Differences in sharing knowledge interpersonally and via databases: The role of evaluation apprehension and perceived benefits

Knowledge sharing is an essential component of effective knowledge management. However, evaluation apprehension, or the fear that your work may be critiqued, can inhibit knowledge sharing. Using the general framework of social exchange theory, we examined the effects of evaluation apprehension and perceived benefit of knowledge sharing ( such as enhanced reputation) on employees' knowledge sharing intentions in two contexts: interpersonal (i.e., by direct contact between two employees) and database (i.e., via repositories). Evaluation apprehension was negatively associated with knowledge sharing intentions in both contexts while perceived bene. it was only positively associated with knowledge sharing intentions in the database context. Moreover, compared to the interpersonal context, evaluation apprehension was higher and knowledge sharing lower in the database context. Finally, the negative effects of evaluation apprehension upon knowledge sharing intentions were worse when perceived benefits were low compared to when perceived benefits were high.

Prevalence of patient with low intensity pain symptom severity states during treatment with Rofecoxib and Ibuprofen for osteoarthritis

Aim of study: To examine the prevalence of low intensity symptom severity states in patients taking placebo, rofecoxib 12.5 mg once daily, rofecoxib 25 mg once daily, or ibuprofen 800 mg three times daily using a post-hoc definition of low pain intensity states (BLISS Index) based on the WOMAC Index. Methods: Two 6-week, double-blind, parallel-group, placebocontrolled, ibuprofen-comparator studies were conducted to measure the efficacy of rofecoxib in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis. These studies employed a flare design requiring a minimum level of symptoms at entry following discontinuation of prior analgesics. The WOMAC Pain subscale (100 mm visual analog scale) was used as the pain measure. In separate analyses, WOMAC pain subscale scores from each patient were compared to five thresholds of pain:%5 mm, %10 mm, %15 mm, %20 mm, and %25 mm. The percent of patients with BLISS states (1) on average over 6 weeks, (2) at any time during the study, and (3) at week 6 was computed for each treatment group and threshold. The treatment group percentages were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results: During the study, patients received placebo (N Z 143), rofecoxib 12.5 mg (N Z 461), rofecoxib 25 mg (N Z 459), or ibuprofen (N Z 465). For each pain threshold and treatment group, the percent of patients with BLISS states at any time (e.g., 50% for rofecoxib 25 mg) exceeded the percentage at week 6 (e.g., 40% for rofecoxib 25 mg) which, in turn, exceeded the percentage with BLISS states on average (e.g., 32% for rofecoxib 25 mg). The percentages of patients in the active treatment groups with BLISS states on average were significantly different than observed in the placebo group at the%15 mm threshold (8–11% points vs placebo, P ! 0.01), %20 mm level (10–15% points, P ! 0.01), and %25 mm level (14–17% points, P ! 0.001). Significant differences between the active treatments and placebo were also observed at the %10 mm threshold (8–9% points, P ! 0.05) for measurements at week 6 and at the%10 (12–14% points, P !0.001) and%5 mm thresholds (5–7% points, P ! 0.05) for patients with BLISS states at any time. Conclusion: These measures of BLISS states differentiate all three active treatment groups from placebo and further confirm, at an individual patient level, the clinical benefit of rofecoxib in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Furthermore, they provide information on the prevalence of patients achieving low (%15 mm, %20 mm, %25 mm), and very low (%5 mm, %10 mm) pain severity states.

Computer animation of hot spot development in bulk coal as an aid for training coal miners

The processes that take place during the development of a heating are difficult to visualise. Bulk coal self-heating tests at The University of Queensland (UQ) using a two-metre column are providing graphic evidence of the stages that occur during a heating. Data obtained from these tests, both temperature and corresponding off-gas evolution can be transformed into what is effectively a video-replay of the heating event. This is achieved by loading both sets of data into a newly developed animation package called Hotspot. The resulting animation is ideal for spontaneous combustion training purposes as the viewer can readily identify the different hot spot stages and corresponding off-gas signatures. Colour coding of the coal temperature, as the hot spot forms, highlights its location in the coal pile and shows its ability to migrate upwind. An added benefit of the package is that once a mine has been tested in the UQ two-metre column, there is a permanent record of that particular coals performance for mine personnel to view.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of enrichment for a group of captive squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) using time-lapse recording and instantaneous scan sampling

One aim of providing enrichment to captive animals is to promote the expression of behavioural patterns similar to their wild conspecifics. We evaluated the effectiveness of four types of simple feeding enrichment, using surveillance cameras to record the behaviour of 11 captive squirrel monkeys housed in a single enclosure at Alma Park Zoo in Brisbane, Australia. The enrichment involved differences in presentation (whole/chopped) and distribution (localised/scattered) of fruit and vegetables that were part of the normal diet of these animals. Distinguishing between individual squirrel monkeys was not possible from the videos, so Instantaneous Scan Sampling was used to record the numbers of animals performing particular behaviours every 15 minutes over the 24 hour period as well as every 5 minutes for the hour following provision of enrichment. This provided an estimation of the percentage of time spent by the group in various activities. As a result of the enrichment, the activity budget of the group more closely approximated that of wild squirrel monkeys. However on a number of occasions where the enrichment required the squirrel monkeys to work to obtain their food (whole fruit and vegetables), a number of individuals became aggressive towards the zookeepers. This result highlights the variation in responses of individual animals towards enrichment and indicates that in enclosures with large numbers of animals, the response of each individual should be evaluated in addition to the overall benefit of the enrichment for the group. Furthermore, this variation also suggests that it may be beneficial to provide the animals with choices of enrichment as opposed to providing single forms of enrichment that may only be effective for a proportion of the animals in the enclosure, and may even result in undesirable responses from some individuals.