title: Measuring absorptive capacity in high-tech companies: Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods

authors: Sedoglavich, Vesna

subjects: mixed methods

abstract: The objective of this article is to show how mixed methods can be used to develop a deeper understanding of the construct, absorptive capacity (AC). We used qualitative data from eight case studies to identify which types of AC knowledge firms have. Then we identified variables for measuring AC. We identified two types of AC: “technological” AC and “non-core” AC. Using a Karnaugh Map and a Fuzzy Logic Design, we developed a quantitative model to measure overall AC. By focusing on interpretive integration, our results from using both qualitative and quantitative methods yielded complementary rather than contradictory findings, and the goal of “knowing more” about AC was achieved.

text: Measuring absorptive capacity in high-tech companies: Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods The objective of this article is to show how mixed methods can be used to develop a deeper understanding of the construct, absorptive capacity (AC). We used qualitative data from eight case studies to identify which types of AC knowledge firms have. Then we identified variables for measuring AC. We identified two types of AC: “technological” AC and “non-core” AC. Using a Karnaugh Map and a Fuzzy Logic Design, we developed a quantitative model to measure overall AC. By focusing on interpretive integration, our results from using both qualitative and quantitative methods yielded complementary rather than contradictory findings, and the goal of “knowing more” about AC was achieved.

year: 2014

title: Non-linear time domain model of electropermeabilization: Effect of extracellular conductivity and applied electric field parameters

authors: Talele, Sadhana

subjects: electroporation

abstract: This paper describes simulation results obtained from a previously reported numerical model for a single cell exposed to an arbitrary waveform electric field pulse. This paper concentrates on how the efficiency of electroporation related applications can be significantly improved by appropriately adjusting the parameters of applied electric field and conductivity of the external medium, σe. Emphasis is given here on the normalization of the degree of electroporation for a range of cell radii.
The simulated results indicate that it may be difficult for cells of substantially different sizes to be close to uniformly electroporated if surrounded by media with a conductivity higher than around 5*10⁻³ S/m for 100 kHz bipolar pulses, or 0.2 S/m for 1 MHz bipolar pulses. To achieve as normalized as possible electroporation for the radii/size variation required in any particular application, using a lower σe would be preferable. There is, however, a limit to how low the external conductivity can be made, as the applied electric field amplitude must stay within practical limits. Considering 3*10¹³ pores/m² as a nominal pore density N for approximately optimum electroporation, σe could be as low as 0.08 S/m for a 7.5 µm cell radius with a peak electric field of 1.2*10⁵V/m (depending on the pulse shape and frequency). For a 15 µm cell radius, σe could be as low as 0.05 S/m (depending on the pulse shape and frequency). It is seen that the relative difference of N between the two cell sizes investigated is consistently lower for a bipolar sine wave electric field compared to a bipolar square wave electric field, even though the square wave electric field peak amplitude is always lower for an equivalent N.

text: Non-linear time domain model of electropermeabilization: Effect of extracellular conductivity and applied electric field parameters This paper describes simulation results obtained from a previously reported numerical model for a single cell exposed to an arbitrary waveform electric field pulse. This paper concentrates on how the efficiency of electroporation related applications can be significantly improved by appropriately adjusting the parameters of applied electric field and conductivity of the external medium, σe. Emphasis is given here on the normalization of the degree of electroporation for a range of cell radii.
The simulated results indicate that it may be difficult for cells of substantially different sizes to be close to uniformly electroporated if surrounded by media with a conductivity higher than around 5*10⁻³ S/m for 100 kHz bipolar pulses, or 0.2 S/m for 1 MHz bipolar pulses. To achieve as normalized as possible electroporation for the radii/size variation required in any particular application, using a lower σe would be preferable. There is, however, a limit to how low the external conductivity can be made, as the applied electric field amplitude must stay within practical limits. Considering 3*10¹³ pores/m² as a nominal pore density N for approximately optimum electroporation, σe could be as low as 0.08 S/m for a 7.5 µm cell radius with a peak electric field of 1.2*10⁵V/m (depending on the pulse shape and frequency). For a 15 µm cell radius, σe could be as low as 0.05 S/m (depending on the pulse shape and frequency). It is seen that the relative difference of N between the two cell sizes investigated is consistently lower for a bipolar sine wave electric field compared to a bipolar square wave electric field, even though the square wave electric field peak amplitude is always lower for an equivalent N.

year: 2008

title: Street health: Practitioner service provision for Māori homeless people in Auckland

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

abstract: Homelessness is more than a transient crisis. While access to housing might solve the needs of some, research has shown that the needs of homeless people are much more complex and more a symptom of systematic structural inequalities than an unanticipated emergency (Hopper, 1998). As in other countries, the homeless population in New Zealand is made up of a diverse population of men, women and intersex groups of various ages, sexualities and ethnic backgrounds. Māori are over-represented among this population due to ongoing processes of colonisation and socioeconomic exclusion (Groot et al., 2011). When compared with domiciled citizens, homeless people are more likely to experience a raft of illnesses and unmet health needs, violence, a sense of insecurity, exclusion and fear, and are more likely to commit sui- cide (Hodgetts et al., 2007). Homeless people often experience diverse ill- nesses including asthma, heart disease, diabetes, hepatitis, renal disease, dermatological conditions, malnutrition, oral disease, depression, schizo- phrenia, substance misuse and broken bones (Ellison-Loschmann & Pearce, 2006; Joly et al., 2011; Moore et al., 2007).

text: Street health: Practitioner service provision for Māori homeless people in Auckland Homelessness is more than a transient crisis. While access to housing might solve the needs of some, research has shown that the needs of homeless people are much more complex and more a symptom of systematic structural inequalities than an unanticipated emergency (Hopper, 1998). As in other countries, the homeless population in New Zealand is made up of a diverse population of men, women and intersex groups of various ages, sexualities and ethnic backgrounds. Māori are over-represented among this population due to ongoing processes of colonisation and socioeconomic exclusion (Groot et al., 2011). When compared with domiciled citizens, homeless people are more likely to experience a raft of illnesses and unmet health needs, violence, a sense of insecurity, exclusion and fear, and are more likely to commit sui- cide (Hodgetts et al., 2007). Homeless people often experience diverse ill- nesses including asthma, heart disease, diabetes, hepatitis, renal disease, dermatological conditions, malnutrition, oral disease, depression, schizo- phrenia, substance misuse and broken bones (Ellison-Loschmann & Pearce, 2006; Joly et al., 2011; Moore et al., 2007).

year: 2016