Two-domains bulklike Fermi surface of Ag films deposited onto Si(111)-(7x7)

Thick metallic silver films have been deposited onto Si(111)-(7x7) substrates at room temperature. Their electronic properties have been studied by using angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES). In addition to the electronic band dispersion along the high-symmetry directions, the Fermi surface topology of the grown films has been investigated. Using ARPES, the spectral weight distribution at the Fermi level throughout large portions of the reciprocal space has been determined at particular perpendicular electron-momentum values. Systematically, the contours of the Fermi surface of these films reflected a sixfold symmetry instead of the threefold symmetry of Ag single crystal. This loss of symmetry has been attributed to the fact that these films appear to be composed by two sets of domains rotated 60$^o$ from each other. Extra, photoemission features at the Fermi level were also detected, which have been attributed to the presence of surface states and \textit{sp}-quantum states. The dimensionality of the Fermi surface of these films has been analyzed studying the dependence of the Fermi surface contours with the incident photon energy. The behavior of these contours measured at particular points along the Ag $\Gamma$L high-symmetry direction puts forward the three-dimensional character of the electronic structure of the films investigated.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Physical Review

Discovery and fine-mapping of glycaemic and obesity-related trait loci using high-density imputation

Reference panels from the 1000 Genomes (1000G) Project Consortium provide near complete coverage of common and low-frequency genetic variation with minor allele frequency ≥0.5% across European ancestry populations. Within the European Network for Genetic and Genomic Epidemiology (ENGAGE) Consortium, we have undertaken the first large-scale meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), supplemented by 1000G imputation, for four quantitative glycaemic and obesity-related traits, in up to 87,048 individuals of European ancestry. We identified two loci for body mass index (BMI) at genome-wide significance, and two for fasting glucose (FG), none of which has been previously reported in larger meta-analysis efforts to combine GWAS of European ancestry. Through conditional analysis, we also detected multiple distinct signals of association mapping to established loci for waist-hip ratio adjusted for BMI (RSPO3) and FG (GCK and G6PC2). The index variant for one association signal at the G6PC2 locus is a low-frequency coding allele, H177Y, which has recently been demonstrated to have a functional role in glucose regulation. Fine-mapping analyses revealed that the non-coding variants most likely to drive association signals at established and novel loci were enriched for overlap with enhancer elements, which for FG mapped to promoter and transcription factor binding sites in pancreatic islets, in particular. Our study demonstrates that 1000G imputation and genetic fine-mapping of common and low-frequency variant association signals at GWAS loci, integrated with genomic annotation in relevant tissues, can provide insight into the functional and regulatory mechanisms through which their effects on glycaemic and obesity-related traits are mediated

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2,3,4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Teaching IT through storytelling

This article explores the use of storytelling as part of an overall approach to the teaching of information technology in tertiary education. The author defines the context of use of storytelling in terms of the various types of education being delivered and the delivery methods, and then explores the potential uses and benefits of storytelling. A sample story is included and briefly analysed to illustrate how a story might be used; the author also reports on his own experiences of the use of storytelling in his teaching activities. Finally, a detailed checklist is presented of the issues to be considered when using the storytelling approach

African business schools : information and communication technology survey

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to report on research into the status of information and communication technology in use at members of the Association of African Business Schools (AABS). DESIGN / METHODOLOGY / APPROACH: The research reported on in this paper was carried out using a questionnaire sent by email to the target population (all the members of the AABS). The questionnaire covered a wide range of issues, including information technology strategy and governance, as well as the operational aspects of the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the institutions surveyed. Questions were based on topics identified from the literature and a recent industry survey conducted in one of the member countries, and the assessment criteria were based on a maturity rating scale. FINDINGS: This research helps to further an understanding of the use of ICT in the organisations that responded to the survey. Overall, there was a high level of understanding or applicability (over 95%) among the topics surveyed across all schools, but there was a significant proportion where no action on that topic had yet been taken (over 30% of all maturity ratings across all respondents). Average maturity rating across all topics for all respondents was 2.3 (action taken but an informal approach to the topic is currently used) on a scale from 0 to 5. Implications: This research has important implications for the organisations responding to the survey and their awareness of the issues they face as institutions that seek to leverage their investments in ICT to raise their own competitive position and thus that of African organisations which have students educated at these business schools. There are also implications for the future success of the newly-formed AABS and its other initiatives in terms of meeting the objectives of the Association. ORIGINALITY / VALUE: This research is original in terms of which there is a broad understanding of the extent to which ICT is available and in use amongst the members of the AABS. Prior to the foundation of the Association, no suitable forum existed for the conduct of this research. The originality therefore, is in the opportunity presented to form a broader understanding of the status of the use of ICT to support the activities of business schools across Africa. The value of this research may be applied to both those respondents to the survey, other members of the AABS and other business schools operating in Africa that wish to understand the issues in the field of ICT that they should be addressing

Once upon a time in Africa : a case study of storytelling for knowledge sharing

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to report on research conducted into the use of stories and storytelling to share knowledge in a large mining company based in South Africa. The paper shows how the use of oral methods combined with other media can be used to support a number of different objectives and yield a wide variety of benefits. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This paper presents the results of a case study which used a largely qualitative approach to gather data on a specific community of practice within the case study company. FINDINGS: The research identified an innovative approach being used to combine a number of approaches to sharing knowledge through the use of stories and storytelling, in particular graphical representation of the stories and the use of graphics in conjunction with oral storytelling methods. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: This research was conducted in only one company, in one country. Further research would be necessary to further test the effectiveness of the approaches identified in this case. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The innovative approach of combining media and methods for sharing knowledge through stories and storytelling represent an opportunity for other organisations to use similar techniques in their efforts to improve knowledge sharing. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This is the first time that a case study exploring the use of stories and storytelling in the South African mining industry has used empirical research findings to evaluate the use of stories and storytelling. Significant value may be gained by others seeking to understand how best to use stories and storytelling to share knowledge

An analysis of opinions from veterinarians in South Africa regarding business management skills

The changing role of veterinarians in the global market is a current topic of debate and discussion. Few countries including South Africa have formally examined the changing dynamics of this profession. Therefore, the present study addressed 2 objectives. The 1st was to examine basic information about veterinarians in South Africa including their age, gender and distribution across provinces, the percentage whose practice was urban, rural or periurban, the numbers working with specific animal species, and the extent of business management and skills previously gained. The 2nd objective was to obtain opinions and insights from veterinarians in South Africa about the challenges and opportunities facing their business practices to better understand what they considered important dynamics to their businesses today. Several areas of business on which they were questioned and which were included in this study were: marketing, vision, human resources, leadership, financial management, ethics, competition, day-to-day operations, interpersonal skills and information management. This is the 1st known survey to employ a questionnaire to gain insights and opinions from veterinarians about business management skills

Knowledge management measurement in South African organisations

This article explores the status of knowledge management (KM) measurement in South African organisations. KM has been advocated by some observers as the only way of maintaining a competitive advantage in today's global economy, but if KM is not to fade away as yet another `management fad', it needs practical implementation models and measures to determine if it adds value. Considerable international research into KM models and measures exists, and several projects are afoot to derive KM standards, but there has been very little research in South Africa in this regard. This article investigates whether organisations in South Africa are using KM measurement models and measures, and if so, which ones. In particular, the authors wanted to establish if the measures used conform to one of the published approaches, namely that of the British Standards Institute (BSI). A descriptive quantitative research methodology was employed, using a semi-structured questionnaire e-mailed to a target population derived from non-probability purposive sampling. In the sample of eighteen organisations 94 per cent were found to be using KM measurement models, albeit from a much wider range than has been recorded elsewhere. In terms of measures, 89 per cent of the sample were found to be using measures, and all of these were using at least some of those recommended by the BSI

Storytelling and knowledge management : what's the story so far?

One of the realities of knowledge management is that individuals, teams and organisations are constantly searching for better ways to share their knowledge. Could the use of stories and storytelling help in this search? This article reviews the key ideas associated with the concept of stories and the use of storytelling as a tool for knowledge-sharing in a corporate environment. The authors explore the use of an existing three-part model for storytelling, as well as the benefits to be obtained from the use of storytelling. An implementation plan is presented to help guide individuals and organisations that are planning to use stories and storytelling as part of a knowledge-sharing strategy