Managing stakeholder \u27push back\u27, an exploratory investigation into dealing with negative cross cultural communication in a global environment

This paper addresses the issue of a current business phenomenon &ndash; &lsquo;push back&rsquo;. This phenomenon has been experienced by a number of transnational companies. It is embedded in the challenges of cross-cultural communication and involves the linkage of local culture activists with globalisation acitivists in an alliance to stop business growth. This exploratory investigation examines three multinational organisations using qualitative research. From the findings a model has been developed in an attempt to provide practitioners with a framework with which to understand &lsquo;push back&rsquo;. The complexity of combating alliances of this nature raises challenges for the current approaches to marketing and the need for a multi-stakeholder approach in cross-cultural communication is suggested.<br /

The User\u27s Guide Project: Giving Experiential Context to Research Papers

We announce the User\u27s Guide Project

Towards a blockchain-based smart certification system for higher education: an empirical study

Due to the growing interest in distributed ledger technologies such as blockchain, researchers in different areas, including the higher education sector, are investigating possibilities surrounding blockchain adoption. Despite this, no guiding framework has been developed for the application of blockchain and related technologies in the use of certificating systems that issue sharable and authentic student credentials. Existing certificating systems are marked by their lack of speed and low reliability and, in certain education systems, they produce social and cultural conflicts. Therefore, this paper offers an analysis of blockchain adoption in this field, focusing especially on the process of producing and sharing higher education certificates. The paper describes the second phase of an ongoing research project by presenting a certificate validation and sharing framework that guarantees authenticity through leveraging the privacy and security features of a blockchain network. The framework also covers the architectural design of a blockchain-based certificating system to solve problems and offer solutions in the context of higher education. Two groups of participants are also included in an empirical study focusing on an evaluation of the proposed framework in relation to its ability to describe and explain blockchain adoption in higher education. The validity and reliability of the framework is tested using a sequential mixed methods design involving the collection of quantitative survey data. It is expected that the proposed framework will have useful applications in different fields where it is necessary to determine whether a satisfactory level of blockchain technology has been maintained in accordance with relevant privacy and security standards

Small-molecule CaVα1⋅CaVβ antagonist suppresses neuronal voltage-gated calcium-channel trafficking

Extracellular calcium flow through neuronal voltage-gated CaV2.2 calcium channels converts action potential-encoded information to the release of pronociceptive neurotransmitters in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, culminating in excitation of the postsynaptic central nociceptive neurons. The CaV2.2 channel is composed of a pore-forming α1 subunit (CaVα1) that is engaged in protein-protein interactions with auxiliary α2/δ and β subunits. The high-affinity CaV2.2α1⋅CaVβ3 protein-protein interaction is essential for proper trafficking of CaV2.2 channels to the plasma membrane. Here, structure-based computational screening led to small molecules that disrupt the CaV2.2α1⋅CaVβ3 protein-protein interaction. The binding mode of these compounds reveals that three substituents closely mimic the side chains of hot-spot residues located on the α-helix of CaV2.2α1 Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed the critical nature of a salt-bridge interaction between the compounds and CaVβ3 Arg-307. In cells, compounds decreased trafficking of CaV2.2 channels to the plasma membrane and modulated the functions of the channel. In a rodent neuropathic pain model, the compounds suppressed pain responses. Small-molecule α-helical mimetics targeting ion channel protein-protein interactions may represent a strategy for developing nonopioid analgesia and for treatment of other neurological disorders associated with calcium-channel trafficking

Rethinking Committee Work in the Research Enterprise: The Case of Regenerative Gatekeeping

Committees touch nearly every facet in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research enterprise. However, the role of gatekeeping through committee work has received little attention in Earth and space sciences. We propose a novel concept called, “regenerative gatekeeping” to challenge institutional inertia, cultivate belonging, accessibility, justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in committee work. Three examples, a hiring committee process, a seminar series innovation, and an awards committee, highlight the need to self-assess policies and practices, ask critical questions and engage in generative conflict. Rethinking committee work can activate distributed mechanisms needed to promote change

Post-Menopausal Effects of Resistance Training on Muscle Damage and Mitochondria

Manfredi, TG, Monteiro, MA, Lamont, LS, Singh, MF, Foldvari, M, White, S, Cosmas, AC, and Urso, ML. Postmenopausal effects of resistance training on muscle damage and mitochondria. J Strength Cond Res 27(2): 556–561, 2013—The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of a 12-month progressive resistance training intervention on muscle morphology and strength gains in postmenopausal women. Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis of 5 independent community-dwelling women (mean age: 75.6 ± 4.28 years; mean height: 163 ± 5.34 cm; mean weight: 72 ± 17.5 kg) before 6 months and 12 months after progressive resistance training. Muscle strength (1 repetition maximum) was measured at the same time points. After 6 months of training, morphological analysis revealed evidence of increased proteolysis and tissue repair, and rudimentary fiber development. The percent of Z-bands with mild Z-band disruption increased from 43.9% at baseline to 66.7% after 6 months of training (p \u3c 0.01). Mitochondrial volume also increased (percent of mitochondria = 0.86% at baseline, 1.19% at 6 months, and 1.04% at 12 months, p \u3c 0.05), and there was a shift to larger sized mitochondria. The training did not result in statistically significant increases in muscle leg strength (p \u3c 0.18). It appears that mild Z-band disruption acts as a precursor for increased protein synthesis and stimulates an increase in mitochondrial mass. Therefore, although a progressive resistance training program in this population did not increase muscle strength, it did demonstrate clinical applications that lend support to the importance of resistance training in older adults

Do people favour policies that protect future generations? Evidence from a British survey of adults

Long-range temporal choices are built into contemporary policy-making, with policy decisions having consequences that play out across generations. Decisions are made on behalf of the public who are assumed to give much greater weight to their welfare than to the welfare of future generations. The paper investigates this assumption. It briefly discusses evidence from sociological and economic studies before reporting the findings of a British survey of people's intergenerational time preferences based on a representative sample of nearly 10,000 respondents. Questions focused on two sets of policies: (i) health policies to save lives and (ii) environmental policies to protect against floods that would severely damage homes, businesses and other infrastructure. For both sets of policies, participants were offered a choice of three policy options, each bringing greater or lesser benefits to their, their children's and their grandchildren's generations. For both saving lives and protecting against floods, only a minority selected the policy that most benefited their generation; the majority selected policies bringing equal or greater benefits to future generations. Our study raises questions about a core assumption of standard economic evaluation, pointing instead to concern for future generations as a value that many people hold in common