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Although statistical evidence seems to be lacking, it is at present widely acknowledged that organizational culture has the potential of having a significant effect on organizational performance. An analysis of sustained superior financial performance of certain American organizations has attributed their success to the culture that each of them had developed. It has been proposed that these organizations are characterized by a strong set of core managerial values that define the ways in which they conduct business, how they treat employees, customers, suppliers and others. Culture is to the organization what personality is to the individual. It is a hidden but unifying force that provides meaning and direction and has been defined as the prevailing background fabric of prescriptions and proscriptions for behaviour, the system of beliefs and values and the technology and task of the organization together with the accepted approaches to these. From the literature, a vast number of dimensions of organizational culture were observed. These dimensions were synthetized and 15 constructs of culture emerged. By means of conventional item construction, item analysis and factor analysis, a questionnaire with acceptable reliability and construct validity was developed to measure organizational culture.

Several hematological abnormalities associated with HIV have been documented, but the mechanisms responsible for the cytopenias in AIDS patients are complex and not always completely understood. Thrombocytopenia, which occurs in about 40% of patients with HIV infection, may be caused by increased peripheral platelet destruction, a defect in platelet production due to the impaired formation of platelets by HIV-infected magakaryocytes, or a combination of these. The aim of this study was to compare the morphology of the platelet aggregates in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) clots prepared from HIV patients with those of controls without HIV. These platelet aggregates were studied using the scanning electron microscope to determine the effect of the virus on platelet ultrastructure. The results showed that although the platelets do aggregate, the morphology was changed with membrane blebbing as well as torn cellular membranes. Membrane blebbing is typically associated with apoptosis. It is concluded that the altered morphology of platelet aggregates in HIV patients may be related to thrombocytopenia as a result of peripheral platelet destruction.

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The aim of the current study was to investigate the ultrastructural morphology of three different sources of fibrin networks and platelets, namely, lypholized human platelet-rich plasma (LPRP), freshly prepared human platelet-rich plasma (FPRP), and human platelet concentrate (HPC). The ultrastructural morphology of the three different fibrin networks was studied using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Turbidity curves were drawn at 405 nm at room temperature and fibrinogen concentrations were measured. Scanning electron micrographs showed that all clots produced thick major fibrin fibers as well as a well-defined fine fibrin network, which appeared to be a superimposed process that occurred after the major fibrin network was established. These features were decidedly more pronounced in the HPC specimens. Turbidity curves of the three types of plasma showed differences in LPRP and FPRP. Fibrinogen concentrations of all three preparations were in the normal ranges. Because of the great similarity between LPRP, HPC, and FPRP, we suggest that LPRP could be used successfully to study morphological changes in fibrin fibers and platelets, which may occur after exposure to certain therapeutic agents. However, functionality studies such as turbidity curves should concurrently be included. We therefore conclude that from a basic science point of view, LPRP is a valuable research tool and that such results may add information that could be valuable for clinical application. Anat Rec 290: 188-198, 2007. 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Key words: lyophilized human platelet-rich plasma; plateletrich plasma; human platelet concentrate; scanning electron microscopy; fibrin network Activated platelet as well as fibrin network ultrastructural morphology may be an important tool when studying different medical conditions ranging from dysfibrinogenaemias to inflammatory conditions such as asthma. Platelets are activated by a number of stimuli resulting in the expression and/or activation of surface receptors, secretion of vasoactive substances,

It is hypothesised that a positive relationship exists between the financial performance of an organisation and the level of intrapreneurship within the organisation with causation running from entrepreneurship to financial outcomes. Using a three-factor key intrapreneurship model developed by Goosen, De Coning and Smit (2002) and financial outcomes from a sample of companies listed in the industrial sector of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, this proposition is put to the test. The results support the hypothesis that the key factors innovativeness, proactiveness and management’s internal influence all significantly contribute to financial performance if regarded individually, but that the last factor dominates the first two external factors when used simultaneously. The conclusion underscores the importance of the impact of leadership on financial outcomes.

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