Rogers (Germany)

This study provides preliminary insights into how fiber to the home (FTTH) networks affect competition in the broadband Internet access market, and how, and if, competition on FTTH networks can be sustained. This study focuses on the Netherlands, a fast growing FTTH market with regulation mandating unbundling. Even though it is too early to paint a full picture of developments in the competitive landscape, initial findings suggest that rollout of FTTH has positive short-term effects on facilities-based competition. However, the extent to which competition on FTTH networks will develop at both the active operator and retail level remains unclear at this point. Additional uncertainties regarding the future of facilities-based competition suggest continued close monitoring of the market is necessary. Future research should address the extent to which competition at the active and retail level affect innovation.

<p>This article examines the extent to which entire agreement clauses (EACs) and non-reliance clauses (NRCs) are enforceable to preclude actions for negligent pre-contractual misrepresentations. It is argued that courts could improve legal certainty and contractual fairness by adopting two distinct legal rules to be applied, respectively, to contracts between sophisticated parties and in adhesion contracts. First, it is suggested that in contracts between sophisticated parties only specific contractual barriers to actions should provide a complete defence against negligent misrepresentation claims. Under this rule, the exclusionary effect of EACs and NRCs would be achieved only if an express term of the contract is inconsistent with the pre-contractual statement on which the plaintiff bases their tort claim. Second, it is proposed that in contracts of adhesion EACs and NRCs should be regarded as presumptively unconscionable, thereby precluding sophisticated parties from using such clauses as a shield against tort claims for negligence misrepresentations.</p> <p>Dans cet article, nous examinons dans quelle mesure les clauses d’accord global (CAG) et les clauses de non-recours (CNR) sont exécutoires pour exclure les actions pour fausses déclarations précontractuelles négligentes. Nous soutenons que les tribunaux pourraient améliorer la certitude juridique et l’équité contractuelle en adoptant deux règles juridiques distinctes à appliquer, respectivement, aux contrats entre parties averties et aux contrats d’adhésion. Premièrement, il est suggéré que dans les contrats entre parties averties, seules des barrières contractuelles spécifiques aux actions devraient fournir une défense complète contre les réclamations pour fausse déclaration négligente. En vertu de cette règle, l’effet d’exclusion des CAG et des CNR ne serait obtenu que si une clause expresse du contrat est incompatible avec la déclaration précontractuelle sur laquelle le demandeur fonde son action en réparation. Deuxièmement, il est proposé que, dans les contrats d’adhésion, les CAG et les CNR soient considérées comme présumées inadmissibles, empêchant ainsi les parties averties d’utiliser de telles clauses comme rempart contre les actions en réparation pour fausses déclarations négligentes.</p>

Abstract There are four paradigms of lean, agile, resilient, and green (LARG) which can promote human resource culture to create novel ideas and increase performance in organizations. This study aims to conceptualize lean, agile, resilient, and green paradigms in human resource management (HRM) and investigates how different LARG HRM elements can affect organizational innovation and performance. In this way, a conceptual model for investigating the LARG concept in HRM is proposed. A new tool to measure lean, agile, resilient, and green indicators in service industry has been developed. Using convenience sampling method to access possible respondents, a survey questionnaire is managed to collect data from 102 service sector organizations in Iran. The collected data are analyzed by partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that the LARG HRM significantly and positively influences organizational performance. In addition, the LARG HRM indirectly affects organizational performance through organizational innovation. This study provides valuable insights into implementing the LARG HRM in organizations and how it contributes to enhancing organizational performance.

Abstract Although creativity research has devoted considerable effort toward identifying the antecedents of creativity, there remain important questions about how organizations can foster creativity through social processes. Drawing from social capital theory, we hypothesize a moderated mediation model that investigates the influence of employee participation in fun activities on individual creativity through workplace friendships. We further hypothesize that the strength of this positive indirect effect is weaker for managers compared with non‐managers. Our analysis of data collected from a multi‐source, three‐wave field study (n = 163 employees) reveals a positive mediation between participation in fun activities and incremental creativity (but not radical creativity) via workplace friendships. The results further support our prediction that this positive indirect effect on incremental creativity is weaker for managers compared with non‐managers. Our findings not only highlight the practical and theoretical importance of fun activities in generating novel and useful ideas, but the results also reveal that the benefits derived from fun activities (i.e., strengthened friendships, incremental creativity) are particularly salient for non‐managers.

Abstract Zirconia toughened aluminas (ZTAs) are one of the most important engineering ceramics with high melting points, excellent mechanical strength, and chemical stability, and are commonly used as wear resistant and high‐temperature components, as prosthetic implants, and electric circuit substrates. In this work, we explore methods of processing fine‐grained, dense, thin, free‐standing (ZrO2)x(Al2O3)1−x films (x = 0‐50 mol%, ~40 μm thick) by sintering flame made nanopowders (NPs) to optimize the t‐ZrO2 content, sinterability, and microstructures under select conditions (1120°C‐1500°C/5 h in O2 or 95%N2/5%H2). In all cases, the final sintered products retain t‐ZrO2 with average grain sizes (AGSs) of 0.1‐1 μm. ZTA film thicknesses were increased to ~200 μm to assess potential as electronic substrates. Excellent fracture toughness (24 MPa m1/2) and small AGSs of 0.7 μm were found for ~200 μm thick ZTA films sintered at 1500°C/5 h/N2/H2 using a three‐step binder burnout process. Furthermore, we show that homogeneous ZTA thin films (<5 μm thick) can be sintered on Si3N4 substrates (thickness ≈ 300 μm) to provide physical protection against oxidation under extreme conditions (1500°C/1 h/O2), offering additional practical utility for high‐temperature ceramics and power electronic substrates.

This article uses piecewise regression to explore diminishing returns to population density and identifies the density thresholds in the three most populous Canadian metropolitan areas beyond which any increase in population density is associated with declining marginal returns in transit mode split. An improved understanding of diminishing returns will enable planners and transit operators to focus on specific transit modes and service areas where increasing population densities are more likely to correlate with higher transit mode splits.

Claudins are a family of transmembrane proteins integral to the structure and function of tight junctions (TJ). Disruption of TJ and alterations in claudin expression are important features of invasive and metastatic cancer cells. Expression of CLDN18.1, the lung-specific isoform of CLDN18, is markedly decreased in lung adenocarcinoma (LuAd). Furthermore, we recently observed that aged Cldn18 -/- mice have increased propensity to develop LuAd. We now demonstrate that CLDN18.1 expression correlates inversely with promoter methylation and with LuAd patient mortality. In addition, when restored in LuAd cells that have lost expression, CLDN18.1 markedly attenuates malignant properties including xenograft tumor growth in vivo as well as cell proliferation, migration, invasion and anchorage-independent colony formation in vitro. Based on high throughput analyses of Cldn18 -/- murine lung alveolar epithelial type II cells, as well as CLDN18.1-repleted human LuAd cells, we hypothesized and subsequently confirmed by Western analysis that CLDN18.1 inhibits insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and AKT phosphorylation. Consistent with recent data in Cldn18 -/- knockout mice, expression of CLDN18.1 in human LuAd cells also decreased expression of transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and Yes-associated protein (YAP) and their target genes, contributing to its tumor suppressor activity. Moreover, analysis of LuAd cells in which YAP and/or TAZ are silenced with siRNA suggests that inhibition of TAZ, and possibly YAP, is also involved in CLDN18.1-mediated AKT inactivation. Taken together, these data indicate a tumor suppressor role for CLDN18.1 in LuAd mediated by a regulatory network that encompasses YAP/TAZ, IGF-1R and AKT signaling.

Rodgers, Jennifer DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC; Stanton, Marietta PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CMAC, AGNP-BC, FAAN; Jackson, Jennifer MD, FACP Author Information

Ethnic consumers are an important market segment in both traditionally multicultural countries and newer destinations of growing immigration waves. Such consumers may carry with them “old country passions” that may influence their attitudes toward the products of countries perceived as friendly or hostile in relation to the consumers’ original home countries. This study is the first to examine together four place-related constructs—namely, country and people images, product images, affinity, and animosity—and their potential effects on purchase intentions for products from countries that may be perceived as friends or foes from the perspective of the ethnic consumers’ homeland, while also juxtaposing these measures against views toward a neutral “benchmark” country for comparison. The results show that country/people and product images, affinity, and animosity work differently depending on the target country; both affective and cognitive factors influence product and people evaluations; and attitudes vary in their predictive ability on purchase intentions. The article concludes with a discussion implications from the findings and directions for further research.