bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seneca the Elder
Authors: Feddern Stefan
Published: June 2015

Though Seneca the Elder (c. 50 bce–c. 40 ce) is a person almost unknown to us, his extant work, the Oratorum et rhetorum sententiae divisiones colores (excerpts of the two kinds of declamation, controversiae and suasoriae), is exceedingly rich in information about the early imperial declamation and about the literary culture of that period in general. While his historiographical work, the Historiae, has not survived (apart from a few fragments), his declamation excerpts document not only the declamation as such; they also offer us an insight into the whole process of declamation and the declamation schools. This insight is highly important for the history of declamation because it is the first one we possess, despite the fact that declamation itself is a phenomenon that originated in Greece and has a centuries-long tradition. It is important also for the history of rhetoric and for Roman education and culture in general because declamation formed an integral part of the curriculum of higher education. In its original state, Seneca the Elder’s declamatory work consisted of ten books of excerpts from controversiae (fictitious court cases), and there may have been perhaps at least a second book of excerpts from suasoriae (fictitious speeches of advice to historical or mythical personages). It is not known whether each book was introduced by a preface addressed to his sons, but it is likely that more prefaces existed than we have today. Unfortunately, only parts of the original work survive. In the process of transmission, probably in Late Antiquity, excerpts were drafted of Seneca the Elder’s declamatory work. These excerpts are shortened versions of the excerpts from the controversiae (not from the suasoriae), and they contain some prefaces that otherwise would have been lost. What we possess today is the sum of both of the traditions: the controversiae books 1, 2, 7, 9, and 10 and one book of suasoriae in the form that Seneca the Elder gave to them (the mentioned books of controversiae additionally exist in the form of the excerpts made in Late Antiquity). The controversiae books 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 have survived only in the shortened form that they received in Late Antiquity. Finally, we possess the prefaces to books 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10 of the controversiae.
Clement of Alexandria
Authors: Ashwin-Siejkowski Piotr
Published: June 2015

Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens) was one of the most erudite Christian writers of the 2nd century. As little is known of Clement’s life, the dates of his birth and death are approximate. Among scholars, they are usually appointed as 150–215 ce. His place of birth is unknown; some ancient sources suggest Athens, while others propose Alexandria (Epiphanius, Refutation, 32.6.1). Equally unknown is the place of his death after he left Alexandria during the persecution under Septimius Severus in 202. However, in the light of the epistle written by Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem around 215 (Eusebius, HE, 6.11.6), we may conclude that by that time Clement was dead. Clement’s intellectual interests were open to the whole spectrum of the Greco-Roman cultural legacy. As an intellectual he was well acquainted with Greek drama and poetry. Apart from literature, his reflection was in an open dialogue with the richness of Greco-Roman philosophies; some doctrines such as Stoicism and Middle Platonism were closer to his own stance. As Alexandria was a lively center for different trends in Jewish literature, Clement was also familiar with the Jewish Scriptures, and he valued particularly highly the exegetical legacy of Philo of Alexandria (c. 15 bce–after 41 ce). In addition, Clement was an intelligent apologist of his tradition (school) of Christianity. Thanks to his discussion with Basilides, Valentinus, Marcion, Carpocrates, and Epiphanes, we have some exclusive insights into the affluence of Christian thought of his time. Eusebius of Caesarea provides us with the list of Clement’s works (HE. 6.13.1–3). Clement’s main extant writings are usually introduced as his “trilogy”: 1: The Exhortation to the Greeks (Protrepticus); 2: The Instructor (Paedagogus), and 3: The Miscellanies (Stromateis). We have access to his homily “Who Is the Rich Man That Is Being Saved” (under its Latin title Quis Dives Salvetur); fragments with commentaries on the teaching of a Valentinian disciple, Theodotus (Excerpta ex Theodoto); and a selection from the Prophetic Sayings (Eclogae Propheticae). Eusebius’s note adds “Outlines” (Hypotyposeis). The work is lost except for some passages found in later authors (e.g., Photius’s Bibliotheca). Other lost works are On the Pascha, On Fasting, On Slander, and the Ecclesiastical Canon. The enormous spectrum of Clement’s legacy is explored in this article through the specific lens of his valuable contributions (a) to the biblical interpretation and (b) in the context of Early Christian history. This focus omits other important aspects of Clement’s legacy such as his Logos theology, ecclesiology, dealing with various philosophical ideas, and his polemic against other Christian doctrines. Nonetheless, even within this prism we can recognize Clement’s unique place among his contemporary thinkers and exegetes.
Cosmology, Near East
Authors: McGeough Kevin M.
Published: June 2015

The terms cosmology and cosmogony are sometimes used inconsistently within Near Eastern studies. A cosmology is usually understood to be a conception of the world and universe, possibly thought of as a cognitive map of the Earth in relation to various celestial bodies and other features. Cosmogony, in scientific use, usually refers to any account of the origins and creation of the universe. In Near Eastern studies, cosmogonies usually take the form of mythological texts, and, generally, our clearest evidence of ancient cosmology comes in the form of cosmogonies preserved in literature (see also the Oxford Bibliographies in Biblical Studies article Myth in the Hebrew Bible). While there is evidence of cosmology present in art and material culture, interpretations are less clear-cut. Cosmologies are distinct from anthropogonies, which are accounts of the origin (usually creation) of humans, although these separate topics are often linked (for more on biblical anthropogonies, see the Oxford Bibliographies in Biblical Studies article Adam and Eve). Similarly, theogonies are accounts about the origins of gods, usually primeval deities. Evidence for cosmological beliefs can also be found in some scientific texts, especially those dealing with astronomical or calendrical issues. In those instances, however, cosmological beliefs usually need to be inferred, as the ancient authors did not tend to provide extensive background descriptions for their observations. Some types of divination texts, especially astrological texts, also provide evidence for cosmological conceptions. The relationship between cosmology and religious ritual is more controversial. Scholars from the “myth and ritual” school tend to see many rituals as evocative of cosmological conceptions; other scholars heavily contest these ideas. Whatever the specific relationship between myth and ritual is or was, some religious ritual texts, such as Egyptian funerary texts, certainly preserve evidence about ancient cosmology indirectly.
Buddhism and Internationalism
Authors: Schedneck Brooke
Published: June 2015

It might seem that Buddhism and internationalism is a new topic in Buddhist studies scholarship; however, Buddhism has always been an international religion. From Buddhism’s emergence in India it spread in one direction to Sri Lanka and then to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. In another trajectory it crossed into Central Asia, China, Tibet, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan. These journeys took place within diverse political, economic, religious, philosophical, and linguistic environments, which conditioned the reception and manifestations of Buddhism in each region. Buddhism continues to be an international religion, spreading globally through people, objects, art, film, books, and ideas. During the modern period, when Buddhism began to be studied and became known beyond Asia, other populations became interested in the religion. Through travel by Asian teachers to non-Buddhist locations as well as by non-Buddhist travelers to Asian countries, Buddhism gained a presence in populations where it had previously been absent. In addition, the migration of Asian populations to Europe, North America, and South America has spread the visibility of Buddhist identities. This article deals with issues that include the manner in which Buddhism spread, the means by which it did so, the reasons for its appeal, the ways Buddhism has adjusted to its various cultures, and the manner in which it both transforms and is transformed by cultures. Internationalism, by definition, stands in contrast to nationalism. Internationalism focuses on relationships between nations rather than the interests of a particular nation. Thus, the subject of Buddhism and internationalism must treat the process by which the religion has become international. For the purposes of this article, works on Buddhism and internationalism are cited that deal with the movement of Buddhism from one location to another. This scholarship includes the history of Buddhism’s spread from India to other parts of Asia as well as work on the more recent migrations and institutional links of Asian Buddhists to non-Buddhist countries. Recently, scholars have begun to look at the context of travelers from non-Buddhist countries practicing in Asian Buddhist locations. Therefore Buddhism and internationalism includes travel, short or long term, that serves to spread Buddhism’s teachings and practices. In addition to travel, internationalism includes the ways Buddhists envision themselves as part of broader communities and how they attempt to practice their core values on a global scale. No overarching international hierarchy of Buddhists exists as each nation and sect follows its own internal procedures. However, through organizations and charismatic leaders, some prominent individual Buddhists and groups have emerged who are well known worldwide.
Sautrāntika
Authors: Skorupski Tadeusz
Published: June 2015

Since the late 1980s, a number of Buddhist scholars have produced a vibrant wave of academic studies on the Sautrāntika history and doctrines. In a number of these studies, their authors frequently attempt, directly or indirectly, to probe into the nature and character of the Sautrāntika identity. Some of them refer to the past perceptions of the Sautrāntikas as the traditional view, traditional accounts, or the tradition. These and similar phrases are not properly explained, but it is clear that they basically stand for the views and images of the Sautrāntikas as preserved in Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan sources, and in the uncritical studies that stem from them. Having done extensive research, the present-day scholars fairly claim that the depictions of the Sautrāntikas in Indian and other sources cannot be accepted without reservations or at their face value but need to be rigorously analyzed and revaluated. In other words, they maintain that the time-honored perceptions of the Sautrāntikas as an independent school with a set of their own tenets should be revised and reformulated. Unfortunately, these scholars have encountered serious difficulties that hinder them from formulating a fresh and objective interpretation of the Sautrāntika identity in contrast to the traditional view. The difficulties are not due to the lack of academic competence and skill, but rather to the fact that the available research resources frequently disagree and disclose variant or discordant opinions. Thus, because of textual and other difficulties, and also because of the paucity of unbiased evidence, the scholars have been unable to formulate one coherent, unambiguous, and uniformly acceptable interpretation of the Sautrāntika identity; they can offer only intelligent guesses and conjectures. Among them, some scholars broadly follow the traditional accounts, and at the same time try to account for textual and other inconsistencies. Some other scholars do the same but go a step further and venture to offer new opinions on the Sautrāntika identity, some of which seriously challenge the traditional view. What must be said is that the actual research information and concrete findings are sound and reliable, and considerably broaden our knowledge of the Sautrāntikas. However, some of the conclusions and theories based on those findings are largely tentative or provisional. So for the time being, the precise identity of the Sautrāntikas remains unresolved, and continues to be subject to academic speculations and debates.
Paul Ricoeur
Authors: Pellauer David
Published: June 2015

French philosopher Paul Ricoeur (b. 1913–d. 2005) addressed a broad range of philosophical issues over his long career, ranging from phenomenology and existentialism to psychoanalysis, structuralism, hermeneutics, the philosophy of action, the fullness of language, selfhood, ethics and the question of justice, historical consciousness, and the philosophy of religion, always in relation to the history of Western philosophy. He also commented regularly on social and political issues of his day. Having taught both in Europe and the United States, his work is an important contribution to the encounter between Continental and analytic philosophy. His was always a philosophy on the way in that, rather than always addressing the same topic, he sought to pick up and develop questions and problems left open by his earlier work, or ones that had not been recognized at the time. He also sought to respond creatively but critically to new developments in thought, such as structuralism, that changed the context of discussion in his day, giving his work a distinctive dialogical character. Widely translated, Ricoeur’s work has been influential across the world for scholars working in a wide variety of disciplines. In the early 21st century, his commentators generally recognize that the idea of a philosophical anthropology, expressed through the notion of the “capable human being” who seeks to live a good life with and for others in just institutions, can be seen as the guiding thread that runs through and unifies his work.
Translation
Authors: Pollnitz Aysha
Published: June 2015

In the early years of the 15th century, Renaissance humanists insisted that the capacity to translate texts from Greek and Hebrew into Latin, and later into and between vernacular tongues, was a critical aspect of grammar and rhetoric. When performed by students, schoolmasters claimed that translation and double translation facilitated eloquence in both languages. When performed by adepts, men and women of letters praised translation for transmitting texts to a new or wider readership, or to a more culturally and geographically specific one. Contemporaries regarded translations as literary works in their own right. As such, the translation of scripture became a flashpoint for controversy, particularly when Desiderius Erasmus’s Latin translation and annotations and Martin Luther’s German Bible encouraged religious reform and schism. Traditionally, scholarship on translation in this period has been dominated by studies of the transmission of the Renaissance or of religious reformation. There have been examinations of significant translators, such as Jacques Amyot, and of the way that the works of one major author, like Erasmus, were received in a specific locality. Scholars of the reformations have published significant studies of the scriptural translations of Erasmus, Luther, and Luther’s followers. In the 1970s, the new field of translation studies questioned whether it was ever possible to find real equivalences between languages and across cultures. This approach encouraged scholars to examine what was lost, gained, transformed, or created anew in an act of translation. More recently, a growing awareness of the historical contingency of acts of translation has encouraged interdisciplinary efforts to examine translation as a cultural event. The result of this historical turn has been a flowering of period-specific studies, series, and editions. Scholars of the Middle Ages have questioned the idea that Renaissance humanists’ translations represented a break from medieval efforts. Literary scholars and intellectual historians have examined early modern treatises on the theory of translation, as taught in schools and practiced by adepts. The identity of the translator has attracted the attention of scholars of literature and gender, in particular, since many early modern women’s literary productions were translations. A broader range of texts in translation—beyond classical and literary works and scripture—have been studied by historians of science, political and historical thought, and religion. Historians of the book have examined the relationship between translation and manuscript and print culture. The peripheries of translation culture are also being explored, and the world beyond Europe has become a focus, particularly in studies of missionary, commercial, and colonizing activities in Asia and the Atlantic.
Distributed Leadership
Authors: Spillane James P. , Mertz Katie
Published: June 2015

Over the first decade of the 21st century, a modest but expanding body of work has emerged on what is commonly referred to in the literature as distributed leadership. The idea has also garnered considerable attention from policymakers, practitioners, and philanthropists in several countries and international organizations such as OECD, though there is no shortage of scholarship on school leadership and management in particular and organizational leadership and management in general. Still, the appeal of a distributed perspective appears to lie in part in that it offered an alternative to dissatisfaction with the great person approach to theorizing about organizational leadership and management, what Gary Yukl terms the “heroics of leadership paradigm” (Gary Yukl, “An Evaluation of Conceptual Weaknesses in Transformational and Charismatic Leadership Theories,” The Leadership Quarterly 10.2 [1999]: 285–305, p. 292). At least two ideas are central in writing about and research on distributed leadership. The first is an acknowledgement that leading and managing schools (and other organizations) involve multiple individuals, not just the school principal, including other formally designated leaders and individuals without such designations (e.g., teachers with no formal leadership position, parents, or even students who influenced an organization’s core work). In this way, a distributed perspective called for attention to both the formal and informal organization and how these two aspects of the organization worked in interaction with one another (James P. Spillane, Distributed Leadership (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006); Spillane and Diamond 2007, cited under Empirical Work on Distributed Leadership in Primary and Elementary School). Still, writings about distributed leadership often focus rather narrowly on the array of individuals that take responsibility for leadership and management work. The second idea is that the practice of leading and managing needs to be a central concern in research and development work on organizational leadership (Gronn 2000 and Spillane, et al. 2001, both cited under Theoretical and Conceptual Work). Rather than narrowly conceptualizing practice in terms of the actions or behaviors of an individual leader, from a distributed perspective practice is framed in terms of the interactions among organizational members as enabled and constrained by aspects of their situation. Studying the practice of leading and managing necessitates examining how the practice is stretched over school leaders, followers, and aspects of their situation. Thus, careful attention to interactions, rather than fixating exclusively on the actions of an individual leader, is necessary when taking a distributed perspective to school leadership and management.
The Governance Ecology of China’s State-Owned Enterprises
Authors: Milhaupt Curtis J.
Published: June 2015

This chapter focuses on the governance ecology of China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs). More specifically, it examines the mechanisms of state capitalism in China by analyzing the distinctive system of industrial organization in which the country’s largest SOEs were assembled and currently operate. After providing the conceptual background, the chapter charts the origins of Chinese corporate capitalism and how it is presently organized. It then considers the key components and main organizational characteristics of the national business groups and contrasts them with those in Japan and Korea. It also explores SASAC’s behavior as a controlling shareholder within the larger institutions of the party-state and how it shares the role of controlling shareholder with the Communist Party. Finally, it assesses the implications of the analysis for comparative corporate governance scholarship.
Public Enforcement
Authors: Rose Amanda M.
Published: June 2015

This chapter examines issues relating to corporate governance in closely held corporations. It begins by describing the typical characteristics of closely held corporations, with particular emphasis on shareholder involvement in management, number of shareholders, share transfers, market for shares, and the broad spectrum of shareholders and applications. It then considers common governance issues and conflicts in closely held corporations and proceeds with a discussion of the governance framework for such corporations consisting of company law, model articles, articles of association, shareholder agreements, and corporate governance guidelines. It also explores the internal governance and management of closely held corporations, the governance of share transfer restrictions, and provisions for shareholder withdrawal and expulsion. The chapter concludes with an analysis of shareholder conflicts, especially oppression by majority shareholders and ex-post opportunism by minority shareholders, and how they are governed in closely held corporations.
The nature and history of Egyptology
Authors: Bednarski Andrew
Published: June 2015

The history of Egyptology is rapidly ascending to an area of study in its own right. Such enquiry is sorely needed, as what it means to ‘do’ Egyptology remains poorly defined, despite the continued abundance and popularity of Egyptological work. This chapter is intended as a starting point for readers interested in the history of the discipline. It begins with a brief discussion on the poorly defined nature of Egyptology and typical obstacles encountered by authors. It presents an overview of Egyptological phenomena from Classical antiquity to the twentieth century, intended as a point of departure for scholars new to the subject, and examines past and current investigations into the history of the discipline.
Mummies and physical anthropology
Authors: Ikram Salima
Published: June 2015

The primary sources for the study of Egypt’s population are the mummified remains and skeletons of the ancient Egyptians themselves. Initially viewed as curiosities, mummies are now studied as holistic artefacts that provide information not only about the state of health of the population, the diseases from which they suffered, but also the economy, medical and chemical knowledge, and the religious beliefs of the Egyptians. This chapter summarizes the role of human remains in the study of ancient Egypt and how it has changed over time.
The Scriptures and Their Interpretation
Authors: Levering Matthew
Published: June 2015

Reflection on God’s written word begins in the Hebrew Scriptures. Here the written text finds its home in Israel’s liturgical practice. This is also the case in the New Testament, but here Jesus embodies, performs, and fulfils the Scriptures. In the earliest life of the Body of Christ, Scripture is again read within the life of the Christ-filled community and is ordered towards the union of the believer with Christ. The second half of this essay shows that the same perspective shapes Vatican II’s Dei Verbum. The purpose of tradition and Scripture is to function as a mirror in which the Church may contemplate God and learn to live in holiness, and the interpretation and performance of Scripture enact the conversation of God with the Son’s beloved spouse.
Catholic Theology and Heidegger
Authors: Fritz Peter Joseph
Published: June 2015

This essay considers Catholic responses to Heidegger under three headings: rejection, warm acceptance, and critical appropriation. Erich Przywara and Alasdair MacIntyre reject Heidegger; Bernhard Welte and Jean-Luc Marion accept; Hans Urs von Balthasar and Karl Rahner take Heidegger to be a worthy, if flawed, conversation partner. The extent to which a given theologian reads Heidegger as possibly in conversation with or as simply opposed to Thomist metaphysics functions as a guide to different attitudes of engagement with Heidegger. The more a Catholic warms to Thomas the cooler they become towards Heidegger. The essay ends by suggesting a continued engagement with Heidegger because doing so has stimulated Catholic consideration of the nature of revelation and the openness of the finite toward the infinite.
The Victorian Subject
Authors: Greiner Rae
Published: June 2015

According to some scholars, Victorian political liberalism inspired a new conception of the citizen and political subject,defined less in relation to belonging to a family or class than in terms of his/her mentality, including personal sentiments, memories, and tastes. On this view, one’s capacity for self-governance depended on the cultivation of certain mental capacities, among them the ability to generalize, as recommended by John Stuart Mill. William Makepeace Thackeray’s early fiction revises the historical fictional method he inherited from Sir Walter Scott by dramatizing the mental deficiencies of idiotic, morally stupid, or uncomprehending soldier protagonists. Blinded by class loyalty and hidebound convention, figures such as Barry Lyndon epitomize a system of aristocratic governance that political liberalism sought to correct. At the same time, Thackeray underscores the difficulty of cultivating rational habits of mind during the several wartime contexts out of which Victorian liberal subjectivity developed.
On Some Correlations between Grammar and Brain Lateralization
Authors: Heine Bernd , Kuteva Tania , Kaltenböck Gunther , Long Haiping
Published: June 2015

While the study of language has been approached from a wide range of perspectives and theoretical assumptions, it is widely assumed that language structure can be reduced essentially to a fairly monolithic system of mental and linguistic activity. Some recent lines of psychological, linguistic, and neurolinguistic research suggest, however, that human cognitive behavior in general and linguistic discourse in particular exhibit a dualistic organization. In accordance with this research tradition, the present paper argues that there is a basic distinction between two domains of linguistic discourse and that this distinction shows a number of correlations with neural processing, more specifically with hemispheric lateralization of the human brain.
Speech Play, Verbal Art, and Linguistic Anthropology
Authors: Sherzer Joel , Webster Anthony K.
Published: June 2015

This article engages with the place of speech play in the concerns of linguistics, sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology, and other language-in-use oriented disciplines. Taking a discourse-centered approach to speech play, we argue that speech play is a crucial site in understanding the complex language, grammar, culture, and individual nexus. Speech play challenges the boundaries of languages and also acts as an engine of language change. Often those features most associated with speech play (sound symbolism, punning, reduplication, and the like) are considered marginal to the pursuit of linguistics. We argue, instead, that they are crucial in promoting an openness to different ways of conceiving of languages and recognizing the role of aesthetics in language use. Such a perspective has broader import in how we document and describe languages.
Sentencing Councils and Commissions
Authors: Gelb Karen
Published: June 2015

Although formal sentencing guideline schemes are most developed in the United States, England and Wales, a number of other countries have created sentencing bodies to undertake a variety of functions. Sentencing councils and commissions have become an important element of the contemporary punishment environment. This article compares and contrasts the functions of a number of representative sentencing councils and commissions, including the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission and the United States Sentencing Commission, among others, to examine how such bodies supplement the work of courts and government departments. Ultimately, the article presents some conclusions about the optimal characteristics for such a council.
Public Knowledge of Crime and Criminal Justice
Authors: Feilzer Martina Y.
Published: June 2015

This article reviews the evidence on public knowledge of crime and criminal justice across a number of countries and discusses the implications of public knowledge for public opinion of crime and criminal justice, as well as policymaking. It introduces and explores the concept of public narratives on crime and criminal justice to provide a context for public knowledge and discusses the importance of the stories people tell about crime and criminal justice. The article sets out what the public knows about crime and criminal justice, why this matters (i.e., how knowledge is thought to influence public opinion on crime and criminal justice), approaches to addressing a lack of public knowledge, and the contribution of public narratives to this debate. It suggests that the importance of public knowledge of crime and criminal justice has been overstated.
Community-Based Organizations and Crime Prevention
Authors: Goddard Tim , Headley Andrea
Published: June 2015

Community-based organizations have proliferated throughout Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Undergirded by the neoliberal privatization of turning social policy over to the market to foster “better” and cheaper social interventions, community-based organizations are funded to prevent adolescent “problem” behaviors including substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, school dropout, delinquency, and youth violence. This article reviews research on the practices and effectiveness of community-based organizations, mostly in the United States, regarding crime prevention. After discussing the background social context, the article reviews research on the range of services and programs that community-based organizations deliver followed by a review of the research on their effectiveness for preventing crime. The article then discusses a pattern by which organizations veer from program fidelity and reformulate and revise mandated evidence-based practices. It concludes with a discussion of some of the implications and possible consequences of shifting the provision of services to nonstate actors.
Bayesian co-estimation of selfing rate and locus-specific mutation rates for a partially selfing population
Authors: Redelings Benjamin D. , Kumagai Seiji , Wang Liuyang , Tatarenkov Andrey , Sakai Ann K. , Weller Stephen G. , Culley Theresa M. , Avise John C. , Uyenoyama Marcy K.
Published: June 2015

We present a Bayesian method for characterizing the mating system of populations reproducing through a mixture of self-fertilization and random outcrossing. Our method uses patterns of genetic variation across the genome as a basis for inference about pure hermaphroditism, androdioecy, and gynodioecy. We extend the standard coalescence model to accommodate these mating systems, accounting explicitly for multilocus identity disequilibrium, inbreeding depression, and variation in fertility among mating types. We incorporate the Ewens Sampling Formula (ESF) under the infinite-alleles model of mutation to obtain a novel expression for the likelihood of mating system parameters. Our Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm assigns locus-specific mutation rates, drawn from a common mutation rate distribution that is itself estimated from the data using a Dirichlet Process Prior model. Among the parameters jointly inferred are the population-wide rate of self-fertilization, locus-specific mutation rates, and the number of generations since the most recent outcrossing event for each sampled individual.
RNA:DNA hybrids in the human genome have distinctive nucleotide characteristics, chromatin composition, and transcriptional relationships
Authors: Nadel Julie , Athanasiadou Rodoniki , Lemetre Christophe , Wijetunga N. Ari , Ó Broin Pilib , Sato Hanae , Zhang Zhengdong , Jeddeloh Jeffrey , Montagna Cristina , Golden Aaron , Seoighe Cathal , Greally John M.
Published: June 2015

Background

RNA:DNA hybrids represent a non-canonical nucleic acid structure that has been associated with a range of human diseases and potential transcriptional regulatory functions. Mapping of RNA:DNA hybrids in human cells reveals them to have a number of characteristics that give insights into their functions.

Results

We find RNA:DNA hybrids to occupy millions of base pairs in the human genome. A directional sequencing approach shows the RNA component of the RNA:DNA hybrid to be purine-rich, indicating a thermodynamic contribution to theirin vivostability. The RNA:DNA hybrids are enriched at loci with decreased DNA methylation and increased DNase hypersensitivity, and within larger domains with characteristics of heterochromatin formation, indicating potential transcriptional regulatory properties. Mass spectrometry studies of chromatin at RNA:DNA hybrids shows the presence of the ILF2 and ILF3 transcription factors, supporting a model of certain transcription factors binding preferentially to the RNA:DNA conformation.

Conclusions

Overall, there is little to indicate a dependence for RNA:DNA hybrids forming co-transcriptionally, with results from the ribosomal DNA repeat unit instead supporting the intriguing model of RNA generating these structuresin trans.The results of the study indicate heterogeneous functions of these genomic elements and new insights into their formation and stabilityin vivo.
Ex vivo mycobacterial growth inhibition assay (MGIA) for tuberculosis vaccine testing - a protocol for mouse splenocytes
Authors: Zelmer Andrea Andrea , Tanner Rachel , Stylianou Elena , Morris Sheldon , Izzo Angelo , Williams Ann , Sharpe Sally , Pepponi Ilaria , Walker Barry , Hokey David A , McShane Helen , Brennan Michael , Fletcher Helen
Published: June 2015

The testing of vaccines for tuberculosis is costly and time-consuming, and dependent on preclinical animal challenge models and clinical trials. We have recently developed a mycobacterial growth inhibition assay (MGIA) to test vaccine efficacy ex vivo. This assay measures the summative effect of the host immune response and may serve as a novel tool to facilitate vaccine testing. It has generated much interest recently, and to facilitate technology transfer and reproducibility between laboratories, we here describe a detailed protocol for an ex vivo MGIA in mouse splenocytes.
Generic transcriptional response ofE. colito stress
Authors: Choudhury Ranginee , Mohapatra Saroj Kant
Published: June 2015

Bacteria are often exposed to various stressors with inter-linked effects leading to cross-resistance. In order to study the common molecular response to stress in bacteria, we collated and compared transcriptional response ofE. coli under a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. Bacterial genome-wide gene expression data were retrieved from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and interrogated to identify differentially expressed genes.

One hundred and sixty eight genes displayed distinct transcriptional response ofE. colito stress, with simultaneous down-regulation of flagellar assembly pathway and up-regulation of the global regulator rpoS.

This computational analysis summarizes stress responsive genes inE. coliand their inter-relationships.
Core self-evaluation can help in making better recruitment and selection choices
Authors: Lyons Paul R
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Describes and explains features of the measure named core self-evaluation (CSE). Reviews current information and research concerning CSE and its value in identifying potential employees who have personal dispositions that are typically desired in an employment setting. Offers suggestions for business people.

Design/methodology/approach

– Examines research and opinion for the past several years. Summarizes information to help business people regarding the content and linkages of the CSE measure.

Findings

– Explains that, in the past 15 years, a body of more than 150 research studies has reliably established that the personality measure CSE has many positive linkages with valued employee attitudes and/or behavior such as job performance; voluntary, helpful employee behavior; job satisfaction; and life satisfaction.

Practical implications

– Reveals that the measure – a short, 12-item survey – has strong statistical properties per validity and reliability and is economical, is easy to administer and score and provides an added dimension to what we may learn about job applicants.

Social implications

– Advances the view that the use of the measure seems underrepresented in the human resource management field.

Originality/value

– Gives an overview and summary of recent research and opinion with regard to the CSE measure that is not readily available in other sources. While the measure of CSF is not an iron-clad predictor of employee attitudes and performance, the measure connects with many very positive personal characteristics that are usually valued in organizations.
Transforming HR in the digital era
Authors: LAL PRERNA
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Shows how workforce analytics can help human resource (HR) management specialists to be more effective in the digital era.

Design/methodology/approach

– Draws on the author’s experience, plus a review of the literature.

Findings

– Reveals how analytics have transformed ways of managing a diversified workforce and helped to put HR at the center of organizational decision-making.

Practical implications

– Claims that the predictive power of analytics can help to make HR more effective.

Social implications

– Highlights how analytics can help to fit the right people to the right jobs, ensure they receive the right training and the right pay and stay loyal to the organization.

Originality/value

– Reveals that the power of analytics can be used to make virtually all HR functions more effective.
The effect of resistance in organizational change programmes
Authors: Canning Jason , Found Pauline Anne
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the contributing factors that lead to resistance to change, and to ascertain the relationship between organizational culture and employee resistance in organizational change programmes, such as lean.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology for this research is in three main parts. Firstly, a systematic review of the literature pertaining to resistance to change is, secondly, followed by a case study involving an anonymous survey and semi-structured interviews to test the assumptions drawn from the literature. Finally, the literature research and case study results are drawn together to present a new model of resistance.

Findings

– The finding of the literature, along with the finding of the case study confirm that lack of communication and participant involvement during change are highlighted as significant contributing factors to resistance and that these are related to organizational culture.

Research limitations/implications

– Whilst the secondary sources of information provide a significant weight of evidence to support the results from the case study, the results of the research are based on a single case study; therefore, caution should be applied before making generalizations from the data.

Practical implications

– The findings can provide organizations, and change practitioners, with an insight into a number of the issues that should be considered in relation to an organizations culture before attempting large-scale change programmes.

Originality/value

– The research findings provide a new model, the “resistance model” that identifies the interconnected issues that affect employees’ attitude to, and thus acceptance of, organizational change.
Nonlinear impact of online retail characteristics on customer satisfaction and loyalty
Authors: Tontini Gerson , da Silva Júlio Cesar , Beduschi Eliane Fátima Strapazzon , Zanin Elis Regina Mulinari , Marcon Margarete de Fátima
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider the nonlinear impact of online retail stores’ quality dimensions on general customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a quantitative approach, 429 online users answered a closed questionnaire regarding their present satisfaction with 26 service attributes, their general satisfaction and loyalty. Using factorial analysis with Varimax rotation, five service-quality dimensions are studied: service accessibility/speed, fault recovery, buying reliability, service and site flexibility and site interaction/feedback. Penalty and reward contrast analysis identifies the Kano model classification of the service-quality dimensions, and the nonlinear impact of these dimensions, and customer satisfaction, on customer loyalty.

Findings

– The results show that there is a nonlinearity between quality dimensions, customer satisfaction and loyalty. The dimension “service accessibility/speed” has a one-dimensional impact on customer satisfaction, but with higher reward impact than penalty impact. “Fault recovery” is a “must-be”, “buying reliability” and “service flexibility” are “attractive” and “site interaction/feedback” is one-dimensional. Besides, the dimension “service accessibility/speed” has also a direct impact on loyalty if achieving above-average performance, thus reinforcing general customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

– Few previous papers explore this nonlinearity in online retail services. So, future studies should lead to a theoretical and practical understanding of managing these services. Understanding this nonlinearity may help companies to better identify what improve or offer to customers.
Service quality and customer satisfaction in liner shipping
Authors: Yuen Kum Fai , Thai Vinh Van
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to identify the dimensions of service quality (SQ) in liner shipping and examine their effects on customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– The indicators of SQ in liner shipping were identified from reviewing the literature and interviewing six qualified industry practitioners. An online survey was then administered to 183 liner shippers in Singapore. Subsequently, exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis were conducted.

Findings

– SQ in liner shipping can be represented by four key quality dimensions. In descending order of their impact on customer satisfaction, they are reliability, speed, responsiveness and value. Service differentiation by time-related attributes results in greater customer satisfaction than practising cost leadership in liner shipping.

Research limitations/implications

– Allocation of resources to develop SQ in liner shipping should mirror the priorities established in this research. In addition, the developed measurement model for SQ can serve as a reference for liner shipping firms to assess the quality of their services.

Originality/value

– A parsimonious and updated set of variables can now be used to represent SQ in the liner shipping sector. The paper also identifies the key drivers of customer satisfaction in liner shipping.
Measuring education for sustainable development
Authors: Tierney Aisling , Tweddell Hannah , Willmore Chris
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how education for sustainable development (ESD) was measured in the taught curriculum at the University of Bristol (UoB), providing comparison to other methods of measurement and how measurements were used to engage academics in considering the visibility of the penetration of sustainable development into their teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

– The process of designing a quantitative and comparative method of reviewing ESD utilising a reflective process at the UoB is considered, which can be applied by other institutions. The UoB decided on an in-house method of assessment using the Unit and Programme Catalogue, a list of all taught units. Initially this revealed that some information relating to ESD was not clearly articulated. A school ESD review refined the data along with the release of key information set data, a nationally published data set which identifies mandatory, typical and optional diets taken by students on programmes.

Findings

– Text-based methods of assessing ESD penetration into programmes of study have limited use as direct measures of sustainability visibility in programmes, but can be improved by using interpretative methodologies. The combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies can produce data, which is a useful catalyst for academic reflection. Most importantly, it provides a tool for engagement while also enabling the targeting of resources and support. The UoB has avoided the pitfalls of manipulatable text count methods, and shown that comparative methods can be combined effectively with real engagement with academics and students for a measurement method that showcases good practice.

Originality/value

– Increasingly, universities and the higher education sector more widely are looking to embed ESD. To assess progress, systems of measurement and monitoring are required. This case study shares a replicable methodology combining quantitative and qualitative methods developed at the UoB which has been used by academics as a reflective tool to change their practice.
Gaps in sustainability education
Authors: Fisher P. Brian , McAdams Erin
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine how both the amount and type of coursework impact students’ conceptualizations of sustainability. Previous research demonstrates that academic coursework influences students’ environmental attitudes, yet few studies have examined the impact of coursework on how students conceptualize “sustainability”.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data are examined from the 2011 Sustainability Survey, which yielded a sample of 552 students at a medium-sized university in the southeastern USA. A series of four linear regression models estimate the impact of academic coursework on students’ conceptualizations of sustainability (ecosystems/nature, eco-efficiency, community/well-being and systemic change/innovation).

Findings

– The results indicate that the type of course that students take significantly impacts the way in which students conceptualize this term; the number of courses taken has no statistically significant impact. This suggests that mere exposure to a particular theme in a class, rather than continued exposure to courses related to sustainability, is more important in shaping students’ perceptions.

Originality/value

– This study expands on previous research by examining the influence of the number and type of academic coursework on students’ conceptions of sustainability and provides a framework for understanding the varied ways in which sustainability is defined. This has important implications for how students approach ways to achieve a sustainable future. The results suggest that students may be exposed to particular messages within an academic division that encourage students to emphasize particular elements of sustainability. While not problematic on its face, the data demonstrate that students lack an integrated or holistic understanding of sustainability. They usually view sustainability through the same prism as the academic division where their coursework was located, and this has implications for students’ continued perceptions of sustainability, academic programming of sustainability and the practice of it.