Research methodology for ethnostatistics in organization studies: towards a historical ethnostatistics

Purpose: While quantification and performance measurement have proliferated widely in academia and the business world, management and organization scholars increasingly agree on the need for a more in-depth focus on the complex dynamics embedded in the construction, use and effects of quantitative measures (pertaining to the thread of research called ethnostatistics). This paper develops a pluralistic method for conducting ethnostatistical research in organizational settings. Whilst presenting practical techniques for conducting research in live settings, it also discusses how historical approaches which focus on source criticism and contextual reconstruction could overcome the limitations of ethnostatistics. Design/methodology/approach: The methodological approach of this paper encompasses an in-depth discussion of the ethnostatistical method, its underlying assumptions and its methodological limitations. Based on this analysis, the authors propose a pluralistic method (model) for conducting ethnostatistical research in organizational settings based on the integration of 1) research practices employed by one of the authors conducting ethnostatistical research in a large multinational organization and 2) best practices from ethnographic and historical research. Findings: This paper suggests how historical approaches can successfully join ethnostatistical enquiries in an attempt to overcome some limitations in existing conventional methods. The developed framework explores four levels of analysis (ethnography, statistics at work, rhetoric of statistics and history of statistics) and suggests practical approaches for each level that can contribute to strengthening the research output and overcoming limitations when using ethnostatistics. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the ethnostatistical field by discussing the intersection between history and ethnography and the ways for their complementary use in organizational and management research on quantification processes. As such it offers unique insights and hands-on experience from conducting ethnostatistical enquiries in live organizational settings

Integrating Biophysics in Toxicology

Integration of biophysical stimulation in test systems is established in diverse branches of biomedical sciences including toxicology. This is largely motivated by the need to create novel experimental setups capable of reproducing more closely in vivo physiological conditions. Indeed, we face the need to increase predictive power and experimental output, albeit reducing the use of animals in toxicity testing. In vivo, mechanical stimulation is essential for cellular homeostasis. In vitro, diverse strategies can be used to model this crucial component. The compliance of the extracellular matrix can be tuned by modifying the stiffness or through the deformation of substrates hosting the cells via static or dynamic strain. Moreover, cells can be cultivated under shear stress deriving from the movement of the extracellular fluids. In turn, introduction of physical cues in the cell culture environment modulates differentiation, functional properties, and metabolic competence, thus influencing cellular capability to cope with toxic insults. This review summarizes the state of the art of integration of biophysical stimuli in model systems for toxicity testing, discusses future challenges, and provides perspectives for the further advancement of in vitro cytotoxicity studies

Coach to Coach

The relationship between a strength coach and a sport coach can be tenuous, especially when one is new to the team. The solution is to build trust, communicate well, and never stop collaborating

Student exam analysis (debriefing) promotes positive changes in exam preparation and learning

Traditional exam review sessions, typically conducted orally and in class by the instructor, are intended to identify the most frequently missed or problematic question with the intent of helping students perform better on subsequent exams. The shortcoming of this instructor-led activity is that it tends to focus on issues with content or understanding rather than helping the individual student prevent or avoid similar mistakes on future exams. Here, we report that students who performed a more comprehensive out-of-class exam debrief after the first exam significantly improve their exam performance compared with students that did not conduct the exam debrief. We also identify the most common mistakes that students make on exams and the most frequent self-selected strategies to improve their learning. By having students focus on missed questions coupled with addressing deficiencies in their test preparation strategies and behaviors, they likely engage in more self-regulated learning to better prepare for exams and avoid repeating past mistakes

A nonparametric approach for model individualization in an artificial pancreas

The identification of patient-tailored linear time invariant glucose-insulin models is investigated for type 1 diabetic patients, that are characterized by a substantial inter-subject variability. The individualized linear models are identified by considering a novel kernel-based nonparametric approach and are compared with a linear time invariant average model in terms of prediction performance by means of the coefficient of determination, fit, positive and negative max errors, and root mean squared error. Model identification and validation are based on in-silico data collected from the adult virtual population of the UVA/Padova simulator. The data generation involves a protocol designed to produce a sufficient input excitation without compromising patient safety, compatible also with real life scenarios. The identified models are exploited to synthesize an individualized Model Predictive Controller (MPC) for each patient, which is used in an Artificial Pancreas to maintain the blood glucose concentration within an euglycemic range. The MPC used in several clinical studies, synthesized on the basis of a non-individualized average linear time invariant model, is also considered as reference. The closed-loop control performance is evaluated in an in-silico study on the adult virtual population of the UVA/Padova simulator in a perturbed scenario, in which the MPC is blind to random variations of insulin sensitivity in each virtual patient. © 2015, IFAC (International Federation of Automatic Control) Hosting by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Recovery of Viable Microorganisms from Solids. I - Model Systems

Solidification process for recovering viable microorganisms to aid spacecraft sterilization procedure

Comparative levels and survival of naturally occurring microorganisms deposited on surfaces through handling and aerial fallout a preliminary report

Death rates of microorganisms deposited on surfaces of stainless steel and electronic components by handling and aerial fallout - Decontamination technique

Scenic and Recreational River Designation: What Happened to the James?

In 1976, the South Dakota Department of Game , Fish and Parks (DGFP) sponsored the nomination of the upper James River as a state scenic and recreational river. The nomination failed to receive legislative approval in the 1977 and 1978 state legislative sessions. A case analysis of this nomination and the failure to approve it is provided in this publication. The major participants are identified, and their �· relationships with each other and how they fared are examined. This gives an understanding of why and how the actors react to the rules in a water allocation process and an overview of the designation process. The case study also provides a historical perspective on one designation process, serving as a basis for future public considerations of changes in the river designation process

L'elettrolisi: un'occasione per riflettere sulla Chimica, ma anche sulla storia, l'economia, l'ambiente

Pensiamo che partire da esempi tratti dal mondo che ci circonda, in cui le procedure della Chimica, sia teoriche che sperimentali, appaiano in tutto il loro intreccio con le attività umane, possa costituire un metodo efficace per fornire a vari livelli un’immagine della disciplina corretta. Ciò può aiutare ad approcciarsi ad essa senza paure e senza trionfalismi. Nell’articolo in particolare si tratteranno alcuni significativi processi di elettrolisi, evidenziando il loro sviluppo storico e le loro implicazioni dal punto di vista produttivo e del rapporto con uomo e ambiente.We believe that an effective way to provide, at various levels, a correct image of Chemistry could be based on examples from the world around us, in which the procedures of the discipline, both theoretical and experimental, appear in all their interweaving with human activities. This may help to approach it without fear and without triumphalism. In the article in particular we discuss some significant electrolysis processes, highlighting their his- torical development and their implications from the point of view of production and the rela- tionship with man and environment