Heterogeneity and Variability in the Context of Flow Lines

We propose a model in which between-individual differences in performance (heterogeneity) and within-individual differences in performance over time (variability) affect flow line performance. The impact of heterogeneity and variability is contingent upon the flow line context, particularly the rules of governing the way work moves between employees (work flow policy). We show how subtle changes in this policy can have a motivational effect on heterogeneity and variability and how these, in turn, and impact the relationship between work flow policy and flow line performance

Motivation and Participation: An Integration

The purpose of this paper is to join together two historically separate schools of management thought. It is suggested that expectancy theory, a highly, »rational« theory of work motivation, can incorporate many of the tenets of the human relations, participative approach to management. This paper only means to be suggestive. Many of the relationship described are based on a rather loose definition of participation and some of the empirical support is only indirect at best. On the other hand, some of our recent research has dealt directly with the hypothesis suggested and the evidence is good. There are numerous studies left to be done in pursuit of this integration but hopefully these ideas provide a valuable initial step

The N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor in Cerebral Ischemia

Excitotoxicity is a major mechanism of neuronal damage in cerebral ischemia and is mediated largely by neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR). This review presents the structural and functional alterations in NMDAR after an ischemic insult, including the antagonistic roles different NMDAR sub-types play in the post-ischemic period. By elucidating these molecular changes and the effects they have on downstream cellular signaling, rational therapy can be devised in an attempt to mitigate the effects of cerebral ischemia

Are technical knowledge sacrificed with the integration of transferable skills into the engineering curriculum? – an evaluation of one-week intensive project-based learning in biochemical and biomedical engineering

Problem-solving and collaborative skills are crucial transferable skills for professional practice in engineering, as acknowledged by universities, employers, and accreditation bodies. However, there are engineering teachers who maintain a dichotomous perspective on the balance between transferable skills and academic knowledge, prioritizing the latter. Consequently, they are reluctant to integrate these skills into the curriculum at the expense of technical knowledge. Project-based learning (PjBL) has demonstrated potential in fostering both academic knowledge and transferable skills (Nguyen et al. 2020). However, existing research primarily focuses on students' perceptions on their learning outcomes (Guo et al. 2020). This study addresses this gap within the context of a first-year PjBL activity for biochemical and biomedical engineering students in a UK university by evaluating students' learning outcomes using both direct and indirect assessment methods. Findings from the study suggest that the PjBL activity can cultivate both technical knowledge and transferable skills. These results may help dispel misconceptions among engineering teachers that transferable skills can only be developed at the expense of technical knowledge. Interestingly, this study also found that engineering students perceived the development of critical problem-solving skills, but not collaborative skills from the PjBL activity. This observation warrants further investigation to determine the factors that influence students' perceptions of skill development in PjBL activities

Evidence-based selection of environmental factors and datasets for measuring multiple environmental deprivation in epidemiological research

This Environment and Human Health project aims to develop a health-based summary measure of multiple physical environmental deprivation for the UK, akin to the measures of multiple socioeconomic deprivation that are widely used in epidemiology. Here we describe the first stage of the project, in which we aimed to identify health-relevant dimensions of physical environmental deprivation and acquire suitable environmental datasets to represent population exposure to these dimensions at the small-area level. We present the results of this process: an evidence-based list of environmental dimensions with population health relevance for the UK, and the spatial datasets we obtained and processed to represent these dimensions. This stage laid the foundations for the rest of the project, which will be reported elsewhere

Class dynamics of development: a methodological note

This article argues that class relations are constitutive of developmental processes and central to understanding inequality within and between countries. In doing so it illustrates and explains the diversity of the actually existing forms of class relations, and the ways in which they interplay with other social relations such as gender and ethnicity. This is part of a wider project to re- vitalise class analysis in the study of development problems and experiences

The effects of job embeddedness on organizational citizenship, job performance, volitional absences, and voluntary turnover

This study extends theory and research on job embeddedness, which was disaggregated into its two major subdimensions, on-the-job and off-the-job embeddedness. As hypothesized, regression analyses revealed that off-the-job embeddedness was significantly predictive of subsequent voluntary turnover and volitional absences, whereas on-the-job embeddedness was not. Also as hypothesized, on-the-job embeddedness was significantly predictive of organizational citizenship and job performance, whereas off-the-job embeddedness was not. In addition, embeddedness moderated the effects of absences, citizenship, and performance on turnover. Implications are discussed

The buffering effects of job embeddedness on negative shocks.

Unpleasant events are a fact of organizational life. The way in which people respond to such events, however, varies. In the present study, we hypothesized and found that some individuals choose to respond to negative events in ways that helped the organization. Instead of withdrawing in an attempt to “get even” by reducing work outputs, these individuals improved their in-role and extra-role performance. The study examined the role that job embeddedness plays in creating this work enhancement reaction. Specifically, we discovered that on-the-job embeddedness helps reduce the impact of negative shocks on organizational citizenship and overall job performance. The findings of this study have important implications for both theory and practice