Challenges of knowledge integration in small and medium enterprises

This study attempts to develop a better understanding of the challenges of knowledge integration (KI) within the innovation process in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Using several case studies, this study investigates how knowledge integration may be managed within the context of innovation in SMEs. The research places particular focus on identifying the challenges of knowledge integration in SMEs in relation to three aspects of knowledge integration activities, namely knowledge identification, knowledge acquisition, and knowledge sharing. Four distinct tasks emerged in the knowledge integration process, namely team building capability, capturing tacit knowledge, role of knowledge management (KM) systems, and technological systemic integration. The paper suggests that managing knowledge integration in SMEs can be best managed by focusing on these four tasks, which in turn will lead to innovation.

A finite volume method for solving the two-sided time-space fractional advection-dispersion equation

We present a finite volume method to solve the time-space two-sided fractional advection-dispersion equation on a one-dimensional domain. The spatial discretisation employs fractionally-shifted Grünwald formulas to discretise the Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives at control volume faces in terms of function values at the nodes. We demonstrate how the finite volume formulation provides a natural, convenient and accurate means of discretising this equation in conservative form, compared to using a conventional finite difference approach. Results of numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

A comparison of finite difference and finite volume methods for solving the space-fractional advection-dispersion equation with variable coefficients

Transport processes within heterogeneous media may exhibit non- classical diffusion or dispersion which is not adequately described by the classical theory of Brownian motion and Fick’s law. We consider a space-fractional advection-dispersion equation based on a fractional Fick’s law. Zhang et al. [Water Resources Research, 43(5)(2007)] considered such an equation with variable coefficients, which they dis- cretised using the finite difference method proposed by Meerschaert and Tadjeran [Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics, 172(1):65-77 (2004)]. For this method the presence of variable coef- ficients necessitates applying the product rule before discretising the Riemann–Liouville fractional derivatives using standard and shifted Gru ̈nwald formulas, depending on the fractional order. As an alternative, we propose using a finite volume method that deals directly with the equation in conservative form. Fractionally-shifted Gru ̈nwald formulas are used to discretise the Riemann–Liouville fractional derivatives at control volume faces, eliminating the need for product rule expansions. We compare the two methods for several case studies, highlighting the convenience of the finite volume approach.

Evaluation and social impact measurement amongst small to medium social enterprises : process, purpose and value

In recent years, the imperative to communicate organisational impacts to a variety of stakeholders has gained increasing importance within all sectors. Despite growing external demands for evaluation and social impact measurement, there has been limited critically informed analysis about the presumed importance of these activities to organisational success and the practical challenges faced by organisations in undertaking such assessment. In this paper, we present the findings from an action research study of five Australian small to medium social enterprises’ practices and use of evaluation and social impact analysis. Our findings have implications for social enterprise operators, policy makers and social investors regarding when, why and at what level these activities contribute to organisational performance and the fulfilment of mission.

Health monitoring of short-and medium-spen bridges using an improved modal strain energy method

Increasing the importance and use of infrastructures such as bridges, demands more effective structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. SHM has well addressed the damage detection issues through several methods such as modal strain energy (MSE). Many of the available MSE methods either have been validated for limited type of structures such as beams or their performance is not satisfactory. Therefore, it requires a further improvement and validation of them for different types of structures. In this study, an MSE method was mathematically improved to precisely quantify the structural damage at an early stage of formation. Initially, the MSE equation was accurately formulated considering the damaged stiffness and then it was used for derivation of a more accurate sensitivity matrix. Verification of the improved method was done through two plane structures: a steel truss bridge and a concrete frame bridge models that demonstrate the framework of a short- and medium-span of bridge samples. Two damage scenarios including single- and multiple-damage were considered to occur in each structure. Then, for each structure, both intact and damaged, modal analysis was performed using STRAND7. Effects of up to 5 per cent noise were also comprised. The simulated mode shapes and natural frequencies derived were then imported to a MATLAB code. The results indicate that the improved method converges fast and performs well in agreement with numerical assumptions with few computational cycles. In presence of some noise level, it performs quite well too. The findings of this study can be numerically extended to 2D infrastructures particularly short- and medium-span bridges to detect the damage and quantify it more accurately. The method is capable of providing a proper SHM that facilitates timely maintenance of bridges to minimise the possible loss of lives and properties.

On cloud computing service considerations for the small and medium enterprises

The concept of cloud computing services is appealing to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with the opportunity to acquire modern information technology resources as a utility and avoid costly capital investments in technology resources. However, the adoption of the cloud computing services presents significant challenges to the SMEs. The SMEs need to determine a path to adopting the cloud computing services that would ensure their sustainable presence in the cloud computing environment. Information about approaches to adopting the cloud computing services by the SMEs is fragmented. Through an interpretive design, we suggest that the SMEs need to have a strategic and incremental intent, understand their organizational structure, understand the external factors, consider the human resource capacity, and understand the value expectations from the cloud computing services to forge a successful path to adopting the cloud computing services. These factors would contribute to a model of cloud services for SMEs.

Medium and mode : relationships between visual experience and perception in an installation arts practice

Working primarily within the natural landscape, this practice-led research project explored connections between the artist's visual and perceptual experience of a journey or place while simultaneously emphasizing the capacity for digital media to create a perceptual dissonance. By exploring concepts of time, viewpoint, duration of sequences and the manipulation of traditional constructs of stop-frame animation, the practical work created a cognitive awareness of the elements of the journey through optical sensations. The work allowed an opportunity to reflect on the nature of visual experience and its mediation through images. The project recontextualized the selected mediums of still photography, animation and projection within contemporary display modes of multiple screen installations by analysing relationships between the experienced and the perceived. The resulting works added to current discourse on the interstices between still and moving imagery in a digital world.

Characterization and novel activation of 72-kDa metalloproteinase in retinal interphotoreceptor matrix and Y-79 cell culture medium

Analysis of bovine interphotoreceptor matrix and conditioned medium from human Y-79 retinoblastoma cells by gelatin SDS-PAGE zymography reveals abundant activity of a 72-kDa M(r) gelatinase. The 72-kDa gelatinase from either source is inhibited by EDTA but not aprotinin or NEM, indicating that it is a metalloproteinase (MMP). The 72-kDa MMP is converted to a 62-kDa species with APMA treatment after gelatin sepharose affinity purification typical of previously described gelatinase MMP-2. The latent 72-kDa gelatinase from either bovine IPM or Y-79 media autoactivates without APMA in the presence of calcium and zinc after 72 hr at 37°C, producing a fully active mixture of proteinase species, 50 (48 in Y-79 medium), 38 and 35 kDa in size. The presence of inhibitory activity was examined in both whole bovine IPM and IPM fractions separated by SDS-PAGE. Whole IPM inhibited gelatinolytic activity of autoactivated Y-79-derived MMP in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibitory activities are observed in two protein fractions of 27-42 and 20-25 kDa. Western blots using antibodies to human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 and 2 (TIMP-1 and -2) reveal the presence of two TIMP-1-like proteins at 21 and 29 kDa in inhibitory fractions of the bovine IPM. TIMP-2 was not detected in the inhibitory IPM fractions, consistent with the observed autoactivation of bovine IPM 72-kDa gelatinase. Potential roles for this IPM MMP-TIMP system include physiologic remodelling of the neural retina-RPE cell interface and digestion of shed rod outer segment as well as pathological processes such as retinal detachment, PE cell migration, neovascularization and tumor progression. Cultured Y-79 cells appear to be a good model for studying the production and regulation of this proteinase system.

Unlocking the "reminder" potential when viewers pause programs : results from a laboratory test of a new online medium

The branded pause advertisement is a recently developed online television-advertising format that displays a full-screen still-image banner ad whenever a viewer pauses a streaming-video program. This study used a controlled lab experiment to compare the effectiveness of branded pause advertisements with normal online television advertisements. The results demonstrate that branded pause advertisements are effective but only when combined with a long-exposure advertisement for the same brand. Despite their short exposure time, pause advertisements function as effective reminders, building awareness through repeat exposure. The findings of the current study were similar regardless of whether pause advertisements were activated as a result of viewers’ pausing at a time of their own choosing or whether viewers were interrupted.

Dispersion properties of surface waves in a two-layer plasma structure bounded by a metal

The effect of the nonuniformity of the electron density on the dispersion properties of surface waves propagating in a direction transverse to an external magnetic field is studied for the model of a two-layer plasma structure bounded by a metal. It is shown that the spectra of the waves can be effectively controlled by varying the degree of nonuniformity of the density and the dimensions of the layers.

The effect of the nonparabolicity of the free carriers dispersion law on the propagation of surface polaritons in a semiconductor-metal structure

The results of a study on the influence of the nonparabolicity of the free carriers dispersion law on the propagation of surface polaritons (SPs) located near the interface between an n-type semiconductor and a metal arc reported. The semiconductor plasma is assumed to be warm and nonisothermal. The nonparabolicity of the electron dispersion law has two effects. The first one is associated with nonlinear self-interaction of the SPs. The nonlinear dispersion equation and the nonlinear Schrodinger equation for the amplitude of the SP envelope are obtained. The nonlinear evolution of the SP is studied on the base of the above mentioned equations. The second effect results in third harmonics generation. Analysis shows that these third harmonics may appear as a pure surface polariton, a pseudosurface polariton, or a superposition of a volume wave and a SP depending on the wave frequency, electron density and lattice dielectric constant.

Low-frequency dispersion properties of plasmas with variable-charge impurities

A theory of low-frequency dust-acoustic waves in low-temperature collisional plasmas containing variable-charge impurities is presented. Physical processes such as dust-charge relaxation, ionization-recombination of the electrons and ions, electron and ion elastic collisions with neutrals and dusts, as well as charging collisions with the dusts, are taken into account. Inclusion of these processes allows a balance of the plasma particles and thus a self-consistent determination of the stationary state of the unperturbed plasma. The generalized dispersion relation describing the propagation and damping of the dust acoustic waves is derived and analyzed. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.