More applicable environmental scanning systems leveraging “modern” information systems

With Ansoff’s article about weak signals as a flagship example, a substantial body of knowledge about environmental scanning systems exists. However, these concepts often go unused in practice. The 2008/2009 economic crisis provided a strong, ongoing impulse for redesigning such information systems (IS). This article develops six guidelines for the conceptual design of environmental scanning systems that are more applicable than those specified by previous research. We start with literature research, which reveals three gaps in existing approaches. Then we develop design guidelines to fill these gaps with the help of “modern” IS. To address the lack of sound requirements analysis, our first design principle proposes 360-degree environmental scanning systems for executives and suggests how to select the most important scanning areas. Three further findings cover weaknesses in the IS model perspective, focusing on more effective implications of weak signals. In terms of method, we propose incorporating scanning results more closely into executives’ decision-making processes. Applying the design guidelines at a raw materials and engineering company, we arrive at a prototype we call the “corporate radar.” It includes an IS-based tree with economic value added at risk on top. The resulting lessons learned help to evaluate our findings and the research method presented here, as well provide concrete starting points for future research.     

The Quasi-static Deformation, Failure, and Fracture Behavior of Titanium Alloy Gusset Plates Containing Bolt Holes

In this article, the influence of bolt holes, specifically their number and layout on strength, deformation, and final fracture behavior of titanium alloy gusset plates under the influence of an external load is presented and discussed. Several plates having differences in both the number and layout of the bolt holes were precision machined and then deformed under quasi-static loading. The specific influence of number of bolt holes and their layout on maximum load-carrying capability and even fracture load was determined. The conjoint influence of bolt number, bolt layout pattern, nature of loading, contribution from local stress concentration, and intrinsic microstructural effects in governing the macroscopic fracture mode and intrinsic microscopic mechanisms is presented and discussed.     

Gender, employment and retirement quality: A life course approach to the differential experiences of men and women.

Using a life course perspective in integrating 2 theories of retirement satisfaction—role theory and continuity theory—this study draws on a sample of retired men (n?=?244) and women (n?=?214), ages 50–72, to investigate factors contributing to the quality of their retirement experience. Overall, we find that men report greater retirement satisfaction than women, although the difference is small. For women, increased retirement quality is associated with good health, a continuous career (fewer years spent in part-time employment), an early retirement (though not earlier than anticipated), and a good postretirement income. For men, the key correlates with retirement quality are good health, an enjoyable preretirement job, low work-role salience, substantial preretirement planning, and retiring for internally motivated reasons (e.g., to do other things). These results underscore the importance of a life course focus on gendered pathways to and through life transitions such as retirement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Determination of Thermophysical Properties for Polymer Films using Conduction Analysis of Laser Heating

Determination of the thermophysical properties of thin film materials is important for modeling and optimizing laser microvia drilling of organic substrates in microelectronics applications. Techniques to measure the density, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal decomposition point, and specific ablation heat of thin polymer films are described. An experimental apparatus was set up for laser heating of the sample. To measure the thermal diffusivity, an analytic heat transfer model is developed. One-dimensional heat conduction is assumed due to the small thickness of the film compared to the radius of the laser beam. The value of thermal diffusivity is obtained by fitting the experimental data to the theory. The specific ablation heat is obtained by measuring the mass loss during laser ablation. The experimental apparatus and the property determination methodology can also be applied to thin samples of other materials.     

Sabbatical leave: Who gains and how much?

A rigorous quasi-experiment tested the ameliorative effects of a sabbatical leave, a special case of respite from routine work. We hypothesized that (a) respite increases resource level and well-being and (b) individual differences and respite features moderate respite effects. A sample of 129 faculty members on sabbatical and 129 matched controls completed measures of resource gain, resource loss, and well-being before, during, and after the sabbatical. Among the sabbatees, resource loss declined and resource gain and well-being rose during the sabbatical. The comparison group showed no change. Moderation analysis revealed that those who reported higher respite self-efficacy and greater control, were more detached, had a more positive sabbatical experience, and spent their sabbatical outside their home country enjoyed more enhanced well-being than others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Influence of Phototrophic Biomass on Fe and S Redox Cycling in an Acid Mine Drainage-Impacted System

We examined the effects of organic carbon from oxygenic photosynthetic algal biomass on the redox cycling of Fe and S in an acid mine drainage (AMD)-impacted system. Fe(III)-rich sediments from the field site with abundant algae contained fewer Fe(II) oxidizing bacteria and lower rates of Fe(II) oxidation compared to sediments that did not contain abundant algae. The addition of algal biomass to sediments that did not previously contain abundant algae inhibited microbiological Fe(II) oxidation and enhanced microbiological Fe(III) and sulfate reduction. As Fe(III) reduction proceeded, sulfate was released into solution due to the reductive solubilization of Fe(III) (hydr)oxy-sulfate phases. Our results indicate that in systems where oxidative precipitation of Fe is exploited as an AMD treatment strategy, the abundant organic carbon provided by photosynthetic organisms may inhibit or reverse Fe(II) oxidation.     

Kalirin inhibition of inducible nitric-oxide synthase

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a neurotransmitter. However, excess NO produced from neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) or inducible NOS (iNOS) during inflammation of the central nervous system can be neurotoxic, disrupting neurotransmitter and hormone production and killing neurons. A screen of a hippocampal cDNA library showed that a unique region of the iNOS protein interacts with Kalirin, previously identified as an interactor with a secretory granule peptide biosynthetic enzyme. Kalirin associates with iNOS in vitro and in vivo and inhibits iNOS activity by preventing the formation of iNOS homodimers. Expression of exogenous Kalirin in pituitary cells dramatically reduces iNOS inhibition of ACTH secretion. Thus Kalirin may play a neuroprotective role during inflammation of the central nervous system by inhibiting iNOS activity.