The graying of R&D workgroups: The effects of age diversity on developing publicly usable knowledge

Does the graying of scientific research teams matter? This study addresses how workgroup processes and external environmental factors contribute and inhibit the effect of age diversity in R&D project groups on the production of innovative publicly usable knowledge outcomes in the form of publication outputs. We examined the relationships between group age diversity (age cohort diversity, mean age, age dispersion), R&D workgroup member self-ratings of workgroup processes, their supervisor�s assessment of the external environmental factors the project groups faced, and their supervisor�s ratings of group performance, the number of scientific publicly available publications produced by the group and the use of multiple authorships on publications. Usable data was obtained from 32 R&D workgroups of a large Government Agricultural Research and Development Agency. Consistent with the literature, workgroup processes and external environmental factors were found to directly effect innovation outcomes. Contrary to expectation, but consistent with Social Identity theory, workgroup age diversity generally negatively impacted upon innovation outcomes. An exception was where multiple authorship on publications for project groups increased as the dispersion of age within groups increased. Importantly, workgroups that were both more age homogeneous and perceived to have optimally functioning work processes produced more R&D innovation outcomes than other groups. Generally, these differences appear to be related to the greater division of labor practices (and less multi-tasking) employed by the older and more homogeneous workgroups. Implications for R&D workgroup resource theory and practices are discussed.

Internal service quality and its impact on external service quality:a study of the role of internal customer types and the dimensions which are used to assess internal suppliers within an organisation and how this affects external service quality

This research explores the role of internal customers in the delivery of external service quality. It will consider any potentially different internal customer types that may exist within the organisation. Additionally, it will explore any potential differences in the dimensions that are used to measure service quality internally and externally. If there are different internal customer types then there may be different dimensions which are used to measure service quality between these types and this will be considered also. The approach adopted given the depth and breadth of understanding required, was an action research case based approach. The research objectives were:(i) To determine the dimensions of internal service quality between internal customer supplier cells. (ii) To determine what variation, if any, there is in the dimension sets between internal customer supplier cells. (iii) To determine any ranking in the dimensions that could exist by internal customer supplier cell type. (iv) To investigate the impact of internal service quality on external service quality over time. The research findings were: (i) The majority of the dimensions used in measuring external service quality were also used internally. There were additions of new dimensions however and some dimensions which were used externally, for internal use, had to be redefined. (ii) Variation in dimension sets were revealed during the research. Four different dimension sets were identified and these were matched with four different types of internal service interaction. (iii) Differences in the ranking of dimensions within each dimension set for each internal customer supplier cell type were confirmed. (iv) Internal service quality was seen to influence external service quality but at a cellular level rather than company level. At the company level, the average internal service quality at the start and finish of the research showed no improvement but external service quality had improved. Further investigation at the cellular level showed that improvements in internal service quality had occurred. Those improvements were found to be with the cells that were closest to the customer.The research implications were found to be: (i) some cells may not be necessary in the delivery of external service quality. (ii) The immediacy of the cell to the external customer and number of interactions into and out of that cell has the greatest effect on external customer satisfaction. (iii) Internal service quality may be driven by the customer affecting those cells at the front end of the business first. This then cascades back to those cells which are less immediate until ultimately the whole organisation shows improvements in internal service quality.

Governing inter-organisational R&D supplier collaborations:a study at Jaguar Land Rover

This article discusses the importance of collaboration with suppliers and partners during research and development (R&D) technology projects. It details how this can be accomplished using the collaborative enterprise governance (CEG) concept to manage a technology project. CEG is based on the premise that parts of companies work with parts of other companies, which are reconfigured on dynamic bases according to a variety of different internal and external factors. This article presents an overview of the founding literature, the CEG and its methodology, and examples based at Jaguar Land Rover in the UK. CEG has been used here to explain why some technology projects have succeeded while others have done less well. This article concludes by offering new propositions, inducted through grounded theory, relating to the successful management of R&D projects, which should be picked up by future research studies in the area.

3190-3275 nm tuneable, room temperature, external cavity InAs/AlSb Quantum Cascade Laser

We demonstrated a room temperature, tuneable, external cavity Quantum Cascade Laser for the use in compact spectroscopic gas sensing system. Wavelength tuning of 85 nm between 3190 nm and 3275 nm was achieved at room temperature.

Broadly tunable CW green-to-red laser source based on frequency doubling of a quantum-dot external cavity diode laser in a PPKTP waveguide

Here we present a compact tunable all-room-temperature frequency-doubling scheme, using a periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate (PPKTP) waveguide and a QD-ECDL. A broad wavelength tunability of the second harmonic generated light (SHG) in the spectral region between 567.7 and 629.1 nm was achieved, with maximum conversion efficiencies in range of 0.34%-7.9%. The maximum output power for the SHG light was 4.11 mW at 591.5 nm, achieved for 52 mW of launched pump power at 1183 nm, resulting in a conversion efficiency of 7.9%.

InAs/AlSb widely tunable external cavity quantum cascade laser around 3.2 μm

Room temperature, tunable, external-cavity short-wavelength InAs/AlSb quantum cascade laser (QCL) is reported. Wavelength tuning of 85 nm for the spectral range between 3190 nm and 3275 nm has been achieved by rotating the diffraction grating forming the external cavity. To suppress lasing inside the QCL cavity, its ridge was tilted by 7° at the external cavity end. The optimal tilting angle of the laser ridge was chosen by careful consideration of the return losses of the TM-polarized waveguide mode from the diffraction grating in a quasi-Littrow configuration and the Fabry-Pérot feedback from the tilted laser facet. No antireflection coating was used. © 2013 American Institute of Physics.

Engineering of a novel Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine strain with a respiratory phenotype at high external glucose concentrations

The recently described respiratory strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae KOY.TM6*P is, to our knowledge, the only reported strain of S. cerevisiae which completely redirects the flux of glucose from ethanol fermentation to respiration, even at high external glucose concentrations (27). In the KOY.TM6*P strain, portions of the genes encoding the predominant hexose transporter proteins, Hxt1 and Hxt7, were fused within the regions encoding transmembrane (TM) domain 6. The resulting chimeric gene, TM6*. encoded a chimera composed of the amino-terminal half of Hxt1 and the carboxy-terminal half of Hxt7. It was subsequently integrated into the genome of an hxt null strain. In this study, we have demonstrated the transferability of this respiratory phenotype to the V5 hxt1-7Δ strain, a derivative of a strain used in enology. We also show by using this mutant that it is not necessary to transform a complete hxt null strain with the TM6* construct to obtain a nonethanol-producing phenotype. The resulting V5.TM6*P strain, obtained by transformation of the V5 hxt1-7Δ strain with the TM6* chimeric gene, produced only minor amounts of ethanol when cultured on external glucose concentrations as high as 5%. Despite the fact that glucose flux was reduced to 30% in the V5.TM6*P strain compared with that of its parental strain, the V5.TM6*P strain produced biomass at a specific rate as high as 85% that of the V5 wild-type strain. Even more relevant for the potential use of such a strain for the production of heterologous proteins and also of low-alcohol beverages is the observation that the biomass yield increased 50% with the mutant compared to its parental strain. Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Nonlinear signalling networks and cell-to-cell variability transform external signals into broadly distributed or bimodal responses

We show theoretically and experimentally a mechanismbehind the emergence of wide or bimodal protein distributions in biochemical networks with nonlinear input-output characteristics (the dose-response curve) and variability in protein abundance. Large cell-to-cell variation in the nonlinear dose-response characteristics can be beneficial to facilitate two distinct groups of response levels as opposed to a graded response. Under the circumstances that we quantify mathematically, the two distinct responses can coexist within a cellular population, leading to the emergence of a bimodal protein distribution. Using flow cytometry, we demonstrate the appearance of wide distributions in the hypoxia-inducible factor-mediated response network in HCT116 cells. With help of our theoretical framework, we perform a novel calculation of the magnitude of cell-to-cell heterogeneity in the dose-response obtained experimentally. © 2014 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

„Mennyit ér” a fenntarthatóság? – Esettanulmány az externális hatások mérésére azok internalizálására (What is sustainability worth? – A case study of measuring and internalizing negative environmental effects of logistics operation)

A fenntarthatóság központi kérdés a gazdálkodástudományban, ezen belül a logisztikában, hiszen a környezetre rótt szennyezésben e vállalati működési területnek is jelentős a szerepe. A szerzők dolgozata egy konkrét hazai esettanulmány segítségével vizsgálja a kérdéskört. Azt elemzik, vajon egy, az Európai Unióban is új kamiontípus (az ún. EuroCombi) alkalmazása a logisztikai folyamatokban milyen externális hatásokkal jár. Elemzésükben kísérletet tesznek ezeknek az externális hatásoknak a pénzben kifejezett mérésére. Azért fontos mindez, mert e mérés és számszerűsítés nélkül lehetetlen ezeknek a hatásoknak az internalizálása, vagyis belsővé tétele. Így mérés nélkül sem az érintett vállalatok tulajdonosai, sem azok belső döntéshozói, de a külső szabályozó szereplők sem tudják bevonni e hatásokat gazdasági döntéseikbe. Ez a mérés nem egyszerű feladat, de nem is lehetetlen. Mindenképpen alapját, előfeltételét képezi azonban annak, hogy ilyen jellegű döntéseknél az érintettek a társadalmi, környezeti érdekeket is érvényesíteni tudják. ____ Sustainability is a key issue today both for practitioners and researchers. This is true especially for logisticians. Logistics is a function that has a significant CO2 emission and also destructs transportation infrastructure that burden our environment. The article is focusing on these issues with the help of a Hungarian case study. It analysis the effect of applying a new, long and heavy type of truck, called EuroCombi. It presents a methodology usable for measuring these negative external effects in Forint. Without proper measurement internalization of costs these externalities generate is impossible. As it will be presented in details, such a measurement is although not very easy but achievable.

Desenvolvimento biotecnológico de uma emulsão de uso tópico a base de óleo de rã-touro Rana catesbeiana Shaw

The skin is one of the largest organs of the human body and accounts for about 16% of body weight. The body protection against the external environment microorganisms is one of its most important functions, however is necessary that the skin remain intact for this function be exercised, so that when there is an injury on the skin, the process of restructuring needs to be starts, however this restructuration may also be compromised due to some diseases, justifying even more the need for the development of topical products that promote or accelerate the skin healing. Thus the aim of this study was to extract bullfrog oil and to develop a suitable topical emulsion. Two different oil samples were extracted by hot or organic solvent process. Titration techniques and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry were used to characterize the bullfrog oil. The required hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLBr) of bullfrog oil was determined and a pseudo-ternary phase diagram was constructed. The stability of the topical emulsion was evaluated. Then, cellular viability was determined by MTT assay using normal fibroblasts (3T3) and melanoma (B16F10) cells lines. The hot extraction yield was 60.6%. The major polyunsaturated compounds found were Eicosapentaenoic acid (17.6%) and Arachidonic acid (8.4%). HLBr study demonstrated the presence of stable systems with HLB ranging from 12.1 to 13.5 and the pseudo-ternary phase diagram showed mainly emulsion systems (62%). Topical emulsion showed 390 nm, polydispersity 0.05, zeta potential -25 mV and remained stable for ninety days. The bullfrog oil and topical emulsion did not showed citotoxicity in normal fibroblasts cells. However, these systems showed significantly inhibition of melanoma cells growth. In conclusion, the bullfrog oil presented desirable chemical characteristics required to be used for the development of a pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

A SPH solver for simulating paramagnetic solid fluid interaction in the presence of an external magnetic field

Acknowledgment The first two authors wish to express their sincerest thanks to Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) for supporting this work under Contract Number 92021291.

Internal Capital, External Knowledge, and Random Draws: Three Drivers of Organizational Structure

This dissertation explores the complex interactions between organizational structure and the environment. In Chapter 1, I investigate the effect of financial development on the formation of European corporate groups. Since cross-country regressions are hard to interpret in a causal sense, we exploit exogenous industry measures to investigate a specific channel through which financial development may affect group affiliation: internal capital markets. Using a comprehensive firm-level dataset on European corporate groups in 15 countries, we find that countries

with less developed financial markets have a higher percentage of group affiliates in more capital intensive industries. This relationship is more pronounced for young and small firms and for affiliates of large and diversified groups. Our findings are consistent with the view that internal capital markets may, under some conditions, be more efficient than prevailing external markets, and that this may drive group affiliation even in developed economies. In Chapter 2, I bridge current streams of innovation research to explore the interplay between R&D, external knowledge, and organizational structure–three elements of a firm’s innovation strategy which we argue should logically be studied together. Using within-firm patent assignment patterns,

we develop a novel measure of structure for a large sample of American firms. We find that centralized firms invest more in research and patent more per R&D dollar than decentralized firms. Both types access technology via mergers and acquisitions, but their acquisitions differ in terms of frequency, size, and i\ntegration. Consistent with our framework, their sources of value creation differ: while centralized firms derive more value from internal R&D, decentralized firms rely more on external knowledge. We discuss how these findings should stimulate more integrative work on theories of innovation. In Chapter 3, I use novel data on 1,265 newly-public firms to show that innovative firms exposed to environments with lower M&A activity just after their initial public offering (IPO) adapt by engaging in fewer technological acquisitions and

more internal research. However, this adaptive response becomes inertial shortly after IPO and persists well into maturity. This study advances our understanding of how the environment shapes heterogeneity and capabilities through its impact on firm structure. I discuss how my results can help bridge inertial versus adaptive perspectives in the study of organizations, by

documenting an instance when the two interact.

"Bolagsverket är mer modernt än jag tänkte mig" : Hur kan statliga myndigheter arbeta med Employer Branding för att attrahera Generation Y?

Bakgrund: Employer Branding är ett relativt nytt begrepp som har börjat användas som en strategi inom Human Resource Management. Genom att utveckla ett Employer Brand kan or-ganisationer attrahera och behålla talangfull arbetskraft och på så vis säkra sin överlevnad. Det saknas emellertid forskning på hur Employer Branding kan användas i offentlig verksamhet för att attrahera den senaste generationen på arbetsmarknaden; Generation Y. Syfte: Öka förståelse för hur statliga myndigheter kan arbeta med Employer Branding för att attrahera Generation Y. Metod: Studien baseras på kvalitativ metod och har en fenomenologisk samt deduktiv forsk-ningsansats. Undersökningsdesignen var i form av en fallstudie. Nio semistrukturerade inter-vjuer har genomförts med respondenter på Bolagsverket, varav fyra intervjuer med personer som har inflytande över Employer Branding och fem med personer ur Generation Y. Teorier: "Employer Branding Predictive Model" Slutsatser: I studien visar att den statliga arbetsgivaren är attraktiv för Generation Y. Proble-matiken ligger i att det finns brister beträffande hur kommunikationen av arbetsgivarvarumärket ser ut externt. Utan en uttalad målgrupp och ett uttalat Employee Value Proposition blir den externa kommunikationen otydlig vilket minskar arbetsgivarens attraktionskraft hos potentiella arbetstagare. Attraktiviteten uppstår först när individen från Generation Y redan rekryterats in i organisationen.