‘I’m busy (and competitive)!’ Antecedents of knowledge sharing under pressure

This study considers the dilemma faced by employees every time a colleague requests knowledge: should they share their knowledge? We use adaptive cost theory and self-efficacy theory to examine how individual characteristics (i.e., self-efficacy and trait competitiveness) and situational perceptions (i.e., ‘busyness’ and perceived competition) affect knowledge sharing behaviours. A study was conducted with 403 students who completed a problem-solving exercise and who were permitted (but not required) to respond to requests for knowledge from people who were doing the same activity. Our results suggest that people who perceive significant time pressure are less likely to share knowledge. Trait competitiveness predicted perceived competition. This and low task self-efficacy created a sense of time pressure, which in turn led to people feeling ‘too busy’ to share their knowledge when it was requested. Perceived competition was not directly related to knowledge sharing. Implications for research and practitioners are discussed.     

‘Risky business’: Perceptions of e-business risk by UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)

This paper explores the risk perceptions of key stakeholders in SMEs when making decisions on technology investments. Current literature focuses on the nature of the technology from a technical perspective and its associated benefits to the SME. We seek to make a contribution that builds on the small but growing work, which views investment technology decisions as the outcome of a process of both objective and subjective risk assessment. Evidence presented in this paper suggests that subjective elements play an important part in assessing technology risks. Our empirical findings are that both e-business experience and the role of the decision-maker within the firm influences risk perception, whereas, sector differences are more modest. One implication of our findings is that policy interventions should be more sensitive and targeted at different types of stakeholders – owners, IT professionals and other individuals rather than on the sector in which the SME operates.     

The jurisdiction of the subjective expected utility (SEU) approach to risk-taking in science – A response to Franzoni and Stephan (2023), ‘uncertainty and risk-taking in science’

This paper discusses the SEU approach with regard to its “jurisdiction”; i.e. where it should and where it should not be applied. It is argued that the SEU approach must address the fundamental tension between exploration and exploitation; that it should be applied only to disciplines or fields that have low degrees of both technical and strategic uncertainties; and that funders need to prevent the SEU approach from spilling over to evaluations of exploratory projects, for which it is clearly not suited. In addition, the paper argues that the SEU approach needs to respond to the “fund people, not projects” argument. Finally, it calls for many more empirical and preferably experimental studies with the aim of shedding light on how the SEU approach works in practice. In this regard, novel techniques should be used more frequently than today, such as specification curve analysis that encompasses all reasonable explanatory specifications that are both theoretically consistent and statistically valid and non-redundant.     

Amplification of Antioxidant Activity of Haptoglobin(2-2)–Hemoglobin at Pathologic Temperature and Presence of Antibiotics

It is clear that Haptoglobin binds to Hemoglobin strongly and irreversibly. This binding, protects body tissues against heme-mediated oxidative tissue damages via peroxidase activity of Haptoglobin–Hemoglobin complex. Peroxidase activity of Haptoglobin(2-2)–Hemoglobin complex was determined via measurement of following increase in absorption of produced tetraguaiacol as the second substrate of Haptoglobin–Hemoglobin complex by UV–Vis spectrophotometer at 470 nm and 42°C. The results are showing that peroxidase activity of Haptoglobin(2-2)–Hemoglobin complex is modulated by homotropic effect of hydrogen peroxide as the allosteric substrate. On the other hand, antioxidant activity of Haptoglobin(2-2)–Hemoglobin is increased via heterotropic effect of two antibiotics (especially ampicillin) on the peroxidase activity of the complex. The condition of pathologic temperature along with the administration of ampicillin and/or coamoxiclav is in favor of amplification in antioxidant activity of Haptoglobin(2-2)–Hemoglobin and combating against free radicals in individuals with Hp2-2 phenotype. Therefore, oxidative stress effects have been diminished in the population with this phenotype.     

Huang Kun (1919-2005) A Pioneer of Solid-state and Semiconductor Physics in China

Prof. Huang Kun made many pioneering contributions in solid-state physics. In the late 1940s, for example, he theoreti- cally predicted diffuse X-ray reflec- tion due to point defects in crystal lattices, which was experimentally confirmed in the 1960s. Known as “Huang Scattering,” the theory has already developed into a method for studying micro-defects in solids. Another example is his multi- phonon transition theory, known as “Huang-Rhys factor,” which has become widely documented in…     

The subjective expected utility approach and a framework for defining project risk in terms of novelty and feasibility – A response to Franzoni and Stephan (2023), ‘uncertainty and risk-taking in science’

In their Discussion Paper, Franzoni and Stephan (F&S, 2023) discuss the shortcomings of existing peer review models in shaping the funding of risky science. Their discussion offers a conceptual framework for incorporating risk into peer review models of research proposals by leveraging the Subjective Expected Utility (SEU) approach to decouple reviewers' assessments of a project's potential value from its risk. In my Response, I build on F&S's discussion and attempt to shed light on three additional yet core considerations of risk in science: 1) how risk and reward in science are related to assessments of a project's novelty and feasibility; 2) how the sunk cost literature can help articulate why reviewers tend to perceive new research areas as riskier than continued investigation of existing lines of research; and 3) how drawing on different types of expert reviewers (i.e., based on domain and technical expertise) can result in alternative evaluation assessments to better inform resource allocation decisions. The spirit of my Response is to sharpen our understanding of risk in science and to offer insights on how future theoretical and empirical work—leveraging experiments— can test and validate the SEU approach for the purposes of funding more risky science that advances the knowledge frontier.     

The Roles of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF)-23, α-Klotho and Furin Protease in Calcium and Phosphate Homeostasis : A Mini-Review

The roles of calcitonin, parathormone and calcitriol in the regulation of plasma calcium and phosphate are well-established. However, in autosomal-dominant hypophosphatemic rickety patients, studies have revealed normal plasma levels of calcium, associated with normal thyroid and parathyroid functions, but decreased levels of phosphate and calcitriol despite adequate reserves of vitamin D. Also, in tumoral calcinosis, persistent hyperphosphatemia with increased levels of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ have been observed. These studies indicate the involvement of factors other than the ones already known. The first decade of this century/millennium has led to the discovery of the involvement of fibroblast growth factor-23, furin protease and α-klotho in the homeostasis of calcium and phosphate, which is the subject of this mini-review.