Structuration bridging diffusion of innovations and gender relations theories: a case of paradigmatic pluralism in IS research

This paper discusses the adoption of a pluralist theoretical framework – one that is also multiparadigmatic – for conducting and publishing information system (IS) research. The discussion is illustrated by a single case study involving the Australian cotton industry. The theoretical framework is informed by three sociological theories, each with its particular paradigmatic assumptions: structuration theory as a meta‐theory, and diffusion of innovations and gender relations as lower‐level theories from notionally opposing paradigms. Theoretical pluralism helped to produce rich findings, illuminating both the social nature of women farmers' roles, the materiality of the cotton farming context, the characteristics of the decision support systems in use and the recursive way in which human agency and institutional pressures shape each other. Because users of so‐called divergent paradigms often face criticism based on the incommensurability issue, one of the main contributions of this paper is to discuss the value of a pluralist and multiparadigmatic theoretical framework in dealing with complex IS social phenomena.     

A simple chromatographic method for purification of egg lecithin

Egg lecithin was purified from the CdCl₂-lecithin complex by column chromatography on Alumina. The yield from 5 eggs was 2.8 g. The purified lecithin had correct chemical values for pure lecithin and a fatty acid composition similar to lecithin prepared by other methods. The method probably can be adapted for purification of other lipids containing the phosphocholine moiety and for purification of synthetic lecithin.     

Hydrocarbon synthesis over sulfide catalysts. Break-down of the Anderson-Schulz-Flory distribution

The kinetics of hydrocarbon synthesis over sulfide-based catalysts was studied. It appears that the formation of methane follows another reaction path than that of higher hydrocarbons. This might explain the very high selectivities for ethane and propane as compared with conventional Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. Reference is made to testing of the catalysts at industrial conditions.     

板金液压柔性技术及其产品设计

板金液压柔性成形具有诸多的优点,受到了汽车、航空航天等领域设计和研究者的普遍重视。文章主要介绍了板金液压柔性成形技术的内涵和外延,针对所提出的无模液压柔性成形技术和复合液压柔性成形技术,从不同的工艺方法入手,基于所研制的液压柔性成形设备,介绍了相关的飞机等领域产品特点以及设计要点,并对其中的关键工艺参数进行了描述。     

Use and non‐use of VDTs—organization of terminal work: Research findings from Swedish cross‐site studies in the field of office automation

A group of users in Copenhagen were asked to evaluate how important a number of user interface characteristics were for them. The results show high importance of efficient daily use and of possibilities for exploratory learning while tutorial materials were of less importance. Users also were asked to evaluate four usability aspects of a number of popular programs. Results show that the quality pleasant to work with has the largest impact on evaluations of overall user‐friendliness while users seem able to view usability independently from the number of features in an application.     

Wetland change mapping for the U.S. mid-Atlantic region using an outlier detection technique

Although the impacts of wetland loss are often felt at regional scales, effective planning and management require a comparative assessment of local needs, costs, and benefits. Satellite remote sensing can provide spatially explicit, synoptic land cover change information to support such an assessment. However, a common challenge in conventional remote sensing change detection is the difficulty of obtaining phenologically and radiometrically comparable data from the start and end of the time period of interest. An alternative approach is to use a prior land cover classification as a surrogate for historic satellite data and to examine the self-consistency of class spectral reflectances in recent imagery. We produced a 30-meter resolution wetland change probability map for the U.S. mid-Atlantic region by applying an outlier detection technique to a base classification provided by the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). Outlier-resistant measures – the median and median absolute deviation – were used to represent spectral reflectance characteristics of wetland class populations, and formed the basis for the calculation of a pixel change likelihood index. The individual scene index values were merged into a consistent region-wide map and converted to pixel change probability using a logistic regression calibrated through interpretation of historic and recent aerial photography. The accuracy of a regional change/no-change map produced from the change probabilities was estimated at 89.6%, with a Kappa of 0.779. The change probabilities identify areas for closer inspection of change cause, impact, and mitigation potential. With additional work to resolve confusion resulting from natural spatial heterogeneity and variations in land use, automated updating of NWI maps and estimates of areal rates of wetland change may be possible. We also discuss extensions of the technique to address specific applications such as monitoring marsh degradation due to sea level rise and mapping of invasive species.     

Reversible inactivation of purified leukocyte integrin CR3 (CD11b/CD18, alpha m beta 2) by removal of divalent cations from a cryptic site

Integrins exhibit reversible changes in their ability to bind ligands and these changes enable transient cell adhesion. We recently showed that leukocyte integrin CR3 (complement receptor type three, CD11b/CD18, alpha m beta 2) may be purified in a form that is either capable or incapable of binding soluble, monomeric ligand and that "inactive" CR3 may be rendered capable of binding ligand by addition of an anti-CR3 mAb known as KIM-127 (Cai and Wright, JBC. 270: 14358, 1995). Here, we demonstrate that active CR3 may be rendered inactive by treatment of immobilized receptor with EDTA. EDTA-treated CR3 failed to bind ligand even in the presence of mM Ca2+ and Mg2+, suggesting that EDTA-treatment caused a change in the receptor that is not readily reversed. EDTA-treated receptor did, however, bind ligand upon addition of KIM-127 plus Mg2+ with an affinity (17.8 +/- 4.5 nM) similar to untreated, active receptor (12.5 +/- 4.7 nM). EDTA-treated CR3 thus exhibits the properties of inactive CR3, in which the ligand binding site is cryptic but subject to exposure by KIM-127. A candidate for the cryptic ligand binding site is the I-domain, a Mg2+-binding region in the alpha chain of CR3. We found that monomeric C3bi binds directly to recombinant I-domain in a Mg(2+)-dependent fashion with an affinity of 300 +/- 113 nM. These results thus suggest that CR3 may be inactivated by removing tightly bound divalent cation from a cryptic site in CR3.     

Long‐term effects of angiotensin II blockade with irbesartan on inflammatory markers in hemodialysis patients: A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial (SAFIR study)

Introduction: Low‐grade chronic inflammation is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Previous studies suggest an anti‐inflammatory effect of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of ARB vs. placebo on plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers in HD patients. Methods: Adult HD patients were randomized for double‐blind treatment with the ARB irbesartan 150–300 mg/day or placebo. At baseline, 1 week, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months plasma high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin (IL)?1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐18, and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) were measured using Luminex and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. Findings: Eighty‐two patients were randomized (placebo/ARB: 41/41). The groups did not differ in initial levels of any of the inflammatory markers (placebo/ARB median(range)): hsCRP 3.3(0.2–23.4)/2.7(0.2–29.6) μg/mL; IL‐1β 1.1(0.0–45.9)/1.1(0.0‐7.2) pg/mL; IL‐6 10(1–90)/12(1–84) pg/mL; IL‐8 31(9–134)/34(5–192) pg/mL; IL‐18 364(188–1343)/377(213–832) pg/mL; TGF‐β 3.2(0.8–13.9)/3.6(1.3–3.8) ng/mL. Overall, there was no significant difference in hsCRP, IL‐6, IL‐8, and TGF‐β between placebo and ARB‐treated patients during the study period, and hsCRP, IL‐6, IL‐8, and TGF‐β were relatively stable during the study period (P ≥ 0.18 in all tests for parallel curves, equal levels, and constant levels). The IL‐1β level was slightly different in the two groups over time, but not significantly (P = 0.09 in test for parallel curves) and it was also relatively stable during the study period (P ≥ 0.49 in tests for equal levels and constant level). IL‐18 was the only inflammatory marker which was not constant during the study period (P = 0.001 in test for constant level), but there was no significant difference between placebo and ARB‐treated (P ≥ 0.51 in tests for parallel curves and equal levels). Discussion: Inflammatory biomarkers were neither acutely, nor in the long‐term significantly affected by the ARB irbesartan. Our findings suggest that ARB treatment in HD patients does not offer protective anti‐inflammatory effects.     

The use of social media in impact assessment: experiences among national infrastructure developers in Denmark

Social media plays an increasingly prominent role in the interaction between impact assessments and society. Impact assessment is thus becoming part of social networks that are claimed to be able to improve interaction between actors in impact assessment processes. By investigating the use of social media in impact assessment and planning processes of national linear infrastructure development, we explore how social media impinge on participatory practices and how the potential of social media is realized in the current use related to public participation processes. The study focuses on experiences among national developers working in road, rail, electricity, gas, and metro infrastructures in Denmark. The article shows that the current use of social media in public participatory practices is limited to branding and on-way communication and that the increasing use of social media in linear infrastructure planning gives rise to a variety of concerns among developers that are related to especially organizational cultures, perception of the target groups, and prioritization of resources.