A simple orientation robust transmit polarization signalling scheme

A special transmit polarization signalling scheme is presented to alleviate the power reduction as a result of polarization mismatch from random antenna orientations. This is particularly useful for hand held mobile terminals typically equipped with only a single linearly polarized antenna, since the average signal power is desensitized against receiver orientations. Numerical simulations also show adequate robustness against incorrect channel estimations.

Vatkst, profit og strategisk orienteering i gazellevirksomheder (Growth, profitability and strategic orientation among gazelle firms)

Growth and profitability are often essential parts of the overall managerial goals of firms. High growth can be seen as an indicator of success and as a mean for achieving competitive advantage and higher profitability. But high growth can also lead to a number of managerial and organisational challenges, that may affect the profitability negatively. The aim of this article is to analyse the relationship between growth and profitability for Danish gazelle firms, and furthermore to investigate how the strategic orientation of the firm affects this relationship. Our study finds a clear positive relationship between growth and profitability among gazelle firms pursuing a broad market strategy. A managerial implication of this is that the growth strategy should be clearly integrated with the general strategic orientation of the firm.

Visitor relationship orientation of destination marketing organisations

The proposition underpinning this study is engaging in meaningful dialogue with previous visitors represents an efficient and effective use of resources for a destination marketing organization (DMO), compared to above the line advertising in broadcast media. However there has been a lack of attention in the tourism literature relating to destination switching, loyalty and customer relationship management (CRM) to test such a proposition. This paper reports an investigation of visitor relationship marketing (VRM) orientation among DMOs. A model of CRM orientation, which was developed from the wider marketing literature and a prior qualitative study, was used to develop a scale to operationalise DMO visitor relationship orientation. Due to a small sample, the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method of structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data. Although the sample limits the ability to generalise, the results indicated the DMOs’ visitor orientation is generally responsive and reactive rather than proactive.

Enlightening, balancing and transcending entrepreneurial orientation : the 4th annual EO3 research PDW

Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) has a 30 year history as one of the most used concepts in entrepreneurship research. “Recent attention in formal sessions at the Academy of Management conference programs confirm Entrepreneurial Orientation as a primary construct with a majority of Entrepreneurship Division sponsored sessions devoted to studies using EO related measures”, as reported by the 2010 division program chair, Per Davidson (Roberts, 2010: 9). However, questions continue to be raised concerning over-dependence on parts of one strategic scale, possible inappropriate or under-theorized adaptations, and the lack of theoretical development on application and performance variance in emergent, organizational, and socioeconomic settings. One recent area of investigation in analysis, methods, theory and application concerns an “EO gestalt”, focusing on the family of EO-related measures and theory, rather than on one or more dimensions, in order to explore the theory and process of the Entrepreneurial Orientation phenomenon. The goals of the 4th Annual EO3 PDW are to enlighten researchers on the development of Entrepreneurial Orientation theory and related scales, balance the use of Entrepreneurial Orientation current knowledge with new research frontiers suggested by EO3 scholars’ questions, and transcend boundaries in the discoveries undertaken in the shared interdisciplinary and cross-cultural research agenda currently developing for Entrepreneurial Orientation concepts. Going into its forth year, the EO3 PDW has been pivotal in formalizing discussion, pushing research forward, and gaining insights from experienced and cutting edge scholars, as it provides a point of reference for coalescing research questions and findings surrounding this important concept.

Orientation passport : using gamification to engage university students

Adding game elements to an application to motivate use and enhance the user experience is a growing trend known as gamification. This study explores the use of game achievements when applied to a mobile application designed to help new students at university. This paper describes the foundations of a design framework used to integrate game elements to Orientation Passport, a personalised orientation event application for smart phones. Orientation Passport utilises game achievements to present orientation information in an engaging way and to encourage use of the application. The system is explained in terms of the design framework, and the findings of a pilot study involving 26 new students are presented. This study contributes the foundations of a design framework for general gamified achievement design. It also suggests that added game elements can be enjoyable but can potentially encourage undesirable use by some, and aren't as enjoyable if not enforced properly by the technology. Consideration is also needed when enforcing stricter game rules as usability can be affected.

External orientation and business model adaptation in young and nascent firms : preliminary analysis from the CAUSSE project

Discovering factors that help or impede business model change is an important quest, both for researchers and practitioners. In this study we present preliminary findings based on the CAUSEE survey of young and nascent firms in Australia. In particular, we seek to determine an association between business model adaptation and external orientation among young and nascent firms within the random sample and amongst an oversample of high potential firms. The concept of external orientation is made operational by asking respondents whether, and to what extent, they rely on certain sources of advice and information. We find that high potential firms are more likely to have made at least some change to their business model, that greater use of external sources of advice is generally significantly associated with business model adaptation, but also that there appear to be different patterns of behaviour between the random sample and the over sample.

Understanding innovation adoption : effects of orientation, pressure and control on adoption

We develop and test a theoretically-based integrative framework of key proximal factors (orientation, pressure, and control) that helps to explain the effects of more general factors (the organisation's strategy, structure, and environment) on intentions to adopt an innovation one year later. Senior managers from 134 organizations were surveyed and confirmatory factor analyses showed that these hypothesized core factors provided a good fit to the data, indicating that our framework can provide a theoretical base to the previous, largely a theoretical, literature. Moreover, in a subgroup of 63 organizations, control mediated the effects of organizational strategy and centralisation on organizational innovation adoption intentions one year later. We suggest this model of core factors enables researchers to understand why certain variables are important to organisational innovation adoption and promotes identification of fertile research areas around orientation, pressure and control, and it enables managers to focus on the most proximal triggers for increasing innovation adoption.

A systematic review : the effects of orientation programs for cancer patients and their family/carers

Objectives To assess the effects of information interventions which orient patients and their carers/family to a cancer care facility and the services available within the facility. Design Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cluster RCTs and quasi-RCTs. Data sources MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Methods We included studies evaluating the effect of an orientation intervention, compared with a control group which received usual care, or with trials comparing one orientation intervention with another orientation intervention. Results Four RCTs of 610 participants met the criteria for inclusion. Findings from two RCTs demonstrated significant benefits of the orientation intervention in relation to reduced levels of distress (mean difference (MD): −8.96, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): −11.79 to −6.13), but non-significant benefits in relation to the levels state anxiety levels (MD −9.77) (95%CI: −24.96 to 5.41). There are insufficient data on the other outcomes of interest. Conclusions This review has demonstrated the feasibility and some potential benefits of orientation interventions. There was a low level of evidence to suggest that orientation interventions can reduce distress in patients. However, other outcomes, including patient knowledge recall/satisfaction, remain inconclusive. The majority of trials were subjected to high risk of bias and were likely to be insufficiently powered. Further well conducted and powered RCTs are required to provide evidence for determining the most appropriate intensity, nature, mode and resources for such interventions. Patient and carer-focused outcomes should be included.

Examining spirituality and intrinsic religious orientation as a means of coping with exam anxiety

Spirituality and religiosity have traditionally had a troubled relationship with psychology. However, a new field of study has emerged that is examining the health benefits of spirituality and religion. The current study examined the relationship between spirituality, religiosity and coping among a group of university students facing exams. Participants completed the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Age Universal Religious Orientation Scale, Spiritual Transcendence Scale, Brief COPE, Test Anxiety Inventory, and State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Regression analyses found that existential well-being as measured by the Spiritual Well Being Scale was the best predictor of reduced anxiety. Maladaptive coping, however, was found to be inversely related to spirituality and religiosity, but highly predictive of elevated anxiety in this sample. Strengths and limitations of this study along with recommendations for further research are made.

Volume estimation from multiplanar 2D ultrasound images using a remote electromagnetic position and orientation sensor

A system is described for calculating volume from a sequence of multiplanar 2D ultrasound images. Ultrasound images are captured using a video digitising card (Hauppauge Win/TV card) installed in a personal computer, and regions of interest transformed into 3D space using position and orientation data obtained from an electromagnetic device (Polbemus, Fastrak). The accuracy of the system was assessed by scanning 10 water filled balloons (13-141 ml), 10 kidneys (147  200 ml) and 16 fetal livers (8  37 ml) in water using an Acuson 128XP/10 (5 MHz curvilinear probe). Volume was calculated using the ellipsoid, planimetry, tetrahedral and ray tracing methods and compared with the actual volume measured by weighing (balloons) and water displacement (kidneys and livers). The mean percentage error for the ray tracing method was 0.9 ± 2.4%, 2.7 ± 2.3%, 6.6 ± 5.4% for balloons, kidneys and livers, respectively. So far the system has been used clinically to scan fetal livers and lungs, neonate brain ventricles and adult prostate glands.

The effect of mill orientation angle on bagasse moisture content

THIS PAPER DESCRIBES an experimental investigation to explore a concept designed to reduce the moisture content of bagasse. It takes advantage of gravity to separate juice from bagasse by feeding bagasse upwards into the nip of the mill while juice drains downwards under gravity. The investigation found that orienting the feed to a mill upwards does reduce bagasse moisture content and that the benefit is expected to be greater than two units of moisture. While an advantage was found in orienting the feed up to 50° above the horizontal, no extra benefit was found in increasing the angle higher (up to 60° was explored) and so a 50° orientation was identified as the preferred angle for this design concept.