A Changing World of Workplace Conflict Resolution and Employee Voice: An Australian Perspective

The authors contribute to dispute resolution theory and provide new insights on such important issues as employee voice, workplace disputes and employees’ intentions to quit. They conducted and analyzed a survey of managers in Australian workplaces. They apply Budd and Colvin’s (2008) path-finding dispute resolution framework to examine two research questions: first, is there a relationship between the resolution of disputes and employee voice as measured by employee perceptions of influence over decision-making? Second, is there a relationship between the resolution of workplace disputes and employees’ intentions to quit? These are important questions in view of the high costs of workplace conflict and employee turnover. The authors find that employee voice facilitates successful dispute resolution. Further, employee voice has the additional benefit of directly reducing employee turnover intentions, above and beyond its indirect effect by helping to resolve conflicts at work

Quality teaching in a managerialist setting: higher education challenges in Australia

Australian universities face increased challenges in a global higher education marketplace. They have responded to this competitive environment by introducing greater efficiency and accountability measures. One key measure is the quality of teaching and in particular, the delivery of student-centred teaching. However, the reforms have changed the working lives of academic teachers who now have greater reporting and administrative responsibilities with less sense of collegiality in the sector. In these circumstances, it is not clear that teaching staff will share the same perceptions of quality teaching as their institutions expect. This paper examines the utility of role theory and learning organization theory as part of a project which will examine the ways in which implicit knowledge can be made explicit and shared in the organization as part of academic teachers' roles. The paper hypothesizes that when academics share their perceptions of good teaching, universities will benefit from a coherent set of quality teaching indicators which are aligned with their organizational cultures

Electrical and ultraviolet characterization of 4H-SiC Schottky photodiodes

Fabrication and electrical and optical characterization of 4H-SiC Schottky UV photodetectors with nickel silicide interdigitated contacts is reported. Dark capacitance and current measurements as a function of applied voltage over the temperature range 20 °C – 120 °C are presented. The results show consistent performance among devices. Their leakage current density, at the highest investigated temperature (120 °C), is in the range of nA/cm2 at high internal electric field. Properties such as barrier height and ideality factor are also computed as a function of temperature. The responsivities of the diodes as functions of applied voltage were measured using a UV spectrophotometer in the wavelength range 200 nm - 380 nm and compared with theoretically calculated values. The devices had a mean peak responsivity of 0.093 A/W at 270 nm and −15 V reverse bias

Flow front instabilities in an injection moulding process

During an injection moulding process, a process that is often used for the production of plastic objects, molten polymer is injected into a mould. In many cases, the mechanical properties as well as the optical properties of these objects are relevant. Due to internal stresses and distortions of the surface, the optical quality of the product may diminish, e.g. the information on a compact disc can not be read properly. One of the processes that is considered to be responsible for this kind of distortions is an instability of the motion of the flow front during the filling phase of the injection moulding process. There are several mechanisms that may cause this kind of instability, e.g. thermal and/or viscoelastic properties of the polymer. In this PhD-research, we have investigated in what extent thermal properties of the fluid may cause the existence of (anti-symmetric) instabilities of the flow front during the injection moulding process of thin flat plates. In this case, the walls of the mould are flat and parallel to each other. The basic idea in this research is that the viscosity of the fluid is highly dependent on the temperature of the fluid. Since the walls of the mould are cooler than the temperature of the fluid itself, the viscosity of the fluid will be higher near the walls than in the main part of the fluid. The thought behind the development of this kind of instabilities is that when the point of contact of the flow front with one wall (wall 1) lies further downstream than the point of contact with the other wall (wall 2), the temperature of the fluid in a certain cross section will be lower near wall 1 than near wall 2. Therefore, the viscosity near wall 1 will be higher than the viscosity near wall 2. Hence, the velocity near wall 1 will be lower, meaning that the point of contact of the flow front with wall 2 will move downstream faster than the point of contact with wall 1, which causes the situation to reverse. This results in a "wobbling" flow front. The main questions during this research are: Can this mechanism cause the flow front to wobble? and Under what circumstances will the amplitude of the wobbling of the flow front increase or decrease? The research has been done completely by analytical means. Since we only consider thermal effects on the behaviour of the flow front, for the stresses in the fluid we take a generalized Newtonian model, where the viscosity depends on the temperature only. Since the thickness of the plates is much smaller than the width, it may be assumed that the velocity and temperature fields in the unperturbed situation are two-dimensional. We assume that the same holds for the instabilities. Also, we consider a time-interval for which the influence of the inlet is not noticeable in the flow front region, and vice versa, from which it follows that the situation near the inlet, and the situation near the flow front can be considered independently of each other. In order to determine the existence of this kind of flow front instabilities, we need an (analytical) expression for the temperature and velocity fields in the unperturbed situation, i.e. the situation where the flow front is symmetric. To calculate the unperturbed velocity field, we used complex function theory. The flow region is considered to be part of the complex plane. Written in complex variables, the velocity problem can be reduced to the determination of two analytical functions. By mapping the flow region onto a unit circle, we show that this problem is equivalent to solving a Hilbert problem. Since the flow front is a free boundary, its shape has to be determined as well. For this, we use that the flow front is stress-free. To determine the temperature field in the unperturbed situation, we use the fact that the P´eclet number of the fluid is much larger than one, from which it follows that in the main part of the flow region, the temperature is equal to the inlet temperature. Only in thin thermal boundary layers near the walls the temperature will be different due to the fact that the walls are cooled. The temperature problem can be solved using asymptotic approximations and Wiener-Hopf techniques. To determine the existence of anti-symmetric instabilities of the flow front, we use linear perturbation techniques. The symmetric flow front is perturbed with an anti-symmetric time-harmonic function. The ultimate goal is to determine whether, and if so, under what conditions solutions of the perturbed problem exist for which the amplitude of the solution increases in time. In this case, the flow front will be unstable. Similar to the unperturbed problem, the shape of the flow front in the perturbed problem follows from the condition that the flow front is stress-free. This condition leads to an evolution equation from which the shape of the flow front can be determined as a function of the frequency of the perturbation. The frequency of the perturbation follows from the initial condition of the amplitude of the perturbation, and depends on the velocity of the flow front. There exists a critical value for the velocity of the flow front. If the velocity of flow front is greater than this value, then the amplitude of the perturbation decreases, and the solution is stable; if the velocity of the flow front is less than this value, then the solution is unstable. However, if the velocity of the flow front becomes too small, the assumption that the P´eclet number is large no longer holds

Reaction-diffusion models of decontamination

A contaminant, which also contains a polymer is in the form of droplets on a solid surface. It is to be removed by the action of a decontaminant, which is applied in aqueous solution. The contaminant is only sparingly soluble in water, so the reaction mechanism is that it slowly dissolves in the aqueous solution and then is oxidized by the decontaminant. The polymer is insoluble in water, and so builds up near the interface, where its presence can impede the transport of contaminant. In these circumstances, Dstl wish to have mathematical models that give an understanding of the process, and can be used to choose the parameters to give adequate removal of the contaminant. Mathematical models of this have been developed and analysed, and show results in broad agreement with the effects seen in experiments

Evolutionary Toggling of Vpx/Vpr Specificity Results in Divergent Recognition of the Restriction Factor SAMHD1

SAMHD1 is a host restriction factor that blocks the ability of lentiviruses such as HIV-1 to undergo reverse transcription in myeloid cells and resting T-cells. This restriction is alleviated by expression of the lentiviral accessory proteins Vpx and Vpr (Vpx/Vpr), which target SAMHD1 for proteasome-mediated degradation. However, the precise determinants within SAMHD1 for recognition by Vpx/Vpr remain unclear. Here we show that evolution of Vpx/Vpr in primate lentiviruses has caused the interface between SAMHD1 and Vpx/Vpr to alter during primate lentiviral evolution. Using multiple HIV-2 and SIV Vpx proteins, we show that Vpx from the HIV-2 and SIVmac lineage, but not Vpx from the SIVmnd2 and SIVrcm lineage, require the C-terminus of SAMHD1 for interaction, ubiquitylation, and degradation. On the other hand, the N-terminus of SAMHD1 governs interactions with Vpx from SIVmnd2 and SIVrcm, but has little effect on Vpx from HIV-2 and SIVmac. Furthermore, we show here that this difference in SAMHD1 recognition is evolutionarily dynamic, with the importance of the N- and C-terminus for interaction of SAMHD1 with Vpx and Vpr toggling during lentiviral evolution. We present a model to explain how the head-to-tail conformation of SAMHD1 proteins favors toggling of the interaction sites by Vpx/Vpr during this virus-host arms race. Such drastic functional divergence within a lentiviral protein highlights a novel plasticity in the evolutionary dynamics of viral antagonists for restriction factors during lentiviral adaptation to its hosts. © 2013 Fregoso et al

Thoughts on the evolution of modern oceans

Explanation of the evolution of the Earth's oceans, particularly the processes involved in the generation of the oceans, are important for understanding the general appearance of our planet, and for the solution of specific problems. A comparative study of the world's oceans shows there is a single genetic series in the evolution of oceans, and that the oceans of the world are at different stages in their evolution. The Arctic Ocean, dated as Cenozoic, is noted for its small size and shallow oceanic floor, extensive but passive continental margins, limited volcanism, significant crustal thickness, and a lack of Benioff zones. The Mesozoic, Indian and Atlantic oceans have much greater dimensions and depths than the Arctic Ocean, the crust is thinner beneath them, volcanism is much more extensive, and active margins, while in the initial phase of evolution, are limited in extent. The area of the most ancient (probably Paleozoic) Pacific Ocean is equal to the sum of the rest of the three oceans; it also has the greatest oceanic depth. Beneath the Pacific, the crust is thinned and is characterized by high permeability, because of which magmatism is particularly widespread. Active continental margins arc also extensive in the Pacific. The concept of evolutionary development of the oceans enables us to predict the comparative potential of oceans with regards to their oil and gas and ore content. RÉSUMÉ Les explications de l'évolution des océans de la terre, particulièrement les processus impliqués dans la formation des océans, sont importants pour compréndre l'aspect général de notre planète et pour la solution de problèmes spécifiques. Une étude comparative des océans du monde montre qu'il y a une suite génétique unique dans l'évolution des océans, et que les océans du monde en sont a différents stades dans leur évolution. l'océan Arctique, datant du cénozoique, est caractérise par sa petite taille et son fond océanique peu profond, des marges continentales étendues mais passives, une petite quantité de volcanisme, une croûte épaisse, et une absence de zones de Benioff. Les océans Indien et Atlantique, mésozoiques, ont des dimensions et des profondeurs beaucoup plus grandes que celles de l'océan Arctique, la croute sous-jacente est plus mince; le volcanisme est beaucoup plus répandu, et les marges actives, dans leur phase initiate d'évolution, sont d'étendue limitée. La surface de l'océan Pacifique, le plus ancien (probablement paléozoique), est égale a la somme des trois autres océans; il a aussi la plus grande profondeur. Sous le Pacifique, la croûte est amincie et caractérisee par une grande perméabilité, en raison de laquelle le magmatisme est particulièrement repandu. Les marges continentales actives sont aussi abondantes dans le Pacifique. Le concept de l'évolution des océans nous permet de prédire le potentiel comparatif des océans en regard de leur contenu en pétrole, gaz naturel et minerai. [Traduit par la rédaction

Osteomyelitis of the foot in people with diabetes:Un pasito adelante y un pasito para atrás

THIS THESIS REGARDS – AIMS AND SUMMARY Aims of this thesis – from diagnosis to pathogen identification and treatment of diabetes related foot infection: In this thesis, our overarching aim is to advance the understanding and management of diabetes-related foot infection, from diagnosis to bacterial identification and treatment. Our first aim is to determine the optimal strategy for diagnosing diabetes-related foot osteomyelitis. We present a protocol of a randomised controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of two diagnostic modalities: ulcer bed biopsy and bone biopsy, and we investigate if there is an association between bacterial profiles and outcome the role of sampling method on this outcome. Next, we aim to investigate methods for identifying causative bacteria in ulcer bed and bone samples from individuals with diabetes-related foot osteomyelitis. By comparing different techniques, we seek to identify the most reliable method for accurately identifying the bacteria causative for the infection, thus informing guided antibiotic therapy. Furthermore, we will explore the impact of prior antibiotic treatment on culture outcomes of ulcer bed and bone samples. Understanding how previous antibiotic use influences culture results is crucial for optimising treatment strategies and preventing antimicrobial resistance. In summary, our thesis aims to contribute to the improvement of diagnosis and treatment of diabetes-related foot osteomyelitis, ultimately reducing adverse events like risk of amputation and mortality associated with this serious diabetes-related complication

Disruptive Factors in Product Portfolio Management: An Exploratory Study in B2B Manufacturing for Sustainable Transition

Business-to-business (B2B) manufacturing companies are increasingly confronted with transformative trends such as sustainability, digitalization, and servitization. These trends are changing how product portfolios are developed, and how value contributions are assessed, and therefore have disruptive potential. Dealing with these disruptive factors in Product Portfolio Management (PPM) is a largely unexplored topic. This study presents an empirical-qualitative exploration that contributes significantly to the field. The aim is to clarify the extent to which disruptive factors influence the evaluation and shaping of the product portfolio in B2B manufacturing companies. The Gioia method was used to evaluate 21 semi-structured interviews with experts from leading B2B manufacturing companies. Eight overarching challenges in PPM resulting from disruptive factors were identified. Based on the eight overarching challenges and their associated causal relationships, two aggregated dimensions of action were derived: (1) increasing speed and flexibility by using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in a defined PPM process and (2) adjusting the product portfolio evaluation to consider various strategic drivers. These two dimensions of action call for future research to overcome the disruptive factors in PPM