Work-worlds colliding: Self-reflexivity, power and emotion in organizational ethnography

While organizational ethnographers have embraced the concept of self-reflexivity, problems remain. In this article we argue that the prevalent assumption that self-reflexivity is the sole responsibility of the individual researcher limits its scope for understanding organizations. To address this, we propose an innovative method of collective reflection that is inspired by ideas from cultural and feminist anthropology. The value of this method is illustrated through an analysis of two ethnographic case studies, involving a ‘pair interview’ method. This collective approach surfaced self-reflexive accounts, in which aspects of the research encounter that still tend to be downplayed within organizational ethnographies, including emotion, intersubjectivity and the operation of power dynamics, were allowed to emerge. The approach also facilitated a second contribution through the conceptualization of organizational ethnography as a unique endeavour that represents a collision between one ‘world of work’: the university, with a second: the researched organization. We find that this ‘collision’ exacerbates the emotionality of ethnographic research, highlighting the refusal of ‘researched’ organizations to be domesticated by the specific norms of academia. Our article concludes by drawing out implications for the practice of self-reflexivity within organizational ethnography.

Out-group trust, intergroup anxiety, and out-group attitude as mediators of the effect of imagined intergroup contact on intergroup behavioural tendencies.

We investigated whether imagining contact with an out-group member would change behavioral tendencies toward the out-group. In Experiment 1, British high school students who imagined talking to an asylum seeker reported a stronger tendency to approach asylum seekers than did participants in a control condition. Path analysis revealed this relationship was mediated by out-group trust and, marginally, by out-group attitude. In Experiment 2, straight undergraduates who imagined an interaction with a gay individual reported a stronger tendency to approach, and a weaker tendency to avoid, gay people. Path analyses showed that these relationships were mediated by out-group trust, out-group attitude, and less intergroup anxiety. These findings highlight the potential practical importance of imagined contact and important mediators of its effects.

Electrical conductivity and glass formation in nitrile-functionalized pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids: chain length and odd–even effects of the alkyl spacer between the pyrrolidinium ring and the nitrile group

The electrical conductivity of a series of pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids, functionalized with a nitrile (cyano) group at the end of an alkyl chain attached to the cation, was studied in the temperature range between 173 K and 393 K. The glass formation of the ionic liquids is influenced by the length of the alkyl spacer separating the nitrile function from the pyrrolidinium ring. The electrical conductivity and the viscosity do not show a monotonic dependence on the alkyl spacer length, but rather an odd-even effect. An explanation for this behavior is given, including the potential energy landscape picture for the glass transition.

Repackaging Prostate Cancer Support Group Research Findings: An e-KT Case Study

n the context of psychosocial oncology research, disseminating study findings to a range of knowledge “end-users” can advance the well-being of diverse patient subgroups and their families. This article details how findings drawn from a study of prostate cancer support groups were repackaged in a knowledge translation website—www.prostatecancerhelpyourself.ubc.ca—using Web 2.0 features. Detailed are five lessons learned from developing the website: the importance of pitching a winning but feasible idea, keeping a focus on interactivity and minimizing text, negotiating with the supplier, building in formal pretests or a pilot test with end-users, and completing formative evaluations based on data collected through Google™ and YouTube™ Analytics. The details are shared to guide the e-knowledge translation efforts of other psychosocial oncology researchers and clinicians.

Political Violence and Adolescent Out-group Attitudes and Prosocial Behaviors: Implications for Positive Inter-group Relations

The negative impact of political violence on adolescent adjustment is well established. Less is known about factors that affect adolescents' positive outcomes in ethnically divided societies, especially influences on prosocial behaviors toward the out-group, which may promote constructive relations. For example, understanding how inter-group experiences and attitudes motivate out-group helping may foster inter-group co-operation and help to consolidate peace. The current study investigated adolescents' overall and out-group prosocial behaviors across two time points in Belfast, Northern Ireland (N = 714 dyads; 49% male; Time 1: M = 14.7, SD = 2.0, years old). Controlling for Time 1 prosocial behaviors, age, and gender, multi-variate structural equation modeling showed that experience with inter-group sectarian threat predicted fewer out-group prosocial behaviors at Time 2 at the trend level. On the other hand, greater experience of intra-group non-sectarian threat at Time 1 predicted more overall and out-group prosocial behaviors at Time 2. Moreover, positive out-group attitudes strengthened the link between intra-group threat and out-group prosocial behaviors one year later. Finally, experience with intra-group non-sectarian threat and out-group prosocial behaviors at Time 1 was related to more positive out-group attitudes at Time 2. The implications for youth development and inter-group relations in post-accord societies are discussed.

Group 6 carbene complexes derived from lithiated azoles and the crystal structure of a molybdenum thiazolinylidene complex

Fischer-type (alkoxy)azolyl carbene complexes and Ofele-Lappert-type azolylinylidene complexes were synthesised by reaction of 1-phenylpyrazol-3 -yllithium, 4-methylthiazol-2-yllithium, benzothiazol-2-yllithium, 1-methylimidazol-2-yllithium with M(CO)(5)L (L = CO, THF or Cl-; M = Cr, Mo or W) and subsequent alkylation with CF3SO3CH3. The alkylation of Fischer-type carbene complexes containing an azolyl as the organic substituent proceeded via ring opening of tetrahydrofuran. When the alkylation is carried out in THF, the carbocation CH3O(CH2)(4)(+) acts as an electrophile. Protonation rather than alkylation of coordinated imidazolyl furnished cyclic imine complexes. Changing the donor atom of a coordinated thiazole from N to C by deprotonation and alkylation afforded a carbene complex. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Periodontitis and systemic diseases:A record of discussions of working group 4 of the Joint EFP/AAP Workshop on Periodontitis and Systemic Diseases

Background There has been an explosion in research into possible associations between periodontitis and various systemic diseases and conditions. Aim To review the evidence for associations between periodontitis and various systemic diseases and conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cognitive impairment, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cancer, and to document headline discussions of the state of each field. Periodontal associations with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes were not discussed by working group 4. Results Working group 4 recognized that the studies performed to date were largely cross-sectional or case-control with few prospective cohort studies and no randomized clinical trials. The best current evidence suggests that periodontitis is characterized by both infection and pro-inflammatory events, which variously manifest within the systemic diseases and disorders discussed. Diseases with at least minimal evidence of an association with periodontitis include COPD, pneumonia, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cognitive impairment, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cancer. The working group agreed that there is insufficient evidence to date to infer causal relationships with the exception that organisms originating in the oral microbiome can cause lung infections. Conclusions The group was unanimous in their opinion that the reported associations do not imply causality, and establishment of causality will require new studies that fulfil the Bradford Hill or equivalent criteria. Precise and community-agreed case definitions of periodontal disease states must be implemented systematically to enable consistent and clearer interpretations of studies of the relationship to systemic diseases. The members of the working group were unanimous in their opinion that to develop data that best inform clinicians, investigators and the public, studies should focus on robust disease outcomes and avoid surrogate endpoints. It was concluded that because of the relative immaturity of the body of evidence for each of the purported relationships, the field is wide open and the gaps in knowledge are large. © 2013 European Federation of Periodontology and American Academy of Periodontology.

Topology synthesis of three-legged spherical parallel manipulators employing Lie group theory

Driven by the requirements of the bionic joint or tracking equipment for the spherical parallel manipulators (SPMs) with three rotational degrees-of-freedom (DoFs), this paper carries out the topology synthesis of a class of three-legged SPMs employing Lie group theory. In order to achieve the intersection of the displacement subgroups, the subgroup characteristics and operation principles are defined in this paper. Mainly drawing on the Lie group theory, the topology synthesis procedure of three-legged SPMs including four stages and two functional blocks is proposed, in which the assembly principles of three legs are defined. By introducing the circular track, a novel class of three-legged SPMs is synthesized, which is the important complement to the existing SPMs. Finally, four typical examples are given to demonstrate the finite displacements of the synthesized three-legged SPMs.