A Review of Coccidioides Research, Outstanding Questions in the Field, and Contributions by Women Scientists

Purpose of Review Coccidioidomycosis is an infectious disease that gained clinical significance in the early 20th century. Many of the foundational contributions to coccidioidomycosis research, including the discovery of the fungal disease agent, Coccidioides spp., were made by women. We review recent progress in Coccidioides research and big questions remaining in the field, while highlighting some of the contributions from women. Recent Findings New molecular-based techniques provide a promising method for detecting Coccidioides, which can help determine the dominate reservoir host and ideal environmental conditions for growth. Genetic and genomic analyses have allowed an understanding of population structure, species level diversity, and evolutionary histories. We present a current, comprehensive genome list, where women contributed many of these entries. Several efforts to develop a coccidioidomycosis vaccine are underway. Summary Women continue to pioneer research on Coccidioides, including the relationships between the fungi and the environment, genetics, and clinical observations. Significant questions remain in the field of Coccidioides, including the main host reservoir, the relationships between genotypic and phenotypic variation, and the underlying cause for chronic clinical coccidioidomycosis cases.

Are We Ready for Migrastatics?

Metastasis accounts for the highest mortality rates in solid tumor cancer patients. However, research and development have neglected this most lethal characteristic and, instead, have concentrated on the hallmarks of cancer that make tumor cells highly proliferative and distinctive from nonmalignant cells. The concentration on invasion and metastasis can be one of the most meaningful advancements in cancer investigation. Importantly, metastasis-free survival (MFS) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a novel primary endpoint in clinical trials and has been used to evaluate the prognosis of patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and soft tissue sarcoma. This new definition enables to shift the focus of research and development in cancer therapeutics toward metastasis and to change the emphasis from using tumor shrinkage as a benchmark for indicating the efficacy of treatment to using MFS as a more representative endpoint for antimetastatic drugs. This perspective outlines the possibility to use this novel endpoint in other solid cancers, and examples of large clinical trials are given in which MFS is defined as an endpoint and/or in which antimetastatic strategies are being examined. These advances now open the door for the rapid development of antimetastatic therapies, which could be used in combination with standard cytotoxic cancer therapies. With pioneer research on metastasis prevention on the rise and the underlying biomechanisms of tumor cell motility and invasion explored further than ever before, we believe an intensified focus on antimetastatic properties will shape this era of cancer translational research.

Black swan: bibliometric analysis and development of research agenda

PurposeThere has been an increasing interest amongst the researchers to work and explore, “Black Swan” events which are not well studied. However, the “Black Swan” events hold an eminent relevance amongst academicians and practitioners. The present study offers nuanced understanding of “Black Swan” events.Design/methodology/approachWe undertook an extensive bibliometric analysis of the extant literature using “Black Swan” as guiding keyword with the help of SCOPUS database.FindingsThe search for articles only yielded 59 articles. Our analyses highlight the prominent works, authors and journals. Further, this study reveal the research gaps that may help guide future scholars interested in “Black Swan” events to examine in different context.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study develops a research agenda and offers numerous research directions. Research on “Black Swan” events can be apprehended at three different stages – pre-black swan event, about black swan event and post-black swan event with identified sub-themes.Originality/valueThis paper is the pioneer research work to dedicatedly analyse the existing set of literature with “Black Swan”.

Detencja cudzoziemców jako temat badawczy i wyzwanie metodologiczne

Detention of Foreigners as a Research Topic and Methodological Challenge The paper presents the conceptual and methodological assumptions (research strategies) regarding the project “Space organisation in Polish detention centres for foreigners”. This pioneer research project studies detention centres as a total institution, which so far was outside the area of academic interest. An interdisciplinary, one-year group research project in all six guarded centres for foreigners in Poland involved an original, eclectic concept of studying the organisational culture of total institutions. This concept referred to various theoretical inspirations, such as proxemics, kinesics, symbolic interactionism, morphogenesis theory, the model of patron-client relations, the concept of morality economics, etc. Keywords: total institutions, detention of foreigners, research strategies, interdisciplinarity Streszczenie Tekst zawiera prezentację koncepcji i założeń metodologicznych (strategii badawczych) projektu „Organizacja przestrzeni w polskich ośrodkach detencyjnych dla cudzoziemców”. Jest to pionierskie przedsięwzięcie badawcze realizowane w instytucji totalnej, która do tej pory pozostawała poza oglądem przedstawicieli nauk społecznych. Roczne badania zespołowe, które przeprowadzono we wszystkich sześciu strzeżonych ośrodków dla cudzoziemców w Polsce miały charakter interdyscyplinarny, wymagały opracowania autorskiej, a zarazem eklektycznej koncepcji badania kultury organizacyjnej instytucji totalnej, odwołującej się do różnych inspiracji teoretycznych (proksemika, kinezyka, interakcjonizm symboliczny, teoria morfogenezy, koncepcja „patron-klient”, koncepcja ekonomii moralności i in.).

Attitudes of Teachers towards Principal’s Evaluations and Its Effects on Their Teaching Performances

This research is a pioneer research, which examined the attitudes and feelings of teachers to the evaluation process they go through by their principals, and the effect that the principals’ evaluation of the teachers’ work has on their function and performances on both the pedagogic and didactic levels. Two hundred and seventy three Arab and Jewish teachers, who teach at different schools, have participated in the research. A structured questionnaire has been used in the current research. Based on the literature review, seven hypotheses that produced the following findings have been formulated: the Jewish teachers express and report more positive standpoints toward the evaluation of the principals than Arab teachers. They also report that the principal conducts more evaluation processes than Arab teachers, moreover, they report that their managers make more use of the evaluation tools than Arab teachers. It was also found that the managers’ evaluation of teachers by conducting and implementing evaluation processes, improves the function and performances of the teachers on both pedagogic and didactic levels, the effect on the function of the Jewish teachers is higher than the function of the Arab teachers. Positive standpoints of teachers toward their managers’ evaluation of them, effect the teacher’s function and performances on both the pedagogic and didactic levels, regardless of nationality.

Value creation, innovation practice, and competitive advantage

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse companies listed on the FTSE MIB, in order to investigate the introduction of different types of open innovation practice as a key factor to develop a competitive advantage to pursue value creation.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. A quantitative study was conducted to determine the firms listed on the FTSE MIB that for more than 10 years have paid dividends and beat the yield of the market. The qualitative analysis was designed to provide insights into the adoption of at least one open innovation practice by the listed companies selected in the quantitative phase.FindingsThis work is based on an empirical analysis undertaken with 40 Italian companies listed on the FTSE MIB. In particular, the authors highlight 16 companies that for more than a decade have regularly paid dividends and, at the same time, have beat the FTSE MIB Index. All of these companies implemented at least one open innovation practice during the period investigated.Originality/valueThis is among the first pioneer research works based on the potential relationship among value creation, innovation practice and competitive advantage in the Italian market. This study highlights the fact that 16 out of 40 companies listed on the FTSE MIB create more value for shareholders over a long period, and all of these firms adopt different open innovation practices (e.g. partnership and collaboration with external entities; mergers and acquisitions and alliances; investment in start-ups; hackathons and call for ideas; outsourcing R&D) as a key factor to develop a sustainable competitive advantage.

Cultural Diversity in Couples and Collective Performance: Using a Culture-Based Memory Game to Measure Transactive Memory

Transactive memory refers to the way people in close relationships use each other’s memories as extensions of their own to improve their collaborative performance. Although pioneer research has been conducted among close couples, no studies have examined the effects of the cultural composition of couples on transactive memory. The goal of this study was to extend research about the positive impact of cultural diversity on team performance to mixed- (French–Moroccan) and same-culture couples (French–French, Moroccan–Moroccan). Thirty heterosexual couples aged from 22 to 55 years ( M = 42.25 years and SD = 8.15) performed a culture-based memory game with cards depicting French and Moroccan culture. The order in which the pairs of cards was found is thought to reflect the efficiency of transactive memory. Results revealed that collective performance was better in mixed French–Moroccan couples than in same-culture couples but only for the French culture cards. These findings suggest that cultural diversity in couples has an impact on transactive memory and should be taken into consideration.

Project Management Competences by Teaching and Research Staff for the Sustained Success of Engineering Education

Projects have become an essential instrument for the success of universities. In a context of globalization and increasing complexity, they must sharpen their resourcefulness to face these challenges and adapt to this changing environment. To reach these objectives, they undertake a series of activities of a unique, concrete and temporary nature, not always technical but managerial ones. If universities work with people on projects in the production, transmission and dissemination of knowledge, then they link with society to solve its problems. For this reason, teaching and research staff (TRS) should promote a range of professional project management (PM) competences in different areas for the proper management of the projects in which they take part. Through a Delphi technique, a panel of twenty-four accredited teaching experts who are carrying out significant research and holding directive roles, measured the importance of acquiring and/or improving professional PM competences by their TRS. Consensus and stability reached after two rounds of consultation confirmed there are a series of crucial competences for the practice of relevant teaching and pioneer research. Results obtained are the basis for a gap plan that allows the TRS to participate in and/or lead university projects with greater self-confidence and personal motivation.

Shareholder value and open innovation: evidence from Dividend Champions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the companies listed on the US stock market in order to investigate for the selected companies, called the Dividend Champions, the introduction of an open innovation practice. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. This research is based on an empirical analysis undertaken with 65 listed companies in order to examine, in the first phase, the Dividend Champions. These firms have increased their dividend yield for at least the past 40 years. In a second phase, this research studies the application of an open innovation practice for those listed companies that have systematically paid increased dividends for 60 years and have, at the same time, beat the market. Findings This study reveals seven listed companies that, for more than 60 years, have regularly paid growing dividends and, at the same time, have beat the yield of the market (i.e. six out of the seven companies). The latter include: American States Water, Dover Corporation, Emerson Electric, Genuine Parts Co., Parker-Hannifin Corporation and Procter & Gamble Co. All of these corporations have adopted or implemented a practice of open innovation. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is among the first pioneer research work, based on the potential relationship between shareholder value and open innovation. In particular, this paper highlights the fact that US-listed companies can create more value for shareholders over a long period and, at the same time, beat the market by adopting different open innovation practices.