Digital innovation in law dirms: The dominant logic under threat

This paper focuses on the impact of digitalization in the legal industry. The legal industry is highly institutionalized and has for long been unaffected by external changes. This has enabled the development of a strong institutional logic that has dictated homogeneous practices in law firms and limited their room for innovation. However, this seems about to change. Through a qualitative case study of the Swedish legal industry, this paper shows that new practices, enabled by digitalization, challenges common practices and puts the dominant logic under threat. By applying an institutional logics perspective to recent changes, this paper contrasts the enactment of the dominant logic with innovative practices and shows that digitalization has created institutional complexity, where digital pioneers respond to digital opportunities differently than incumbents. This paper also explains why and highlights the emergence of hybrid firms that successfully combine elements of the dominant logic with innovation. Consequently, this paper contributes to our understanding of digital innovation and digital transformation within highly institutional industries.     

Pedestrians in wintertime—Effects of using anti-slip devices

Pedestrians slipping and falling is a major safety problem around the world, not least in countries with long winters such as Sweden. About 25 000-30 000 people need medical care every year for treatment of fall injuries in Sweden. Use of appropriate shoes and anti-slip devices are examples of individual measures that have been suggested to prevent slipping and falling.An intervention study was performed during the period February to April 2008. The study, which focused on healthy adults in northern Sweden, examined the effect of using anti-slip devices on daily walking journeys and prevention of slip and falls.The respondents were divided into three groups: an Intervention Group, a Control Group, with similar distribution of gender and age, and a Comparison Group. Four questionnaires were distributed: (1) background, (2) daily diary of distance walked and occurrence of incidents or accidents reported weekly, (3) detailed incident or fall report and (4) experiences of using anti-slip devices for those who used these devices during the trial period.Half of the respondents stated that they had previous experience of using anti-slip devices. In this study, 52% of the respondents used anti-slip devices. Anti-slip devices improve the walking capability during wintertime. Among those using appropriate anti-slip devices, the average daily walking distance was found to be statistically significantly longer compared to people not using anti-slip devices. This study indicates that an increase in daily walking distance can be made without increasing the risk of slips/falls when using anti-slip devices. The study also indicates that by using appropriate anti-slip devices and having information about when and where to use them, based on their design, people avoid having slips and falls. The respondents experienced in using anti-slip devices in this study will continue to use them and will also recommend others to use anti-slip devises.     

Stage I adenocarcinoma presenting in the pneumonectomy specimen at the time of single lung transplantation

Two patients at our institution underwent single lung transplantation. The procedure and the patient's postoperative course were uncomplicated in each case. Pathological examination of each pneumonectomy specimen revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma; both were less than 1 cm in size. The remainder of each lung showed no evidence of adenocarcinoma and all lymph nodes were negative. Work-ups for an occult malignancy before and after surgery were negative. This is believed to be the first report of a single lung transplant in a patient with a primary adenocarcinoma of the lung. The implications and management of these patients are discussed.     

Lipase-catalyzed methanolysis of triricinolein in organic solvent to produce 1,2(2,3)-diricinolein

The objective of this study was to find the optimal parameters for lipase-catalyzed methanolysis of triricinolein to produce 1,2(2,3)-diricinolein. Four different immobilized lipases were tested, Candida antarctica type B (CALB), Rhizomucor miehei (RML), Pseudomonas cepacia (PCL), and Penicillium roquefortii (PRL). n-Hexane and diisopropyl ether (DIPE) were examined as reaction media at three different water activities (a _w), 0.11, 0.53, and 0.97. The consumption of triricinolein and the formation of 1,2(2,3)-diricinolein, methyl ricinoleate, and ricinoleic acid were followed for up to 48 h. PRL gave the highest yield of 1,2(2,3)-diricinolein. Moreover, this lipase showed the highest specificity for the studied reaction, i.e., high selectivity for the reaction with triricinolein but low for 1,2(2,3)-diricinolein. Recoveries of 93 and 88% DAG were obtained using PRL in DIPE at a _w of 0.11 and 0.53, respectively. Further, NMR studies showed that a higher purity of the 1,2(2,3)-isomer vs. the 1,3-isomer was achieved at higher a _w (88% at a _w=0.53), compared to lower a _w (71% at a _w=0.11). The DAG obtained was acylated by the DAG acyltransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana. Therefore, this enzymatic product is a useful enzyme substrate for lipid biosynthesis. Accordingly, the use of PRL in DIPE at a _w 0.53 is considered optimal for the synthesis of 1,2(2,3)-diricinolein from triricinolein.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of solution polymerized segmented polyurethanes with butadiene soft segments

A series of HTPBD containing polyurethanes of high molecular weight have been synthesized in solution. The value of the soft segment T_g is very close to that of the free HTPBD and independent of hard segment content indicating complete or very nearly complete phase segregation. Since the hard segments of TDI/BDO are amorphous, the driving force for phase segregation must arise from the large degree of incompatibility between the polar hard segment and nonpolar soft segment. Furthermore, in these samples there is also no opportunity for hydrogen bonding between hard and soft segments to enhance compatibility.The values of the hard segment glass transition increase with the average hard segment length following a Fox-Flory type relationship. In contrast to the segment T_g observed in bulk polymerized samples, only a single hard segment T_g occurred in the present study. This indicates that the double T_g behaviour is a result of the heterogeneous nature of the bulk polymerization.With increasing hard segment content, the properties vary from soft to rigid elastomers, and rubber roughened plastics. This variation in properties is caused by changes in the sample morphology which depends upon the relative fractions of hard and soft segments. Mechanical properties show marked improvement over the corresponding bulk polymerized samples. Unlike polyester and polyether urethanes, these materials evidence no change in the soft segment T_g following thermal treatment and no effect of thermal history on the mechanical properties.     

A quantitative approach towards a better understanding of the dynamics of Salmonella spp. in a pork slaughter-line

Pork contributes significantly to the public health disease burden caused by Salmonella infections. During the slaughter process pig carcasses can become contaminated with Salmonella. Contamination at the slaughter-line is initiated by pigs carrying Salmonella on their skin or in their faeces. Another contamination route could be resident flora present on the slaughter equipment. To unravel the contribution of these two potential sources of Salmonella a quantitative study was conducted. Process equipment (belly openers and carcass splitters), faeces and carcasses (skin and cutting surfaces) along the slaughter-line were sampled at 11 sampling days spanning a period of 4 months. Most samples taken directly after killing were positive for Salmonella. On 96.6% of the skin samples Salmonella was identified, whereas a lower number of animals tested positive in their rectum (62.5%). The prevalence of Salmonella clearly declined on the carcasses at the re-work station, either on the cut section or on the skin of the carcass or both (35.9%). Throughout the sampling period of the slaughter-line the total number of Salmonella per animal was almost 2 log lower at the re-work station in comparison to directly after slaughter. Seven different serovars were identified during the study with S. Derby (41%) and S. Typhimurium (29%) as the most prominent types. A recurring S. Rissen contamination of one of the carcass splitters indicated the presence of an endemic 'house flora' in the slaughterhouse studied. On many instances several serotypes per individual sample were found. The enumeration of Salmonella and the genotyping data gave unique insight in the dynamics of transmission of this pathogen in a slaughter-line. The data of the presented study support the hypothesis that resident flora on slaughter equipment was a relevant source for contamination of pork.     

Distance between speed humps and pedestrian crossings: does it matter?

Speed humps are a common physical measure installed at pedestrian crossings to reduce vehicle speeds therefore improve the safety and mobility of pedestrians at the crossing.The aim of this study was to determine whether variations in distance between speed humps and pedestrian crossings contribute differently to the safety and mobility of pedestrians and cyclists, especially children and the elderly, and if so, how. Three sites in Sweden were studied, where vehicle speed measurements and video filming at the site resulted in manually coded, road user behaviour of 1972 pedestrians and cyclists.Road user behaviour at three test sites and two comparison sites equipped with speed cushion at distances of about 5 m and 10 m from the pedestrian crossing, i.e. about one or two car lengths, were studied. As vehicle speeds were somewhat lower at the pedestrian crossing when the distance between the speed cushion to the pedestrian crossing was greater, and there were positive aspects regarding the mobility of the pedestrians and cyclists, a greater distance of about 10 m or two car lengths between the hump and the pedestrian crossing is suggested. The present study only covers speed cushions, but the same distance is also regarded as important when installing other types of physical measures to reduce vehicle speed.     

A sustainable city environment through child safety and mobility—A challenge based on ITS?

Our cities should be designed to accommodate everybody, including children. We will not move toward a more sustainable society unless we accept that children are people with transportation needs, and ‘bussing’ them around, or providing parental limousine services at all times, will not lead to sustainability. Rather, we will need to make our cities walkable for children, at least those above a certain age. Safety has two main aspects, traffic safety and personal safety (risk of assault). Besides being safe, children will also need an urban environment with reasonable mobility, where they themselves can reach destinations with reasonable effort; else they will still need to be driven. This paper presents the results of two expert questionnaires focusing on the potential safety and mobility benefits to child pedestrians of targeted types of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Five different types of functional requests for children were identified based on previous work. The first expert questionnaire was structured to collect expert opinions on which ITS solutions or devices would be, and why, the most relevant ones to satisfy the five different functional requests of child pedestrians. Based on the first questionnaire, fifteen problem areas were defined. In the second questionnaire, the experts ranked the fifteen areas, and prioritized related ITS services, according to their potential for developing ITS services beneficial to children. Several ITS systems for improving pedestrian quality are discussed. ITS services can be used when a pedestrian route takes them to a dangerous street, dangerous crossing point or through a dangerous neighborhood. An improvement of safety and other qualities would lead to increased mobility and a more sustainable way of living. Children would learn how to live to support their own health and a sustainable city environment. But it will be up to national, regional and local governments, through their ministries and agencies and public works departments, to promote, fund, and possibly mandate such systems. It is clear that we need to offer an acceptable level of convenience, efficiency, comfort, safety and security to pedestrians but it is less clear if society will prioritize resources toward this.     

Accidental and deliberate microbiological contamination in the feed and food chains--how biotraceability may improve the response to bioterrorism

A next frontier of the global food safety agenda has to consider a broad spectrum of bio-risks, such as accidental and intentional contaminations in the food and feed chain. In this article, the background for the research needs related to biotraceability and response to bioterrorism incidents are outlined. Given the current scale of international trade any response need to be considered in an international context. Biotraceability (e.g. the ability to use downstream information to point to processes or within a particular food chain that can be identified as the source of undesirable agents) is crucial in any food-born outbreak and particular in the response to bioterrorism events. In the later case, tested and proven biotraceability improves the following: (i) international collaboration of validated tracing tools and detection methods, (ii) multi-disciplinary expertise and collaboration in the field of food microbiology and conceptual modeling of the food chain, (iii) sampling as a key step in biotracing (iv) optimized sample preparation procedures, including laboratory work in Biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories, (v) biomarker discovery for relevant tracing and tracking applications, and (vi) high-throughput sequencing using bio-informatic platforms to speed up the characterization of the biological agent. By applying biotraceability, the response phase during a bioterrorism event may be shortened and is facilitated for tracing the origin of biological agent contamination.