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

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

Muscogiana Vol. 28(1), Spring 2017

A journal of the Muscogee Genealogical Societyhttps://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/muscogiana/1063/thumbnail.jp

Muscogiana Vol. 29(2), Fall 2018

A journal of the Muscogee Genealogical Societyhttps://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/muscogiana/1066/thumbnail.jp

Muscogiana Vol. 28(2), Fall 2017

A journal of the Muscogee Genealogical Societyhttps://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/muscogiana/1064/thumbnail.jp

Muscogiana Vol. 29(1), Spring 2018

A journal of the Muscogee Genealogical Societyhttps://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/muscogiana/1065/thumbnail.jp

Using air quality monitoring to reduce second-hand smoke exposure in homes : the AFRESH feasibility study

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council’s Public Health Intervention Development scheme. The research team would like to thank Christine Foster and the staff and volunteers of Healthy Valleys, Lanarkshire, for their support in carrying out this work, and Beverley Scheepers and Joanne Buchan of ASH Scotland for their assistance in developing training material. FUNDING Medical Research Council PHIND Grant MR/M026159/1.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

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

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

Analysis of the functions and interactions of RAD51 paralogues in Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosoma brucei evades host acquired immunity by antigenic variation, involving periodic switches in the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) coat. DNA recombination is critical in this process and a key component of homologous recombination, RAD51, also plays a role in VSG switching. T. brucei encodes four proteins distantly related to RAD51; termed RAD51 paralogues, named RAD51-3, RAD51-4, RAD51-5 and RAD51-6. Two of these RAD51 paralogues, RAD51-3 and RAD51-5, have been shown to function in homologous recombination, DNA repair and RAD51 re-localization into foci following DNA damage. Surprisingly, however, only RAD51-3 appears to act in VSG switching. To examine the functions of all the RAD51 paralogues in T. brucei, reverse genetics has been used to generate mutants of the two remaining unstudied paralogues, RAD51-4 and RAD51-6. Phenotypic analysis of both mutant cell lines indicates that these factors also play critical roles in RAD51-directed recombination and repair, and both influence VSG switching in the parasite. As homozygous mutant cell lines of RAD51 and the RAD51 paralogues were available, it was possible to comprehensively compare the phenotypes of rad51 -/- with rad51-3 -/-, rad51-4 -/-, rad51-5 -/-, and rad51-6 -/-. From these results it was observed that the phenotypes of the rad51 paralogue mutants are broadly equivalent, with two exceptions. Firstly, as mentioned above, RAD51-5 does not function in VSG switching, and RAD51-4 and RAD51-6 may not have direct roles in VSG switching. Secondly, rad51-4 -/- mutants are less sensitive to the DNA damaging agent phleomycin and a higher percentage of rad51-4 -/- cells form DNA damage-induced RAD51 foci compared with the other homozygous mutant cell lines. These results may imply that RAD51-4 and RAD51-5 have a less central role in RAD51-directed DNA repair or that their functions can be performed by other factors. In addition, the physical interactions of all the RAD51 paralogues were examined. It was found by yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation that they form at least two complexes, and probably function in sub-complexes in a similar manner to the Rad51 paralogues of higher eukaryotes. These analyses shed light on the evolution and role of eukaryotic RAD51 paralogues in DNA recombination and repair in general, as well as the contribution that recombination makes to antigenic variation in T. brucei

Protecting children from second-hand tobacco smoke: evidence of major progress but a final push is needed in the UK

First paragraph: We welcome the findings of Tattan-Birch and Jarvis1 in demonstrating a 90% reduction in objective measures of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke [SHS] among children in England between 1998 and 2018. Their important study uses Health Survey of England [HSE] data on salivary cotinine, as a marker of nicotine intake and SHS exposure, to show that geometric mean values of cotinine reduced from 0.50 to 0.05 ng/ml. Their results additionally show that by 2018 over 93% of children in England were classified as living in a smoke-free home environment. Policymakers in Scotland have achieved similar improvements with a 2014 world-leading target to reduce the proportion of children exposed to SHS at home to under 6% by 2020.2 The change in social norms relating to smoking around children has been significant and well documented3 over the past two decades and, coupled to reductions in adult smoking prevalence, now mean that the majority of children in England have no detectable cotinine in their saliva

Development Of A Smoke-free Homes Intervention For Parents: An Intervention Mapping Approach

Exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) is associated with various ill-health outcomes for children and adults. Barriers to creating a smoke-free home (SFH) are well-documented. Feasible and effective interventions to create smoke-free homes for disadvantaged households are lacking. Interventions that include providing parents with objective information about the impact of smoking on air quality in their home may be particularly effective. This study describes the development of a novel, theory- and evidence-based smoke-free homes intervention using objectively-assessed air quality feedback. The intervention was developed using the six-step Intervention Mapping (IM) protocol. Findings from literature reviews, focus groups with parents, interviews with health/care professionals, and expert panel discussions shaped intervention content and materials. Findings highlighted the importance of parents receiving personalised information on second-hand smoke levels in their home. Professionals considered the use of non-judgemental language essential in developed materials. Previous literature highlighted the need to address home smoking behaviour at a household rather than individual level. The AFRESH intervention is modular and designed to be delivered face-to-face by healthcare professionals. It includes up to five meetings with parents, two sets of five days’ air quality monitoring and personalised feedback, and the option to involve other household members in creating a smoke-free home using educational, motivational, and goal setting techniques. Further research is needed to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of the AFRESH intervention and which specific groups of parents this intervention will most likely benefit. IM was a useful framework for developing this complex intervention. This paper does not present evaluation findings