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A re-examination of duplex perception with musical chords
Get PDFIn duplex perception, an acoustic element differing from the others in receiving ear or form (e.g., harmonic complex or sinusoidal) contributes simultaneously to two distinct percepts. Speech has received the most attention, but duplex perception also occurs with musical chords. By one account, a specialist processing “module” (e.g., phonetic) has priority access to acoustic information (precedence) that is not subject to scene-analysis constraints. Precedence received initial support from claims of better performance for speech than non-speech judgments of the same stimuli, but experiments controlled for criterion differences and unintended cues challenged this interpretation. This approach is extended here to three-note chords comprising tonic and fifth complexes and a sinusoidal third (30-dB presentation range) defining the mode (major/minor). In experiment 1, listeners first heard a chord and identified its mode; chords were then preceded by two successive sinusoids—one matching the third, the other mistuned—and listeners identified the matching tone. In experiment 2, for tone discrimination, the tonic and fifth were replaced by a single complex crafted to produce equivalent masking of the third but to remove an unintended mode cue. The notion of precedence was not supported; there was no evidence of better performance for musical than non-musical judgments of the same stimuli
Money, recognition, challenge and enjoyment: a response surface approach to salesperson motivation
Get PDFPurpose Research on salesperson motivation has historically emphasized extrinsic over intrinsic motivation, often assuming these cannot coexist. However, research in psychology suggests that certain types of motivational orientations, when combined, can enhance work outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the interplay and balance between cognitive and affective orientations of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation may influence salesperson performance and work engagement. Design/methodology/approach Data are collected from a cross-sectional sample of professional salespeople. Using polynomial regression with response surface analysis, this paper examines how combining and balancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations affects salesperson performance and work engagement. Findings Study findings reveal that combining salesperson intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations has a positive effect on performance and work engagement. Specifically, the highest levels of performance are achieved when salespeople’s intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations are balanced. Finally, results highlight the important role of challenge seeking (an intrinsic motivational orientation) in achieving the highest levels of performance and work engagement. Research limitations/implications To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in the sales domain to examine the combined effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations and to investigate the role of balance. Prior studies have predominantly considered intrinsic and extrinsic motivation as competing motivational orientations. This study confirms that indeed motivational orientations are independent of one another (as proposed by Amabile, 1993) and that these can work in synergy. This provides a noteworthy contribution to the sales and marketing literature by providing a new and nuanced understanding of the complex nature and relationship between motivation and its outcomes. Practical implications Sales managers are advised to carefully use both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational tools to increase salesperson performance and work engagement. Creating working contexts that facilitate and promote task enjoyment without overemphasizing compensation seeking orientation appears to be advisable in this light. The results indicate that sales managers should review and perhaps rebalance the ways salespeople are evaluated, moving away from behavioral performance measures (as specific customer-related sales activities). Instead, this study encourages sales managers to pay much more attention to elements of job performance and job performance management, which promote and possibly emphasize a sense of freedom and choice for salespeople. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no research to date has examined the effects of combining and balancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations on the performance and work engagement of salespeople. This study expands the existing literature on salesperson motivation by using polynomial regression with response surface analysis to explore the effect of combining and balancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations on salesperson performance outcomes
Farmer-Herder Crises, Uncivil Discourses and the Politics of Nigeria’s Security Responses
No full textStudies on farmer-herder conflicts using the Critical Discourse Approach often focus on media portrayals of the conflict. However, the interplay between discursive constructions by primordial or ethnic associations, their dissemination through the media, and their potential effects on the conflict remains underexplored. Therefore, this paper examines the potential effects of the primordially driven discourses on farmer-herder crises in Nigeria. Discourses from civil society on farmer-herder violence in Nigeria hold the potential for two key outcomes: the escalation of the conflict and the creation of doubts about the state’s capacity and impartiality in addressing the violence, leading to calls for restructuring the security architecture to include non-formal security options. Employing Critical Discourse Analysis, the paper examines statements from major ethnic associations across 30 Nigerian online news articles, assessing their role in shaping public perceptions of violence and influencing civil society advocacy for alternative security mechanisms. This paper demonstrates how these narratives can intensify tensions, undermine trust in state security institutions, and, in addition, enable the prioritisation of ethnic biases over constructive dialogue, posing challenges to resolving these violent conflicts. The findings highlight the importance of fostering inclusive and neutral discourse to promote civility and mitigate the worsening of farmer-her
Green Human Resource Management: Synthesising Outcomes and Identifying Effective Practices
No full textGreen Human Resource Management (GHRM) is increasingly acknowledged as a crucial strategy for enhancing organisational environmental performance. Despite growing empirical evidence regarding the antecedents and outcomes of GHRM, limited efforts have been made to quantitatively synthesise the existing findings to advance the literature. Additionally, it is not clear which specific GHRM practices are more effective in predicting different favourable employee outcomes. To address the gaps, we conducted a comprehensive meta‐analysis of 172 studies (N = 54,963) from 166 articles. Our results indicate that overall GHRM is positively related to various employee attitudinal and behavioural outcomes and organisational outcomes. Further analysis using MASEM (meta‐analytic structural equation modelling) reveals that overall GHRM impacts both employee in‐role and extra‐role green behaviours through employee green values. Moreover, the result of relative weight analysis shows that specific GHRM practices, such as green performance management, and employee empowerment and involvement, are particularly effective at promoting employee in‐role green behaviours. Green performance management and green reward and compensation are more important for fostering employee extra‐role green behaviours
Clozapine use and risk of infections in patients with schizophrenia: a population-based cohort study in Hong Kong
No full textBackground: Infection is the leading natural cause of mortality in patients with schizophrenia, and use of antipsychotics might be associated with an increased risk of infections. This study aimed to examine the association of clozapine use with the incidence of various infectious diseases. Methods: In this population-based cohort study, we used territory-wide electronic health records from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority. Individuals aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (ICD-9-CM code 295) based on records from Jan 1, 2002, to Dec 31, 2023 were considered for inclusion. We included patients who used clozapine or olanzapine continuously for at least 90 days and excluded those who had previously used fewer than two other antipsychotic medications, to identify a cohort of patients with long-term antipsychotic use who had treatment resistance. Olanzapine was chosen as a comparator due to its similar chemical structure and often overlapping indication with clozapine. The primary outcome was the occurrence of any infectious disease, identified by a range of ICD-9-CM codes, with subtypes analysed as secondary outcomes. Propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting was applied to balance covariates. Weighted hazard ratios (HRs) for infection in patients using clozapine versus those using olanzapine were estimated by Cox proportional hazards models. Weighted absolute differences in incidence rate were also estimated. People with lived experience of schizophrenia were not involved in the design or conduct of the study. Findings: We identified 53 092 individuals with clozapine or olanzapine initiation between Jan 1, 2004 and Dec 31, 2023, with 2002–03 used as a wash-out period to exclude individuals having used the two antipsychotics before. After exclusion of participants without a schizophrenia diagnosis and who did not meet the other selection criteria, the final cohort consisted of 11 051 patients (1450 using clozapine and 9601 using olanzapine). Overall, 6031 (54·6%) patients were female and 5020 (45·4%) were male. Mean age was higher in the olanzapine group (45·33 years [SD 14·55]) than in the clozapine group (40·59 years [12·26]). No ethnicity data were available. The incidence of infection overall was increased in patients using clozapine (weighted incidence rate 7·26 per 100 person-years) compared with those using olanzapine (6·00 per 100 person-years; weighted HR 1·25 [95% CI 1·13–1·39]). The weighted absolute difference in incidence rate was 1·27 infections per 100 person-years (95% CI 0·55–2·04). The risk was notably higher in older age ranges, with weighted HRs rising from 1·24 (1·08–1·42) in those aged 18–44 years (weighted absolute difference 0·81 per 100 person-years [0·13–1·55]) to 1·41 (1·15–1·72) in those aged 45–54 years (2·23 per 100 person-years [0·82–3·86]), and 1·45 (1·14–1·84) in those aged 55 years or older (4·70 per 100 person-years [1·29–8·45]). Secondary analyses identified upper and lower respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal infections as primary contributors to the observed increased incidence associated with clozapine versus olanzapine use. Interpretation: Clinicians should balance the therapeutic benefits of clozapine with infection control measures, including regular monitoring and preventive strategies. Funding: InnoHK initiative of the Innovation and Technology Commission of Hong Kong. Translation: For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section
Integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Factors into the Investment Returns of American Companies
Get PDFThis study investigates the influence of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors on the financial performance of publicly traded U.S. companies between 2013 and 2023. Using a balanced panel dataset of 386 S&P 500 firms and 4246 firm-year observations, the analysis applies panel data regression models with fixed effects to evaluate the association between ESG scores and two financial indicators: Return on Assets (ROA) and Tobin’s Q. The results reveal a modest association with ROA, but a significantly stronger link with Tobin’s Q, suggesting that while ESG practices may not substantially boost short-term profitability, they are positively perceived by investors and contribute to long-term market value. These findings are consistent with stakeholder and signalling theories, indicating that strong ESG performance reflects effective management and lower investment risk. The limited impact on ROA may stem from the initial costs of implementing ESG initiatives. This study highlights practical implications for corporate leaders and policy-makers, advocating for ESG integration as a long-term value driver. Future research should explore alternative ESG rating systems and consider sectoral dynamics and broader market influences
Application of the Behaviour Change Wheel to Optimise Infant Feeding in Bangladeshi and Pakistani Communities in the UK: Co‐Development of the Learning About Infant Feeding Together (LIFT) Intervention
Get PDFBreastfeeding rates in the UK are amongst the lowest in the world, largely driven by individual‐ and social‐level barriers. Evidence has also highlighted that cultural factors can play an important part, such as for the UK South Asian community. Although aggregated breastfeeding data indicates that initiation is high amongst the UK South Asian population, sub‐group data shows that this is substantially lower amongst people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnicity. As such, culturally tailored interventions are called for. This research aimed to systematically develop an evidence‐based culturally tailored intervention to support the optimisation of infant feeding in these communities. The ‘Learning about Infant Feeding Together’ (LIFT) intervention was co‐developed by researchers, six community peer group champions, and a 3rd sector organisation supporting UK South Asian women. Development was guided by the REPLACE approach (a framework for the development of culturally specific community‐based interventions) and the Behaviour Change Wheel (a framework for describing, designing and evaluating behaviour change strategies). It involved three co‐development intervention workshops as part of a rigorous systematic intervention development approach. A culturally tailored intervention incorporating nine behaviour change techniques was produced. The intervention aims to increase breastfeeding by targeting six infant feeding behaviours identified as important, changeable and pertinent to the communities involved. The final intervention includes posters, leaflets, and an animation. The transparent reporting of intervention content and the approach taken to development will support the growth of evidence‐based practice in the field of infant feeding
Resolved scalar mixing in large eddy simulations of the laboratory mixing layer
Get PDFWe report a study of passive scalar mixing in simulations of the plane turbulent mixing layer that are representative of those found in experiments originating from clean laminar upstream conditions. An inflow condition generator is used to produce inflow data that mimics the residual spanwise non-uniformities present in real experiments. The presence of non-uniformities in the upstream conditions is essential to capture the development of the spatially stationary streamwise structure in the flow. Validation of the subgrid-scale model is performed, and the effect of the spanwise domain extent and imposed spanwise boundary conditions is determined. It is observed that the simulated mixing layers display features characteristic of the natural development of the flow to a fully developed, self-similar state. Analysis of the vortex structures present in the simulations demonstrates that the “Brown–Roshko” structures are present, where quasi-two-dimensional spanwise structures co-exist with statistically stationary streamwise vortices. The transition of the scalar concentration probability density function (PDF) from a “non-marching” type to a “tilted” type as a function of the so-called “pairing parameter” is captured by the simulations, and the PDF transition is linked to the evolution of the stationary streamwise vortex structure in the layer. The streamwise vortices are also responsible for preferential local entrainment across the span of the layer, up to the highest values of the pairing parameter recorded in the simulations. The findings are discussed in the context of the available experimental data in the archival literature, and their impact on currently available entrainment models is noted
Toward developing a predictive model for interpersonal communication quality in construction projects: an ensemble artificial intelligence-based approach
Get PDFPurpose: Following the job demands-resources theory, this study investigates the role of female managers in enhancing employee well-being in terms of psychological health via workplace resources. Design/methodology/approach: To accomplish this objective, we conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify key IPS. Subsequently, a fuzzy-based algorithm was employed to prioritize these skills. Following this, we developed an algorithm based on Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) to predict the quality of workers’ IC. The efficacy of the XGBoost model was assessed by applying it to three real-life construction projects. Findings: Upon application of the model to the case studies, we made the following conclusions: (1) “Leadership Style,” “Listening,” “Team Building” and “Clarifying Expectations” emerged as significant skills and (2) the model accurately predicted workers’ IC quality in over 78% of the cases. This algorithm has the potential to preempt interpersonal conflicts, enhancing job-site productivity, team development and human resources management. Furthermore, it can guide construction managers in designing IPS training programs. Originality/value: This study contributes to the existing knowledge by addressing the crucial connection between IPS and IC quality in construction projects. Additionally, our novel approach, integrating fuzzy logic and XGBoost, provides a valuable tool for IC prediction. By identifying significant IPS and offering predictive insights, this research facilitates improved communication and collaboration in the construction industry, ultimately enhancing project outcomes
From Idealist to Realist-Designing and Implementing Shared Decision-Making Interventions in the Choice of Antipsychotic Prescription in People Living with Psychosis (SHAPE): A Realist Review: Part 1 - Implementing Shared Decision-Making: Policy, Governance and System Factors
Get PDFBackground: Shared decision-making (SDM) implementation remains limited in psychosis management, particularly within antipsychotic prescribing. When and why prescribers engage in SDM within these contexts is largely unknown. Part 1 of this two-part realist review aimed to understand the impact of structural and contextual factors on prescriber engagement in SDM within antipsychotic prescribing. Study design: CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Sociological Abstracts, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for evidence to develop realist programme theories outlining the relationship between macro-level contexts and their impact on prescriber behaviours. Study results: From 106 included documents, five programme theories explaining relationships between (i) leadership and governance, (ii) workforce development and (iii) service delivery contexts and their impact on reducing prescriber engagement with behaviours required of SDM application were developed. No facilitative macro-level contexts were identified. Key mechanisms reducing prescriber engagement in desired behaviours include fear of individual blame for adverse outcomes and exposure to liability, pressure from service environments to prioritise decreasing risk of harm, devaluing of experiential knowledge and beliefs that SDM conflicts with duties of beneficence and non-maleficence. Conclusion: Even empirically efficacious interventions will be difficult to implement at scale within real-world settings due to misalignment with complex cultural, legal and professional realities prominent therein. Mechanisms responsible for reducing prescriber engagement in SDM should be the target of structural interventions necessary to support contextual integration into psychosis management. Part 2 outlines features of service delivery contexts, workforce development and technology that can increase prescriber engagement in SDM
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