Optimizing Software Team Performance with Cultural Differences

Software development is primarily a team task that requires a high degree of coordination among team members. Prior research has indicated that the composition of team member traits such as personality and culture can influence the performance of software teams. However, this line of research does not give practical guidance on how to build teams with personnel constraints. Some research has built teams by starting with personality. However, cultural traits—which are also known to influence team performance—have not been examined in the same manner. This research, therefore, builds upon this stream by: 1) examining the effects of Hofstede’s latest six-dimensional model of national culture, 2) segmenting potential software team members into distinct cultural clusters, and 3) testing the outcomes of teams built upon homogeneous versus heterogeneous cultural compositions over time. Our results indicate that—consistent with prior research—homogenous team compositions are initially better for performance. However, this effect reverses over time, and ultimately heterogenous team compositions are superior

Science in brief: Highlights from the biomechanics and physiotherapy abstracts at the International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology.

Although human observations of equine locomotion are as old as our relationship with the horse, today's scientists still have much to learn about horse–human interactions. Two approaches are commonly used to study equine biomechanics and both were evident in abstracts presented at the International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology (ICEEP) 2014. One approach is to use simplified methods of measurement and analysis that provide simple but meaningful objective information that can ultimately be used by the clinician or practitioner. Alternatively, more complex equipment and techniques may be used that directly measure or infer loading on the equine musculoskeletal system to provide detailed structural and functional information. Whichever methods are used, it is important that they are reliable and robust and that the errors and limitations of the measurement system are fully recognised when interpreting data. In his keynote speech, Professor René van Weeren proposed that the biomechanical techniques available to scientists today provide a gateway to a better understanding of the horse–rider interaction that must ultimately improve equine welfare while maintaining peak performance. The abstracts presented in this Editorial therefore cover key topics that are relevant to welfare and performance, lameness and asymmetry, locomotion and sports performance, a focus on the axial system, and the foot

Construction and physiochemical characterisation of a multi-composite, potential oral vaccine delivery system (VDS)

An increasing human population requires a secure food supply and a cost effective, oral vaccine delivery system for livestock would help facilitate this end. Recombinant antigen adsorbed onto silica beads and coated with myristic acid, was released (∼15% (w/v)) over 24 h at pH 8.8. At pH 2, the myristic acid acted as an enteric coating, protecting the antigen from a variety of proteases. The antigen adsorbed onto silica particles, coated in myristic acid had a conserved secondary structure (measured by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy) following its pH-triggered release. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to measure the thickness of the adsorbed antigen, finding that its adsorbed conformation was slightly greater than its solution radius of gyration, i.e. 120–160 Å. The addition of myristic acid led to a further increase in particle size, with scattering data consistent with an acid thickness slightly greater than a monolayer of fully extended alkyl chains and a degree of hydration of around 50%. Whilst adsorbed onto the silica and coated in myristic acid, the protein was stable over 14 days at 42 °C, indicating a reduced need for cold chain storage. These data indicate that further investigation is warranted into the development of this technology

Future therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by persistent joint inflammation. Without adequate treatment, patients with RA will develop joint deformity and progressive functional impairment. With the implementation of treat-to-target strategies and availability of biologic therapies, the outcomes for patients with RA have significantly improved. However, the unmet need in the treatment of RA remains high as some patients do not respond sufficiently to the currently available agents, remission is not always achieved and refractory disease is not uncommon. With better understanding of the pathophysiology of RA, new therapeutic approaches are emerging. Apart from more selective Janus kinase inhibition, there is a great interest in the granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor pathway, Bruton's tyrosine kinase pathway, phosphoinositide-3-kinase pathway, neural stimulation and dendritic cell-based therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss the therapeutic potential of these novel approaches

Experimental Testing of Slender Load-Bearing Masonry Walls with Realistic Support Conditions

Slender, load-bearing masonry walls with slenderness ratios (h/t) greater than 30 are required to be designed as pinned-pinned elements as per North American provisions for masonry, CSA S304-14 (2019) and TMS 402-16 (2016). This provision neglects the contribution of the reactive stiffness of the foundation to the strength of the wall and its effect on the redistribution of bending moments along its height. Eight full-scale masonry walls built with different degrees of base stiffness and tested under an eccentric axial load. Results from the tests showed an increased load-bearing capacity and decreased deflections with increased rotational base stiffness. Experimental data was used to determine key design parameters including the effective flexural rigidity and the moment distribution along the height of the walls. Comparing values of effective flexural rigidity determined from experimental results to code provisions, it was found both codes tend to underestimate the effective flexural rigidity of the walls.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Cellular activation through the ligation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1

In addition to its role in mediating leukocyte adherence to and migration across the endothelium, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 on the surface of interstitial cells has been implicated as a principal adhesion molecule controlling leukocyte infiltration at inflammatory sites. The present study demonstrates that leukocyte binding to fibroblasts isolated from both the human renal cortex and lung and to endothelial cells induced the de novo synthesis of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein through the ICAM-1-dependent activation of the cultured cells. This was mimicked by specifically cross-linking the ICAM-1 receptor with anti-ICAM-1 antibodies. Following cross-linking there was a two- to threefold increase in the steady state levels of ICAM-1 mRNA isolated from the cells. The expression of this mRNA peaked at 1–3 hours and was dose-dependent on the concentration of secondary cross-linking antibody. Peak protein expression was between 18 and 48 hours after cross-linking. Additional data demonstrated a similar increase in the expression of VCAM-1 following ICAM-1 cross-linking. In contrast, there was no reponse as a result of incubation with an isotype-matched control antibody. Both the binding of leukocytes and the cross-linking of ICAM-1 triggered a rise in cytosolic free calcium as the result, in part, of a calcium influx from the extracellular medium. Using BAPTA-AM to chelate intracellular calcium ions indicated that this increase in cytosolic free calcium was directly involved in the initiation of adhesion molecule upregulation. The present study demonstrates that both endothelial cells and fibroblasts can be stimulated by the direct cell surface interaction of ICAM-1 with its ligands on inflammatory cells. One phenotypic change resulting from this interaction is the upregulated synthesis and expression of more cellular adhesion molecules. This may have profound implications for the control and persistence of a leukocyte infiltrate and the progression of inflammatory disease. © 1998 by Company of Biologist