bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular mechanisms of Evening Complex activity in Arabidopsis
Authors: Silva Catarina S. , Nayak Aditya , Lai Xuelei , Hugouvieux Veronique , Jung Jae-Hoon , Jourdain Agnès , López-Vidriero Irene , Franco-Zorrilla Jose Manuel , Parcy François , Panigrahi Kishore , Wigge Philip A. , Nanao Max , Zubieta Chloe
Published: March 2019

The Evening Complex (EC), composed of the DNA-binding protein LUX ARRHYTHMO (LUX) and two additional proteins, EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3) and ELF4, is a transcriptional repressor complex and a core component of the plant circadian clock. In addition to maintaining oscillations in clock gene expression, the EC also participates in temperature and light entrainment and regulates important clock output genes such asPHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4(PIF4), a key transcription factor involved in temperature dependent plant growth. These properties make the EC an attractive target for altering plant development through targeted mutations to the complex. However, the molecular basis for EC function was not known. Here we show that binding of the EC requires all three proteins and that ELF3 decreases the ability of LUX to bind DNA whereas the presence of ELF4 restores interaction with DNA. To be able to manipulate this complex, we solved the structure of the DNA-binding domain of LUX bound to DNA. Using structure-based design, a LUX variant was constructed that showed decreasedin vitrobinding affinity but retained specificity for its cognate sequences. This designed LUX allele modulates hypocotyl elongation and flowering. These results demonstrate that modifying the DNA-binding affinity of LUX can be used to titrate the repressive activity of the entire EC, tuning growth and development in a predictable manner.

Significance Statement

Circadian gene expression oscillates over a 24 hr. period and regulates many genes critical for growth and development. In plants, the Evening Complex (EC), a three-protein repressive complex made up of LUX ARRYTHMO, EARLY FLOWERING 3 and EARLY FLOWERING 4, acts as a key component of the circadian clock and is a regulator of thermomorphogenic growth. However, the molecular mechanisms of complex formation and DNA-binding have not been identified. Here we determine the roles of each protein in the complex and present the structure of the LUX DNA-binding domain in complex with DNA. Based on these data, we used structure-based protein engineering to produce a version of the EC with alteredin vitroandin vivoactivity. These results demonstrate that the EC can be modified to alter plant growth and development at different temperatures in a predictable manner.
Epigenome-wide meta-analysis of PTSD across 10 military and civilian cohorts identifies novel methylation loci
Authors: Smith Alicia K , Ratanatharathorn Andrew , Maihofer Adam X , Naviaux Robert K , Aiello Allison E , Amstadter Ananda B , Ashley-Koch Allison E , Baker Dewleen G , Beckham Jean C , Boks Marco P , Bromet Evelyn , Dennis Michelle , Galea Sandro , Garrett Melanie E , Geuze Elbert , Guffanti Guia , Hauser Michael A , Katrinli Seyma , Kilaru Varun , Kessler Ronald C. , Kimbrel Nathan A , Koenen Karestan C , Kuan Pei-Fen , Li Kefeng , Logue Mark W , Lori Adriana , Luft Benjamin J , Miller Mark W , Naviaux Jane C , Nugent Nicole R , Qin Xuejun , Ressler Kerry J , Risbrough Victoria B , Rutten Bart P F , Stein Murray B , Ursano Robert J. , Vermetten Eric , Vinkers Christiaan H , Wang Lin , Youssef Nagy A ,   INTRuST Clinical Consortium, VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup,   PGC PTSD Epigenetics Workgroup, Uddin Monica , Nievergelt Caroline M
Published: March 2019

Differences in susceptibility to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be related to epigenetic differences between PTSD cases and trauma-exposed controls. Such epigenetic differences may provide insight into the biological processes underlying the disorder. Here we describe the results of the largest DNA methylation meta-analysis of PTSD to date with data from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) PTSD Epigenetics Workgroup. Ten cohorts, military and civilian, contributed blood-derived DNA methylation data (HumanMethylation450 BeadChip) from 1,896 PTSD cases (42%) and trauma-exposed controls (58%). Utilizing a common QC and analysis strategy, we identified ten CpG sites associated with PTSD (9.61E-07<p<4.72E-11) after adjustment for multiple comparisons (FDR<.05). Several CpGs were located in genes previously implicated in PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. The top four CpG sites fell within the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) locus and were associated with lower DNA methylation in PTSD cases relative to controls. Interestingly, this association appeared to uncorrelated with smoking status and was most pronounced in non-smokers with PTSD. Additional evaluation of metabolomics data supported our findings and revealed that AHRR methylation associated with kynurenine levels, which were lower among subjects with PTSD relative to controls. Overall, this study supports epigenetic differences in those with PTSD and suggests a role for decreased kynurenine as a contributor to immune dysregulation in PTSD.
The origins and evolution of chromosomes, dosage compensation, and mechanisms underlying venom regulation in snakes
Authors: Schield Drew R. , Card Daren C. , Hales Nicole R. , Perry Blair W. , Pasquesi Giulia M. , Blackmon Heath , Adams Richard H. , Corbin Andrew B. , Smith Cara F. , Ramesh Balan , Demuth Jeffery P. , Betrán Esther , Tollis Marc , Meik Jesse M. , Mackessy Stephen P. , Castoe Todd A.
Published: March 2019

Here we use a chromosome-level genome assembly of a prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis), together with Hi-C, RNA-seq, and whole-genome resequencing data, to study key features of genome biology and evolution in reptiles. We identify the rattlesnake Z Chromosome, including the recombining pseudoautosomal region, and find evidence for partial dosage compensation driven by an evolutionary accumulation of a female-biased up-regulation mechanism. Comparative analyses with other amniotes provide new insight into the origins, structure, and function of reptile microchromosomes, which we demonstrate have markedly different structure and function compared to macrochromosomes. Snake microchromosomes are also enriched for venom genes, which we show have evolved through multiple tandem duplication events in multiple gene families. By overlaying chromatin structure information and gene expression data, we find evidence for venom gene-specific chromatin contact domains and identify how chromatin structure guides precise expression of multiple venom gene families. Further, we find evidence for venom gland-specific transcription factor activity and characterize a complement of mechanisms underlying venom production and regulation. Our findings reveal novel and fundamental features of reptile genome biology, provide insight into the regulation of snake venom, and broadly highlight the biological insight enabled by chromosome-level genome assemblies.
Country culture moderators of the relationship between gender and organizational commitment
Authors: Peterson Mark F. , Kara Aycan , Fanimokun Abiola , Smith Peter B.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The present study consists of managers and professionals in 26 countries including seven from Central and Eastern Europe. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether culture dimensions predict country differences in the relationship between gender and organizational commitment. The study integrated theories of social learning, role adjustment and exchange that link commitment to organizational roles to explain such differences in gender effects. Findings indicate that an alternative modernities perspective on theories of gender and commitment is better warranted than is a traditional modernities perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examined the relationship between gender and organizational commitment using primary data collected in 26 counties. The cross-level moderating effects of individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, power distance and restraint vs indulgence was examined using hierarchical linear modeling.

Findings

Organizational commitment is found to be higher among men than women in four countries (Australia, China, Hungary, Jamaica) and higher among women than men in two countries (Bulgaria and Romania). Results shows that large power distance, uncertainty avoidance, femininity (social goal emphasis) and restraint (vs indulgence) predict an association between being female and commitment. These all suggest limitations to the traditional modernity-based understanding of gender and the workplace.

Originality/value

This study is unique based on the three theories it integrates and because it tests the proposed hypothesis using a multi-level nested research design. Moreover, the results suggest a tension between an alternative modernities perspective on top-down governmental effects on commitment through exchange and bottom-up personal effects on commitment through social learning with role adjustment in an intermediate position.
Research progress of high-performance BEM and investigation on convergence of GMRES in local stress analysis of slender real thin-plate beams
Authors: Yao Zhenhan , Zheng Xiaoping , Yuan Han , Feng Jinlong
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Based on the error analysis, the authors proposed a new kind of high accuracy boundary element method (BEM) (HABEM), and for the large-scale problems, the fast algorithm, such as adaptive cross approximation (ACA) with generalized minimal residual (GMRES) is introduced to develop the high performance BEM (HPBEM). It is found that for slender beams, the stress analysis using iterative solver GMRES will difficult to converge. For the analysis of slender beams and thin structures, to enhance the efficiency of GMRES solver becomes a key problem in the development of the HPBEM. The purpose of this paper is study on the preconditioning method to solve this convergence problem, and it is started from the 2D BE analysis of slender beams.

Design/methodology/approach

The conventional sparse approximate inverse (SAI) based on adjacent nodes is modified to that based on adjacent nodes along the boundary line. In addition, the authors proposed a dual node variable merging (DNVM) preprocessing for slender thin-plate beams. As benchmark problems, the pure bending of thin-plate beam and the local stress analysis (LSA) of real thin-plate cantilever beam are applied to verify the effect of these two preconditioning method.

Findings

For the LSA of real thin-plate cantilever beams, as GMRES (m) without preconditioning applied, it is difficult to converge provided the length to height ratio greater than 50. Even with the preconditioner SAI or DNVM, it is also difficult to obtain the converged results. For the slender real beams, the iteration of GMRES (m) with SAI or DNVM stopped at wrong deformation state, and the computation failed. By changing zero initial solution to the analytical displacement solution of conventional beam theory, GMRES (m) with SAI or DNVM will not be stopped at wrong deformation state, but the stress error is still difficult to converge. However, by GMRES (m) combined with both SAI and DNVM preconditioning, the computation efficiency enhanced significantly.

Originality/value

This paper presents two preconditioners: DNVM and a modified SAI based on adjacent nodes along the boundary line of slender thin-plate beam. In the LSA, by using GMRES (m) combined with both DNVM and SAI, the computation efficiency enhanced significantly. It provides a reference for the further development of the 3D HPBEM in the LSA of real beam, plate and shell structures.
Implementing the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) in a challenging context
Authors: Van Jaarsveld Leentjie , Mentz P.J. (Kobus) , Ellis Suria
Published: March 2019

Purpose

An emphasis on school performance is not just a national issue, but must be examined within the global context. Successful leadership is ensured by school leaders’ compliance to a set of basic practices within particular school contexts. The impact of leadership styles on performance, the work environment and job satisfaction is emphasized, while the appropriate leadership style could make teachers more effective in terms of job productivity. The adoption of different leadership styles by school leaders shows positive results with regard to school effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to describe school leadership styles and the influence the styles have on school performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach with a post-positive paradigm was followed. A systematic random sample of 72 secondary schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, was selected. The Cronbach’s α coefficient, statistical significance (p-values) and effect size (d-values) were calculated, and a factor analysis was conducted.

Findings

The results show a difference between teachers and principals regarding the transformational leadership style. The principals in the high-performing schools were perceived as less passive-avoidant in practice than those in the low-performing schools. A principal manages and leads a school effectively by applying an appropriate leadership style.

Research limitations/implications

For future research, it will be advisable to make use of a mixed-method design. Although the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire addressed numerous aspects of leadership and leadership styles, the “voice” of the respondents lacked. Furthermore, more leadership styles could be investigated in different contexts.

Practical implications

A chosen principal leadership style is not necessarily the best style for this purpose. School principals and teachers interpret leadership styles differently. Communication is therefore important.

Social implications

The principal leadership style is not always necessarily the teachers’ and learners’ choice. It is important that schools keep up with a constantly changing world.

Originality/value

If school principals and teachers agree upon a specific leadership style, there may be better collaboration which enhances better academic performance as well as effectiveness regarding schools.
Principals’ instructional leadership under statewide teacher evaluation reform
Authors: Lochmiller Chad R. , Mancinelli John L.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how elementary school principals adjust their leadership practice in response to Washington’s new teacher evaluation policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a modified content analysis of open-ended survey responses collected from elementary school principals in Washington State. In all, the survey included responses from 354 elementary school principals representing 25.0 percent of the state’s elementary school principal population. ATLAS.ti supported data analysis and assisted in the derivation of three key findings.

Findings

Elementary school principals changed their instructional leadership practice in response to the new teacher evaluation policy in three significant ways. First, principals adjusted their approach to classroom observation to complete more intentional, in-depth observational activities. Second, principals redistributed non-instructional responsibilities to clerical staff members to allow themselves and other administrators more time for classroom observation. Third, principals adopted a learning stance to the new policy and thus sought external support, especially coaching, to assist them with the implementation of new evaluation practices.

Research limitations/implications

The study faced three limitations. First, the sample of respondents included in this study cannot be generalized to the state as participants were not randomly selected. Second, the survey did not utilize a longitudinal design, and thus its findings only relate to the first year of the policy’s implementation. Third, the study does not include school-based evidence to triangulate principals’ survey responses.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the instructional leadership literature. Specifically, the study offers further insights into the adjustments principals make in their leadership to accommodate expectations found in new teacher evaluation policy.
Integrating neuro-fuzzy system and evolutionary optimization algorithms for short-term power generation forecasting
Authors: Jahangoshai Rezaee Mustafa , Dadkhah Mojtaba , Falahinia Masoud
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This study aims to short-therm forecasting of power generation output for this purpose, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is designed to forecast the output power of power plant based on climate factors considering wind speed and wind direction simultaneously.

Design/methodology/approach

Several methods and algorithms have been proposed for systems forecasting in various fields. One of the strongest methods for modeling complex systems is neuro-fuzzy that refers to combinations of artificial neural network and fuzzy logic. When the system becomes more complex, the conventional algorithms may fail for network training. In this paper, an integrated approach, including ANFIS and metaheuristic algorithms, is used for increasing forecast accuracy.

Findings

Power generation in power plants is dependent on various factors, especially climate factors. Operating power plant in Iran is very much influenced because of climate variation, including from tropical to subpolar, and severely varying temperature, humidity and air pressure for each region and each season. On the other hands, when wind speed and wind direction are used simultaneously, the training process does not converge, and the forecasting process is unreliable. The real case study is mentioned to show the ability of the proposed approach to remove the limitations.

Originality/value

First, ANFIS is applied for forecasting based on climate factors, including wind speed and wind direction, that have rarely been used simultaneously in previous studies. Second, the well-known and more widely used metaheuristic algorithms are applied to improve the learning process for forecasting output power and compare the results.
Learning to see distinctions through learning studies
Authors: Martensson Pernilla
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify changes in teacher’s pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) as a result of their participation in two learning studies in mathematics.

Design/methodology/approach

A group of four mathematics teachers and the researcher of this paper explored two objects of learning related to division with decimal numbers and the straight-line equation in a learning study (LS) project over the course of one year. The data used consist of eight video-recorded lessons, four written student tests, eight student interviews and 14 recorded team meetings. The analysis was based on the variation theory principle about learning (Marton, 2015) and on ontological assumptions within the phenomenographic approach (Marton, 1981).

Findings

It was found that teachers’ PCK was changed and refined through the LS process in terms of differences in ways of understanding and discussing critical aspects related to each object of learning. In the paper, the terms “presumed critical aspects” and “explored critical aspects” are used to illustrate this difference. Furthermore, the concepts are viewed in relation to three subdomains of PCK: knowledge of content and curriculum (KCC), knowledge of content and students (KCS) and knowledge of content and teaching (KCT).

Originality/value

Bringing out the difference between “presumed critical aspect” and “explored critical aspects” advances the view that critical aspects are dynamic and emergent in practice – in the interaction between teaching and student learning. The research exposes “explored critical aspects” as a specific form of PCK in which KCC, KCS and KCT are intertwined.
Enablers and inhibitors of cloud computing assimilation: an empirical study
Authors: Wang Nianxin , Liang Huigang , Ge Shilun , Xue Yajiong , Ma Jing
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand what inhibit or facilitate cloud computing (CC) assimilation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors investigate the effects of two enablers, top management support (TMS) and government support (GS), and two inhibitors, organization inertia (OI) and data security risk (DSR) on CC assimilation. The authors posit that enablers and inhibitors influence CC assimilation separately and interactively. The research model is empirically tested by using the field survey data from 376 Chinese firms.

Findings

Both TMS and GS positively and DSR negatively influence CC assimilation. OI negatively moderates the TMS–assimilation link, and DSR negatively moderates the GS–assimilation link.

Research limitations/implications

The results indicate that enablers and inhibitors influence CC assimilation in both separate and joint manners, suggesting that CC assimilation is a much more complex process and demands new knowledge to be learned.

Practical implications

For these firms with a high level of OI, only TMS is not enough, and top managers should find other effective way to successfully implement structural and behavioral change in the process of CC assimilation. For policy makers, they should actively play their supportive roles in CC assimilation.

Originality/value

A new framework is developed to identify key drivers of CC assimilation along two bipolar dimensions including enabling vs inhibiting and internal vs external.
Modeling and prototyping of a soft closed-chain modular gripper
Authors: Anwar Muddasar , Khawli Toufik Al , Hussain Irfan , Gan Dongming , Renda Federico
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present a soft closed-chain modular gripper for robotic pick-and-place applications. The proposed biomimetic gripper design is inspired by the Fin Ray effect, derived from fish fins physiology. It is composed of three axisymmetric fingers, actuated with a single actuator. Each finger has a modular under-actuated closed-chain structure. The finger structure is compliant in contact normal direction, with stiff crossbeams reorienting to help the finger structure conform around objects.

Design/methodology/approach

Starting with the design and development of the proposed gripper, a consequent mathematical representation consisting of closed-chain forward and inverse kinematics is detailed. The proposed mathematical framework is validated through the finite element modeling simulations. Additionally, a set of experiments was conducted to compare the simulated and prototype finger trajectories, as well as to assess qualitative grasping ability.

Findings

Key Findings are the presented mathematical model for closed-loop chain mechanisms, as well as design and optimization guidelines to develop controlled closed-chain grippers.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed methodology and mathematical model could be taken as a fundamental modular base block to explore similar distributed degrees of freedom (DOF) closed-chain manipulators and grippers. The enhanced kinematic model contributes to optimized dynamics and control of soft closed-chain grasping mechanisms.

Practical implications

The approach is aimed to improve the development of soft grippers that are required to grasp complex objects found in human–robot cooperation and collaborative robot (cobot) applications.

Originality/value

The proposed closed-chain mathematical framework is based on distributed DOFs instead of the conventional lumped joint approach. This is to better optimize and understand the kinematics of soft robotic mechanisms.
Implementation of a robot control architecture for additive manufacturing applications
Authors: Ribeiro Filipe Monteiro , Pires J. Norberto , Azar Amin S.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have recently turned into a mainstream production method in many industries. The adoption of new manufacturing scenarios led to the necessity of cross-disciplinary developments by combining several fields such as materials, robotics and computer programming. This paper aims to describe an innovative solution for implementing robotic simulation for AM experiments using a robot cell, which is controlled through a system control application (SCA).

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, the emulation of the AM tasks was executed by creating a robot working station in RoboDK software, which is responsible for the automatic administration of additive tasks. This is done by interpreting gcode from the Slic3r software environment. Posteriorly, all the SCA and relevant graphical user interface (GUI) were developed in Python to control the AM tasks from the RoboDK software environment. As an extra feature, Slic3r was embedded in the SCA to enable the generation of gcode automatically, without using the original user interface of the software. To sum up, this paper adds a new insight in the field of AM as it demonstrates the possibility of simulating and controlling AM tasks into a robot station.

Findings

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the AM field by introducing and implementing an SCA capable of executing/simulating robotic AM tasks. It also shows how an advanced user can integrate advanced simulation technologies with a real AM system, creating in this way a powerful system for R&D and operational manufacturing tasks. As demonstrated, the creation of the AM environment was only possible by using the RoboDk software that allows the creation of a robot working station and its main operations.

Originality/value

Although the AM simulation was satisfactory, it was necessary to develop an SCA capable of controlling the whole simulation through simple commands instructed by users. As described in this work, the development of SCA was entirely implemented in Python by using official libraries. The solution was presented in the form of an application capable of controlling the AM operation through a server/client socket connection. In summary, a system architecture that is capable of controlling an AM simulation was presented. Moreover, implementation of commands in a simple GUI was shown as a step forward in implementation of modern AM process controls.
Assessing the impact of students’ activities in e-courses on learning outcomes: a data mining approach
Authors: Keržič Damijana , Aristovnik Aleksander , Tomaževič Nina , Umek Lan
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to study the relationship between students’ activities in the e-classroom and grades for the final exam. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Administration, University of Ljubljana among first-year undergraduate students. In the e-classroom, students learn new content for individual self-study, and their knowledge is checked with quizzes.

Design/methodology/approach

In the empirical study, the relationship between performance in quizzes and at the final exam was studied from two perspectives. First, successful and unsuccessful students (in terms of quizzes) were compared. Second, the Orange data mining software was used for two predictive modelling tasks. The research question was based on a student’s quiz performances, is it possible to predict whether the student will pass an exam and will the student’s grade for the exam be good.

Findings

The empirical results indicate a very strong connection between a student’s performance in quizzes and their score for the final exam in the course. Significant differences in performance were found between students who had completed most quizzes and those who had not. Moreover, the results highlighted which quizzes, in other words topics, are most important for passing an exam or obtaining a better grade. Therefore, the quality of individual study in the e-classroom positively influences a student’s performance.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to assess the impact of students’ activities on learning outcomes in undergraduate public administration programmes by applying a data mining approach.
Overkill, we know it when we see it: examining definitions of excessive injury in homicide research
Authors: Trojan Carrie , Salfati C. Gabrielle , Schanz Kimberley
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the term “overkill” is used in the homicide literature to identify definitional issues that may interfere with reliable data coding across studies. This preliminary examination of the concept can guide future studies seeking to develop a standard definition.

Design/methodology/approach

To identify issues inherent in the term “overkill,” three definitions – ranging from broad and unclear to more specific and objective – were extracted or adapted from the existing literature. Using closed, homicide case files, nine coders were tasked with coding for the presence of overkill according to one of the definitions across two rounds of coding. Definitional components that made the coding of overkill difficult were identified using a qualitative sorting task to separate items into themes that represented similar issues; basic inter-rater agreement patterns were examined using pairwise percent agreement.

Findings

Based on coder feedback, two problems were identified: conceptual issues with the definitions and logistical issues with coding. However, feedback also suggested that increasing the objectivity of the overkill definition led coders to feel the intended meaning of the term was lost. Two out of three groups showed an increase in coder agreement between the two phases of data collection, illustrating how increased training is useful in certain situations.

Originality/value

This study is the first in-depth methodological and empirical examination of how the term “overkill” has been operationalized in the literature, raises key questions that may help with more clearly coding this variable, and outlines issues that may add difficulty to the development of a standard definition.
Governments, markets, and instruction: considerations for cross-national research
Authors: Peurach Donald J. , Cohen David K. , Spillane James P.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine relationships among governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and the organization and management of instruction in US public education, with the aim of raising issues for cross-national research among countries in which the involvement of non-governmental organizations is increasing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is structured in four parts: an historical analysis of the architecture and dynamics of US public education; an analysis of contemporary reform efforts seeking to improve quality and reduce inequities; an analysis of ways that legacy and reform dynamics manifest in two US public school districts; and a discussion of considerations for cross-national research.

Findings

In US public education, dependence on non-governmental organizations for instructional resources and services is anchored in deeply institutionalized social, political and economic values dating to the country’s founding and that continue to function as constraints on educational reform, such that new solutions always emerge in-and-from the same problematic conditions that they seek to redress. The consequence is that reform takes on an evolutionary (vs transformative) character.

Research limitations/implications

The US case provides a foundation for framing issues for cross-national research comparing among macro-level educational infrastructures, patterns of instructional organization and classroom instruction.

Originality/value

Such research would move beyond reductionist approaches to cross-national research toward new approaches that examine how histories, legacy architectures, contemporary reforms and patterns of instructional organization and management interact to shape students’ day-to-day lives in classrooms.
Global mobility and the career of the stay-at-home partner
Authors: Mutter Joanne , Thorn Kaye
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Contemporary global mobility and dual careers are two key features of working life today. Little is known, however, about where they intersect, where one partner travels for their career, while the other partner is left behind, caring for the family and attempting to manage their own career. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the partner’s career is impacted by the traveller’s absence, and the strategies employed to enable their continued career development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on semi-structured interviews with the partners of international yachtsmen.

Findings

The findings highlight the prioritisation of the traveller’s career, for reasons of finance and their passion for their career. The implications of this could be detrimental to the partner’s career. Personalised, flexible working arrangements are essential in order for the partner to achieve a sustainable career of their own.

Research limitations/implications

The gendered nature of the sample provides an opportunity for further research examining the implications of the female being the traveller and the male the stay at home partner.

Practical implications

The paper examines a range of alternative strategies for maintaining or developing the career when also faced with additional family responsibilities.

Originality/value

This paper gives consideration to the career of the stay at home partner. A new dual-career strategy is identified – the entrepreneurial secondary career strategy, which has the potential to deliver the flexibility required to manage both work and family demands, and allow partners to enact their authentic career.
Building authentic intercultural awareness in the business classroom
Authors: Lopez Tará Burnthorne , Kemp April Field , McKenzie Russell
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to illustrate a useful classroom exercise that addresses this challenge. International experiences help university students develop global cultural awareness and better understand culture’s impact on decision-making. As more companies grow their global operations, they seek students with global competency (Eaton and Kleshinski, 2014). However, less than 7 per cent of US university students have basic cultural intelligence according to Lopes-Murphy (2014). This presents faculty with the significant challenge of developing students’ global competency within the walls of the classroom.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes a phenomenological research classroom activity titled the “Global Consumer Exchange” (GCE) to help business faculty authentically build students’ global awareness, understanding of culture and understanding of global consumer behavior. In addition, the GCE offers a context to help faculty highlight the economic, logistical and technological concerns that global businesses must consider. The GCE was administered in an undergraduate consumer behavior course in cooperation with students from the Republic of Panamá.

Findings

Following the GCE, US students reported new awareness of issues they had never considered before and also indicated an increased interest in understanding other cultures. The students also expressed a newfound willingness to personally reach out to international students.

Originality/value

This GCE offers business faculty an easy-to-implement and easily adaptable activity to authentically broaden students’ intercultural awareness and develop a deeper understanding of international business concepts. Through this activity, students are able to gain experience applying phenomenological research methods. The GCE can also be adapted for any course and applied to a wide variety of countries partnerships with university international student organizations and/or English as a second language programs.
Portuguese employers’ perceptions on management undergraduates’ transferable competencies
Authors: Barbosa Iris , Freire Carla
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to disclose the perceptions of Portuguese employers regarding the transferable competencies (TCs) that enhance the employability of recent management graduates, the mechanisms for their development and the role played by different agents (faculties, students and companies) in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were 41 chief executive officers and human resource managers belonging to the same number of companies located in northern Portugal. A semi-structured interview guide allowed the participants to express their views through their own words and in depth.

Findings

The participants identified the TCs they seek in recent management graduates, including several cognitive competencies, emotional intelligence competencies and social intelligence competencies. They discerned the curricular internship and the Erasmus+ program as the most effective mechanisms to develop undergraduates’ TCs. The role of companies in the development of the TCs of students and recent graduates was acknowledged; nonetheless, these employers expect greater involvement from Portuguese faculties and students.

Research limitations/implications

Although the results of this exploratory study cannot be generalized to the Portuguese population of employers, it contributes to uncover and understand their perceptions, hence providing a basis for subsequent investigations using larger samples.

Originality/value

Portugal is a particularly relevant context to conduct this research given the recent financial crisis and ensuing pressure on new graduates to deliver good performance rapidly, as well as the involvement of Portuguese universities in processes of international evaluation and accreditation. However, little information has thus far become available regarding employers’ perceptions of management graduates’ TCs.
Compassionate leadership in palliative and end-of-life care: a focus group study
Authors: Hewison Alistair , Sawbridge Yvonne , Tooley Laura
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore compassionate leadership with those involved in leading system-wide end-of-life care. Its purpose was to: define compassionate leadership in the context of palliative and end-of-life care; collect accounts of compassionate leadership activity from key stakeholders in end-of-life and palliative care; and identify examples of compassionate leadership in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Four focus groups involving staff from a range of healthcare organisations including hospitals, hospices and community teams were conducted to access the accounts of staff leading palliative and end-of-life care. The data were analysed thematically.

Findings

The themes that emerged from the data included: the importance of leadership as role modelling and nurturing; how stories were used to explain approaches to leading end-of-life care; the nature of leadership as challenging existing practice; and a requirement for leaders to manage boundaries effectively. Rich and detailed examples of leadership in action were shared.

Research limitations/implications

The findings indicate that a relational approach to leadership was enacted in a range of palliative and end-of-life care settings.

Practical implications

Context-specific action learning may be a means of further developing compassionate leadership capability in palliative and end-of-life care and more widely in healthcare settings.

Originality/value

This paper presents data indicating how compassionate leadership, as a form of activity, is envisaged and enacted by staff in healthcare.
Levels of research evidence in health policy assessment in Malawi
Authors: Mapulanga Patrick , Raju Jaya , Matingwina Thomas
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine levels of health research evidence in health policies in Malawi.

Design/methodology/approach

The study selected a typology of health policies in Malawi from 2002 to 2017. The study adopted the SPIRIT conceptual framework and assessed the levels of research evidence in health policy, systems and services research using the revised SAGE policy assessment tool. Documentary analysis was used to assess levels of health research evidence in health policies in Malawi.

Findings

In 29 (96.7 per cent) of the health policies, policy formulators including healthcare directors and managers used generic search engines such as Google or Google Scholar to look for heath research evidence. In 28 (93.3 per cent) of the health policies, they searched for grey literature and other government documents. In only 6 (20 per cent) of the heath policy documents, they used academic literature in a form of journal articles and randomised controlled trials. No systematic reviews or policy briefs were consulted. Overall, in 23 (76.7 per cent) of the health policy documents, health research evidence played a minimal role and had very little influence on the policy documents or decision-making.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical evidence in the health policy documents are limited because of insufficient research citation, low retrievability of health research evidence in the policy documents and biased selectivity of what constitutes health research evidence.

Practical implications

The study indicates that unfiltered information (data from policy evaluations and registries) constitutes majority of the research evidence in health policies both in health policy, systems and services research. The study seeks to advocate for the use of filtered information (peer reviewed, clinical trials and data from systematic reviews) in formulating health policies.

Originality/value

There is dearth of literature on the levels of health research evidence in health policy-making both in health policy, systems and services research. This study seeks to bridge the gap with empirical evidence from a developing country perspective.
Michelle Walker in conversation with Jerome Carson
Authors: Walker Michelle , Carson Jerome
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Michelle Walker.

Design/methodology/approach

In this single case study, Michelle gives a short background to the development of her depression and is then interviewed by Jerome.

Findings

Michelle sets out the reasons she developed depression. These map onto the research conducted by Brown and Harris some 50 years ago, showing how social factors can create a vulnerability to develop depression.

Research limitations/implications

Single case studies provide us with one person’s narrative. That narrative is, however, unique and can often offer us insights that are lost in large statistical surveys.

Practical implications

Michelle found that the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) approach really helped her. However, she should never have had to wait as long as she did for that help. Mental health services must respond quickly, even if only to offer a triage assessment.

Social implications

Brown and Harris identified four key vulnerability factors for depression in women. Michelle met three of these. How many other women are in a similar situation and are suffering in silence?

Originality/value

We can learn a lot from the factors that helped Michelle recover from her depressive episode: medication, CBT, the support of her mother, education, finding her soulmate and, although she does not say it, her own rugged determination and personal resilience.
From the fantasy of resilient identities to the process of identity resilience
Authors: Derivois Daniel
Published: March 2019

Purpose

We live in a world marked at the same time by collective traumas and suffering of identity. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate reflection on the links between resilience and identity at the individual and collective levels.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an opinion piece using global collective history to put into perspective some psychological aspects of suffering of identity which mental health and social professionals may face in their practices.

Findings

These transformations affect the mental health of people facing multiple choices ranging from the risk of a fantasy of resilient identities to the possibility of a process of identity resilience.

Originality/value

To face this major challenge, professionals should be trained in the global history and anthropology of intercultural relations, to better support patients traumatized by identity threats in a process of resilience.
Building routines for non-routine events: supply chain resilience learning mechanisms and their antecedents
Authors: Scholten Kirstin , Sharkey Scott Pamela , Fynes Brian
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Organisations must build resilience to be able to deal with disruptions or non-routine events in their supply chains. While learning is implicit in definitions of supply chain resilience (SCRes), there is little understanding of how exactly organisations can adapt their routines to build resilience. The purpose of this study is to address this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an in-depth qualitative case study based on 28 interviews across five companies, exploring learning to build SCRes.

Findings

This study uncovers six learning mechanisms and their antecedents that foster SCRes. The learning mechanisms identified suggest that through knowledge creation within an organisation and knowledge transfer across the supply chain and broader network of stakeholders, operating routines are built and/or adapted both intentionally and unintentionally during three stages of a supply chain disruption: preparation, response and recovery.

Practical implications

This study shows how the impact of a supply chain disruption may be reduced by intentional and unintentional learning in all three disruption phases. By being aware of the antecedents of unintentional learning, organisations can more consciously adapt routines. Furthermore, findings highlight the potential value of additional attention to knowledge transfer, particularly in relation to collaborative and vicarious learning across the supply chain and broader network of stakeholders not only in preparation for, but also in response to and recovery from disruptions.

Originality/value

This study contributes novel insights about how learning leads both directly and indirectly to the evolution of operating routines that help an organisation and its supply chains to deal with disruptions. Results detail six specific learning mechanisms for knowledge creation and knowledge transfer and their antecedents for building SCRes. In doing so, this study provides new fine-grained theoretical insights about how SCRes can be improved through all three phases of a disruption. Propositions are developed for theory development.