Explore the vast range of titles available.

Recent research on start-up accelerators has drawn attention to the central importance of social resource exchange among peers for entrepreneurial success. But such peer relationships contain both cooperative and competitive elements, making accelerators a prime example of a mixed-motive context in which successful generalized exchange—unilateral giving without expectations of direct reciprocity—is not a given. In our ethnographic study of a Silicon Valley accelerator, we sought to explore how generalized exchange emerges and evolves over time. Employing an abductive, sequential mixed-methods approach, we develop a process model that helps explain how a system of generalized exchange may or may not emerge. At the core of this model are the interaction rituals within social events that come to create distinct exchange expectations, which are either aligned or incompatible with generalized exchange, resulting in fulfilled or failed exchanges in subsequent encounters. Whereas fulfilled exchanges can kickstart virtuous exchange dynamics and a thriving generalized exchange system, failed exchanges trigger vicious exchange dynamics and an unstable social order. These findings bring clarity to the puzzle of how some generalized exchange systems overcome the social dilemma in mixed-motive contexts by highlighting the central role of alignment between structure and process.

Copper oxide (CuO) is an attractive burn rate modifier for composite solid propellant based on ammonium perchlorate (AP). However, the mechanism of catalytic decomposition of AP in the presence of CuO is still uncertain. Amount of gaseous products at various decomposition temperatures of AP in the presence and absence of CuO is lacking. Herein, a systematic study using thermogravimetry-mass spectroscopy (TG-MS) was carried out to evaluate the effect of CuO on AP decomposition mechanism. A novel hydrothermal method was reported for the preparation of nanosized copper oxide. The conversion of precursor Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2·3H.sub.2O to intermediate Cu.sub.2(NO.sub.3)(OH).sub.3 was accomplished by in situ carbonization of small quantity of cotton fiber in the hydrothermal reaction chamber. pH of the reaction medium was controlled by utilizing the nitric acid in the reaction medium by in situ carbonization of cotton. This synthetic method aimed to minimize the shape-controlling agents and strong alkali for controlling the pH of the reaction medium for the preparation of catalyst grade CuO. Evolved gas analysis of AP decomposition products by TG-MS showed increased oxygen, chlorine and nitrogen evolution and decreased ammonia evolution in the presence of CuO, compared with that of AP without catalyst. This confirmed the enhanced interaction of ammonia and perchloric acid; the initial decomposition products of AP; and their further reaction in the presence of CuO. The change in composition of volatile products indicates change in mechanism of AP decomposition from proton transfer to electron transfer in the presence of CuO.

[...]hyponatremia severity was independent risk factor of mortality in PICU, but might also confound other risk factors that render the children requiring prolonged hospital stay, mechanical ventilation and mortality. [...]early recognition of hyponatremia and appropriate intervention will improve the outcome. Serum sodium concentration and serum osmolarity are under the control by homeostatic mechanisms involving stimulation of thirst, secretion of antidiuretic hormone, and renal handling of filtered sodium! Since majority of patients are asymptomatic at detection, estimation of serum sodium should be routinely done in all critically ill children. [...]aim & objective of the present study was conducted to find the prevalence and outcome of patients having hyponatremia on morbidity and mortality in PICU at tertiary care teaching hospital. [...]females had higher incidence than males [p<0.00001; OR 2.59 [CI 1.709-3.93]].

In recent years, scholars have demonstrated that capability theories of firm boundaries are fundamentally intertwined with contractual arguments. A productive use of capability arguments, therefore, is when they are joined with contractual ones in an integrated theory of the firm. However, contractual and capability scholars have traditionally held incommensurable views on the relevance of opportunism safeguards for a theory of the firm. Sponsors of the contractual view treat opportunism safeguards as fundamental, whereas several scholars in the knowledge-based strand of the capabilities camp consider it redundant. Moreover, in several recent integrative efforts, opportunism and safeguarding against it feature as linchpin theoretical ideas. To fully integrate contractual and capability theories, therefore, there is a need to resolve this point of incommensurability. We revisit a specific problem in the international strategy literature where the opportunism debate has been significant—the transfer of tacit know-how by multinational firms—and employ moderator-effect hypotheses to test two alternative mechanisms for why tacit know-how is transferred internally. We test whether tacit know-how is transferred internally to safeguard against opportunism or, alternatively, to avail the coordination benefits of common routines within firms. Our results indicate the former and not the latter, and thereby support a cornerstone notion in recent efforts toward an integrated theory of the firm.

Research summary: We examine the interplay of behavioral and environmental uncertainty in shaping the effectiveness of two key governance mechanisms used by strategic alliances: contractual and trust-based governance. We develop and test hypotheses, using a meta-analytic dataset encompassing over 15,000 strategic alliances across 82 independent samples. We find that contractual governance works best under low to moderate levels of behavioral uncertainty and moderate to high levels of environmental uncertainty, while it is detrimental to alliance performance when both types of uncertainty are low or high. Trust-based governance is most effective at high levels of behavioral uncertainty and low levels of environmental uncertainty. It suffers a large loss of usefulness at high behavioral uncertainty as environmental uncertainty increases. Managerial summary: Strategic alliances allow firms to gain greater efficiency and create value. Yet, many such alliances fail because they are not able to deal with the twin challenges posed by behavioral and environmental uncertainty. Findings from our meta-analysis imply that under conditions of high behavioral uncertainty and low-to-moderate levels of environmental uncertainty, the use of trust-based governance alongside contractual governance might enhance the latter's effectiveness. The combined effectiveness of contractual and trust-based governance under high levels of both behavioral and environmental uncertainty is not obvious. When both behavioral and environmental uncertainty are high, contractual governance hurts alliance performance while trust-based governance does not function at its best either. Under these conditions, it might be better for firms to turn to hierarchy or vertical integration.

Copper oxide (CuO) is an attractive burn rate modifier for composite solid propellant based on ammonium perchlorate (AP). However, the mechanism of catalytic decomposition of AP in the presence of CuO is still uncertain. Amount of gaseous products at various decomposition temperatures of AP in the presence and absence of CuO is lacking. Herein, a systematic study using thermogravimetry-mass spectroscopy (TG-MS) was carried out to evaluate the effect of CuO on AP decomposition mechanism. A novel hydrothermal method was reported for the preparation of nanosized copper oxide. The conversion of precursor Cu(NO 3 ) 2 ·3H 2 O to intermediate Cu 2 (NO 3 )(OH) 3 was accomplished by in situ carbonization of small quantity of cotton fiber in the hydrothermal reaction chamber. pH of the reaction medium was controlled by utilizing the nitric acid in the reaction medium by in situ carbonization of cotton. This synthetic method aimed to minimize the shape-controlling agents and strong alkali for controlling the pH of the reaction medium for the preparation of catalyst grade CuO. Evolved gas analysis of AP decomposition products by TG-MS showed increased oxygen, chlorine and nitrogen evolution and decreased ammonia evolution in the presence of CuO, compared with that of AP without catalyst. This confirmed the enhanced interaction of ammonia and perchloric acid; the initial decomposition products of AP; and their further reaction in the presence of CuO. The change in composition of volatile products indicates change in mechanism of AP decomposition from proton transfer to electron transfer in the presence of CuO. Graphical abstract

The concept of 'energy security' has evolved considerably over the years. Till the oil crisis in the 1970s, energy security appeared to be linked closely to the geo-political risks associated with securing energy supplies (particularly oil supplies), energy pricing became an integral part of energy security concerns thereafter. In the 1980s as energy prices dropped, environmental considerations became prominent at the Rio Summit in 1992. Thereafter, the year 2000 and beyond have seen three simultaneous streams of concerns pertaining to (i) oil price volatility (since late 2002); (ii) climate change and the dominant role of the energy sector in this regard; and (iii) concerns over income and human poverty (voiced through the Millennium Development Goals) and catalytic role of energy in alleviating it. These three streams of concerns have led to the integration of economic and geo-political, environmental and social concerns respectively on the energy security agenda. In this Viewpoint energy security has been examined through an environmental lens.

The concept of 'energy security' has evolved considerably over the years. Till the oil crisis in the 1970s, energy security appeared to be linked closely to the geo-political risks associated with securing energy supplies (particularly oil supplies), energy pricing became an integral part of energy security concerns thereafter. In the 1980s as energy prices dropped, environmental considerations became prominent at the Rio Summit in 1992. Thereafter, the year 2000 and beyond have seen three simultaneous streams of concerns pertaining to (i) oil price volatility (since late 2002); (ii) climate change and the dominant role of the energy sector in this regard; and (iii) concerns over income and human poverty (voiced through the Millennium Development Goals) and catalytic role of energy in alleviating it. These three streams of concerns have led to the integration of economic and geo-political, environmental and social concerns respectively on the energy security agenda. In this Viewpoint energy security has been examined through an environmental lens.

This paper examines whether there are economic rewards to mimicking strategic actions of other firms. The strategic behaviour we study is the formation of technology collaborations with MNEs by Indian firms. We argue that conforming to the behaviour of other firms has differential performance effects across different classes of firms and suggest that the benefits of conformity accrue more to small than large firms. To test this, we measured each Indian firm's conformity to the average tendency of other similar firms to collaborate with an MNE and then regressed its performance on conformity. Results were consistent with our expectations that small firms gain more from conformity than do their larger counterparts. Copyright © 2009 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Cet article examine les avantages économiques potentiels liés à l'imitation des actions stratégiques des autres entreprises. Le comportement stratégique étudié est la formation de la collaboration technologique entre des entreprises indiennes et des multinationales. Nous soutenons la thèse que l'imitation du comportement des autres entreprises a des effets différentiels au niveau de la performance des différentes classes d'entreprises, et que les petites entreprises profitent plus de l'imitation que les grandes. Pour tester cette thèse, nous mesurons d'abord le taux de conformité de chaque firme indienne par rapport à la tendance moyenne des firmes similaires à collaborer avec des multinationales, puis nous régressons sa performance de conformité. Nos résultats confirment notre hypothèse, notamment que les petites entreprises profitent plus de l'imitation que les grandes. Copyright © 2009 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Human resource management (HRM) practices should be aligned with business strategy, at least if firms want to outperform their competitors. This is a truism that seems tailor-made for Western multinational corporations (MNCs). But what kind of HRM practices should MNCs use to successfully compete, especially for subsidiaries in transition economies? Research from Fey and Bjorkman, 101 Russian Subsidiaries Owned by Western MNCs, argues, overall, that a \"shotgun\" approach, one where the same practices are used across all employees, is probably not advisable.