(Virtual) Identity Communication: Motivations and Contextual Factors

Although prior literature has explored the important process of identity communication in face- to-face settings, significant changes in how work is accomplished in modern organizations require the development of new theory. Building on extensive identity research in non-virtual settings, this paper develops and justifies a new theoretical model that better explains the antecedents of virtual identity communication. The model explores how identity motives lead to identity communication, and how virtual communication environments alter these processes. We summarize our data collection methodology and the results of a preliminary data collection and conclude by discussing theoretical and practical contributions. The concepts and relationships presented here can help theorists and managers better address identity issues faced by modern, technology-infused organizations.

Identity Communication in Virtual Teams: Insights from Interviews with Working Professionals

Organizations are increasingly using virtual teams to gain competitive advantages in the marketplace, but managers face a tradeoff between the benefits that such virtual teams provide and their inherent weaknesses. This paper examines identity communication in virtual environments, arguing that identity communication can counteract some of the negative aspects of virtual teamwork. Using coded transcriptions from 35 semi-structured interviews with working professionals who participate in virtual teams, we explore the process of identity communication in virtual teams and the role of technology in influencing and enabling these processes. Using established identity and media theories as a guide, we formulate, and then refine, a framework to summarize consistent themes in the interview data. Our findings lay the groundwork for future theoretical development in this relevant area of research, and we argue that further advances in this domain will allow organizations to more effectively leverage a virtual workforce with effective collaboration technologies

Preventing violence and reducing its impact: How development agencies can help

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The Structure and Function of the Caudal Lamellae of the Damselfly: Pyrrhosoma nymphula (Sulzer) [Odonata:Zygoptera]

A characteristic of all zygopteran dragonfly larvae is the presence of three caudal lamellae attached to the last abdominal segment. The structure of these organs varies according to the species, and four basic forms have been recognised, laterally flattened, saccoid, reduced and triquetro quadrate. The most commonly found type is the laterally flattened lamella, which have been further subdivided into the simple unjointed forms and the constricted, nodate, subnodate and denodate jointed forms. It is not certain what role these laterally flattened lamellae have. Superficially they resemble tracheal gills, and historically this has been presumed to be their main function. However, this has never been proven unequivocally for any species. Because of the confusion over the function of these organs there is clearly a need for a comprehensive study of the lamellae and their function, in a single species of zygoptera. The present study aimed to achieve this by investigating their ultrastructure, respiratory physiology, and ecological and behavioural importance of the lamellae of P. nymphula. Previous experimental studies which have compared the oxygen consumption rates of larvae with against those without lamellae have reached conflicting conclusions. For example, some authors conclude they are important as gills and others that they are not. Interpretation and comparison of the results of these studies is problematic due to the variety of different techniques used and deficiencies in their experimental protocol. Other functions have been suggested for laterally flattened lamellae including as sensory, locomotory, defensive and ion uptake organs. However, only limited investigations of the possible locomotory and defensive functions of lamellae have been carried out to date. These studies have found that in one species lamellae may be important for swimming and that in three further species they may function as attack deflecting organs. High frequencies of lamellar loss have been reported in wild larval populations of at least three species, and this has been related to injuries received during fights with conspecifics. The ecological importance of the lamellae of R nymphula was investigated by examining the frequency of lamellar injury in a wild population of larvae. The frequency of injury was then correlated with environmental factors and population parameters. Those that were found to be significantly correlated with lamellar injury were; larval size, sampling season and habitat type. It was concluded that lamellar injury in wild larvae of this species may be due either to interactions with predators or conspecifics. Further evidence for such a function comes from the study of the breaking joint which attaches the lamellae to the abdomen. This joint was found to be specially adapted to allow autotomy of the lamella with little damage to the larva. These results suggest that the lamellae of P. nymphula are used for defensive autotomy as has been suggested for other species of zygoptera. Investigation of the respiratory morphology and physiology of the lamellae of R nymphula confirmed that they do not function as respiratory gills. The lamellae had large surface areas and no tissues with high metabolic oxygen demand such as ion uptake or sensory organs. Both these characteristics suggested a respiratory gill function. However, the arrangement of the tracheoles within the hypodermis is critical for efficient gas exchange by tracheal gills. The arrangement of tracheoles within the lamellae of P. nymphula was not consistent with that required for a tracheal gill suggesting that this is not their main function. The results of the study of lamellar respiratory physiology also support this conclusion. The oxygen consumption rates of larvae with and without lamellae under varying conditions of hypoxia did not differ significantly, showing that lamellar loss had no effect on larval respiration rates. In addition, the lack of evidence of any ion uptake organs or concentrations of sensory organs suggest that these potential functions for the lamellae of P. nymphula must be rejected. The lamellae of R nymphula were found to be important as signals during aggressive encounters with conspecifics. Larvae with and without lamellae were matched in trials to determine which would gain and maintain occupancy of a perch. Larvae were matched to reduce the possibility of interference from other contests asymmetries such as size, fighting experience and familiarity with the area. In these contests, larvae with lamellae were found to be significantly better at occupying perches. However, lamellar loss did not affect the ability of larvae to initially occupy perches nor their non-lamellar related behaviour. Additional support for an aggressive posturing role for lamellae came from the investigation of their morphology. The lamellae had a large surface area and distinctive pattern both of which would increase their effectiveness as signals. The present study therefore concluded that the main functions of the lamellae of P. nymphula were as signals or as attack deflectors during aggressive encounters with conspecifics or predators

In My View

The central thesis of the article entitled “U.S. Policy on Small Arms and Light Weapons,” by Loretta Bondì, which appeared in the Winter 2006 edition of the Naval War College Review, is that the U.S. system of export controls on small arms is as good as any, and better than most other countries, but that American moral authority in this area is undermined by its permitting widespread civilian ownership of firearms

Examining Predictors and Outcomes of Identity Communication in Virtual Teams

Virtual teams play an increasingly important role in the modern economy, and many organizations struggle to overcome the weaknesses inherent in technology-mediated work. Identity communication has been shown to greatly improve individual- and group-level outcomes in offline settings, but these benefits have not been investigated in the context of virtual teams, where mediated interaction can affect the opportunity for identity communication. This research-in-progress paper proposes a theoretical model and experimental design that investigates the predictors and outcomes of identity communication in virtual teams. Our anticipated findings should have important implications for researchers seeking to understand identity communication via technology and for practitioners hoping to improve virtual team communication and collaboration.

Life cycle assessment of sponge nickel produced by gas atomisation for use in industrial hydrogenation catalysis applications

This paper presented results from a complete lifecycle assesment of various sponge nickel catalysts, produced in two different ways, namely either by gas atomisation or by the industrial standard techniques of cast and crush. The application considered was for the industrial hydrogentation of butyraldehyde to butanol. The paper describes the LCA methodology adopted which conformed to the ISO14040 standards, looking at various production scenarios and the impact on the emissions.The results indicated that the energy usage and emissions during the operation phase of the catalyst outweighed the primary production, manufacturing and recycling. It was shown that the increase in activity of gas atomised catalysts by doping with various metals, such as iron, molybdenum and tin, led to a significant reduction in emissions over the lifetime of the catalysts, which greatly outweighed the small increase in emissions at the primary extraction and manufacturing stages

Tacit hierarchising in online communities of hillwalkers

This research explores how Munro-baggers – hillwalkers aiming to climb all 282 Scottish mountains over 3,000ft – hierarchise themselves and others as serious leisure participants. This increasingly popular hobby contributes to Scotland’s economy and profile, but its sparse literature insufficiently analyses the influence of Stebbins’ Serious Leisure Perspective (SLP), the recent reappraisal of Serious Leisure or the influence of online communities. Therefore, we critically revisit the SLP to re-evaluate Munro-bagging. Through phenomenological interviews, we explore how Munro-baggers hierarchise each other, tacitly and otherwise, offline and online, through their activities’ perceived characteristics. Ambiguities and overlaps are explored and the interplay of contexts analysed. We identify factors influencing Munro-baggers’ perceptions of seriousness amongst fellow hobbyists, taxonomising participants by their perceived characteristics of seriousness. Findings suggest that they draw upon quantitative and qualitative judgments of hobby-relevant activities and qualitative judgments of certain ad hominem characteristics. The expansion of the pastime beyond its temporospatial boundaries into online spaces is found to influence the extent to which actors categorise or hierarchise each other and the characteristics used to do so

Is sexual contact with sex workers important in driving the HIV epidemic among men in rural Zimbabwe?

OBJECTIVE: To establish the importance of commercial sex in driving the HIV epidemic in the general population by determining risk factors for HIV infection among male mine and farm workers and estimating the fraction of prevalent HIV infections attributable to sexual contact with sex workers (SWs). SETTING: Five commercial farms and 2 mines in Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe. METHODS: A cross-sectional interviewer-administered questionnaire and urine survey of 1405 male workers. Urine samples were tested for HIV antibodies by a particle agglutination test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae using a polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HIV antibodies was 27.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 24.8 to 29.5), that of C. trachomatis was 1.5% (95% CI: 1.0 to 2.1), and that of N. gonorrhoeae was 0.5% (95% CI: 0.1 to 0.9). A total of 48.4% (95% CI: 45.8 to 51.0) of men reported ever having had sexual contact with an SW, and 29.3% (95% CI: 26.9 to 31.7) reported contact in the past year. HIV was more common among men who reported SW contact on univariate (1.9% [95% CI: 1.5 to 2.4]) and multivariate (1.4% [95% CI: 1.0 to 1.8]) analysis after adjusting for confounding. HIV was also strongly associated with self-reported genital ulceration in the previous 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.1, 95% CI: 2.2 to 4.3). Genital ulceration and SW contact were highly correlated. A total of 19.6% of HIV infections in men could be attributed to ever having had sexual contact with an SW (95% CI: 10.8 to 27.6). CONCLUSIONS: An appreciable proportion of HIV infection in men is attributable to sexual contact with SWs. Consideration should be given to developing interventions that target male clients of SWs