5,100 research outputs found

    The socio‐spatial nature of organisational creativity: experiences along the road toward transdisciplinarity

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    This paper sets out to explore characteristics of transdisciplinary organisational research in practice and in particular how the process of research may be shared and co-produced by both university and business. The case studies presented here outline recent work conducted through ‘Innovation Futures’, a Sheffield Hallam University project which aims to contribute to the development of a region-wide culture of innovation and to create strong links between businesses and the University. The multidisciplinary team, based across Sheffield Business School and the Cultural, Communication and Computing Research Institute, has worked with numerous companies from the manufacturing and service sectors in the last three years. Through a strong process of collaboration throughout the stages of problem structuring,problem investigation, and realisation of findings in practice, the work has sought to help businesses improve processes and, ultimately, performance via a range of analytical measures. By employing a holistic approach to understanding the social-cultural nature of the workspace through the integrated use of Social Network Analysis, Space Syntax and participatory design methods, managers have been able to develop a much greater level of reflexive management practice through their experiences of collaborative research. There is increasing recognition that organisational creativity is not formed through the innate attributes of the individual but is instead a wholly social process involving complex phases of interaction thus making the socio-spatial environment of the organisation, within which such phases are carried out, a key determinant of success. This environment is both shaped, and also shapes, those within it through the requirements of organisation and it is through the experience of transdisciplinary boundary spanning that both academic institution and business can help form research driven management practices

    Schools of Education, Theory Production, and Institutional Reform

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    The purpose of this brief study is to examine the constraints on theory production in schools of education, especially relative to Christian schools of education

    Common Ribs of Inhibitory Synaptic Dysfunction in the Umbrella of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

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    The term neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) is an umbrella term used to group together a heterogeneous class of disorders characterized by disruption in cognition, emotion, and behavior, early in the developmental timescale. These disorders are heterogeneous, yet they share common behavioral symptomatology as well as overlapping genetic contributors, including proteins involved in the formation, specialization, and function of synaptic connections. Advances may arise from bridging the current knowledge on synapse related factors indicated from both human studies in NDD populations, and in animal models. Mounting evidence has shown a link to inhibitory synapse formation, specialization, and function among Autism, Angelman, Rett and Dravet syndromes. Inhibitory signaling is diverse, with numerous subtypes of inhibitory interneurons, phasic and tonic modes of inhibition, and the molecular and subcellular diversity of GABAA receptors. We discuss common ribs of inhibitory synapse dysfunction in the umbrella of NDD, highlighting alterations in the developmental switch to inhibitory GABA, dysregulation of neuronal activity patterns by parvalbumin-positive interneurons, and impaired tonic inhibition. Increasing our basic understanding of inhibitory synapses, and their role in NDDs is likely to produce significant therapeutic advances in behavioral symptom alleviation for interrelated NDDs. Highlights • Human studies and animal models need to be bridged in neurodevelopmental disorders • Inhibitory signaling emerges as a common contributor to neurodevelopmental disorders • Inhibitory signaling is diverse in mode, source, and target • Systematic evaluation of inhibitory diversity is lacking in neurodevelopment • Understanding of inhibitory signaling diversity will advance therapeutic strategie

    Evolving innovation through office knowledge networks : mapping the ephemeral architecture of organizational creativity

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    This paper explores positive conditions for the evolution of creative innovation through informal social networks in the office. By drawing on both Social Network Analysis (SNA) and the abstracted evolutionary mechanisms of variation, selection and retention, a multilevel conceptualization of the evolutionary processes underpinning the emergence and development of ideas within an organization is put forward. In this way SNA is used to visualize not just the connectivity of individuals within the company who offer 'expert advice' and 'new ideas' in the development of these products, but also the role of mediators in this process at a digital media company, Dataco

    The Landscape of Long Non-Coding RNA Dysregulation and Clinical Relevance in Muscle Invasive Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma.

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    Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, but few advancements in treatment options have occurred in the past few decades. This study aims to identify the most clinically relevant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to serve as potential biomarkers and treatment targets for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Using RNA-sequencing data from 406 patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we identified differentially expressed lncRNAs in MIBC vs. normal tissues. We then associated lncRNA expression with patient survival, clinical variables, oncogenic signatures, cancer- and immune-associated pathways, and genomic alterations. We identified a panel of 20 key lncRNAs that were most implicated in MIBC prognosis after differential expression analysis and prognostic correlations. Almost all lncRNAs we identified are correlated significantly with oncogenic processes. In conclusion, we discovered previously undescribed lncRNAs strongly implicated in the MIBC disease course that may be leveraged for diagnostic and treatment purposes in the future. Functional analysis of these lncRNAs may also reveal distinct mechanisms of bladder cancer carcinogenesis

    Discordant transmission of bacteria and viruses from mothers to babies at birth

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    BACKGROUND: The earliest microbial colonizers of the human gut can have life-long consequences for their hosts. Precisely how the neonatal gut bacterial microbiome and virome are initially populated is not well understood. To better understand how the maternal gut microbiome influences acquisition of the infant gut microbiome, we studied the early life bacterial microbiomes and viromes of 28 infant twin pairs and their mothers. RESULTS: Infant bacterial and viral communities more closely resemble those of their related co-twin than unrelated infants. We found that 63% of an infant\u27s bacterial microbiome can be traced to their mother\u27s gut microbiota. In contrast, only 15% of their viral communities are acquired from their mother. Delivery route did not determine how much of the bacterial microbiome or virome was shared from mother to infant. However, bacteria-bacteriophage interactions were altered by delivery route. CONCLUSIONS: The maternal gut microbiome significantly influences infant gut microbiome acquisition. Vertical transmission of the bacterial microbiome is substantially higher compared to vertical transmission of the virome. However, the degree of similarity between the maternal and infant gut bacterial microbiome and virome did not vary by delivery route. The greater similarity of the bacterial microbiome and virome between twin pairs than unrelated twins may reflect a shared environmental exposure. Thus, differences of the inter-generation transmissibility at birth between the major kingdoms of microbes indicate that the foundation of these microbial communities are shaped by different rules. Video Abstract

    Comorbid pathological gambling, mental health, and substance use disorders: Health-care services provision by clinician specialty

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    Background and aims Pathological gambling (PG) is an impulse control disorder. This study assessed the burden of co-occurring behavioral addictions and mental health disorders in treatment-seeking patients and estimated the likelihood of receiving care for these disorders by clinician specialty. Methods Study data were derived from the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database, a representative database, for the period 2009–2013. The sample included commercially insured adult residents of Massachusetts. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to estimate the likelihood of provision of care by clinician specialty adjusting for patient’s demographic characteristics and level of care. Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust for multiple testing. Results The study sample included 869 patients. Treatment-seeking patients who had a diagnosis of PG were mostly males (71%), aged 45–54 years (26.7%) and enrolled in a health maintenance organization (47%). The most prevalent co-occurring disorders among patients with PG as principal diagnosis were anxiety disorders (28%), mood disorders (26%), and substance use disorders (18%). PG was associated with a more than twofold likelihood of receiving care from social workers and psychologists (p  Discussion and conclusions Psychiatric and substance use disorders are prevalent among treatment-seeking pathological gamblers. The likelihood of receiving care from specialty clinicians significantly varies by clinical diagnosis and patient clinical complexity
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