Distinctive Competencies Research Articles

Internet self-efficacy moderates the association of information technology ability with successful ageing among older employees in three African samples

The literature suggests that two distinct competencies [i.e., information technology ability (ITA), and internet self-efficacy] are necessary for the effective use of information technologies for successful ageing, but no study has examined the association of these skills on successful ageing and its domains (i.e., illness avoidance, functioning, and engagement with life). This study investigated whether Internet Self-Efficacy (ISE) moderates the potential association of ITA with successful ageing. The study adopted a cross-sectional design based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist and includes measures against confounding and common methods bias. The participants were 1186 older workers aged 50 years or older in three African countries (Kenya = 350; Nigeria = 260; Ghana = 576). The minimum sample size necessary was calculated, and data were analysed with hierarchical linear regression analysis. After controlling for the covariates, ITA and ISE had a positive association with successful ageing as well as illness avoidance, functioning, and engagement with life in the whole sample. ITA was also positively associated with successful ageing and its domains in Kenya and Ghana. The associations of ITA with successful ageing and its domains were positively moderated by ISE in the whole sample and within each of the three samples. Higher ITA can be associated with successful ageing among working older adults, and ITA positively influences successful ageing at different levels of ISE. Older adults with high ITA are more likely to avoid illness at a higher ISE.

Metrics With Performance Indicators Used For Calculating the Mapping Strength of Course Outcome With Program Outcome

Abstract : Outcome-Based Education (OBE) worldwide plays a pivotal role in enhancing academic standards by equipping students with problemsolving skills. To effectively assess the quality of education, it is essential to intricately map courses with specific program objectives (POs). The AICTE introduced a comprehensive exam reform policy in 2018, aiming to enhance assessment methodologies. This innovative approach involves categorizing each Program Outcome (PO) into distinct competencies and subsequently breaking down each competency into a specific number of performance indicators. This innovation enables a more nuanced evaluation of educational outcomes. In this context, a developed metric proves instrumental in aligning the data structure course with relevant performance indicators (PIs). This systematic mapping ensures that educational programs align with desired outcomes, fostering a dynamic and responsive learning environment conducive to addressing complex challenges. Keywords : Performance indicators, Competencies, Course outcome, Program outcome

Social services and healthcare personnel’s digital competence profiles: A Finnish cross-sectional study

BackgroundRecent research has highlighted the deficiencies and variations in the digital competences of social services and healthcare personnel. Yet there is a shortage of data regarding how the personnel use digital devices and solutions and their attitudes towards digitalisation. Hence, a systematic investigation into digital devices and solutions in healthcare is warranted. ObjectivesThis study aimed to analyse the similarities and differences in digital competences and organisational support among healthcare personnel, focusing on using digital applications and services. The primary research question was to investigate what kinds of digital competence profiles are identifiable through social services and healthcare personnel self-assessments. MethodsThe survey was conducted in the Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland at the end of 2023. It utilised validated self-assessment methods and garnered 643 responses from social services and healthcare professionals. Data analysis involved quantitative cluster analysis for grouping participants and qualitative content analysis for describing the clusters. ResultsThe study resulted in a final model of seven clusters that presented distinct digital competence profiles with relatively even sizes. These clusters represented the different aspects of digital usage among social services and healthcare professionals. They could be categorised into three overarching profiles: 1) Motivated digital experts, 2) Burdened digital users and 3) Frustrated survivors. Motivated digital experts comprised up almost half of the respondents (45.1%). Still, the findings also facilitated identifying of a small group of Frustrated survivors (7.5%) who represented burdened and stressed digital users. ConclusionsThe results indicate significant variances in digital competence profiles among employees. Social services and healthcare personnel perceive the opportunities and challenges associated with digital applications and services differently. Further detailed research into the disparities between digital competence profiles is necessary, particularly regarding the types of support that benefit different profiles the most.

Unleashing potential: how alpha female status shape extra-role performance across life's stages and marital roles

PurposeThe present study examines the interplay between age, marital status, alpha female status and various adaptive performance dimensions among a cohort of 380 female professionals.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a positivist approach to collect and analyse the data, utilizing appropriate statistical techniques to explore the relationships between the variables of interest.FindingsThe study elucidates the significant role of alpha female status in predicting adaptive performance. It finds that alpha females possess distinct competencies, particularly in learning and training, indicative of proactive behaviour and self-efficacy. While older participants tend to demonstrate higher performance levels, the study reveals no significant correlation between age and alpha female status, suggesting that leadership traits may develop independently of age. Furthermore, marital status exerts a modest influence on adaptive performance. The interplay of age and marital status significantly affects adaptive performance, potentially due to the Cumulative Advantage Paradigm, which is the accumulation of advantages or disadvantages throughout an individual's life course.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by providing a nuanced understanding of how demographic factors converge to influence adaptive performance in professional settings. It highlights the importance of recognising and nurturing alpha females in organizations and considering the interactions between age and marital status when designing career development programmes and support systems.

Strategic Thinking: A Resource to Generate Value and Cross the Valley of Death of SMEs

The most challenging period for a company is the first three years following its inception, a period often referred to as the "valley of death." This article examines the factors contributing to the high mortality rate of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the town of Melipilla, Chile, and presents potential strategies for reducing or preventing this mortality. The study employs an exploratory-descriptive approach, utilizing a qualitative methodology and a cross-sectional sample size collected through convenience sampling and semi-structured interviews. Upon analysis of the aforementioned data, it becomes evident that contemporary SMEs have more convenient access to capital, technology, information, and financing. These resources, which were once considered distinctive and crucial for competitive advantage, are no longer as pivotal in generating value. Conversely, the findings highlight the pivotal role of human resources and their strategic management in developing distinctive competencies, which are essential for SMEs to create value and ensure long-term sustainability.

An examination of Emotional Intelligence disparities between first-year B.Sc. Students choosing Physical Education and BCA students: a Comparative Analysis

This research paper explores the dimensions of Emotional Intelligence (EI) among first-year college students in two distinct academic disciplines: Physical Education within the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) program and Computer Applications (BCA). Recognizing the potential impact of educational choices on emotional competencies, the study investigates whether students in these fields exhibit nuanced differences in EI. The focus arises from the divergent curricular emphases, with Physical Education emphasizing physical wellness, teamwork, and leadership, while BCA delves into the complexities of computer science. Emotional Intelligence is contextualized as a crucial factor in academic, personal, and professional realms, encompassing self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills. The objectives involve both analysis and comparison of EI between the two groups of students. The research employed a survey method with random sampling of 40 male students from Holkar Science College, Indore, aged 18-21. Emotional Intelligence was measured using the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) developed by Anukul Hyde, Sanjyot Pethe, and Upindar Dhar (2005). Descriptive statistics and the Independent T-test were applied for analysis. Results: reveal no significant differences in the ten factors of Emotional Intelligence between B.Sc. students in Physical Education and those pursuing BCA. The study concludes that, based on the statistical analysis, the chosen academic path does not lead to a significant variance in Emotional Intelligence levels among these first-year students. This finding contributes to our understanding of how different academic trajectories may not necessarily shape distinct emotional competencies during this crucial phase of higher education.

Turfgrass Management Professional Development Needs Assessment of Extension Agents

Turfgrass management includes many different components and without proper management turfgrass aesthetics will diminish. In addition, mismanagement of turfgrass systems could lead to negative environmental impacts. This situation creates the need for Extension agents to deliver turfgrass management educational and outreach programs to the various stakeholders and the general public. However, Extension agents require professional development in terms of turfgrass management. A needs assessment of [State] Extension agents was conducted at the University of Florida to determine the professional development needs relating to turfgrass management. Through this needs assessment, there were 51 individual competencies identified that were categorized into nine distinct competency domains. In general, the highest priority relative to professional development needs were related to the pest management (i.e., disease, insect, weeds, and nematodes) competency domains. Extension specialists can use the information from this needs assessment to adjust current and tailor new turfgrass management professional development programs to address the identified needs with the highest priority [i.e., greatest mean weighted discrepancy score (MWDS)]. Professional development programs could include creating new or adjusting educational materials and resources for the needs identified, in-service trainings for Extension agents to provide additional education, series of academies to provide baseline knowledge to Extension agents, and an online database to provide information and guidance. In addition, the results and needs identified from this needs assessment can be used as a basis for obtaining educational funding.

The perceived influence of Christian leadership competencies during COVID-19

Purpose: Surviving the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic required much of leaders. It highlighted the complexities of faith in the workplace. Christian business leaders drew on their faith to influence employees’ work intentions and behaviours through specific leadership competencies. This study aimed to gain insights into the leadership competencies of Christian leaders during COVID-19 and its perceived influence on colleagues’ values and workplace behaviour through the leaders’ integration of faith and work.Design/methodology/approach: The study used a qualitative, grounded theory approach with semi-structured interviews to collect data. Participants (N = 14) were full-time Christian leaders selected through purposeful, convenient, and snowball sampling.Findings/results: The findings indicated that Christian business leaders exhibited distinctive leadership competencies attributed to their faith. These competencies allowed them to express their beliefs to co-workers in ways that surpassed verbal communication.Practical implications: Organisations should consider implementing leadership development programmes focusing on integrating faith and values into leadership practices. Providing Christian leaders with tools and resources to align their leadership approach with their spiritual beliefs can enhance their ability to create a positive and ethical workplace culture.Contribution/value-add: Although no study has directly explored religion’s role in dealing with pandemics, understanding the impact of beliefs such as Christian religiosity on work can complement management and organisational practices. The findings contribute to leadership studies by laying the groundwork for future investigation into the role of faith integration in leadership behaviours and outcomes.

Text-guided distillation learning to diversify video embeddings for text-video retrieval

Conventional text-video retrieval methods typically match a video with a text on a one-to-one manner. However, a single video can contain diverse semantics, and text descriptions can vary significantly. Therefore, such methods fail to match a video with multiple texts simultaneously. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to tackle this one-to-many correspondence problem in text-video retrieval. We devise diverse temporal aggregation and a multi-key memory to address temporal and semantic diversity, consequently constructing multiple video embedding paths from a single video. Additionally, we introduce text-guided distillation learning that enables each video path to acquire meaningful distinct competencies in representing varied semantics. Our video embedding approach is text-agnostic, allowing the prepared video embeddings to be used continuously for any new text query. Experiments show our method outperforms existing methods on four datasets. We further validate the effectiveness of our designs with ablation studies and analyses on diverse video embeddings.

Transforming the Roots of Competitive Advantage: The New Strategy of ASEAN Firms Post-COVID-19

Research has identified factors like dynamic capabilities and distinctive competencies that contribute to competitive advantages. However, these factors often underperform in turbulent situations like the current global pandemic, making it hard to maintain a competitive edge. This study aims to establish a new foundation for competitive advantage post-pandemic. We hypothesize that pandemic leadership and resilience systems enhance the link between distinctive competencies and competitive advantage. Using structural equation modeling on a sample of 200 ASEAN multinational firms, we found a positive relationship between dynamic capabilities and competitive advantage via distinctive competencies. Additionally, pandemic leadership and resilience systems beneficially moderate this relationship. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the critical roles of pandemic leadership and resilience systems in sustaining competitive advantage during crises.

Macao’s Potential to Participate in Aircraft Financial Leasing Between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries

ABSTRACT This research focuses on examining the feasibility of aircraft financial leasing transactions between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, taking into account Macao’s growing finance sector. The objective of the study is to enhance Macao’s position as a Sino-Portuguese platform, with a particular emphasis on its role in Sino-Portuguese routes. Interviews were conducted with ten strategically chosen individuals representing key perspectives, and content analysis was performed. Based on the interview results and the analysis of resources in terms of Value, Rarity, Inimitability, and Organization (VRIO) within Macao’s context, two strategic plans were proposed. The study identifies promising prospects for the development of the aircraft financial leasing sector in Macao, leveraging key trends and the unique combination of VRIO resources and distinctive competencies available in Macao. The proposed strategic plans and their potential implementation are discussed. This study is among the first to apply resource-based theory to the aircraft financial leasing sector while integrating the VRIO framework to identify Macao’s competitive advantages in this area. Additionally, the research contributes to scholarly knowledge of the strategic visioning process. Furthermore, aircraft financial leasing has positive impacts on the tourism and hospitality industry in Macao.

CPT1A loss disrupts BCAA metabolism to confer therapeutic vulnerability in TP53-mutated liver cancer

Driver genomic mutations in tumors define specific molecular subtypes that display distinct malignancy competence, therapeutic resistance and clinical outcome. Although TP53 mutation has been identified as the most common mutation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), current understanding on the biological traits and therapeutic strategies of this subtype has been largely unknown. Here, we reveal that fatty acid β oxidation (FAO) is remarkable repressed in TP53 mutant HCC and which links to poor prognosis in HCC patients. We further demonstrate that carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1A), the rate-limiting enzyme of FAO, is universally downregulated in liver tumor tissues, and which correlates with poor prognosis in HCC and promotes HCC progression in the de novo liver tumor and xenograft tumor models. Mechanically, hepatic Cpt1a loss disrupts lipid metabolism and acetyl-CoA production. Such reduction in acetyl-CoA reduced histone acetylation and epigenetically reprograms branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) catabolism, and leads to the accumulation of cellular BCAAs and hyperactivation of mTOR signaling. Importantly, we reveal that genetic ablation of CPT1A renders TP53 mutant liver cancer mTOR-addicted and sensitivity to mTOR inhibitor AZD-8055 treatment. Consistently, Cpt1a loss in HCC directs tumor cell therapeutic response to AZD-8055. ConclusionOur results show genetic evidence for CPT1A as a metabolic tumor suppressor in HCC and provide a therapeutic approach for TP53 mutant HCC patients.

Scaled performance on the Vascular Qualifying Examination does not correlate with Vascular Certifying Examination first attempt pass in a national cohort of residents and fellows

BackgroundSpecialty board certification is an important indicator of surgeon competence and necessary for residency and fellowship programs to maintain accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Thus, identification of trainees at risk of board certification failure is important for both vascular surgery graduates and their parent program. We sought to examine the correlation of Vascular Qualifying Examination (VQE) performance on first-time pass achievement of the Vascular Certifying Examination (VCE). MethodsWe used American Board of Surgery data to examine predictive associations of a national longitudinal cohort of all vascular surgery integrated residents (VIRs) and vascular surgery fellows (VSFs) who completed the VQE and VCE from 2016 through 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to examine trends. We used χ2 tests to examine proportional group differences. Predictive associations between VQE scaled score performance and first-time pass achievement on subsequent VCE attempts were examined using logistic regression. ResultsVQE scaled score performance and VCE pass rates were obtained for all VIRs and VSFs (n = 579; 175 residents and 404 fellows) from 151 programs (48 residency and 103 fellowship) during the study period. First-attempt pass rate for the VQE was 96% in the study cohort, and first-attempt pass rate for the VCE was 94%. There were no significant differences in pass-fail rates in VQE and VCE for VIR and VSF candidates (P = .210 and P = .116, respectively). Trainee scaled score performance on the VQE was not predictive of subsequent first-attempt pass achievement on VCE (odds ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.01; P = .077). Stratified subgroup analyses by VIR and VSF cohorts also showed no significant predictive first-attempt VCE pass achievement (P = .190 and P = .094, respectively). ConclusionsIn this national cohort of vascular trainees taking the VQE and VCE, VQE performance was not predictive of subsequent VCE first-time pass achievement. This finding highlights the necessity to identify other measures of trainee competence to indicate the preparedness of trainees for board certification examinations. Furthermore, this may be reflective of the ability to assess distinctive competencies between the two examinations, with the VQE focused on medical knowledge and the VCE on clinical judgment and interpersonal communication skills, thus broadening assessment of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies to ensure certification of vascular surgeons possessing both the knowledge and judgment necessary to maintain high-quality standards within our specialty.

Evidence-based healthcare competence of social- and healthcare educators: A cross-sectional study.

The purpose of the study was to describe social and healthcare educators' evidence-based healthcare competence and explore the associated factors. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out. The research spanned 5 universities, 19 universities of applied sciences, and 10 vocational colleges in Finland from September to December 2022. Social and healthcare educators (n = 256), of which 21 worked at universities, 176 worked at universities of applied sciences, and 49 worked at vocational colleges. Data collection employed a self-assessed instrument that was designed to measure evidence-based healthcare competence based on the JBI Model of Evidence-based Healthcare. Competence profiles were formed using K-cluster grouping analysis. The educators' self-evaluations of their level of evidence-based healthcare competence were generally at a satisfactory level, with subsequent analyses identifying four distinct profiles of evidence-based healthcare competence. The profiles demonstrated statistically significant differences in terms of evidence synthesis and evidence transfer competencies. The factors associated with evidence-based healthcare competence included level of education, the year in which a professional had obtained their highest degree, current organization of employment, and participation in continuing education. Educators require various types of support for developing high levels of evidence-based healthcare competence. The identification of distinct competence profiles can be pivotal to providing educators with training that is tailored to their exact needs to provide an individualized learning path. WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: Educators value the role of evidence in teaching, which reinforces the need to integrate aspects of the JBI Model of evidence-based healthcare into educators' competencies. Aspects of the JBI Model of evidence-based healthcare have not been holistically measured, with only certain components of the model considered separately. Educators need to better understand the global healthcare environment so they can identify research gaps and subsequently develop healthcare systems through their educational role. Higher academic education, work experience, organizational support, and continuous education play essential roles in the development of educators' evidence-based healthcare competence. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: Educators generally have high levels of competence in evidence-based healthcare. Educators have mastered the different components of the JBI model of evidence-based healthcare but need to improve in areas such as the transfer and implementation of evidence. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE AN IMPACT?: Determining evidence-based healthcare competence profiles for educators can be used to provide individualized learning paths for the development of evidence-based healthcare competence. Educators need to further develop their competence in evidence-based healthcare to ensure successful implementation and high-quality education in the future. No patient or public contribution.

Advancing Corporate Social Responsibility: Development of a Measurement Scale Unveiling Organizational Citizenship Behaviors in Culturally Diverse Environments

Abstract Objective The modern concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly becoming integrated into the practices of organizations. One of the distinctive individual competencies in CSR is the ability to work in a multicultural environment. This study proposes a suitable empirical measurement tool that facilitates understanding organizational citizenship behaviors focused on cultural diversity (OCBCs). Methodology To validate the OCBC measure, 980 participants completed the questionnaire (n = 980). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on one part of the sample as a prerequisite to a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the other part of the sample. Finding This tool enabled the identification of two main types of OCBCs: cultural initiative and cultural helping. These actions enhance organizational practices for integrating cultural diversity and promoting diverse cultural values. Value Added This study furthers the understanding of OCBCs and the role of individuals in culturally diverse contexts. This study contributes to international human resource management research and practice by developing an instrument for use in expatriate contexts or in those associated with organizational cultural diversity. It provides a deeper look at OCBs and contributes to the scientific literature on the role of human resources in promoting sustainable development in organizations. Recommendations The OCBCs measurement tool could assist human resource managers seeking to encourage and facilitate the performance of appropriate OCBCs in the workplace. This performance will allow OCBCs to facilitate informal learning.

Strategic innovation system and firm innovation performance: empirical analysis based on dynamic capabilities and knowledge base view

ABSTRACT The accelerating pace of consumer and market demand poses a substantial challenge for firms aiming to develop knowledge-intensive strategies to address demand gaps. These strategies are designed to establish and maintain competitive advantage by innovatively leveraging their competencies and capabilities. This study employs the dynamic capabilities and knowledge capabilities views to investigate the impact of strategic innovation systems (SIS) on firm innovation performance (FIP). To achieve this objective, the study analyzes the integration of knowledge into the innovation process to assess the influence of strategic systems on innovation performance. The research hypotheses were evaluated using a quantitative research design involving 111 SMEs in China. The findings reveal a negative impact of both SIS and distinct competencies (DC) on firm innovation performance. Furthermore, SIS demonstrated a positive influence on product innovation. Additionally, the mediation analysis showed an indirect effect of SIS on firm innovation performance through product innovation. Moreover, DC and externalities displayed mediating effects. These findings contribute to the literature on strategic systems and innovation performance by providing practical recommendations for managers seeking to enhance innovation performance.

Fleshing Out the Strength of Weakness: Intercorporeality in the Theological Discourse on Disability

AbstractIn the context of theological interpretations of disabilities, I am arguing for the concept of “strength in weakness.” So far, a “theology of weakness,” which portrays people with disabilities as pointedly illustrating universal human weakness, has played a very prominent role in the field. I argue that this theological interpretation of disabilities should not be the dominant one. I trace the alternative model of “strength in weakness” in discussing writings by the apostle Paul and describe how it is supported by the anthropological concept of intercorporeality. Yet first, the article discusses Stanley Hauerwas’s theology of disability, which is not only a very pointed theology of weakness but also repeatedly associates disabilities with suffering. Since at least the latter aspect is in contrast with widespread self-perceptions among people with disabilities, a theology of weakness amounts to a “narrative prosthesis” (David Mitchell and Sharon Snyder). By contrast, Paul suggests that weakness can allow for distinct strengths. To flesh out distinctive competences of people with intellectual disabilities, I then discuss Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s concept of intercorporeality. Intercorporeality denotes a human competence more generally, but I suggest that it is often partly eclipsed by social norms. However, people with intellectual disabilities often pay less attention to social norms, which helps explain a distinctive intercorporeal competence among people with intellectual disabilities. Reduced attention to social norms can imply a distinctive strength.

Educating for a Just World: Empowering K-12 Students as Global Democratic Digital Citizens

Given the incredible growth in online activity since the global pandemic, there is a need for an updated approach to digital citizenship education that positions students as critical designers and producers who use their learning to inform, to support, and to offer opportunities for change in their communities. In this paper, we examine some of the recent conceptualizations of digital citizenship, human rights education, and global citizenship to identify their intersections and move toward the development of a Global Democratic Digital Citizenship framework for K-12 education. We argue that current frameworks target distinct skills and competencies that enable individualistic performance of global and digital citizenship actions but neglect the development of democratic characteristics and the ways in which these are mediated by digital technologies. Students must understand how to engage respectfully with others, make their voice heard, become interculturally intelligent, and act responsibly and democratically online. Citizenship entails participation in representative democracy; therefore, citizenship education must empower youth to actively engage in local and global democratic processes through both physical and digital channels.

Assessment of Dental Student Satisfaction after Internships in Collaborative Dental Practices in Saxony-A Retrospective Questionnaire Analysis.

The goal for dental students of a university-based program should be to learn about practice procedures in a dental office as part of their studies in order to gain insight into day-to-day activities, such as organizational management, patient communication, and problem-solving strategies. All dental students from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Dresden in Germany, who completed a one-week internship in an external dental office in the last year before taking the final exam, were invited to participate in the survey (total n = 182 in years 2017-2019 and 2022). After completing the internship, the students were asked to anonymously rate the distinctive competencies they had acquired during their dental studies in terms of clinical and social communication skills. The results of the survey showed a good practicability of the acquired dental knowledge and a general satisfaction of students during their internships. No significant influence of the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting special regulations in dental practices during the pandemic on student satisfaction was found. Students were more satisfied with their completed internships in smaller cities. Therefore, a stronger inclusion of practices outside the big cities should be considered in the current implementation of the new Dental Licensure Act in Germany.

Cellular and microenvironmental cues that promote macrophage fusion and foreign body response.

During the foreign body response (FBR), macrophages fuse to form foreign body giant cells (FBGCs). Modulation of FBGC formation can prevent biomaterial degradation and loss of therapeutic efficacy. However, the microenvironmental cues that dictate FBGC formation are poorly understood with conflicting reports. Here, we identified molecular and cellular factors involved in driving FBGC formation in vitro. Macrophages demonstrated distinct fusion competencies dependent on monocyte differentiation. The transition from a proinflammatory to a reparative microenvironment, characterised by specific cytokine and growth factor programmes, accompanied FBGC formation. Toll-like receptor signalling licensed the formation of FBGCs containing more than 10 nuclei but was not essential for cell-cell fusion to occur. Moreover, the fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk influenced FBGC development, with the fibroblast secretome inducing macrophages to secrete more PDGF, which enhanced large FBGC formation. These findings advance our understanding as to how a specific and timely combination of cellular and microenvironmental factors is required for an effective FBR, with monocyte differentiation and fibroblasts being key players.