Scott A. Shane : winner of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research

Scott A. Shane is the 2009 winner of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research. In this article we discuss and analyze Shane’s most important contributions to the field of entrepreneurship. His contribution is extraordinarily broad in scope, which makes it difficult to pinpoint one or a few specifics that we associate with Shane’s scholarship. Instead, they can be summarized in the following three points. First, he has influenced what we view as central aspects of entrepreneurship. Shane has been a leading figure in redirecting the focus on entrepreneurship research itself. Second, he has influenced how we view entrepreneurship. Shane’s research is arguably theory driven and it applies and develops theoretical lenses that greatly improve our understanding of entrepreneurship. Third, he has contributed to how we conduct entrepreneurship research. Shane has been a forerunner in examining relevant units of analysis that are difficult to sample; research designs and databases specifically designed for studying entrepreneurial processes; and sophisticated analytical methods. This has contributed to advancing the methodological rigor of the field. Summing them up, the contributions are very impressive indeed.

Anisotropy of spin relaxation of water protons in cartilage and tendon

Transverse spin relaxation rates of water protons in articular cartilage and tendon depend on the orientation of the tissue relative to the applied static magnetic field. This complicates the interpretation of magnetic resonance images of these tissues. At the same time, relaxation data can provide information about their organisation and microstructure. We present a theoretical analysis of the anisotropy of spin relaxation of water protons observed in fully hydrated cartilage. We demonstrate that the anisotropy of transverse relaxation is due almost entirely to intramolecular dipolar coupling modulated by a specific mode of slow molecular motion: the diffusion of water molecules in the hydration shell of a collagen fibre around the fibre, such that the molecular director remains perpendicular to the fibre. The theoretical anisotropy arising from this mechanism follows the “magic-angle” dependence observed in magnetic-resonance measurements of cartilage and tendon and is in good agreement with the available experimental results. We discuss the implications of the theoretical findings for MRI of ordered collagenous tissues.

Process configuration in YAWL

This chapter describes how the YAWL meta-model was extended to support the definition of variation points. These variation points can be used to describe different variants of a YAWL process model in a unified, configurable model. The model can then be configured to suit the needs of specific settings, e.g. for a new organization of project.

Cannabis use and misuse prevalence among people with psychosis

Background: Increasing attention has been given by researchers to cannabis use in individuals with psychosis. As psychoses are relatively low-prevalence disorders, research has been mostly been restricted to small-scale studies of treatment samples.The reported prevalence estimates obtained from these studies vary widely. Aims: To provide prevalence estimates based on larger samples and to examine sources of variability in prevalence estimates across studies. Method: Data from 53 studies of treatment samples and 5 epidemiological studies were analysed. Results: Based on treatment sample data, prevalence estimates were calculated for current use (23.0%), current misuse (11.3%),12-month use (29.2%),12-month misuse (18.8%), lifetime use (42.1%) and lifetime misuse (22.5%). Epidemiological studies consistently reported higher cannabis use and misuse prevalence in people with psychosis. Conclusions: The factor most consistently associated with increased odds of cannabis prevalence was specificity of diagnosis. Factors such as consumption patterns and study design merit further consideration.

The paradox of transparency : short-termism and the institutionalisation of Australian capital markets

As the ultimate corporate decision-makers, directors have an impact on the investment time horizons of the corporations they govern. How they make investment decisions has been profoundly influenced by the expansion of the investment chain and the increasing concentration of share ownership in institutional hands. By examining agency in light of legal theory, we highlight that the board is in fact sui generis and not an agent of shareholders. Consequently, transparency can lead to directors being 'captured' by institutional investor objectives and timeframes, potentially to the detriment of the corporation as a whole. The counter-intuitive conclusion is that transparency may, under certain conditions, undermine good corporate governance and lead to excessive short-termism.

The development of a serological-based diagnostic test for Dasheen mosaic potyvirus (DsMV)

Dasheen mosaic potyvirus (DsMV) is an important virus affecting taro. The virus has been found wherever taro is grown and infects both the edible and ornamental aroids, causing yield losses of up to 60%. The presence of DsMV, and other viruses,prevents the international movement of taro germplasm between countries. This has a significant negative impact on taro production in many countries due to the inability to access improved taro lines produced in breeding programs. To overcome this problem, sensitive and reliable virus diagnostic tests need to be developed to enable the indexing of taro germplasm. The aim of this study was to generate an antiserum against a recombinant DsMV coat protein (CP) and to develop a serological-based diagnostic test that would detect Pacific Island isolates of the virus. The CP-coding region of 16 DsMV isolates from Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Vietnam were amplified,cloned and sequenced. The size of the CP-coding region ranged from 939 to 1038 nucleotides and encoded putative proteins ranged from 313 to 346 amino acids, with the molecular mass ranging from 34 to 38 kDa. Analysis ofthe amino acid sequences revealed the presence of several amino acid motifs typically found in potyviruses,including DAG, WCIE/DN, RQ and AFDF. When the amino acid sequences were compared with each other and the DsMV sequences on the database, the maximum variability was21.9%. When the core region ofthe CP was analysed, the maximum variability dropped to 6% indicating most variability was present in the N terminus. Within seven PNG isolates ofDsMV, the maximum variability was 16.9% and 3.9% over the entire CP-coding region and core region, respectively. The sequence ofPNG isolate P1 was most similar to all other sequences. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that almost all isolates grouped according to their provenance. Further, the seven PNG isolates were grouped according to the region within PNG from which they were obtained. Due to the extensive variability over the entire CP-coding region, the core region ofthe CP ofPNG isolate Pl was cloned into a protein expression vector and expressed as a recombinant protein. The protein was purified by chromatography and SDS-PAGE and used as an antigen to generate antiserum in a rabbit. In western blots, the antiserum reacted with bands of approximately 45-47 kDa in extracts from purified DsMV and from known DsMV -infected plants from PNG; no bands were observed using healthy plant extracts. The antiserum was subsequently incorporated into an indirect ELISA. This procedure was found to be very sensitive and detected DsMV in sap diluted at least 1:1,000. Using both western blot and ELISA formats,the antiserum was able to detect a wide range ofDsMV isolates including those from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. These plants were verified to be infected with DsMV by RT-PCR. In specificity tests, the antiserum was also found to react with sap from plants infected with SCMV, PRSV-P, PRSV-W, but not with PVY or CMV -infected plants.

A new approach for finding an appropriate combination of texture parameters for classification

This paper suggests an approach for finding an appropriate combination of various parameters for extracting texture features (e.g. choice of spectral band for extracting texture feature, size of the moving window, quantization level of the image, and choice of texture feature etc.) to be used in the classification process. Gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) method has been used for extracting texture from remotely sensed satellite image. Results of the classification of an Indian urban environment using spatial property (texture), derived from spectral and multi-resolution wavelet decomposed images have also been reported. A multivariate data analysis technique called ‘conjoint analysis’ has been used in the study to analyze the relative importance of these parameters. Results indicate that the choice of texture feature and window size have higher relative importance in the classification process than quantization level or the choice of image band for extracting texture feature. In case of texture features derived using wavelet decomposed image, the parameter ‘decomposition level’ has almost equal relative importance as the size of moving window and the decomposition of images up to level one is sufficient and there is no need to go for further decomposition. It was also observed that the classification incorporating texture features improves the overall classification accuracy in a statistically significant manner in comparison to pure spectral classification.

Determinants of infant and young child feeding practices in Bangladesh: Secondary data analysis of Demographic and Health Survey 2004

BACKGROUND: In Bangladesh, poor infant and young child feeding practices are contributing to the burden of infectious diseases and malnutrition. Objective. To estimate the determinants of selected feeding practices and key indicators of breastfeeding and complementary feeding in Bangladesh. METHODS: The sample included 2482 children aged 0 to 23 months from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey of 2004. The World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended infant and young child feeding indicators were estimated, and selected feeding indicators were examined against a set of individual-, household-, and community-level variables using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Only 27.5% of mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, 99.9% had ever breastfed their infants, 97.3% were currently breastfeeding, and 22.4% were currently bottle-feeding. Among infants under 6 months of age, 42.5% were exclusively breastfed, and among those aged 6 to 9 months, 62.3% received complementary foods in addition to breastmilk. Among the risk factors for an infant not being exclusively breastfed were higher socioeconomic status, higher maternal education, and living in the Dhaka region. Higher birth order and female sex were associated with increased rates of exclusive breastfeeding of infants under 6 months of age. The risk factors for bottle-feeding were similar and included having a partner with a higher educational level (OR = 2.17), older maternal age (OR for age > or = 35 years = 2.32), and being in the upper wealth quintiles (OR for the richest = 3.43). Urban mothers were at higher risk for not initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth (OR = 1.61). Those who made three to six visits to the antenatal clinic were at lower risk for not initiating breastfeeding within the first hour (OR = 0.61). The rate of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour was higher in mothers from richer households (OR = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Most breastfeeding indicators in Bangladesh were below acceptable levels. Breastfeeding promotion programs in Bangladesh need nationwide application because of the low rates of appropriate infant feeding indicators, but they should also target women who have the main risk factors, i.e., working mothers living in urban areas (particularly in Dhaka).

Diarrhoea risk factors in enterally tube fed critically ill patients : a retrospective audit

Objective: Diarrhoea in the enterally tube fed (ETF) intensive care unit (ICU) patient is a multifactorial problem. Diarrhoeal aetiologies in this patient cohort remain debatable; however, the consequences of diarrhoea have been well established and include electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, bacterial translocation, peri anal wound contamination and sleep deprivation. This study examined the incidence of diarrhoea and explored factors contributing to the development of diarrhoea in the ETF, critically ill, adult patient. ---------- Method: After institutional ethical review and approval, a single centre medical chart audit was undertaken to examine the incidence of diarrhoea in ETF, critically ill patients. Retrospective, non-probability sequential sampling was used of all emergency admission adult ICU patients who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. ---------- Results: Fifty patients were audited. Faecal frequency, consistency and quantity were considered important criteria in defining ETF diarrhoea. The incidence of diarrhoea was 78%. Total patient diarrhoea days (r = 0.422; p = 0.02) and total diarrhoea frequency (r = 0.313; p = 0.027) increased when the patient was ETF for longer periods of time. Increased severity of illness, peripheral oxygen saturation (Sp02), glucose control, albumin and white cell count were found to be statistically significant factors for the development of diarrhoea. ---------- Conclusion: Diarrhoea in ETF critically ill patients is multi-factorial. The early identification of diarrhoea risk factors and the development of a diarrhoea risk management algorithm is recommended.

Rumination, post-traumatic growth, and distress : structural equation modelling with cancer survivors

Objective Theoretical models of post-traumatic growth (PTG) have been derived in the general trauma literature to describe the post-trauma experience that facilitates the perception of positive life changes. To develop a statistical model identifying factors that are associated with PTG, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used in the current study to assess the relationships between perception of diagnosis severity, rumination, social support, distress, and PTG. Method A statistical model of PTG was tested in a sample of participants diagnosed with a variety of cancers (N=313). Results An initial principal components analysis of the measure used to assess rumination revealed three components: intrusive rumination, deliberate rumination of benefits, and life purpose rumination. SEM results indicated that the model fit the data well and that 30% of the variance in PTG was explained by the variables. Trauma severity was directly related to distress, but not to PTG. Deliberately ruminating on benefits and social support were directly related to PTG. Life purpose rumination and intrusive rumination were associated with distress. Conclusions The model showed that in addition to having unique correlating factors, distress was not related to PTG, thereby providing support for the notion that these are discrete constructs in the post-diagnosis experience. The statistical model provides support that post-diagnosis experience is simultaneously shaped by positive and negative life changes and that one or the other outcome may be prevalent or may occur concurrently. As such, an implication for practice is the need for supportive care that is holistic in nature.

Information dependencies between architects and services engineers for early design evaluation : a framework for an energy design tool for architects

Effective strategies for the design of effi cient and environmentally sensitive buildings require a close collaboration between architects and engineers in the design of the building shell and environmental control systems at the outset of projects. However, it is often not practical for engineers to be involved early on in the design process. It is therefore essential that architects be able to perform preliminary energy analyses to evaluate their proposed designs prior to the major building characteristics becoming fi xed. Subsequently, a need exists for a simplifi ed energy design tool for architects. This paper discusses the limitations of existing analysis software in supporting early design explorations and proposes a framework for the development of a tool that provides decision support by permitting architects to quickly assess the performance of design alternatives.

An analytical method to solve a general class of nonlinear reactive transport models

Three recent papers published in Chemical Engineering Journal studied the solution of a model of diffusion and nonlinear reaction using three different methods. Two of these studies obtained series solutions using specialized mathematical methods, known as the Adomian decomposition method and the homotopy analysis method. Subsequently it was shown that the solution of the same particular model could be written in terms of a transcendental function called Gauss’ hypergeometric function. These three previous approaches focused on one particular reactive transport model. This particular model ignored advective transport and considered one specific reaction term only. Here we generalize these previous approaches and develop an exact analytical solution for a general class of steady state reactive transport models that incorporate (i) combined advective and diffusive transport, and (ii) any sufficiently differentiable reaction term R(C). The new solution is a convergent Maclaurin series. The Maclaurin series solution can be derived without any specialized mathematical methods nor does it necessarily involve the computation of any transcendental function. Applying the Maclaurin series solution to certain case studies shows that the previously published solutions are particular cases of the more general solution outlined here. We also demonstrate the accuracy of the Maclaurin series solution by comparing with numerical solutions for particular cases.

Improving matching process in social network using implicit and explicit user information

Personalised social matching systems can be seen as recommender systems that recommend people to others in the social networks. However, with the rapid growth of users in social networks and the information that a social matching system requires about the users, recommender system techniques have become insufficiently adept at matching users in social networks. This paper presents a hybrid social matching system that takes advantage of both collaborative and content-based concepts of recommendation. The clustering technique is used to reduce the number of users that the matching system needs to consider and to overcome other problems from which social matching systems suffer, such as cold start problem due to the absence of implicit information about a new user. The proposed system has been evaluated on a dataset obtained from an online dating website. Empirical analysis shows that accuracy of the matching process is increased, using both user information (explicit data) and user behavior (implicit data).