A series of azobenzene derivatives which differ in the number of rings attached to benzene is investigated using dispersion-corrected density-functional theoretical methods. The studies on the effect ...of extended rings on the energy of cis and trans isomers (ΔE
cis-trans
) of the derivatives revealed that ΔE
cis-trans
is increased from azobenzene to azoanthracene, however, decreased when the rings are extended in two dimensions. The time-dependent density-functional theoretical studies showed that the extension of rings in two-dimension shifts absorption maximum from ultraviolet to visible region. The investigations on fluorine and amino-substituted derivatives of azocoronene showed its cis isomer as lower in energy than trans isomer.
Previous research has examined a variety of ways by which firms adapt to environmental change and surprise. Most recommendations emphasize ways to achieve an adaptive fit between a firm and its ...environment. The authors propose that an alternate response to the uncertainty caused by a dynamic environment—robust transformation —should be examined as well. Organizational routines for dealing with complexity are seen as shaping the institutional response to environmental uncertainty.Resilience capacity is introduced as an internal factor that influences the repertoire of available routines and helps a firm decide whether routines directed toward adaptive fit or robust transformation are more appropriate to implement.
The distributions of vegetation and fire activity are changing rapidly in response to climate warming. In many regions, climate effects on dead fuel moisture content (FMC) are expected to increase ...future wildfire activity. However, forest FMC is largely driven by microclimate conditions, which are moderated from open weather by vegetation canopies. As shifts in vegetation increase under climate warming, the extent to which future fire activity will be driven by climate directly or associated vegetation shifts remains unresolved. Here, we present a study aimed at quantifying the relative magnitudes of (i) direct climate warming, and (ii) vegetation change, on FMC. Field sites to evaluate these effects were established in a natural laboratory of altered forest states to mature wet temperate forest in south‐eastern Australia. FMC was estimated using a process‐based model and 48 years of reconstructed climate data. Canopy effects on microclimate were captured by transferring inputs from climate to microclimate using models parameterised with field observations. To evaluate the relative magnitude of climate and vegetation effects, we calculated the maximum difference in mean annual FMC across annual climate replicates and compared this to FMC differences across reorganising forest sites. Our results show vegetation effects on FMC can exceed those related to expected climate change. Changes to forest structure and composition increased (+15.7%) and decreased (−12.3%) mean annual FMC, with a larger negative effect when forest cover was completely removed (−18.5%). In contrast, the largest climate effect on FMC was −6.6% across 48‐years of data. Our study demonstrates that the magnitude of vegetation effects on FMC can exceed expected climate change effects. Models of future fire activity that do not account for changing vegetation effects on microclimate are omitting a key biophysical control on FMC and therefore may not be accurately predicting future fire activity.
Vegetation is changing globally in response to climate warming. Future climate projections suggest that lower fuel moisture content (FMC) may increase fire activity. However, FMC fluctuations are controlled by how canopies buffer climatic conditions, a process that is typically excluded in predicting fire activity. We used measurements, climate reconstructions and a process‐based model to quantify the relative magnitudes of climate and vegetation changes on FMC. Results show that vegetation effects on FMC can exceed those related to climate warming. Models that do not include the buffering effect of vegetation are thus omitting key biophysical controls on future fire.
The purpose of this article is to give a detailed description of how resilience is activated in the case of an unthought‐of event through the study of a critical situation encountered on a polar ...traverse. The situation studied is that of diesel freezing during the return of the 56th polar traverse. Seven raiders participated in the study. Activity traces, such as traverse diary reports, and self‐confrontation interviews were used to reconstruct the event. The results show the need to (a) study repeated failed attempts at solving problems and the need to discuss solutions based on (b) shared or (c) personal experience in finding creative solutions to problems. In this sense, the activation of resilience is a process enabling the transition from habitual adaptive actions to a transformative collective activity. The management of unthought‐of situations is discussed in relation with the expansive learning and transformative actions. Implications are developed in a final section.
Chronic pain from rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions is associated with cortical changes and altered tactile acuity. Tactile acuity is considered a clinical signature of primary somatosensory ...representation. The two-point discrimination (TPD) threshold is increasingly used both clinically and in research. Remarkably, the reliability and precision of the measure at commonly used sites has not been determined. This study aimed to determine the utility, intra- and inter-rater reliability, bias and variability of TPD threshold assessment at the neck, back, hand and foot using mechanical callipers.
Intra- and inter-rater reliability of TPD was assessed at the back, neck, hand and foot of 28 healthy young adults by 28 clinicians. Each clinician received training in the assessment of TPD using mechanical callipers and following a standardized protocol. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess reliability, bias and variability.
Intra-rater assessments in all four regions and inter-rater assessments at the neck and foot were reliable (ICC range 0.79-0.86), but large variability was seen in all assessments. Inter-rater assessment of the back (ICC = 0.66) and hand (ICC = 0.62) was deemed unreliable. Negligible systematic bias suggested learning did not affect reliability.
Individual clinicians are able to reliably assess TPD threshold at the neck, back, hand and foot using mechanical callipers. Measures obtained by different clinicians were only reliable for the neck and foot. Large variability was observed in all assessments, which suggests clinicians should be cautious when interpreting changes in tactile acuity in individual patients.
What connects corporate sustainability with business profits? According to our 2012 global executive survey on sustainability, an important factor is business model innovation. Managers who say that ...their company's sustainability activities have added to the company's profits are more than twice as likely to say that sustainability has caused their organization to change their business model than not. The sustainability story at Grief, a leading manufacturer of industrial packaging, illustrates the importance of business model innovation and several other key findings from our survey. Scott Griffin is chief sustainability officer at Grief, a 135-year-old global industrial packaging company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio that had net sales of $4.2 billion in 2011. Griffin says there are four keys to Grief's sustainability agenda, which has become central to the companys overall business operations and strategy. One is top management attention to sustainability. One reason sustainability works here at Grief is high-level, strong executive commitment, says Griffin. Unlike many chief sustainability officers, Griffin reports directly to the CEO and is a member of the company executive strategy team. Another key to Grief's approach to sustainability is collaboration. In the past three years, Grief has collaborated more with customers and nongovernmental organizations because of sustainability-related issues.
Abstract
In Corporate Reorganization Law and Forces of Change, Sarah Paterson investigates the development of modern corporate reorganisation law in the United States and England and shows how, and ...why, the use of these laws has changed over time. Paterson argues that any analysis of corporate restructuring law must focus on the participants in the process and the way they mobilise and adapt legal rules in new ways to meet the problem of the day. She concludes that best practice, not doctrinal concepts, should inform any law reform in this area. This review concludes nonetheless with an attempt to identify a doctrinal concept of a modern restructuring law based on the insights of Paterson’s socio-legal analysis.
Bankruptcy proceedings have widerange implications for the economic system of the country, from unemployment, competitiveness, the reform process, etc; in a word, it has broad social effects. ...Therefore, the law should provide effective, simple and flexible management of the bankruptcy proceedings, with precisely established deadlines and clear consequences of the actions taken. The role of the state in bankruptcy proceedings is to preserve general social interest, stability and safety of the legal and economic systems. Reorganisation of the enterprises should lead to financial recovery of the debtor with the aim of its continuing to do business, settle debts (completely or partially) and become solvent and profitable afterwards. The success of reorganisation depends, among other things, on adequate financial analysis of the debtor. Due to a large number of companies (and considerable assets) in the process of bankruptcy and reorganisation, these processes are very important for the development of the economic system in Serbia.
Chilgok Geummubong tree fern fossil site is the type locality where tree fern stem fossils (Cyathocaulis naktongensis) were first discovered by Tateiwa in 1925. Recognized for its academic value, it ...was designated as a natural monument in the 1930s during the Japanese colonial period, and preserved and managed for over 90 years. However, at the time of discovery, the stratigraphic level of tree fern fossils could not be located because the fossils were fragments detached from the rock body, and thus the Geummubong area where the conglomerate/sandstone layers of the Nakdong Formation are distributed, has been designated as a cultural heritage area. Only in the 2000s, when tree fern fossils were directly recovered from the outcrops near the designated area, the sedimentary rock facies containing the fossils were interpreted, and the anatomical characteristics of the Mesozoic tree fern fossils could be described and identified as a species level. Such studies are, in these days, redefining classification criteria done by Japanese paleontologist, Ogura. That is, Korean researchers pointed out that the classification criteria of the tree fern fossils (Cyathocaulis) reported early from Chilgok were ambiguous, and the possibility that the two species were the same species was suggested. In addition, it is necessary to reorganize designated areas as a way to resolve social conflicts and civil complaints caused by various regulations that have continued for a long time. 칠곡 금무봉 나무고사리 화석산지는 1925년 Tateiwa가 중생대 나무고사리 줄기 화석(Cyathocaulis naktongensis)을 처음 발견한 모식산지로서, 그 학술적 가치를 인정받아 일제강점기인 1930년대부터 천연기념물로 지정, 약 90여년 간 보존되어 왔다. 하지만, 발견 당시 나무고사리 화석 산출 층준을 찾지 못해, 전석 상태의 표본을 기반으로 낙동층 내 역암/사암층을 함화석층으로 해석하면서, 금무봉 일대가 광범위하게 문화재구역으로 설정되었다. 2003년 이후, 지정구역 인근 노두에서 나무고사리 화석이 발견되면서 산출지역의 퇴적암상이 특정되었으며, 나무고사리 화석의 외형과 해부학적 특징에 대한 연구가 추가적으로 이루어졌다. 이를 통해 Ogura가 국내에서 보고한 Cyathocaulis속 2종의 분류 기준을 재검토하고, C. naktongensis와 C. tateiwai가 동종일 가능성을 고찰하였다. 또한, 오랫동안 이어져 온 각종 규제에 따른 갈등과 민원 해결을 위해, 현재의 문화재 구역은 시대환경 변화에 맞게 적정성 검토를 통한 큰 폭의 재조정이 필요하다고 판단된다.
Following on from the success of the editors' previous book, New Public Management: The Transformation of Ideas and Practice, which examined the public reform process up to the end of the last ...decade, this new volume draws on the previous knowledge both theoretically and empirically. It examines and debates the post-new public management reform development in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand. The ideal follow-up to the previous volume, this book includes many of the same contributors in addition to some fresh voices, and is a must for anyone looking for an integrated framework of analysis. Comprehensive and analytical, it is an important contribution to the study of public administration and particularly to the reform of public management.
Tom Christensen is from the University of Oslo and Per Lægreid is from the University of Bergen, both in Norway.
Contents: Preface; Introduction - theoretical approach and research questions, Tom Christensen and Per Lægreid; Still fragmented government or reassertion of the centre?, Tom Christensen, Amund Lie and Per Lægreid; Reform design and performance in Australia and New Zealand, John Halligan; Types of state organisations: arguments, doctrines and changes beyond new public management, Paul G. Roness; Convergence and standardization in telecommunications regulation: trajectories of change and reform in the Asian Pacific regulatory state, Martin Painter; Organizing immigration - a comparison of New Zealand and Norway , Tom Christensen, Per Lægreid and Richard Norman; Central banking reform across the world: only by night are all cats grey, Martin Marcussen; Quests for transparency: signs of a new institutional era in the health care field, Maria Blomgren and Kirstin Sahlin-Andersson; Public-private partnerships: a comparative perspective on Victoria and Denmark, Carsten Greve and Graeme Hodge; (The difficult art of) outsourcing welfare services: experiences from Sweden and New Zealand, Anders Forssell and Lars Norén; New public management and the ghost of Max Weber: exorcised or still haunting?, Robert Gregory; Bibliography; Index.
PDF
