Fit in your genes: an introduction to genes and epigenetics for forensic practitioners

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Stephen Walton

Purpose This paper aims to provide a brief and accessible introduction to genetics and epigenetics for forensic practitioners. It provides two primers which define key genetic concepts and explain what epigenetic mechanisms actually are. The primers are provided alongside sections that focus on genetic research relevant to forensic practice, with a range of key messages that support the call to contextualise harmful behaviour and build better awareness of gene-environment relationships. Design/methodology/approach This is an opinion paper. Findings Select and seminal studies from the genetic literature that have forensic practice relevance are cited. These include studies from candidate gene research and epigenetic research. They highlight a number of key themes, including the way neurodevelopment and behaviour are contextually adjusted to fit certain environments, with epigenetic changes being an underpinning biological mechanism that facilitates this. Research limitations/implications This article aims to introduce forensic practitioners to basic concepts in genetics and epigenetics so that they are able to engage with the relevant literature and understand the far-reaching implications for forensic practice. Practical implications It is becoming increasingly useful for forensic practitioners to appreciate how life experiences are encoded into biology through epigenetics. This paper highlights the potential of genetic and epigenetic research to provide major contributions to real-world practice in the coming years. It provides a modern biopsychosocial perspective on harmful behaviour and helps deepen the understanding of our efforts to support behaviour change. It offers ways to think of social and rehabilitative initiatives in biological terms. Originality/value This paper is one of few modern texts that focusses on the relevance of genetic and epigenetic research in applied forensic practice. It aims to introduce relevant concepts in an accessible manor. It intends to introduce biologically informed ways of understanding harmful behaviour within context and with attention to its function. It contributes to a de-pathologising narrative.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Mendoza-Silva

PurposeInnovation is considered an important stage in the process of competitiveness of companies. While there is an extensive literature in the management and innovation field that shows the characteristics that enhance a firm's ability to innovate, there is still no consensus on its determinants and nature. This study aims to advance the understanding of innovation capability (IC) by conducting a systematic review of relevant literature at the firm level.Design/methodology/approachThe study reviews the literature by applying the categorization and contextualization of qualitative strategies. The study gathered 137 peer-reviewed papers from Scopus and Web of Science databases.FindingsThe papers were analysed and synthesized into an integrated framework that links IC with its internal and external determinants, and its consequences. In doing this, this study proposes directions for future investigations that might enlighten a better understanding of IC.Practical implicationsThe study provides elements that can be useful during the design and implementation of innovative initiatives in a firm.Originality/valueThe paper jointly examines in the same model the nature, antecedents and consequences of IC. In the same vein, the framework provides the little-researched links between those themes in the IC literature.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sovanjeet Mishra ◽  
S. Pavan Kumar

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight e-recruitment and training comprehensiveness as the untapped antecedents of employer branding (EB) in the relevant literature, which might enhance the employer’s knowledge and lead to organisational development.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts an exploratory conceptual modelling approach based on the extant literature from 1964 to 2017 using the databases of Emerald, EBSCO, Scopus, Proquest, JSTOR and search engines such as Google Scholar to ensure the reliability of the literature.FindingsThis paper suggests that e-recruitment and training comprehensiveness might be the untapped antecedents of EB as compared to traditional recruitment and training process explored in earlier studies.Research limitations/implicationsThe viewpoint can be further refined through academic conceptualisation and empirical validation.Practical implicationsThis paper lays a conceptual foundation in the emerging area of EB. Ideas expressed herein can be approached by academicians.Originality/valuePast studies have not explored e-recruitment and training comprehensiveness as the antecedents of EB. This work provides knowledge that candidly contributes to the conceptualisation of e-recruitment and training comprehensiveness. Further, this research has the potential to help academicians to understand the antecedents of EB leading to organisational development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 149-154
Author(s):  
Clare S. Allely

Purpose There is increasing attention on investigating the association between fire-setting and psychopathology and also the degree to which fire-setting is a manifestation of mental disorder. Despite the actual prevalence of pyromania remaining elusive, there is growing evidence in the literature highlighting the higher rates of psychiatric mental health disorders in fire-setters, the most common being: schizophrenia, mood disorders (such as anxiety and depression), personality disorders, alcohol abuse and intellectual disability. The purpose of this paper is to highlight more recent work on prevalence, pathways and assessment in offenders who have engaged in fire-setting. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides an overview of the literature on fire-setting and psychopathology with a focus on prevalence, pathways and assessment. Findings This review identified key literature which has identified a variety of distinct pathways to fire-setting and also highlights two assessments/measures for fire-setters. Such information is useful for clinicians when they encounter this group of offenders. Practical implications This paper has identified in the literature and recommends the use of the “Fire Setting Scale” and the “Fire Proclivity Scale” in clinical and/or forensic practice. Originality/value There is a very real need for additional empirical research in this area. There is also a need for an increased awareness and understanding of how various types of psychopathy can contribute to fire-setting in both a legal and clinical context.


Author(s):  
Paul Ballman

Purpose This paper addresses one particular type of cliff edge – “Unknown Knowns” that organizations are often headed for and suggests ways in which it can be avoided. Design/methodology/approach The paper reports lessons learned through the author’s experience and draws on relevant literature. Findings Apparently unforeseen cliffs are actually well known about, deep in the organization, well ahead of time and either nobody is talking or nobody is listening. Practical Implications People need to change their cultures to ensure that the “Cassandras” (people who can be seen as “negative” and problem rather than solution focused) are genuinely listened to. Originality/value New scandals break every month. At the time of writing, the latest is Volkswagen (VW) emissions testing, itself a classic example of an unknown-known cliff.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gangeswari Tangaraja ◽  
Roziah Mohd Rasdi ◽  
Bahaman Abu Samah ◽  
Maimunah Ismail

Purpose The paper aims to clearly differentiate knowledge sharing (KS) and knowledge transfer (KT) besides exemplifying their interconnections to minimize the current confusions in the knowledge management (KM) literature. Design/methodology/approach An extensive literature review method was used to analyse relevant literature on both KS and KT to clearly delineate their differences and their interconnections. Findings The paper found that KS is a subset of KT (using personalization strategy), whereas KT as a whole is a broader concept, if compared with KS. However, KS is not one of the immediate processes involved in KT (using codification strategy). The processes involved in KS and KT differ according to the strategy used (in KT) and perspective chosen (in KS). Other findings include KS (unidirectional) as reflective concept (viewed so far), whereas KS (bidirectional), KT (personalization) and KT (codification) as formative concepts. Research limitations/implications The findings of this paper were based on the review of selected relevant articles only. Practical Implications The paper will minimize the current confusions in the KM literature and will assist future researches on both KS and KT to ensure what these concepts entail to avoid construct underrepresentation. Originality/value As compared to previous attempts, the present paper has shown the interconnections between KS and KT, as well as the differences based on the two perspectives of KS (unidirectional/bidirectional) and the two strategies of KT (personalization/codification), and such effort is new in the literature.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammar B. Zilber

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a road map for carrying out field-level ethnography, focussing on the inter-organizational space collectively constructed and shared by communities of organizations. Design/methodology/approach – The argument is developed through a critical and integrated review of relevant literature. Findings – Field-level ethnographic work requires researchers to define the field they are exploring, locate their specific research site within it, capture the field through ethnographic practices that take into account the unique characteristics of this local field as a social phenomenon, and deploy various conceptualizations of inter-organizational spheres in order to enrich their analysis and interpretations. Practical implications – This paper offers practical insights for practitioners of field-level ethnography. Originality/value – As organizations are open-systems that reside and take part in much broader, inter-organizational spaces, the author makes a case for going beyond the more common practice of carrying out ethnographic field work in a single organization, to doing field-level ethnography. The paper discusses various theorizations of the inter-organizational sphere, suggest how to carry field-level ethnography in practice, and note its peculiar challenges.


2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 586-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazia Wahid ◽  
Nosheen Fatima Warraich ◽  
Muzammil Tahira

Purpose This study aims to explore the development of cataloguing standards used to organize information sources in libraries and information centers. Its key objective is to assess the challenges faced by information professionals to apply new bibliographic standards in linked data (LD) environment. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on extensive review of scholarly literature. Several databases were searched to identify relevant literature. Keywords such as RDA, FRBR, MARC and BIBFRAME were used along with LD to conduct search. Related literature was consulted and reviewed accordingly. Findings Findings reveal that cataloguing standards are subsequently evolving with the advancement of information technology. Libraries have been publishing their legacy metadata into LD. Many tools are developed for mapping the library metadata into LD applications. The Library of Congress has developed BIBFRAME model to fulfill the requirements of new bibliographic standards by using LD technology. It is found that extensive use of MARC standards, complexity of LD technologies, non-availability of vocabulary and inconsistency of terminologies are the major challenges for libraries to adopt LD applications. Practical implications This review will be a valuable addition for LIS scholars to understand the challenges of LD application. This study would be significant for the library community and policymakers who are interested in implementing LD technologies. Originality/value This paper is a one of its kind, where the development in cataloguing models and standards is explained along with the challenges to adopt LD applications for legacy data.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Clare Sarah Allely ◽  
Lino Faccini

Purpose The area of trauma in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is an important area given the substantial rates of abuse endured by these individuals. However, there are issues with the identification of trauma, understanding how it is perceived, and manifested. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach The limited research regarding trauma in ASD is reviewed and gaps are identified. Findings The key findings from the relevant literature are discussed. Practical implications Practical suggestions are outlined for more effective identification of trauma in individuals with ASD. Originality/value To date, there has been relatively little research on trauma and ASD. This paper emphasises the urgent need for attention in this area.


2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 695-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adolfo G. Prieto

Purpose Virtual reference is a part of the services offered at academic and other types of libraries. This paper discusses humanistic perspectives that merit consideration in the provision of virtual reference (VR), including mindfulness, authenticity, emotional intelligence (EI) and counseling. This study aims to make these perspectives become a part of the language and practice of virtual reference through this discussion. Design/methodology/approach The paper establishes a framework for the VR perspectives it discusses by examining relevant literature for background information and practical applications. Findings VR has the potential to benefit from the interrelated humanistic perspectives of mindfulness, authenticity, EI and counseling. It is through the counseling perspective that mindfulness, authenticity and EI are embodied to offer a more transformational and less transactional experience for both librarians and users. Research limitations/implications While the paper provides examples of language used by the author to illustrate the counseling perspective, a future study, whereby virtual reference transcripts are formally analyzed, may be beneficial to determine other expressions of counseling and its related perspectives of mindfulness, authenticity and EI. Practical implications This paper provides a resource especially helpful to individuals new to VR or who seek opportunities for growth in providing VR. Originality/value In addition to taking a multifaceted view of VR through the humanistic perspectives presented, this paper also offers a multidisciplinary approach in its discussion, drawing from areas such as business and medicine.


2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariya Anatolievna Molodchik ◽  
Elena Anatolievna Shakina ◽  
Angel Barajas

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the plausibility of six elements of IC and justify the measurement ability of a set of indicators based on publicly available data for each of the proposed element in order to provide tools to managers for their decision-making process in knowledge management (KM). Design/methodology/approach – Core company's intangibles are combined into six intellectual capital (IC) elements that appear after the division of each of the traditional components (human, structural and relational capital (RC)). The human capital includes management and human resources capabilities (HRC). Structural capital is divided into innovation and internal process capabilities (IPC). RC contains networking capabilities and customer loyalty. In drawing on the relevant literature each element is described through a set of indicators collected from publicly available data. The validity of proposed IC model is justified through structural equation modeling. Each element is tested on a sample of more than 1,650 listed European companies over the period of 2004-2011. Findings – The study gives empirical support of three component IC structure and its decomposition into second level. The findings reveal that implementation of KM plays a significant role for HRC as well as for IPC. Research limitations/implications – The analysis was conducted for a particular sample that may restrict the conclusions. Practical implications – The proposed measurements for intangibles can be applied by any company for benchmarking and comparative analysis in KM. Originality/value – The study provides empirical justification of metrics for intangibles allowing a better route in an economy driven by knowledge.


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