SPICE 3: Facilitating organisational process improvement through good practice sharing

This paper describes the latest iteration of the SPICE research. SPICE 3 explains the process maturity framework to address the level III of the SPICE model. Building upon the developments of level II, SPICE 3 advocates establishment of a process improvement infrastructure to facilitate good practice sharing in construction organisations. To achieve SPICE level III process maturity, organisations should posses four key processes and five process enablers. The model developed helped the case study organisations to identify their process strengths and also areas requiring improvement

Addressing the construction labour market skills mismatch through lifelong learning in higher education institutions

The mismatch between graduate skills and labour market skills requirements has been identified as one of the main factors behind graduate unemployment and employer dissatisfaction, particularly in the Built Environment sector. Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), despite being a body for knowledge creation and sharing, do not seem to adequately address this mismatch. Built Environment Lifelong Learning Challenging University Responses to Vocational Education (BELLCURVE) collaborative research project aims to identify the ways to reform the HEIs in order to make them more responsive to the labour market skills requirements and in turn to reduce the mismatch. This conceptual paper discusses the changing nature of the construction labour market skills requirements. The conceptual framework governing the research project and the research methodology are presented. The role of BE professionals in addressing such requirements are also discussed giving particular focus on professionals attached to disaster management and quantity surveying sectors. Disaster management (context base sector) and quantity surveying (trade base sector) have been identified by the project as two specific sectors to be focused in promoting the lifelong learning due to the constantly changing knowledge and skill base of these sectors. The responsiveness of HEIs to minimise the mismatch and to support the lifelong learning through governance reform is explained

Reforming HEIs for through-life sustainability of construction professionals

BELLCURVE research project aims to promote the concept of ‘lifelong university’ in modernising Higher Education Institutes to be more responsive to labour market skills needs by continuously improving the skills and knowledge of the construction professionals. This paper briefly explains improving such responsiveness of HEIs through governance reform. Initial conceptual framework and the research methodology are illustrated. In responding to labour market skills requirements, the need for sector and context specific skills and knowledge to the construction professionals is emphasised. Lifelong learning on Disaster Management and Quantity Surveying sectors are considered as proposed case study areas

Reforming HEI to improve skills and knowledge on disaster resilience among construction professionals

The built environment is significantly affected by disasters. Firstly, built facilities are expected to withstand such situations. Secondly, the construction industry is expected to play a pivotal role in reconstruction of damaged property & infrastructure. Such responses also call for technological and managerial innovation. Therefore it is important that construction professionals receive continuous skill development to respond to disaster situations and to a disaster resilient built environment. BELLCURVE research project aims to promote the concept of ‘lifelong university’ in modernising Higher Education Institutes (HEI) to be more responsive to labour market skills needs. BELLCURVE focuses on the role HEIs play in continuous improvement of the skills and knowledge on disaster resilience among the construction professionals. In this paper an overview of the role of built environment professionals in the context of disaster is presented, and the related demand and supply side issues are discussed. The need to improve responsiveness of HEIs through modernisation of higher education to improve the quality and efficiency of education and training is further explained. Initial conceptual framework of the research is presented. Literature reviewed identified peculiarities of post-disaster reconstruction, justifying the need to provide sector and context specific skills and knowledge to the construction professional. The review also cover issues associated with education and training from HEIs to the construction professional, and also focus on integrating the construction labour market skills needs to the modernisation agenda of the HEIs. In this regard, modernisation of HEI through governance reform is highlighted. Disaster resilience is considered as a test case. The initial conceptual model with the methodology adopted to develop, refine and test the model is also briefed. This paper is expected to stimulate debate as well as be a supportive resource to towards improving skills and knowledge on disaster resilience among construction professionals

Duchenne muscular dystrophy from brain to muscle: The role of brain dystrophin isoforms in motor functions

Brain function and its effect on motor performance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an emerging concept. The present study explored how cumulative dystrophin isoform loss, age, and a corticosteroid treatment affect DMD motor outcomes. A total of 133 genetically confirmed DMD patients from Sri Lanka were divided into two groups based on whether their shorter dystrophin isoforms (Dp140, Dp116, and Dp71) were affected: Group 1, containing patients with Dp140, Dp116, and Dp71 affected (n = 98), and Group 2, containing unaffected patients (n = 35). A subset of 52 patients (Group 1, n = 38; Group 2, n = 14) was followed for up to three follow-ups performed in an average of 28-month intervals. The effect of the cumulative loss of shorter dystrophin isoforms on the natural history of DMD was analyzed. A total of 74/133 (56%) patients encountered developmental delays, with 66/74 (89%) being in Group 1 and 8/74 (11%) being in Group 2 (p \u3c 0.001). Motor developmental delays were predominant. The hip and knee muscular strength, according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) activities, “standing on one leg R”, “standing on one leg L”, and “walk”, declined rapidly in Group 1 (p \u3c 0.001 In the follow-up analysis, Group 1 patients became wheelchair-bound at a younger age than those of Group 2 (p = 0.004). DMD motor dysfunction is linked to DMD mutations that affect shorter dystrophin isoforms. When stratifying individuals for clinical trials, considering the DMD mutation site and its impact on a shorter dystrophin isoform is crucial

Generating Productive Dialogue between Consulting Statisticians and their Clients in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Research Settings

Due to the ever-increasing complexity of scientific technologies and resulting data, consulting statisticians are becoming more involved in the design, conduct, and analysis of biomedical research. This requires extensive collaboration between the consulting statistician and nonstatisticians, such as researchers, clinicians, and corporate executives. Consequently, a successful consulting career is becoming ever more dependent on the statistician's ability to effectively communicate with nonstatisticians. This is especially true when more complex, nontraditional analytical methods are required. In this paper, we examine the collaboration between statisticians and nonstatisticians from three different professional perspectives. Integrating these perspectives, we discuss ways to help the consulting statistician generate productive dialogue with clients. Finally, we examine how universities can better prepare students for careers in statistical consulting by incorporating more communication-based elements into their curriculum and by offering students ample opportunities to collaborate with nonstatisticians. Overall, we designed this exercise to help the consulting statistician generate dialogue with clients that results in more productive collaborations and a more satisfying work experience

Conformational transitions and dynamics of DNA sequences involved in processes of genetic control.

Conformational transitions and dynamics of DNA sequences involved in processes of genetic control