Change management and cultural factors: A study of German and Chinese middle-managers’ behaviour in Sino-German automobile joint ventures

Purpose and objective: The study sought to establish a conceptual framework model (Figure 12, p. 104) for, and to make recommendations for automobile producing companies involved in a Sino-German joint venture based in China. The objective of this thesis was to understand the perspectives of German and Chinese middle managers working in a cross-cultural environment to enhance their collaborative work. My aim was to add to knowledge of decision-making processes in this context and to assist middle managers with understanding cultural differences in order to reduce staff resistance to change. Design and methodology: The study follows a constructivist philosophy and was conducted according to a descriptive qualitative method, using semi-structured interviews with German and Chinese middle managers working together in the same department in Beijing. The key literature that underpinned the study was based on Albach et al. (2015), Wooldridge et al. (2008) and Ghemawat and Reiche’s (2011) research and concepts. The data obtained were clustered using the Zwicky Box method (Table 5, p. 87; Zwicky, 1969) and a decision matrix (Table 4, p. 86; Lorenz, 2010) to discover the main topics to process as the findings and recommendations. The interview method assisted with the ethical obligation to maintain anonymity, which was essential as the interview partners were sources of in-depth information required to develop the practice-based framework for middle managers. Findings: My findings concern matters such as cultural differences, language issues, hierarchical structures, compliance, relationship-building, technical improvements, good management skills, and corporate culture in joint ventures. The need to improve communication and information flow for middle managers by means of a communication model (Figure 12, p. 104) is a significant finding, as are improving cross-cultural qualifications and instituting appropriate hiring practices. Contribution to knowledge and practice: My findings make a significant contribution to the topic of complex cross-cultural collaboration in joint ventures. The research presents an appropriate communication model and establishes a conceptual framework. Research limitations and implications: The implementation of the model in other industries should be the subject of further research, as it has not yet been implemented

A Survey of Lending Relationship Between SMEs and Banks

The aim of this study is to examine the lending relationships between banks and SMEs. Numerous authors have investigated the importance of banking relationships in lending to small businesses. A major issue is the relative difficulty in obtaining meaningful information and accurately assessing the credit worthiness of such borrowers. For this reason, many authors have examined the influence of this relationship on various aspects of line of credits made in different countries but up to date no studies has been conducted in lending relationship of SMEs with banks in Turkey. This may be because of the data insufficiency of SMEs. This research aims to fill that gap by looking at the determinants of SME lending conditions by using the survey results of SMEs.The factors that affect the dependent variables (the  interest rate and the credit line volume) is tested by  using the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis. The data is obtained by the questionnaires conducted by 204 SMEs. The results for credit interest rate reveals that age, financial distress, duration of relationship, recent ownership change and location significantly affect the interest rate given by the most actively worked bank. The  empirical results suggest that close and long-lasting relationship is desirable for firms. Firms with long-lasting bank relationships fare better than other enterprises in terms of interest rates, and credit availability

Multifocal tuberculosis presenting with osteoarticular and breast involvement

BACKGROUND: Polyarticular involvement, wrist and ankle arthritis are uncommon presentation of skeletal tuberculosis. Tuberculosis of the breast is also extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: Wrist, ankle and breast involvement were detected in the same patient. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from both synovial and breast biopsy specimen cultures. CONCLUSIONS: In general, tuberculosis arthritis is a frequently missed diagnosis, especially in different clinical patterns. A high level of suspicion is required particularly in high-risk populations and endemic areas

Hartnup Disease Masked by Kwashiorkor

This report describes an 11-month old girl with Hartnup disease presenting with kwashiorkor and acrodermatitis enteropathica-like skin lesions but free of other clinical findings. This case with kwashiorkor had acrodermatitis enteropathica-like desquamative skin eruption. Since zinc level was in the normal range, investigation for a metabolic disorder was considered, and Hartnup disease was diagnosed

Effect of intraoral scanner and fixed partial denture situation on the scan accuracy of multiple implants: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND Accuracy of intraoral implant scans may be affected by the region of the implant and the type of the intraoral scanner (IOSs). However, there is limited knowledge on the scan accuracy of multiple implants placed for an implant-supported fixed partial denture (FPD) in different partially edentulous situations when digitized by using different IOSs. PURPOSE To investigate the effect of IOS and FPD situation on the scan accuracy of two implants when partial-arch scans were performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tissue level implants were placed in 3 maxillary models with implant spaces either at right first premolar and right first molar sites (Model 1, 3-unit FPD), at right canine and right first molar sites (Model 2, 4-unit FPD), or at lateral incisor sites (Model 3, 4-unit FPD). Reference standard tessellation language (STL) files of the models were generated by using an optical scanner (ATOS Capsule 200MV120). Two IOSs (CEREC Primescan [CP] and TRIOS 3 [TR]) were used to perform partial-arch scans (test-scans) of each model (n = 14), which were exported in STL format. A metrology-grade analysis software (GOM Inspect 2018) was used to superimpose test-scan STLs over the reference STL to calculate 3D distance, inter-implant distance, and angular (mesiodistal and buccopalatal) deviations. Trueness and precision analyses were performed by using bootstrap analysis of variance followed by Welch tests with Holm correction (α = 0.05). RESULTS Trueness of the scans was affected by IOS and FPD situation when 3D distance deviations were considered, while inter-implant distance, mesiodistal angular, and buccopalatal angular deviations were only affected by the FPD situation (p < 0.001). Scan precision was affected by the interaction between the IOSs and the FPD situation when 3D distance and buccopalatal angular deviations were concerned, while IOSs and FPD situation were effective when all deviations were concerned (p≤ 0.001). When 3D distance deviations were considered, CP scans had higher accuracy TR scans in Models 1 and 3 (p ≤ 0.002), and the Model 1 scans had the highest accuracy (p < 0.001). When inter-implant distance deviations were considered, Model 1 scans had the highest accuracy with CP and higher accuracy than Model 2 when TR was used (p ≤ 0.030). When mesiodistal angular deviations were considered, Model 1 scans had the highest accuracy (p ≤ 0.040). When buccopalatal angular deviations were considered, Model 1 scans had the highest accuracy among models when CP was used (p ≤ 0.020). CONCLUSIONS Posterior 3-unit fixed partial denture implant scans, CP scans, and combination of these two factors had accuracy either similar to or better than their tested counterparts

Role of psychiatric disorders and irritable bowel syndrome in asthma patients

OBJECTIVES: The goals of the study were the following: 1) to determine the frequency of psychiatric disorders and irritable bowel syndrome in patients with asthma and 2) to compare the frequency of these disorders in patients with asthma to their frequency in healthy controls. INTRODUCTION: Patients with asthma have a higher frequency of irritable bowel syndrome and psychiatric disorders. METHODS: We evaluated 101 patients with bronchial asthma and 67 healthy subjects. All subjects completed the brief version of the Bowel Symptoms Questionnaire and a structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis disorders (SCID-I/CV). RESULTS: There were 37 cases of irritable bowel syndrome in the group of 101 stable asthma patients (36.6%) and 12 cases in the group of 67 healthy subjects (17.9%) (p = 0.009). Irritable bowel syndrome comorbidity was not related to the severity of asthma (p = 0.15). Regardless of the presence of irritable bowel syndrome, psychiatric disorders in asthma patients (52/97; 53.6%) were more common than in the control group (22/63, 34.9%) (p = 0.02). Although psychiatric disorders were more common in asthma patients with irritable bowel syndrome (21/35, 60%) than in those without irritable bowel syndrome (31/62, 50%), the difference was not significant (p = 0.34). In asthma patients with irritable bowel syndrome and psychiatric disorders, the percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was lower than it was in those with no comorbidities (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Both irritable bowel syndrome and psychiatric disorders were more common in asthma patients than in healthy controls. Psychiatric disorders were more common in asthma patients with irritable bowel syndrome than in those without irritable bowel syndrome, although the differences failed to reach statistical significance. In asthma patients with IBS and psychiatric disorders, FEV1s were significantly lower than in other asthma patients. It is important for clinicians to accurately recognize that these comorbid conditions are associated with additive functional impairment

In vitro scan accuracy and time efficiency in various implant-supported fixed partial denture situations.

OBJECTIVES To compare the accuracy and time efficiency of different digital workflows in 3 implant-supported fixed partial denture situations. METHODS Three partially edentulous maxillary models with 2 implants (Model 1: implants at lateral incisor sites; Model 2: implants at right canine and first molar sites; Model 3: implants at right first premolar and first molar sites) were digitized (ATOS Capsule 200MV120, n=1) for reference scans. Test scans were performed for direct (Primescan (DDW-P) and Trios 3 (DDW-T)) and indirect (IDW) digital workflows (n=14). For IDW, stone casts (type IV) were obtained from vinylsiloxanether impressions and digitized (S600 Arti). The scan/impression and post processing times were recorded. Reference and test scans were superimposed (GOM Inspect) to calculate 3D point, inter-implant distance, and angular deviations. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used for trueness and precision analyses (α=.05). RESULTS Tested workflows affected trueness (P≤.030) and precision (P<.001) of scans (3D point, inter-implant distance, and angular deviations) within models. DDW-P had the highest accuracy (3D point deviations) for models 1 and 3 (P≤.046). IDW had the lowest accuracy for model 2 (P<.01). DDW-P had the highest accuracy (inter-implant distance deviations) for model 3 (P≤.048). Direct digital workflow mostly led to lower angular deviations (P≤.040), and higher precision for models 2 (mesiodistal direction) and 3 (P<.001). The time for direct digital workflow was shorter (P<.001), DDW-P being more efficient than DDW-T (P=.008). CONCLUSION Direct digital workflow was more accurate and efficient than indirect digital workflow in tested partial edentulism situations with 2 implants. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Tested intraoral scanners can be recommended for accurate and efficient impressions of anterior and posterior 3- or 4-unit implant-supported fixed partial dentures

A huggable, mobile robot for developmental disorder interventions in a multi-modal interaction space

We propose a new emotional, huggable, mobile, and configurable robot (Teo), which can address some of the still open therapeutic needs in the treatment of Developmental Disability (DD). Teo has been designed in partnership with a team of DD specialists, and it is meant to be used as an efficient and easy-to-use tool for caregivers. Teo is integrated with virtual worlds shown on large displays or projections and with external motion sensing devices to support various forms of full-body interaction and to engage DD persons in a variety of play activities that blend the digital and physical world and can be fully customized by therapists to meet the requirements of each single subject. Exploratory studies have been performed at two rehabilitation centres to investigate the potential of our approach. The positive results of these studies pinpoint that our system endeavors promising opportunities to offer new forms of interventions for DD people