Individual Cultures Research Articles

School leadership in a non-western context: how is paternalistic leadership related to teacher well-being and commitment in collectivist versus individualistic school cultures?

PurposeThe present study aims to examine the moderation role of school culture attributes (individualism versus collectivism) in the relationship between paternalistic leadership and teacher commitment, mediated by teacher well-being.Design/methodology/approachThe data included 1,152 teachers across 104 schools in Türkiye using a multilevel moderated mediation SEM model to test relevant hypotheses.FindingsThe results showed that teacher well-being fully mediates the relationship between perceived paternalistic principal leadership and teacher commitment. Additionally, the collectivist orientation of school culture influences the strength of the association between paternalistic leadership and teacher commitment indirectly through well-being. More precisely, paternalistic leadership has a stronger link to teacher well-being and commitment when teachers identify the culture of their schools as relatively more collectivist.Originality/valueThis study offers empirical evidence of paternalistic school leadership in promoting teacher well-being and commitment depending on the school culture in a non-western country context.

Ethical work climate and organizational citizenship behavior in collectivist culture: does power distance matter?

PurposeDrawing from social exchange theory and a collectivist cultural framework, this study explores the relationship between ethical work climate and organizational citizenship behavior, considering power distance as a potential moderator.Design/methodology/approachThe study used standard scales to obtain data from 244 employees working in various private companies in India. Structural equation modeling was adopted to test the hypotheses using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS).FindingsThe study results show a significant relationship between ethical climate and organizational citizenship behavior. Ethical work climate influences power distance negatively. However, the results also show that power distance does not serve as a moderator between ethical work climate and organizational citizenship behavior.Practical implicationsCorporate leaders often expect employees to demonstrate organizational citizenship behavior, which is aimed at advancing the organization’s interests and outcomes. This study underscores the necessity for expanding the organizational vision to enhance the ethical work climate. Such an initiative not only promotes improved organizational citizenship behavior but also helps to reduce employees' perceptions of power distance within the organization.Originality/valueAmid extensive literature rooted in individualistic cultures, our study explores the relationship between ethical work climate and organizational citizenship behavior within a collectivist context. This research uniquely introduces the moderating role of power distance, offering new and distinct insights into this dynamic.

Family Poverty, School Exclusion and Psychological Distress: A Multilevel Analysis in 15 Countries

ABSTRACT The relationship between family poverty and children’s psychological distress is well-established, often assessed through income-based measures. However, a child-centric perspective is lacking, particularly regarding the roles of teacher neglect and peer bullying as potential mediators, and the impact of cultural differences. This study explores how familial poverty affects psychological distress, examines teacher neglect and peer bullying as mediators, and assesses the moderating role of culture. Analyzing a global sample of 16,860 ten-year-olds from the International Survey of Children’s Well-Being, the findings reveal a positive correlation between poverty and psychological distress. Teacher neglect and peer bullying partially mediate this link. Moreover, the association between teacher neglect and psychological distress is stronger for children in collectivist cultures, while the association between peer bullying and psychological distress is stronger for children in individualistic cultures. This research provides new insights and practical implications for addressing children’s psychological distress worldwide.

Exploring microbial diversity and interactions for asbestos modifying properties

Asbestos poses a substantial environmental health risk, and biological treatment offers a promising approach to mitigate its impact by altering its chemical composition. However, the dynamics of microbial co-inoculation in asbestos bioremediation remain poorly understood. This study investigates the effect of microbial single cultures and co-cultures on modifying crocidolite and chrysotile fibers, focusing on the extraction of iron and magnesium. Seventy bacterial and eighty-three fungal strains were isolated from five diverse sites, characterized phylogenetically using the 16S rRNA gene and ITS region, respectively, and assessed for siderophore and organic acid production. Most bacterial strains were identified as Pseudomonas, while Penicillium predominated among fungal strains. Ten bacterial and 25 fungal strains were found to produce both organic compounds. Four microbial co-cultures (one bacterium-bacterium, two fungus-bacterium, and one fungus-fungus) exhibiting synergistic effects in plate assays, alongside their respective single cultures, were incubated with crocidolite and chrysotile. ICP-OES analysis revealed that in crocidolite, the co-culture HRF19–HRB12 removed more iron than their single cultures, while Penicillium TPF36 showed the highest iron removal. The co-culture of two Pseudomonas strains (HRB12–RB5) exhibited the highest magnesium concentration in the supernatant. In chrysotile, the co-culture HRB12–RB5 removed more iron than their individual cultures, with Penicillium TFSF27 exhibiting the highest iron concentration in the solution. Penicillium TFSF27 and the co-culture TFSF27–TPF36 demonstrated the highest magnesium removal. SEM-XRMA analysis showed a significant reduction in iron and magnesium content, confirming elemental extraction from the fibers' structure. This study significantly broadens the range of microbial strains capable of modifying asbestos fibers and underscores the potential of microbial co-cultures in asbestos remediation.

Culture matters: Cultural variability in corporate codes of conduct as a means to foster organizational legitimacy

AbstractIn recent decades, implementing a code of conduct (CoC) as part of an organization's CSR infrastructure has become a sine qua non for gaining trust and fostering credibility. Despite numerous studies aimed at identifying cultural differences in the content of CoCs, little is known about what causes those differences and how they relate to an organization's communicative endeavor to gain trust and strengthen its legitimacy. In response, this article examines potential cultural differences in the public availability, design, and content of CoCs of corporations headquartered in countries in the Confucian Asian versus Anglo cultural clusters from the perspective of strategic communication. Drawing on the concepts of individualist versus collectivist culture and low‐ versus high‐context communication, the findings reveal significant differences, including that Anglo‐based companies more often make their CoCs publicly available and, in turn, significantly more comprehensive than Confucian Asian codes. Furthermore, compared with Anglo CoCs, significantly fewer CoCs of companies headquartered in Confucian Asia address the importance of moral values in daily business practices and sensitive issues such as prohibited behavior, whistleblowing, and sanctions following code violations. Those findings indicate significant institutional and cultural differences in companies' communication about ethical principles and corresponding conduct and suggest that, across cultures, CoCs differ in their content and are not accorded equal relevance as a means to foster legitimacy via CSR communication.

Effectiveness of Biological Approaches for Removing Persistent Organic Pollutants from Wastewater: A Mini-Review.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans, pose significant hazards to the environment and living organisms. This concise review aims to consolidate knowledge on the biological processes involved in removing POPs from wastewater, an area less explored compared to conventional physico-chemical methods. The focus is on the potential of various aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms, fungi, and bacteria for efficient bioremediation, mitigating or eradicating the deleterious effects of these chemicals. The review scrutinizes individual bacterial strains and mixed cultures engaged in breaking down persistent organic pollutants in water, highlighting promising results from laboratory investigations that could be scaled for practical applications. The review concludes by underscoring the opportunities for exploring and advancing more sophisticated bioremediation techniques and optimized bioreactors. The ultimate goal is to enhance the efficiency of microbial-based strategies, implicitly reducing the environmental impact of persistent chemicals.

E-Government, Proposal of Indicators for Tax Culture with Digital Transformation Support in The Canton of Jipijapa-Ecuador

Technological advancement offers a plethora of benefits, including the potential for novel forms of government management. In recent years, electronic governments have become increasingly relevant due to the numerous advantages they offer, including the convenience of making tax payments and carrying out tax procedures, as well as the opportunities they provide for citizens to actively engage in the decision-making process of a government. Nevertheless, these services are not universally accessible for a number of reasons. The objective of this research is to propose a set of indicators that can contribute to fostering a culture of tax compliance in Canton Jipijapa, Ecuador, through the implementation of an e-government strategy. A procedure that is close to a systemic conception will be applied. To this end, a systemic mapping will be carried out, allowing the proposal of a group of candidate indicators based on the study of the literature. Subsequently, the aforementioned indicators are evaluated by experts within the Ecuadorian context, employing the 2-tuple linguistic model as a methodological approach. The ensuing results facilitate the formulation of actions that foster the tax culture of individuals in Jipijapa Canton, Ecuador, in addition to conducting information surveys that align with the proposed indicators.

From follicle to blastocyst: microRNA-34c from follicular fluid-derived extracellular vesicles modulates blastocyst quality

BackgroundWithin the follicular fluid, extracellular vesicles (EVs) guide oocyte growth through their cargo microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we investigated the role of EVs and their cargo miRNAs by linking the miRNAs found in EVs, derived from the fluid of an individual follicle, to the ability of its oocyte to become a blastocyst (competent) or not (non-competent).MethodsBovine antral follicles were dissected, categorized as small (2–4 mm) or large (5–8 mm) and the corresponding oocytes were subjected to individual maturation, fertilization and embryo culture to the blastocyst stage. Follicular fluid was pooled in 4 groups (4 replicates) based on follicle size and competence of the corresponding oocyte to produce a blastocyst. Follicular fluid-derived EVs were isolated, characterized, and subjected to miRNA-sequencing (Illumina Miseq) to assess differential expression (DE) in the 4 groups. Functional validation of the effect of miR-34c on embryo development was performed by supplementation of mimics and inhibitors during in vitro maturation (IVM).ResultsWe identified 16 DE miRNAs linked to oocyte competence when follicular size was not considered. Within the large and small follicles, 46 DE miRNAs were driving blastocyst formation in each group. Comparison of EVs from competent small and large follicles revealed 90 DE miRNAs. Cell regulation, cell differentiation, cell cycle, and metabolic process regulation were the most enriched pathways targeted by the DE miRNAs from competent oocytes. We identified bta-miR-34c as the most abundant in follicular fluid containing competent oocytes. Supplementation of miR-34c mimic and inhibitor during IVM did not affect embryo development. However, blastocyst quality, as evidenced by higher cell numbers, was significantly improved following oocyte IVM in the presence of miR-34c mimics, while miR-34c inhibitors resulted in the opposite effect.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the regulatory effect of miRNAs from follicular fluid-derived EVs on oocyte competence acquisition, providing a further basis for understanding the significance of miRNAs in oocyte maturation and embryonic development. Up-regulation of miR-34c in EVs from follicular fluid containing competent oocytes and the positive impact of miR-34c mimics added during IVM on the resulting blastocysts indicate its pivotal role in oocyte competence.

Different Folks for Different Strokes: Exploring the Use of Social Support Among Collectivist & Individualistic Stroke Caregivers

Abstract Date Presented 03/23/24 An exploratory study highlights differences in perception of social support use among caregivers from collectivist and individualistic cultures pertaining to caregiver burden. Findings support the importance of culturally sensitive care. Primary Author and Speaker: Sonia Lawson Additional Authors and Speakers: Cindy You, Joseph Amos, Mackenzie Short

Individualism, innovation, and inequality: Exploring the nexus

We provide an alternative explanation for the direction of technological change and the related wage inequality between skilled and unskilled workers. To this end, we formulate a skill-biased technological change model in which households’ decisions on consumption, savings, and human-capital accumulation are influenced by the level of individualism. We conclude that more individualistic cultures experience higher technological-knowledge bias toward skilled technologies, larger output growth rates, and higher wage inequality between skilled and unskilled workers. We also find that union bargaining only reduces wage inequality between skilled and unskilled at moderate levels of individualism, while introducing redistributive income taxes does not necessarily reduce income inequality.

Linguocultural Aspects оf the Translation оf Jokes and Anecdotes (Based оn Examples from Three English and American Comedy Series)

The article examines some linguocultural aspects in the translation of comedy series, focusing on two English series created between 1977 and 1992 – “MindYourLanguage”(1977),“‘Allo,‘Allo”(1982–1992),andtheAmericanshow “The Nanny” (1993). The difficulties in translating linguistic features, deviances in the characters’ speech, the challenges in translating the cultural code as a whole, and their relevance to ensuring the success of communication, are examined. The article also focuses on the figure of the foreigner, common to the three series, and on the translation of cultural notes and stereotypes as a test for the translator, who must recreate not only linguistic differences, but also the distinctive features of individual cultures and ethnicities, without abandoning his cultural code. The effect of this clash does not affirm the humiliating attitude towards a certain ethnicity or culture, and the humor shows a desire to overcome stereotypes, expressing that the differences between us as people are not that many.

Mindfulness-Based Education: Exploring Cultural and Age-Related Perspectives Through Course Design

This study delves into the complexities of designing and implementing mindfulness education tailored to children and adolescents. Using basic theories of cognitive development such as Piaget's stages and Vygotsky's socio-cultural theories, the mindfulness classroom was designed to accommodate age-specific cognitive abilities and resulted in a curriculum design model that can be flexibly utilized to develop self-regulation skills and relate to activities that are critical in childhood, with the theory of mindfulness, present-focused activities, meditation activities, and perceptual activities that can be utilized as habits in real life. Through a combination of theoretical present-focused activities, meditation-related activities, perception-related activities, and activities that can be utilized in real life as habits, students develop self-regulation skills that are consistent with the cognitive flexibility that is essential in development. Sensory-related activities reinforce the integration of mindfulness into daily life. Working together to ensure accessibility in low socioeconomic status environments promotes inclusivity classroom, the study took place in a collective Chinese culture, but consideration of individualistic culture is also essential, and curricula tailored to the socio-emotional challenges of different ages need to be continually refined. Future research should explore cultural adaptation and expand the diversity of participants for a more inclusive understanding. In conclusion, this study advocates for mindfulness curricula to be synchronized with cognitive development, emphasizing that curricula should be designed with age-appropriate content, meditative practices, and real-life connections and adapted to different cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic backgrounds, and student populations with special needs.

Expression of calpastatin hcast 3-25 and activity of the calpain/calpastatin system in human glioblastoma stem cells: possible involvement of hcast 3-25 in cell differentiation.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor, characterized by cell heterogeneity comprising stem cells (GSCs) responsible for aggressiveness. The calpain/calpastatin (calp/cast) proteolytic system is involved in critical physiological processes and cancer progression. In this work we showed the expression profile of hcast 3-25 (a Type III calpastatin variant devoid of inhibitory units) and the members of the system in several patient-derived GSCs exploring the relationship between hcast 3-25 and activation/activity of calpains. Each GSC shows a peculiar calp/cast mRNA and protein expression pattern, and hcast 3-25 is the least expressed. Differentiation promotes upregulation of all the calp/cast system components except hcast 3-25 mRNA, which increased or decreased depending on individual GSC culture. Transfection of hcast 3-25-V5 into two selected GSCs indicated that hcast 3-25 effectively associates with calpains, supporting the digestion of selected calpain targets. Hcast 3-25 possibly affects the stem state promoting a differentiated, less aggressive phenotype.

Examining national culture and journalistic autonomy

This study used data from 52 countries to examine newspaper journalists’ perceptions of their professional autonomy and whether autonomy is improving. Results suggest that nearly three-quarters of newspaper journalists enjoy some degree of professional autonomy. Journalists in individualistic cultures and high uncertainty avoidance cultures reported higher levels of autonomy. A healthy democracy also predicted journalistic autonomy. Overall, results suggest journalistic freedom is declining. Interestingly, stronger human development was associated with perceived declines in autonomy.

Individualism and stock market participation

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the relation between a cultural orientation toward individualism and household stock market participation. We adopt an epidemiological approach to establish causality. Employing large samples of second-generation immigrants in the U.S. and Europe, we focus on how the cultural heritage of individuals from different origins influences their engagement in stock market participation. To verify this relationship, we utilize data from the the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Our findings reveal that immigrants from countries with a stronger individualistic cultural orientation are more likely to participate in the stock market. Furthermore, by leveraging data from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey (ACS), we demonstrate that the positive effect of individualistic cultural heritage is amplified for immigrants whose parents have made significant cultural investments. Additionally, utilizing data from the General Social Survey (GSS) to identify cultural mechanisms, we uncover that individualism culture shapes immigrants’ beliefs by fostering trust and optimism. Overall, our empirical evidence underscores the profound and persistent of culture on household stock market participation.

Determinants of Zombie Firms: The Impact of Corporate Insolvency Efficiency and Cultural Factors

By examining a broad range of companies from both developed and developing nations from 2015 to 2021, we gather evidence on the occurrence and factors contributing to the existence of zombie firms. Approximately 10% of our observations are identified as zombie firms, and there is significant variability in the proportion of zombie firms across different countries. We find that countries with more efficient corporate insolvency rules tend to have a lower incidence of zombie firms. We also establish that a nation’s culture plays a vital role in determining the prevalence of zombie firms. More specifically, our findings indicate that countries with higher levels of individualism culture tend to have lower numbers of zombie firms.

Effects of personalized music listening on post-stroke cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial

Background and purposePrevious studies have suggested that music listening has the potential to positively affect cognitive functions and mood in individuals with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), with a preference for self-selected music likely to yield better outcomes. However, there is insufficient clinical evidence to suggest the use of music listening in routine rehabilitation care to treat PSCI. This randomized control trial (RCT) aims to investigate the effects of personalized music listening on mood improvement, activities of daily living (ADLs), and cognitive functions in individuals with PSCI. Materials and methodsA total of 34 patients with PSCI were randomly assigned to either the music group or the control group. Patients in the music group underwent a three-month personalized music-listening intervention. The intervention involved listening to a personalized playlist tailored to each individual's cultural, ethnic, and social background, life experiences, and personal music preferences. In contrast, the control group patients listened to white noise as a placebo. Cognitive function, neurological function, mood, and ADLs were assessed. ResultsAfter three months of treatment, the music group showed significantly higher Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores compared to the control group (p=0.027), particularly in the domains of delayed recall (p=0.019) and orientation (p=0.023). Moreover, the music group demonstrated significantly better scores in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (p=0.008), Barthel Index (BI) (p=0.019), and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI) (p=0.008) compared to the control group. No effects were found on mood as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). ConclusionPersonalized music listening promotes the recovery of cognitive and neurological functions, improves ADLs, and reduces caregiver burden in patients with PSCI.

THE MYTHOLOGEME "PODRÓŻ" / "TRAVELS" AND ITS LINGUISTIC REPRESENTERS IN OLGA TOKARCHUK’S NOVEL "BIEGUNI" ("RUNNER")

The article is devoted to the study of the means of linguistic objectification of the mythologeme "PODRÓŻ" / "TRAVELS" in Olga Tokarchuk’s novel "Bieguni". Mythological thinking as a special kind of world-view includes a sensory, figurative understanding of natural phenomena and facts of social life. The main purpose of the article is to analyze the linguistic representation of the mythologeme "TRAVELS" by Polish writer Olga Tokarchuk, the winner of literary prizes ("Nike" 2008, International Booker Prize, Nobel Prize 2018). The research material provides an opportunity to reveal the archetypal and topical understanding of the mythologeme "TRAVELS", characteristic not only for the mythopoetic thinking of the archaic society, but also for the consciousness of contemporary speakers, and the individual author’s world-view of the literary discourse regarded. To achieve this goal, methods of descriptive, component and discursive analysis are used. The analysis allows us to state that O. Tokarchuk provides rather complete information about this mythological phenomenon, which is both a static structure because it contains a system of images and a dynamic one, because it is able to unfold in the form of a plot. The author creatively interprets and modifies the archetypal mythologeme, which embodies the human aptitude for travels and travelling as cognition of the world around, one of the manifestations of human freedom, filling it with new culturally marked semantics, creating a special mythosymbolic model of the world in which the mythologeme "PODRÓŻ" can mean life, interpersonal contacts, loneliness in the crowd, movement without movement, movement as an exploration of oneself through the cognition of the world around, search for the mystery of existence, etc. Only by travelling, says the writer, we can reconstruct the link lost by the mankind between individual traditions and cultures. We see the prospects of the research in the further separation of archetypal and individual authorial treatment in literary texts in the interpretation of mythologists.

Individualistic powerfulness and collectivistic powerlessness corrupts: how power and cultural orientation influence corruption

ABSTRACT Evidence from individualistic cultures suggests that power corrupts. Using a goals-based perspective, here we argue that power and culture jointly predict corrupt attitudes and behavior. Four studies (N = 447) and one meta-analysis were conducted to test these hypotheses. Study 1 investigated the joint effects of power and individuals’ cultural orientations on corruption proclivity. Studies 2 and 3 assessed if power and cultural orientations affect actual corrupt behaviors (i.e. abuse of discretion in Study 2 and bribe-taking in Study 3). Study 4 tested the hypothesis at a national level, using monocultural samples both in the UK and China. The results consistently showed that the effects of power on corruption depend on culture: for collectivistic individual orientations and cultures, holding power predicts less corruption than lacking power; in contrast, holding power predicts more corruption for individualist orientations and cultures. Our findings represent the first direct experimental and correlational evidence regarding the links between power, culture, and corruption.

Long-term antibiotic exposure landscapes and resistant Escherichia coli colonization in a densely populated setting.

Antibiotic exposure is associated with resistant bacterial colonization, but this relationship can be obscured in community settings owing to horizontal bacterial transmission and broad distributions. Locality-level exposure estimates considering inhabitants' length of stay, exposure history, and exposure conditions of areas nearby could clarify these relationships. We used prescription data filled during 2010-2015 for 23 antibiotic types for members of georeferenced households in a population-based infectious disease surveillance platform. For each antibiotic and locality, we generated exposure estimates, expressed in defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 inhabitant days of observation (IDO). We also estimated relevant environmental parameters, such as the distance of each locality to water, sanitation, and other amenities. We used data on ampicillin, ceftazidime, and trimethoprim-and-sulfamethoxazole resistant Escherichia coli colonization from stool cultures of asymptomatic individuals in randomly selected households. We tested exposure-colonization associations using permutation analysis of variance and logistic generalized linear mixed-effect models. Overall, exposure was highest for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (1.8 DDD per 1000 IDO), followed by amoxicillin (0.7 DDD per 1000 IDO). Of 1,386 unique household samples from 195 locations tested between September 2015 and January 2016, 90%, 85% and 4% were colonized with E. coli resistant to trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, and ceftazidime, respectively. Ceftazidime-resistant E. coli colonization was common in areas with increased trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cloxacillin, and erythromycin exposure. No association with any of the physical environmental variables was observed. We did not detect relationships between distribution patterns of ampicillin or trimethoprim-and-sulfamethoxazole resistant E. coli colonization and the risk factors assessed. Appropriate temporal and spatial scaling of raw antibiotic exposure data to account for evolution and ecological contexts of antibiotic resistance could clarify exposure-colonization relationships in community settings and inform community stewardship program.