Design of a Statistics Lecture for Multidisciplinary Postgraduate Students Using a Range of Tools and Techniques

Teaching statistics is a critical and challenging issue especially to students from multidisciplinary and diverse postgraduate backgrounds. Postgraduate research students require statistics not only for the design of experiments; but also for data analysis. Students often perceive statistics as a complex and technical subject; thus, they leave data analysis to the last moment. The lecture needs to be simple and inclusive at the same time to make it comprehendible and address the learning needs of each student. Therefore, the aim of this work was to design a simple and comprehendible statistics lecture to postgraduate research students regarding ‘Research plan, design and data collection’. The lecture adopted the constructive alignment learning theory which facilitated the learning environments for the students. The learning environment utilized a student-centered approach and used interactive learning environment with in-class discussion, handouts and electronic voting system handsets. For evaluation of the lecture, formative assessment was made with in-class discussions and poll questions which were introduced during and after the lecture. The whole approach showed to be effective in creating a learning environment to the students who were able to apply the concepts addressed to their individual research projects

Glucocorticoid-regulated localization of cell surface glycoproteins in rat hepatoma cells is mediated within the Golgi complex.

Glucocorticoid hormones regulate the post-translational maturation and sorting of cell surface and extracellular mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) glycoproteins in M1.54 cells, a stably infected rat hepatoma cell line. Exposure to monensin significantly reduced the proteolytic maturation and externalization of viral glycoproteins resulting in a stable cellular accumulation of a single 70,000-Mr glycosylated polyprotein (designated gp70). Cell surface- and intracellular-specific immunoprecipitations of monensin-treated cells revealed that gp70 can be localized to the cell surface only in the presence of 1 microM dexamethasone, while in uninduced cells gp70 is irreversibly sequestered in an intracellular compartment. Analysis of oligosaccharide processing kinetics demonstrated that gp70 acquired resistance to endoglycosidase H with a half-time of 65 min in the presence or absence of hormone. In contrast, gp70 was inefficiently galactosylated after a 60-min lag in uninduced cells while rapidly acquiring this carbohydrate modification in the presence of dexamethasone. Furthermore, in the absence or presence of monensin, MMTV glycoproteins failed to be galactosylated in hormone-induced CR4 cells, a complement-selected sorting variant defective in the glucocorticoid-regulated compartmentalization of viral glycoproteins to the cell surface. Since dexamethasone had no apparent global effects on organelle morphology or production of total cell surface-galactosylated species, we conclude that glucocorticoids induce the localization of cell surface MMTV glycoproteins by regulating a highly selective step within the Golgi apparatus after the acquisition of endoglycosidase H-resistant oligosaccharide side chains but before or at the site of galactose attachment

An empirical investigation of the influence of organizational culture on individual readiness for change in Syrian manufacturing organizations

Purpose - While few recent studies have paid attention to the relationship between Organizational Culture (OC) and Individual Readiness for Change (IRFC), there is still a lack of systematic and empirical studies regarding the influence of all OC types on the IRFC components within the change management literature. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by empirically examining the influence of all four organizational culture types of the Competing Values Framework (CVF) on the components of IRFC regarding TQM implementation, within the context of manufacturing organizations operating in Syria. Design/methodology/approach - A total of four hypotheses were proposed for testing. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 350 Syrian Manufacturing Organizations (SMOs) in order to measure the level of IRFC and to identify the cultural profiles and characteristics of these organizations. Findings - The analysis of the collected shows that certain types of organizational culture are conducive to fostering IRFC. In particular, the findings of an empirical investigation revealed that group culture and adhocracy culture are the most supportive culture types for IRFC. Originality/value - This paper contributes to the existing literature of change management by providing empirical evidence leading to advancement of knowledge and the understanding of the relationship between OC types and IRFC components. Furthermore, the paper adds value via its contextual originality; being the first study that empirically examined the Syrian cultural context, and hence contributing to the scarce body of literature of both OC and IRFC, and in particular the developing countries

The mediating role of individual readiness for change

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel UniversityThis study investigates the mediating role of Individual Readiness for Change (IRFC) in the relationship between Organisational Culture (OC) and Total Quality Management (TQM) implementation. Despite the substantial body of literature examining the influence of OC on TQM implementation, there has been limited research investigating the mechanics of the link between OC and TQM implementation. In particular, an extensive review of the literature revealed that a contribution to knowledge would be derived from the investigation of the role of IRFC as one possible mechanism through which an organisation‘s culture comes to have an impact on TQM implementation. However, there is a gap in the TQM literature in not investigating the mediating role of IRFC on the relationship between OC and TQM implementation. The aim of this research study is to examine the influence of OC on TQM implementation and the mediating role of IRFC in the OC-TQM implementation relationship in Syrian Manufacturing Organisations (SMOs). The research methodology began with conducting a systematic review of the relevant literature, which led to the development of a theoretical framework. In the present study, an integrative framework was developed to combine the direct effect of OC on TQM implementation and the mediating role of IRFC in the OC-TQM relationship within a single framework. To validate this framework, empirical research was conducted. The empirical study was carried out in a new cultural context: Syria, and more specifically amongst SMOs. Following a hypothetico- deductive approach, primary data was collected through questionnaires from 350 middle managers in SMOs. The findings of this study indicate that the characteristics and values of group culture and adhocracy culture positively affect the implementation of TQM, however, IRFC was found to act as a mediator and possible mechanism to attenuate these positive relationships. This in turn highlights the critical role of IRFC in the formation of OC-TQM implementation link. Therefore, this study provides a refined and deeper understanding of the relationships between OC types and TQM implementation. With an improved comprehension of the relationship between OC and TQM, organisational leaders and managers can implement TQM more effectively and efficiently in their organisations. Consequently, this would assist SMOs in achieving higher levels of global marketing effectiveness. This research contributes to knowledge in several ways. Most importantly, it extends the existing literature on the link between OC and TQM implementation. Unlike previous studies about the direct influence of OC on TQM implementation, this research is one of the few empirical studies that examine the mediating role of IRFC as one of the mechanisms through which an organisation‘s culture comes to have an impact on TQM implementation. This research makes a further innovative contribution by providing empirical evidence leading to advancement of the understanding of the relationship between all four OC types of the Competing Values Framework (CVF) and IRFC. Furthermore, this research study adds value via its contextual originality. It is believed that this study is one of the few studies that examine the Syrian cultural context empirically. Hence, it contributes to the scarce body of literature on the relationship between OC, IRFC, and TQM implementation specifically in developing countries

Watch Your Mouth: Navigating the English language

Interesting words with different meanings that you may have been unaware of from around the world. Also includes Don\u27t Be the Person Who

The neglected hepatitis C virus genotypes 4, 5 and 6: an international consensus report

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 4, 5 and 6 represent >20% of all HCV cases worldwide. HCV-4 is mainly seen in Egypt, where it represents 90% of all HCV cases. Antischistosomal therapy was the main cause of contamination there, followed by procedures performed by informal providers and traditional healers such as dental care, wound treatment, circumcision, deliveries, excision and scarification. It is also highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and in the Middle East. In Europe, its prevalence has recently increased particularly among intravenous drug users and in immigrants. HCV-5 is mainly found in South Africa, where it represents 40% of all HCV genotypes, but four pockets of HCV-5 were found in France, Spain, Syria and Belgium and sporadic cases were found elsewhere. The mode of transmission is mainly iatrogenic and transfusion. HCV-6 is found in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar and also in American and Australian from Asian origin. The response to treatment in HCV-4 is intermediate between HCV-1 and HCV-2 and HCV-3. A sustained viral response is achieved in 43-70% with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. It is higher in Egyptians than Europeans and Africans and is negatively related to insulin resistance and to the severity of fibrosis. It increases to >80% with 24 weeks of therapy only if a rapid virological response is achieved. In HCV-5, a sustained virological response is achieved in >60% with 48 weeks of therapy. HCV-6 is also considered an easy-to-treat genotype, leading to a response in 60-85% of cases. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.link_to_subscribed_fulltex