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We discovered that blood collection tubes (BCTs) were inadvertently recentrifuged due to improper placement on our automated preanalytical system. This study was undertaken to determine the impact of recentrifugation of blood specimens collected in serum separator (SSTs) and plasma separator (PSTs) tubes after refrigerated storage for 24 and 72 h on the concentrations of chemistry and immunochemistry analytes.Blood was collected from 20 volunteers in SSTs and PSTs, centrifuged, and 36 chemistry and 14 immunochemistry analytes were measured at baseline in single-centrifuged tubes on a Roche Cobas 8000 chemistry platform. After baseline testing, the BCTs were refrigerated for 24 or 72 h, recentrifuged and retested. The results were compared to the single-centrifuged tubes for statistical significance.Recentrifugation of BCTs after 24 or 72 h of refrigerated storage showed statistically significant increases in lactate dehydrogenase activity and potassium concentration and statistically significant decreases in glucose (except in SSTs after 24 h of refrigerated storage) and COIt may be safe to report most routine chemistry and immunochemistry analyte concentrations from recentrifuged SSTs and PSTs on the Roche Cobas 8000, which may save time and costs associated with recollection and retesting. more...

A quantitative study was undertaken to investigate the accessibility of an undergraduate foundation statistics module for business and management students over four consecutive years, befor...

Scleral lenses were the first type of contact lens, developed in the late nineteenth century to restore vision and protect the ocular surface. With the advent of rigid corneal lenses in the middle of the twentieth century and soft lenses in the 1970's, the use of scleral lenses diminished; in recent times there has been a resurgence in their use driven by advances in manufacturing and ocular imaging technology. Scleral lenses are often the only viable form of contact lens wear across a range of clinical indications and can potentially delay the need for corneal surgery. This report provides a brief historical review of scleral lenses and a detailed account of contemporary scleral lens practice including common indications and recommended terminology. Recent research on ocular surface shape is presented, in addition to a comprehensive account of modern scleral lens fitting and on-eye evaluation. A range of optical and physiological challenges associated with scleral lenses are presented, including options for the clinical management of a range of ocular conditions. Future applications which take advantage of the stability of scleral lenses are also discussed. In summary, this report presents evidence-based recommendations to optimise patient outcomes in modern scleral lens practice. more...

As our working life becomes more digitalized, the issue of providing humane working conditions is raised. However, current research on digitalization and coping with stress conceptualises the players as individuals passively coping with stress. Contrary to that, recent technology research studies argue that technological systems do not come with an objectively ingrained function. In line with constructivist labour and stress research (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001; Moldaschl, 2005, 2010), we primarily seek to contribute to the discussion through a better understanding of actors’ job crafting (appropriation) practices in situations where digitalization processes threaten to reduce perceived autonomy. In particular, we suggest that the job crafting typologies developed in the literature (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001; Tims, Bakker, & Derks, 2012, 2015) do not sufficiently account for the practices employed by actors when appropriating their digitalized work environment. We use the case of a digital merchandise management system (‘“Shelvesfit”’) recently introduced in a retail trade group to demonstrate that the employees actively attempt to reduce their digital work stress. They do so primarily by attributing a function to this technological system that does not conflict with their professional self-perception as sales employees. more...

ZusammenfassungMit der Digitalisierung der Arbeitswelt wird die Frage nach einer humanen Gestaltung von Arbeit neu diskutiert. Der Beitrag zeigt anhand einer empirischen Fallstudie zur Implementierung eines digitalen Warenwirtschaftssystems („Shelvesfit“) in einem Handelskonzern, wie sich hierdurch Arbeitsinhalte verändern und ob – und wenn ja, wie – damit subjektive Ansprüche an „gute Arbeit“ verletzt werden. Als „gute Arbeit“ werden dabei jene Arbeitsbedingungen verstanden, die den Filialbeschäftigten in ihrer Selbsteinschätzung ein angemessenes Maß an Handlungsautonomie gewährleisten (das kann also auch heißen:keineHandlungsautonomie), um ihre Selbstansprüche an erfolgreiches Beraten und Verkaufen zu erfüllen. Die empirischen Befunde zeigen, dass die subjektiven Ansprüche der Beschäftigten an die Einführung der digitalen Technologie durchaus in Widerspruch geraten können mit den organisational intendierten Funktionen der Technologie, die Filialbeschäftigten sich die Technologie aber auf eine Art und Weise aneignen, dass sie das subjektiv als notwendig wahrgenommene Maß an professionellem Handlungsspielraum bewahren oder zurückgewinnen können, um in ihrer Wahrnehmung erfolgreich beraten und verkaufen zu können. Der Beitrag zeigt damit auch auf, wie eine kritische Arbeitsforschung in ihrer Analyse „guter Arbeit“ auch die subjektiven Ansprüche der Beschäftigten einbeziehen kann. more...

Objective: To compare the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a Community In-reach Rehabilitation and Care Transition (CIRACT) service with the traditional hospital-based rehabilitation (THB-Rehab) service. \ud \ud Design: Pragmatic randomised controlled trial with an integral health economic study. \ud \ud Settings: Large UK teaching hospital, with community follow-up. \ud \ud Subjects: Frail older people aged 70 years and older admitted to hospital as an acute medical emergency. \ud \ud Measurements: Primary outcome: hospital length of stay; secondary outcomes: readmission, day 91-super spell bed days, functional ability, co-morbidity and health-related quality of life; cost-effectiveness analysis. \ud \ud Results: A total of 250 participants were randomised. There was no significant difference in length of stay between the CIRACT and THB-Rehab service (median 8 versus 9 days; geometric mean 7.8 versus 8.7 days, mean ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74–1.10). Of the participants who were discharged from hospital, 17% and 13% were readmitted within 28 days from the CIRACT and THB-Rehab services, respectively (risk difference 3.8%, 95% CI −5.8% to 13.4%). There were no other significant differences in any of the other secondary outcomes between the two groups. The mean costs (including NHS and personal social service) of the CIRACT and THB-Rehab service were £3,744 and £3,603, respectively (mean cost difference £144; 95% CI −1,645 to 1,934). \ud \ud Conclusion: The CIRACT service does not reduce major hospital length of stay nor reduce short-term readmission rates, compared to the standard THB-Rehab service; however, a modest ( more...

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine transparent food carbon footprint values for use in a climate tax, using a consistent methodology across the taxed food products and taking into account the need for such a tax to be administratively simple and accepted by affected stakeholders. Methods A method based on Life Cycle Assessment following the ISO 14067 standard was developed for establishing simplified, yet consistent and transparent, datasets on the carbon footprint of food, for use as a base in a climate tax on food. Several sensitivity analyses were carried out to test the effects of inevitable methodological choices on the carbon footprint of different foods. The choices were then discussed in relation to taxation of food. The methodological choices included in the sensitivity analyses were different approaches to system boundaries, how to account for soil carbon changes and how to weigh greenhouse gases (GHGs). Results and discussion The results on the carbon footprint of food calculated with the suggested method are in line with earlier findings in the field, with animal products, especially beef, showing a substantially higher value than most plant-based foods. Regarding choice of system boundaries for using the values in a tax, it is of particular importance to target emissions from biological processes, as these are currently untaxed. This would also be administratively simpler but less acceptable as large emission sources especially for imported products and greenhouse grown vegetables would not be included. Modelling emissions from soil carbon changes using a site-dependent method can be an advantage to obtain results in line with empirical data. Using Global Warming Potential over 100 years to weigh GHGs would be most in line with current climate reporting, which is an advantage for the consistency and acceptability of a tax. Conclusions Ultimately, how taxes are set is a political decision, but food carbon footprint values determined with a consistent and simplified methodology are required in the process. This study presents carbon footprint values established using such method and provides valuable insights into how methodological choices affect the results of climate impact values and the implications for taxation. more...

Zusammenfassung Den Themen Industrie 4.0 und digitale Transformation wird in den offentlichen Debatten weiterhin ein hoher Stellenwert zuteil. Dabei dominiert haufig die Auffassung, dass diese Themen fur einen disruptiven Technologieschub stehen, der die Formen des Wirtschaftens und des Arbeitens nachhaltig verandert. Insbesondere den einfachen Tatigkeiten in Produktion und Logistik wird in zahlreichen Prognosen ein hohes Substitutionsrisiko im Zuge der Digitalisierung zugeschrieben. Der wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisstand zu diesem Thema ist noch defizitar. Die wenigen Befunde sprechen in dieser Frage jedoch fur einen komplexen und ungleichzeitigen Prozess, der verschiedene Entwicklungsperspektiven eroffnet. Der vorliegende Beitrag argumentiert in kritischer Auseinandersetzung mit der Mainstream-Debatte, dass sich gegenwartig kaum Hinweise auf disruptive Entwicklungssprunge in Produktion und Logistik finden lassen, sondern vielmehr inkrementelle Digitalisierungsmasnahmen und eine allenfalls schrittweise Anpassung von(einfacher) Industriearbeit dominieren. In der Begrundung liefert der Beitrag in konzeptioneller Hinsicht drei Argumente, die auf uneingeloste Versprechen eines hoch aufgeladenen Digitalisierungsdiskurses, auf konkrete Pfadabhangigkeiten betrieblicher Rationalisierungsprozesse und auf besondere Herausforderungen im Arbeitshandeln einfacher Arbeit fokussieren. Empirische Basis sind Befunde einer quantitativen Sekundarauswertung und qualitativer Betriebsfallstudien in Produktion und Logistik, die an den beteiligten Instituten durchgefuhrt wurden. Schlagworter: Digitalisierung, Einfacharbeit, Disruption, Arbeitshandeln, Pfadabhangigkeit ----- Does Digitalisation have disruptive impacts on low-skilled work? Reflections and empirical findings from production and logistics Abstract Digital transformation (Industry 4.0) is still an important topic in public debate. In mainstream media it is portrayed as a disruptive transformation of economy and work. In particular, low-skilled work in production and logistics a high risk of technology-induced substitution is predicted by numerous prognoses. However, whereas the level of scientific knowledge about this issue is still low the few given findings indicate open and complex processes of digitalisation of work that do not follow linear trajectories. The paper criticizes the dominant view on digitalisation of work and argues: There are few evidences of disruptive technology leaps – at least in production and logistics. Rather, we find step-by-step processes of digitalisation and incremental changes of low-skilled industrial work as the dominant type of development. To account for this, we focus on unredeemed promises at the level of a supercharged public discourse on digitalisation, on path dependencies at the level of companies implementing digital technologies, and on tasks of low-skilled work that are hard to automate at the level of everyday practice. The empirical basis consists of a secondary analysis of a quantitative survey and of qualitative case studies in production and logistics that were conducted by the institutions of the authors. Keywords: Digitalisation, low-skilled work, disruptive transformation, work practices, path dependencies. JEL: J21, J81, L60, O14 ----- Bibliographie: Ittermann, Peter/Ortmann, Ulf/Virgillito, Alfredo/Walker, Eva-Maria: Hat die Digitalisierung disruptive Folgen fur Einfacharbeit? Kritische Reflexion und empirische Befunde aus Produktion und Logistik, Industrielle Beziehungen. Zeitschrift fur Arbeit, Organisation und Management, 2-2019, S. 150-168. https://doi.org/10.3224/indbez.v26i2.03 more...

Zusammenfassung Finanzbildung wird haufig ausschlieslich der okonomischen Bildung zugerechnet, mit der Begrundung, nur diese konne das fur eine Teilhabe an einer zunehmend finanzialisierten Gesellschaft notwendige Handlungswissen vermitteln. Der vorliegende Beitrag argumentiert, (1) dass diese monodisziplinare Verankerung der Finanzbildung hinter den Forschungsstand der Verhaltensokonomie, aber auch der Wirtschaftssoziologie zuruckfallt, (2) dass es sich bei der Begrundung fur diese monodisziplinare Verankerung lediglich um eine Scheinlegitimation handelt und daher (3) einer multidisziplinaren Verankerung der Finanzbildung nichts entgegensteht. Schlagworter : Finanzbildung, Grenzen des okonomischen Paradigmas, multidisziplinare Perspektive ----- Bibliographie: Walker, Eva-Maria: Finanzbildung als Teilbereich der okonomischen Bildung?, GWP, 4-2015, S. 505-514. https://doi.org/10.3224/gwp.v64i4.21150 more...

244 Background: 2015 ASCO guidelines for Hepatitis B (HBV) screening in patients (pts) receiving chemotherapy recommend a risk-adaptive strategy considering patient and treatment-specific factors. The University of Illinois Cancer Center (UICC) is an academic center with largely underserved, minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged pts. UICC implemented a universal HBV screening policy in 2016. We aimed to increase HBV screening from 60% to 95% over 18 months. Methods: A multidisciplinary team of oncologists, hepatologists, fellows, nurses and pharmacists created an ideal process map for universal HBV screening in all pts starting chemotherapy outlining screening parameters, laboratory tests required and follow-up for positive screens. Four Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles were tested. Interim analysis was done targeting specific providers for additional education. Results of screening were analyzed by chart review. Results: A total of 589 treatment-naive pts were screened for HBV between Aug 2017 and Feb 2019. Educational sessions were held for nurses, pharmacists and fellows to review ideal process maps between Jan and March 2018. 0% of pts had insurance denials for HBV screening coverage. Screening rates improved from 65% in Aug 2017 to 100% in Feb 2019. Positive HBV screen rate was 3% (N = 18) and all were new diagnoses. 61% (N = 11) of positive screens had no risk factors for HBV exposure and would not have met risk adaptive criteria for screening. 27% (N = 3) of positive screens without prior risk factors were initiated on prophylactic ART. 50% (N = 9) of all new HBV diagnoses initiated prophylactic ART to prevent reactivation, while 50% received active surveillance on chemotherapy. 0% of pts on active surveillance developed reactivation. Conclusions: Implementing and sustaining a universal HBV screening program was feasible and effective in identifying pts at risk for reactivation in a high risk population. 61% of positive screens lacked traditional risk factors. Risk-adaptive screening may miss cases in diverse populations where HBV is not endemic, precluding appropriate management. Further evaluation will include expanding screening to inpatient chemotherapy starts and cost-benefit analysis of universal screening in this unique population. more...

41 Background: Current ASCO guidelines for management of febrile neutropenia (FN) recommend initial antibiotic administration within one hour of triage, and initial assessment within 15 minutes of triage for patients presenting with FN within 6 weeks of chemotherapy. The University of Illinois Cancer Center (UICC) implemented an early identification and management strategy in the ambulatory setting for FN in 2017, with success in increasing the percentage of FN patients receiving antibiotics within 2 hours from 50% to 92% over a 6 months (05/2017-11/2017) period. Given updated joint ASCO/IDSA guidelines, we aimed to increase percentage of FN patients receiving antibiotics within 1 hour from 56% to more than 90% over 16 months. Methods: A multidisciplinary team involving oncology, hematology (attendings and fellows), pharmacy, and nursing met quarterly to review FN cases including time to antibiotic administration and documentation of prompt assessment. Two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were completed, including development and deployment of an electronic medical record automated order set and targeted education for fellows and nurses. Results: Between 12/17 and 04/19, of 7 patients with FN, 100% (N = 7) received antibiotics in clinic. The percentage of FN patients receiving antibiotics within 1 hour of triage post first and second interventions was as follows: 25% (N = 1), 100% (N = 4). 100% (N = 7) of FN patients had documentation of prompt assessment, but time from triage was not specified. Conclusions: We were successful in improving the percentage of FN patients receiving antibiotics from 56% to more than 90% over 16 months. We are targeting our next PDSA cycle to increase assessments within 15 minutes of triage. Additional future interventions include tailoring antibiotics based on FN with low or high risk of complication via focus group and root case analyses discussion with our attendings, fellows, and nurses, and collaborating with ED on a standard care pathway for FN management. more...

The purpose of this study was to explore women students' experiences and reactions to a core Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) class cross-listed with Women's Studies (WS). Using 6 focus groups with 22 women, we found that the course increased awareness of gender (Theme A) but was limited partially because of patriarchical beliefs, evidenced by acceptance of sexism (Theme B) and men as central (Theme C). The beliefs were manifested in how students interacted with course material, which was predominately through rejection of the course (Theme D). Using skill theory framework, we explain our findings through the interplay of the environment and students' cognitive skills. Implications for HDFS/Women's Studies cross-listed courses are discussed. Key Words: feminist pedagogy, gender life span development, internalized sexism, undergraduate curriculum, Women's Studies. The call for infusion of feminist perspectives in the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) curriculum was put forth in the early 1990s (e.g., Allen & Baber, 1992; MacDermid, Jurich, Meyers-Walls, & Pelo, 1992) and discussion of the importance of and how to teach from a feminist perspective in HDFS reemerged in Family Relations about a decade later (e.g., Baber & Murray, 2001; Blaisure & Koivunen, 2003; Humble & Morgaine, 2002). Suffice to say, other scholars have clearly articulated the need for and the critical role feminist theory, content, and pedagogy have in HDFS undergraduate education. Yet, in 2008, our experiences as instructors in HDFS classrooms raise concern about the extent to which the "feminist revolution" (Allen & Baber) has actually taken place within the HDFS curriculum (Sharp, Bermudez, Watson, & Fitzpatrick, 2007). In the past few decades, the social climate of the United States has served to depress feminist thinking, with key feminist writers arguing that a return to traditional, conservative gender ideologies has been especially pronounced in the aftermath of 9/1 1 (e.g., Faludi, 2007; Ferguson, 2005; Tickner, 2002). Indicative of the rise of neoconservatism are policies of the Bush Administration, including efforts to weaken Title IX, the resurgence of The Defense of Marriage Act, as well as the instability of the Roe vs. Wade ruling. These and other policies are grounded in notions of traditional gender ideologies and a backlash against gains made through the feminist movement. The rhetoric accompanying such policies has affected the academy as well, with "liberal" professors and programs facing high scrutiny (Minnich, 2005). How has the current social climate affected the goal of infusing feminist content, theoretical considerations, and the use of feminist pedagogy in HDFS? We sought to partially answer this question through an examination of women students' experiences of taking a cross-listed HDFS/Women's Studies (WS) course. We have taught a sophomore-level HDFS course, entitled "Gender Roles: Life Span Developmental Perspectives" for several years. In a previous publication, engaging in reflexivity, we discussed our feminist pedagogy, classroom climate and dynamics, and our experiences teaching the Gender Development course (Sharp et al., 2007). Working on that article, we realized how little we knew about the students' experiences. Gleaned from students' strong reactions during class, in their papers, and from talking to individual students during office hours, we had only a partial and disjointed sense of what was happening. In response, the purpose of the present investigation was to explore female students' experiences and reactions to a core, required HDFS class cross-listed with Women's Studies. The course examines gender development throughout the life span. The textbook explores development from conception to adolescence, and we supplemented readings for adult development (we offer a more detailed description of the course in Sharp et al. … more...

BackgroundOlder people represent a significant proportion of patients admitted to hospital as a medical emergency. Compared with the care of younger patients, their care is more challenging, their stay in hospital is much longer, their risk of hospital-acquired problems is much higher and their 28-day readmission rate is much greater.ObjectiveTo compare the clinical effectiveness, microcosts and cost-effectiveness of a Community In-reach Rehabilitation And Care Transition (CIRACT) service with the traditional hospital-based rehabilitation (THB-Rehab) service in patients aged ≥ 70 years.MethodsA pragmatic randomised controlled trial with an integral health economic study and parallel qualitative appraisal was undertaken in a large UK teaching hospital, with community follow-up. Participants were individually randomised to the intervention (CIRACT service) or standard care (THB-Rehab service). The primary outcome was hospital length of stay; secondary outcomes were readmission within 28 and 91 days post discharge and super spell bed-days (total time in NHS care), functional ability, comorbidity and health-related quality of life, all measured at day 91, together with the microcosts and cost-effectiveness of the two services. A qualitative appraisal provided an explanatory understanding of the organisation, delivery and experience of the CIRACT service from the perspective of key stakeholders and patients.ResultsIn total, 250 participants were randomised (n = 125 CIRACT service,n = 125 THB-Rehab service). There was no significant difference in length of stay between the CIRACT service and the THB-Rehab service (median 8 vs. 9 days). There were no significant differences between the groups in any of the secondary outcomes. The cost of delivering the CIRACT service and the THB-Rehab service, as determined from the microcost analysis, was £302 and £303 per patient respectively. The overall mean costs (including NHS and personal social service costs) of the CIRACT and THB-Rehab services calculated from the Client Service Receipt Inventory were £3744 and £3603 respectively [mean cost difference £144, 95% confidence interval –£1645 to £1934] and the mean quality-adjusted life-years for the CIRACT service were 0.846 and for the THB-Rehab service were 0.806. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) from a NHS and Personal Social Services perspective was £2022 per quality-adjusted life-year. Although the CIRACT service was highly regarded by those who were most involved with it, the emergent configuration of the service working across organisational and occupational boundaries was not easily incorporated by the current established community services.ConclusionsThe CIRACT service did not reduce hospital length of stay or short-term readmission rates compared with the standard THB-Rehab service, although it was highly regarded by those who were most involved with it. The estimated ICER appears cost-effective although it is subject to much uncertainty, as shown by points spanning all four quadrants of the cost-effectiveness plane. Microcosting work-sampling methodology provides a useful method to estimate the cost of service provision. Limitations in sample size, which may have excluded a smaller reduction in length of stay, and lack of blinding, which may have introduced some cross-contamination between the two groups, must be recognised. Reducing hospital length of stay and hospital readmissions remains a priority for the NHS. Further studies are necessary, which should be powered with larger sample sizes and use cluster randomisation (to reduce bias) but, more importantly, should include a more integrated community health-care model as part of the CIRACT team.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN94393315.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme. more...

Wenn wir nach Durchsicht der empirischen Befunde zu den Begrundungsordnungen „nachhaltiger“ Finanzinvestoren nun zu einer eher skeptischen Einschatzung einer „Moralisierung“ der (Kapital-)Markte gelangt sind und in der Annahme gehen, es handelt sich hierbei eher um eine Fiktion, so vor allem deshalb, weil das analytische Verstandnis von „Moral“ in der bestehenden Moralisierungsdebatte m. E. als unscharf bezeichnet werden muss. more...

Wir haben im vergangenen Abschnitt darauf verwiesen, dass sich in Kritik an den kurzfristigen Verzinsungsinteressen der Kapitalmarktakteure jungst eine Debatte um das Verhaltnis von „Wirtschaft“ und „Moral“ entsponnen hat. Zugrunde liegt dieser Debatte die Annahme, dass durch wirtschaftliches Handeln eine „moralische Gemeinschaft“ respektive eine „nachhaltige“ Wirtschaft etabliert werden kann. Problematisch sind die hier entworfenen Szenarien meines Erachtens aber deshalb, da die den Argumentationen zugrunde liegenden Moralverstandnisse tautologisch sind oder den Moralbegriff funktionalistisch verkurzen. Mit Blick auf die empirische Frage, ob Markte „moralische“ Gemeinschaften erschaffen konnen, sind diese folglich wenig trennscharf. Wir haben daher vorgeschlagen, fur die Analyse „nachhaltiger“ Wirtschaftsformen ein sozial-konstruktivistisches Handlungsverstandnis zugrunde zu legen, das die wechselseitigen Konstitutionsverhaltnisse zwischen subjektivem Sinn und gesellschaftlich konventionalisiertem Sinn in den Blick nimmt. Damit kann nicht nur den historisch und sozial spezifischen Bedingungsverhaltnissen von „Moral“ und dessen Wandel Rechnung getragen werden, sondern auch der strukturell bedingten Machtasymmetrie kapitalistischer Wirtschaftsordnungen. more...

Wenn gemeinhin nun die These von einer „Moralisierung“ der Finanzmarkte vertreten und argumentiert wird, dass sich nicht nur Konsumenten auf Produktmarkten in ihren wirtschaftlichen Entscheidungen von moralischen Prinzipien leiten lassen, sondern auch Investoren auf Finanzmarkten, dann mussen wir vorab erst einmal die Ausgangsbedingungen klaren und prufen, wie es zu einer „De-Moralisierung“ in der deutschen Wirtschaftsordnung kommen konnte, was damit begrifflich gemeint ist und auf welchen Ebenen diese stattgefunden hat. more...

Wahrend wir im vergangenen Abschnitt die zunehmende Kapitalmarktorientierung auf der Ebene der gesamten Wirtschaftsordnung in den Blick genommen haben, scharfen wir jetzt unseren Blick fur die konkrete Situation der Unternehmensorganisation. Wir fragen hier zunachst, welche Erwartungen Finanzinvestoren an die Gestaltung einer optimalen Unternehmensorganisation formulieren und prufen dann, welche Konsequenzen hieraus fur Prozesse „organisationalen Lernens“ folgen. Warum sind Prozesse „organisationalen Lernens“ aber aus Unternehmenssicht uberhaupt relevant? more...

Folgt man einer breiten Einschatzung in der Finanzcommunity von Finanzconsultants, Investmentbanken und Ratingagenturen bis hin zu Investment-, aber auch Verbraucherschutzverbanden, dann scheint die zunehmende Finanzmarktorientierung derzeit durch eine Gegenbewegung herausgefordert zu werden: namlich durch „nachhaltige“ Anlageformen, die die Interessen aller an einem Unternehmen beteiligten Anspruchsgruppen („stakeholder“) im Blick haben. So zeichnen sich „nachhaltige“ Anlageformen dadurch aus, dass sie nicht nur finanzielle Anlageziele verfolgen, sondern ebenfalls okologische und soziale Anlagekriterien in ihrer Investmententscheidung berucksichtigen. Diese schlagen sich sowohl in Ausschlusskriterien nieder, die Unternehmen mit einer kontroversen Unternehmensstrategie (z. B. Kinderarbeit) vom Investment ausschliesen als auch dem sogenannten „Nachhaltigkeitsrating“, bei dem die Unternehmen mit Blick auf ihre okologischen und sozialen Strategien gerankt werden. In der offentlichen Debatte besonders prominent verhandelt werden hier „soziale“ Kriterien wie beispielsweise Arbeitsplatzsicherheit, betriebliche Sozialleistungen oder die Gewahrleistung einer ausgewogenen Work-Life-Balance. In Kritik zur „Shareholder Value“-Orientierung konventioneller Anlageformen ist daher auch von einer „Stakeholder“-Orientierung „nachhaltiger“ Anlageformen die Rede. more...

Eukaryotic nuclear DNA is packaged into nucleosomes. During the past decade, genome-wide nucleosome mapping across species revealed the high degree of order in nucleosome positioning. There is a conserved stereotypical nucleosome organization around transcription start sites (TSSs) with a nucleosome-depleted region (NDR) upstream of the TSS and a TSS-aligned regular array of evenly spaced nucleosomes downstream over the gene body. As nucleosomes largely impede access to DNA and thereby provide an important level of genome regulation, it is of general interest to understand the mechanisms generating nucleosome positioning and especially the stereotypical NDR-array pattern. We focus here on the most advanced models, unicellular yeasts, and review the progress in mapping nucleosomes and which nucleosome positioning mechanisms are discussed. There are four mechanistic aspects: How are NDRs generated? How are individual nucleosomes positioned, especially those flanking the NDRs? How are nucleosomes evenly spaced leading to regular arrays? How are regular arrays aligned at TSSs? The main candidates for nucleosome positioning determinants are intrinsic DNA binding preferences of the histone octamer, specific DNA binding factors, nucleosome remodeling enzymes, transcription, and statistical positioning. We summarize the state of the art in an integrative model where nucleosomes are positioned by a combination of all these candidate determinants. We highlight the predominance of active mechanisms involving nucleosome remodeling enzymes which may be recruited by DNA binding factors and the transcription machinery. While this mechanistic framework emerged clearly during recent years, the involved factors and their mechanisms are still poorly understood and require future efforts combining in vivo and in vitro approaches. more...

Purpose –– The People's Republic of China has introduced policies to encourage Chinese who have worked or studied abroad to return and bring back the knowledge and skills they have gained. This chapter reports on the experiences of these returners as agents of organisational learning. Methodology –– The exploratory qualitative study is based on a written questionnaire and telephone interviews with 24 returners in diverse organisations and industries in China. Findings –– The study identifies a type of returner not yet addressed in the literature, ‘experienced self-internationalisers’, which we expect will grow significantly. We find that despite expecting returners to contribute to organisational learning, management does not organise the process. It depends on the individuals themselves, who develop various strategies for sharing their knowledge with local colleagues. Organisational learning is a cross-cultural process and requires bridging a gap between the kinds of knowledge the local employees are interested in gaining and what the returners feel the organisation needs. We note that organisational learning is more likely when the returners recognise their own need to learn rather than just to teach. Research limitations –– The sample is relatively small; we describe how to take the research forward to more organisations and additional kinds of respondents. Practical implications –– We formulate recommendations for policymakers, returners and human resource managers seeking to stimulate organisational learning more effectively. Value –– The chapter generates new insights into organisational learning in China, and it shows how to addresses a phenomenon at the crossroads between the fields of organisational learning, intercultural communication and international human resource management. more...

Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil, have joined public relations campaigns classes to teach students the lessons that need to be learned in international public relations performance. Class assignments include research to build knowledge of culture, government, and the media within each others countries. Student campaign teams must use each other as counselors in learning about differences in culture and public relations performance needs. They must also conduct research instructing and using each other in carrying out research activities in the same working relationship that they must eventually use as professionals in carrying out campaigns in each other’s countries. more...

Research has identified a need for improved depression care in primary care, while current United Kingdom (UK) health policy outlines standards for the management of the condition, including improved access to care. Innovative ways of working are needed to address these standards and provide better care.To pilot a multidisciplinary service for the management of depressed patients with a particular focus on facilitating access.Uncontrolled descriptive pilot study.One general practice in inner London.The service was advertised by post to all 6689 adult patients registered with the practice. It provided open access and face-to-face assessment by a specially trained primary care nurse for patients who considered themselves to be depressed. Following assessment, depressed patients received systematic telephone support from nursing staff in addition to the usual care from the general practitioners (GPs). The ser vice was evaluated for a 6-month period.Sixty-six people, aged 19-77 years, 44 of them female, contacted the service, the majority in the first 2 months. Fifty-four patients were offered an assessment by the nurse. Thirty-five (80%) of the 44 attendees fulfilled criteria for major depression. Between them, the nurses and doctors achieved high levels of adherence to treatment and follow-up. This specialist service appears to have enabled a group of depressed patients, some of whom may not have sought or received help, to gain access to primary care. With appropriate supervision and training in depression care the nurses were able to assess and support depressed patients and this appeared to be acceptable to both patients and GPs.In its present form the service would not be cost-effective. However, we believe it could be adapted to suit the needs of individual or clusters of practices incorporating key elements of the service (open access and case management, in particular), and further evaluation by a controlled trial is suggested. more...

Philippe Boiry explores the sociopolitical foundations of public relations, according to Lucien Matrat, in his book "Des 'Public-Relations' aux Relations Publiques - La doctrine européenne de Lucien Matrat. In the first part of the book, the author discusses the suggestion of bilingual title, establishing what can be called a migration of meanings from the birth of public relations in the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century until its absorption by France, The return of the industrial production in the post-Second World War period. For Matrat, public relations are essentially consolidated in the sense of the expression "lstrategy de la confiance", associating the dyad with economic facts and social realities to gain the trust of society with the organizations. Em seu livro "Des 'Public-Relations' aux Relations Publiques – La doctrine européenne de Lucien Matrat", Philippe Boiry explora os fundamentos sociopolíticos das relações públicas, segundo a percepção de Lucien Matrat. Na primeira parte da obra, o autor discorre sobre a sugestão do título bilíngüe, estabelecendo o que se pode chamar de uma migração de significados desde o nascimento das relações públicas nos Estados Unidos, no início do século XX, até sua absorção pela França, por volta da década de 50, provocada pela retomada da produção industrial no período pós-segunda guerra mundial. Para Matrat, as relações públicas consolidam-se, essencialmente, no sentido da expressão "l'estratégie de la confiance", associando a díade fatos econômicos e realidades sociais para conquistar a confiança da sociedade junto às organizações. more...