Enterprise systems lifecycle-wide innovation readiness

Enterprise Systems have been touted as a key driver of delivering benefits through innovation in corporate Information Systems. The advent of such systems expects to deliver best practices that improve organizational performance. Yet, most Enterprise System installations struggle to see lifecycle-wide value of it. Considering that Enterprise Systems deliver lifecycle-wide innovation; we observe organizational readiness for lifecycle-wide Enterprise Systems innovation. The A VICTORY apriori model compares contributions of eight constructs for organizational readiness for continuous Enterprise Systems innovation. The model is tested responses of both client and implementation partner. Results indicate that six of the eight constructs of readiness make significant contributions to organizational readiness for Enterprise Systems innovation.

Modelling the intention to adopt cloud computing services : a transaction cost theory perspective

This paper uses transaction cost theory to study cloud computing adoption. A model is developed and tested with data from an Australian survey. According to the results, perceived vendor opportunism and perceived legislative uncertainty around cloud computing were significantly associated with perceived cloud computing security risk. There was also a significant negative relationship between perceived cloud computing security risk and the intention to adopt cloud services. This study also reports on adoption rates of cloud computing in terms of applications, as well as the types of services used.

Prevalence of swallowing difficulties and medication modification in customers of community pharmacists

Background People may alter their solid oral medication dosage forms to make it easier to swallow. However, modification of solid medication dosage forms can lead to adverse effects, and people may alter the dosage forms without informing the health professionals involved in their care. Aim To estimate the prevalence of swallowing difficulties and medication dosage form modification among community pharmacy consumers, and to investigate consumer views, attitudes and interactions with health professionals regarding such issues. Method Consumers were recruited from five community pharmacies in Brisbane, Australia and invited to participate in a structured interview. Results A total of 369 consumers participated in the study. Overall, 16.5% of people reported experiencing swallowing difficulties, and 10.6% of all respondents reported modifying medication dosage forms. Almost half (44.2%) of those surveyed did not think there would be issues with modifying medication dosage forms. Some consumers would not seek advice from health professionals if they experienced swallowing problems and/or would not seek advice from health professionals before modifying their medication dosage forms, regardless of their thoughts about any problems associated with this practice. Conclusion Some consumers appeared to be accustomed to modifying medication dosage forms, even when there was no apparent or obvious need. People were also reluctant to seek advice from health professionals regarding swallowing difficulties, or modifying medication dosage forms. Health professionals must be assertive in educating consumers about swallowing problems, and medication dosage form modification.

Relationship between vocational status and perceived stress and daily hassles in first-episode psychosis: An exploratory study

PURPOSE Vocational recovery is a primary treatment goal of young people with first-episode psychosis (FEP), yet treatment in this domain is often delayed due to concerns that it might be too stressful. This study aimed to examine whether a relationship exists between vocational status and level of perceived stress and daily hassles in FEP. METHODS Forty-seven FEP participants were recruited upon admission to the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC), Melbourne. Demographics, psychopathology, perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS) and daily hassles (Hassles Scale; HS) were measured. RESULTS Regarding vocational status, 19 participants were unemployed, 13 were employed, 14 were students, and 1 reported 'home duties'. ANOVAs and post hoc tests comparing the first three groups on perceived stress and daily hassles revealed that the mean PSS Total and mean PSS Distress scores of the employed group were significantly lower than those of the unemployed and student groups. Regarding hassles scores, the employed group had a significantly lower mean Hassles Intensity score than the unemployed group. Results were largely unchanged when covariates were included. There were no significant differences between the three groups in levels of anxiety, negative or positive symptoms. The employed group reported lower depression than the student group, but this finding disappeared after controlling for gender. CONCLUSIONS These results provide preliminary evidence supporting the notion that working or studying is not associated with increased perceived stress or daily hassles in FEP. The findings require replication in larger samples and in different phases of psychosis.

Raman and infrared spectroscopic characterization of the arsenate-bearing mineral tangdanite– and in comparison with the discredited mineral clinotyrolite

The minerals clinotyrolite and fuxiaotuite are discredited in terms of the mineral tangdanite. The mixed anion mineral tangdanite Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(SO4)0.5(OH)9 9H2O has been studied using a combination of Raman and infrared spectroscopy. Characteristic bands associated with arsenate, sulphate and hydroxyl units are identified. Broad bands in the OH stretching region are observed and are resolved into component bands. These bands are assigned to water and hydroxyl stretching vibrations. Two intense Raman bands at 837 and approximately 734 cm−1 are assigned to the ν1 (AsO4)3− symmetric stretching and ν3 (AsO4)3− antisymmetric stretching modes. Infrared bands at 1023 cm−1 are assigned to the (SO4)2− ν1 symmetric stretching mode, and infrared bands at 1052, 1110 and 1132 cm−1 assigned to (SO4)2− ν3 antisymmetric stretching modes, confirming the presence of the sulphate anion in the tangdanite structure. Raman bands at 593 and 628 cm−1 are attributed to the (SO4)2− ν4 bending modes. Low-intensity Raman bands found at 457 and 472 cm−1 are assigned to the (AsO4)3− ν2 bending modes. A comparison is made with the previously obtained spectral data on the discredited mineral clinotyrolite.

Pimelea trichostachya poisoning (St George disease) in horses

A dense population of Pimelea trichostachya plants (Family Thymelaeaceae) in pasture poisoned a horse herd in southern inland Queensland in October-November 2005. Plant density was 2 to 45 g wet weight/m2 (mean 16 g/m2) from 5 to 69 plants/m2 (mean 38 plants/m2) representing 3 to 20% (mean 9%) of the volume of pasture on offer. Ten of 35 mares, fillies and geldings were affected. Clinical signs were loss of body weight, profound lethargy, serous nasal discharge, severe watery diarrhoea and subcutaneous oedema of the intermandibular space, chest and ventral midline. Pathological findings were anaemia, leucocytopenia, hypoproteinaemia, dilatation of the right ventricle of the heart, dilated hepatic portal veins and periportal hepatic sinusoids (peliosis hepatis), alimentary mucosal hyperaemia and oedema of mesenteric lymph nodes. Cattle grazing the same pasture were affected by Pimelea poisoning simultaneously. Removal of the horses to Pimelea-free pasture initiated recovery. The one other incident of this syndrome, previously only recognised in cattle in Australia, occurred in horses, in South Australia in 2002, with access to a dense Pimelea simplex population.

Contemplating Whitehead's freedom and discipline

This paper extends the previous application of Alfred Whitehead's educational ideas to the domain of enterprise education. In doing so, a unique approach to enterprise education is illustrated that links students to their reality whilst also connecting the curriculum to contemporary entrepreneurship theory. The paper reports upon past cycles of reflective practice related to the developing hic et nunc teaching and learning framework. Two specific findings of note have emerged. First, that student' learning outcomes are enhanced through the oscillating influence of freedom and discipline. However, in the absence of either factor, sub-optimal outcomes are seen to occur. That is, an imbalance between freedom and discipline has resulted in sub-optimal outcomes from either a lack of student interest or an inability to adequately apply acquired knowledge. Where gains have been made, the most obvious process has been through consultation with students. Second, that the students also play an important role in shaping the nature of the learning environments within which they interact. Both findings are of significant importance to all academics charged with the responsibility of developing enterprise education curriculum. The main implication of the paper is that in the absence of sound pedagogical practises, it is possible that enterprise programs may develop a tendency to reinforce past practises. The processes of constructive alignment and criterion-based assessment are argued to offer avenues through which students can influence the educational process. They also provide the educator with a reflective pathway through which continual improvements are constantly possible. This paper provides other academics with a window through which to view the ongoing development of a process that has been recognised nationally for teaching excellence and influenced many fine young entrepreneurs. The paper also draws attention to a set of core educational philosophies that have transferable value to any academic setting. It is noted that the task of developing a learner-centred curriculum for enterprise education has been an entrepreneurial endeavour in itself. Many mistakes have been made and many memorable achievements have been celebrated.

Raman spectrum of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and the influence of solvents

The Raman spectrum of DMSO is recorded with a Hilger two-prism spectrograph andλ 4358 Å excitation. In addition to all the Raman lines reported earlier, six new lines at 898, 925, 1223, 1309, 2811 and 2871 cm.−1 are observed and tentative assignments are given. The influence of solvents (CCl4, CHCl3, CH3COOH) on the S=O bond is also studied. A shift from the liquid phase value,i.e., 1043 cm.−1 to 1054, 1052 and 1009 cm.−1 in the respective solvents is observed. The possibilities of association effects and hydrogen bonding are discussed.

Oligosaccharides modulate the apoptotic activity of glycodelin

GlycodelinA (GdA), a multifunctional glycoprotein secreted at high concentrations by the uterine endometrium during the early phases of pregnancy, carries glycan chains on asparagines at positions N28 and N63. GdA purified from amniotic fluid is known to be a suppressor of T-cell proliferation, an inducer of T-cell apoptosis, and an inhibitorof sperm-zona binding in contrast to its glycoform, glycodelinS (GdS), which is secreted by the seminal vesicles into the seminal plasma. The oligosaccharide chains of GdA terminate in sialic acid residues, whereas those of GdS are not sialylated but are heavily fucosylated. Our previous work has shown that the apoptogenic activity of GdA resides in the protein backbone, and we have also demonstrated the importance of sialylation for the manifestation of GdA-induced apoptosis. Recombinant glycodelin (Gd) expressed in the Sf21 insec cell line yielded an apoptotically active Gd; however, the same geneexpressed in the insect cell line Tni produced apoptotically inactive Gd, as observed with the gene expressed in the Chinese hamster ovary(CHO) cell line and earlier in Pichia pastoris. Glycan analysis of the Tni and Sf21 cell line-expressed Gd proteins reveals differences in their glycan structures, which modulate the manifestation of apoptogenic activity of Gd. Through apoptotic assays carried out with the wild-type (WT) and glycosylation mutants of Gd expressed in Sf21 and Tni cells before and after mannosidase digestion, we conclude that the accessibility to the apoptogenic region of Gd is influenced by the size of the glycans.

Crystal structure and conformation study of N-methyl-t-3-methyl-r-2, c-6-diphenylpiperidin-4-one thiosemicarbazone

Thiosemicarbazones are having the ability to bind with metal and inhibit the enzyme ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase(RDR),an enzyme which is involved in the synthesis of DNA precursors in the mammalian cells.The title compound N-methyl-t-3-methyl-r-2, c-6-diphenylpiperidin-4-one thiosemicarbazone (NMMDPT), CCDC 218052, was prepared using Mannich reaction and characterized by X-ray diffraction methods.The crystal data are:C20H24N4S; M.W= 352.49, triclinic,space group P (1) over bar, a = 8.467(2)angstrom, b = 10.228(2)angstrom, c = 12.249(2)angstrom; lpha=92.595(3)degrees, beta=104.173(3)degrees, gamma=13.628(3)degrees; V=930.0(3)angstrom(3), Z=2, D-cal=1.259Mgm(-3),mu=0.184mm(-1),lambda (MoKalpha)=0.71073 angstrom, final R1 and wR2 are 0.0470 and 0.1052, respectively. The piperidine rings adopt chair conformation. The planar phenyl rings are oriented equatorially at 2,6-positions of the piperidine ring. The molecular packing can be viewed as dimers held together by two N-H...S types of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Weak C-H...pi interactions also support the stability of the molecules in the crystal in addition to van der Waals forces. (c) 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

ILS glideslope evaluation for imperfect terrain

Instrument landing systems (ILS) are normally designed assuming the site around them to be flat. Uneven terrain results in undulations in the glidescope. In recent years, models have been evolved for predicting such aberrations as a simpler alternative to experimental methods. Such modeling normally assumes the ground to be fully conducting. A method is presented for considering imperfect terrain conductivity within the framework of the uniform theory of diffraction (UTD). A single impedance wedge formulation is developed to a form that resembles the standard form of UTD, with only one extra term in the diffraction coefficient. This extends the applicability of the standard UTD formulation and software packages to the case of the imperfectly conducting terrain. The method has been applied to a real airport site in India and improved agreement with measured glidescope parameters is demonstrated

Varistors based on mixed‐phase ceramics containing ZnO and negative temperature coefficient spinels

High nonlinearity coefficients of 60–150 are observed in the current‐voltage (I‐V) curves of the mixed phase ceramics formed by cosintering ZnO with spinel phases having large negative temperature coefficients (NTCs) in resistivity. The region of negative slope in the I‐V curves of the NTC ceramics is progressively made positive with ZnO phase content, wherein ZnO grains function as a built‐in resistor in series to the resistance of the NTC phase. High α depends on the optimum phase content of ZnO as much as its intrinsic conductivity. The studies indicate that the predominent contribution to power dissipation is by way of joule heating from the resistive component of the current.

Anharmonic Effects in Germanium

A precise X-ray investigation is carried out to probe the lowest-order anharmonic contribution of the atomic potential of the germanium atom. A total number of 1052 reflections (h + k + l = 4n and 4n +/- 1) are precisely measured at room temperature using a spherical single crystal of germanium and using a Nonius CAD-4 X-ray diffractometer with crystal monochromatized MoKalpha radiation. A least-square refinement program is used to refine the harmonic and anharmonic thermal parameters of the crystal. The refinement gives beta(Ge) = (-0.749 +/- 1.79) x 10-(16) J nm-3 with B(Ge) = (0.528 +/- 0.004) x 10(-2) nm2. The reliability index (R) amounts to 1.71% for germanium.