What does professionalization mean? Developing a conceptual framework of professionalization in sports federations

Professionalization seems to be an appropriate strategy for sports organizations to meet organizational pressure due to challenges of a more complex and dynamic changing environment (e.g. Shilbury & Ferkins, 2011). However, despite the increasing number of studies attempting to disclose professionalization in sports organizations, it still remains unclear, what the term professionalization actually mean, and which aspects a suitable concept of professionalization for studying the phenomena should consist in (Dowling et al., 2014). To bridge this gap, we firstly display scholars’ perspective of professionalization in sports organizations in order to explore the common ground as well as divergences in previous approaches. We will then consider practical views of Swiss experts to gain valuable insight, as pointed out by Slack (2014), into current thinking and acting towards professionalization in sports federations in Switzerland. In semi-structured interviews, we asked six experts, who accompany the professionalization processes of Swiss national sports federations, about their subjective understanding of professionalization, and its characteristics. The interviews were analyzed applying hermeneutic approach to systematically reconstruct the observed characteristics of professionalization resulting in three main topics: (1) changed management philosophy, (2) specialization and functional differentiation, and (3) management tools. Based on the literature review as well as insights from the Swiss experts, we will provide a synthesis of crucial aspects for developing a conceptual framework of professionalization that can be useful for further studies. References Dowling, M., Edwards, J., & Washington, M. (2014). Understanding the concept of professionalisation in sport management research. Sport Management Review, 17, 520-529. Shilbury, D., & Ferkins, L. (2011). Professionalisation, sport governance and strategic capability. Managing Leisure, 16, 108-127. Slack, T. (2014). The social and commercial impact of sport, the role of sport management. European Sport Management Quarterly, 14, 454–463.

From quantum to classical dynamics: The relativistic O ( N ) model in the framework of the real-time functional renormalization group

We investigate the transition from unitary to dissipative dynamics in the relativistic O(N) vector model with the λ(φ2)2 interaction using the nonperturbative functional renormalization group in the real-time formalism. In thermal equilibrium, the theory is characterized by two scales, the interaction range for coherent scattering of particles and the mean free path determined by the rate of incoherent collisions with excitations in the thermal medium. Their competition determines the renormalization group flow and the effective dynamics of the model. Here we quantify the dynamic properties of the model in terms of the scale-dependent dynamic critical exponent z in the limit of large temperatures and in 2≤d≤4 spatial dimensions. We contrast our results to the behavior expected at vanishing temperature and address the question of the appropriate dynamic universality class for the given microscopic theory.

Capability Matrix : A Framework for Analyzing Capabilities in Value Chains

This paper develops a Capability Matrix for analyzing capabilities of developing country firms that participate in global and national value chains. This is a generic framework to capture firm-level knowledge accumulation in the context of global and local industrial constellations, by integrating key elements of the global value chain (GVC) and technological capabilities (TC) approaches. The framework can visually portray characteristics of firms’ capabilities, and highlight a relatively overlooked factor in the GVC approach: local firms’ endogenous learning efforts in varieties of relationship with lead firms.

Capillary phenomena in the framework of the two-dimensional density functional theory

We present results of application of the density functional theory (DFT) to adsorption and desorption in finite and infinite cylindrical pores accounting for the density distribution in radial and axial directions. Capillary condensation via formation of bridges is considered using canonical and grand canonical versions of the 2D DFT. The potential barrier of nucleation is determined as a function of the bulk pressure and the pore diameter. In the framework of the conventional assumptions on intermolecular interactions both 1D and 2D DFT versions lead to the same results and confirm the classical scenario of condensation and evaporation: the condensation occurs at the vapor-like spinodal point, and the evaporation corresponds to the equilibrium transition pressure. The analysis of experimental data on argon and nitrogen adsorption on MCM-41 samples seems to not completely corroborate this scenario, with adsorption branch being better described by the equilibrium pressure - diameter dependence. This points to the necessity of the further development of basic representations on the hysteresis phenomena.

Features of nitrogen adsorption on nonporous carbon and silica surfaces in the framework of classical density functional theory

Equilibrium adsorption data of nitrogen on a series of nongraphitized carbon blacks and nonporous silica at 77 K were analyzed by means of classical density functional theory to determine the solid-fluid potential. The behavior of this potential profile at large distance is particularly considered. The analysis of nitrogen adsorption isotherms seems to indicate that the adsorption in the first molecular layer is localized and controlled mainly by short-range forces due to the surface roughness, crystalline defects, and functional groups. At distances larger than approximately 1.3-1.5 molecular diameters, the adsorption is nonlocalized and appears as a thickening of the adsorbed film with increasing bulk pressure in a relatively weak adsorption potential field. It has been found that the asymptotic decay of the potential obeys the power law with the exponent being -3 for carbon blacks and -4 for silica surface, which signifies that in the latter case the adsorption potential is mainly exerted by surface oxygen atoms. In all cases, the absolute value of the solid-fluid potential is much smaller than that predicted by the Lennard-Jones pair potential with commonly used solid-fluid molecular parameters. The effect of surface heterogeneity on the heat of adsorption is also discussed.

National system of innovation and technological learning:an integrated framework for understanding technological capability development in the Russian forestry sector

One of the issues in the innovation system literature is examination of technological learning strategies of laggard nations. Two distinct bodies of literature have contributed to our insight into forces driving learning and innovation, National Systems of Innovation (NSI) and technological learning literature. Although both literatures yield insights on catch-up strategies of 'latecomer' nations, the explanatory powers of each literature by itself is limited. In this paper, a possible way of linking the macro- and the micro-level approaches by incorporating enterprises as active learning entities into the learning and innovation system is proposed. The proposed model has been used to develop research hypotheses and indicate research directions and is relevant for investigating the learning strategies of firms in less technologically intensive industries outside East Asia.

From transferred technology to technological capability:a framework for examining the acquisition of technological capability by Chinese enterprises

This paper conceptualises the enhancement of technological capability by firms, following international technology transfer, as an evolutionary process. During this process, the existing technological, managerial and other complementary resources may require restructuring. Since China is in transition from central planning to market orientation, the organisational and managerial practices of Chinese firms are different from those of international technology suppliers. Resourcebased and evolutionary theories of the firm, which provide insights into the evolution of structures, mechanisms, skills, experiences and technical know-how, have been applied to outline the processes of acquiring technological capability. Selected case studies have been used to illustrate the issues and the framework provides guide for further empirical work.

Microfluidics-based single-cell functional proteomics microchip for portraying protein signal transduction networks within the framework of physicochemical principles, with applications in fundamental and translational cancer research

Single-cell functional proteomics assays can connect genomic information to biological function through quantitative and multiplex protein measurements. Tools for single-cell proteomics have developed rapidly over the past 5 years and are providing unique opportunities. This thesis describes an emerging microfluidics-based toolkit for single cell functional proteomics, focusing on the development of the single cell barcode chips (SCBCs) with applications in fundamental and translational cancer research.

The microchip designed to simultaneously quantify a panel of secreted, cytoplasmic and membrane proteins from single cells will be discussed at the beginning, which is the prototype for subsequent proteomic microchips with more sophisticated design in preclinical cancer research or clinical applications. The SCBCs are a highly versatile and information rich tool for single-cell functional proteomics. They are based upon isolating individual cells, or defined number of cells, within microchambers, each of which is equipped with a large antibody microarray (the barcode), with between a few hundred to ten thousand microchambers included within a single microchip. Functional proteomics assays at single-cell resolution yield unique pieces of information that significantly shape the way of thinking on cancer research. An in-depth discussion about analysis and interpretation of the unique information such as functional protein fluctuations and protein-protein correlative interactions will follow.

The SCBC is a powerful tool to resolve the functional heterogeneity of cancer cells. It has the capacity to extract a comprehensive picture of the signal transduction network from single tumor cells and thus provides insight into the effect of targeted therapies on protein signaling networks. We will demonstrate this point through applying the SCBCs to investigate three isogenic cell lines of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

The cancer cell population is highly heterogeneous with high-amplitude fluctuation at the single cell level, which in turn grants the robustness of the entire population. The concept that a stable population existing in the presence of random fluctuations is reminiscent of many physical systems that are successfully understood using statistical physics. Thus, tools derived from that field can probably be applied to using fluctuations to determine the nature of signaling networks. In the second part of the thesis, we will focus on such a case to use thermodynamics-motivated principles to understand cancer cell hypoxia, where single cell proteomics assays coupled with a quantitative version of Le Chatelier's principle derived from statistical mechanics yield detailed and surprising predictions, which were found to be correct in both cell line and primary tumor model.

The third part of the thesis demonstrates the application of this technology in the preclinical cancer research to study the GBM cancer cell resistance to molecular targeted therapy. Physical approaches to anticipate therapy resistance and to identify effective therapy combinations will be discussed in detail. Our approach is based upon elucidating the signaling coordination within the phosphoprotein signaling pathways that are hyperactivated in human GBMs, and interrogating how that coordination responds to the perturbation of targeted inhibitor. Strongly coupled protein-protein interactions constitute most signaling cascades. A physical analogy of such a system is the strongly coupled atom-atom interactions in a crystal lattice. Similar to decomposing the atomic interactions into a series of independent normal vibrational modes, a simplified picture of signaling network coordination can also be achieved by diagonalizing protein-protein correlation or covariance matrices to decompose the pairwise correlative interactions into a set of distinct linear combinations of signaling proteins (i.e. independent signaling modes). By doing so, two independent signaling modes – one associated with mTOR signaling and a second associated with ERK/Src signaling have been resolved, which in turn allow us to anticipate resistance, and to design combination therapies that are effective, as well as identify those therapies and therapy combinations that will be ineffective. We validated our predictions in mouse tumor models and all predictions were borne out.

In the last part, some preliminary results about the clinical translation of single-cell proteomics chips will be presented. The successful demonstration of our work on human-derived xenografts provides the rationale to extend our current work into the clinic. It will enable us to interrogate GBM tumor samples in a way that could potentially yield a straightforward, rapid interpretation so that we can give therapeutic guidance to the attending physicians within a clinical relevant time scale. The technical challenges of the clinical translation will be presented and our solutions to address the challenges will be discussed as well. A clinical case study will then follow, where some preliminary data collected from a pediatric GBM patient bearing an EGFR amplified tumor will be presented to demonstrate the general protocol and the workflow of the proposed clinical studies.

Business-IT Alignment in PSS Value Networks: A Capability-Based Framework

Part 8: Business Strategies Alignment

Structure, stability, depolarized light scattering, and vibrational spectra of fullerenols from all-electron density-functional-theory calculations

We have investigated the stability, electronic properties, Rayleigh (elastic), and Raman (inelastic) depolarization ratios, infrared and Raman absorption vibrational spectra of fullerenols [C(60)(OH)(n)] with different degrees of hydroxylation by using all-electron density-functional-theory (DFT) methods. Stable arrangements of these molecules were found by means of full geometry optimizations using Becke's three-parameter exchange functional with the Lee, Yang, and Parr correlation functional. This DFT level has been combined with the 6-31G(d,p) Gaussian-type basis set, as a compromise between accuracy and capability to treat highly hydroxylated fullerenes, e.g., C(60)(OH)(36). Thus, the molecular properties of fullerenols were systematically analyzed for structures with n=1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 16, 18, 24, 32, and 36. From the electronic structure analysis of these molecules, we have evidenced an important effect related to the weak chemical reactivity of a possible C(60)(OH)(24) isomer. To investigate Raman scattering and the vibrational spectra of the different fullerenols, frequency calculations are carried out within the harmonic approximation. In this case a systematic study is only performed for n=1-4, 8, 10, 16, 18, and 24. Our results give good agreements with the expected changes in the spectral absorptions due to the hydroxylation of fullerenes.

A framework to monitor sustainability in the grains industry

Community awareness of the sustainable use of land, water and vegetation resources is increasing. The sustainable use of these resources is pivotal to sustainable farming systems. However, techniques for monitoring the sustainable management of these resources are poorly understood and untested. We propose a framework to benchmark and monitor resources in the grains industry. Eight steps are listed below to achieve these objectives: (i) define industry issues; (ii) identify the issues through growers, stakeholder and community consultation; (iii) identify indicators (measurable attributes, properties or characteristics) of sustainability through consultation with growers, stakeholders, experts and community members, relating to: crop productivity; resource maintenance/enhancement; biodiversity; economic viability; community viability; and institutional structure; (iv) develop and use selection criteria to select indicators that consider: responsiveness to change; ease of capture; community acceptance and involvement; interpretation; measurement error; stability, frequency and cost of measurement; spatial scale issues; and mapping capability in space and through time. The appropriateness of indicators can be evaluated using a decision making system such as a multiobjective decision support system (MO-DSS, a method to assist in decision making from multiple and conflicting objectives); (v) involve stakeholders and the community in the definition of goals and setting benchmarking and monitoring targets for sustainable farming; (vi) take preventive and corrective/remedial action; (vii) evaluate effectiveness of actions taken; and (viii) revise indicators as part of a continual improvement principle designed to achieve best management practice for sustainable farming systems. The major recommendations are to: (i) implement the framework for resources (land, water and vegetation, economic, community and institution) benchmarking and monitoring, and integrate this process with current activities so that awareness, implementation and evolution of sustainable resource management practices become normal practice in the grains industry; (ii) empower the grains industry to take the lead by using relevant sustainability indicators to benchmark and monitor resources; (iii) adopt a collaborative approach by involving various industry, community, catchment management and government agency groups to minimise implementation time. Monitoring programs such as Waterwatch, Soilcheck, Grasscheck and Topcrop should be utilised; (iv) encourage the adoption of a decision making system by growers and industry representatives as a participatory decision and evaluation process. Widespread use of sustainability indicators would assist in validating and refining these indicators and evaluating sustainable farming systems. The indicators could also assist in evaluating best management practices for the grains industry.

Developing a framework for assessment of the environmental determinants of walking and cycling

The focus for interventions and research on physical activity has moved away from vigorous activity to moderate-intensity activities, such as walking. In addition, a social ecological approach to physical activity research and practice is recommended. This approach considers the influence of the environment and policies on physical activity. Although there is limited empirical published evidence related to the features of the physical environment that influence physical activity, urban planning and transport agencies have developed policies and strategies that have the potential to influence whether people walk or cycle in their neighbourhood. This paper presents the development of a framework of the potential environmental influences on walking and cycling based on published evidence and policy literature, interviews with experts and a Delphi study. The framework includes four features: functional, safety, aesthetic and destination; as well as the hypothesised factors that contribute to each of these features of the environment. In addition, the Delphi experts determined the perceived relative importance of these factors. Based on these factors, a data collection tool will be developed and the frameworks will be tested through the collection of environmental information on neighbourhoods, where data on the walking and cycling patterns have been collected previously. Identifying the environmental factors that influence walking and cycling will allow the inclusion of a public health perspective as well as those of urban planning and transport in the design of built environments. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd., All rights reserved.

Stability improvement of the fatty acid binding protein Sm14 from S. mansoni by Cys replacement: Structural and functional characterization of a vaccine candidate

The Schistosoma mansoni fatty acid binding protein (FABP), SmA, is a vaccine candidate against, S. mansoni and F hepatica. Previously, we demonstrated the importance of a correct fold to achieve protection in immunized animals after cercariae challenge [[10]. C.R.R. Ramos, R.C.R. Figueredo, T.A. Pertinhez, M.M. Vilar, A.L.T.O. Nascimento, M. Tendler, I. Raw, A. Spisni, P.L. Ho, Gene structure and M20T polymorphism of the Schistosoma mansoni Sm14 fatty acid-binding protein: structural, functional and immunoprotection analysis. J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 12745-12751]. Here we show that the reduction of vaccine efficacy over time is due to protein dimerization and subsequent aggregation. We produced the mutants Sm14-M20(C62S) and Sm14M20(C62V) that, as expected, did not dimerize in SDS-PAGE. Molecular dynamics calculations and unfolding experiments highlighted a higher structural stability of these mutants with respect to the wild-type. In addition, we found that the mutated proteins, after thermal denaturation, refolded to their active native molecular architecture as proved by the recovery of the fatty acid binding ability. Sm14-M20(C62V) turned out to be the more stable form over time, providing the basis to determine the first 3D solution structure of a Sm14 protein in its apo-form. Overall, Sm14-M20(C62V) possesses an improved structural stability over time, an essential feature to preserve its immunization capability and, in experimentally immunized animals, it exhibits a protection effect against S. mansoni cercariae infections comparable to the one obtained with the wild-type protein. These facts indicate this protein as a good lead molecule for large-scale production and for developing an effective Sm14 based anti-helminthes vaccine. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of two HKT1 homologues from Eucalyptus camaldulensis that display intrinsic osmosensing capability

Plants have multiple potassium (K+) uptake and efflux mechanisms that are expressed throughout plant tissues to fulfill different physiological functions. Several different classes of K+ channels and carriers have been identified at the molecular level in plants. K+ transporters of the HKT1 superfamily have been cloned from wheat (Triticum aestivum), Arabidopsis, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The functional characteristics as well as the primary structure of these transporters are diverse with orthologues found in bacterial and fungal genomes. In this report, we provide a detailed characterization of the functional characteristics, as expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, of two cDNAs isolated from E. camaldulensis that encode proteins belonging to the HKT1 superfamily of K+/Na+ transporters. The transport of K+ in EcHKT-expressing oocytes is enhanced by Na+, but K+ was also transported in the absence of Na+. Na+ is transported in the absence of K+ as has been demonstrated for HKT1 and AtHKT1. Overall, the E. camaldulensis transporters show some similarities and differences in ionic selectivity to HKT1 and AtHKT1. One striking difference between HKT1 and EcHKT is the sensitivity to changes in the external osmolarity of the solution. Hypotonic solutions increased EcHKT induced currents in oocytes by 100% as compared with no increased current in HKT1 expressing or uninjected oocytes. These osmotically sensitive currents were not enhanced by voltage and may mediate water flux. The physiological function of these osmotically induced increases in currents may be related to the ecological niches that E. camaldulensis inhabits, which are periodically flooded. Therefore, the osmosensing function of EcHKT may provide this species with a competitive advantage in maintaining K+ homeostasis under certain conditions.