An innovation experience: What does innovation mean to practising organisations?

Organisat ions strive to be innovat ive in order to survive and succeed in an everchanging business environment . Nevertheless, do these organisations really understand the meaning of innovat ion? The meaning and understanding of innovat ion is changing, original ly l imi ted to science and technological innovations it now includes innovat ion due to value co-creation, environmental and social chal lenges. Innovat ion is still an opaque concept, though many efforts are involved in developing an understanding of an organisat ion. This paper aims to explore the perspectives and patterns of Austral ian f irms pract ising innovat ions in their day-to-day activities. The paper further examines the pat terns of innovat ion involving innovation resources, efforts, outputs, and metrics used to measure innovat ion. An empirical study wi th qualitative analysis forms the basis of this paper

Innovation in Services and its measurement at firm level: A Literature Review

http://www.deakin.edu.au/buslaw/gsb/anzam/docs/anzam-papers.pd

Current transport behaviour of Au/n-GaAs Schottky diodes grown on Ge substrate with different epitaxial layer thickness over a wide temperature range

The work presents temperature dependent forward and reverse current-voltage (I-V) analyses of n-GaAs/Au Schottky Diodes grown on n+ Ge substrate with different epitaxial layer thicknesses. While some of the Schottky diodes follow TED mechanism, others exceed significantly from this theory due to existence of patches of reduced barrier height embedded in the Schottky interface. The zero bias barrier heights (φbo) increase (0.649 to 0.809 eV) while the ideality factors (η) decrease (1.514 to 1.052) with increase in epitaxial layer thickness (1-4 μm), thus, indicating similar behaviour to that observed for the I-V characteristics of the undertaken Schottky diodes with decreasing temperature. It all indicated the existence of barrier inhomogenities over the M-S interface. The breakdown behaviour analysis of these diodes showed some interesting results; the breakdown voltage (VBR) decreases with temperature and shows ‘Defect Assisted Tunneling’ phenomenon through surface or defect states in the 1 μm thick epitaxial layer Schottky diode while VBR increases with temperature in 3 μm and 4 μm thick epitaxial layer Schottky diodes which demonstrate ‘Avalanche Multiplication’ mechanism responsible for junction breakdown. The reverse breakdown voltage is also seen to increase (2.7-5.9 Volts) with the increase in epitaxial layer thickness of the diodes. The undertaken diodes have been observed to follow TFE mechanism at low temperatures (below 200 K) in which the tunneling current component increases with epitaxial layer thickness which has been ascribed as an impact of GaAs/Ge hetero-interface over the Au/n-GaAs Schottky barrier. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/2788

E. coli Group 1 Capsular Polysaccharide Exportation Nanomachinary as a Plausible Antivirulence Targetin the Perspective of Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance

Bacteria evolving resistance against the action of multiple drugs and its ability to disseminate the multidrug resistance trait(s) across various strains of the same bacteria or different bacterial species impose serious threat to public health. Evolution of such multidrug resistance is due to the fact that, most of the antibiotics target bacterial survival mechanisms which exert selective pressure on the bacteria and aids them to escape from the action of antibiotics. Nonetheless, targeting bacterial virulence strategies such as bacterial surface associated polysaccharides biosynthesis and their surface accumulation mechanisms may be an attractive strategy, as they impose less selective pressure on the bacteria. Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) or K-antigen that is located on the bacterial surface armors bacteria from host immune response. Thus, unencapsulating bacteria would be a good strategy for drug design, besides CPS itself being a good vaccine target, by interfering with CPS biosynthesis and surface assembly pathway. Gram-negative Escherichia coli uses Wzy-polymerase dependent (Groups 1 and 4) and ATP dependent (Groups 1 and 3) pathways for CPS production. Considering E. coli as a case in point, this review explains the structure and functional roles of proteins involved in Group 1 Wzy dependent CPS biosynthesis, surface expression and anchorage in relevance to drug and vaccine developments

Impact of annealing on CuInSe2 thin films and its Schottky interface

The room temperature current–voltage (I-V) characteristics of the Al/p-CuInSe2 Schottky Diodes fabricated on thermally evaporated CIS thin films, before and after annealing, were studied. Prior to their diode formation, the undertaken CIS thin films were compared on the basis of structural, morphological and electrical investigations. Wherein, annealed films showed an increase in the grain size and carrier concentration values while decrease in resistivity. I-V analysis of the Schottky diodes depicted decrease in the barrier heights and increase in ideality factors of those formed on annealed films. The diodes, thus, indicated the existence of barrier inhomogenity at the M-S interface. The annealed Schottky diodes also demonstrated better ideality factor values with increased thickness of CIS layer. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/2792

Use of Xpert MTB/RIF in Decentralized Public Health Settings and Its Effect on Pulmonary TB and DR-TB Case Finding in India

Background Xpert MTB/RIF, the first automated molecular test for tuberculosis, is transforming the diagnostic landscape in high-burden settings. This study assessed the impact of up-front Xpert MTB/RIF testing on detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and rifampicin-resistant PTB (DR-TB) cases in India. Methods This demonstration study was implemented in 18 sub-district level TB programme units (TUs) in India in diverse geographic and demographic settings covering a population of 8.8 million. A baseline phase in 14 TUs captured programmatic baseline data, and an intervention phase in 18 TUs had Xpert MTB/RIF offered to all presumptive TB patients. We estimated changes in detection of TB and DR-TB, the former using binomial regression models to adjust for clustering and covariates. Results In the 14 study TUs, which participated in both phases, 10,675 and 70,556 presumptive TB patients were enrolled in the baseline and intervention phase, respectively, and 1,532 (14.4%) and 14,299 (20.3%) bacteriologically confirmed PTB cases were detected. The implementation of Xpert MTB/RIF was associated with increases in both notification rates of bacteriologically confirmed TB cases (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1.39; CI 1.18-1.64), and proportion of bacteriological confirmed TB cases among presumptive TB cases (adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.33; CI 1.6-1.52). Compared with the baseline strategy of selective drug-susceptibility testing only for PTB cases at high risk of drug-resistant TB, Xpert MTB/RIF implementation increased rifampicin resistant TB case detection by over fivefold. Among, 2765 rifampicin resistance cases detected, 1055 were retested with conventional drug susceptibility testing (DST). Positive predictive value (PPV) of rifampicin resistance detected by Xpert MTB/RIF was 94.7% (CI 91.3-98.1), in comparison to conventional DST. Conclusion Introduction of Xpert MTB/RIF as initial diagnostic test for TB in public health facilities significantly increased case-notification rates of all bacteriologically confirmed TB by 39% and rifampicin-resistant TB case notification by fivefold

Structure, Optical And Electrical Characterization Of Tin Selenide Thin Films Deposited At Room Temperature Using Thermal Evaporation Method

Tin Selenide (SnSe) is an important IV-VI compound semiconducting material used for various devices like memory switching, an efficient solar cell and holographic recording systems. SnSe thin films of the thickness of 100 nm were deposited by thermal evaporation method on a Glass substrate at room temperature. The prepared samples were investigated for structural, compositional, morphological and optical characte-rization respectively by using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission measurements. Thus deposited films showed a good polycrystalline quality having preferred (111) orientation with uniformly distributed spherical grains having size 16nm.The grown film identified as P- types by hot probe method. The films were found to have direct band transition having an optical bandgap (Eg) of 1.92 eV at room temperature. The temperature depended electrical resistivity (ρ) determined by using the two probe method, found to be 390 Ω·m at room temperature. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/952

Monthly Pattern and Distribution of Births in a Teaching Institution of Northern India

Background: Seasonality in frequency of birth is a world-wide phenomenon that reflect behavioral and biological determinant of reproduction. Aim: To assess pattern of birth occurring in a medical college hospital according to calendar months. Materials and Methods: Log books of delivery room were retrieved and all singleton live births occurring in each month for the calendar years 2002-2009 (8-year) was extracted. Data collection was carried out by the investigators during the period February-April 2010 and data management using software statistical package. Analysis was carried out by calculating average birth per month for the period under study and standard index as well as quarter-wise details was also tabulated. Result: It was observed that there was a progressive rise in total number of births occurring in the hospital from 5840 (avg. 486.66/month) from the year 2002 to 8205 (avg. 683.75/month) in 2009. Maximum birth occurred during the months of August (avg. 774/month) followed by September (avg. 735/month) and October (avg. 705/month) respectively and least in the month of April (avg. 445/month) with a P<0.05. Quarter (q) wise distribution showed maximum birth during q3 (July-September=30%) followed by q4 (October- December=27%), q2 (April-June=22%) and q1 (January-March=21%) respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that peak birth in the months of August-September-October as observed in present study implying that there is increased conception during the winter months of December-January-February. Within study limitations, findings may facilitate advocacy, counseling, planning and delivery of family welfare service in a more efficient and effective manner particularly related to mobilization of human resource, inventory control, logistics, streamlining family planning services at institutional and community level keeping in mind the monthly pattern of hospital deliveries. Keywords: Behavior, communication, conception, delivery, demography, family planning, fertility, human resource, months, pattern, reproduction, seasonality, tim

Electrochemical Characterisation of Nanocrystalline Nickel

Nanocry stalline nickel (nc-Ni) coatings were produced by pulse electro deposition using Watts bath with sodium citrate and saccharin added as grain refining agents. The electrochemical nature of nc-Ni coatings, evaluated in 1M H2SO4 solution by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The corrosion rate of bulk nickel was lower than that of nc-Ni after stabilisation of free corrosion potential.Defence Science Journal, 2008, 58(4), pp.525-530, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.58.167

Identification of a hypoxia-regulated miRNA signature in bladder cancer and a role for miR-145 in hypoxia-dependent apoptosis

Background: Hypoxia leads to the stabilisation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factor that drives the expression of target genes including microRNAs (miRNAs). MicroRNAs are known to regulate many genes involved in tumourigenesis. The aim of this study was to identify hypoxia-regulated miRNAs (HRMs) in bladder cancer and investigate their functional significance. Methods: Bladder cancer cell lines were exposed to normoxic and hypoxic conditions and interrogated for the expression of 384 miRNAs by qPCR. Functional studies were carried out using siRNA-mediated gene knockdown and chromatin immunoprecipitations. Apoptosis was quantified by annexin V staining and flow cytometry. Results: The HRM signature for NMI bladder cancer lines includes miR-210, miR-193b, miR-145, miR-125-3p, miR-708 and miR-517a. The most hypoxia-upregulated miRNA was miR-145. The miR-145 was a direct target of HIF-1a and two hypoxia response elements were identified within the promoter region of the gene. Finally, the hypoxic upregulation of miR-145 contributed to increased apoptosis in RT4 cells. Conclusions: We have demonstrated the hypoxic regulation of a number of miRNAs in bladder cancer. We have shown that miR- 145 is a novel, robust and direct HIF target gene that in turn leads to increased cell death in NMI bladder cancer cell lines