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What tools are available to foster independent and critical thought in the music classroom? We propose that visual mapping—a method of representing relationships and associations between a main concept and other ideas, subtopics, or examples—is an ideal tool for doing exactly this. After examining the principles and usefulness of mapping in a variety of contexts, we discuss several specific ways in which mapping might be implemented in teaching music. We argue that the central strength of mapping is its ability to encourage users to be explicit and metacognitive about their knowledge. As such, it can be part of a constructivist stance whereby the instructor creates a student-centered classroom in which learners are active, engaged participants in their education.

Political polarization is a marked political division in the population, characterized by multiple manifestations. The authors argue that it can affect consumer psychology, which in turn influences marketers, policy makers, and consumer welfare. The present work introduces the construct of political polarization to the marketing literature and shows how it serves as a novel challenge for various marketing stakeholders. For consumers, the authors propose that political polarization increases the salience of political identities, alters inter- and intragroup dynamics, and amplifies cognitive biases. These effects negatively affect consumer welfare, including financial welfare, relationships, mental and physical health, and societal interests. For marketers, polarization introduces a challenge to both be more sociopolitically engaged while also navigating competing political interests. Polarization also creates new opportunities and challenges for segmentation, targeting, loyalty, and product offerings. For policy makers, political polarization creates policy gaps, impedes the implementation of policy, and obstructs governance. Building from these insights, the authors consider the drawbacks and overlooked benefits of political polarization, potential remedies, and directions for future research.

Diversity issues in organizations have long been the subject of organizational studies and cultural examinations. While organizations have made several advancements to balance the presence of female representation in their employees, there remains a paucity of women in certain fields, most notably the tech industry where, despite similar performance in courses, women are alarmingly underrepresented. This paper examines this lack of diversity and proposes some remedies for specifically addressing the lack of women in the tech industry and can be extended to participation in any STEM careers that makes up a significant portion of the tech industry.

This study focuses on integrating the premises of social capital theory and the theory of organizational learning to improve the operational performance of firms nurturing the buyer–supplier relationship. Social capital theory highlights the importance of developing social relationships between firms to create valuable resources and collectively access critical resources. Organizational learning theory highlights that the learning capacity of an organization strongly depends on top-level leaders’ behaviors, organizational structure, culture, and flexibility, and uncertainties in the environment in which the organization functions. Though many studies have focused on the impact of social capital on performance improvements in the buyer–supplier relationship, the interlinkages between social capital and organizational learning have not been given much attention. Based upon these theories, a system-focused perspective, which showcases the antecedents and outcome of the relationship between collaborative communication and learning, has been proposed in this study. A literature review has been carried out to support the linkages in the proposed conceptual model. Findings suggest that transformational buyers support creating cognitive capital with suppliers. This cognitive capital influences the structural capital, which supports improving the understanding of each party’s processes in the buyer–supplier relationship when parties have high long-term orientation. Improved learning capability reshapes organizations into flexible systems capable of responding quickly to customer requirements, and consequently, they realize a higher performance level.

This study is aimed at improving the purchasing cycle time in a buyer–supplier relationship by integrating the facets of strategic leadership, social exchange, and social capital theories. We developed and tested a conceptual model that postulated relationships among strategic leadership behavior, relational trust and commitment, structural capital, and purchasing cycle time. Data were collected from purchase managers and their employees working in 105 manufacturing companies and analyzed using structural equation modeling technique. Our findings indicated that strategic leadership behaviors are positively related to trust in the buyer–supplier relationship. In addition, trust enhances relational commitment between buyer and supplier, which in turn positively relates to information sharing and supplier development. Further, increased information sharing in the relationship results in reduced purchasing cycle time. Implications for both theory and practice are discussed in depth, and directions for future research are suggested.

Mapping of spatiotemporal distribution of evapotranspiration becomes important for sustainable water management as water scarcity is nowadays a growing concern in almost all the continents. In general, researchers estimate evapotranspiration by multiplying the computed reference evapotranspiration (ETo) with the corresponding crop coefficient. Such estimation of ETo requires data related to spatiotemporal meteorological and vegetation field characteristics, and however, these data are rarely available in most developing countries such as India. Thus, researchers constantly develop various methods and evaluate the applicability of these methods to accurately capture spatiotemporal distribution. The purposes of this study are to (a) examine the applicability of Hargreaves and MODIS ETo method to map the spatiotemporal distribution over Thamirabarani basin located in Southern India and (b) evaluate the performances of Hargreaves and MODIS ETo methods and compare it to FAO 56 Penman–Monteith method. To achieve these purposes, ETo data of Hargreaves method and MODIS ETo method over Cheranmadevi meteorological observatory are extracted and performances of these methods are compared with FAO 56 Penman–Monteith method. Results show that a match exists among all the three ETo datasets, and no major deviations have been observed. However, this study suggests local calibration of Hargreaves and MODIS ETo method as considerable mismatch has been observed at ETo daily value. Overall, the conclusion of this study encourages the application of the Hargreaves method and MODIS ETo method in developing countries, where the data shortage condition prevails.

This study explores the link between cash holdings and performance outcomes in public restaurant companies in the United States, leveraging the critical role played by the industry context. We hypothesize that cash holdings have positive associations with both short-term and long-term firm performance in the restaurant industry. Our empirical analyses, based on fixed-effect regression models that control for all time-invariant variables, reveal that holding cash can improve performance in the restaurant industry, in support of our hypotheses.

In an effort to craft recommendations to managers regarding effective confidential information policies, the present paper reviewed 88 published grievance arbitration cases involving proprietary information, trade secrets, and confidential information. Most cases dealt with the application of managerial discipline for employee violations of company polices and collective-bargaining provisions. Themes that emerged included: the importance of a Management Rights clause (as well as specific Misconduct clauses and policies), clauses that address changing business conditions (such as subcontracting and new technology), employee insubordination, theft, falsification, conflict of interest, and the need for training. Additionally, arbitrators often considered specific laws that apply in health care, cable television, and telecommunications industries. Finally, several mitigating factors were noted such as: having permission from a supervisor to access confidential information, safety, and whistleblowing concerns. By attending to factors that influence arbitrator decision making, managers and their attorneys can use these identified factors to create better policies and negotiate robust collective bargaining provisions.

Not only does the flotsam and jetsam in the world’s oceans seem to be impacting the health of the world’s oceans and seas, but it appears that the warming climate and increasing CO2 emissions are impacting the global trade lanes evidenced by a greater-than-average number of lost maritime containers due to resultant rougher seas and stronger storms. We elucidate the evolution of containerized shipping and discuss the impact lost containers have on the seas and dangers to other ocean-going vessels. We also note the reciprocal effects between climate change and lost containers. The intent of our article is to shed light on these issues and we hope it sparks future research examining causal factors and their potential solutions.

Managing the impact of employees' personal and work-related difficulties on workplace productivity is becoming increasingly salient for organizations. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are one approach to help improve the quality of life for employees and maximize their productivity. While EAPs have many benefits, potential negative ramifications and legal considerations must also be considered. This article highlights some important cases and the best practices for organizations to utilize in creating clear organizational policies that align with equal employment opportunity and privacy laws in collaboration with legal and human resources professionals and employee assistance providers to reduce or eliminate potential liability.

The structure of blood vessels in the retina is a crucial factor in identifying and forecasting various eye diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other diseases. Therefore, detecting the structure of blood vessels from retinal fundus images is a critical field of research in healthcare. This study employed a novel deep learning model to segment vessels for different diseases, including Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). We considered multiple transfer learning-based models and discovered that the ResNet-based U-Net architecture was the most effective for vessel segmentation, achieving the highest Dice Score above 84% for disease-agnostic, and 82%-84% for disease-specific conditions. We believe the proposed methodology will help to advance retinal vessel segmentation process and enhance the screening process of diseases based on retinal fundus images in clinical settings of Qatar Biobank as well as other biobanks across the globe. © 2023 IEEE.

Stellar multiplicity is correlated with many stellar properties, yet multiplicity measurements have proven difficult for the M dwarfs—the most common type of star in our galaxy—due to their faintness and the fact that a reasonably complete inventory of later M dwarfs did not exist until recently. We have therefore carried out the Pervasive Overview of “Kompanions” of Every M dwarf in Our Neighborhood (POKEMON) survey, which made use of the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument on the 4.3 m Lowell Discovery Telescope, along with the NN-EXPLORE Exoplanet Stellar Speckle Imager on the 3.5 m WIYN telescope. The POKEMON sample is volume limited from M0V through M9V out to 15 pc, with additional brighter targets at larger distances. In total, 1125 targets were observed. New discoveries were presented in the first paper in the series. In this second paper in the series, we present all detected companions, gauge our astrometric and photometric precision, and compare our filtered and filterless speckle observations. We find that the majority (58.9%) of the companions we detect in our speckle images are not resolved in Gaia, demonstrating the need for high-resolution imaging in addition to long-term astrometric monitoring. Additionally, we find that the majority (73.2%) of simulated stellar companions would be detectable by our speckle observations. Specifically within 100 au, we find that 70.3% of simulated companions are recovered. Finally, we discuss future directions of the POKEMON survey.

The longitudinal and transverse spin transfers to Λ (¯Λ) hyperons in polarized proton-proton collisions are expected to be sensitive to the helicity and transversity distributions, respectively, of (anti)strange quarks in the proton, and to the corresponding polarized fragmentation functions. We report improved measurements of the longitudinal spin transfer coefficient, DLL, and the transverse spin transfer coefficient, DTT, to Λ and ¯Λ in polarized proton-proton collisions at √s=200 GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The dataset includes longitudinally polarized proton-proton collisions with an integrated luminosity of 52pb−1, and transversely polarized proton-proton collisions with a similar integrated luminosity. Both datasets have about twice the statistics of previous results and cover a kinematic range of |η Λ(¯Λ)|<1.2 and transverse momentum pT,Λ(¯Λ) up to 8 GeV/c. We also report the first measurements of the hyperon spin transfer coefficients DLL and DTT as a function of the fractional jet momentum z carried by the hyperon, which can provide more direct constraints on the polarized fragmentation functions.

This work compiles a database that provides analytical case studies of typical digital libraries as an enhancement for educating and learning to meet the needs of students, librarians, scholars, and those who are interested in this resource.

Health coaching could be an innovative approach to develop student coaches' cultural competence (CC) among future health professionals. The current mix-method study design explored the impact of an 8-week peer health coaching intervention among college students on CC, from both student health coaches (i.e., students majored in health sciences who completed health coaching training and acted as health coach) and student clients' perspective. Nine student coaches and 24 student clients participated in the study. The quantitative analysis showed an increase in the clients' perceived level of coaches' CC between the pre- and posttest. The qualitative analysis revealed three themes, including varying levels of awareness, respectful and culturally responsive coaching, and cultural connection. Implications and recommendations for educators and researchers are discussed.

Assessments of oral reading are widely used for screening, progress monitoring, and comprehensive evaluations. Despite the utility and technical adequacy of these tools, there are subgroups of students for whom measures of oral reading may be inappropriate. The first section of this article focuses on how tests of oral reading may underestimate word reading ability and reading fluency among four subgroups of students with speech, language, or learning difficulties. These include school-age students who demonstrate word-finding difficulties (which are common among students with a learning disability or developmental language disorder), developmental stuttering, childhood apraxia of speech, and pediatric dysarthria. The second section offers practical recommendations for more accurate assessment procedures, correct placement decisions, relevant professional learning activities, and strategic interdisciplinary teaming. © Hammill Institute on Disabilities 2023.

We have prepared CuS and CuS-rGO nanocomposites via the hydrothermal method. The physical properties of the synthesized materials were studied through x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The supercapacitor characteristics were evaluated by cyclic voltammetric and galvanostatic charge–discharge studies. The cyclic voltammetric studies conform the pseudocapacitive nature of CuS and CuS-rGO electrodes. The specific capacitance of CuS was obtained as 207, 150, and 97 F/g at a current density of 0.5, 5, and 20 A/g, respectively. The rGO-CuS nanocomposite showed improved specific capacitance of 350, 251, and 149 F/g at current densities of 0.5, 5, and 20 A/g, respectively. © 2023 Author(s).