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Due to the globalization in the world economy, most multinational organizations have changed the way they conduct business. This change also influenced the structure and working of IT services-providing companies. Due to the contemporary phenomenon of the world being seen as a global village, today organizations have access to a wider talent pool. Different multinational IT services-providing companies follow global software development models, while some of these also call people onshore from distant offices to work on different projects. In this scenario, cross-cultural teams are formed to work together and to fulfill clients’ requirements. The objective of this study is to identify cultural differences that affect the knowledge sharing process in IT services-providing companies. In this study, we present the case of a Swedish IT services-providing company that has extended operations into India. Our intention is to understand employees’ views about their work experience in a cross-cultural team. In this context, the study employs a qualitative approach, which helps to elucidate the role of national culture dimensions on an individual’s behavior within the workplace, as well as the impact national culture dimensions have on knowledge sharing processes. Six cross-cultural team members, who have the experience of working in a cross-cultural environment, were interviewed utilizing a semi-structured interview model. Data collection also includes two and half days of data collected during the observation of a cross-cultural team. The collected data helps to effectively clarify in-depth views about the concerns employees have while working within cross-cultural teams. The data collected was analyzed by applying hermeneutics, through which we mapped the answers to the theory of Hofstede on culture. The latter served as the indicator to focus on cultural dimensions that have decisive influence on knowledge sharing in cross-cultural environments. We conclude by highlighting several specific cultural factors that may affect knowledge sharing in cross-cultural environments.

The present research examined cultural differences between Euro-Canadians and Chinese in threat perception in competitive settings. Based on past cultural psychological research on self and thinking, we predicted that, compared to Chinese, Euro-Canadians would perceive greater correspondence between public appearances and reality – inferring an opponent as competent and threatening if he or she appears competent. As predicted, Euro Canadians perceived greater threat than did Chinese in an opponent who appeared competent or domineering, whereas Chinese perceived greater threat than Euro Canadians in an opponent who appeared non-distinct or ordinary (Studies 1 to 4). Consistent with my predictions, these cultural differences were partially mediated by perceived unpredictability associated with different appearances (Study 3) and fully mediated by the more general beliefs that appearances can be unreliable reflections of reality (Study 4). The results have important implications for judgment and decision making in competitions. / Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-23 12:21:29.71

This mini-thesis profiles some aspects realted to the accessibility of printed news to first language speakers of Xhosa. The major aim of this thesis is to investigate whether speakers of Xhosa do have access to printed news in English, which is not in their first language. Therefore, this thesis investigates whether African langusge speakers of school leaving age understand hwat they read in English newspapers.

Despite the existence of an extensive literature on the morphology, autecology, utilisation, and eradication of Pteridium aquilinum, relatively little research has been done on the Pteridium-grassland ecosystem of Scottish rough grazings. This study is a systematic and semi-quantitative investigation of the influence of Pteridium competition on its associated vegetation and soils, based on field and soil laboratory techniques. It is postulated that the differential response of moorland species to varying degrees of bracken dominance and the modification of soil morphological and chemical characteristics by the dominant plant species is partly responsible for the well-known association of Pteridium aqutlinum with Festuca-Agrostis - brown forest soil ecosystems. This hypothesis is tested in the field in three contrasting upland environments in Scotland. The influence of varying densities of bracken on three facets of the vegetation - soil association is examined: (I) the characteristic particularly the biomass, of the ground vegetation as a whole (2) the species composition of the herb layer and (3) the morphological characteristics of the soil. The degree of dominance of bracken is defined in a semi-quantitative manner and correlated with indices of the vigour of the ground vegetation and its species composition. A classification of common dry moorland species, according to their response to Pterldlum competition is produced. The association of Ptertdlum aqutltnum with soils of brown forest soil morphology is studied and the importance of the rhizome system In modifying the physical characteristics of the soil and the distribution of organic matter in the profile demonstrated. The tendency of bracken to modify the morphological characteristics of podsolised soils is shown. Subsequent laboratory analysis substantiates the morphological evidence of the relationship between Pteridium-dominated vegetation and soil type. By revealing the differences in nutrient status between bracken soils and podsolised heath soils and the seasonal variation In nutrient levels, the efficiency of Pteridium in cycling nutrients through the ecosystem Is suggested. The ability of Pterldium to release phosphate from inorganic sources in the soil is demonstrated by laboratory experiment, anomalously high available phosphate levels in the subsoil of bracken soils having been revealed by routine analysis. Laboratory experiment also suggests that the modification of iron pans by Pteridium rhizomes may have a chemical as well as a physical component. The evidence of Pteridium's Influence on vegetation and soil characteristics allows preliminary comment to be made on the ecological significance of bracken eradication schemes.

The link between poultry animal production factors and poultry meat processing has not been studied in detail.  The effect of factors such as genotype, sex, age, diet and muscle type on meat processing capabilities such as post-mortem pH, soaked, cooked yield, texture and binding of whole and comminuted meat are reported here.  To determine the processing  capabilities of the meat, various methods were employed, including muscle fibre typing, microscopy and electrophoresis. The breast muscle was more suited to processing that the thigh, particularly with regards to texture.  Genotype was the most significant production factor for processing capabilities: broiler-type birds produced meat which gave higher soaked and cooked yields, was less tough and improved meat bind.  Generally, older animals produced meat less suitable for processing.  Diet had little effect on the processing capability of the meat. The addition of salt and phosphates to poultry meat had a more significant effect on processing behaviour than any animal production factor.  Phosphate increased the soaked and cooked yield, reduced toughness and increased meat bind.  Salt improved the processing performance more than phosphate.  Salt and phosphates added together improved processing performance more than either alone.  This synergistic result was independent of animal production factors. These findings indicate that muscle location, genotype and bird age are the most significant animal production factors.  Additionally, salt and phosphate affect the processing capability of meat more than any of the animal production factors.  Muscle fibre type has no affect on meat processing capability.  Microscopic observations suggest that protein dispersion, decrease in porosity and void size increased cooked yield and meat binding.  The electrophoresis results showed that actin and myosin are the two proteins most dispersed by the action of salt and phosphate.

Spermatozoa are highly specialised cells which display a range of unique features associated with their crucial function of egg fertilisation. One of the most striking characteristics of spermatozoa, in biochemical terms, is the extremely high proportion of long chain highly polyunsaturated fatty acids present as components of the plasma membrane phospholipids. This high degree of unsaturation is almost unique amongst animal cells; the only other cell types which display similar levels of these polyunsaturates are the neurons of the brain and retina. The reason why spermatozoa exhibit such an unusual fatty acid composition is not clear but it is feasible that the highly unsaturated phospholipids may confer a high degree of flexibility on the sperm plasma membrane as well as provide a potential energy source in order to facilitate the characteristic flagellar motion of these cells. There is also evidence that spermatozoa lipids play a crucial role in the membrane fusion and signal transduction events associated with the acrosome reaction and fertilisation. Initial observations were made between the semen of domestic cockerel and bull with respect to animal ageing and semen quality. Within both species similar patterns were observed in that with age there was a loss of the long chain C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids accompanied by a loss of the major antioxidant enzyme systems. A decrease in phosphatidyl ethanolamine and an increase of phosphatidyl choline with age were also observed to be associated with a reduction in semen quality parameters and fertility in both species. In contrast cockerels displayed significant increases in spermatozoa and seminal plasma lipid levels where the bull exhibited losses, reflecting possible differences in spermatozoa metabolism and function.

The British uplands support a rich assemblage of a number of predatory and scavenging birds, including golden eagle, merlin, red kite, hen harrier, raven and buzzard, with nationally and internationally important populations of some of these species. A feature all these species have in common is the requirement for large foraging ranges by individuals which means that large tracts of suitable habitat are necessary to support viable populations. Current changes in upland land use such as afforestation and changing agricultural practices give cause for concern. The conservation of these species and others like them requires a greater understanding of how these birds interact with the landscape and how their distribution and breeding performance reflects their habitat. Ecologists are becoming increasingly aware of the potential of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for exploring these relationships between animal species and their habitat. In this thesis, the buzzard was chosen as a model species to explore ways of predicting bird distributions and breeding performance from readily available data using GIS. This study was carried out in mid-Argyll, Scotland. The distribution and breeding performance of buzzards was determined for a number of study areas, chosen to represent the full spectrum of habitats to be encountered in mid-Argyll, during 1989 and 1990. Parameters of breeding performance used were laying date, clutch size, initial brood size and fledging success. Brood quality was also assessed, based on nestling growth. The breeding performance of buzzards in mid-Argyll was included in a comparison of published data from studies elsewhere in Britain. Laying dates were found to be consistent throughout the country while clutch size, initial brood size and fledging success were seen to differ between studies. No patterns which might relate to latitudinal or climatic trends were apparent and differences were considered to be due to overall habitat differences between the regions considered. While buzzards in mid-Argyll tended to produce low clutch sizes the population as a whole showed high fledging success. While buzzards nestlings in mid-Argyll had good survival rates the high fledging success is probably best explained by absence of human interference, malicious or otherwise in this area. An important consideration when looking at the distribution of a bird size such as the buzzard is whether this might be influenced by nest site availability. Buzzards in mid-Argyll used a number of distinct nest site habitats. While the majority of buzzards nested in trees, a substantial proportion were found nesting on steep banks and crags. Considering the adaptability of buzzards in their choice of nest site and the abundance of acceptable sites it was considered that the availability of potential nest sites was unlikely to influence buzzard distribution in mid-Argyll.