Hierarchical Role Research Articles

The impact of apolipoprotein E, type ∊4 allele on Alzheimer’s disease pathological biomarkers: a comprehensive post-mortem pilot-analysis

The apolipoprotein E type ∊4 allele (ApoE4) is known as the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Meanwhile, many aspects of its impact on AD pathology remain underexplored. This study conducts a systematic data analysisof donor data from the Seattle Alzheimer’s Disease Brain Cell Atlas. Our investigation delves into the intricate interplay between identified biomarkers and their correlation with ApoE4 across all severities of AD. Employing Pearson R correlation, and one-way and two-way ANOVA tests, we elucidate the pathological changes in biomarkers and the altering effects of ApoE4. Remarkably, the phosphorylation of tau observed in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) marked by the AT8 antibody, emerges as the most correlated factor with other pathological biomarkers. This correlation is mediated by both tau and amyloid pathology, suggesting a higher hierarchical role in determining AD pathological effects than other biomarkers. However, non-ApoE4 carriers exhibit a more significant correlation with disease progression severity compared to ApoE4 carriers, though ApoE4 carriers demonstrate significance in exacerbating the effect of accumulating phosphorylated tau and amyloid plaques assessed by AT8 and 6E10 antibodies. Furthermore, our analysis does not observe dramatic neuronal changes in grey matter across the span of AD pathology. Glia activation, measured by Iba1 and GFAP, demonstrates an amyloid-specific correlation. This research marks the first human post-mortem analysis providing a comprehensive examination of prevailing AD biomarkers and their interconnectedness with pathology and ApoE4 genetic factor. Limitations in the study are acknowledged, underscoring the need for further exploration and refinement in future research endeavors.

Exploring how structural forms of power shape the training of intraprofessional collaboration between family physicians and specialty physicians in outpatient workplace settings.

Intraprofessional collaboration between family physicians (FPs) and specialist physicians (SPs) is posited to improve patient outcomes but is hindered by power dynamics. Research informing intraprofessional training on hospital wards often conceptualizes power at an interactional level. However, less is known about how social structures make these power dynamics possible. This study explores how structural forms of power shape how FP and SP supervisors engage with and teach intraprofessional collaboration in outpatient settings and to what effect. Using diabetes as a case study of intraprofessional collaboration, we conducted a discourse analysis of formal documents (written to guide how collaboration should be practiced) and interview transcripts with 15 FP and SP supervisors. Informed by governmentality and the sociology of professions, we analysed how discourses governing diabetes care shape FPs' and SPs' clinical and teaching behaviours, implications for jurisdictional boundaries and the nature of their collaborative relationships. Discourses of evidence-based medicine construct a hierarchical social structure in medicine that permeates how physicians engage with and teach intraprofessional collaboration. FPs and SPs enact and teach these hierarchical roles when collaborating in the referral-consultation process in ways that establish and reinforce jurisdictional boundaries. The interactions at the intersection of these boundaries foster a form of collaboration characterized by SPs surveilling and regulating FPs' practices. As currently constructed, intraprofessional collaboration in outpatient settings may be practiced and taught in ways that reinforce asymmetric power dynamics between FPs and SPs. Without awareness of this unintentional effect, educational attempts to advance this constructed notion of collaboration may ironically impede the achievement of collaborative ideals. Outlining the processes by which structural power permeates FPs' and SPs' collaborative behaviours opens space for educators to acknowledge and mitigate the effects of social structures on intraprofessional training in other clinical and educational contexts.

Mind in others' shoes: Neuroscientific protocol for external referent decision awareness (ERDA) in organizations.

This study investigates the neural and physiological mechanisms underlying External Referent Decision Awareness (ERDA) within organizational contexts, focusing on hierarchical roles (Head, Peer, Staff). Twenty-two professionals participated, and electroencephalographic (EEG frequency band: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma) and autonomic indices (skin conductance and cardiovascular indices) were recorded, while personality traits and decision-making styles were assessed. Results revealed higher Delta and Theta activation in the left temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) during Peer-related decisions, reflecting increased social cognition and ambiguity regulation in those contexts. Gamma activity, associated with high-order cognitive processes, was prominent in the left frontal cortex across all roles, indicating complex decision evaluation. These findings underscore the complexity of low-frequency bands (Delta and Theta), involved in emotional regulation and social cognition, while high-frequency bands (Gamma) reflect cognitive integration and decision complexity. Furthermore, autonomic data showed higher Skin Conductance Levels (SCL) for Head decisions, suggesting greater emotional involvement.The findings revealed a significant negative correlation between avoidant decision-making styles and the neural and behavioral evaluations of leader decisions, suggesting reduced engagement of neurocognitive systems involved in reward processing and evaluative judgment in individuals with a tendency to avoid decision-making. Additionally, higher extraversion correlated with more favorable evaluations of decisions made by Staff, potentially indicating greater activation in neural circuits associated with social reward and group dynamics. In conclusion, these findings suggest that neural activity and personality traits interact to shape hierarchical decision-making awareness, highlighting the need for tailored leadership and decision-making strategies in organizations.

Vestir la cabeza: tocados y adornos cefálicos en figuras antropomorfas de urnas Santamarianas de Fase IV

We inquired about the practices of "dressing the head" during the Late-Inka period in Northwest Argentina. We ask ourselves: what social categories does this field of representation relate to, what other socio-cultural practices were related to this art and how does it relate to the social reality of the time? We analyzed headdresses and cephalic ornaments represented on anthropomorphic figures from Santamarian urns of Phase IV and compared them with archaeological, ethnohistorical and ethnographic case studies from the central and southern Andean area, with emphasis on northwestern Argentina and the Amazonian and Chaco slopes. As a result, we identify eleven varieties of Santamarian cephalic ornaments, which are associated with NOA metal pieces, Aguada ceramic iconography and plumary art techniques from the Amazon and Gran Chaco. We propose that these ornaments are linked to the male gender and to hierarchical social roles, probably military, religious and/or political. Finally, we propose a set of interpretative hypotheses that allude to local strategies of social legitimization between social organizations of the NOA and the Inca state.

Evolving Dynamics of Relational Coordination: A Study of Progression of Care Huddles in Hospital Observation Services.

Health care organizations are increasingly using team huddles to enhance communication, improve patient experience, and deliver timely care. However, established practices, resource constraints, and hierarchical role dynamics can hinder the effectiveness of huddling. This study investigates the dynamics of care huddle implementation through interviews with care providers and managers of an observation unit in a U.S. hospital. Qualitative analysis of interview data reveals that huddle adoption enhances relational coordination (RC), thus highlighting the importance of both coaching interventions in fostering proactive behavior and the building of a work environment aligned toward shared goals. The findings affirm RC as a dynamic change model, examining its interplay with organizational processes and structure. The study underscores the significance of adaptations in work processes, the role of informal boundary spanners in facilitating cross-departmental coordination, and structural changes that increase autonomy for low-power actors. We offer actionable recommendations for health care organizations aiming to improve care coordination.

Manifesting learning in the workplace: an activity theoretical study of professional learning in preschool using active learning classrooms

PurposeThe purpose of this study is the development of a methodology that draws on activity theory (AT) to assess educators’ and leaders’ professional learning in a pre-school setting.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reports on a case study of professional development in an active learning classroom (ALC) where 20 professionals participated in a one-day writing workshop. AT was used to analyse the writing workshop as well as data from reflective writing, video recordings, interviews and surveys.FindingsThe paper shows that professional development is significantly influenced by a range of mediating technologies used in educational spaces such as the ALC. The mediated practice breaks normal work practice in the pre-school activity system and division of labour roles, and hierarchical positions and professional relationships. Such a break is considered to facilitate a manifestation of professional learning. However, it also poses a risk for organisational disruptions emphasising the need for diagnostic understanding when an ALC should be used for capturing workplace learning.Practical implicationsStructured writing workshops – taking place in ALCs – provide a suitable forum that breaks with routines, accelerates collective reflections and articulation of negotiated meaning and produces a common ground across hierarchical roles supporting collective professional development in the activity system.Originality/valueUnlike previous research focusing on student perspectives, this study views these spaces as settings for professionals to recognise and solve developmental problems. It suggests that structured writing workshops in ALCs can accelerate collective reflection and support collective professional development across hierarchical roles.

Enhancing Network Security in Mobile Applications with Role-Based Access Control

In today's dynamic networking environment, securing access to resources has become increasingly challenging due to the growth and progress of connected devices. This study explores the integration of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and OAuth 2.0 protocols to enhance network access management and security enforcement in an Android mobile application. The study adopts a waterfall methodology to implement access control mechanisms that govern authentication and authorization. OAuth 2.0, a widely adopted open-standard authorization framework, was implemented to secure user authentication by allowing third-party access without exposing user credentials. Meanwhile, RBAC was leveraged to streamline access permissions based on predefined user roles, ensuring that access privileges are granted according to hierarchical role structures. The main outcomes of this study show significance towards the improvements in security enforcement and user access management. Specifically, the implementation of multi-factor authentication, session timeout mechanisms, and user role-based authorization ensured robust protection of sensitive data while maintaining system usability. RBAC proved effective in controlling access to various system resources, such as database operations which was presented in scenario of physical access to doors, while OAuth 2.0 provided a secure communication channel for authentication events. These protocols, working in tandem, addressed key issues like unauthorized access, data integrity, and scalability in network security policy enforcement. This research deduces that combining RBAC and OAuth 2.0 protocols in mobile applications enhances security posture, simplifies access management, and mitigates evolving threats.

Gaming with Etiquette: Exploring Courtesy as a Game Mechanic in Speech-Based Games

As the gaming industry advances, it seeks increased immersion. Concurrently, recent advancements in speech recognition substantially enhanced its accuracy, creating opportunities for speech-based interactions in gameplay. Integrating speech into single-player games with non-player characters (NPCs) introduces a new social dimension. Yet, like toxicity in social media and multiplayer games, anti-social behavior can infiltrate NPC interactions, generating a toxic gaming atmosphere. We designed a speech-based game called “A Day at the Office” and conducted a within-subject study with 26 participants to explore player interactions with NPCs possessing different human qualities. Furthermore, we introduced courtesy-based game mechanics, where NPCs react to players’ choice of words and loudness, investigating player experiences. Results revealed that participants spoke differently with NPCs based on their human qualities, such as gender and hierarchical roles. Moreover, the courtesy-based interactions fostered greater cognitive engagement, suggesting that tactful interactions contribute to enhanced immersion and presence in the game.

Interplay between traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides and gut microbiota: The elusive "polysaccharides-bond-bacteria-enzyme" equation.

Polysaccharides are one of the most important components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and have been extensively studied for their immunomodulatory properties. The functions and effects of TCM polysaccharides are closely related to the gut microbiota, making the study of their interaction a hot topic in the field of TCM metabolism. This review follows two main inquiries: first, how the gut microbiota breaks down TCM polysaccharides to produce bioactive metabolites; and second, how TCM polysaccharides reshape the gut microbiota as a carbon source. Understanding the interaction mechanism involves a challenging equation of the structural association of TCM polysaccharides with the metabolic activities of the microbiota. This review has meticulously searched, partially organized literature spanning the past decade, that delves into the interaction mechanism between TCM polysaccharides and gut microbiota. It also gives an overview of the complex factors of the elusive "polysaccharides-bond-bacteria-enzyme" equation: the complexity of polysaccharide structures, the diversity of glycosidic bond types, the communal nature of metabolizing microbiota, the enzymes involved in functional degradation by microbiota, and the hierarchical roles of polysaccharide utilization locus and gram-positive PULs. Finally, this review aims to facilitate discussion among peers in the field of TCM microbiota and offers prospects for research in related fields, paving the way for pharmacological studies on TCM polysaccharides and gut microbiota therapeutics, and providing a reference point for further clinical research.

Gendered Differences in Acknowledgements for Doctoral Advisors at a Land-Grant University

The acknowledgements section of a doctoral dissertation provides a rare view into the student-advisor relationship. The gendered differences for how doctoral students acknowledge male and female advisors was examined in 208 dissertations from a U.S. land-grant university. Doctoral students used a greater number and diversity of words when acknowledging female advisors. Nine hierarchical thematic roles and obligations of advisors were identified and were equally represented in acknowledging male and female advisors. Doctoral students described the roles and obligations of their doctoral advisor independently of gender; however, they used gendered language, which highlights the persistence of gendered norms within academic culture.

Re-Imagining Leadership Roles beyond the Shadow of Bureaucracy

The aim of this conceptual paper is to revisit the relationship between leadership and bureaucracy. The dominant and unquestioned way of thinking about leadership is to equate it as an undertaking exercised by leaders, those officers who occupy hierarchical positions in organizations. For example, senior leadership and middle leadership in schools are often associated with formal hierarchical roles played by senior and middle leaders. However, it can be argued that this perspective is problematic, not only because it is leader-centric but also due to its limitations in explaining the phenomenon of leadership. In order to understand the relationship between leadership and bureaucracy and leadership outside of bureaucracy, the paper reviews some of the extant literature in the field, including a brief history of bureaucracy, its pervasiveness in educational institutions, and current neo-liberal policies and reforms that function effectively within bureaucratic structures. An important contribution of the paper is a synoptic conceptual model that brings together three worldviews or archetypes pertaining to bureaucracy. These are a hard-edged view (system first, people second), a soft-edged view (people first, system second) and a third worldview (issue first, people second, system third). The third worldview signals a departure from the first two archetypes as it is an illustration of leadership outside the confines of bureaucracy.

The level of conscientiousness trait and technostress: a moderated mediation model

As organizations increasingly rely on technology for the management, planning, and execution of activities and tasks. The consequence of technology use is technostress, which can ultimately affect workers’ mental and physical health. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing technostress in relation to conscientiousness and the mediating effects of organizational dehumanization based on hierarchical levels within the organization. The sample consisted of 190 adults, with the majority being teachers (57.4%). A moderated mediation analysis was employed using the PROCESS software. This study reveals that organizational dehumanization is a mechanism through which conscientiousness can foster technostress, mainly when the hierarchy level is situated at lower levels. Organizations should develop an approach to addressing technostress based on the hierarchical roles and competencies assumed by workers to promote healthier work environments and decrease the stress caused by technology.

Navigating tensions when life-sustaining treatment is withdrawn: A thematic synthesis of nurses' and physicians' experiences.

To synthesise nurses' and physicians' experiences with withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in an intensive care unit. The chosen methodology is thematic synthesis. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses and Enhancing Transparency are used in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research Statement. A systematic search is conducted in APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, EMBASE, PubMed and Web of Science following the inclusion and exclusion criteria in April 2023. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted the qualitative data. Subsequently, data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis of qualitative research. This study was not registered with any review registry due to the irrelevance of the data to health-related outcomes. From the 16 articles, 267 quotes were extracted and analysed. The findings of the study revealed five analytical themes: (1) tensions between interdependent collaboration and hierarchical roles; (2) tensions between dignified dying or therapeutic perspectives; (3) family members' reflections of patient's wishes; (4) tensions in family members' positions; and (5) double-sidedness of distress. This study contributes to nursing knowledge by providing a more nuanced understanding of this complex phenomenon of withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. The findings of this study have revealed significant variations globally in the practices surrounding the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in intensive care units, emphasising the need for further research to inform clinical practices that cater to diverse contexts. Enhancing Transparency are used in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research Statement (ENTREQ statement). Since this study reported a potential collision between the patient's dignified dying and the family member's perceptions and interests, the family member's wishes should be carefully distinguished from the patient's quality of end of life in practice.

Religious and Ethical Conception of Xiao-Filiality in Pre-Imperial China

Xiao-filiality is the most fundamental concept in the Chinese intellectual-cultural tradition. It represents not only family values but also religious, political and ethical ideologies. The conception of xiao, which originally denoted the meanings of presenting offerings to deceased ancestors and inheriting their legacy in the Shang dynasty, went through two stages of evolution from the early Zhou dynasty to the Warring States period. In the first stage, xiao was extended to ethical domain with the humanistic turn from human-spirit relationship to human-human relationship. Xiao was not only expanded to the empirical exercise of serving living parents but also established as a ritual-ethical norm that defined people’s familial, social, and hierarchical role duties and regulated their conducts of dealing with interpersonal relationships. As a result, the religious authority of paranormal ancestral spirits was transferred to the social-political authority who enforced the implement of the ritual-ethical norm of xiao. In the second stage, Confucius and his followers on the one hand recognized the importance of compliance with this prescribed ritual-ethical norm, and on the other internalized it to become the individual agent’s moral emotion and free choice. Consequently, the social-political authority was further transferred to the internal authority of moral autonomy.

HIERARCHICAL EFFECT OF ACADEMIC SELF-EFFICACY AND SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS ON SATISFACTION AND DROPOUT OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Even though distance education from the home environment has seemed comfortable and economic for students with disability in formal higher education during the pandemic, insufficiency in their academic self-efficacy, satisfaction and an increasing tendency to drop out were observed. This quantitative research is based on development of the scales and hierarchical regression analyses to determine the resources of academic self-efficacy, satisfaction and the tendency to drop out of students with disability in higher education beyond physical accessibility. The hierarchical effect of sub-dimensions of academic self-efficacy on satisfaction and the tendency to drop out and hierarchical predictor roles of socio-demographic characteristics (gender, rate of personal disability, type of disability, and four fields of study) were analysed. Some of the important findings are; self-efficacy in training, emotional well-being, technique and communication are determined as the sub-dimensions of academic self-efficacy. Self-efficacy in emotional well-being is the most effective sub-dimension of academic self-efficacy on satisfaction. Hierarchically, fields of study (social science and health sciences), rate of disability and types of disability (chronic illness and hearing disability) are effective on academic self-efficacy. The results support the decision makers to increase the quality of more inclusive higher education by considering differences based on education fields, types of disability and rate of (personal) disability and gender.

Identity and Access Control Techniques for Enhanced Data Communication in Cloud

The preservation of sensitive data and prevention of unauthorized access are critical objectives in cloud computing environments, necessitating the implementation of robust security measures. The present study delves into the amalgamation of the Hierarchical Role Based Access Control Model (HR-ACM), Composikey, a composite key encryption algorithm, and Interactive Tree Based zero knowledge protocol (ITZKP) to construct a robust security framework for cloud security. This study presents an investigation into the viability and efficacy of integrating HRACM, Composikey, and ITZKP as a means of augmenting security measures and reducing potential hazards in cloudbased systems. The execution times comparison of the Composikey, IBPRE, and KPRE models were compared for different filesizes (1 KB to 2 GB) to evaluate the performance of the HRACM method. As roles increase, RBAC a execution time increases significantly. The HRACM Method takes 0.001 to 0.002 seconds to implement across all role counts. The results show that the HRACM Method is more efficient and time-effective than the RBAC Method. The response time measured in microseconds for the existing ZKP and Libra systems for different file sizes, ranging from 1KB to 1 GB. The results reveal that the verifier time for the ITZKP system aligns closely with the existing systems, demonstrating its ability to perform efficient verification processes. These findings collectively demonstrate the potential of the integrated security framework in enhancing cloud security.

Urban vs. rural: Contrasting environmental concerns and sustainable practices in the Romanian HoReCa sector

This research questions the alignment of economic objectives with environmental management in the Romanian hospitality, restaurant and café (HoReCa) sector, with a focus on sustainable development. It juxtaposes the sector's sustainability imperatives in urban and rural settings, and discusses adaptation and resilience mechanisms against an increased global focus on environmental conservation. The sector's transition to sustainable development as a strategic imperative is examined. The urban-rural dichotomy reveals contrasting challenges: urban units face consumer-driven competition, while rural units face resource constraints and infrastructure deficits. Empirical studies suggest that regional development has a complex impact on the economic and environmental contours of the sector. The study uses a structured Likert scale questionnaire to measure environmental attitudes and practices within the sector. Data from companies were analysed using SPSS, revealing urban-rural differences in environmental commitment. Hierarchical roles within firms further delineate divergent perceptions of environmental action. The findings suggest an educational gap on environmental issues within the sector, coupled with a recognition of the urgency of more profound environmental action. The data also reflect scepticism about the current effectiveness of recycling and waste management, with varying perceptions of environmental threats. The research argues for stratified, context-specific sustainability interventions that take into account the diverse environmental perceptions of the sector and the specific socio-economic realities of Romanian localities.

Linguocultural codes: development and functioning of French honorifics

The article examines the historical development of the systems of secular, academic, ecclesiastical, professional, court and aristocratic honorifics of the French language and honorifics as components of this system, clarifies the forms of the main abbreviations and the conditions of honorifics functioning, reveals their abbreviations and describes typical cases of their use. The aim of the article is to generalize the rules for using correct honorifics in French linguistic culture in official communication cases. The research materials comprise texts of business letters and documents from the official websites of governmental, religious and secular organizations of the francophone world countries. In the conducted research, we apply the structural research method, which led to the use of the distributive and component analyses. It is found that the use of honorifics is widespread in higher spheres of power, business environments, formal and traditional institutions, where special respect and politeness in communication is required. Honorifics are a special type of socially marked vocabulary, as they reflect hierarchical relationships and status roles in society. It is established that adequate honorifics are used in accordance with the communicative goal, and in specific situations the use of abbreviated forms is allowed or impermissible. The rules for the use of honorifics in French linguistic culture were formed during the development of the French-speaking society; they remain valid so far and are recommended to be followed, particularly in correspondence. Inadequate application of these rules violates the cultural and social codes of the French language and hinders the realization of the communicative goal. Prospects for research are determined by the area of socially marked vocabulary, specifically by issues of professional honorifics of the French language, for example, military honorifics.

Hierarchical contribution of Argonaute proteins to antiviral protection.

Antiviral RNAi is the main protective measure employed by plants in the fight against viruses. The main steps of this process have been clarified in recent years, primarily relying on the extensive genetic resources of Arabidopsis thaliana. Our knowledge of viral diseases of crops, however, is still limited, mainly due to the fact that A. thaliana is a non-host for many agriculturally important viruses. In contrast, Nicotiana benthamiana has an unparalleled susceptibility to viruses and, since it belongs to the Solanaceae family, it is considered an adequate system for modeling infectious diseases of crops such as tomatoes. We used a series of N. benthamiana mutants created by genome editing to analyze the RNAi response elicited by the emerging tomato pathogen, pepino mosaic virus (PepMV). We uncovered hierarchical roles of several Argonaute proteins (AGOs) in anti-PepMV defense, with the predominant contribution of AGO2. Interestingly, the anti-PepMV activities of AGO1A, AGO5, and AGO10 only become apparent when AGO2 is mutated. Taken together, our results prove that hierarchical actions of several AGOs are needed for the plant to build effective anti-PepMV resistance. The genetic resources created here will be valuable assets for analyzing RNAi responses triggered by other agriculturally important pathogenic viruses.

How business usage center members' self-concepts affect their perceptions and assessments in organizational usage processes

In business-to-business settings, purchasing dominantly takes place within customer-supplier relationships. Therefore, from a supplier perspective, it is important to understand what drives customers' rebuy decisions. Here, the value in use that individual representatives of a customer organization, based on the achievement of their individual and collective goals, experience in their usage processes has an important impact on the firm's loyalty. However, only little is known about how the various users in a customer firm, the members of a business usage center (BUC), perceive value in use and how these perceptions are influenced by their interactions. In two studies with 18 interviewees using the repertory grid technique in combination with means-end chaining, this paper investigates how actors' self-concepts influence their attributed reasons for actions of other BUC members and in turn the perceptions of their behaviors. Eleven attributed reasons for action are elicited that are grouped into four clusters covering competence profile, emotional profile, job requirements, and personal motivation. The findings of this study complement existing research that mainly uses hierarchical positions and organizational roles to explain individual assessments and decision-making specifically related to business buying behavior. Based on these insights, theoretical as well as managerial implications are discussed and avenues for further research are presented.