Methodological Challenges in Studying Trust in Natural Resources Management

Trust has been identified as a central characteristic of successful natural resource management (NRM), particularly in the context of implementing participatory approaches to stakeholder engagement. Trust is, however, a multi-dimensional and multi-level concept that is known to evolve recursively through time, challenging efforts to empirically measure its impact on collaboration in different NRM settings. In this communication we identify some of the challenges associated with conceptualizing and operationalizing trust in NRM field research, and pay particular attention to the inter-relationships between the concepts of trust, perceived risk and control due to their multi-dimensional and interacting roles in inter-organizational collaboration. The challenge of studying trust begins with its conceptualization, which impacts the terminology being used, thereby affecting the subsequent operationalization of trust in survey and interview measures, and the interpretation of these measures by engaged stakeholders. Building from this understanding, we highlight some of the key methodological considerations, including how trust is being conceptualized and how the associated measures are being developed, deployed, and validated in order to facilitate cross-context and cross-level comparisons. Until these key methodological issues are overcome, the nuanced roles of trust in NRM will remain unclear.

Investigating the success factors of the Nordic entrepreneurial ecosystem – talent transformation as a key process

This paper explores talent transformation from a pool of entrepreneurial talent to successful entrepreneurs as a central characteristic of a successful entrepreneurial ecosystem. To this end, we link related literature streams around cluster theory and regional innovation systems and expand them by drawing on the literature of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Starting out, we review literature on contextual factors that drive the success of entrepreneurial ecosystems and employ qualitative expert interviews to uncover nuances of a qualitative entrepreneurial ecosystem. Based on the interviews and by interlinking the factors identified in literature to have a positive influence on entrepreneurial ecosystems, we introduce talent transformation as a potential key process for the flourishing of entrepreneurial ecosystems and find the social and contextual business environment to be the main independent co-factors. By investigating the European best-practice example of the Nordic countries, we develop and introduce a three-phased talent transformation process and make concrete recommendations for entrepreneurial ecosystem development that can be applied in any geographic context.

Ambiguous Signaling in Regulatory Conversations How Miscommunication and Hierarchy Hamper Voluntary Regulatee Cooperation

This case study investigates interactions between inspectors and regulatee representatives during regulatory conversations. We study how health care inspectors pursue voluntary cooperation from internal supervisors of health care providers to alter organizational management practices. We identify ambiguity as a central characteristic of the regulatory conversations. We observe several discrepancies as inspectors display hierarchical behavior incongruent with the horizontal relationship they aim for—and incongruent with the relationship style that internal supervisors expect. Analyzing these discrepancies in terms of relationship types and associated relational signals helps explain and prevent suboptimal communication and reduced acceptance of regulators’ demands by regulatees.

Music, History, and Culture in Sephardi Jewish Prayer Chanting

This article presents the study of a Jewish liturgical genre that is performed in main sections of Jewish prayer services. This liturgical genre is called “prayer chanting”. The term refers to the musical performance by the cantor of the prose texts in Jewish prayer services. The genre of prayer chanting characterizes most Jewish liturgical traditions, and its central characteristic is a close attachment of the musical structure to the structure of the text. The article will examine musical, cultural, and historical characteristics of prayer chanting of two Sephardi Jewish traditions and will explain how this liturgical genre reflects historical and cultural features related to these liturgical traditions. The study presented here is based on field work that includes recordings of prayer and interviews of well-known cantors of the two traditions as well as observations in synagogue of the two liturgical traditions.

Gemeinsam verschieden unterwegs

Die Wissenschaft-Praxis-Kommunikation stellt in Design-Based Research (DBR)-Projekten ein zentrales Charakteristikum dar. Der Artikel diskutiert auf Basis eines konkreten DBR-Projekts mögliche Ausgestaltungsformen dieser Kommunikation und die damit verbundenen Mehrwerte und Herausforderungen. Beim referenzierten Projekt handelt es sich um die Entwicklung einer Lernumgebung zur Förderung der Entwicklung berufsrelevanter Selbst- und Sozialkompetenzen im Bachelorstudiengang Soziale Arbeit der Berner Fachhochschule. Das Vorgehen zur Entwicklung des anvisierten Lehr-Lern-Settings erfolgte dabei in Orientierung am Paradigma der Gestaltungsforschung. Der Zusammenarbeit mit unterschiedlichen Anspruchsgruppen wie den Coachs und Studierenden wurde dabei grosse Bedeutung zugesprochen. Die Wissenschaft-Praxis-Kommunikation wurde in den verschiedenen Projektphasen unterschiedlich ausgestaltet. Sie umfasste mitunter Einzelinterviews, Fokusgruppen sowie schriftliche Experteneinschätzungen. Auch variierte über die verschiedenen Projektphasen hinweg der Intensitätsgrad der Zusammenarbeit. Besonders intensiv war die Wissenschaft-Praxis-Kommunikation anlässlich der «Design-Evaluation». Insgesamt betrachtet bot die Wissenschaft-Praxis-Kommunikation für alle Akteursgruppen (persönliche) Mehrwerte und war insbesondere für die Entwicklung und Implementierung der anvisierten Lernumgebung sowie für die Gewinnung und Validierung der wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse hilfreich und wertvoll. Die grundsätzlich als reflexiven Dialog ausgestaltete Wissenschaft-Praxis-Kommunikation ermöglichte ein kreatives Miteinander von Vertreterinnen und Vertretern des Praxisfelds und der Wissenschaft und trug zum gegenseitigen Verständnis bei. Gleichzeitig zeigte sich aber auch die Herausforderung, bei der Gewinnung und Validierung wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse eine gemeinsame Sprache zu finden und im Sinne einer vollständigen Partizipation gemeinsam für sie Verantwortung zu übernehmen. Der Artikel schliesst mit auf diesen Erfahrungen basierenden Empfehlungen für die Ausgestaltung der Wissenschaft-Praxis-Kommunikation im Rahmen von DBR-Projekten im Hochschulbereich. Communication between science and practice represents a central characteristic of Design-Based Research (DBR) projects. Based on a specific DBR project, this article discusses possible forms of this communication and the associated added value and challenges. The project in question involves the development of a learning environment to encourage the development of professionally relevant personal and social skills as part of the BSc program in social work at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. The approach for developing the envisaged learning environment was established by following the paradigm of Design-Based Research. Great importance was placed on collaborating with various stakeholders such as coaches and students. The science-practice communication took different forms in the various phases of the project: individual interviews, focus groups, as well as written expert appraisals. The level of intensity of the collaboration also varied over the course of the various project phases. The communication between science and practice was particularly intensive when the designs were evaluated. Overall, the science-practice communication provided (personal) added value to all stakeholder groups and was particularly helpful and valuable for the development and implementation of the envisaged learning environment, as well as for obtaining and validating scientific findings. The science-practice communication, which essentially took the form of reflexive dialogue, enabled creative cooperation between representatives from the field of practice and from the scientific community and contributed to mutual understanding. At the same time, however, it became evident that it was a challenge to find a common language when obtaining and validating scientific findings and to take shared responsibility for these findings by fully participating. The article concludes by making some recommendations based on these experiences for the design of science-practice communication within the context of DBR projects in higher education.

Human Polymerase δ-Interacting Protein 2 (PolDIP2) Inhibits the Formation of Human Tau Oligomers and Fibrils

A central characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other tauopathies is the accumulation of aggregated and misfolded Tau deposits in the brain. Tau-targeting therapies for AD have been unsuccessful in patients to date. Here we show that human polymerase δ-interacting protein 2 (PolDIP2) interacts with Tau. With a set of complementary methods, including thioflavin-T-based aggregation kinetic assays, Tau oligomer-specific dot-blot analysis, and single oligomer/fibril analysis by atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate that PolDIP2 inhibits Tau aggregation and amyloid fibril growth in vitro. The identification of PolDIP2 as a potential regulator of cellular Tau aggregation should be considered for future Tau-targeting therapeutics.

Comparing virtual vs real faces expressing emotions in children with autism: An eye-tracking study

Difficulties in processing emotional facial expressions is considered a central characteristic of children with autism spectrum condition (ASC). In addition, there is a growing interest in the use of virtual avatars capable of expressing emotions as an intervention aimed at improving the social skills of these individuals. One potential use of avatars is that they could enhance facial recognition and guide attention. However, this aspect needs further investigation. The aim of our study is to assess differences in eye gaze processes in children with ASC when they see avatar faces expressing emotions compared to real faces. Eye-tracking methodology was used to compare the performance of children with ASC between avatar and real faces. A repeated-measures general linear model was adopted to understand which characteristics of the stimuli could influence the stimuli’s fixation times. Survival analysis was performed to understand differences in exploration behaviour between avatar and real faces. Differences between emotion recognition accuracy and the number of fixations were evaluated through a paired t-test. Our results confirm that children with autism have higher capacities to process and recognize emotions when these are presented by avatar faces. Children with autism are more attracted to the mouth or the eyes depending on the stimulus type (avatar or real) and the emotion expressed by the stimulus. Also, they are more attracted to avatar faces expressing negative emotions (anger and sadness), and to real faces expressing surprise. Differences were not found regarding happiness. Finally, they show a higher degree of exploration of avatar faces. All these elements, such as interest in the avatar and reduced attention to the eyes, can offer important elements in planning an efficient intervention.

Supply chain viability: conceptualization, measurement, and nomological validation

Supply chain viability (SCV) is an emerging concept of growing importance in operations management. This paper aims to conceptualize, develop, and validate a measurement scale for SCV. SCV is first defined and operationalized as a construct, followed by content validation and item measure development. Data have been collected through three independent samplings comprising a total of 558 respondents. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are used in a step-wise manner for scale development. Reliability and validity are evaluated. A nomological model is theorized and tested to evaluate nomological validity. For the first time, our study frames SCV as a novel and distinct construct. The findings show that SCV is a hierarchical and multidimensional construct, reflected in organizational structures, organizational resources, dynamic design capabilities, and operational aspects. The findings reveal that a central characteristic of SCV is the dynamic reconfiguration of SC structures in an adaptive manner to ensure survival in the long-term perspective. This research conceptualizes and provides specific, validated dimensions and item measures for SCV. Practitioner directed guidance and suggestions are offered for improving SCV during the COVID-19 pandemic and future severe disruptions.

“It’s Going to be Out There For a Long Time”: The Influence of Message Persistence on Users’ Political Opinion Expression in Social Media

In light of the growing politicization of social media, the spiral of silence theory and its predictions on the conditions under which individuals express political opinions have gained increasing scholarly attention. This study contributes to this line of research by identifying the influence of a central characteristic of social media: message persistence. It was expected that high technical durability of political messages reduces users’ propensity to voice their opinion, moderating the silence effect. A pre-registered experiment ( N = 772) revealed a small-to-medium persistence effect in three out of four topical contexts. While perceived congruence with the opinion climate was not associated with the likelihood of opinion expression, the latter could be explained by a mental cost-benefit calculus that was shaped by message persistence. Theoretical implications are discussed referring to (a) a situational approach regarding silencing processes on social media and (b) its connection to a behavioral calculus of human communication.

“Deeds, Not Words”: Right-Wing Terrorism in Twentieth-Century Europe

This chapter focuses on the manifestations and characteristics of right-wing terrorism in twentieth-century Europe, particularly on developments in Germany and Italy. When viewed from a comparative perspective, a central characteristic for right-wing terrorism is the Tatglaube, the faith in deeds. Although the worldview justifying such terrorism is grounded in racism, ethnocentrism, and nationalistic concepts of superiority, the decisive factor is violence as an end in itself, a violence that generally forgoes any justifying pattern of argument and strives to annihilate the enemy physically. The repertoire of actions taken and the formulized language of right-wing terrorism have remained largely unchanged throughout the twists and turns of twentieth-century history. Nevertheless, it is possible to differentiate various phases of right-wing terrorism, which were also influenced, in turn, by the political and societal environment. Despite the ethnocentric and nationalistic worldview from which this terrorism springs, it also becomes evident here that right-wing terrorism has always been marked by transnational influences, particularly since the end of the twentieth century.