Brunel University London

About: Brunel University London is a education organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Large Hadron Collider & Population. The organization has 10918 authors who have published 29515 publications receiving 893330 citations. The organization is also known as: Brunel & University of Brunel.

Estrogenic Effects of Effluents from Sewage Treatment Works

Abstract: The occurrence of hermaphrodite fish in the lagoons of sewage treatment works led us to hypothesize that sewage effluent might contain a substance, or substances, estrogenic to fish. to test this hypothesis, we placed cages containing rainbow trout in the effluent from sewage-treatment works, and one to three weeks later measured the vitellogenin concentration in the plasma of the fish. Vitellogenin is a protein synthesized by the liver of oviparous fish in response to estradiol stimulation; it is then conveyed by the blood to the ovary, where it is sequestered by oocytes to form the yolk. Thus, the presence of vitellogenin in the plasma is indicative of estrogenic stimulation of the liver. an initial study, at a sewage-treatment works, showed that plasma vitellogenin concentrations rose rapidly and very markedly (over 1000-fold in three weeks) when trout were maintained in the effluent. an extensive nationwide survey was then conducted. Results were obtained from fifteen sewage-treatment works d...

Exploitation-Exploration Tensions and Organizational Ambidexterity: Managing Paradoxes of Innovation

Abstract: Achieving exploitation and exploration enables success, even survival, but raises challenging tensions. Ambidextrous organizations excel at exploiting existing products to enable incremental innovation and at exploring new opportunities to foster more radical innovation, yet related research is limited. Largely conceptual, anecdotal, or single case studies offer architectural or contextual approaches. Architectural ambidexterity proposes dual structures and strategies to differentiate efforts, focusing actors on one or the other form of innovation. In contrast, contextual approaches use behavioral and social means to integrate exploitation and exploration. To develop a more comprehensive model, we sought to learn from five, ambidextrous firms that lead the product design industry. Results offer an alternative framework for examining exploitation-exploration tensions and their management. More specifically, we present nested paradoxes of innovation: strategic intent (profit-breakthroughs), customer orientation (tight-loose coupling), and personal drivers (discipline-passion). Building from innovation and paradox literature, we theorize how integration and differentiation tactics help manage these interwoven paradoxes and fuel virtuous cycles of ambidexterity. Further, managing paradoxes becomes a shared responsibility, not only of top management, but across organizational levels.

Free radical mechanisms in tissue injury

Abstract: Free radicals are molecules or molecular fragments containing a single unpaired electron. In general, free radicals are reactive chemically, some (e.g. HO•) being extremely reactive. However, certain types of free radical, such as nitroxyl-radicals and free radicals stabilized by steric or derealization features, are much less reactive and a few (e.g. diphenyl picryl hydrazyl) are stable enough to be crystallised and stored at temperatures above 0°. Table 1 gives the general structures of free radicals that will be discussed in this short review.

An Improved Adaptive Background Mixture Model for Real-time Tracking with Shadow Detection

Abstract: Real-time segmentation of moving regions in image sequences is a fundamental step in many vision systems including automated visual surveillance, human-machine interface, and very low-bandwidth telecommunications A typical method is background subtraction Many background models have been introduced to deal with different problems One of the successful solutions to these problems is to use a multi-colour background model per pixel proposed by Grimson et al [1, 2,3] However, the method suffers from slow learning at the beginning, especially in busy environments In addition, it can not distinguish between moving shadows and moving objects This paper presents a method which improves this adaptive background mixture model By reinvestigating the update equations, we utilise different equations at different phases This allows our system learn faster and more accurately as well as adapts effectively to changing environment A shadow detection scheme is also introduced in this paper It is based on a computational colour space that makes use of our background model A comparison has been made between the two algorithms The results show the speed of learning and the accuracy of the model using our update algorithm over the Grimson et al’s tracker When incorporate with the shadow detection, our method results in far better segmentation than The Thirteenth Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence that of Grimson et al

Institutions, resources, and entry strategies in emerging economies

Abstract: We investigate the impact of market-supporting institutions on business strategies by analyzing the entry strategies of foreign investors entering emerging economies. We apply and advance the institution-based view of strategy by integrating it with resource-based considerations. In particular, we show how resource-seeking strategies are pursued using different entry modes in different institutional contexts. Alternative modes of entry—greenfield, acquisition, and joint venture (JV)—allow firms to overcome different kinds of market inefficiencies related to both characteristics of the resources and to the institutional context. In a weaker institutional framework, JVs are used to access many resources, but in a stronger institutional framework, JVs become less important while acquisitions can play a more important role in accessing resources that are intangible and organizationally embedded. Combining survey and archival data from four emerging economies, India, Vietnam, South Africa, and Egypt, we provide empirical support for our hypotheses.