations are changed. References and Appendix B are adde
Reassessing the LIS approach to traditional knowledge: learning from Xochimilco, Mexico city
Purpose – The study aims to understand the nature of traditional knowledge by examining how it is used and reinvented in the context of Xochimilco in Mexico City.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on field site visits and focus group interviews.
Findings – Traditional knowledge was being reinvented in two contrasting ways. One was based on heritage tourism drawing on syncretism between Aztec and Spanish culture in the formation of Xochimilco. The other was agro-ecological focussed on traditional farming practices on the chinampas, their productivity, their ability to sustain biodiversity and their link to social justice. There were some common elements, such as a passionate concern with retaining a valued past in the face of growing threat.
Research limitations/implications – Traditional knowledge is often seen as a static heritage, under threat. But it also has the potential to be a fertile source of strong identities and sustainable practices.
Originality/value – The paper helps to conceptualise the dynamic character of traditional knowledge
Immunoablation of cells expressing the NG2 chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan
YesExpression of the transmembrane NG2 chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG) defines a distinct population
of NG2-glia. NG2-glia serve as a regenerative pool of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the adult central
nervous system (CNS), which is important for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and are a major
component of the glial scar that inhibits axon regeneration after CNS injury. In addition, NG2-glia form unique
neuron–glial synapses with unresolved functions. However, to date it has proven difficult to study the
importance of NG2-glia in any of these functions using conventional transgenic NG2 ‘knockout’ mice. To
overcome this, we aimed to determine whether NG2-glia can be targeted using an immunotoxin approach. We
demonstrate that incubation in primary anti-NG2 antibody in combination with secondary saporin-conjugated
antibody selectively kills NG2-expressing cells in vitro. In addition, we provide evidence that the same protocol
induces the loss of NG2-glia without affecting astrocyte or neuronal numbers in cerebellar brain slices from
postnatal mice. This study shows that targeting the NG2 CSPG with immunotoxins is an effective and selective
means for killing NG2-glia, which has important implications for studying the functions of these enigmatic cells
both in the normal CNS, and in demyelination and degeneration
Manipulation of exciton and trion quasiparticles in monolayer WS2 via charge transfer
Charge doping in transition metal dichalcogenide is currently a subject of high importance for future electronic and optoelectronic applications. Here, we demonstrate chemical doping in the CVD-grown monolayer (1L) of WS2 by a few commonly used laboratory solvents by investigating the room temperature photoluminescence (PL). The appearance of distinct trionic emission in the PL spectra and quenched PL intensities suggests n-type doping in WS2. The temperature-dependent PL spectra of the doped 1L-WS2 reveal a significant enhancement of trions emission intensity over the excitonic emission at low temperature, indicating the stability of trion at low temperature. The temperature-dependent exciton-trion population dynamic has been modeled using the law of mass action of trion formation. These results shed light on the solution-based chemical doping in 1L-WS2 and its profound effect on the photoluminescence which is essential for the control of optical and electrical properties for optoelectronic applications
Singular Vectors and Topological Theories from Virasoro Constraints via the Kontsevich-Miwa Transform
We use the Kontsevich-Miwa transform to relate the different pictures
describing matter coupled to topological gravity in two dimensions: topological
theories, Virasoro constraints on integrable hierarchies, and a DDK-type
formalism. With the help of the Kontsevich-Miwa transform, we solve the
Virasoro constraints on the KP hierarchy in terms of minimal models dressed
with a (free) Liouville-like scalar. The dressing prescription originates in a
topological (twisted N=2) theory. The Virasoro constraints are thus related to
essentially the N=2 null state decoupling equations. The N=2 generators are
constructed out of matter, the `Liouville' scalar, and ghosts. By a
`dual' construction involving the reparametrization ghosts, the DDK
dressing prescription is reproduced from the N=2 symmetry. As a by-product we
thus observe that there are two ways to dress arbitrary or
matter theory, that allow its embedding into a topological theory. By th e
Kontsevich-Miwa transform, which introduces an infinite set of `time' variables
, the equations ensuring the vanishing of correlators that involve
BRST-exact primary states, factorize through the Virasoro generators expressed
in terms of the . The background charge of these Virasoro generators is
determined by the topological central charge.Comment: 62p. LaTeX, CERN-TH.6752, IMAFF-92/8, revised (minor corrections,
typos) easy-fontversio
On the Equivalence of Affine sl(2) and N=2 Superconformal Representation Theories
There exist two different languages, the ^sl(2) and N=2 ones, to describe
similar structures; a dictionary is given translating the key
representation-theoretic terms related to the two algebras. The main tool to
describe the structure of ^sl(2) and N=2 modules is provided by diagrams of
extremal vectors. The ^sl(2) and N=2 representation theories of certain
highest-weight types turn out to be equivalent modulo the respective spectral
flows.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX209, needs bezier.sty. Contribution to the proceedings
of the 30th Int. Symposium Ahrenshoop on the theory of elementary particles,
Buckow, Germany, August 27--31, 199
Abordaje del dolor en pacientes con cáncer. Revisión de las principales guías de tratamiento del dolor oncológico
El dolor es uno de los principales síntomas en pacientes con cáncer. El tratamiento actual se basa en la escalera analgésica de la OMS, siendo los fármacos opioides los más usados y la morfina el fármaco prototipo. Una de las técnicas más utilizadas es la llamada rotación de opioides, que consiste en la sustitución de un opioide por otro para conseguir un balance positivo entre los resultados analgésicos y la aparición de efectos adversos. Cuando no se consigue controlar con fármacos analgésicos, se recurre a tratamientos coadyuvantes y técnicas de neuromodulación. El manejo del dolor oncológico es complejo, lo que favorece que no esté bien controlado. Por ello, es necesario un equipo multidisciplinar en el que el farmacéutico esté integrado y pueda ayudar a mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente
Cold cathode emission studies on topographically modified few layer and single layer MoS2 films
Nanostructured materials, such as carbon nanotubes, are excellent cold cathode emitters. Here, we report comparative field emission (FE) studies on topographically tailored few layer MoS2films consisting of ⟨0001⟩ plane perpendicular (⊥) to c-axis (i.e., edge terminated vertically aligned) along with planar few layer and monolayer (1L) MoS2films. FE measurements exhibited lower turn-on field Eto (defined as required applied electric field to emit current density of 10 μA/cm2) ∼4.5 V/μm and higher current density ∼1 mA/cm2, for edge terminated vertically aligned (ETVA) MoS2films. However, Eto magnitude for planar few layer and 1L MoS2films increased further to 5.7 and 11 V/μm, respectively, with one order decrease in emission current density. The observed differences in emission behavior, particularly for ETVA MoS2 is attributed to the high value of geometrical field enhancement factor (β), found to be ∼1064, resulting from the large confinement of localized electric field at edge exposed nanograins. Emission behavior of planar few layers and 1L MoS2films are explained under a two step emission mechanism. Our studies suggest that with further tailoring the microstructure of ultra thin ETVA MoS2films would result in elegant FE properties
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